Dog Sees God: Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead Sets Asian Premiere Feb. 12-26

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Twin Bill Theater proudly presents “ Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead ” as its maiden offering in the local theater scene beginning February 11.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead ” by Bert V. Royal is a very cleverly written exploration of modern teen angst as seen by Peanuts characters. As an “unauthorized parody, ” audiences will be taken on a journey by eight teenagers whose characters are so cruel, so harmful, and how they breathe a breath of reality on today's social issues of sexual relations and identity, bullying, teen violence, drug use, child sexual abuse, suicide, eating disorders, rebellion, and more.

In 2004, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” was one of the breakout hits at the New York International Fringe Festival, winning the Excellence Award for Best Overall Production, as well as Theatermania's Play Award of 2004, the GLAAD Media Award for Best Off-Off-Broadway production, Broadway.com's 2006 Audience Award for Favorite Off-Broadway Production and the 2006 HX Award for Best Play.

The play revisits familiar characters from the Peanuts comic strip—Charlie Brown, his little sister Sally, Linus and Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Shroeder, the Little Red-Headed Girl, and Pigpen—grown up and in high school. All the characters go by different names, because the play was produced as an “unauthorized parody.” (Charles M. Shulz had nothing to do with it.) Van (Linus) is a stoner; Tricia (Patti) and Marcy (Marcie) are party girls; Lucy has been institutionalized for pyromania; CB (Charlie Brown) and Matt (Pigpen) are the popular kids at school, if only because they bully everyone else; and Sally and Beethoven (Shroeder) are mistreated, disliked outcasts.

Global Property Portal Lamudi Receives New Investment Boost To Grow Operations

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Emerging markets real estate network Lamudi has raised EUR 29 million (USD 31.4 million) in investment to grow its operations across Latin America and Asia.

Three investors have backed the business: Asia Pacific Internet Group, which is a joint venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo; Holtzbrinck Ventures, a leading European venture capital investor; and current investor Tengelmann Ventures, a division of international multi-sector retailer Tengelmann Group.

Lamudi, a global real estate portal, was launched in October 2013 by German Internet platform Rocket Internet. Since that time, the company has seen significant year on year growth and achieved market leadership in several countries. Lamudi operates exclusively in the emerging markets and is currently active in nine locations across Asia and Latin America (Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Colombia and Peru).

In February 2015, the venture received 16 million EUR in investment to boost its Latin American and Asian operations. A year later, an additional 29 million EUR will be invested in the business.

Hanno Stegmann, CEO APACIG, states: "We are very happy with the development of Lamudi within our portfolio. The demand for great classifieds platforms across emerging and frontier markets in the APAC region is high. Lamudi has proven a strong capability to adapt to diverse markets and offer the best user experience. We are confident to see the business growing further."

CHED Statement: Students Protest Against Tuition Fee Hike is Premature

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In a brief response to the claims made by students that rallied at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on February 5, CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan clarified that it is too early in the year to be able to determine the number of higher education institutions (HEIs) that will increase tuition and/or other school fees.

About a dozen or so students led by Kabataan Partylist and the National Union of Students of the Philippines marched to CHED with banners, slogans and strong statements against CHED and the Aquino Administration for increases in fees in over 400 colleges and universities next year. Once again, they defaced the CHED gate with sprayed graffiti. They were accompanied by some members of the media.

As specified in CHED’s guidelines governing tuition and other school fees, higher education institutions (HEIs) have until the end of February to comply with the consultation process. The HEIs are given until April 01 to submit duly notarized documentary requirements to their CHED regional office should they decide to increase fees. Only then can realistic numbers be determined.

CHED will ensure that HEIs meet the guidelines provided by law and adhere strictly to requirements that seek to make tuition fee increases transparent, reasonable and affordable.

Issued this 5th Day of February 2016 at the Higher Education Development Center, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

(signed)
Patricia B. Licuanan, Ph.D.
Chairperson

Discovery Channel Presents February Lineup

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Josh James is a hardcore hunter from the backwoods of New Zealand and Matt Tebbutt is a British chef who lives for fine food and loves foraging for wild ingredients.

They couldn’t be more different, but these two unlikely buddies have set themselves an ambitious goal – to travel to some of the toughest environments on earth and prove in just seven days that they can make incredible food from the most unlikely of ingredients.

They’ll be travelling to some of the most remote regions of earth, from the river valleys and cloud forests of Mexico, to the ancient forests and arctic wastes of Europe. And to make their quest even more of a challenge, they’ll be trying to hunt and forage for everything they need to survive with the barest minimum of equipment.

But will the struggle to tame the wild push them and their skills to the limit? Follow them on Kings Of The Wild airing February 9, Tuesdays, at 8 PM.

Direksyon: A Cultural Awakening Through Means of Exploration Throughout the Philippines

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Awaken your inner explorer and join Artekolasa 2016 on February 26 - March 3 as they showcase their thesis, Direksyon: A cultural awakening through means of exploration throughout the Philippines at the Mall of Asia. See you there!

DIREKSYON is the thesis exhibit of the 2016 graduating class of Fine Arts Majors in Advertising from St. Scholastica’s College-Manila. The exhibit highlights the importance of cultural preservation and cultural awareness in the Philippines. 14 places in the country will be featured, with each place presenting a problem that the students aim to resolve through different advertising and marketing strategies. The exhibit will show a variety of works, from print advertisements to TVCs, all of which endeavor to entice and inspire viewers to help achieve DIREKSYON’s goal of promoting the Philippines.

Opening Night will be on 26th of February, 6:00 pm. It will be held at the Ground Floor, North Pavilion (Near Cabalen), SM Mall of Asia. Exhibit runs till the 3rd of March, open during mall hours.

DOE Heads Special Task Force to Resolve Transmission Concerns in Mindanao

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A special inter-agency task force will now address the growing concern on the transmission tower bombings and right-of-way (ROW) issues posing economic impediment in Mindanao despite the additional 770 megawatts of power capacity coming in this year in the region.

During the Principals’ Meeting of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) held in Davao on 04 February 2016, Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada emphasized that transmission and distribution facilities are critical infrastructures in delivering electricity to the end-users (individuals, households, industries and businesses), in which bombings and ROW issues delay and hinder progress for the people of Mindanao. “We have to work all together, both the Mindanaoans and industry participants, as there can be no development without power or stable power fuels development,” she added.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the DOE, Mindanao Development Authority led by Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, the National Electrification Administration, the National Power Corp., the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management, the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance and the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives.

