Sarah Geronimo is New Celebrity Endorser of Michaela Ladies' Fashion Accessories by Goldnines International

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Watch out for our special video and photo coverage of Sarah Geronimo as celebrity endorser of Michaela - a Filipino brand of bags, shoes, pouches, umbrellas and other ladies accessories. Let's love our own. Let's love Filipino brands.

The grand launch that formally introduced Sarah Geronimo as brand ambassador was held at the Activity Center of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong on the night of October 10, 2015. It was also a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Goldnines International, the company behind Michaela. 

Thus, many fans from the mall shoppers and tenants, and the invited guests, media and partners of Goldnines International, were able to witness Sarah performing live two of her popular songs that were matched with her very lively dance moves. 

There was also a special interview done on stage with the event hosts, and a raffle where the winners were drawn by Sarah herself. The winners get the opportunity for a later up close and personal meet and greet complete with photo ops and selfies with the pop star royalty.

Michaela: A Decade of Style, Inspiration and Dedication to Women

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In the year 2005 at the heart of Binondo Manila, Goldnines International Co., Ltd., the company behind Michaela, open its first boutique located in Juan Luna street offering its first line of lady's bags designed to fit the Filipino woman's lifestyle.

The well-known active district paved the way for the company to be prosperous and fruitful allowing them now to expand their operations in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

From its humble beginnings to being a well-known creators of lady's bags in the market, the company has diversified its product line to cater to different groups.

The birth of ABkD bags, which caters to fashionable teens, and AYLA bags, its premium brand for sophisticated and classy young women enabled Goldnines to successfully carry out their mission of providing high quality and stylish products in the fashion industry.

Today, after 10 fruitful years of growth, style, inspiration and dedication for women; Goldnines International is proud to present its first ever brand endorser for MICHAELA bags, shoes and umbrella; the pop star royalty Ms. Sarah Geronimo.

Old-School October on DMAX

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This month, get your tools out and stock up on popcorn as DMAX brings back three of your favorite shows on automobile and jet restoration, refurbishment and even repossession!

The CAR CHASERS are back for a second season - which means more cars, more transformations and bigger deals. CAR CHASERS season 2 premieres on Monday, October 12, at 8:10 p.m.

Dan Short is an automotive force of nature. He does whatever it takes to restore cars to the highest possible standard, and he doesn’t care who he has to steamroll, charm or sandblast along the way. Dan knows that each car is a powder keg of hidden surprises and problems to be solved, and the only way that a restoration will succeed is if the owner is as committed to the restoration as Dan and his team. Witness top class automobile restorations in the all-new episodes of FANTOMWORKS, premiering on Tuesday, October 13, at 8:10 p.m.

Few men can make it in the high stakes game of airplane repossession, and AIRPLANE REPO follows them on their clandestine missions. Banks and creditors call these guys to outfox deadbeat owners and recover the expensive aircraft – they are the best of the best in what they do. The latest episodes of AIRPLANE REPO premieres on Wednesday, October 28 at 8:10 p.m.

OpenSignal: Globe Beats Competition in LTE Speed, Coverage

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Globe Telecom provides the fastest LTE service in the Philippines, affirming the superiority of its mobile internet service and network infrastructure amid intensely competitive environment in the local telecommunications industry.

Based on OpenSignal’s State of LTE report for the third quarter of 2015, Globe Telecom’s LTE download speed is at 10 Mbps, double its competition’s LTE download speed of only 5 Mbps. Globe Telecom’s LTE download speed is comparable to territories/countries like Hong Kong (Smart Tone), India (Airtel), Norway (Telenor, Network Norway), Portugal (NOS), Indonesia (Indosat), which all registered a 10 Mbps download speed, and even higher than the 8 Mbps download speed in Russia (MTS), Malaysia (DiGi) and even US (AT&T, US Cellular, Sprint, C Spire Wireless).

While Globe Telecom’s download speed of 10 Mbps is considered adequate, its competition’s download speed of 5 Mbps dragged down the Philippines’ average LTE download speed to 8Mbps. OpenSignal specializes in mobile coverage mapping by crowdsourcing signal strength, data speed and reliability. In terms of LTE coverage, that of Globe is also superior at 41% against its competitor’s 36%.

“These findings prove our success in continuously expanding our network capacities amid ever-increasing demand for high-speed mobile internet access as more and more of our customers build their life and work experiences around a digital lifestyle,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, noting that about a third of the company’s 48.4 million mobile customers are now using smartphones.

10 Iconic Structures in the Philippines

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Over the years, the Philippines has produced some amazing architectural structures that can be considered as national gems, not just for their aesthetics but also for the way they molded the country into to what it is today. Noted Philippine real estate marketplace MyProperty lists 10 of the country’s most historically and culturally significant edifices. From an antique lighthouse to a modern condominium, here are their choices for the most recognizable structures in the country.

The Manila Hotel (Ermita, Manila). Built in 1909, the Manila Hotel is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines and was opened in conjunction with the commemoration date of the American Independence. Built on a 35,000 sqm reclaimed area and composed of 570 rooms, the five-star hotel served as the residence of General Douglas MacArthur from 1935 to 1941, and has also hosted worldfamous personalities like the late U.S. president John F. Kennedy, author Ernest Hemingway, actor John Wayne, and entertainer Michael Jackson.

