Celebrities and Athletes to Join Under Armour’s ‘Test of Will’ on March 25 & 26

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With the recently concluded Under Armour ‘Test of Will’ national Heats in Malaysia and Thailand, the spotlight is now focused on the Philippines; as to who will be the Philippine representatives to the much awaited regional competition of Under Armour’s ‘Test of Will’.

Celebrities and athletes such as Gretchen Ho, JC de Vera, Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, 2x Jiu-jitsu world champion Meggie Ochoa, fitness trainer Elle Adda, MMA fighters Mark Mugen and AJ Matthews are all expected to make an appearance during this weekend’s highly anticipated local leg of the regional event.

The Philippine national Heats is set to take place on March 25 & 26 at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. The winners on said dates, will then face-off against representatives from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei during the final round on May 6, 2017, set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Participants can still sign up for UA ‘Test of Will’, which is on its second year, and designed as “the most advanced urban fitness challenge.” It offers athletes the chance to compete in a simple 4-minute circuit consisting of Burpees, One Arm Thruster, TRX Rows and Sandbag Throw. Each competitor will be scored based on the maximum number of repetitions they can achieve within 60 seconds. The highest scoring man and woman of the national Heats from each respective country will win an all-expense paid trip to compete in the regional finals, happening in Kuala Lumpur. This year’s overall champion of the regional finals will walk away with S$2,500 cash prize, or around Php 88,000.00, winners will also get free head-to-toe gear and special discounts.

Newly signed Under Armour Ph athlete, Bellator fighter AJ “the Filipino Punisher” Matthews, who has an 8-5 record, is also expected to join the UA ‘Test of Will’ on said dates.

AJ Matthews also called out to other Philippine participants, who can still sign up for the event, set on March 25 & 26. “Go test your will and join Under Armour’s event, and see what your body is capable of achieving. I will see you there”, says the FIlipino Punisher. Matthews is expected to head-to-head with One Championship fighter Mark Mugen on the first day of the event.

For more information regarding ‘Test of Will’ and other events, you may visit www.tripleready.com/events. Make sure to follow Under Armour Philippines via @underarmourph on Instagram and Twitter for updates as well as Facebook at www.facebook.com/underarmoursea.

LoveYourself and Partners Beef Up HIV Awareness After Anvil Win

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Advocating for greater HIV awareness, LoveYourself and its partner Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., which is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Shell Philippines Exploration (SPEX), B.V., has continuously strengthened their HIV programs for businesses, students and the youth, and other vulnerable sectors.

LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan said, “We need to be aggressive and varied with our programs to curb HIV and AIDS, especially now that there are 27 Filipinos getting infected every day from only four (4) individuals in 2010.”

“Through our LoveYourself Caravan, our volunteers are sweeping through schools and private companies in key cities in the National Capital Region to educate the participants on correct and consistent condom use, timely testing and treatment, and safe and satisfying sex (TSC) as well as how companies can implement an HIV Policy in their respective offices,” Pagtakhan relayed.

Recently, LoveYourself Caravan’s Philippines Business Sector Response (PBSR) to HIV, which a SPEX-funded program and implemented largely by LoveYourself, has won a Silver Anvil Award last 10 March for helping address the key health issues of the country. 

Receiving the Silver Anvil Award on 10 March 2017 at the Makati Shangri-La are (L-R) PBSR Senior Officer Dr. Stella Flores (2nd from left), PSFI Project Manager Marvi Trudeau, PSFI Executive Director Edgar Veron Cruz, SPEX Managing Director Don Paulino, LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin Pagtakhan, PBSR Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Julius Elorpe, LoveYourself Deputy for Strategic Communications Raybert Domingo and members of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

This is the first time that a LoveYourself-implemented program has been awarded an Anvil award, considered the most prestigious recognition for public relations campaigns in the country. The PBSR program won in the category of Public Relations Programs: Directed at Specific Stakeholders, External Consumers, Communities and Special Interest/Advocacy Groups.

