J U N E - J U L Y
2 0 1 4
J U N E - J U L Y
2 0 1 4
EDITOR’S NOTE
As Timeless as Time Itself
A
fter our automotive-intensive Mobility issue, we now focus on timeless, classic styles in fashion, makeup, accessories and, well, just about everything else that can be made to suit the most discerning – if not elegant tastes. Fashion Editor Yhuong drums up another collection of timeless clothing combinations, further bolstering his credibility and expertise in his field, while Beauty Editor Lian and her associate Mhalou Cruzado demonstrate not the latest, but the most enduring make-up techniques to replicate that Marilyn Monroe-era feel of Hollywood at its most glamorous Golden Age. Speaking of Golden-Age Hollywood, we’re trying out a new fashion spread courtesy of Associate Editor Andy, who shot 21-yearold, Natalia Diniz, a Brazilian model who has traveled to different parts of the world in pursuit of her modelling career. She is partnered to Jonathan Mark Timmons, a model/actor who has played several roles in TV and movies and appeared in several print ads/commercials as well. We have dressed
Steven Edward Yu Editor-In-Chief
them up to suit the look and style our Classic theme. You’ll probably have noticed by now that we have Aljur Abrenica, the winner from the reality-based talent show Strarstruck, along with Frencheska Farr, “Are You the Next Big Star?” grand champion and Louise de los Reyes, PMPC’s “Best New Movie Actress” gracing the front cover of our this issue, made possible by BS Mobile, one of the fastest growing mobile brand in the country. Because it is now undeniably popular, we tackle one of the new styles of photography, mobile phone photography and the resulting new trend in self-portraits, selfies (and, plurally, wefies – God help my Thesaurus). Following this is an excellent throwback feature from Kay, on gadgets we now have, and their distant, analog predecessors. Our Mobility section regulars, Andrew Rodriguez and Jude Morte put in their reviews of the now-“classic” Isuzu Crosswind, along with the equally timeless Ford Fiesta Sport and cosmetically-revamped Hyundai Elantra.
We bring you to Ilocos and encourage you to visit beautiful, diverse Thailand as well. If your palate runs to Korean delights, you might want to swing over to one of the best Bulgogi haunts in Quezon City, Kogi Bulgogi at Gateway. Finally, in recent events, we bring to you the highlights from the first concert organized by our mother company, Utmost Creative Publishing, held at the NPAT, Resorts World Manila last May 21. Dubbed “Summer Session” – a fitting way to end the what has been a record-setting hot dry season, the audience was serenaded by Jinky Vidal, Nyoy Volante, Richard Poon, Sitti Navarro, Top Suzara, and the legendary Jett Pangan. We hope you enjoy what we’ve prepared for you as we officially begin the wet season!
STAFFBOX
THE CLASSIC ISSUE (PHOTOGRAPHY)
Volume 3 No.5
JUNE - JULY 2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MARIO ALAMAN Publisher
STEVEN EDWARD YU Co-Publisher / Editor-In-Chief
COVER 1: NATALIA DINIZ and JONATHAN MARK TIMMONS
EDITORIAL ANDREW RODRIGUEZ
Photographer: Andrew Rodriguez Styling: Mark Acosta Hair & Make-Up: Jennifer Barrion Dress & Suits: Dave Ocampo Location: DTP Studio
Managing Editor
KAYE BENEDICTO
Associate Editor - Tech
YHUONG BOTOR
Associate Editor - Fashion
RICKY ALONZO Jr.
Associate Editor - Lifestyle
JUDE MORTE
Associate Editor - Mobility
ANDREW ALTAREJOS
Senior Writer / Visayan Correspondents
LIAN CAPILI and NATHAN FEROLINO Editorial for Beauty
CREATIVE ALFRED CABRAL and GUNTHER DE GUZMAN Art Directors
Contributing Photographers
ALLAN MENDOZA ANDREW RODRIGUEZ GUNTHER DE GUZMAN MARK NETO
COVER 2: FRENCHESKA FARR, LOUISE DELOS REYES and ALJUR ABRENICA Photographer: Yhuong Botor Assistant Photographer: Angelo Maiza Stylist: Janno Novenario Associate Stylist: Dale Aldovino & Angel Ocampo Stylist (Aljur): Rex Atienza Make-Up: Lian Capili and Ehyel Dolloson Hair: Nathan Ferolino and Edward Pascual Creative Direction: Mario Alaman Venue: Fernwood Gardens Special Thanks to: Mr. Philip Ortiz and BS Mobile Family, GMAAC and Mr. Al Deveyra of Ferwood Gardens
Contributing Writers
JANNO NOVENARIO, MALOU CRUZADO, GUNTHER DE GUZMAN, NOVELYN QUIAMCO Celebrity Contributor
DINDIN MORENO
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING JANE LOYOLA
Senior Account Manager
NOVELYN QUIAMCO, EDERLYN MATARO Account Managers
EMMAN ACUNA Events and Marketing Officer
SALVADOR “ILOY” DA Circulation Head
Brand Magazine is published by Utmost Creative Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Copyright @ 2013 Utmost Creative Publishing. Printed in the Republic of the Philippines. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner without permission from the publisher and editors. The views and opinions expressed by the authors in this magazine are not necessarily those of Utmost Creative Publishing. Unsolicited manuscripts and images, of which the publisher assumes no responsibility or guarantee of publication, will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
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Brand Magazine is Available Nationwide at all LEADING BOOKSTORES: (National Bookstores, Power Books, Fully Booked, Book for Less, Booksale, Bufini, News & Bytes, Saddle Brown, Merriam Webster, Book and Read, Mio Magazine, Forewords, Inc. NAIA: Christian Ventures – II-III-IV, Trading V-VI, North and South Wing, Travellers Drugstore. HOTELS: Diamond Hotel, DusitThani Hotel, Manila Pavillion, Intercon, Mandartin, Sofitel, Manila Hotel, Shangri-La, New Hyatt, Heritage, Peninsula, Dusit Hotel Nikko. DEPARTMENT STORES:Rustan’s Express Lane and Supermarket, E-Media Greenhills, Hyper Souvenir &Flowershop, Cash and Carry, Kangs Grocery, Cubix, Shoppers Mart. PROVINCE: Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cebu, Ilo-ilo, Kalibo, Tacloban, Baguio, Balanga, Dagupan, Lipa, Davao, General Santos. OTHERS: Enchanted Gift Shop, Saddle Brown, Makati Medical, Total Gas Station Alabang, Newport Terminal3.
CONTENTS
FASHION & TECH VOLUME 3 / No. 5 / JUNE-JULY 2014
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STYLE
Natalia Diniz and Jonathan Timmons
STYLE Class Act
BEAUTY Classic
TIMELINE
Watch the Time
SCAN
Create Life in Pictures
NETBASE
Throwback - Classic Gadgets
RATED
ZTE Grand X2L V969 ZTE MF90 Wifi Strontium Nitro OTG 8GB USB Drive KingMax SME32 Monster Tunes
HIGHLIGHT
Mobile Photography
INFOCUS
Aljur Abrenica, Louise de los Reyes and Frencheska Farr
Professional Theatre Quality
L2400 Series
The Cinematic Experience That You Can Bring Home.
P2400
The Pro Theatre Series offers you an astonishing selection of TVs with uncompromised Picture Qualit Quality. Powered by Toshiba’s innovative CEVO engine technology and packed with amazing features like the Intelligent Auto View and Picture Analyzer, the Pro Theatre Series delivers extremely realistic images with incredibly natural details for an immersive and inspiring cinematic viewing experience.
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Toshiba Group contributes to the sustainable future of planet Earth.
CONTENTS
Mobility VOLUME 3 / No. 5 / JUNE-JULY 2014
“The launch of the Ghibli marks a turning point in Maserati’s rich history. It is the first time in 100 years that the luxury Italian brand presents two four-door sedan models simultaneously,” said Mark Soong, Executive Director of Autostrada Motore Inc.
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ISUZU Crosswind Sportivo X M/T Proof of Longevity
HYUNDAI Elantra 1.6 S AT FORD Fiesta 1.5L
“the Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport does live up to its designation with a factory decked out exterior, upgrade interior and uprated underpinnings”.
The Transport Show 2014
Andrew Rodriguez, Managing Editor
Elantra Redux
The Sporty Fiesta Old meets New
The New Standard HONDA City
MOTOR SPORT NEWS
Asian V8 Championship Kicks Off Yokohama Philippine GT Championship Gets Underway
Subic Bay AUTO SHOW 5 MASERATI GHIBLI unveiled at the 23rd Trans Sport Show Grab Car
GrabTaxi for the Upscale Crowd
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CONTENTS
LIFESTYLE VOLUME 3 / No. 5 / JUNE-JULY 2014
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UNWIND
80
TASTE
83
WELLNESS
84
ILOCOS THAILAND
- Gunther De Guzman, Art Director & Photographer
Korean Invasion: Kogi Bulgogi Burger Company
Health in a Bottle
RENOVATE
Green Renovation
86
SPOTLIGHT
92
BILLBOARD EVENTS
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“Nothing comes close to actually experiencing the glory of Ilocos—its splendor, historical significance and great source of pride and joy.”
GERARD BUTLER • How to Train Your Dragon 2 • The Fault in Our Stars • Third Person
Summer Serenade
BILLBOARD NEWS
• iLuv opens first concept store in the country • Miss Bikini Philippines 2014
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STYLE
FASHION • LIFESTYLE • ACCESSORIES
words & photos by Andrew Rodriguez
Tough
& Classic
Photography: Andrew Rodriguez Styling: Mark Acosta Hair and Make-Up: Jennifer Barrion Dress and Suits: Dave Ocampo Models: Natalia Diniz and Jonathan Mark Timmons Location: DTP Studio
“It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-andcoming designers all together.” Alexander McQueen
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“The kind of classic pose of a female model is to look kind of sexy and a bit annoyed.” Caitlin Moran
“I never really had the classic struggle. I had faith.” Denzel Washington
Natalia Diniz Since she was young, Natalia has always wanted to be a model and she had the full support of her family back home in Brazil. That’s right; she’s a real deal Brazilian folks. Currently 21 years old, she started her modelling career in Brazil some six years ago. Starting off with some modelling courses and taking on some modelling jobs right after, she set herself off to a career that she loves doing. After finishing high school in Brazil, Natalia began travelling to different countries in the name of modelling. Finding herself modelling on our shores not once but twice, the 5’7” looker says that she will always find her way back here even after going to other countries in pursuit of her career.
Jonathan Mark Timmons For those with a keen eye, Jonathan might seem familiar but you just can’t seem to put your finger on why. Probably that’s because you have seen a glimpse of him in one of the many commercials and print ads that he has appeared in. From dairy products to soaps, telecoms to real estate, he has appeared in different ad campaigns already. The 23 year old Jonathan is of mixed descent (he’s of Filipino, Spanish, German and Irish blood) and started modeling at the young age of 12. In recent years, he has been busy with television appearances and hosting, as well as on the big screen with different small roles.
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“Stick to the classics, and you can't ever go wrong. I see old ladies on the street who have fabulous style and realize it's because they are probably wearing really classic items that they've had for years and years. I think if you find something that suits you, you should just stick to it.� Alexa Chung 18
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“I used to be a classic workaholic, and after seeing how little work and career really mean when you reach the end of your life, I put a new emphasis on things I believe count more. These things include: family, friends, being part of a community, and appreciating the little joys of the average day.� Mitch Albom
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STYLE
FASHION • LIFESTYLE • ACCESSORIES
CLASS ACT Words and photographs: Yhuong Botor Concept, styling and text: Janno Novenario Styling associate: Dale Aldovino Hair and Make Up: Perla Aquino Models: Franco Amian, Christine Alvarez and Jenna Aguilar of Ze Models
lassic fashion always starts with the simplest of ideas. Silhouettes are sleek and concepts are unpolluted. It is this clean thinking that allows classic fashion to melt into any current theme or style. The biggest benefit of classic styles is that they are never trendy. Trendy styles are meant to push the boundaries and draw attention to the garment. A trendy look is meant to make a bold statement and never slips gracefully into the fashion parade. Not being trendy means classic clothes are timeless. The garment should be so sublime that any decade and any designer may have created it. It suits different body shapes, different personalities and different styles.
Classic fashions tend to stick with classic colors as well as classic lines. Black, blue, white and brown are much more common than bright yellow, hot pink and neon orange. Natural materials, such as cotton, silk and leather, are much more common than synthetics, such as polyester, rayon and pleather. If you feel that classic styles tend to be on the boring or drab side, remember that you can always add a little personality. The simple designs go wonderfully with a huge assortment of trendy accessories. By adding some jewelry, a hat or a scarf, you can transform the look for any occasion. Classic fashion styles are the looks that last through the ages and appear flattering on almost anyone. They go beyond trends and are a triumph of art. Despite the decade, figure or fashion, classic styles are always a demonstration of truly refined taste.
On Jenna: Black oversized button downs and ash high waist cropped pants both from BEX On Franco: Top (stylist’s own); Black skinny jeans from THE BRAND TRUNK On Christine: Black laced jacket from BEX; Brown jumpshorts from C CLOTHING & CO.
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On Franco: White sweater (stylist’s own); Acid wash jeans from THE BRAND TRUNK On Jenna: White cropped top from JXN; High waist cropped pants from BEX
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EYE WEAR
ACCESSORIES
GUCCI
Quintessential fashion exudes class, luxury, beauty and superb quality, all of which one of the top name brands in fashion has been renowned for. Gucci is one of those brands that top any fashionistas list of must-haves. Being around since the 1920’s, Gucci boasts of consistent quality, ingenious style, and of course, well-crafted products. Their products are always made of the finest materials and are often duplicated but never replicated. Big name stars and the who’s who in any society are seen in their Gucci shoes, bags, and other fashion accessories. Gucci is the biggest-selling Italian brand and no wonder, since this brand is synonymous with glamour and style. As with it’s other products, Gucci’s sunglasses are nothing but glamorous.
VonZipper Each style is designed to be uniquely beautiful and functional as well. Today, almost everyone wants to stand out in a crowd. We are now seeing a cultural evolution where conservatism and “coloring inside the lines” are being succeeded with fearless idealism and a sense of adventure as well as thinking outside the box. Just in time for this evolution, Southern California-based fashion brand VonZipper steps into the scene. It recognizes the uniqueness and individuality of people and uses this in the design of their products. Edgy, stylish, fashionable, and diverse, there is a VonZipper style for everyone. This brand is customer conscious and offers a wide array of choices gathering inspiration from personalities, lifestyles and even relationships. They just want to make their customers connect with their product and make them happy. With their bold splashes of color and innovative designs, VonZipper sunglasses will definitely put a smile on anyone’s face. They reflect not only style but individuality and personality as well.
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On Franco: Black skinny jeans from THE BRAND TRUNK On Christine: Brown high slit dress from JXN; Silk rope bracelet from FAB FABRICS
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On Jenna: Olive green dress from BEX On Christine: Military dress from C CLOTHING & CO.
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BEAUTY
hair • nails • make-up
By Mhalou B. Cruzado, Professional Makeup Artist
What is Classic Beauty?
ClassicBeauty
Have you ever wondered why the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or even Betty Boop still ring a bell even at this present time? That despite decades after their passing, their presence still lingers through our minds; filling up the pages of magazines, even serving as our inspiration? Well, ladies they are the epitome of CLASSIC BEAUTY.
Audrey Hepburn tops my list of classic beauties!
S is for SENSE OF STYLE: This may sound a bit confusing with being SIMPLE but the key to having a sense of style lies in being able to enhance the simplicity of one’s beauty. It’s never trendy or over-done. It’s just adding some elegance to highlight one’s natural beauty.
Barbara Perez – yes, there’s a Hepburn-ish appeal in her!
When I was given this opportunity to write about CLASSIC BEAUTY, I immediately think of key words based on how C-L-A-S-S-I-C is spelled. This is the summary of how CLASSIC BEAUTY is understood by the majority, based on the short survey I conducted. So here it goes! C is for CHARMING: The word ‘charming’ can always be associated with the words appealing, captivating, fascinating. We can see different kinds of charm in each individual. Charm is something that is beyond the physical attributes of a woman. For me, it comes from within, which is directly connected to her personality.
Marilyn Monroe with her famous dreamy eyes, red lips and curly hair. Simply irresistible!
I is for IRRESISTIBLE: No matter what she wears or what her hairstyle is or what lip color she wears, classic beauty is unquestionably alluring or enticing from morning ‘til night. C is for CHARACTER: This refers to the grace, confidence and intelligence that she projects especially when faced with challenges. A woman with classic beauty is strong yet keeps a positive and happy disposition in life.
L is for LOVELY: “Pretty woman”, “beautiful girl”, “drop-dead gorgeous”… Being lovely accentuates the femininity of a woman. Her eyes, her lips, her hair… Everything about her, even her voice, is just adorable. A is for AGELESS: I believe this is the essence of being a classic beauty - it never goes out of style. Time is a profound element in maintaining one’s loveliness and charm. Their beauty lives on as time goes by. S is for SIMPLE: Being simple is being able to exude beauty that is natural, fresh, clean, with less makeup and nothing fancy. Simplicity is perfectly effortless and it rocks!
Grace Kelly
“Classic beauty existed even during the times when cameras did not have HD mode.” 28
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I always put on a weird grin every time I remember that in the past, I’d have eyeshadow on but my eyebrows were undone. Ladies, always remember that the most important part of the face that must be fixed are your eyebrows! Yes, your eyebrows! They frame your face instantly.
All this and you are classically good to go!
Our very own Dawn Zulueta in a fresh and classic look as always.
How to achieve looking like a classic beauty everyday? Hey girls, we too can look and feel chic and classy in our beauty! Oh yes, you read it right! Indeed there are a lot of ways how! However, as a professional make-up artist, I will be highlighting on how to take care of your skin and pull off classic makeup. Classic beauties do not wear a lot of makeup because they already have good skin. It’s quite hard though to maintain good skin nowadays given the pollution and stress. But we can always choose to eat well and consistently do the basic skin preps: (1) cleanse, (2) tone and (3) moisturize twice daily.
Gloria Romero and Susan Roces captivate the screen from then ‘til now
“Classic beauty is certainly something that anybody would definitely appreciate every now and then. It’s here to stay because it’s timeless.”
Basic skin prep is very important before makeup application. It acts like a primer for the makeup to last longer than usual. My recommended formula for everyday classic makeup? 1. apply corrector/concealer (if needed) + 2. put on powder on your face + 3. fix and define your eyebrows + 4. curl your lashes and add on mascara+ 5. add a bit of color on your cheeks + 6. moisturize and color your lips with colored lip balm
Dianne who turned 18 last year loves Audrey Hepburn. She incorporated a Parisianvintage theme on her debut. This is indeed a real testimony that even the young ladies of today appreciate the classic beauties of yesteryear.
Photos were sourced from the internet. Special thanks to those who participated in my short survey! Feel free to ask me anything about makeup! You may send me a message through www.facebook.com/makeupbymhalou or sesmarmmb@yahoo.com or reach me at 0908.895.3058. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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TIMELINE
Watch the Time W
atches are used to keep track of time and have become an important adornment on our wrists that enable us to monitor each and every moment of our lives. Nowadays, watches are not just used to keep time but are also a fashion statement. With a large variety of designs and features can be found in the market by various watchmakers, there are several impeccable watches to choose from. With that in mind, we, at Brand Magazine, have decided to give those timepieces a spot of their own within our pages in this TIMELINE section for you.
M.O.A. (Master Of Art) MOA is the ultimate symbol of elegance and superiority. Its image reflects sophistication and innovation in a wealthy fashion. It is the perfect timepiece for distinguished professionals. MOA is not simply a watch, it is a masterpiece, an epitome of time excellence.
KM1415-2101
The Sylver Series from M.O.A brings an edge to your fashion with its modern and elegant design. The detailed dial reflects glints of light well with its thin and silvery hour indices. Without being too flashy, the glossy casing adds to its shiny appeal, while the matte black rubber strap adds a dramatic contrast to this work of art. It’s the perfect timepiece to spruce up our casual get ups or bring an offbeat sophistication to your formal attire. DIAL Engraved off white white dial; silver hour indices; minute indices are black at the center, and silver around the margin; silver and luminous hour and minute hands. BAND Black rubber strap and two loops in matte finish; stainless steel buckle with M.O.A engraving. CASE Polished stainless steel casing; glass lens; quartz movement; 100m water resistant.
