2014-07-27 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Appreciated in a World Full of Thank You

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The day of July 31 was so heartwarming. It's the last day of July gearing up for the first day of August, but somehow this day was so blessed for me as it seems to be the day when more opportunities begin to show up. Here are the reasons why:

I got a message of support, a congratulations, a personal call of thanks, an offer to collaborate, and emails sharing similar support and praises, from several different persons at different times of the day and at different locations, appreciating my work as a blogger.

1. Meeting with a sponsor who voluntarily informs you of her support towards your decisions and methods, and then invites you to explore possible opportunities to work together, definitely perks you up and also lightens up the heavy load you were carrying. It was nice of her to inform me that at the other side of the wall lies several people who believed I am the more credible.

2. Arriving at an event, being recognized immediately, greeted warmly and then being congratulated, was also music to my ears. It is such an honor to be treated like a VIP because of the achievements I was lucky enough to get. True enough, all our sincere efforts and hard work will be eventually rewarded.

Marian Rivera: The Real Queen of All Queens

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Marian Rivera has always been as charming as the first days she first appeared on national television. She already had the face to soothe any savage beast into submission. Even though there were appearances as a mother to young children, we all know she does not meet that particular role yet as evident to the fact that many roles are yet to be discovered for her.

She has emerged as the Queen of all Queens, and always a winner in both beauty and appeal. She could probably win you over any argument if she wants to. She has that charm that cam make people meek out of admiration to her glowing beauty.

Mega Magazine joins the worldwide cause of anything and everything sustainable and eco-friendly. And it's just perfect to have the naturally beautiful and newest endorser of Hana, Marian Rivera, on their July 2014 cover. In this issue, they finally got to know Marian as Marian herself.

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The Norse pirates or other wise known as vikings have more great reasons to celebrate and shout their battle cry. Not to go to war but to dine on South East Asian menu that features dishes from all over. Every weekend, diners of Vikings Luxury Buffet will go buffet crazy and immensely appreciative.

Foodies will experience feasting on a combination of Singaporean, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines that was freshly cooked and prepared that same day. You'll never stop scooping on those delectable dishes once you've learned they are available via a grand buffet all ready for you to dive in and get out of control. Their newest offering promises to be great choices to please every taste bud out there.

At this restaurant, no one will be surprised if they see people keep coming back to the buffet spreads like warriors marching on towards the enemy grounds. The chefs have made the dishes so irresistible that even the mightiest viking will indulge on an eating frenzy because of the tempting gastronomic delights!

Give this food fight all you've got, we're all likely going to go hungry again after a few hours anyway, and never eat just right so you could eat again another day. Go for more, there's a reason why it's called a buffet. You are expected to splurge and not hesitate because you only live once so always eat a hearty meal.

But who needs more motivation. We will let the food speaks for itself. Once you've tasted just a few of them, you are bound to get hooked and try out more dishes.

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Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions has detected a hidden part of the malicious campaign which introduced Koler “police” mobile ransomware for Android devices to the world in April 2014.

This part includes some browser-based ransomware and an exploit kit.

Since July 23, the mobile component of the campaign has been disrupted, as the command and control server started sending ‘Uninstall’ commands to mobile victims, effectively deleting the malicious application.

However, the rest of the malicious components for PC users – including the exploit kit – are still active.

Kaspersky Lab is keeping an eye on the malware, which was first described by a security researcher named Kaffeine1.

Those behind the attacks used an unusual scheme to scan victims’ systems and offer customized ransomware depending on location and device type – mobile or PC.

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Rarely do we encounter some local poets and writers that pours his or her heart and soul to the craft. Our culture tends to focus on foreign authors that some of our local writers are forgotten. So they venture to cyberspace to find not just a voice but a crowd who is willing to listen. We need to support them in their works and make Pinoy authors on top again. Today we will meet such rarities of the wordsmith kind. She hails from Batangas City and is a former teacher. She is ready to guide you to her turning point. Will you come and join the journey? Here's our interview with poet and writer Agnes Tadia.

