2016-01-17 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Asian Air Safari Holds Special Preview of Season 10 Episodes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We recently got invited to the the special premier of two new episodes for Season 10 of the Asian Air Safari travel show featured regularly on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). The event was held at Cinema 3 of EDSA Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong on January 19, 2016.

Capt. Joy Roa, along with most of his staff, was personally there to facilitate the event. There was good food, wine, and some raffle prizes courtesy of some sponsors.

The special premiere featured some episodes at random order namely the Part 1 of their Turkey episode, and the Part 2 of their Rwanda episode.

Turkey Part 1: Discovering the Turkish Riviera is Episode 8, while Rwanda Part 2: Gorillas in our Midst is Episode 11. The two episodes shown in the screening are both halves of two-part adventures.

Both are exciting adventures. The first one was through the Turkish Mediterranean coast, and the second one with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, which are both worth seeing on the big screen.

The above photo shows Capt. Joy being friendly with the mountain gorillas who allowed him to get near to them thanks to his guide.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

UP Variates, Inc., together with Unilab, Nutroplex, Swish, John Robert Powers, and PSRTI

proudly presents an inter-secondary quiz show on statistics,

Statistical Challenge XVIII: Embracing Convergence Amidst Diversity in Statistics

06 February 2016 | National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, UP Diliman

In cooperation with Cocolife, Glutaphos, Oracare, and Beta House

Also Brought to you by
Philippine Statistics Authority, Lakwatsero, and Hawk Bag

Special Thanks to:

Sunkist and The Heat

Our media sponsors:
Magic 89.9, WhenInManila.com, WazzupPilipinas.com, and ClickTheCity.com

Our printing sponsor:
Orange Segment and Blessings

Deadline of Registration on January 30, 2016

Contact Lezzeth: 09177488374

Verdict 8: Oasis is the Biggest Med-Law Party in the Metro

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Last year, you raised the stakes and went all in with Verdict 7: WILD CARD at the URBN Bar and Kitchen, Taguig. This year, lose yourself in the OASIS as the biggest and only Med-Law party in the Metro gets even bigger!

The Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine and the Regina Iustitiae Sorority of the Ateneo School of Law

with
Mont Albo Massage Hut
Onesimus
Swish
Uber
Vista Residences
Zalora Philippines

proudly present,

VERDICT 8: OASIS

Plunge into the Oasis this January 30, 2016, 8PM, at the Palace Pool Club, Taguig! Tickets are priced at P450. For inquiries, you may contact Edmond Bries at 09267089824, or Ina Guingona at 09177203043.

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In a world where everything is connected, we no longer operate in silos. Fujitsu delves into the Human Centric Innovation to realize business, social value.

By 2020, it is presumed that the number of things connected to the Internet will reach more than 60 billion. In fact, more than 90 million wearable devices were already shipped globally in 2014, up from 54 million the previous year.

These wearable technologies include smartwatches that monitor anything from a person’s heartbeat to his or her lifestyle. With this leap, innovations were found to deliver new insights which improve our health, communication, business and work progress.

“This is the next generation of the Internet—the Internet of Things (IOT),” said Raul “Cricket” Santiago III, president of Fujitsu Philippines, Inc. “The world is becoming more linked, forming unparalleled connections between people, businesses, information and processes regardless of where we stand.”

With this multi-layering of connectivity, Santiago said that innovation in a ‘hyperconnected’ world means converging multiple streams of data that range from human to human, human to machine, and machine to machine to create new value.

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Singtel Innov8 has announced a new program which opens doors for startups to collaborate with Singtel to create innovative solutions for business challenges faced by the Singtel Group.

Through Singtel Innov8 Connect which was launched on January 12, selected startups will receive up to S$75,000 to test and validate their solutions with Singtel. Successful solutions may lead to commercialization with the Singtel Group, providing startups access to the Group’s customer base which includes both enterprises and consumers and over 575 million mobile customers across Asia, Australia, and Africa. They will also have the opportunity to seek funding from Singtel Innov8 and tap on its network of co-investors and partners across the globe.

The move is a step forward from the existing initiatives across the Singtel Group, where affiliates run programs that actively support startups and entrepreneurship programs. Globe Telecom in the Philippines, for example, has Kickstart Ventures, a corporate venture capital firm that makes investments in digital startups ranging from seed to Series “C” stage. Other startup-oriented initiatives are run in affiliate operators, namely AIS in Thailand, Telkomsel in Indonesia, and Optus in Australia.

Kickstart in particular runs two funds: Fund 1 is the original US$5Million seed-to-early-stage investment fund focused on startups that originate in the Philippines with an ambition to expand at least regionally; and Fund 2, announced in March 2015, is its US$50Million growth stage fund focused on strategically-aligned startups anywhere in the world. Demonstrating collaboration across the Singtel group, Kickstart and Singtel Innov8 invested last year in Teridion, an Israel-based startup focused on network optimization and content acceleration.

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Royal FrieslandCampina (FrieslandCampina) – one of the world’s largest dairy companies, providing millions of children and families with valuable nutrition every day –announced today a multi-year extension of their marketing partnership.

