2014-12-14 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Visit Davao Fun Sale and a Lot More Reasons to Visit Davao This 2015

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It's more fun in the Philippines! All 7,107 islands should be explored!

As much as we desire to discover new places beyond our country, we should prioritize touring our own Philippines. You would be surprised that there are a lot of scenic and culturally-rich areas you've never been to. Our country is teeming with spectacular natural resources that it is baffling why we are still trying to catch up with the rest of the world.

Another great place to visit is Davao. I've been there for so many times in the past since I was a former ICT Officer of a United Nations organization in the Philippines and we had an office in Davao. I was in charge of ICT or Information and Communications Technology so I was very much in demand during the first few months since we were still setting up our ICT infrastructure.

However, the last time I was there was way back 2008 when I left the organization and setup my own business. It would be fun to be back in Davao soon as I know there must be a lot of changes or development already.

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Stress has always been known as one of the many reasons why we often encounter problems with our health and physical conditions. We would feel more problematic when we are suffering from too much stress causing our bodies to react unfavorably. Thus, a lot of negative effects would be very visible including acne problems.

Nobody would argue that one of the most stressful time of the year is the Christmas season. It’s the time of year when we usually experience a lot of good stress like the excitement brought about by Christmas shopping and family reunions. But we can also experience bad stress such as Christmas rush traffic and year-end business activities. Regardless if good or bad, stress may aggravate acne.

The increased levels of stress stimulate the body's production of various hormones and trigger different changes in the skin. Sometimes it causes the skin oils to become more viscous making you more acne prone. Stress also reduces your body’s natural immune defense and your skin doesn’t fight off bacteria build-up as well. When these happen, we become more prone to breakouts.

Acne begins when oil collects at the base of the hair follicle and becomes trapped by dead skin cells. Bacteria flourish, form a plug and swell beneath the skin. Stress can make acne worse, causing more anxiety, and creating a vicious cycle.

But do we really know how we can be stress-free?

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"To be the preferred brand in beauty and wellness in key areas in the Asia-Pacific Region within the next 5 years" is the vision of Nisce Skin 'n Face - a chain of beauty, dermatology, slimming and wellness centers with currently 18 branches nationwide, the latest of which is their newest branch in La Union.

Nisce Skin 'n Face aims to become the leader in making people look and feel their best by delivering the best beauty and wellness services and products at very affordable prices.

The company has a team of estheticians, dermatologists and therapists whose duty is to provide men and women first-rate and effective yet affordable non-invasive skin care and aesthetic treatments, dermatological services, and SPA services.

Nisce Skin 'n Face also carries exclusive skincare products for the face and body. Nisce Skin 'n Face signature treatments include the IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Total Skin Rejuvenation, Silk Peel, Diamond Peel, LHE photofacial, Nisce non-surgical Contour, Duolift Detox Whitening and Anti-Aging Facial, Premium Facials, and relaxing SPA services for men and women.

Top Trends, Happenings and Events: Yahoo Philippines Unveils 2014 Year in Review

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Did you know that Vice President Jejomar Binay was the Philippines’ ‘top newsmaker of the year’.... and that the Gilas Pilipinas' participation in the FIBA leads the ‘top Philippine sports stories’... and stories about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus tops ‘most in-demand gadgets’ list?

More of these top and in demand topics was recently announced by Yahoo Philippines in their 2014 Year in Review (YIR), an annual recap of the top trends, happenings and events, which grabbed the attention of Yahoo users in the Philippines. YIR is based on what users searched for through the year, and an editorial selection of what was most read, recommended and shared on Yahoo in 2014.

Yahoo YIR offers insights into what captured the user’s interests across categories like Philippines’ Top 10 Newsmakers, Top Sports Stories, and Global Obsessions, among others.

A perfectly coned-shaped volcano, a TV host’s bedroom shenanigans and a smartphone were among the top searches by Yahoo Philippines users in 2014. However, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year topped the most searched list. The intensity and path of Typhoon Ruby brought back nightmarish memories brought by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year. The popular animated movie Frozen, an international beauty pageant and the death of a transgender woman also made it to the list of top searches on Yahoo Philippines in 2014.

A Look at Philippine Real Estate’s 2014 Performance

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With China’s property market cooling after years of rapid growth, and Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s housing markets expected to decline steadily, 2014 has seen real estate in the emerging markets come into focus. The Philippines, in particular, performed (and is performing) well. Although GDP growth slowed slightly, the country’s economy continues to outperform most of its neighbors.

“The Philippine property sector’s 2014 performance is marked by exuberance in certain segments traditionally overlooked,” said Lamudi Philippines managing director Jacqueline van den Ende. “For example, Metro Manila’s commercial real estate sector was and continues to be buoyant, bolstered by a healthy demand from traditional office takers and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.”

As the year draws to a close, global real estate portal Lamudi looks back at an eventful 12 months for the Philippines’ property sector.

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International property platform Lamudi has relaunched with a complete revamp of its website to offer a more intuitive design that streamlines the online house-hunting process for users globally.

The new website introduces a responsive design, with the site adapting to match the user’s particular device and screen size. The platform’s appearance has been improved to display properties for sale and rent in an easier-to-read format with larger photos. Dedicated sections for real estate agencies and new space for advertisements have also been introduced.

Lamudi is a global real estate portal focusing exclusively on the emerging markets. The website is currently available in 28 countries in these regions. The new design has been rolled out for all countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with Latin America to be relaunched in early 2015. To ensure the website remains highly relevant for each of its local markets, Lamudi has introduced different variations of the website, including a customised search field for each country.

Lamudi’s Global Co-Founder, Kian Moini, said: “This redesign puts the user at the center of our product. The responsive design is very important because we know an increasing number of our users access Lamudi on a mobile device in addition to a desktop PC. The new design is tailored to our customers’ needs, making it easier than ever before to find the perfect property online and to contact real estate agents via phone, SMS or email.

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Man’s greatest survival tool in dire situations is the strength, comradeship and skill of the people he is with – so long as he can stand them. In each episode of Discovery Channel’s latest original series TETHERED, two people from opposite backgrounds and philosophies must embark on an epic journey across treacherous terrains on a mission to escape the wild. But in the harsh wilderness, the best way to force two polar opposites to work together is to physically lock them at the waist by a steel cable. Stripped of nearly every modern convenience, they will be forced to pool their ingenuity and work together – whether they like it or not! TETHERED premieres every Tuesday on Discovery Channel at 8:00 p.m., starting December 30.

The men and woman of TETHERED have varying degrees of survival experience – from none to some! A rich real estate mogul is paired with an environmentalist dedicated to a non-materialistic lifestyle; a shaman with a biology professor; a free-spirited yoga expert with a hard-headed military man. They might not all have the necessary survival expertise, but the common thread that links them is the eagerness for a life-changing experience that will either see them forge lifelong friendships or arch enemies in the process!

Dropped at a meeting point with just either a four-foot (over 1.2 metres) or six-foot (almost 2 metres) steel cable that binds them together, a basic map and a limited survival kit, each contrasting pair has 10 to 12 days to overcome their differences and work hand-in-hand to escape the wild. From swimming across shark-infested waters, trekking through bear-infested woods, dodging alligators and hanging over dangerous waterfalls in addition to fighting hypothermia and dehydration, each duo may have to learn the hard way that the best way to survive is to stick together.

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To give thanks and their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the bloggers who have helped Friendly Alliances and Media Expressions (FAME), Inc. FAME is a subsidiary of Trianoin International Group of Companies owned by cardiologist Dr. Rafael Castillo, with the advocacy of spreading the word on health medicine through its magazines. It later expanded when it ventured into commercial publications and promoting both Philippine and International tourism.

The company organized a year-end thanksgiving party entitled "Holiday Delight: A Year-End Bloggers Party" last December 17 at Green Sun, one of the newest events venue in Makati. It is a “New Arts” Center that caters to the fresh works and performances of young Filipino creatives in the field of arts, design, music, and culinary.

The venue is located at 2285 Chino Roces Avenue Extension in Makati city. Just a very short ride from the Magallanes MRT station. You can even walk from the MRT station if the weather is fine.

The event, themed as a White Christmas Party, capped off FAME's social media programs this year and gathered various bloggers from different industries for a cocktail dinner and socialization party amongst several consumer brands and stakeholders like booths from Goldilocks Bakeshop and Foodshop, Australian Harvest Oats, Trianon, LRI Therapharma and Tupperware.

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EarthCam is the global leader in delivering webcam content, technology and services. Founded in 1996, EarthCam provides live streaming video and time-lapse construction cameras for corporate, tourism and government clients in major cities around the world.

EarthCam's all-weather webcams, innovative software and mobile applications enable users to showcase unique views, increase exposure and generate positive public relations. EarthCam launched EarthCamTV, a 24-hour “TV channel” devoted to live views of scenic destinations around the world.

The Webby Award winning company hosts many highly trafficked tourism cams, with views of popular locations and landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Las Vegas Strip, Bourbon Street, Eiffel Tower, Andy Warhol’s gravesite, Hollywood Boulevard, Miami Beach, Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Petra in Jordan and Abbey Road Crossing in London.

EarthCam revealed its “25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2014!” For unforgettable experiences, travel to www.earthcam.com/top25 and… Blast off 268 miles into space, defy gravity with an indoor skydiving webcam, enjoy a sunset over the Bernese Alps in Austria, and spend the day in Dillie the house deer’s bedroom.

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If you are careful of what you put in your body, you should also give importance to what goes onto your skin. Many women would spend a little more just to be assured that what they put onto their skin is something pure, genuine and of highest quality that's free from many harmful ingredients.

Did you know that goat's milk has more benefits than you can imagine? Go ahead and try these products blended with goat's milk as the primary ingredient. Give in and treat yourself to dessert for the skin.

The Cream Factory, a US brand that offers premium and natural products, believes in the goodness goat's milk, that is why their products are made by and for people who are passionate about goat's milk for bath and body products. The Cream Factory products contains 100% Active Botanical extracts to provide multiple benefits for your skin, and leave it feeling velvety-smooth and fresh, even into the night.

While there are many small brands of goat's milk bath and body products, there are very dew imported, quality options available in the market. Real Netherlands goat's milk is prized for its purity and quality.

Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree Lighting at Fuente Circle Eastwood

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The Christmas tree has been a long-time tradition being practiced in many countries worldwide including the Philippines. Through the years, there have been so many different versions and style of the Christmas tree, as well as the manner they are decorated. Usually topped with a star at its very peak, and tree is also colorfully lighted all over to provide more beauty and attract more attention. This symbol of the holiday season is also bound to every man’s independent spirit and belief in what this season is about.

No matter what tradition, the community and togetherness are always in the heart this time of the year. Just like the Jack Daniel’s Holiday Barrel Tree which is a Lynchburg Tennessee holiday tradition that through the years has spread to the United Kingdom and Canada.

The holidays just keep getting better now that the Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree comes to Manila. The 30 feet and 7 barrel-layered composed of 82 pieces of barrels had a ceremonial lighting last December 16, 2014 at the Fuente Circle in Eastwood Libis Quezon City.

Mr. Anthony Ramirez, Brown Forman Corporation Philippine Market Manager initiated the lighting of the first and only Jack Daniel’s Barrel Tree in Asia, along with Mr. Gabriel Fajardo, Jack Daniel’s Philippine Brand Manager. Another tree will also be setup at The Fort Plaza in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) on Saturday, December 20, 2014 thus offering more wonder and amazement for the Filipino people especially to the ones near the two locations.

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Where do you start when you have so much to say?

The city of Malolos from the province of Bulacan has so many rich historical and cultural discoveries that it is a huge enigma why not so many people are aware that it is in this city where the first democracy in the continents of Asia and Africa was founded, specifically at the Barasoain Church. This is where the first Philippine Republic was proclaimed.

At the press conference that we attended at Bahay na Tisa restaurant during the media launch of Vamos a Malolos held last December 15, Mayor Christian Natividad passionately shared his sentiments that after more than a century, of us proclaiming the very first Republic of the Philippines, it seems we have all forgotten about the real significance of that moment, and we are now just contented that every January 23 we are just going to raise the flag of the Philippines, while the President, Vice President, House Speaker, Senate President, Supreme Court justices, and other honorable guests from the government, will all be coming to Malolos to attend a short program, and that's it. Nothing more.

Everyone goes back home until the same event next year when we would be doing the same thing all over again. Is that how it should really be?

If we don't look at back at our past, how would we be able to understand ourselves? If we are not going to look back at the important events that took place a long time ago, where do we intend to go? Which direction are we heading?

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Singapore Airlines passengers flying from Manila to Singapore will have the option to fly in even greater comfort and luxury as Singapore Airlines launches its First Class cabin on its Manila to Singapore route starting January 12, 2015. Singapore Airlines will be the only airline offering the First Class product on this sector.

Singapore Airlines offers four daily flights on the Boeing 777-200 and the Airbus A330-300 aircraft at present, but by next year, travelers from Manila will get to experience flying on the airline’s B777-300ER fleet which features the First Class product. Operating the SQ910 and SQ917 daily service, the B777-300ER will provide eight first class seats, 42 business class seats, and 228 economy seats.

In First Class, each passenger is provided with a vanity corner complete with a mirror, a table that can be adjusted for height to suit individual preferences, and a 35-inch seat that can be converted to the largest fully flat bed in the sky.

First Class passengers are treated to the airline’s world gourmet cuisine created by its International Culinary Panel of world-renowned chefs accompanied by a tantalizing selection of wine and beverages specially designed to delight the discerning palate.

Taking Care of Your Skin During the Holidays

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With the holidays fast-approaching come the different how-to-dos on surviving this merry yet frenzied season. These range from managing work and play, recovering from a dreadful hangover, getting back into shape, but nothing focuses on how the stress of the season actually affects your skin.

Imagine having parties lined on your social calendar for the week, but then you suddenly wake up with flared-up skin one morning. What a nightmare! Due to excessive celebrations, sleepless nights, exposure to harsh elements and the holiday stress, it’s the time of the year where puffy eyes, tired-looking skin and breakouts appear more than usual. What do you do when your skin gets the holiday blues?

Cleanse and moisturize. Make sure you cleanse and prep your face properly before hitting the sack. The all-time, no-no rule of sleeping with your makeup on still tops the list. And if the colder weather begins to dry out your skin, double up the potency of your current moisturizer by switching to a richer version. After all, nothing says happy holidays more than having healthy skin in time for all the celebrations!

Exfoliate weekly. Partying all night means you tend to reapply make up more frequently than usual. Through gentle exfoliation, you can clear the impurities in your pores plus scrub off dead skin cells that may lead to breakouts.

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Seiko Epson Corporation recently announced that it had shipped its 100 millionth high-temperature polysilicon ("HTPS") TFT liquid crystal panel for 3LCD projectors, enough for more than 33.3 million projector units.

Epson began developing HTPS, the core devices at the heart of 3LCD projectors, in the 1980s and introduced its first 3LCD projector in 1989. Since then, shipments of Epson HTPS panels have grown in tandem with the projector market, reaching 50 million in 2008, and now, 25 years since the launch of the first 3LCD projector, achieving 100 million.

Applications for projectors have now expanded, for example, for business presentations in offices, for home theaters, for education, and for commerce. By continuing to develop products that fulfill the demands of these markets, Epson has maintained its position as the world's No.1* supplier of 3LCD projectors for 13 successive years.

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Congratulations to Indaks 24/7 (Team Hashtag) for winning the grand prize for the Healthway Medical "Dance for Health 2: Take the Lead" dance competition.

They were actually my bet as well from the very first time I saw them, not only from their exceptional dance moves but also based from their excellent branding using the popular hashtag symbol, their cool and edgy dance outfits, their outstanding choice of dance beats, and their overall presence on and off the stage.

Ms. Eleonor Bengco-Tan, President of Healthway Medical, was there for a short message to welcome the participants and attendees of the Dance for Health yearly dance competition sponsored by Healthway Medical to promote dancing as an avenue of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

Ms. Carmi De Leon, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Healthway Medical, said that they only hire employees that can dance. I also believe that dancing should be a part of our lifestyle. We should make dancing a habit if we want to reach our full potential. She also gave a sample of her belly-dancing steps during the introduction of judges.

My Luck As a Blogger Keeps Getting Better

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My producer/partner requested me to email my personal profile and some of my photos so UNTV can make me a promotional profile for the TV shows I will be involved in. He then forwarded it to UNTV with the following message:

"Below is an initial profile and photos of one of our partner/producer/host/blogger of our incoming TV shows to promote our merchants & etc..."

That statement calls for a celebration. I believe I deserve a feast fit for a King ... or a Blogger ... that's soon to be a ... "Partner/Producer/Host of TV shows" (not my words).

"Sana di ako magkalat sa taping or shoot. Lol! Sobrang kabado ako. Baka ma-mental block lang ako when infront of the camera. Nakakahiya kapag ganoon ang mangyayari. Sino ba gagawa ng script? Ano ba dapat isusuot ko?. Magpapa-make-up rin ba ako? Kailangan ko na bang magpapayat..o mas nakakatuwa ang mataba sa TV?...Hahaha .. Kaloka talaga!"

I am so grateful that my luck keeps getting better everyday, and I owe it all to the people who believed and supported Wazzup Pilipinas. This is one of the nicest early Christmas present I got this year. My enthusiasm is at its peak right now, and hoping for more good fortune soon.

Let's Take It Offline: A Much Needed Break from the Online World

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A PR approached me yesterday and shared his deep concern of what some bloggers are doing. He said a lot are doing rants against each other, backstabbing, spreading rumors, cursing, etc. He emphasized that these are the reasons why some organizations are still hesitant to invite or partner with bloggers because of the ill behavior some bloggers are showing towards each other in the blogging community. Lack of respect and courtesy. Iisa ang mundong ginagalawan natin pero tayo-tayo rin ang nagsisiraan. Ipinapakita natin sa public ang isang parte ng ating komunidad na hindi kaaya-aya at lubhang makakasira sa ating lahat.

Let me reiterate. He did not mention any wrongdoing of individual bloggers but what bloggers as a whole are doing against each other - spreading negativity about the blogging community specifically through online and social media rants. May pinariringgan, may pinatatamaan at walang humpay na pagrereklamo. Ang impression tuloy ng iba ay tayo ay nagiging sobrang antipatiko, kunsintidor, mayabang, materialistiko, walang utang na loob, makapal ang mukha, inggitero, at kung ano-ano pang malalaswang kaugalian na dapat sana ay maiiwasan kung hindi tayo mismo ang nagkakalat.

Mas nakakairita ang mga taong lalo pang pinaiigting ang galit ng threadstarter. OK lang magbigay ng simpatiya pero kapag ikaw ay kumampi, naniwala ng agad-agad, at ang mas masahol ay nagalit rin sa taong pinatatamaan ng iyong kaibigan, ay higit ka pang nagdulot ng mas matinding yurak para lalong maging magulo ang inyong mundo. Bakit kamo? Dahil imbes na iilan lang ang nag-aaway ay dumagdag ka pa.

This does not apply only to the blogging community but for every group or organization.

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National Geographic Explorer extended its program to the young minds by bringing the world inside the classroom. The organization developed a holistic and integrative environmental education program to further encourage learners and educators to engage in purposive learning. The aim of this organization is not just to inform the public about the what's, the how's and why's of things, but also to inspire them to move and do something about the world around them. Informative, entertaining and interactive activities were developed as well to motivate young learners to explore within the safety of the classroom.

The E3 Pedagogy in Learning: Interactive Approaches Improving Classroom Instructions and Methodologies for Millenial Learners was held at the 3rd Flr. Auditorium, Kaban ng Hiyas Building City of Mandaluyong. The event shared tips and techniques to K12 teachers to become innovative leaders to the students in order to make them life-long learners. They give both prestige and a remarkable experience to the educators of this country.

The honorable Mayor Benjamin Abalos was there to give the Welcome Remarks. Ms. Arlene Padua Martinez, President and Managing Director of National Geographic Explorer Philippines gave the Opening and Closing Remarks, while Ms. Jeanne Danielle Martinez, Program Manager of National Geographic Explorer Philippines, launched the program.

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Aside from the Gabriela experience that we talked about from our previous blog article, there are a lot of things to do in and around Nurture Wellness Village of Tagaytay. Our one and half hour ride from Metro Manila was all worth the travel time as the beauty and healing properties of the place was extremely rewarding.

Our visit at the enchanting and strikingly soothing place formerly called Nurture Spa, allowed us to experience a more profound self-discovery. It made us look more intimately on our personal totality. There are only a few spots near Manila where you can find a vast array of relaxing eco-friendly amenities located within nature itself.

The esteemed health and wellness destination can be found at Pulong Sagingan at Barangay Maitim II West Tagaytay City and was built by Dr. Mike Turvill, a british national who holds a PhD in Chemistry, and his wife Cathy Turvill, a certified Worksite Wellness Specialist, Health and Wellness Coach and internationally licensed therapist.

Nurture Wellness Village has been widely known for its amazing and high quality spa and wellness services highlighted by their skillful therapists trained by internationally certified trainers and the Amu'in massage oils made from pure therapeutic essential oils formulated by Dr. Mike himself, plus the "ulogs" guest accommodations that are authentic Ifugao heritage huts originally sourced from Banaue built by Igorot natives.