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| (Image Source: Ticketmaster SG/BLAST Premier) |
The world’s best eSports and Counter-Strike players will descend on Singapore in October and November when the BLAST Premier World Final 2024 takes place at Resorts World Convention Centre in Sentosa on October 30-November 3, 2024. The high-profile event, supported by Singapore Tourism Board (STB), represents the largest-scale event of its kind to date in Singapore and is expected to become a major moment in the country’s emergence as an international eSports destination. BLAST has also teamed up with AEG Presents Asia, one of the world’s largest live entertainment entities to bring these events to Singapore. The partnership forms part of BLAST’s ambition to create the best eSports experiences by working closely with premier destinations and the biggest and best live entertainment partners.
Five of the world’s top Counter-Strike and eSports teams have already secured their place at the World Final including number one ranked NAVI (1), Team Vitality (2), G2 Esports (4), Team Spirit (5) and FaZe Clan (6) – with the remaining three teams to be confirmed by the end of September. Singapore will see some of the biggest and best eSports stars descend onto Sentosa next month with wonderkid Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, recent Copenhagen Major MVP Justinas “jL” Lekavičius and 2023 number one ranked player Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut all set to battle for the World Final trophy. For reigning World Final champions Team Vitality, they are looking forward to competing against the best in Singapore. Vitality's star player Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut said, “We’re really excited to go to Singapore next month and play against the best Counter-Strike teams. It will be amazing to get on stage in front of so many fans at the Resorts World Convention Centre. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and hopefully, we’ll see some great CS!”
The BLAST Premier World Final Singapore 2024 will see eight of the world’s best Counter-Strike teams competing for a prize pool of US$1,000,000 and the World Final 2024 trophy. Fans can catch up on all the CS action on November 1-3, 2024. Tickets can now be purchased online via Ticketmaster.sg and are priced at SG$38 for single-day general admission and SG$148 for 3-day admission.
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South Korean Exchange Students Experience Cutting-Edge Innovations At PLDT-Smart Technolab
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| Students of Chosun University in South Korea inside the PLDT-Smart Technolab (Image Source: Upgrade Magazine/Smart Communications Inc.) |
International students from Chosun University in South Korea tried their hands on upcoming cutting-edge technologies at the PLDT-Smart Technolab in Makati. The students are part of an exchange program with De La Salle Araneta University’s (DLSAU) Lasallian Language Center in Malabon City. “Korea is one of the countries we look up to because of the advanced technologies they have rolled out for their enterprise and consumer market. Our team has also been exploring Korean 5G technologies and we want to adapt some of these innovations here in the Philippines,” said PLDT and Smart Assistant Vice President and Head of Network Innovations Lab and Special Projects Joseph Lennart Olaivar.
Located at the Smart Tower in Makati, the PLDT-Smart Technolab acts as a sandbox environment where the PLDT Group tests game-changing telecommunications solutions that can further improve customer experience and make its network most cost efficient. The visitors from South Korea learned about Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN), Network Disaggregation, and Extended Reality that the PLDT Group is testing. The students also experienced innovations like Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality. “I was impressed by how extended reality combines with the real world to offer a new level of interaction and immersion in the education and entertainment sectors,” said Lee Insu, a second-year student majoring in Automated Systems Engineering at Chosun.
“I appreciated how the complex concepts were presented in a clear manner that is accessible to us. It is interesting how these technologies will impact the future as they are essential in problem solving, improving efficiency, and creating opportunities,” said Se Ryung Jang, a freshman AI Software Contents major at Chosun. Opening the doors of the PLDT-Smart Technolab to future tech mavericks underscores the PLDT Group’s broader program for inclusive learning and meaningful innovation and its efforts to help the country achieve United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UNSDG) #4 on Quality Education.
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Xiaomi Philippines Celebrates Fitness And Tech At 2024 Xiaomi Pop Run
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| The Xiaomi Philippines team and the thousands of participating runners all gearing up for the start of Xiaomi Pop Run 2024 (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Xiaomi Philippines) |
Around 2,000 runners came together at the SM Mall of Asia grounds early in the morning last August 31, 2024 to test themselves and their fitness at the 2024 Xiaomi Pop Run. Both hardcore and casual runners got to put themselves through their paces at the run with a 10km Professional Race category that saw participants compete for the top spot and Xiaomi prizes which include a Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi Watch S2, and Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo earbuds. Mark Anthony Octimar won the 10km with a time of 36:05, followed by Jose Fabito, Jr. (37:10) and Ronald Salgado (38:26).
Meanwhile, those who wanted to challenge their personal records in a shorter distance ran in the 5km Fun Run category. Coach and trainer Jason Cunanan was present to warm up and cool down the runners at the event. The 2024 Xiaomi Pop Run also saw the debut of the new Xiaomi Smart Band 9. The new compact fitness band can track vitals and workouts in a 15.8-g package, lasting up to 21 days on a full charge. “Xiaomi devices let Filipinos live their best lives, no matter the lifestyle – and especially if you have an active and healthy lifestyle like our participants at the 2024 Xiaomi Pop Run. It’s our pleasure to give people avenues like these to enjoy their hobbies and interests, as well as put their favorite Xiaomi devices to the test," said Xiaomi Philippines Head of Marketing Tomi Adrias.
The 2024 Xiaomi Pop Run was made possible with the help of partners Red Bull, Salonpas, Gourmet Farms, Dermplus, Fast Aid Kit, SunCoast Brands, Viu, Fitbar, and Yogorino. The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 and other devices are now available at authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide as well as the brand’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.
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Rakuten Viber Launches Delete Without A Trace Feature For Premium Users
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Rakuten Viber) |
Rakuten Viber, a global leader in private and secure messaging and calls, announces Delete Without A Trace, a highly anticipated feature allowing Viber Plus premium users to inconspicuously unsend their messages — regardless of whether recipients have already read them. The launch comes in response to high demand from users who were by far most eager to receive this feature from a list of other potential offerings according to polling in six key markets.
Delete Without A Trace is exclusively available to users of Viber Plus, the ad-free premium subscription service that gives more ways to customize and enjoy communication, boasting verification badges, unlimited sticker access, live support, and other benefits. The standout feature so far, used by more than 72% of the community, is Invisible Mode which lets users appear offline and pre-screen messages without displaying a read receipt, underscoring their deep value of privacy. Delete Without A Trace will now enhance their privacy options by enabling them to quickly and quietly undo their digital chat print.
“Viber Plus is our commitment to providing users with a user experience that’s not just functional, but also fun and secure. We will continue to incorporate user feedback to build out fan-favorite features — as we have with Invisible Mode — to maintain customer satisfaction and easy chatting," says Rakuten Viber CEO Ofir Eyal. Since January 2024, Rakuten Viber has noted a 170% increase in Viber Plus subscribers. Its exclusive features and content are available in 100 countries worldwide to Viber’s millions of users.
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TFC30 Happy Hour Brings Fun And Music To PhilFest Mississauga 2024
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation/Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization) |
A celebration of Filipino heritage and cultural diversity will take place at the Celebration Square in Mississauga, Ontario, Canads as the highly anticipated Philippine Festival (PhilFest) Mississauga returns on September 14-15, 2024. This year, the event is made even more special as ABS-CBN International’s TFC (The Filipino Channel) has partnered with the Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization and the City of Mississauga to celebrate TFC’s 30th anniversary, bringing an extraordinary lineup of entertainment showcase to the Filipino community in Canada.
In honor of TFC’s three decades of serving Filipinos globally, this year’s festival will feature performances from some of the most iconic names in Original Pilipino Music (OPM). The OPM Legends — Pops Fernandez, Joey Albert, and Odette Quesada — will headline the event during the TFC Happy Hour on September 15 at 4:45 pm. Pops Fernandez, dubbed the "Concert Queen", has captivated audiences with her powerful voice and electrifying stage presence for decades. Joey Albert is a beloved icon of Filipino music whose soulful ballads continue to resonate deeply within the hearts of many Filipinos. The timeless hits of legendary singer-songwriter Odette Quesada have become the soundtrack of love and life for generations. In addition to these performances, the festival will also feature emerging artists Gabe Bondoc and Jeremy Passion who are set to perform under MYX Presents on September 14 at 9:00 pm.
PhilFest Mississauga 2024 promises to be a fun two-day festival for the whole family. Admission is free, so be there on September 14 and 15 at the Mississauga Celebration Square to experience world-class entertainment with Filipino food, music, arts, and culture. PhilFest Mississauga 2024 is brought to you by Sendwave and RLC Residences whose generous support made this event possible, together with other partners Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre, Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe Canada, Culture Philippines Ontario, and Musika Children's Chorus.
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Honor Of Kings Announces First Filipino eSports Player Voice Pack
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Honor Of Kings Philippines) |
Honor of Kings has announced the recent release of its first Filipino voice pack featuring local eSports legends Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario, most popularly known as “VeeWise.’’ With a combined following of over 4 million fans, the dynamic icons have clinched local championship after championship before eventually taking a hiatus in 2022 to become full-time content creators and streamers. Recently, both have taken up a new mantle in Aurora Gaming and are set to make waves again in Honor of Kings. The duo’s voice pack is free for all to use, through the in-game store. The following are some of the lines from the iconic pair:
• Vee: Welcome to the Philippines!
• Wise: Grabe, palong palo! (Wow, intense!)
The voice pack is part of Honor of King’s commitment to its global MOBA community by incorporating more exciting regional events or local icons to resonate with its players. “For sure, many people will get annoyed, and their ears might hurt! But thank you so much to Honor of Kings for giving us this opportunity,” said Vee. “Matsala sa trust HOK!” added Wise. Stay tuned for more information on the VeeWise voice pack on Honor of Kings Philippines via social media and download Honor of Kings on the App Store or Google Play Store. Their voice will add an extra layer of life to the gameplay experience. By the way, the first Honor of Kings Filipino Voice Pack is now available in the game.
