Dec 6, 2021

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

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
 

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

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.

realme c25 sample shot

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.

realme c25 sample shot


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. 

realme c25 sample shot


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.

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

realme c25 sample shot

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!

I have reviewed the realme C1 and realme C3 before and you can check the links below.

realme C1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuis5RuBF6M
realme C3 - https://www.jexxhinggo.com/2020/03/realmec3review.html 


If you have questions about the realme C25, let me know in the comment section below. Or follow realme on Facebook for updates and promos.

Feb 21, 2021

Grab Philippines has partnered with Phoenix Petroleum and will be giving out free fuel vouchers worth P200 to new users, drivers, and delivery-partners in Davao City. This partnership aims to provide more convenience to all Davaoenos especially to drivers when they gas up in any Phoenix gas stations in the city.

From February 19 to March 7, new Grab users can enjoy P200 worth of fuel vouchers when they download the app on Google Play or App Store and sign up for an account. The voucher will automatically be added to the GrabRewards tab in the app.

This is a strategic partnership between Grab and Phoenix Petroleum to be able to provide more convenience to nearly two million Davaoenos. We hope that the app and its various services such as transportation, food delivery, shopping and parcel delivery, can create meaningful value in the lives of the residents and be a catalyst for further growth of this progressive city. We also want to encourage more people to adopt cashless payments through our in-app wallet GrabPay, in support of the government’s goal of creating a digital economy,” said Ronald Roda, Head of Country Operations for Grab Philippines.

Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Officer Henry Albert Fadullon said that the company hopes that the campaign will help further gain the trust and loyalty of Davaoenos, especially since Phoenix originated in Davao, and maintains its headquarters in the city.

Together with Grab, we want to strengthen our relationship with Davaoenos as we offer more value and convenience. Aside from the fuel voucher exclusive to new Grab app users, we also offer the ‘Pinoy Tsuper Card’ (PTC)-Grab, a loyalty rewards card made available specially for Grab drivers, “ said Fadullon.

No matter who they are, whether they are public utility drivers or private ones, we want them to know that they can enjoy perks and discounts when they gas up with Phoenix, and use their rewards card for their transaction in any of our 11 stations in the city,” Fadullon added.

HOW TO REDEEM THE FREE VOUCHER

  • Customers must present the fuel voucher from the GrabRewards tab in the app to the Phoenix station attendant. They will verify and provide a 4-digit pin to input on the app to redeem the coupon.
  • Customers must make a minimum purchase of P300. If above the minimum requirement, they can pay for the remaining fuel transaction balance through cash, card, Phoenix gift certificates or do cashless transactions through GrabPay. (Terms and Conditions Apply)
  • The fuel coupons may be claimed until May 06, 2021 up to 60 days after the promo deadline.


TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
  • Coupons can only be used once. Used coupons will be automatically be deleted from the GrabRewards tab but can be viewed in the Transaction History (reference # unavailable)
  • All unredeemed coupons shall be forfeited and automatically deleted from the GrabRewards tab after the redemption period.
  • Successfully redeemed coupons through the app may neither be changed nor cancelled.
  • Coupons are non-transferable and non-convertible to cash or credit.
  • Coupons must be redeemed at the station. Management retains the right to reject any coupon that has been screenshot, tampered with or found in any way unacceptable.
  • Coupons may be used for in-tank fills only. Refilling of containers will not be allowed.
  • P.O., truck and bulk transactions are excluded in the promo.
  • Coupons may be redeemed until March 14, 2021 (7 days after promo end date) only.

For more information, follow Grab Philippines on Facebook and check out the Grab app.

Nov 3, 2020

All E-Sports and gaming fans unite as AOC Philippines brings us the AOC Masters Valorant Tournament! AOC Monitors continues to support the online gaming industry and will run a promotion for a limited time while the AOC Masters Tournament is ongoing.

AOC has been consistently supporting gamers with smooth experience with their G2 Gaming Monitors.

AOC G2 Monitors are equipped with AMD Freesync Premium Technology with the highest framerate and smooth display. It has a quick 1ms response time and 144 Hz refresh rate. It has minimal bezels for a wider view.

G2 Gaming Monitors Types
27" displays - 272G2 and 272G2E
24" displays - 242G2, 242G2E, and 242G2E5




AOC Masters Promo


To provide fans with more value for the tournament, AOC Philippines will be running a promotion side-by-side AOC Masters. During the AOC Masters Philippines tournament, which will have its exciting Grand Finals on November 7-8, fans may avail of the special promotion.

