Philippine Teams Fare Well, APAC Predator League 2026 Host India Announced

And then, there was one.

The gallant efforts of our Philippine teams was quite fruitful, but the championship went to our neighbors from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Alter Ego (for Valorant) and Myth Avenue Gaming (for DOTA 2) just won the Predator Shield for 2025. They have bested teams from 14 regions, all falling to really good strategy and teamwork on both games. They won 65,000 US Dollars in prize money. ZOL Esports of Acer Philippines won 1st Runner up and a 20,000 dollar pot. Team Ivory on the other hand placed 2nd Runner Up which gets them 7,500 USD, still a great finish. MVP prizes went to CUD of Alter Ego and Bob King of Myth Avenue Gaming. They have  a separate prize for that too around 10K USD. In the two days, they also held several celebrity performances, CosWalk competitions, different activities to celebrate the occasion. Follow their official website to know more about the winners.

At the event, they also announced the next hosts which will be Acer India. So see you in Delhi perhaps?

Acer's 6th Asia Pacific (APAC) Predator League All Set in Malaysia!

We witnessed the competition here in Manila a few months ago and now, they get to travel to Malaysia for the actual Acer APAC Predator League for 2025.

Since the finals is being hosted in Malaysia, the event will be done at MITEC which usually is a venue for trade expos. This time though there will be 28 teams from different regions in the world. Teams will be battling it out in MMORPG game DOTA 2 and top FPS game Valorant. The winner will be holding up the coveted Predator Shield and a whopping cash prize of 400,000 US Dollars (which will surely change lives no?).

The event will also be a place for different activities because it will be attended by gaming greats, online stars, even cosplay. This is part of their efforts to promote eSports not just in the country but the whole region. The athletes will be donning Acer's Predator gaming rigs, to hopefully showcase how great it is when it comes to response, power and beating your opponents. From Predator Orion X desktop units, to Predator Galea 365 Gaming Headsets, people will surely enjoy every blood rushing game on the Predator XB253Q screens. Folks will also be seeing the "It Lies Within" as performed by different world class artists (perhaps SB19, G22, Dara, Minzy and Sarah Geronimo included!). Hopefully, our boys from ZOL ESports and IVORY would win and make this an even better time for the Philippines! Laban Pilipinas!

Ohmyhome Shares Pointers How To Pick Your Dream Home

What's your dream? For me, just like any Filipino, is to buy a dream home. It could be for your Mom, your own family, and these days there's really a lot of things to be considered in choosing that perfect place to call your own.

OhmyHome has been in the real estate industry for years now and their expertise in countries like Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines has always been a welcome thing especially for those who are getting their first one. They shared some of the things property owners should know before they purchase one, some really sensible items before taking that big plunge!

 

1. Get to know Property Investments

An informed decision is always the best decision. People who need to buy huge ticket items such as a house need to make sure they get the information they need to a certain property before they take the leap. The fund for this isn't a joke and good thing OhmyHome's platform can choose what price range you can work with, location, and amount of appraisal it gets especially for those that need work aka renovation and fees.

2. Source of Funds

When you purchase a property, you need to be sure you can actually pay for it because it would be troublesome if you won't be able to sustain paying for mortgage for a longer period of time. You have to choose payment methods, schemes where you can not just pay lightly, but save a lot in the long run. You can also ask for flexibility, so if you run into issues with paying on time, you can ask for a little lee way and fix commitments and obligations as it will be a lengthy one. If you can, purchase with up front cash and ask for huge discounts, as they'll be getting the property worth faster and more convenient. 

3. Be Prepared To Take Care of It

Your space, your rules, but you have to make sure you have the time and effort to take good care of it. Maintenance also costs a lot, but it is essential. If you can't, it will be a small problem that will accumulate over the years, so it is important. If you're ready to commit, then by all means, go!

4. Family First

Before you make every place in your house ridden with 65 inch TV screens, connected to smart appliances and become a theater, think about the most imporant people in your life (aside from yourself of course). Your loved ones need a good kitchen, rooms, parking space, a garden to roam around and it would be bad if they'd haunt you for years because they couldn't live in it. A peaceful house, is a dream house. Be generous because they loved you back.

5. Keep it Simple


Choosing a house can be complicated for some, but you can make it simple. Use the available tools that you can fit in your smartphone, to make it a pleasant experience especially if you're deciding where to live for years. The OhmyHome wesbite and app for instance has options to make it a good one. Giving you the right information, without any disparities when you see it in person, makes it the home you deserve. Their tools are intuitive, so you get what you need and more. They also have agent services which can cover all other bases if you still need to confirm things and ask questions. That's pretty remarkable.