KM1415-2102
The Sylver Series from M.O.A brings an edge to your fashion with its modern and elegant design. The detailed dial reflects glints of light well with its thin and silvery hour indices. Without being too flashy, the glossy casing adds to its shiny appeal, while the matte black rubber strap adds a dramatic contrast to this work of art. It’s the perfect timepiece to spruce up our casual get ups or bring an offbeat sophistication to your formal attire. DIAL Engraved shiny black dial; silver hour indices; minute indices are silver at the center and around the margin; silver and luminous hour and minute hands. BAND Black rubber strap and two loops in matte finish; stainless steel buckle with M.O.A engraving. CASE Polished stainless steel casing; glass lens; quartz movement; 100m water resistant.
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Swarovski
For over a century, Swarovski has continually grown to become the world leader for sparkling crystal creations. The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal glass sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor, and chandeliers. All sculptures are marked with a logo. The original Swarovski logo was an edelweiss flower, which was replaced by an S.A.L. logo, which was finally replaced with the current swan logo in 1988.
Swarovski Octea Classica Driven by a constant quest for excellence, Swarovski masterfully combines innovation, precision and creativity with Swiss watch-making expertise, to provide the multifaceted woman of today with an array of time jewels that are stylish and refined. OCTEA classica The brand new OCTEA classica line derives from the iconic OCTEA sport and the OCTEA chrono lines. Its design is more classic yet still fashionable. The bezel comes in either faceted ceramic or crystal, highlighting Swarovski’s crystal cutting expertise. The word “diverse” best describes this new line, which features stainless steel bracelets, calfskin leather straps and bezels in various different colors. Case: Round stainless steel case, 39 mm in diameter set with a faceted bezel in white ceramic, Amethyst Intensive Diamond Touch Light crystal, Jet Hematite crystal or Crystal Silver Night.
CITRA sphere Contemporary yet classic, CITRA sphere combines a timeless design with modern and playful colors. This year, new models with colorful straps and sparkling motifs, such as a heart and a butterfly will be available. The more classic models continue to offer an understated alternative. The 40 hand-set crystals that highlight the bezel and the applied crystal index markers that adorn the dial add a subtle touch of sparkle to this unique timepiece. CITRA sphere is the ultimate fashion accessory and the perfect watch for everyday use. Case: Round stainless steel case, 38 mm in diameter set with 40 clear crystals. Dial: White silver sunray-colored, black sunray-colored, silver-colored or mother-of-pearl dial with applied crystal index markers at all hour markers except 12 o’clock, Swan logo at 12 o’clock.
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet, white, purple or violet calfskin leather straps with an embossed crocodile structure or turquoise calfskin leather strap with a snake structure, stainless steel or rosegold PVD coated ardillon buckle. Movement: Quartz, Swiss Made. Special features: Case back with a Swanflower® engraving, water resistant to 30 meters, crown featuring a cabochon bearing the Swan logo mark, scratchresistant, anti- reflective sapphire crystal.
Titan
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Dial: Purple, black or white silver sunray-colored dial with rhodium-plated or rose-gold PVD coated index markers and a small second counter with a crystal pavé circle, Swan logo at 12 o’clock, hour/minute hands with white LumiNova®. Strap: Black or white calfskin leather strap with an embossed crocodile structure or stainless steel bracelet, rose-gold PVD coated or stainless steel ardillon buckle. Movement: Quartz, Swiss made. Details: Case back with a Swanflower® engraving, water resistant to 30 meters, crown featuring a cabochon bearing the Swan logo mark, scratch-resistant, antireflective sapphire crystal glass.
In the World of Titan, the journey to produce stunning and quality creations never stops. Titan Company Ltd, a US$ 1.63 billion (Revenue 2011-2012) listed company, is the 5th largest integrated watch manufacturer in the world, manufacturing more than 13 million watches every Products year, with a customer base of over 135 million in 32 countries. Raga Collections - She represents the perfect mix of the sophisticated and elegant women nowadays With innovation as its core strategy, Titan has continuously come up with trendsetting and Purple Collections - She has the passion in style and fashion distinctive collections to sustain its stand as a fashion accessory. Titan is the creator of EDGE, Octane Collections - He is the sporty and stylish guy in the city the slimmest watch in the world with a movement thickness of 1.15mm. Quality is never a compromise in Titan’s watch development and its state of the art manufacturing facility spreads Orion Collections - He is adventurous and loves the exploration of astrology over 450,000 sq. ft. Rated by many experts as among the best in the world, the facility bears ISO Edge Collections - He is the classic and thinnest watch type with elegance certifications for quality and environment management systems.
TITAN TTN9323NP01
TITAN TTN9234NL01
GANT GNTW10893
Case: Brass Strap: Red Rubber Dial Color: Black Functionality: Day & Date Water resistance: 50meters Gender: Men Collection: Octane 2-year warranty PRICE: Php3,695.00
Case: Stainless Steel Strap: Leather Dial Color: Black Functionality: Chronograph Water resistance: 50meters Gender: Men Collection: Orion 2-year warranty PRICE: Php7,195.00
Functionality: Chronograph Movement: Miyota OS21 Stainless steel case IPR;ø 45mm Mineral glass Dial: Silver Brown Leather Strap/Bracelet WR: 10 ATM Price: Php17,095.00 Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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Axis
Axis watches offer best value items, incorporating quality and style in every timepiece. These real time situations have taken us to a different point of view that have inspired our watches to become unique in varied forms and styles. So go make your mark in the world. Make your time count.
ROVER WATCH
AL1203-0307 3 Hand Date Japan Movement 30m Water Resistance All Stainless Steel Case: Silver Case Leather Strap Php 3,790
ROVER WATCH
AL1203-0302/AL1203-0202 3 Hand Date Japan Movement 30m Water Resistance All Stainless Steel Case: Iron Plated Black Leather Strap Php 4,290
HAIDEE WATCH AM1222-0301
3 Hand Japan Movement 30m Water Resistance All Stainless Steel Case: Silver Case Leather Strap Php 3,990.00
HAIDEE WATCH AM1222-0202
3 Hand Japan Movement 30m Water Resistance All Stainless Steel Case: Silver Case Iron Plated Black Leather Strap Php 4,790
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VENUS WATCH
3 Hand Japan Movement 30m Water Resistance All Stainless Steel Metal Bracelet Gold / 2 Tone Gold Php 4,290
Juicy Couture
Juicy Couture is a contemporary in casual wear. A brand which depicts glamour, irreverence and fun. These timepieces are available at all Watch Republic boutiques under Newtrends, International Corporation.
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J1901122 P11800.00 STELLA
J1901110 P11800.00 STELLA
J1901120 P11800.00 STELLA
J1901108 P11800.00 STELLA
J1901107 P14800.00 PEDIGREE
J1901105 P14800.00 PEDIGREE J1901106 P14800.00 PEDIGREE
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Tommy Hilfiger Watches Tommy Hilfiger Watches for men are simple and decent. These watches offer high-end technology to the clientele. Tommy Hilfiger gents’ watches are a part of the men’s Turbo collection introduced by Tommy Hilfiger. These watches are dynamic, bold, sophisticated, stylish and are perfect to flaunt your style. Tommy men’s watches have a masculine look and are designed for the smart men of today’s world. The brand brings watches to the market that offer features that are most valued by men. Tommy watches are masterpieces that are long-lasting and are designed by craftsmen who keep them updated with the requirements of modern men.
TH1791017 P6750.00 ASH
TH1791010 P7350.00 BRANDON
Tommy Hilfiger Watches for women are completely feminine. The features in Tommy women’s watches make them a woman’s best match. Women like to wear them with unique accessories to look different from others. Tommy Ladies’ watches keep up with latest trends in the market to provide different looks for women. Tommy branded watches for women are light in weight and can be worn easily on their wrist. The case diameter is a perfect to fit to the customer wrist and makes it comfortable to wear.
TH1790999 P6750.00 ASH
TH1791008 P7350.00 BRANDON
TH1781394 P10150.00 SERENA
TH1781392 P9550.00 SERENA
TH1781395 P7350.00 LIV
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TH1781398 P7350.00 LIV TH1781396 P7350.00 LIV
TH1781397 P7950.00 TINSLEY
Hugo Boss Watches
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Hugo Boss produces a diverse range of clothing and accessories, including a collection of watches. Hugo Boss watches comprised of designs for men and women and are renowned for being one of the most luxurious watch brands in the industry, fusing classic aesthetics with rugged detailing and contemporary, chic twists. The Hugo Boss watch collectionis a work of aesthetic and technical art. The Hugo Boss watch range is divided into categories, with each one reflecting a particular style preference. Some are geared towards ornate style with a high-fashion edge, others are more casual and with an urban twist, and some have a predominantly sporty theme due to the brand’s link with the sporting world and sports icons. HB1512977 P12200.00 CLASSICO ROUND
HB1512968 P9100.00 CLASSICO RECTANGULAR
HB1512970 P12200.00 CLASSICO RECTANGULAR
HB1512967 P9100.00 CLASSICO RECTANGULAR
HB1512974 P9100.00 CLASSICO ROUND HB1512954 P12900.00 HB-6022.1
BO1512998 P6600.00 LONDON
BO1512997 P6600.00 LONDON
BO1512996 P9100.00 LONDON
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SCAN
HOME • OFFICE • PERSONAL
Create a Life in Pictures P Words by Kaye Benedicto
hotography always gives you new ways of seeing the world, allowing different ways of seeing nature, and different ways of capturing things through your eyes and your camera. All the best memories we have in every moment preserved by photos. Create a life in pictures by collecting the photos from birthday parties, graduations or anniversaries. Pictures capture small moments but also big memories!
Olympus OM-D E-M10 The OM-D E-M10 was selected by TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) as the Best CSC Entry Level camera as part of the XXIV TIPA Awards (2014).
We have picked out choice cameras, camera accessories and mobile phones to help you choose how to capture that fleeting moment. Also in this section, we give you a peek into what are the latest portable speakers and headsets/headphones available in the market that a soundtrack to the picture of life.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera is a hybrid camera designed for both professional photo and video use. It features a 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor and a 4-CPU Venus Engine, capable of capturing high-resolution JPEG and RAW stills, as well as UHD 4K 3840x2160 30p/24p and cinematic DCI 4K 4096x2160 video at 24p. GH4 features a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, while offering increased resolution on both the OLED monitor and electronic viewfinder. It also features built-in Wi-Fi with NFC technology, in-camera creative controls, and a high-speed 49-point autofocus in both photo and video mode.
OM-D E-M10 features
Fujifilm X- T1
• 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor • Twin control dials • Built-in flash • 8 fps continuous shooting • Tilting 1.04M dot LCD touchscreen • 1.44m dot LCD viewfinder • Wi-Fi allowing remote control and file transfer to smartphones • Focus peaking • ‘3-axis’ image stabilization • 19 Art Filters and Effects • Photo Story auto multi image collage • RAW picture editing
Fujifilm X-T1 features
SONY A6000 The Sony A6000 (Alpha 6000) mirrorless camera boasts of an OLED viewfinder and a tilting 3-inch, 921K-dot LCD, pop-up flash, multi-interface shoe, 1080/60fps and 24fps video capture. It also features a 24.3-megapixel CMOS sensor paired with a BIONZ X processor, which Sony claims, enables the ‘world’s fastest autofocus’ with a lag of 0.06 seconds.
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•16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor • EXR Processor II • Weather-resistant body • ISO 200-6400, plus 100 - 51200 expanded (JPEG only) • 2.36M dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.77x (equiv.) magnification • Dual view’ in EVF shows regular view and focus peaking/digital split image at the same time • Top-plate ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, drive mode and metering controls • Six programmable function buttons • 3.0” 1.04M dot 3:2 tilting LCD • 8 fps continuous shooting with continuous AF (3 fps with live view) • Built-in Wi-Fi including remote contro from a smartphone or tablet • Full HD movie recording (1080/60p, 36Mbps bitrate), with built-in stereo microphone • Clip-on external flash • Optional battery grip
EOS REBEL T5 EF • 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) image sensor and high-performance DIGIC 4 Image Processor for excellent speed and quality • EOS Full HD Movie mode helps you capture brilliant results • Scene Intelligent Auto mode helps deliver expertly optimized photos and offers improved scene detection for amazing results when shooting at night • Feature Guide offers short descriptions of shooting modes, settings and effects for easy operation • Continuous shooting up to 3.0 fps allows you to capture the action • Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8ii Compatible with most Canon digital SLR camerasFor use with your existing camera. f/1.8 maximum aperture- For optimal light gathering capacity, resulting in clear, highly-detailed images. Gaussian optics- Provide sharp delineation throughout the focal range. 50mm focal length- A versatile focal length for capturing crystal clear shots throughout a variety of shooting situations. 1.5’ minimum focusing distance- Let’s you come in close to capture every detail. 46° angle of view- Let’s you capture a wide area for greater detail. 6 elements in 5 groups- For wide accuracy and sharper shots.
Nikon 1 V3 The Nikon 1 V3 features a 18.4-megapixel CX-format image sensor and a new EXPEED 4A image processor. It features a tilting 3-inch LCD screen with a touch panel and has the ability to shoot 1080p/60fps video. The Nikon 1 V3 features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and also is compatible with smartphones and tablets, which users can share pictures online. It also has features like Miniature Effect, Easy Panorama and Selective Color
Samyang 12mm 1:2.0 NCS CS Samyang have announced the release of a new, wide-angle 12mm NCS CS lens designed for mirrorless APS-C cameras. The Samyang 12mm 1:2.0 NCS CS is the perfect lens for landscape photography and can be useful in interior and architecture photography or astrophotography. The product comes with a removable lens hood and 67 mm filter mount. It is light weight: weighing only 245 g and is compact in size.
Casio Exilim EX-100 The Casio Exilim EX-100 is a compact camera boasting of a 28-300mm equivalent lens, with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. It has a 1/1.7type back-illuminated CMOS sensor and a 3.5-inch tilting LCD screen. Other features include manual controls, RAW shooting capabilities, and 6fps continuous shooting with auto focus. It also includes Wi-Fi, HDR exposure blending, interval shooting, time-lapse and slow motion movie recording. It has a 10x optical zoom on it. Casio’s new EX-100 makes it harder to mess up the shot by taking nine different ones. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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Samsung NX mini Samsung the NX mini is the lightest interchangeable-lens camera. It has a body weight of 158 grams, and a slim 22.5 mm design. The Samsung NX mini mirrorless interchangeable lens camera comes with a leather finish over a solid metal body, and will feature support for a total of 15 interchangeable NX lenses using a special NX-M Mount Adapter. The NX mini has a 3-inch, 320x480 pixel touchscreen that can be flipped up 180 degrees. Because of this ‘flip up and touch display’ and its ensuing form factor, Samsung is positioning the camera as a ‘wefie’ shooter as against a selfie taker. A ‘wefie’ is described as two or more people taking their picture. The NX mini also features a 9-mm wide angle lens that allows the user to click a ‘wefie’ by winking at it.
Polaroid 300 * Analog camera that allows you to print images instantly. * Takes business card size instant color photos, works with Polaroid 300 instant film. * Includes a wrist strap and (4) AA batteries. * (4) Scene settings help captures the perfect shot in any light. * Compatible with PIF-300 Instant Film.
Muses 1
Sporty wireless headphone music & phone connectivity FEATURES • Bluetooth 4.0 • Outstanding audio technology • Human engineering design • 2-MIC 6th generation CVC noise reduction • Smart voice alerts • Pair two devices and take a call from either • IOS display headset power meter
iLuv TimeShaker iLuv TimeShaker has a dual alarm clock speaker with bed shaker and lightning dock that wakes you every time you set an alarm. The bed shaker fits comfortably under your pillow and vibrates just enough to wake you up feeling unhurried and relaxed. The dual alarm function on TimeShaker allows you to set two separate alarms. Each alarm can be set to a different alarm option, whether it’s the buzzer, radio or music from your iPod or iPhone. The iLuv TimeShaker is available at Php 4,990.
SPECIFICATION • Talk time: 7 hours • Music time: 7 hours • Standby time: 300 hours • Bluetooth version: 4.0 • Bluetooth profiles: A2DP/ HFP/HSP/ AVRCP • Solution: CSR • Noise reduction: 2-MIC CVC noise reduction • Wireless range: 10m
Iblue2s
Stereo wireless headset FEATURES • Stereophony • 2-MIC 5’ generation CVC noise reduction • SSP quick pairing • Support A2DP profiles • Support AVRCP profiles
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SPECIFICATIONS • Talk time: 4 hours • Music time: 4 hours • Standby time: 150 hours • Bluetooth version: 2.1 + EDR • Bluetooth profiles: A2DP/HFP/HSP/AVRCP • Solution: CRS • Noise reduction: 2- MIC CVC noise reduction • Wireless range: 10m
G111
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich • 4.3 Capacitive Touch Screen • Dual SIM and Dual Standby • 5.0 Megapixels Dual Camera • Loudspeaker/Bluetooth/WIFI MP3/MP4/Video Player • FM Radio • Memory Card up to 32GB Price: Php3,199
Soul
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean • 4.0” Capacitive Touch Screen • Dual SIM and Standby • 2.0 Megapixels Dual Camera •Xpress Music Loudspeaker • Bluetooth/WIFI MP3/MP4/Video • Player FM Radio Memory Card up to 32GB Price: Php1,999
G700
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean • 5.0” Capacitive Touch Screen • Dual Sim and Standby • 5.0 Megapixels Dual Camera • Loudspeakers • MP3/MP4/Video Player • FM Radio/Bluetooth/WiFi • Memory Card up to 32GB • Free 4GB Memory and Free BS BAG Price: Php3,999
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DS-1162
• Bluetooth A2DP function • Rechargeable Li-ion battery included • Battery capacity: 3.7V 500mAH • 1pc of 2inch driver unit • Battery life: 3hrs • Micro USB jack, • 3.5mm Aux jack for connection to other MP3, CD, Laptop • Output power: 1.5W Available Colors: Pink, Blue, Green, Yellow
DS- 1156
• Bluetooth • Battery capacity: 3.7V 2200mAH (rechargeable) • Built in Dual Speaker, 360 Surround Sound • Doss patended Air Bass technology, superior sound quality • Battery life: up to 6 hours playback • Micro USB jack, USB cable included • 3.5mm Aux jack, TF card • Output power: 3W *2 Available colors: Pink, Green, Blue, Yellow
DS- 1168
• Bluetooth mini speaker • Rechargeable Li-ion battery included • Main unit battery capacity: 3.7V 500mAh • Reserve battery capacity: 3.7V 1020h • Main unit battery life: 9hrs • Micro USB jack, USB cable included • 3.5mm Aux jack for connection to other MP, CD, laptop • Wireless charging • Output power: 2Wx1 Available Colors: Red, Silver, Chrome
DS-1178 • Output 1.5W + 1.5W • Frequency 80 Hz-18KHz • Working Distance Up to 10M • Wireless technology Bluetooth v3.0 • 3.5mm Audio in Interface • 900mAH Battery Capacity • Micro USB Cable-charging port • Music playback time 3.5hrs(at 50% volume level) • 3 hours charging time • 90 x 90 mm( Dia x H) dimension Available Colors: Blue, Pink, Yellow, Black, Purple Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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NETBASE
HOME • OFFICE • PERSONAL
#THROWBACK Classic Gadgets T Words by Kaye Benedicto
hrowback is remembering the past. It is reliving the memory of a special person, event, place, or things that were important to us! If you use Instagram or Twitter, you’ve probably seen or used the hashtag #throwbackthursday or #flashbackfriday where people post old pictures. Since our theme for this issue is back to the classics,
we feature some of the classic gadgets we have used sometime in our past. Here is a list of old-fashioned gadgets that we loved once upon a time and their modern counterparts.
Nokia 3210 (1999)
Nokia 5110 (1998)
The 3210 was one of the first mobile phones to feature an internal antenna. The phone allowed creating single channel ringtones via internal software. It was possible to send the ringtones to another Nokia phone. ‘Picture messages’ sent via the SMS texting services were implemented in the handset, allowing users to send preinstalled pictures to one another. These included a ‘Happy Birthday’ picture among others. And it was originally designed with a vibrate alert function
The Nokia 5110 was one of the first phones to feature the game snake. It has an excellent battery life, could perform all basic functions such as call and text and didn’t break when you dropped it!
NOW:
Nokia X Dual SIM
Nokia X Dual SIM mobile with 4.00-inch 480x800 display powered by 1GHz processor alongside 512MB RAM and 3-megapixel rear camera.
Betamax (1975) Sony Walkman (1989)
Betamax is a videocassette recording format that used analog magnetic tape ½ inch (1.27cm) in width. It was the rival format to VHS.
This portable audio cassette player was used with earphones, and although the standard models only played back music, later models gave the option to record audio as well through an in-built microphone.
NOW:
NOW:
4GB B Series MP3 WALKMAN
Features • 4GB capacity • New ZAPPIN™ Function allows you to find songs easily, and to listen to music in a new way • Built-in USB for easy drag and drop transfer of content • 18 Hours Battery Life (Quick charge: 3 minutes charge 90 minutes play back) • FM Tuner and Voice/FM Recording Function • Color Matching Power Illuminator
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Blu-ray
Blu-ray disc is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format.
