Kristov Blue

Artist/ Blogger/ Aspiring Actor/ Fashion Enthusiast/ Frustrated Model/ Photographer

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Free overseas calls with Lumia’s ‘Paskong PaSkype’

Holiday celebrations are not the same without the presence of your loved ones. Your blues are understandable when you miss your family and friends abroad, the minute you hear Christmas carols; You want to share that big slice of lechon for Noche Buena or perhaps just surround yourself with the people you love; sharing stories, spinning tales, recollecting and enjoying. It can be sad when they are not around. Nonetheless, you can shake off your Holiday blues because in this season of generosity a range of Lumia devices can bring you closer to your loved ones with the Skype World Offer.

  Locally dubbed as “Paskong PaSkype”, the promo gives free unlimited overseas calls to landlines in 63 countries and mobile phones in 8 countries, free of charge for 3 months with a new purchase and activation of WP8.1 Lumia phones! Mechanics are simple:   

Buy a new Lumia WP8.1 device (Lumia 530, 630, 635, 636, 930, 830, 730, 735, 535) from any of the participating stores nationwide up to Decemeber 31, 2014. If the device is WP 8 (Lumia 1520, 1320,1020,925,625) , update the OS to WP 8.1 

Download the Skype Gift app from Windows Store. 

Open the downloaded app and follow the on-screen steps to redeem your unique Skype voucher code. 

Follow steps to open the Skype voucher page in your browser. 

Login to your Skype account or create one if you are new to Skype

Paste in the voucher code (it will already have been copied to your clipboard) 

Start using Skype on your Lumia

  The free unlimited overseas calls can be made to both landline and mobile numbers in: Canada, China, Guam, Hong Kong SAR, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.

  Free landline calls are applicable to Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia (Jakarta), Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

  Imagine how much you could save in calling your nanay and tatay or even your boyfriend or girlfriend abroad.

  This holiday season, make a wise investment of your holiday bonus with the wide range of Lumia smartphones that fit your budget including the Lumia 730 Dual SIM with a 5MP wide-angle front-facing camera which is perfect for Skype-to-Skpe calls. Go ahead, capture most of your extended family members in one frame!

  Surprise your loved ones with a call now!Let Lumia make your days merry and bright with Paskong PaSkype. For more details, check out http://bit.ly/1wGzvOx.

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New Nokia Lumia smartphones bring high-end imaging capabilities to more accessible price points

New Lumia 830, 730 Dual SIM and 735 smartphones offer industry-leading camera technology and software in a slim, colorful package.

BERLIN — Sept. 4, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. announced on Thursday the Nokia Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM smartphones running the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, bringing industry-leading imaging technology to more affordable price levels. Microsoft also announced two new accessories that provide innovative ways for people to interact with their phones, plus the Lumia Denim update, which brings extra features and enhancements to existing Lumia smartphones.

With a slim design, the Lumia 830 is an affordable flagship that delivers high-end innovations such as optical image stabilization and PureView imaging to more people.

Offering wide-angle, front-facing cameras; an attractive price tag; and slim, compact style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 are built for Skype calls and selfies.

Existing Lumia smartphones continue to get even better with the Lumia Denim update, which combines great new features from the latest Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 with exclusive enhancements such as Lumia Camera, which brings high-quality images at the fastest speeds.

“Our strategy is to help people do more with stunning products that unite and showcase the best of Microsoft’s digital work and life experiences,” said Chris Weber, corporate vice president of Mobile Devices Sales at Microsoft. “The Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM combine popular Microsoft services such as Skype, Microsoft Office and OneDrive with amazing Lumia innovations in design and imaging to bring experiences that people value, at prices they can afford.”

Lumia 830

 Lumia 830: The affordable flagship

The Lumia 830 offers the best of Lumia and the latest from Microsoft in a pocket-friendly design and price.

The Lumia 830 captures high-quality images and videos, day or night, with a 10-megapixel PureView camera with ZEISS optics, Rich Recording and the thinnest optical image stabilization system to date on a Lumia.

It delivers the best of Microsoft with pre-loaded Microsoft Office Mobile; the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim; and OneDrive with 15 GB of free storage, allowing content to be synced and shared easily.

It comes with flagship Lumia innovations such as integrated wireless charging in a sleek and light aluminum and polycarbonate design.

Lumia 830 will begin rolling out globally this month, priced around 330 euros before taxes and subsidies.

Lumia 730

Lumia 735

 Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735: Built for Skype and selfies

With wide-angle, front-facing cameras and a slim, pocketable style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 let people easily capture and share more.

The front-facing, wide-angle, 5-megapixel camera is great for Skype video calls, letting people share more of the world around them or bring more family and friends into a call.

With an offer for a free, three-month Skype Worldwide Unlimited subscription, it’s easier than ever to have an international voice call with friends and family on their mobile and landline phones, right from the Lumia 730 or Lumia 735.

Plus, with the integration of one-tap Skype video call access during voice calls,1 people have even more ways to share their stories, no matter where they are.

 Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 will also begin rolling out globally this month, featuring a 2220 mAh battery, 8 GB of internal storage and 15 GB of free OneDrive storage. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM will be priced around 199 euros before taxes and subsidies, while the Lumia 735 with LTE/4G and wireless charging support will be priced around 219 euros before taxes and subsidies.

New accessories to complement Lumia smartphones

Microsoft Devices Group on Thursday also announced two new additions to the innovative Lumia accessories line:

The second-generation smart Wireless Charging Plate DT-903 makes the most convenient way to charge even better by intelligently alerting people when to charge and highlighting notifications with a subtle glow.

