Inter-Agency Task Force Enforces Security Measures on Energy Facilities for May Elections

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF), headed by the Department of Energy (DOE), enforces security measures to ensure power supply adequacy reliability during the local and national elections in May.

Following the issuance of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 10067, concerned members of the IATFSEF are deputized to provide sufficient personnel to secure power assets nationwide, implement clearing of trees, infrastructures and any obstructions beneath the transmission facilities, safeguard the area of the transmission Tower No. 25 located along the Agus 2-Kibawe 138kV line enabling rehabilitation to proceed, and provide pertinent information to cause prosecution of violators of the election code.

The IATFSEF, in close coordination with COMELEC, notes that these measures are in response to the earlier bombing incidents and right-of-way issues compromising the power supply security in Mindanao grid that caused the isolation of Agus 1 and Agus 2 Hydro Power Plants, depriving Mindanao customers with 82 megawatts of generation capacity, resulting in power trippings and rotating outages in some provinces.

“The Government, through the IATFSEF, is in full force to implement all necessary measures to ensure sufficient supply of electric power ahead of the critical election period,” said Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada, emphasizing that the immediate repair and restoration of Tower No. 25 will help stabilize the power supply in Mindanao in time for the elections.

Masters of Illusion Captivating Audiences in Asia This March

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Originally performed at the Magic Castle in Hollywood back in the early 2000, Masters of Illusion was revived for regular airing on television.

Featuring some of the best magicians in the world, each episode is a visual treat. Whatever your brand of magic is, the show has something for you. See mentalists, illusionists, and escape artists, just to name a few. Relive your love for this classic entertainment that’s full of modern twists.

Viewers should brace themselves for mind-boggling illusions, amazing sleight of hand, breath-taking escapes and even laugh out loud comedy routines.

Hosted by Dean Cain, Master of Illusions airs weeknights at 7:55pm, first & 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.

Why OFWs Come Home to Manila to Get Their Hair Back

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is fast becoming the go-to place for hair restoration procedures.

Medical findings show that about 30% of the adult population experience some degree of hair loss, even up to their 40s and 50s. Nearly two-thirds of men start to go bald at various stages and ages in their life. Due to the great psychological value attached to having a full head of hair, thinning hair and hair loss are a big issue for people young and old, especially for men.

MAXiM Hair Restoration, an 11-year old hair transplant clinic, says the number of foreigners, medical tourists and vacationing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming to their clinic for hair transplants has been steadily growing through the years. Clients from the US, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Middle East, Canada, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia are growing in number.

OFWs with more disposable income are seeking ways to improve their appearance and raise their self-esteem. “Employers perceive younger-looking, well-groomed people to be more attractive and competent. So when we look good and appear younger, we get more job opportunities,” says Mateo Cepe, a contract worker from Dubai.

“Hair transplants in Manila cost less and are world class. MAXiM has a long track record and international experience. It is famous and reputable among us OFWs,” says Leonardo Eguia, a former OFW from Taiwan.

March is Full of Adventure at Discovery Channels

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This is a March full of adventure for the young and the young-at-heart on Discovery Kids, Discovery Science and Discovery HD World.

Discovery Kids

Go on an adventure with a very special knight in Rusty Knight.

In this imaginative animated family film, Rusty lives with his dragon Cole and friend Bo in the kingdom of Scrapland, a magical world completely made of scrap-metal. With dreams of winning the great knights' tournament, Rusty acquires a speed engine for his horse, Chopper, that propels them into first place. But when the engine turns out to be stolen from ambitious Prince Novel, brave Rusty must redeem his knightly honor, save the kingdom and prove that true friends always stick together. The new series Rusty Knight premieres March 14, airing daily at 4:25 PM.

Sherlock Yack is a zoo's manager as well as its detective. As soon as a crime is committed, he investigates with his young assistant, Hermione. With her help, he finds suspects, clues and proofs...while inviting the young viewer to lead the investigation and find the culprit at the same time. Solve crime and unravel mysteries with Sherlock Yack – Zoo Detective as it premieres March 28, airing Monday to Friday at 4:00 PM.

Pinakamahabang Todo Patintero

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nagbabalik... ang mas pinabilis, mas pina-todo at mas pinasayang Pinakamahabang Todo Patintero 2016!

Yayain na ang barkada at pamilya ngayong March 13, 9AM sa UP Sunken Garden.

Bumuo na ng grupo at mag-register sa http://bit.ly/Patintero2016

Prizes:
1ST PLACE - P5,000
2ND PLACE - P3,000
3RD PLACE - P2,000

Handog sa inyo ng UP ABAM at Yabang Pinoy!

Game! Mag-ensayo na!

BayaniBoto Empowers Youth Electorate to Vote for Right Senators

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Aiming to introduce the senatorial candidates and their platforms through an open dialogue with the youth electorate, The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community-National Capital Region (TOSPAC-NCR) partners with YouthVote Philippines, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and Adamson University, to conduct BayaniBoto, Senatorial Forum.

The event will be held on March 12, 2016 (Saturday) at the Adamson University Theater of Adamson University from 1 pm to 5 pm. Senatorial candidates participating in the event include Valenzuela city 1st District Representative Sherwin Gatchalian, Former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica, Former MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, Accomplished Lawyer Atty. Lorna Kapunan and Former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla who will present their detailed plans should they be elected. Aside from invited student delegates from different colleges and universities in Metro Manila, the half-day forum is open to all registered voters, whether college students or young professionals. The forum also recognises that electing the right senators is equally important as choosing the right president and vice president of the country.

The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community – National Capital Region (TOSPAC-NCR) recognizes the importance of youth participation in the electoral process and in this upcoming national elections. In 2013, TOSPAC-NCR founded BayaniBoto, a voters’ engagement campaign as its response to the challenge of developing a fully informed electorate. The goal of Bayaniboto, since its inception, has been to educate youth voters and inspire them to go above and beyond their duty to vote because they believe that “ang bawat kabataang bumuboto, bayani”.