As the Official Milk Partner of the NBA in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, FrieslandCampina will continue to engage the NBA’s fanbase in Asia through its Drink.Move.BeStrong campaign, which aims to cultivate an active and healthy lifestyle among children through play, sports and proper nutrition. Through this partnership, FrieslandCampina will amplify the importance of exercise and good nutrition through events, television and digital activities, and localizedmarketing content, while also providing fanswith the opportunity to receive NBA-branded products, in-store promotions and unique NBA experiences.

FrieslandCampina willalso continue to serve as the Presenting Partner of the Jr. NBA in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam through its Frisian Flag, Dutch Lady, Alaska and Foremost brands.The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2015-16 season, the Jr. NBA will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 32 countries. The program, first introduced to Southeast Asia in the Philippines in 2007, has reached more than 1.4 million children, parents and coaches across Southeast Asia.

“We are delighted to extend our successful partnership with the NBA,” said FrieslandCampina Asia Chief Operating Officer Piet Hilarides. “Our collaboration has yielded tremendous results and we look forward to continuing our efforts to bolster the health and well-being of the region’s future generation. Milk is recognised as a source of good nutrition by leading authorities and, as one of the world’s leading dairy companies, FrieslandCampina is committed to advocating better nutrition for children across Southeast Asia and beyond. We are also focused on continuing our efforts to engage strategic stakeholders and partners including the NBA to put the brakes on the rise of non-communicable diseases in the region.”

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It's just a few days to go before the Weekend of Everything that Flies start making Pampanga one of the most sought after and busiest destination in the country. People from all walks of life will surely flock towards the province to witness the highly anticipated annual event that is now on its 20th year.

It's best to be there for the entire four days of celebration so I'm sure hotels and other accommodations will be fully booked once again. Likewise, the restaurants and tourist spots around the area will also benefit from the huge crowd who will all be visiting the event and eventually take side trips and tours around Pampanga.

True enough, the weekend from February 11 to 14 will be another talked about event in history.

My team is also ready to be there as early as February 10 so we could witness the inflation of the hot air balloons in the early hours of February 11.

Below are the official Schedule of Activities for the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Please bear in mind that the schedule may change without prior notice, especially with the flying activities because they are highly dependent on wind conditions.

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With only weeks before Chinese New Year, households are once again on the lookout for home design tips to increase their financial luck, improve their work lives, keep themselves protected, and enhance their personal relationships. Not to worry: MyProperty.ph spoke with Philippine feng shui expert Hanz Cua, who shared his thoughts on making sure that luck is on your side during the Year of the Fire Monkey.

Apart from cleaning your home from top to bottom, cleansing it with incense, and displaying the mandatory 12 round fruits to represent 12 lucky months of the year, Cua makes a few suggestions that will bring luck to your home this year.

Blue is this year’s lucky color in feng shui, and it’s the color for increasing one’s luck in the wealth department. Because 2016 is the Year of the Fire Monkey, the water element won’t be present. This means you need to incorporate the color blue, which represents water, into your home in any way you can, such as painting your walls blue, hanging blue curtains, or using blue pillows. Another way to keep the balance is to set up actual water features in the home, such as an aquarium or a water fountain.

Cua says depending on your Chinese zodiac, you’ll have to put a different charm in a specific area of the home to enhance your fortune. Rats and Boars need a red object or lava lamp in the south. Oxen, Sheep, and Dogs should put a water element like a fountain or aquarium in the north. Tigers should display a stone like a tiger eye in the southwest. For Rabbits, an amethyst in the northeast will improve their luck. Dragons should put a water fountain or aquarium in the north. Snakes and Horses need a metal element like a wind chime in the west. Monkeys and Roosters need to accessorize the east with a fortune plant.

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Over the past three years, Asia Pacific College (APC) has been a trailblazer among other schools specializing in information technology (IT) as it initiated some of the top academic programs of Microsoft Philippines.

Formed by SM Foundation and IBM Philippines in 1991, APC first partnered with Microsoft in 2013 to make their systems more innovative and efficient. By pioneering Microsoft’s latest academic solutions for both faculty and students, the school was able to upgrade their quality of education and offer new ways of learning IT.

Jojo Castillo, Director of APC’s IT Resources Office, enumerated the many ways their school benefitted from partnering with the technology giant. In response to the new K-12 curriculum being adopted by educational institutions in the Philippines, Microsoft launched in August 2015 a groundbreaking collaboration for the enhancement of APC’s Senior High School curriculum.

“Through this collaboration, Microsoft applications and learning resources will be integrated in our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) strands,” Castillo explained.

Filipina Beauties Fly High In Miss Aviation Philippines 2016

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The most captivating women in the Philippine aviation industry will take center aisle in the most-awaited Miss Aviation Philippines 2016! Bringing together the most beautiful and charming Filipinas from different sectors in the aviation-tourism industry, this prestigious pageant aims to inspire the youth to pursue a career in aviation, empower the women in the industry, and support the country’s tourism initiatives.

“We are very excited to present another batch of beautiful and smart women in Philippine aviation and tourism sectors this year. Aside from encouraging young people to pursue careers in aviation and tourism, this competition is also a great way to recognize the women’s immense role in the industry. Women in aviation are not merely defined by good looks, they also have the brain and heart to succeed and shape the future of aviation and aeronautics,” says pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera Quimpo.

