Eat Well. Travel Often

Mar 14, 2022

Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day with new brand ambassador Marian Rivera

Jexx Hinggo 5:48 PM lifestyle , 0 Comments

Everyone is excited for Shopee's first mega sale of the year, the 3.15 Consumer Day! This will bring more value and joy to all shoppers with the widest variety of products, free shipping vouchers with P0 min. spend, and 10% off discount daily starting March 3.

Shopee also launched its #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign to bring more cheers to all users for a chance to win big prizes by joining different activities and contests across Shopee's official platforms. Joining the 3.15 celebrations, Shopee welcomes their newest brand ambassador, the Primetime Queen Ms. Marian Rivera!

"At Shopee, our users are at the heart of all that we do. This drives us to keep innovating, so that we can create new features, services, and campaigns that bring joy to their lives. As more people shop online and enjoy our year-end festivals, we are introducing 3.15 Consumer Day to bring the same excitement and fun to the first half of the year. We are thrilled for our first 3.15 Consumer Day and we hope to deliver even more joy to everyone.”, said Mr. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.

1. Celebrate You with bigger prizes, better deals

3.15 Consumer Day gives every shopper a reason to celebrate. Users can find everything they need with amazing deals on the Shopee app, and unlock bigger surprises on social media.

In the Philippines, users can win big at the new #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign across Shopee’s official platforms. Shopee users stand a chance to check out their items for free when they share their shopping carts on social media, while Shopee will also surprise its biggest fans on social media. Stay tuned to Shopee’s official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for more information and activities.

Till March 15, users can find and save more on all they need on Shopee. Highlights include:

Special treats for Filipino shoppers: 3.15 Consumer Day will bring a smile to every user, with Free Shipping vouchers with ₱0 min. spend, ₱1 Deals, and 10% off daily till March 15. New users can enjoy a 100% off discount voucher with ₱90 min. spend at ₱90 max. discount, Free Shipping voucher with ₱0 min. spend, exclusive ₱1 Deals, or free welcome gifts from Shopee and brand partners, so they can smile even more with their first purchases on Shopee.
Exciting deals with ShopeePay: This March, users can enjoy 20% cashback when they scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, and more. Users can also checkout ShopeePay ₱1 Deals and redeem discounts in stores. On 3.15 Consumer Day, users can take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. Users can get a chance to win ₱100,000 when they send money to any bank or to any Shopee user. With ShopeePay’s free transfers feature, users won't have to worry about any additional fees.
More entertaining experience with new in-app game, Shopee Pets: Starting March 3, users can play the life simulation game where they can care for and raise their pets through daily activities for a chance to win Shopee Coins, ShopeePay Credits, and more!

2. Discover new brands for You on Shopee Mall

3.15 Consumer Day is the perfect time for users to discover new brands and indulge their wishlist without having to wait till the end of the year. With thousands of brands offering exclusive deals, there will be something for everyone at Shopee’s Mega Brands Sale from March 3 to 15.

Midnight Brand Parade and Hourly Branded Price Drops: During the first two hours of March 15, shoppers can look forward to storewide discounts from their favorite brands like Pampers, realme, OPPO, Adidas, Unilever Beauty, and Deerma. Users should also regularly check the Shopee app for Shopee Mall’s hourly price drops, where top brands will offer limited-time flash deals on their best-selling products.
New Shopee Mall Sampling Counter: Starting March 15, Shopee is giving consumers greater convenience and value for money to discover new brands through the new Shopee Mall Sampling Counter. Users can try sample-size products from best-selling brands like Johnson & Johnson, Uni-care, COSRX, Trizie, and AHC Philippines, and get a free voucher if they decide to purchase the regular-sized product.
Exclusive discount brand vouchers for new buyers: Shopee also gives brand explorers more incentive to discover the wide assortment of brands under its platform. Curious consumers can look forward to welcome vouchers on their first purchase from their favorite brands on Shopee Mall.
Brand Membership: Brand loyalists get to enjoy a more rewarding shopping experience when they sign up for the Brand Membership Program of their choice. Over 80 brands under the program will offer its members double the rewards points for purchases made on March 15.