Party Hard for HIV Prevention at Cherry Poppin’ – The 2nd Comin’ on March 19

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Refreshing its HIV Awareness campaign, LoveYourself, Inc., in collaboration with Køsmos, will host the Cherry Poppin’ - The 2nd Comin’ on March 19 at the Century City Mall event center in Makati City for the benefit of the organization’s testing clinics and community centers.

Introduced last year, Cherry Poppin’ is a LoveYourself fund-raising activity through a fun-filled man-date auction while in a rave party. A donation of PhP300, which will help fund the organization’s activities, grants one ticket to the party inclusive of a free drink.

The party gates will open at 8PM with electronic dance music from up-and-coming DJ Geert Major aka Garuda supported by other resident Køsmos DJs Deej Diaz, Kazwal, and Mike Lavet. A Dutch native and music producer, DJ Garuda has been performing at top clubs in Manila, Netherlands and Thailand.

Cherry Poppin’ party guests (donors) can get a chance to bid on and go out on a date with 15 eligible bachelors, including models, young actors, dashing doctors, hunky professionals, and the reigning Mr. Gay World - Philippines 2016, Christian Lacsamana. Donors who win in the auction will go on a guaranteed romantic dinner with the chosen auctionee, yet more intimate surprises await the winning bidder for higher bids.

Knowledge Channel and Fatty Brain Toys Advocate Play and Technology for Smarter Kids at ‘SKY Alive!’

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Passionate in making learning more fun and interactive for Filipino children, Knowledge Channel along with Fatty Brain Toys will join SKY Cable Corporation in celebrating its 25th year of service in the Philippines. The first ever cable fair catering to Filipino families, the silver anniversary is tagged as ‘SKY Alive’ and will host all the networks under SKY on March 12 and 13 at the SMX Convention Center.

“'SKY Alive!’ is an innovative way to really bring the world closer to Filipino homes and it echoes SKY and ABS-CBN’s same vision to constantly be in the service of the Filipino people.” said March S. Ventosa, Chief Operating Officer of Sky Cable Corporation.

The only all-educational TV channel in the country with localized content simulcast nationwide, Knowledge Channel not only provides DepEd-curriculum based video episodes for the different subjects and grade levels in K to 10 to supplement public education, but also online instructional games, professional teacher trainings and other interactive forms of learning for mature audiences and out-of-school students.

Knowing that progressive education would open up a world of opportunities to underprivileged Filipino learners, Rina Lopez-Bautista co-founded Knowledge Channel 16 years ago to empower public schools with DepEd-aligned educational media and technologies that help improve learning.

Singapore Airlines First to Introduce ‘Companion App’ For Inflight Entertainment System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Singapore Airlines is raising the travel experience to an exciting new level with the introduction of a first-of-its-kind mobile application that offers customers greater control over their in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience - even before boarding the aircraft.

The companion app, which was developed for Singapore Airlines by Mobile Travel Technologies (MTT) in conjunction with Panasonic Avionics, enables customers to review the IFE video and audio content that will be available on their flight, create pre-selected favourites lists, and control the seat-back IFE system – all using their personal electronic devices. The app is now available on iOS and Android tablets, with availability on iOS and Android mobile phones in the second quarter of 2016.

To make use of the app, customers can install the SingaporeAir tablet application on their device prior to the aircraft’s departure. Once on board, they can link their device to the IFE system using the aircraft’s in-flight WiFi network. Connecting to KrisWorld, the Airline’s award-winning IFE system, will then allow for movies, TV shows or music to be launched on the seat monitor, directly from their list of favourites or from the entire media list.

Linking the app to the IFE system also enables the personal device to be used as a remote control, to pause, play, or skip through media content. SIA will be the first airline in the world to enable this on a Panasonic in-flight entertainment system. Customers will be able to multi-task, thereby maximising their experience of KrisWorld, such as by browsing through the index of KrisWorld content on their device while watching a movie on the seat monitor. Customers can even access real-time information on the flight progress and flight path without interrupting their movie viewing.

Nine Bouts Announced for One Championship: Global Rivals in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has announced nine bouts for ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS which takes place 15 April at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Fans in the Philippines will witness all the action live as ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren returns to defend his title against hard-charging Russian opponent Nikolay Aleksakhin.

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui stated: “We have an absolutely stacked card planned for fight fans in Manila, and we’re happy to be back at the Mall of Asia Arena for another awesome night of MMA. Each time out, our Manila show gets bigger and better, and this year is no exception.”

Tickets for ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS are available at www.smtickets.com.

Former NCAA Division I All-American and Olympian Ben Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest mixed martial artists in the world today. In just a few fights in ONE, Askren was able to seize the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. The highly-skilled Askren is widely considered to be the absolute best in his division and one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound. His next challenge is a tough one, as he goes head-to-head with Russia’s Nikolay Aleksakhin.

A veteran welterweight from Russia, Nikolay Aleksakhin will make his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage in Manila this April. Aleksakhin was impressive in his debut for the promotion when he submitted Burenzorig Batmunkh with a rear naked choke within three rounds. Now, Aleksakhin gets the call to face ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren and will look to surprise the crowd with intense action.

E-Learning Startup Quipper Launches in Cebu, Eyes Partnerships with Schools Transitioning to K-12

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With the full implementation of the K-12 program this June with onset of the additional 2-year senior high school program, an education technology company out to improve the teaching and learning experience is now offering its services in Cebu.

Yuki Naotori, Country Manager of Quipper, said the launching at Tisa Elementary School, which is plagued by many of the same challenges besetting high schools nationwide, exemplifies the company’s vision for a world where everyone has easy access to quality education.