This year, 14 lovely candidates will vie for the Miss Aviation Philippines 2016 crown. The ladies come from diverse aviation careers, including flight attendants, student pilots, air frame and avionics technicians, and students taking up degrees in aviation, tourism and related fields.

The finalists include Maria Gianne Beatrice Itaralde, Catherine Cubinar, Katrine Gabriola, Cherry Rose Fernandez, Zandra Magsino, Katelene Joy Basco, Maricris Aldanese, Carina Aguinaldo, Airish Mae Apostol, Justine Anne Embate, Casey Ann Austria, Kristine Malicsi, Trizia Abaya, and Reichelieu Emory Santos.

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Your Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas got to meet Justin Pinon, The Mental Assassin, for the third time, and still very much impressed of his mind-boggling performance done exclusively for our bloggers group.

I first saw the guy in action during an event at a venue in Century City Mall, then for the second time at The Revel at The Palace Pool Club for another event. I was invited at both events as a media practitioner, and he was there to entertain the crowd.

However, we were not only entertained but thoroughly amazed of what he can do. It's a lot better than magic since it surely does not trick our eyes or our senses, but rather the other way around. What makes Justin Pinon different from magicians is that he studies how a person moves, acts and reacts, taking into account all eye movements and body gestures.

From his Facebook page "He is not Psychic and has no supernatural abilities but he can figure out what you are thinking. As a Mentalist, he can seem to read your mind and manipulate your behavior and your decisions. He does not claim that he possesses neither supernatural powers nor psychic abilities. However, he can figure out what you are thinking through the use of Psychology, his expertise at body language reading, hypnosis, suggestion and showmanship."

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino: My Special Sinulog Weekend Home in Cebu

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Sinulog is a very much anticipated event in Cebu every January. It seems like an extension of the holiday season for many since the preparations involved in the almost two-week-long festivities are done nearly simultaneously with the Christmas and New Year celebrations. In fact, the celebration of Sinulog festivities may even be equal, if not more grandeur, compared to the holiday activities.

As reported by the local government of Cebu, the number of tourists, both local and foreign, have been constantly increasing that it has become an amazing tourism attraction for the province. The fully booked Cebu hotels and airline flights shows very well that many people find Sinulog a very worthy event to witness.

I joined the thousands of people from all over the country, and the world, to spend the last Sinulog weekend in Cebu. This is the time when the celebrations are more phenomenal. This is the time when Cebu goes full blast with all their glorious activities especially on the last Sunday where they hold the grand parade.

Thus, you should not miss this weekend when everything becomes more joyously colorful and vibrantly explosive, not only from the parade or fireworks, but from the people themselves when they finally let out everything and shout their loudest "Viva Pit Senyor!"

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Globe Telecom information and communication technology (ICT) arm Globe Business, through its IT Enabled Services Group, continues to be the leading ICT enabler of enterprises in the country with its new partnership with globally-renowned pizza restaurant chain Shakey’s. Globe Business is boosting Shakey’s operations with its cloud-based solution offering Microsoft Office 365.

Microsoft Office 365 provides enterprise-grade tools that bring together the new Office 2016 desktop applications which offer real-time communication and collaboration capabilities. With Office 365 provided by Globe Business, Shakey’s employees can easily access, store, transmit, and manipulate information and applications, and collaborate on files anytime, anywhere on any computer or device with an Internet connection.

Shakey’s signed up for over 800 Microsoft Office 365 licenses and will use the cloud-based solution as their collaboration platform within the company, going beyond just email and Microsoft Office. With the Office 365 licenses, Shakey’s employees gain access to collaboration and productivity apps such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Yammer, and Skype for Business, as well as strengthened privacy and security through Information Rights Management (IRM).

OneDrive and SharePoint enable convenient and secure file sharing, and save backup copies of company files by automatically synchronizing documents, pictures, and videos to the Microsoft cloud. Equally important is IRM or Information Rights Management which protects sensitive company information from unauthorized access (inside or outside organization premises). Where quick and easy collaboration and communication is key in delivering results, Yammer brings together people, conversations, content, and business data in an enterprise social private network across departments, locations, and business apps.

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In the context of the international partnership between Ford and Michelin, for FORD Performance vehicles, the new Ford Focus RS will be exclusively equipped with Michelin tyres. The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport, in the dimension 235/35/19, will be fitted on the Focus RS as standard and the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 (in the same dimension) will be available as an option for improved performance on tracks.

The new Ford Focus RS is a particularly demanding and sporty vehicle, representing a precise in-depth challenge for Michelin engineers, to specifically develop these two tyres in order to propose tyres able to meet safety standards and the expectations of Ford teams. This advanced development process was carried out over almost 2 years, during which the car hit the tarmac of several tracks.

MICHELIN Ford co-development, an adventure shared between engineering and drivers

“The MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre offers a surprising level of grip thus reducing lap times on the track, while bringing a highly appreciable level of precision to road handling for this FORD Focus RS, and maintaining its playful, dynamic character", highlighted David Put, development engineer and driver for Ford, "all thanks to the joint work carried out by the Michelin and Ford Performance teams, with a level of mutual understanding, which enabled us to deliver a car which will delight the driving enthusiast".

The specific development process managed by Michelin to satisfy Ford contributes to driving precision, vehicle stability, sporty handling and grip while maintaining tread resistance performance, for the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport: C on the European label, with an A for breaking on wet tarmac.