3. Discover a new You

Beyond the amazing deals, 3.15 Consumer Day is also time for users to discover new interests, and support what matters to them. From today till March 15, users can find new ways to do their part for local businesses, and discover hidden gems on Shopee.

Satisfy all your interests at 3.15: Users can shop for a wide variety of products catered to their interests with themed days across 3.15 Consumer Day. This includes 3.3 Consumer Day (March 3), Fashion Day (March 4), Home Appliance Day (March 5), Home and Living Day (March 6), Digital Deals Day (March 7), Beauty Day (March 9), Mobiles and Gadgets Day (March 10), Kids and Babies Day (March 11), Sports and Motors Day (March 12), Shopee Prizes Day (March 13) and Vouchers Day (March 14).
Support and empower female sellers on International Women’s Day: After unwavering support for local sellers across its year-end festivals, Shopee will continue to connect users to more local businesses, including those of strong, inspirational Filipinas. On March 8, Shopee will hold a special 3.15 Women’s Sale to celebrate women in the Philippines and spotlight inspiring stories of female sellers on its platform.
Explore ways to improve your shopping: Shopee Cares PH is an online community that offers the best customer support for all your concerns and questions. Just follow @ShopeeCaresPH on Twitter and Facebook so you can shop and worry-free. For Shopee Fam with Gold and Platinum Shopee Loyalty Tier memberships, get ready to claim unlimited Free Shipping vouchers every month. Claim those hard-earned vouchers accessible via the Shopee Loyalty Page or the Homesquare Page so you can make the most out of your shopping this 3.15 Consumer Day.

Download Shopee now for free on Google Play or App Store!

Mar 6, 2022

DIZO Watch 2 Review

Our favorite smartphone brand in the Philippines - realme, just expanded their TechLife ecosystem by partnering with an up-and-coming brand DIZO and they launched different tech products last February 11, 2022. DIZO aims to offer various tech products that complement every consumer's individuality hence their tagline, "Be Different".

They released 13 compelling tech products that have the same quality and manufacturing standards that realme has been known for. I have with me the newest DIZO GoPods D, GoPods Neo, and Watch 2. I'll write a more detailed review on the DIZO Watch 2 below.

DIZO Watch 2
The box is not that heavy and thick. Once you open the box, you will immediately see the watch wrapped in plastic. Underneath, are the user guide and charging cable.

DESIGN AND DISPLAY
At first glance, it actually looks like the realme watch 2. But to my surprise, it's actually heavier and has a wider screen. It has a zinc alloy frame that's smooth and feels premium. The screen is glossy and has 2.5D rounded glass. It has a 1.69" touchscreen display with LCD panel with 600 nits peak brightness. It's not full screen as it has a black bezel around it. It may look wider if your watch face is black.

It comes in 4 color variants - Classic Black, Golden Pink, Ivory White, and Silver Grey. The strap is common and only has 1 loop ring to lock the strap. It is 5ATM water-resistant so you can wear it in the pool or in the shower. There's a button on the left side of the Watch 2. This will serve as the Back and Power button. At the back, you'll see the SPO2 sensor and magnets for charging.

NAVIGATIONS

If you swipe from the left side, you will see the control panel - Brightness, Sleep Mode, Power Saving Mode, Battery, Flashlight, and Settings.
If you swipe from the right, you will see the Steps tracker, Sleep Tracker, Heart Rate Monitor, Weather, and Music controls.
If you swipe down, you will see your recent notifications. You can't reply or open these notifications but you can delete them.
If you swipe up, you will see all of the workout settings, alarms, activity data, etc.

BATTERY LIFE
It has a 260mAh polymer lithium battery and claims to reach up to 10 days. I've been wearing this for 3 days now and it's still at 50%. When I unboxed this, the battery was at 10%. I charged it for an hour and it reached 80%. A total of one hour and 15 minutes before it reached a hundred.

When I wore it for a couple of days, it wasn't too much of a big change for me. I was used to wearing the realme Watch 2 before that I am familiar with its functions and settings. What I only noticed is that the screen is too sensitive and at some point when I swipe left, the swipe up menu will appear. There is also a very minimal delay when you browse the settings.

