Xiaomi Philippines is releasing the "Lite Me Up” online series, a four-part online series that showcases the journey of the Lite Crew, four stylish and creative individuals discovering and expressing their true selves, as well as owning their style, with the help of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE.

Guided by a group of Lite Style Experts - It girl and trendsetter Gabbi Garcia, fashion stylist Maita Baello, celebrity makeup artist Mark Qua, and photographer Rxandy Capinpin, the aspirants will discover how to unleash their most creative and stylish selves.

“When it comes to fashion, I love experimenting and mixing up my wardrobe. But my most important style advice is to always make sure to express your truest self whether in real life or online. I’m excited to work with Xiaomi to help the Lite Crew in finding and expressing their own style with the help of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE,” shared Gabbi.

The Lite Crew includes the pretty and dainty wallflower, Sofia Jahrling, sporty and cool-girl, Bela Braza, who kicks ass in any sport, but will charm you with her fun-loving personality. When it comes to fun, suave player Vince Marcelo is your guy who is game for anything. Completing the Lite Crew is Brad Go, the artist with a bit of mystery.

It girl Gabbi Garcia (third from left) is ready to take on the challenge with the Xiaomi Lite Style Crew (L-R) Brad Go, Bella Braza, Sofia Jahrling, and Vince Marcelo.

Combining their knowledge and experience, these (stet) influencers will help the Lite Crew to brighten up their own style. Throughout the four-week run, the experts will present the participants specific tasks with a new challenge every week inspired by the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, which has a sleek design and trendy colors perfect for anyone who wants to express their own unique style and strives to pursue it. To give a sneak peak, the first challenge will test their creativity and self-expression by asking them to share a look that best represents their personal style – complementing the Xiaomi 11 Lite’s sleek colors, of course!

The episodes will be released weekly from November 27, December 2, December 9, and December 16 and will be posted on Xiaomi Philippines’ Facebook and YouTube pages so stay tuned!

Xiaomi Philippines Marketing Head, Tomi Adrias, shared, “In line with the goal of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the Lite Me Up Series was created with the goal of inspiring people to celebrate their own unique selves through style.”

The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE delivers a clean and refreshing look that’s just as eye-catching as it is comfortable to grip. This smartphone provides an astonishing 1.07 billion onscreen colors for a high degree of color accuracy. The screen also features a high refresh rate of 90Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, which keeps you entertained with significantly reduced lag and stuttering. It is equipped with a 64MP triple camera array including a 64MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide angle, as well as a 5MP telemacro that enhances your purview and can capture the world without limits. Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is also battery efficient with a large 4,250mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. 

All this is made possible through the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform packed into Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. In addition, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE arrives in four color variants suited to match your style. Truffle black, Bubblegum Blue, Peach Pink and Snowflake White. 

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE comes in three variants, 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB, and 8GB+256GB at a recommended retail price of PHP 16,990, PHP 18,990, and PHP 20,990 respectively and is available for purchase from official Xiaomi Authorized Stores.

You may also visit the Xiaomi Shopee Global stores as well as the Xiaomi Philippines store on Shopee. You can also follow the official Xiaomi Facebook Page for other updates.

“Imagine a strong Filipino community where an exchange of information can make everyone’s life more comfortable-that is what Loket is ”,says Mr. Kael Jang, CEO of Loket Philippines.

Nearly 12 years ago, Mr. Jang started a business in the Philippines and he found out that the biggest challenge of starting any business in the Philippines was insufficient information online for the neighborhood. He wished there was a way where Filipinos can get the information they need-when they need it.

“If only I have a friend that could share to me these information, it could have been more comfortable”, Mr. Jang said.

This same drive to help Filipinos overcome frustration because of insufficient information online and the need for a friendly platform that could guide Filipinos along the way, pushed him to develop a mobile app for Filipino people, created by Filipino people.

“If other countries have their own community app created only for their citizens, Filipinos should have one as well”, he added.

Thus, Loket’s main service as a mobile app is a neighborhood community What’s Up that allows people to share information to each other- from news and announcements, as well as ideas that will create a warm, well-informed, and comfortable neighborhood. Other than an information-sharing platform, the mobile app also allows the neighborhood to know nearby promotions such as events, discounts, and even job fairs and livelihood seminars through Town Promotion.

Besides a neighborhood community app, Loket also provides information to the neighborhood such as establishments listing nearby called Stores and even Second hand deals.

While there are other second-hand deals online, Loket makes sure that the second-hand deals in the mobile app is far different from others. The Second-hand deal section was specially created for peer-to-peer transactions only, thus businesses are off-limits to this section.

“Second-hand deal is a section where peers can buy from items that neighbors do not already use. At some instances, a peer can even get an item for free, just because a neighbor needs to declutter ASAP. This is never a venue for businesses to sell their products and our system will be monitoring this very carefully”, Mr. Jang said.