The Gramercy Residences (Makati City). Rising 262 meters in Century City, Makati, The Gramercy Residences is currently the tallest building in the Philippines, dethroning the 259-meter-tall PBCom Tower when the former was officially opened in 2012. Developed by Century Properties, the 73-story condominium’s main attraction is Skypark, which is located at the 36th floor and houses features like a three-story waterfall, lagoon pools, a garden island, and a cantilevering walkway. 

Intramuros (Manila). As the oldest district of Manila, Intramuros was the seat of government during the Spanish colonial period. In 1590, the area along the southern bank of Pasig River facing Manila Bay was enclosed with walls 22 feet high and 8 feet thick to protect the government from foreign invaders, earning it the moniker “Walled City.” Declared a historical monument in 1951, Intramuros houses many historically and culturally significant features, such as the Manila Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila; and Fort Santiago, a national shrine and popular tourist destination. 

Thinning Hair Problems? Going Bald? Scalp Micropigmentation May Be Your Best Bet

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Do you have thinning hair because of alopecia, menopause or male pattern baldness? Are you going bald and want to have your hair back?

If you don’t want to wear wigs or a hair replacement system, and think you’re not yet ready for a hair transplant, Scalp Micropigmentation, also known as SMP is the novel remedy for baldness. It may be your best bet.

Essentially, scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a non-surgical hair restoration solution. It is a cutting-edge, non-surgical office-based procedure that is non-invasive and uses sophisticated micro needles that deposit pigment into the scalp. The SMP technique replicates tiny hair follicles to restore thinning hair and resemble its previous density.

Does it hurt? Not really. During the SMP procedure, you may feel a bit of discomfort in certain areas of the scalp. But the discomfort wears off once the procedure is complete.

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) uses a digitally controlled machine combined with tiny needles that are tinier compared to typical tattoo needles, but it is not a tattoo. The pigment used is much less concentrated and does not have the chemical additives found in tattoo ink. It doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply as normal tattooing and the color can be matched to your natural color, even if you go gray. The effect is natural, as the needles mimic individual hair follicles and gives the look of a full, youthful head of cropped hair.

Celebrity Moms Unite Against SIDS for #SafeSleepPH

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October is SIDS Awareness Month. One of the most crucial information parents need to know is how to protect their babies while sleeping. Babies spend up to 16 hours sleeping in their first year of life. It is often during sleep that babies are left unattended, and yet this is when they are most at risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) – a sudden, unexpected death of an otherwise healthy and normal baby during sleep.

For safer sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm. Remove all blankets, pillows, comforters and toys from your baby’s sleep area. Your baby’s crib should have nothing inside except a tight fitted sheet and only your baby in a wearable blanket.

Halo Sleep Sack Philippines (www.halophilippines.com), through its #SafeSleepPH campaign, aims to educate Filipino parents on the importance of safe sleep for babies.

The HALO SleepSack is an award-winning wearable blanket worn over regular sleepwear as a safer alternative to loose blankets. HALO products are backed by 20 years of SIDS and clinical research. It is the only brand that carries the seals of leading SIDS and safety organizations. All this makes HALO the #1 trusted brand by moms, and the ONLY brand used in over 1,000 US Hospitals.

Experience The Real Oktoberfest at the Fort

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I believe many would want to be first in line of everything that's full of opportunities and rewards. Who wouldn't want to experience life to the fullest where all roads leads to the best day ever. But the best day ever need not be only during December where the holiday seasons are at its best. We can start the celebration as early as October.

Now we have an opportunity to pamper ourselves for two days from October 16 and 17 (that's Friday and Saturday) with just the right amount of guilty pleasure by indulging on our favorite food and drinks available at huge discounts.

Be the first to come, create and celebrate the intoxicating Spirit of the 2015 Season of fun-loving and giving as The Real Oktoberfest Experience brings you music, delicious grub, fun games and your favorite beer brew that will follow to your heart's content and uplift your spirits.

At a gathering for bloggers, the peeps from the BGC group announced the event a week before the actual date at the Draft Gastropub where we seemingly celebrated on a feast of the establishments specialties perfectly matched with cold bottles of Paulaner.

Globe myBusiness Digitizes SMEs With Latest Portfolio Of Business Solutions

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Globe myBusiness, the small and medium enterprise (SME) arm of Globe Telecom, continues to be the trusted business partner and advisor of SMEs as it equips and digitizes their operations with the latest portfolio of business solutions that will enable them to efficiently run and grow their enterprises.

With the advent of the digital revolution and the growing trend towards the digital lifestyle, entrepreneurs need to quickly understand and adapt to the new trends in technological solutions that will provide great value for their growing ventures. Now made readily available through Globe myBusiness’ postpaid plans, there are suitable solutions that address the need for a more adept and productive management.

“Making these business solutions readily available to SMEs is a big step to help them discover new ways to reach their customers and grow their businesses. In a way, we are helping them realize that these digital solutions are not as complex to use but can actually make their operations more cost-efficient and reliable over traditional business processes,” says Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President for Globe Small and Medium Business Group.

AirAsia Ups Manila-Hong Kong To Daily Flights

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AirAsia, the world’s best low cost carrier for seven consecutive years running, today announced it is increasing flights to Hong Kong from Manila from 4x to 7x weekly starting 25 October 2015.

In conjunction with this exciting news, AirAsia is offering all-in promo fares from as low as P688* one way from Manila to Hong Kong for bookings made today until 18 October 2015 for the travel period from 25 October 2015 to 26 March 2015. Guests can also book their flights via AirAsia’s mobile app on iPhone and Android devices, as well as its mobile site mobile.airasia.com.

