Iza Calzado is ABS-CBN's Newest "Darna"

Kapamilya actress Iza Calzado revealed that she will also be portraying the role of the iconic superheroine Darna in the upcoming ABS-CBN TV series headlined by Jane de Leon.

“Finally, I can claim to be part of the Pinoy superhero history! I almost had the chance in the past, but God had other plans. I was not meant to be that Darna but he surely prepared me to play this Darna. Everything always happens in His perfect time,” she said.

As Narda’s (Jane) mom, Iza will be the first Darna in the series and will be the one to pass the magical stone that will transform Narda into the great Pinay superhero.

"I've waited long for this. There have been changes in the cast and directors and as Direk Lauren (Dyogi) said, I am the constant,” she said stating her readiness mentally, physically, and emotionally to take on the part.

The award-winning actress also shared how meaningful the ‘heroic’ role is for her during this crucial time. “At a time of great crisis, there has got to be a hero we can relate to - someone who brings out the best in us and a representation not only of our strong but loving and compassionate core. A hero who has learned to embrace her strengths and weaknesses, knowing fully well that this only makes the light within brighter and allows for others to see and experience their own light,” said Iza.

“That’s the Pandemic Darna for me - she will tap and bring out the hero in all of us, despite the odds. Even without the ABS-CBN franchise,” she added.

As announced last July, the TV series “Darna” will start taping in September after Jane’s exit in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

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(Trailer) "Spider-Man: No Way Home" Starring Tom Holland and Zendaya

Discover what it means to be Spider-Man. 

Watch the official teaser trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, coming to Philippine cinemas soon.

Check out the trailer trailer below:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iur-ckKj27U

For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Directed by Jon Watts, Spider-Man: No Way Home is written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, based on the MARVEL Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal with executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, JoAnn Perritano, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach.

The cast is led by Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon with Marisa Tomei.

Spider-Man: No Way Home will be distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

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Singer-Songwriter Brian Gazmen Releases Heartbreak Song "Panaginip"

Singer-songwriter Brian Gazmen awakens to the painful remains of a love that was in his latest single “Panaginip” released under ABS-CBN’s Star Pop label.

Brian - who completes Star Pop’s male vocal trio “Chill Guys” with Jose Vitug and Bryce Manzano - wrote, composed, produced, and arranged the pop/R&B track all on his own.

“Panaginip” thematically tackles a person’s bitter realization that a cherished relationship is now over. Despite its tragic premise, Brian said the song still hopes to send out a positive message about love.

“Although you’re not really sure who you will be spending your life with until you die, there will be a time that you’ll just feel it. It might not be right now, but that time will come,” he said.

“Panaginip” was listed in the “New Music Friday” playlist of Spotify Philippines. Prior to his newest release, the 21-year-old singer-actor has dropped the singles “Sinta” early this year and “Perfect as You” in 2020, which currently has almost 225,000 streams on Spotify.

Brian has also released the single “Ako Para Sa’yo,” which he recorded with “Chill Guys.” The group has also covered HIMIG 11th Edition’s 2nd Best Song “Kahit Na Masungit.”

Let go of a past love by coming to your senses and listening to Brian’s “Panaginip,” out now on ABS-CBN Star Music’s YouTube channel and on various digital music platforms. 

For more details, follow Star Pop on Facebook (www.facebook.com/starpopph) and on Twitter and Instagram (@starpopph).

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Lovi Poe Stars in Hollywood Film "The Chelsea Cowboy" Opposite Alex Pettyfer

Kapuso actress Lovi Poe is reportedly joining a Hollywood film entitled "The Chelsea Cowboy".

In her social media pages, Lovi confirmed that she will be part of the biopic which stars Alex Pettyfer and Poppy Delevingne.

“Aaaah… can't wait to start filming The Chelsea Cowboy in October,” she said, adding “The film is a biopic based on the life of actor, gangster, and lothario John Bindon. I'll be playing blues British singer Dana Gillespie! “Excited to be working with this amazing team of creatives @alexpettyfer @poppydelevingne @idriselba.”

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BGYO and BINI to Hold Back-to-Back Concert on November 6 and 7

Kapamilya fst-rising P-pop groups BGYO and BINI will come together for a what they called “sibling” concert on November 6 and 7.

BGYO, composed of Gelo, Akira, JL, Nate, and Mikki, recently ranked No. 1 in Billboard Next Big Sound Chart with their comeback single “The Baddest.”

BINI, consisting of Jhoanna, Mikha, Aiah, Colet, Gwen, Stacey, Sheena, and Maloi, BINI, meanwhile, made an early splash with a half-year pre-debut era with the single “Da Coconut Nut” before releasing their launch track “Born To Win.”

