ASUS Gets You The Best Deals on SHARE 2024!

Had the chance to go to the ASUS event a few days ago where they announced their latest deals on this year's ASUS Share, their annual Christmas sale. Gearing towards the best in technology and style, they're making several of their new laptops from ASUS a d ROG available at an attractive price plus Php 5,000 worth of Sole Academy vouchers. Thing is, this is only going to be available til December 31st, so if you're looking for good work and game laptops, and shoes, then you should take advantage of it.

ASUS wants you to get the chance to upgrade your ASUS AI PC's as it's best to own an ASUS Lumina OLED or ROG Nebula for work or play. The ASUS Zenbook AI Laptops for starters are best for executives who want something light, classy and fashionable. It uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor Series 2 and Intel Arc Graphics that are both fast and efficient. The 14 inch 3K 120Hz capable display makes the ASUS Lumina OLED touch screen work quite nicely on renders, gaming and entertainment too. It has stunning visuals, but never fail you when you need productivity to happen even at home. If you need other models with larger display, they have the Vivobook S15 S5507 or Vivobook S16 M5606 that's also AI capable, you'll have a workhorse for times you need it. The battery also lasts long at 18 hours or more, which means you won't lose work you've done in a day because it can handle it. You can opt for the ASUS Vivobook 16 X1605/M1605 if you prefer an even larger one. The keyboard/touchpad is nice too because it can take a beating as it is military standard. Good news is, these laptops come with a Php 3,000 Sole Academy voucher so you can get new shoes for the holidays!

If you want the 14/15 inch screened Vivobook 14/15 E1404/E1504, it's going to be fun as it's got displays you can lay flat 180 degrees for presentations or meetings. That would get you a 2K voucher from the same place though. If you're a desktop guy, the All in One PC's ASUS S5 Mini Tower S501and smaller form ASUS A3402 would be best plus it comes with a 3,000 peso voucher from Sole Academy too. 

ROG and TUF have their ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 that can get you apt gaming power but still can be carried around because of it. The TUF Gaming A14 carries NVIDIA GeForce GTX 4060 GPU's so those games remain smooth if you want to switch between that and work. You also get 5,000 peso vouchers with it. Other options include the ROG Strix Series G18 and G16 plus the Strix SCAR 18 that has got more power and larger cooling systems, best for those who take gaming quite seriously. Other desktop models are available through accredited retailers so make sure you get the deals they offer during December. Remember, you need to register your purchase on their website and wait for verification that takes around 5-14 business days. You'll get the bundle in 45 days or less, and some are even available on Home Credit so follow their social channels (on ASUS Philippines) to know more about this exciting offers!

Outstanding in Academics, OLYMPIC Fencer, Filipino and Proud!: MAXINE ESTEBAN

Hearing Maxine Esteban's achievements during a small talk a few weeks ago made much of us feel like we didn't do much in school. She was that smart, talented and crazy good. She's a breath of fresh air, who didn't want to dwell on issues. She's mighty proud of what she's accomplished as an Olympian, a severely brilliant Fencer, and Filipino.

She's taking Management Engineering in Ateneo, one of the most difficult courses to boot but she manages to still attend regular classes despite training schedules and tournaments. She tells us "I used to be an Ice Skater but the skating rink in Megamall closed. The one in Mall of Asia was too far from where I lived, so I tried to find a sport that would pique my interest. I tried Taekwondo, Swimming, tried almost all the sports, but ended up not liking it except Fencing. I really loved it because it was really fun and taught me how to mix having a grace of a woman and the strength of a man. That's what I really liked about it."

With a very strong academic background, she didn't feel pressured to do all these things. Her parents encouraged her to master musical instruments and a sport, but didn't forget to let her excel in academics. She had only wished to make her parents proud which is why she's gotten to achieve much even at a young age. There's so much sacrifice she had to endure in Fencing, after getting surgery, she had to bounce back and wanted to represented the country. Now with Ivory Coast, she won't be wasting her exceptional talent and younger years as the sport requires that much skill in winning competitions and games. 

Maxine with her supportive parents, with her Dad as her DOTA coach at home

She's currently still preparing for the PARIS 2024 Olympics slated to start this July 26 which is almost a month from now. She's in Germany and plans to stay there for training and a few competitions in Europe until the day comes. She is also set to join the African championships on June 6th in Morocco. Then will go to training camps in Poland, Hungary, then train with the Japanese and French national teams til the games commence. 

Ivory Coast reminds her much of Filipinos. She laments "They were all so welcoming and sweet because when I arrived at the airport, all of my teammates were there carrying flowers. They remind me so much of my mates in the Philippine national team whom I'm very close with. Personality wise, it wasn't a hard adjustment. There's always going to be the Filipino inside of me, I'm the one that complains to organizers if I don't see the country's flag. When I win competitions in the past, my eyes light up seeing them raise it, doing the country proud! Those simple things, you can't remove that from me. I now have the support from Ivory Coast and the Philippines, and it really means a lot to me."

As for battling a Filipino Fencer, she thinks there wouldn't be an instance to do that. She knows how talented the Philippine team is, but if it happens she's going to do her best too. Her current coach is Andrea Magro, a prolific former coach of the Italian Fencing Team, and already produced 10 Olympic Gold Medalists on his roster. He's now training Maxine Esteban with the best ones in the world and he's raring to see her do the same in Paris. Andrea dubbed Maxine as like an agile Tiger, we couldn't agree more!

Maxine laughed when I asked her for plans to join show business because she looks so pretty. She's a what you see is what you get kind of girl. She's open for sports related sponsorships though and would prefer that instead. She's now affiliated with Anta, and wearing them with confidence too.

Here's our interview with her a few days ago:

She adds "Going to the Olympics, I just want to enjoy the moment because this is my first one. I just want to make my parents and everyone who believes in me proud. There's not much pressure in me, and I think that's a good thing. My parents have been my biggest supporters ever since, even before Fencing. In every sport that I try to do, they would also encourage me. They would never really put pressure and always ask that I just do my best. That's already enough for them, my Dad had a video on ABSCBN when I lost a match and he told me not to worry about it, because they will always love me no matter what."

Her story is truly inspiring. As of now, she is ready for the PARIS 2024 Olympics, and hope YOU are just as proud of her as a Filipino! Make sure you root for her on social media, in person (if you can), because at the end of the day, she is Filipino and proud!

VICE GANDA, ALYSSA VALDEZ, Noli De Castro, Atom Araullo Among Recognized at Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards

Every year, Readers Digest Philippines has been tapping an independent survey agency where Filipinos get to vote the best of the best trusted products, services and personalities. Contrary to talks, they need not to be a subscriber of Readers Digest to vote for their favorites since they started this and yes, they are the ones who commission every year. Several of these brands, people, actually have been recognized for several years. 

The methodology, the way they do the surveys are still the same. In the Philippines, the sample size is around 2000, but have 8000 individuals overall for the Asia Pacific market to do this in different regions. Being in this list just means you're trusted by Filipinos, and it is indeed important to a lot of people especially for those who look for quality, and the best in the different industries. The celebrities who got the awards this year include Former Vice President Noli De Castro, good looking broadcaster Atom Araullo, Volleyball Phenom Alyssa Valdez and the Unkabogable Vice Ganda.

Here's the complete list of awardees this 2024!

Most Trusted News Presenter is Former Vice President Noli De Castro

Most Trusted Presenter for News and Current Affairs is Atom Araullo

Most Trusted Sports Personality is Alyzza Valdez

Most Trusted Variety Talkshow Host is Vice Ganda

Platinum Awards

Bank went to BDO

Credit Card also went to BDO

Drugstore/Pharmacy is Mercury Drug

Health and Beauty Retail Store went to Watsons

Life Insurance went to Sun Life

Mattresses - URATEX

Milktea - Macao Imperial Tea

Pen - Pilot

Travel Insurance - AXA

TV Network - GMA Network



Gold Awards


Travel Insurance - Pacific Cross

Air Conditioner - Carrier

Air Conditioner - Panasonic

Washing Machines - Panasonic

Vacuum Cleaners - Panasonic

Optical Shop - Ideal Vision

Airfreight - J&T Express

Refrigerators - Sharp

Washing Machines - Sharp

Washing Machines - Whirlpool

TV Network - ABSCBN

Cooking Oils - Baguio Oil

Drug Store/Pharmacy - Watsons

Investment Funds - BDO

Consumer Loans - BDO

Life Insurance - AIA

Health Insurance - AIA

Life Insurance - AXA

Health Insurance - AXA

Personal Computers (Desktop, Notebook, Tablet) - Acer

Natural Food Supplements - USANA

Plasticware - Orocan

Travel Insurance - BDO Insurance

Here's the acceptance speech done at the awards night, please, enjoy!

Cheers to all the winners, and I hope they do the Filipino public good as they put their trust on your brand's name all these years.

OPPO Starts 2024 with OPPO Pad Air

Looks like our friends from OPPO are starting the year fresh with the new OPPO Pad Air. It's their newest tablet made with entertainment and productivity in mind, plus way more storage than usual. I'm going to give you more reasons to have it.

Tablets certainly have been useful for so many things. Watching movies, streaming videos, and putting in a lot of work for office or creatives. The bigger display gives it more flexibility because you can see things even more than the usual smartphones we carry around. The OPPO Pad Air gives you a balance of both work and play. It also doesn't shortchange you on processing power, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chip, 8 CPU Cores, and an AI System Booster 2.1, you can make work quite smooth and add social media, movies, and a little gaming when you want to get less stressed. 

If it ain't enough there's also space for a 512 GB sd card for more storage if your internal one doesn't cut it. Battery life is amazing with its 7100mAh which can last you the whole work day. You can also do 18W fast charging and not wait too long when you need to go out with it. It's also light, designed slim, easy on the eyes with the 2K HD Eye Care it does when you take it out of the box.

They also made it affordable, so make sure you wait for updates at their website oppo.com.ph or their social channels when it gets out on February 1st. I'll update you soon about it!

Finalists for Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Bared

After the several successful series shown on The Puregold Channel, here goes one of the country's biggest supermarket chains championing Filipino films once again with the first ever Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival. 

They have scoured the country for the most talented storytellers and picked over 31 finalists which they presented today at the Artson Events Place in Quezon City.

Ms. Ivy says "To everyone who's doing films, a pleasant morning. We are so proud to have you here today. The wonderful stories you sent now have faces with them. The festival is a platform for Puregold to make sure film will be passed on to generations to come. This goes beyond production, but igniting change and making dreams come true. We are your ally, to be part of the development of Filipino cinema. You are the stories of Puregold now and tomorrow."

Introduced to the press were Jenievive B. Adame who did "Smokey Journey" from STI College Cubao, Ma. Rafaela Mae Abucejo who made "Saan Ako Pinaglihi?" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Alexa Moneii Agaloos who made "Ka Benjie" also from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Kent Michael Cadungog who did "Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366" from the University of the Philippines, John Pistol L. Carmen of "Repeater si Peter" from Bicol University, Chrisha Eseo Cataag who did "Hallway Scholar" representing the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Patricia W. Dalluay who made "Lola, Lola, Paano ba 'Yan?" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Joanah Pearl Demonteverde who made "Kang Pagpuli Ko" from University of the Philippines - Visayas, Joshua Andrey A. Doce who did "I Am Mutya And I Thank You!" from Bicol State College of Applied Science and Technology, Neil M. Espino "Sa Hindi Paghahangad from De La Salle Lipa, Terrence Gale Femandez "Kaibigan ko si Batman from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Daniel Gil who did "Distansya" from Ateneo de Davao University, Alexandra Lapid who did  "Queng Apag" from Mapua University, Reutsche Colle Rigurosa Lima who did "Till ni Lola" from University of San Carlos, Dizelle C. Masilungan who made "Kung Nag-aatubill" from the pontifical University of Santo Tomas, Jose Mikyl Medina who did "Lutong Bahay" from De La Salle University, Ronjay-C Mendiola of "Last Shift" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mark Terence Molave who did "Paano po gumawa ng collage college?" also from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Jhunel Ruth A. Monterde who did "Si Mary May Crush Kay Tess" from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Doxford D. Perlas who did "Naduea Eoman Si Brownie (Brownie's Lost Again!)" from University of the Philippines - Visayas, Andrea S. Ponce of PUP - Sta. Mesa who made "Layag sa Pangarap", Edz Haniel Teñido Purificacion who did "Dzai Dzai Dzai Delilah" from Mapúa Malayan Colleges in Laguna, John Wilbert Llever Sucaldito who did "Tambal nga Sabaw" from Far Eastern University, Tyrone Lean J. Taotao who made "Abandoned Lullabies" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Mesa, Marian Jayce R. Tiongzon who made "May Kulay Rosas Ba Sa Bahaghari?" from University of the Philippines - Visayas.

6 full length films are also included like Kurt Soberano's "Under the Piaya Moon", Eugene Torres' "One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All", Sigrid Bernardo's "Pushcart Tales", Raynier Brizuela's "Boys at the Back", Joel Ferrer's "Road to Happy" and Carlo Obispo's "A Lab Story". Puregold gave them 2.5M pesos each full length film as grants while 100 thousand pesos went to the short film entries.

These were chosen by film directors Jeffrey Jethurian and Victor Villanueva, Puregold Senior Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Lyle Gonzales of Republic Creative, and Festival Director Chris Cahilig.

If you want to watch the films, the premiere will be done at the Gateway Cinemas from March 15 to 17. There will also be several regional screenings plus short films shown on The Puregold Channel on YT, their social channels FB and TikTok.

PHILIPPINES Win Big at Acer's Asia Pacific Predator League 2024

From a gamer spectator such as me, I always knew the Philippines would fare well in the recent regional competition, Acer's Predator League 2024. At the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Philippines, fans flocked to this venue to watch DOTA 2 and Valorant country representatives (in Asia Pacific) as they battle it out to see who's best in this region.

There were over 26 world class teams who were raring to do their best in the 2 day event. The prelims was fun albeit being a bit uneasy for some teams because they had only one match to qualify for the next round. It certainly wasn't easy to adjust that fast but those who did took advantage of the format and won their respective rounds. It was also fun to also talk to the eSports athletes before they went into the actual match, here's some of them on video!

The international eSports teams also talked about their experience doing the tournament here in Manila. They did expect matches would be hard since some of them are Tier 1 franchise teams, and a lot of them wanted to experience what it feels like being in a match with them. Although some of them lost their matches, they learned a lot in the process and promise to be back with an even greater team soon.

Aside from that, executives from different regions went on to tell us how it's been actually very beneficial to run these events in their respective countries. To say the least, business has been good and they are planning to do the regional Predator League in Malaysia next year. They also want to do it bigger and better in the coming years as they find big value in knowing how name recall plays in the gaming industry and that's exactly why they're number 1 in the market!

PABLO was super good!

The Asia Pacific Predator League was also the best in entertainment. World class Filipino performers showed up and got us partying at the start, between games and in the finale. On day 1 alone, I got my dose of Valorant fare as Ylona Garcia who sang "Entertain Me" when NEON was launched as a character, oh how I love her! Aside from that, Urbanddub, Al James and Donny Pangilinan joined in the fun plus a full Valorant game with SB19 and other Acer influencers made the evening extra epic! Asia's Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo also ended the day with her performance, people were at awe! 

Day 2 had Josh Cullen, bands Sandwich and Spongecola, Pablo (who did a new single on stage) and KZ Tandingan give us the absolute best in Philippine talents, it was like a full blown concert with the games on the finale day.

And in the end, it was a sweet day for the Philippines as Team Secret won the Valorant championship and Blacklist International Rivalry won the DOTA2 championship. Both teams from the Philippines won 65,000 dollars and their own Predator Shield. Initially, BOOM Esports was actually favored to challenge Team Secret, but Japan's FAV Gaming surprised them all. They got 20,000 dollars together with Execration (for DOTA2), and BOOM Esports + Team Flash got 3rd Place with a 7,500 pot each. Team Aster and IHC Esports got the same for DOTA2. Intel MVP awards went to Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera (for Valorant) and Marc Polo “Raven”Fausto (for DOTA2), getting a prize of 10,000 dollars too.

If you're up to it, some of the performances are already up on my TikTok account so just search @kumagcow there, and some of the country interviews were done live on my FB page (just search kumagcow) as it's all there!