BREAKING

Friday, April 5, 2013

Globe Successfully Attracts 49% Switchers From Rival Networks



Wazzup Pilipinas!

The full year 2012 financial performance of Globe Telecom saw the company increasing its base and attracting more subscribers, evidently growing across the board in all market segments – mobile or broadband.

With game-changing product offers and cornering the latest devices with exclusive privileges, Globe has captured the sweet spot of customers at the height of its competitors’ aggressive switching campaigns launched during the second half of 2012.

This was spelled out in a recent survey conducted by global consumer research firm Nielsen, which indicated rival network’s subscribers switching to Globe. According to the survey, 49% of total SIM switchers to the Globe network came from competition.


Gyu-Kaku: Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita for being in the Philippines



Wazzup Pilipinas !

Konnichiwa! Minnasan wa o genki desu ka? Watashi wa ureshii desu soshiete nihon kyouri wa oishi desu. 

If you don't understand Japanese, I meant to say: I had the time of my life!

Seriously, it was the other night that I was able to try the best Wagyu Beef I’ve ever tasted so far. It was so soft and tender that it literally melted in my mouth! Top it off with the experience of grilling the beef along with the rest of the other equally tasty meats in our Assorted Meat Plate with my friends was truly amazing!


The special secret sauce, with also an option for a spicy variety upon request, even brought out a better complementing taste. The grilled meat was good enough on its own, but the sauces simply gives you an alternative way of enjoying your grilled meat.

It's a better experience than a Shabu-Shabu meal - which is a different thing altogether - and a whole lot exhilarating than a backyard barbecue weekend. I guess its more intimate, and satisfying in the end.


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Color Dash is So Uber-Cool and Colorful! : Running on May 11 at BGC!



Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
"Almost one more month before the MOST colorful and exciting run of this year! You have no idea the surprises in store for participants. ;) Register now before slots fill up and they are filling up quite fast!"

I'm gearing up to an exciting run this May 11 at the Bonifacio Global  City (BGC) as I will be joining other runners (newbies and pros) and running enthusiasts, health buffs, and fitness lovers, in the most colorful and truly the "coolest" running event this year.

It's not everyday that you'll get to run in a multitude of colors all bright and cheerful thus making you go on and finish the 5k run with style...and did I mention "cool" already?

Yeah! "Cool" , "Coolest", and "Uber-Cool"


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Komikon 2013 at the Bayanihan Center


Wazzup Pilipinas!

All comic book lovers and collectors will surely love to attend the Komikon 2013 event happening on April 13, 2013 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig.

This will be a phenomenal event that will be attended by the young and the young at heart (isip-bata), which includes me. I never really outgrown my love for comic books and even have a collection of Batman titles among other collectible characters.

It does not only bring out the jubilant child in me but also keeps me creative and adventurous in every occasion.


DOT, IDMI to Launch Fun Kiosks


Wazzup Pilipinas !

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with Illuminate Dynamic Media, Inc. (IDMI) in promoting the country’s various destinations through the installation of digital information kiosks at strategic locations in Metro Manila. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on March 26, 2013, which provides for the identification of critical sites by the DOT, while IDMI will take responsibility of the deployment, installation, and maintenance of these facilities.

These digital tourist information kiosks are set to be deployed at highly visible places such as airports, hotels, malls, bus terminals, MRT, and LRT stations to cater to the travel needs of both local and international tourists for quick, round-the-clock information about local business services, accommodations, places of interest, foreign exchange rates, and emergency telephone numbers. There is also a what-to-do list section where one can get the latest information on events, mall sales, and bazaars going on in the area. It will also include a device charger, digital photo booth, and WiFi zone. With this welcome innovation, first-time travelers to the Philippines will now find it easier to access information about the country.

“Tourism has undoubtedly become everybody’s business. We are grateful that the government and private sector are investing in tourism with optimism and confidence. We welcome this new public-private partnership with IDMI, in spreading and sustaining the fun in traveling around Metro Manila, and soon all over the country,” Secretary of Tourism Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. said.

Philippines Declared as 2012′s Best Leisure Destination



Wazzup Pilipinas ! 

It is indeed more fun in the Philippines!

The Lifestyle Publication recently named the Philippines as one of 2012’s “Best Leisure Destinations”.

The Lifestyle Publication is one of the most sought-after newspapers for advertising in China. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Lifestyle Publication conferred the recognition on the Philippines during its Grand Annual Tourism Awards.