The Microsoft Screen-Sharing for Lumia Phones HD-10 lets people beam any content from their smartphone to an HDMI-enabled screen, easily and without content restrictions. It is good for reliving memories with friends and family or sharing presentations at work.

Lumia continues to get even better with the Lumia Denim update

Lumia Denim combines the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update with exclusive experiences for Lumia smartphones. Lumia Denim also cements Microsoft’s leadership in imaging with the introduction of unique innovations in Lumia Camera that make the camera work faster and more intuitively. Coming as part of the Lumia Denim update to Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520, Lumia Camera offers the following:

Speed. Never miss a moment with Lumia Camera and its fast camera startup and capture speeds. Take numerous photos with just milliseconds between shots.

High definition. Using Moment Capture, a long press of the camera button within the app automatically starts 4K-quality video recording at 30 frames per second. Each frame is of high image quality at 8.3 megapixels, allowing every single video frame to be selected and saved as a still image.

Intuitiveness. Get the best shot every time with Rich Capture, which simplifies picture-taking with auto HDR and Dynamic Flash. With Rich Capture, people can avoid the hassle of adjusting camera settings; they can shoot first and edit and select the perfect shot later.

Quality. Capture high-quality smartphone images in low light with the latest-generation imaging algorithms.

Lumia Camera will initially roll out as an update with Lumia Denim for Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 and as an over-the-air update for Lumia 830 in Q4 2014. Lumia Denim will roll out as an over-the-air update to all the other Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones, following partner testing and approvals.

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Lumia 930 now available in the Philippines

The latest innovation beautifully integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia

Microsoft today announced the availability of the Lumia 930 with Windows Phone 8.1 in the Philippines, a device which integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver the ultimate video and imaging experience on a smartphone.

Lumia 930 packs a rich suite of differentiating applications and services into a beautifully crafted design with metallic details and vibrant new colors, while keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across Windows Phone, PC, and tablet devices.

The crystal clear 5-inch Full HD OLED display lets you watch your favourite shows, movies or video clips in any condition, and thanks to a 2420 mAh battery and built-in wireless charging, there is no need to worry about running out of battery.

An advanced 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization and high quality ZEISS optics makes capturing and reliving amazing images and videos fast and easy.

With the enhanced Nokia Camera with Living Images, it’s easy to add movement and emotion to static pictures, while imaging apps such as Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Creative Studio and Nokia Refocus bring even more levels of creativity to any photo.

With four high-performance microphones and Rich Recording, Lumia 930 captures HD video like never before, with incredible directional audio and support for surround sound capture and playback.

A 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor makes activities like gaming, image capturing and video processing even faster and richer.

The new SensorCore also brings low power motion sensing to help people track their activity all day without using up the large 2420 mAh battery – perfect for exercise and exploration using apps like Bing Health and Fitness.

Integrated features including one swipe notifications from Action Centre, the new Microsoft Enterprise feature pack, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Nokia Camera, and HERE Maps and Drive+, all of which work seamlessly to make the Lumia 930 a great tool for work and play.

“In today’s social world, capturing and sharing video is more important than ever,” says Karel Holub, General Manager, Philippines, Microsoft Mobile Devices. “The Lumia 930 provides the perfect blend of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver cutting-edge imaging technology for an unrivalled video and imaging experience on a smartphone.”

“Our customers want to stay in the moment and capture detail-rich videos without having to compromise on image or sound quality. With beautifully integrated Microsoft and Lumia experiences, the Lumia 930 is a leading smartphone that will allow people to capture full HD video with astonishing details like never before. ” Holub added.

Full specs:

       The Lumia 930 is expected to be available in the Philippines from July 25, 2014 and will be available for an SRP of PHP 29,990 in a range of colors including bright orange, black and white.

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Microsoft Devices continues support for Text2Teach

At the recent 10th anniversary celebration of Text2Teach, Microsoft Devices re-established its support for education with an upgrade of the Microsoft Education Delivery (MED) technology that will continue to inspire teachers and improve the students’ quality of learning.

  MED, conceptualized in 2003, is a mobile software that enables the delivery of educational videos to remote, hard-to-reach areas with data stored in Lumia and other Windows Phone devices. Teachers and trainers can access and download over 300 tailored content for Grade 5 and 6 Math, Science, English and Values Education from a constantly updated catalog over a mobile network. These are used as teaching aids for classroom viewing via a television screen or a video projector.

  After signing an agreement together with the Ayala Foundation, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Education (DepEd), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), Globe Telecom that will mainstream Text2Teach, implementing it in 38,000 public schools nationwide, Sanna Eskelinen, Global Lead for Social Investment at Microsoft Devices shared that “local partners are important because it is instrumental in the success of the education program. Aside from allowing you to customize content, they also help in the implementation especially when faced with local issues such as electricity or natural calamity.”

MED has evolved since its inception 10 years ago. Now approaching Phase 5, the system now enjoys the additional convenience of projecting the Lumia 630 Dual Sim’s screen to the TV via WiFi. Equipped with Windows Phone 8.1OS that brings the ability to project a handset’s screen on to a larger screen wirelessly, Lumia allows teachers to show downloaded videos effortlessly without the trouble of connecting wires.

  Part of the upgrade is also an updated MED that will allow teachers to easily browse, comment and ask questions on content provided by the DepEd and download files and videos through an intuitive and user-friendly interface. The encouragement of interactivity among teachers allows better feedback, ensuring that teaching materials are constantly improved and crafted to better suit the needs of classrooms. Eskelinen says, “this mechanism will allow partner developers to continuously improve the technology and content to better suit its target teachers and students.”

