Smart Omega is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia

Smart Omega is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Smart Omega, the professional esports team backed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia.

“We are excited for the new season of MPL and the fruits of the perseverance of our young esports athletes, who never gave up despite the challenges in their journey. As a staunch supporter of esports and our Filipino athletes, it is our privilege to provide them with the right tools and training environment for their success. We’re wishing Smart Omega all the best for MPL Season 11,” said Jude H. Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart. 

 

Starting February 18, Smart Omega will field Kelra, Raizen, Renzio, Mikko, Stowm, and Louis to battle it out with seven other teams in the league for the crown.

 

With a new roster for the new season, what can fans expect from Smart Omega? A journey towards redemption, according to head coach Ynot Senedrin.

“We still got most of our roster from last season, and we added some new talent. Our offseason training was good, and we can definitely see the team’s strengths and potential. We’re looking forward to seeing them in action,” Senedrin said.

 

With the goal of becoming the champion, Smart Omega thanked their fans for their unending support. “Babawi kami sa inyo guys, ipapakita natin ang lakas ng Barangay Omega!” Senedrin added.

 

Patron of esports in the Philippines

As the longtime official telco partner of MLBB in the Philippines, Smart has cemented its position as a staunch supporter of e-sports - including e-sports athletes, fans, game publishers, and tournament organizers - in the country.

 

Filipino gamers can enjoy leveled-up gaming experiences powered by Smart, the Philippines' Fastest and Best mobile network, according to Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence.

Ookla recognized Smart as the Philippines’ Best Mobile Network after dominating two crucial Ookla Speedtest Awards categories, namely the “Fastest Mobile Network” and “Best Mobile Coverage,” in Q1-Q2 2022.

 

Register Your SIM Now

In compliance with the SIM Registration Law, Smart encourages all its subscribers to have their SIM registered. Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers can visit the https://simreg.smart.com.ph/ portal. Subscribers will also receive 3GB worth of free data after their successful registration.

Smart Postpaid users, on the other hand, simply need to confirm the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application by texting YES to 5858, and wait for the confirmation message from Smart.

Learn more about how Smart enables subscribers to level up their gameplay by visiting https://smart.com.ph/Prepaid/whats-new/gigagames. 

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realme 10 Pro 5G SOLD OUT in just 3 minutes

realme 10 Pro 5G SOLD OUT in just 3 minutes

realme Philippines, the consecutive two-year champion according to Canalys 2021-2022 reports, celebrates its first big milestone for 2023 with a 3-minute sold-out record on Shopee. During the February 15 maiden selling of the realme 10 Pro 5G, the new model sold 2 units per second on average, with the initial bulk going out of stock right after the sale went live at 12MN.

“We are humbled by the overwhelming support from the realme Squad and our media partners,” says Austine Huang, VP for Marketing. “We sincerely thank the thousands of viewers who tuned in to our realme 10 Pro Series 5G launch yesterday, and we promise to match the same level of enthusiasm with everything we have lined up for 2023.”

The realme 10 Pro 5G will definitely be restocked on Shopee, in time for its end-of-month sale. Fans who missed out during the first day selling can still head over to Lazada until February 17, Friday to catch the early bird offer of only PHP 14,999. This Lazada exclusive is also at PHP 2,000 OFF the original SRP, and comes with an additional one year warranty (for a total of two years), plus a FREE Globe SIM Card with 65GB of free data.   

 

realme 10 Pro Series 5G Launch, from Left to Right: Product Marketing Manager Jimmclaude Gayo;
VP for Marketing Austine Huang; Home Credit Product Marketing Lead Richard Sarinas;
E-Commerce Lead Ryan Ng; and Digital Marketing Manager Poy Siena.

 

During the product launch last February 14, the speakers elaborated on the unique features of the realme 10 Pro 5G, such as the 1mm ultra thin side bezels made possible by RAZR Technology (Removed Adhesive Zero Resin), which allows for more compression when attaching the parts inside the smartphone, giving wider room to work with the display. This made the realme 10 Pro 5G’s Boundless Display practically thinner than the tip of a pencil, or just as thick as 3 pieces of bond paper, and even less than half the width of a 1-Peso coin.

The launch also took a deep dive into the often overlooked aspects of smartphone ownership, like overall User Experience and User Interface. It highlighted the new realme UI 4.0, which optimizes the layout, design, and functionality of the smartphone so it can suit the user better, instead of the other way around. Nifty features such as Auto Pixelate, Smart Always On Display with different presets, and even Advanced Encryption Standard for improved privacy on user’s files were highlighted so that all viewers, even those without a tech background, can better make use of the new additions.

realme’s long standing partnership with Home Credit was also given the spotlight, allowing more Filipinos to get their dream smartphone without a one-time big-time payment. The realme 10 Pro 5G is eligible for either a 6-month or a 9-month installment plan, wherein fans can #DisplayNewVision for as low as only 44 pesos a day.

