Dear 2015, thank you!

Dear 2015, 

You pained me pretty bad but honestly still, thank you 2015. 

You did not leave me unscathed but I swear, you made me stronger. 

You taught me that being brave and taking risks are sometimes not worth it. But believe, I do not regret them. They are now lessons I had to learn the hard way. 

You also taught me that there are fights I have to surrender and feelings I have to set aside. That there just comes a time that letting go is the only option. I've tried long enough, hard enough so please do not blame me.

Most importantly, you made me realize--not once but twice!--that above anyone else, it should be me. That my heart is fragile. That happiness is key. And that I matter. 

And so for all the bad and the good, I am still grateful for you 2015. 

As you end tonight, I will leave you with a smile. 

Yours truly, 

EUDEN VALDEZ

PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

Gadget Review: #LGG4 The Great

(This story is originally printed and posted for The Manila Times.)   

PHOTO COURTESY OF LG PHILIPPINES

Slowly but surely, LG is becoming a strong competitor against Android smartphone giant Samsung. In recent years, the tech company has developed high quality mobile phones that successfully catered to the ever-growing demands of tech-savvy consumers who access everything with the touch of their fingertips.

For 2015, the electronics company based in South Korea unboxed its highly anticipated LG G4, the successor of 2014’s G3 that has since excelled not only in sales, but also in industry recognition.

Launched simultaneously in six cities around the world, namely New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Istanbul and Seoul, there were high expectations early on the from the global tech scene.

In the Philippines, LG’s new flagship phone was unveiled at Solaire Resort & Casino in Pasay City with an event dubbed “See the Great, Feel the Great.” It gathered Filipino techies, consumers and personalities all excited to get fist dibs on the smartphone.

Shortly after its Philippine revelation, I had the chance to review the G4, which proved to be nothing but great indeed. Here are the many reasons why:

Fast as lightning

LG G4 runs with state-of-the-art chip
and operating system

On top of the list that makes LG G4 at par with other high-end mobile phones is its Snapdragon 808 processor by Qualcomm. One of the company’s latest SOCs (system on a chip) for 2015. The 808 is described by www.qualcomm.com as: “. . . designed to enable advanced connected mobile experiences including streaming 4k ultra HD videos, sharing top-quality digital photos, online 3D gaming, and virtually seamless communications, along with outstanding battery life for premium smartphones and tablets.”

Undoubtedly, LG chose the right SOC with Snapdragon 808 as the speed of the processor is ever present whatever task a user undertakes with the G4—seamless shifting from one application to another, quick loading on social media sites, and no-lag Internet browsing and gaming.The smartphone also runs on the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system (OS) that was launched only in March. This means that updates on the most-downloaded OS was already pre-loaded in G4.

Androidcentral.com lists out some of the changes to the OS like the update on the Quick Settings Panel; dual SIM support; revamped screen pinning; and strengthened device protection, among others.

Clear and vibrant display
Making the user experience is more enjoyable, the smartphone’s 5.5-inch screen features the quad high definition (QHD) display at 2560 x 1440, 538 pixels per inch—the standard of premium smartphones.

Loving the vibrant and clear display

Taking yet another leap, LG added another first with the “IPS Quantum Display” that allows the large display to give 20-percent better color reproduction, 25-percent improvement in brightness, and 50-percent more contrast.

I best experienced this improvement when streaming HD videos in YouTube. Human subjects glowed with healthy skin, while sceneries almost jumped off the screen.Playing games became more engaging and immersive as colors are vivid and details are clear.

And if one finds the screen too bright, brightness can easily be adjusted to one’s preference using the shortcut button found at the Quick Settings panel.

Organic feel
When the G3 was launched in 2014, its most groundbreaking feature was its unique Slim Arc design that runs along its entire body through a subtle curvature. This refreshing change from the uniformly flat mobile phone has become a favorite by LG fanatics.

Thus, seeing no reason to forego the curved aesthetic, LG therefore thought of introducing the same design with a new casing to entice fanatics. This is the luxurious and hand-crafted leather cover.

Not once did I drop this phone from
hand despite its smooth leather cover

Featuring a hand-stitched detail that runs from the top to bottom of the phone—ending only where the power and volume buttons and the camera are positioned (remember that LG was the first to put function buttons at the back of the phone)—the leather casing is organic to the touch.

Surprisingly too, despite the smooth feel, not once did I drop the phone from hand, proving only that the arched back is ergonomic indeed. The leather cover comes in three color choices: black, brown and red.

For those who are not fans of the leather cover, check out three other options namely pure, white ceramic with 3D patterns, artisan-forged gray metal, and lustrous, shining gold.

Also take note that the back casing can be removed, which means that users can even interchange leather covers with other materials.

Professional photography
I also tested G4’s outstanding cameras on both good- and poor-lighted conditions, and both rear and front lenses delivered.

Mostly enjoyed G4's camera in food photography

Unlike other smartphones that already boast of 20- or more megapixel lenses, G4 comes only with 16 megapixels. Nevertheless, the rear camera does not disappoint as it carries what most of its competitors do not—an astounding F1.8 aperture. Tell this to a professional photographer and he will surely be amazed as well because this is considered an industry-wide aperture.

This actually makes the device super sensitive to light and it is best applied during the night when streetlights are yellow to capture a photo with sepia-like filter.

To complement the F1.8 aperture, the camera also has a full Manual Mode where ISO, focus, shutter speed, ISO, exposure and white balance can be adjusted for every shot. Professional and amateur lensmen can also save photos in RAW format, in addition to JPEG.