With the recent transmission situation in the area becoming of national interest, Secretary Monsada relayed that early this week, President Benigno S. Aquino created the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Security of Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) to be spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE).

ePLDT Urges Firms To Bolster Growth With Big Data

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With a steadily growing Internet penetration rate, and an ongoing surge in smartphone adoption, the Philippines is in the midst of a digital transformation that not only affects daily life, but is also expected to drive an uptake in digitization among businesses in terms of operations and decision-making. ePLDT, the digital enterprise enabler of the PLDT Group, strongly urges organizations to consider a Big Data Analytics strategy to accelerate business growth.

"Every person somehow leaves a digital footprint, whether it’s on social media or with electronic transactions. There is a tremendous amount of data waiting to be mined, refined, and analyzed. With the right infrastructure, tools, and expertise, valuable insight can be gleaned from all this information," said ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer Nerissa S. Ramos.

Citing a study by Bain & Company, Ramos said that companies with Big Data platforms are two times more likely to have superior financial performance within their industries, and five times more likely to make faster business decisions.

"And this is not just about speed. In this day and age, accuracy through predictive data-driven decision-making is key. By using historical data, one can understand the reasons behind past successes or failures. With this, decision-makers can make wiser business choices moving forward," she said.

Globe Business to Revolutionize PH Enterprises Through ICT at 10th International ICT Awards

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Globe Telecom information and communication technology (ICT) arm Globe Business is lending its support to the 10th International ICT awards, one of the most renowned awarding ceremonies in the IT-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry as part of its commitment to revolutionize and scale up Philippine enterprises and business organizations through ICT.

In its upcoming 10th year, the International ICT Awards is introducing the Most Popular Team Leader of the Year in the ICT Industry category, a new category which determines the winner via on-site SMS voting. The new category features a voting system that is powered by AdSpark, a Globe venture.

The ICT Awards also helps improve processes and operations geared towards achieving the best service to clients that benefit not only the industry, but also the nation. In addition, it will continue the Cities for ICT sponsorship program where the identified next wave cities can showcase themselves as a potential outsourcing hub to ICT companies who are looking to expand.

“Our support in this year’s ICT Awards is testament to Globe Business’ goal to become the preferred business advisor to Philippine enterprises as we help them realizing the importance of ICT in driving operational efficiency and productivity, which ultimately play a role in achieving success and global visibility,” shared Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group Mike Frausing.

UP Organization of Business Economics Majors Proudly Presents Econ­No­Mix 2016

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The largest Economics convention for high school students is coming!

UP Organization of Business Economics Majors (UP OBEM) is once again holding​ Econ­No­Mix​. Thrice awarded by the Junior Philippine Economics Society as the ​ Best Organizational Activity nationwide, it aims to promote economics by introducing different economic concepts to various fields, and features different competitions starring young minds which will later shape the future of the country.

This year, Econ­No­Mix 2016 is themed, ​ “Upsurge: Shaping Economics Through Heightened Tourism”. It aims not only to highlight the role of tourism in shaping the business establishments in the society but also to discuss how tourism served as an approach to the growth of the economy in the Philippine setting. 

The event will be held on​ February 15th, February 22nd, and February 29th, 2016 at​ the UP School of Economics, UP Diliman Quezon City. ​ Competitions that high school students may partake in include Quiz Bee,​ ​ Debate, Poster Making, Essay Writing, and Idea Generation.  

Sign­-ups for participants are still ongoing! For more information, please contact AJ Almonte (09178879314) or e­mail us at economix.upobem@gmail.com.

Top 10 Alternatives To Malling In Metro Manila

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Going to the mall has become a staple for anyone living in Metro Manila looking to pass the time, which is kind of a shame in some aspects. There are so many other ways you could be spending your free time if you dared to venture out of the multiple walls of your favorite monolithic shopping center. If you want to change up your usual routine, check out MyProperty.ph’s list of things you can do in various cities of Metro Manila.

See Manila in a different light

“Walk This Way,” a Manila walking tour founded in 2002 by performance artist/political activist/tour guide Carlos Celdran, is a history lesson taught by someone who’s far from the one you probably had in school. The tour is basically a one-man show; a period-costumed Celdran narrates significant points of Philippine history through acting, music, and a lot of comedy.

Work out at SM MOA’s seaside grounds

The long boardwalk on SM Mall of Asia’s seaside is a favorite go-to for people trying to be more physically active. Visit on a weekend morning and you’ll find the place teeming with people doing all sorts of outdoor activities, from jogging to walking their dogs to even Zumba.

Play restaurant bingo in Sikatuna, Quezon City

Okay, so there isn’t really an activity like that (although wouldn’t that be fun?), but there’s no denying that over the years, we’ve seen the rise of various types of restaurants in the area, particularly in Maginhawa Street. Cuisines range from European to Asian to American, and styles from holes-in-the-wall to big brand franchises, so if you want to eat something different every day for at least a month here, you won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy AirAsia’s Lowest Fares, Budget Travel Deals and Exclusive Treats Only at PTAA Travel Expo 2016

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AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for seven consecutive years, is offering exclusive budget travel deals and lowest fares to Cebu, Davao, Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Tacloban and to international destinations in Malaysia, Korea, China and much more at the 3-day travel sale hosted by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association in SMX, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

The Travel Tour Expo is on its 23rd year and has been regarded as the grandest annual event in the travel and tourism industry. The travel fair starts on Friday (5 February) until Sunday, (7 February) with over 300 participating exhibitors from various industries such as airline, hotel, resort including travel, tourism and tour operators.

Best travel deals for AirAsia flights to and from Davao are also available at the travel expo in conjunction with the formal launch and announcement of Visit Davao Fun Sale with outdoor sports activities, eco-tourism package tour, beach and entertainment parties already lined up for summer this year.

AirAsia services Manila-Davao with 3x flights daily departing from Manila’s NAIA Terminal 4 at 6:20AM, 3:35PM and 8:10PM. The airline also offers multiple flights daily from/to Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Kalibo (Boracay) and Tacloban. AirAsia's international flights include direct flights to various points in Malaysia, China and Korea from Manila, Cebu and Kalibo.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaPH), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaPh).