The PBSR is a program dedicated to businesses or enterprises which entails HIV awareness, testing and facilitating the creation and implementation of an HIV Policy in the Workplace.

Apart from PBSR, LoveYourself also has a committed program for schools and universities providing HIV education and screening. The LoveYourself Caravan programs are in cooperation with the Department of Health-Philippine National AIDS Council (DOH-PNAC), the UNAIDS, and the PSFI.

“We’ve gone through various companies and academic institutions in the cities of Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Quezon Pasay, San Juan, Taguig and even Puerto Princesa in Palawan to support their needs towards HIV education and policy requirements,” informed Earl Patrick B. Penabella, LoveYourself PBSR and Caravan Program Officer.

LoveYourself Caravan and TestMNL.org provided HIV education, counseling and testing to the FEU Tamaraws in Manila last 08 March.

Penabella added that in 2016, the PBSR team conducted HIV related trainings to the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) member-participants in Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

Based on January 2017 DOH data, there were 844 new individuals diagnosed to have been infected with HIV, which is 5% higher compared to the same period last year and the highest reported cases since 1984.

Currently, LoveYourself Caravan is being boosted through the TestMNL (testMNL.org) campaign, which is an adaptation of the TestBKK in Bangkok, Thailand funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation through the APCOM, a regional organization that promotes HIV issues that affect the lives of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people, including rights, health and well-being.

On 24 March, LoveYourself Caravan and TestMNL will be conducting an alternative learning experience to the Pre-Medical Society of the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City concerning HIV and AIDS, which also includes HIV counseling and testing.

To answer queries on HIV and other sexual health inquiries, LoveYourself Volunteers set up booths during PUP’s celebration of LGBT Pride last 10 March.

In March alone, LoveYourself Caravan and TestMNL have conducted HIV education, counseling and testing at the Far Eastern University (08 March), Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa (10 March), Philippine Normal University (11 March) and UP Los Baños (13 March).

For more details on other LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.

Kaye Morales: Designer, Lesbian Icon’s Quest for Equality

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The month of March celebrated the woman; her achievements, her independence, and her total empowerment. Our world today is not perfect and inequality continues to cast its shadow across the darkest corners of our day to day lives. In our world today, being a woman is not just a personal experience, but a political one as well.

Today’s women are motivated to defy convention with every step they take and there’s no other woman who embodies those forward-thinking ideas quite like fashion designer, Kaye Morales.

“With all the emerging talents in the fashion industry, being a woman in 2017 means pushing myself harder”, says Kaye Morales.

Progressive and fashion-forward, Kaye Morales has grown to become one of Manila’s youngest and hottest street-wear designers. Her latest collection, Identity, broke through the gender-binary with pieces that were adaptable to people of all genders and body types. Since its launch in December 2016, Identity has become a critical and commercial success.

“This is my revolution of self, my freedom”, Morales shares, as she looks at Identity’s success. “It is a spectrum of emotions and experiences that I want to express.”

Morales came out about her sexuality in 2015 and expressed a desire in making the fashion industry a welcoming place for people all genders and sexual orientations. As a part owner of LGBT nightclub, Nectar, Morales launched Girl Nation – an event she hosts every Tuesday night for lesbian and queer women alike. Her efforts have cemented her place as an icon in the local LGBT community.

“Ngayon lang n​a​gkaron ng ganito sa Manila ​and my main goal is to build relationships within the community ​para maging closer ​yung members ng ​LGBT”, says Morales. “That's my main goal.

Morales is currently hard at work, working on her next collection, Vomit. Away from the design studio, Morales is a dedicated triathlete and is training for her next triathlon. 

“I believe that to be able to cope up with the physical and mental requirements that my job requires, I need to stay fit and healthy”, shares Kaye Morales. “Being a woman in 2017 is being a woman who takes control of her life and future.”