Gerard Peñaflor, Head of Commercial for Philippines AirAsia said, “A quick getaway during long weekends or a grand holiday escape to Hong Kong with your friends and family has never been easier than now with AirAsia’s daily flights at affordable fares. To enhance travel experience for our guests, especially during the holiday season, the AirAsia’s mobile app is also being constantly updated to feature more options that provide convenience during check-in or to manage bookings.”

As the festive season draws near, Hong Kong offers a magical experience with glittering skyscrapers, a buzzing shopping scene and festive atmosphere. Discover more of Hong Kong by downloading AirAsia’s travel guides at http://www.airasia.com/travelguides. The travel guides are free and include essential travel information on each destination such as accommodation, transport and the must-see’s and must-do’s.

Pinoy Entrepreneur Summit: Getting Into Business - From Passion to Action!

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Learn Business 101 and the latest business trends and strategies from top entrepreneurs and experts.

LDF Events Management will held its first ever Pinoy Entrepreneur Summit: Getting INto Business - From Passion to Action on October 14, 2015 (Wednesday) 10:00 AM- 6:00 PM at Megatrade Conference Center, 5/F Bdg. B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Pinoy Entrepreneur Summit: Getting Into Business - From Passion to Action is a fun and dynamic gathering of the youth, aspiring entrepreneurs and young professionals who want to get inspired in transforming their ideas and passion into real businesses. With a well-balanced line up of topics and speakers, this summit will certainly help individuals to mold and bring out their entrepreneurial skills and spirit.

Come to the event, hear and learn from top entrepreneurs and experts who will talk about various topics such as Social Entrepreneurship, Ecopreneurship, Technopreneurship, Fashion Entrepreneurship and Foodpreneurship.

  

Regal Elegance: Wraith Inspired Fashion from Rolls Royce

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"Fashion is not only aesthetics, but a living. Everyone should coexist - beauty, strength, sophistication and performance."

That is why a collaboration has been formed among fashionably awesome and elegant brands - "a tribute to everyone who loves fashion and knows what real luxury is."

One of the world's premium brand in car luxury recently invited us to a night of superb luxury, elegance and fashion entitled, Regal Elegance: Wraith Inspired Fashion on the 8th of October 2015, 18:00 PT, held at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila - Global City Showroom located on  5th Avenue corner 26th Street of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The event was the launch of the Rolls Royce Wraith partnered with Filipino renowned fashion designer Rhett Eala and Filipino jeweler Jewelmer. Several great looking models flaunted the fabulous creations of Rhett Eala in the presence of the amazing Rolls Royce Wraith vehicles that were designed to redefine boundaries. It is truly fascinating to see stunning beauty from both fashionably elegant outfits and vehicles.

Arnel Pineda Sings as Asthmatics Prove Resilience Against Asthma

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Some members of my family have asthma so I can relate to the difficulty that these people have to endure whenever there's a situation where their breathing becomes a burden. But this health condition should not let us become seemingly useless or unable to reach our full potential since there are medications out there that can really help us get over these condition.

After months of deliberation and almost 2,000 entries nationwide, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced on October 7, 2015 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the winners of its Search for the Winners Against Asthma (SWAA).

Hosting the event was celebrity TV host Christine Jacob, while GSK ambassador and singer (who also has asthma in real life), Arnel Pineda, sang Every Breath You Take to entertain the audience. The other ambassadors, actress Kim Chiu and skater Michael Martinez (who both can't join us that day due to other commitments), sent over their video messages.

Launched in February 2015, the Search for Winners Against Asthma is a nationwide search for young asthmatic achievers aged 30 years and younger who are outstanding in their respective fields despite having asthma and inspire asthma sufferers that they, too, can win against the condition.

2nd Philippine Cloud Summit: Industry Experts Weigh-In on Cloud Computing and Data Analytics

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Are we ready for cloud computing even though we carry with us Filipinos the burden of being recognized as a country having one of the slowest Internet connectivity in the world?

Nobody could directly answer that question which makes many doubtful that the said technology would push towards popularity within the Philippines. Though the cloud would definitely become a significant technology that would highly improve our business processes, the underlying prerequisites in order to make it truly functional still needs a lot of improvement, or what one of the speakers would say, political will.

I believe that it is similarly the business side that keeps causing the delay of our progress because our businessmen would still want a huge profit out from their infrastructure and would not like the competition, or even the masses, to benefit by allowing them better opportunities to be competitive in performance.

IP Converge Data Services Inc., a local cloud computing and data center firm, pooled together three industry experts, namely Philippine Software Industry Association President Jonathan de Luzuriaga, CloudSigma CEO Robert Jenkins and Adatos Managing Director Drew Perez, at the 2nd run of the Philippine Cloud Summit held on October 7, 2015 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati city.

Into the Unknown, Codes and Conspiracies on Discovery Channel’s October Lineup

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Fear of the unknown keeps many from going on adventures. This October, dare to find out the truth behind some of the most mysterious phenomena around the world and decode the deep, dark secrets of the past with Discovery Channel’s lineup for the month!

Ed Stafford: Into the Unknown follows Ed on a mission to investigate the planet's newest mysteries. With photographs from the International Space Station and spy satellites showing strange and unexplained markings in some of the most remote and inaccessible places on the planet, Ed will set out to find the target, and solve the riddle.