Sophos Delivers Easy-to-Use Security Solutions for Enterprise Mobility Management

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Sophos, a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced the availability of Sophos Mobile Control 6.0, which now includes Sophos Secure Email, a container solution that isolates and secures business data from personal information on devices. Sophos Mobile Control 6.0 also enhances data protection capabilities and allows IT managers to oversee devices used throughout their organisation through a simple interface and intuitive workflows.

Within Sophos Mobile Control 6.0 is Sophos Secure Email, a personal information management (PIM) container solution for email, calendar and contacts. Personal and corporate data can be separated, allowing organisations to manage business data security while enhancing user privacy. IT administrators can remotely provision email to employee mobile devices across popular platforms, including iOS, and multiple Android versions.

Also new to version 6.0 is Sophos Secure Workspace which includes Corporate Browser to facilitate safe access to frequently used business productivity sites and applications. Sophos Secure Workspace enables employees to seamlessly access and collaborate on the documents they need, when they need them, in a secure manner. Users also can control levels of access and publishing rights for various cloud storage providers like Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Egnyte. For additional protection, users now can securely move documents and data between mobile devices, cloud storage and corporate endpoints as Sophos SafeGuard file encryption is built in.

With the continued growth in mobile malware, the ability to detect and quarantine infected devices is a growing priority for enterprise mobility management (EMM). In fact, more than 95 percent of attacks today involve harvesting credentials from customer devices and using those stolen credentials to log in to web applications, according to Verizon 2015 Data Breach Investigations Report.

Device security is especially difficult to manage in mid-size enterprises that have widely distributed workforces, yet are resource-stretched. A September 2015 CompTIA study, Managing the Multi-Generational Workforce, showed that nearly half (46 percent) of small and mid-sized businesses have now fully adopted BYOD as a standard practice, as opposed to only 28 percent of large enterprises.

“It’s too easy for employees to unknowingly download dangerous apps that expose valuable corporate data, or worse, provide an open path to business networks,” said Dan Schiappa, senior vice president and general manager of Sophos Enduser Group. “Providing management, anti-malware and data protection for mobile devices is just as important as it is for laptops or any other corporate asset – the devices are small but they can be hacked and cracked just like any PC. Balancing the levels of productivity and access demanded by users today with the growing need for tighter data security requires the ability to manage and protect. Having an enterprise mobility management solution with integrated security is becoming a critical need to organisations of any size.”

Sophos Mobile Control 6.0 also detects jail-broken or rooted devices, plus malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). The product blocks infected or non-compliant devices from entering the corporate network and automatically blocks malicious or undesirable websites. A recent analysis by third party AV-Test confirmed that Sophos Mobile Control 5.5 detected 100 percent of known Android malware applied during the test period. All of this is done behind the scenes to users so that productivity isn’t sacrificed and critical, confidential data remains private and safe.

Sophos Mobile Control 6.0 is available now from the global network of Sophos certified partners.

San Miguel Beats Alaska for PBA PH Cup Title After Epic Comeback

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San Miguel pulled off a feat no team in all professional basketball leagues in the world has ever done, a comeback from a 0-3 finals series deficit.

As a saying goes, albeit grammatically wrong, "Comeback is real!"

The Beermen accomplished the historic rally with a 96-89 victory against the Alaska in the final game of the best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup championship series at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night, February 3, 2016.

San Miguel withstood an intriguing strategy by Alaska right at the opening tip-off and banked on a big game by Chris Ross to win its 22nd PBA title.

Coach Alex Compton called three timeouts just after his team won the tip-off, something that made the 23,616 people at the Mall of Asia Arena and even the televiewers confused.

The people became even more puzzled when the said move, which was supposed to get some of the Beermen out of focus early on, somewhat backfired when the Beermen opened an 18-8 lead.

The Aces, however, kept in pace and were within as close as three, early in the third quarter.

San Miguel then began pulling away, opening a 21-point cushion, 68-47, later in the third, and it appeared the team will get a smooth sailing.

Home Credit Philippines Donates to Community in Laguna

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As part of Home Credit Group’s global social responsibility program, Home Credit Philippines visited Southville 7 in Calauan, Laguna to hand over donated clothes and toys and to introduce a Financial Literacy Game especially designed to educate and inform the adult members of the community.

Home Credit Philippines held a donation program for the community of Southville 7 in Calauan, Laguna. This 107-hectare relocation site is inhabited by families affected by Typhoon Ondoy and displaced due to the Pasig River rehabilitation. Owned by the National Housing Authority, the property is home to roughly 4,500 families. The life of the community is well organized: its members are involved in the agricultural activities, paper and clothing production, small business, etc. But, still, food, water, shelter, decent job, and clean clothing remain a problem in the community.

The volunteers of Home Credit arrived in the community with five boxes of clothes and toys as well as food baskets to raise the spirits of the community members.

After a brief speech of the community’s leader, Father Boy Salvador, and introductory words from Home Credit representatives Dr. Richard Fababier, Mr. Dmitry Borisenko and Mr. Eduardo Visperas Jr, different activities were held for both children and adults. While the younger members of the community were having fun playing traditional Pinoy games, the grown-ups took part in a financial literacy game. They were separated into two teams which acted as families. During the game, they planned a given budget for the months ahead. Each monthly expense had an either positive or negative effect on the quality of family life. The game promoted a responsible and entrepreneurial financial behavior encouraging them to start their own business.

Video Coverage: Dance for Health 3 Team Performances

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I previously wrote about the winners of the Dance for Health 3 dance competition organized by Healthway Philippines where Indak [24]7 Dance Force won as the back-to-back grand champion. You can check the article here: http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2016/02/indak-247-dance-force-is-back-to-back.html

Indak [24]7 Dance Force successfully impressed all of the judges even though they were the last team to perform. One of the judges, Zumba Instructor Mark Angeles, even went up to them to signify his admiration to the dance team. As if giving up his heart, it was already evident who he now considers the top winner of the competition. I could sense that the other two judges were all in favor of awarding Indak [24]7 Dance Force as the winner of the Dance for Health 3.

Now I present to you all the dance performances captured on our video coverage of the event. We were not able to get a video of the first dance team since we came late at the event. We came all the way from Makati where members of the media met at a popular coffee shop, and had a bit difficulty leaving on time because of a few late ones who arrived an hour after the call time.