Nintendo Gameboy (1989)
Gameboy has small cartridges that were inserted into the top of the machine, has green-lit screen with monochrome graphics. The Game Boy is Nintendo’s second handheld system following the Game & Watch series and it combined features from both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game & Watch. It was originally bundled with the puzzle game Tetris.
Tamagotchi (1996)
NOW:
Tamagotchi is a digital pet. The egg shaped toy was small enough to carry around with you as you fed, played with and generally nurtured it into its adult form. If you took good care of it, your Tamagotchi could live a long, healthy life; if not, it could die in less than a day.
PSP
The PlayStation Portable is the only handheld video game console to use an optical disc format, Universal Media Disc, as its primary storage medium. Other distinguishing features of the console include its large viewing screen, robust multi-media capabilities and connectivity with the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, other PSPs and the Internet.
NOW:
Sony PlayStation(1994)
With popular games such as Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy, and Tekken, the PlayStation was extremely successful. It was the first console to sell 100 million units, and gamers loved the joystick-laden DualShock controllers.
Floppy disks -diskette (1971)
NOW:
Before USB drives we had to rely on these 3.5square-inch disks to carry our documents. A floppy disk, or diskette, is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive.
USB Flash drives
Sony PlayStation 4
The PlayStation4 puts gamers first with an amazing launch lineup and over 180 games in development. Play amazing top-tier blockbusters and innovative indie hits on PS4.
TYPEWRITER (1866) A typewriter is a small machine, either electric or manual, with type keys that produced characters one at a time on a piece of paper inserted around a roller. Typically one character is printed per keypress. Typewriters have been replaced by personal computers, laptops and printers.
USB flash drives are often used for the same purposes for which floppy disks or CDs were used, such as for storage, back-up and transfer of computer files. They are smaller, faster, have thousands of times more capacity.
NOW:
ACER Aspire E1 The Aspire E1 packs an M-DISC Ready Drive that can preserve your precious data for centuries. Anyone with irreplaceable files will appreciate peace of mind knowing that personal information and priceless memories are safe.
NOW:
Cassette tape (1970) The cassette tape is a magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. It can store music and sounds. It is used with a “cassette player” or “cassette recorder”. Cassettes store the sound on a magnetic tape that is wound around the two reels in the cassette. Compact cassettes come in two forms, either already containing content as a pre-recorded cassette, or as fully recordable “blank” cassette. Now, it is replaced by compact disks (CD).
Compact disc Compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format. The format was originally developed to store and play back sound recordings only but was later adapted for storage of data. We all know that technology is unstoppable. New gadgets make our lives more productive. But sometimes it’s a nice feeling remembering classic gadgets we once loved!
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RATED
TECH • LIFESTYLE • REVIEW
Great Whites
ZTE Grand X2 L V969 Words and photos by Novelyn Quiamco
W
ith the blurring of the lines between mobile phones and tablets upon the introduction of phablets, the trend among the major players in the industry is to come up with phablets that push the envelope of size and speed to capture the market of today. What does this mean for you and me? It means that just about everything we can, need, or even want to do on our desktop or laptop will be possible with a gadget that readily fits the palm of our hand. When I first unboxed the Grand X2 L for this review, my first impression was literally “Wow, It’s BIG!”. With dimensions of 155mm x 78.8mm x 9mm, the Grand X2 L is on the large side of things that it makes me wonder if the ‘L’ in the model name means ‘Large’. Despite the size, the phablet still fits nicely in my hand. Overall build quality of the bar type phablet is topnotch with a solid main body that is devoid of any
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creaks, with very minimal flexing. Being a flagship model, the pearlescent white color does give the unit an upscale image but the smooth surfaces are fingerprint magnets so keep a clean cloth nearby to wipe them off. Dominating the front face of the phone is the 5.5-inch, IPS, Capacitive Touchscreen with a resolution of 960×540 @220ppi which is not top of the class but still relatively high to allow for clear and detailed images and videos. Remove the back cover and the built-in 3200mAh Li-Ion battery takes up most of the real estate inside. Next to the battery are the slots for 2 SIMs and a microSD card. Nestled at the corner are the rear camera and its LED flash. Checking out the spec sheets of the Grand X2 L, it features a 1.3GHz MediaTek MTK6582 quad-core processor while the graphics are handled by a PowerVR SGX544 GPU. Android’s relatively recent Jelly Bean 4.2 is
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the installed operating system. When it comes to storage capacity, internally, there is 1GB of RAM and 4GB internal storage that is expandable up to32GB with a microSD memory card. Being a mobile phone, connectivity is of importance. The Grand X2 L has 3G/HSPA+ with Dual-SIM, Dual Standby capability. For web access, it has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and for quick and for direct sharing of files, it also has Bluetooth capability. The built-in rear camera is 5MP with a LED flash and has 720p video recording @30fps capability. There is also a VGA front-facing camera for those ‘selfies’.
images and there is the built-in ‘photo editing’ capability to boot. One thing that I did feel impressed with is battery life between charges. Even with above average usage, the Grand X2 L seemingly just sips on battery power that I find myself charging it at two day intervals at the very least.
action with very minimal or no lag at all. The 5MP main camera does a good job of capturing detailed
ZTE Grand X2 L V969 is most likely to be on my list because of its good looks, excellent build quality, connectivity options, photo/video capabilities and long battery life.
Investing on something like a phablet to keep me connected to my family, friends and work, the ZTE Grand X2 L V969 is most likely to be on my list because of its good looks, excellent build quality, connectivity options, photo/video capabilities and long battery life. With a price tag of just under Php12,000, the Grand X2 L is good How do all those specs work value for money with performance together? Pretty darn well is what I backing it up. can say. The phablet did not show any glitches during the review and is user-friendly. Exploring BRAND the unit’s functions and apps was RATE very intuitive. Any touch inputs on THE VERDICT: the screen are translated into an
ZTE(Mobile MF90 MiFi Wi-Fi) Words and photos by Novelyn Quiamco
I
n a generation that has the needs to be connected to the worldwide web to keep in touch with family and friends; to keep up-to-date with what is happening around them, internet access wherever you may be is a necessity than a luxury nowadays. Unfortunately, only selected locations offer web access whether it be paid or free. One solution is to use your mobile device’s data connection to access the internet. A drawback to that is it drastically reduces the battery duration of your mobile device and the data connection is usually a hit or miss deal. Another way to access the internet while on the move is via a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. The popularity of portable hotspots stems from the ability for multiple users to use it and seemingly uninterrupted data connection. Enter ZTE’s latest offering in the portable Wi-Fi hotspot market, the
MF90. This latest addition to ZTE’s product lineup offers fast upload and download speed capability with 4G/LTE connectivity. In addition to the fast data transfer speeds, the MF90 allows up to ten users to access the web. Bigger than your usual Wi-Fi ‘stick’, the MF90 easily fits the palm of your hand and can easily stowed in your bag or pocket. The immaculate white surface is broken up only by two buttons and a black band that serves as a status display. After securing my own 4G/LTE SIM pack for this review, I booted up the unit and did a status check via the proprietary program that you can install on your desktop (or in my case, laptop). Once I was sure that everything was in order and the password was secure, I set about putting the MF90 to the test in the real world. Once turned on, my mobile phone easily connected to the
portable hotspot and accessed the web with surprising ease. The unit’s data transfer limits are 100Mbps for downloading data while uploading data limits are set at 50Mbps, blisteringly quick speeds if only the ISPs were up to the task. When there is 4G/LTE service available in the area I’m at, the data transfer is a whole lot faster that what I (or should I say we) have experienced with 3G/2G networks on a good day. Watching videos without waiting for the video load is possible. Refreshing webpages is almost as quick as blinking your eyes. Even with the absence of the 4G/LTE service in your area, data transfer seems slightly quicker and smoother at 3G/2G connections which the unit automatically reverts to when faster connections are not available. Staying connected with the MF90 for hours on end? Not a problem. Each full charge of the unit’s 2300mAh Li-Ion battery allows 5
hours of continuous web surfing. No need to be greedy with your quick internet connection as well, remember the ten user capability I mentioned earlier? But all ten of you and your friends need not crowd around the MF90 though; the unit allows connectivity up to 10 meters away. The ZTE MF90 MiFi is designed for anyone to use with its simplicity and fast data transfer capabilities. Just one press of a button and you’re connected online. It is one of the faster ways of getting and staying connected to the world.
BRAND RATE THE VERDICT:
The ZTE MF90 MiFi is designed for anyone to use with its simplicity and fast data transfer capabilities
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STRONTIUM NITRO Y
OTG 8GB USB DRIVE
ou may have probably seen it before in several spy or espionage techno thrillers, where the hero discretely copies important files or documents from a laptop or desktop. And after a few seconds, he can view the files he copied on his mobile phone or tablet. This is what I was thinking the first time I tried out the Strontium 8GB USB On-The-Go Flash Drive. The Strontium NITRO OTG USB 2.0 flash drives are small USB drives, that have a standard USB on one end and a micro-USB on the other end, so they can be accessed directly from a computer or any OTG-supported smartphone or tablet. It is used for data storage and transfer between OTGcompatible devices without use of a cable.
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Words and photos by Dindin Moreno
“USB On-The-Go, often abbreviated USB OTG or just OTG, is a specification first used in late 2001, that allows USB devices such as digital audio players or mobile phones to act as a host, allowing other USB devices like a USB flash drive, digital camera, mouse, or keyboard to be attached to them. Use of USB OTG allows these devices to switch back and forth between host and client devices. For instance, a mobile phone may read from removable media as the host device, or present itself as a USB Mass Storage Device when connected to a host computer.” Source: Wikipedia Physically, these flash drives are one of the smaller ones I’ve seen. It is roughly a bit bigger than the size of my thumbnail with the protective cap off. Due to its size, you can have a hard time searching for it in your pocket if it
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is also filled with keys and coins. So if you were a spy with sensitive material in the flash drive, it would easily be overlooked if you got caught and were given a pat down.
Almost everybody knows how to use a flash drive. So using the Strontium is easy as it gets. Just plug it in a USB port and copy away! No drivers needed to be installed. The same goes with using it on your mobile device with a Micro USB port. Just plug it in! But first, you have to make sure that your device is OTG compatible. I tried using it with my Nexus 7 tablet, but sadly it didn’t detect the flash drive. But I had no problems using it with HTC and Sony smartphones. The pictures and movies I copied appeared in the Gallery. One thing I noticed is that the flash drive gets a bit warm to the touch after a few
seconds of using it. But I was able to watch a full-length movie on my phone without encountering any problems. With the 8GB storage size, you can roughly put in around 10-12 movies, 1500 MP3s, and 4000 JPG photos. Not too shabby for something that tiny. I bet, if the need be, I could also fit in documents containing topsecret material of a rich and small country. Shhhh…
BRAND RATE THE VERDICT: Not too shabby for something that tiny. I bet, if the need be, I could also fit in documents containing top-secret material of a rich & small country.
KINGMAX SME32 Xvalue 120GB 2.5” SATA III Solid State Drive
S
olid State Drive or SSD is a new generation of storage technology that is faster, more durable, and quieter, compared to traditional Hard Disk Drives. It also consumes less power, and runs cooler than HDDs. The KINGMAX SME32 Xvalue 120GB SSD is up on deck. I was able to purchase a cheap SATA enclosure and installed the KINGMAX SSD inside and formatted it accordingly. I proceeded to copy some files to it and didn’t encounter any problems at all. I compared it to my trusty old SATA portable
Words and photos by Dindin Moreno
Hard Drive and am glad to point out that the KINGMAX SSD performed flawlessly doing what it was proclaimed to do, It was definitely faster and cooler during operation. I don’t have any instrument that measures the power consumption, but I’m sure it aced that as well. If the first paragraph of this article tempts you to buy one right away, you might want to consider the disadvantages too. First SSDs are more expensive compared to HDDs in a Peso per Gigabyte ratio. And, the capacities of SSDs can’t measure up to HDDs also.
But bear in mind, there are people who will the find the need of SSDs to be very essential too. SSDs have no moving parts inside. This alone would make it ideal for people who are extremely mobile, and for those who always carry along their precious laptops be it for work or for play. Everybody should know that constant or sudden motion while using your Hard Disk Drive is a no-no. More if you drop your Hard Disk Drive while it is writing or reading data, you could severely damage it and lose your precious data forever!
If you are willing to sacrifice capacity for speed and durability, then go ahead splurge on SSDs. The KINGMAX SME32 Xvalue SSD is a very smart option to start with.
BRAND RATE THE VERDICT: The KINGMAX SME32 Xvalue SSD is a very smart option to start with.
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I
Monster Tunes Words and photos by Andrew Rodriguez
t was a few decades ago when I first came across the ‘Monster’ brand. Back then, I was deeply involved in high-end car audio and home audio systems and the brand was considered to be one of the best audio related wires and cables in the market. I have used their wires and cables every chance I got for decades, and have been happy with them. Then in recent years, the company branched out to manufacturing headphones and earphones that have become equally popular to a wider market. Not sitting on their laurels, Monster has introduced their next generation of what I would call ‘personal audio equipment’. For this review, I got the chance to put two of their products, namely the DNA and the Clarity HD Micro, through the wringer.
Monster DNA
When the brand’s first line of over-ear headphones, Beats by Dr.
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Dre, was introduced to the general public, it quickly became the headphones to have and be seen wearing over your ears or dangling around your neck. Building on the experience and lessons learned from their first headphone model, Monster has continuously developed their product line to keep up with the demands of the market. Enter Monster’s DNA headphones. The DNA maintains Monster’s innovative design philosophy. Instead of using the traditional headband with round or oval pods on the either end design, the DNA integrates triangular shapes to make a stylish look that is unique to it. The stylish and unified look ingeniously hides folding hinges of ear cups that allow you to store them with a smaller footprint whether it is in your bag or desk. Monster has also thoughtfully included a felt pouch for the DNA. The ear cups are nicely padded for comfortable listening even for hours on end. The pads do a
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fairly good job of keeping outside noise from interfering with your listening pleasure. When worn over your head, the DNA is light and unobtrusive. You don’t feel like it is going fall off whenever you suddenly turn your head. Just as their Beats line, Monster is offering the DNA line in several duo-tone colors to keep things interesting and stylish. One of the things I noticed while unboxing the DNA for the review was that these were designed with mobile phones and sharing in mind. The headphones come with a pair of tangle-resistant cables. Why two you ask? One cable is for connecting directly to you IPhone, IPod or IPad with matching controls and an in-line microphone to allow you to take calls. The second cable is to allow you to connect another headphone to it via 3.5mm jacks found at the bottom of each ear cup that presumably are wired in parallel. ‘MusicShare’, as Monster coins it, is a way for both you and
a friend to share the same music experience at the same time. Time to put the DNA to the test; I have to admit that I had certain expectations to how the DNA might sound like based entirely on my experience with the Beats line. Although the Beats were good, their sound reproduction characteristics were decidedly ideal for a limited number of musical genres that left users wanting. With the DNA, there is a marked improvement in the midrange reproduction while the low frequencies at low and moderate sound levels are handled really well with good definition and without being muddled. A wide variety of musical genres are actually pleasing to listen to with the DNA. Listening to the DNAs gave me a feeling of being enveloped with the music I was listening to, it has some dimension to the sound reproduced. There seems to be lack in high frequency detail but that is just me looking
for audiophile, studio-grade sound detail that might be beyond the design brief of the DNA. With all the improvements achieved, the DNA headphones surprised me with how much of an improvement they are from Monster’s early headphone endeavors.
Monster Clarity HD Micro
In some situations, a headphone is just not enough to enjoy music. Certain situations call for a speaker to reproduce sound and share with a group of people. Monster designed the Clarity HD Micro just for that purpose. This portable speaker allows wireless delivery of audio whether it be music, movies and even calls from you mobile phone. The Clarity HD Micro system comes in a relatively compact package. Roughly the size of a person’s open palm, the system uses three small speakers in a pseudo 2.1 format housed in the enclosure along with the electronics. Although the Clarity HD Micro I received for the review is immaculately white, the grille covering the speakers can be swapped out for three other colors which are sold separately. On the top of the enclosure are the three
buttons that hold the key to the functions of the unit. Also on the top panel are the LED status light and microphone. A microphone you ask? I’ll go into detail about that in a bit. Now at the lower corners of the unit is the power switch, mini-USB port, 3.5mm jack and reset button. The mini-USB port serves as the charging dock while the 3.5mm jack allows you to use alternative media sources. The primary method of connecting with the Clarity HD Micro is via Bluetooth so it can be used with mobile phones, tablets, laptops and even desktops that also have Bluetooth capability. As soon as you turn the unit on, it searches for available units nearby to pair with. A voice prompt from the unit will inform you once a connection has been made. In general, pairing and connecting between the speaker and mobile phone is quick but there were times where it took a few tries before it worked on different phone models. Once connected, the Clarity HD Micro allows you switch tracks, pause or play tracks AND take calls. Remember the microphone I mentioned earlier? The speaker also doubles as a speakerphone where calls are made or answered.
Another use for the speaker is the voice command. Yes, there are some functions that the unit can do for you by speaking to the unit and saying “Hello Monster Micro” and the unit will respond with “say a command”, then you can give a command. Pretty nifty stuff if you ask me. Going back to playing audio tracks, the Clarity HD Micro does live up its name by reproducing sound clearly in a small package. On the front face of the speaker we can find the two round fullrange speakers while at the back of the speaker resides a small oval shaped speaker whose purpose is to handle the lower frequencies. With overall sound characteristic of being balanced, the mid and high frequencies are reproduced nicely without being overbearing at all volume levels. The low frequencies have a solid thump despite the small speakers. Monster engineers have done a good job of matching the speakers with an enclosure size that enhances their low frequency output. Speaking of output, the Clarity HD Micro can play loud enough to fill a small to medium-sized and quiet room but place it in a room with a good amount of ambient noise; it might be relegated to providing
background music instead of being the main attraction. At some point during the review I found myself wanting more output from the speaker. With the volume control being limited to the source device, if it was maxed out there at the source, well, that was it. Although I wished there was a way to control the volume from the speaker itself, I suspect that it was designed that way by the engineers so that speakers would always be protected and playing within their limits. After the review stint with both Monster units, I feel that both the headphones and speaker provide great sound with excellent build quality that match the price tags that they carry (Php14,000 for the DNA and Php11,500 for the Clarity HD Micro) in a clear example of “quality is not cheap”, but you do get what pay for.
BRAND RATE THE VERDICT:
I feel that both the headphones and speaker provide great sound with excellent build quality that match the price tags that they carry
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HIGHLIGHT
LATEST • TRENDING • UPDATES
#Selfie is the
New Self Portrait Words and photos by Novelyn Quiamco
S
elfies are everywhere and here to stay. No matter what you’re doing, wherever you are and whenever the mood strikes; “selfie” is the current generation’s way of doing personal portrait photography. Selfie is new term coined for the act of taking one’s photograph by the person him/herself usually taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Granted that self-portraits are not something new, technology has made doing selfies very easy and quick. The current crop of mobile phones integrates a front facing camera aside from the main camera that is found on the back of the phone. Intended for 52
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video calls, the front mounted camera has made taking your own photo with your phone much more convenient as you can preview how the photo is composed. The introduction of compact digital cameras has also fueled the selfie phenomenon. Being small and light, they can be carried in a bag or pocket and taken out on the spur of the moment. Selfies are often shared on social networking. Often casual, they are typically taken either with a camera held at arm’s length or in a mirror and nowadays, a monopod. Taking a selfie is just like capturing any typical photo, the only difference is you are composing a photo of yourself. In a fit of vanity of sorts, it takes 3-6 photos on average to
get the photo that you want to post online. The appeal of selfies comes from how easy they are to create and share. The absolute control that self-photographers has over how the photo will come out and present themselves adds to the whole appeal of selfies. Many selfies are intended to present a flattering image of the person, especially to friends whom the photographer expects to be supportive. As popular as selfies are nowadays, there is even a genre of selfies emerging called ‘Slimfies’. A Slimfie is the photo you took of yourself at an angle that would make you look slimmer than your usual self, it’s like cheating your way to being slim just by taking a photo.
