Unlock Your Inner Photographer at the Vivo V50 Photography Masterclass with BJ Pascual

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – If you’ve been dreaming of taking your photography skills to the next level, now’s your chance. Vivo Philippines is inviting aspiring creatives and photo enthusiasts to join the exclusive Vivo V50 Photography Masterclass, led by none other than the country's top fashion photographer, BJ Pascual. And here’s the best part: by simply commenting on Vivo’s official Facebook post, you could win a 50% discount on Vivo smartphones, including the brand-new V50.

Learn from the Best: BJ Pascual

BJ Pascual has spent over a decade shaping the visual culture of the Philippines. Known for his iconic editorial covers, bold fashion campaigns, and unmistakable creative flair, BJ brings a wealth of expertise to this Masterclass. In this rare opportunity, he’ll take you inside his creative process—from finding inspiration to executing powerful, magazine-worthy portraits.

At the heart of the session is the Vivo V50, a device that blurs the line between smartphone and professional camera. With its 50MP ZEISS All Main Camera and cutting-edge imaging features powered by ZEISS, the V50 becomes more than just a tool—it’s your creative partner. BJ will demonstrate how to maximize its potential to capture crisp, high-style portraits with depth and clarity.

Hosted by Nicole Cordoves

Guiding the event is the ever-graceful Nicole Cordoves—a beauty queen, media personality, and one of the country’s most beloved hosts. Nicole will not only lead the session with her signature poise but also serve as BJ’s model during live demonstrations, ensuring participants gain practical insights and creative inspiration in every segment.

How to Join and Win Big

Joining the Masterclass is simple. Just comment on Vivo Philippines’ official post here for a chance to win an exclusive 50% discount voucher. There’s no limit to how many times you can comment—the more you engage, the higher your chances of being selected.

Winners will receive:

• A 50% discount voucher, applicable for up to two Vivo units

• Voucher redemption only at the Vivo Concept Store, One Ayala, after attending the event

• One lucky guest may use the voucher specifically for the Vivo V50 (first-come, first-served)

• Vouchers are non-transferable and cannot be combined with other promotions

Why You Shouldn’t Miss This

This Masterclass is more than just a workshop—it’s a rare creative moment. You’ll get direct access to one of the country’s most influential photographers, learn valuable techniques, and explore the powerful capabilities of the Vivo V50 firsthand.

Whether you’re a content creator, a fashion enthusiast, or someone who just loves to document life’s best moments, this event will fuel your inspiration and elevate your skills.

Slots are free but extremely limited. Act fast, comment now, and claim your spot at the Vivo V50 Photography Masterclass. Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and save big.

For more updates, follow Vivo Philippines on their social media.

Quezon City Opens Applications for Startup QC Cohort 4 – Professional Category

Quezon City, Philippines — The Quezon City Government, through its Startup QC Program, is now accepting applications for its Cohort 4 – Professional Category as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to building a vibrant innovation ecosystem and supporting high-potential Filipino startups.

The Startup QC Program offers selected early-stage startups the opportunity to receive up to PHP 1 million in equity-free grants, hands-on mentorship, capacity-building sessions, and access to a growing network of investors, incubators, and innovation partners. The program is designed to help founders sharpen their business strategies, scale their solutions, and prepare for long-term sustainability.

Through the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City is building a future-ready economy by empowering Filipino founders to solve real-world problems through innovation. The Startup QC Program plays a key role in this vision by providing entrepreneurs with the platform, tools, and support they need to grow and thrive.

Since its launch in 2022, the StartUp QC Program has partnered with Launchgarage Innovation Hub to successfully run three cohorts under the professional category. Through this collaboration, the program has supported 16 professional startups from diverse industries, ranging from technology, sustainability, education, and the creative economy. Launchgarage has played a key role in designing and delivering the program’s content, mentoring startups, and guiding them through their growth journeys. The program’s alumni exemplify the strength of Filipino innovation, with several gaining national and international recognition, attracting investments, and entering global markets.

