Cyberzone Unveils New Logo at SM Southmall

One of the most familiar places inside SM Southmall has always been Cyberzone. You'd see the logo and you immediately know where it is. Kids have met up here, students, and even lovers. It's a familiar site.

However, times are changing and we all need to adapt to it. The logo of Cyberzone also needs to soheads up, tech geeks!

Roll up your sleeves for the much-awaited annual showcase of the country’s latest smartphones at the Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 — happening from May 31 to June 1 at SM Southmall Main Atrium!

Stay in the loop and learn from top influencers on the latest in tech for a chance to win exciting giveaways from event partners Huawei, Vivo, Samsung, Cherry Mobile, Xiaomi, Realme, Power Mac Center, and Smart. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect at this year’s Cyberzone Mobile Fest:

Digital Quiz. Test your tech knowledge and take a digital tech quiz for a chance to win a brand new smartphone! Promo will run every weekend per event leg so keep visiting Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 for more chances of winning!

Fun Tech Talks. Enrich your knowledge about mobile trends through exclusive brand talks and workshops from top influencers.

PUBG Mobile Tournament. What better way to spend time than with tech-minded friends? Gather your squad to compete in the mobile tournament for a chance to win more prizes!
Special Deals. Enjoy awesome finds and eye-popping discounts — from phone accessories to mobile devices — from leading mobile brands.

Catch Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 in these SM malls: Lucena (June 7-9), Clark (June 14-16), BF Parañaque (June 21-23), Cebu (June 28-30), Sucat (July 5-7), Davao (July 12-14), Legazpi (July 19-21), and North EDSA (July 26-28).

No matter what your tech interest is, whether it is gaming, virtual reality, cosplay, or photography, you will surely find your match at Cyberzone! For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

To see what happened, here's the video below.

Starbucks ends Summer with Nautical Designs

The start of the rainy season is almost here which means the end of summer but with the newest collection from Starbucks, summer can still be fondly remembered while you drink from this Nautical Cold Cup.

Starbucks also captures our seafaring summertime daydreams with Anchors Aweigh. The nautical-themed collection depicts cute illustrations done in line drawing style with white, ultramarine and navy blue colors and red and silver accents.

A perfect complement to the new summer merchandise is the Nautical Whale Card. This quirky card features a whale diving into the ocean with its tail sticking out against the sailor stripe design, available for only a minimum P1,000 activation.

These are the other part of the collection which will launch on June 4.

 They also have new beverages that you can try to keep you fresh and hydrated.

This June, Starbucks is giving everyone that much-needed detour with refreshing and indulgent beverages that will help you sit still, slow down, and savor its rich flavors. The revitalizing new drinks will be available for a limited time only starting June 4.

Bursting with break-power, Starbucks is transforming the usual coffee break into an indulgent escape with the Ultra Caramel Coffee Sphere Frappuccino®, an upgrade on the classic Coffee Frappuccino® but with a refreshing pop to it - small coffee spheres bursting with Starbucks Brazilian Coffee. The delectable blended beverage is topped with a dollop of whipped cream and even more coffee spheres.


Customers with fruitier cravings will love the new Watermelon and Lychee Aloe Frappuccino®, a drink that looks and tastes like a slice of watermelon. The zesty blended beverage is made with watermelon juice blended with chia seeds, layers of floral lychee-infused whipped cream, and diced lychee aloe. With stunning layers of red, white, and green, this drink will satisfy both taste buds and your Instagram feed.

Everyone deserves a break every once in a while. Grant yourself the permission to pause from the daily grind and enjoy a short and sweet escape at Starbucks with their indulgent new summer offerings!

To see the actual products, watch the video below.

Quick Date at POUND

M and I have been on the savings path. This means that we try to cut down on spending that is unnecessary and we try to not buy things that we don't really need. However, once in a while, M had learned to take me out on quick dates that are also on a budget which I love.

Earlier today he picked me up from my event in SM Megamall and he decided that we would have a quick dinner. We ended up at POUND which I thought was an expensive place but it turned out to be affordable.

As you can see, you can actually enjoy a burger for only Php200.Though the place looks really fancy, I love that the rates are reasonable.

M ordered the goat cheese salad because he's trying to cut down on his weight. I had a bite of this and I loved the goat cheese. I just wished that the dressing was on the side because I feel like they poured too much.

I, on the other hand, had the Backyard Cheeseburger which was really good. I was honestly surprised.

We didn't order drinks because we're both cutting down on sugar and water is life. Yes, I'm learning to love water. Our total bill was just Php500.

How's that for cheap dates?