Follow Ed’s quest starting October 6, Tuesday, at 8pm when he investigates the gigantic white lines popping up on satellite images in remote West Papua to a strange pattern of circular dots in the middle of the Danakil Desert. All these mysteries call out to him – and he figures them out whatever they are, wherever they are.

Codes and Conspiracies takes you on new locations to explore more of the unknown and hidden stories of the world's most iconic places, ground-breaking inventions, and influential people. The show goes behind the scenes to show things which an average tourist never gets to see, digging deep to reveal surprising facts that have been obscured by history.

Catch the new season Thursdays at 10pm, premiering on October 15.

Globe to PLDT: Only Total, Unconditional Peering Is Acceptable

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Globe Telecom confirmed it is currently in talks with PLDT for an IP peering arrangement but laments PLDT’s proposal will prevent Globe customers from accessing content and applications hosted by PLDT data centers (which includes ePLDT, Vitro, Sun, Smart, etc.)

“The proposal does not go far enough even to meet the definition of peering. We are hoping any bilateral arrangement with PLDT would effectively reduce latency of local intent and improve internet speed. As is, PLDT’s proposed peering agreement won’t be effective in improving the country’s internet speed as it doesn’t allow Globe customers to directly access content and applications hosted by the PLDT group without exception,” Globe Chief Operating Officer Gil Genio said.

Globe has already pointed this out to PLDT executives, who will look at the possibility of revising their proposal. “Having an agreement on IP peering is one thing and monitoring to make sure all websites, content and applications are in fact visible to us is another thing and should be a constant process,” he said. Both parties should ensure that an ideal peering relationship is established, adding that IP peering entails generally accepted practices of peering where one has access to the other and vice versa, unconditionally.

Nonetheless, Genio stressed that PLDT’s decision to bring the issue at the negotiating table is commendable, noting that Globe has been actively advocating for IP peering for more than six years now. “We are optimistic as PLDT has finally responded positively to our long-standing call for IP peering. We are confident that ongoing discussions will lead to better quality of internet services benefitting customers of both parties and the country as a whole,” he said.

Darren Espanto is on His Way to Conquer the Philippines at D’ Road Tour!

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After the massive success of Darren Espanto’s “D’ Birthday Concert” at MOA Arena last May 2015, D’ Total Performer is now set to start his “D’ Road Tour” across the country. Darren is living his ultimate dream in captivating the hearts of his fans around the world since the onset of the tours at Canada and United States of America.

The course of Darren’s concert series will begin at Araullo University, Cabanatuan this Friday, October 09, which will be followed the next day, October 10 at AUF Sports Center, Angeles. D’ Road Tour will be on its way to SMX Convention Center, Davao on October 23, 2015 and will trail to University of Baguio on October 30. Fans from Cagayan De Oro will also get the chance to catch Darren’s concert in Lim Ket Kai on November 20. Batangueños will also witness his moves on Nov. 27 and will stretch going to La Salle Gym, Bacolod on December 05, 2015. Darren will also invade Cebu this November on which the exact date and venue will be announced soon.

He will be joined by special guests: The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 Grand Champion, Jason Dy, The Voice Kids Season 1 Finalist, Juan Karlos Labajo, and The Voice Kids Season 2 Grand Champion, Elha Nympha.

Fans can expect all-out performances of songs from his self-titled debut album, which features the singles, “In Love Ako Sa’Yo” and “Stuck”, “Makin’ Moves” and many more.

DOTC Acquires Brand-New Rail Grinding Machine For MRT-3

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The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded another improvement project for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) system to minimize operational disruptions by ensuring better track upkeep.

The joint venture of Kempal Construction & Supply Corp. and TPE Share Sales Inc. bagged the P160-Million contract to supply a brand-new rail grinding machine which will remove track irregularities and extend track life.

The machine, along with operations and maintenance manuals, repair tools, and a five (5)-year supply of spares, will be delivered within 360 calendar days from issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

This will put an end to the classification of systematic rail grinding as special repair works – which entails additional costs – and instead characterize it as an ordinary preventive maintenance undertaking. With its own rail grinding machine, the MRT-3 management can minimize costs, as similar equipment will no longer be leased from other firms.

2016 Outlook, ASEAN Integration To Be Discussed In Upcoming Real Estate Summit

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The ASEAN integration’s impact on the local real estate industry, the market’s 2016 outlook, and the government’s public–private partnership projects—these are just some of the key topics to be discussed in the upcoming 4th Asia Pacific Real Estate Investment Summit (APREIS), to be held at Solaire Resort & Casino on October 22.

The summit will gather in one venue some 300 professionals from leading property developers, funds and asset managers, and investors for a day of networking to interact and share their views on various issues affecting the industry—with the goal of promoting and strengthening the Philippine real estate sector.

Guests expected to grace the summit include Trade and Industry secretary Gregory Domingo, who will discuss the upcoming ASEAN integration and its impact on the local real estate sector; and CBRE chairman Rick Santos, who will share his outlook for the Philippines’ real estate industry in 2016.

Meanwhile, Macquarie Capital’s Michael Chan will tackle private capital financing for large-scale real estate projects, and Cossette Canilao, executive director of Philippine Public–Private Partnership Center, will discuss the transformation of Philippine infrastructure through successful PPP delivery.