Wazzup Pilipinas: Is there a difference between teaching and writing?

Agnes Tadia: In the real sense of the word, there are differences between teaching and writing. Teaching is instructing and facilitating learning among students while writing is composing text through words or symbols to convey meaning.

On a personal level, teaching for me is my career that gives me joy and satisfaction. It is the extension of myself wherein it improves my personal and professional life. Through it, I can share my knowledge in English and Literature subjects to students which in the process beneficial for both of us. However, writing is the outlet of my deepest thoughts and emotions fashioning it to be the imprint of my insights in life.

Patrick Gonzales: An Interview with the Youngest Broadcaster of the Philippines

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I was probably still playing with Legos and Transformer robots when I was 8 years old. Those younger days must have been spent watching Popeye and Flintstones cartoons. So imagine my surprise when I learned that there's this kid who has been conquering the radio air waves at that very young and fragile age.

His father must have been a great influence on him since the kid did say during the interview that he really wanted to beat his father's record who took on the role of a broadcaster at the age of 16. He had his wish, and how proud he was of being the youngest broadcaster in the Philippines.

Patrick Gonzales must have idolized his father so much that he chose to follow his footsteps. He just used to hang around in one of his father's radio show, and now he has his own one-hour show that has been going on for two months already. Many kids will feel envious, and a lot of adults impressed with what he has achieved. Though we may think like it's just another playground for him, the radio booth sparks a lot of possibilities of how great he would eventually be after a few more years.

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The Philippines is such an amazing place to spend your holiday. During summer you get an opportunity to bask under the tropical sun. Its rich natural treasures, scrumptious foods, feisty festivals, and vibrant culture attract people all over the world. The tropical climate makes Philippines a perfect place to enjoy. Most of its islands are surrounded by Pacific Ocean providing a cool climate. The clean beaches provide a serene environment.

Most notable is Cebu, a tropical paradise consisting of Cebu Island and 167 other islands. Its white sand beaches are teeming with diverse aquatic life. Our visit to Cebu a few months ago is living proof that there really are a lot of beautiful destinations within its islands. I can't wait to go back and explore more of its wonders.

According to Wikipedia, the name "Cebu" came from the old Cebuano word sibu or sibo ("trade"), a shortened form of sinibuayng hingpit ("the place for trading"). It was originally applied to the harbors of the town of Sugbo, the ancient name for Cebu City. Sugbo, in turn, was derived from the Old Cebuano term for "scorched earth" or "great fire".

Below are top 5 tropical islands of Cebu which you should visit;

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Volleybelles Gretchen Ho and Michele Gumabao is on the cover of Women's Health magazine for the month of August 2014.

They're rivals on court, but great gal pals IRL. Gretchen and Michele talks about their secret on how to stay fit, as evident on how they look in the cover wearing body fit outfits quite flattering and thoroughly showing off their voluptuous bodies. They talk about pursuing their passion in the field of sports and other interests.

Ateneo Volleyball star-turned-TV-host- to-entrepreneur Gretchen Ho has former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition runner up and now host Robi Domingo as a boyfriend.

Former De La Salle University (DLSU) volleybelle Michele Theresa Imperial Gumabao in real life was also a Pinoy Big Brother housemate, and the daughter of former actor and politician Dennis Roldan who was indicted on kidnapping charges a few years back.

The two were certainly among the catalysts in bringing the volleyball sport into the consciousness of many people especially the guys. It was definitely the charm of these ladies and not only the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry that brought droves to watch the games.

Beauty Gonzalez is FHM Philippines' August 2014 Cover Model

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The name Beauty Gonzalez has been going around lately in social media and her previous home TV network ABS-CBN due to the amazing transformation from a chubby Pinoy Big Brother housemate into a voluptuous FHM Philippines star.

Critics keep mentioning her now slim figure which is now so evident if you will compare it with her previous TV appearances. Even her face got tone down. No more baby fat, a lot more sizzling sexiness.

