NcTwins Naeomie Patrice and Naeomie take charge of future careers through Bigo Live.

Bigo Live, one of the world’s fastest-growing livestreaming social communities, has been keeping Filipinos entertained and connected, especially during the lockdowns. Offering users a safe place for sharing their stories, ideas and yes, themselves, Bigo Live has grown its user base – now at  400 million users, hosts and audiences across more than 150 countries – and the number continues to climb.

Naeomie Patrice and Naeomie Ashley (BIGO ID: NcTwins), shy and reserved twins from a small municipality in Bulacan, discovered and unlocked their talents and potential through Bigo Live.

“We were a bit hesitant to start streaming since we naturally keep to ourselves. But our cousin encouraged us to try and explore it as she feels our personalities and charisma will resonate with audiences,” Patrice said. 

“When our cousin first recommended Bigo Live to us, we declined as we were shy and reserved. After some thinking, we decided to use Bigo Live as a platform to practice our hosting skills. What happened next was beyond our imagination,” Ashley added.

Breaking through on Bigo Live

When Patrice and Ashley started livestreaming, they were doubtful of themselves and anxious about how people would react to their livestreams. They were especially afraid of the reactions of naysayers.

The twins overcame their self-doubts and fears through the support and encouragement of their parents and the Bigo Live community. “We are lucky to have supportive parents and a group of loving livestreamers within the Bigo Live community. Although it is a virtual community, their support was a big factor to our success,” the twins said.

Through the Bigo Live community, Patrice and Ashley found their place or niche on the virtual platform, hone their skills and talents, and realize their childhood dream. The twins added, “Bigo Live did not only provide us with a platform to share ourselves and connect with others. Bigo Live empowered us to pursue our dreams.”

Continuing their Success on Bigo Live

Patrice and Ashley are currently in their second year of college pursuing arts and communications. They decided to take this path to acquire the communication skills that will better equip them in their career as hosts.  

“With our newfound confidence through Bigo Live, we strive to bring the best content to our fans. We focus on improvisation and being spontaneous in our livestreams, which we believe are elements that create authenticity, something our fans appreciate,” Ashley shared. 

“By keeping our content unpredictable, we manage to keep our fans curious, which draws them to return to our livestreams for more. I would liken our livestreams to having a conversation with your online bestie!,” added Patrice.

Bigo Live is a platform that encourages interaction with fun features and filters that enable hosts to use while entertaining and engaging their viewers. Beyond a mobile app, Bigo Live connects people and creates communities from across the world, regardless of culture and ethnicity.

Watch the latest interview with the NcTwins at @bigolive_ph on Instagram and explore the app today! Download the Bigo Live app on the App Store and Google Play or scan the QR code also found along EDSA Boni MRT and C5 Makati Billboards.

vivo Philippines launches Special Promo For Our Rider Heroes to reward our delivery riders who have worked tirelessly to ensure that groceries and delivery orders are delivered safe to our doorsteps on time. 

Starting July 22, 2022 until August 22, 2022, they can get an exclusive vivo gift bundle to help them through their deliveries. This includes Straight Bar Umbrella, Water Bottle, and Gift Set that they can claim for every purchase of any vivo smartphones at SM North Concept, Trinoma Concept, Ayala FairviewTerraces Exhibit, Ayala Clover Leaf Kiosk, WalterMart Makati Kiosk, Century City Kiosk, Ayala Mall Bay Concept, SM Sangandaan Concept, SM Center Pasig, Glorietta Concept, or Fishermall QC Concept. 

There will only be limited stocks and will be on a first-come-first-served basis until supplies last.

For more information and latest news on vivo Philippines’ promotions, events and other announcements, visit vivo Philippines’ official Facebook page or website. 

After more than two years, students are gradually returning to school with their schoolmates, teachers, and friends. While other schools will remain online, one thing remains the same — a reliable device is essential for schoolwork in both face-to-face and learn-from-home setups. 

As unique homes increasingly become destinations in themselves, travelers are searching for extraordinary spaces that make for a truly special getaway. With Airbnb’s newly launched browsing experience via Airbnb Categories, it’s now easier to discover these homes than ever before. 