We also got a bit lost going to the Alabang Town Center (ATC) since none of us were familiar of the place. But it was just a few minutes of losing our way because we quickly were able to locate ATC. We were still able to catch the host interviewing the first team who just finished their performance.

Anyway, here are seven of the performances that you can also see from our video channel on YouTube: http://www.YouTube.com/wazzuppilipinas

SMB Owners Need to Take Heed of Productivity Gaps

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Over the past decade, globalization, shifting demographics and technological advancements have accelerated the rate of how work has changed.

Economies have shifted from labour-based to knowledge-based or even service-based. Coupled with the proliferation of technology, modern workers are now able to collaborate wherever they may be, and to work in locales best suited to completing their tasks at hand.

These changes have impacted the way we shape our work spaces, as well as the skills and capabilities we need for executives, managers and ultimately businesses to be successful. At Microsoft, we describe this new era of work, characterised by increasing globalisation, technology proliferation and a connected workforce as the New World of Work.

However, it seems that Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in Asia are not always keeping up; with employees feeling that their needs are not being met. A recent Microsoft online survey surveyed 2,600 SMB employees across 13 countries in Asia and found that only 61 out of every 100 employees felt their employers are enabling them to be productive, collaborative and innovative, whilst ensuring personal wellbeing in the changing world of work.

Michelin Primacy SUV Tires: Most Important Feature on Your SUV

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The safety of our family is out top priority especially when we go out traveling to far destinations. I would always inspect our vehicle and make sure it is in top condition days before a trip to the province or other places where I will be going with my family for special occasions or gatherings.

The first thing I check is the status of the tires. We should remember that they are the most important parts of our vehicle that will spell the difference between safety and risk. If our tires are faulty, it may lead to serious accidents.

This is the reason why I decided to purchase brand new tires when we went to the province of Pangasinan during the holidays. I wouldn't want to risk our safety in exchange of saving a few thousand pesos. Anyway, the tires would be useful for years of usage while feeling assured that we are not in harms way.

Michelin has recently unveiled their Michelin Primacy SUV tires at a media launch at Ascott Hotel BGC on February 3. You can see that they really intend to focus on family safety as there were a couple of images depicting families traveling together in a car, of which their Michelin tires are obviously the main wheels.

The new Michelin Primacy SUV tires delivers confidence and tranquility to drive your family safely even in the most unpredictable driving conditions.

Filipino Engineers and Architects Will Not Lose Jobs in Qatar

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A Philippine delegation headed by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan with Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Acting Chairperson Angeline T. Chua Chiaco and Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo C. Santos met on January 31 and February 1 with high-level Qatari officials including Mohd A. Alhamadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, members of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) and officials of the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA).

The mission tackled the problems faced by Filipino engineers and architects in Qatar. Qatari Law requires all engineers and architects to be registered with the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA). Because Filipinos lack the usual 12 years of basic education, their Bachelor’s degrees are considered by the Qatar Supreme Education Council (SEC) as equivalent to a Diploma. Thus, Filipino professionals were prevented from registration with the UPDA. It was feared that this would result in loss of jobs for 12,000 Filipino engineers and architects.

The results of the visit were most positive and productive. The worst fears of Filipinos losing their jobs in Qatar are unfounded. Clearly the Qatari government does not want to lose the Filipino professionals who are a most valuable resource in the country. While the government is now serious about implementing the 2005 law requiring registration, they are willing to make accommodations for the lacking years in the Philippine education cycle.

Airasia Group Leads #Green24 Climate Change Awareness Movement

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As part of AirAsia’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, the airline group today simultaneously conducted a 24-hour climate awareness movement to educate and promote climate action in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

To kick-off the #Green24 campaign, the AirAsia Group replaced their iconic red logo in their social media pages for 24 hours in January 29 into a vibrant green. The airline also released a special invitation video by Group CEO, Tony Fernandes inviting the public to be proactive in protecting the environment and the earth.

In the video, which is available for viewing on AirAsia’s YouTube Channel and also posted in https://www.facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines/, Tony Fernandes said, “On our side of the world, not many people know about the issues that climate change poses, and we feel that the best thing for us to do is to inform people. Many of us don’t really see the problems coming, but at AirAsia we have seen the effects of climate change such as Typhoon Haiyan that struck Tacloban in the Philippines, the floods that happened around the region and massive climatic changes over the past two to three years.”

“We always look after our own mothers, and we always put our mothers first in many things. But now, it’s time we put Mother Earth first as well. It’s time we let the world know that we need to take better care of the planet we live in,” Tony Fernandes further emphasized.

Key Findings Of Lamudi Philippines’ 2015 Research Report

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Prospective homebuyers and real estate professionals are generally optimistic about the Philippine real estate market in 2016. These are just two of the key findings of a research report recently released by global property website Lamudi Philippines (www.lamudi.com.ph).

Lamudi used data from its Q2 2014 to Q1 2015 onsite search, the results of 2015 survey involving real estate professionals and its website’s users, and its listings data to put together the research paper. Below are 11 of its key findings.


1. Metro Manila the most preferred location

In Lamudi’s survey conducted in 2015, more than half (55.05%) of the respondents cited Metro Manila as their preferred area for their property purchase, with Quezon City being the most preferred city (19.47%), followed by Makati (8.65%), and Manila (8.41%).

Cebu Province is the second most cited area by those looking for a property (6.97%), followed by the Province of Cavite (6.73%). It should be noted that these provinces are home to highly populated and popular cities for homebuyers, including Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue (Cebu Province) and Bacoor, Imus, and Dasmariñas (Cavite).

The Printed News: Museum Artifacts of the Near Future?

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With the popularity of online news publications, it is surprising to see paper-printing publications still getting customers to read their magazines and newspapers.

Well, these would basically be the people who go to clinics, parlors, barber shops, and the likes - mostly waiting for their turn to get service.

Some would be at the lounge of hotels, serviced-residences, resorts, or similar establishments where  they have complimentary newspaper subscriptions.

Others would be at the so many cafes or coffee shops offering several varieties of fraps and pastries. Those are great places to hang out and enjoy free Wi-Fi while reading the latest news about our presidential candidates or showbiz celebrities.