“This year is a pivotal one for Philippine education, with an estimated 1.2 to 1.6 million students beginning grade 11 in June. By providing excellent, K-12 aligned content on a platform that helps teachers streamline their teaching methods and class management while simultaneously providing students with an engaging yet effective learning experience, we hope to make this transition easier for both public and private schools in Cebu and the rest of the country,” said Naotori.

To access the platform and content, teachers need to sign up at school.quipper.com, register their school, then invite their students to create accounts and join their class. Once students have signed-in, teachers can send assignments or exams and communicate with students via the platform’s messaging system. Educators are also able to upload their own content and access analytics on their students’ performance. The platform is gamified, so students get instant feedback upon answering, and earn ‘coins’ for correct answers, which they can use to ‘buy’ desktop wallpaper for their Quipper account. The use of Quipper School and all its features is free of charge.

Profil Holidays Launches New Travel Packages and Mobile App in Celebration of 25th Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!

100% Filipino-owned Profil Holidays, one of the Philippines’ leading travel and tours company, is celebrating the 25th year in the business as among the leaders in the industry. With this, they have recently unveiled 6 exciting new travel packages including budget travels that will suite the more tight on the budget yet adventurous type of traveler.

Profil actually stands for Professional Filipino, meaning they probably thought of the names 25 years ago to indicate how dedicated and determined they are in providing Filipinos the opportunity to travel around the world and see different tourist spots and destinations in the most affordable yet memorable package.

Profil Holidays had helped thousands of Filipinos explore more than 100 countries in five continents, giving them a lifetime’s worth of unforgettable experiences. True enough, they are also launching a mobile app they call Travel Scout that will also help travelers for added convenience in targeting their desired destinations. Soon the mobile app will undergo additional improvements and add-ons to make it a lot more better to serve more in seeing the world. The app is now available for download at Google Play for Android smartphones and at the App Store for iPhones.

From the media conference held at the iconic Manila Hotel on March 8, 2016, it is surprising to find out that many still perceive Filipinos as "babies" with regards to their attitude in traveling. Rosanna "Anne" Inchiong, General Manager of Profil Holidays, and Benilo "Bomg" Tabang, Sales Director of Profil Holidays both agree that Americans and Europeans are more mature in dealing and communicating with people around the world. Filipinos tend to expect more pampering while the said foreign customers are thrilled to travel backpacker style. 

Supreme Court Orders COMELEC to Print Receipts

Wazzup PIlipinas!

"The COMELEC found itself in a state of emergency on Tuesday, March 8, after a Supreme Court ruling practically required the poll body to overhaul crucial processes that took months to finish." - Rappler

"This may go against the celebratory mood of most people but the SC decision on the printing of receipts as VVPAT mechanism for PCOS might create more problem than solution. Why?

1) As per COMELEC statistics, we have 54.3 M registered voters divided in 92,509 Clustered Precincts (CP), so in theory, you'll have 586 voters per CP. Printing of receipts will take 13 seconds while reading and confirming might take 20-30 seconds (note: this is a conservative estimate not yet considering our special needs sector) so that's 33-43 seconds per voter. Thus, voting time will have to be extended by 19338 seconds (5.37 HOURS)- 25198 (6.99 HOURS). Considering the 2013 elections that operated from 7am to 7pm, we're looking at closing precincts now at around 12AM-2AM.

2) The need to reconfigure 96,096 PCOS considering printing of receipts is not included in the present model. I'm not yet sure if they have to reconfigure the software or/and hardware of the machines.

3) Remember that we are not allowed to bring receipts outside the polling center because they need to be surrendered and put into ballot boxes? Yup, we have to buy those ballot boxes too. Let's assume that 1 CP needs 1 ballot box, so we will be needing 92,509 ballot boxes. 1 ballot box will incur 3,000 pesos ( AES watch versus COMELEC) so that's an additional cost of 277 M pesos for an election that's already spending 12 BILLION already. I'm not yet mentioning the 1.2 M additional rolls of thermal paper.

DLSU BMS Proudly Presents Unplugged

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"RELAX. UNWIND. UNPLUG.

DLSU Business Management Society Proudly Presents:

UNPLUGGED
March 12, 2016 - Saturday
Track 30th, Bonifacio Global City
6PM onwards

JAM OUT to the freshest sounds brought to you by Metro Manila’s up and coming artists, including your SoundCloud favorites while you INDULGE YOUR TASTEBUDS on food served by only the finest food start-ups!

Treat yourself with a night of GREAT FOOD ang GREAT MUSIC—this will be an event you definitely won’t want to miss!

#RelaxUnwindUnplug

https://www.facebook.com/BMSUnplugged
https://twitter.com/BMSUnplugged
https://instagram.com/BMSUnplugged"

Home Credit Promotes Health and Financial Literacy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Promoting health and financial literacy. A mother reads a comic book on saving and budgeting money to her child at a medical mission activity conducted by consumer finance company Home Credit at Nagpayong High School in Pasig. More than 100 families were given free check-ups and vitamins, as well as consultations with Home Credit volunteers on how to better take care of their finances. Aside from receiving free comic books, interested parents also joined teachers of the high school in an interactive game which aims to teach financial literacy in a fun and engaging way. Home Credit considers financial literacy as one of its primary advocacies, and has so far done community engagements in areas in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu, with more areas still lined up.

UP's Phi Lambda Delta Proudly Presents Impulse: The Most Anticipated Party of 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Are you ready to witness a change in momentum, and yield to the impulse?

Join us as the premiere sorority of the UP College of Medicine, the Phi Lambda Delta, brings you the most anticipated party of 2016: Impulse. Now on its third year, Impulse once again lets you immerse yourself in the lights and sounds of the city.

On March 19, Saturday, head on over to Aracama, The Fort Strip, and party the night away, with the hottest DJs in the metro DJ Arthur Tan, DJ Miko Amante and DJ Kev Chan. It’s going to be a night you would not want to miss.