Specifically, Airbnb’s new OMG! Category leads travelers into a world of incredible getaways that are equal parts wacky and wonderful. The OMG Category – which currently has one of the highest rates of engagement amongst guests browsing Airbnb1 – showcases the craziest homes around the world from the fairytale-inspired to the downright unimaginable.

If you’re craving an extraordinary getaway or aspiring to become an OMG! Host yourself, hear firsthand from these Filipino Airbnb Hosts who own some of the most OMG!-worthy Airbnb listings in the country.

“We wanted guests to experience the outdoors in style”

Vintage Airstream Suite on Top of a Hill owned by Host Dennis Canonizado

The Lahluna Star Room owned by Hosts Hazel and Jose Romualdez The brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Hazel and Jose Romualdez, The Lahluna was inspired by the famous hobbit-inspired attraction in New Zealand. With a keen interest in ecology and sustainability, the couple made it a point to integrate both concepts into their property. The result is a calm, lush, and environmentally friendly retreat away from the city.  The Lahluna taps on solar panels and wind turbines for energy, and grasses and vines creeping on top of the domes help act as insulators to keep the rooms comfortable and breezy. Guests are also encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle during their stay.  “It always excites us when guests keep coming back to our place to relax and enjoy quiet moments away from the city. Especially during the pandemic lockdown, parents would book our space for their kids to play under the sun with our bunnies, and for everyone to breathe some fresh air,” shares Hazel. “It’s our attempt at a Filipino version of van life!” Jeepney Camper Glamping owned by Host Michael Go Interior designer Michael has been an Airbnb Host since 2015. He hosts several unique homes on Airbnb but his Jeepney Camper is the most eccentric – and the most popular.  With recreational vehicles (RVs) gaining popularity in recent years, Michael thought of building his local version of an RV using the country’s “king of the road” — the Philippine jeepney.   To get around the jeepney’s low ceiling height, he decided to add a second floor and an extendable roof. The result is a comfortable lodging space complete with a queen-sized bed, air conditioning and mini kitchen. Located right in Sierra Madre’s rainforests, this special home includes a pool and bonfire area for the ultimate camping experience.    “My advice for aspiring Airbnb Hosts is to always be hands-on, because that’s the secret to keeping your guests satisfied. When you see all the positive feedback, it will surely make hosting worthwhile,” says Michael. Be an Airbnb OMG! Host through the $10M OMG! Fund If you have a similar out-of-this-world idea, you might just be the one Airbnb is looking for! Airbnb’s US$10,000,000 OMG! Fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers, and makers from around the globe. The US$10 million fund will help finance 100 of the craziest home ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings. The USD $10,000,000 OMG! Fund will be open until 22 July 2022 at 11:59 pm PHT. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/omgfund.

Photo credit: Pexels 

Booklovers have two habits - reading books and buying books. We have our go-to bookstores in the Philippines of course, as dominated by National Bookstore and Fully Booked. But why settle for just PH-based stores when the online world has opened more doors where to buy books, right?

Last year, I joined all these book groups on Facebook, created my own bookstagram account and watched book vloggers on YT - all for the love of books! And that's how I found out about Book Depository.

What is Book Depository?

What are the Payments Accepted? 

Is it Really Free Shipping? 

What to Do if Your Parcel Gets Lost?

What if the Book You Ordered Isn't Available? 

With the rainy season in full swing, we're experiencing cooler weather days. But heavy rains and subsequent flooding are a cause for concern for many. Not only does it make mobility more challenging but it also affects many activities whether at work or relaxation.  

Is the rainy weather dampening your spirit? Does the rain keep you from having your morning run with your favorite music on and limiting your outdoor activities? Does the heavy pitter patter of thunderstorms get in the way of online meetings or classes? Do you have to cancel outdoor get-togethers because of inclement weather?

Anker’s Soundcore audio products beat rainy season challenges with powerful audio capability to let you enjoy any activity regardless of the weather. Designed with water-resistance features, these audio products deliver an immersive experience even when it rains. So whether going out for a quick coffee run, doing grocery shopping, meeting friends or spending a relaxing day indoors, you can enjoy your favorite playlist or join that group call with Anker’s water-resistant wireless earbuds and speaker. 