But nothing really beats turning the pages of the printed publication when you're laid back at your favorite coffee shops, especially when there's no Internet connection. The huge tabloids are sort of inconvenient when the tables are not big enough for both your food and newspaper, but folding up the pages still seems more fun than swiping away on a tablet or smartphone.

I can take photos, instead of screenshots, of a portion of the news, using my smartphone alongside the Spinach Lasagna, Tuna in Pumpernickle bread and the newest Frap from Starbucks - minus the baby vermin I saw from the recent TV news.

Delve Deeper Into a Cause with UP Fair: Free Fall

Wazzup Pilipinas!

TGIFFF, Thank God, It’s Free Fall Friday! Feel free to fall in love all over again this February as the UP Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (UP PSYSC) presents, UP Fair: Free Fall. 

Free fall is the best music festival in the metro. Indulge yourself in good music, food, and company in an evening of solidarity on February 12, 2016 at the UP Diliman Sunken Garden. 

Catch your favorite bands as they perform live in Free Fall. Enjoy good music from Hale, Rivermaya, Brownman Revival, The Ransom Collective, Tanya Markova, Rocksteddy, Cueshe, Barbie Almalbis, Siakol, Save Me Hollywood, joined by special performances from BP Valenzuela, Cheats, Taken by Cars, Rusty Machines, Quarter Moon, Munimuni, Built to Crash, Hug Us We’re Trees, and The Chosen Ones!. 

Prepare to be enthralled as Free Fall brings you a special light show . Prepare to fall deeper in love as you witness a dazzling pyromusical to give you the best UP Fair experience. More than providing an evening of enjoyment, Free Fall unites us towards a single cause. It also inspires us to become instruments for providing a better future for our fellowmen. 

The proceeds of Free Fall 2016 will fund the construction of a science library in the remote village of Balabac, Palawan. UP PSYSC is a non-government, non-profit, and non-stock organization which aims to promote the public understanding of science, technology, and the environment among the youth through conducting science activities such as seminars, symposia, summer camps, and school quiz competitions. For 45 years, it has been successfully and vigorously upholding its thrust, help us make this endeavor possible. 

For ticket inquiries, please contact Lainly Quilantang (+63 998 424 7354) and Chloie Cabreros (+63 977 497 0104).

Roots Music Festival: The Culmination of UP Fair’s Week-long Activities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The UP Economics Society and the UP Underground Music Community, along with Asia Travel, Wacoal, Zalora, YiLinker, Crescendo, Jeunesse Anion, SilverWorks, Orange Segment, Parfois, Uber, Mama Lou's, Senco Link Technologies (iStudio) amd P&P Tattoo; in cooperation with MYX PH, the Philippine Star and GIST.ph, Amplify.ph, Wazzup Pilipinas, ClickTheCity.com, RadioRepublic.ph, Greater Good Philippines, Rakista Radio, Manila Concert Scene, PhilippineConcerts.com, Rappler and MOVE.ph, Choose Philippines, WhenInManila.com, and UST TomCat bring you Roots Music Festival, an annual music festival, to be held this coming February 13, 2016, Saturday, at the UP Diliman Sunken Garden, as part of the much awaited, week-long annual UP Fair.

Established back in 2013, Roots Music Festival now caters to more than 10,000 avid concertgoers and music lovers year in, year out. Now on its 4th installment, Roots has undeniably come to be recognized as one of the best nights to attend in the UP Fair. This year, the music festival will now serve as the culmination of UP Fair’s week-long activities, and will feature performances from Parokya ni Edgar | Franco | Giniling Festival | Tanya Markova | Ebe Dancel | Typecast | Bullet Dumas | Ang Bandang Shirley | Jensen and the Flips | Lunar Lights | Better in Bed | Tard | Sour Cheeks | The Gory Orgies | Maya's Anklet | Shirebound and Busking | Sound Architects. You can thus expect an exciting and fun-filled night full of great food, great company, and of course, great music!

Our tickets are priced at P150. For current UP students, they are priced at P120. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets, the UP Economics Society Tambayan (UP School of Economics), and the USC Office (Vinzons Hall Rm. 206). For reservations and inquiries, you may contact Justin Monje at +63 917 822 4031 and Fau Manzanilla at +63 917 352 0827.

The Entrepreneurship Club of FEU Proudly Presents E-Raise

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with its goal to empower small scale enterprise, The Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) of Far Eastern University (FEU) invites aspiring entrepreneurs and seventy sari-sari store owners to take part in E-Raise on February 15, 2016 in Mandaluyong City.

This six-month program will include a comprehensive plenary discussion on the fundamentals of business, including funding, accounting, marketing, sustainability and scalability, which are of paramount importance to small time entrepreneurs.

The notable speakers invited to the seminar are Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) member Ronaldo De Los Santos from BCYF Advisory Council, BCYF Executive Vice President J Anton R. Yap, Ronda Palengke Initiatives founder Kevin Dela Cruz, and Strokes of Broke artist Nikky Rivera. Members of Go Negosyo, Grant Thornton Philippines and Junior Achievement Philippines will also be present at the event to share their expertise.

Aside from the valuable discussions, E-Raise will also be open for entrepreneurial consultations on general micro-business, bookkeeping, basic accounting, and regulatory process and requirements. More so, the FEU students will be in charge of monitoring the participants and mentoring them regarding sales, profit, cost accounting, pricing, and marketing aspects of business through out the program.

Jay Jaboneta Says One Little Act of Kindness Can Make a Big Difference at Mad World 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Even if it is a very tiny act of goodness and you think no one notices. Always remember that one little act of kindness can tilt the balance of an entire situation. One little act of kindness can ripple out in countless ways that you many never know about."

This is the saying that I remembered while listening to Jay Jaboneta, Firestarter and Chief Storyteller of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation during his talk at Mad World 2016 which was held last January 31 at SM Mall of Asia Arena. Participated by thousands of students from the different Marketing organizations of many colleges and universities nationwide.

According to him, technology can be harnessed for social good, for change and to make a difference. But ultimately, it is still our humanity that brings about change.

He also believes in HOPE - H is for harnessing your potential, O stands for Opening your wallet, P stands for Perspiring or Taking Action, and E stands for Empowering others.

The Yellow Boat became a symbol of hope for many of the children and even grown-ups at that certain town where students need to swim a river to reach their school. The Foundation that Jay has setup grew from just a Facebook status aiming to ask for help from friends which grew when his friends started to re-post.