For tickets, please contact Bea Constantino at 09178860893. Impulse is a fundraising activity of the sorority so it may better serve charity patients of the Philippine General Hospital and the Sorority’s service arm, PagKalMa. This event is in cooperation with SkinCell, FLY Health Hub, Shades & Style, Markyn Kho Photography, and Zalora. In partnership with the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and the Alpha Sigma Fraternity.

Wazzup Pilipinas is a proud media partner of Impulse.

Tanghalang Ateneo Ends Its 37th Season With Rene O. Villanueva’s “Kalantiaw”

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Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theater company of the Loyola Schools will end its 37th Season: “Staging Revolution/s” this March with Rene O. Villanueva’s “KALANTIAW”. Based on real-life events, this play, originally entitled “Ang Kagila-gilalas na Kasinungalingan Tungkol sa Isang Kayumangging Bayan”, is written by the country's leading playwright in Filipino, Rene O. Villanueva. This Palanca First Prize-winning play is about the life of historian Jose E. Marco and the hoax he created - the controversial Code of Kalantiaw. The play, first performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and then at the Theatre Le Rond Point in Paris by Tanghalang Pilipino, forces us to take a closer and more critical look at our sense of nationalism.

Synopsis of the play: The play focuses on the themes of nationalism and the creation of history. It follows an unnamed young historian as he dives deep into the annals of Philippine history in search for the truth about life in pre-colonial Philippines. His research leads him to Jose E. Marco, a historian who allegedly uncovered an important piece of anthropological text depicting the rules and systems implemented during those times. The young researcher delves into the lives of those who were involved in the process of making the Code of Kalantiaw, which is considered as an important part of the canon of Philippine historical texts. Many of Marco’s alleged texts are hinted at throughout the play as baseless fabrications that hold no value in the academic community. In the end, while the young historian is successful in disproving the claims of Marco, he also realizes that his search was in vain as it only led him to lies and deceit.

BBQ Pit Wars: Get Your Grill On with DMAX this March!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

They may be some of the most successful BBQ competitors around, but every competition is a clean slate and an imposing challenge.

DMAX follows four noted BBQ teams as they compete in some of the most prestigious and demanding BBQ competitions on the circuit to see what it's really like when you're in the thick of the battle. The all-new season of BBQ Pit Wars premieres on March 10 and airs every Thursday at 9:50 PM.

Power Mac Center Brings 21st Century Learning to Kids This Summer

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It’s almost summer and while kids are excited for vacation, premier Apple reseller Power Mac Center offers another activity that promises to be both fun and educational.

Summer Workshops 2016 is part of an annual workshop series conducted by Power Mac Center’s Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC). Now on its 9th year, this summer’s trainings will revolve around the theme “ReCREATE LEARNING: Shaping Kids for the Information Age.” It features specialized topics integrated to 21st century skills, a set of abilities including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity that students need to develop in order to succeed in the information age.

This techie summer treat allows children aged 7 to 12 to have fun while learning digital skills with the use of customized learning spaces. Power Mac Center’s Apple Authorized trainers will serve as mentors to enhance kids’ use of advanced digital tools and to bring their imagination to life. The advanced training methodology used for these classes involves lectures, demonstrations, guided hands-on activities, and actual project creation.

“We’re doing this workshop series to bring out the inner creative genius in kids,” said Joey Alvarez, Marketing Director of Power Mac Center. “We want them to start young and make learning a habit, while enjoying the company of other children at the same time.”

Ateneo de Manila University bags 8th CFA Institute Research Challenge

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Team Ra, composed of students from the Ateneo de Manila University won the 8th CFA Institute Research Challenge (IRC) Local Finals held last February 23, 2016 at the PSE Auditorium in Ortigas, Pasig City, besting six other universities that joined this year’s challenge.

The Ateneo de Manila team, composed of Abelardo Hernandez, Giovanni Carlo Ong, II, Rafael Francisco Suarez, Agnes Melissa Gabrielle Tan and John Victor Te won a cash prize of Php100,000. The team will also represent the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific regional finals, to be held in Chicago, Illinois, USA on April 13 this year. If destiny is on their side, they also get to compete in the global finals which will be held in the same venue the very next day April 14.

The four finalist teams from top universities in the country presented their findings about this year’s subject company, SM Prime Holdings Inc., to the five judges namely: Valens Securities Chief Investment Strategist, Joel Litman; Fund Managers’ Association of the Philippines Founding President, Mr. Marvin Fausto; JP Morgan Head of Research, Jeanette Yutan; Bloomberry Resorts Corp. Director-Investor Relation, Leo Venezuela; and COL Financial Group Inc. Investment Analyst, Richard Laneda, CFA.

Ms. April Tan, CFA, CFA Philippines President, shares, “CFA Philippines congratulates the grand winner of this year’s local IRC and wish them the best in the regionals. We are very proud of the work of the students. Although it may seem ambitious, we are hopeful that the Philippine team will once again win the regional and the global championship this year.”

Stella Artois Pours The Perfect Pint

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Enjoying an ice cold beer sometimes goes beyond the act of merely drinking it straight from the bottle. Beer enthusiasts are beginning to realize that there are some things worth waiting for—and in the case of Stella Artois, it means understanding the importance of a properly and perfectly poured beer.

Belgian beers are traditionally served in unique glasses designed to draw out the flavor and accentuate the profile of a particular brew. For Stella Artois, that glass is the Chalice. The classic 9-Step pouring ritual uses the Chalice's curves, stem and signature gold rim to create the perfect drinking experience that of our Stella Artois fans palettes long for.

“The brand has a time-honored, nine-step ritual that hopes to give Stella Artois fans around the world the same experience they would get if they enjoyed a pint in Belgium. Backed by hundreds of years of brewing experience, there’s only one way to pour a Chalice of Stella Artois,” explains Chester Cabrera, Marketing Manager of Booze Online Inc, Stella Artois' official and exclusive distributor.

