Step up your mobile experience with the Nokia 1 and Nokia 8110 4G

Today’s fast-paced, digital-driven world may connect and empower people in new and exciting ways not known nor explored in the past. But it also creates a gap for those who find it difficult to keep up with the latest technology. Sometimes some find new technologies and devices inaccessible and complicated, causing them to be left out of the digital world.

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, brings reliable mobile phones that deliver not only innovation but also technology with a purpose—technology that is accessible to everyone.

Shannon Mead, country manager of HMD Global Philippines, said:
“We make sure that at HMD Global, we provide mobile experience customized to the needs and style of our diverse markets. More than the promise of innovation, we create technology that is accessible and reliable without compromising premium quality. The Nokia 1 and Nokia 8110 4G are innovations designed to optimize experience with functions and features that can keep up with any pace.”

Nokia 1: The complete first smartphone

Designed for first-time smartphone users, the Nokia 1 is equipped with a quad-core processor, front and rear cameras, 4G connectivity and dual-SIM support, elevating the feature phone experience in an accessible smartphone package.

With the Nokia 1, stepping up to smarter mobile experience has never been easier. Packed in a refreshingly familiar design and promising the reassuring quality of a Nokia phone, the Nokia 1 also brings back Xpress-on covers, allowing users to personalize their phones through a range of playful, vibrant colors.

Running on the latest Android Oreo™ (Go edition), a version of Android for devices with 1GB RAM or less, the Nokia 1 comes with a new range of apps from Google designed to run faster while consuming less data. With fewer pre-installed and much lighter apps on Android Oreo™ (Go edition), you get 2x more available storage out of the box.

Nokia 8110 4G: The hero sidekick

Whether it’s to minimize the daily digital buzz or to find the perfect companion phone that’s ready to take on everyday challenges, the Nokia 8110 delivers more than an ordinary feature phone can offer. This newest member of the Originals family brings a familiar and easy-to-use classic interface with an intuitive tactile keypad and slide-to-answer and end-call features, plus an addictive upgraded Snake game.

The Nokia 8110 is a durable phone that delivers crystal-clear VoLTE calls. With its 4G connectivity, users can access apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Search, Facebook and Twitter while performing basic tasks such as sending and receiving emails, importing contacts, and syncing calendar with Outlook and Gmail. The Wi-Fi capability lets Nokia 8110 serve as a portable hotspot, letting you share internet connection with up to 10 devices at once.

Reliability amid changing times
Packed with all the qualities expected of a Nokia phone, the Nokia 1 and Nokia 8110 4G are breakthroughs of accessible technology focused on elevating user experience. The phones’ design and performance emphasize durability and reliability to cater to the needs of their target users.

The Nokia 1 is available in Warm Red and Dark Blue while the Nokia 8110 4G comes in Traditional Black and Banana Yellow. Both come at an affordable price of PHP3,990.

About HMD Global

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, HMD Global Oy is the home of Nokia phones. HMD designs and markets a range of smartphones and feature phones targeted at a range of consumers and price points. With a commitment to innovation and quality, HMD is the proud exclusive licensee of the Nokia brand for phones and tablets. For further information, see www.hmdglobal.com.

Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Android, Android One, Google and Google Photos are trademarks of Google LLC; Oreo is a trademark of Mondelez International, Inc. group. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ZEISS and the ZEISS logo are registered trademarks of Carl Zeiss AG used under license of Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH.

Voting for World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018 begins August 1

Club Paradise Palawan, a tropical paradise in beautiful Coron and a premier property owned by Discovery World Corporation and managed by The Discovery Leisure Company, is calling its loyal and satisfied guests, friends and partners to vote for them in the coming World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018.

Voting starts on August 1, 2018 and ends August 31, 2018.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards (WLHA) recognize service excellence and outstanding service delivery. They are considered the "pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry categories as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike". 

Club Paradise Palawan proudly won two awards from WLHA in 2017 namely Continent Winner in the Luxury Private Island Resort category and Country Winner in the Luxury Family Beach Resort category.  