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Due to popularity of selfies in general, there are now even apps dedicated to make your selfie more beautiful and can add even make up to your photo. Every selfie ‘enthusiast’ knows what their best angle is for that perfect photo but their best angle may not be enough that is why it is somewhat crucial to be able to use all the resources available to you, like applications that you can download online. Rather than editing your photo on your laptop/PC, with the editing apps in your phone, one can quickly edit a selfie shot then connect to the internet and upload it. Incidentally, some camera phones now have their own photo editing app of some form or degree of capability so you can edit your photos already without downloading additional apps. Whether they are downloaded or built-in apps, they are easy to use with just a few flicks and swipes of your fingers. 54
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It has been said that sharing a selfie online is letting your friends or followers on your social network know almost everything you do, what you look like today, your outfit of the day (OOTD), mood, etc. It is status posting taken to the visual level. Selfies are not only for the young generation. Young and old alike enjoy taking selfies and sharing them. It knows no cultural or territorial boundaries as well. Anyone in the world has taken to the selfie phenomenon. I, myself, do selfies from time to time; just to update my family, friends and followers on Facebook. If you ask me if how long the selfie trend will last, I would simply say that selfie is just a word used today to describe something that people have been doing since man learned to take photographs so it would be safe to say that taking selfies will be with us for generations to come.
Mobile Photography Words and photos by Novelyn Quiamco
in
pretty much each day, we encounter someone using their camera phone to capture a moment in time, a photograph. Even just by taking a photo using your camera phone, it is still considered as a form or genre of photography. Phone photography is essentially a relatively new form of photography since the technology to allow this to happen is fairly recent as well. And it does make a lot of sense to put a phone together with a camera. Our mobile phones are with us almost every day of our lives because it is one of those gadgets that allow us to communicate to with others regardless where we may be. Technology has advanced so much that almost every phone we can buy nowadays has a camera built into it
already. Although the cameras that are built in to the phones differ in performance, it all boils down to the person who is holding the camera, or should I say the phone that will determine how good the photo will be. Whether it be a random, spur of the moment snapshot or a well thought out composition, the camera phone has become a valuable tool of photography. It isn’t surprising that some of the most inspiring images that occur in our everyday lives are the times when you do not have a compact camera or a DSLR with you or nearby. That camera phone that you are carrying in your pocket or bag can capture those impromptu photo moments. To ensure that you capture those moments in the best possible quality, let me share with you some tips that I personally use to get quality photos out of my camera phone.
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Tricks or maybe Steps to improve your phone photography: 1. Clean your lens. Almost everyone I know does not look at the lens on their phone when they grab it from their pocket, bag or carrying case. It does make a huge difference when you clean the lens than leaving it smudged, fingerprinted or dusty. 2. Choose your subject and determine how you intend to frame it in your photo. Your subject could be a person or an object x, what is important is that your subject must become the focal point of the photo. Framing is everything, put your subject where you want them BUT don’t always put them at the center. Play with your framing or composition. Stop using the picture frames on your phone. What you capture in the frame of your photo actually adds drama to your photo.
4. Have an open mind and keep your eyes open. Try to always have a fresh look on your surroundings, seeing things differently works wonders. Keep your eyes open, interesting things are happening all around us all the time, even when our backs are turned. The convenience and discreetness of your mobile phone camera is one of its best qualities, use it by keeping your eyes open. 5. Don’t use the camera’s zoom function. It doesn’t actually zoom! All it does is digitally zoom, which is the same thing as cropping your photo. But if the camera is trying to zoom digitally it will be more sensitive to movements from your hands and it will create a lower resolution image. Your best bet is to take the picture without zooming and then crop in as close as you want. Or better yet, take a few steps closer to your subject.
3. Know Your APPS. Every mobile phone app has its perks, which enables us to use awesome effects on our photos and making them look as artistic as possible. Knowing the editing capabilities of the different apps will allow you get the most out of them.
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6. Take loads of shots and experiment. The beauty of all forms of digital photography (including that of camera phones) is the ability to shoot off many shots quickly and without cost. This means you can experiment with different modes and composition. 7. Follow the rules of composition. Learn some basic composition ‘rules’. (For example – the rule of thirds – don’t place your subject squarely in the middle of your frame but a third of the way in). Simple tips like this can bring life to your photos. But then also remember that the beauty of a camera phone is its ability to break all conventions – some of the best shots around break all the
rules. So shoot from the hip, the floor, up high, up close – anything goes. 8. Composition is (still) King. Every good photographer’s secret to having good shots. As with all digital photography, the steadier you are with the camera phone is the clearer your image will be. This is especially important in low light situations where the camera will select longer shutter speeds to compensate for the lack of light. One trick is to lean your camera phone (or the hand holding it) against a solid object (like a tree, wall, ledge) when taking shots. Keep in mind that many camera phones also suffer from ‘shutter lag’ (the time between when you press the shutter and when the camera takes the shot can be a
second or so). This means you need to hold the camera still a little longer to ensure it doesn’t take a shot as you’re lowering it away from the subject. 9. Change your Perspective. Look for different angles and viewpoints to add interest to your composition. Don’t be afraid to get down on the ground or climb a ledge for a bird’s eye view. Your camera is way smaller now — take it places. Get close and focus on the small details, or go wide and give more context and sense of place. Play with Apps: tilt-shift effects, distortion, and selective focus/blur can add cool variety. What I have enumerated above can form the basic rules of phone photography but like all rules, they are made to be
broken (you have to know and understand them first). For example, sometimes putting things smack dab in the middle works nicely. Simply take more pictures (or shoot, upload, repeat) and keep on experimenting (and learning). The advantage of going to mobile phone photography is that we get to have unlimited film and instant feedback just by uploading. The advantage of mobile phone photography is that the camera fits in your pocket. Just shoot it — happy accidents and defining moments happen all the time. As I end this, I hope that you don’t get stuck with what you have hopefully learned from this article so experiment away! Happy shooting!
*Photos were sourced from the internet Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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INFOCUS
FEATURES • COVER STORY
ULTIMA
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 1Ghz Dual Core 5.0” Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 5.0 MP Main Camera w/Flash 2.0 Front Camera 3G/GPS/Bluetooth/WIFI Loudspeaker/FM Radio Multimedia Player 4GB Internal Memory Memory Card up to 32GB P4,999
On Louise Delos Reyes Dress - Black And Pink Cropped Top And Skirt By : Jean Espeleta Of JNX Shoes - Owned By Louise Delos Reyes Venue: Fernwood Gardens
Special Thanks to: Mr. Philip Ortiz and BS Mobile Family, GMAAC and Mr. Al Deveyra
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of Fernwood
Best Selfie Mobile
Photographer: Yhuong Botor
Assistant Photographer: Angelo Maiza
Stylist: Janno Novenario
Assistant Stylist: Dale Aldovino x Angel Ocampo Stylist (Aljur): Rex Atienza
Make-Up: Lian Capili and Ehyel Dolloson
Hair: Nathan Ferolino and Edward Pascual Creative Direction: Mario Alaman
BS
SATURN II
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 1.0 Ghz Dual Core 7” WGVA Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 2MP Back Camera 0.3 Front Camera VGA Front Multimedia Player 3G/WIFI/GPS/OTG/Bluetooth Expandable Memory Card up to 32GB P3,599
Mobile, one of the fastest growing mobile brands in the country, proudly introduces their new faces of quality, phone models and new endorsers. First it was Marie Frencheska Mae Tobias Farr, commonly known as “Frencheska Farr”. She was born on September 9, 1992, and is a Filipina singer, model and actress. The “Are You the Next Big Star?” grand champion was born in Las Pinas City. BS Mobile expanded to a higher level, along with their upcoming model of phones, they also choose the best artist to endorse them. The ultimate hunk of the realitybased talent show, Starstruck,Aljur Abrenica, was their best bet. Born on March 24, 1990 and raised in Angeles, Pampanga, Aljur is a certified Kapuso actor. He is commonly known as the new Machete of this generation. He has made a lot of teleseryes and movies as well that have captured the hearts of this young Filipinos. If you think it’s over, no it’s just the beginning. BS Mobile also tapped one of the quality leading ladies of GMA7, Louise delos Reyes (Mary Grace delos Reyes Perido in real life) Born on September 1, 1993 she’s a Filipina actress of Columbian descent from Tanza, Cavite. She won as the ”Best New Movie Actress” from PMPC for her lead role in Agaton and Mindy, an indie film directed by Peque Gallaga. After that award, she made her first teleserye, “Alakdana” and followed by several lead roles in both TV and cinema.
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SOUL
Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean 4.0” Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 2.0 MP Dual Camera w/Flash Xpress Music WIFI/Bluetooth Multimedia Player Loudspeaker/FM Radio Memory Card up to 32GB P1,999
Q&A BM: What does ‘selfie’ mean? And why do you do selfies?
BM: In terms of fashion, which do you prefer - classic or modern style? And why?
killer, someone with physical disabilities or an action heroine like Lara Croft of Tomb Raider.
BM: How do you feel about endorsing BS Mobile?
LOUISE: For me a selfie shot is when you take a photo using your own camera. You don’t ask anyone to do it for you.
LOUISE: Classic. I still go for classic. I like white, black or gray colors on my clothes. I really go for neutral colors. If ever kailangang may color, I would choose red sa damit ko.
BM: Are there any current shows on TV that you’d like to be part of?
LOUISE: I’m super flattered. I’m very happy kasi isa ako sa mga napili and to be with my fellow GMA Artist Center talents like Aljur Abrenica and Fremcheska Farr, wow, it is is such an honor!
BM: How many selfies have you shared? LOUISE: I think I share about 2 to 5 times a day, ganun karami! Hahaha. I usually take selfies when I eat, in front of the mirror, or when I am at a nice place. BM: What is your favorite picture of yourself? And why? LOUISE: I really like pictures that highlight my eyes because eyes are the windows to the soul, right? People say malalim daw ako tumingin, there is depth in my expression, my eyes are expressive which I consider as a compliment
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BM: Name three things you can’t live without? LOUISE: I will give a practical but true answer. I can’t live without money, my cellphone, and my laptop. I use them a lot for my work kasi. BM: Which do you prefer working on - TV or movie? Why? LOUISE: I like doing both, I am more particular about the characters I portray. I want to play more out of the box characters, ayoko gawin ang mga nakasanayan ko na. I want to try out more challenging characters like a psycho
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LOUISE: I’m an old soul so na-aattract ako sa mga bagay from the past. Stories from the past. Sa mga nakikita kong shows –both “Viking” and “Game of Thrones”ang gusto kong maging part of. I’m mesmerized kasi sa mga ganung shows. BM: Given a chance, what product do you want to endorse? LOUISE: Endorsing gadgets would be very cool! Kaya I’m happy that I’m part of BS Mobile kasi I’m really into social media. I am a social media addict! I believe that what you should endorse should be something that you are passionate about and I am passionate about social media. BS Mobile is also perfect for work because I get to connect to my fans and family.
BM: Outside showbiz, what other things are you into these days? LOUISE: I go out with my non-showbiz friends and I have started to dance with the dance group G-Force. I’m also attending dance classes right now. I don’t believe in wasting my time. I want to use my time to hone my skills and talents. Dress - Black Sleeve Dress By : Adrian Sahagun Shoes - Thian Rodriguez Accessories - Owned By The Stylist (Janno Novenario) Stylist - Janno Novenario Assistant Stylist - Dale Aldovino
Q&A BM: What does ‘selfie’ mean? And why do you do selfies? ALJUR: For me, one does selfie out of selfadmiration. You are confident and happy dun sa looks mo. I like to balance my selfies with inspiring posts. BM: How many selfies have you shared? ALJUR: Sa buong buhay ko,dalawa lang. Ni-re-request lang ng mga fans ko at pinagbibigyan ko naman. I’m more into group pictures siguro because I’m happier when I’m with people I love and care about. BM: Which is your favorite picture of yourself? And why? ALJUR: Stolen pictures! Kasi mas nakikita ang side ko na spontaneous and uninhibited. I believe that’s where my truer self comes out. BM: In terms of fashion what do you prefer - classic or modern style? Why? ALJUR: Modern, but I have also learned how to appreciate classic styles. I’ve learned how to mix them and display them in the material stuff that I own, like my car. My Dodge Challenger has a modern design but there are touches of classic here and there. BM: Name three things you can’t live without? ALJUR: Una, faith ko kay Lord, His love is in me. Second, the Bible. Third, fellowship with other Godly people. BM: What do you prefer working on - TV or movie? Why? ALJUR: As much as possible, lahat gusto kong i-try. Sana next movie ko will be an action flick, it would be perfect because I have a background in mixed martial arts. BM: Are there any current shows on TV that you’d like to be part of? ALJUR: I want to be a part of the 24 series and Game Of Thrones kasi sobrang fan ako ng story nya –mahilig manggulat. BM: Given a chance what product do you want to endorse? ALJUR: Gadgets, sasakyan, gusto ko talaga to endorse motorbikes. And toothpaste na rin and health products. BM: How do you feel about endorsing BS Mobile?
ULTIMA
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 1Ghz Dual Core 5.0” Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 5.0 MP Main Camera w/Flash 2.0 Front Camera 3G/GPS/Bluetooth/WIFI Loudspeaker/FM Radio Multimedia Player 4GB Internal Memory Memory Card up to 32GB P4,999 On Aljur: Enperor T-shirt
ALJUR: Sobrang saya, kasi ang ganda ng encounter namin ng BS Mobile. It’s a blessing from the Lord. I really feel overwhelmed representing this great product! It’s a good avenue for me to be a role model, especially among the younger generation. BM: Outside showbiz, what other things are you into these days? ALJUR: I am a fitness enthusiast! I love water sports, basketball and Muay Thai. I also like photography. I enjoy extreme sports like car racing as well.
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Q&A BM: What does ‘selfie’ mean? And why do you do selfies? FRENCHESKA: For me, selfie, well, the word is selfexplanatory. I take a photo of my self. I do selfies when I feel extra pretty that day, every girl has those days, right? But I feel more comfortable when other people take pictures of me or when I am in a picture with other people. Mahirap din mag-selfie minsan, hehe! BM: How many selfies have you shared? FRENCHESKA: Once a week. Hmm, kaunti lang talaga. Uusally I take photos when I want to share on my Instagram account stuff that’s been happening in my life, BM: What is your favorite picture of yourself? And why? FRENCHESKA: My profile picture on my Twitter account. I like taking photos of myself when I am happy because what I feel on the inside radiates on the outside. I also feel soo free when I am happy. BM: In terms of fashion. What do you prefer - classic or modern style? And why? FRENCHESKA: Hmm. I wouldn’t choose one. Hindi ko masabi kung classic or modern. Depende sa mood ko, depende sa weather. I would say halo talaga! BM: Can you give three things that you can’t live without? FRENCHESKA: Aside sa cellphone, I think scrunchies kasi lagi akong nagtatali ng hair. Also a ukulele kasi gusto ko ‘yung sound nya. It makes me happy when I hear the sound of the ukulele! The beach, I also cant live without the beach, kahit once in two weeks lang ako pumupunta doon. I am the type of person habang nagtatarabaho kailangan may bakasyon in between. Doon ko nakukuha ang space na kailangan ko. It energizes me to work again. BM: What do you prefer - working on TV or movie? Why? FRENCHESKA: Both but I like movies a bit more because there is more preparation time. I want to do a politically inspired movie like Dekada 70. BM: Are there any current shows on TV that you’d like to be part of? FRENCHESKA: Well, wala naman in particular. I try to embrace opportunity as long as it is good and it will benefit my career and a lot of people. BM: Given a chance what product do you want to endorse? FRENCHESKA: I want to endorse sports shoes because I like to work out, I would also love to surf, I’ve gotten into it lately and it really calms my soul. BM: How do you feel about endorsing BS Mobile? FRENCHESKA: Actually, I feel very privileged to be an endorser. I love the brand because it is easy to use, user-friendly and affordable! Sarap ng feeling to be an endorser of such a quality product. BM: Outside showbiz, what other things are you into these days? FRENCHESKA: Lately, surfing. And also traveling kas ibata pa lang ako gusto ko na mag-travel. You learn a lot of things when you travel around, you get immersed in different cultures.
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CHARM Android 4.4 Kitkat 3.5” Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 2.0 MP Dual Camera w/Flash 3G/WIFI/Bluetooth Multimedia Player Loudspeaker/FM Radio Memory Card up to 32GB P1,999
Dress - Black Sleeve Dress By : Adrian Sahagun Shoes - Thian Rodriguez Accessories - Owned By The Stylist (Janno Novenario) Stylist - Janno Novenario Assistant Stylist - Dale Aldovino
FIRE
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 1Ghz Quad Core 5.0” Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 5.0 MP Main Camera w/Flash 3G/GPS/Bluetooth/WIFI Loudspeaker/FM Radio Multimedia Player 4GB Internal Memory Memory Card up to 32GB P5,399
JUPITER II
On Frencheska Farr Top - black hanging dress by : owned by frencheska farr Bottom - army skinnies by : the brand trunk Shoes - owned by frenchesla farr Accessories - owned by the stylist (janno novenario)
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 1Ghz Dual Core 7” WGVA Capacitive Touch Screen Dual Sim Active 2MP Back Camera 0.3 Front Camera VGA Front Multimedia Player 3G/WIFI/GPS/Bluetooth Expandable Memory Card up to 32GB P3,399
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MOBILITY
CAR NEWS • NEW CARS
words & photos by Jude Morte
Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo X M/T
PROOF OF LONGEVITY common sight in certain cartoons whenever aged liquor is involved are jugs with the letter “X” on them. Normally the cartoon characters that partake of the aforementioned jugs are apprehensive of the latter’s contents, but upon imbibing what the jugs offered, they enjoy it. This is the same feeling elicited by many – including Auto Loco ‘Pinas – upon getting seat time in the Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo or Sportivo. The overall design and engineering of the Sportivo hasn’t changed in some time, which makes you apprehensive of what it can offer you. But why change things when your product is still very much a contender in its [people hauler] segment? The Sportivo – specifically, the Sportivo X M/T (manual transmission) lent for this test drive – is a testament to the brand’s longevity. The
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tall, hulking two box section that’s bolstered by large trapezoidal headlights (now with daytime running lights within the housings), foglights the size of motorbike headlights, large viewing glass for the front, rear and either lateral flank, swing-to-the-left tailgate (with the spare tire and a reverse gear-activated camera mounted within it) and heavy duty roof rails (they can handle up to 50 kg worth of luggage) is utility personified. It appeals to the Filipino looking for an inexpensive vehicle that can go almost anywhere, bring the family and their stuff along, and have fun on the journey. Fun on the journey is also reinforced in the cabin. The aforementioned large viewing side glass applies to all three rows of seats and provides occupants with a feast for the eyes, especially if the unit is used as occasional weekend wheels. The air conditioning is cold (even at the blower’s “1” setting), aided by vents for both rear rows and blower controls within the second row/third row ceiling divider.
The in car entertainment (ICE) is DVD, MP3 compact disc, USB thumb drive and external MP3 player compatible, and totes two 6.5-inch monitors within the front seat backrests so that rearbound passengers can watch virtually anything video on the ICE. The ICE’s usage may require a few trips to the owner’s manual (due to the head unit’s layout), but the ICE’s sound is surprisingly strong and clear, particularly when high
tones are involved. If you do get a Sportivo X M/T, play either “Love’s Theme” by the Love Unlimited Orchestra or Marcin Wasilewski Trio’s “Diamonds and Pearls” within the head unit to verify the previous sentence. As with any Isuzu, there’s stowage ability. Both rear rows fold and tumble forward. There are four cupholders (two behind the M/T stick and two within the second row backrests), plus pockets within the front seats’ backrests and cubbyholes below the dashboard’s aircon controls. The unit has engine response, but don’t expect to readily overtake most on the highway or off a standstill start. Then again, it’s a good thing, as one shouldn’t go fast while lugging seven to eight people and their respective baggage, especially in a Sportivo. It also helps that this Isuzu has an M/T variant, which reduces your maintenance worries due to an M/T having less parts than an automatic transmission.
The rest of the driving dynamics are a mix of amusement and annoyances. There’s a lot of lean during cornering, but it’s not enough to unnerve occupants. The ride is somewhat bouncy with three or four inside, but with six people within its confines (or two people in front, plus five to six large travel bags) the ride is firm. The brakes grab hard with just a light tap of the middle pedal, the parking brake bites with just a five degree pull on its handle and the side mirrors are wide enough to see up to two lanes on either lateral flank. The headlights, foglights and turn signals (with two of them within the side mirror housings) are bright, and night time vision is greatly helped by the daytime running lights within the headlamp housings.
when parallel parking or shoehorning into mall parking lots, as rearward vision is sacrificed due to the spare tire on the tailgate. Much like aged liquor without labels, the longrunning Isuzu Sportivo X M/T may seem like an iffy acquisition until you fully get to experience what it can offer you, especially with regard to people and cargo hauling.
Lastly, the reverse-gear activated camera (right under the third brake light and atop the rear windshield, with its monitor incorporated within the head unit), is utterly indispensable Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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Hyundai Elantra 1.6 S AT
ELANTRA REDUX words by Andrew Rodriguez photos by Novelyn Quiamco & HARI (Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.)