The DFA said Lifestyle is renowned as the “top fashion and lifestyle service newspaper brand in China". In fact, it is among the top 10 most sought-after newspapers for advertising in China.  It has a circulation of about 300,000 copies and is published every Monday and Thursday. The Grand Annual Tourism Awards had been conferred by the Lifestyle Publications for three years now. The awardees were chosen by the tourism industry representatives and professionals.

Epson Partners With Jimac to Showcase Next-Generation Receipt Printers for Fast Web-Based Systems




Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) has collaborated with Jimac, Inc., a Filipino-owned software company, to equip Hainanese Delight with a breakthrough point-of-sale (POS) system that can reduce capital investment and facilitate faster customer turnaround time.

Jimac, Inc. was established in 1992 and has since provided affordable, fully integrated, industry-specific business management solutions nationwide. In the past 20 years, it has developed POS solutions for Food Service (full-service restaurant management & fastfood); Retail (all-in-one web-based solutions & retail data management system); Healthcare (pharmacy POS); and Enterprise (small-medium enterprise solutions & centralized delivery system).

The pilot project -- called the Jimac TM-i Flex System -- was put into service at the Hainanese Delight restaurant (SM Baliuag branch). The project features a simple solution to a common concern -- complicated printing programs requiring installing additional print servers when printing receipts from a web application.



The pilot installation demonstrates how retailers can process orders using smart devices and/or Android-based devices, while providing stores the ability to easily transmit end-of-day reports to their headquarters via network, with reports being sent in two ways: Web and SMS. Another benefit of the set-up is back-end management done through the Web. Overall, retailers will be better-equipped and will enjoy more intuitive interface, flexibility and multi-platform use with less clutter in countertop.

Integral to the Jimac TM-i Flex System is Epson’s latest innovation in web & mobile POS solution from the premium TM-i series -- the Epson TM-T70i POS printer.





Epson developed a new solution, ePOS-Print, which enables direct printing from web applications without changing the printer settings and no print driver is required. PC-free functionality is made easy through TMNet WebConfig, all in a completely platform-independent environment. The Epson TM-T88Vi and Epson TM-T70i can also control additional Epson TM printers (e.g. for applications like order entry or kitchen printer) and cash drawers.

Epson’s new ePOS print technology in the TM-i series enables users to print receipts, tickets and coupons at the point of sale or in back office and kitchen environments from any device running an HTML5-compatible web browser such as Safari®, Chrome™, Internet Explorer® and the standard Android browser.

The TM-T88Vi and TM-T70i have been developed to reduce the complexity and bring straight-forward solutions to XML printing using mobile devices and tablets. Receipts and other necessary information are printed through web applications using XML.

The Epson TM-i intelligent receipt printers fully address the use of new technologies for more diverse applications in the retail segment, while providing ease of use, intelligent functionality, control-connected devices, cost-efficiency, reliability, easy maintenance, and convenience. 




Intelligent receipt printers serve as a hub and control over other TM printers. Print requests from terminals are received by HTTP transmissions, and the built-in Webserver sends ESC/POS commands to the printer.


“From shopping, Internet banking, and online trading, a vast range of web services has emerged in recent years. Mobile technologies are being deployed in record numbers at lightning speed across a wide range of businesses -- all of which need more flexible printing capabilities. Web services have also spread into in-store systems used by establishments in the Retail and F&B segments, where systems based on web applications are being built to work with smartphones and tablet PCs. A major advantage of web-based point-of-sale (POS) systems is that they can be set up much faster and at significantly less expense than traditional POS systems because there is no need to install applications on each terminal. Another advantage as far as system users are concerned is that Web-based POS systems require only a relatively small investment,” explains EPC Product Manager for POS Printers Thea Austria.




Easily implemented in hospitality environments such as restaurants and bars where tablets are used for taking and transmitting orders, the TM-i series printers are also ideal for retail stores using mobile sale capture devices to cut down long customer queue lines. The TM-i printers can also act as mini-servers, delivering a software interface to smartphones and tablets that allows multiple item selection for transactions and printing. As no PCs, servers or drivers are necessary for the TM-T70i to operate, businesses can also significantly reduce power consumption with less equipment online.

“As more businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors employ cloud-based solutions because of the lower cost and quick and easy deployment, their printing systems need to be cloud compatible. Epson’s TM-i intelligent printer series is not only a solution but also enhances the benefits that cloud-based systems bring,” concludes EPC Country Manager Toshimitsu Tanaka.

Philippines Upgraded to Fitch BBB- Rating



Wazzup Pilipinas!

Each country is given a credit rating mainly by three agencies, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. On the basis on the rating given, investors are attracted to invest in the country.