If the user is too lazy to do any thinking before shooting, let G4 do everything with the Auto Mode. However, be careful with this camera setting as photos turn out too bright or overly saturated sometimes. It still pays to learn basic photography skills to make the most of G4’s outstanding camera.

Another feature is the Color Spectrum Sensor that improves color accuracy by precisely reading the RGB values of the ambient light in a scene, as well as infrared light reflected from objects.

Thanks to its F1.8 aperture, G4's light sensitivity is outstanding

On the other hand, the front camera comes with 8-megapixel lens and F2.0 aperture. But what is even more interesting is its built-in airbrush feature that makes the skin flawless from a scale of one to eight, with eight as the highest. This is sure to become a selfie-addict favorite.

Familiar features and other bonuses
As LG’s new flagship phone, G4 is the perfect upgrade for people who loved the predecessor G3. They will find retained features very familiar like the Dual Window option that allows two different apps to run at the same time on the screen, as well as the Quick Setting that allows scribbling on photos and screenshots.

Meanwhile, other features that I approve of include battery life, expandable memory, Internet connectivity and endless applications.

To conclude, the LG G4 is the perfect phone for solid Android users because they just may find all that they are looking for in smartphone in this single unit—only faster and better.

For more information, visit www.lg.com/ph or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Mt. Pinatubo: Beauty in destruction

The beautiful caldera crater of the Pinatubo Volcano

The first ever eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 15, 1991 was recorded in history as one of the strongest not only in the Philippines but also in the world.  

But did you know that before that fateful day, Filipinos--especially those living in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales where the mountain sprawls--did not know that there is actually a volcano sleeping underneath the earth surface? For 500 years it laid dormant until it finally awoke--dangerous and deadly. 

Today's reminder of the strong
1991 erruption

Thankfully, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicted the eruption early enough to allow evacuations that saved thousands upon thousands of Filipinos living in the region.

Still, Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption was so strong that it spewed big amounts of lava and volcanic ash. The effects of volcanic spews was further intensified by a typhoon caused massive lahar flow. It also emitted millions of tons of sulfur dioxide that was even reported to have contributed to the depletion of ozone layer.

More than two decades later, the once destructive Mt. Pinatubo is now a beautiful destination in the country. The communities surrounding it have also fully recovered and more importantly, have been even benefitting to the industries that came after the eruption—one of them is a bustling eco-tourism.

After registration at Brgy. Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac, go on a 20-kilometer,
4x4 vehicle ride to get closer to Mt. Pinatubo. 

Go on 4x4

With a number of beautiful and exciting mountains scattered all over the Philippines, Mt. Pinatubo is considered as one of the most accessible to local and foreign tourists alike.

Located at the Cabulisan Mountain Range that snakes the provinces of Tarlac, Zamblaes, and Pampanga, Mt. Pinatubo is only a three-hour drive from Metro Manila.

Enjoying this view with media friends
from other publicationsafter the 4x4 tide

Take-off points are found in four towns in Tarlac namely Capas, San Jose, Bamban and Mayantoc. Among them, Barangay Sta. Juiliana in Capas is the most popular because it houses the Satellite Municipal Tourism Office where all tourists are required to register whenever going to Mt. Pinatubo.

After the registration, visitors will then embark on a 20-kilometer 4x4 vehicle ride to get closer to Mt. Pinatubo’s lake. Lasting for about an hour, the scenery during this drive include expansive of landscapes of lahar—now serving as an industrial industry where locals quarry construction materials.

But to prove that it is still part of nature, herds of cows could be seen dotting the surrounding. There is also what the locals call as the “Crow Valley Canyon,” a combination of green valleys and grey canyons. There are also rocky rivers and terrains that make the ride even more exciting.

The hike will make one understand how powerful the 1991 eruption was

Climb to the top

After the ride, visitors will then embark on another five-kilometer trek this time by foot to finally reach the crater. Although quite long, the trail is considered friendly because it doesn’t require a steep climb. Most part of the trek is on even dried soil and rubble, as well as solid lahar.

Along the way, make sure to greet the children of the Aetas—an indigenous tribe that still thrive within Pinatubo.

This stop-over signals that your closer to the top

Also, the surroundings will also make hikers understand how powerful the 1991 eruption was. What was once mountains peaks transformed into walls upon walls of dried lava.

The destination gets closer when the trail becomes smaller and more vegetated. Finally, a man-made staircase climbs up to crater. Once there, just let the beautiful scenery take your breath away.

At the peak of Mt. Pinatubo is a caldera lake that is 2.7 kilometers wide. It was formed during the 1991 eruption when the volcano collapsed forming a cauldron shape in the middle.

Welcome!

This submerged piece of land then catches water so it becomes a lake. However, mineral deposits of the volcano still reach the lake that is why swimming is prohibited no matter how clear or cool the water is.

A hub for eco-tourism

Besides the Mt. Pinatubo Lake, the province of Tarlac is promoting other tourist destinations that make up an eco-tourism hub.

Also in Brgy. Sta. Juiliana is the Mt. Telakawa, an alternative mountain destination for visitors who are up for a more extreme hiking challenge.

There are also scenic body of waters like the Duglo Falls in San Jose, the Siwako River in Bamban, and the Nambalan River in Mayantoc. 

Group shot with media friends and ECCO execs at the crater

***

This story was originally published for The Manila Times. Read "Back to the Boondocks" to know more. 

This trip was sponsored by ECCO shoes. Visit "Ecco O2 conquers Mt. Pinatubo" to know more. 

(TEXT AND PHOTOS: ©EUDENVALDEZ)