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When Hyundai introduced the fifth and current generation of their Elantra compact sedan to the Philippine automotive market back in 2011, it gave the usual culprits in the compact sedan category a good run for their money. How good a run you ask? Well, let us just say that the Hyundai Elantra won the coveted 2011-2012 Philippine Car of the Year award as judged by the members of the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI). As 2014 came rolling in, Hyundai gave the current Elantra a slight makeover of sorts to freshen up the model to keep things interesting and the competition at bay. On the outside, the overall design of the Elantra is relatively unchanged maintaining its ‘fluidic sculpture’ styling theme. The Elantra’s cutting edge but elegant looks stands out in a sea of vehicles on the road and is unmistakable for anything else than a Hyundai ever since the company adapted the styling theme across its current automotive model lineup. The keeneyed car enthusiast will notice that Hyundai has updated the headlights of the Elantra to projectortype systems with LED positioning lamps. The tail lights now take on a ‘European feel’ with design details that might remind you of a European brand that is said to make the ultimate driving machines. The only other ‘makeover’ details that I could find are the fog lamps that seem to be slightly smaller with a different trim (but are just as effective as before), the rear bumper now incorporates a lower ‘diffuser’ with inset reflectors moved to a higher location and, finally, a new 16-inch alloy wheel design. Keeping the changes to a minimum is a good move since the original design of the current generation Elantra is very good to begin with and like the saying goes, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. Underneath the sculpted sheet metal, the drivetrain and suspension are kept unchanged for the freshened up Elantra. For the variant on review here, the Elantra S, a 1.6L DOHC 16-valve fuel injected engine produces 128hp at 6,300rpm lurks under the hood. Engine power goes thru a 6-speed H-Matic transmission that gives us the convenience of an automatic shifting transmission with the option to manually shift gears when the sporty mood arises. There is a 6-speed manual
transmission offered but with today’s traffic conditions, the H-Matic transmission gets you the best of both worlds so to speak. One under the hood change is that the previously available 1.8L engine variant has been dropped from the lineup as of this review. Although the larger engine does produce a bit more power, it might not be missed too much since the 1.6L engine is quite responsive to right foot inputs to the accelerator pedal. Having experienced driving the previous 1.8L variant myself, the capable 1.6L engine had me surprised and satisfied with its perkiness and willingness to rev. Suffice to say that the engine and transmission combo had me grinning each time I sat behind the wheel. At some point the fun has to stop and we need to slow down or come to a stop all together. The ‘S’ is equipped with front disc brakes and drum brakes in the rear with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution). The suspension is composed of MacPhearson Struts in front and a coupled torsion beam axle in the rear. Overall ride feel is comfortable with, surprisingly, a touch of firmness. I say surprisingly because in my previous encounter with the Elantra, the suspension felt a tad too soft especially in the rear. Bumps and potholes are comfortably absorbed while still being able to take corners with less body roll than before. Hyundai has done their homework for the makeover. Rounding out the suspension package is a new 16-inch wheel design, a wheel size previously only available in the dropped 1.8L variant. With the refreshed exterior maintaining the car’s styling edge in the compact car category, the interior of the current Elantra stays relatively untouched from when it was first introduced a few years back. The relatively roomy interior comfortably seats 5 adult passengers with ample legroom all around. The front
seats provide good support and do a good job of keeping driver and front passenger in place during cornering. The rear seats in this ‘S’ variant feature fixed backrests with flip-down center armrest that has integrated cupholders. The dashboard layout has twin dials behind the steering wheel for the speedometer and tachometer. In between the dials is a small information display for fuel level, engine temperature and trip computer information. All are easy to read which helps minimize the time you spend reading the information and keeps your eyes on the road. The center of the dashboard houses the integrated Tuner/CD/MP3 unit that is connected to a 6-speaker audio system. Just below that, in the lower center console, are the knobs and buttons for the climate control/air conditioning system. As the current generation Hyundai Elantra faces a new generation of competition in the compact car class, the minimal refinements done to the model shows how good and well thought out the car is to begin with. Yes, the competition may be new but the Hyundai Elantra 1.6 S AT seems all set to hold them back with its fluid sculpted looks, perky engine and transmission package and redefined suspension character.
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Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport
THE SPORTY FIESTA words and photos by Andrew Rodriguez
It has been standard practice for car manufacturers to offer variants of a particular car model. The variants come in different trim options to cater to a variety of tastes (and budgets) potential buyers have. In a recent issue of Brand Magazine, we had the opportunity to review the 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 Trend which is a middle-of-the-pack variant of the current generation Ford Fiesta lineup. This time around we get our chance to put the top-of-the-line Sport thru its paces for our readers. For the uninitiated, the Fiesta 1.5L Sport might look just like its lower trim variants with some bits added on to make it look sporty but it does offer more than just ‘boy racer’ looks. Sharing the same Aston Martin-‘ish’ looks that the Fiesta has taken on during mid-life facelift, the exterior of the Sport adds
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a ‘lip spoiler’ to the front bumper’s lower edge for a more aggressive look and channels air around the lower front area more efficiently for less aerodynamic drag. A little more care is needed though when taking on steep ramps or higher-than-usual parking curbs because the add-on a wee-bit changes the ground clearance up front. At the rear of the car, the rear upper wing is extended further to clean up the airflow with the same goal of aerodynamic efficiency. The rear bumper treatment is slightly different from the other variants too with a sporty diffuser-like center section to complete the ‘Sport’ look. Moving on to the interior of the Sport, everything may seem just like what the other variants offer but the difference is what your back and behind rest on. The top-of-the-line trim level wraps the seats with a black-on-
black leather and fabric combination with white stitching up front and at the rear. The front seats seem to hold you in place a bit better when you take on corners more aggressively than normal partly due to the leather used on the thigh and side bolsters. The instrument cluster behind the steering wheel has a blue on white illumination that is cool and comfortable to the eyes regardless of the time of day. The integrated radio occupies the majority of the center of the dashboard with an easy-to-read information display at the top and control buttons (which remind me of touchpads of mobile phones in the recent past) directly below it. There is a center ‘joystick’ to access the different options but it is recommended that you fiddle with the options before you drive off because most of the options are accessed via sub menus that can take your attention off the road. Climate
controls are found below the radio cluster but can be intuitively manipulated without looking at them directly once you have familiarized yourself with the controls. One more thing that the Sport variant has that the lower variant does not is the Smart Keyless Entry with Push Start Button. No more keys to fiddle around with inside and outside the car. Now, let us take a look under the hood. A 1.5L fuel injected engine is common to all the different variants with the Sport version being equipped with a Powershift 6-speed automatic transmission that allows you to manually shift with a press of button on the gear lever. The perky engine gets the car off from a standstill briskly while the transmission shifts predictably and smoothly. At the higher engine revs, it does sound a bit peaky but it is expected with a 1.5L engine under the hood. If you want to make the most out of the engine output, switching to ‘sport’ mode by selecting ‘S’ on the shifter will allow you to manually select gear ratios. There is a tiny delay though from the time you press the upshift or downshift button before the transmission does anything. It can be a bother at first when it feels like nothing is happening but it is just a small quirk that you will learn to anticipate. The engineers did not forget about the suspension for their top-ofthe-line variant. To put the ‘sport’ in the Sport variant, Ford has equipped it with a sport tuned suspension coupled with 16-inch alloy wheels and low profile tires. The ride quality may be slightly firmer than the other variants but handling is decidedly improved with better feedback in comparison, living up to its Sport moniker. In general, the Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport does live up to its designation with a factory decked out exterior, upgrade interior and uprated underpinnings. It may not be faster than the other Fiesta variants but it does get you to your destination with bigger smile on your face which might just define the ‘S’ badge at the rear of the car.
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The Trans Sport Show 2014 OLD MEETS NEW words by Andrew Rodriguez photos by Novelyn Quiamco The 23rd edition of the longest-running automotive show, the Trans Sport Show, was recently held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. This year’s show was presented by Phoenix Petroleum Philippine’s latest fuel product, Phoenix Premium 98. The much awaited motoring event by both the exhibitors and spectators brings together generations of automotive enthusiasts were treated with an array of old school and new school cars competing for the much coveted “Best of Show (Contemporary and Nostalgic)” awards. Also on display during the show were several cars that showcased the Filipino’s ingenuity and skill to build a sports car from the concept drawing stage up to the building of the car itself. “Trans Sport Show has always been a fitting venue for both vintage and modern rides because it aims to draw all generations of car enthusiasts under one roof and offers a four-day experiential and educational event for them. We do not only entertain, but do a lot of information dissemination on automotive history to educate most especially the new breed of car enthusiasts. We feel it is our responsibility to raise the standards in auto shows by sharing valuable knowledge through the show vehicles. Trans Sport Show is much like your favorite car magazine or website in the flesh,” said Sophie delos Santos, President of Tradeshow International, Inc., organizer of the show.
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Aside from the over 80 project car entries on display coming from the top automotive shops in paint, detailing and customization, the event also highlighted special anniversaries of three automotive marques. The Italian automotive brand, Maserati, marked the company’s centennial by showcasing the first generation Ghibli, which is the only one in existence in the country, and the latest (third generation) Ghibli which was recently launched locally by Autostrada Motore Inc. Also celebrating their 100 years is the Dodge brand with the display of an old and a new Challenger. Finally, the much recognized Ford model, the Mustang, marked the 50th year with a stunning display of restored and customized Mustangs of different vintage. As the show drew to a close on the last day of the event, the winners of the car show competition were announced The “Best of Show” awards were much awaited with the Audi TT entered by JWorks taking home the prize in the ‘Contemporary Category’ and a beautifully restored Volkswagen Beetle Convertible entered by Alfred Motorworks took the award home in the ‘Nostalgic Category’. Autoline’s Subaru Impreza WRX bagged the “Reserved Best of Show” award. Finally, I was the beautiful Joycee Castro who won Miss Trans Sport Show 2014. Event partners for the 23rd Phoenix Trans Sport Show are Phoenix Premium 98, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Malaya Business Insight,
Manila Standard Today, Manila Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Pinoy Speed, Wave 89.1, RJ 100.3, 105.1 Crossover, DZRH 666, DWIZ 882, DZRJ 810, Inside Motoring, Home Radio 97.9, Easy Rock 96.3, Autocar, C! Magazine, Power Wheels, Top Gear Philippines, Gadgets, Circuit Mag, Brand Magazine, Solar Sports, Auto Review, BRO, Stoplight TV, Pinoy Extreme - Live Broadcast Media Partner, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel, Auto Focus, Motoring Today, Sunshine TV, Turbo Zone, Manibela, UNTV, Autoindustriya.com, Kotse.com, Custompinoyrides.com, Jamesdeakin.ph, When In Manila, Radio Republic, Time Attack Manila, Cafe Puro, Padi’s Point, LazerMaxx Laser Tag Arena, Gotcha Paintball Adventure Games, Bewith, Motorola Solutions, Adrenalin Motorsports, SM Tickets, SM Cinema, Snack Time and Digipost.
MOTOR SPORT NEWS words & photos by Andrew Rodriguez
Asian V8 Championship Kicks Off The Asian V8 Championship series kicked off with the first round of the series being held at the Clark International Speedway last April 5-6, 2014. The brainchild of the Philippine Formula Autosport Foundation Inc., which is headed by Tom Pastor who is also the organization’s founder, the series is the first of its kind in the Asian region. The podium winners for the first round were Enzo Pastor (1st), Josh Burdon (2nd) and Marrini Stefano (3rd) in the Pro Class. The Open Class had Kunihiro Iwatsuki (1st), Joe Merzei (2nd) and Marrini Stefano (3rd). Finally, the Rookie Class top finishers were Kunihiro Iwatsuki (1st) and Don Pastor (2nd). Filling up the day’s activities were support races like Super Autocross, Drift Demo and Circuit Showdown. The second round of the championship series was held just this June 5-6, 2014 at the Batangas Racing Circuit.
Yokohama Tire Sales Philippines, Inc. renews its support of the Philippine Grand Touring Championship series for the 2014 race season. The official contract signing between Yokohama Tire Sales Philippines, Inc., represented by Marketing Manager, Edward Romeo Jr., and Batangas Racing Circuit, Inc., represented by Managing Head for Corporate Communications Department, Nelson Gayola, was held last May 27, 2014 at the Boom na Boom Complex, in Pasay City. The six-round championship series will highlight race cars competing in four race classes based on horsepower rating: GT300, GT200, GT150, and GT100. Minor technical rule changes have been introduced for 2014 to tighten the competition. Race cars must now comply with a maximum torque limit, on top of the existing horsepower cap. The first race of the 2014 championship series was held last May 31-June 1, 2014 at the Batangas Racing Circiut.
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The New Standard, All New Honda City words by Andrew Rodriguez photos by Novelyn Quiamco Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) introduces into the local automotive market the all new Honda City, setting new standards on the highly competitive subcompact car category. Not just a cosmetic facelift, the 2014 Honda City is a new design from the ground up, highlighting standard features and performance never seen before even in the higher compact car category. The all new City embodies premium and sporty feeling, comfortable and spacious interior, high level of dynamic performance and improved fuel efficiency that exceed customers’ expectations. The newest City is offered with Honda’s improved 1.5 liter i-VTEC engine that delivers a maximum power output of 120 ps at 6600 rpm. The 1.5 liter i-VTEC engine is mated to a new 5-speed manual transmission or a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT with 7-speed paddle shifters) developed under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology. The newest member of their automotive lineup is the first Honda model locally that bears Honda’s new “Exciting H Design!!!” concept that will be also applied to all future Honda models globally. The “Exciting H Design!!!” represents three key elements – High Tech (innovative spirit), High Tension (pursuit of a beautiful body structure and layout) and High touch (finely-honed surfacing and texture), that puts emphasis on overall pleasing human experience. The all new City’s exterior concept is a “sleek cross motion” that successfully unifies a sleek front form and dynamic side form giving the All New City a stylish yet sporty look from every angle. The City retains its compact size but it has taken Honda’s “man maximum, machine minimum’ design philosophy to a higher level. Honda’s engineers were able to achieve an interior space that exceeds the class standard with increased and substantial head, shoulder and knee room, also leg room that is comparable to some mid-size sedans and a top class trunk space. Complementing the spacious interior, a refreshing atmosphere is achieved with careful selection of design and materials; and exclusive to the top-of-the-line variant are equipped with plush leather seats. It offers firstin-class features such as the 7-inch touch screen display audio system that integrates functions like
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hands-free telephone (HFT) and audio streaming via Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition control. Just below the audio display unit, is the automatic air-conditioning system that also comes with user-friendly touch panel. With the market’s demand for better fuel efficiency, Honda has equipped the City with the ECO Assist system; which consists of the ECON mode that controls the engine, drive-by-wire, transmission, and air conditioning performance to improve fuel consumption. Together with driving performance and fuel efficiency, one of Honda‘s primary thrusts includes comprehensive methodology on vehicle safety. As standard, the City is equipped with driver and passenger SRS airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). The top of the line variant comes with additional safety features such as side airbags, side curtain airbags, vehicle stability assist (VSA), hill start assist, child seat anchors, 60:40 rear seats, and driver and front passenger seatbelt reminder. And another new safety feature that can be found in the top of the line variant is the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) that automatically pulsates the brake and hazard lights when it senses an emergency stop normally during heavy braking situations. The All New City is available with the following suggested retail prices: 1.5 E MT 1.5 E CVT 1.5 VX CVT 1.5 VX+ CVT
Php 756,000 Php 796,000 Php 880,000 Php 970,000
HCPI is offering All New City variants equipped with genuine Honda accessories that provide added safety, convenience, and style. Modulo is Honda’s genuine accessory brand and Modulo accessories are developed in parallel with Honda’s new car development. The All New City is available in two Modulo variants: 1.5 E Modulo Utility and 1.5 VX Aero Sports. Also during the introduction of the all new City was the world’s sneak peek of the new City’s Mugen package that will be available in very near future.
words by Andrew Rodriguez photos by Novelyn Quiamco
n their summer time tradition, Bigboi Productions recently held the 5th event of their annual motoring activity, the Subic Bay Auto Show 5, at the Harbor Point Mall grounds in Subic Freeport, Olongapo City. Featuring hot cars, hotter babes and the hottest music, the event has grown bigger and bigger (and better) through the years. Over 100 entries coming from car enthusiasts from Olongapo; Bataan; the surrounding provinces, even all the way from Manila, made their way to the Harbor Point Mall grounds to compete for top honors in the different car show categories up for grabs that day. With so many tricked-out vehicles in one area, car enthusiasts and mall goers could not resist the urge to come over and check out the event. Among the other activities that went on in conjunction with the car show was a SPL (sound pressure level) competition to determine who had the loudest audio system; car dealers who supported the event offered test drives of their latest units and raffling off of prizes from the event sponsors. As the day wore on and evening was fast approaching, the car show judges went about scrutinizing the car show entries to determine who deserved to win the top spot in the different categories. After careful deliberation, all the judges came to a unanimous decision for all the winners in each category. The highest award of the event, the Best of Show, was bagged by an entry that came all the way from Manila, a Mazda RX-7 built by JSK Custom Paint and Auto Works that was made to replicate one of the cars used in the automotive cult movie, Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift. With another successful event in the bag, Bigboi Productions is already making plans for next year’s car show with the aim of making the event even bigger and better than this year’s.
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Maserati Ghibli unveiled at the 23rd Trans Sport Show
May 22, 2014, Manila, Philippines – Autostrada Motore Inc., the official importer and distributor of Maserati in the Philippines, officially launched today the highly anticipated Maserati Ghibli at the 23rd Trans Sport Show at the SMX Convention Center. Making inspirational motoring more accessible, Maserati’s new 4-door sports executive sedan combines breath-taking design with exceptional handling qualities and outstanding performance. “The launch of the Ghibli marks a turning point in Maserati’s rich history. It is the first time in 100 years that the luxury Italian brand presents two four-door sedan models simultaneously,” said Mark Soong, Executive Director of Autostrada Motore Inc. The Ghibli provides a cornerstone in Maserati’s plan to build 50,000 cars a year by 2015. It is the second model after the flagship Quattroporte to be manufactured to new benchmark quality standards in Maserati’s new state-of-theart production facilities in Grugliasco close to Turin. Both versions of the petrol range, Ghibli and Ghibli S, feature a new-generation twin turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. With its power output of 410 hp the Ghibli S races to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285 km/h. The Ghibli delivers 330 hp, a top speed of 263 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The new Ghibli shares parts of its core architecture, its chassis, its suspension architecture, the V6 engine and the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with the flagship limousine Quattroporte. It is, however, 173 mm shorter in the wheel base and 291 mm shorter overall, as well as 50 kg lighter.
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Dynamic and precise handling is guaranteed by the car’s perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution while the sophisticated suspension system and limited slip differential make every ride even more enjoyable. Achieving five stars on the Euro NCAP crash test, the Ghibli provides peace of mind for all occupants. While the Ghibli features all classic Maserati design traits, its exterior emphasizes its determined personality. The outline of the body reflects a coupe-like philosophy for the four-door sedan, while there are noticeable feline hints around the Ghibli’s grille and headlights. The pronounced grille draws a line back to the iconic A6 GCS of the 1950s. The shape of the headlights converges onto the Trident symbol, with every angle designed to attract the eye to Maserati’s legendary marque. The distinctive C-pillar delivers much of the Ghibli’s coupelike stance and hosts the classical Saetta Maserati logo, carrying on a tradition dating back to 1963. The side profile is dominated by a swage line that runs from the three unmistakable Maserati air vents behind the front wheels and finishes in the rear lights themselves.
timeless sporting character. Optional features include the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins high end audio system, WLAN based WiFi and a wide range of customization options that cater for the most demanding individuals. Technical specifications: Ghibli Engine: Power: Transmission: Torque: Top Speed: Acceleration
3.0L 60°V6 330 HP ZF Eight Speed Automatic Gearbox 500 Nm 263 km/h 5.6s 0-100km/h
Ghibli S Engine: 3.0L 60°V6 Power: 410 HP Transmission: ZF Eight Speed Automatic Gearbox Torque: 550 Nm Top Speed: 285 km/h Acceleration 5.0s 0-100km/h
With its long wheelbase, a total length of 4.97m and wide tracks, the Ghibli demonstrates a perfect blend of sportiness and elegance that is second to none in its class. The Ghibli enters the E-segment of the sports premium market with a tangible advantage in cabin craftsmanship and detailing. It also sets itself apart with a unique, cockpitinspired dashboard design that perfectly matches its sporty and youthful character without compromising on the highest level of refinement and sophistication. Key elements such as the 8.4” Maserati Touch Control and the fine Poltrona Frau® leather finish underline the cabin’s
For more information on Maserati, Maserati Ghibli and Maserati Ghibli S, please visit www.maserati.com. For PR inquiries: STRATOS PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANCY Jingjing Romero Mobile +63917-8532415 E-mail info@stratospr.com For vehicle inquiries: AUTOSTRADA MOTORE INC. Tel +632 856-CARS <2277> E-mail sales@ferrariphils.com
Grab Car GrabTaxi for the Upscale Crowd Words and photos by Jude Morte
T
he smartphone-based and Internet-based GrabTaxi service proved to be a hit that the company decided to put up an upscale version of the application or app, to cater to the A/B economic crowd. Known as GrabCar, the service provides for an authorized on-demand for-hire private car (and driver) for anyone, sans maintenance, upkeep and fuel. “GrabCar stems from a need to use private for-hire transportation, particularly during peak hours, when it’s raining, you’re in places where it’s hard to get public utility vehicles, and you don’t want to park – such as Bonifacio Global City, Makati’s Ayala Triangle, Legaspi Village and Salcedo Village, the Pasig subdivisions and the Ortigas business district. We also want to add to our current supply [in GrabTaxi] and cater to a more upscale market,” said GrabTaxi and GrabCar vice-president for marketing Natasha Dawn Bautista. To engage GrabCar, all one has to do is get a smartphone or log unto the Internet, turn on the global positioning system or GPS and head to the GrabTaxi app(lication). If you are using GrabTaxi for the first time, you will be required to undergo a one-time application process, needing certain info about your mobile number, residential area, closest place of interest, etc.