Top Five Ways to Marketing Success According to Google's Ken Lingan at Mad World 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We no longer go online. We now live online. There has never been a time when most of us find ourselves looking at our smartphones more than a hundred times a day so we can keep connected or informed.

With so many advances in mobile apps and social media technologies, and the continued affordability of smartphones and similar devices, it has now allowed people immediate access to get and share information instantly.  The immediate future seems so promising for all Marketing students because there's a bevy of tools they can use in their job.

However, it may have been so easy now to connect to consumers, yet never before has it been so hard to engage them because of so many competing products, and issues or events, around us. Since almost everyone has immediate access to obviously more affordable online media, there's a lot of clutter out there that we need to go through and clean up for our own purpose.

Top Ten Lessons Learned from Ramon Baustista at Mad World 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Internet Action Star was unfazed of the crowd. It seems but natural for him to face thousands of individuals, may they be the majority youth or the few adults, who were all hooked an dintently listening on what he was about to say. After all, Ramon Bautista was an online icon who has become so popular that he is now more infamous than famous.

Even though is is a known comedian, not all are impressed of his skills to make people laugh. Remember the "hipon" incident in Davao where he was declared a "persona non grata" because of a quite insensitive joke that was treated so morally wrong by the leaders of the city?

Well, that issue may have sort of put him in his place for awhile but nothing can keep a good comedian down when there are so many others that's keeping him up into a higher pedestal.

Being one of the guest speakers at Mad World 2016 held on January 31 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena proves he has never lost the devotion of the people, especially the youth who find him entertaining but educational enough to inspire them.

"Paano Maging Pogi" sorts of attracts a great deal of attention because the title is nowhere to be considered serious. I believe that is one way of reverse psychology because it made the attendees curious enough to know "how."

Lunar Lights Launches Debut EP "The Moon Landing"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lunar Lights is an alternative rock band based in the City of Malolos, Bulacan. Started June 22, 2013, the band has played numerous gigs in Bulacan, Metro Manila and other provinces all over the country. Carrying the advocacy of writing songs about life, Lunar Lights released a single entitled “If I’m Wrong” that took its place to the charts of Myx and MTV. The first single is already playing over top radio stations in the country like Jam, Pinas, Energy, Wish, Magic and other regional frequencies. The band entered the scene and rocked Festivals, University affairs, and all the music-related shows in the country.

The members of Lunar Lights came from different influences and genres, the band consists of Rocky Villanueva on vocals, he is a graduate of Mass Communication major in Broadcasting, part-time photographer and videographer and can do multi-media related works. On lead guitars isPaul Armand Pascual who is currently working on a resident theatre company of Bulacan, he is finishing his studies to be a teacher of English in the Secondary. The keyboardist of the band isMark Aquino, who is still studying and an enthusiast of video games. Eron Dela Cruz plays the bass guitar, also a graduate of Mass Communication major in Broadcasting, Eron works as a photographer of the Provincial Government of Bulacan. Maverick Meneses, the drummer of Lunar Lights runs a family business and loves to cook different cuisines.

The five members of Lunar Lights came from different bands before the group sprouted, they committed as members of Lunar Lights and passionately working on original compositions. Right now the band is completing the line-up of songs for their debut album to be released later this year.

Team Kramer: Doug Levels Up His Game for Chesca this Valentines Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The sweetest surprises come in the most unexpected circumstances.

Doug Kramer—a player in the Philippine Basketball Association who is known as GlobalPort Batang Pier’s power forward—revealed last January 31, 2016 his biggest surprise yet for his wife, Cheska Garcia-Kramer.

Cheska is a known actress, social media icon and mother to Kendra, Scarlet and Gavin. The family is widely known in the country as ‘Team Kramer.’

According to Ned Bandojo, Head of Marketing of Red Ribbon, Doug took his Valentine’s Day surprise to Cheska to new romantic heights by proclaiming his love for his wife via a 40 by 60 ft billboard along C5 Bagong Ilog Bridge in Pasig City.

“Doug found a very unusual way of showing his love for Cheska, and it is something beyond imaginable,” Bandojo said. “We, his Red Ribbon family, are really glad to be part of Doug’s pre-Valentine’s Day surprise to Cheska because this only shows how the brand complements Valentine’s. We hope that, together with our Valentine’s Black Forest cake, we were able to bring in more sweetness to their relationship and to the whole family as well.”

The Ultimate Up In The Air and Down On the Ground Adventure in Pampanga

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Your Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas is very grateful for being part of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta as one of its volunteers in helping promote the event through our blogs and social media accounts.

With the presence of the Flag of Fire or Bandera ng Apoy hot air balloon, we hope to be able to get a photo of it while we do a selfie, or at least the balloon as our background. There is nothing more special in having the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas in a picture together with this hottie.

We will soon experience up close and personal coverage of the event highlights including the welcome dinner for all organizers and participants on February 10, the early morning media access to the hot air balloons grounds area while they are prep, inflated and soaring up into the sky, and the lunch and interview with the esteemed pilots who are part of the performing artists to brighten up the sky with their high-flying acts.

But not everything at the event is up in the air, there are several other attractions that can be conveniently found down on the ground like booths and exhibits of all kinds synonymous to the main event.

We will also be touring around Pampanga for amazing restaurant visits which includes a cafe owned by a famous celebrity chef of the Philippines, a spectacular Japanese restaurant, and an Asian Fusion restaurant that are all making names in Pampanga.

Discovery Kids, Discovery Science and Discovery HD February Highlights

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Every adventure is not complete without the knowledge one can pick up along the way. Luckily, for those who seek learning and fun, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science and Discovery HD World have it all covered!

Discovery Kids

Looking for adventure? Watch Justin and his pals Olive and Squidgy become stars in the biggest stories of all time, told from every corner of the world. Preschoolers will be surprised how Justin's imaginative adventures reflect their everyday life. Every time our little explorers set out on a new adventure, children will discover that fun has no expiration date, and that life lessons, good values and true friendships are timeless! Justin Time will air starting February 8, Mondays to Fridays at 6:55 PM.

Also, the new season of Doki is coming out soon. Catch Doki which will air on February 15, daily at 4:25 PM. 

Discovery Science

Follow valiant hosts Kevin and Grant as they investigate some of the best fail videos and asking how they could have done it better.

