2016-04-17 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Studentdesk Integrated Montessori School Proudly Presents Kids Summer Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Welcome to Kids Summer Festival!

Join in the fun as we open the summer season with games, prizes, food, crafts, performances and so much more. This is the best summer experience for your kids and the whole family.

Come celebrate with us in this one day extravaganza. Get ready as we bring you the greatest event of the year filled with exciting activities and beautiful memories!

What

The Kids Summer Festival is organized by Studentdesk Integrated Montessori School, a non-profit organization committed to helping each child grow toward independence by building confidence, competence, self-esteem and respect for others through the power of education.

Education. Let your kids’ imagination run wild as they witness live storytelling sessions and demonstrations of different educational materials; plus a hands-on experience with our painting and craft making workshops.

Entertainment. Be in awe as our little stars showcase their talents through sing and dance performances. There will be fashion show, magic show, face painting, games, and prizes to be given away.

Exhibit. Check out select exhibits with their awesome products and services for your kids. Meet also charities making a difference in children’s lives.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Some could call everything that happens to our lives as our destiny but I believe we are the ones that make our future. The future could never be accurately predicted as it constantly changes every second of the current day.

However, the outcome of our future is more than just being in the right place at the right time, or knowing the right people. I believe it's being the right person all the time regardless of who's in front of you.

You can never be selective of how you deal with people because you would never know if the person you would meet next would be the one to give you another awesome opportunity. To sustain your journey towards greatness, you must continue being great from the inside.

Strange enough, a butterfly kept following us around before our hot air balloon flight at the Lubao International Balloon Festival at Lubao, Pampanga. I think it was the same butterfly that landed on Jayson R. Biadog shoulder and was not afraid of me taking a photo of it.

Then it must have followed us and eventually landed on the hot air balloon piloted by our Spanish balloonist named Jordi Diaz, and once again it let Jordi take its photo... If we could see the butterfly's face, it was probably smiling every time we shoot its photo.

Later, Jayson and I were both flying high up into the Pampanga sky. It's very rare that we see a butterfly in the city, and it is very rare that one gets an opportunity to fly a hot air balloon. Jayson would readily agree he was the luckiest person that day. The butterfly seemingly brought us luck that day.

With so many bloggers out there, we were fortunate to be among the lucky ones. But we would never call ourselves "top" bloggers, we are humble enough to acknowledge there are a lot of bloggers out there that are better than us. But just how do you define "top" and how do you base this assertion as accurate? And why do bloggers compete with each other by boasting of their rankings, hits, views or whatever man-made methods of determining our reach and audience?

We should all remember that blogs were originally a journal of our everyday adventure. The moment we try to gauge our performance, it becomes a senseless act of self-gratification. Even though we care about what stories we share to our readers, we should keep in mind that blogs were meant to be our outlet of our ideas, thoughts, dreams, aspirations, hopes, etc., and all the rest are just additional perks we receive as extra points for being an online influencers.

OPPO F1 a Big Hit with Selfie-Loving Pinoys Through Home Credit

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In 2014, Time Magazine hailed Makati City and Pasig City as the selfie capitals of the world[i]. In a study conducted by the publication, Makati and Pasig had 258 selfie-takers per 100,000 people. The two Metro Manila cities edged out Manhattan, New York (202 selfie-takers per 100,000 people), and Miami, Florida (155 selfie-takers per 100,000 people). It therefore comes as no surprise that the OPPO F1, the ultimate selfie-expert smartphone, is a big hit among Filipinos.

With an 8-megapixel front camera, the OPPO F1 is every selfie-taker’s dream come true. It also boasts of a premium metal body with velvety metallic feel; a 5-inch 2.5D arc-edge screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4; and a 13-megapixel camera. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, you can even extend the phone’s storage capacity to 128GB.

The best deal for an OPPO F1

In partnership with Home Credit, a global consumer-finance company, customers were able to purchase an OPPO F1, which retails for P11,990, at 0-percent interest rate through an easy, simple, and fast application process.

The original promo period ran from February 19 to March 31, and the numbers from Home Credit point to a highly successful campaign — OPPO F1 accounted for 61 percent of sales in all stores that offered this promo, with more OPPO F1 units sold than all other gadgets and appliances combined.

It was a win-win situation for both OPPO Philippines and Home Credit’s businesses, with close to P50 million in loan volume generated. That’s a lot of OPPO F1 phones — and a lot of selfies!

Adam Bernasek, the Head of Sales of Home Credit Philippines, is ecstatic at the response of Filipinos to their special offer. “When we partnered with OPPO, we truly believed that we are offering our customers great value for their money with the OPPO F1. Filipinos are known to be big social-media users, and we wanted to give financing options to those who would want the chance to have a smartphone with a camera that gives them great photos every time.”

Promo extension

And now, even more Filipinos can be selfie experts as Home Credit extends its special OPPO F1 offer until May 1, 2016. To apply for a loan, a customer needs to present at least two IDs and an initial cash payment. The loan is approved in less than 30 minutes, and the customer may leave the shop with the purchased good in less than an hour. The payment term is 6 months, with a monthly payment of as low as ₱1,299, based on 35-percent initial cash payment.

The promo is available in 245 partner stores nationwide, in all Home Credit-serviced areas, including OPPO concept stores, and Rulls Cellphones and Accessories, Silicon Valley, and Wellcom shops. The full list of the stores is available at Home Credit’s official website, www.homecredit.ph.