"Ford's ambitions led us to develop very high technology tyres which were fully compatible with the very special configuration of the Ford Focus RS. With this configuration, the mass distribution is centred at the front of the vehicle, and various adjustment options significantly affect the distribution of the four-wheel-drive system between the front and rear axles. Furthermore, with the clear aim of maintaining the dynamic temperament of this car, we were able to expand the grip envelope, particularly on bends in extreme circumstances", finished Pierre Chaput, Developer for MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport and MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres for the Ford Focus RS.

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The Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As) calls on the marketing communications industry to come out boldly and play where no man has played before, as it unveils the latest batch of speakers for Ad Summit Pilipinas 2016,to be held from March 9 to 12 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

With its theme, “Come out and Play,” the biggest advertising and marketing convention in the country aims to inspire practitioners to progress fearlessly,as its invited industry icons prepare to participate as the Summit’s speakers.

“We have an amazing lineup awaiting Summit participants. Expect the unexpected,” said Ad Summit 2016 Chair Alex Syfu. “With our theme, we hope that the Summit allows all to view possibilities where there were none before. No obligations, just opportunities. Ad Summit Pilipinas 2016 will encourage this type of unbridled creativity to flourish,” he added.

Speakers participating in the event include business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan; award-winning director Jose Javier Reyes; AQKA Shanghai’s Eric Cruz; Vikas Gulati from Opera Mediaworks; and leadership expert Tom Oliver.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, also known as MVP, is one of the most accomplished men in the country. Chairman of such industry behemoths as PLDT, TV5, Philex Mining, and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Pangilinan is a veteran of adapting to the ever-changing business climate of the Philippines.

Putting Environment-Friendly Modes Of Transportation On The Pedestal

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Transportation is one of the most remarkable inventions that offer unparalleled convenience to every individual, yet this also poses a great threat not only to our health but more importantly to the environment. In fact, a study published in the journal of Environmental Science & Technology revealed that cars—our most used mode of transportation—emits more global warming pollution than a plane that flies with the same speed.

With this, private and public organizations in the Philippines are already backing the longstanding efforts to environmental conservation, putting forward different advocacies to bring forth change in the community.

One example is the scheme of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which allotted a special bike line along EDSA where about one million vehicles ply every day. For the local authorities, this step ahead will aim to improve air quality in the metro.

But bringing forward these environment-friendly causes is not limited to Metro Manila alone. In fact, Primer Group of Companies—the company known for the retail and distribution of premium consumer brands in outdoor, urban lifestyle and travel—has embarked on various life-changing journeys to bring sustainable means of living on the pedestal todeliver healthcare and support outdoor athletesacross the country.

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Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella announced a new three-part initiative to ensure that Microsoft’s cloud computing resources serve the public good. As part of this initiative the recently formed Microsoft Philanthropies will donate $1 billion of Microsoft Cloud Services, measured at fair market value, to serve nonprofits and university researchers over the next three years.

Microsoft’s three-part commitment focuses on ensuring the cloud can serve the public good in the broadest sense by providing additional cloud resources to nonprofits, increasing access for university researchers and helping solve last-mile Internet access challenges.

“Microsoft is empowering mission-driven organizations around the planet with a donation of cloud computing services — the most transformative technologies of our generation,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Now more than 70,000 organizations will have access to technology that will help them solve our greatest societal challenges and ultimately improve the human condition and drive new growth equally.”

In September 2015, 193 heads of state and other world leaders unanimously adopted 17 sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030. This ambitious agenda — which includes ending poverty, ending hunger, and ensuring affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all — will only be achievable with the benefit of significant inventions and technology innovations. The scale and computational power enabled by cloud computing will be essential to unlocking solutions to this list of some of the world’s seemingly unsolvable problems.

“We’re committed to helping nonprofit groups and universities use cloud computing to address fundamental human challenges,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith. “One of our ambitions for Microsoft Philanthropies is to partner with these groups and ensure that cloud computing reaches more people and serves the broadest array of societal needs.”

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Like most Filipino mixed martial artists, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon (13-4-0) of Baguio City, Philippines is working hard towards realizing his dreams, when his efforts materialize into a world title shot. More importantly, each one of his victories has presented the opportunity to live a better life.

This Saturday, January 23, at the Helong Stadium in Changsha, China, Belingon will receive the opportunity of a lifetime when he challenges Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes (18-3-0) in a five-round battle for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship.

Since joining ONE Championship and debuting for the promotion four years ago, Belingon has had his fair share of highs and lows. He’s had spectacular wins as well as heartbreaking setbacks, but what’s consistent with the 28-year old’s performances is his desire for all-out action from start to finish.

And he knows exactly how he’ll approach Fernandes once they are both staring each other down from across the ONE Cage.

“I know where I can catch Fernandes and that's in the striking department,” said Belingon.

“[Fernandes] has a great ground game, but I'm working on my takedown defense and I'll look to hit him with something he won't see coming."

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The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives may include in its priority list in the next Congress the proposed Open Access Law of Globe Telecom for the telecommunications industry.

In a letter to Globe, CPBRD requested for additional details on the telecommunication company’s proposal of an Open Access Law as a way to mitigate bureaucratic red tape and other political hurdles that stand in the way in the deployment of telecommunications and broadband infra such as cell sites.

Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo emphasized that an Open Access legislation for the telecom industry would help minimize bureaucratic red tape and expedite the issuance of all relevant permits for all telecommunication facilities at the local government level. “Legislation of an Open Access law is extremely important if we are to support growth and development of the next generation. The interest that the CPBRD has shown for our proposal further motivates us to remain aggressive in developing a robust telecom infrastructure that we hope will support business capabilities of local industries,” Castelo said.

According to Castelo, the quality of existing telecommunication infrastructure in a given locality is oftentimes a direct result of the LGU permitting environment. He pointed out that securing different permits at LGU level could become very challenging, from the sheer number of permits to the different political personalities that mobile operators have to deal with.

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Most Filipinos can tell the difference between the skylines of Makati and other cities around the globe - and now it seems the rest of the world can, too. The Philippine’s skyline is the most recognizable of any in the emerging markets, according to a new survey from global property portal Lamudi.

The multiple choice survey asked participants in the developed world - as well as countries in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa - to identify emerging market cities by their skylines. The survey presented respondents with skyline images of Medellín, Colombia; Lima, Peru; Karachi, Pakistan; Colombo, Sri Lanka and Makati, the Philippines.

The survey found that approximately 58 percent of Westerners were able to identify the Makati skyline, making the Metro Manila city the most recognizable. The skyline of Colombo was the least recognizable, with 52 percent.

According to survey results, Westerners were able to identify these five cities with surprising ease. Each city was identified correctly by more than 50 percent of respondents, regardless of their regional origin. These results point to a growing consciousness of emerging markets in the West.

DOTC Awards More MRT-3 Improvement Projects

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The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded more Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) improvement projects that aim to provide passengers a better commuting experience and enhanced system reliability.

Innovalite Electrical Enterprise bagged the P2.10-million contract to supply new industrial fans for greater air flow and ventilation at station areas, such as the platforms and concourses. The fans will be installed within 90 calendar days from issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP).

The contract for new traction motors that will replace depleted rotational spares was awarded to Ad Lib-YongJi Joint Venture for P79.86 million. These motors should have the same performance specifications as the current ones and should be delivered within 300 calendar days from issuance of NTP.

The MRT-3 will also acquire a new multi-purpose road-rail vehicle that will be used for the maintenance of the overhead catenary system. The Joint Venture of Kempal Construction and Supply Corporation and Maquinaria del Eo, the winning bidder for the P46.39-million contract, will deliver the maintenance equipment within 330 calendar days from issuance of NTP.

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Aquabest has renewed its partnership with BPI Family Savings Bank as an accredited franchisor for its BPI Family Ka-Negosyo Franchising Loan.

The company was among the pioneer batch of accredited franchisors and has been recognized as a Best Listbrand by the bank. The company's prospective franchisees can enjoy favorable and flexible financing terms from BPI Family Savings Bank.

"Our renewed partnership with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo is a testament to our company's hard work to building a strong brand and business that has helped our franchisees succeed as entrepreneurs. At the same time, it continues to make it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up their dream business" says Carson Tan, Aquabest's President and CEO.

For a franchise to be included in the Best List means it is an established, profitable and franchisee-friendly brand. Most of the companies in the list are profitable, having a return on investment (ROI) of less than three years. Aspiring entrepreneurs taking out a BPI Family Ka- Negosyo Franchising Loan on Aquabest can enjoy incentives such as no collateral loan, shorter processing time and no processing fee.

Bonheur Leverages ‘SAP Business One’ for Improved Business Efficiency

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SAP AG announced that Bonheur Marketing Corporation, one of the front-runners in the Philippines that provides distribution capabilities to its partners in the fast-moving-consumer-products industry, integrated the SAP Business One software to address their data management and finance processes needs.

SAP Business One is a business management software designed to meet the needs of dynamically growing companies as well as subsidiaries of large enterprises. The solution is available both on premise and in the cloud, providing clients with unparalleled SAP functionality. The implementation was spearheaded by SAP channel partner, DataFront Solutions, Inc. (DFSI), which leverages IT and business consulting to provide advanced solutions to clients across industries.

According to Marty Alvarado, Executive Vice President for Bonheur, disparities in report generation as well as inventory costing inaccuracies required them to tap SAP Business One software to gain clarity across their business, and restore confidence in their day-to-day operations.

“There were delayed submissions of financial and government mandatory reports prior to the installation of the SAP Business One solution,” Mr. Alvarado said. “Our in-house system failed to consolidate our data and our reports were prone to human errors, hindering accurate business visibility. We were looking for a solution to consolidate our warehouse data and gain better insight into our delivery process. Now, we are able to realize more accurate, up-to-date data across all our sales, finance and administration reports, which helps us much better in developing and managing the business for future growth.”

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In aggressively fulfilling international commitments and promoting indigenous sustainable energy, the Department of Energy (DOE), through the facilitation of its Renewable Energy Management Bureau, has awarded renewable energy service contracts (RESCs) accounting for about 1,700 megawatts (MW) potential capacities.

These projects are on top of the additional total potential capacity of 12,128 MW recorded in November 2015. If all these projects are aggregated and realized, the country's installed capacity could reach up to about 20,000 MW by 2030, which is higher than the initial National Renewable Energy Program target.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada emphasized that “We are committed to increase our RE capacity and maintain a minimum of 30% share in the power generation mix in the coming years.”