Fitch Ratings upgraded the Philippines' Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'.  This is the highest ever rating that the Philippines has ever received. According to Francisco Colayco, Our country has always been considered as laggard in all categories especially in economy and business.

BBB- is not really such a high rating. It places the Philippines only in the lower level of the “Lower Medium Grade.” We still have to go through four more categories to be “Upper Medium Grade” and two more levels to be “High Grade.” But considering we came from “Non-Investment Grade” categories for over ten years, we have reason to be happy. It is a good start and our country has to take the momentum to forge forward.

Bloomberg Names Philippines Among Top 20 Emerging Markets


Wazzup Pilipinas !
Bloomberg Markets magazine has recently included the Philippines among the top 20 emerging markets.

As everyone knows, the Bloomberg Professional service is the most powerful and flexible platform for financial professionals who need real-time data, news and analytics to make smarter, faster, more informed business decisions. Bloomberg has reported the Philippines may very well be among the world’s top 10 fastest-growing economies amid robust consumer spending.

Investors have been known to pour money into emerging markets - to the tune of $50 billion last year for mutual funds that invest in developing countries, according to EPFR Global.

The Bloomberg Market magazine ranked the top 20 based on more than a dozen criteria. According to Bloomberg, the top 20 emerging markets were graded according to the ease of doing business, perceived level of corruption, and economic freedom.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Philippines Voted "Best Value of Diving Dollar" by the Scuba Diving Magazine



Wazzup Pilipinas !

Once again, the Philippines has been recognized as among the world’s top destinations for diving.

The country was included in four categories in this year’s Top 100 Readers Choice Awards by Scuba Diving Magazine, which is “based on opinions of thousands of divers from across the globe.”

The Philippines, which is part of the Pacific and Indian Ocean region, was named Best Value of Diving Dollar by the magazine, surpassing four other destinations: Palau, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

It ranked second to Indonesia in Best Macro Diving, followed by Papua New Guinea, Palau and Malaysia; and fourth in Best Underwater Photography, which was won by Fiji.

3rd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge To Boost Tourism And Environmental Protection



Wazzup Pilipinas !

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur will hold the International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge on 27 – 28 April 2013 to further raise tourism activity and awareness on environmental protection for the Philippines’ highest peak.

“The protection of the environment is a major thrust of tourism. Our 21st century tourists are more discerning and tend to patronize destinations with sustainable practices. The Davao region boasts of many unique offerings and attractions: the durian, waling-waling, Philippine Eagle, and the Mt. Apo. Top that with the community’s active advocacy for protection, and we will have more desirable tourists appreciating these natural assets,” Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. enthused.

The third international installment of the race and its sixth overall spans 113.3 kilometers: 47.8 km of biking, 50 km of trekking, 3.5 km of water tubing, and 12 km of road running. Any team of three, composed of two racers and one logistics crew, all above 18 years old, are allowed to join the race. “For regular climbers, it takes two days to climb the peak of Mt. Apo and one day to descend. This competition invites participants to do a 24-hour climb of Mt. Apo and back,” DOT Region XI Director Arturo Boncato said.

Janine Tugonon Announces Break-Up with Her Boyfriend While Cooking "Tinola" on National TV



Wazzup Pilipinas!


A recently uncalled for and unwanted announcement on national TV had everyone in shock. I can imagine how the poor guy felt while they were cooking that "tinola" together while her now "former" beauty queen girlfriend belittles him on national TV, and what's worst - during Kris TV.

What's even worst is that the morning talk show host was equally adding heat to the humiliating incident.

"Kris: Masakit ba? You're hurting?

Jaypee: Ay hinde! masaya nga eh! tanga lang?!"

Naaalala ko pa yung times na todo support yung guy sa kanya habang nasa competition siya. . If she doesn't find him interesting at all okay naman makipag-break but to even broadcast it in national TV is just way too much.

Beauty fades Ms.Janine and karma is a bitch. Who knows your "Script" guy will do the same to you in the near future.. only then you will understand how your guy feels. Where's that "strong mind to show people"?


Monday, April 1, 2013

Chuck's Deli: Slay the Buffy and kill that Mother Chucker at


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Before I came in to Chuck's Deli, I knew I was going to take either the Buffy Challenge or the Mother Chucker challenge. I already saw in their Facebook that a lot of people took both challenges and failed miserably so I got nervous.

In the Buffy challenge, you have to slay the Buffy Slabwich in 5 minutes or less. It is not that hard as it sounds until you take a good look at the sandwich itself. Add that to the fact that it is spicy so I did not choose this challenge. The mother chucker challenge on the other hand says you must finish the mother chucker in 2:30 or less. I decided to take on the mother chucker challenge so I did not taste anything prior to it.