[i] Chris Wilson, “The selfiest cities in the world: Time’s Definitive Ranking,” Time Magazine, 10 March 2014, < http://time.com/selfies-cities-world-rankings/> (11 April 2016)

Lukas Graham: The Band behind the Global Smash Hit - 7 Years

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Lukas Graham, 2016’s breakout artist, is already topping charts worldwide with single “7 Years.” Hailing from Christiania, an autonomous, artistic community in the center of Copenhagen, Lukas Graham developed his natural talent for honest and gritty songwriting and quickly captivated the European audience, earning widespread overseas acclaim. Classically trained with the Copenhagen Boys’ Choir, with a musical scope widened by his Irish folk roots and passion for hip-hop, Lukas Graham possesses a distinct, poetic ability to capture the full range of emotions in his music.

This is showcased perfectly on lead single “7 Years,” filled with Lukas’ impeccable lyricism and infectious hooks, and already making huge global waves: it’s been streamed an incredible 200 million times worldwide since its release, is rapidly climbing – and topping – the charts globally, and is propelling this Danish artist into the spotlight as more listeners connect with his soulful vocals and raw talent.

Known for a phenomenal live show, Lukas has played countless sold out shows and festival main stage slots alongside his bandmates - Mark “Lovestick” Falgren (drums), Magnús “Magnúm” Larsson (bass), and Kasper Daugaard (keyboard) - childhood friends who play an integral role in both the songwriting process and the live performance. “7 Years” sets the stage for the release of Lukas Graham’s self-titled debut album, available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and iTunes under Warner Music Philippines.

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Harte Hanks praised the dedication and service-oriented culture of Filipino workers and called them the country’s main draw for foreign investors.

In a panel discussion, following the opening Thursday of the American marketing company’s new BPO-call center in the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex, which was moderated by ANC Anchor Ron Cruz, executives of Harte Hanks and its local business said they decided to increase investment here because of the Philippines’ “very good” labor market.

“Filipinos possess a very strong work ethic and a culture of customer service,” said Benjamin Chacko, Harte Hanks’ Head of BPO Operations. “We have been always impressed by the skill and dedication of Filipinos who work for Harte Hanks. They have been an important factor in our success, and we look forward to sustaining our growth here.”

He added: “Our Filipino employees learn quickly, are customer-service minded and culturally aware of the United States, our primary service market.”

Chacko also attributed the steady growth of the country’s BPO industry to a highly-educated, English-speaking workforce.

Butch Valenzuela, treasurer of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, who participated in the forum along with Jopat Lelay, project director of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Atty. Ray Glenn Agranzamendez, representing Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, said the IT-BPO industry hired 1.2M workers in 2015 and would add another 100,000 this year to 1.3M.

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On Earth Day 2016, senatorial aspirant Risa Hontiveros vowed to be a strong advocate for the environment if elected into the Senate.

She discussed the link between health and environment, stating that both go hand in hand and should be protected through durable policies. “Magkatuwang ang laban para sa kalikasan at ang laban para sa kalusugan. Malaking sanhi ng mga sakit ang madumi at magulong kapaligiran.”

She said that Lanao, with its rich natural resources, should be particularly protected. “We need to protect our diverse eco-system, and Lanao’s natural resources should be preserved for future generations.”

Hontiveros committed to take her fight for renewable energy and sustainable land use – two environmental advocacies close to her heart – to the Upper House. “Dagdagan pa natin ang percentage ng renewable energy sa fuel mix. Sa kabilang banda, tiyakin din natin na mabalanse natin ang pagtanim ng biofuel sa karapatang magtanim ng pagkain.”

“Super barangay health centers” for climate-vulnerable areas

She also emphasized the need for “super barangay health centers” in disaster-prone and climate-vulnerable coastal areas.

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The unloading and assembly of the fifth and sixth of forty-eight (48) new light rail vehicles (LRV) for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will be on Sunday at the MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station.

The innermost lane along EDSA southbound near the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue will be closed from tomorrow, 10 P.M., to Sunday, 12 P.M., to ensure the safety of motorists near the work site.

The public and all concerned motorists are hereby advised to take alternative routes to and from their destinations.

Once the LRVs are fully assembled and the necessary checks on the electrical and other components are completed, the train coaches will be subjected to static and dynamic testing to ensure the reliability of parts.

The 48 new LRVs are part of the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) MRT-3 capacity expansion project, which aims to decongest the metropolis’ busiest railway system by boosting its capacity to over 800,000 daily passengers.

World-Class Globe Iconic Store Soon to Open by June 2016

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The Globe Iconic superior entertainment center debuts with the Philippine premiere of hit musical Green Day’s American Idiot

True to its commitment of providing a wonderful experience for its customers, Globe Telecom is redefining the Philippine retail platform anew with the opening of its flagship ICONIC store, a world-class destination that is home to the latest in retail, entertainment, music, and everything about the Filipino digital lifestyle. The ICONIC store promises to deliver a more exceptional retail space experience that is more innovative, dynamic, and interactive from its predecessor, the highly-successful GEN3 concept store.

Designed by Tim Kobe of Eight Inc., the same designer of the Globe GEN3 stores as well as the acclaimed Apple store in New York, the ICONIC store will soon rise as one of the most renowned landmarks in the country located at the Bonifacio Global City Central Square in Taguig. One of its most ambitious elements of the ICONIC store is the glass bridge that will link two Globe stores from opposite sides of the BGC Central Square.

“The opening of our GEN3 stores in 2014 set the tone on how customer experience in telco has evolved from purely transactional to more dynamic and engaging. GEN3 has given our customers a new way of discovering their digital lifestyle with our topnotch service and innovative products and services. As we near the launch of the ICONIC store, we are thrilled to deliver a new world-class entertainment experience right at the heart of Bonifacio Global City that does not only bring up the ante in retail and entertainment, but also elevates the customer experience to a whole new level,” says Globe Retail Transformation and Stores Management Head Joe Caliro.