However, if you’re a common GrabTaxi user and you wish to tap the GrabCar service, you just choose the GrabCar icon and your smartphone will display on your smartphone screen the number of GrabCar units closest to your pick-up location. After that, you tap the “To” field, search your desired drop-off location, and GrabCar will display the fixed fare and distance. After a minute, you’ll know via your smartphone screen if a GrabCar unit is assigned to you, along with your
driver’s name, picture, the unit’s make, model and plate number, and the estimated time of arrival to the agreed-upon pick-up point. “You can also use the GrabCar app to let the assigned driver know how you look like [including the identifying articles of clothing on your person], track your driver’s progress to you, and call the driver at any time to give additional details,” added Bautista.
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UNWIND
TRAVEL & LEISURE
words & photos by Gunther De Guzman
These bangui windmills are considered as Southeast Asia’s biggest wind turbines
Take the Shot! During the heyday of manual cameras (I’m referring to single lens reflex SLR) and films, photography has been a rare activity among people. It is for people who have the passion and patience to capture and produce images, making it visible and permanent by chemical treatment. The tedious process, cost of photography materials, and time spent to produce good photos were things that kept people from embracing the art of photography. The advent of computer-based electronic digital cameras in the 1990s soon revolutionized photography. Nowadays, most individuals have their own digital cameras; even their mobile phones and tablet PC have a built-in camera feature where one can point-and-shoot whenever, wherever. From then, digital photography has been widely appreciated and used by people from all walks of life. The viral effect of social media (Facebook, Instagram,Twitter to name a few) has made digital cameras a necessity and a part of our daily lives. Whether you’re a photographer, a hobbyist, or whatever you are into, digital photography has become indispensable in this shoot-and-post era, so get ready with your cameras, go out and capture life.
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Experience ILOCOS
Someone quoted, “Traveling is Learning”, I agree. Traveling the Ilocos region gave me a glimpse of the old Hispanic history and the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. Of course, we have tackled this in our history class of yesteryears. But nothing comes close to actually experiencing the glory of Ilocos—its splendor, historical significance and great source of pride and joy. The ancestral houses, the old stone churches that were built during the Spanish regime, the quiet and serene nature, the beautiful beaches, light house, windmills, falls, museums, native foods and their good-natured people whose simple way of life reeks with rustic charm. Don’t forget to bring your camera as this place offers stunning scenery and historical landmarks that you can capture and share.
The Hike to KABIGAN FALLS
Although Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is known for its gorgeous beaches, it has one beautiful attraction that is far away from its sands and waves. Tucked inside a forested area in Barangay Baloi is Kabigan Falls. The falls has a drop of about 120-feet and its base forms a natural pool making it ideal for a cool dip. And a cool dip is what you really need after going through a trail hike of more than one kilometer.
AGUA GRANDE RIVER PARK
A picnic spot where one can view the flowing fresh water as it exits to the sea. There are nipa huts under the shady coconut trees where one can hang out and enjoy the sea breeze. Just a stone’s throw away is an eco-friendly mini-hydro electric plant which was built during the Marcos years.
CAPE BOJEADOR
This Spanish-era “parola” (lighthouse) is nestled on top of a hill overlooking the northwestern-most tip of Luzon. For more than a century, it has served as the guiding light of Spanish galleons and local fishermen in finding their way to shore during tumultuous weather and guiding them against slamming their vessels on the rocks that protrude along the coastline.
PATAPAT VIADUCT
Patapat Viaduct is one of the few bridges in the Philippines considered a tourist attraction. Spanning a length of 1.3 kilometers and rising 30 meters high from the coastal edge of Pasaleng Bay, it is officially the 4th longest bridge of the country. Patapat Viaduct offers a really breathtaking view of mountain ranges merging with the horizon of the South China Sea and the clear, blue skies. The view is really beautiful that I did not mind the heat of the morning sun and lingered a little bit longer to enjoy it.
PAOAY CHURCH
The Paoay Church also known as the San Agustin Church is one of the few remaining Baroque churches in the country. It is built to withstand earthquakes by the Augustinian friars in 1694 to adapt to the Philippines’ earthquake-prone reputation. Twenty four carved buttresses supply the needed support for the church’s structure and to this day, these defenses are standing their ground.
BANGUI WINDMILLS
The windmills are considered as Southeast Asia’s biggest wind turbines.They are located in Ilocos Norte are 20 beautiful windmills or wind turbines which resemble giant electric fans. Each wind turbine has the capacity to generate electricity up to a maximum of 1.65 Megawatts for a total of 24.75 Megawatts. The 20 turbines are lined up along an arc manner following the shoreline of Bangui Bay facing the West Philippine Sea at the northwest tip of Luzon island.
BLUE LAGOON
The beautiful cove named Maira-ira Beach lies in Maira-ira Point, the northern tip of Pagudpud. This beach is more popularly known as Blue Lagoon and is one of the many attractions that the Province of Ilocos Norte has to offer. It has a long stretch of white sand caressed by crystal-clear blue water. It is one of the highly popular destinations in Pagudpud.
TIMMANGTANG ROCK
Timmangtang Rock juts out of the coast of Sitio Gaoa in Barangay Baloi, Pagudpud. Here one can view the rugged but beautiful coastal side of Pagudpud. Trivia: the green hill from the distance is where part of the telenovela Walang Hanggan was filmed. Timmangtang is actually one half of the so-called Lover’s Rock.
BANTAY ABOT CAVE
The other half of Lover’s Rock is located a few meters away from Timmangtang and is called the Bantay Abot Cave. It is not really a cave but a tunnel-like hole in a cliff. Bantay Abot is considered as the “female rock” while Timmangtang is her male counterpart. Literally, Bantay Abot means “mountain with a hole”. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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UNWIND
TRAVEL & LEISURE
words & photos by Ricky Alonzo, Jr.
Bangkok Backpacking
Survival Guide on How to Get the Most Out of your Trip in Amazing Thailand Thailand reeks with spellbinding charm—from its shining, shimmering temples, exotic locales, tropical beaches and the ever-comforting Thai smile that reveals a friendly and fun loving culture infused in lustrous history. You can avail of a multitude of tour packages, but you will be missing out on a lot of profound experiences. Backpacking is the best way to an epic Bangkok adventure where you can soak up the sights and pleasures that make Bangkok (and its neighboring province) truly amazing at your own sweet time. Backpacking is a form of independent international travel -- you are on your own—you plan everything and travel as much as possible on a shoe string budget. This brings a gazillion challenges, but can be very rewarding if done right.
The Perfect Plan For a seasoned man of travel, everything starts with a plan. Create a master list of things you want to explore --be it a cultural immersion by visiting temples or a Thai adventure of riding elephants or watching a crocodile show. Everything goes into an itinerary – from day 1 to the end date. Allot your budget per day and start researching on the easiest way to get to a location. Create a document with direction instructions and a screenshot of a map. Google Maps is your friend! Thais are not fluent English speakers. Learn some basic Thai words – like how much, left, right, etc. Bring a paper and pen so you can write down numbers – most of the time figures get lost in the pronunciation and the accent – this will save you a lot of trouble.
It’s All About Money Money fuels your journey. The more bang that you get for your buck, the better. For any penny-pinching international traveler, it is a mortal sin of the highest degree to have your peso exchanged at the airport as you will be at the losing end of the exchange rate. Head over to a local money exchange branch (check out Czarina) and have at least P1,000 PHP converted into Thai Baht. That will be enough for transportation fare to get you out of the airport. Hop on a taxi and make your way to the nearest Superrich branch when in Bangkok. Superrich gives the best exchange rate for your peso anywhere in exciting Bangkok. Just don’t be confused—there are two SuperRich companies (yes, two!), but they have the same rates. http://www.superrich1965.com/ http://superrichthai.com/
Food Trip Thai street foods can rival those meals served in Thai high-class restos (a testament to the Thai’s cooking skills) – and the best of all -- your budget will thank you for them. A complete meal ranges anywhere from 30-60 Baht. So don’t go packing some canned preserved food as that will only add to the weight of your luggage. You have never been to Thailand until you taste its food. But be warned: some street food can be on the spicy side, so ask first before you order.
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Getting There A journey of a million miles starts with a good airfare promo deal. Keep your eyes peeled for some good airline promos. Let your fingers do the work and search online. Chances are you will find a deal that’s music to your ears. The ideal target range is below 10 thousand pesos (roundtrip). You can snag a great package even during summer, but it’s almost mission impossible during the cheery Christmas season.
Home away from home Bangkok, being a well-loved tourist hotspot, brims with budget hotels. Never book hotels via online booking sites—you will end up paying extra for their service. But it can be a good jump-off point. Go to sites like Booking.com or Agora and list down the hotels that you fancy, then contact them directly. Walk-in rates are so much affordable – you can save as much as 400 Baht a day. When choosing your home away from home, think accessibility. Choose a hotel near MRT or BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System).
Getting there (The Sequel) Ok, so now you are in Thailand—what’s the best way to go from point A to point B you might ask? For convenience, riding a taxi is the way to go. And the best part of it is it’s affordable and you will get the exact change every time. But locations can be very confusing, especially if you got the English name of the place as a reference. Times like these, Google is your friend – print out a Google map of the location, include the phone number of the place, because if the taxi driver still finds it confusing, he will make a call to ask directions at no extra cost. Fare starts at 35 Baht and you have to keep in mind that aside from the regular fare, you will shoulder the toll fee (if any). The best way to travel though is a combination of train (MRT and BTS) and taxi. This way you can save money and avoid the infamous Bangkok rush hour.
TASTE
DINE IN â&#x20AC;˘ TAKE OUT
Words by Ricky Alonzo, Jr. Photos by Gunther De Guzman
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Korean Invasion The world seems to burp gusto with anything Korean. From the bump-and-grind inducing boy and girl pop bands to sappy telenovelas that bring tears to the eyes, the Korean craze has spread like wild fire and the world is embracing it without complaints. Even its fiery and sweet cuisine has been firing up palates and becoming a foodie favorite. The Korean food invasion is evident here in Manila with a slew of Korean-themed restos joining the food fray. And if you are eager to taste a modern take on Korean cuisine—Kogi Bulgogi is the place to be. The Kogi Bulgogi interior oozes with a hip, fun and relaxed vibe. And this is glaring in its centerpiece—it’s modern Korean cuisine. Gogi means beef. Kogi is another variation of the word beef. But as it turned out, Kogi Bulgogi is more than just beef-deep. The abundance of offerings includes a merry mix of chicken, pork, seafood and veggies. Korean food is known for its spiciness, but at Kogi Bulgogi you may request your dishes to be adjusted to your preferred spice level -tempering your orders’ spice level from 0 – 10. Korean Banchan is a starter to any meal in Korea. It is served every time you order a meal in Kogi Bulgogi – free of charge. The sweet anchovies and the hot Kimchi are absolute delights. Haemul Pa Jeon, is a mixed seafood pancake, it looks deceivingly simple but it packs a punch in the flavor department. You have never been to a Korean restaurant if you have not ordered the all-time favorite Japchae. The translucent sweet potato noodles in sweet-savory sauce, with beef, pork, and stir-fried vegetables adding texture and more flavors to the dish. The Tuk Bulgogi is divine! Think marbled premium imported beef, golden mushrooms, tofu, vegetables, and glass noodles in a light sauce. For gastronomic drama, it is cooked and simmered on your table. Another must-try is Kalbi Jim -- beef stew that uses shortribs flavored with radish and garlic. The soup is a blend of gentle spiciness and light sweetness. KPOP Chicken is Kogi Bulgogi’s answer to the latest Korean chicken craze. The sweet and crunchy chicken is lip-smacking good. Crispy outside and juicy inside! You can choose from two flavors - the sweet or the spicy super secret awesome sauce. You may want to pair it with Kogi’s Kimchi Rice or the Bibimbap for a fully satisfying meal. And this is where the crazy delicious starts to happen. In a Korean restaurant you can find a wide selection of sushi and tempuras, you’ll think you had just walked into a schizophrenic restaurant. But that is how it is in Kogi Bulgogi. Salmon Skin Roll is good and tasty choice. Kogi’s California Roll is one of the best you will ever taste. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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Hawaii Five-O
Every time you sink your teeth into this burger creation you are reminded of the bountiful tropics – with the succulently sweet pineapple adding a fruity punch to the juicy and robust beef flavor.
Green Chile and Sour Cream Burger
Take your typical burger on a wild ride with Green Chile and Sour Cream Burger. The green chile delivers a mild spicy kick while the sour cream balances the flavor.
Striker Burger
The burger looks something straight out of a slasher movie or an Alfred Hitchcock noir with a knife piercing the burger right smack in the middle when served. Sandwiched in those oatmeal buns are triple 1/3 lb. Angus beef patties, double bacon, champignon mushrooms, and crisscut fries smothered in cheese sauce. A burger creation for man-sized appetite!
Classic
If you crave for the usual burger that makes you feel everything is right in the world—the Classic Burger is for you. It’s made of Angus beef with tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber.
Peanut Butter and Jelly (PBnJ)
The Burger Story Words by Ricky Alonzo, Jr.
It must be some kind of cosmic alignment colliding with unquenchable passion that made it happen… Burger Company, the newest burger joint to hit the right spot among discriminating foodies has an interesting story to tell. One of the owners, a devout burger muncher, used to frequent Boulevard Diner, considered by many as one of the great burger joints this side of town. Due to some location faux pas, the company went belly up. The demise left a big void in the gourmet burger scene. This is a case when one follows his craving and good business sense. The burger fanatic convinced the owner of Boulevard Diner, a chef renowned for his masterful burger concoctions, to join forces and give it another go all in the name of burger love. Burger Company is the culmination of this – reflecting their passion, preferences and experiences, catering to those hungry for a different kind of burger experience. The innovative creations are a product of studying of flavors and spices -- deconstructing burgers from famous burger cities like New York, rediscovering taste and finding out what works best. It’s the fine art of burger creation. There’s so much love that goes into each burger as all the essential ingredients are home-made –from the sauces, to the buns, to the (Certified Angus Beef CAB) patties. The burger selection is a roller coaster ride of flavors. Some combinations sound gastronomically enticing while others may be met with raised eyebrows. But pleasant surprises do come in a glorious concoction sandwiched in a bun here at Burger Company. There are more or less 20 burger creations on the menu to choose from – there are chicken burgers for a healthier option, and being the best sellers, beef burgers take the lion’s share.
Burger Overload The Volcano
Ingredients are stacked up to form a mound dripping in sauce. It looks like a volcano gushing lava—thus the name The Volcano (no rocket science there). The top layer is made up of crispy onion rings, as you dig down deeper the meat part kicks in—bacon and 100% Angus beef with cheese and sweet sauce. Every bite is a blast! This burger is a sight to behold and a palate pleaser as well.
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The combination might sound icky and some might even cringe, but homemade jelly, peanut butter and Angus beef burger do make a surprisingly good combination. The flavors meld together like a spot-on symphony. Burger Company seems to have perfected the balancing act -- sweetness that is not overpowering -- complementing the melt-in-yourmouth beef patty goodness -- and created a winner.
Gorgonzola and Bacon Burger
If there’s one cheese that goes perfectly with beef or chicken, it’s Gorgonzola! You can’t go wrong with a burger drenched in melted Gorgonzola dressing. It enhances the flavor and it takes the burger experience one rung higher.
More than just burgers
Burger Company has a lot more to offer than its gastronomic tour de force, burger. Check out their buffalo chicken wings, sides, starters,drinks and desserts. If you want to experience chicken in a new light, Slam Jam is a good choice. It’s made of layer upon layer of flavors, with double chicken fillet, naked or classic chicken wings sauce, double bacon dripping in sour cream and cheese sauce. Burger Company is nestled at 72 B Scout Reyes corner Mother Ignacia Avenue. It used to be a music recording studio. The exterior wall is decked with a mural reminiscent of Soho in New York, the city known for the greatest burgers in the world. The interiors take on an industrial vibe with painted walls that look like metal sheets. Colorful chairs provide an eye-popping contrast to the trailer truck diner design. There’s a shelf brimming with board games for family or barkada bonding moments. And a fun burger diner isn’t complete without playing with food. If you are extra confident with your devouring skill – the 5-Minute Striker’s Challenge is right down your alley. Gobble up three layers of Angus beef patties, bacon and everything in between. If you can take the heat – clear away 6 pieces of super spicy Buffalo wings in the 1-Minute Radioactive Chicken Wings Challenge.
HEALTH & FITNESS
WELLNESS
words & photos by Ricky Alonzo, Jr.
Health in a Bottle In this day and age of trans fat-laden food, the irresistible lure of a sedentary lifestyle, and pollutants all around us, making healthy choices has become a colossal undertaking. With sheer will power, simple and basic things readily available from the kitchen or the supermarket, bouncing back to health shouldn’t be hard and complicated. It’s about time to atone for your health sins with this simple-to-do cleansing juice drink that promises to help your body flush out any toxins lurking in your system. Ingredients: 1-2 liters of water, depending on how strong you want it to taste 1 watermelon or 1 cucumber 1 lemon or lime A handful of fresh mint leaves (about 10-13) Ice cubes Directions: Slice up a good amount of watermelon into cubes, rind and all, and put them into a Mason jar or pitcher. Cut 1 lime into wedges and mix with the watermelon. Toss a handful of fresh mint leaves and add 2 liters of cool water, filling the jug up to the brim. Let this sit overnight in the fridge and let all the delish flavors steep. Relish it with a generous helping of ice cubes, pour, and enjoy daily. Why Watermelon (or cucumber): Watermelon helps the body flush out toxins and gives the liver an overall boost. It contains the organic compound citrulline, an amino acid that filters and gets rid of ammonia. Ammonia is a by-product of the proteins that the body burns up incessantly for energy, and it’s quite damaging to our cells. Cucumber also contains citrulline, but not as much as watermelon. Why lemon (or lime): Lemon or lime juice helps enhance and control the digestive track, stimulates bile production, and thins out bile, which allows it to flow more freely. Bile is produced by the liver to break down lipids (fats) that the body consumes.
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RENOVATE
HOME • OFFICE • ESTABLISHMENTS
words & photos by Ricky Alonzo, Jr.
Green Renovation
Putting greens indoors can do wonders. It not only beautifies a room but can also moonlight as a natural air purifier. They act as a year-round air freshener, especially handy when making home renovations like replacing the carpet or brushing on a fresh coat of paint that can release chemicals that pollute the air indoors. For best result, put two plants per 100 square feet of space. Snake Plant
(Sansevieria trifasciata) Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, this sharp-leafed plant thrives in low light and can be found in almost every street corner in Manila. This plant is hard to kill, so even if you are not a green thumb, you can care for it easily. At night it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Pot a couple and put them in your bedroom for an instant oxygen boost while you sleep. How it Helps: In addition to helping lower carbon dioxide, the snake plant rids air of formaldehyde and benzene.
Peace Lilly
It’s a thing of beauty and is low maintenance -- adapts well to low light and requires just weekly watering. How it Helps: This year-round bloomer eliminates VOC benzene, a carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax, and polishes. It also absorbs acetone, which is emitted by electronics, adhesives, and certain cleaners.