“BINI-BGYO: The Concert” will be livestreamed via KTX.ph.

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realme Offers Huge Discounts and Deals in its Biggest Shopee Sale from August 26 - 28

2021 has truly been an incredible year for realme as it was recently hailed the no. 1 smartphone brand in the Philippines for the first two quarters, and with its global milestone of reaching 100-million fans worldwide. 

As a tribute to the realme Squad for their continuous support, the brand is set to launch its biggest ever Shopee Super Brand Day Sale on August 26 to 28.

The sale is in line with realme’s month-long Global Fan Festival celebration this month which has been jam-packed with a remarkable roster of events, promos, and other initiatives dedicated to the brand’s loyal Filipino fans. With amazing deals, discounts, and vouchers, realme’s Shopee Super Brand Day sale is a testament to the brand’s mission of providing the best digital lifestyle experience for every Filipino.

Starting at 12am on August 26, the Squad can shop for their favorite realme smartphones and realme TechLife products at exciting deals of up to 50% OFF on selected devices. 

Fans can avail of the well-loved C-Series: the realme C11 2021, the realme C21Y, and the realme C25S, all with a P1,000 discount. 

The recently launched 5G game-changer, the realme 8 5G, will also be available for only P9,490 (P1,500 OFF SRP), while the realme 7 will be up for grabs at only P9,990 (P5,000 OFF SRP). 

To make one’s stay-at-home experience more delightful, realme TechLife products will also be available at discounted rates. realme’s stylish smart audio products such as the realme Buds Air 2 will be available at 50% OFF, and the realme Buds Q2 can be purchased at P400 OFF. 

Other AIoT products on sale include the realme Watch 2 and the realme Watch 2 Pro, both at P1,000 OFF, and the realme Smart TV at P3,000 OFF.

In addition to the big discounts offered, Shopee vouchers will also be available for use when you use ShopeePay. These include Free Shipping vouchers, Shopee Mall discount vouchers for an extra 10% OFF, and cashback vouchers guaranteeing 8% cashback from your transactions.

With all these surprises and more, realme’s Shopee Super Brand Day Sale is definitely one you wouldn’t want to miss! Visit realme’s official Shopee page to check out other exciting offers during realme’s biggest Shopee sale this year.

For more info, updates, and other surprises, be sure to follow realme on Facebook at facebook.com/realmePhilippines, @realme_PH on Twitter, and @realmephilippines on Instagram. #DareToBeYouwithrealme #realmePH

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Amy Perez Hosts the Newest Online "Sumbungan and Harapan" Show "Amy-nin: Deserve Mo 'Yan"

Kapamilya host Amy Perez is ready to help people in dispute to tackle and resolve their issues live in the new online sumbungan show on kumu, “Amy-nin: Deserve Mo ‘Yan,” streaming on FYE channel every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 pm beginning August 24.

Tyang Amy’s new show promises to be a virtual platform where complainants and respondents get to be seen and heard, allowing them both to air their side. With pieces of advice from the host and the kumunizens, it will also urge those involved to seek the closure that they need and achieve the justice that they deserve.

Viewers can look forward to relatable issues from which they can learn from, such as forbidden love affairs, family and work disputes, online bashing, and other misdeeds that need to be exposed.

Tyang Amy is the latest Kapamilya artist to join FYE channel, which streams fun and engaging talk shows on kumu. The channel now has 360,000 followers who enjoy daily livestreams about lifestyle, sports, public affairs, and showbiz.

“Amy-nin: Deserve Mo ‘Yan” premieres this Tuesday (August 24) at 4:30 pm. Download the kumu app (app.kumu.ph/fyechannel) and follow @fyechannel. For more details, like @fyechannel on Instagram.

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JC De Vera Proposes to Marry Erich Gonzales

Lena (Erich Gonzales) now has Adrian (JC De Vera) completely under her spell after she successfully made her fall in love with him to the point where he has proposed marriage to her in “La Vida Lena,” which airs weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.

Convinced that saying yes will help in her plans of revenge, Lena accepted Adrian’s proposal after making him believe she is pregnant with their child. Adrian has also promised to Lena that he will take care of their baby, even though his parents are opposed to their relationship.

Adrian’s parents, Vanessa and Lucas (Agot Isidro and Raymond Bagatsing) are not exactly excited about Adrian’s new girl, who has been distracting Adrian from his responsibilities at their company.

While Lena is enthusiastic about the proposal, Ramona (Janice de Belen) and Jordan (Carlo Aquino) have raised concerns about Lena marrying Adrian because it might just put her life at risk.

Aside from having Adrian wrapped around her finger, Lena is also conniving with the ambitious Miguel (Kit Thompson), Adrian’s cousin, who wants to rise through the ranks and steal Adrian’s position as the company’s marketing head.

What happens once Adrian, Vanessa, and Narciso find out that Lena has one-upped them?

Don’t miss “La Vida Lena,” weeknights at 10 PM, on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as the TVplus box only need to rescan their device to be able to watch “La Vida Lena” on TV5 and A2Z. Its episodes are also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can also catch the show on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

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Cash in to your PayMaya Account for FREE via BPI, Ministop, and Smart Padala

You can now cash in to your PayMaya account FOR FREE via BPI (linked account), Ministop, and your trusted Smart Padala agent - making it easier than ever to go cashless for your everyday transactions.

Wherever you are, and whether you want to do it online or in your go-to establishment, PayMaya offers the most accessible way to cash in to your account for free! Here’s how:

Cash in via BPI

If you’re a BPI account holder, there’s no need to go out of your house because you can quickly cash in to your PayMaya account for free by simply linking your BPI account to your PayMaya e-wallet. Just follow these easy steps:

• Select the "Cash In" icon on your PayMaya app’s home screen. 
• Tap “Bank Account," then select the BPI logo.
• Enter the desired amount, then select "Continue". 
• You will get a prompt to log in to your BPI Online Banking account. 
• Select your source account, click “Continue” Review your transaction details, and click “Send Code” to proceed. 
• Input the one-time PIN you'll receive via SMS. Click “Submit”

Once your transaction is successful, you will receive a text confirmation from PayMaya. And that’s it! Now, you can save on cash in fees and complete your hassle-free transaction with just a few clicks from your phone.

Cash in via Ministop

You can also enjoy free cash in at over 400 Ministop branches across the country. With this, you can save as much as P200 on fees - which you can now use to buy your favorite snacks or chicken meal at Ministop!

To start cashing in to your PayMaya account at your go-to branch, simply follow these instructions:

• Select the "Cash In" icon on the home screen of your PayMaya app, and tap the Ministop logo. 
• Enter the desired amount, then select "Continue". 
• Go to any Ministop branch and present your generated barcode to the cashier, along with the cash in amount to the cashier. 
• Wait for the SMS confirmation before leaving the store, and that’s it!

Cash in via Smart Padala

Wherever you live, there’s always a Smart Padala agent near you, and this makes putting money to your PayMaya account so much more convenient. With over 55,000 Smart Padala agent network touchpoints nationwide, cashing in is as easy as heading to your neighborhood sari-sari store.

Now, completing this transaction is also sulit, as PayMaya gives you a 100% cashback on your service fee whenever you cash in to your account until August 31, 2021. This cashback promo is valid for cash amounts of P10,000 and below.

Cashing in to your PayMaya account at your trusted Smart Padala agent is easy. Here’s how you can do it:

• On your PayMaya app, tap “Cash In,” then select “Smart Padala via Code” and enter the amount you want to add to your account. 
• Present the Cash In Code and a valid ID to your Smart Padala agent and and provide the cash in amount and the 1% cash in fee. 
• You will receive a confirmation message via SMS regarding your transaction as well as the 100% cashback on your cash in fee.

With more ways to cash in to your PayMaya account for free, you can now enjoy cashless convenience when buying groceries, transferring money to your loved ones, or paying your bills completely worry-free. To top it off, you can spend what you saved on cash in fees on things that matter to you – be it an extra order of your favorite food or perhaps a small donation to those in need through your favorite charitable institution.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, enterprises, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the leading payments processor for "everyday" merchants in key industries such as retail, food, transportation, utilities, and eCommerce.

PayMaya provides more than 38 million registered users with access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently cash in, pay, cash out, and remit through its over 300,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of 55,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services.

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Julie Anne San Jose's Cover of Hale's "Kung Wala Ka" Made it to iTunes Philippines' Top List

There is no stopping Kapuso multi-talented actress-singer Julie Anne San Jose!

Just days after the very successful staging of the first of her three-part "Limitless" concert series, Julie Anne's fresh take on the 2005 hit Hale song "Kung Wala Ka" has landed on the Top 3 of iTunes Philippines Chart with a whopping 77 million streams on Spotify.


"Kung Wala Ka" is also being featured in various music digital stores such as Spotify New Music Friday, Apple Music Absolute OPM, Apple Music OPM Slider, and Youtube Music New Release Mix.