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Huawei Technologies Philippines shows support for environmental sustainability through participation in Globe Telecom’s Project 1 Phone. The above photo shows (L-R) Huawei Fixed Assets Manager Angel Fabelico, Huawei PR Manager Karenina Buenafe and Huawei Procurement Specialist Jocelyn Tesnado turns over a used toner cartridge to Patrick Erestain, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility Manager.

Globe Telecom is leading the way in helping businesses do their share in minimizing environmental impact of electronic waste and countering its harmful effects on health through close collaboration with private corporations on the adoption of Project 1 Phone (P1P) mobile recycling program.

At the forefront of the advocacy is Globe Business which is launching its two-month environmental sustainability campaign in support of Earth Day 2016 using P1P as a platform. This is the second time for Globe business to rally its enterprise clientele to join the program.

"Apart from adopting environmental sustainability efforts in our own organization, Globe Business is taking it a step further by making it possible for our enterprise customers to be involved in saving the environment integral to their corporate sustainability thrusts,” said Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT Enabled Services Group Mike Frausing.

Globe Business engages its corporate clients to run the P1P campaign in their organizations by encouraging donations of individual and company e-waste such as non-working or damaged phones and tablets, mobile phone batteries, and even personal computers. This early, the group has already received commitment from companies like Coca Cola (FEMSA Philippines), Nestle, Bayan Telecommunications, Pilmico, Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Huawei.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For over 17 years, the UPLB Street Jazz Dance Company has thrived through various styles while keeping its own unique inner groove and flavor that sets them apart from the dance community.

With the aim to expand its contribution to the Philippine dance community, keep the hip hop and dance community alive within and around UPLB, and establish a community of hip hop practitioners, enthusiasts, and artists, the group will be holding its first ever inter-organization hip hop dance competition and all-styles battle entitled KNOCKDOWN.

Witness different dance groups representing UPLB-based organizations and individual dance artists unite in one big night! Dance groups from recognized UPLB organizations who have not joined any known outside competitions are the ones eligible to join the competition. The all-styles battle is open to all individuals willing to participate.

The first ever KNOCKDOWN Groovyweight champion will take home P20,000 and the winner for the all-styles battle will receive P3,000 plus Hawk Bag and gift certificates from Fam Retail Store and Zalora.

But wait, there's more! The event will feature live graffiti artists: Elbi Connection, DJs: Fuwowoy and Bigboy, and MCs: Gnarrate and Kjah.

Come and celebrate hip hop culture on April 24, 3:30PM at the Baker Memorial Hall! Tickets are sold for 70 pesos.

3 Reasons Why You Should See the Tourism Lifestyle & Business Expo

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Talent, Beauty and Ideas take center stage at the Tourism Lifestyle & Business Expo this April! Here are the three things why you should see this event for yourself:

Tourism and Talent - Two days of entertainment will come to you as the Center for Pop Music Philippines will be doing a talent showcase on Tuesday, April 26, featuring its roster of talents. We also have the Miss Tourism Philippines 2016 Summer Wear Fashion Show on April 27, Wednesday. See the candidates in their comfy summer wear. Last but not the least, see our lineup of travel destinations from the northern and southern parts of the island.
Lifestyle - Lifestyle talks featuring notable bloggers will sum up the "Usapan sa Glorietta" Discussion Day which includes discussions on food and travel in the country.
Business - The TLB Expo will not be complete without the exhibits showcasing products and ideas that will help you decide what to do this hot, hot summer season.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Boasting with warm and indulgent service, Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas also amplifies a variety of good food choices. With the hotel’s strategic location, it has become a go to place by the dwellers of the metro’s concrete jungle.

As with their aim to provide a convenient and relaxing venue where we can start off a fine weekend with our friends, colleagues or our family — The Richmonde Café, the all day dining restaurant of the Hotel joins us over our “Thank God its Friday!” celebration by beefing up their menu through their newest offerings at the “Feast on Fridays” Dinner Buffet. Imagine yourself enjoying over a scrumptious buffet, wine, and drinks, right in the heart of Ortigas Center’s Business district!

Have your fill of unlimited gastronomic pleasures at the Feast on Friday Dinner Buffet, served from 6pm to 9pm, for only PhP 750nett/person. Indulge in a mouthwatering array of international dishes, action stations for a la minute cooking. From soup and appetizer to carving, main course and desserts, which now come with bottomless iced tea and select juices, plus even 50% discount on wine bottle orders!

After a sumptuous feast, you need not rush. Adjacent the Richmonde Café is the Richmonde Hotel’s The Exchange - where you could chill and party with the Big Bash, the bar’s resident band as they play your favourite music from the 70’s and 80’s.

And since you are very much valued, here’s an extra for you:

· Is somebody celebrating a birthday? Let’s double up that special occasion by making it extra happy as birthday celebrant eats for FREE. You may automatically avail this for a minimum of four regular paying guest. They also get a special cake so they can blow the candle and make a wish.

· Are you part of a team that gives exemplary performance to your company? If you’re one of the lucky companies featured for the month, you can treat yourselves to dinner and get 30% off on the buffet rate for a minimum of 6 persons.

As an added treat, the hotel is offering 25% discount on Friday Dinner Buffet Rates for a minimum of 4 persons exclusively for Wazzup Pilipinas readers! Just use the promo code “WPxRHO” upon reservation. Codes are valid until June 2016. For inquiries and reservations, call 638 7777.