If you want to know more, visit their official website https://ohmyhome.com/en-ph or download the app Google Play or the App Store as it's all there!

Built with Love: Ohmyhome Expands in the Philippines

A property tech startup from Singapore, Ohmyhome is now expanding services in the Philippines. Sisters and Founders Race and Rhonda Wong initially started operations in 2016 with 10 people, 2 of which were Filipinos who wanted to be with their families. They promised them they'll be closer to home and eventually put up a branch in Manila after a few years. They figured the country is in dire need of industry solutions and deemed there are gaps in local property markets which they can address. 

This was a dream come true for them and it all started with love for their family, that accounts for a lot.

Race and Rhonda themselves felt the need for property related decisions when they moved homes. Aside from getting bad deals from agents and real estate companies, it was super complicated. Choosing a home is a huge decision and this is where they want Ohmyhome could help. 

"Our platform will enable Filipinos to buy, sell and rent properties themselves for FREE. This would save them time and money. If they prefer, we also have our professional agents who can personally assist them in transactions from start to finish. This happens while they seamlessly use our technology behind-the-scenes, enabling our own agents to fully focus on our customers needs."

The Ohmyhome app and website efficiently matches buyers and sellers using a unique algorithm. It also follows their search criteria granularly so the results would be homes that they want. The Ohmyhome team started in the Philippines in 2017, initially serving Singapore and Malaysia. The team has carefully studied the Philippine real estate industry to modify the platform based on tech, data and team research. 

They currently have 5,000 property transactions in Singapore and Malaysia but boasts a customer satisfaction rate of 99%. Ohmyhome wants the same to happen in the Philippines as they advance its technological capabilities. Surely, this would become the norm in the future.

You may download the app on the App Store or Google Play, you can also visit their website at OMH.sg.

The ASUS ZenPower 10,050 mAh Power Bank

Meet the the ASUS ZenPower 10,050 mAh Power Bank. This currently costs Php 795.00 in the market and has impressed me and a lot of people in the tech industry. I saw this when I was in Indonesia when the Zenfone 2 was launched and the delegates pretty much wanted to take it home. As for it's size, it's pretty small and since it's quite near the other brand's 10,400mAh power bank, this definitely is better sized as it is as small as a credit card. It's thicker than a card obviously but since it's smaller form factor, it just means you get more POWER for its size. 

I talked to a power bank manufacturer a couple of months ago and there has been a huge proliferation of fake powerbanks in the Philippines which are imported from you know where. They use old laptop batteries and get those parts from trash to make counterfeit powerbanks. This is probably the same things you see in the sidewalk sold for a couple pesos. This might work sometimes and will probably have repercussions in the long while. The over current, the under supply of it and the wrong output will not only put your gadgets at risk, but your lives. I've seen phones burst first hand because they kept it so long with the charger. Now what if that happened while you're at home, would you like your house to burn down? Exactly my point, which goes to my other point about the ASUS ZenPower 10,050 mAh Power Bank.

ASUS employs on these devices what they call ASUS PowerSafe Technology. It's proprietary technology that makes every ASUS ZenPower cabaple of watching the temperature, control input and output voltages so your devices won't get broken. It also prevents short circuits so you're assured being safe while you charge your devices. This is also expected to last around 1.8 times more than the competing power bank brand. It's also certified by 6 international safety organizations so when you own an ASUS ZenPower, you don't have to worry!

 ASUS also assures there's going to be plenty for everyone! Honestly, I was given the other brand during a petrol brand's launch. The thing never worked and once I connected it to my iPhone, it didn't work anymore and I was carrying it around thinking it would become better over time... it only became worse. Now that I have the ZenPower, I can charge my iPhone twice and a little more for emergency. That alone is reassuring. It's available in different colors like gold, silver (this one that I'm using) and others. It's sleek, light, and can save you so many times in a single day. I carry it around as another one as spare and I haven't even used that one yet because this one's efficient. If you're out looking for a power bank, please consider this one before you go elsewhere. After all, it's from ASUS!

For more information about their products:

ASUS Philippines

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http://www.asus.com/ph/

IFLIX is Coming

You must be dreaming of good things that will come to the country, and by a stroke of luck,  the entertainment gods listened so here comes the long awaited streaming service called IFLIX. Yes! They are finally going to be in the Philippines.

IFLIX is a video on demand service. You can probably compare this with NetFlix in the US but it is still a start up company. It's got it's base covered by PLDT, among other investors and people that is. It's also listed in the Australian and Malaysian stock market if I'm not mistaken, and backed up by the CATCHA group who's executives are part of some of the who's who of Hollywood production houses, technology groups too. They're pretty much designing the platform and service to fit the Southeast Asian market and - you and me.