Through this government intervention, the country will be able to achieve its undertaking to triple installed RE capacity by 2030, reflecting its 21st Conference of the Parties pledge and proactively responding to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s aspiration of doubling RE capacities of member-economies from 2010 level by 2030.

Towards the last quarter of 2015, the newly appointed Energy Secretary has greenlighted the following RE projects after having meticulously reviewed each contract (Please see attached list of RE Projects).

The DOE would also like to call on concerned government agencies and local government units to extend utmost assistance to the project proponents to fast track the timely realization of these vital RE projects.

Globe Readies PH Education Sector For 21st Century Learning With Innovative ICT Solutions

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Globe Telecom is priming Philippine schools for 21st century learning with the use of innovative information and communications technology (ICT) solutions that transform the delivery of education.

Through its IT Enabled Services Group, Globe was chosen as the ICT education solutions provider of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) for its Brightspace Learning Management System under the Globe Education Solutions suite.

Globe Education Solutions is the telco’s pursuit into strengthening education delivery in the Philippines through the use of ICT. With the aspiration to mold the youth into world-class and global citizens through technological innovations in education, the Brightspace learning platform seamlessly connects digital content, learning analytics, mobile and collaboration tools, adaptive learning with an ecosystem of applications, resources, and services. Its key benefits include optimized, outcome-based, and student-centered learning; increased faculty productivity and efficiency; improved performance, attainment, and success rates; and improved student engagement and retention among others.

"The digital shift is upon us and now is the best time to bring the benefits of technology to education. This will definitely impact not only the delivery of education but the learning experience of students today and in the future. Our partnership with De La Salle Benilde demonstrates our commitment to transform learning in the country and bring the PH education sector to greater heights and in a global scale,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready for a rip-roaring laughter from the Comedy Cartel as they return to Big D's Smokehouse at Eastwood City's , City Walk 2 (above Starbucks & beside 711) this Friday January 8, 2016, 9:30pm.

Bring your whole family and friends and hear rib-tickling comedy performances along side the best melt in your mouth smoked ribs and other house specialties!

Tickets at P200.00 only! For seat & show reservations, call or text 0917-8860706.

See you there.

Football Fundamentals For Adults Program Now Offered At Sparta Football Academy

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Whether you are a die-hard football fan who wants to get into the sport, or simply just looking for a new form of exercise, you may be interested in joining the Football Fundamentals for Adults Program at the Sparta Football Academy.

Sparta Football Academy is located inside the 10,000 square-meter Sports and Recreational Training Arena or SPARTA, along Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong City, and is best known for the first and only FIFA certified 1-star indoor football field in the country.

According to SPARTA's owner Amanda Fernandez, "The program was set-up so that adults can experience the beauty of the sport for the first time. It is also meant to teach the basics of football and expand the football community in the Philippines."

"Expected results for this crash course revolve around having a very good understanding of the basic skills and rules of football, as well an appreciation for the sport", she adds.

The program will be headed by Head Coach Joel Villarino and Assistant Coach Joseph Villarino.

The program will start February 3 and will be held every Wednesday from 2-4 in the afternoon for the entire month.

For more information, please call 6553799 or 0977-7634402.

DOTC: More New MRT-3 Coaches On The Way By End Q1 2016

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With the second of forty-eight (48) light rail vehicles (LRV) for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) system assembled and set to be tested this month, passengers will soon have shorter waiting times at stations.

“Commuters will experience increased passenger convenience and service reliability with the arrival of more new LRVs. If the evaluation of the first set is found to be satisfactory, we are expecting one new train to be operational by the end of this quarter,” said Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Jun Abaya.

Once the necessary checks on the different electrical components are completed within the week, the vehicle will be subjected to dynamic testing to ensure the reliability of parts. This includes the required 5,000-kilometer run, which will be done on the main line during non-revenue hours.

Meanwhile, two (2) more LRVs will be delivered by February, and then four (4) per month will be shipped from March until January 2017.

Teen Wolf To Unveil Second Half Of Its Fifth Season: Reconciliation And New Intrigue

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When Scott McCall wished to be more than an ordinary teenager, he did not expect things to take a supernatural turn. Bitten by a werewolf just before he starts sophomore year, his life is turned upside down – as if your regular teenager did not already have enough issues to deal with. Scott is forced to deal with a double life as he struggles to protect his loved ones and keep up a front of being a “normal” teen.

The series set in the town of Beacon Hills is on its 5th season. Coming off the midseason cliffhanger, the new episodes will unfold with Scott’s attempts to reunite his group and other characters picking up broken pieces of their relationships damaged by past conflicts. Tune in to also find out if more light will be shed on what exactly Parrish the hellhound is up to.

Developed by Jeff Davies and starring Tyler Posey as lead actor, Teen Wolf airs every Monday at 8:50 pm. First and exclusive on Sony Channel.

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

Jr. NBA/Jr.WNBA Philippines 2016 Presented By Alaska To Encourage Youth Basketball Participation

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The Jr. NBA /Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska will return to the Philippines for the ninth consecutive year from Jan. 23-April 24. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program is free and open to boys and girls between the ages of 10-14.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2015-16 season, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 32 countries.