Contributed by Jaimie Felix

Jaimie is a mom and a wife who runs her own Clothing Line and Events Company Business. She also blogs her whims about Beauty, Fashion, Parenting, Lifestyle and anything else in between at www.themermaidinstilettos.com ~ Know the latest and follow her escapades on instagram : (www.instagram.com/jaimiefelix)

Friday, April 22, 2016

ONE Championship to Make Action Movie in Partnership with Renowned Actor Andy Lau

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It seems mixed martial artists are a hot commodity in the film industry these days, as ONE Championship is set to lend two of its premiere talents -- lightweight standout Peter Davis and flyweight prospect Saiful Merican -- to portray villains in supporting roles in the upcoming 2017 spy-action flick “J Revolusi.”

The movie, which is set to start filming in Kuala Lumpur this May, will star two of Malaysia’s biggest stars in Zul Ariffin and Nur Fazura. It will be produced by Andy Lau’s Hong Kong-based Infinitus Productions in collaboration with Grand Brilliance. It is also Lau’s first ever production in Kuala Lumpur.

Lau is one of Hong Kong’s most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980’s and is also a Cantopop singer.

Both Davis and Merican are elated at the chance to participate in the movie, and are excited to start filming in a couple of months time.

“MMA has brought so much opportunity to my life, more than I could possibly imagine,” said Davis. “Although I love being a fighter, my creative expression is piqued by the art of film and I am more than thrilled to be a part of ‘J Revolusi’. I believe this opportunity is absolutely spectacular for both the Malaysian film industry and for MMA in Asia.”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Regional Trial Court of Quezon City has dismissed a complaint filed by the Angat Tsuper Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization Transport Coalition (STOP and GO) against the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to stop the issuance of franchises to transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Grab.

In an Order dated April 20, 2016, the Court dismissed STOP and GO's request for a writ of preliminary prohibitory injunction, which would have prevented the DOTC and the LTFRB from issuing franchises to transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) operators.

The TNVS category was created by the transport agencies last year in order to better serve the commuting public, particularly by providing a modern, convenient, and safer alternative to taxis, UV Express, and others. It has also encouraged private car users to leave their vehicles at home in favor of ride-sharing services.

Turn Your Prepaid Number Into a Postpaid Plan

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Now prepaid customers can easily upgrade to postpaid plans!

For prepaid customers, one of the basic challenges when upgrading to a postpaid plan is to change your mobile number. Not anymore. Globe has made another game changing service by allowing prepaid customers to use their mobile numbers even as they move to a postpaid plan - the Globe MyStarter plan.

The all-in-one budget friendly Globe myStarter plan is available at Plan 300 and Plan 500, designed for customers who are new on postpaid and wants a simple and seamless transition to postpaid. Plus, you get to keep your prepaid mobile number!

“Being able to retain an existing prepaid number for a postpaid plan has always been a recurring inquiry among our customers who are ready to move to postpaid. As their devices become an important part of their daily life, customers prefer a seamless transition to their new plan alongside the assurance and convenience of a fixed monthly bill that is within their budget. The new myStarter plans provide them exactly this kind of experience,” says Globe Consumer Mobile Marketing Head, Issa Cabreira.

The myStarter plans also takes away any worries of going over the spending limit because of its guaranteed fixed bill every month. Should one go over the plan’s limit, it can easily be topped-up with prepaid load when needed. To enjoy their digital lifestyle more, the myStarter Plans are bundled with more data power.

Unboxing the Elephone Smartphones

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The Elephone P9000, P8000, and S1 is available in the Philippines exclusively through Lazada online shopping portal. We got our hands on the units during the launch held a few days ago by Lazada and Elephone so here are the units fresh out of the box. Though the boxes were obviously opened already, they were opened on the same day of the launch before the availability of April 18, 2016 online only at Lazada.

Innovative and user-friendly, superior in quality and performance, elegance in design, and great value for money– these are the pillars that best define the latest smartphones from the fast-growing Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone (HK Elephone Communication Tech Co., Limited). Elephone has been committed to developing high-end smartphones and making it affordable to global customers. With years of development and innovation, Elephone now has gained a very strong market traction in Europe and Southeast Asia.

We would be appreciative if Elephone would lend us some units for actual testing so we could really review them on actual usage on our everyday tasks and activities. I would always start testing out the mobile photography and videography of the units as those are the most useful features for media and bloggers that can come handy when we need to take quick photos or videos during our events coverage.

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Ten people enter the Vancouver Island wilderness carrying only what they can fit in a small backpack. They are alone in the harsh, unforgiving terrain with a single mission–stay alive as long as they can.

From a curated list of 40 items ranging from shelter equipment to tools for survival, each cast member is allowed only 10 to take with them onto the island. On top of these 10 items, each member is given the same checklist of gear that they are allowed to bring as necessities.

These brave men and women must hunt, build shelters, and fend off predators. They will endure extreme isolation and psychological distress as they plunge into the unknown and document the experience themselves.

No camera crew. No producers. It is the ultimate test of human will.

Alone Season 2 Premieres 21 April, Thursdays at 9:00pm

HISTORY is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Thank you to the organizers of the Lubao International Balloon Festival for giving Wazzup Pilipinas the opportunity to fly high up into the Pampanga sky.

Your self-declared Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas, translated as the National Blogger of the Philippines, together with my companion, Jayson Biadog was able to almost touch the clouds when we flew with the hot air balloons of the festival. I joined Jordi Diaz from Spain while Jayson was with Benoit Simeons from Belgium.