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Golden Pothos
(Epipremnum aureum) Golden Pothos is one attractive plant. It’s a fast growing vine that would look nice in a hanging basket or train it to climb a trellis. Its dark green leaves with golden streaks and marbling make it an eye-catching addition to the home or the office. How it Helps: It gets rid of formaldehyde, it also targets carbon monoxide and benzene. Consider placing one in your room or entryway of the garage for an instant burst of freshness!
Aloe Vera
Known to soothe sunburns, stings, cuts, or a hair grower, the aloe plant is an easy grower. You just need to water it only even 4 to 5 days. It should be planted in a location of full sunlight, or partial shade.
Wax Begonia
(Begonia semperflorens)
How it Helps: Aloe can help clear the air of pollutants found in chemical cleaning products. Interesting fact: When the amount of harmful chemicals in the air become excessive, the plant’s leaves will display brown spots.
Perfect as a windowsill plant. Give it some loving by placing it in an area with abundant sunlight and this semi-woody succulent will produce pretty clusters of flat white, pink, or red flowers. How it Helps: Studies show that wax begonia is a heavy hitter in filtering out benzene and chemicals produced by toluene, a liquid found in some waxes and adhesives.
Bamboo Palm
An attractive and soothing plant that is regarded to bring tons of luck, the bamboo palm also made it to NASA’s list of top-ten clean air plants with a purifying score of 8.4. How it Helps: The palm is also quite effective at eliminating benzene and trichloroethylene. Kept well watered and placed in shade or indirect sunlight, they’ll thrive and promote tranquility and fresh air in your home.
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SPOTLIGHT
MOVIES • MUSIC • BOOKS • THEATRE
GERARD BUTLER RETURNS MIGHTIER AS STOICK IN “HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2” (3D)
G
erard Butler returns as Hiccup’s dad, Stoick The Vast, mighty Chieftain of the Island of Berk. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), now a young man, is contentedly flying with Toothless and exploring the frontiers of the Viking world, much to the annoyance of his father in “How To Train Your Dragon 2.” Stoick feels it’s high time his son stepped up to his leadership responsibilities and his heritage. As the plot unfolds, Hiccup has to defend the villagers from the power-crazed Drago (Djimon Hounsou) and his army of dragon trappers. And in a dramatic twist to this exhilarating coming of age story, there is an emotional family reunion with Valka, Hiccup’s courageous mother (Cate Blanchett),an inspiring dragon protector.
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From DreamWorks Animation, “How To Train Your Dragon 2.” is even more exciting than the first Oscar-nominated film. The 3D adventureis stunning, with beautiful animation, great characters and a powerful storyline.Also starring are Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Christopher MintzPlasse,T.J. Miller, Craig Fergusonand Kit Harington. Gerard Butler in the following q&a by Elaine Lipworth discusses his fascination on Vikings, warriors and why he is a perfectionist. Q: The original film was fantastic; was it surprising to you that it connected with audiences so strongly? A: “I had no idea it would be so successful. But when I watched
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the movie, I went, ‘Where have they taken us?’It is one of my favorites of all my movies and one of my favorite animated movies ever. I think it was the genius of the animation and the flying,and the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless that were so powerful and magical.” Q: What excited you about the story and the film in the first place? A : “When I was asked: ‘Hey do you want to do this movie, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, you’ll be playing the chief of a village?’ I was so excited. The day that they ask you to play a lead in an animated movie marks a career milestone, because it means they’re not even looking at your face, they are thinking only of your voice. It is almost like your voice is being cast, not you. So when that happens, you
go, ‘Alright, I’ve arrived!’ Also I loved the idea of making a Viking movie, which would be fun for kids and adults alike. I have so much affinity and affection for Stoick. I’ve had such a great time getting my teeth into this guy.” Q: What was your response when you heard about the sequel? A: “At first I thought it would be impossible to surpass the first one, which was so magical, but they have surpassed it. There are some fantastic surprises in this film and we get to see the other sides of Stoick. I love the relationship between Stoick and Toothless, it’s hilarious, it’s touching, it’s heartbreaking and really inspiring. I think audiences will relate to that relationship because we’ve all been there. We have all had issues with our parents who have affected us in po
Q: What are Stoic’s rules and values as a leader? A: “Well number one: you live for the people. You’re a warrior. You have to be ready to lay down your life for those greater principles. It’s all about defending custom and principles andtradition. Stoick isbound by those principles in a way that’s stupidly stubborn, but he believes it’s the only way this place [Berk] is going to survive—if everybody toes the line. He tries to pass that on to his son.” Q: How much fun is it playing Stoick with a thick Scottish accent? A: “It is fantastic, but I think I make Dean crazy (laughs). When we were doing the first movie,I watcheditand I loved it, but I said ‘I need to go back in and change my voice,’ because it wasn’t strong enough.So I redid about 75 percent of my lines. I did it again this time, not necessarily because of the accent, but because I’m a perfectionist.Doing it again allowed me to give the journey more richness. I redid about 90 percent of my lines. You don’t get the opportunity to make many animated movies, so I wanted it to be great. However, they may not have used 90 percent, I just said, ‘Here, take theseand if you want them, all the better.’” Q: What was it like working with Dean DeBlois again?
A: “Dean is great. He’s the nicest,maybe the most humble director I’ve ever worked with and he’s such a smart guy. The way he approaches character and story is phenomenal. I love working with him.They have to kick me out of the studio I have so much fun with him! (laughs). Dean loves the fact that I’m really into the role.” Q: How close is this role to your heart, playing a Viking Chieftain? A: “Vikings are in our blood in Scotland. Everything that I’ve been given as an actor comes from my culture, my nation andthrough my blood. So the role was fantastic for me.There is a warrior mentality in Scotland. Even as I was doing [the 2007 film]300, I would think of the hills in Scotland, I would think of my ancestors and what they’d been through. I used my passion for my country to play Leonidas in 300. I would almost hear his voice echoing through the ages. And it was the same with Stoick.My favorite three places on the planet are Scotland, India and Iceland. Whenever I think of those countries, my stomach starts churning in the best kind of way, just bristling with excitement. Scotland means the most to me, though, because it’s my life. I grew up in that country, wanting to make it as an actor and wanting to go to Hollywood. But it was always through the prism of me as a Scottish kid – a Scottish kid doing well.”
Q: Coming back to the film, what do you think about the dragons and what they represent in a broad sense? The story is so entertaining and fun, but are there also metaphors about tolerance and compassion? A: “Yes, the theme of tolerance is something that I have a very strong opinion about and it is an interesting question. Both movies are about tolerance and the courage that comes with tolerance. The Vikings are learning to trust and they actually realize that dragons are beautiful. That is great because it’s often natural for Mankind to fight instead of trusting. People go: ‘Kill, destroy, defend,’ whether it’s fighting between races or cultures or nationalities. But we can be brave and rise above that. One little kid [Hiccup] comes along and says, ‘Why don’t we just listen and pay attention and really see each other?’ You realize that these dragons have their own integrity and they’re as scared as we are. This new film shows how we can face people who are way less tolerant than us and come from a dark place.I think that is a great lesson for the world we live in right now. It’s hard to be able to say, ‘You know I don’t agree with you, but let’s not go to war. Let’s not kill each other.’ If everyone would just pay a little more attention and be a little more tolerant, we would live in a far better place.”
Gerard Butler made his stage debut at the age of twelve in the musical, “Oliver,” in Glasgow. He went on to study law before deciding to pursue acting and returning to the stage in London. In 1996, he landed the lead role in the acclaimed stage production of “Trainspotting.” His theater work includes “Snatch” and “Suddenly Last Summer.” Butler’s film credits include “Her Majesty,” “Mrs. Brown,” “Harrison’s Flowers,” “One More Kiss,” “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,” “Dear Frankie,” the screen adaptation of Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” He went on to take the lead in Zack Snyder’s colossally successful movie, “300.” Since then, the talented and versatile actor’s films have ranged from “The Bounty Hunter,” “The Ugly Truth,” “Nim’s Islan” and “P.S.I Love You,” to “Chasing Mavericks,” “Machine Gun Preacher,” “Coriolanus,” “RockNRolla” and “Playing For Keeps.” Butler’s production company, formed with his manager and partner, Alan Siegel, has produced “Law Abinding Citizen” and “Olympus Has Fallen.” “How To Train Your Dragon 2” (3D) opens June 11 in theatres nationwide from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
I
n 2010, the Oscar nominated hit from DreamWorks Animation, “How To Train Your Dragon” became a global phenomenon. Audiences were captivated by the story of Hiccup and his Night Fury dragon, Toothless. At the end of the last film, Hiccup had brought peace to Berk and at the outset of the fantastic new adventure; Vikings are no longer slaying dragons; tolerance and trust have replaced prejudice and fear. Hiccup and Toothless will soon be seen again in “How To Train Your Dragon 2” in 3D when in opens in local cinemas on June 11. In the latest movie, the two are living in a Utopian society, but there is trouble looming as Hiccup, now a young man, discovers while out exploring with Toothless that the ruthless conqueror Drago Bludvist (voiced by Djimon Hounsou) is hell-bent on destruction. He is building a dragon army. It is up to Hiccup to face his destiny and tackle the daunting challenges that lie ahead. He discovers an unexpected ally: his long lost mother Valka (Cate Blanchett). Valka
disappeared many years ago and it emerges that she is in fact a dragon whisperer who has an uncanny connection to these amazing creatures. Presumed dead by both her husband Stoick (Gerard Butler) and their son, she has spent two decades rescuing dragons from traps and keeping them safe in an Arctic, dragon sanctuary. Astrid, Hiccup’s champion dragon racer girlfriend returns, voiced by America Ferrera, as do other familiar characters from the first film: Snotlout (Jonah Hill), Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) Tuffnut (T.J. Miller) and Gobber (Craig Ferguson) with Kit Harington joining the cast as the dragon trapper, Eret, Son of Eret. With wonderful acting and cutting edge technology, the coming of age story from DreamWorks animation is gripping, funny, immersive and breathtaking. Directed by Dean Deblois, the sequel draws out a larger story from the original and sees a whole new set of problems organic to Hiccup’s age as he matures. Further, DeBlois shares, “Hiccup is on the cusp of being a man and he is dealing with a whole new set of problems. His dad Stoick would love him to
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
H
azel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. “The Fault In Our Stars,” based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love. Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) is sixteen years old. She alternately loves and tolerates her sometimes over-doting parents. Hazel has developed a crush on a young man, Gus Waters (Ansel Elgort), who seems equally smitten with her. As they grow closer, Hazel and Gus share their fears that accompany their health issues, as well as their love of books, including Hazel’s touchstone,
THIRD PERSON
F
rom Paul Haggis, director of Oscar winning film “Crash,” comes “Third Person” starring a powerhouse cast led by Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Kim Basinger, Adrien Brody, Mila Kunis, James Franco and Moran Atias that tells three stories of love, passion, trust and betrayal. The idea for “Third Person” started within days of finishing shooting The Next Three Days, Haggis’s last film. It began with a series of conversations between Paul and actress Moran Atias,
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An Imperial Affliction. She has tried many times to get in touch with the book’s reclusive author Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe), to no avail. When Gus manages to reach Van Houten through the author’s assistant, it results, astonishingly, in an invitation to meet the writer in Amsterdam. Gus is determined to take Hazel on a journey that will answer every question she has ever had about the book that has meant so much to her. But the answers she is looking for do not come from Peter Van Houten. They come from living a great adventure that Hazel shares with someone she is not afraid to love – who has given them both what she calls a “little infinity – a forever within the numbered days.” Shailene Woodley takes on the role of Hazel Grace Lancaster. The young star of Divergent and The Descendants says THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
who suggested Paul should write a multi-plotline film about love and relationships. Shared stories and painful and joyous anecdotes about love and relationships turned into fiction over the next months as the characters took form and the stories slowly found shape. Paul found this the most challenging of his screenplays “because I wrote it all wrong, from the inside out. I let the characters tell me where the story was going, and often they just wouldn’t speak to me – or worse, they lied to me” he said with a wry smile. Haggis enjoys exploring complex characters, “While we don’t often see it in movies,
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succeed as Chieftain of Berk and he’s in the process of preparing Hiccup to finally take over that mantle and become the new leader. But Hiccup is more interested in exploring the far reaches of the Viking world. Then he happens upon a destructive force that’s heading his way. Hiccup realizes that he has to stop this force from coming to Berk and taking the dragons away from the people who love them.” Moreso, there are new lessons to learn in the sequel. “Well,I’m always careful not to be didactic; I don’t want to be preachy. But it does examine the idea that there are people out there who try to demonize the ‘others’in a way. The dragons appear to be intimidating from the outside. But as Hiccup has discovered, once you get to know them, they’re actually warm and lovely and they better the lives of the humans around them. Drago represents a character who wants to continue to demonize the dragons because he can use that to his advantage. If people fear dragons, then they are under his thumb, because he controls them. I do think that there are modern metaphors” DeBlois further narrates. With Hiccup, Toothless, their friends and the rest of the Berk villagers living with the dragons and soaring into higher heights of adventure, the amazing scenes have been filmed with the latest in software animation. The director further reveals that “A lot of the beauty comes from the new technology that
we’re using, a new generation of software for animation and lighting. It means we can have a more sophisticated, subtle and gorgeously rich look to the film. We worked with Roger Deakins, [acclaimed English cinematographer] who was also our lighting and ‘look’ consultant on the first film. He brings a very specific expertise that comes from his rich filmography in live action movies. Although we have caricatured characters and sets and larger than life settings in our film, the rocks, the fur, the hair and the textiles are all lit as though it’s a live action film and that means the light is really interesting.” Canadian-born Dean DeBlois started his career at Hinton Animation Studios and worked as an animator on the television series THE RACCOONS. Joining Sullivan Bluth Studios in Ireland, he worked on the animated films, “Thumbelina” and “A Troll in Central Park.” DeBlois served as head of story on the Disney hit MULAN. He wrote and directed “Lilo & Stitch” with Chris Sanders. The talented filmmaker collaborated again with Sanders, to write and direct “How To Train Your Dragon.” His many accomplishments include directing the live action film HEIMA, which documents alternative/post-rock band Sigur Rós’ concerts in Iceland. A DreamWorks Animation film, “How To Train Your Dragon 2” opens June 11 in local cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
will forever leave a lasting impression on her. “It was truly one of the biggest honors of my life to be a part of this project. Both the film and novel explore the most powerful and universal themes. The story taught me that all is fleeting, that nothing is guaranteed, and that however long or short a life you live, it is the small moments that mean the most. “I wanted the role so badly I sent John Green a long, long email about how much I loved the book, and how I had to play Hazel,” Woodley continues.“So I sat down with the studio executives and producers and said, ‘I’ll be a P.A. or an extra, just please, please let me be a part of it!’” Fortunately – for Woodley and the filmmakers – she was able to keep her day job, largely, says Boone, thanks to her spectacular audition. “We read close to 150 actresses for the role, and I saw about 50 of those. Within ten or fifteen seconds of Shailene’s audition, I knew she was Hazel. She held up her script pages and just her eyes were peeking over them. Shailene has these incredible, expressive green eyes, and she could do so much with them. She was emotionally available and creates such nuanced and subtle work. I don’t know how she does it; it’s like some kind of magic.” Woodley worked hard to capture Hazel’s many shadings and complexities. “Shailene understands Hazel so deeply,” says Green. “She gives a raw, honest and totally unselfconscious performance. I’m so grateful for what she’s done
with the character. The object of Hazel’s affections, Gus, played by Ansel Elgort, is someone who believes in big, heroic gestures. He’s brash and tough, but also possesses an appealing intelligence. Gus is a complicated figure: he’s a former high school basketball star, and his favorite book – until meeting Hazel – is based on a videogame. At the same time, he’s an intellectual who enjoys giving long, thoughtful monologues. For Gus it’s the same thing. He’s used to being able to attract women, but he’s never encountered someone like Hazel before.” Ansel Elgort already had a connection with Woodley, with whom he stars – as her brother – in Divergent. Woodley notes that this previous onscreen pairing was “a blessing for our work together in “The Fault In Our Stars” because we already knew each other and had this on-screen chemistry, so it was easy to connect as Hazel and Gus. Ansel’s like my brother; he’s so curious about the world and everything excites him.” Tackling his most challenging role yet, Elgort credits Woodley as a source of strength. “I’ve had some moments in this film that have been harder for me than any in my career, so having Shailene by my side made it a lot easier.” “The Fault In Our Stars” opens June 5 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
I believe people often take actions that are completely contrary to their needs, and make little to no sense to those around them. How often have you seen a friend and asked ‘why is she with that horrible man?’, or vice versa. Sometimes they are too close to see what is so blindingly clear to us. And other times what is clear to us is simply a mirage. We think it’s the awful woman using the lovely man, when in truth the lovely man is just much better at hiding his crueler intentions”. “I had all sorts of questions about relationships that I couldn’t answer. Like how do you deal with an “impossible” person? Do you try and get what you need by changing them? And in the rare event that you succeed, do you change them into someone you no longer love? Or if you know in your gut that someone is lying to you, what are
your options? What happens if you decide to trust a totally untrustworthy person? Is complete belief transformative? Do people come to embody the virtues or sins we imbue them with? In matters of love, do you only truly win if you surrender? Or does the victor just walk away with the cruelest of smiles, as our egos will warn us? And if some of us are doomed to only fall in love with the wrong person – is that wrong person really the right person, we just can’t recognize it? As you can see by these questions, in relationships, I am that impossible person.” Reminiscent of Paul Haggis’ “Crash,” the tales play out in New York, Paris and Rome three couples who appear to have nothing in common and only tangential connections. But there is always a third person in any relationship -- perhaps not romantically, perhaps you aren’t even aware of their existence, but they are there. At its heart, Third Person is much more than a collection of love stories -- it is a mystery; a puzzle in which truth is revealed in glimpses, and clues are caught by the corner of your eye -- and nothing is truly what it seems. “Third Person” opens on June 18 in cinemas nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.
MOVIES FOR JUNE - JULY 2014
Edge of Tomorrow
June 05 Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Genre: Sci-fi Thriller Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt Director: Doug Liman Oscar® nominee Tom Cruise (the “Mission: Impossible” films, “Collateral,” “Jerry Maguire”) and Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada,” “The Adjustment Bureau”) star in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ sci-fi thriller “Edge of Tomorrow,” under the direction of Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”).
Blended
June 11 Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Genre: Comedy Cast: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore “Blended” marks the third comedy collaboration between stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, following their successful onscreen pairings in the hit romantic comedies “50 First Dates” and “The Wedding Singer.”
The epic action of “Edge of Tomorrow” unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world.
After a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren (Barrymore) and Jim (Sandler) agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again. But when they each sign up separately for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week.
Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
“Blended” also stars Joel McHale (NBC’s “Community”) as Lauren’s ex-husband, Mark, and Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”) as her best friend, Jen; Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) and Jessica Lowe (funnyordie’s “RobotDown”) as an overly romantic couple also vacationing at the resort; and Terry Crews (“The Expendables 2”) as the resort’s singing host.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
“Blended” is directed by Frank Coraci, who previously collaborated with Sandler and Barrymore on “The Wedding Singer” and also directed Sandler in the hit comedies “The Waterboy” and “Click.”
The international cast also includes Bill Paxton (“Aliens,” HBO’s “Big Love”), Kick Gurry (Australian TV’s “Tangle”), Dragomir Mrsic (“Snabba Cash II”), Charlotte Riley (“World Without End”), Jonas Armstrong (BBC TV’s “Robin Hood”), and Franz Drameh (“Attack the Block”). Liman is directing “Edge of Tomorrow” from a screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth, based on the acclaimed novel All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.
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22 Jump Street
June 18 Studio: Columbia Pictures Genre: Action Comedy Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube “22 Jump Street” reunites Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as they return to their roles as undercover cops Schmidt and Jenko; they are also re-teaming with “21 Jump Street” producer Neal H. Moritz (“Fast and Furious” franchise) and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” upcoming The LEGO Movie).
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Alongside Hill and Tatum, Ice Cube reprises his role as Captain Dickson. In the action-comedy “22 Jump Street,” after making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. Hill and Tatum say, “We are grateful to our friends at Sony and MGM for letting us do another one. We’re proud to be working alongside Phil, Chris, Neal, Ice Cube, Korean Jesus and the rest of our amazing crew and cast. As we all know, sequels are ALWAYS better than the original. Every single time. This will be no exception. How are we still saying the exact same words at the same time? This is crazy! Jump Street!”
Deliver Us From Evil
July 02 Studio: Columbia Pictures Genre: Horror Thriller Cast: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez In DELIVER US FROM EVIL, New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana), struggling with his own personal issues, begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramirez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city. Based upon the book, which details Sarchie’s bone-chilling real-life cases.