Notable alumni include:

• EdukSine – an award-winning streaming platform for Filipino indie films, featured in ASEAN and UN events for the youth and entrepreneurs.

• Wika Media – creators of accessible AR/VR learning tools, recently showcased in Japan and Singapore.

• Lithos Manufacturing – a climate-tech startup providing clean water solutions to disaster-affected areas, with pilots launched across the Philippines.

• Kwentoon – a digital storytelling platform for youth, promoting literacy and Filipino culture through comics and manga, with growing partnerships in the education and publishing sectors.

• Hibla Ph - a culture-based fashion startup bringing Philippine weaves to the global stage, with showcases in Japan, China, and the UK.

• Kippap Education – a social impact venture making STEM education more inclusive through localized robotics kits and teacher training programs.

These startups represent the future of inclusive, impact-driven entrepreneurship—and the growing influence of Quezon City as a hub for innovation in the Philippines.

Interested applicants must be early-stage startups registered in the Philippines, with innovative solutions that demonstrate strong market potential and measurable impact.

Applications are now open through the Quezon City eServices portal. For more information on the application guidelines and other details, you may visit qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph.

Vivo Watch GT Set to Launch in the Philippines on July 18, 2025

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – For those constantly on the move, chasing goals, and never compromising on style, the upcoming Vivo Watch GT might be your next essential accessory. Following the success of the round-faced Vivo Watch 3 in 2024, Vivo is stepping up its game by unveiling its first-ever square smartwatch—crafted for dynamic lifestyles and designed to fit seamlessly into the growing Vivo ecosystem.

A New Shape for Smarter Living

Breaking away from its predecessor’s circular form, the Vivo Watch GT features a bold square design that enhances usability with a larger, more intuitive display. This shape upgrade isn’t just aesthetic—it makes it easier to glance at stats while running or managing tasks on the go. With a choice of removable leather or rubber straps, users can easily transition from gym mode to a night out, all while keeping their style on point.

Built with a matte aluminum alloy frame and finished with glossy curved edges, the watch balances ruggedness with elegance. A stainless steel digital crown—drawing inspiration from luxury watches like Rolex—adds a premium feel to the device.

A Display That Delivers

At the heart of the Watch GT is a stunning 1.85-inch HD AMOLED display. With a 60Hz refresh rate and 390 × 450 resolution, every interaction looks crisp and vivid. The 2.5D curved glass and borderless design give it a modern, almost futuristic edge, while the Always-On Display feature keeps essential information visible with minimal battery drain.

Users can further personalize their experience with customizable watch faces, allowing for quick changes to suit different moods, outfits, or workout vibes.

Color Options That Speak Your Style

The Vivo Watch GT comes in two sleek color variants: Summer Black, paired with a sporty rubber strap, and Cloud White, which features a clean, white leather band. Both offer all-day comfort and a polished finish for any occasion.

Launching on July 18, 2025, the Vivo Watch GT promises to be a top contender in the local smartwatch market. Stylish, functional, and built for every part of your day—it’s everything a modern smartwatch should be.

For updates on pricing and availability, follow Vivo Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, or visit vivoglobal.ph.

Lenovo Expands Hybrid AI Advantage with New Services and Platforms for Scalable Enterprise AI

Lenovo has expanded its Hybrid AI Advantage initiative, introducing new advisory services, industry-focused solutions, and hybrid AI platforms designed to help enterprises build, scale, and operate AI-driven infrastructures. This comprehensive framework addresses the growing demand for purpose-built AI systems by integrating high-performance computing, accelerated networking, and tested partner solutions.

As AI adoption accelerates globally, Lenovo’s Global CIO Playbook reveals that two-thirds of enterprises still struggle to see ROI from their AI investments due to training gaps and scalability challenges. With AI budgets expected to nearly triple by 2025, Lenovo is delivering the tools businesses need to modernize IT and capture real business value.