Kevin and Grant are two buddies with two very different jobs and perspectives on the world. Kevin is the know-it-all Ph.D who spends his days analyzing failed engineering projects for mega-corporations. He tackles everything with analytical precision and carefully thought out plans. Grant is a former US Marine Scout Sniper turned survivalist and trainer for the US Military, FBI and DEA. Grant jumps into every challenge feet first and thinks about the consequences later. 

In each episode Kevin and Grant dive deep into a new viral video of a great plan gone wrong. They analyze each video and figure out how it all went south.

Then it’s off to their top-secret test facility (Kevin’s backyard) to experiment and figure out how to make it all go smoothly this time. Using common sense, Ph.D smarts and a bit of brute force they uncover… What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Catch What Could Possibly Go Wrong? on its new season airing Tuesdays at 9 PM.

Impossible Engineering looks at the history of pioneering modern-day mega structures. Behind every seemingly impossible marvel of modern engineering is a cast of historic trailblazers who designed new building techniques, took risks on untested materials and revolutionized their field.

Each episode details how giant structures, record-beating buildings, and the world’s most cutting-edge ships, trains and planes are built and work using 3D graphics, archive and specially shot footage. As this series revels in these modern day creations, it leaps back in time to recount the stories of the exceptional engineers whose technological advances made it all possible. Impossible Engineering premieres February 4, Thursday at 9:50 PM. 

Discovery HD World

The Malaysian jungle is an ecosystem of great biodiversity. In the shelter of the forest wild elephants, tigers, tapirs, and a rich bird life can be found. But rapid deforestation is threatening the future of many species of wildlife.

While willingness to protect the rainforest is growing as prosperity increases, nature and species protection conflicts with the need to improve living conditions for the rural population. Malaysian Wildlife (New One Off) premieres February 4, Thursday at 9:25 PM.

Scientists regard it as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Time and again, it has proved its deadly potential – Merapi, the Fire Mountain of Java.

In the past hundred years alone, it has claimed over 1,500 victims. The risk of another serious eruption is high and could possibly even have consequences which would be felt globally. Now scientists are looking for a thus far unknown tectonic disturbance, which might possibly prove the key to their research. The researchers are pursuing two main goals: firstly, to enhance the forecasting options to enable people in the densely populated region to be protected more efficiently in the future. And secondly, they want to understand the mechanisms of this highly volatile type of volcano, which serves as an example of a number of particularly dangerous volcanoes on the planet. Witness the exciting search for clues on Indonesia’s most active volcano on Java In Jeopardy – Exploring The Volcano as it premieres on February 19, Friday at 8:10 PM

UP JMA Proudly Presents ADHOC: The Final Reveal

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The UP Junior Marketing Association (UP JMA) is a student-run organization that holds the biggest collegiate events every semester. Composed of over 300 members, the organization is divided into teams that create various innovative events starting with nothing but an idea. Among the teams include ADHOC, UP JMA’s biggest fundraiser and pride. After a 9-month hiatus, UP JMA ADHOC is coming back with an even bigger surprise—its very last ADHOC installment, ADHOC: The Final Reveal.

ADHOC has decided to culminate their legacy by celebrating 8 years of continued success in one night. The organization has decided to close the ADHOC era for the reason being that they want to start pursuing other ventures in order for its members to experience growth and development. The Final Reveal will be the LAST biggest college party in the metro that is reminiscent of the usual ADHOC stint--the perfect combination of premium alcohol drinks, dancing to the EDM and hiphop beats of well renowned DJs, and of course the famous FINAL MIDNIGHT REVEAL. The DJ lineup includes Kat DJ, Ron Poe, Jason Dewey, Martin Pulgar and ADHOC regular, Ace Ramos, hosted by MC Pao. This last ADHOC event will definitely bring out the inner party animal in everyone.

But contrary to what people know, ADHOC is more than the most epic college party in the metro. The proceeds of the said fundraiser go to UP JMA’s Kids Integrated Development through Schooling (KIDS) Program and Scholarship Fund composed of over 20 students and scholars. All the hard work of the ADHOC team does not only bring together one night of crazy and wild but brings kids to school as well. What better way to spend this Saturday night than to party with a cause!

Experience The Special Celebration Of Chinese New Year At Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Herald the Lunar Year with joyous celebrations, traditional festive goodies and sumptuous feasts at Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel, set to take place on February 7, 2016, 6:00 pm to 12:00 mn.

To celebrate the year of the Fire Monkey, Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel has prepared an array of traditional Chinese activities. The celebration will kick off with a Lion Dance and Taoist Blessing to bring good luck to the whole Filipino and Chinese community. There will also be snippets of Feng Shui forecasts and predictions for the upcoming year.

In addition, the hotel will also host its first ever Search for Little Emperor and Empress of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel. The contest is open to all children around the country from age 5-9 years old, who will compete in Chinese New Year costume, talent showdown and question and answer portion. The winners will be the face of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel’s print and online advertisements.

Another contest during the celebration will be the 1st Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Singing Idol. The completion is open to all Filipino/Chinese male and female contestants at least 18-27 years of age. Grand winners will receive cash prizes and gift items from sponsors.

Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel has also designed a special offer featuring 20% discount on all room categories from February 8 – March 1, 2016.

IPC Launches First Webinar Series for 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Local cloud services and data center pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) has launched a series of free webinars for the first quarter of 2016. In its commitment to help enterprises succeed through cloud and managed data solutions, IPC lends its pool of digital business solutions experts to explain the latest technologies that can help protect and grow businesses.

“IPC's cloudvocacy has always been to increase knowledge and understanding of cloud-based business tools, as well as appreciation for its benefits to organizations regardless of size,” said Niño Valmonte, Director for Product Management and Marketing of IPC. “We hope that through this webinar series, we can reach more stakeholders with only their time and internet connectivity at cost.”

The said webinar series commences on Wednesday, February 3 with Secure your website: WAF Awareness Webinar. This will discuss what a Web Application Firewall (WAF) is, amidst the growing sophistication of attacks against web-based applications used in conducting business. This talk aims to help curb significant business risks and exposure to a wide range of public security breaches.

The one-hour webinar will start at 10 A.M. and will be conducted by Mr. Ricardo Anselmo Jr., a Senior Product Manager at IPC.