We can imagine the number of work-outs and dieting that must have been a part of her life just to be able to accomplish this fast physical change into a fit and fab waistline, and more firmed muscles to lose all those flabby skin.

Katrina Marie Gonzalez in real life, the Filipino-Spanish model and actress and former reality show contestant revealed that she is currently happily in a relationship with a non-showbiz guy 16 years her senior. Could it be her inspiration? What we can confirm is that she is thankful to her non-showbiz boyfriend for being supportive of her career, and she still could not believe how she stunned the crowd with her total transformation when she took the stage in a black bikini at the FHM 100 Sexiest bash held at the World Trade Centers.

We all agree that she was definitely oozing with beauty that night.

Wazzup Pilipinas To Receive Award for Best Filipino Community Blog Site of 2014

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We were informed a week ago through email that Wazzup Pilipinas will again be receiving another award as Best Filipino Community Blog Site for the year 2014.

Wow!...Now let us catch my breath again as this was such awesome news for us because of the fact that our founder just received an award lately just a few days ago last July 25, 2014 for Influential Social Media Evangelist at the Best Choice Awards 2014 mainly because of his work for Wazzup Pilipinas, now being identified as the most awarded blog site in the Philippines. The Filipino community blog has been receiving several awards lately and we are just too overwhelmed of the many recognitions. The blog site is just around 16 months old yet we have been honored with amazing recognitions already.

The awarding ceremonies will be on August 10, 2014 and will be held at the AFP Grand Theater inside Camp Aguinaldo located in Quezon City.

We would like to thank the awarding committee for recognizing Wazzup Pilipinas as the Best Filipino Community Blog Site alongside other great companies. We promise to become more "colorful" and "flowery" for all of you!

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75 concessionaires in 1 venue and all with free food samples for you.

That just about says it all, and when you've realized you're up to checking each one of them to try their food samplers, then you might have been originally insane if you didn't go loco that day. I nearly made it to half, but my food tray was already overflowing with delectable bite-size treats, and I couldn't really take in more to make more room for the rest.

Cupcakes, brownies, sandwiches, chocolates, nachos, pasta, ice cream, drinks, and a lot of everything else imaginable were there trying their luck to get you to notice them among a sea of food vendors all wanting your attention and recall of their products, or at least vote for them as the best by leaving your coin token with them to symbolize you chose them to be your favorite.

But what does a fellow do when he can't even finish all 75 of them?

Well, I had to drop off my token somewhere so I chose the best food provider based on both taste and presentation. Should I reveal who it was? No, It's no longer necessary, what is important is that many of them pleased my taste buds and gave me a fulfilled stomach that was about to explode if I persisted on continuing finishing all concessionaires.

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Only a few weeks ago after they launched the Android version of the their app. The global property portal Lamudi recently made its mobile app now available for Apple users too. Availability of the app in both iOS and Android versions is the company way to capture the growing smartphone market in the country.

The app, Lamudi: Real Estate for Sale and Rent, is now available on iOS devices in 16 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Lamudi’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Antonius Salis, said: “The launch of Lamudi’sAndroid app last month was a great success. We saw huge demand from our customers in thePhilippines and beyond, so we decided to keep the momentum going by moving our services onto iOS straight away.”

The Lamudi app provides the perfect platform for house-hunters to rent, buy or sell property onthe go. Both the iOS and Android apps are designed to meet the growing demand for mobileinternet services in the emerging markets. In the Philippines iOS is the second most popularmobile operating system, with Apple devices accounting for nearly 25% of the local smartphonemarket, according to figures from Statcounter.

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The dream of a universal health care program is quite noble. We all want everyone to gain access and to receive the necessary health services in order to ensure equal benefits for all. To be able to bring about health care even to the most remote areas of the country is a daunting task but is an ideal necessity that will be very beneficial to our countrymen.

This is where information and communication technology play a vital role. We need an infrastructure that would assist us in getting and delivering information that would be used by our medical practitioners and decision makers involved in the deployment of these health services.