“With these solutions and trusted partnerships, Lenovo is turning AI into reality with use cases and services that have been tested and proven to drive measurable productivity gains,” said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, President of Lenovo’s Infrastructure Solutions Group.

The expanded Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage combines infrastructure, models, services, and proven use cases to unlock workforce productivity and operational efficiency. With its AI Adoption and Change Management Services, Lenovo supports organizations through employee training, readiness assessments, and governance frameworks—essential to bridging the gap between AI ambition and successful implementation.

New industry solutions include hospitality tools developed with Centific and NVIDIA to enhance guest experiences, PPE compliance systems with Avathon for workplace safety, and Edge AI-powered crowd analytics for retail environments via WaitTime and Intel. Lenovo’s partnership with Trifork also introduces AI-driven quality inspection systems for manufacturing.

To support these use cases, Lenovo has launched powerful new hardware including the ThinkSystem SR680a V4, a high-performance, air-cooled server with Intel Xeon 6 CPUs and NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs. The system delivers up to 11x faster inferencing for large language models. Lenovo also introduced hybrid AI platforms built in collaboration with IBM and Cisco, combining GPU-accelerated systems with efficient networking for seamless AI deployment across enterprise environments.

“AI adoption demands a clear strategy, trusted expertise, and the right technology mix,” said Ken Wong, EVP of Lenovo Solutions and Services Group. “We are helping customers turn AI potential into real performance gains.”

Lenovo’s expanded AI ecosystem enables businesses at any stage of their AI journey to achieve measurable results—from foundational deployments to advanced, enterprise-wide applications—powering the future of intelligent operations.

DTI Partners With P&G to Transform Startup Innovations Into Solutions for Large Enterprises

Manila, Philippines — As Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines celebrates its 90th Anniversary, the company is reaffirming its commitment to innovation by expanding its vGROW Program to a broader network of startups across the country. The vGROW Program is P&G's open innovation platform that collaborates with startups to address challenges in the areas of supply chain management, retail execution, and digital commerce.

Building on the success of last year's launch, P&G's 2025 vGROW Program has taken a big step forward by casting a wider search in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). More than 60 startups responded to the April–June 2025 call. The 2025 edition focuses on six challenge areas tied to core business needs in the areas of supply chain, retail and selling, activations, and digital systems.

“At P&G, we believe that innovation is the lifeblood of our company. With the vGROW Program, in partnership with the DTI, we are excited to empower Filipino startups to transform their innovative ideas into value-adding solutions for business,” said Agraj Sharma, President and General Manager of P&G Philippines. “We are excited to explore innovative solutions that will enable P&G and our brands to better serve Filipino consumers, our stakeholders, and society.”

Shivangi Jain, Senior Director and P&G Asia Pacific Head of Purchases, added, “We look forward to collaborating with innovative Filipino startups to address real business challenges and create opportunities with P&G Philippines, our business partners, and P&G regionally.”

Deeper Startup Integration in 2025

During the event, a select group of startups presented scalable solutions to senior P&G leaders from both the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region. QBO Innovation, the Philippines' top startup support organization, carefully selected these startups based on their potential to address specific business challenges and their readiness for integration into business operations.

“P&G’s vGROW Program isn’t just a platform. It allows startups to bring a new way of thinking to solve real business issues. P&G has led the way in shepherding startups into the corporate arena,” said Rene “Butch” Meily, President of IdeaSpace Foundation and QBO Innovation.

P&G's commitment to innovation reflects broader industry goals, as highlighted by government initiatives.

“This is a manifestation of the Innovative Startup Act at work—enterprise leadership, startup agility, and policy alignment driving an inclusive and resilient economy,” said Engr. Karl Lyndon B. Pacolor, OIC – Assistant Director, DTI-Bureau of Policy Research and Innovation. “We commend P&G for its initiative to open its doors to startup enterprises. This is a significant step towards achieving the policy's goal of linking startup entrepreneurs with meaningful value chains, catalysing expansion and growth, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.”