I am not into exercise right now so I won't be using the 16 Workout modes but it may come in handy some time. I only watch my steps tracker because my target is 8,000 daily.

CONNECTIVITY
DIZO has an app that you can use to connect your DIZO products including the Watch 2. Some DIZO products can be connected to the realme app too! However, the DIZO Watch 2 is not yet included. Maybe this will be available after a few updates.

Connecting or pairing the watch to the app on my iPhone was okay. You need to create an account first and it will track everything. My main concern after was the time format of the watch. It shows a 24-hour time format and I can't seem to find a way to change it. I installed the DIZO app and paired it with my Android phone the other day and then to my surprise, it changed the time format to 12 hours.

You can change the watch face with different available designs from the app. You can also customize it by putting your photo in it.

The DIZO Watch 2 is now available for only P1,999 on Lazada.

I also tested the new DIZO GoPods D and GoPods Neo recently and I'm impressed!

GoPods D
Enjoy deep and rich bass thanks to its built-in 10mm driver with a Bass Boost+ algorithm. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 for high transmission speeds and a reliable signal so that it automatically connects to your phone when you pick it up. Listen to music or answer phone calls even when you’re on the go with the DIZO GoPods D while sporting a lightweight and ergonomic design, making it comfortable to wear all day.

Available for only P999 on Lazada.

GoPods Neo
Conversations with your loved ones are made better and clearer with the DIZO GoPods Neo. Featuring active noise cancellation to block ambient sounds and when you switch to transparency mode, it helps you listen to sounds in your environment, allowing you to talk to the people near you without taking off your earbuds. Enjoy disturbance-free calls and meetings with the dual-mic noise cancellation in these earphones. Moreover, all you need is a single charge for a playback time of up to two weeks.

Available for only P1,999 on Lazada.

realme has been expanding its products to suit the needs of its customers and I love it. With DIZO coming in, I'm excited for a more convenient tech life in the future.

Dec 6, 2021

Shell NSAC’s Virtual Art Interact: How young creative minds can ‘restART’ the nation’s future

Jexx Hinggo 11:40 PM lifestyle , 0 Comments

The resourcefulness and creativity of young artists can be a powerful voice in moving the country forward, as the empowering messages in their pieces can reignite expression, the hope of the people, and the restrengthening of the economy. This was the timely and powerful idea that reverberated during the recent Virtual Art Interaction, now on its second year and held by the long-running Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC). The event’s ‘restART’ theme also signified that the nation’s future can be rebuilt and revitalized through art.

Launched by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation 54 years ago, the NSAC annually convenes aspiring young artists, masters, and art enthusiasts to champion Filipino artistry and creativity. The event also provides student and rising artists an avenue where they can both showcase their works, as well as learn from masters how to succeed in this unique, if challenging industry.

“Art has the power to change hearts and minds and communicates messages through a powerful display of sound, visuals, and all of these combined. Filipinos can use the power of their art to keep the Philippines moving forward,” said Conrad Parizal, the Social Performance Adviser for Downstream of Pilipinas Shell.

The power of conceptual art

Shell NSAC’s restART vision calls for young artists to come together to visualize a brighter tomorrow for all Filipinos, using their work and skills. Art has the power to influence society, form opinions, and instill values because it can translate messages and experiences across language, time, and culture, as it acts as a vehicle for social change. The pieces of art created during the event emphasize the importance of hope which can rise when artists and the public work together.

Multimedia artist Emard Cañedo, explained further the role that art plays during these challenging times: “Art is a form of therapy. It helps us cope with the pandemic. In the long run, after the pandemic, those who practiced art can utilize it as a tool to express themselves.”

The event highlight was a deep dive into Conceptual Art, where the artist makes use of the materials he has available to get their ideas across. This includes exploring alternative resources like charcoal, crayons, lipstick or other beauty items, used newspapers and magazines, and cardboard boxes.

Then Cañedo, a visual artist and art educator whose works probe the current socio-political conditions through visual idioms, held a one-hour workshop on ‘Still Life: Finding Life in Art in the Time of Crisis.’ Joining him in the panel discussion was 2007 NSAC Winner Gino Bueza whose art specializes in the elements of collage, where fragmented images are merged into layered juxtapositions of color, pattern, and form.

Bueza reinforced his belief in conceptual art, saying, “Joining NSAC makes me happy and helps me to be resourceful with the limited materials. Limited material is not a blockade to express the message you want to say – but it can build confidence.”

How to succeed in art

Virtual Art Interact emphasized how young artists can further develop and challenge their art process. Given limitations in resources during times of crisis, the workshop students learned how to use different and ‘ordinary’ materials to enhance their art practice.

Leaders from the art world also gave their insights on and guidance to the students on how to be a successful artist.

“Support is really important in this field, like what Shell is doing: providing a future platform where artists can showcase their piece,” said comic book writer and illustrator Berlin Manalaysay.

Carla Francisco, the almost-architect turned art intern, pointed out another factor to success: “[Be] willing to learn. Ask from those who know more. The successful artists took the time to learn, and asked the right questions.”

Filipino-Asian modern and contemporary artist Richard Buxani agreed, then adding that “people from diverse backgrounds can easily adopt. Let’s say you have a degree in accountancy, how do you combine numbers with your work in Fine Arts? Or if you have a degree in chemistry, how do you weave that with sculpture? It starts with passion.”

In his closing message, Cañedo encourages his younger colleagues: “Don’t be shy to explore ideas. What we need is to continue with progress.”

Future Virtual Art Interactions

There will be two more legs of Virtual Art Interaction: “Tech and Art” on November 13; and “Art and Advocacy” on November 20. Those who want to reignite their creative passion and learn about art from masters of the craft can click on http://www.shell.com.ph/JuanArtNation

Oct 8, 2021

Score up to P7,000 off on realme devices this 10.10 Sale

Jexx Hinggo 9:55 PM tech , 0 Comments

Another double sale is coming! I know we are all ready to spend our hard-earned money for something we are eyeing for weeks. As a tech-lover myself, I am so excited to get my hands on the new realme devices in the market today like the realme book, realme GT Master Edition, and realme watch 2!

If you are looking for these gadgets, October 10 at 12AM is the best date and time to purchase. Get a score of up to P7,000 off on Lazada or Shopee.

Each realme 10.10 sale on Lazada and Shopee has its own share of awesome offers. Here’s what you can expect this October via the realme Official Store on both platforms.

LAZADA

realme Book in i3 variant available for only P30,990, a huge discount from its original price of P37,990.

This device is powered by the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ Processor and equipped with 8 GB dual-channel LPDDR4x RAM, 256GB SSD storage, and a picture-perfect high-resolution 14” 2K display.

realme GT Master Edition (8GB+128GB), available for only P17,690 from its original price of P18,990.

The realme GT Master Edition is equipped to handle your needs, from playing your favorite mobile games, to multitasking, to capturing beautiful photos and videos. The 5G-capable phone has a Snapdragon 778G 5G processor, a built-in Vapor Chamber Cooling System to keep it performing well all day, and a stunning Samsung AMOLED display that shows crisp colors.

realme Watch 2 available for only P1,690 from P2,990.

The affordable smartwatch is perfect for fitness buffs with its different sports modes, IP68 water resistance, and various health monitors.

realme Buds Air 2 for P1,790 from its original price of P3,990.

These premium wireless earbuds packs a total of 25 hours of playback time, active noise cancellation, dual mic noise cancellation for calls, a transparency mode to better hear your environment, and a 10mm Hi-Fi Bass Boost driver for immersive sound.

realme C11 2021 for only P4,190

The C11 is dual-SIM and packs a powerful Helio G35 gaming processor, providing endless fun for everyone with its massive 5000mAh battery.

SHOPEE

realme 8 5G (4GB+128GB) available for only P9,840, from its original price of P10,990.

On top of its 5G capability from its Dimensity 700 5G Processor, it’s also got a 48MP main camera, expandable memory up to 1TB, and a long-lasting 5000mAh battery for all your mobile needs. Meanwhile, the realme C11 2021 is also available on realme’s official store on Shopee for only P3,490 from its original price of P4,990.

realme Buds Q2 available for P840

It connects instantly to your phone and lasts for 20 hours, plus it’s also got a 10mm Bass Boost Driver for the perfect sound

realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker available for P590

It packs six hours of playback time and IPX5 water resistance for a fun time anywhere.

realme Power Bank 2i available on Shopee for only P440, down from its original price of P990.

The 10000mAh Power Bank boasts 12W two-way Quick Charge for all your USB-capable devices, and two slots to charge two devices at the same time.

Get all of these great deals and more via the realme Official Store on Lazada and Shopee during their 10.10 big brands sales on October 10 for Shopee, and October 10 to 14 for Lazada! Daring to take the leap and getting the realme device you want has never been more affordable.

May 15, 2021

realme C25 Review - Latest reliable budget phone

Jexx Hinggo 4:04 PM tech , 1 Comments

Hey guys, welcome back to my blog. It's been a while since I updated my blog but here we are. We have the new realme C25. This is their latest addition to their "bang-for-a-buck" C-series smartphones.

Now, how is the realme C25 better than its predecessors? Let's all find out.

When we open the box, you will get the following:

realme C25
USB Type C Cable
9V2A Adapter
SIM Card Needle
Phone Case
Screen Protect Film
Quick Start Guide
Important Product Information (including the Warranty Card)

Let's remove the plastic and check the design. I'm digging the color and style of the realme C25. It looks elegant and stylish. Fit for millenials like me. LOL

The realme C25 will be available in two exciting colors: Water Grey and Water Blue. The one we have is the Water Grey color. and I will say it again, I am loving the color. They said that the back cover was processed using an industry-leading engraving machine and it undergone major polishing to create that special reflective light effect.

And to add, this is the first smartphone to obtain TUV Rheinland High Reliability Certification. So you're confident that this phone is tough and reliable.

It has textured lines compared to the other realme smartphones but it is smoother, still comfortable to hold, and not slippery. It's not a fingerprint magnet but you can still see some smudges even with a little touch.

At the back you can see the branding, fingerprint scanner, and a triple camera setup. On the right we have the volume buttons and power and lock button. On the left it only has the sim slot. It can house 2 sims and 1 microSD at the same time. Below we have the speakers, USB type c port, microphone, and audio port.

Let's talk about the display. This has a 6.5-inch screen, allowing users to enjoy a near-full-screen viewing experience. It has a dew drop notch and a thicker chin at the bottom. The max video quality is only 1080p

6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD Display
720 x 1600 Pixels
270 ppi
20:9 Aspect Ratio
Dewdrop Notch

It runs on Android 11 and realme ui 2.0 out of the box and you can personalize the icons and themes.

The realme C25 features a MediaTek Helio G70 processor, which is the best in its segment. It is ideal for users and gamers because of its ability to handle medium to heavy apps.

When I tried some social media apps, the photos and videos load fast. Let's try playing Call Of Duty. Here we go again, I actually don't know how to play this but for the sake of this review, I'll do my best.

So far, I did not notice any hiccups or frame drops. It was smooth and the phone is not overheating.

The realme C25 is equipped with a 6,000mAh battery so you can enjoy the features of the phone nonstop whenever you want. It can charge up to 18W and they said that it can last up to 47 days on standby mode.

Now let's talk about its camera. It has a triple camera set up at the back with a 48MP Super clear main camera ad f1.8 aperture, a 2MP Macro Lens, and 2MP depth sensor. It can shoot videos up to 1080p. The realme C25 has an 8MP selfie camera that supports AI beautification, HDR mode, and portrait mode.

Here are some samples.

The realme C25 is available in 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant and is priced at P7,590. Available on Shopee and at a realme store near you.

If you are looking for a budget phone that is reliable on social media, streaming videos, gaming, and packs with a large capacity battery, the realme C25 is something you should consider.

I have unboxed and reviewed the realme C25 on my YouTube channel. Watch and subscribe here!