The partnership forged among the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) and the Department of Health (DOH) to come out with the Philippine Health Information Exchange (PHIE), is an initiative that would ensure accurate and timely health information exchange that can be instrumental in improving the services of these three agencies as well as the other organizations that could use the said data.

At a press conference which was part of the eHealth Forum held the same day, July 26, 2014, at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia complex, several heads of government agencies like the DOH and DOST presented to the media the PHIE project. Leading the press conference panel were Secretary Enrique T. Ona of DOH, Secretary Mario G. Montejo of DOST, UnderSecretary Teodoro J. Herbosa of DOH, Dr. Jaime C. Montoya of PHRD, and Dr. Shaun J. Grannis of the Regenstrief Institute USA. Everyone was available to the inquiries of the media.

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Zomato let's you discover foodie places that may be out of your radar due to the fact that there are just so many restaurants and other food spots available in the Metro. Their very convenient app allows you to search for dining alternatives so you could experience more possible favorites within your neighborhood or nearby areas.

They also hold special events with foodies every now and then, and you'll feel really honored you are among the few that they invite. Our Zomato foodies meet-up at Angel's Kitchen was more than just a food or restaurant review, it was an opportunity to get to know fellow foodies more intimately, that is, if you can steer your focus away from the delightful and heavenly dishes being served.

Since taking photos of the food is a necessity before finally trying them out, most of us are engrossed in trying our best to get the best shot of the food that will truly be presented in the most delicious way for the benefit of our readers. There is such a thing called the "yummy angle" that would make the food look more sumptuous than it really is. Some would even go to a greater extent of actually doing "food porn", and even beyond that - like applying an assortment of stuff just to make the food look more appetizing.

But the real foodies would spend several minutes taking photos of the food as is from different angles, probably re-arranged the food with a spoon or pork to make it more organized and facing properly, wait for the others to finish, then dine on the already cold food before it gets any more colder.

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I first got my journalism experience when I was in high school. Although we are "working" at our school, we were taught that it's still unethical even for us student journos then to be biased in our report. Time flies, and now I'm working for two (soon three) online news sites and owning three blogs.

Now working for mainstream media, I have to abide by the rules, and one of the most important rules is to not have some biases. This is especially true in sports, especially if you use to cheer for one team. It may sound easier said than done, but as mediamen, we have to be impartial at all times.

I find it a privilege that my superiors (well, they're my friends) assigned me, an alum from a UAAP school, to the NCAA last year (curiously, they, alums from NCAA schools, reported for the UAAP then) probably so that no bias will be done.

However, some journos still get caught cheering for a particular team or player while flaunting the media passes they have, so it was a no surprise when TJ Jurado sent me and many more media reporters an email regarding this matter.

According to Joey Villar of Philippine Star, the email has something to do with what happened at one Shakey's V-League game when Jun Lumibao, the president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, was heard getting upset at an apparent cheering of a mediaman at a certain team... with his media pass worn!

Wazzup Pilipinas As Special Guest at The Microphone Club Radio Show

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Your friendly neighborhood pambansang blogger of the Philippines, Ross Del Rosario, was recently invited to be a special guest at The Microphone Club radio show of radio station DWDD 1134 AM Ka-Tropa Radio just last Sunday July 27, 2014.

He invited fellow blogger Rey Estevez aka Boy Raket to join him on the show to serve as his "entourage." Seriously, he was there as moral support and to give additional "push" in promoting Wazzup Pilipinas, now known as the most awarded Filipino community blog site for earning several awards for being the most outstanding Filipino community blog site in the Philippines.

The Microphone Club resident broadcaster Cannon Lee also played a radio plug-in commercial promoting the new YouTube Channel of Wazzup Pilipinas which promises to contain a lot of informative videos gathered from the blog site's attendance to many events, travels, and reviews. Wazzup Pilipinas will exert more effort in providing not only magnificent stories through words and photos, but also through videos shared via its YouTube channel.

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Congratulations are in order every time an individual receives an award. To be recognized for excellence in whatever form of achievement establishes an identity that you are among the more significant few deserving honor and prestige.

The founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, Ross Flores Del Rosario, was officially awarded as the Best Choice Influential Social Media Evangelist during the awarding ceremonies held last July 25, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located in Ortigas Center.

The Best Choice Awards recognizes companies and professionals that have gained significant achievements in their respective fields. The Executive award is given to an individual that has made outstanding contributions to the practice of the management profession, and has demonstrated leadership and initiative management concepts, techniques, practices or services.

The selection process to determine the awardees has been perfected with a third party research firm to ensure that only the best choice service providers are the winners within an industry. This is the only organization that conducts research that surveys both the consumer and the business community with statistical accuracy. The research method determines all service providers, products and individuals to ultimately select the Best Choice, and establishes the winner within each industry.

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Got the extremely rare opportunity to meet with ABS-CBN's Mutya ng Masa, Miss Doris Bigornia - the charming lady of the masses for the masses, or shall we say, Madlang People, who has been conquering Philippine television with her down-to-earth interviews and features of the ordinary people around the neighborhoods of Metro Manila and other nearby locations.

What is memorable about the event is that it was actually a surprise on our part that we would actually be a part of her show celebrating its anniversary. As far as we all know when we got invited, we thought we were just covering the event for our blogs but we got the shocked when we were informed that we were actually going to be co-stars of the show.

Just like any TV production, there are times when we were asked to do things for the camera as it rolled to take video shoots of us entering the different venues of the whole-day celebration that was also sort of a tour. From getting on the bus, to entering the first restaurant venue where we had breakfast, we suddenly found ourselves acting for the camera. Lol!

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Relax! That's not me with a needle pierced through my skin. I would have loved to be the guinea pig, or the lab rat, that night, but no matter how adventurous I was, there still remains the hesitation if its about an old age tradition.

In this day and age, who would believe acupuncturists still exist? Modern medicine has several advance methods, equipment and technologies already so I was actually baffled that Mainland China's traditional Chinese medicine or alternative method of curing used by their ancestors was still around to treat various kinds of problems. Where ever is the source of this kind of treatment, many are still doubtful that it is indeed effective.

We all know how the new generation resist the old practices, the same way how the oldies are hesitant to adapt new technologies, but I guess some people are still into what they believe works. Like what some people say, you don't fix something that is ain't broken.

However, our dinner date with acupuncturist Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue, a Medical Doctor and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, emphasized the point that the acupuncture method is really just complementary. Meaning, it should be coupled with other means to make it effective or eventually work. There still exist the need for discipline to keep to the required treatments other than just solely acupuncture.

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We found a new gem somewhere deep within Mandaluyong's residential area where only a few restaurants exist. Most of the dining spots out there are hole-in-the-wall type that has somehow clicked not only among the neighborhood but has also reached the radar of foodies all over the Metro.

When it's a real hit, it's bound to become the talk-of-the-town or in many cases the talk-of-the-online-world popularly known as social media or the Internet. Through the Internet, many of the new restaurants start getting some attention as soon as one person recommends it among his Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram friends.

There is sure to be many curious peeps out there that would like to try something new in order to satisfy their curiosity, and ultimate desire to be among the first. It is always an honor and privilege to be among the few people who gets to try out for the first time dishes from a new restaurant especially when later on you find the place enjoying its eventual popularity.

St. Nicholas Restaurant owned by Chef Nick Pelaez is a new events place that serves a lot of our favorite Filipino cuisine plus a lot more, even exotic delicacies like the Adobong Crocodile, and their Tapas made from deer and wild boar meat, which makes the place more interesting to visit soon.

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Max's Restaurant continues to drum up support for these modern-day heroes as Gilas Pilipinas inches closer to the most awaited and prestigious competition in Spain slated for August. Max's recently launched the "Gilas Favorite Delivery Treat," an offering of one whole Max's sarap to the bones fried chicken with a free bottle of banana catsup and a limited edition Gilas Pilipinas Eco Bag for only PhP299.