This year, Club Paradise Palawan is vying for the following categories: Luxury Wedding Destination, Luxury Family Beach Resort, and Luxury Private Island Resort.  To show your support, please visit https://luxuryhotelawards.com starting August 1, 2018 to cast your vote.

Club Paradise Palawan is an exclusive island resort in Coron, Palawan along the Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It boasts of pristine white sand beaches, charming accommodations, delightful international cuisine and colourful, rich marine life. Guests can engage in a variety of exciting outdoor activities or simply relax to take in the calming sights and sounds of paradise.  

For more information, visit https://clubparadisepalawan.com.

LLC Formation and EIN Application

What is a Federal Tax Identification Number? A Federal Tax Identification Number is also known as the Employer Identification Number (EIN). This number is used to identify a business entity by the Internal Revenue Service. Businesses need an EIN to file their tax returns. Those who do not qualify for a SSN or the Social Security Number are required to apply for an EIN.

A Federal Tax ID application can be done in various ways, and one of them is applying online. Once your company has been formed and approved, you can apply for your EIN number which can be done via telephone, fax, and postal mail or online. Before you proceed with your EIN application, you will have to know your business entity type.

If you are not sure of your business entity type, you can visit the website of Gov Doc Filing to take a simple survey to confirm the entity type. After the online filing is done, the experts from Gov Doc Filing will help you with the filing processes of obtaining an EIN.

Once an EIN is issued to a business by the Internal Revenue Service, the EIN has no expiry date. A new EIN is only required:
For sole proprietors if you incorporate or if you take in partners and operate as a partnership. Or if you purchase or inherit an existing business that you operate as a sole proprietorship.

For corporations if you change to a partnership or a sole proprietorship or if a new corporation is created after a statutory merger.

For partnership if you incorporate or if your partnership is taken over by one of the partners and is operated as a sole proprietorship. A new EIN is required if you end an old partnership and begin a new one.

For Limited Liability Company (LLC) if you have more than one owner. Or if a new LLC with one owner chooses to be taxed as a corporation or as an S corporation.

Some of the benefits of setting up an LLC:
The cost of an LLC application is cheaper than a corporation.
The members or owners of a limited liability company are protected against the financial and legal obligations of their company. In case the company goes bankrupt or gets involved in a financial lawsuit, the personal assets of the members will not be seized.
A Limited Liability Company can be managed as a partnership, or as a corporation.

KEVIN BELINGON DOMINATES MARTIN NGUYEN TO WIN ONE INTERIM BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

In the main event of ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, Filipino dynamo Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon derailed Martin Nguyen’s goal to become a three-division world champion by outclassing the ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion with his striking superiority. With his hometown crowd cheering behind him, Belingon effortlessly picked Nguyen apart in the stand-up, jolting the two-division titleholder with stunning left hooks and perfectly-executed spinning back kicks. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Belingon to win by unanimous decision after an intense five-round affair, bringing home the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship.

Kevin Belingon, ONE Interim Bantamweight World Champion, stated: “I can’t explain this feeling, I’m the happiest athlete tonight. Thank you to all the people who came out to support me, and of course to ONE Championship, my team, my coaches and trainers, and my teammates. To Martin [Nguyen], it was an honor fighting you. You’re such a great athlete and champion. I trained very hard for this fight, just to get this belt. I’m proud to be a champion representing the Philippines. My friend Bibiano [Fernandes], I respect him as a champion, but we’re in the same weight class and I’m the top contender. So there is no escape in facing me. I hope you recover fast and we can make the fight this year.”

In the co-main event of the evening, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Japan smoothly steered to a first-round stoppage victory over Thai martial arts superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai. It quickly became the beginning of the end for Wiratchai just minutes into the first round, as he was effortlessly taken down by Aoki. On the mat, Aoki barely gave Wiratchai room to breathe, raining down a torrent of punishing elbows that compelled the referee to step in and call a halt to the contest. The victory earned Aoki GoDaddy Knockout of the Night honors.

Brazilian legend Renzo Gracie made a triumphant return to mixed martial arts competition after eight long years, having his hand raised in victory at the expense of Japanese martial arts pioneer Yuki Kondo. Following a lengthy feeling-out process between the two grizzled veterans in the first round, Gracie shifted gears in the second frame and immediately drove his foe to the mat. Taking Kondo’s back, Gracie fastened a wrenching rear naked choke with no hesitation, which left his opponent no choice but to tap.

Hometown hero Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of Baguio City, Philippines turned in another complete performance, earning a unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Aziz Pahrudinov of Russia. Folayang operated behind a relentless stream of leg kicks that left Pahrudinov hampered throughout the three-round contest. Connecting on his combinations with laser-like precision, Folayang dominated the bout as the three judges sitting cageside awarded him the victory.

International grappling superstar Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon of the United States was successful in his second appearance in the ONE Championship cage, defeating Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of India via submission in round three. After testing his striking abilities for the majority of the first two rounds, Tonon went back to his strengths in the third, taking the action to the canvas where he fastened a deep rear naked choke to seal the deal.

After falling short in his ONE Super Series debut two months ago, two-time Muay Thai World Champion Chris Ngimbi sought the redemption that he desired, edging out Armen Petrosyan via split decision in their three-round catch weight kickboxing showdown. Although Petrosyan kept himself aggressive all throughout the contest, Ngimbi landed the more telling blows from bell to bell, which was enough to persuade two of three cageside judges to score in his favor.

In a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest, former ONE Warrior Series entrant Panicos Yusuf of Cyprus earned a unanimous decision victory over Han Zi Hao of China after a gruelling three-round affair. Operating behind a sound game plan and well-placed strikes, Yusuf countered Han consistently with a myriad of combinations off the back foot. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Yusuf.

Former ONE World Title challenger Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines notched his third-straight victory, authoring a spectacular submission victory over rising Thai superstar Pongsiri Mitsatit in the first round. After an emphatic slam to the canvas, Pacio finished the job with a straining armlock, leaving Mitsatit with no other choice but to tap.

Former Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai of Thailand showcased his world-class striking skills, defeating challenger Brown Pinas of the Netherlands via unanimous decision. Making his ONE Super Series debut, Chamuaktong dazzled, putting his treacherous Muay Thai clinch game on full display, while connecting on a plethora of elbows and knees from close quarters. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Chamuaktong after three rounds.

Filipino martial arts veteran Rene Catalan emerged as an early crowd favorite, bringing the Mall of Asia Arena crowd to their feet with a rousing performance. Over the course of three rounds, Catalan exhibited dynamic striking, feints, sweeping low leg kicks, and a powerful left hook that had highly-regarded opponent Stefer Rahardian of Indonesia in trouble on multiple occasions. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Catalan to win by unanimous decision.

Kicking off ONE: REIGN OF KINGS was Chinese featherweight sensation “The Stalker” Xie Bin. After a brief grappling exchange on the mat, Xie made quick work of Cambodia’s Sor Sey, finishing with a deep guillotine choke that put his opponent to sleep early in the first round.

Official results for ONE: REIGN OF KINGS

ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Martin Nguyen by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds

Lightweight bout: Shinya Aoki defeats Shannon Wiratchai by TKO (Strikes) at 2:16 minutes of round 1

Welterweight bout: Renzo Gracie defeats Yuki Kondo by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:40 minutes of round 2

Lightweight bout: Eduard Folayang defeats Aziz Pahrudinov by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Lightweight bout: Garry Tonon defeats Rahul Raju by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:27 minutes of round 3

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Catch Weight (72.5kg) bout: Chris Ngimbi defeats Armen Petrosyan by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Bantamweight bout: Panicos Yusuf defeats Han Zi Hao by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Joshua Pacio defeats Pongsiri Mitstatit by Submission (Armlock) at 3:37 minutes of round 1

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Catch Weight (68.0kg) bout: Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai defeats Brown Pinas by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Rene Catalan defeats Stefer Rahardian by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Featherweight bout: Xie Bin defeats Sor Sey by Submission (Guillotine) at 1:55 minutes of round 1

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™

ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts and is the world's largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

ALL-NEW ZENFONE LIVE L1 TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT AT SM CYBERZONE’S MOBILE FEST

Fresh from its official arrival just last weekend in stores nationwide, the ZenFone Live L1 was  definitely a crowd favorite during the Mobile Fest event. With the ZenFone Live L1 as one of the newest phones out in the market, as well as the mystery that surrounded it since it was first unveiled last May 2018, the latest ZenFone undoubtedly roused curiosity among the people on how it could offer more than its well-loved predecessor, the ZenFone Live.

To further excite the crowd, ASUS Philippines partnered with vlogger and YouTube sensation, Shekainah “Shek” Chen – better known for her lifestyle channel, Shek’s Diary. Popular for her content on her daily activities, Shek gave her own tips and tricks to becoming a vlogger and also shared her thoughts on what morecan the ZenFone Live L1 offer not only as an amazing smartphone but also as an aspiring content creator’s best friend.

IT’S MORE FUN WITH THE ZENFONE LIVE L1

More screen. More energy. More fun. – That is what ZenFone Live lives for and what it promises ZenFans in its return to the Philippines, through the ZenFone Live L1. This time around, the latest variant is packed with everything users loved about the original ZenFone Live but tripled with a whole lot more awesome and exciting features in just a 5-inch body!

The ZenFone Live L1’s 18:9 5.5-inch HD+ display is made to show images on screen as vivid as possible. Combining its display with a 13MP sharp shooting rear camera, photos will undoubtedly be breathtaking. The ZenFone Live L1 also comes with a fast face unlock as well as a triple-tray slot, allowing for added security and memory of up to 2TB. Best of all, the 2018 ZenFone Live L1 has a 3,000 mAh battery capacitythat can keep going for hours and hours.

For more details on the ZenFone Live L1, refer to the specs below:

Product Name	ZenFone Live L1
Operating system	Brand-new ASUS ZenUI 5.0 with Android O
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
Display	5.5” HD+ 18:9 2D 5 point capacity touch panel
Dimension	147.26mm*71.77mm*8.15mm
SIM	DSDS, Nano SIM, Nano SIM, Micro SD, 3 choose 3 SIM/SD card tray
Wireless	802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Network standards	2G/3G/4G
PixelMaster cameras	Rear: 13MP PDAF Front: 5MP FF
Memory and storage	2GB RAM +16GB ROM
Battery	3000mAh

AVAILABILITY

The ZenFone Live L1 is available nationwide for the very affordable price PHP 5,995.00! For more information on any of the ZenFone series and other incredible ASUS products, tune in to the ASUS Philippines Facebook Page and the ZenTalk Philippines Forum.

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About ASUS

ASUS is one of Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and is dedicated to creating products for today and tomorrow’s smart life. Our comprehensive portfolio includes Zenbo, ZenFone, ZenBook and a range of IT devices and components, along with AR, VR and IoT. ASUS employs more than 16,000 people worldwide and over 5,500 world-class R&D talents. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, the company won 4,511 awards and earned approximately US$13 billion of revenue in 2017.

LBC’s ‘Aming Ligaya” Provides Simple Yet Meaningful Happiness for Both Agent and Customer

The success enjoyed by LBC is hinged on their legion of customers who bank on them for excellent service.

And through their long-running Aming Ligaya campaign, LBC is able to give their loyal patrons a chance to personally meet commendable employees who they only get to transact via phone.

Recently, LBC gave its Agent Aldrin Rulloda of Customer Care Management a chance to come face to face with Mr. Ricardo Faldas who has raved about his services. As soon as Ricardo walked inside the LBC St. Francis branch and saw the nametag on Aldrin’s chest, he excitedly approached the agent. The customer was very elated when he met Aldrin personally because he would only converse with him over the phone. While speaking to Aldrin, one could see the enthusiasm in Ricardo’s eyes as if he had reconnected with a friend whom he hasn’t seen for a long time.