Rodolfo Salalima Authors Telecommunications in the Information Revolution

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Globe Chief Legal Counsel and Senior Advisor Rodolfo A. Salalima, a recognized authority in the field of telecommunications law, launches his new book titled: “Telecommunications in the Information Revolution”.

The book is a compilation of the law and jurisprudence on telecommunications and of insights on the evolving language and fundamental issues of the Internet revolution. It helps provide understanding on the current communications technologies that help shape the change in people’s lives and lifestyles. It is also used as a textbook filled with legal commentary for law students, and as a reference material for industry practitioners and non-lawyers.

According to Salalima, the book is an attempt to make it easier for ordinary readers to comprehend current technologies on telecommunications, broadcasts, and disruptive innovations, “ I hope that this may help influence others in understanding these technologies or contribute in the utilization of these technologies not only as tools for better social networking and communications but also, for nation building and growth.”

Chancellor Adolfo S. Azcuna of the Philippine Judicial Academy and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court shared his appreciation of Atty. Salalima’s new book, “ He has done us all a good turn once again. I am delighted to see him produce another masterpiece. This book on Telecommunications in the Information Revolution is vintage RAS, a handy source of practical advice as well as a thorough treatment of the subject.”

The book launch will happen at the Radiate Room, the Loft of the Globe Tower, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on October 9, 2015. If you wish to have a copy of the book, you may buy at the UP Law Center, Malcolm Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.

U-Hop Partners With Click Labs For More Efficient Service

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U-Hop has tied up with a US-based technology solutions company, Click Labs, to reintegrate its systems and expand the services it can offer to its members.

Click Labs has designed and developed an app named “Tookan”, its 3rd SaaS (Software as a Service) product. It is an online system designed for businesses managing mobile personnel, deliveries and services. It is a system that makes workflows more efficient and is a simple answer to the core business operations often involving multiple stakeholders.

Through Tookan, managers and personnel can monitor all the day’s activities and tasks. The system provides a live map view of all mobile personnel, with specific corresponding information including the assigned driver, destination and client.

The system logs in all of the tasks, including those from the previous days, so everything is archived with efficiency and accuracy.

It features an alert function so everyone is notified once a task has changed or if it has been completed. It also has a messenger function so you can talk to all online managers and personnel.

Tookan does away with the conventional operations so you can say goodbye to your old-school spreadsheets, voice calls and the many, many paper works.

U-HOP: Philippines’ First App-Based Shuttle Service

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Because of the worsened traffic situation in Metro Manila, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pegged our productivity loss to P2.6 billion every day. Furthermore, JICA said that if we do nothing by 2030, that amount would reach P6 billion a day.

That’s why we need transport solutions.

First there were the app-based car services. The original concept was brilliant; individual car owners would give a ride to those plying the same routes as theirs for a fee. Simply put, it is taking the idea of carpooling and incentivizing it for charging for fare. The result? We get less cars on the road.

But then this concept became an enterprising model. Individual car owners were no longer giving lifts to people, they were operating their cars as cabs, and down the road, they began purchasing fleets. The result? Now we have even more cars on the road.

Experts have said it over and over again, the only solution to this behemoth of a traffic problem is mass transport. But while we wait for the infrastructures and facilities for that, we offer an alternative. An app-based mass transport system we call U-HOP.

Think of the UV express at the terminals near your homes and offices. They are convenient because it is mass transport and it is cheap. Now take that service and make it app-based, you no longer have to wait for long lines.

Oscar Winner Graces The Small Screen In New Medical Drama

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Academy Award winner for Best Actress Marcia Gay Harden (Polllack) stars in Code Black, a new medical procedural drama inspired by Ryan McGarry’s critically acclaimed documentary of the same title.

Every episode presents extraordinary medical cases in creative but very authentic perspectives. Events unfold in the nation’s busiest ER, where medical professionals are the heroes. In a perpetual race against time, they solve one medical case after the other using limited resources. This is far from your usual medical drama. Get ready to be hooked as it fires up adrenaline, intrigues the mind and ultimately compels the heart.

Follow Leanne Royer (Harden), the gritty resident who leads her medical team through seemingly insurmountable odds.Completing the cast are Bonnie Sommerville (NYPD Blue), Raza Jaffrey (Homeland), Luis Guzman (Oz), Melanie Kannokada (Love, Lies and Seeta), Harry M. Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth, and William Allen Young.

Michael Seitzman, Marti Noxon, Ryan McGarry, and David Semel are the executive producers of this series that premieres on October 7, Wednesday, 8:50pm (same week as the US), first & Exclusive at Sony Channel.

Sony Channel is seen on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cable Link Channel 39.

Wanted: Innovative, Disruptive and Sustainable Ideas in Mobility

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Do you have a smart and entrepreneurial idea or enterprise related to mobility? Get support and the chance to win more than P1 Million in start-up prizes! Applications are now open for the “Impact Hub Fellowship on Innovation in Mobility with LBC.”

Aside from the prizes, you will also earn guidance from a community of professionals and supporting corporations through Impact Hub Manila's incubation and mentoring program. 

Impact Hub Manila, a startup incubator, and coworking and events space provider for a membership community of entrepreneurs, activists, creatives, and professionals taking action to drive positive social and environmental change, is looking for potentially world-changing ideas in the field of mobility.

In partnership with LBC, the Philippines' market leader in payments, remittance, courier products, mail, parcels and, cargo logistics, Impact Hub Manila is now accepting applicants that could offer innovative, disruptive and sustainable ideas for their very first fellowship program.

