2015-10-11 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Acrobatics: Extraordinary Feats of Balance, Agility and Motor Coordination

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Let's give credit to Wikipedia for defining acrobatics as "the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination."

True enough, it's not an easy task to stand there up on stage and let the audience see how you struggle to keep your balance to prevent yourself to fall or worst, to get into a terrible accident of broken limbs, or even much much much worst, hit your head bad on the floor causing your death.

I have no intentions of alarming you or causing you to fear the trade. But it really is so difficult to maintain posture while trying to prevent yourself from injuring yourself.

To top it all, most acrobats would want their performance to be matched with suspense, so there would be portions of the show where they will intentionally try to act like they are about to get into an accident just to cause panic to the audience. It is the thrill of a lifetime seeing a man almost falling to his death (I meant injury).

What is remarkable about this certain acrobat that we had an opportunity to watch at a show called the Loom Band Magic Show featuring Rico D' Magician and Ryzza Mae Dizon is that he also includes humor in his suspenseful act.

Now that's total entertainment. It's like a movie complete with all the ingredients to make it a blockbuster.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many have tried to disillusion us from the wonders of magic by revealing the secrets on how so called magicians, or "illusionists" cheat our senses. The eyes are deceived so very frequently with a quick slight of hand, or an obviously intentional distraction.

However, it remains a sensational source of entertainment for children of all ages. Grown-ups are also enthralled with the baffling performance. Though some tricks could be explained, there are new players that have been mystifying the new generation.

For the traditional forms of magic, it is always more engaging of you match your magic performance with humor. People would be more interested in an act that makes them laugh rather than a very serious delivery.

It may look like circus magic, but it still works best for kids who are always fascinated with magic tricks. It helps if the magician is hyper on stage and works with comical assistants that can add to the fun of the performance.

I've watched a performance of a magician named Rico D' Magician, and though his delivery was kind of rude and "slapstick comedy" for some, he got the full attention of the children in the audience.

Rico D' Magician became popular due to his participation in a TV reality contest. It added value to his name and branding. Television coupled with social media promotions really does help in jumpstarting one person's career.

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During our visit at the Camsur Watersports Complex of Camarines Sur, we decided to explore the area near our hotel in Naga where we were booked for several days. We went out one of the mornings for a walk and to see if there are worthy sites that deserve space on our digital camera's memory card.

And we were right, there was this very noticeable establishment that screams for attention and asks the similar question-like greeting we have for its name.

Just right across the majestic Naga Cathedral along the historic street of Barlin stands Que Pasa restaurant of Naga City, Camarines Sur. We interviewed the Marketing Manager after a sumptuous lunch treat at thhis seemingly art and food haven venue with friends Elison Vigattin Barcelo, Elaine Barcelo and Jayson R. Biadog.

Que Pasa is the Spanish word for What's Up or in our case, Wazzup!

It was not only because of it's name that's synonymous to what we call our site why we became very interested, it was because of both its fancy exteriors and interiors reminiscent of the past historical years that were so rich in sophistication and culture.

This time I will let our long video coverage featuring our interview with the Marketing Manager and our tour of Que Pasa restaurant to speak for itself. We were able to queue in their amazing Toro-Toro (a pun of the Filipino "turo-turo" where you get to point to the foods you like when ordering, and the word "toro" which means bull to signify a popular Spanish animal that is frequently ridiculed by matadors in a bull fight). Ordered their delightful meal combos and reveled in their very artistic establishment that art enthusiasts can call almost heavenly.

Enjoy our lengthy video blog where we discuss everything you can find at the Que Pasa restaurant.

Vote for WazzupPilipinas.com Now for the Bloggys 2015 - Philippine Blogging Awards

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Celebrating 7 years of providing engaging content locally and abroad - Essays.ph, known to be in the freelance writing industry, will have a wide variety of blogging opportunities soon.

But that's not all - it's with great honor to announce...that they organized the "BLOGGYS 2015 - Philippine Blogging Awards."

If you’ve found or been following awesome blogs like WazzupPilipinas.com , over the past few months, nominate them for an award here! But of course you need to prioritize voting for your Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas - WazzupPilipinas.com

Now it's time for you to vote for WazzupPilipinas.com so we can be among the finalists.

wazzuppilipinas.com is at Section 5: Blogs starting from letters T- Z.

Please see link below:

http://bloggys.ph/section-5/

1. Look for wazzuppilipinas.com,
2. click on the checkbox opposite it,
3. scroll down below where you will input your name, email and optional mobile number.
4. Then click on Vote via Facebook (which means you need to have a Facebook account in order to qualify as a voter)

http://bloggys.ph/section-5/

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Some say she should be threatened with the popularity of the accidental love tea of Team Aldub composed of Alden Richards and Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza which was an act that totally went off like a rocket ship as just part of the "Kalyeserye" series of the Juan for All, All for Juan segment at noontime TV variety show Eat Bulaga.

Before love team Aldub, the child star we all know as "Aleng Maliit" has the spotlight focused on her, so I was surprised when during a certain event where she was a special guest, Ryzza Mae even thanked the audience for their support of the accidental love team.

She said that the whole cast of Eat Bulaga loves the Aldub couple so much and that they support their rise to fame and popularity.

Ryzza Mae is simply so cute and adorable now, but she may become like an Aiza Seguerra who was also once such a huge child superstar but her career path swayed towards a different direction. She may still be popular now but it was not like before when all the eyes of the masses were focused on her whenever she is on stage.

Will Ryzza Mae have the same fate as Aiza, who was also a discovery of the Eat Bulaga show several years ago, or will it be totally different for the equally wondrous child who has made a lot of viewers laugh to her crazy antics that combines the innocence of a child with the wit of an adult?

Well, we cannot really tell the future. No one can accurately guess what will happen to her career. Will she be singing acoustics too, or will she be doing a different craft that is as artistic and classy as what Aiza Seguerra is doing right now?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Dawn still continues to make a startling presence even for a crowd that was not yet born during the time when they were hugging the spotlight as one of the most popular bands in the country.