Jupiter Ascending
July 24 Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Genre: Action-Adventure Cast: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis Director: The Wachowkis Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis star in “Jupiter Ascending,” an original science fiction epic adventure from filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski.
Jupiter Jones (Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning other people’s houses and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Tatum), a genetically engineered exmilitary hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along—her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos. From the streets of Chicago to far flung galaxies whirling through space, “Jupiter Ascending” is written and directed by the Wachowskis. Award-winning producer Grant Hill, with whom they have collaborated since “The Matrix” Trilogy, is producing, together with Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski. Roberto Malerba and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers. Channing Tatum (“Magic Mike”) and Mila Kunis (“Oz the Great and Powerful”) lead an international cast that also includes Sean Bean (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy), Eddie Redmayne (“Les Misérables”), Douglas Booth (“LOL”), Tuppence Middleton (TV’s “The Lady Vanishes”), Doona Bae (“Cloud Atlas”), James D’Arcy (“Hitchcock”) and Tim Pigott-Smith (“Alice in Wonderland”). “Jupiter Ascending” will showcase the kind of cutting-edge visual effects that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowskis’ films. Dan Glass (“Batman Begins,” “Cloud Atlas”) is the film’s visual effects supervisor, a post he has occupied for the Wachowskis since “The Matrix” Trilogy. Additionally, John Gaeta, the visual effects Oscar® winner behind “The Matrix,” is contributing to the visual effects design.
BILLBOARD EVENTS
CONCIERTO UNO
Summer Serenades
Words by Andrew Rodriguez Photos by Choy Suarez & Chester Louie Godoy
S
ummers come and go but the memorable ones linger in our minds until time stands still. And that was what the producers of the Concierto Uno concert series was hoping to achieve, a memorable summer of 2014. ‘Summer Session’ is the first of the series of concerts under the Concierto Uno brand. This first concert was produced by Crown Audio along with Utmost Creative Publishing. With the stage all set last May 21, 2014, every road led to the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila, Pasay City for the Concierto Uno – Summer Session concert which had 6 of the country’s best voices waiting to serenade the concert goers. It was a busy Wednesday evening and the roads leading to Resorts World Manila were packed as usual but moving steadily. Upon arriving at the venue, all the day’s worries and stresses checked out door as the lobby of the Newport Performing Arts Theater gave a festive vibe that prepared the concert goers for the concert. Seats filled up at a continuous rate with some of the concert goers arriving just in the nick of time. As show time was about to begin, the lights dimmed and a voice over the speakers set the mood of the concert for everyone. This was it, the ‘Summer Session’ had begun. Rising up on stage much like the sunrise; Top Suzara, Jinky Vidal, Nyoy Volante, Sitti, Richard Poon and Jett Pangan appeared and sang the first of two dozen songs that evening.
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Sessionista (from left to right) Jet Pangan, Top Suzara, Jinky Vidal, Sitti Navarro, Nyoy Volante and Richard Poon.
Jinky
Richard
Top
Sitti
Nyoy
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As Top Suzara took center stage, he brought back memories of summers past with songs that he gave life to. Memories of the time he was part of the group Freestyle were also rekindled when both he and Jinky Vidal (both were part of Freestyle) sang one of the most requested songs of the group, ‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang’, together once more after several years. When the spot light focused on Jinky, she brought us back to a more recent summer with her cover performance of songs by Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys. The crowd had started to get into the rhythm of the concert as they had begun to sing along. When Nyoy Volante was called to the stage by Jinky, he had the something planned to keep the crowd hyped. His rendition of an all-time Filipino classic ballad ‘Ipagpatawad Mo’ swooned the audience giving them a short breather before he picked up the pace once more. As Nyoy shifted gears, he gave the crowd a chance to see him up close and personal when he went down the stage and into the audience, much to their delight. It also set the tone for the performers to come. Before Nyoy ended his set, he called on Sitti to do a duet with him. As Sitti took the mic for her set, she performed in her cool and easy Bossa Nova style much like the summer breeze. Laid back and relaxing, her renditions of ‘Sunday Morning’ and ‘Stick with You’ gave the songs a fresh feel. And of course, she also performed ‘Para Sa Akin’ to which the audience responded immediately with them singing along in their seats. When it was time for Sitti to turn over the stage to Richard Poon, the audience (specially the ladies) was visibly anticipating his set. As Richard took to the stage, he had a short chat with the audience before he started on his first song which surprisingly, a lot of the members of the audience knew despite the song, ‘Love Boat’, being several decades old. Further into his set, Richard had gone into the audience allowing the ladies a chance to have their photo taken with him as he sang. He definitely held the attention of the audience with his renditions of familiar songs like ‘Get Here’ and ‘Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko’. For the finale of solo performances, Jett Pangan took the stage with introductions in tow, jokingly, for the members of crowd who might not recognize him. As a proof that Jett is a versatile performer, he belted out familiar songs like ‘Foolish Heart’ and ‘The Man That Can’t Be Moved’. For his final song, Jett performed what is possibly the song that he is known for today and from when he was part of the band called The Dawn, the all-time classic OPM rock song ‘Salamat’ to which the crowd once again joined in and sang along. With the final solo performances done, it was time for the finale of the concert with all 6 performers coming back
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on stage. Befitting the summer theme wherein summer and love always go hand in hand, the group sang â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seasons of Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The first of the Concierto Uno concert series proved to be a success, Summer Session was co-presented by Resorts World Manila. The producers, Crown Audio and Utmost Creative Publishing, offer their special thanks to Prestiz LED TV, Sanus Wallmount and Sakura Amplifiers. The concert was also supported by Unisilver Time, BS Mobile, Kogi Bulgogi, Chancellor9000, Royal Brand, Ardere, Arc Mobile, RICOH, Remington Hotel, Europak and Manila Ocean Park with the following media partners: Daily Tribune, Business Mirror, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard Today, Brand Magazine, Philippines Graphic, Cook Magazine, Real Bride Magazine, Energy FM 106.7, Wave 89.1, Jam88.3.
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Producers: Co-Presented By: Sponsors: Media Partners:
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t’s another year of bringing all together 19 municipalities and 13 cities of Negros Occidental to celebrate its most unique and diverse festival in a week-long Panaad sa Negros Festival. This year the festival focused on the theme “Organik na Negros: Rising the Challenge of Globalization in 2015”. During the opening of the 21st edition of Panaad, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. once again made a challenge to Negrense farmers to rally behind the programs of the province, not just making it the center for Organic Agriculture of the country but for Asia as well. As the province is bracing for the threat of lower tariff rates in the coming years, the governor is calling for a full blast implementation of Organic Farming so that the province can survive the Challenges of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement by 2015 and beyond. This year’s festival was highlighted by the opening of a Livestock and Dairy Fair, an Organic Village and the first ever Regional Agri-Food Fair which was initiated by the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas that showcases both organic and non-organic produce from the six provinces in the region and nearby provinces. During the opening ceremonies, the much awaited Best of Festival Dance competition with 21 festivals from the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental joined the competition with the famous Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City adjudged Champion. Other highlights in this week-long festival include cultural and musical competition such as: Composo competition won by Kabankalan City, Rondalla Festival won by the Municipality of Candoni, Latin Dance Sport winners in three divisions: Cadiz City(Amateur), Bago City(Juvenile), and Silay City(Senior), Philippine Folk Dances Competition winners in two categories namely: Cadiz City(Ma. Clara) and Talisay City(Rural), and the Drum and Bugle Competition elementary level was also held on the last day with the Municipality of Pontevedra adjudged champion. Bacolod City made history again in the prestigious Lin-ay Sang Negros Pageant bringing home the crown for three consecutive years. Lin-ay Sang Bacolod Alexis Danica Drilon was crowned Lin-ay Sang Negros 2014 in a jampacked Panaad Stadium during the pageant’s 20th year. Lin-ay Sang Isabela Nesha Faith Dianala was first runner-up while Lin-ay Sang Cadiz Shermen Rose Perez was awarded second runner-up. Another highlight of the Panaad Festival was the recognition given to outstanding farmers, fisherfolk and livestock raisers in Negros Occidental during the 4th Pasidungog sa Panguma, Pangisda, kag Pangkasapatan 2014. This was also a tribute to them as unsung heroes who had a big role in the success of our food security and food productivity program thus making Negros Occidental become the Organic Bowl of the Philippines, Asia in the future. This year 32 Panaad Themed Pavilions had competed in the Best Destination Pavilion and Festival Costume Exhibition. Sagay City booth this year was a reflection of Sagay’s rich ecosystem and its advocacy that promotes the love for the sea. One interesting feature inside that attracted many visitors was the Mangrove Tree of Inspiration, a replica of one of the largest and oldest mangrove trees in Negros Island, found in Suyac Island, which won this year’s Best Destination Pavilion (City Category). The Best Destination Pavilion (Municipality Category) was awarded to the Municipality of Calatrava. The Cleanest Pavilion (City Category) was awarded to Silay City while the Cleanest Pavilion (Municipality Category) went to the Municipality of Calatrava. Best in Food Security Corner (City Category) was awarded to Bago City and the Municipality of Binalbagan as Best Food Security Corner (Municipality Category). The Festival Costume Display-Colorful (City Category) was awarded to Bacolod City while the Festival Costume DisplayColorful(Municipality Category) went to the Municipality of Moises Padilla. The Festival Costume Display-Indigenous (City Category) was awarded to Silay City and the Festival Costume-Indigenous (Municipality Category) went to the Municipality of Binalbagan. After a week-long of Showcase the Best of Negros Occidental in a fun-filled Panaad sa Negros Festival 2014, the 32 towns and cities finally came to bid farewell to the “Festival of all Festivals” with a grand closing ceremony and Presentation and Awarding of all the winners. Capping the whole celebration was “One Beat One Life”, a drumbeating showcase from different drumbeating groups in Negros Occidental and the Grand Panaad Fireworks Display. See you next year at a more exciting and much bigger Panaad sa Negros Festival 2015.
GOES ORGANIC
PINTAFLORES FESTIVAL OF SAN CARLOS CITY Best Festival Dance Competition
PANAAD ORGANIC VILLAGE
MUNICIPALITY OF BINALBAGAN Festival Costume Display - Indigenous (Municipality Category)
LIN-AY SANG NEGROS 2014
BAGO CITY
Best Food Security Corner (City Category)
MUNICIPALITY OF CANDONI PANAAD RONDALLA FESTIVAL
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BILLBOARD NEWS
Slimmers World InternationaL
Miss Bikini Philippines 2014
iLuv opens first concept store in the country iLuv Creative Technology, the premier provider of the most comprehensive line of accessories for the mobile lifestyle has opened its first concept store in the country located at the Cyberzone, 4/F SM, Megamall. Headquartered in New York where its products are conceived, designed and developed, iLuv has evolved into a worldwide premium brand gaining industry recognition as validated in its 42 prestigious CES Innovations, iF, Good Design, Red Dot awards and also by countless media accolades and a whole host of satisfied customers. Since 1997, iLuv continues to lead in quality, value, design and innovation across a range of mobile accessories including headphones, adapters, speakers, chargers, and cases. By providing a constant stream of new and innovative products with quality and value, iLuv is the perfect selection for all of your mobile lifestyle needs. iLuv products are being distributed in the Philippines by MSIECS. For availability and detailed specifications, please email marketing@msi-ecs.com.ph or call 688-3180 to 83.
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Slimmers World International recently crowned the winner of the Miss Bikini Philippines Pageant 2014 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Running on its 7th year, the Miss Bikini Philippines Pageant is one of the most sought-after beauty pageants to compete in by aspiring candidates. The pageant is not only about beauty and intellect but it also about being healthy and fit wherein Slimmers World International aims to spread the word and inspire people to live a healthy lifestyle. From the several hundreds of aspirants who joined the auditions, the number was whittled down to the top 30 candidates who represented the best of the best. The candidates were vying for over 2 million Pesos worth of cash and prizes along with the title that will turn the winner into the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambassador for slimming, health, fitness and beauty. The crowned Miss Bikini Philippines winner will represent the Philippines in different international pageants as well. After several weeks of undergoing a rigorous regimen to bring out the best of the best from the top 30 candidates, it all came down to the judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; decisions after the candidates performed at their best in the National Costumes, Night Gowns, Creative Dance routines and the Q&A Portion. After all the scores were tallied, it was Hazel Ortiz who was crowned Miss Bikini Philippines 2014. Worthy contenders to the crown, Jessica Arqueza and Roshiel Asingua, were awarded first and second runner-up respectively.
BILLBOARD
KATE SPADE SATURDAY
NEWS • EVENTS
PRINTING THE FUTURE WITH SHARP Kate Spade New York’s sister label, called Saturday, is wowing everyone with its punchy colors, artfully abstract prints, graphic zigzags and notably lower prices. Like Kate Spade New York, Saturday features bright colors, bold graphics and clean shapes – but for half the price, on average. Kate Spade Saturday is aimed at a 20-35 age demographic of women looking for everyday wear. “We saw a younger woman who is interested in and excited by Kate Spade New York, but is not quite ready for it. She loves the spirit and feeling of the brand, but it’s a little too polished for her.” said Kyle Andrew, Kate Spade New York SVP of Marketing The staff behind Kate Spade Saturday is mostly new – a notable exception being Theresa Canning Zast, who moved from serving as Director of Creative Marketing at Kate Spade New York, to Creative Director at Saturday. Andrew is confident that Zast and her team will be able to foster this fresh line while preserving the “vitality of Kate Spade.”
In this highly advanced digital age, there are those who believe that printed materials are a thing of the past. For professionals and businesses, however, even a high-definition screen cannot compare to the versatility, effectiveness, and vibrancy of printed media. For companies that need to provide themselves and their clients with a clear technological edge, therefore, not just any printer will do. Accordingly, eCopy Corporation, an IT and Solutions Company and the exclusive distributor of multi-function portals (MFP) of Sharp Corporation, proudly introduces the Sharp Pro Series Color Document Systems. Based solely on its impressive technical specifications, the Sharp Pro Series Color Document Systems can legitimately be called one of the world’s most advanced printer and document systems available today. Through the collaborative effort of using innovative business solutions from SHARP and its technology partners, eCopy is able to deliver an “Integrated Platform called the MANAGE ALL PLATFORM,” that effectively monitors the automating of document capture, workflow and archiving. In demanding business environments, for instance, achieving accurate color is crucial, as well as being able to print high-quality materials in a relatively short amount of time. The Sharp Pro Series can print at speeds up to 75 pages per minute (ppm), with images printed in perfect color through its integrated color management tools. The Pro Series also includes a revolutionary touch-screen interface, capable of linking up with cloud-computing services for accessing and editing files via Dropbox, or other online storage sites. The built-in touch screen computer is a key-component that assists in color-proofing and page layout. To further cement its status as an essential tool for high-capacity business use, the Pro Series is capable of folding sheets at high-speed, and even printing entire full-color full-bleed booklets up to 80 or 120 pages long. This is ideal for creating instruction manuals, informational pamphlets, brochures, and the like. Given that security and privacy concerns are paramount in a workplace environment, the Pro Series system offers several layers of innovative document and device protection. With 256-bit encryption, data overwrite protection, confidential printing, IP/MAC address filtering, port management, and group account management for up to 1,000 users the Pro Series will assuredly keep the big ideas safe and sound. Sharp Pro Series Color Document Systems comes with professional features that enhance productivity at every level,” noted ________, the __________ of eCopy Corporation. “Moreover, since it carries the Sharp name, its quality and superior after-sales service is assured,” he concluded. For more information on how you can give your business a Sharp edge, please visit e-copy.com.ph or call (+63) 02 521-2574 today.
Nixon for Kate Spade Saturday Small Time Teller P Story Little Big Deal
Scaled down, petite goodness reigns supreme in the case of Nixon¹s Small Time Teller P. The just-right-size features KSS’s custom spring Strata Stripe and Pointed Squares prints¬ it’s our latest little big deal. •Movement: Miyota Japanese quartz 3 hand. •Dial: The dial includes original/custom kate spade saturday artwork, applied indices, and custom molded hands. •Case: 40 mm, 100 meter, custom stainless steel core encased in custom injection molded polycarbonate, fixed polycarbonate bezel, hardened mineral crystal, triple gasket molded polycarbonate crown, screw down stainless steel caseback encased in custom injection molded polycarbonate, and stainless steel spring pin lugs. •Band: 20 mm custom injection molded polyurethane band with patented locking looper and polycarbonate buckle. Like Us! www.facebook.com/brandmagph
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BILLBOARD
NEWS • EVENTS
MSI-ECS wins race with 2 HP Distributor Awards IT distributors, resellers, and employees look forward to vendor annual awards as a gathering where performers are recognized for their respective contributions in growing the business. In the recently concluded HP Partners Night for Printing and Personal Systems Group held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, MSI-ECS won the race for PC Business when it bagged 2 distributor awards for both consumer and commercial PC businesses. Photo shows (L-R), Celso Ravina, AVP for sales and marketing, Consumer and Business Computing Group 1, MSI-ECS; Issa Agner, assistant sales and marketing manager, Consumer and Business Computing Group 3, MSI-ECS; Princess Chua, SVP and general manager, MSI-ECS; and Jimmy Go, president and CEO, MSI-ECS.
Giordano Philippines invites everyone to join World Without Strangers Campaign
A world without strangers is an ideal world where people are not divided by race, class, religion or culture. It is a world where everyone welcomes each other as if they are friends or family. This is what Giordano Philippines stands for, and it longs to do so by developing apparel for everyone regardless of ethnicity, nationality or culture. In celebration of its 25th anniversary in the country, Giordano Philippines invites everyone to join them in this quest for a World Without Strangers (WWS), beginning with the WWS photo booth which will run in selected malls all over the country from May 16 to June 1, 2014. Catch the WWS photo booth at Trinoma (May 23), SM Megamall (May 24), Alabang Town Center (May 25), Ayala Cebu (May 30) and SM Davao (June 1). The first leg of the campaign took place at the SM Mall of Asia (May 16), Glorietta (May 17) and SM Pampanga (May 18). The photo booth will be situated in the mall for a whole day. Those who want to participate in the campaign need to sign a form, giving their consent for Giordano Philippines to use to use their photos on social media and other Giordano marketing collaterals. And participants will get to bring home their own copy of the photo. The Giordano brand and apparel have always appealed to anyone – from those who shop in Dubai’s glitzy malls to the laidback college kids in Sydney, Australia. Our timeless style and quality materials bring together people of different cultures and backgrounds,” said Beatrice Lim, Giordano Philippines’ VP for Marketing. Here in the Philippines people still come from different divides, and through this campaign we hope to break that. We want to show everyone that we can live in a world without strangers,” she said.
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Volume 3 No. 4 www.brandmagazineph.com
Delight your mornings with iLuv TimeShaker iLuv introduces its TimeShaker to help you greet your mornings with a different feel and experience. The TimeShaker has a dual alarm clock speaker with bed shaker and lightning dock that wakes you every time you set an alarm so you won’t have to miss another appointment, class or meeting again. The bed shaker fits comfortably under your pillow and vibrates just enough to wake you up feeling unhurried and relaxed. The dual alarm function on TimeShaker allows you to set two separate alarms. Set one for the weekdays and another for the weekend. Or, set one for yourself and another for your partner. Each alarm can be set to a different alarm option, whether it’s the buzzer, radio or music from your iPod or iPhone. The TimeShaker can also automatically sync to the time on your iPhone or iPod by just simply hitting the TimeSync button. You can also charge your iPhone or iPod using the TimeShaker conveniently while you are asleep and with its jumbo LCD display with 10-level dimmer you can see the time even from a distance and adjust the brightness of the screen during the day or in the evening. Achieve a balance of fancy design and respectable audio performance at a very affordable price. The iLuv TimeShaker is available at Php 4,990. iLuv products are being distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS. For availability and detailed specifications, please email marketing@msi-ecs.com.ph or call 688-3180 to 83. You may also visit our concept store at the 4th floor Building B, Cyber Zone Area, SM Mega Mall.
HONEYWELL ACQUIRES INTERMEC Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Intermec (NYSE: IN), a leading provider of mobile computing, radio frequency identification solutions (RFID), voice-enabled workflow and data-collection solutions, and printing solutions. “The acquisition of Intermec will add innovative products and solutions, as well as deep engineering expertise and a broad global sales channel that further demonstrates our commitment to provide our customers an increasing array of innovative technologies in the highly attractive AIDC industry,” said John Waldron, president of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. Intermec will be integrated with Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, within the company’s Automation and Control Solutions business. With this integration, MSI-ECS, the sole distributor of Intermec automated data capture products will be marketing Honeywell scanning and mobility products. For more information on Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, please visit www.honeywellaidc.com or follow @honeywellaidc on Twitter or call MSI-ECS at 688-3180 or email: marketing@msi-ecs.com.ph