At a press conference held at the Impact Hub Manila office at the 5th floor of Green Sun on October 6, 2015, the key people from both Impact Hub Manila (LizAn Kuster and Matt Jaeggi, co-founders) and LBC (Fernando Araneta, CEO and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer), presented the details of the fellowship program, plus a special speaker, Benjamin de la Peña, Director of the Knight Foundation and former Associate director at Rockefeller Foundation, gave us a general overview of the global trends and issues regarding mobility.

Singapore Airlines and Visa Unveil Exclusive Offers for Trips to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Europe

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Singapore Airlines, together with Visa, invites travelers to jumpstart their adventure with its special all-inclusive Economy Class round trip fares starting from just USD190.

Singapore

Together with the Singapore Tourism Board, SIA brings an attractive all-inclusive round trip fare to Singapore from just USD190, for a minimum of two passengers travelling together. More of the Lion City is now also reachable through the Singapore Airlines Singapore Explorer Pass. With a top-up of just USD 48 per person, travelers may revel in over 20 different attractions (worth SGD 420), including Gardens by the Bay, Madame Tussauds, Singapore Cable Car, Singapore Zoo, Singapore Flyer and free rides on the SIA Hop on Bus.

Australia

From just USD630, an exciting Australian adventure awaits those who wish to visit Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia alliance provides more choice for domestic and international air travel to and from Australia, with attractive and seamless travel options across Australia. Passengers can smoothly plan their trip to various attractions in The Land Down Under and avail of more travel options and convenient connections. All-inclusive one way add-on rates are also available from USD 60 to USD 80, with trips from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to multiple destinations such as Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart, Mackay, Port Moresby, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast and Townsville.

Globe Disconnects From Service Close To 30,000 Numbers Identified As Source Of Spam/Scam Messages

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Globe Telecom has disconnected from service close to 30,000 prepaid numbers found to be consistent source of spam and scam text messages as the leading mobile operator continues to intensify efforts to eliminate such unsolicited and annoying messages.

The numbers blocked from the Globe network were subject of complaints reported through the http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam where customers are simply required to provide all the details of spam and scam messages they received on their mobile devices. Numbers that are reported to be a constant source of spam messages are then disconnected from service.

The numbers were also identified via an automated filtering system implemented by Globe to keep its customers from receiving scam and spam messages. The telecommunications provider recently expanded the coverage of this functionality and the system now covers majority of the company’s 2.3 million postpaid customers.

A total of 29,347 numbers were blocked from the service since July last year, Globe Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio said. Of the number, a total of 24,787 numbers were disconnected for sending scam messages while 4,560 numbers were barred from using the Globe network for sending spam messages.

Sabrina To Represent The Philippines In 2015 Asia Song Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart Sabrina is going places! She will be representing the Philippines in the upcoming Asia Song Festival to be held on October 11 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium in Busan, South Korea. Sabrina will be performing alongside Asia’s top music acts like KPop artists EXO, GOT7, Red Velvet and B.T.S, NGT48 from Japan and William Chan from China. She is also scheduled to collaborate on stage with KPop group B1A4 for their song “Lonely” where Sabrina will sing in Korean. Asia Song Festival is held every year since 2004 in Korea gathering the best singers in Asia and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Previous Philippine representatives include R&B singer Kyla and MYMP.

Sabrina recently conquered Malaysia when she performed at the Kuala Lumpur Lake Garden Festival last August 23 at Padang Merbok in the capital city. She was the only Filipino to sing at the festival alongside other Malaysian, Indonesian, Singaporean and other acts from Southeast Asia. She also did photoshoots, radio guestings, retail and TV appearances during her tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in time for her latest album “I Love Acoustic 8”. To date, she has also traveled to Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore where she had successful concerts and promo tours

She just released her latest album “I Love Acoustic 8” which debuted at #1 on iTunes Philippines and Indonesia and also on Top 10 of iTunes Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. The album is also released in CDs all over Asia making Sabrina one of the only few Filipinos to release a CD in the region and cementing her status as Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart. In the Philippines, “I Love Acoustic” is now on the Top 10 of the country’s largest CD retailer Astroplus. The Malaysia version of the album includes her duet with Malaysian singer Natasha Sass with the Malay version of Freddie Aguilar’s iconic song “Anak” which is entitled “Terima Kasih”. Indonesia’s version had Sabrina record a duet with one of their top singers Chilla Kiana for the songs “Thinking Out Loud” and “Love Me Harder”.

PH Leads the East Asia and the Pacific Towards a New Era of Tourism Development

Wazzup Pilipinas!

At the 21st United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Medellín, Colombia on 12-18 September 2015, the six Regional Commissions elected new chairs and vice-chairs for the period 2015-2017.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pleased to announce that the Philippines was unanimously elected as Chairperson of the Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) with Cambodia and Japan as vice chairpersons. The Philippines will also sit as member of the Committee on Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) owing to its efforts of institutionalizing the implementation of the TSA in the Philippines, the first in the ASEAN region which is in consonance with the UN system of satellite accounting.

Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General lauded the Philippines for taking the Chairmanship that will greatly contribute to the global travel and tourism agenda of increasing competitiveness and promoting sustainable development in the region. Asia and the Pacific region is now the fastest global tourism destination with 263 million international arrivals in 2014 with a growth rate of 5.3%.