Fans may now share the thrill of watching their favorite basketball team while enjoying Max's world famous, crispy-on-the-outside-and-tender-on-the-inside fried chicken. Max's Gilas Favorite Delivery Treat is valid until July 31, 2014 for both online and delivery transactions anywhere in the Philippines.

Coinciding with Max's Gilas Favorite Delivery Treat, Max's announced the winner for its "Dito Galing and Gilas" campaign. All set to fly for Spain are winners Pauline Vislenio and Jennifer Tayag Dueñes who will both be given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch Gilas Pilipinas compete live against the world's best basketball teams in the world.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2014 Candidates Media Presentation

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We got first glimpse of all 30 candidates all vying for the top crown as Mutya Ng Pilipinas 2014 at a press conference held at the Manila Ocean Park where Hotel H2O was also located as the official residence of the candidates. A contract signing between the Hotel H2O and Mutya Ng Pilipinas management was held before the presentation of candidates to the members of the media.

I had my eye on a selected few for being so alluring not just because they have a well-proportioned body with vita statistics worth trading your current girlfriend with, hehehe, but also because they seemingly project the confidence that would make them ideal to represent the country.

We've seen how they walk, we've heard how they talk, we've seen them in a fabulous gown and in skimpy two-piece swimsuits, all wearing high-heeled shoes everytime, and we can't help but be amazed of how beautiful and charming they all are.

But one must select "The One" for our vote as the Darling of the Press, or the chosen one who will win an award that day as the choice of the members of the media.Candidate Number 25, Patricia Bosco of Milan, was chosen as the Darling of the Press. There were two other winners that day that were each awarded a recognition from the sponsors. Chosen as Miss Hotel H2O is Candidate Number 4 Nueva Ecija's Ma. Jackielyn Dulay, and Candidate Number 26, Glennifer Perido of the Cordilleras, was chosen as Miss Tupperware.

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Based from his Facebook page, "Mike Unson is one of the very few Filipinos who performs wholesome live point-of-view (POV) stand-up comedy. Because of his wholesome approach to the craft of stand-up comedy, he has even been invited to do guest lectures, and performances in many schools, and has also dabbled into event hosting, doing weddings, private parties, and shows for major corporations proving that his brand of comedy can thrive in any given environment."

I have to agree with those lines because I personally witnessed how he delivered his humor to the appreciation of the crowd during the Laugh and Stack Open Mic Showdown of Comedy Cartel held at the Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge last July 12, 2014.

We were invited to watch the show but we got a special treat for coming in early. We were fortunate to meet Mike and his manager, and another friend, who were also there early. We got to chat with the guy and do an up-close intimate video interview. We learned so much about him that it actually made the night really more special since we have an exclusive - no cuts, no edits - interview with the guy whose "clever observations about the Filipino condition surpass the realm of mere insult comedy.”

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The Philippines is set to host the very first Madrid Fusión-Manila in April 2015 after the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Spanish organizers Foro de Debate, S.L. and Arum Estrategias Internacionalización (Arum) inked a partnership agreement last 23 July 2014 (Wednesday).

The signing ceremony was attended by DOT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., DOT Assistant Secretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., Maria Leonor Esteban (Administrator of Arum), Mr. Iñigo Cañado (Director of Arum), Ms. Lourdes Plana (Partner and General Manager of Foro de Debate), and Ms. Ana Capel Rives (Partner of Foro de Debate).

Madrid Fusión has established itself as one of the leading international gastronomy gatherings held annually in Madrid and attended by elite chefs and experts in the culinary field to discuss trends, evolution of tastes, and new food habits. More than 400 leading chefs from all five continents have graced its stage and performed live culinary demonstrations and memorable presentations on revolutionary techniques. Among these culinary experts included Grant Achatz, Gaston Acurio, Ferran Adria, Juan Mari Arzak, Alex Atala, Nobu Matsuhisa, Heston Blumenthal, Michel Brass, Paul Bocure, Quique Dacosta, Alain Duchase, Joel Robuchon, and Michel Troisgros. In addition to the culinary demonstrations, there have also been master workshops, contests, tastings, tributes, auctions, and exhibitors zone. Madrid Fusion’s 2014 edition brought together 1,000 congress delegates, 120 exhibitors, 96 speakers, 750 journalists, and 8267 authorized guests becoming a national trending topic on Twitter and appearing in most print and online publications.