If there’s anything that truly sets Kaye Morales apart from her peers, is her ability to embrace the experiences of all women and to channel that into all of the work she does. Whether, it’s in the design studio, on the track, on in a club, Kaye Morales’ work inspires people to be themselves in the face of a world on the cusp of acceptance.

Hit Reality Show “The Amazing Race” Returns for Season 29 on AXN

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Get ready for a race unlike any before when the worldwide hit reality television show, The Amazing Race, returns for its 29th edition on AXN.

Unlike in previous seasons, this season offers a fresh, new format in response to the clamor of The Amazing Race fans for years. When the race begins on March 31, all 22 contestants are complete strangers who meet for the first time on the starting line.

They compete in a challenge that will determine the order for choosing a teammate, based on nothing but first impressions. Then, these new teams engage in fierce competition as they complete a series of physical and mental challenges while racing around the world, spanning 17 cities in nine countries across five continents.

These odd couples of newfound partners, which include an army drill sergeant, a professional snowboarder, a Wall Street banker, an auctioneer, and a college drum major, among others, discover for themselves how they handle the pressure and cope with the tension of competing and traveling with someone they just met.

The first team to arrive at the final finish line will win the grand prize of US$1 million and crowned the winners of The Amazing Race.

New Zealand television personality Phil Keoghan returns as host in this latest installment of the competitive reality series.

The Amazing Race Season 29 premieres on March 31, every Friday at 8:50pm within 12 hours of the U.S. telecast. First & Exclusive on AXN.

AXN is available on SKYCable Channel 49, Destiny Cable Channel 61, Cignal Channel 121, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G Sat Channel 51, and Cablelink Channel 38. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

City of Dreams Manila Fosters Employee Engagement and Gives Back to the Community

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Employee engagement and involvement in the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are among the key drivers that foster employee satisfaction and well-being in City of Dreams Manila. Inspiring action, recognizing and expressing belief in the potential of its employees, the luxury integrated resort’s motivational and fun undertakings recognize outstanding performance, showcase diverse talents and promote sociability, alongside employee volunteerism that boosts morale.

"As City of Dreams Manila celebrates its second year anniversary, we recognize that human resources are one of our most invaluable assets and we are committed to deliver delightful and engaging experiences for our employees through our various activities. We endeavor to inspire them to take pride in their profession and have a sense of belongingness. As we stress the importance of observing work and life balance and being more productive and creative in their respective jobs, we motivate them to be actively involved in community outreach programs,” Property President Geoff Andres states. 

 
Employee Engagement

To recognize outstanding performance, the luxury resort presents “President’s Award,” a prestigious annual recognition given by the Property President for six outstanding employees from the ranks of associate to managerial level and front-of-the-house and heart-of-the-house categories. Selecting the best from some 5,000 employees, a stringent nomination process draws out the most outstanding performers. The awardees receive a trophy and pin, cash prize and gift vouchers, and a special dinner with the Property President. Two of the awardees last year also represented City of Dreams Manila in the regional BMW Hotelier Awards 2016 held in Macau.

Fun and engaging employee activities include a monthly “Pasikatan” talent competition from which the year’s grand prize winners are awarded a cash prize of P8,888, an overnight accommodation at Nobu Hotel for two persons and gift vouchers for the complex’s various facilities. Other competitions held last year were holiday décor-making among the various departments, which awarded P15,000 to the grand prize winner; a poster-making contest that revealed latent artistic talents vying for the plum prize of P10,000; and the spectacular annual employees Christmas party.

The first Mr. and Ms. City of Dreams Manila pageant was launched late last year, where a series of preliminary rounds screened over 38 contestants vying for the title, as 16 finalists composed of eight men and eight women competed in their sportswear, cocktail and evening long gown. Iriz Bjergh Rodrin, Bell Captain, at Nobu Hotel and Elena Faith Cariño, Human Resources Training and Development Assistant were announced as Mr. & Ms. City of Dreams Manila 2016 respectively. Aside from a cash prize of P20,000 each and other attractive prizes, they were given the opportunity to attend the Miss Universe 2016 Governor’s Ball.