During this very intimate launch, they told us that they're having around 10,000 hours of content in the system, including some of your favorite movies, shows, and series. They've got some of the biggest production companies signed up and if this becomes a norm in the Philippines and our other Southeast Asian neighbors, they'll be changing the landscape of video streaming services in the country.

IFLIX is bringing the best of Hollywood into our region. I also heard that they're doing this in unbelievable fashion. It'll be priced to stream per month and there will be availability to download it for mobile handsets which would be better for carrying around rather than use your data caps per network provider. They're also be offering the subscriptions in jaw dropping prices, which they'll be announcing as soon as everything is rolled out!

IFLIX is COMING, and they'll be knocking on your doors pretty soon. I can't wait to test it my self.

For more information about their service:

IFLIXPH

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Visit their official website

http://iflix.com/

ASUS Launches ZenFone 2 for Southeast Asia

It was an awesome trip indeed! We had to go to Jakarta, Indonesia to witness the Southeast Asian launch of the ASUS ZenFone 2 and their other products. Yes, it's the phone that is rumored to beat all the competition in its class. It's my first time here so it was something I was definitely looking forward to. I've heard so many things about this place. Jakarta has its own charm, a little dated but they prove to be true to their heritage, a history that dates back centuries rooted in religion, built with wars and culture.

As with ASUS, they sternly believe that in order to become great, they have to do the legwork in making the best phones specs wise but have it affordable that most consumers would be able to get one when it finally comes out of the electronic shelves (rumored to be May). It looks kind of simple on paper but in real life, designing a dream phone/phablet like this would cost an arm and a leg if they did it on their own. ASUS had partnerships with other manufacturers so they could get the best there is architecturally but keep the prices down since these components are made by the experts themselves. It's some sort of synergy, a meeting of minds where you make the best fit hardware for your mobile devices.

Nippon Paint Young Designer Award 2014

Ms. Gladys Goh, Group General Manager of Nippon Paint based in Malaysia

There are several brands in the construction industry that have made a name in the Philippines but we haven't had the pleasure of seeing this one in our counters. Nippon Paint, one of the largest manufacturers of paints in Asia (established since 1881) just landed in the Philippines 6 months ago and they are aggressively educating paint users in the country to switch to their brand of led free, environmentally sound paint variants, with a multitude of colors to bring forth an even better, ecologically responsible community every time they use Nippon Paint on their walls. They are also launching colors in the Philippines, something that the competitors don't really have making that the distinct thing that would set them apart when offering their products in the market. 

In order to get their point, environmental, social goals across a larger populace in the region, they're launching the Nippon Paint Young Designer Award 2014 and including the Philippines in the roster. With around 10 countries vying for the country representative post and the winner in the region, they're preparing a once in a lifetime opportunity for talented individuals and tons of prizes for them, the school and knowledge transfers as well.

Together with the Ministry Energy Green Technology and Water of Malaysia, Malaysia Green Building Confederation, Malaysian Green Building Index Association, Malaysia Institute of Interior Designers, Real Estate Housing and Developer Association of Malaysia, Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia, Design Business Chamber of Singapore, Department of City Planning Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, Thailand Interior Designers Association, Indonesian Society of Interior Designers, Indonesian Institute for Architects of Jakarta, more importantly the associations in the Philippines namely Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Council of Deans and Heads in Architecture Schools in the Philippines, they will be holding the NYPDA by enjoining students 3year and up to join the competition and they're confident that the associations would be able to source them with the abundance of talents in the Philippines says Ms. Gladys Goh, the Group General Manager of Nippon Paint based in Malaysia. 

This will be a successful competition in the Philippines. They are also thanking LBC because they will get all the entries sent through LBC Express Centers throughout the country. They know that the students are the future builders of the nation and they want them to showcase their talents, and this competition will be able to show them to big corporations. They will also be giving them workshops with various partners so they get exposed to the latest technologies. This is about the Philippines being represented, and getting our representative to be in Osaka, Japan together with other Gold Winners from other countries for networking, education and talks so they would be able to take this experience and knowledge back to their home countries. Last year, they had 2003 entries and they hope to grow the number because of the sheer number of talent here. The theme for this year is "Re-Think, Re-Create. Our Community, Our Home" bringing in importance to their work that will ultimately benefit the community. Developers are also going to be part of this and they will be looking at the work of students as they go along the competition slated to be done before the end of this year.