UnionBank and Shiptek Collaborate to Boost Logistics

The time has come for logistics to step up.

Now that we have Grab Delivery and Transportify to do same day shipping within the Metro, the clamor for big haul delivery on the same day has intensified and UnionBank and ShipTek has heeded the call.

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), via its subsidiary UBX, and Shiptek Solutions Corp., developer of pioneering on-demand shipping and logistics platform called XLOG, recently inked an agreement formalizing their strategic partnership.

The alliance between the two forward-looking companies was cemented by their shared vision of leveraging digital technology to drive innovations that create dynamic and value-laden customer experiences and accelerate growth in their respective industries.

With this alliance, the UnionBank Group effectively holds a 30% stake in Shiptek and will be integrating its e-commerce payment gateway and other digital financial services into the XLOG logistics platform.  Coupled with UBX’s expertise in technology development and blockchain, this will further power XLOG’s end-to-end supply chain solution that consolidates shipping, warehousing, trucking, and customs brokerage.

Having been in the logistics industry for 26 years, Shiptek Solutions Corp. president Jun Ynion said that the industry is ripe for digitization.

XLOG’s digital infrastructure sets a launchpad for the country’s logistics industry to take a leap from the complex and error-prone analog practices of moving goods, bringing it to a higher level of efficiency, connectivity, visibility and optimisation. Injecting UnionBank’s financial mettle into the platform endows greater benefits for stakeholders, allowing them to enjoy more streamlined, transparent, and seamless transactions. The companies are also hopeful that XLOG’s disruptive technology will contribute to establishing the Philippines as a recognized hub for technological innovation.

For Ynion, the relationship with Unionbank is more personal as he recalls the start of entrepreneurial journey two decades ago.

“UnionBank was the only bank that approved my credit card application when I had nothing. I was in so much debt and they gave me a chance to fulfill my dream of starting my business,” he said.

Now working together, UnionBank, UBX and Shiptek Solutions can tap into each other’s expertise and customer network from SMEs to large-scale corporations. UnionBank will also be significantly involved in Shiptek’s daily operations, holding two out of five seats in the company’s Board of Directors.

Shiptek Solutions projects that UnionBank’s investment will help the company reach its aspiration of moving 500,000 - 1,000,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). They have already generated over thousands of TEUs to date, since their launch in 2018.

More possibilities open up as Shiptek, UnionBank and UBX bring into existence a new ecosystem where logistics and financial services naturally fuse together, creating value-laden experiences and conveniences for stakeholders.

For more information, log on to https://xlog.com.ph.

Buku Buku Cafe and Komiket South 2019

When there's an event that supports local artists, I'm all for it.

When I'm not physically present though, I send my lovely family to help cover events that are of interest to them and since both my Mom and sister love stickers, they were more than excited to attend Komiket last Saturday.

True to its mission of supporting local creativity, Buku-Buku Kafe brought Komiket: The FIlipino Komiks and Art Market to SM Southmall last May 25 to 26.

Now on its third year, Komiket South 2019 was Buku-Buku Kafe’s biggest art market yet, with over 80 artists from all over Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cavite bringing their stickers, art prints, comics, zines, and eco-friendly crafts to SM Southmall’s Event Center. Joining the fun are Amalgamated Specialties Corporation (AMSPEC) with a creative journaling workshop and the cast and crew of Cinemalaya film ANi: The Harvest for an interview and trailer screening. AMSPEC will also be presenting their Crayola TakeNote washable gel pens, while ANi will be selling the comics prologue to the upcoming film during the event.

Representing homegrown creativity is Caviteño arts collective Astrolikha, who started the creative convention with a talk on the southern art scene and a zine-making workshop, proceeds of which will go to Astrolikha’s outreach programs.

“Creativity is for everyone,” said Jessica Santiago, manager and partner of Buku-Buku Kafe and Head of Secretariat for Komiket South. “We want our friends here in the South to remember this, to keep creating, and to make sure they are heard.”


My Mom ended up getting us personalized keychains and my sister got me stickers!

Would you go to an art fair like this? Let me know.

Meet the newest Fujifilm X-T30

These days, it almost seems like we can't live without a camera. Everyone has a mobile cam and they snap snap snap everywhere but the truth of the matter is, a real camera still beats a phone cam which is why I'm really excited to know more about the Fujifilm X-T30.

The Fujifilm X-T30 is fondly called the Little Giant.

True to its moniker, the Little Giant¸ the Fujifilm X-T30 is a light and chic powerhouse camera that produces superior image quality delivered with the company’s proprietary color reproduction technology at a more accessible price than ever before. Apart from James Reid, Fujifilm team also introduced its first batch of ambassadors, Issa Pressman, Mari Jasmine,  Photographers Andrea Beldua, Cocoy Ponce, Maqui Castelo, Juanico Fernandez, and Jelito de Leon.

