Pinoy Otaku Festival 2025: Celebrates 10 Years of the Uniqueness of Filipino Japanese Pop Culture and Fandom

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Get ready, Philippines! The highly anticipated Pinoy Otaku Festival is back for its 2025 edition, promising an even more vibrant and immersive experience for anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and pop culture enthusiasts from all over the nation. This year's festival will be held on May 1-4, 2025 at Robinsons Novaliches Trade Hall and is poised to be the biggest celebration of Filipino otaku culture yet.

To celebrate the 10th Edition of the Pinoy Otaku Festival, key guests include Zhia, a cosplayer from Bicol, Sowon, Meewo, Mirai, Ivy! Musume, Korin, Sheartato, Choji TV, Aspire, and more. It promises to be one of the grandest gatherings of idols, cosplayers, and performers in the Philippines.

The event, which began in 2011, will feature an electrifying lineup of activities designed to thrill every kind of fan:

• Cosplay Competition Extravaganza: Witness Filipino cosplay mastery on full display across various categories.

• Trading Card Game Tournaments (in cooperation with Toy Shogun): Compete and win exciting prizes!

• Anime and Manga Mania: Dive into a wonderland of merch, fan art, screenings, and exclusive releases.

• Gaming Gauntlet: Join video game tournaments or enjoy casual free-play zones.

• Artist Alley Showcase: Support homegrown talent and bring home one-of-a-kind creations.

• Special Guest Appearances: Rub elbows with idols and iconic figures in the local and international scene.

• Panel Discussions and Workshops: Learn from industry veterans and fellow fans through informative sessions.

• Live Performances: Feel the beat with exhilarating music from anime and J-pop culture.

• Merch Booths Galore: Shop to your heart's content with otaku treasures and collectibles.

As it celebrates a decade of fandom, the Pinoy Otaku Festival 2025 continues its mission to create a safe, inclusive, and exhilarating space for fans of all ages to unite, express, and belong.

Tickets are now available at: pof.ticketmax.ph

Special VIP PASS and 4-DAY PASS offers are only available online!

This iconic event is made possible through the collaboration of Red Cloud Interactive, Robinsons Novaliches, and co-presenters Ani-One Philippines, XPasm Studios, Toy Shogun, and Printing King, along with support from AMBOX Events, Arterion Philippines, Shoryu Fighting Games, Herals Peak, Cavite Cosplayers Official, Multiverse Wrestling Unlimited, 1South Cosplay, Jakk N Jones Cosplays, and YU-EN Cosplay.

Stay Connected:

Facebook Event Page: facebook.com/events/433472549286285
Main Page: facebook.com/pinoyotakufestival
Instagram: instagram.com/pinoyotakufestival

Wazzup Pilipinas, led by its dynamic founder Ross Del Rosario, is honored to take part in this milestone event — and we invite everyone to join the celebration of Filipino otaku pride, identity, and passion.

Don't miss the ultimate otaku experience of the year. See you at Pinoy Otaku Festival

A Game-Changing Win for Education: DepEd Celebrates Breakthrough Tax Incentive Reform Under PBBM’s Agenda

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a historic move that could redefine the landscape of public-private partnerships in Philippine education, the Department of Education (DepEd) has hailed the release of Revenue Regulations No. 13-2025 as a game-changer—transforming red tape into real impact and bringing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s education reform agenda to life.

The regulation, jointly crafted by the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (DOF-BIR), is not just a technical adjustment. It is a clarion call to the private sector, philanthropic institutions, and civic-minded enterprises: help is no longer hindered. This is a bold step toward inclusive, transformative, and sustainable change for millions of Filipino learners.

Unleashing the Power of Generosity

For decades, well-meaning corporations and donors faced a maze of bureaucracy when trying to support public schools. Now, RR 13-2025 shatters those barriers by simplifying tax incentive processes under three key laws:

Republic Act No. 8525, the Adopt-a-School Act,

Republic Act No. 12063, the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, and

The National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Under the new guidelines, eligible donors can enjoy:

Exemption from donor’s tax under specific provisions of the Tax Code,

Full deductions of directly incurred program costs from gross income, plus an additional 50% deduction (subject to conditions),

Flexible valuation methods for various donation types—from cash to real estate—allowing greater accommodation for corporate contributions.

“This reform transforms generosity into impact,” declared Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “By making it easier for private partners to give, we make it easier for learners to thrive—especially in hard-to-reach communities.”

Turning Frustration Into Fuel for Reform

The timing of this regulatory overhaul is crucial. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has long pointed out the sluggish pace of tax endorsement applications—with only 476 endorsements granted since 2018. That’s less than 100 per year, an alarming figure in a country where over 20 million public school students rely on chronically underfunded infrastructure and educational resources.

“With less red tape and more clarity, we are unlocking new opportunities to address gaps in school infrastructure, resources, and technical training,” Angara emphasized.