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska is comprised of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip. The skills clinics will be held nationwide from January through April with stops in Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa, and first-time locations in Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite. Select players from these clinics will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in tryouts during the Regional Selection Camps, which will be held in Baguio (Feb. 20-21), Davao (Feb. 27-28), Cebu (March 5-6) and Metro Manila (April 9-10). The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the Regional Selection Camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila April 22-24.

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Customized malls that reflect the heart and soul of their community are the gifts of the New Year for Vista Land residents. Vista Land & Lifescapes Chairman Manuel B. Villar welcomed the tenants and investors of Vista Malls at a pre-Christmas Investors’ Night at the Laurel House in Vista Shaw, Mandaluyong City to tell them about the wonderful things in store for Vista Land’s commercial projects in 2016.

Six community Vista Malls are already up, Mr. Villar announced: the flagship Vista Mall at EVIA in the heart of Vista City in Daang Hari, the yuppie-oriented Vista Mall at Trevi Residences in Pasong Tamo, Makati City; the scenic Vista Mall Lakefront in Sucat, set on a hill overlooking Laguna de Bay; Vista Mall Pampanga, a center for upscale fashion boutiques and diverse dining options; Vista Mall Antipolo, a mall-next-door that acts as a “big backyard” for its huge community of families; and Vista Mall CDO, an activity hub complete with biking trails, running paths, and pit stops for outdoor sports enthusiasts that will surely delight the active community that it serves.

The exciting news is that more Vista Malls are in the works beginning 2016, Villar shared with mall tenants and partners. With over 80 projects nationwide, Vista Land never forgets to think of ways to give their homeowners all the conveniences and amenities to live the lifestyle they have always dreamt of in Vista’s trademark COMMUNICITIES, he said. These amenities, which are at the center of all Vista Land township projects, house facilities to match the personalities of the communities that they serve.

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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) seeks to clarify news reports on the Commission on Audit (COA) findings regarding the so-called “unspent P1.2-B fund for poor students.” COA’s latest report which was posted on their website early this week contains the annual audit report executive summary and outlined observations and recommendations on CHED accounts and operations in 2014. The report also enumerated CHED’s courses of action based on the agreements in the Commission’s exit conference with COA in July 2015.

At the time of the exit conference, documentation for the obligation of funds from the CHED regional offices still needed updating, but to date, these reports have already been completed. In fact, by December 31, 2015, the remaining P1.2-B 2014 budget which had a validity of two years, had been fully obligated with an assurance that the beneficiaries will be paid.

It can be recalled that at the end of 2013, the Supreme Court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional. In response, lawmakers realigned their PDAF allocations to the calamity fund and six agencies, including CHED for scholarship assistance to students.

As a consequence, CHED’s Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) composed of scholarships, grants-in-aid and loans totaling 58,155 slots in the amount of P997-M in AY 2013-2014, ballooned nearly seven times to 391,817 slots in AY 2014-2015 amounting to P4.87-B, testing the carrying capacity of the agency.

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This year, make it your resolution to learn and go on adventures more, even just through the screen. Discovery Channel, Discovery Science and Discovery Kids will make it easy to stick to your commitment with a line-up of interesting programs for all age groups!

Discovery Channel

Adventures abound as the abalone dive crews of Port Lincoln confront greater challenges this season. Spotting sharks proves a little trickier as an early winter brings vicious swells that cause poor water visibility. Adding to that, a pod of orca whales attack and kill a shark at Neptune Islands, forcing the Great Whites to flee the area. The big sharks now roam the waters off Port Lincoln: where they’ll appear next, no one knows. Despite the deadly challenges, the dive crews continue to enter the water, continuing to risk their lives in search of the lucrative green-lipped abalone. The new season of Abalone Wars premieres January 25, airing Mondays at 9PM.

The image above show Bear Grylls with: (clockwise) Ferguson, Hudson, Rodriguez and Winslet

Airing also this January is the new season of Running Wild With Bear Grylls. Bear Grylls is accompanied by all kinds of celebrities and sent off to the wild. Each of the actors and athletes will partner with Grylls for two days for a one-on-one adventure, tackling everything from skydiving to repelling as they journey through some of the world’s most unforgiving wildernesses. This season will take viewers from the jungles of Panama to the far reaches of the Italian Alps and then to the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Red Rocks of Utah. The series guests include Drew Brees, James Marsden, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kate Hudson, Kate Winslet, Michael B. Jordan, Michelle Rodriguez and Ed Helms.

A one-episode special of the show aired on December featured US President Barrack Obama joining Bear Grylls in the wild.

The new season of Running Wild With Bear Grylls, which premiered on January 5, airs Tuesdays, 9PM.

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Lyceum of the Philippines University has partnered with Microsoft Philippines to upgrade its educational system for more than 1000 faculty members and staff throughout its 5 LPU campuses.

The partnership was formed to equip school personnel in order to provide students the quality education and services that the institution has been known for since being established in 1952.

“Microsoft creates solutions to help inspire teachers and students realize their full potential,” says Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines General Manager. “We believe that empowered students will have an enriched mind to prepare him for today’s challenges, and an empowered teacher will help mold students for a lifetime.”

Members of the LPU community have attested to how their partnership with Microsoft has helped them become more advanced and efficient.

“The new solutions brought new improvements on the delivery of our services,” said Devy M. Galang, Information and Communication Technology Director of Lyceum of the Philippines University - Manila Campus. “Our stakeholders became more productive. They are now equipped with the 21st century information skills and knowledge.”

“Communication and collaboration make it easier for the teachers and students to work with each other in real-time from virtually anywhere,” Galang added.

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With one in every three Filipinos having high cholesterol levels, how could they control its onset without sacrificing what this year has to offer—on the table?

A study on cholesterol levels among Filipinos led by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute revealed that 31.4 percent of Filipino adults 20 years old and over had “borderline high to high cholesterol levels.” Now that the New Year is here, it is often challenging to control huge consumptions of food—particularly those that are rich in cholesterol—knowing that annual festivities and birthday celebrations are here left and right.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in fats in the blood. Though cholesterol is needed by the body because it is essential to building healthy cells, too much of it could increase a person’s chance of having cardiovascular disease.

“Some people make it a point to reduce their consumption of cholesterol-rich foods especially now that another year has been capped off,” said Tomas Luke Marcelo Agana III, president and CEO of Pharex HealthCorp. “But enjoying what the New Year brings need not come at the expense of sacrificing your year-long joy and family bondings especially when stories are better shared on the table.”

Bearing that in mind, Pharex HealthCorp.—the most prescribed generic brand of medicines—introduces its 15-day Pharex Compliance Pouch for Cholesterol to help Filipino adults who are prone to high cholesterol adhere to their medication without compromising their plans this 2016.

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Anya Resort & Residences, an up-coming luxury property in Tagaytay, has recently recruited luxury hotel and resort executive Peter Lodovico D’souza as its General Manager. D’souza has 17 years of industry experience, and has worked in several high-end accommodations in Asia and the Middle East prior to joining Anya.

D’souza was introduced to Anya through a former boss in the Maldives. “The project owners showed me around Tagaytay and the project in particular. I’ve always wanted to be in a place that is very close to nature and away from the noise and pollution. Cities like Dubai, where I used to work, can be physically and mentally taxing. I moved to Cambodia because it was more peaceful. From there, taking on the proposal to join Anya was an easy decision,” he said.

The Indian national began his career in the hospitality industry when he was 18 years old, working as a student trainee for a five-star resort in Goa, India. “I got to meet all sorts of people, eat good food and work in a very nice place —which are elements that will get a teenager’s attention. I didn’t like the idea of working as a human resource trainee at first but it grew on me. After a while, there wasn’t a doubt that I’d leave the industry,” he explained.

A gentle and unassuming demeanor betrays D’souza’s competencies and experience. From Cidade de Goa Resort as a trainee, he took on various housekeeping and service positions in top hotels brands in Abu Dhabi, including the Grand Continental Abu Dhabi. A five-year stint with the Jumeirah Group in Dubai allowed him to train at the famed seven-star Burj al Arab as a butler.

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The global phenomena of 'Trampoline Parks' is finally arriving to the Philippines! What are Trampoline Parks? Simply put — giant warehouses filled with dozens of trampoline “matts” that stretch from wall-to-wall and are connected to form one huge surface which is enclosed with padded side walls and angled trampolines – allowing you to jump, fly and literally bounce in every direction.

These ultra-fun parks first originated in the U.S, a decade ago. They offer an amazing adventure of trampolining fun, including an open jumping court, basketball lanes for slam-dunking, dodgeball and volleyball courts for exciting gravity-defying sports, and even a super-fun foam pit where you can launch yourself from a trampoline into a giant pit of foam blocks. The first Trampoline Park in Manila will be located in ‘The Portal’ at Greenfield district, Mandaluyong (off EDSA near Shaw Blvd). In addition to a soaring good time, the Park will also offer unique fitness classes during weekdays, toddler jumping hours in the mornings and exciting zero gravity jumping parties, Friday & Saturday nights — all performed entirely on trampolines.

“It’s amazing fun, truly enjoyable and healthy…it will make you want to do it… again and again”, says Mark Hogsden, a British businessman living in the Philippines and the primary co-founder of the first Trampoline Park soon to rock Manila. “Trampoline Parks have become extremely popular in the U.K, in America and all over Europe—mainly because they offer incredible fun for everyone -– adults, families and children – whatever the weather!”, adds the brit. “Trampoline Parks are popping up all over the world in recent years, and lately even in asian cities like Hong-Kong and Singapore. It's about time we finally have them here in Manila!”.

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Power Mac Center, the leading Apple Authorized Service Provider in the Philippines, with its commitment to deliver utmost customer satisfaction, enhances its repair and inquiry process at the beginning of 2016. The improvements implemented are set to bring convenience and accessibility to valued customers through significant changes on service levels.

Patrons can expect an enhanced Service Menu and a quicker and easier resolution of queries from a well-trained customer service team. Serviced iPhone and iPad devices will also be given the Power Mac Center personal touch upon release through specially designed packaging.

More importantly, Power Mac Center has allotted special lanes for the exclusive use of the elderly, pregnant, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“Power Mac Center welcomes 2016 with additional ways to keep our relationship with our customers. At the forefront of that is our service operations,” said Joey Alvarez, Marketing Director of Power Mac Center. “Along with the new year, we renew our commitment to provide our patrons with the complete Apple experience.”