My fellow bloggers were served a variety of delicious menu items including the Buffy Balls (buffalo chicken wing balls), potato wedges, their choice of salad and soup and their choice of milkshakes. They are promoting the Lunch Bag which is a quarter slab plus a side dish and drink. There are 4 lunch bags to choose from and all of them are a must try.

Google's April Fools Franks

Just to be clear, Google Nose is part of Google's annual April Fools pranks. Others are YouTube shutting down and Google Maps' treasure hunt. Google Nose is even integrated in the Search engine today, so when you key in "wet dog" for instance you'll find Google Nose shown at the right side. Have fun exploring and checking all their videos! 



Sunday, March 31, 2013

Aquaria Leisure Resort Spells Summer Fun in Calatagan


Frontage of Aquaria leisure resort in Playa Calatagan, Calatagan, Batangas.

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
Summer in Calatagan, Batangas has never been as fun as it is nowadays with Aquaria, the new leisure resort development by Landco. Aquaria is a 1.2- hectare world-class leisure property designed for families and friends to enjoy an exciting holiday.

Aquaria is a world-class lifestyle resort with a white beach and resort amenities that is just two and a half to three hours away from Metro Manila—a perfect alternative to going to Boracay and other far away beach destinations.

Aquaria provides a convenient summer destination to those living in Metro Manila, with its world-class water park and white beach resort. Its amenities include a three-storey giant swimming pool slide; cove pools, cabanas, a sunken pool bar; separate male and female shower/locker areas; delicious food from the Sands Restaurant and various water sports and beach activities.

Technological Role in Poverty




In the modern generation world, the techno-competitive environment has been widely known. In the past several years, technology has been vastly welcomed by the general eye as it protrudes its wonderful spectrum of knowledge and ideas. Simply starting from its little known area, it winded up to the wide variety of novelty and advancements. Little by little, and instinctively speaking, technology has been a powerful tool to solve large amount of human bewilderment and environmental perplexity. The technology varying from its sources up to the ends of the world, strives to lessen the proliferation of any world-stricken dilemmas especially in talks with poverty all over the different countries.

The populace employs the high-level skills and information technology to interpret ideas and notion in order to come up with positive outcomes. The government and community continue to evoke technology to help elevate the survival of the public especially those who are in the line of poverty. Despite the popularity and reputation of technological innovations and expertise, it cannot truly emanate the unpleasant matters belonging to the world. It is an inevitable to eradicate problems associated with the world and its people, its original nature and its environment.



Technology, information and knowledge combine to profess great faith among the pitiful citizens who are losing hope in living with their lives. Their effectiveness is quite observable but it doesn’t fully end the extreme poverty. More and more days continue to pass and the gap between the rich and the poor becomes wider. Modernity doesn’t define internal development among the people but more on about the advancements of the external environment. Technology, as some others perceive it, is just the face of the modern world. It’s just like a phase in the universe covered with a range of brilliant views but it cannot and will never hide its true meaning, the poverty behind it still lag behind the spiraling pace of technology.

In everything that happens, there could exist as a pro and con. Technology may sometimes be a pro and con. Yes, it provides tools, machineries, expertise and knowledge combination in order to solve dilemmas like in politics, ethics, social responsibilities and more importantly, the poverty intact. Technology allows people to create the connections and relationships that together can break down the systems that keep people poor. While on its con, Technology is just the magnifier of human intent and capacity. (©Kentaro Toyama, Boston Review, 2010) As more development on the modern technological world takes place, more conflicts arise and human confusion still occurs.

By itself technology doesn't end poverty, but it permits inhabitants to form the associations and interaction that together can rupture the schemes that keep people deprived and underprivileged. (©Hugh Evans, Huffington Post, 2012) Obviously, ever-increasing technology is not the answer to the problem of poverty, for despite the fact that nations live in a world of expanding technology, poverty still exists.

Giving aid to the needy isn't a sufficient solution, because such aid to poor countries is often just a drop in the bucket. (©Fred Nance, United Church of God Association, 2013) Technology cannot extremely end poverty because it cannot fully estimate the power of other factors that affect the propagation of poverty and people are adhered to the fact that poverty is unavoidable, and always considered as an old and modern age problem.