City of Dreams Manila also recognizes the importance of work and life balance for its employees, encouraging them to take scheduled vacations for rest and recreation – for which “Picture Perfect”, an enjoyable activity wherein employees submit their most interesting holiday travel photos. Zumba Nights, and “Palarong Pinoy” mini-olympics fostering team camaraderie and local culture are held for fun and fitness, while livelihood workshops and seminars are also offered for employees and family members.

“These undertakings advocate the well-being and productivity of our employees and develop their multi-faceted talents as they stand committed to create a positive impact for the community at large”, adds Andres. 

CSR Participation

Supporting City of Dreams Manila’s corporate culture and vision towards community service, its employees actively volunteer their time and services in charitable and civic institutions, building homes and rehabilitation for indigent communities, participating in environmental activities such as tree planting and coastal cleanup, Red Cross blood donation drives, and visits to various orphanages, homes for the elderly and nursing homes. .

For its year-round “Spoonful of Dreams”, City of Dreams Manila’s has adopted Parañaque’s Bahay Aruga orphanage as its key CSR beneficiary. Since the resort’s pre-opening, it has been conducting feeding programs, rehabilitating the facilities, and hosting field trips and varied activities that bring joy and learning to the children. Other children institutions supported by City of Dreams’ volunteerism program are My Father’s House in Sucat, Hospicio de San Jose and Virlanie Foundation in Metro Manila. Early this year, the integrated resort hosted cancer-stricken children of Child Haus Manila, in support of the Cabinet Spouses Foundation, and businessman Hans Sy’s and entrepreneur Ricky Reyes’ adopted charity. The children were treated to a day of fun at DreamPlay, the DreamWorks animation-inspired interactive play space.

For “Connecting Dreams”, the employees have also volunteered their time, provided meals and interacted with senior citizens at Anawim Home for the Aged and Graces Home for the Elderly; and persons with disabilities at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan.

“Building Dreams”, another City of Dreams Manila CSR program, sees volunteers building shelters for impoverished communities. Together with Gawad Kalinga, employees participated in the construction of new houses to improve the living conditions of some 1,000 families presently residing at Gawad Kalinga Mangahan Kawayan in Parañaque. The activity targets to build roughly 600 homes within the next three to five years.

“Growing Dreams” is City of Dreams Manila’s tree-planting activity in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Employees donated over 1,600 seedlings for the project, while close to 100 volunteers planted trees in Barangay Perez, Calauan, Laguna.

City of Dreams Manila’s employees actively embrace their role in environmental conservation, participating in the Annual International Coastal Cleanup program. Last year, over 100 volunteers mostly from Security and Table Games departments partnered with about 70 members of the 107th squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard and initiated a coastal cleanup along the Manila Bay area, covering a shore-to-bay distance of roughly 10 meters by a shoreline distance of close to 100 meters. The efforts yielded hundreds of kilos of rubbish which were moved off the water’s edge and later on collected by the local city government.

City of Dreams Manila’s continuing CSR with The Philippine Red Cross engages employees in regular blood donation drives, for which it was recognized last year with a Diploma of Service during the Philippine Red Cross’ Annual Recognition Ceremony, celebrating the heroism and selflessness of volunteer blood donors.

Gina Iniong Aims to Impress in ONE Championship Debut

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Considered as one of the best female Filipino fighters that the local Philippine mixed martial arts (MMA) scene has ever produced, Gina “Conviction” Iniong has finally found her way to ONE Championship.

Iniong will make her much-awaited promotional debut at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY in Manila, Philippines on 21 April as she is booked to square off with Filipino-English stalwart Natalie Gonzales Hills in a three-round atomweight contest.

The 27-year-old Baguio City native is a member of the renowned Team Lakay and has a professional MMA record of 4-2. Three of her four career victories have come by thrilling finish, which includes two impressive submissions.