Ten years from now, Loket team envisions a community mobile app that help bridges Filipinos neighborhood to the government and non-government sectors swiftly. Loket team also envisions a strong neighborhood community online where Filipinos can rely on information, especially on what they need-when they need it.

“They (Loket) do not benefit from this (LibRECYCLE) since they are selling the items at a very low price then they are going to give it to selected communities” says Race Del Rosario, a BGC resident and Loket user.

Two months ago, Loket, a mobile app for BGC residents and workers launched LibRECYCLE, an exclusive online event for BGC residents and workers. The event which happens exclusively on the app encourages BGC residents and workers to exchange their three (3) preloved items for free plants or stuffed toys.

Race, during the interview shared that since he just relocated to a condo in BGC and the space is small, he had to think of ways on where to place or hide some of his items. He also admits the cluttered environment can affect someone’s mental health as well. This, in turn, supports research studies which shows that cluttered surroundings can affect a person’s mental health.

Loket, on the other hand, a neighborhood app in BGC thought of ways to help the community in its small ways.

“Loket is a neighborhood app that shows users what’s happening in their community from one barangay up to only seven kilometer radius. One of the four features of the app is the Second Hand Deals which allows users to trade their preloved items to friends and neighbors- since the ones that will be seeing their preloved items are just within the area”, says Ching Paman, Digital Marketing Manager of Loket App.

 

 Video clip from LibRECYCLE feature on News5

 

“LibRECYCLE when the team was thinking how to support causes in the community. Also, it is a given fact that BGC is known as environmental-friendly city and recycling is one thing that the community actively does. Through LibRECYCLE, the Second Hand Deals feature of the app serves as a bridge for BGC residents and the communities nearby, in need of medical assistance”, Paman added.

Since its launch, Loket team was able to gather more than a hundred pre-loved items, all being sold for P20 through the app.

To strengthen LibRECYCLE drive, the Loket team also launched a Loket of Love box located at Forbestown Park. The event aims to bring the LibRECYCLE event closer to neighborhood through putting an acryclic box in the park where nearby condos and residences can exchange their preloved items readily. Loket team is in Forbestown Park Fridays to Sundays, from 10am-8pm the whole month of November 2021.

Loket is available via Google Playstore and Apple AppStore.

Feel the joy of the holiday season with Xiaomi’s Holiday Season Promo

Christmas is right around the corner! Have you started your holiday shopping already? In case you’re still clueless about what to get your loved ones, Xiaomi has got you covered.

Feel the holiday spirit with Xiaomi’s All I Want for Christmas promo and get an exclusive and adorable Mi Bunny plushie along with more awesome freebies sure to make Christmas extra merry when you purchase the Xiaomi 11T Series, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, Mi 11 Lite, and the Xiaomi Pad 5 from November 13, 2021 to January 14, 2022.

 The Xiaomi 11T is the content creator’s ultimate companion that is sure to keep up with all your dynamic creative needs. Its high-resolution triple camera and suite of AI-powered tools makes it a powerhouse for content creation and makes cinemagic more accessible for everyone. For only PHP 21,990 for its 8GB+128GB variant and PHP 24,990 for its 8GB+256GB variant, the promo will also give buyers a free speaker and eco bag for free, perfect to use for your holiday shopping and blasting your favorite Christmas carols. Of course, buyers also get one adorable Mi Bunny!

Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is the ultimate flagship phone for content creators that upgrades the features of the Xiaomi 11T with the revolutionary 120W Fast-Charging Technology that enables 100% charge in just 17 minutes. On top of that, the smartphone boasts impressive computational filmography capabilities with one-click AI Cinema modes, 8K recording and HDR10+, allowing users to capture footage with the same smart ISO technology found in digital cameras. You can get it the 8GB+256GB version for PHP 27,990 and 12GB+256GB for PHP 29,990 and get a free eco bag and Mi Bunny!

The refreshed ultra-slim and featherweight Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is also yours for the taking. This upgraded stylish device also gives an ultra-vivid display with its 6.55” AMOLED DotDisplay, 10-bit TrueColor support, and Dolby Vision® as well as ultra-fast connection, 4,250mAh battery, and 33W fast charging for maximum productivity. This device comes in four color choices, Snowflake While, Truffle Black, Bubblegum Blue, and Peach Pink. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is available in 8GB+128GB for only PHP 18,990. Get yours now and you'll be getting a Mi Bunny and Mi Eco Bag free of charge.