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Kapamilya Inspirational Series "Huwag Kang Mangamba" Nominated as Best Drama Series at ContentAsia Awards 2021

ABS-CBN’s hit inspirational teleserye “Huwag Kang Mangamba” has been nominated at the ContentAsia Awards 2021, competing against four other shows in the region for Best Drama Series/Telefilm made for a Single Asian Market.

The winner, which will be announced on August 27 in a virtual ceremony, will be based on “relevance and suitability for the one specific market for which the program was made,” according to ContentAsia Awards’ official website.

The ContentAsia Awards is organized by ContentAsia, a premier information resource that covers the entertainment media industry across the Asia-Pacific region.

Launched by ABS-CBN in March 2021, “Huwag Kang Mangamba” follows two sisters, Mira (Andrea Brillantes) and Joy (Francine Diaz), who fight all odds to fulfill their mission for Bro and to have their local church rebuilt. By showing their story, the series aims to show how God’s miraculous love is found in the simplest of things and to remind people that they are never alone in going through life’s trials.

Gain inspiration from the inspirational series “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” airing weeknights on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, WeTV, and iflix. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as the TVplus box only need to rescan their device to be able to watch “Huwag Kang Mangamba” on TV5 and A2Z. Viewers outside of the Philippines can also catch it on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

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Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla Reveal Little-Known Secrets from the Making of “She’s Dating the Gangster”

Want to know why “She’s Dating the Gangster” is Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s favorite KathNiel movie? 

Let Star Cinema’s YouTube channel loop you in with the first season of its new online show “Secret Movie Files,” where the country’s premier love team and director Cathy Garcia-Molina spill behind-the-scenes trivia fans should know about.

Star Cinema has dropped three episodes so far (here, here, and here), with four more to be released on August 22 and 29. Cinematographer Dan Villegas, associate producer Leo Garcia, and production design head Shari Montiague also share never-before seen photos and dish more secrets about KathNiel’s first movie with Direk Cathy.

“Secret Movie Files,” made exclusively for YouTube, and the free streaming of “She’s Dating the Gangster” are part of ABS-CBN’s growing “Kapamilya YOUniverse,” which promises to stream the best in entertainment, music, film, and news on YouTube.

Here are some of the secrets revealed in KathNiel’s “Secret Movie Files” episodes so far:

1. Daniel did many firsts in the movie, including dancing on-screen and driving a car with manual transmission

For a scene where Kenji (Daniel) and Athena (Kathryn) travel to Bicol, Daniel had to learn to drive “on the spot” a 90s model car with manual transmission and was tutored by the movie’s production manager.

Fans also know that Daniel rarely dances, whether on stage or on-screen. In fact, it took a lot of convincing to get Daniel to dance in two scenes in “Gangster” that even Direk Cathy and the rest of the cast had to dance so Daniel could overcome his unease.

“Gangster” is also the first movie where Daniel wears shorts and goes topless for the first time – which will be discussed in latter episodes.

2. Direk Cathy personally attached the wigs of Kathryn and Daniel while shooting

“Gangster” owns the distinction of being the KathNiel movie that used the most number of wigs. Even their co-star, Igi Boy Flores, had to wear one to fit the whole 90s aesthetic.

Direk Cathy was so hands-on when it came to Kathryn’s and Daniel’s hair that she personally attached the wigs to their heads and would not allow anyone to tamper with how she styled them.

“Nababansagan akong ‘yan daw ang trademark ko, ang wigs. Hindi ko sinasadyang magka-trademark, sadyang hindi ko lang kinakayang tingnan ang artista na parang sila pa rin ‘yun sa totoong buhay. I always want to see the characters more than the artistas,” Direk Cathy shares.

3. Citing her lack of experience in love, Kathryn said she had a hard time getting into her character in one pivotal scene

Direk Cathy shares that while Kathryn is usually good at crying on-screen, the actress had a tough time portraying the agony and desperation of someone who is in love but can’t live a normal life due to her illness.

The scene she’s referring to is the one where Athena tearfully asks Kenji to stop their pretend relationship because she has already caught feelings for him.

“For some reason hirap na hirap ako sa scene na ‘yan. ‘Yan ang pinaka-challenging sa akin. Kung hindi mo pa napagdaanan parang hindi mo pa alam ang emotion na totoo. Ilang taon lang ako niyan. Anong alam ko sa love, sa pain, at that time?” says Kathryn.

4. The production design team had a hard time looking for beepers that actually worked

Beepers play a significant role in the movie because they literally spark the romance between Kenji and Athena.