  Text2Teach is the Filipino name given to the global program called BridgeIT conceptualized by Nokia, Pearson, the International Youth Foundation and the United Nations Development Program and is the longest-running out of the 12 countries that have implemented it since 2004 including other developing countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh.

  Reaching over 700,000 students and 16,000 teachers throughout 2,500 schools in the Philippines, Text2Teach has received global recognition, being dubbed “one of the 100 most inspiring social tech innovations” by Nominet Trust. It was also identified as one of the ten “Exemplary Information Communications Technology Innovations for Education” at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT in Education, last 2013.

  The use of the MED technology has shown improvement in student’s performance and National Achievement Test scores, fostering positive attitudes towards learning and using technology for teaching and the improvement of classroom environments.

  “The rapid advancement of technology is something that we need to take advantage of, especially for education programs, where the need for constant improvement, renewal and updating is essential, ” said Eskelinen.

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Metrobank Card Corporation Launches Dramatic Reading Series with G. Töngi at Century City Mall

Media celebrity G Töngi, newly appointed Artistic Director of Upstart Productions, spearheads Upstart Soundstage, a series of bi-weekly dramatic readings presented by Metrobank Card Corporation at Century City Mall at 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 15, 2014. Upstart Soundstage will present a different full-length drama, comedy, or musical every two weeks, each show featuring well-known theater personalities and stage directors. No props, no sets, no costumes—just pure performance.

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  Local Media Celebrity and now Upstart Artistic Director, G. Töngi.

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“Readings like this are very popular in L.A and New York,” declares Töngi, who has timed her birthday celebration to coincide with the first play in the series. “We want to do the same thing over here.” To that end, Upstart has lined up an impressive array of actors for the project: noted stage and screen personalities Audie Gemora, Noel Trinidad (one of Upstart’s board members), and Töngi herself, along with renowned directors like Anton Juan and Bobby Garcia. 

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Upstart Founder and Son of well-respected Noel Trinidad, Joel Trinidad

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But will Manila audiences take to the concept of stage shows without any staging? Apparently, they already have: Töngi and her partners have conducted quite a few informal readings of this type, and they’ve all been very well-received. Upstart founder Joel Trinidad, Noel’s son, is not at all surprised. “I’ve always loved dramatic readings, “ he shares. “When you take away the sounds and lights and costumes, you force people to really pay attention.” Upstart Managing Director Onyl Torres, who doubles as the company’s Musical Director and Composer, likens the medium to a radio play. “You get the same emotions, the same human drama,” he says. “It’s very powerful.” Töngi concurs: “In our last few readings, people were in tears—the actors and the audience.”

  Upstart Soundstage kicks off with Töngi’s birthday celebration: a reading of Jane Anderson’s The Baby Dance, an emotionally charged drama about a suburban couple adopting the unborn baby of a poor couple. Other proposed shows in the series—which will run continuously, every two weeks, in three-month blocks—include Pippin by Stephen Schwartz, Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet, The Seagull by Anton Chekov, Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, and many others. “A different show every two weeks, at a fraction of the cost of a regular show,” notes Töngi. “Where else can you experience that?”

  Upstart Soundstage: The Dramatic Readings. Starting Sunday, June 15, at 7:00 pm at the event space on the 5th floor of Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, and playing continuously every other Sunday from then on. Show schedule may change based on availability of performance rights and other factors. Tickets at P300 each, available at the door. Presented by Metrobank Card Corporation in cooperation with Century City Mall. From Upstart Productions.

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In celebration of Father's Day, three distinguished dads were captured during their bonding moments with their young kids with the Lumia 1020. The occasion was the perfect time to showcase these fathers who, despite being immersed in their respective jobs, practise uncompromised fatherhood.

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Victor Consunji and Connor playing with toys...

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Real estate mogul, Victor Consunji; professional basketball player, Jared Dillinger; and top Brazillian-Japanese model, Hideo Muraoka spent one afternoon together with their respective children, Connor, Haven and Daniella in Mahogany III of the Acacia Estates in Taguig City. Noted photographer, Mau Mauricio immortalised their time together using the Lumia 1020's 41 megapixel camera. Mau and his team did the shoot only with available light and without any additional lighting.

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Jared Dillinger with Haven, exploring interesting things with the Lumia 1020...

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In an interview, the three gorgeous fathers gave their testimonials on what uncompromised fatherhood means to them and the importance of communication and connecting with their children. Mau, on the other hand, also shared his thoughts about this Father's Day shoot. He says, "As expected with the 41MP 1020, my images were crisp and vibrant! A dream shoot for me - lightweight and versatile versus my bulky pro DSLR's."  See for yourself the album featuring the stunning Lumia images and behind-the–scenes video on this page. 

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Hideo Muraoka with Daniella toying with their Windows smartphone... I remember seeing them at a 7-Eleven at Greenbelt before when Daniella was still little. What a cute father and daughter tandem.

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Here's also a BTS of this shoot with only the Nokia Lumia 1020 as the photographer's camera:

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For more HD photos, check them out here

To know more about Nokia Lumia 1020, visit www.nokia.com

Follow Nokia Philippines on Twitter, @NokiaPilipinas

For updates, like Nokia Philippines on Facebook, click Here

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Tales From the Friend Zone X

Tales from the friend zone is back and I guess we can jump for joy kasi Ramon Bautista's at it again! The King of feels with comedy feels is once again gonna make kurot the puso of everybody!