Team Lakay’s 5-foot-2 atomweight standout also owns notable victories over the likes of French fighter Nathalie Heidel and Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi.

In her last bout under a regional MMA promotion in January 2016, Iniong astonishingly submitted Spanish combatant Vanessa Rico Fernandez with a heel lock in the first round.

Now competing on a global stage like ONE Championship, Iniong sets her sights on establishing a lasting impression as she shares the cage with Hills on 21 April.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me by this well-respected MMA promotion. ONE Championship is the premier MMA organization in Asia. With my debut taking place this April, it’s a chance to show the world what I am capable of doing inside the cage,” she said.

“I’m not going to waste this wonderful opportunity. I am here to give every Filipino MMA fan who is going to watch the event live a night to remember,” Iniong added.

Iniong admitted that she feels the pressure, but Mark Sangiao’s talented female ward stressed that she thrives on it as it brings out the best in her.

“There will always be pressure, but it is about channeling it in a right way. Being nervous before a fight can be good in a certain way. I thrive on it because it motivates me to overcome it by doing my best,” she stated.

As a fierce cage competitor with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods, Iniong seeks a statement-making victory in her first assignment as a ONE Championship athlete.

“I’ve been out for over a year. I cannot explain how excited I am to step inside the ONE Championship cage for the very first time. Of course, I want that finish. I am always looking for that. If there’s an opening to get the knockout or submission, I will go for that in a split second,” she ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

The Largest Property Expo in the Philippines to Launch on May 27, 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 4th Philippine Property Expo, the country’s largest real estate expo will launch on May 27, 2017 and will run for 2 days at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

Philippine Property Expo is the perfect place for interested home buyers and real estate investors to find the best deals on top property developments, as well as real estate home supplies.

This 2-day event will feature over 100 Property Developers and Home Suppliers, Real Estate Brokerage Firms, Real Estate Marketing Agencies, Property Investment Firms and Consultancies, Vacation Membership Clubs, Home and Office Furniture, Construction Suppliers, Home Technology Solutions, Real Estate Online Portals and expected to be visited by over 6,000 visitors.

The expo will also feature a Property Industry Leadership Talk giving interested home buyers, property investors and real estate professionals the latest overview of the country's property market.

For the past 3 years, some of the biggest names in real estate have exhibited at the Philippine Property Expo such as Shang Properties, Ayala Land, Vista Land, SMDC, DMCI HOMES, Megaworld, Century Properties Group, Amaia Land, Filinvest Land, New San Jose Builders, Robinsons Land, PICAR Development, Phinma Properties, P.A Properties, PDB Properties, Sta. Lucia Land, Property Company of Friends, Geo Estate Development, Masaito Development, Jade Group Real Estate Developers, Greenfield Development, Zhongfa Development, Elanvital Enclaves, Sterling Properties, DDC Land, Merry Leaf Realty, Regus, Lamudi Philippines, ListingIN, Capitarise Property Management, Rider Levett Bucknall Philippines, Power Steel Specialist Trading, Cavite Form Modules, and many more.

WSI Highlights McAfee Security and How to Combat Against Cyber Attacks

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With billions of IT devices coming online during the next several years, the threat of cyber-attacks is very real.

There were over one million web attacks against people each day throughout the world. Cybercriminals continue to take advantage of vulnerabilities in legitimate websites to infect users. These cybercriminals have given the opportunity to access mass quantities of sensitive and personal information through the use of advance technologies.

Wordtext Systems Inc., the oldest pure IT distributor in the Philippines held an informative press launch last March 22 at the Discovery Primea, Makati City to keep up the importance of having dependable software security solutions that is intended for home and corporate environments.

Intel Security, the world's largest dedicated security technology company unveil strategic partnership to create an independent McAfee product lines that opt to deliver proactive and proven security solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world. It protects consumers and businesses of all sizes from the latest malware and emerging online threats. These software security solutions that WSI distributes were designed to work together, integrating anti-malware, anti-spyware, and antivirus software with security management features that deliver unsurpassed real-time visibility and analytics, reduce risk, ensure compliance, improve Internet security, and help businesses achieve operational efficiencies.

