2015-06-07 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, June 13, 2015

The Perfect Ekotek Gadgets to Bring on Your Every Trip: Ekotab Encore 2 and Ekopack 13000 mAh Powerbank

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After a few weeks of playing with the latest Ekotek product, I'm now ready to share my experiences with their upgrade to the previous Ekotab Encore.

Featuring the Ekotab Encore 2, which boasts of double the speed and power mainly due to its Quad core chipset as compared to its previous Ekotab Encore's specification that has a Dual core instead.

Brought the tablet with me when I flew to Huma Island of Busuanga, Palawan for a three days and two nights of beach bumming (aaahhh I'm black again because of the summer sun), and it was well-used while I roamed around the island in a kayak. Bringing my Sony mirrorless camera is still too heavy and bulky (and I was afraid it was going to get wet if I make a wrong move while kayaking) so I used the tablet to take photos of the scenery.

The 2MP built-in rear camera of the tablet may not be as good as my Sony camera, but I was not willing to put my Sony camera in danger. Though I've seen some smartphones and tablets already with better built-in cameras, they are naturally a lot more expensive because of that.

The tablet is not too big and not too small, and fits nicely in my small black body bag that I always carry around with me. A quick pull of the tablet from the bag, and I am instantly taking photos with ease....and immediately returning it to the bag for safety.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Information Technology decision makers (ITDMs) believe wireless networks to be the most vulnerable element of the IT infrastructure, according to a new survey from Fortinet, the global leader in high-performance cyber security solutions. Nearly half (49%) of respondents ranked wireless networks as most exposed from a security standpoint, in contrast to just 29% for the core network.

The Fortinet survey also reveals that insufficient wireless security is a concern for almost all (92%) of the CIOs polled; hardly surprising given that more than one-third of the enterprise wireless networks put in place for internal employees, do not have the basic security function of authentication in place.

The findings come from an independent survey of over 1,490 IT decision makers at 250+ employee organizations around the world. All respondents were sourced from independent market research company Lightspeed GMI’s online panel.

Stupid is Forevermore: Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago Returns

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Can you follow up a bestseller that has sold more than 350,000 copies with a better book?

You, literally, can’t. So, you just give more. MORE of the gut-busting jokes that draw people in and MORE of the witty one-liners that keep people reading. MORE of the silly pickup lines that spark romance and MORE of the moving speeches that insp...ire generations. MORE of the magic that only Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago can deliver.

Stupid is Forevermore will be exclusively available in National Book Store and Powerbooks branches on June 15 for P175.

Pre-order here: http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph/stupid-is-forevermore.html

The Lost Art of Reading a Real Book

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

Our imagination takes us to several wonderful places just by reading a book. But is the trip still the same if we read the stories from an e-book?

Reading a "real" book is a beautiful, but endangered, hobby! However, what's all the fuzz about comparing a real book from an e-book that we can read through gadgets such as the Kindle?

Real books are great, but good luck carrying the whole Harry Potter collection in your travels. There is nothing like the smell of a new book, but with a Kindle, you can have a lot of e-books cheaper than a "real" book, and you can transport more e-books than books. I don't think about Kindles as "enemies," I think about them as complements or aid.s I think that e-books can reach much more people, which is not bad. I prefer a new book, but I would use a kindle every day for practicality.

A Kindle may be like listening to a CD rather than a live band. Sounds good, but much of the 'essence' is missing. But I still love both!

There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned book, but e-readers are fascinating and wonderful in their own right as well. Sometimes I want the feel of a book in my hands and sometimes I just want to read a book instantly without a trip searching at the book store so I can read the treasured manuscripts that have been digitized that only academics and curators ever get to touch in person.
They actually have paper farms that are specifically used for making books. They don't go cut down rain forests and regular forests to make books anymore. There is an entire process to create books these days. Definitely not bad for the environment how you think. Buying an e reader works just as hard on the environment and especially the fuel used to transport them to stores is bigger.