The five other commissions and their respective chairs (C) and vice-chairs (VCs) are: Africa – Zimbabwe (C) and Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire (VCs); the Americas - Haiti (C) and Paraguay and Chile (VCs); Europe - Switzerland (C) and Montenegro and Lithuania; South Asia - India (C) and Bangladesh and Afghanistan (VCs); and the Middle East - Lebanon (C) and Egypt and Jemen (VCs).

Social Media: The New Frontier in the Workplace

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Social Media is turning out to be the best mode of communication in the business world today today..

However, many have also become victims of its misuse and abuse. it has been used to propagate negative campaigns, and in many occasions, defamation of character to many individuals; and/or many many more. Oftentimes, the victim asks; "Can file a libel case on the one who circulated a very damaging 'blog' or 'tweet'. In the corporate scenario, one basic question which always comes up is : Can i suspend or terminate the services of a staff for "posting", "bloging" or "Tweeting" a false and very damaging story or statement in "facebook" "wayne" "inckedin" "Whereareu" "nstagram etc.

Join the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) as they discuss this topic on October 08, at the Henry sy Auditorium of St. Luke's Medical Center from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Investment fee is Php 1200 for non-ECOP members and Php 600 for ECOP members (VAT Exclusive)

Method of Registration:
1. Download Registration Form (PDF).
2. Print the Form, Accomplish, Scan, and Send to vic.darapiza@ecop.org.ph or membership@ecop.org.ph.

Nissan Philippines Celebrates 2nd Year Anniversary and Launches the New Nissan Juke

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nissan Philippines celebrates its 2nd year anniversary and also launches the new Nissan Juke - a beautiful vehicle bringing together the toughness of an SUV and the dynamism of a sports car that's soon to be available on January 2016.

The 2nd anniversary and launch was held on October 5, 2015 at the Whitespace events place located in Makati city, and was attended by members of the media, Nissan employees and other special guests and VIPs. Your friendly neighborhood Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas was able to capture everything on video including the speeches of the Nissan Executives plus an up-close look at the exterior and interior of the new Nissan Juke.

With a tagline of "Rediscover Excitement. Rediscover Nissan," the automobile brand is determined to bring back the excitement by delivering the brand promise of "Innovation That Excites."

In the photo above is Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Antonio "Toti" Zara and Marketing General Manager SungJoong "SJ" Huh who both shared their Nissan stories and the superb specifications that makes the new model an impressive offering to celebrate another milestone.

Wazzup Pilipinas is proud to have witnessed the event as it is a moment that should be cherished by all with the availability of the first automobile that puts emphasis on style and durability.

Cetaphil Has A New Baby

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After 68 years of taking care of Filipino skin, Cetaphil brings you a line specifically developed to care of your baby’s normal skin – exactly like how a mother’s loving touch will be. Backed by decades of world-class skincare science, Cetaphil introduces the arrival of Cetaphil Baby to provide the best in skincare that a baby deserves everyday.

Remember that first touch, that first look, and that first smile of your newborn? Cetaphil Baby is your partner through the magical beginnings of motherhood. Because every mother’s touch is filled with care, love, and passion, Cetaphil Baby will care for your little one’s skin just the way a mother does.

The brand comes in a complete skincare line with Gentle Wash & Shampoo, Ultra-moisturizing Bath & Wash, Massage Oil, Daily Lotion, Shampoo and Baby wipes to ensure that a mother’s loving touch is always accompanied by a world-class, trusted product. Designed for easy application, the complete line is paraben-free, free from minerals, gentle on the skin, and mild to cater to every baby with normal skin. .

Cetaphil Baby believes that the bond between a mother and her baby is unbreakable and so should the products that come into their relationship. The long wait for a baby product that extends the mother’s touch is now over, as Cetaphil Baby is now available at leading stores nationwide.

The Largest Philippine Real Estate Developers and Their CAPEX in 2015

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here’s a rundown of how much the country’s largest property developers are spending in 2015 to finance their projects.

With a gross domestic product (GDP) growing on average 6.2 percent between 2010 and 2014, the Philippines has steadily emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. Expectedly, local real estate has been one of the large contributors to the country’s GDP growth average.

While the industry had been doing well in the past couple of years on its own, even more vigorous growth in the immediate future is anticipated within. Rapid urbanization coupled with the continued rise of the residential sector have been the key sources of growth for local real estate, and is one of the main reason for several developers’ leading the way for record capital expenditures (CAPEX) in 2015.

Plush and Play: First Filipino Stuffed Toys Now at Toy Kingdom SM Megamall

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We are always proud to share the news about Filipino brands that have made it mainstream, and thus we are extremely happy that Plush and Play - those adorable fruits and vegetables stuffed toys with their own fun names - are now available for sale at Toy Kingdom of SM Megamall.

Fabien Courteille, a French man at Gawad Kalinga, was thrilled to share with us their product line as we interviewed him for WazzupPilipinas.com. He enumerated some of the many characters that make up the many fruits and vegetables stuffed toys partially handcrafted but whole-heartedly made by mothers at the Gawad Kalinga foundation at GK Enchanted Farm.

His partners, namely Howard Lorenzo, Ainee Idanan, and Coco Castro Cruz, were equally glad to tell their participation in the very first Filipino brand of stuffed toys that are indeed colorful and durable for all ages to play with, or even just display at home or even in the office.