Equipped with amazing features such as a 425 point phase-detection AF system with approximately 100% Frame Coverage, Color Chrome effect and Sports Viewfinder, the Fujifilm X-T30 is the perfect companion for creative individuals with a passion for photography and videography. The epitome of balance between performance and style, this sleek camera takes your visual craft to the next level.

With the new Fujifilm X-T30, you can capture every picture-perfect moment with its supreme AF and continuous shooting performance. It also has powerful video recording features to step up your output. With its more advanced 4K/30P video functionality, it has the ability to record high resolution audio without requiring additional equipment and eye tracking functionality during video recording.

To add to this, the Fujifilm X-T30 records in 6K (6240x3510) to produce stunning quality in 4K (3810x2160), and it supports the DCI format (17:9), which gives an even more cinematic look to your videos. Its Film Simulation modes can be applied not only when shooting stills but also while recording video, including the “ETERNA” motion picture simulator.

Lastly, 4K/30P videos can be recorded at 4:20 8bit to an SD card. F-log recording and 4:2:2 10bit via the HDMI capabilities means the camera can record video suitable for more serious videographers.

Plus, this little juggernaut weighs only 333g (excluding accessories, battery and memory card), making the Fujifilm X-T30 an exemplary and light partner in all your adventures.

Can't wait to get our hands on it.

5 Things You Need to Know about the Blackberry Key 2

And the Blackberry is back again!

Yes, you read that right. Blackberry is back and along with the announcement came a lot of reactions, some of them good, others not so. This is why I decided to write a post and let people know about the 5 things you need to know about the Blackberry Key 2.

1. The Blackberry Key 2 is not meant for everyone. 

This is a business phone. It is not a gaming phone so stop looking for a wide screen and crazy graphics.

The Blackberry Key 2 is more than enough for businessmen and executives who need an awesome android phone with the traditional keypad. It is sleek, classy, and most of all, secured.

2. This is the kind of phone that you will keep for a while, not just a moment. 

This phone is meant to last for years and will not go out of style because it serves a purpose. It is not simply decor.

3. This looks like other phones but the security is out of this world. 

The Blackberry Key 2 has security and privacy measures not found in other phones. You can now be worry free when you put in your password even when you are outside because only you can clearly see your screen and other people won't be able to.

4. The Blackberry has keyboards, actual keypads. 

This is what sets apart the Blackberry. We all know of someone who feels that they can't type articles or long emails on their phone because they need the feel of the keyboard. Guess what? The Blackberry provides both Android capabilities and the keyboard feels.

5. The 13MP camera will show off your pores. 

If you think the camera is something to shush at, think again. We took a selfie and zoomed it. Mind blown. 

Now that we've listed down 5 things you need to know about the Blackberry Key 2, lemme know what your thoughts are.

PS. We will be doing a full review soon so wait for that okay? 

AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019

Everything is being digital so the need to learn skills such as navigating things on the cloud has become a must. This is why programs such as AWS' Siklab Pilipinas matters.

For the second consecutive year, Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, is hosting AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019, a large-scale cloud technology training event for higher education institutions.  Responding to demand, this year’s event is expanding from Manila to other major cities including Cebu, Davao, and other parts of Luzon, to reach more graduating students and educators.  The week-long training events will be conducted monthly from May to December 2019 in cities across the country, with the first session commencing on May 20 in Manila.

According to World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2018, 72 percent of the companies in the Philippines are expected to adopt cloud computing technology across a wide range of industries, and 84 percent of the companies surveyed are likely to hire new permanent staff with skills relevant to new technologies.   In January 2019, IDC Philippines report stated that at least 30% of local organizations will be digitally determined by 2020.  

Edukasyon.ph, an AWS Customer and a social enterprise that connects students to education opportunities through an online platform, is a co-organizer of this event.  Henry Motte-Muñoz, CEO and Founder of Edukasyon.ph, said “In the Philippines, we face a significant challenge of ensuring students are equipped with the right technical skills that will lead to successful employment.  We are fortunate to work with a global technology leader like AWS that understands the needs of industry, and provides the resources to help elevate our future workforce.”

AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019 will provide more technical learning sessions, with practical advice from AWS customers and members of the AWS Partner Network (APN), as part of the intensive training curriculum.  Participants will complete learning pathways on AWS Educate program such as Cloud Computing 101 and Solutions Architect, as well as AWS Security, as part of the Cloud Practitioner Essentials workshop.  Students will also undergo specialized training in learning how to deploy applications on AWS, one of the important skills that is highly demanded by large enterprises and unicorn start-ups around the world.  Additionally, students will have the opportunity to immediately apply their new cloud technology skills by participating in AWS GameDay – a half-day gamified hackathon competition for participants to solve a set of challenges related to real life scenarios.

On the last day of the event, participants who completed the training will be invited to the job fair, where AWS customers and members of the AWS Partner Network (APN) such as Globe, Cebu Pacific, Stratpoint, and Aboitiz, will meet with participants to discuss employment and internship opportunities.

The global AWS programs that support the AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019 event include:

AWS Educate, a global program that provides a robust set of learning content, resources and AWS Promotional Credits for students and educators to acquire cloud computing skills.  Currently, over 2,400 education institutions and hundreds of thousands of students across the world have enrolled in the program.

AWS Training & Certification provides trainers for the instructor-led training to prepare the students for AWS Certification, which students can undertake at their own pace after the event.

The AWS Siklab Pilipinas events in Cebu, Davao and parts of Luzon will be rolled out in the coming months.  To find out more, please refer to this link. 

Ben's Kitchen in Subic

We had lunch here today. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Xtremely Xpresso co-owns the place. I had high hopes for the place because I loved Xtremely Xpresso.

I love the interiors of the place. It's blue and white, really cool to the eyes.

The Nachos are big, super cheesy, and filled with ground beef. For cheese lovers, these nachos would be heaven.

The Big Ben pizza though was a disappointment for me. I guess I had too high of an expectation because Xtremely Xpresso's pizza was so good so I though it would be the same. IT WASN'T.

The clam chowder is definitely the best bang for buck soup. It was creamy, filled with a lot of ingredients, and big. For Php140, this one serves 2-3 people.

The lamb chop was okay. It wasn't the best lamb chop and for the price of almost 400, I felt that this could have been cooked better. It felt lacking in taste for me. 

The steak on the other hand was a totally different thing. It looked burnt but when I cut the meat, it was surprisingly soft. It was cooked perfectly and the mashed potato was also really great. This one, though a bit pricier than the others, is definitely worth every peso.

The ribs which is their best seller was also very soft. I get why this is the one thing that everyone orders. It costs only Php220 but the taste is definitely worth more. 

I also got to try the Peppermint Mocha which was really good. I finished the entire cup, that kind of good.

Would I recommend this place? I'd say yes but make sure to not order the pizza so you won't be disappointed. 

Ben's Kitchen is located inside Harbor Point Mall, Subic.

The Alley at Diosdado Macapagal, Pasay City

It seems that The Alley is ready to conquer Manila. Less than a month after opening inside SM Mall of Asia, The Alley has opened another branch and this time it's located at Coral Way corner Diosdado Macapagal, Pasay City.

This branch though is more of a cafe rather than just a milk tea place. It has really pretty interiors and you can stay for hours (just make sure to order more than 1 milk tea if you plan to) because the seats are really comfortable.

You can also have your photo taken with the iconic logo.

Now, let's talk about the milk tea. M and I tried the Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk Tea and the Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk. We liked both and the sugar sweetness was right for us. M had the Fresh Milk version though because that one didn't have any sugar on it.

I have to make a special mention about the pearls though. WINNER! The pearls were tasty and chewy. If I could order one with two extra set of pearls, I would!

M and I will definitely go back here soon.

Martell® Chanteloup

Martell Cognac comes from the oldest of the great cognac houses. It is one of the most respected and a true unique cognac for connoisseurs. The Martell Chanteloup allows anyone who drinks it to open up new perspectives of wisdom from the house of Martell.

The Martell Chanteloup Perspective is an invitation into the secret of the Chanteloup estate, the historic home of the Martell family. It is a magnificent tribute to a site steeped in history. Martell Chanteloup Perspective is produced by assembling the four main growth areas, or 'crus', of the Cognac region: Grande and Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, and above all, Borderies.

Here are the 3 main characteristics of the Martell Chanteloup

Aspect
A beautiful amber colour flecked with shimmering glints of light.

Nose
Generous notes of honey and fresh fruit: Vineyard peach and apricot.
Aromas of candied fruit: Fig.
Notes of dried fruit: Raisins, almonds and walnuts.

Mouthfeel
A rare and particularly fruity sensorial experience. Ampleness and balance combine with force and elegance, with a lovely lingering finish.

Martell Chanteloup is an ULTRA PRESTIGE cognac and has limited stocks in the Philippines. Retail price is at Php22000 per bottle. Recommended way of drinking this is neat or on the rocks.