But before we tell you all about our experience aboard a hot air balloon (actually we already share some of them over at social media on the very first day immediately in the afternoon after our flight...hehehe) let us share with you some of the shot we got from inside the hot air balloon.

Forgive me if I couldn't make the right angle and perspective as I was a bit ecstatic and sweating like crazy due to the flames used to power up the balloons was just a few meters above us. But the feeling inside a hot air balloon while flying high above the rice fields of Pampanga was more than what I expected. I still couldn't get over it.

I would liek to tell the story soon but I am excited to share with you some of our shots. I couldn't decide if I would tell the story in chronological order but these photos are just too good to delay or postpone. Mind you, I'm not a professional photographer because I am just a point and shoot and just uses the standard setting of my camera. But they are good enough for me!

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The University of Santo Tomas (UST), in partnership with Unilever Philippines, hosted the Thomasian Pride Career Fair 2016, a one-of-a-kind career fair zeroing in on job opportunities for the modern workforce. With over a hundred companies across 24 industries as exhibitors, Thomasian applicants were made privy to interesting posts and openings made with the millennial hyphenate in mind.

Held at the Plaza Mayor of the UST Campus in Manila, esteemed companies across different sectors were on a mission to attract Thomasian graduates, offering summer internships, mentorship programs, and actual job posts.

It was a rich selection of choices for the Thomasian grads and undergrads. Power players in the following industries were all present, each offering an attractive spread of career opportunities: advertising, lifestyle and creations, entertainment, BPO, placement, insurance, healthcare, consulting, surveying, education, financial, construction, real estate, automobile and transportation, manufacturing, distribution and marketing, publishing, food, chemical and pharmaceutical, technology, telecommunications, as well as power and energy.

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Western Digital Corporation , a world leader in storage solutions, today announced the expansion of its award-winning color portfolio with a new line; WD Gold datacenter hard drives. WD Gold datacenter hard drives are designed for a broad range of applications – including small- to medium-scale enterprise servers and storage, and rack-mount datacenter servers and storage enclosures.

With purpose-driven designs for the datacenter, WD Gold datacenter hard drives are launching with a new, high-capacity configuration of up to 8TB that offers HelioSeal helium-technology for performance, ideal capacity per square foot, power efficiency and low power consumption for datacenter environments. WD Gold datacenter hard drives feature an optimized design with an 8TB option that helps reduce the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of servers and storage systems, benefiting IT administrators challenged with growing storage capacity needs on limited budgets. WD Gold hard drives will also include a premium dedicated support line for customers worldwide.

“Western Digital has a proven history of providing award-winning purpose-driven products for unique requirements of each application environment, like WD Red, WD Purple and WD Blue drives,” said Brendan Collins vice president of product marketing, Western Digital Corporation. “WD Gold is a pinnacle part of the color portfolio strategy and another step in creating optimized drives for the markets we serve. Our continued goal is to deliver the most competitive and reliable solutions on the market.”

WD Gold datacenter hard drives include:

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REGISTRATION IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN

Registration Fee: p150/Person, regardless of how many dogs you'll be bringing.
Pay at the day of event itself upon entry.
► Click here to register so you do not have to encode your details anymore during the event:
http://doggiefunfair.com/register/
*Walk-ins or registration on the day itself will also be available.
► RSVP - Get notified by Facebook when the event is near,
Click Join: https://www.facebook.com/events/179138899134758

YOU ASKED FOR IT, WE HEARD YA! DOGGIE FUN FAIR IS BACK FOR YEAR 3!
Everyone is Invited! Join the BIGGEST SUMMER PAWrty in the Metro!

WHAT DOGGIE FUN FAIR: MANILA'S BIGGEST DOG FESTIVAL YEAR 3
WHEN MAY 15, 2016, Sunday
TIME 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
WHERE Greenfield Central Park, Mandaluyong
BENEFICIARY CARA Welfare Philippines

EVENT ADVOCACIES:
1. Responsible Pet Ownership
2. To Raise Awareness Against Animal Abuse & Neglect
3. To Give Recognition for the Working Dogs of the Philippines

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Globe Telecom is currently expanding its network coverage and capacity in Cebu province across all technologies, including 3G & LTE, as part of its commitment to continue building on its network infrastructure for a wider reach and faster internet experience of Filipinos nationwide.

The company’s capacity enhancement initiative involves deployment of the dual-beam antenna solutions, ideal in densely populated areas such as Cebu, to deliver enhanced capacity and coverage, significantly improving user experience. The solution, which will increase existing capacity by as much as 70%, will be deployed in a significant number of sites within the province, said Manny Estrada, Globe Senior Vice President for Network Technologies Strategy.

According to Estrada, Globe plans to enhance customer experience in the province by expanding its 3G and LTE coverage and capacity. In addition to these upgrades, Globe also intends to build new sites within the province as part of its continuing coverage and capacity expansion.

However, the realization of the company’s plan to build more cell sites depends heavily on the permitting environment in each local government unit concerned, he emphasized. He noted that similar to other areas in the country, the permitting environment is the biggest detriment preventing telecommunication operators like Globe in improving cell site density, a necessary prerequisite in improving data connectivity of its customers in terms of speed and access.

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Kamuning Bakery, owned by PhilStar columnist Wilson Lee Flores, is up again with their clever antics as they release a Presidential Pandesal Survey. Call it a mock voting for our presidential candidates as they present different pandesal sandwiches cleverly concocted with different fillings to represent the five personalities running for the highest position in the land.