Paragliding Off a Hot Air Balloon: Raising the Level of Air Sports in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Air Sports in the Philippines is evolving. Paragliding is the up and coming new airsport which will hopefully be included in the SEA Games 2017 Malaysia, Asian Games 2018 Indonesia, 2019 SEA GMAES Philippines, 2020, Olympic Games Japan. Many countries are asking the NOC and IOC to include it.

For those who are unaware what paragliding is, Wikipedia explains paragliding as "a recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing comprising a large number of interconnected baffled cells. Wing shape is maintained by the suspension lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing, and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside.

Despite not using an engine, paragliders flight can last many hours and cover many hundreds of kilometers, though flights of one to two hours and covering some tens of kilometers are more the norm. By skillful exploitation of sources of lift, the pilot may gain height, often climbing to altitudes of a few thousand meters."

For 20 years at the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, this is the first time that a paragliding was included. Paragliding is free flying, without any motor, usually foot launched from a cliff. The Balloon fest is done in the Clark airport so since it’s flatland, paragliding is not usually included during this event.

This year was different. For the first time, PPHGA (Philippine Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association) was responsible for the segment of paragliding in the balloon fest in Clark, Pampanga. 

Book Launch of "Yolanda: The Roaring, The Waves, The Waiting" by William Shaw

Wazzup Pilipinas!

William "Bill" Shaw writes about the typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) tragedy but is focused more on the stories of the survivors from Tacloban. I attended his Book Launch a few days ago on the 18th of February at Nuvo Bar, Greenbelt 3 in Makati city.

The book is entitled "Yolanda: The Roaring, The Waves, The Waiting" about the typhoon that happened two years ago but brought a lot of despair throughout the Philippines striking Tacloban as among the worst to be hit by the disaster. 

There were several lives and properties lost during that day when the sudden flash floods hit and the worst is for the ones left behind, the survivors, who were left without the presence of their loved ones anymore. The hardest part was the times when they were looking for their families when they got separated during the typhoon and hoping they survived. The saddest is when realizing they are gone, and even more devastating is not finding them at all. There were around 6, 300 recorded dead and maybe more since it is difficult to accurately get the numbers especially for provinces like Tacloban.

I am a victim also of a typhoon but it was Ondoy that struck us here in Metro Manila. I was in Pasig that day when the floods engulfed our business establishment where we run a computer rental business. It was a weekend so our children were with us that day and you can't imagine the fear we had when we couldn't even guess when the storm will stop and how high the waters will get. We were actually on the rooftop waiting to be saved but the authorities would only reach us the following day and would not even make efforts to rescue us as most of our areas were 10 feet or more under flood water. So were left there on the roof waiting for the waters to subside.

SAP Social Sabbatical Reaches Out to Social Enterprises for the Second Year in Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

SAP gives out support to help improve operational efficiency and achieve social objectives of 4 social enterprises and non-profit organizations namely GKNomics of Gawad Kalinga, Silid Aralan, Teach for the Philippines and for the 2nd time, Messy Bessy Cleaners.

They sent out 12 of their top talents from Europe, US, Latin America and India to come to the Philippines for a 1 month engagement with the mentioned 4 organizations to help them out in automating and improving their almost manual processes. The SAP employees leveraged their expertise in areas such as strategy, marketing and IT, to guide the four social enterprises and non-profit organisations in the Philippines on issues pertaining to marketing development, strategy expansion, infrastructure design, and expansion planning.

At a press conference held at the SAP Bonifacio Global City office, all of the 4 social media enterprises and non-profit organizations involved, as well as the SAP employees who were with them throughout the month-long sabbatical program, The press conference was led by Scott Russell, COO of SAP in Asia Pacific and Japan, and Ryan Poggi, Managing Director of SAP, who answered all inquiries from the media. I have everything on video and hopefully could share with you some of the highlights and quotable quotes when I find the time to transcribed the talks and discussion.

The representatives of the social media enterprises and non-profit organizations in attendance at the press conference were Krie Lopez of Messy Bessy Cleaners, Angel Ramos of Teach for the Philippines, Arcie Mallari of Silid Aralan, and Aimee Gloria of GKNomics.

Besides the Philippines, the SAP Social Sabbatical program was also taking place in Myanmar and Gabarone, Botswana, with plans to extend to Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016.

UP Gears and Pinions Proudly Presents the 21st RevUP! Diliman Motorshow

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready for the biggest campus motorshow on the metro as the UP Gears and Pinions proudly presents the 21st RevUP! Diliman Motorshow on March 19, 2016, at the University Avenue, University of the Philippines - Diliman.

This annual event gathers car enthusiasts from all over to witness a dazzling array of automobiles, ranging from timeless restored classics to customized cars. RevUP! will also be playing host to an RC Drift competition and a miniature car displays.

As UP Diliman’s premier mechanical engineering student organization, the UP Gears and Pinions aims to pursue excellence in their field for the benefit of society. To further this advocacy, RevUP! Diliman Motorshow 2016 will be featuring “The Diliman Exhibit”, an on-ground exhibit that aims to educate visitors with new technologies in vehicle production, as well as to showcase the galing-ng-pinoy creativity and innovation in the field of automobiles.

The RevUP! Diliman Motorshow is open to visitors throughout the day and will be culminating in an evening program. Fun activities and prizes await those who will partake in the event.

For registrations, please fill-up our online registration form: http://tiny.cc/revupregform, for other inquiries, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/diliman.motorshow.revup.

Australian Embassy and SM Cares Hold Women Entrepreneurs: Building Stronger Communities Trade Fair

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of International Women's Day and National Women's Month, many companies and organizations has made valiant efforts in highlighting the importance of women in our society. Undeniably, women play a vital role in today's society. There are so many success stories involving women all over the world, including our country, the Philippines.

One of these is the Women Entrepreneurs: Building Stronger Communities trade fair and exhibit organized by the Australian Embassy in partnership with SM Cares.

Amanda Gorely, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, and Annie Garcia, President of SM Supermalls where at the opening ceremonies held at SM Aura Ground Floor Atrium at around 10:30 am on March 7, 2016.

The fair showcases 11 organizations namely the Antique Development Foundation, Caritas Manila, Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation Incorporated, Green Earth Heritage Foundation Philippines, Handicraft of Aklan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Katungod han Samarena Foundation Incorporated, Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association Incorporated, Philippine Christian Foundation, Philippine Foundation for Resources Management, Simbag sa Pag-Asenso Incorporated, and the Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center Incorporated.

Home Credit Keeps Its Momentum Going

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Different shoppers have different spending habits. If you’re the type to prefer managed spending through installments but do not have or do not want to use a credit card, this may be the perfect solution for you. Now more Filipinos can purchase the gadgets, appliances and other electronics that they need to make life more convenient at affordable installments through Home Credit Philippines.

Following its success in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in Luzon, Home Credit Philippines, an international consumer finance company, heeded the demand from customers and partners, and recently expanded its operations to Cebu City and Pampanga to make its financing services available to more consumers.

“At Home Credit, our aim is to allow consumers to afford the things that they need to live a better life. While some of these products may seem heavy on the pocket at the onset, we offer affordable installment plans that will allow them to make a purchase and take home the goods right then and there. One of the best things about it, aside from the no-fuss process, is that there is no need for a credit card,” said David Minol, CEO of Home Credit Philippines.

Availing of Home Credit Installment is easy, simple and fast. Everyone can apply by presenting at least two valid IDs, completing an application form, and paying the downpayment. Applications are then processed within 30 minutes, after which, shoppers can leave the store with their purchased goods.

Eleven Young Ballers to Represent Visayas at Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 National Training Camp

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska Regional Selection Camp at the Don Bosco Technology Center in Cebu welcomed 333 young players across Visayas including Bacolod, Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte and Samar. Staged for the fifth time in Cebu, the league’s global youth basketball participation program awarded eleven 13-year old kids composed of eight boys and three girls with a ticket to the National Training camp in Manila from April 22-24.

Harold Alarcon and Fritz Felix Valencia of Bacolod Tay Tung High School; Justin Atilano and Tracy Carl Dadang of the University of San Carlos; Lowell Jhan Francis Chan and Anskie McLouisee Respina of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu; Nicholas Steven Pura of St. John’s Institute of Baclod and Kendall Limana of Avellana National High School of Cebu are the Jr. NBA representatives, while Daphne Nardo, Darlene Regasajo and Jill Florence Talas of Avellana National High School comprise the Jr. WNBA representatives of Visayas to the National Training Camp.

The young athletes showcased their talents during drills and scrimmages while exemplifying the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA core S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect throughout the camp. The National Training Camp will host the kids from Visayas who will compete against other top players chosen from Regional Selection Camps held in Baguio and Davao as well as the upcoming camp in Manila. The players will have the opportunity to be among 10 Jr. NBA and 5 Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Stars who will participate in an overseas NBA experience later in the year.

Seafood Sensation This Lent at Gumbo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This Lent, Gumbo offers sumptuous seafood dishes you should not miss! 

Top of the list are: Prawn Barbecue, Cream Dory Mango, Steamed Pacific Clams, Cheesy Baked Oysters, Jumpin’ Shrimp & Peel, Calamari Friti, Shrimp Remoulade, Cajun Blackened Salmon, Ultimate Seafood Feast, Seafood Boil, Oyster Rockefeller, Fish Aglio Olio, Blackened Norwegian Salmon, Seafood Jambalaya and Seafood Gumbo. 

Likewise, highly recommended is Gumbo’s Seafood Aglio Olio, made of generous amount of fresh shrimps, clams, mussels and calamari sautéed in olive oil and garlic, seasoned with Cajun spices and green onions. Indeed, these seafood treats are the best and healthy alternative this season.

Gumbo is located at the 2nd Level Entertainment Hall, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay; 3rd Level Robinsons Manila Midtown; 2nd Level SM City The Block, North EDSA; 3rd Level Gateway Mall in Araneta Center; 2nd Level Atrium Bldg. in SM Megamall and Robinsons Magnolia in Manila. 

For reservations and inquiries, please call 5560238, 4420106 and 5271925.

Sumptuous Alternatives At Burgoo This Lent

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Looking for sumptuous alternatives for meat this lent? 

Try these Burgoo’s meatless offerings without sacrificing your cravings! From appetizers, salads to pasta, pizza and main entrees, Burgoo has made available meatless yet sumptuous dishes for your dining pleasure. 

Try these sumptuous alternatives this lent such a Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Calamari, Gambas al Ajillo, Seafood Caesar Supreme, Shrimp Pomelo Salad, Frutte de Mare and Garden Fresh Pizza, Seafood Jambalaya Pasta, Seafood Linguini, Linguini with Clams, Shrimp Arrabiatta, Tomato Basil Spaghetti, Shrimps and Chips, Seafood Jambalaya,, Spinach Grilled Salmon, and Friday Fish Fry. 

For sweet endings, highly recommended are Raspberry Cheesecake, American Fruit Salad, Brownie ala Mode, etc.

Visit Burgoo at T. Morato in Quezon City; Powerplant Mall in Rockwell Makati; The Podium in Ortigas; Gateway Mall in Araneta Center Cubao; Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas; SM City The Block in North EDSA; Mall of Asia in Pasay; SM City Marikina: SM Southmall in Alabang, The District in Cavite, The Terraces Mall in Fairview, Starmall Prima in Taguig and the newly-opened Solenad 3 in Sta Rosa Laguna. 

For reservations and inquiries, please call 9277424, 8381815, 6875254, 7263578, 9136112, 5560091, 6336256 or 4420115.

Megawatt: Tex-Mex Cuisine in an Energy and Power Plant Themed Ambiance

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Megawatt – Pizza. Chicken. Burrito. Is ready to serve the Quezon City-San Juan crowd an electrifying collaboration of Tex-Mex cuisine, with a sure-fire recipe crafted to perfection by a group of friends and foodies who loves to eat, as much as cooking it.

The idea of having an energy & power plant themed restaurant came to mind after a recent visit to one of the power plant stations in the country where cement-finished flooring, solar panels and bright yellow power generators caught the eyes of everyone and sparked the idea of having a restaurant theme patterned from it. Taking the concept to a whole new level, the owners emphasizes on it being an Eco-friendly dining place wherein everything from the cups to utensils are made from recyclable materials; the restaurant is powered partially by clean energy provided by the solar panels, diners can see how the panels can create a renewable source of energy through sunlight alone!

One of the owners who happen to own 21st Element, one of the leading brands in the car-wash/car-care segment certainly paved the way for the decision to open Megawatt’s first branch within LG2 Carwash Station’s compound. Apart from being a good friend and client of the owner, LG2 Carwash Station and 21st Element’s collaboration proved to be a strategic partnership where both parties saw the potential of the concept, which can boost each other’s foot traffic. People, who want to have their cars washed, would definitely have to wait, and what better place should they be spending time while watching their cars washed? Well, enjoying a burrito perhaps!

Ping Lacson: The Full and Exclusive Video Interview

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here are the full video interviews with former senator and re-electionist senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson at his campaign headquarters in BGC.

I bumped into the guy one day inside an elevator on my way to a press conference that day and so I grabbed the opportunity to request for an interview, of which he readily agreed that very same day.

Immediately after the press conference at a few floors above his headquarters, I proceeded to him and here is our in-depth discussion about prominent issues and programs he plans to mplement if he gets re-elected as Senator.

You ca check out my previous post about our accidental meet, and the impromptu interview that transpired immediately after.

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2016/03/ping-lacson-for-senator-exclusive-video.html

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2016/03/ping-lacson-for-senator-my-crash.html

Remember that he is running as an independent but was adopted by two parties as guest candidate. I'm not sure if that's a great strategy but he seems to have the best of both worlds.

Listen to what he calls the BRAVE campaign which is an acronym for Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment. He does makes sense with this campaign and I hope many will implement the same even under a different name.

By the way, I invited a media friend with me during the interview. He is from another publication, from one of the newspapers, who asked the best questions. I am glad I invited him to tag along as he is more familiar with political issues.

Koko Buri: Pampanga's Pride for Pure Canola Deep-Fried Chicken

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The next restaurant in our Pampanga Hot Air Balloon and Restaurant Tour is Koko Buri. It was said to have been originally a Korean restaurant but they diversified already into many kinds of dishes thus re-branding themselves as the restaurant with international cuisines.

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an annual event held in Clark, Pampanga. It's already on its 20th year of featuring multi-colored and shaped hot air balloons. The four day hot air balloon event from February 11 to 14 is the biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.

We were staying at Holiday Inn Clark for an overnight only between February 10 to 11 for convenience on attending the hot air balloon fiesta during the early hours of the morning. We went to Koko Buri after our lunch at Mequeni restaurant of Holiday Inn where we had a buffet treat. Imagine how still full we are from that dining experience. We were actually surprised that we couldn't stop ourselves from still dining at Koko Buri. We were planning to just take photos and videos for the blog fature, but their food were just too good to ignore.

You can't miss Koko Buri's unique exterior with a huge yellow letter sign that spell the restaurant's name: Koko Buri - which is also a great spot for photo ops, and selfies or groupies. You can see at the end of this article that all the members of the Wazzup Pilipinas team, including our driver from Froehlich Tours, posed with the letters in front of the restaurant. All five of us were proudly wearing our shirts from 1st Draft Manila Clothing, our official shirt provider.

They have a few more branches all over Pampanga and has also expanded in Manila to serve more customers.

Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant: The Very First Authentic Japanese Restaurant In Angeles, Pampanga

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The next stop on our Pampanga restaurant tour while attending the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon is Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant. The restauramt is located at First Street, Balibago in Angeles, Pampanga. It took us a while in locating the place since Google map could not exactly pinpoint its location online but we found it after a few minutes of roaming around the area near the SM Clark mall.

The team just came from an interview with Chef Clause Tayag at his Downtown 1956 Cafe by Bale Dutung restaurant located at Nepo Center, and a quick stop back at the Holiday Inn Clark hotel for a meeting with their management, before proceeding to this Japanese restaurant. Thanks to our 12-seater Higer Executive van from Froehlich Tours, it was very convenient for us to travel around Pampanga.

According to their Facebook page, the company’s restaurant business started way back 1995 having the name of Yakiniku Tombo Japanese Restaurant. It was the very first restaurant in Angeles City that served authentic Japanese cuisine.

But with the growing needs of the market, The company decided to move to a better and bigger place  because of the growing needs of the market. At the new location, they then changed their name to YU∙FU∙IN Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant.

Having a 3-storey building with different concepts for every floor, YU∙FU∙IN Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant is probably the biggest authentic Japanese restaurant in Pampanga. It is indeed the perfect place for family occasions, business meetings and simple after-work get-togethers. 

Bekylog: Ang Tapsilog Restaurant Na Di Lang Para sa Mga Bekimon

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"Kahit anek ka pa, tuwid o baluktot chi, hanggat waley niyuyurakang nilalang bongga tayo!"

They just opened last July 28, 2015 but they've been featured already in Umagang Kay Ganda of ABS-CBN, Brigada of GMA News TV and now Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho of GMA 7. "Talagang rumarampage na sila sa mga TV networks."

According to their official Facebook page, Bekylog is a "Munting lafangan para sa mga tom jones na mudrakels, pudrakels, jupiter, ombre, gelay, badet, tambolina, thunders, jogets, biway, chaka, gandara, antibiotic, eksenadora, insekyora, effem, paminta, otoko, shala, mimosa, garapata, emengard, julalay, plastikada, nagmamaasim, borta at sa mga jordinaryong nilalang."

They have dishes on their menu which are named as "Chinenes na T-Bone,: "Embutidey," "Kinyemeng Juset," Liempochina," Chinorvang Nyisig," Sizzling Nyokchop," "Sisigalore," Nyerger," Luncheon Metchina," "Tapachinabels,"Jootlong,"and "Nyicken Longga."

I've been reading their Facebook page so I decided to play with the messages there especially the ones using the gay lingo. So below are what I came up with. I don't really know if you'll understand any of them but I'm pretty sure member the members of the third sex will.

HTC One A9: Unfair to be Compared with an IPhone

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The HTC One A9, also known as the iPhone look-alike, because of how the smartphone's black-glass front tapering into the curved, grey aluminium body is purely identical to the iPhone. Even the layout of ports and buttons are undeniably very iPhone. It's just a bit taller and wider than the iPhone that would make it more handy on the grip if it weren't a bit slippery.

But it isn't an HTC flagship phone so that is why many iconic elements have been left out but it is also unfair to compare it with an iPhone if you are to consider the impressive power under the hood. It's more like a fashionable device for those who want an elegant looking smartphone but slightly more affordable than the high-end counterparts.

The smartphone runs with an Android Marshmallow, and is powered by an Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor with 2-3 Gb RAM and 16 - 32 GB internal storage, features a super-thin metal frame with an elegant finish, an edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass 5 inch energy efficient 1080p screen, a 13 megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 lens, a 4 mp front-facing camera, an expandable SD card memory and available in an array of brilliant colors: Carbon Gray, Opal Silver, Deep Garnet, and Topaz Gold.

Though it's another mid-range phone sporting a high-end design and priced to compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S6, many feel it is still overpriced compared to smartphones within he same specifications line.

My first requirement would be the camera for my mobile photography needs. Being a blogger requires us to have a convenient tool to capture photos and videos so I prefer a smartphone that's fully equipped to the task. Being a good photographer is easier with the HTC One A9 because of its high-end 13 mp rear camera which allows you to take blur-free photos using the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). You get 40% more color than a normal LCD screen for brilliant graphics and gaming — even in direct sunlight. You can save more image details for unsurpassed editing and creative control with RAW capture in Pro mode, and speed up your videos up to 12x for a dramatic effect with Hyperlapse.

Samsung Gear VR: The Possibilities are Limitless

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Samsung is redefining what a phone can do by completely changing how users share experiences and memories. They are shattering the boundaries of what a phone can do. 

Now you can now capture some of the best times of your life with the Gear 360 and relive the moments through your Gear VR and Samsung smartphones.

It's so easy to transport yourself with the Gear VR. Whether you want to play a game, take a virtual vacation, or watch a movie, the possibilities with Gear VR are limitless.

Put on the Gear VR, and you're there in the moment. Gear VR works seamlessly with specific Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Whenever you want to enter a virtual reality, just take your Galaxy smartphone, slide it in the Gear VR, and you're in. 

It's that simple. All you need to do is slip in your phone and you're free to take on the world and beyond. A Super AMOLED display, wide field of view, precise head-tracking and low latency brings reality to the virtual. It's definitely the biggest thing to happen to phones. Ever.

The similar VR devices like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive gives you some limitation because you need to be wired to a computer, The smartphone-powered Gear VR offers up a glorious trek into imaginary virtual spaces making the experience better and could even tempt you to stretch your legs and meander.

Oppo F1: The Selfie Expert

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Aside from the 13 megapixel rear camera, the Oppo F1 boasts of an 8 megapixel front facing camera with a wide f/2.0 aperture lens and a sensor size of ¼ inches. It's 30% clearer than a 5 mp camera and 44% brighter than an f/2.4 lens. This is great news for selfie addicts like us who can't seem to stop ourselves from facing our smartphone cameras. The feature allows for more light to enter the camera so we can take clearer selfies even in less ideal lighting conditions.

We can use the Beautify 3.0 feature to enhance our look for an always perfect selfie experience. It brightens up our skin and seamlessly removes blemishes, so we can always look our best. We can also choose from three different beautification modes or apply one of the many available filters. No matter where we are, snapping a great looking photo will be easy and quick.

To make snapping selfies in low-light conditions an even better experience, we can turn the patented Screen Flash feature on. It converts the F1’s entire display into a camera flash, with a carefully adjusted brightness level optimized for natural-looking shots. So our face will always come through bright, clear and natural.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-core 64-bit processor and 3GB of RAM makes this device fly when it comes to multitasking and daily usage. It is based on Android 5.1, ColorOS 2.1 is seamlessly responsive, providing a smooth and steady performance, and offering more memory and power to users. 

LG X screen and LG X cam: Mid-Range Smartphones for the Casual Users

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The new LG X series is crisper in design and packed with edgy high-end functions like a second screen for LG X screen and two rear cameras (15 megapixels and 5 megapixels) for LG X cam. The LG X series will have best qualities of a smartphone more approachable.

LG says the mid-range smartphones are aimed for customers who do not need all the bells and whistles that come with today's high-end phones, but still desire a great camera or advanced display.

Just as how many of us only use the smartphones for the regular SMS and calls, and lots of mobile photography, not all would need the high-end features that would only add cost to the smartphones but will never be used anyway.

It is always a good move to come out with more affordable phones that can be easily bought by the lower class. Even though there are many smartphones available on installment basis or packaged with a subscription with a telecom company, the current smartphone models easily becomes obsolete fast with the release of newer models that's better and a lot more budget-friendly.

It is also advantageous to the buyers to have an alternative smartphone that they can conveniently put out anywhere they are without fearing of getting robbed in the streets of Manila. There's just too many demands for smartphones that crooks are infesting the streets waiting for unsuspecting victims to snatch their phones right out from their hands.