Watched this with my family and we were like, Episode 2 na please! Napaka-heavy kasi pero super light na super relate-able kahit sobrang sabaw. It's super packed!

But wait! There's more! hahaha!

Besides the kilig feels, pwede rin naman kayo mathrill-feels sa excitement that AyosDito is bringing! Get a chance to win awesome prizes just by telling the world why you love AyosDito!!! Ayos, diba?

Kaya if I were you guys, I'll join na! I'm aiming for the camera! hahaha! Gusto ko rin kasi magshort film or series peg! Pero gusto ko rin ng watch. Pwede naman ata both! hahaha!

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To Uncompromised Fatherhood

Father's day is almost here and as reserved as I am when it comes to talking about my dad (plus, he doesn't like me blogging about my family), I wanna introduce him to the world for this special occasion!

My dad and I weren't always close. He left us for quite some time and came back after a few years. There were issues between him and mom. When he came back, it was Clash of the Titans and the Kraken had been released. We had great differences, but I think as my sister and I matured, we realized that whatever our differences may be, he was still our dad who was there for us.

I was more resistant to accepting my dad than my sister because she was able to spend more time with him before he left. She was a daddy's girl and I was a mama's boy (no shame in that). I guess it just came to a point in my life where I just decided that my dad wasn't perfect, but unlike me, he was trying his damn best to make things work... and that was, I think, enough reason for me to give him a chance.

It's when I decided to let him into my life again that I really got to know him.

My dad is very secretive, but I remember him always telling me that I'm the only one he'll tell about certain things because he knew my responsibility as the man of the house without him. In a way, it crushed me knowing that he has resolved to not reunite with my mom, but it helped also because he was the one who talked me through a lot of the hurdles that came into my life.

He's working non-stop to provide us with our needs, to the point where he's working almost 16 hours a day, but despite that, I love how we are always in his thoughts and you can see that through his texts and when he calls. You can hear his exhaustion, but also his excitement when he talks to us. I'll probably get him a windows phone so we can Skype and stuff with no problem. Just gotta teach him how lol. He's even had Viber for months now and he's still asking me to help him out with it. haha.

That, I guess, is #UncompromisedFatherhood... when you set aside your differences and commit to being present for your children no matter where you are and what you're doing. That's why I love my dad!

I like how these three fathers say it:

So, what is #UncompromisedFatherhood to you? Sound off at the comments section to the right of this post :) Don't forget to hashtag... there might be something special in it for you ;)

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Epic Freedom Party Unites Fillipinos with an Ayos Vibe

It’s time to celebrate freedom and show off that Ayos Vibe at the #OneViberPH party on June 11, at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Showcasing the best of the Philippines in music and art, #OneViberPH is the freedom party for the modern Filipino and for every Filipino.

  “Music has always been a part of our culture, especially among young Filipinos. So we are supporting OneVibePH to express our oneness with young people. This is a night that will unite us through music as we celebrate Philippine Independence. While OneVibePH offers great music, we at AyosDito.ph can provide the younger generation great online buying and selling experiences. Partnering with OneVibePH  is one way of expressing our affinity with them,” explains Vanessa Lee Cartera, AyosDito.ph Senior Marketing Executive.

    Crystal Lee, Viber’s Country Manager, added “After the success of #Viberacay event which dominated the island of Boracay during the Labor Day weekend, Viber wishes to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day since we already have our local office here in Manila providing free messaging to 13 million Viber subscribers. This is an opportunity for us to gather Viber users, enjoy the biggest electronic event and dance to the music of our local DJs.”

Joining the headliners are Filipino Apl.De.Ap, DJ Filipino-Dutch Laidback Luke, Filipino DJs Funk Avy, Mars Miranda and Motherbasss. Foreign DJs will also join the event in support of Filipino talents: HardRock Sofa and Infected Mushroom. Likewise, 12 of the metro’s top party venues will be closed to support this independence day party: Aracama, Dillingers, The Distillery, Haze, Hyve, Imperial, Prive, Prohibition, Republiq, Skye, Time, Prive and UrBn.

Tickets are now available thru SM Tickets at [phone] or www.smtickets.com and at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or at www.ticketworld.com. Ticket prices are at Php 1000.00 for Patron tickets and Php 500.00 for students and Viber users, just Viber Message using the hashtag (#OneVibePH) to 0911-VIBERPH to get the promo code when purchasing online.

13 million subscribers… 12 Prime Dance Clubs… 6 Participating Local DJs in 1 Epic Viber Event!

Social Media Handle (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram): @AyosDito_PH @ViberPH

About AyosDito:

AyosDito.ph AyosDito.ph is a buy and sell website developed for Pinoys by Pinoys from 701 Search, Inc. It.s a joint venture between Singapore Press Holdings Limited, Schibsted ASA and Telenor ASA with more than 30 affiliate sites all over Asia, Europe and Latin America. Ayosdito is all about making your online buy and sell experience as worry free and hassle free as possible. One that will make you say "Ayos talaga Dito!" Best of all, they sort buying and selling by region, province and city, so Filipinos can use it no matter what region they are in the Philippines

About Viber:

Viber is a pioneering mobile messaging, voice and video service. Viber lets everyone in the world connect. Freely. Users can send free text messages, fun stickers, photos, videos and doodles, share locations anywhere in the world, make free HD-quality calls and communicate with Push-To-Talk. With Viber Out, users can make low-cost calls to any phone number around the world. Viber is available for iPhone®, Android™ phones and tablets, Windows Phone, BlackBerry®, Blackberry® 10, Windows®, Windows 8®, Mac, Linux, Symbian, Nokia S40 and Bada devices over 3G/4G or WiFi connections. With over 300 million users in 193 countries, Viber is constantly innovating by introducing new platforms and adding fun new features. Viber is a Rakuten Group company.