“Gangster’s” production design team had to look literally anywhere – from online marketplaces to stores in Raon, Quiapo – for a beeper that was functional. In the end, Direk Cathy chose a bright yellow beeper for Athena that would go along with the movie’s colorful outfits and Direk Cathy’s vision of building a world that is “full of love.”

5. Several stars had volunteered to do cameos even before filming began

Many of the stars who did cameos in the movie had asked Direk Cathy and the production team to give them a bit of screen time.

“Bago pa mag-start ang movie, nagsasabi na sila na ‘pa-cameo naman diyan.’ So may listahan talaga kami ng mga kinokontak ‘pag may pasok na role… Advantage ‘yun ‘pag maraming gustong katrabaho ‘yung direktor mo pati ang barkada ng KathNiel,” associate producer Leo Garcia reveals.

Some of the stars who appeared in the movie are Khalil Ramos, Elisse Joson, Ian Veneracion, Jojit Lorenzo, Janus del Prado, Rayver Cruz, Ginger Conejero, Pooh, Joem Bascon, Ketchup Eusebio, Joross Gamboa, and JM De Guzman. In fact, “That Thing Called Tadhana” was made possible because JM and Dan Villegas, also the boyfriend of Antoinette Jadaone, had met on set.

“Doon ko sinabi sa kanya, ‘Uy may sinusulat si Tonet. Ikaw ang iniisip niya habang sinusulat niya. Isasali sana namin sa Cinema One, indie. ‘Yun eventually ang naging ‘That Thing Called Tadhana.’ Dahil sa set ng ‘Gangster’ ‘yun,’” Direk Dan shares.

And… that’s just three episodes’ worth of trivia and secrets! Watch out for the remaining four episodes of “Secret Movie Files” season one – “Fave Book Moments that Made it to the Big Screen” and “Shooting the Most Emotional Scenes with Kathniel and CharDawn” on August 22, and “90s Fashion Fast Talk: Japorms vs Not Japorms” and “Did You Know? (Untold Secrets)” on August 29.

Discover more “Made for YouTube” content in ABS-CBN’s “Kapamilya YOUniverse” on YouTube by subscribing to ABS-CBN Star Cinema, ABS-CBN Star Music, MOR Entertainment, ABS-CBN News, at ABS-CBN Entertainment.

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Enjoy 30 days of Unli Data with the New Smart Bro Rocket SIM for Only Php499

Just as Filipinos are gearing up for a new semester of virtual classes or preparing to clock in more productive hours while working from home in the face of another round of quarantine restrictions, Smart is giving everyone a much simpler and more affordable way to stay connected online with the launch of the new Smart Bro Rocket SIM, which comes with 30 days of Unli Data for an introductory price of only Php499.

Smart Bro is the pioneer in providing Filipinos with unlimited data through its “Unlisurf” promos more than a decade ago. With the new Smart Bro Rocket SIM, it is bringing back once again its unli services to cater to the rising demand for more data and superfast connectivity.

True Unli Data experience without restrictions

Ready for use in any SIM-enabled device, the Smart Bro Rocket SIM is available at the Smart Online Store and the Smart Flagship Store in Lazada, and soon at all accredited retailers nationwide.

Smart Bro Rocket SIM subscribers can instantly enjoy 30 days of true Unli Data with absolutely no restrictions, data-capping, or speed-throttling. This way, users can enjoy rocket-like speeds for all their favorite online activities throughout their subscription.

Students can make the most of Unli Data as they attend their virtual classes and surf the web for their research, while yuppies can rely on Unli Data to send heavy work files and staying online for urgent meetings and presentations.

Users can also maximize Unli Data as they stay in touch with friends and loved ones on social media, promote online businesses through a slew of creative content, binge-watch the latest series and films, or playing online mobile games to chill for when life gets far too hectic.

Once the 30 days of Unli Data is up, subscribers may simply register to other data offers via the GigaLife App. Just download the GigaLife App now on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Philippines’ fastest mobile data network

The launch of the new Smart Bro Rocket SIM with Unli Data comes on the heels of Ookla’s latest report citing Smart’s as the country's fastest 5G network in the Philippines for the first half of 2021. Smart also recently reaffirmed its dominance as the country’s fastest mobile network for the fourth year in a row, based on analysis by Ookla of tests taken with Speedtest® covering the first half of 2021.

On the other hand, Smart scored a rare sweep in the April 2021 Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards by independent analytics firm Opensignal, beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service, including Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice App).

Get your Smart Bro Rocket SIM now at the Smart Online Store and Smart Flagship Store on Lazada. To know more about Smart’s latest products and services, visit Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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