Shopback Redefines Smart Online Shopping with Cashback System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

E-commerce has increasingly changed the way people shop for consumer goods. Online stores like Lazada and Zalora in particular are favored in large part by Filipinos due to the huge discounts they offer on top of the added convenience of delivering purchased goods directly in their doorsteps.

Since its launch last year, the Philippine franchise of Southeast Asia's largest and fastest growing online loyalty platform has been making a good thing even better for thousands of online shoppers. Offering rebates they call “cashbacks,” ShopBack has been returning up to 30 percent of what consumers pay for a particular item or service. This is on top of any discount the online store is already offering.

Such cashbacks are not only given to shoppers of Lazada and Zalora but also to over 350 other popular online shopping destinations. 

“We at ShopBack not only help Filipinos get the best deals and discounts, but we even give cashbacks which is actually giving your cash back,” explains ShopBack Philippines country head Kristina Ay-ay.

“Here’s how it works. When you shop online at say, Lazada or Zalora through ShopBack, a portion of your purchase is returned to you within 48 hours in your ShopBack account even if your mode of payment is cash on delivery to the store. This translates to extra, unlimited savings whenever you shop online.”

Ay-ay said the cashback is made possible through commissions earned by ShopBack from partner merchants with every completed sales transaction. ShopBack then shares a portion of its commission with the shopper.

“Our partner merchants reward us with a commission for referring you to shop on their site. But instead of keeping the commission to ourselves, we are sharing them with our consumers,” Ay-Ay pointed out. 

Although ShopBack employs a loyalty scheme similar to other point system rewards programs and credit card rebates, what sets ShopBack apart from the rest is that the cashbacks are immediately credited to registered users.

Once the amount of cashback accumulates to a certain point, it is then deposited to the shopper’s bank, GCash or PayPal account which he or she can either withdraw or use as payment for future purchases.

This sharing system, developed by six enterprising individuals in Singapore, began when ShopBack was founded in 2014. Following the very favorable public reception there, ShopBack was subsequently introduced in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines and will be launching in Thailand within the year.

Now with over 1,300 global and local e-retailers in the Southeast Asian region, ShopBack is now the leading player in its field.

With almost half a million subscribers within a span of one year, ShopBack is obviously a big hit for Filipino consumers. But Ay-ay is not stopping there as she intends to make ShopBack an even more indispensable shopping portal and further evangelize on the benefits of its cashback system.

ShopBack will soon provide aggregated reviews and head-to-head comparisons in order to provide consumers with more informed decisions when they shop on the site.

“We want every Filipino to be able to save as much as they can when shopping online. That’s ShopBack’s promise,” Ay-ay concluded.

Indeed, smart shopping has never been this rewarding.

Better #InternetForAll is coming to Metro Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Smart Communications is serious about giving everyone in the Philippines access to better Internet (the target is to cover 95% of the country’s cities and municipalities with LTE by end of 2018) and the work never ends. After completing its network improvement efforts in Boracay and Davao (where the company boosted 3G signal and expanded both indoor and outdoor LTE coverage) Smart is now working on giving residents and visitors of Metro Manila and the nearby Rizal province a much improved mobile internet experience.

The Metro Manila LTE rollout is expected to be completed very soon, but as early as now, tests already show massive improvements in mobile data speeds and coverage in key areas of NCR and Rizal. In a matter of weeks, people can expect better mobile internet to be experienced in more areas in the metro, even when inside establishments, workplaces, and residential buildings.

This network upgrade is aligned with Smart’s three-year nationwide network improvement plan. While these upgrades are happening, Smart explains that there will be unavoidable service interruptions, but they promise it will be worth the wait. Soon enough, more people from all over the country will get to use and experience what they call “Smart’s best network yet”.

Watch the video below: