Eat Well. Travel Often

Aug 16, 2022

Poblacion Market Central - Newest Lifestyle Destination in Davao

Poblacion Market Central Davao jexxhinggo.com

A new lifestyle destination in Davao opened its doors offering more shopping, dining, and entertainment experience. Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) launched Poblacion Market Central. This new hub showcases a variety of art, antiques, souvenir shops, and local restaurants.

Alsons Dev built the famous Aldevinco shopping center on the corner of Claro M Recto Street and Roxas Avenue in 1965. Early in 2022, Alsons Dev closed the old shopping center and relocated its tenants to Poblacion, providing better facilities, marketing support, and foot traffic.

You will still see the colorful Mindanaoan textiles, antiques, and pearl shops from Aldevinco in the new Poblacion Market Central. Now with a food hall that serves delectable dishes and drinks served by local restaurants like Majid's Kebab and Bo's Coffee.

At the atrium area, a massive mural by Mindanaoan contemporary artist Kublai Millan stands to welcome customers. I'm glad to be part of the unveiling last August 15 with Kublai Millan himself, our Mayor Baste Duterte, Alson Dev Team, and other government officials.

"Alsons Dev is happy to host and showcase the work of Davao's best creatives. Whether they make food, sculptures, weaves and textiles, or handicrafts, we believe that testing their concepts in a place like Poblacion Market Central contributes to a retail and cultureal scene that is meant to gain national recognition. Poblacion, true to its tagline, is a place where the heritage of Davao meets the possibilities of a hip and ever-evolving market," says Miguel A. dominguez, Alsons Dev Director.

Here are some of the restaurants around and inside Kukun, Poblacion's food hall.

Poblacion Market Central Davao jexxhinggo.com hootsa

Poblacion Market Central Davao jexxhinggo.com kaizen

Poblacion Market Central Davao jexxhinggo.com majid's kebab

In the next four months, Poblacion Market Central will open more concept stores in time for the holidays. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @OfficialPoblacionMarketCentral.

Mar 31, 2022

TECH REVIEW - realme 9 Pro Plus 5G

Jexx Hinggo 1:03 PM tech , tech review 1 Comments

We have a new smartphone to review today! Join me as we unbox and review the new realme 9 Pro Plus.

I love the design of the realme 9 pro plus. The back design is shiny and has glittering effect. We have it in Aurora green but it is also available in Midnight Black and Sunrise Blue that features a Light Shift design that changes color from blue to red when exposed to sunlight.

At the back you can see the triple camera set up with LED flash and a simple realme logo below. We have the punch hole camera at the upper left corner of the screen and a call speaker that serves as a secondary speaker too.

On the left we have the dual nano sim slot. Unfortunately, there's no space for a microSD card. The volume buttons are also located on the left. On the right we only have the lock and power button.

Above we have an extra microphone. And below we have the main speaker, type C port, main microphone, and an audio port.

This is the slimmest realme phone right now! It's just 7.99mm thick. It's not smudge proof though but you can use the free jelly case. But for me, I want to use it as is because I love the feel in my hands.

The realme 9 PRO plus has a 6.4 inch FHD plus Super AMOLED display with 90hz refresh rate. It has a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and 20:9 Aspect Ratio. The bezels are thin except at the chin part but it's not distracting to me. It's running on Android 12 out of the box and a new realme UI 3.0 is ready to install. I love the customization features especially the Always-On display.

This phone is already equipped with 5G connectivity and has a MeditaTek Dimensity 920 chipset. It has a Vapor Chamber Cooling System that keeps the temperature of the phone and my favorite, the O-Haptics feature. It has a different but cool vibration when you type.

Now let's talk about it's camera. Again it has a triple camera set up. The main camera is a SONY IMX766 50MP, the ultrawide camera is 8MP, and the macro lens is 2MP. It is also equipped with an OIS and EIS for more stable shots. While the selfie camera has 16MP.

I actually love the shots I took using the realme 9 Pro plus. It's vibrant, crisp, and detailed. The contrast for me is just fine. It adds detail in every photo.

I was so impressed with it's night mode shots. And especially when I took this selfie shot around 12 noon. So it was so bright that I was against the light. My back view was all white when I saw it on the screen but after I took the shot, it adjusted and as you can see, you can see the park behind me. It's as if I'm photoshopped in this picture.

For night shots, it's true that the realme 9 pro plus can #CaptureTheLight.

It has street photo mode which I really like. The long exposure makes these awesome shots. It has starry mode, macro shot, panorama, and a lot more.

I like the Portrait shots too. It's clean and you can adjust the blur intensity. For the video quality, I will upload a vlog about that soon.

The realme 9 pro plus has a 4,500mAh battery and has a 60W SuperDart charger. I was able to charge it from 20% to 100% for 40 minutes only. So far I still had around 30% when I constantly use it as my main phone for a day. I also noticed that when I started using the Always-On display, the battery drops down faster.

The realme 9 Pro Plus is now available for P23,990 in all realme stores nationwide and on Lazada.

Lazada link - https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/lazada-exclusive-realme-9-pro-8gb-ram-256gb-rom-android-smartphone-i2778204329-s13393086188.html?mp=1

Mar 24, 2022

Filinvest Land on track to finish Centro Spatial Building Two in 2022

Jexx Hinggo 8:02 AM lifestyle , 0 Comments

Filinvest has been building Filipino dreams across the country and they are growing more by building new projects here in Davao City. Centro Spatial is a smart-value Futura brand of mid-rise condo community that features spacious units, breathable open spaces, and refreshing amenities at the heart of the city. Now at 70% completion of their 2nd tower, Centro Spatial is on track to welcome new residents by the 2nd quarter of 2022.

“Centro Spatial is a testament to Filinvest Land’s vision of building more Filipino dreams across the archipelago. This new building in Centro Spatial will give more Davaoeños the opportunity to enjoy a green condo lifestyle. We also hope to support Davao City’s continued economic growth through our additional investment in the city,” said Tristan Las Marias, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Filinvest Land, Inc.

This low-density development is set within 1.7 hectares of prime land that will see 5 buildings, 8 stories high each, at full build. Families will definitely enjoy any of Centro Spatial’s 19-square-meter studio units or 32-square meter 2-bedroom units. Imagine units where there are no obstructive beams and columns, opening up more living space for the entire family. Those who see themselves calling Centro Spatial home can start with around Php 8,000 monthly downpayment over 30 months for a limited time only.

Green

Filinvest Land brings nature’s benefits closer to its residents, like lowered stress levels and better respiratory and cardiovascular health, among many others. Centro Spatial’s master-plan boasts of wide, open spaces including landscaped lush greens, a tree-lined road network, and complete amenities.

Health
Physical and mental well-being are also vital in Filinvest Land’s condo communities. The amenities within Centro Spatial which include a clubhouse, adult and kiddie pools, a gym, basketball court, function room, playroom, and playground give residents the freedom to embrace a green, healthy lifestyle. Here, they can take a walk, jog, swim, or simply breathe freely.

Life Tech

Filinvest Land strategically positions its developments in key cities and suburban areas. Centro Spatial is located on Bolton Extension, Brgy. 39-D, where necessities are within reach. Davao City Hall is just 280 meters away, including key government offices like the Bureau of Internal Revenue, PhilHealth, and San Pedro Police station. Centro Spatial further underscores convenience with its fiber-, Wi-Fi-, and telco-ready units ideal for work-from-home and remote-learning set-ups.

Dreams Built Green

Centro Spatial is designed and crafted with care to give its residents a life connected to nature. It is the ideal home for young professionals looking for independence, starting families seeking for a home to take root in, and those seeking a worthwhile property investment.

Filinvest was recently awarded as one of BCI Asia's Top 10 Developers in the country for the 10th year and as the Best Developer in Mindanao in the Dot Property Awards. Aside from Centro Spatial, they have an extensive portfolio of over 250 projects nationwide and that includes 8 Spatial and Maldives Oasis here in Davao City.

You may call Centro Spatial at (0917) 545-7788 for future investments or inquiries. For more info, visit www.FuturabyFilinvest.com.

Mar 14, 2022

Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day with new brand ambassador Marian Rivera

Jexx Hinggo 5:48 PM lifestyle , 0 Comments

Everyone is excited for Shopee's first mega sale of the year, the 3.15 Consumer Day! This will bring more value and joy to all shoppers with the widest variety of products, free shipping vouchers with P0 min. spend, and 10% off discount daily starting March 3.

Shopee also launched its #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign to bring more cheers to all users for a chance to win big prizes by joining different activities and contests across Shopee's official platforms. Joining the 3.15 celebrations, Shopee welcomes their newest brand ambassador, the Primetime Queen Ms. Marian Rivera!

"At Shopee, our users are at the heart of all that we do. This drives us to keep innovating, so that we can create new features, services, and campaigns that bring joy to their lives. As more people shop online and enjoy our year-end festivals, we are introducing 3.15 Consumer Day to bring the same excitement and fun to the first half of the year. We are thrilled for our first 3.15 Consumer Day and we hope to deliver even more joy to everyone.”, said Mr. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.