Who can forget the iconic "Enveloped Ideas", "Iisang Bangka" and "Salamat" which all made a huge impact on those years when bands where the "in" thing when it comes to entertainment.

It was also cool to be part of a band that makes you feel like a rockstar that is well-loved by the fans especially the young ladies who can't get enough of their songs as they rock to the beats and shake their heads like it would never suffer from brain damage.

The popular OPM rock band with lead singer Jett Pangan will remain a part of Philippine music history that will be loved worldwide y all Filipinos who appreciates great music tantalized by their charismatic way of delivering a performance.

The band members can change but the lead singer remains to be the symbol of the group representing the identity of the band. If you were to change the person doing the vocals, the band would totally sound different, and lose the charisma it has gained from the fans and followers of their music.

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Puerto Galera has been called the Little Boracay by most people from Metro Manila because it's the nearest you can go where you can experience fine beaches that are satisfying enough for anybody who wants to have a great time just lying under the sun in the white sandy beaches near the awesome blue waters. There are also wonderful spots for diving or snorkeling to see spectacular marine life under its waters, aside from plenty water sports and other activities that you can do in the island of Mindoro.

It's basically the main source of livelihood for many as there really are no farmlands within its lands. Puerto Galera local government is basically getting its income mostly from tourism ventures. This is why its the prime objective of the LGU to maintain and sustain its natural resources to keep people from all over the world to visit Puerto Galera.

The Municipal Mayor, Hubbert Christopher Dolor, understands the situation thus he has plans to construct an airport so that more will be encouraged to visit the island. The travel from Metro Manila to the Batangas pier and ferry motor boat ride from Batangas Pier to the island sorts of deter other tourist from going to the island because of time limitations. If there was a flight from Manila to Puerto Galera, then it would make tourist visits increase in number.

Since the influx of tourist are also seasonal. there are peak seasons where the island flourishes with visits from both local and foreign tourists, and the down seasons where a handful will be there. The rainy seasons is also a downer since the Philippine sis frequented by storms and typhoons and Puerto Galera is not exempted from it.

It is without any doubt that the island should find other ways to earn an income since they should not rely solely on tourism. They also do not have any iconic "pasalubongs" or any product to identify them with. So whenever you visit the island, all you can bring home with you are t-shirts with the words Puerto Galera and just the memories a a great beach bumming time.

Thus, the interview with Mayor Hubbert is an eye-opener for us to see what is in the future for Puerto Galera, and what the LGU has already done for the island to put it in the map of the world. Puerto Galera should be more than just "Malaparaisong Dalampasigan" boasting of how beautiful their bays are.

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1337 Ventures (pronounced “leet ventures”) in collaboration with Department of Science & Technology of Philippines brings its idea validation programme, Alpha Startups to the Philippines region with the initial marker being laid in Cebu this November 9-13. Existing start ups as well as new business ideas are welcome to apply for the inaugural class within the Philippines.

“We have always viewed the Philippines region as a lucrative market to launch a start up. They have a large unbanked population, one of the biggest inbound transactions and great talent. This programme will greatly help Philippine entrepreneurs as well as all others within our Alpha Startups alumni as it puts them on a global footing to potentially work together and have a greater geographical presence.” says Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO of 1337 Ventures

Alpha Startups has helped many an entrepreneur achieve their goals and business expansion objectives. This includes providing resources, potential funding, tech support, while nurturing them with business knowledge and decision making skills. They help transform a start up’s early raw ideas into ‘minimal viable products’ (MVP) where it is good for an initial market launch.

“Alpha Startups was a great shortcut for Closetstyles to validate what works and what doesn’t’. At the end of the programme, we felt the direction was clearer and we were more confident in executing it” says Fong Kam Ling, founder of Closetstyles.

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To all PRs, brands, companies, organizations, individuals, etc., we would like to inform everyone that the Wazzup Pilipinas Facebook group will have a change of name because of certain individuals claiming to be part of the blog site WazzupPilipinas.com.

For now, we will be using "Bloggers ng Pilipinas" which is generic enough to let everyone know that the members are bloggers from the Philippines, and close yet different enough from its Wazzup Pilipinas group origin. The new group name should not give an impression that its members are part of the management of WazzupPilipinas.com.

Please be advised that the FB group is not a part of the management of the blog site. They are totally different entities. Not all of the members of the Facebook group are authorized to transact in behalf of the founders of the WazzupPilipinas.com blog site.

The team behind WazzupPilipinas.com will always inform our partners of who to send or represent us in all events and gatherings. Please only transact with me or my assigned representative(s) that I will specifically mention in our email or text messages. Please ask for their identifications so you can make sure you are dealing with the right person.

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The Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary by hosting the Galileo Fun Learning Festival on October 27 and 28 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City. The two-day event will feature fun learning activities for the students, and talks about parenting and teaching for parents, teachers, and school administrators.

Activities

• Free Assessment for Math skills and Free Orientation – Students will be assessed on their math skills through an interactive app exclusively made by Galileo for the Galileo Learning Festival. Parents and teachers will also be give a brief orientation about the Galileo programs which may interest them to enroll in their children to a recommended Center nearest their children’s school or place of residence.

• Galileo Hackathon (Coding/Programming for Children) – Exclusive for schools, students will engage in a coding and programming competition. Huge prizes are in store for the winning schools. If your school wishes to join, you may send five students, aged 7 to 12, to participate in the coding competition.

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The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) are procuring 120 brand new Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) for LRT Line 1, which currently runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City up to Baclaran in Parañaque City, and is about to be extended to Bacoor, Cavite.

The project will be funded through a loan extended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The bid will be exclusive to Japanese-led companies or consortia.

“With the upcoming 11.8-kilometer extension of LRT-1 comes the need to add more trains to the system. This will enable us to meet demand, and to maintain the right headway between arriving trains at the stations. This is part of the massive modernization and upgrading efforts that have started not only for LRT-1 but for all our railways,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

These 120 LRVs will be configured in thirty (30) 4-car train sets, to allow the rail line to accommodate up to about 750,000 passengers daily. The winning bidder will cover the technical design of the coaches, procurement of materials required for manufacturing the LRVs, and ensure compliance with technical specifications through testing.

The supplier will be required to submit a project management plan, design and development plan, as well as an inspection, testing and commissioning plan, in order for implementation to run smoothly.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If drama and mouth-watering food are what you're into, TLC has it all for you this October!

Weddings are massive calamities just waiting to happen and choosing the bride's dress just adds to the overall stress brought by the occasion. But what happens when you put 15 women with different tastes in fashion together to agree on one design for a bridesmaid dress? Watch the drama and chaos unfold on TLC's new series SAY YES TO THE DRESS: BRIDESMAIDS. From choosing what color and fabric to use to what design would suit the occasion the most, these women are sure to spice up your evening. Catch the dress drama on SAY YES TO THE DRESS: BRIDESMAIDS, 10 PM on Fridays.

Are you up for a cuisine adventure with exotic flavors? Tune in to SHANE DELIA'S SPICE JOURNEY as he explores everything and anything Turkey has to offer through a culinary road like no other. Indulge and let your mouth water as Chef Shane serves up dishes that date back to centuries ago using spices and techniques that have been passed on for generations. Catch him in his exploration of unique Middle Eastern flavors on SHANE DELIA'S SPICE JOURNEY, premieres on the 19th of October, Mondays, at 9 PM only on TLC.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Your October is about to get SpookTABular with Ekotek’s amazing Ekotab deals!

First up, we’ve got the brand new Ekotab Encore 2u - this baby’s been enhanced and upgraded to give you an even more amazing user experience. Guess what… From October 15-31, 2015, the Encore 2u is yours for only P2699. That’s P300 off Sent from my iPad

And because we had so much fun with our Spectacular September promo, we’re bringing back the STORAGE, POWER and SUPER bundles.

STORAGE BUNDLE: Add P100 and we’ll throw in an 8GB MicroSD so you can store more pictures, games, videos and so much more. Oh and did we mention, it’s the perfect accessory to the Encore 2u’s enhanced HD capacitive touch screen (1024*600 pixels, 16:9).

POWER BUNDLE: Always on the go but can’t get enough of your favorite games?e’ve got just the thing for you. Get an Ekopack 3000mAh, for only P300.

SUPER BUNDLE: Because we want to give you the best of both worlds, you can get both the Ekopack 3000mAh and the 8GB MicroSD with your Encore 2u for only P3049*

Wazzup Pilipinas!

According to the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), acne is the most prevalent skin disease among Filipinos, with an affliction rate of approximately 17% among teens from 10 to 18 years of age. This makes acne a serious skin condition, which persists unless treated straight at the source.

The most common problem with acne breakouts is that it recurs despite a rigorous skincare regimen. Against common knowledge, cleansing alone does not get rid of acne. This is because cleansers only work on the skin’s surface dirt and oil, making them insufficient in addressing the root problem of breakouts.

To effectively treat acne, there must be an understanding on how acne really develops in the skin. Acne is a recurring cycle that isn’t caused by dirt, but by bacteria. When excess oil and dead skin cells clog the pores, whiteheads or blackheads appear. Bacteria then infect the pore clog which worsens into red and inflamed bumps more commonly known as pimples. The acne cycle repeats, often triggered by stress or hormones.

But dermatologists have proven and tested that acne can be managed, and acne cycles can be stopped.

Benzac, a global expert in acne treatment, brings you Benzac AC Gel spot treatment that contains the active ingredient, Benzoyl Peroxide. This key ingredient has been clinically proven to kill more than 94% of acne-causing bacteria in 48 hours to significantly reduce redness and inflammation of pimples, and loosen whiteheads and blackheads.

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Yahoo Inc. today made a number of product announcements, primarily in the area of communications.

This month marks Yahoo Mail’s 18th anniversary, and the company is celebrating that occasion by introducing a new Yahoo Mail app that is fast, intuitive and beautifully designed. Available on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android, the new app comes with a number of features, including smarter search, contacts management and rich compose.

Most people have an email account from more than one provider. So starting today, Yahoo Mail users can connect and manage their email accounts from Outlook.com, Hotmail and AOL Mail, right from Yahoo Mail on mobile and desktop. Once connected, users can access Yahoo Mail’s features across all their mailboxes. (The ability to manage multiple mailboxes is rolling out globally today in the Yahoo Mail app. The desktop experience is currently available for U.S. English users, and will be coming soon to users outside of the U.S.)

“Email is the most prevalent way people communicate online. However, what we want from our inbox is evolving. Mobile use requires a faster and smarter inbox,” said Jeff Bonforte, Senior Vice President of Communication Products at Yahoo. “Both of these needs are at the center of our new app.”

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Nutella brings us a lot closer to their heavenly treats as they setup pop up stores at certain locations to make them really accessible especially for the busy and rushing individuals.

They have a pop up store located at the Landmark Complex Supermarket Level 1 (near the MRT & North Avenue entrances). It will be there from October 3 to 18, 2015 only so you still have time to go on over there and grab everything you want!

It's not only for us! These spreads are great "pasalubong" for your kids whose eyes will surely light up and sparkle as soon as they see the Nutella jars. I can still remember the experience when we brought home our very first jars of Nutella way back several years, and from then on we would always make sure we have a jar or two for their "baon" at school. Nutella has become our favorite spread ever since.

We just recently finished the 375g Nutella Ferrero Hazelnut Spread that we bought a few days ago, and we are off to buy another one soon on our next grocery shopping. It actually lasted in only just a few days since our kids really loved the awesome spread. I'm sure my kids gained a lot of weight. But no worries in mind, since they're at the age when it's alright to indulge to support their growth spurts. It is so overwhelming to see them grow so fast. It seems like only yesterday when they were just small adorable toddlers. Now, they've all grown up even taller than my wife and I.

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The BB-8 is now available for pre-order at the Globe GEN3 Store Greenbelt and will soon be in all GEN3 Stores nationwide. Welcoming the Star Wars BB-8 at the Globe GEN3 Store in Greenbelt Makati are Globe Retail and Transformation Management Head Joe Caliro (right) and Sphero Channel Director for Asia Pacific Aurelien Joly.

Globe Telecom has once again upped the Filipino digital lifestyle experience by signing an exclusive deal with Sphero, an industry-leading robotics toy company which creates connected toys that fuse emerging technology with the latest innovations in robotics. Globe is the only Philippine telco to bring the revolutionary Star Wars BB-8 app-enabled droid to the country, much to the delight of Filipino Star Wars fans and gadget geeks.

Customers can already pre-order the Sphero BB-8 at the Globe GEN3 Store in Greenbelt Makati and soon in other GEN3 Stores nationwide. Offered at P12,499.75, the BB-8 is iOS and Android-compatible, housed in a durable polycarbonate shell and boasts of a Bluetooth smart BLE connection of up to a 100-feet range.

BB-8 was a character first revealed in the first teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens in November last year. BB-8 is an astromech droid, which operates approximate 30 years after the Battle of Endor. It has a domed head, similar to the R2 series of astromech droids, with the bulk of its body made up of a ball that the droid rolls on. The BB-8 has something unlike any other robot: an adaptive personality that changes. Based on its user interactions, the BB-8 will show a range of expressions, learn the obstacles in an environment, and even perk up when given voice commands.

Mobile Photography in Bohol with the Prestigio 5508 Smartphone

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What do you do when you get a hold of a smartphone with a rear camera of 13 megapixels?

The obvious answer is to use it for mobile photography. Without any doubt in mind, just seeing the screen display and the shots it was able to take, the Prestigio 5508 smartphone was a very useful tool in documenting my travel adventures in Bohol.

The photo above is an example of a shot taken using the said smartphone, and you'll see more of the amazing shots I took here in this particular article. I've actually posted a lot of them in real time while I was in Bohol but it is only now that I'm sharing about my mobile photography experience.

It so happened that I was invited to several days of media familiarization tour in Bohol to accompany delegates from the previous Diving Resort Travel Expo featuring underwater photographers from different countries namely who were all invited to be part of the expo as either speakers and/or journalist so they can write about the Philippines and how wonderful the waters of the Philippines for diving. Some of the organizers of the expo were also with us in Bohol so we were a big group of 16 individuals.

We stayed at the magnificently Amorita Resort with a great view of the beach. We will be spending time exploring the diving spots of Bohol, and will get to tour the countryside as well before we go back to Manila. You can imagine my delight being able to capture the beauty of these sceneries using the very handy Prestigio 5508 smartphone - it was created with selfies and groupies in mind, so you can have several marvelous photo ops.

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Ever wondered how far your income could go when planning to purchase a home?

Di you know that a salaried Filipino with more than 20 years of work experience may need 128 years’ worth of his salary in order to afford a house in Makati, the Philippines’ most expensive housing market? This information is according to global property website Lamudi Philippines (www.lamudi.com.ph).

On the other hand, this same salaried worker only needs 4.16 months’ worth of his salary in order to afford a home in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, one of the country’s most affordable markets based on average home price.

At the other end of the salary spectrum are minimum wage earners, who need to work a staggering 1,449 years in order to afford Makati’s uber-expensive houses, while 3 years’ worth of their income can buy a house in San Jose Del Monte.

These are some of the findings of Lamudi’s latest analysis using its second quarter 2015 listings data, which involve close to 15,000 houses for sale in 289 cities and municipalities across the Philippines. Lamudi’s analysis focused on the top 32 cities and municipalities with more than 100 for-sale inventories.

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Our daily meals would normally consist of pork meat and eggs. Our fridge would always have the two because we would often include them in our weekly grocery shopping list. A visit to the grocery and market would always take us to the meat and egg stalls as we consider these food as basic supply for weekly consumption.

However, there has been a great clamor for healthy foods recently that encourages people to eat healthy by staying away from "fattening" or "oily" foods which are wrongly perceived as greatly attributed to pork and eggs due to the public's lack of correct information.

Thus, with the very honorable goal to create better public awareness on the benefits of pork and egg products, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) and the Philippine Association of Breeder Layers, Inc., (PABLI) have teamed up for the very first time to organize the 1st National Pork and Egg Festival.

The event was open free to the public so many would have the opportunity to learn as much about pork and egg, as well as the ins and out of their production.

During the event, the two organizations unveiled their respective seal of excellence that they will give to companies that underwent rigorous process of ensuring high quality products which translates to more consumer safety.

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With an impressive line-up of speakers, most of which I have met and know personally, the Pinoy Entrepreneur Summit was indeed a great spectacle to behold. For me, seeing these people gathered together in one venue was a dazzling feat. I have to congratulate the organizers of this event for their ability to make the event overloading with so many useful information shared by these highly respectable resource persons.

Having the theme "Getting INto Business: From Passion to Action" the entire day was filled with enthusiastic students all eager to absorb all the knowledge and experience shared throughout the day. I am sure that many got the inspiration to equally match, or even surpass, the achievements of the speakers that day.

Held at the Megamall Conference Center, 5th floor of SM Megamall in Ortigas Pasig city, the Pinoy Entrepreneur Summit is a highly relevant source of information especially for business students who all want to be the best in their chosen fields. Thus, there were many sectors of entrepreneurship that were represented at the event.

From startups to advocacy or social entrepreneurships, the speakers shared insights that you won't normally learn from school. Most of the time, the most significant learning comes from the actual experience in the field when you are at your actual work area where you experience all the real life scenarios that are all challenging and most of the time reaching breaking points. It is only at our actual work where we encounter the various trials and challenges, and where we learn to become more resourceful and creative in order to meet our deadlines and reach our goals.

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Your Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas was again invited to attend another car launch this month... and all I could say as I entered the venue was "Wow!

The 2016 Chevrolet Trax was launched at the illustrious Palace Pool Club at The Palace located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) of Taguig. This is the place where you'll find Revel, The Brewery and Valkyrie, and probably more soon as there seems to be a lot more spaces to build in this empire.

As appropriate to its class, the new crossover Chevy Trax deserves only the best venue for its launch. I remember telling a friend that the Chevy launch was going to be held at the Palace Pool Club, and he couldn't figure out how they would be able to put the car inside.

Well, I guess nothing is impossible these days as everything can be achieved if we put our minds, and creativity, to work. Congratulations to the organizers for the glamorous setup, and if very few noticed, I loved the way they incorporated the Chevy logo in the pool using materials that would float. Impressive, but it would have been a lot more amazing if people can actually take a photo from above.

It was supposed to be my third time at this venue as I had previous invites for other events that were held there but this is the first time my busy schedule permitted me to attend an event there. As expected, I got a little lost since the driver said he does not know his way around BGC yet. We couldn't find the place since there was no sign big enough to indicate we were there already. I should have trusted my instincts when I saw the almost castle like structure with the large letters that spelled out Brewery. I should have got off from that spot.

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We would love to experience having the time of our lives enjoying the best of what life has to offer! Soon there would be an event that you can really call wine heaven as more than 500 wines and spirits all are gathered together at one venue.

We just came from the presscon a few days ago and tasted 4 types of wine - just an itsy bitsy teaser of what to expect from the biggest wine tasting event ever. Your Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas is simply ecstatic to share to you my experience at the press conference and to invite you all to come witness this amazing event.

The 15th Grand Wine Experience will be held on November 13, 2015 at the Grand Ballroom of The Marriott Hotel at Resorts World Newport City in Paranaque. This is so far the biggest venue yet. I've been at the place for a previous event and you've got believe me when I say it's huge! I am now baffled on how they are going to fill the place up with so many wines, and of course, the people who would soon go gaga over trying their best to taste each and every wine available for tasting.

The Marriott Hotel management aims to surpass what they have accomplished for the past years it has been held at their hotel venues. We will get to see both artistry and resourcefulness of the head chef and food and beverage officers. They personally shared short messages for the event and you could really see their anticipation to again prove themselves better for this year's run of the Great Wine Experience.

DOST – ICTO, TechTalks.ph, and 1337 Ventures to Run first Alpha Startup Bootcamp in the Philippines

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DOST – Information and Communications Technology Office, in partnership with 1337 Ventures and TechTalks.ph, is set to run a pre-accelerator program for startups in their early ideation and validation stages. The Alpha Startup Bootcamp will be on its pilot run in the Philippines this November, kicking off with a boot camp in Cebu City on November 9 – 13, 2015.

The inaugural 5-day Bootcamp will feature workshops on customer and product development, pitching, mentoring sessions, and networking sessions that will help startups advance from idea generation to developing viable products and business models. To conclude the Bootcamp, startups will get the chance to showcase their outputs in a demo day that will be attended by key investors.

“This Alpha Startup Bootcamp will help early stage startups get off the ground by teaching them the basics of building a digital business. This is a gap we currently see in the Philippine startup ecosystem that this initiative will help address,” said DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim.

In response to such gap, the DOST – ICTO has partnered with TechTalks.ph and Malaysia-based accelerator, 1337 Ventures in this Bootcamp. Champions of startups in the country’s grassroots communities and the ASEAN, respectively, TechTalks.ph and1337 Ventures see the first Alpha Startup Bootcamp as an opportunity to meet promising Philippine startups they can potentially work with to further develop the startup communities in the country and the ASEAN region.

Planning the Perfect Wedding with Bridestory

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Some like their weddings to be the grandest celebration, regal and majestic in every detail. Then there are those who like it quaint and intimate. Others, however, prefer a scenic affair, a communion with Mother Nature.

A wedding celebrates the union of two people, and setting up the perfect scene for that once-in-a-lifetime moment is important. Sometimes, it proves to be difficult to plan out the perfect wedding and find the right vendors without that much effort.

Thankfully, a company from Indonesia found a way to give couples a hand in planning their perfect wedding to every little detail.

Bridestory helps couples make their dream wedding come true by connecting them to wedding professionals across the globe. It has now become the leading wedding marketplace in Southeast Asia.

The firm targets the younger generation “who are savvy and prefer to obtain information online,” said Kevin Mintaraga, Chief Executive Officer of Bridestory.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Global safety organization, the World Safety Organization, brings together safety experts and advocates from around the world for the 28th WSO International Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Development Symposium in Manila from October 26 to 28. The event will be held at the Solaire Hotel and Casino at Paranaque. The event also marks the 40th anniversary of the organization’s founding.

With the theme, “It’s more fun with Safety!” the symposium focuses on how the organization can enjoin the public on how to further improve the safety and health of workers by ensuring a workplace that’s accident and illness free, improving workers’ quality of life and, enabling them to integrate fun with safety. The symposium is also expected to attract corporate executives, managers, safety, health and environmental professionals, safety and accident advocates, leaders of safety organizations and WSO members from around the world to share and exchange new insights and learnings and to network with colleagues in the safety industry.

“This event is momentous because we are also celebrating the organization’s 40th anniversary founding,” said Alfredo A. Dela Rosa, Jr, Director, WSO International Office for Philippines. “The organization was founded in the Philippines 4 decades ago so it is fitting that the symposium is to be held here.”

The Honorable Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment was invited to give a keynote address. The event will also be graced by the Honorable Sonny Angara of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines who will address the delegates and guests.

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This October, EVE gives you all the ways to become a happier person: eating your way back into proper health, learning a thing or two about some good ‘ol clog dancing and getting that one-of-a-kind relationship goal!

Watch how food can be turned into a kind of medical treatment on FOOD HOSPITAL, a place where medical issues are solved by proper dieting and nutrition. Come and see how patients are treated with the use of healthy food and how they eat their way back into shape on FOOD HOSPITAL, which airs every Friday at 8:10 PM.

Looking for a bit of dancing with a unique little twist? Add in an age-old rivalry just to spice things up a bit. Find all that and more on DOWN SOUTH DANCE as the show follows rival dance groups: Chip Harrison’s Team Sapphire and Sarah Darby’s Team Synergy. Watch as these two longtime rivals turn their dance group into the best Southern Clog dancing team before battling in the R2K. With a feud that has started as old as time, trash talking and intense clogging, DOWN SOUTH DANCE is sure to make your evenings more exciting every Monday at 8:10 PM.

Ever wondered how much a relationship can change in just 90 days? Watch as six non-Americans equipped with unique fiancé visas travel to the US to live with their partners for the first time on 90 DAY FIANCÉ. In just three months, these international couples must overcome culture shock, language barriers and the lack of support from loved ones as they journey towards the altar or be sent flying back to their home lands. Will these couples find their happily ever green card? Find out on 90 DAY FIANCÉ, premieres this 18th of October, Mondays at 9 PM exclusively on EVE.

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Louie Domingo, director of the Emergency Research Center, Inc. for Region IV-A (far left), Sol Aragones, Congresswoman of Laguna’s 3rd District (center) and, Claire Guevarra, Eveready Senior Brand Manager (second from right) graced “DZMM’S TLC Caravan” held recently at the Victoria Elementary School, attended by an estimate of 500 residents from Victoria and nearby towns of Laguna.

As part of DZMM’s Teaching, Learning and Caring (TLC) program, during the day, Eveready educated the residents of Brgy. Nanhaya in Victoria, Laguna on the importance of disaster preparedness and to share safety tips during times of crisis.

Eveready—the country’s leader in batteries also gave away free Eveready flashlights to the event’s registered participants.

Fil Am Stunner Joins Team Pharrell, Chases Dream In The Voice Season 9

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“You can win this whole thing” expressed Adam Levine who had a full team and was unable to bid for Fil Am stunner Amy Vachal. All three other judges Pharrell, Gwen Stefani and Blake Sheldon took only seconds to turn as Amy sang the classic Dream a Little Dream of Me.

The 26-yr old from Brooklyn, New York is also into painting. Musical talent runs in the blood, as her father used to be a member of a Grateful Dead cover band. Val picked a Pharrell to be her mentor – the same judge who produced last season’s winner.

After a standing ovation from the judges; Stefani gushed that that Val was a “princess” and “angel-like.” And Sheldon stated “I’m looking at a superstar”

But it was Pharrell who will get to further refine and enhance this talent and hopefully bring her to superstardom. If their initial exchange was an indication, the viewers can expect a hybrid of soulful, classic style blended with a shot modern hipness from this pretty and talented hopeful.

Family Enterprise Excellence Conference to Tackle Challenges Facing Family Businesses

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The Premier Family Business Consulting Inc. (PFBC), the only family enterprise consulting firm in Southeast Asia, is inviting family businesses, practitioners, and stakeholders to join a conference that will tackle the challenges facing family businesses.

Now in its third year, the Family Enterprise Excellence Conference (FEEC) will be held on October 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. With the theme “United, we unite families in business,” the one-day event will not only feature talks but also serve as an occasion for sharing experiences and best practices among family businesses as well as for networking.

International expert Dr. Dennis Jaffe of the US-based Family Firm Institute will lecture on the topic “Bridging the Gap of the Senior and Younger Generation” to address the issue of nurturing effective working relations between generations of a family business.

Considered one of the architects of family enterprise consulting as a field, Jaffe has taught at Hult University in Dubai and is on the Advisory Board of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Stetson University. He has also served on the Boards of the World Business Academy and Saybrook University.

Renowned inspirational speaker Francis Kong will meanwhile give a talk on “The Value of Family Unity and Parenting” to emphasize their role as the main drivers in family business perpetuation.

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More than 1.56 billion people worldwide are expected to have hypertension by 2025, making the disease more alarming to healthcare providers. However, most people diagnosed with the condition have no signs nor symptoms of the disease until they reach its life-threatening stages.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five adults with high blood pressure—a more general term for hypertension—is unaware of his or her disease, making prevention to deadly consequences such as stroke more difficult than ever.

“Hypertensive patients may experience frequent headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs won’t occur until their blood pressure rises to its peak,” said Dr. Amado Nazal, medical director of Pharex HealthCorp. “When left untreated, their high blood pressure may cause them serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.”

About eight out of ten people who had their first stroke are diagnosed with hypertension, which is responsible for worsening the quality of lives of some 14 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“You can have high blood pressure for many years without symptoms surfacing every now and then—what people don’t know is that the disease comes like a thief in the night,” Dr. Nazal said.

He added, “This makes regular monitoring of blood pressure all the more important. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important whether you are already hypertensive or not; the challenge comes recognizing the disease and taking action before it leads to stroke.”

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The PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) took the helm of EDSA traffic a few weeks ago, the latest in the many attempts of the government to solve Metro Manila's traffic problems.

The HPG is meant to be the iron hand, stricter rules that would hopefully result to discipline.

But as we all know by now, no man can control an unstoppable monster. During rush hour or when rain starts to pour, EDSA turns into a parking lot.

So what's the problem? There are just too many cars on the road.

The HPG itself admits: it's a matter of volume rather than discipline.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the average daily capacity of EDSA is 160,000 vehicles. But as of 2014, that number has more than doubled to 360,417 vehicles daily.

That number is poised to increase as Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported an increase in car registration.

According to a report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in 2012, private vehicles occupied 78% of the road in 2012.

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Rediscover local musical treasures in a new ballet about the Filipino family. Ballet Philippines’ Sarong Banggi features new works by six exciting Filipino choreographers set to classic folk songs from around the country, arranged and orchestrated by Ryan Cayabyab, the country’s best-loved composer. This show is co-presented by the Province of Albay.

The show features choreography by Carissa Adea, Ronelson Yadao, Cyril Aran Fallar, Paul Alexander Morales, Nonoy Froilan, and Carlo Pacis. Each choreographer brings to the stage his/her unique impression of the Filipino family in a new contemporary ballet with the cast led by Jean Marc Cordero, Earl John Arisola, Rita Angela Winder, and Monica Amanda Gana.

“Sarong Banggi will tug at the audience’s heartstrings with its nostalgic music and earnest look at traditional Filipino values,” says Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Paul Alexander Morales”. “It will be interesting to see these choreographers’ different takes on familiar themes; love, loss and reconciliation that cements the Filipino family”

When asked by Morales to create two pieces for the show, Hong Kong-based choreographer Carlo Pacis was thrilled at the chance to come home and work with Ballet Philippines again. “As a Filipino living overseas, I felt that it was my responsibility to give back.” Pacis, former soloist of the Hong Kong Ballet is a two-time awardee for Outstanding Choreography at the Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards.

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Habitat for Humanity International regrets to announce the cancellation of this year’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, formerly scheduled to take place November 1-6, 2015, in the Chitwan District of Nepal.

As reported by news media, Nepal has been experiencing civil unrest due to the country’s recent announcement of its new constitution. Habitat has been closely monitoring the situation and new circumstances have proven to be safety risks for volunteers and staff. Currently, many goods and materials coming into the country—including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and cooking fuel, as well as food and medical supplies—have been halted or slowed to a critical point, hindering Habitat’s capacity to effectively and safely execute the planned project.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy located in Kathmandu today issued a message recommending travelers evaluate any upcoming plans in Nepal, stating that due to the nationwide fuel shortage and blockages at the border, “many of the safety measures that would normally be relied on in an emergency situation may become unavailable.”

“I am saddened that we have had to cancel this year’s Carter Work Project,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “It's the first time in 32 years that we have found ourselves in such a position. However, the severity of the shortages has proven to be insurmountable and given the circumstances, we would not be able to guarantee volunteer care and safety. Additionally, a large-scale event like this would only take away precious local resources already in short supply. This has been a difficult decision, but it is the responsible thing to do. We are grateful to our supporters and ask for their understanding and patience at this time.”

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Experience to soar high in this year’s Furniture Design Exhibit of the BS Interior Design Students from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines as they break free from their shells and showcase eighteen (18) prototypes of artistic and ingenious furniture translations of the distinct Philippine Avifauna in Cassia Alata forms.

AVESILLA The Plight of Furniture Design through the Philippine Avifauna

The Exhibit shall run from October 17 thru 31, 2015 at the Interior Zone, SM City North Edsa, Quezon City.
See you all there!

Strong Tourist Influx, Economic Growth Spur Serviced Apartment Developments

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The recent years have witnessed an upswing in the tourism industry. According to Colliers International’s Second Quarter 2015 Research and Forecast Report on the Philippines, the number of foreign arrivals to the country improved in the first five months of 2015, with year-to-date 2015 figures representing an 8.15% rise from the same period in 2014.

With this trend is the growing need to improve the quality of destinations and the availability of more accommodations in more parts of the country. Of particular note is the entry of a new kind of accommodation: the serviced apartment — a fully-furnished apartment with amenities usually available in hotels. It is a cheaper alternative to hotels, making it ideal for both short and long term stays.

“The booming economy equals new businesses, which equals to more executives looking for efficient places to live in the central business districts in the Philippines,” said Andrew Sparrow, Development Director for Dusit Thani Residences Davao.

Dusit Thani Residences Davao is Dusit International’s bid to add to the serviced residences options in the Philippines. The international hotel brand has recently opened its showroom for Dusit Thani Residences Davao. This is the first Dusit Thani Residences in Asia-Pacific, as the company’s other serviced apartments are located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The property is scheduled for turnover in 2018.

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With its full range of ICT solutions, Globe Business has become the preferred ICT partner of leading companies in the Philippines

Enterprises looking to maintain a competitive advantage are now relying more heavily on information and communications Technology (ICT) to improve productivity, promote innovation, and speed up the time to market their products and services. The ability to digitize and simplify business-critical operations and management systems continues to grow in importance, since companies need to find ways to keep up as new trends become available and prepare for an eventual business expansion.

To address this, companies are now turning to a partner who understands not only the requirements of their business, but also delivers innovative and relevant solutions as well as consistent superior customer service that will bring forth a meaningful and long-lasting partnership. Enterprises have found that partner in Globe Business.

Globe Business powers close to 10,000 leading corporations, enterprises and companies spanning the spectrum of various industries in the country such as business process outsourcing, manufacturing, financial institutions, services, transport and logistics, healthcare and retail, among many others.

Globe Business has stepped up to the challenge of collaborating with its enterprise clients by allowing them to define and achieve the benefit they need. As the enterprise information and communications technology arm of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom, Globe Business has been maximizing its full capacity to help make businesses perform at an optimum level with its comprehensive portfolio of mobility, connectivity, business voice, collaboration, business-enabling and IT-enabled services.

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My daughter's classmates went to visit our home last Sunday after a grouping nearby for a school project so I decided to pause my work for a while and let them be downstairs so they would be comfortable without parents looking into and hearing their discussions. My son, who was upstairs when they arrived, also went down to join them as he is also fond of meeting people especially if it's her sisters friends.

I went upstairs to our bedroom to have a short nap but fell asleep for several minutes only to woke up at the sound of laughter and singing. True enough, the teens were all happily having a great time by themselves and doing all sorts of stuff like hearing each other sing and tell stories.

An idea struck in mind when I heard them discussing about my son's singing voice and giving suggestions on how he could improve it. I went down bringing along the Plush and Play stuffed toys along with my camera and directly suggested my idea to the kids. I asked them if they can use their talent to come up with a story involving the stuffed toys which I can take videos of and eventually upload online.

I was in luck because they were all in to it. They loved the idea and went on to think of an impromptu story and coming up with personalities that would match the stuffed toys. They were all keen on making the story relevant to the current issues of today involving political and showbiz characters.

Mystery Affair: A Speed Dating Event by Telu Events (Updated)

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Blood. Black roses. Guns. Candles. Can you keep a secret?

On October 31, let Telu Events present to you a one-of-a-kind Halloween event you shouldn’t missed.

After a successful Valentines special at Oz Bar, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Telu Events will once again set the tone for Halloween with their event entitled “Mystery Affair: A Speed Dating Event”, and take you back in the 1920’s to search not only for the suspect, but for friendship, and maybe love?

All single ladies and gentleman aged 23 – 35 years old are invited to attend. Only 25 pairs will be accommodated for the event. Speed daters are mostly professionals, with Telu Events making sure that they screen the participants according to age group and personality profiling so everyone will find a match. Participants will be given 5 minutes to know their dates before the bell rings to signify to move on to the next.

As quoted from their previous participants:

“It was a fun event. The participants are diverse and interesting. Thanks and good job Telu! J ”

Thank you for the great service! :) Great job on the concept as well, it was very consistent.

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The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) is ready to welcome the arrival of more than 200 delegates from Member Economies, including the United States, Japan, People's Republic of China, Russia, and Thailand, among others for the 12th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM12) on 12-14 October 2015 in Cebu.

In addressing the changing energy climate affected by natural and human-induced disasters, Energy Ministers will convene for the EMM12 to set directions and discuss various best practices on climate-proofing energy infrastructures, avenues for promoting cutting edge energy efficiency technologies, community-based clean energies to help alleviate poverty, and most importantly, facilitating energy trade and investment in the APEC community.

The Ministers are also expected to come up with what will be called “the Cebu Declaration” embodying and focusing on plans and strategies “Towards an Energy Resilient APEC Community.” The Energy Working Group will be tasked by the Energy Ministers to develop and implement Action Plans to carry out the agreements to be finalized in the Declaration and may cover the following areas:

— Resiliency of Energy Infrastructures
— Energy Investments
— Low Carbon Development/Clean Energy technologies
— Energy-water Nexus
— Eco-tourism Sites
— Regional Standards on Energy Products and Services
— Inventory and Mapping of Energy Resources
— Human Resources Development
— Gender Fair Approaches in Energy

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Pop star Sarah Geronimo was recently announced as the new celebrity endorser of Michaela, a Filipino brand specializing in bags, shoes, pouches, umbrellas and other fashionable ladies' accessories created by Goldnines International.

A celebration was held at the Activity Center of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong where several friends from the media, partners, customers and all mall-goers were able to witness Sarah Geronimo perform live two of her popular songs matched with her amazingly cute dance moves.

Sarah is very proud to support a Filipino brand that equally came from humble beginnings just as she was. Many have seen the Michaela brand grow from way back to 2005 up to what it is right now that's totally a favorite ladies brand.

We should support Filipino-made products since they would eventually translate to a better economy for the country. As they say, love our own so that many of our Filipino entrepreneurs would be encourage to setup their own business in the country for the benefit of the Filipinos.

Sarah Geronimo has remained humble inspite of her royalty status as one of the most popular singers and actresses of the Philippines. Her albums and movies remained to be always a hit whenever she has launched or released one. She is a real inspiration for many who would like to aspire to be a top entertainer.

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We’re back for another Encore! That’s right, the Encore 2 just got a new upgrade! Still armed with the Kitkat OS as well as the AllWinner A33 Quad Core, it’s still twice as fast as the original. Only now, it comes equipped with the HD capacitive touch screen (1024*600 pixels, 16:9) and an increased storage capacity! Double the speed, double the power all wrapped in a sleek 7” tablet. We’ve stepped up the Encore 2u because we believe you deserve the most amazing user experience possible. Consider it, our gift 2 u.

Now available in all Ekotek branches* for only P2999**
No time to hit the mall? We’re also available online: http://j.mp/ekoteklazada

We’ve got branches in SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Muntinlupa, SM Las Piñas, SM City Pampanga, SM City Clark, SM San Fernando Downtown, SM Southmall, SM San Mateo, SM Manila, SM Valenzuela, Victory Mall Pasay and Victory Mall Antipolo

*SRP. Online Prices are subject to change.

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Your Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas (National Blog of the Philippines), Wazzup Pilipinas, was invited to become an official media partner of the Mr. and Ms. Great Bodies of Slimmers World (Asia’s leader in slimming, health, fitness and beauty) several weeks ago so as an added support for the event, I invited them to guests in the Vigattin Radio of Radyo Inquirer DZIQ 990 AM where I co-anchor with Elison "Vigattin" Barcelo and the Cheerleader of the Startup Community, Professor Arne Barcelo.

Since there is very little room at our radio booth to fit all 32 candidates, we only were able to allow six candidates to guest, along with some of the people from Slimmers' World responsible in managing the event and the candidates themselves.

I asked them to be there as early as 9:30 am so we could do some briefing and photo/video profiling of the candidates. I could use the photo and videos as a promotional material to get the interest of my readers about the event which will be happening six weeks from now.

Within those six weeks, the candidates would have plenty of time (if matched with discipline and determination) to be as fit and fab as possible in time for the two separate pre-judging and grand finale this November.