How does the Presidential Pandesal Survey work? Well, customers can order for the pandesal they like based on their preference on who to actually vote on May 9 Election time. Every order is tabulated to correspond to the number of votes each candidate will get.

As of the photo ops on April 5, the one leading the survey was Rodrigo Duterte but I'm not sure who is ahead as of today. But I am making a big guess that it ma still be the Mayor from Davao as he remains very popular even in social media and other surveys as well. Even with the fact about that crude jod regarding a rape victim, Duterte remains a formidable opponent to beat.

How are the pandesal sandwiches created? They have Pan de Duterte with a burger beef patty filling, Pan de Poe has a corned beef filling, Pan de Miriam has a tuna filling, Pan De Binay has a longanisa filling, Pan de Roxas with a chicken fillet filling, and for those who wish to abstain or not vote for any of the 5 presidential candidates, they also have a Pan de Nada with a ham and egg filling.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After the highly celebrated win of Pia Wurtzbach (@missuniverse) at the last Miss Universe pageant, all eyes are on the Filipina candidates of #BbPilipinas2016 who are vying to follow the footsteps of the reigning Miss Universe. Filipinos were so excited about the event, which saw 25-year-old Maria Mika Maxine Medina as the new Binibining Pilipinas Universe, that they sent more than 340,000 Tweets about the #BbPilipinas2016 pageant. The Twitter conversation peaked at 2,500 Tweets per min at1:26am, April 18th to celebrate her win.

The event also marked Pia Wurtzbach’s final walk on the stage as the crown holder of Binibining Pilipinas. Her emotional farewell speech likewise generated much interest and conversations on the social media platform. Even celebrity doctor Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Vashavski (@RealDoctorMike), whom Pia is dating, posted a sweet message for the incumbent Miss Universe which was the most shared Tweet of the night with over 9,000 ReTweets.

But more than anything, it was the night of Maria Mika Maxine Medina who was ultimately crowned as this year’s Binibining Pilipinas Universe. Unlike her predecessor, it was her first time to join the pageant, but she is about to face the challenge of the big shoes (or stilettos!) that Pia has set for her.

Aside from Medina, other crowned beauties include Kylie Verzosa (Binibining Pilipinas International 2016), Jennifer Hammond (Miss Intercontinental 2016), Joanna Deapera (Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016), Nicole Cordoves (Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016), and Nichole Marie Manalo (Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016). Meanwhile, Angelica Alita and Jehza Huelar bagged the first runner up and second runner up awards, respectively.

DOTC, ULC Break Ground for MRT-7, Bulacan-QC Railway to be Operational by April 2020

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Residents from Quezon City, Caloocan City, Bulacan, and neighboring areas in the north can look forward to a faster and more convenient commute to the center of the metropolis, as the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony today, April 20, 2016, at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

“The long-awaited MRT-7 will serve commuters who ply the heavily congested Commonwealth Avenue area for work and school on a daily basis. The new railway system will not only significantly lessen travel time along this corridor, but also help decongest traffic in Caloocan and NLEX,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

The P69.30-billion project includes the development of a 23-km railway system with 14 stations from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Once completed and operational by April 2020, the MRT-7 is expected to initially accommodate 350,000 daily passengers and shorten travel time from the current 3.5 hours on the road to one (1) hour. Once further upgrades are made, ultimately 800,000 passengers per day will benefit from the project.

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the groundbreaking ceremony, together with DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya and Ramon Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the parent company of contractor Universal LRT Corporation (ULC).

The project covers the development of an integrated transportation system, which includes the said railway system, a 22-km highway from the NLEX Bocaue interchange, and an intermodal transport terminal (ITT) adjacent to the San Jose del Monte Station. Commuters can take public utility vehicles (PUVs) or private cars and use the new highway from NLEX, alight at the ITT, and board the MRT-7 going to North Avenue, Quezon City.

Photo credits to Bayang Matuwid

Lubao International Balloon Festival 2016: Interview with Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We had a short interview with Lubao, Pampanga Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab during the first day of the Lubao International Balloon Festival. We intentionally made it short as we can see how the mayor was extremely busy personally seeing to it that everything goes well for the 3rd run of the hot air balloon festival.

We even mistook her as one of the security heads as she was wearing a blue outfit while giving instructions to people. Unlike the others wearing a brown version of the outfit, she was more hands-on and totally immersed on the responsibilities. We don't usually see that kind of commitment with other government officials of her same level of office.

Maybe because the event is practically theirs to begin with as the venue itself is owned by their family. Pradera Verde, where the wakepark, villas and a golf course, plus an upcoming waterpark, is owned by their family.

However, we have to commend the Pineda clan for putting Lubao, Pampanga in the map for holding one of the much awaited event every April. There may be another hot air balloon event being held at Clark but they boast of being the biggest hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia.

Pradera Verde located at Prado Siongco here in Lubao Pampanga is a 350 hectare property and currently only 34 hectares are in use. This means more developments are possible with the property. This makes me wonder what other attractions will soon rise from the place. Could this area be the next Disneyland of the Philippines? Why not?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The hot air balloon night glow is a traditional activity done at every end of the day during the hot air balloon events showing how beautiful the hot air balloons are even during night time.It is often held as a climax to a hot air balloon festival. Usually it is done before the night concert but for this year at the 2016 Lubao International Balloon Festival, the organizers decided to have the night glow after the concert.

Actually, there would have never been a night glow due to the fact that the wind was blowing at dangerous levels - dangerous for the balloons to be side by side to each other as they would result to disaster - so they opted to have just one hot air balloon lit just to please the crowd that night.

The night glow activity thus presented just one hot air balloon, the SM from both Philippines and Belgium by Jonas Van Doorsselaere. However, there were other balloonists who just lit their "flames" to come out with a very interesting routine. I don't really know how to explain it, but you can see from the video below what I mean.

The wacky thing is that even before the concert was even finish, the hot air balloon was already being playful as if trying to be in sync with the music of True Faith, the local band performing that night. The band was even telling the crowd that the hot air balloon night glow would not start unless they give out a loud cheer.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hot air balloons from all over the world gathered together again for the third time at the Pradera Verde property located at Barangay Prado Siongco of Lubao, Pampanga to participate in the Lubao International Balloon Festival.

We ad the opportunity to interview a few hot air balloon pilots or ballonists before and after the actual balloon flights during the first day of the event on April 14, 2016. The #LubaoIBF2016 is a four day event happening from April 14 until April 17, 2016.

As expected, thousands of people from all over the country, and even from some parts of the world, could be seen admiring the colorful view of 40 hot air balloons all seen together as they are inflated and one by one flew up into the Pampanga sky.

I am one of the fortunate ones to get a chance to fly high up into the clouds aboard a hot air balloon thanks to the Ultra Magic hot air balloon from Spain flown by Jordi Diaz. It was my first time to ride a hot air balloon so that's another item checked off my bucket list. But I would tell the story of my hot air balloon ride on a separate article soon.

For now, I would want to share the different interviews we made during the first day of the event. We flew on a hot air balloon on the second day and spent the first day ogling on the various hot air balloons and messing around with the pilots while they take their breaks at the VIP area. Lol!

Below are a few of the interviews we made so enjoy:

My Consciousness, My Reality by Neville Hodgkinson on May 3

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Scientists have demonstrated that both the brain and the body change constantly, according to how we use them. They tell us, for instance, that when we fall in love or become parents, massive brain reorganization takes place. Millions of old neural networks fall away, as millions of new ones form.”

Thus, British journalist and author Neville Hodgkinson writes in the introduction to his latest book, “I Know How To Live, I Know How To Die.” The book discusses on many levels how quality of life is determined by the way the mind is nurtured.

Hodgkinson, former correspondent for several national newspapers in the United Kingdom—among them The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, and Daily Mail—will speak on the subject in a free public program entitled “My Consciousness, My Reality” on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 7-9 p.m. at OnStage theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

“As a newspaper reporter,” he narrates in the book, “I specialized in writing about science and medicine partly because of my own appreciation for the scientific method and distaste for religious fanaticism and dogma.”

However, in the 1980s, he had “a visionary experience” that led him to what he describes as “an ascetic path whose central thrust is to quieten ‘noise’ from mental conditioning and the senses, in order to foster the experience of love and wisdom from a realm of awareness that lies beyond the brain.”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe Telecom held its Annual Stockholders Meeting, on April 13, 2016, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. Globe Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (second from right) reported during the event that the company in 2015 surpassed its performance in the previous year, posting new highs in service revenues, EBITDA and net profit.

The company’s remarkable performance was driven by broad-based data-driven growth across its key services, helped in part, by the consolidation of Bayan in the second half of last year, he said.

Photo above also shows (from left) Globe Director Fernando Zobel de Ayala; Globe Corporate Secretary Solomon Hermosura; and Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu.

Following its impressive performance last year, the Globe board of directors approved early this year the declaration of a first quarter cash dividend of P22 per share for holders of its common shares.

UP Tomo-Kai Proudly Presents Indayog: An AcousTKafe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Stressed out? Hibiscus in Hanakotoba means "gentle." And gentleness is something you definitely need right now!

Relax, unwind, and listen to the beat of Japanese and Filipino music at UP Tomo-Kai's Indayog: An AcousTKafe at Palma Hall Room 400 from 2:30-5:30 pm.

No money? No problem! Enjoy free snacks and unlimited coffee and tea! We'll be waiting for you!

Indayog: An AcousTKafe is brought to you by UP Tomo-Kai.

Co-presented by Zalora Philippines

In cooperation with the UP Diliman-Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UP Diliman OICA).

Partner Organizations: HallyUP, UP Deutscher Verein, UP KAISA (K1), UP Arirang and University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts

Media Partners: arkadymac.com, magnetic-rose.net,DZUP, Wazzup Pilipinas, Post Your Event,AKTIVshow and 1 Digimedia Audiovisuals Inc.

Thrill-Seekers Would Be Pushed to the Limits With AXN's Ultimate Thrill 2016 in Boracay

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Summer is ultimately more exciting with sand and sea and action-packed activities with this year's AXN Ultimate Thrill in Boracay.

A destination for adventure seekers and beach bummers alike, this event will include challenging obstacles on land, air, and water for the teams. Participants would have to navigate their way from station 1 to 3 as they hope to finish the race ahead of all the others. Exciting challenges like water toss, giantjenga, robotic writer, and paddle bike are just some of the games that they would have to win during the first to third leg of the race. It gets more intense for the main finals as they would have to brave a wild ride on G-Max and glide through a zipline, but with an unexpected twist! Meanwhile, beachfront activities like body jam and hiit classes will surely entertain other beachgoers while the race is going on.

AXN Ultimate Thrill 2016 will be held at Summer Place in Boracay on April 23, starting at 6AM. 200 qualified teams of 2 members, 18 years old and up, will have to register onsite. This onsite registration will be open at Summer Place a week prior to event day.

AXN Ultimate Thrill 2016 is co-presented by Smart and sponsored by C2 Cool & Clean, Fisherman’s Friend, and Smirnoff Mule.