1. Celebrate You with bigger prizes, better deals

3.15 Consumer Day gives every shopper a reason to celebrate. Users can find everything they need with amazing deals on the Shopee app, and unlock bigger surprises on social media.

In the Philippines, users can win big at the new #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign across Shopee’s official platforms. Shopee users stand a chance to check out their items for free when they share their shopping carts on social media, while Shopee will also surprise its biggest fans on social media. Stay tuned to Shopee’s official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for more information and activities.

Till March 15, users can find and save more on all they need on Shopee. Highlights include:

Special treats for Filipino shoppers: 3.15 Consumer Day will bring a smile to every user, with Free Shipping vouchers with ₱0 min. spend, ₱1 Deals, and 10% off daily till March 15. New users can enjoy a 100% off discount voucher with ₱90 min. spend at ₱90 max. discount, Free Shipping voucher with ₱0 min. spend, exclusive ₱1 Deals, or free welcome gifts from Shopee and brand partners, so they can smile even more with their first purchases on Shopee.
Exciting deals with ShopeePay: This March, users can enjoy 20% cashback when they scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, and more. Users can also checkout ShopeePay ₱1 Deals and redeem discounts in stores. On 3.15 Consumer Day, users can take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. Users can get a chance to win ₱100,000 when they send money to any bank or to any Shopee user. With ShopeePay’s free transfers feature, users won't have to worry about any additional fees.
More entertaining experience with new in-app game, Shopee Pets: Starting March 3, users can play the life simulation game where they can care for and raise their pets through daily activities for a chance to win Shopee Coins, ShopeePay Credits, and more!

2. Discover new brands for You on Shopee Mall

3.15 Consumer Day is the perfect time for users to discover new brands and indulge their wishlist without having to wait till the end of the year. With thousands of brands offering exclusive deals, there will be something for everyone at Shopee’s Mega Brands Sale from March 3 to 15.

Midnight Brand Parade and Hourly Branded Price Drops: During the first two hours of March 15, shoppers can look forward to storewide discounts from their favorite brands like Pampers, realme, OPPO, Adidas, Unilever Beauty, and Deerma. Users should also regularly check the Shopee app for Shopee Mall’s hourly price drops, where top brands will offer limited-time flash deals on their best-selling products.
New Shopee Mall Sampling Counter: Starting March 15, Shopee is giving consumers greater convenience and value for money to discover new brands through the new Shopee Mall Sampling Counter. Users can try sample-size products from best-selling brands like Johnson & Johnson, Uni-care, COSRX, Trizie, and AHC Philippines, and get a free voucher if they decide to purchase the regular-sized product.
Exclusive discount brand vouchers for new buyers: Shopee also gives brand explorers more incentive to discover the wide assortment of brands under its platform. Curious consumers can look forward to welcome vouchers on their first purchase from their favorite brands on Shopee Mall.
Brand Membership: Brand loyalists get to enjoy a more rewarding shopping experience when they sign up for the Brand Membership Program of their choice. Over 80 brands under the program will offer its members double the rewards points for purchases made on March 15.

3. Discover a new You

Beyond the amazing deals, 3.15 Consumer Day is also time for users to discover new interests, and support what matters to them. From today till March 15, users can find new ways to do their part for local businesses, and discover hidden gems on Shopee.

Satisfy all your interests at 3.15: Users can shop for a wide variety of products catered to their interests with themed days across 3.15 Consumer Day. This includes 3.3 Consumer Day (March 3), Fashion Day (March 4), Home Appliance Day (March 5), Home and Living Day (March 6), Digital Deals Day (March 7), Beauty Day (March 9), Mobiles and Gadgets Day (March 10), Kids and Babies Day (March 11), Sports and Motors Day (March 12), Shopee Prizes Day (March 13) and Vouchers Day (March 14).
Support and empower female sellers on International Women’s Day: After unwavering support for local sellers across its year-end festivals, Shopee will continue to connect users to more local businesses, including those of strong, inspirational Filipinas. On March 8, Shopee will hold a special 3.15 Women’s Sale to celebrate women in the Philippines and spotlight inspiring stories of female sellers on its platform.
Explore ways to improve your shopping: Shopee Cares PH is an online community that offers the best customer support for all your concerns and questions. Just follow @ShopeeCaresPH on Twitter and Facebook so you can shop and worry-free. For Shopee Fam with Gold and Platinum Shopee Loyalty Tier memberships, get ready to claim unlimited Free Shipping vouchers every month. Claim those hard-earned vouchers accessible via the Shopee Loyalty Page or the Homesquare Page so you can make the most out of your shopping this 3.15 Consumer Day.

Download Shopee now for free on Google Play or App Store!

Mar 6, 2022

DIZO Watch 2 Review

Jexx Hinggo 2:07 PM tech , tech review 0 Comments

Our favorite smartphone brand in the Philippines - realme, just expanded their TechLife ecosystem by partnering with an up-and-coming brand DIZO and they launched different tech products last February 11, 2022. DIZO aims to offer various tech products that complement every consumer's individuality hence their tagline, "Be Different".

They released 13 compelling tech products that have the same quality and manufacturing standards that realme has been known for. I have with me the newest DIZO GoPods D, GoPods Neo, and Watch 2. I'll write a more detailed review on the DIZO Watch 2 below.

DIZO Watch 2
The box is not that heavy and thick. Once you open the box, you will immediately see the watch wrapped in plastic. Underneath, are the user guide and charging cable.

DESIGN AND DISPLAY
At first glance, it actually looks like the realme watch 2. But to my surprise, it's actually heavier and has a wider screen. It has a zinc alloy frame that's smooth and feels premium. The screen is glossy and has 2.5D rounded glass. It has a 1.69" touchscreen display with LCD panel with 600 nits peak brightness. It's not full screen as it has a black bezel around it. It may look wider if your watch face is black.

It comes in 4 color variants - Classic Black, Golden Pink, Ivory White, and Silver Grey. The strap is common and only has 1 loop ring to lock the strap. It is 5ATM water-resistant so you can wear it in the pool or in the shower. There's a button on the left side of the Watch 2. This will serve as the Back and Power button. At the back, you'll see the SPO2 sensor and magnets for charging.

NAVIGATIONS

If you swipe from the left side, you will see the control panel - Brightness, Sleep Mode, Power Saving Mode, Battery, Flashlight, and Settings.
If you swipe from the right, you will see the Steps tracker, Sleep Tracker, Heart Rate Monitor, Weather, and Music controls.
If you swipe down, you will see your recent notifications. You can't reply or open these notifications but you can delete them.
If you swipe up, you will see all of the workout settings, alarms, activity data, etc.

BATTERY LIFE
It has a 260mAh polymer lithium battery and claims to reach up to 10 days. I've been wearing this for 3 days now and it's still at 50%. When I unboxed this, the battery was at 10%. I charged it for an hour and it reached 80%. A total of one hour and 15 minutes before it reached a hundred.

When I wore it for a couple of days, it wasn't too much of a big change for me. I was used to wearing the realme Watch 2 before that I am familiar with its functions and settings. What I only noticed is that the screen is too sensitive and at some point when I swipe left, the swipe up menu will appear. There is also a very minimal delay when you browse the settings.

I am not into exercise right now so I won't be using the 16 Workout modes but it may come in handy some time. I only watch my steps tracker because my target is 8,000 daily.

CONNECTIVITY
DIZO has an app that you can use to connect your DIZO products including the Watch 2. Some DIZO products can be connected to the realme app too! However, the DIZO Watch 2 is not yet included. Maybe this will be available after a few updates.

Connecting or pairing the watch to the app on my iPhone was okay. You need to create an account first and it will track everything. My main concern after was the time format of the watch. It shows a 24-hour time format and I can't seem to find a way to change it. I installed the DIZO app and paired it with my Android phone the other day and then to my surprise, it changed the time format to 12 hours.

You can change the watch face with different available designs from the app. You can also customize it by putting your photo in it.

The DIZO Watch 2 is now available for only P1,999 on Lazada.

I also tested the new DIZO GoPods D and GoPods Neo recently and I'm impressed!

GoPods D
Enjoy deep and rich bass thanks to its built-in 10mm driver with a Bass Boost+ algorithm. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 for high transmission speeds and a reliable signal so that it automatically connects to your phone when you pick it up. Listen to music or answer phone calls even when you’re on the go with the DIZO GoPods D while sporting a lightweight and ergonomic design, making it comfortable to wear all day.

Available for only P999 on Lazada.

GoPods Neo
Conversations with your loved ones are made better and clearer with the DIZO GoPods Neo. Featuring active noise cancellation to block ambient sounds and when you switch to transparency mode, it helps you listen to sounds in your environment, allowing you to talk to the people near you without taking off your earbuds. Enjoy disturbance-free calls and meetings with the dual-mic noise cancellation in these earphones. Moreover, all you need is a single charge for a playback time of up to two weeks.

Available for only P1,999 on Lazada.

realme has been expanding its products to suit the needs of its customers and I love it. With DIZO coming in, I'm excited for a more convenient tech life in the future.