Ricardo narrates: “Kaya dito ko pinili sa LBC St. Francis Square kasi very accomodating ang mga staff nyo dito at masaya ako sa nagawang tulong ni Aldrin sa akin. Kasi from time to time ina-update nya ako kung nasaan na yung shipment ko at sinasabihan niya ako kung anu yung most available time na pwede nya akong tawagan. Tapos nung dumating na yung request ko from Iloilo, tinanong nya sa akin kung saang branch yung preferred ko, sabi ko sa kanya ako na lang ang pupunta sa hangar. Pero hindi dun natapos iyon.  Tinetext nya pa ako kung nasaan na ako para masigurado na hindi ako maliligaw at kung tama ba yung gate na pinuntahan ko. That’s the kind of service that Aldrin needs to share with his colleagues

Such positive stories as the ones shared by Ricardo are never lost to LBC which uses these to inspire their people to consistently deliver excellent customer service.

FASHFAB KL FEATURING LILY & ORKID

FashFab KL, Asia’s premier trunk show, will be featuring latest Malaysian designer label and Top Carouseller, Lily&Orkid in an exquisite one-night-only trunk show.

Lily&Orkid represents the two sides of every woman. There is a "Lily" and an "Orkid" in all of us! "Lily" is soft, sophisticated and romantic, while "Orkid" is strong, bold and unafraid.

These traits are integrated thoughtfully into their designs for women who love style and do not compromise on quality. For women who love simplicity with a streak of sass and fearlessness. 

​

Organised by Sneaky Zombie in partnership with Carousell, The Imaginarium and Amber Chia Academy, guests will also be treated with eclectic music mix by DJ Jazzie Jay.

Entry is limited to 100 guests, they will be treated to an eye-opening set of floral-inspired clothing, coupled with an up-close session with the designer. 

Tickets purchased before 31 July 2018 will receive an exclusive limited edition gift.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, 2 August 2018

Time: 8:00PM to 12:00AM

Venue: The Imaginarium,

              Lot G362, Ground Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre,

              Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Ticket Price: RM99 (Inclusive of 2 drinks)

Ticketing site: www.galactix.asia

For more information, follow Sneaky Zombie on www.facebook.com/SneakyZ or Carousell on www.facebook.com/carousell.my, or download the Carousell app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

About Sneaky Zombie

Sneaky Zombie is a themed entertainment company that creates, owns and produces experiential live attractions.

About Carousell

Carousell is a mobile classifieds app that makes selling as easy as taking a photo, buying as simple as chatting. Launched in August 2012, Carousell began in Singapore and has spread to 19 cities around the world. With over 110 million listings, they are one of the world’s largest and fastest growing marketplaces. Carousell has been ranked as the top Lifestyle and Shopping app in Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and is backed by leading international Venture Capitalists Sequoia India, Rakuten Ventures, 500 Startups, Golden Gate Ventures, and QuestVC. In Malaysia, Carousell has a diverse range of products in 28 categories, including fashion & beauty, lifestyle gadgets and muslimah fashion. Download the app for iOS or Android, and visit my.carousell.com for more information.

Myths and Facts About Weight-loss Supplements

Losing weight requires a lot of dedication and hard work and may involve physical and emotional costs. It is hardly surprising that many prefer the easy route by taking weight-loss supplements. While almost all weight-loss supplements are marketed as beneficial for the body, some may actually be harmful to one’s health.

Nutrition experts debunk certain claims about weight-loss supplements and reveal possible health risks.

Myth #1: Weight-loss supplements are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Truth: The US FDA does not have the authority to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. It only steps in when a “dietary supplement” is found to contain harmful substances.

Myth #2: Weight-loss supplements alone are enough to lose pounds.
Truth: Weight-loss supplements cannot substitute for healthy eating and regular exercise. Many weight-loss supplements’ labels include a disclaimer that they do not guarantee a specific weight-loss benefit, that individual results may vary and, to get the most benefit, they must be combined with proper diet and exercise.

Myth #3: Supplements like Hoodia, green tea and bitter orange aid in weight loss.
Truth: Green tea, bitter orange and the African herb hoodia have not been scientifically proven to burn fat. In fact, hoodia has not been studied in humans. It is also unclear if it curbs appetite. Green tea contains a fair amount of caffeine, which may result in some weight loss initially, but it will not burn fat. Too much caffeine can affect the heart rhythm and disturb sleep. Bitter orange has synephrine, an alkaloid found in plants, that can be dangerous to health as it increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Myth #4: “Natural” is safe.
Truth: Some weight-loss supplements containing “natural” ingredients like herbs comfrey or kava may be harmful to the liver. Claims that “natural is safe” is not always true.

Safety depends on the supplement’s chemical makeup and what it does to the body, how it is prepared and the dosage used. Also, while an individual supplement may be safe, the combination of several products may be risky. If you are under medication, it is best to consult your doctor first before taking any weight-loss supplements as they may affect the efficacy of your medicines.
 
While some supplements may result in weight loss in the short term, they may have long-term adverse effects on the body, which may not be able to handle the stress of dramatic weight loss or process artificial food and supplements. They may be unsafe for those with existing medical conditions or those who need to lose a lot of weight.

If you feed your body the right kinds of food, avoid unhealthy snacks and adopt other healthy habits, you should be able to rebalance and reboot your metabolism naturally. Nothing beats fresh and good food to improve health and promote healthy weight loss.

Renzo Gracie lauds ONE Championship: ‘It will be No. 1 very soon’

ONE Championship will be rolling out the red carpet for a revered martial arts legend on Friday, 27 July as Brazil’s Renzo Gracie is set to make both his comeback and promotional debut in the Singapore-based organization.

Gracie, whose family introduced the discipline known as “The gentle art” to the world as an essential component of mixed martial arts competition, is slated to duke it out with fellow promotional debutant and three-division King Of Pancrase Yuki Kondo at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS in Manila, Philippines.

Still going strong at the age of 51, Gracie did not mince words about his excitement to wear four-ounce gloves for the first time in eight years.

“To be able to come back after all these years and do this again, it seems surreal to me,” he quipped.

“For me, I’ve always been talking about life and following your passion. Mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are an avenue for me to exemplify desire, diligence, discipline, dedication, character, integrity, and pride for my culture,” Gracie added.

Gracie expressed his gratitude to ONE Championship head honcho Chatri Sityodtong for extending his hand to host his return to action.

“I have been preparing a long time for this. I would like to thank Chatri Sityodtong and ONE Championship for the opportunity, for giving me the global stage once again, and for allowing me to satisfy my craving for competition. This one is for the fans,” he said.

Although it was more sensible for the New Jersey-based Brazilian submission specialist to sign with Western mixed martial arts companies for his comeback, Gracie disclosed that ONE Championship stood out as the appealing product.

“It’s my dream to fight in ONE Championship. They are doing a great job on this side of the world. What they do in Asia affects and benefits the entire ecosystem of the sport. I have everything. I don't need to be here, but I want to be part of something big," he stated.

Gracie has strutted his wares in different mixed martial arts organizations throughout his 26-year professional career, but he believes that ONE Championship will be the frontrunner of the sport in the coming years.

“It’s an amazing company. ONE Championship makes one of the best shows in the world. That’s why I’m feeling so privileged to be fighting in ONE Championship and in Manila,” he explained.

ONE Championship has achieved tremendous success since its inception in 2011, establishing itself as one of the key players of the sport in the world.

Since its early beginnings, the promotion has undergone a myriad of changes and developments.

From changing its name to revolutionizing the mixed martial arts weight-management system, the promotion’s iterations have brought it from promising young startup to global combat sports powerhouse in a matter of years.

Aside from housing some of the world's best martial artists and world champions like Bibiano Fernandes, Ben Askren, Roger Gracie, Brandon Vera and Shinya Aoki, ONE Championship has also been pivotal in the development of local and homegrown talents like the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang, Singapore’s Angela Lee and Myanmar’s Aung La N Sang.

Headquartered in the heart of Singapore, ONE Championship holds the largest sports and entertainment events across Asia, broadcasting to over 1.7-billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world.

“It (ONE Championship) will be No. 1 very soon,” Gracie declared.

Respected in both fields of mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a pioneer, elite athlete and fearless competitor, Gracie will show the world what he is capable of in ONE Championship.

“The only thing that I know is that I’ll be a better man, I’ll be a better teacher, and I’ll be a better person in the sense of passing forward everything that I learn in there,” he conveyed.

Whether he wins or loses against Kondo at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS on Friday, Gracie assured that it will not be his last ride in mixed martial arts.

“I believe I’m going to fight more. I’m going to impress people with this fight, and they’re going to want me to fight more, so I will do it. This is not my farewell fight,” he promised.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Truly limitless: Pro-streamer and mobile gamer Asurai on why the ZenFone Max Pro is a great all-rounder smartphone

A quick flashback of what went down two weeks ago – first, the official launch of the ZenFone Max Pro in partnership with Lazada Philippines, then the introduction of the MAX A-TEAM, and most recently, the ZenFone Max Pro’s first-ever appearance in the country at the FRAGFEST 2018. In this short span of time, the ZenFone Max Pro became the talk of the town and landed on everyone’s must-have list – after all, it is a beast in its own right.

Always present in the local and international gaming scenes, professional shoutcaster and streamer Darwell Llerena, also known as “Asurai”, was one of the few lucky Filipinos who were able to get their hands on the ZenFone Max Pro before its nationwide availability on Monday, June 25.

Asurai’s rise and passion in gaming was no overnight feat. In fact, he started playing games at a young age, starting with a Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. From that moment on he hasn’t stopped playing. Despite this, his love for games and career in shoutcasting was never a hindrance to his studies. While in college, he was lucky enough to have time in between classes to be able to do shoutcasting, and this led him to land casting gigs that early. Talk about good timing, right? 

ZenFone Philippines got the chance to have a chit-chat with one of the most followed gaming personalities:

HI ASURAI! WE’RE A BIT CURIOUS, CAN YOU SHARE WHY YOU CHOSE “ASURAI” AS YOUR IGN?

Well… Because I got bitten by an Aso and I said Aray. Kidding! <Laughs>

THAT’S WITTY! <LAUGHS> NOW, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU STARTED YOUR SHOUTCASTING CAREER? DID YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF ON THIS PATH EVEN IN YOUR YOUNGER YEARS?

I answered an ad way back in November 2014 for a Shoutcasting call at Garena. I sent a sample video and they got me, the rest is history. <Smiles>

Hmm, actually not at all. My family is very traditional. I have uncle and aunts who are lawyers and doctors while I'm supposed to be a pharmacist.

OH, THAT MAKES YOU A GAME CHANGER IN YOUR FAMILY! WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IF YOU’RE NOT A CASTER-STREAMER?

I’d probably be in Tech Reviews since I am also fascinated with everything that revolves around that ecosystem, especially gaming.       

SO YOU ARE A LOVER OF TECH TOO! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RISING TREND IN MOBILE GAMING?

Before, I didn't think of mobile gaming much, but in the recent years it has changed because the evolution of great games isn't only in PCs or consoles, it also reached mobile regardless of what other people may say.

COOL! SO YOU ARE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO WERE ABLE TO USE THE ZENFONE MAX PRO FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, HOW’S YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

It was amazing! I think the fact that it's a great all-rounder phone makes it perfect for me, being able to play games, record media, and watch online content without having to worry about running out of battery. Thanks to its huge battery capacity - it is such a big deal for me! It was a great companion during my COMPUTEX trip!

NICE! GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR PHONE! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE OF THE ZENFONE MAX PRO?

The feature that I highly appreciate right now on the Max Pro is the 6-inch display which allows me to absorb more of the game that I am playing. I like it when the navigation bar automatically disappears when in-game! I can now play AOV or Mobile Legends without the worry that I might just accidentally click the home button.

WE LIKE THAT TOO! YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU PLAY GAMES, RECORD MEDIA AND WATCH ONLINE CONTENT ON YOUR PHONE; DO YOU USE IT AS YOUR DAILY DRIVER NOW?

Yes! I use it as my daily driver now. I like the combination of the big battery and big display.

SO HOW LONG DOES THE PHONE’S BATTERY LAST?

Since I use it extensively throughout the day, including some moderate gaming on the side, it lasts probably around 8 to 10 hours. It’s not bad because I won’t need to find a wall outlet or scramble for a powerbank in the middle of the day.

WE’RE HAPPY FOR YOU! HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE MAX A-TEAM?

It's always nice to be part of a group that revolves around gaming! And that’s what makes me happy!

WHAT MADE ASURAI EXCITED FOR THE ZENFONE MAX PRO?

The newest ZenFone Max Pro now comes in two variants! You can now choose between 3GB RAM + 32GB of storagethat sports a 13MP + 5MP rear camera or 4GB RAM + 64GB of storage with 16MP + 5MP rear camera. Both come with a powerful combination of a big battery capacity of 5000 mAh, a powerful yet efficient Snapdragon 636 - the key essentials for one of the best gameplay experiences without hitting 0% battery life, and an 8MP front camera for photos and selfies at any time and place.

MARKET AVAILABILITY

Are you ready to go limitless? Click here to order 3GB and Click here to pre-order 4GB! For more information about the newest ZenFone Max Pro, tune in to ASUS Philippines Facebook Page and ZenTalk Philippines Forum.

NBA 3X PHILIPPINES PRESENTED BY AXA RETURNS TO MANILA FOR 8TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR ON AUG. 25-26

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that the NBA 3X Philippines presented by AXA will return to Manila for an eighth consecutive year on Aug. 25-26 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, and will feature an NBA player, an NBA legend, and a slam dunk team.  

The league’s international grassroots event platform will showcase a 3-on-3 tournament featuring men’s and women’s teamscombined with authentic NBA entertainment.  Registration for NBA 3X Philippines 2018 begins on July 25 on a first-come, first-served basis at www.nba3x.com/philippines and runs until Aug. 8, or until all slots are full.

NBA 3X Philippines 2018 will stage a preliminary tournament in North Luzon on Aug. 11-12 and Metro Manila on Aug. 18-19, with the top teams in each division advancing to the finals at the SM Mall of Asia.

The competitive 3-on-3 tournament includes divisions for boys (under-13, under-16, under-18, and open category), girls (under-18 and open category), an invitation only Celebrity Division featuring popular local personalities, and a division exclusive to AXA employees and distributors.

“NBA 3X Philippines is a great way to continue the growth and development of basketball and 3-on-3 in the country,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson.  “Together with AXA, we are proud to stage the eighth consecutive edition of NBA 3X Philippines as we celebrate the game with our passionate fans.”

“This year, we are thrilled to expand the NBA 3X Philippines program as we bring the tournament closer to our customers in the North Luzon region,” said AXA Philippines President and CEO Raul Hora.  “With the game’s popularity reaching greater heights, we at AXA Philippines are looking at this opportunity to share our story of how essential a game plan is through basketball and bring the NBA experience closer to Filipino fans.”

All participants in NBA 3X Philippines 2018 will receive an NBA 3X jersey with special prizes for the overall winners of each division.  Registration fees for the age divisions cost Php 1,000 per team, while open divisions are Php 1,600 pesos per team.

AXA Philippines is the presenting partner of NBA 3X Philippines 2018.  In addition, CloudFone, Gatorade, Panasonic, Rexona, PLDT and Smart will serve as official partners while SM Mall of Asia and Spalding are supporting partners.  Official NBA broadcasters for the event are ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.

For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2018 and the registration process, fans can visit www.nba3x.com/philippines,Facebook.com/philsnba and @NBA_Philippines on Twitter.

For more details on AXA Philippines and their product offerings, visit www.axa.com.ph and Facebook.com/axa.philippines.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League, set to launch in May 2018.  The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2017-18 season featured 108 international players from a record 42 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.5 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About AXA Philippines

AXA Philippines is one of the leading and fastest-growing life insurance companies in the Philippines. It was borne out of the formidable synergy between Metrobank, one of the foremost financial institutions in the Philippines, and AXA, a global leader in insurance and asset management serving 105 million customers in 62 countries. At present, AXA Philippines has more than one million  lives insured and covered by individual policies and group life insurance. AXA Philippines has more than 4,000 financial advisers in 36 branches and 700 financial executives in over 900 Metrobank and PSBank branches nationwide. In 2016, AXA Philippines entered the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping An, the 5th largest general insurer in the country.