Architect Maria Benita Ochoa Regala of United Architects of the Philippines

 Architect Maria Benita Ochoa Regala of United Architects of the Philippines thanks Nippon Paint for allowing them to be a partner. The UAP will enjoin them to support home grown talents making them architects that have the ingenuity, integrity and excellence needed to become successful in this competition. They also laud Nippon Paint for hosting this design competition and making the students ready for world class work. "It's the first step to embody their passion and knowledge to gauge if their work would be at par with the Philippines neighbors and other countries. Thankfully, the corporation made this platform to make the students be in this direction. Ideas and innovation will surely come out of this competition." adds Architect Regala.

Architect and Interior Designer Rogelio Caringal of UAP and PIID

 Architect and Interior Designer Rogelio Caringal of UAP and PIID sends his heartfelt thanks to Nippon Paint who brought this to the country. Future Interior Designers and Architects will be part of this recognition program and make their passions, skills in making living spaces valuable in enriching peoples lives. This will shape the country's brighter future. In their own theme (PIID on their 50th year) "Celebrating the Past and Designing for the Future", it aims to nurture the students hunger for design and being part of this competition will make them ready for the real world, a thing that schools would also easily prepare them with. 

The categories they can join for this competition falls in 1. Interior Design and 2. Architecture. They can only accept one entry per student. Deadline for entries will be October 31st that is to be mailed in any LBC Express outlet or they can send it directly to Oncue Media Inc. Unit 5-A 5th Floor, Suntree Tower #27 Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center Pasig City. The grand prize aka Gold Award can get you 6 months internship opportunity with LOR CALMA & Partners plus 50,000 pesos in cash plus a trip to Japan for a once in a lifetime learning programme. Special awards for Best Colour Choice, Best Green Innovation will be given away. For more information and full mechanics, please check out the channels below.

For more information about the competition:

Nippon Paint PH

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Visit their official website

http://www.youngdesigneraward.ph

Solaire and AirAsia Launches SkySolaire!

Solaire and Air Asia in a very special partnership.

I wasn't really prepared to know what was about to happen, but I was just as excited as the people from Solaire and Air Asia as they were about to embark on something BIG to help boost the gaming and tourism industry at the Air Asia Hangar in Andrews Avenue, Domestic Airport in Pasay City. What am I talking about? Well.. have a look at this video.

Donato Almeda the Board Director of Solaire says "This is a key undertaking between two dynamic brands, we are raising the bar and even taking it to the skies!"

Maan Hontiveros, CEO of AirAsia Philippines says they fully believe in partnerships and this collaboration will surely be a boost to the tourism industry. They are planning to have flights directly to cities in China, Malaysia and Korea.

Ladies from AirAsia will be donned in colors of Solaire Gold and Black ensembles. Then they unveiled the plane that afternoon!

This is SKY SOLAIRE!

This is the Airbus A320, now it's fully covered with the Solaire brand. With the world class service that's also seen in their hotels and establishments, you can only expect nothing but the best in Sky Solaire. 

Solaire and AirAsia has plans of making this a continued effort; to even get additional planes and a bigger campaign up until 2016. This will be something that people from other nations would take notice of and surely, a way to entice them to visit Solaire in the future. They will see how it is to have so much fun in the Philippines and perhaps get food and entertainment in one place called Solaire!

For more information about their establishment:

Solaire Resort

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http://www.solaireresort.com

Vikings: Premiers September 29 at History Channel Asia

I was so happy to have been able to see another talked about series ahead of the rest of Asia called VIKINGS. It's on its second season and has been able to amass its own following in the US, Europe and now Asia. It's also going to be shown on HISTORY channel which I'm so lucky about because I have it at home. You should definitely watch it on HD because it's totally worth it!

Here's a sneak peek at season II

(Video credits owned by History Channel on Youtube)

Imagine men, who promised to be brothers then went on a journey to the other end of the world. Claimed land and got victorious on different battles, but in the end met each other in different sides of the fence; end up wanting to kill each other through rough, mud and ocean water indulged brute war. It was awesome to watch the first few episodes and you'll surely get hooked seeing the twists and turns on Season II. You'll miss your Norse mythological characters all over again plus see some things more than skin, the act itself and some other unexpected scenes you would have to keep away from kids.

I highly suggest you start season 2 sitting down and concentrating on how to understand the story because even a skeptic like me really LOVED it! You will also have that time to see how honorable Ragnar Lothbrok (played by Travis Fimmel) is in the series. Plus (during the event), we even got cool stuff from the History channel too!

Vikings will be shown on HISTORY CHANNEL ASIA come September 29. It's a little late than in North America but as long as it's here I WILL PROMISE TO WATCH IT. Even if they say I'm a pagan after the show hehe. Oh and before I forget, they will be giving away a HARLEY DAVIDSON bike if you watch it on Sunday at 10PM. Just look out for the CODE WORD and enter it on http://www.vikingsasia.com/. Who knows, it could be you who'll win this! =)

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