Experience distraction-free listening with the Liberty 3 Pro

The IPX4 water-resistant Liberty 3 Pro delivers a revolutionary sound experience with its Active Noise Cancellation feature.

Whether working from home, studying or just chilling for the weekend, Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro delivers calls, podcasts, audiobooks and music without the noise and distraction that take the fun out of the moment. These wireless earbuds guarantee high-definition audio with ACAA 2.0, the latest version of Anker’s groundbreaking coaxial driver technology, delivers pure sound directly to the ears and guarantees strong bass and enhanced mids and treble. 

Liberty 3 Pro features HearID active noise cancellation and AI noise reduction, filtering background noises for that exceptional clarity for phone calls or virtual meetings. With its  IPX4 rating, users can enjoy music time without having to worry about water splashes and sprays, letting you enjoy your morning or evening jog with your favorite playlist even with a light drizzle.

Users can enjoy 8 hours of playback with just a single charge plus 32 more hours when charged with the case.  

Beat the rainy blues with the Life P3

The Life P3 supports Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, 42 hours of playback and IPX5 rating,  perfect for rainy travels.

Wherever you may find yourself during a rainy day, you can let your favorite tune chase the blues away or join all online office activities with the Life P3. The earbuds’ Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation feature produced by custom 11mm composite drivers blocks off ambient noise for that quiet but productive day indoors or even while on the road battling the rainy afternoon traffic. 

The IPX5 rating protects the earbuds from low-pressure water sprays, great for company anywhere and anytime, even during this wet season. If stuck indoors under heavy rains, no worries as Life P3 delivers 42 hours of music playback. 

Life P3 packs multi-mode noise reduction such as transportation, outdoor and indoor to quiet down background noises in any environment. The earbuds feature six microphones to enhance call performance for incoming phone calls, video chats or other meetings. 

Easily take Life P3 with you anywhere you want to go with its ultra-compact shell that fits in the pocket. It is available in five fashionable colors, black, oat white, coral red, sky blue and navy blue, that will surely stand out vibrantly in the rain. 

Make days a little brighter with the Life A2 NC

The Life A2 NC lets you enjoy both upbeat and solemn moments with its multi-mode noise cancellation, strong bass and IPX5 protection.

Create a little sunshine with your favorite mood booster playlist and the Soundcore Life A2 NC. Enjoy ear-bouncing beats with its Multi-Mode Hybrid Active Noise Canceling feature and oversized 11mm biocomposite drivers for that strong bass output. Even for senti moments during cold, rainy nights, let the Life A2 NC keep you company with its immersive audio quality.  

The IPX5-rated wireless earbuds sport a stylish design and are suitable for rainy day outfits and activities, letting you stay fit and sweat it out in the gym or outside. Life A2 NC includes a triple-point ergonomic and built-in ear pressure relief for greater comfort  even after hours of use. 

Is it dark clouds and pouring rain all day yet again? Maintain the light mood with Life A2 NC, giving you 35 hours of listening delight to fight off the gloomy day.

Immerse in your favorite songs with the Life P2

The Life P2 guarantees graphene-enhanced sound and crystal-clear calls even when exposed to rain with its IPX7 rating.

Stuck in heavy rain-caused traffic? Keep your cool with the Soundcore Life P2. The built-in graphene drivers  ensure wider soundstage music to help you de-stress and crystal-clear audio in case you need to make calls or join a virtual meeting. The multi-mode noise cancellation lets you do whatever you need to do without distraction and extra noise. 

With IPX7 rating, Soundcore Life P2 can keep you company even during heavy downpour for uninterrupted music listening or calls even outside your home. It can support up to 40 hours of use when charged with its case. 

Experience the rain on a different level

The  Soundcore Flare 2 is perfect for outdoor fun this rainy season with its IPX7 water resistance and 12-hour playback capability.

Soundcore Flare 2 features 20W audio output with intense BassUp technology. Its dual drivers and passive radiators can outsound the heavy rain. The 12-hour playback time means nonstop bonding and chase any bad weather away.

Make this rainy season enjoyable with these water-resistant audio products. Shop for the Liberty 3 Pro, Life P3, Life A2 NC, Soundcore Flare 2, Life P2 and more on Soundcore’s official Lazada store.  

As consumer demand for wireless charging technology rises, vivo Philippines officially makes the vivo 50W Wireless Flash Charger available both for online and in-store purchase locally. 

The vivo 50W Wireless Flash Charger is the perfect company for people on-the-go as it is highly portable sans worrying about cable wires. It enables maximum charging power of up to 50W  which charges the new vivo X80 Pro with a 4700 mAh battery to 50 percent charge in just 23 minutes. 

For more peace of mind, the vivo 50W wireless charger features an efficient air cooling system to prevent overheating and an intelligent silent mode that makes the cooling fan run smoothly without a buzz. Other safety features include over-voltage, over-current, over-temperature, under-voltage, foreign metal detection, and static protection. 

The vivo 50W wireless charger, which supports Qi-wireless charging devices with a power of up to 15W, is designed not just to be safe but stylish as well. It draws inspiration from the "interspersed blocks" typically used in modern architecture for an elegant look that matches every user’s aesthetic. 

Customers can purchase the vivo 50W Wireless Flash Charger for only Php 3,999 through vivo's official stores and ecomm website, Shopee, and Lazada. This device is best paired with vivo’s latest flagship smartphone , the vivo X80 Pro, which is packed with vivo's latest V1+ chip and other professional imaging capabilities.

For more information and updates, please visit vivo's website and its official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram andYouTube channels. 

Leading short-form video platform, TikTok, recently launched its online marketplace, TikTok Shop, in the Philippines. Through this brand new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop aims to open up more business opportunities not only for brands, but also for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). All these, whilst providing a fresh new shopping experience for users and opportunities for local content creators alike.

TikTok Shop products can be purchased through product anchors embedded in short videos, live streams, and the TikTok Product Showcase tab of a merchant's TikTok page, making it easy for users to be entertained and yet shop at the same time. 

At TikTok Shop in the Philippines, affordable and unique items are on offer locally, even those hard-to-find must-haves. TikTok users can purchase items from various categories of products including fashion, home&living, beauty and personal care. They can enjoy shopping from favorite brands such as realme, Unilove, Perysmith and Kily.phonline 

During June 15 to 21, TikTok Shop held its maiden mid-year sale in the Philippines, highlighted by super deals and users enjoyed up to 70% discounts, subsidised shipping and first-time buyers received coupons and discounts. For shipments to the Luzon region, there were shipping vouchers of up to PhP 150 off with a PhP 10 minimum spend. For shipments outside Luzon, there were shipping vouchers of up to PhP 150 off with a PhP 50 minimum spend.

#TikTokShopSuperDeals

Celebrities and top content creators joined the very first sale, including top actress Glaiza De Castro, TV host Macoy Dubs, and top creator Alfea, who did key live sessions and short video posts via TikTok Shop. 

The week-long mid-year sales campaign saw TikTok Shop Philippines gain a 33% growth in its daily gross merchandise value (GMV). The e-commerce platform's number of daily orders likewise jumped by 29%, while the volume of livestream climbed 36% compared to the previous week (June 8 to 14).

Top products bought and sold during the mid-year sale were air fryers, high-waist skinny jeans for women, water bottles and colortint make up. Top brands were Gaabor, KILY.PH and Uni-Love. The top creators includes HaroldBalilo, Kntxyrl, Nina Cabrera, actress Glaiza De Castro. 

Kimberly Duyag, CEO of the well-known local cloth and garment brand KILY.PH, shared her experience, "We created more than PhP 5 million sales during the first mid-year sales campaign, and we just began to do livestream on a daily basis one month ago. Many sellers have been surprised by the platform's support, especially the free shipping vouchers and discount promotion. Plus it also enables merchants, brands and creators showcase and sell their products directly on TikTok via feed, content or livestream."

The creator Harold Balilo achieved more than 500% GMV growth in one single live session compared with his best live before the campaign.  "I started on TikTok Shop in late April. It’s my very first time doing live selling. I’m so thankful and happy as a student and as a small creator looking for a part-time job as a live streaming creator. I can say that TikTok Shop has changed my life and offered huge help for me and my family," said creator Harold Balilo. 

Sell products seamlessly and maximize branding on TikTok

TikTok Shop in the Philippines aims to provide local businesses a new avenue for reaching out to customers. It also aims to make purchasing possible and more accessible for Filipinos without leaving their favorite mobile entertainment platform. Merchants will be able to enjoy zero commission fees on the platform for selected products whilst payment service fees are capped at one per cent to payment service partners. 

Businesses can check out the Merchant page https://shop.tiktok.com/merchant/ph or view the Seller Recruitment page for more information about being part of TikTok Shop.

For additional information, please visit the Seller Center https://seller-ph.tiktok.com/account/login while the Seller University https://seller-ph.tiktok.com/university/home offers local trainings to sellers.

Download the app on your iOS and Android devices today. 

Leading consumer finance company and digital services provider, Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) launches the latest addition to its protection initiatives, Health Secure. Health Secure offers protection not only for personal accidents resulting in dismemberment, disability and death but also for COVID-19-related complications, including vaccine side effects. 

Health Secure is also one of the very few insurance plans offering protection against the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine side effects covering PHP100,000 for coma cases, PHP10,000 for medical expenses and up to PHP1,000 per day for hospitalization for a maximum of 14 days. Insurable age ranges from 1 year to 65 years old, given that the insured have not traveled to DOH-declared high-risk countries 14 days prior to the insurance effectivity date.

“We hope more Filipinos appreciate the value of insurance. Insurance coverage that puts a premium on protecting Filipinos against the most imminent threat to our health, COVID-19, is not only timely but also very proactive. Health Secure is our way of encouraging Filipinos to appreciate health insurance and protect themselves and their families by securing their health, future, and financial stability,” shares HCPH Chief Marketing Officer Sheila Paul. 

Home Credit's latest offering is a testament to the company's continuous commitment to advocating proactive measures for their customers' safety and protection. Get 12 months of comprehensive COVID-19 coverage for only PHP 1, 212, and easily avail through the My Home Credit app and pay through Home Credit Pay. 

Home Credit Protect, the most affordable device insurance

Unexpected expenses are not limited to medical emergencies. Accidentally cracking your tablet screen or pouring water on laptop keyboard requires immediate repairs. With gadgets such as phones, laptops and tablets being everyday life partners, they, too, need protection to ensure they can continue fulfilling their intended use.

To help you make the most of their gadgets, HCPH is offering the Home Credit Protect (HCProtect) to give Home Credit-financed gadgets the protection they need at less cost. It enables hassle-free device repair and replacement in the event of accidental breakage, liquid damage or cracked screen.

You can choose from different coverage plans such as one-year or two-year accidental damage and liquid damage and accidental damage plus extended warranty for two years and cracked screen coverage.

Safe and secure application and approval of the insurance can be accomplished through the My Home Credit app. Simply choose an item you want to protect, select a plan, and fill out the application form. Then pay online or in cash at over 10,000 HCPH partner stores nationwide. You can get HCProtect upon your loan application for gadgets or within 14 days of purchasing a Home Credit-financed device. If you have a device without a protection plan, you can still avail the insurance as long as you do not have a pending or rejected HCProtect application in the last three months.

Backed by bolttech, the world's largest technology-enabled insurance exchange, you are not only ensured of secure payment transactions but also of simplified processes. You may avail the insurance for only 12 percent of the gadget’s price and likewise pay in installments.

Claiming is also easier and more convenient with Home Credit’s 24/7 customer service. Simply call HCPH customer service at (02) 7753 5711 or message its official Facebook and Twitter accounts. You can also notify bolttech by registering on its online portal or calling its customer service hotline.

“At Home Credit, we do not just provide convenient ways for Filipinos to afford gadgets. We offer them ways to live a more comfortable life by giving them assurance that their gadgets will be protected so that they can then focus on the more important things and continue doing their work conveniently,” shares Paul.