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Show your Selfie Confidence in Campus

Selfie was named Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year in 2013, yet the phenomenon of taking a photo of oneself and uploading it to a social media website still continues to gain momentum. In fact, just last March, TIME Magazine named the Philippines’ financial center, Makati City, the selfie capital of the world.

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Yassi: Selfies promote self-confidence. (Selfie taken with her Nokia Lumia 1520)

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With the fast paced lives we lead, taking selfies to satisfy one’s need to hold on to and document a present moment is not surprising. In this sense, selfies may be viewed as more than just what some refer to as narcissistic photos or even a digital cry for attention – they become stories that celebrate confidence everyday. They celebrate an authentic representation of beauty amid the ubiquitous manipulated images of perfection. Yassi Pressman, actress and MTV VJ says, “Taking selfies does promote self-confidence in a way, because a lot of people I know who weren’t vocal before and who were always shy, take a lot of selfies now, and they have upped their self esteem by that. They are now more confident. I think it’s because you get to take your own photo and see which angle is your best and you share that with the world.”

  Selfies celebrate you! This back-to-school season, tell the story of the new chapter in your life by sharing beautiful selfies that will show off your confidence. Here are a few ideas:

  Remind yourself of your goals and aspirations and take a selfie dressed in your dream job’s getup. If you are studying to be a doctor, put on a doctor’s lab coat and snap away!

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Mark: Post selfie expressions everyday!

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Ramp, print, and commercial model, Mark McMahon also suggests posting “selfie expressions of each day, closer to when school starts so people can see how you feel about going back to school through your facial expressions. It will make it so funny for people to see and you can have a little bit of fun by experimenting on so many different emotions.”

Already picked out what to wear on your first few days of school? Take a selfie showing your OOTD and be your campus’ daily source for outfit inspiration!

After meeting your new classmates, show your excitement about the beginning of your friendship by taking a group selfie and encourage meaningful conversation about each other!

If you have a bigger phone, taking and viewing your selfies is much easier. With the Nokia Lumia 1520, its 6-inch, 1080p full HD screen and latest imaging innovations, Nokia Storyteller and Nokia Camera, your photos become interesting stories that you can share with friends and family.

Download quality apps on the Windows Phone Apps+Game Store to help you take and post the best selfies. Some of the top free apps you should check out include:

Nokia Glam Me which helps you take selfies, automatically enhanced and ready to share with friends. Its Auto Selfie feature is great when you want a high-quality selfie using the main camera, as it automatically recognizes when your face is in shot and takes the photo for you. Nokia Glam Me would be perfect to try on the new Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM, which delivers an outstanding imaging experience with its autofocus 5MP camera powered by the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system.

Take selfies that are out of this world with the Spaceselfie app. Snap your picture, choose your favorite space background and apply different filters to add a cinematic feel.

With over 200 million users globally, Camera360 is deemed the most popular camera app out there. It has a unique and creative compass, with six scenes to choose different effects to help you record every wonderful moment in your life. It also has a powerful editing page wherein you can endow your photo with plenty of imagination.

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Luigi: It takes guts to post selfies.

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Luigi D’Avola, MYX VJ Hunt 2014 winner says, “I think taking selfies promotes self-confidence because for me, it takes a lot of guts to do that. You are showcasing yourself for all the world to see. That must mean you are brave enough and confident enough to do so.” It is high time that we shift our perspective on selfie to a more positive one – embrace selfie confidence! Take a selfie, post it with the hashtag, #SelfieConfidence, and celebrate your story.

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Caramoan paradise captured in Lumia

Cyberspace was recently adorned with hundreds of stunning and colorful images of a place that seemed like paradise to those who needed a break from the busy city life. That serene and enchanting place that offered this welcome rest was the islands of the Caramoan Peninsula captured in full HD with the Nokia Lumia 1520.

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A low-light photo taken with the Lumia 1520 by Mau Mauricio

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TV host and columnist, Tim Yap together with the Philippine’s youngest governor, Migz Villafuerte recently hosted a five-day vacation with friends to Caramoan Island located in the lower eastern part of Camarines Sur. After recently experiencing firsthand the capabilities of Lumia phones in Lapland Finland, Tim wanted the Caramoan entourage to also be able to capture their most amazing moments with the gorgeous Carl Zeiss lens of the Lumia 1520.

  Around 30 VIPs who come mostly from the fashion, music, television, and tourism industries dove into a sea of fun and adventure, to experience the secret paradise in this first-class municipality that extends into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf on the south. They were given the Lumia 1520 to help them document their respite.

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Breathtaking Caramoan view, enhanced with the Creative Studio app (taken with Lumia 1520 by Nicolas Padilha)

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Armed with flagship Lumia devices, the group which included TV personalities, Phoemela Barranda, CJ Jaravata, Bubbles Paraiso, Yassie Pressman, and Daniel Matsunaga; Miss Tourism International, Angeli Dione Gomez; designer, Charina Sarte; models, Tommy Esguerra, Javi Martinez-Pardo and Nicolas Padilha; renowned fashion photographers, Anton Aguila and Mau Mauricio; pet stylist, Tess Villareal; and singer-actor, Ryan Gallagher; had such an easy time capturing and immortalizing their Caramoan experience. They had so much fun taking snapshots of their island-hopping activities from diving in Langkipaw Cliffs, theme parties in Hunongan, survivor/relay games in Lahus and Gota, to wakeboarding in Cadlan, Pili.

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Miss Tourism International, Angeli Dione Gomez at Hunungan Beach (Photo taken with Lumia 1520 by Migz Villafuerte)

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With the 20MP and 41MP of Lumia’s adjustable Pro Camera in the Lumia 1520 and 1020 respectively, heavy and bulky DSL cameras were put aside but enabled the Camarines Sur guests to still take stunning, high-resolution photos of their vacation. Mau Mauricio says, “As photography is my profession, I love the freedom of being able to use the manual camera function.” He adds, “The large screen and high pixel is so much convenient.”

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Wakeboarding Action shot taken with the Lumia 1520

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The Lumia devices’ Smart Cam app also provided fun images of the islands where ten sequence shots are displayed in a single photo, producing impressive action images. The “creative studio” app on the other hand, helped enhance the already jaw-dropping Caramoan views by conveniently adjusting brightness, vibrance and clarity. The app also created “color pop” photos that turned previously shot images to black and white, and highlighted specific colors to stand out in the photo.

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Nicolas Padilha in an action shot taken with Lumia’s Smart Cam app

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All these can be created without having to download the photo to their computer and using complicated editing software to come up with impressive shots. “I love the camera. The quality of the images and video are amazing; that, along with the ease of editing make this phone incredible. I love it.” says Brazilian model, Nicolas Padilha.

  CJ and Phoemela who took a lot of selfies in this island where several Survivor seasons were shot, and did it without any trouble because of the 1520’s 6-inch full HD screen. Daniel, who showed his athletic abilities during the action-packed games, also squeezed in some “flappy bird” time and even influenced Bubbles to try it. With the big screen, playing favorite games or watching HD videos on the road also became more enjoyable.

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Daniel Matsunaga in action (photo taken with the Lumia 1020)

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What made the Caramoan trip more special is that the Lumia devices were able to impress on non-Lumia users that it can capture all their special bonding moments with impressive detail and sharpness – an imaging capability which is nearly impossible with their other smartphones.

  In just a few days, over 500 photos with the hashtag #LumiaInCaramoan and #comeoncaramoan were posted on Instagram and gathered over 150,000 likes. With this exposure, many people are now interested in seeing this pristine island and are now planning their next vacation to Camarines Sur. With the Lumia 1520 and 1020 devices that can ensure spectacular photos, our country’s beauty can be showcased conveniently to everyone else in the world.

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NOKIA Lumia 630: Let's Get Personal

May 13, 2014 marks another day in history as Microsoft and Nokia unveils the latest in their high-end line of Lumia phones.

Of course, one cannot launch a sleek and savvy luxurious phone without an equally luxurious venue. The launch was held at Mango Tree in Bonifacio Global City, oneof the most raved about restaurants in the city.

Here we all were, anxiously waiting for registration to start. We all flocked to the registration table when it opened because we all knew that with Nokia and Microsoft, you can always look forward to seeing something new, to seeing innovation at its finest.

The event was attended by prominent names, Model and blogger Hideo Muraoka with wife.

Eventologist Tim Yap was present as well

Model/Actress G. Toengi showing off her Lumia 1020. I still drool for that phone.

Natasha Bautista, GrabTaxi Marketing VP was also at the event.

Of course, I also graced the event with my presence. CHOS. hahaha But I feel so honored to be seated with these people :)

Especially that I got to enjoy such delicious food with them! Food was seriously indescribable. My tastebuds danced the night away even hours after I ate.

After eating, we got escorted to the main stage area. I hurried over because I saw the area had few seats only. So, I got to sit beside and behind the executives! Hahaha Well, I didn't know the seats were for executives, but oh well. It was a pleasant spot as I got to see up close the new features packed into the NOKIA Lumia 630! The event was hosted by VJ Gianna Llanes who won the recently concluded MYX VJ hunt.

Sir Karel Holub, General Manager of Microsoft gave us a warm welcome as he introduced us to the new Lumia 630.

We then indulged on learning about the new features of the Lumia 630 when Sir Raghunath Koduvayur, Global Product Marketing Manager, Lumia Devices, Microsoft showed us on the screen what this awesome phone was capable of. It's a dual sim phone! What I like about it too is that it has this smart sim removal system where you can take the sim out without having to remove the battery. You can imagine my relief! I like switching sim cards. Don't ask me why. lol. It also allows you more control over the usage of sim cards.

After Sir Raghunath Koduvayur made us believers that The new Lumia 630 is a front-runner in the smartphone race in terms of maximization of capabilities and price, it was time to see how the front-runners from different industries rated the Lumia 630.

Ms. Natasha Bautista, Marketing VP of GrabTaxi says they've been integrating their app into the Lumia stratosphere to provide users easy access to cabs whenever and wherever they need it.

Mr. Gerard Penaflor, AirAsia Zest commercial chief says they've allowed for easier flight detailing and search for their app and it would be perfect with Lumia 630.

Paolo Baltao, GXI President says they've integrated into the Lumia stratosphere their Gcash system which would offer consumers better access to their money.

After that, it was photo-op time! Was supposed to get a shot with G. Toengi and Tim Yap but they vanished, but I'm happy. I got a shot with Hideo Muraoka and Nicolas Padilha. They were so taaaaall. Next time, I should wear sticks on my feet. 

I felt shy approaching them because they were talking and I didn't want to interrupt... but they were soooo nice!

Again, never take a selfie from below your nose level. hahaha. Can you say Peter Griffin of Family Guy?

The Lumia 630 is really a wonderful phone. With customizable themes and tiles/ Having more control over settings make it more personal. Android users, such as me, need to root our phones first before having that level of personalization, but ohhh boy. Microsoft and Nokia is giving Apple and Samsung a run for its money.

With a large 4.5" display, intuitive interface, and QUADCORE to suit your need... for speed! Hahaha. Just kidding.The Quadcore is actually good news for me. I'm a heavy phone user so I need all the processing power I can get for games, HD movies and music... Aaaaand, you can install to and from the memory card already!!!! It has an 8gb internal memory and up to 128gb support for external!

Plus, it comes with cool neon colors... away from the monochromatic world of smartphones now. Neon is the new Gold and silver and black and white!

And it also comes with gorilla glass that makes blacks on your phone even blacker so you can see under the sunlight... I hate it when I have to adjust brightness while I'm walking just to see my messages.

What's even better with the Lumia 630 is that it has better app and energy management so that your energy consumption is less while still utilizing its processing power for everything else.

A good news since many apps now want to utilize SensorCore data such as GPS or compass. It doesn't put too much strain on the battery.

Along with this announcement, Nokia also announced Lumia 635, an LTE capable phone. More on that later.

The Lumia 630 will be available late May for a very affordable price (considering this is a Lumia) of 7,990.

This is so exciting. It's like you have Apple and Android and Microsoft all in one phone, only that it is from Microsoft with it's Windows 8.1 OS!

So, what are you waiting for? Oh, yeah... it still isn't out lol. Get one when it's already available. It's so worth it!

To know more about Nokia X, visit www.nokia.com

Follow Nokia Philippines on Twitter, @NokiaPilipinas

For updates, like Nokia Philippines on Facebook, click Here

Note: Some Photos are from Nokia

[kristovblue]

WTTC presses Travel & Tourism industry to ensure its standards of ethics and sustainability are of the highest order

Tourism is a very important issue to me as I believe it bridges gaps between cultures and leads to self-discovery. I think it brings about peace and sanity to the world. Obama, on his visit, says it best when he said that disputes should be dealt with in the proper platform, peacefully, so that leaders can focus on what really matters, its people. If we are at war, we cannot travel, and if we cannot travel, then peace and economy and relations are lost. This is why I appreciate the WTTC for enforcing good tourism standards.

The global Travel & Tourism industry must operate to the highest standards to prove that it is a force for good and not a force for destruction.That is according to the President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), David Scowsill, in his closing speech at the WTTC Global Summit in Hainan, China (24-25 April 2014).

Mr Scowsill is calling on the sector to demonstrate leadership and accountability; "The Travel & Tourism industry needs to report and communicate the benefits and value it brings and ensure that it genuinely embraces a Tourism for Tomorrow. Standards of ethics and sustainability must be of the highest order. We need to work in true partnership with governments - when they listen - and with our local communities and stakeholders.  We must also engage with our staff, our customers and our consumers".

Subjects discussed at the WTTC Global Summit have included volatility and unpredictability, climate change and disaster recovery, infrastructure planning and sustainability, growth and jobs, peace and prosperity, collaboration and co-operation and culture and understanding. 

Mr Scowsill continues; "We have a responsibility for the one billion travellers each year on our planet and another billion soon; for the plight of those affected by disasters, whether through natural disaster or man-made conflict and for the careful preservation of resources and protection of the planet. And we also have the responsibility to provide millions of quality jobs to people, who are seeking fulfilment and quality of life through employment, training, opportunities and careers. And we must not forget that we have to satisfy the markets and investors, who quite properly and responsibly seek returns for the huge investment that will be needed. If we can take care of all these responsibilities, then we will become the greatest industry on earth and a true Force for Good".

Mr Scowsill says, however, that there is currently a vacuum in global leadership and the Industry needs to play its part; "National governments and global institutions are increasingly struggling to tackle many of the issues, which we've been discussing over the last two days. Governments do not always recognise our contribution at the table.  As an industry, we need to become more vocal and more sophisticated in our co-ordination and articulation of our agenda going forward, if we are to succeed. The enormous infrastructure that the massive growth in travel will require will only happen through consensus, collaboration and co-operation. WTTC commits to representing our industry in these capacities to make change happen".

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WE CAN’T STOP: BACK TO BACK MEG SUMMER PARTIES THIS LABORACAY!

Laboracay is so nice, we are throwing a party twice! This summer, Meg, the magazine for bold, young women, will have two summer parties in Boracay! On May 2 and 3, head on over to the Regency Beach Resort and experience LaBoracay the Meg way, filled with activities and freebies, with the hippest DJs and coolest celebrities in the island.

  On May 2, Meg will be Seize the Day/Own the Night for the third year in a row! In the afternoon, Folded and Hung will be giving away free tees for a Design Your Own T-shirt (DYOT) activity. Be creative, show your personality, as the best shirt design will win a special prize from Folded and Hung. Just want to hang out? Smart users have special access to the VIP lounge – just present a Smart SIM card and be a Meg VIP.

  With manila’s most in-demand DJs dropping beats the whole day, the party won’t stop! Enjoy the music of DJs X-Factor, Mia Ayesa, Mark Nicosia, Nina Saputil, and Yoshi Uy as they bring the freshest beats and keep the party going on and on. The night will only get hotter with Sam YG of Boys Night Out hosting the party. Dress your best and snap up a photo of your OOTN and get a chance to win awesome prizes. Get your good vibes on, and party with Meg and our celebrity guests. Enjoy free overflowing drinks, music, and the best crowd in the island as Meg Owns the Night!

  On May 3, Djs Mark Nicosia, DJ Yoshi Uy, and DJ Mia Ayesa will continue the party all day as the Summer Touch Lounge opens at 3pm, and a Neon Rave party will start at 7pm! Take selfies and OOTDs, and you may win prizes and freebies. If you are strong, beautiful, and have a place in this world, I Am Meg will have a special, exclusive announcement, only in the hottest party in the island. With fun games, an open bar, and Julz Savard, Meg’s First Style Ambassador hosting the show, get your neon on and go party with Meg!

  Whatever you’re in to –music, fashion, celebrities, or simply hanging out with friends – Meg Boracay Summer Parties will have it all for the best LaBoracay experience! 

  Meg Boracay Summer Party: Seize the Day, Own the Night #SmartMegBoracay is presented by Smart Communications – Live More. The event will not be possible without PowerMac, MetroDental, Folded and Hung, and our official TV media partner, ETC. Meg Summer Touch is brought to you by PLDT Home Telpad.#MegTelpadBoracay

  Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Wave Bar and Lounge is the official venue partner of Meg.

[kristovblue]

Mini Photo Project: Hopes and Dreams

Finally! I had always wanted to do photo shoots, but since I had little to no time because of work, I would put it off till a later time, but the time has come! Last month, my church group downline asked me if I can take photos of him for his portfolio. I readily said yes, since, hello, unemployed. It was very fulfilling to know that I was of service to him and that I got to bond with him and be a part of hoping with him and being a part of the fulfillment of his dreams.

I hope you guys like it! It's not high quality because I had to edit colors on my phone since the laptop I have has inaccuracies in terms of color.

[kristovblue]

Graduating to the Fastlane: Are you ready?

I recall having to sit in my small cubicle at the office and receiving a flyer that comes with the header of our company name with the underlying text "where stress is less". I couldn't contain myself. Laughter was imminent. In our field, stress is never gone nor is it nearly ever less. But I guess what got me through wasn't the fact that there was less work load. Stress was always there. I guess what made stress bearable though was the fact that I was with my friends at the office. I had relationships that distracted me from the hurdles.

This is exactly what Nokia tried to reveal with its new Nokia X and the help a few hardworking students and models who are always on the go.

Despite having the X factor, they always strive to strike a good balance among their different priorities, such as their academics and co-curricular engagements, career paths, and of course, family and social lives. To document how these individuals keep up with their fast paced lives, friends from Nokia Philippines made them try out the new Nokia X, a beautifully crafted smartphone with Nokia’s signature design approach and bold, bright colors.

With the Nokia X in hand, Charlie Sutcliffe, Gianna Llanes, Henry Edwards, Carmela Fortuna, Maqui Castello, Ira Giorgetti, Emil Khodaverdi, Kelsey Merritt, Cat Triviño, and Daniel Velasco showed their families, friends, and supporters how they continue to enjoy living in the fastlane, despite everything being on hyper drive.

For 10 days, as these 10 models prepared for the end of the school year events and personal activities, the Nokia X allowed them to take and upload selfies and other photos of those moments in a flash.

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Kelsey Merritt showing that education is also the fastlane to success

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Their #FastlanePerfeXion posts came with personal insights and learnings on how to cope with living in the fast lane. Kelsey, who studies at the Ateneo de Manila and sometimes jumps from a class to a photo shoot, then back to another class later in the day, advised fresh graduates to “stay fit no matter how stressful college can be.”  She adds, “It's very important to balance school and work. Time management is key!”

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Charlie Sutcliffe smiling to the 3MP camera of Nokia X in Benguet

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Posting hundreds of selfies, they also helped retain the Philippines’ “selfie capital of the world” title. Charlie, also a host of TV show, “Juan Direction” with other half-Filipinos, loved the Nokia X’s bright colors and was happily surprised with the equally beautiful photos taken with its 3MP camera during his location shoot in Benguet.

The Nokia X is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, such as HERE Maps, with true offline maps and integrated turn-by-turn navigation, and the most popular Microsoft services, including Outlook and free cloud storage using OneDrive. All devices are also pre-loaded with a variety of very popular third-party apps and games.

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Maqui Castello with the white Nokia X

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Maqui Castelo, student, and awarded by a youth magazine as “Candy Cutie”, said, “I liked how it had boardgames from my childhood as apps, such as Monopoly and the Game of Life. Definitely something to look forward to.”

With its two home screens: home, which features a fresh, tile-based design, and Fastlane, the Nokia X also always gave the students and models the green light to quickly access their favorite apps.

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Gianna Llanes takes her first Nokia X selfie

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Gianna, student, and winner of the recent MYX VJ 2014 hunt said, “What I like about Fastlane is that it presented me with app updates, missed calls, and new messages. The feature is like my own personal assistant!” Ira, also a fashion blogger, stylist, and photographer, agreed and added, “Fastlane is a great answer for those who need to streamline their notifications and are tired of checking multiple applications to see the latest updates. Such an amazing time saver!”

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Ira Giorgetti with his mom and sister who just graduated.

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Graduating to the fastlane doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think. With a little help from friends, and gadgets which can help you manage and organize your activities, the experience can actually be fun and colorful.

  The Nokia X is now available in bright green, bright red, black, and white for an affordable SRP of Php 5,990.