On top of its cutting-edge 120Hz Boundless Display, the realme 10 Pro 5G also comes with a 108MP ProLight Camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Processor, 5000mAh Battery backed by a 33W SUPERVOOC Charging, Hi-Res Dual Stereo Speakers, and the new realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13 right off the box. It’s available in three colors: Dark Matter, Nebula Blue, and Hyperspace Gold.

   

“Spot The Real Pros” offline promo

Aside from the generous online offers, customers who purchase a realme 10 Pro 5G or any realme AIoT Device worth PHP 9,000 and up in any of the 30 participating realme Concept Stores can join the “Spot The Real Pros” retail promo, where they can get a chance to win a realme TechLife Handheld Vacuum Cleaner worth PHP 8,990. Check out the table below:

Spot The Real Pros participating realme Concept Stores
Metro Manila	North Luzon	South Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao
-SM North Edsa -SM Fairview -SM Cubao -Market Market -Festival Mall -SM Sucat -SM Taytay -SM East Ortigas -SM Sta Mesa	-SM Cabanatuan -Robinsons Santiago -Baguio Center Mall -Robinsons Malolos -SM San Jose Del Monte	-Robinsons Galleria South -SM Lucena -SM Calamba -SM Dasmarinas -SM Bacoor -SM Molino -Walmart Tanauan -SM Batangas	-Robinsons Tacloban -SM Cebu -SM Seaside -SM Mandurriao	-SM Mindpro Zamboanga -SM Ecoland -SM Lanang Premiere -SM Gensan

  

realme 10 Pro+ 5G to be sold earlier in realme offline stores

Shortly after the local realme 10 Pro Series 5G launch, fans flooded the comments section on realme’s official Facebook page asking for the realme 10 Pro+ 5G, which was offered through pre-order basis.

In a recent post of Austine Huang, realme Philippines’ VP for Marketing, it was announced that the realme 10 Pro+ 5G will be available for purchasing at realme offline stores earlier. The brand is also currently preparing to accommodate the high demand so that the realme Squad can visit any realme offline stores and make their purchase sooner than expected!

Those who are availing the realme 10 Pro+ 5G in 8GB+128GB storage variant earlier will still get a FREE realme Power Bank 2 (10000mAh) worth P899 along with a FREE TechLife Buds Classic worth P499. On the other hand, customers purchasing the realme 10 Pro+ 5G in 8GB+256GB storage variant will be getting a FREE DIZO Star 500 worth P1,299 and a FREE TechLife Buds Classic that is worth P499.

As for the online availability on Shopee and Lazada, make sure to stay tuned and follow realme’s official Facebook page for announcements and latest updates.

 

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PLDT, Smart InnoGen continues legacy of inspiring young innovators in season 3

PLDT, Smart InnoGen continues legacy of inspiring young innovators in season 3

 PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue Innovation Generation’s (InnoGen) legacy of inspiring young generations with its latest season.

The PLDT Group recently welcomed 98 teams of young innovators, the biggest number to date, to its innovation grant program’s third season. With the theme #ForwardTogether, InnoGen 3.0 sustains its tradition of becoming an avenue to help bridge societal gaps through sustainable and inclusive technology.

With the primary purpose of being changemakers in their respective communities, InnoGen participants eagerly signified their commitment to sharing their craft, with their knowledge and skills as their own contribution to nation-building. 

 

InnoGen also encourages cross-collaboration among its network of colleges and universities to extend opportunities to more students and faculty members.

In July 2022, Batangas State University (BatStateU) opened the doors of its technology and innovation center that houses several research programs to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Engineering officials.

Both universities are long-standing partners of Smart in its education programs Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) and InnoGen. 

 

In the last two seasons of InnoGen, BatStateU teams worked on finding technology-abled and purpose-driven solutions to address challenges within their communities.

BatStateU’s Team Juan LOADi developed a donation channel to help students struggling with accessing communication tools for online classes during the pandemic, with the goal of ensuring no Juan is left behind.

“We want our ideas to become valuable to our beneficiaries and the environment. InnoGen helped us to make this happen,” said Team Juan LOADi.

ReaSAL team, one of the season 2 finalists, developed a machine learning-based assessment tool to help teachers evaluate the current reading skills of early-grade learners based on the six elements of reading.

“The InnoGen mentoring sessions we attended opened our eyes to the value and contribution of the project we are developing towards quality education,” said ReaSAL team.

Shortlisted teams also shared some valuable life lessons they learned from InnoGen.

“When it comes to technology and innovation, the higher the risk, the higher the reward. The reward is not only for yourself, but for the society and those around you,” shared Team Juan LOADi.

ReaSAL team added, “If you have an idea, no matter how impossible it may seem, just do it.”

PLDT and Smart’s InnoGen is aligned with UNSDGs #4 Quality Education and #9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

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British submarines sink into World of Warships

British submarines sink into World of Warships

World of Warships is introducing an armada of content to Update 12.1. With British submarines coming to Early Access, a campaign with an Australian light cruiser waiting at the end and a new season of Clan battles, this update is jam-packed full of content. On top of all this, World of Warships has also added a chain of several special combat missions with All-American prizes waiting at the finish line.

British submarines sink into Early Access

From March 2nd, three historic British submarines will make their way into Early Access. Undine, Sturdy and Thrasher all enter the game alongside several permanent camouflages and other exciting rewards. These deep-sea vessels offer value in manoeuvrability and fast reloading acoustic torpedoes, however their limited hit-points will require players to be deft in their movements. These sub-surface ships also see the standard submarine equipment, including "Damage Control Party", "Submarine Surveillance" and "Hydrophone".

Alongside these additions, comes a special collective chain of combat missions which, upon completion, will bestow players with both a special commemorative flag and British Tokens.

Queen of the Seas campaign sets sail

In a three-week campaign format, The Queen of the Seas takes players on a special pirate-themed adventure that follows the path of an Australian bushranger on her quest to flee the continent aboard a mythical ship. Along the way players can acquire plenty of Pirate Tokens - a temporary resource that can be exchanged for two valuable prizes - Australian light cruiser Brisbane and Commander Matilda Kelly. With powerful air defence that includes ten 152-mm main battery guns and an augmented torpedo armament for underwater destruction, Brisbane is a valuable addition to any fleet, and the accompanying Commander Kelly sits at her helm with 19 skill points. 

All-American awards await

Combat missions aren’t only limited to British submarines though. Until the end of February, players can embark on a chain of combat missions where completing them brings about a number of all-American rewards including a Commander Statue of Liberty, equipped with its own unique voice acting and American Tokens. Players can also secure permanent camouflages, a commemorative flag and a number of other star-spangled goodies in exchange for tokens or across random doubloon packs.

The season of “Salamander” Clan Battles

Closing out the Update 12.1, the game also sees the 20th season of Clan Battles. Starting 20 February and running until 10 April, Warships players with Tier X ships can team up and engage in a seven-on-seven battle of strength and strategy. As usual, to keep the playing field level, there are a handful of ship restrictions with the exclusion of aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as a cap on battleships.

Update 12.1 also sees another Battle Pass added to the game, three Brawls starting on 20 February and several visual and technical changes across the board.  

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Grassroots esports teams play to help feed the hungry, break stigma on mental health

Grassroots esports teams play to help feed the hungry, break stigma on mental health

Who would have thought that a mobile game tournament could be an opportunity to change lives?

 

For GameLab and Redlist, winning the recent GIGA Arena Street League, an esports tournament powered by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) allowed them not only to showcase their skills in Mobile Legends, but also to extend help to those in need.

 

“Even if we are just playing, we are still able to help different communities who need our support. This event also opened a lot of doors for us and enabled us to enter the professional scene in Mobile Legends,” said Mark Ferry “Dokmen” Nazar, captain of GameLab.

 

GameLab was able to donate 325 kilos of sustainably grown rice worth P20,000 to Rise Against Hunger Philippines (RAH). The rice is sourced from rice growers in Santa Cruz Occidental, Mindoro supported by Smart’s ‘Buy Local’ program, who are practicing climate-smart and eco-friendly farming system.

 

RAH and Smart have been partners since December of last year through the “Rice Together!” program to help feed over 19,000 families in Manila, Pasig, and Laguna.

 

“Everybody has a role to play in addressing hunger. It is very heartwarming to know that the youth are also getting involved, because we are normally supported by big corporations. This donation will go a long way to feed many families,” said Jomar Fleras, Executive Director, Rise Against Hunger Philippines.

 

Third placer Redlist chose the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, a group of youth advocates that work to elevate the Filipino youth’s consciousness on mental health and end the stigma on mental illness, as their beneficiary. “Mental health is a very important part of our life. Because of the pandemic, this has become one of the biggest issues among the youth,” said Elmer Christian Dela Merced, team captain of Redlist. 

Redlist was able to donate seven (7) Smart Bro Pocket Wifi devices worth P10,000 with P1,000 worth of load cards that can be used by the organization to conduct trainings and activities for the youth.

 

“We would like to thank Redlist and Smart for this very generous gift. This will help us achieve our mission to raise the consciousness on mental wellness and end the stigma. Paulit-ulit naming sinasabi na ang kalusugang pangkaisipan ay isang kritikal na public health issue, hindi ito nabibigyan ng pansin. Wala mang pisikal na anyo, kinakailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating mental health dahil ito ay apektado at nakakaapekto sa ating pangkalahatang wellness,” said Ms Benica Ventilacion, Vice Chairperson for Finance and Legal Support, Youth for Mental Health Coalition. [We have always reiterated that mental health is a critical public health issue, and it does not get much attention. Even if it is not tangible, we need to take care of our mental health because it can affect our overall wellness.]

 

Empowering the Filipino youth

Following their win in the Street League tournament, GameLab shared that they have qualified in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Development League (MDL), the second official league in the Philippines by Moonton. They are also part of the pool for SIBOL, the national team for esports, who might represent the Philippines in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia this year.

 

“This just shows that events like these go beyond connectivity and the network already. It is about empowering the youth, giving them opportunities to help them support their advocacies, and providing them a platform like GIGA Arena where they can showcase their talents to the world,” said Melvin Consunji Nubla, FVP and Group Head, Go-to-Market and Subscriber Management at Smart.

 

The Street League tournament held on Smart GIGA Arena (gigaarena.smart) is in line with Smart’s long-standing support for Philippine esports to cultivate the passion and talent of Filipino gamers. 

 

Gaming enthusiasts can continue to join local esports tournaments by logging in to GIGA Arena, the country’s first all-in-one esports platform for Filipino mobile gamers. The platform is open to all Smart and TNT customers and lets users match up with fellow players to compete in daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments for prestige and cash prizes. 

 

To continue enjoying the best gaming experiences powered by Smart, subscribers are encouraged to register their Smart and TNT SIM at http://www.smart.com/ph/simreg and receive 3GB free data upon successful registration. 

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For equal opportunities, we built a fashion school in the Philippines

For equal opportunities, we built a fashion school in the Philippines

This message from Ayumi Nishigawa, President, Non-Profit Organization DEAR ME, a social contribution through fashion.

 

On the 5th of this month, we opened the fashion school “coxco Lab”.

 

We are so happy to have the opening day with our wonderful students, teachers, colleagues and sponsors. Thank you to everyone who came to the opening ceremony and to all those who came from Japan to support us.

 

Fashion show activities with kids living in vulnerable communities in the Philippines started in 2015 when I was in 3rd year college. But the show alone won't change the lives of children or their futures. I've been aiming to establish a fashion school for about six years now, thinking that education and employment will be the key to helping them realize their dreams.

 

Four years ago, I quit my company for this challenge. It was a preparation period that I couldn't say it went well due to the Corona virus, but thanks to my friends and everyone who supported me, I finally was able to start.

 

The name of the school we opened is "coxco Lab". As a laboratory of the brand coxco which we currently operate, we have a vision where future school alumni can work with the brand.

 

The school is run by NPO, a non-profit organization, while the brand is LTD, limited. Creating a non-profit and profit chain will be the challenge ahead, and coxco will expand to the Philippines this year. Here's the real beginning. As always, I can't do anything alone so I'd appreciate your support! Thank you for your continued support.

 

And this time with the opening of the school, I've been closely connected to TV2 stations since last year! Please let me announce again if it goes on air.

 

About coxco Lab

 

Funded by Japan-based fashion brand coxco, the coxco Lab Fashion School, located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, operates as a vocational training school in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

 

For the first year, a fashion craft course will be conducted focused on sustainable fashion . Additional courses will be about clothing design and pattern, and total beauty.

 

Ten men and women aged 16 years old and above will be accommodated by the coxco Fashion Lab free of charge. Classes will be conducted by vocational school teachers.

 

The aim is to contribute to the self-reliance and independence of students and communities by further conducting classes on Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs, financial literacy and reproductive health education.

 

Marketing of the Lab’s products made by its students will primarily be with the group brand coxco. Promotion and sales support from other sponsor companies and through crowd funding will be utilized for the overall objective of creating education and employment opportunities in the future.

 

Together, let us create equal opportunities in our society.

 

NPO DEAR ME and coxco current partner non-government organizations are KnK Philippines and CHILDHOPE Philippines. Sponsor companies are Yogibo LLC., YAGI&CO.,LTD, UMU Technology Japan and MARUCHO Inc.

 

Those who would like to partner with NPO DEAR ME and coxco, please contact: Moe Komura. General Manager for Philippines, NPO DEAR ME through email: info@npodearme.com. Visit their website https://npodearme.com/ and follow their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dearme2015.

 

 

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