We also interviewed Tony Meloto, the founder of Gawad Kalinga, and has his video message for everyone whom he encourages to support the Plush and Play brand. He said that it's ironic that it takes a French man to make this move in changing the mindset of our people in supporting Filipino brand of toys. We should be giving our kids something truly Filipino-made to play with so that it will eventually cascade to the betterment of both our people and economy. We should all be prioritizing in helping every Filipino endeavor so that we would all benefit from it.

8Layer Academy Presents Hack Up Winners at Vigattin Radio

Wazzup Pilipinas!
8Layer Academy visited us on September 3, 2015 to present the winning teams who bagged the 3 top places in the Hack UP competition recently held at the GT Toyota building of the University of the Philippines over the previous weekend.

The winners were from the following very promising apps: "Pulong", "Tara" and "Identinantion" that all had a common theme of "culture." These apps were designed to highlight related ways to bring the people closer to the Philippine culture as they respectively tackle the somewhat negative "Filipino time" culture and how to sort of address it by making people more aware of their current location during a call for a meeting, a more innovative way to gather people for culture-related events, and another app that seeks to bridge the gap to how little or wrong we know of the Philippine culture.

These young minds all seek to provide answers to the problems of society through this hackathon, and many more of its other runs at different venues all targeting the youth specifically college students.

I'm still waiting for their official press release so I can help share to you their accomplishments but I'm just too excited to share this already. These kind of news are the ones that we really need to support as they help build a more constructive hobby or past time for the youth. What could be better than spending your time and talent thinking of ways to improve the nation.

Mercato Centrale is Now Even Better at its New Location

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We interviewed co-founder RJ Ledesma, the man who wears many hats, and tried out the equally many dishes available at the new spot of the always festive Mercato Centrale that is now located at 25th street corner 5th avenue of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Here you'll see the "Between the Lines" astronaut mural created by the art duo Cyrcle from Los Angeles. The mural is actually more popularly known as "The Spaceman."

The new location is just opposite The Forum building where some restaurants are also located but I guess they may now have something to fear every Friday and Saturday, 6pm-­‐3am, as Mercato Centrale offers so much with very affordable prices to boast. You'll be able to buy a meal here for only an average of Php 100 only, with quality that is comparable to other dishes served at top restaurants.

RJ Ledesma mentions some of his highly recommended brands in the video interview and encourages everyone to check all the others as they truly offer excellent choices.

In my case, I've got to try five dishes from the food stalls offering churros (Don Churro), cheesesteak (Ultimate Cheesesteak), Garlic Chicken rice meal (Edgy's Food Trip),  layered crepe (Cakes by K ) and lasagna (Chicago Pizza). There was a Php 100 food coupon from Auntie May's that says it's good for the next visit, but the owner, Auntie May herself, gave the blessing to serve it to me already and even allowed me to not pay additional because the Angus Beef Salpicao dish was worth more than Php 100. Also, another coupon from JD's Takoyaki bought me 4 pieces of the yummy street food.

Hattendo Japanese Chilled Cream Buns Now in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Now making their presence felt in the Philippines is a new product that will change the way you eat bread. The product comes with different fillings but the outside appearance all look the same except for the colors of the Japanese writings in the wrapping.

The Hattendo Japanese Chilled Creams Buns were sort of weird at first touch because I was totally surprised it was cold, or as they say "chilled." I'm not really used to having cold buns for snacks, but I gave it a try. Why not? I asked myself. This was my first time to try something like this but definitely liked the product at my very first bite.

It was actually on display at an event that I attended on August 27, 2015 so the curiosity within me stepped in to inquire about the product from always want to try something new. Thus I immediately approached the lady who was attending to the Hattendo booth. There I found out from her that it was free for tasting, and she asked me to get one that I like. I asked for a recommendation on which flavor was the best and she gave me three choices. I chose the Custard flavor, and gladly can say I enjoyed it up to the last bite.

I found myself coming back to ask for more because I wanted to try out the other flavors like Matcha, Azuki Bean and many others, and luckily got to eat my second piece of Hattendo Japanese chilled cream bun that day, of which eventually they approached me and said that they will give me a few more in exchange of a blog review. They probably realized I liked it so much so they're giving me a great chance to splurge on the product. I agreed because that's great news that will also give me the opportunity to share it with my wife and kids.

Cycling Superstars Invade PhilBike Expo 2015

Wazzup Pilipinas!

You friendly neighborhood Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas was invited at the media and VIP event of the PhilBike Expo 2015 event for its opening ceremonies and press conference plus the biking stunts exhibition of the three cycling superstars who visited the Philippines event from Spain, France and Italy, namely Viki Gomez, Matthias Dandois, and Vittorio Brumotti.

The PhilBike Expo is the country’s first and largest trade and consumer show dedicated to the promotion and development of cycling. Top and up-and-coming bicycle and sports brands put their best and latest wares on display and testing for the ever-growing local riding community. An indoor MTB track and BMX street park was also available for both play and competitions.

We took a special video coverage of almost everything so you could also see what went on during the first day of the event that was not yet open to the public. Sadly, I missed out on Vittorio's exhibition as it was scheduled far later in the afternoon of the same day. I actually waited for his turn but unfortunately I was waiting at the wrong end of the SMX halls. I thought he will also be doing his stunts at the same platform where BMX Bikers Matthias and Viki performed noontime.

Below are the videos I took of the event, plus interviews with two of the cyclist. Photo ops with the three cycling superstars are also here, plus photo coverage within the videos to be uploaded soon at our official Facebook page. Check out more videos at our YouTube channel.

Also here are the profile of the two cyclist as per official press release of the organizers.