For every purchase of AOC G2 Gaming Monitors, fans are entitled to exciting loot that will spice up their gaming stations.

Those who purchase any of the 24” G2 Monitors will be entitled for a FREE RGB Gaming Mousepad. Meanwhile, those who get the 27” G2 Monitors will receive not only a FREE RGB Gaming Mousepad, but also a FREE Agon Esports Lite Bag.

AOC G2 Gaming Monitors Suggested Retail Price:

24G2

PHP 11,938

24G2E

PHP 10,438

24G2E5

PHP 9,465

27G2

PHP 17,438

27G2E

PHP 16,100



Metro Manila:
PC Express
PC Hub
Dynaquest
Easy PC
PC Quarter
CKY
Proton
Complink
Vivocom
Digicom
Pcworx
Zenith Era

Visayas and Mindanao:
Thinking Tools Inc
Ultrium Corporation
Jargon Computer Parts and Services
Nutech Marketing
MF Computer
G-Force Computer Enterprises
Concept Computer Center
Computer World Marketing
Lenin Computer Systems Inc
Tech Express IT Solutions


About AOC Masters


The AOC Masters Philippines tournament will pit VALORANT hopefuls in a chance to represent the Philippines in the regional finals. There will be four qualifying tournaments on October 10, 17, 24, and 31, with the winners facing each other in one final standoff on the November 7-8 Grand Finals. The winners of the tournament will receive prizes from AOC Monitors, TeamGroup, and AMD, including brand-new AOC 24G2E Gaming Monitors and TeamGroup CX 1 SSD Cards along with a PHP85,000 prize pool. 

Watch the matches live on AOC Philippines Facebook page, or get into the battlefield with your team by registering here.




Sep 28, 2020

There's a new generation of four-stroke motorcycle and scooter engine oils from Caltex Halvoline. The new product line includes fully synthetic, semi-synthetic, and mineral products formulated with Halvoline's signature C.O.R.E. + Technology and ZOOMTECH. All formulated for increased reliability and engine efficiency.
C.O.R.E.+ Technology is an improvement over the previous C.O.R.E. Technology and further addresses key concerns, especially in stressful city traffic conditions. These engine oils deliver a more enjoyable riding experience with enhanced engine performance and cleaning properties.

The entire Havoline Super 4T and SuperMatic 4T range also meet American Petroleum Institute (API) SN 1, one of the latest specifications in the industry. 

“Today’s consumers are more discerning with the engine oils they choose, and most demand for better protection and performance of the engine, clutch, and gearbox,” said Area Business Manager of Chevron Lubricants for Philippines Hafiz Nasar. “The newest generation of motorcycle engine oils spurs from our success of the previous Havoline motorcycle range and raises the bar for product performance across the industry. We constantly improve and evolve our products to meet the latest industry’s standards, while also keeping abreast of the lubrication requirements of vehicle manufacturers as their engine technology advances.”

C.O.R.E.+ Technology

  • Cleans and protects – Maintains efficient engine performance
  • Oxidation stability – Protects against oil degradation
  • Reduces engine heat damage – Delivers continuous and superior oil stability
  • Enhances acceleration – Improves clutch grip under high loads with ZOOMTECH
In addition, these engine oils 2 are also formulated with ZOOMTECH, which delivers better oil frictional properties. For the everyday rider, this improves clutch grip and prevents slippage, especially under high load conditions, and ensures maximum power transfer for enhanced acceleration.

Lastly, the entire range of Havoline Super 4T and SuperMatic 4T engine oils now meet API SN performance specifications, which delivers benefits including:
  • High-temperature piston deposit protection
  • Improved robustness in wear control
  • Enhanced oxidation thickening for better lubrication of the engine
  • Sludge control properties, especially in urban, stop-go conditions
The previously well-received Ride Strong campaign takes on a refreshing new look this year, with a more dynamic set of visuals that covers print, digital, and OOH applications. Product labels and cartons have also been redesigned for better legibility.

Caltex range of products for motorcycles and scooters also include:
  • Caltex Havoline Ezy 4T SAE 20W-40 API SG JASO MA2
  • Caltex Havoline Scooter Gear Oil SAE 80W-90 API GL-5
  • Techron ® Concentrate Plus - Motorcycle
  • Caltex Brake and Clutch Fluid DOT 3
  • Caltex Havoline Xtended Life Coolant (Premixed)

PRODUCT LINE-UP



@jexxhinggo