Krispy Kreme Launches All-Star Doughnuts for Dads

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It's All-Star basketball season once again. This time, the most valuable player is Dad! Krispy Kreme is giving Dads and basketball enthusiasts a thrilling experience in time for Father's Day as the global brand rolls out its new line of yummy All-Star doughnuts.

Krispy Kreme heightens the excitement level inside its stores with an epic All-Star challenge for dads and Krispy Kreme customers - to shoot 6 miniature balls inside 6 cups in 30 seconds. The dad or Krispy Kreme fan who succeeds will bring home an amazing treat of 3 All- Star doughnuts for free!

"This season is a very exciting time for us at Krispy Kreme. We celebrate Father's Day and bring families closer together through the things that they love - basketball and sweet, delectable Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Every time customers step inside our store and enjoy their favorite treats with their loved ones, they create a delightful and unforgettable Krispy Kreme experience," shared Ariane Valinton, Marketing Manager for Krispy Kreme Philippines.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As the country’s leading homegrown milk tea brand, Serenitea has always been at the forefront of the industry, introducing new flavors and pairings when it comes to their offerings. Now with their Tea Confections line, tea lovers can enjoy Serenitea’s flavors in various forms with chocolate bars, candy bits, and tea jams.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to give customers a different kind of milk tea experience which is why we added a line of sweets and other treats to our ever-evolving menu,” said General Manager Juliet Herrera.

Serenitea Chocolate Bars

Indulge in Serenitea’s decadent, tea-infused chocolate bars made in partnership with local brand Theo and Philo. Choose from four exciting chocolate-tea flavors, Matcha Marble (Php 150), Hokkaido Milk Chocolate (Php 135), White Chocolate with Taro (Php 150), and Milk Chocolate with Assam (Php 135).

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Porsche AG will equip all of its cars with the newest MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 ultra-high-performance tyres, the company announced at the launch of its latest model, the new 911 GT3 RS. The just released model from Porsche’s 911 series now sport tyres in the 265/35 ZR20 front and 325/30 ZR21 rear sizes.

Blurring the line between motorsport and road tyres, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 is the latest generation of road-legal track tyres specially designed for ultra-high performance cars that are used on road and track. The trust that Porsche has in the performance of this tyre is clearly demonstrated by the fact that it is also the OE fitment on other recent models including the 918 Spyder, Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3.

The co-development of these tyres began with the ones that are fitted to the 918 Spyder and these were then developed and fine-tuned to suit the characteristics demanded by Porsche engineers for the track-focussed GT3 RS.

Using tyre sizes that are larger than those fitted to the GT3 means that the size of the contact patch of the tyres is increased by 20% at the front and 18% at the rear. Overall this has the effect of increasing outright grip levels and contributes to the car’s more track-focused dynamic handling characteristics.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with the annual Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Month, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ICT Office is launching the first Inclusive ICT 4 BIZ 2015 Expo: Connecting Businesses with the Right People set on June 17 at the Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City.
ICT 4 BIZ 2015, created in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), is designed to promote digital entrepreneurship among persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing a conducive venue for business-to-business (B2B) interactions, as well as seminars on digital entrepreneurship.

The expo aims to connect Filipino PWDs engaged in animation, web/graphics design, web content management, coaching, and transcription services to business institutions and organizations that need such services.

ICT 4 BIZ 2015 is the DOST - ICT Office’s answer to the government mandate of providing equal and fair employment opportunities to PWDs which make up 1.53% of the population, according to a 2010 Census. Furthermore, Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was implemented in 1992 to protect their welfare. It also prohibits any form of discrimination against them, especially at the workplace.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Amplify your tune anytime anywhere!

Make life more exciting while enjoying your favorite music with Smart+Tunes. Stream your favorite artists from your music gallery and play fabulous music directly to your Smart+Tunes Bluetooth Speaker.

Smart+Tunes is FREE when you buy Torque Smartphone or Tablet starting at Php 1499 with over 20 models to choose from.

Hurry and grab your amazing music bundle now!

Available at all Torque Concept Stores, Kiosks, and Authorized Dealers Nationwide!