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Visiting their third branch and learning that they will soon have a fourth one only signifies that the people have really appreciated how Chef Roland (Chef Lau) and Jacqueline Laudico (Chef Jac) has steered their restaurant as an innovative "fast good" on its way into a very successful restaurant chain.

Partnered with the the Raya family, Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters serves dishes with a twist that only the famous chef couple can amazingly conjure like magic. Aside from the two culinary experts, we also met Roberto Luis Raya and found out that he was in charge of operations of the restaurants, and this confirmed my belief that you really need to partner with other people if you want to bring out the best in your craft. Artists also need to partner with other individuals that have the necessary specialties to take their dreams into a better reality.

My experience with their branch in Ayala Triangle Gardens located in Makati was as good as this visit at Venice Piazza located in McKinley Hill of Bonifacio Global City. We were able to dine on different set of dishes that really made our taste buds swoon in delight. Plus the passion of the couple in relating their stories about their food and how they started out, including their belief in using only natural and fresh ingredients was a big bonus for us. It is not everyday that you meet a celebrity chef couple so the lunch date with the Laudicos left us starstruck too.

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We had an invitation to watch a special show of the Comedy Cartel where they had an Open Mic Showdown called Laugh and Stack. Members of their group participated in a sort of competition to determine who among them can get the most votes from the audience and be declared as the winner for the night.

Haresh was the current champion and so he was defending his crown, but unfortunately somebody emerged as the most laughable comic for the night.

Nonong, or mamang pulis, took home the recognition as the top comic for the night who was able to convince the crowd to vote for him. What probably made him win was the fact that he made fun of himself all throughout his time on stage. He was also talking in Tagalog thus most of the Filipino audience was easily able to relate to his jokes.

But before we enjoyed all those humor on stage, we got to enjoy first a delightful meal courtesy of the host venue for the night - Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge.

17 Years in the Making: Full Airline Operations at NAIA T3 by July 31

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Seventeen (17) years after the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the concession agreement for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 project, the modern passenger terminal building (PTB) will finally be ready for full airline operations this coming July 31st.

“We are extremely pleased to confirm that full airline operations will begin at NAIA Terminal 3 next week. Our gateway airport will now be able to welcome 3.5 million more passengers with modern facilities every year, and Terminal 1 will now be considerably decongested to improve passenger convenience,” DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya stated.

“The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has informed us that Delta Airlines will have its first flight out of Terminal 3 on August 1st, while KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will move within the first week of August. Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific will follow suit by the end of next month. These five carriers have the highest volume of international flights coming in and out of NAIA, so we look forward to giving them a new home,” Abaya added.

This project was awarded in 1997, for supposed completion in 2002. Legal issues related to its bidding process mired the project, however, delaying its opening until 2008, and even then it was only 52% operational. Faced with this situation, then-DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas initiated talks with Terminal 3’s original contractor, Takenaka Corporation of Japan, to complete its facilities regardless of the ongoing cases.

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The city named after a tree called “Dendrocnide meyeniana”, which is now commonly known as the lipa tree, is one of the emerging thoughtfully-planned commercial and industrial cities in the Southern Tagalog region. Recently, Lipa’s nickname as the “City of All Seasons” came about because of the locale’s cool weather, environmental consciousness, and because of the city’s 3-time mayor, now governor of Batangas province. Lipa City’s important and influential status dates back to the Spanish colonial era due to a flourishing coffee industry. This made Lipa the richest municipality in the Philippines. On October 21, 1887, the Queen Regent Maria Christina, who was acting in behalf of King Alfonso XIII, elevated it into a city. It was given the name Villa de Lipa. It was returned into a municipality in 1895, only to be once again declared a city on June 20, 1947 under the young Republic of the Philippines.