Now, DepEd expects a tidal wave of renewed engagement, with companies no longer seeing donations as a bureaucratic burden but as a strategic investment in the nation’s future.

Proof of a Working Government

More than just an administrative win, RR 13-2025 exemplifies President Marcos’ whole-of-government approach. It's an embodiment of his commitment to responsive governance, strategic synergy, and inclusive development. The regulation is the result of multiple agencies breaking down silos and working in lockstep—DOF, BIR, DepEd, and other stakeholders—all converging around a common goal: education as a national priority.

“President Marcos has emphasized the need for responsive governance and strategic partnerships,” Angara noted. “RR 13-2025 is proof of how different agencies can work together to support education reform and economic inclusion.”

Not Just Tax Perks—But Transformative Power

DepEd isn’t stopping with the regulation’s release. The agency is now ramping up its outreach to private companies, social enterprises, and civil society organizations, urging them to take advantage of the reformed Adopt-a-School Program.

This isn’t merely about reducing taxes—it’s about redefining impact. Every donation can now be a direct line to a better future for a struggling school, an underserved student, or an entire marginalized community.

“More than tax perks, they’re pathways to real, life-changing impact for our Filipino learners,” Secretary Angara concluded.

With the dawn of RR 13-2025, the message is clear: If you’ve ever wanted to help build the nation through education, now is the time. The door is wide open—and the future is waiting.

Silent Threat on the Dinner Table: UP Biologists Sound Alarm on Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in Chicken

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Behind the comforting aroma of sizzling chicken lies a silent menace that could endanger millions—multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella—lurking in one of the most consumed meats in the Philippines. In a groundbreaking and urgent revelation, biologists from the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science, Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) are now raising red flags over the alarming spread of these stealthy, drug-defiant pathogens through poultry sold in everyday wet markets across Metro Manila.

With food safety and public health hanging in the balance, the Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory (PHEIRL) of UPD-CS IB has uncovered findings that are as eye-opening as they are terrifying: Chicken meat, a staple on Filipino tables, is teeming with dangerous strains of Salmonella that can no longer be treated by multiple lines of antibiotics.

Led by researchers Michael Joseph Nagpala, Jonah Feliza Mora, Rance Derrick Pavon, and Dr. Windell Rivera, the team deployed state-of-the-art whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing to uncover the DNA-level secrets of the bacteria. What they found was chilling: high levels of MDR Salmonella strains, genetic evidence of resistance to 12 different drug classes, and 50 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) within these pathogens—making them highly virulent and alarmingly persistent.

A Brewing Public Health Crisis

Salmonella infections are already notorious for causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting—often striking victims within hours of consumption and lasting up to a week. But what happens when these bacteria can no longer be tamed by our most trusted medicines?

The research revealed Infantis as the most dominant strain among the samples, followed by Brancaster, Anatum, London, Uganda, and Derby—all possessing an arsenal of virulence and resistance genes. These strains are not just surviving—they’re evolving, acquiring resistance through mobile DNA called plasmids, and infiltrating the food chain with shocking ease.

According to the team, “Infections from MDR Salmonella, especially among vulnerable populations and from highly virulent serovars, can lead to life-threatening, systemic, and untreatable manifestations.”

In other words: this is not just about getting sick from undercooked chicken. This is about battling bacteria that could soon render our medical defenses useless.

Wet Markets: Ground Zero

Perhaps most alarming is the setting in which these MDR bacteria are thriving—local wet markets. Often overlooked in formal food safety regulation, these markets serve as major distribution points for raw meat, making them potential hotspots for bacterial cross-contamination. From the butcher’s blade to the consumer’s kitchen, every touchpoint becomes a transmission opportunity.

“This isn’t just about farms anymore,” warns the team. “There is a clear and significant risk of MDR Salmonella variants spreading within wet markets and food animal value chains, as well as cross-contamination and undetected transmission in kitchens and homes.”

A Call to Action: Policy, Awareness, and Research

The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. The team calls for sweeping multi-sectoral reforms that cut across agriculture, health, and consumer behavior. These include:

Stricter regulations on the use of antibiotics in poultry farms

Surveillance and reporting systems for antimicrobial resistance

Education campaigns for farmers, vendors, and consumers on AMR and food hygiene

Research investment into alternatives to antibiotics and new treatments

National policies aligning with global food safety standards

The study, supported by the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office, should serve as a wake-up call for all sectors. The Philippines cannot afford to let this biological threat fester unnoticed and unchecked.

The Invisible War

As families across the country prepare their favorite chicken adobo or inihaw na manok, the invisible war against superbugs continues in the background. This isn’t just a scientific study—it’s a warning siren. MDR Salmonella doesn’t just threaten our food—it endangers our future.

The Wazzup Pilipinas founder urges all stakeholders—from policy makers and food producers to everyday consumers—to treat this threat with the seriousness it demands. The time to act is now—before our antibiotics fail and a simple meal becomes a matter of life and death.