Laguna IT Jam 2015: Meet and Mix

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BlackBerry Limited, a global leader in mobile communications, announced that the Government of Santa Rosa, Laguna and BlackBerry Pilipinas Community has collaborated to bring you "Laguna IT Jam 2015". IT companies from all over Metro Manila will be coming over to the City Hall of Santa Rosa on July 9, 2015 to educate, and inform the whole city about the latest and advanced technology developed for mankind.

Samsung, Lenovo, Intel Security, Adobe, XcellHost Cloud Services are just some of the names that will be participating in this prestigious event. The head of the City Information Technology Office of Santa Rosa City, Laguna Mr. Arnold B. Arcillas will be the one who will be doing the welcoming remarks for guests and speakers.

TV5, Wazzup Pilipinas TV, and Rappler will be the media partners who will cover the event.

This event has been sponsored by the City Government of Santa Rosa, Laguna headed by Mayor Arlene Arcillas and CITO Head, Mr. Arnold B. Arcillas.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Children hurried home from school to catch the show (Voltes V), which was aired every Friday from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. on GMA 7. Without knowing any Nippongo, they memorized the Voltes V theme song—which can still be heard as mobile phone ring tones." - GMA Network

"Paano magmamadaling umuwi ang mga students ngayon eh puro kabitan, tomboyan, at baklaaan lang din naman mapapanood nila sa TV....Kaya sa Internet na lang ako nanonood ng kahit anong anime, cartoons, sitcoms, atbp."

I always loved the anime way back during the early days (the first generation of what is called "anime" today). It made my childhood great and I do hope ibalik nila yun. Tandang-tanda ko pa. 5 PM ang start after classes. Now I still yearn for those wonderful times na sinasabayan ko ang opening at ending ng mga Japanese cartoons noon that are now called anime today.

They have good stories that helped me understand that we should fight oppression and that to fight for liberty is a noble and worthy cause.

I remember every time there's a chance na mag-meet sina Steve at Dr. Armstrong. My heart broke talaga kapag hindi natutuloy. Saka when I found out na mag-kapatid sila Steve at Prince Zardos. May story talaga.

Congratulations to All the Winners at UP Cinema's Kontra: The Alternative Film Project

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with UP Cinema’s 10th year celebration, Kontra: The Alternative Film Project sought to encompass that decade by challenging student filmmakers to shoot outside the box.

On its 6th year, KONTRA successfully pushed each of the participants to define stories, deflect norms, and defy boundaries through producing five-minute films with three key ingredients in a span of a week.

The event happened last May 30, 2015 at Dito: Bahay ng Sining. This year, participants came from different colleges and universities in Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Pampanga, Baguio, and Ilocos Norte. In the end, ten films and one wild card entry were chosen to screen their films and have a live critiquing with three notable judges in the industry.

The judges were Yason Banal (works shown at the Tate, Frieze Art Fair, and IFA Berlin, among many others, and is currently a professor at the University of the Philippines Film Institute), Raymond Red (“Anino” (Shadows), “Himpapawid” (Manila Skies), “Kamera Obscura” which won best direction and the special jury prize in the 2012 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.), and Paul Soriano ("A Journey Home", "Thelma", and "Kid Kulafu". He also produced "Transit", which one big at the 2013 Cinemalaya Film Festival and became Philippines’ entry to the 86th Academy Awards).

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Global property portal Lamudi Philippines looks at the top countries that make the Philippines one of the top property investment markets in Asia

The local and international markets are eyeing the Philippine real estate sector as a strong and lucrative venture.

Some of the compelling reasons that secure a foothold for the Philippines in the property investment scene can be attributed in the strong presence of business process and information technology outsourcing in the country, and the relatively low prices of real estate properties compared to other regions.

Likewise, the Philippines continues to capture foreign market due to the country’s positive demographics, GDP growth, and strong assets inflows from overseas Filipino workers.

In 2014, Manila bagged the fourth ranking out of 23 Asian cities in terms of city investment prospects, according to a survey by the U.S.- based Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Metro Manila closely follows Tokyo, Shanghai, and Jakarta, who occupy the top three positions, respectively.

Dubbed “Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific,” ULI and PwC report likewise revealed that investors are increasingly willing to invest in emerging markets, such as Manila and Jakarta, instead of traditional markets, such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are many times when my reputation precedes me. I no longer have to introduce myself because the majority of the people I bump into already knows me for my controversial disposition.

My belligerent and pugnacious character may not make me win the hearts of my peers but I care more about the masses instead of the select few that do not realize they are actually dealing with an eclectic visionary.

I may not be conforming with the norm because I prefer to stand out loud and proud. Fight for what is right no matter who or what I go against. No regrets! All for the sake of fairness and equality.

I am not demanding for respect because that needs to be earned by delivering concrete results that will eventually get the attention of the people who would want to kiss your ass. But I will never let them lick the poop off my butthole. I still have the decency to remain humane.

But enough is enough with these telcos that obviously takes advantage of the loopholes in the law just so they can continue to manipulate us.
As advertised, unlimited should really mean unlimited.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This is the generation when mobile apps rule, and when startups involved in the development are kings. However, it is quite alarming to see so many but only a few that is worth investing on to solve real world problems. They may have conquered our lives by keeping us busy with so many to play with, but are they really what we need?

What good are smart and innovative mobile apps when it does not contribute to the real needs of society? What good are these entrepreneurial spirits calling themselves startups when most of them just want to join the fad to become "cool" and "in" and are generally funded by affluent parents or benefactors.

The world needs more practical solutions to our immediate and more pressing problems and not a bunch of mobile apps that only sugarcoats or dresses up our lifestyle. To provide for the needs of the average people that compose of the majority of our countrymen are the most important tasks that we need to focus on.

The masses may forget for a while their hunger, lack of education, or being jobless or underemployed, if you give them an opportunity to buy an affordable smartphone where they can download all the f*cking innovative mobile apps available, or immerse themselves with so many news and teleserye shows from different TV networks capitalizing on sensationalism, or keep them busy on social media ranting against their most hated politician or government official, but at the end of the day they will remain poor because they still don't have a decent job to pay them enough to elevate their lives.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Taking excerpts from a very interesting article that offers a new term to encapsulate the idea of a new breed of "creative class" within our society - the ones living near the intersection of creativity and financial prosperity:

"The Young Urban Creatives or yuccies are the cultural offspings of what we previously know as Young Urban Professionals (yuppies) and hipsters. They are intent on being successful like yuppies and creative like hipsters. They are among the privileged members of a so-called “creative class.”

Yuccies are determined to define themselves not by wealth (or the rejection of it), but by the relationship between wealth and their own creativity. In other words, they want to get paid for their own ideas, rather than executing on someone else’s.

In a nutshell, the yuccie is a slice of Generation Y, borne of suburban comfort, indoctrinated with the transcendent power of education, and infected by the conviction that not only do we deserve to pursue our dreams; we should profit from them."

Why do people need to label and pigeonhole everything and everyone? It only serves to alienate everybody from everybody else.

Do we really need a label for everything? Do we need to feel so indoctrinated that badly that we feel the need to create a name for every pseudo generational trend that pops up? Why can't we just be 'humans' pursuing a happy and fulfilling life, it doesn't need to be more complicated than that. This type of habit is what creates the "us vs them" mindset. Who cares? At the end of the line, there's really only one question that needs to be asked; are we satisfied with how we lived your life?

Can't we just do whatever we want because we want to do it, instead of proclaiming it to the world? Otherwise we're not really living a life -- we're performing a role.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lazada, the Philippines’ One-Stop Shopping and Selling Destination is again pulling all the stops this June 9-14 to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day with a slew of deals and offers to everyone – tagged as the SALE-bration of the month, Lazada Philippines packed its Independence Day Sale Event with flash sales, product launches, and crazy discounts – as a sign of being one with the community in being Filipino.

Last June 5, Lazada Philippines together with its Marketing Chief Florian Holm went all-out Pinoy and kicked off the Independence Day Sale event by offering free jeepney rides to the morning commuters around Makati. Donned in the traditional Filipino barong,

Holm welcomed all unassuming passengers and showed them how effortless and risk-free it is to shop in Lazada via its Mobile App.

The morning was filled with surprises and fun as lucky passengers were able to purchase a surprise item for only PhP 1.00 free of shipping fee - one sign that shopping is indeed effortless and risk-free with Lazada via the Lazada Mobile App.

So just in case you are wondering, here are the things to look forward to for the upcoming Independence Day Sale from Jun 9- 14:

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A study say that the average dad spends only 56 minutes with their son. Because fathers spend most of their time at work to bring home the bacon, dads spend an average of only 56 minutes a day with their sons. But despite that fathers today work harder than ever, it is still important that their relationships should never be compromised.

According to Carmie de Leon, vice president for Sales and Marketing of Healthway Medical, fathers play a huge role in their son’s development, and the quality of time they spend together is important in preparation for manhood. “A dad’s presence can do much to motivate their child to understand the ways of life and give them the emotional stability they need in going through the ups and downs of daily life,” de Leon says.

She adds, “With the mounting financial woes every Filipino household have to face, fathers have no choice but to spend more time at work. This time, Healthway is giving them enough reason to spend time with their son during one of the most crucial events in his life—his passage to manhood.”

Study shows that fatherly love is critical to a child’s development. This time, show your son some love by accompanying him to any Healthway Medical clinic between March 1 and June 30, 2015 for his circumcision.

Give Mom and Dad the Gift of Health with Hi-Precision Diagnostics

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It’s that time of the year when we celebrate and give thanks to our parents. This year, give them a priceless treat that they really need – the gift of health.

Hi-Precision Diagnostics, a leading diagnostics center in the country, is offering an opportunity to show love and appreciation to moms and dads by keeping them happy and healthy for a long time, plus a chance to give them a relaxing getaway.

The center, known to have the largest network of diagnostics centers in the country, has introduced the Parents Package, aimed at ensuring the health and well-being of all Filipino mothers and fathers. Offered at an affordable price of only P795 per person, the Parents Package comprises of Complete Blood Count (CBC), SGPT, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Uric Acid, Lipid Profile, Creatinine, and Complete Urinalysis.

What’s more, customers who avail the Parents Package from participating branches of Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Hi-Precision Diagnostics Plus, and Hi-Precision Diagnostics International will have a chance to bag a trip out of town that the whole family can enjoy.

Three lucky customers will win an overnight stay at the Red Ginger Farm in Tagaytay, a top destination for those looking for refuge from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Best known as a relaxing sanctuary, it boasts of wide, expansive gardens, a luxurious swimming area, a fishing pond where the whole family can enjoy, a restaurant specializing in local and foreign home-cooked comfort food, and other amenities.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
The dark and haunting series “Hannibal” returns for a third season, revealing the fates of characters hanging in the balance, and the continuing psychological cat and mouse games they face.

After the shocking events of the season two finale, Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) is on the run in Europe—accompanied by his psychiatrist Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson)—sporting a new identity, but servicing the same insatiable appetite.

As the lives of Will (Hugh Dancy), Jack (Laurence Fishburne), and Alana (Caroline Dhavernas) converge toward Hannibal again, each with their own motivations to catch him once and for all, their deadly dance turns in startling and unexpected ways.

Hannibal S3 premieres TONIGHT and every Tuesdays thereafter at 9.45pm, first and exclusively on AXN. AXN is seen on SKYcable Channel 49, Cignal Digital TV Channel 49, Cable Link Channel 38 and Destiny Cable 61.

The Asian Premiere of "The Normal Heart" Set to Open on July 3

Wazzup Pilipinas!
"More than just a gay-played play, one of the most important thing you'll learn from this (The Normal Heart) is how health issues are really political issues that in fact even in a group like gay organizations there's a lot of in-fighting. People can't seem to cooperate even in the face of death. But most importantly, what is shows is that love is resilient even in the face of something as permanent as death." - Bart Guingona

Indeed, the Larry Kramer play called The Normal Heart is a play with a lot of hope, with a lot of lessons to teach us, and hopefully the cast will be able to bring it out and make it relevant to the audience.

The play is a call to arms, chronicling writer/activist Ned Weeks’s personal crusade for justice amidst resistance, intolerance and ignorance on the part of government, family and friends. Ned is the openly gay founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group

It is very alarming that the number of cases of deaths from HIV and AIDS have been increasing exponentially throughout the years but is rarely talked about in society mainly because of shame and humiliation within the family of the deceased.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Before summer vacation finally ends and going back to school, bring your kids at Gumbo or Burgoo for a last hooray treat!

Your kids will surely love the special and refreshing Root Beer Float at Gumbo which they can also get for free! Likewise the whole family can also enjoy Gumbo’s mouth-watering and sumptuous dishes like Seafood Jambalaya, Bayou’s Stuffed Crabs, Shrimp Etouffe, Bourbon-Style Baby Back Ribs, Southern-Grilled Chicken Caesar, Cajun-Style Fried Chicken, Seafood Boil, Family Feast, etc.

Meanwhile, kids can create their own pizza and eat it too for free at Burgoo! Kids will surely enjoy other well-loved dishes at Burgoo such as Hamburgoo, delicious pastas, country-style fried chicken, grilled pork chops, luscious shakes, smoothies and desserts, among others.

This is Gumbo and Burgoo’s treat for all the kids before going back to school and become busy on their studies again.

You can get these delightfully tasty freebies at Gumbo and Burgoo until June 14.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Goods are becoming more and more expensive, yet your income is not increasing fast enough to cover the higher cost of living. It is important, then, to forgo unnecessary expenses and to try cheaper alternatives, like bringing packed lunch to work or school instead of dining out or having food delivered.

When you dine out, you often end up ordering more food than necessary either because of a persuasive attendant or because of impulse buying. When you bring your own food, you have more control over the portions you allot for yourself, thus you avoid wasting food and money.

You can plan your meals ahead and buy ingredients in bulk, which will save you money.

With packed lunches, you are also assured of the quality of your meals. Just make sure you store your food in containers that are non-toxic and can be sealed tightly to avoid spillage and to ensure the freshness of your meals.

Klio products can be trusted in this regard. A leading player in the plastic food keeper industry, Klio guarantees that its products are made of high-grade materials, and will not leach cancer-causing chemicals into your food. Klio containers are also microwave and freezer-safe, and are easily washable.

What's With All the Uproar in Camsur? Almost a Week of Wwweeewww Adventure!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Camarines Sur, known as Camsur for short, is widely known for wakeboarding due to the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) - a very popular cable park designed for wakeboarding.

CWC is a very successful attraction and a favorite destination of many wakeboarding athletes and enthusiasts looking for quality facilities where they can play, practice or simply watch people enjoying wakeboarding.

Just like everywhere else, summer is the busiest days at CWC. With the influx of both local and foreign tourists all wanting to witness wakeboarding sports, and at the same time relieve themselves from the summer heat at the pool of Villa Del Rey Hotel, CWC becomes one of the country's highly visited destination in Camsur. CWC also has a restaurant that serves all-time Filipino culinary favorites and other Asian dishes pleasing to the taste buds.

Another reason why tourists frequent the place is because the local government makes sure there are also a great number of programs and activities for everyone to enjoy. Integrated as part of the Kaogma Festival are events such as the Uproar Camsur music festival organized by Disruptiv led by Ben Hunt, and the 9th Philippine Wakeboard Nationals organized by John and Monique Ong. Too bad the Miss Kaogma beauty pageant was held earlier. Our schedule from May 28 to June 1 only gave us the chance to experience the events that were held within the said dates.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
This 2015, the University of the Philippines Diliman Ultimate Organization (UP DUO), in cooperation with Greenfield City, brings you the 4th annual National Ultimate Collegiate Championship!

NUCC is specially organized to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among college, university and high school teams from all over the Philippines through Ultimate Frisbee. With 16 college and university-based teams, 5 teams competing for the high school open and 3 teams for the ｗomens＇division, NUCC 2015 is more competitive and more exciting than ever!

Succeeding this are the participating schools in NUCC 2015:

COLLEGIATE
University of the Philippines Diliman
Benilde Ultimate
University of the Philippines Los Baños
De La Salle University
University of Asia and the Pacific
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Ultimate
Ateneo de Manila University
University of Santo Tomas
De La Salle University – Science and Technology Complex
Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology
Malayan Colleges Laguna
Centro Escolar University
PATTS College of Aeronautics
San Beda College
Xavier University - Ateneo De Cagayan
De La Salle University – Dasmarinas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fo Guang Shan Philippines in cooperation with the Buddha’s Light International Association will restage Siddhartha: The Musical at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 17, at 2 pm and 8 pm.

Directed by Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson and with musical direction by Jude Gitamondoc, Siddhartha: The Musical tells the story of Siddhartha, the prince who renounced his royal status to seek enlightenment. He would eventually become the Buddha, the awakened one. His teachings are still kept alive today by millions of people all over the world.

The musical is based on the book The Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order. Most of the songs used in the musical are also based on the writings of the Venerable Master.

To date, Siddhartha: The Musical has been staged a total of 55 times. It has been shown in Cebu, Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, Taiwan and the United States. The cast of over 70 volunteer actors and dancers showcases the musical and performing talents of Filipinos, particularly of Cebuanos.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Silly People’s Improv Theatre (SPIT) is the country’s premiere improvisational theatre group known for their smart and incisive brand of comedy. Considered as one of the best improv comedy troupes in Asia, SPIT has had almost a thousand performances in the last decade to both local and international audiences whose combined numbers easily run up to the thousand. SPIT has represented the Philippines in the Los Angeles, Beijing and Hong Kong Comedy Festivals, and the Improv Festivals in New York and Chicago, and more recently, the Amsterdam Improv Festival in January of this year.

Improvisational theatre is a form of theatre where scenes are co-created by the audience and the actors in real time, without the benefit of a script or prior rehearsals for the performers. Because of this method, watching an improvised theatre show is more akin to performance art due to its non-conventional approach.

This year, Manila International Improv Festival 2015 is happening on July 2-12, 2015. This performance art festival is a partnership with two prominent Philippine institutions. Silliman University in Dumaguete will host our Tropical Improv Camp from July 2-5, and the Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) will be our partner venue where all theatre performances will be held on July 8-12, 2015.

Our performance art fair is hosting improv comedy groups from around the world: PIP Show (Warsaw), Impro Mafia (Brisbane), Pirates of Tokyo Bay (Tokyo), Landry & Summers (Los Angeles), To Be Continued, People’s Liberation Improv, 3 Dudes Improv and Lamb Ink (Hong Kong), The Improv Company (Singapore), Taichung Improv (Taichung), The Beijing Collective (Beijing), People’s Republic of Comedy and Zmack (Shanghai), Bacolod Improv Group (Bacolod), Dulaang Atenista (Cagayan de Oro), One and a Half Men, Switch Improv, and SPIT (Manila).

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Flavor is four times the fun as FISH & CO. launches “Ultimate Fish-Mate” - a perfect meal good enough for you and three others. Aside from the Best Fish And Chips in Town, this Ultimate Fish-Mates will surely be the group’s latest favorite.

Delight in this newest combination platter that includes satisfying servings of Seafood Curry, Leg, Thigh, Peri-Peri Chicken and steamed rice. Enjoy every bite of the savory chicken marinated in spicy Peri-peri as it marries beautifully with seafood drenched in curry sauce. Priced at P995, this could easily be your next combination dish of choice.

Fish & Co always dishes up the best of flavors by offering winning combinations that bring together the best of their menu and that get guests hooked all over again!

To know more about Fish & Co., check us out:

Website: www.fish-co.com.ph,
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/fishandco
Twitter - https://twitter.com/FishCoPh
Instagram - http://instagram.com/fishncoph

Epson Partners with Photogs for a Cause to Capture Untold Stories

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Earlier this year, Photogs For A Cause (PFAC) – a group of professional photographers who do pro bono work for NGOs that have no budget for their photography needs – braved dangerous trails to go up the mountains and visit Brgy. Buscalan in Kalinga. They brought Epson to the quiet, quaint place to provide a unique gift for the people of Buscalan.

Aside from visiting the new birthing facility in the area and bringing some basic supplies, their mission was simple: to take portraits and give the pictures to people who have never had their own photographs.

“It’s a simple gift, and yet the joy that they exhibited upon receiving their photos can’t be quantified,” said Donna V. Ferro, Head of Epson Philippines’ Marcom & PR. “These are people who have never owned a photo, and so this was incredibly precious for them,” added Ferro.
“This is not the first time that people have come here and take their photos,” said Tracey Heppner, founder of PFAC. “The visitors always say they will come back when they have the photo print outs, but they aren’t able to deliver on the promise, probably because of the treacherous paths that you need to take to get there. But now, with the Epson printer that we’ve brought to the mountain, for the first time, the locals get a copy of their photos,” added Tracy.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AAI / The Necessary Theatre proudly announces the Asian premiere of " THE NORMAL HEART " - the 2011 Tony Award Winner for Best Revival of a Play about the early rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. During this period, a deadly epidemic was decimating North America's gay population, killing people in the thousands, devastating an entire generation and changing the way we think about sex forever.

Written by playwright and activist Larry Kramer, " THE NORMAL HEART " is a largely autobiographical play that puts a human face to an issue often mired in numbers, facts and statistics as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the openly gay founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. He watches in horror as friends and lovers fall prey to a mysterious virus targeting his community.

For its Manila run, " THE NORMAL HEART " is set to open on July 3 (Fri) 8pm with succeeding limited performances on July 4 (Sat) 3pm & 8pm; July 5 (Sun) 3pm & 8pm at the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Topnotch theater actor Bart Guingona (who also directs the play) shall essay the role of the very intense activist Ned Weeks who is both difficult and charming.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In a space where everyone is acting, how do you know if it's real?

The Ateneo de Manila University’s Fine Arts Program presents" AUTHORIAL INTENT " by Itamar Moses, a postmodern romantic comedy that confronts the audience with a rich and self-aware story, written with both insider knowledge of the mechanics of drama and a shrewd grasp of the ultilayered ways in which people deceive themselves.

" AUTHORIAL INTENT " puts its audience behind the fourth wall of a condominium shared by a couple, referred to only as A and B. They have just begun to live together. Three days after moving in together, a woman tells a man she doesn't love him anymore --- move out !!!. Suddenly, the play itself undergoes a parallel breakdown, with the two characters speaking their objectives and subtext instead of their dialogue. Finally, the two actors step out of character, to look back and wonder: Is there anything at all behind the artifice?

But the masterful stroke of playwright Itamar Moses' pen further unmasks the layers of truth and craftsmanship behind the encounter, from their character objectives and conversational tactics to the revelation that the condominium is actually the set of a play, where A and B find themselves as actors in a very real world, perpetually in search of something to be sure about. In a space where everyone is acting, how do you know if it's real?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Reality Film Lab (TRFL) is an intensive training field for aspiring film practitioners. Since its inception last year, Reality Entertainment, a film production company that produced Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, Rigodon and On The Job, has been facilitating The Reality Film Lab. TRFL is a non-profit filmmaking workshop that shapes Philippine cinema by building a network of dedicated filmmakers equipped with the vital cinematic tools and mastery of the art. This 2015, the film lab will span from June 14 to July 11.

The Reality Film Lab offers Film Directing, Digital Cinematography, Editing, Scriptwriting, Production Design and Film Production classes. This year, TRFL is offering master classes that will cross over to different fields such as Prosthetics, Acting, Animation, Makeup, Documentary, Storyboarding, Pitching, Color Grading and Sound Design.

Headed by internationally acclaimed director Erik Matti and renowned producer Dondon Monteverde, TRFL brings together a roster of experts who are at the top of their respective careers.

With top industry professionals at their side, students earn hands on experience with professional-grade equipment. Cinematography students are equipped with RED Epics, Black Magic cameras and lighting tools for their projects. Production Design students enjoy regular trips to the commercial sets of their mentors. Editing students create their own editor’s cut of reputable films, with their exclusive access to raw On The Job footage and other Reality Film productions.