Poverty is nothing new to the world. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer," says an old depression-era song and it still rings true today. It seems hard to believe in this world of computers, technology and information that there could also exist an age-old problem: poverty. And the irony of this proliferating problem is that poverty is increasing in the world amid abundance. The breach is really broadening between rich and poor, smart and dumb, and any other two comparisons. (©Fred Nance, United Church of God Association, 2013)

In everything that happens, there could exist as a pro and con. Technology may sometimes be a pro and con. Yes, it provides tools, machineries, expertise and knowledge combination in order to solve dilemmas like in politics, ethics, social responsibilities and more importantly, the poverty intact. Technology allows people to create the connections and relationships that together can break down the systems that keep people poor. While on its con, Technology is just the magnifier of human intent and capacity. (©Kentaro Toyama, Boston Review, 2010) As more development on the modern technological world takes place, more conflicts arise and human confusion still occurs.

By itself technology doesn't end poverty, but it permits inhabitants to form the associations and interaction that together can rupture the schemes that keep people deprived and underprivileged. (©Hugh Evans, Huffington Post, 2012) Obviously, ever-increasing technology is not the answer to the problem of poverty, for despite the fact that nations live in a world of expanding technology, poverty still exists.



 
Giving aid to the needy isn't a sufficient solution, because such aid to poor countries is often just a drop in the bucket. (©Fred Nance, United Church of God Association, 2013) Technology cannot extremely end poverty because it cannot fully estimate the power of other factors that affect the propagation of poverty and people are adhered to the fact that poverty is unavoidable, and always considered as an old and modern age problem.

IT as a Business Factor



In this contemporary age of technology and business, what could be the most effective factor that will make an entity dominate over the others? Information Technology is the prevalent aspect of why companies build up success.

How to be a successful businessman in this Golden Age of Information Technology? An entrepreneur should be aware of the know-how of the modern technological world. Nowadays, there are many competitions happening in the modern business world. A company cannot survive the incessant competition among the existing businesses as well as the entrance of new threats if they cannot apply a better and a more spirited method to distinguish their organization’s potential that would make it phenomenal the among the other businesses.

Nowadays, a business without strong IT is like a blind person. Today is the Era of Information Technology. According to Raiyan Moon, without the assistance of IT, no business can survive in this competitive corporate world. Today, most of the businesses are going global and the pre-condition of a successful global company is that has to have a strong information technology. To be successful in business, a company should need an assessment of business environment. They have to spy on their competitors, business partners, suppliers and customers. Without IT, how could they monitor and evaluate all those things?




Computers and information systems are vital parts of every business today. Like accounting and legal, every business needs to invest in technology to compete. Technology is both a cost of doing business, and an opportunity to do more business. Most people a company interacts with recognize the necessity of having a computer, an email address, and a web site, but still look at the upfront cost more than other issues. 



With these innovations from the field of IT, they can help businesses to reach more potential customers as well as to develop business relationships with potential clients. According to the freelock website, Information Technology is capable of making a business perform streamline operations, reduce costs, improve efficiency, maximize profit, minimize waste and devote talents to core business. The huge advantage a technology can give to a business entity will surely provide better service customers thereby leading the company into a competitive edge among the other existing organizations. Businesses with a sole attachment to IT will be supported with better relationships with key partners and will allow customers to better guide the business.

Truly, Information technology is an important aspect when a company wants to succeed in the today’s business world. Indeed, IT is an essential survival factor for all business out there!

Technological Role in Poverty



Wazzup Pilipinas !

In the modern generation world, the techno-competitive environment has been widely known. In the past several years, technology has been vastly welcomed by the general eye as it protrudes its wonderful spectrum of knowledge and ideas. Simply starting from its little known area, it winded up to the wide variety of novelty and advancements. Little by little, and instinctively speaking, technology has been a powerful tool to solve large amount of human bewilderment and environmental perplexity. The technology varying from its sources up to the ends of the world, strives to lessen the proliferation of any world-stricken dilemmas especially in talks with poverty all over the different countries.

The populace employs the high-level skills and information technology to interpret ideas and notion in order to come up with positive outcomes. The government and community continue to evoke technology to help elevate the survival of the public especially those who are in the line of poverty. Despite the popularity and reputation of technological innovations and expertise, it cannot truly emanate the unpleasant matters belonging to the world. It is an inevitable to eradicate problems associated with the world and its people, its original nature and its environment.

IT as a Business Factor



In this contemporary age of technology and business, what could be the most effective factor that will make an entity dominate over the others? Information Technology is the prevalent aspect of why companies build up success.

How to be a successful businessman in this Golden Age of Information Technology? An entrepreneur should be aware of the know-how of the modern technological world. Nowadays, there are many competitions happening in the modern business world. A company cannot survive the incessant competition among the existing businesses as well as the entrance of new threats if they cannot apply a better and a more spirited method to distinguish their organization’s potential that would make it phenomenal the among the other businesses.

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