Following that is a webinar especially for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. Recognizing that one of the problems in BPO is maximizing the business and its individual team members without affecting its stability, especially in times of unforeseen events, IPC created the Call Center Continuity webinar to be held on February 17 at 10 - 11 A.M. At the helm are Mr. Angelito Yutuc, Senior Product Manager at IPC and Mr. Antoine M. Nookadu, CEO & Co-Founder of BlueCloud Australia.

My Puerto Galera Vacation: More Fun Than Video Games

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Puerto Galera has also become a family-oriented tourism destination since many have been going there for family gatherings and celebrations. The popular getaway located in Oriental Mindoro is attributed by some as the poor man's Boracay because it's obviously more affordable to go there but is almost as similar to the party destination of Panay island. Boracay is located in the municipality of Malay in the Aklan province so it's more expensive to plan a trip there if you're from Manila or another country. " - Wazzup Pilipinas
It’s not about NO classes, No schools and YES to video games. The whole month of April I thought would be the happiest thing, being at home and playing video games. I thought staying at home the whole summer vacation was fun, not until we planned a FAMILY TRIP to Puerto Galera.

I did not think being together would be as interesting or even more than playing video games at home. It’s the JOY from the heart I am saying, not the joy from the eyes, or for yourself.

Let’s go on our first day. The first time I swam in more than 7 feet swimming pool. At first it was kind of scary, but when I get the hang of it, and my cousins joined me. I felt blessed to have this family.

Kalinga: Expect the Unexpected at the Cordilleras

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Summer is the season which students are usually excited with. Well it wasn’t like that for me. In my opinion summer is just another hot and tiring time at home. But this year’s summer vacation made me change my mind and realized it is far from what I thought it was. In fact my summer vacation was very fun and memorable. I was able to go to different places, meet new friends and visit my relatives which I rarely see.

It was my father who decided to change our annual routine. He told us that we will be going to their province. At first I wasn’t excited to go because I really don’t like to be in a place without my friends but when we got there already, I found out I am able to have fun even without them.

My family and I went to a nearby river and swam there. Though it was very cold, I enjoyed it because the water was very clear and it even had crabs and small fishes swimming on it.

After that we went to the neighboring town to participate in their fiesta which I really enjoyed. I even sang and performed a dance number with some friends I met there. We stayed there for a day and walked back home which took us almost four hours. Oh, haven’t I mentioned that my father’s province is in Kalinga province? And I’ll tell you it’s a 4 or more kilometer walk from the downtown to their “baryo”.

The Rise and Fall of the Blogging Community?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The statement below is something I got from a "bubwit" (not the one who was found in a Starbucks Frap) who is also part of the blogging community. If there is any truth to it, I surely hope it's not 100% accurate as I believe we are still among the ones that publish only what we really feel no matter how others feel it as uneducated observance or lacking the critical eye to be legit and authoritative.

"Nice chat with a PR earlier about the ups and downs of the blogging community, and how the negative issues involving bloggers are not entirely different from what goes on with trad media (print, radio and TV) practitioners. 

Sadly, many bloggers now exhibit the negative traits that were previously attributed to erring members of the media.

Blogging for many is no longer what it was originally meant to be.

Unfortunately, it has been tainted when bloggers started holding back or go easy on writing the truth so they can retain friendships with the sponsors and brands.  

It has been ruined when bloggers only aim to get as much loot bags or tokens from the sponsors, brands or companies that they are promoting. They don't really advocate a single brand and does not stay away from the brands that they do not really like. Meaning, everyone can avail of their service in exchange for a fee or freebie. 

It has been diluted when bloggers started to participate in syndicated Comments, Likes, Shares, etc., exchanges. 

It has turned into a joke when brands now think that views, hits, impressions, ranking, etc., is the primary factor to determine if the blog is significant or not. 

Many people used to rely on bloggers to share real reviews and information with a personal touch. Now, most of what we read are either spoonfed or posted without any personal involvement of the blogger.

Now, it has become so easy to manipulate blog rankings, but it has become so difficult to keep our contents appropriate."

How about you? Do you believe in this point of view? I would rather keep my comments after everyone else has shared their own beliefs.

But what I would not tolerate is when some would look down on others just because the person under scrutiny is part of a community. You do not generalize a group based on a few members' acts. Each one still has their own personality that is unique and never similar to anybody else. Even twins do not share the same point of views, how much more are two individuals born from different mothers.

The Arrogance of People Heightens When in Social Media

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Social media has its positive points, but many have been also using it to bully those they believe are inferior and does not meet their high standards.

Many of us believe we are faultless and fail to see that big lump of mole right smacked in the middle of our foreheads. If we really care for the community, we do not shame, harass, bad-mouth, or alienate our fellow men. Instead, we should try to work it out as decent grown-ups.

Madalas kasi, kapag inuna mo ang pakikipag-away, defensive siyempre agad ang kabilang party. So instead na magka-ayos, lalo lang nagkakagulo at lumalala.

Please do not single out a certain online community and generalize them as sole perpetrators of these acts. Even the so-called number one blog or online magazine in the Philippines post press releases as is.FYI...some PRs give options to just copy-paste or edit as preferred, but copying an "entire article" from other publications should never be tolerated unless there was permission from the original source or author. This has been debated on just recently.

I think the real reason people block you is because you confront them publicly with disrespect with the sole intent to humiliate rather than help. We can see naman that you have your own share of typos, arrogance and mistakes.

If you have a personal grudge against an individual or an entire community, talk to him/her/them privately. Peace.

Daanin na lang natin ito sa ma-boteng usapan. :)

‪#‎RetrospectivexProspective‬: Mass Media Awareness Month 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In order to move forward, we first need to look back to the past. This February, we look back to the past in order to move forward.

The UP CMC Student Council and the Mass Media Awareness Movement proudly bring you

‪#‎RetrospectivexProspective‬: Mass Media Awareness Month 2016

The Mass Media Awareness Movement (MMAM) is the flagship initiative of the UP College of Mass Communication Student Council.

Launched in 2010 as a month-long campaign, it now exists as a yearlong project that aims to raise awareness on different media-related issues, promote media literacy, forward the call for media freedom, and instill upon everyone our role as responsible and critical media consumers and practitioners.

Join this event as they create and raise discourse among UP students and other students from different parts of the country about Philippine media through the different events within the month: