Lifestyle
Garmin Approach S70: Price, availability in the Philippines
Game-ready on and off the links!
Garmin has just announced the launch of the Approach S70 series, joining the cutting-edge lineup of the Garmin Golf ecosystem. The smartwatch was designed for golfers of all ages and skill levels, packed with on-the-course tools and fitness features.
Game on!
Seasoned veterans and novices alike will enjoy the Approach S70 series’ on-course features:
- Comprehensive CourseView Maps: See every hole in elaborate detail on 43,000+ preloaded courses, with the ability to pan and zoom to know the lay of the land.
- Improved Virtual Caddie: View shot dispersion data and receive more accurate club suggestions based on a variety of factors, including historical swing data, elevation, wind, and more.
- Enhanced PlayLike Distance: See an analytical estimate of how a shot will play based on an uphill or downhill lie, wind, temperature, and air pressure.
- Scorekeeper: Track round score hole-by-hole, and upload to the Garmin Golf app for stat tracking and handicap calculation.
Performance-enhancing features
The new Approach S70 can support golfers in improving their flexibility and overall fitness with preloaded activity profiles. With Garmin’s full suite of 24/7 health monitoring features, users are equipped with tools to understand their overall wellbeing.
It’s easier to have the potential to hit the ball while also preventing injuries!
Furthermore, the Approach S70 series carries Garmin’s innovations such as Heart-Rate Variability Status, Body Battery energy monitoring, advanced sleep monitoring, and more. The smartwatch aims to keep golfers stay in peak physical shape, especially with customized training plans from Garmin Coach.
1,600 individual exercises are also available via the Garmin Connect app, for those who want to create their own workout regimen.
Sophisticated style
The Garmin Approach S70 combines a lightweight, stylish design with high-quality materials. It’s designed to be worn both on and off the links, splashed with an accent color ring between the ceramic bezel and watch case. It also has a scratch-resistant lens on a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch AMOLED display, making it easy to stay connected and updated.
Smart notifications can be easily read, and music playback from Spotify and Amazon Music is easily controlled when paired with a compatible smartphone.
Price, availability
The Garmin Approach S70 series retails for PhP 39,990 for the 42mm variant and PhP 43,950 for the 47mm variant.
“The Approach S70 series embodies Garmin’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and the pursuit of helping golfers improve their game. We are thrilled to finally introduce the Approach S70 series to the golfing community in the Philippines, and empower Filipino golfers with a game-changing tool that will revolutionize their experience,” said Ms. Dorothy Jarantilla, Marketing and Business Development Manager of Garmin Philippines.
Visit the Garmin Philippines’ website or Facebook page for more information.
It’s not every day you get to see Han So Hee in person. On September 13, I found myself at her Manila fan meeting. This was my first time at a fan meet, and the energy was noticeably different from the K-Pop girl group concerts I frequent—softer, more intimate, but just as filled with devotion.
Han So Hee was visibly tired, but that almost made the night more moving. You could see her push through with genuine effort to show appreciation for her fans. At one point, she even stepped off the stage to take a selfie with a fan who had shared a deeply personal story. I wasn’t fast enough to capture it, but the moment spoke volumes.
The fanmeet
The program had playful bits too. A highlight was when she was asked to copy poses from fan art. It was a treat both for the fans and for my camera—visually sharp, fun to shoot, and perfectly suited for social feeds.
Somewhere in between, she also revealed a small but telling personal preference: she’s a binge-watcher. She wants to know how a story ends, so she’d rather power through a series than wait week after week.
And then there was the hi-touch session. I wasn’t sure how I’d react until it was my turn. I walked up, scrunched my nose at her, and she did the same back.
It wasn’t a hi-five, it was a firmware upgrade for my soul.

We weren’t allowed to take photos or videos during hi-touch so this is So Hee with a cute pouty face instead.
The funny thing is, before the event, a friend had asked me which of her dramas they should watch. Without hesitation, I rattled off a list—My Name and Soundtrack #1 topping my recommendations. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just there to test a device. Somewhere along the way, I’d actually become a fan.
vivo V60
Still, I did bring along the vivo V60. Seated further from the stage, it became the perfect challenge for the phone’s telephoto camera and Stage Mode. I was a bit disappointed to learn that Stage Mode only worked for photos this time around. I’d had such a good time using it for fancams on the vivo X200 Pro that it felt like a step back.
Even so, the V60 held up. Shots within a reasonable range looked clean, and those where I didn’t push the zoom too hard were the best. Once you go beyond 10x, things get dicey.
At that point, it’s less ‘zoom’ and more ‘interpretive art,’ but Han So Hee’s face card refused to fold.
But that’s also the charm—having a camera that helps you capture fleeting moments, even from a distance, made me appreciate the fan meeting differently.
That night wasn’t really about testing tech. It was about being present for a star who, despite the fatigue, showed up wholeheartedly. The V60 was just my lens into it all—a reminder that sometimes the best shots are the ones that let you relive how it felt to be there.
Here are a few more photos from the fanmeet.
Lifestyle
How JBL’s AuraCast technology powered the Merrell Trail Challenge
When sound moves with you, an outdoor race becomes a festival of energy and connection.
Trail running meets technology as JBL brought its signature sound to the Merrell Trail Challenge. The audio brand energized runners and spectators alike through a seamless fusion of music and innovation.
Held at Corterra Eco Reserve, the event gathered nearly 400 trail runners, some stepping off-road for the first time.
The air buzzed with anticipation, but it was the sound that made everything come alive. JBL filled the festival grounds with its signature audio experience, transforming the forest into a living, breathing concert for runners.
Powering the trail experience
At the center of the action were the JBL PartyBox 320 and PartyBox 550. The speakers turned the stage area into a vibrant soundscape.
From the starting gun to the final cheer, their deep bass carried through, setting the tone for the day’s celebration. It became the heartbeat of the event, keeping it loud and full of life.

GadgetMatch’s Account Manager and Professional Singer/Host, Noela Amparo-Oro, energized the crowd even under heavy downpour.
Then there was the PartyBox Encore Essential 2, easily the most mobile sound system at the venue. Carried by event host Noela Amparo-Oro, it roamed the festival grounds, following the movement of the crowd and keeping the energy alive no matter where the action went.
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With JBL’s AuraCast technology, every PartyBox stayed perfectly in sync, creating a seamless flow of sound across the area.
The coverage was expanded even further using the new JBL Charge 6 speakers in the outer zones of the festival area. When heavy rain rolled in, the setup was challenged, yet the sound never faltered.
The speakers powered through the downpour, still delivering crisp, powerful audio that pushed runners and spectators to keep their spirits high despite the storm.

Filipina guitarist and vocalist of all-girl band ROUGE, Jeri Vega Oro, took part at the 12KM category co-presented by JBL Philippines.
Celebrating every finish line
Even in the heavy downpour, the celebration continued. As the co-presenting partner for the 12K category, JBL honored the top finishers with its newest JBL Sense Lite true wireless earbuds.
It’s a fitting reward for athletes who run to the beat of their own determination. The Sense Lite is designed for those who move, built to keep pace with a life in motion.
At its core, JBL’s presence at the Merrell Trail Challenge was more than a brand partnership. It was a statement about how technology can amplify human experience.
By bringing immersive sound to one of the country’s most beloved trail races, JBL showed that innovation is not only about power or precision. It is also about connection, about keeping the spirit of adventure alive one beat at a time.
About the Merrell Trail Challenge
Organized by Go Better Sports, the Merrell Trail Challenge has become a hallmark event for the growing trail running community in the Philippines.
The event was co-presented by JBL, the Official Sound Partner, and EastWest Ageas, the Official Life Insurance Partner.
Supporting the event were brand partners that kept every runner fueled and every moment documented, including Injinji for socks, Old Town Coffee for the early morning fix, Sip and Sip Plus for hydration, Insta360 for capturing memories, Rudy Project for eyewear and gear, and Fourtify Market for nutrition.
Together with supporting brands like QminC, Founding Fathers, Salonpas, Vida C, Vita500, XS Energy Drink, Fitbar, Artistry Sunscreen, and Nanlite, the event became more than a race. It became a festival of motion and shared passion, a reminder that the best adventures begin when community and innovation meet on the trail.
Entertainment
NBA on Prime officially debuts in the Philippines this October
Catch the Opening Night double-header on October 25
NBA on Prime is officially in the Philippines. With media days for the upcoming NBA season in full swing, hype is steadily peaking.
The streaming platform will bring live NBA action starting October 25, during the league’s season opener.
Opening Night will feature a double-header that tips off starting at 7:30 A.M. Manila time.
The New York Knicks, which now has Filipino-American star guard Jordan Clarkson, will square off against the Boston Celtics.
This will be followed by a Western Conference showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers at 10:00 A.M.
In addition, NBA on Prime pregame coverage begins at 7:00 A.M.
Ian Eagle will be the play-by-play anchor for the Knicks-Celtics opener, joined by Stan Van Gundy as the color analyst and Cassidy Hubbarth reporting from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the second matchup will feature Kevin Harlan on the call, with Candace Parker providing analysis and Allie Clifton as sideline reporter.
NBA on Prime Video
The NBA and Amazon Prime Video inked an 11-year media rights agreement for exclusive global coverage for 66 regular-season NBA games.
The scope includes an opening-week doubleheader, a new Black Friday NBA game, and all games from the Emirates NBA Cup beginning from the knockout stages.
NBA has actually already created a quick guide of all the games streaming on Prime Video here.
In addition, Allen Iv3rson, a new three-part original docuseries, is coming on October 23. Made by Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends and Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton’s Unanimous Media, the series showcases the captivating life of the basketball legend.
Prime Video movies, series coming this October
Aside from live NBA action, Prime Video subscribers can look forward to these upcoming movies and series next month:
- October 1: Play Dirty
- October 2: A Star Brighter Than The Sun
- October 4: Sanda
- October 8: Ninja vs. Gokudo
- October 10: John Candy: I Like Me
- October 16: Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault)
- October 22: Harlan Coben’s Lazarus
- October 23: Host
- October 29: Hedda
- October 29: Hazbin Hotel Season 2
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