Philippines

Budget phone suggestions for this viral Philippines mayor

What phone should Mayor Vico Sotto buy?

Published

on

A mayor in the Philippines went viral on TikTok for having a selfie video that looked shaky and grainy, as if it was taken by a cheap camera.

Pasig City, Metro Manila Mayor Victor Ma. Regis Sotto, more popularly known as simply Vico Sotto, filmed himself to talk to his constituents about the City Office’s Christmas packs for its citizens.

@vicosottoreal

totoo bang mas konti ang tro lls dito sa tiktok? 🤔

♬ original sound – Vico Sotto – Vico Sotto

Eagle-eyed TikTok users, however, were quick to poke fun at the quality of Sotto’s selfie video, which was stitched along with the slideshow of the city’s Christmas gift-giving program.

Sotto is currently serving his second term as mayor of the city that is part of the collective Metro Manila region called National Capital Region.

He has carved out quite a reputation for his good governance and transparency. Citizens do not associate him with corruption, while his style of leadership has also been praised.

And judging from the selfie video, it also seems he’s that frugal and practical about his lifestyle. To be fair, the lens seems to have smudges on it and the mayor was also indoors.

Still, one particular TikToker even used the video and stitched it, telling Sotto to turn heel and just use public funds to purchase a new smartphone.

Naturally, GadgetMatch has some budget phone suggestions for Mayor Vico so he can come up with better-looking selfie videos moving forward. These devices don’t even cost PhP 10,000 (US$ 200), so they should fit his persona well.

Xiaomi Redmi 14C

Price: Starts at PhP 4,999

Xiaomi’s most recent budget phone offering, the Redmi 14C boasts of a stylish look and an aluminum-looking plastic frame. It immediately stands out, appearance wise.

It has a 13MP selfie camera that can film up to 1080p at 30fps. That’s more than decent, considering its price tag. With sufficient lighting, we’re sure Mayor Vico can take his brief explainers on TikTok to another level.

Elsewhere, the phone has up to 256GB of internal storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 6.88-inch IPS LCD panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

This brand has even commented on the video telling the Mayor that they’re on sale right now.

READ THE REVIEW: Redmi 14C: Look further or look elsewhere

HONOR X7c

HONOR X7c

Price: PhP 8,999

One of the best-promoted budget phones of 2024, the HONOR X7c features IP64 rating. That means the device is water resistant up to a certain degree. And for a sub-PhP 10,000 phone, that’s quite high of an IP rating.

The X7c also comes with a 6,000mAh battery, so it’s guaranteed to last an entire day. You know, should Mayor Vico need a phone with him throughout an entire day’s worth of meetings, visits, and more in between.

For its selfie camera, the X7c has a decent 8MP shooter capable of taking FHD videos as well. It also takes good selfies. Complementing it is a 108MP rear camera.

READ THE REVIEW: HONOR X7c: The good, the bad, and the splashy

OPPO A3

Price: PhP 8,999

Likewise, the OPPO A3 flaunts military-grade standard durability and splash resistance. One of the more recent releases from OPPO does have only a 5MP front camera, but with good lighting, you’ll still get decent results.

The phone itself is steady for casual browsing and occasional gaming. Its display is also ample for binge-watching sessions. It also has a simplistic look that makes it look like a luxurious phone.

Of course, Mayor Vico can definitely benefit from this phone as it’s tested for the “daily rigors of life.”

READ THE REVIEW: OPPO A3: Is durability enough?

realme C67

Price: PhP 8,999

Lastly, the realme C67 is perhaps one of the best budget phones in the market right now. It has an 8MP camera capable of filming FHD videos. At the back is a 108MP sensor that can capture at up to 3X lossless zoom.

Everything else you’re looking for from a budget phone, the realme C67 can provide. It has a decent processor, a clear display, a long-lasting battery, and plenty of features.

As it was released earlier in the year, the only downers are it’s only 4G-capable and its internal storage is pegged at 128GB.

READ THE REVIEW: realme C67: A budget smartphone revelation

To Mayor Vico, if you’re reading this, GadgetMatch is here to help you find the devices that suit your needs. That’s what we’re here for, anyway.

News

Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

Published

on

The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

  • C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
  • C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
  • C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
  • C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
  • C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

Continue Reading

Finance

UnionDigital Bank, Chubb partner for accessible insurance protection

Chubb insurance products now integrated into UD app

Published

on

UnionDigital Bank and Chubb Philippines have partnered to bring accessible insurance protection to Filipinos.

The strategic partnership integrates Chubb’s insurance solutions directly on the UD app. These comprehensive solutions will be seen among UD’s suite of financial products. That way, insurance protection becomes more accessible for consumers.

The two key insurance products in the initial rollout are Loan Protect Insurance and Kaya Protect Insurance.

The first product is automatically included for eligible UD loan borrowers at no additional cost for the first three months once the loan is approved.

In the event of accidental death, permanent disability, temporary disability, or death due to illness, Loan Protect Insurance pays up to the original loan amount to cover 100% of the customer’s outstanding loan balance.

Any remaining balance is released to beneficiaries. Loan Protect Insurance is currently available for loans up to PhP 30,000 with short-term repayment periods.

Meanwhile, Kaya Protect Insurance will be available soon. This provides personal accident and accidental death coverage up to PhP 150,000 and is activated automatically by maintaining a low minimum balance of PhP 100 in the insured’s savings account.

The partnership between UnionDigital Bank and Chubb aims to address the protection gap, as according to a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey, 48% of adult Filipinos are currently uninsured.

Continue Reading

Philippines

Globe, Starlink provide free data, messaging for customers affected by Mindanao earthquake

Globe deploys Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile technology for disaster response

Published

on

Globe has partnered with Starlink to deploy its satellite-to-mobile service in Mindanao areas affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on Monday. Provinces affected include South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

Deploying the service to support emergency communications and disaster response in the badly hit areas had demo permit approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

This deployment marks Globe’s first use of Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology for disaster  and emergency response.

Over 700,000 Globe and TM customers stand to benefit from the deployment, providing them with messaging through WhatsApp and SMS at a time when it is needed most.

Globe will offer the service for free for up to 30 days as critical support to affected communities until the provider’s network is fully restored.

The network provider will reach out directly to customers to provide them with instructions to connect to the satellite service using their existing Globe SIMs and LTE-enabled phones.

The earthquake, one of the strongest in the country in decades, prompted tsunami warnings for several coastal communities in Southern Mindanao. It also caused network disruptions across multiple provinces, as commercial power interruptions impacted telco facilities.

As of posting time, Globe is working closely with local government units and local electric cooperatives to fully restore its services.

Continue Reading

Trending