Now, Lipa City is a fast emerging key city in the province, becoming a major institutional/administrative center, medical center, commercial center, financial center, agro-industrial center and residential center.

Recently, the influx of business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, such as call centers, has contributed much to the growth of the local economy. BPO sites are scattered throughout the city, which ranked 6th out of 10 in the Top 10 next wave cities of 2010 named by the Commission of Information and Communication Technology (ICCT). This earned Lipa another nickname as the “Next Wave City.”

As a residential location, Lipa has much to offer to young urbanites and executives, starting and expanding families, leisure farmers, horticultural hobbyists, retirees and balikbayans.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Traveling to the city known as the “Little Rome of the Philippines” is now easier and faster with the road improvements in the Southern Tagalog region. The SLEX extension or the Toll Road 3 connects the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway (STAR Tollway), cutting down travel time by bypassing the usually congested Maharlika Highway. Motorists can now reach Lipa City exit in a matter of minutes from SLEX.

As a bastion of the Catholic faith, Lipa City is home to several Catholic churches, convents, seminaries, catholic schools, and retreat houses. Lipa hosts an annual national Marian Pilgrimage at Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace Parish Church, which has become a year-round destination for Catholics and other pilgrims. The Archdiocese of Lipa, whose seat is at the landmark San Sebastian Cathedral, serves the faithful in the province of Batangas.

Lipa is one area that still offers spacious residential farm lots for young urbanites and executives, starting and expanding families, leisure farmers, horticultural hobbyists, retirees and balikbayans. Tierra Maria Estates, located at the heart of Lipa City, offers affordable lots, and a unique opportunity to build a dream home close to nature. With only 320 lots, Tierra Maria Estates, with residential estate farm lots that range from 750 to 1200 sq. meters, is designed to be a neighborhood with a serene environment that is very well within the reach of everyday comforts.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Aquabest the country’s premier water refilling franchise is set to revolutionize the way Filipino’s experience drinking water as it launches its four exclusive water treatment technologies.

Utilizing its new technologies the company will enable the company’s 700 store network to produce Granderized water a type of water that is not only clean but also healthy. The company utilizes four unique technologies Grander, Tanwing, Nanogen, and Reverse Osmosis; that alters the very nature of water to make it better.

Tanwing Technology and Reverse Osmosis are filtration technologies that help eliminate practically all contaminants in the water making them safe and clean. Tanwing works by utilizing two wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation to help eliminate all biological contaminants. At the same time, reverse osmosis filters water at the nanometer level far smaller than a strand of hair to ensure that all impurities are filtered out.

The Nanogen and Grander Technologies work at the molecular level to infuse health giving properties to the water by affecting the molecular structure of the water. Nanogen is a Korean technology that utilizes nanotechnology to neutralize pure water’s inherent acidity. Acidic water is supposed to be a contributing factor to some diseases. Grander Technology from Austria alters the molecular structure of water to improve body's absorption.

Overall, Aquabest Granderized Water improves on the inherent cleansing and rejuvenating qualities of water. Each drop reaches deeper into the core of every cell in our bodies, allowing them to perform their functions better. Drinking Aquabest Granderized Water will rejuvenate the body at its very core helping people look and feel better.

All Set for Hundreds of FilAms’ Visit

Wazzup Pilipinas!

From the 28th to the 31st day of July, about 300 Filipino-Americans and their main- stream American friends will arrive from the United States for the 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines (ACGTDT).

These visitors will be here to relax, enjoy and spend precious time with families and friends as well as explore investment and retirement possibilities here at home.

Launched in 2005 during the term of then Philippine Ambassador the United States and now Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, the ACGTDT is a joint project of all Philippine Foreign Service missions in the U.S. located in Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

As in the past years, the ACGTDT is being implemented in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). In July 2011, it was designated as a banner tourism project under the DOT’s Pinoy Homecoming Program. Major sponsors include the Western Union, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Duty-Free Philippines, and Philippine Retirement Authority.