If you’re looking for substance and style in one package, the Mi 11 Lite just might be what you've been waiting for. This device confidently blends a sleek design with Xiaomi’s legacy of innovation and best-in-class smartphone camera technology. Both the wide-angle camera and the 16MP front camera have been optimized for low-light conditions with Night Mode, enabling users to take stunning images of sunset landscapes, nighttime cityscapes or night-out selfies with higher brightness, sharper contrast and enhanced detail. Mi 11 Lite is also built to stay at peak performance even during periods of heavy usage such as when streaming or gaming. The Mi 11 Lite comes in 8GB+128GB storage variant with a price of PHP 14,990 and if you get yours now, Xiaomi will throw in a cute Mi Bunny and handy tote bag with no additional cost.

Finally, you can get your hands on the versatile Xiaomi Pad 5 for only PHP 17,990 for the 6GB + 128GB variant and PHP 19,990 for the 6GB + 256GB variant. This portable workstation is packed with premium features that’ll boost your productivity such as an 11-inch WQHD+ 120Hz display that brings content to life with elaborate images with more soft and natural colors full of details and large quad speakers that offer a louder, and crisper sound. If you get yours now, you’ll be getting an awesome magnetic case to go along with your Xiaomi Pad 5.

Be sure to check these great deals for these Xiaomi devices this holiday season! Visit the Xiaomi Philippines official stores in Lazada and Shopee. More exclusive deals also await for Xiaomi devices in their Lazada and Shopee Global stores. You can also follow the official Xiaomi Facebook page to stay up to date on more deals and new products.

With the theme of “Digital Infrastructures for Inclusive Digital Economies”, Huawei Philippines held the Intelligent Finance Summit 2021 on November 18. This is the second year Huawei had this event locally, focusing on the foundational technologies that need to be implemented to achieve truly intelligent finance.

During the event, Huawei had multi-layered perspectives and voices from Key Opinion Leaders, Industry Visionaries and Business Leaders from the Financial Services Industry – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Fintech Philippines Association, UnionDigital and PayMaya. Together, they shared insights on digital trends, best practices and explore how to prioritize digital infrastructures to achieve inclusive growth in the digital economy in 2022, and beyond.

BSP marked during the event that, “To further advance the BSP's policy agenda, we also support critical information communication technology reforms. These initiatives aim to provide those who are currently unbanked or underbanked much needed access to expansive financial services”.

Jason Cao, the President of the Global Financial Services Business of Huawei Enterprise BG, stated during his speech,” Huawei has been engaged in FSI for a decade. Throughout our 10 years of growth, we have served more than 2,000 financial institutions in over 60 countries and regions, including 48 of the world's top 100 banks. Huawei has become an important partner in the digital transformation of the global FSI.”

The demand for inclusive finance in Philippines is booming. The Central Bank of the Philippines has set an ambitious target in the 2021 to 2023 Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap goals to achieve an efficient, safe and inclusive payments ecosystem, expanding the financial inclusivity of the Philippine banking system to cover 70% of the total population by converting 50% of the total volume of retail payments into digital form.

Amor Maclang, Executive Director of Fintech Philippines Association, Convenor of World Fintech Festival in Philippines, shared her view,“ 3 years into the journey of the ASEAN FinTech Era, deep integration into various verticals is needed for widespread adoption. Our primary focus is Web 3.0 – a horizontal that will cut across industries to bring us to a digitally inclusive future. The Digital Pilipinas movement is in a constant state of outreach to help our economy tech up and not get left behind.”

In a panel discussion on The Effects of Digital Transformation on Accelerated Financial Inclusion, key industry leaders set out how to unlock new financial value and prioritize digital trends to as the Philippines grows its digital economy. 

Arvie de Vera, Co-Founder and CEO of UnionDigital, when asked about the use of blockchain in expanding financial inclusion, said the Philippines was currently Teching Up, “where we are creating more access, through blockchain, for the previously financially excluded institutions – we can interconnect the possibilities of open finance as banking is no longer a vertical, but a horizontal across all platforms and industries.”

"Businesses of all sizes across industries are driving e-Commerce and embracing digital payments. As the country's largest payment processor for everyday merchants, we're seeing rapid growth, especially among MSMEs. Whether via online storefronts, app, or social media, any business can now easily accept digital payments. This is a good example of how financial technology is enabling inclusive growth," said Mitch Padua, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of PayMaya Philippines.

Huawei has cooperated with leading financial institutions in many countries and regions, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and so on. In the Philippines, we have worked with our key partners in BDO Unibank and Unionbank of the Philippines of accelerate the digital transformation of their operations and services.

Rumors have been answered recently with the global launch of the newest addition to Sony’s Alpha line series, the Alpha 7 IV. Many have been anticipating on its price point since then—and now, the long-awaited price reveal has come! Sony Philippines announces its pre-order availability starting today until December 5. 

Sony’s A7M4 is priced at P149,999 for the body only and P159,999 for the kit package. It also comes with a promo bundle of the 64GB Tough SD Card, extra NP-FZ100 battery, and a Sony Alpha Peak Design Cuff.

During the pre-order period, you also get additional promo combos of P10,000 discount on select Sony G Master Lenses and P4,000 discount on select Sony flashes on top of the current promotion! Checkout the catalog below for discounted price details of the lenses and flashes.

   

The Alpha 7 IV is Sony’s newest full-frame hybrid camera that goes beyond basic and made for the new generation of imagemakers. One of its most exciting features adored by many is its real-time eye autofocus that can detect humans, animals, and even birds’ eyes! 

It also boasts of a high-precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors working together with image-stabilization algorithms to achieve up to 5.5 steps of shutter speed compensation, to maximize the high-resolution performance of the camera’s 33.0 MP image sensor.

Want to witness the power of this hybrid camera? Sony Philippines is currently conducting a pre-order kick-off with Sony Alpha Professional Jiggie Alejandrino and Sony Product Expert Nicco Valenzuela, so tune into Sony Philippines’ Facebook page now to witness a live demo to test the amazing features and capabilities of the Alpha 7 IV!

 

Don’t miss this limited chance to pre-order Sony’s newest full-frame hybrid camera. Hurry and go to the nearest Sony Centre or Authorized Camera Dealers nationwide, click here to locate stores near you or you may also opt to checkout in Lazada and Shopee.

For full pre-order details, visit here.

Stay in the loop on any updates, follow Sony Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Huawei Philippines launches 7th Seeds for the Future program today, over 100 students in the Philippines joined the program this year. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Department, Chairman of Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines, Chancellor of University of the Philippines, Professors and students from 20 universities joined the opening ceremony.

Teodoro Locsin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Department, gave a speech during the event, and said that, “As the world becomes more digital, Huawei has seen it fit not only to be business for profit but also to make the building of a better future its business. In 2008,It took this commitment to another level by launching its flagship CSR Program – Huawei Seeds for the Future. Now this Digital Spark has spread exponentially to make a difference in the lives of almost 9,000 beneficiaries worldwide.”

“Seeds for the Future aptly named as such has been spreading and cultivating ICT expertise across the global expanse. Its beneficiaries are able to acquire ICT Knowledge first hand while collectively building their network of ICT talents. I am glad that this program has reached the Philippines in 2015, more than 100 Filipinos have benefited from the program and are now making tangible contributions to our ICT industry. I extend my warmest congratulations to Huawei for the remarkable success of Seeds for the Future and to its new crop of talents. I have high hopes that this program will continue to soar higher to make a difference in the lives of many and to build a better future for us all. ” Secretary Locsin said.

“Huawei Philippines Seeds for the Future program became one of the most awaited event by our aspiring ICT experts. The 2021 program will not just stimulate the minds of our students but more importantly will give them the chance to share their learnings with their peers, which in the long run can evolve in more immersive, inclusive and robust ICT ecosystem.” De Vera, Chairman of Commission on Higher Education gave his remarks during the opening ceremony,” We are with you in your goal to achieve digital inclusion and promote prosperous tech industry by setting the standards for the rest to follow.”

“Huawei Philippines Seeds for the Future Program are important and timely for they introduce to our students new technologies like 5G, AI and Cloud computing to help them enhance their knowledge, capabilities and skills.” Fidel Nemenzo, Chancellor of University of the Philippines stated, “For you, young students, my hope is that you use the knowledge and skills from programs such as this to help solve some of our country’s problems. I challenge you to be the generation that will re-imagine and build a new world, one that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive.”

Information and communications technologies (ICT) have become the crucial growth engines for many different industries. The pandemic has also opened our eyes to the importance of ICT in all aspects of our lives, and digital transformation is necessary to ensure that we survive the challenges brought upon by Covid-19.

New ICT technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT will be widely applied in the next decade, they will become the cornerstone of the intelligent world in 2030. Countries with good ICT foundation will be more resilient and can easily respond to disruption, while talent will drive industries to go digital.

As an ICT leader, Huawei is committed to promoting ICT industry development in the Philippines.

Jay Chen, vice president of Huawei Asia Pacific Region, said that Huawei has announced to extend the digital talent cultivation initiatives even further. Over the next 5 years, Huawei has committed another $50 million USD to develop 500 thousand ICT talents in Asia Pacific, through several programs including Seeds for the Future. Huawei has been almost 20 years in the Philippines, through Seeds for the Future, and also as an enduring commitment to a sustainable world, we aim to bring digital skills to more people.

Seeds for the Future is Huawei's flagship global CSR program, aims to develop skilled, local ICT talent and bridge communication between countries and cultures. In the past 6 years, more than 100 deserving students from the Philippines took the journey with Huawei Seeds for the Future program. As the pandemic continues, the selected talents will experience an 8 days online training in this year.