Yamaha Announces New Cards, New Partnership and Official Racing Teams

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Yamaha Motor Philippines recently unveiled their new Privilege and Big Bike cards along with their partnership with Motoworld on April 11 at the Y-Zone located at Greenfield District in Mandaluyong. Yamaha Club Card holders discounts are extended to all Motoworld stores in the country.

The Big Bike card is exclusive to those who are owners of motorcycles in the prestigious lineup. Riders who own an MT-09, Super Tenere, TMAX, BOLT, and YZF-R1 are entitled to several perks like

10% discount to all Yamaha products
Exclusive touring rides and activities
Priority lane in Y-Zone and Type S Yamaha Shops
Preventive maintenance reminder
LTO Renewal assistance
Assistance for motorcycle insurance renewal

They also introduced their racing teams and satellite riders that will carry their flag of excellence around the country and beyond. Yamaha makes it a point to dominate on official racing tracks by recognizing its racing teams and satellite riders. Following a long dominating heritage in the worldwide racing arena, the Philippine setting is no stranger to talented racers.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We recently attended an exclusive film screening that shows the Silverstone journey of Nissan's GT Academy 2015 Top 6 on April 11, 2016 at Bonifacio High St. Cinema 1, 3/f Bonifacio High St. Square 5th Ave. corner 30th. It was a lengthy screening produced by broadcast partner ABS-CBN as every episode from start to finish was shown. The popcorn and water we were feasting were already done yet the shows were still halfway over.

However, the show was sort of engaging as we were all eager to find out who among the Top 6 would eventually win. As they are eliminated every episode, we got an idea who to finally root for depending on their attitude and performance in every episode.

Later at the panel interview with the top 5 namely Terence Lallave, Daryl Brady, Joward Policarpio (the winner), Rafael Miru Lesaguis and Joel Agojo) - Luis Cachero was missing because he went back to his home country, we were given the opportunity to learn more about them. Aside from taking a video of the entire panel interview, I also had the opportunity to interview Joward Policarpio so watch out for the videos soon at our YouTube channel.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Quezon City is experiencing a renaissance. From historical and cultural sights, to a food scene that has exploded in popularity, Metro Manila’s biggest city is the new alternative hotspot for weekend vacations and lifestyle destinations."

I have to agree as QC has always been a very popular destination in the city for so many reasons. It is a city with attractions that you couldn't possibly finish within a single day.

Your Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas was recently invited to a Microtel by Wyndham’s Quezon City hotels media familiarization tour. The two hotels they have in Quezon City are located at UP Technohub (which is obviously within the UP Technohub complex and just a stone throw's away from the many government agencies surrpounding the Quezon Memorial Circle) and Acropolis (just opposite the Eastwood city commercial complex in Libis).

Microtel by Wyndham is a pioneer in the no-frills, back-to-basics service concept and considered as the fastest growing. With 13 hotels across the Philippines, Microtel by Wyndham strategically positions itself at the center of leisure and business hubs in the country. It is the sole Microtel by Wyndham franchise in Asia belonging to the Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with over 7,800 properties and 678,000 rooms in 72 countries under 15 hotel brands.

As what Ms. Ali Makabenta, the General Manager of the Microtel by Wyndham Acropolis, reiterated during our interview with her, "Location, location, location" is a prime factor contributing to the hotel chain's success. But we get to meet Ms. Ali on the second day of our media fam tour when we visit their Acropolis branch which has a feature that's very interesting for me, and I'm sure for the rest of the readers, but I would put you in anticipation for the meantime.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The heat is on, summer has come. It's travel season again where most people have already set their travel itineraries and ready to explore different parts of the country, or the world. This is the time when we get to visit the many beaches and resorts, climb or hike the mountains, or go spelunking at new destinations. It's the time when many travel and tour events are offered to leisure travelers or casual backpackers.

This is why the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Inc. (NAITAS), one of the country's biggest travel and tourism association with more than 400 members and 15 chapters nationwide, has put up once more the "NAITAS Travel and Trade Show (NTTS) 2016."

The 2nd run of NTTS is blistered with more and more exhibitors and stakeholders who participated on April 8, 9 and 10, 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center.

NTTS 2016 offered once more the Philippines' liveliest travel, tourism and trade fair promoting outbound and inbound destinations and allied products and services.

NAITAS, in partnership with the Philippine government through the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, put up an even greater event with more exhibitors, more entertainers, more surprises and more fun.

Pintig: A Night of Live Music and Poetry

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In its 57th year, the UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants takes its Too Much Information campaign, an advocacy campaign initiated to emphasize the value of transparency, a step further through Pintig: a night of music and lyrics, poetry and verse like no other, which will be held on April 29, 2016 at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines, Diliman.

As the culminating activity of the UP JPIA’s Too Much Information campaign, Pintig features performances from some of Metro Manila’s up-and-coming spoken-word artists and acoustic acts: White Wall Poetry, Risen Collective, Us The Trio, BennyBunnyBand, Joie Munoz and many more!

Through this line-up of performances and by showcasing a selection of pieces from these artists, TMI aims to emphasize the role of transparency that goes deep into our personal lives and out to the social consciousness of the people, and engage people to deal with it as a challenge in our daily lives.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook facebook.com/UPJPIATMI.

Pintig is also made possible by ClickTheCity, WhenInManila.Com, Indie Manila, Wazzup Pilipinas, Buhay Kolehiyo, Amplify.PH, pye.PH, AktivShow, 1DigiMedia and DZUP 1602.

CEO SUITE Serviced Offices: Premium Office Suites at a Prime Location

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Start Small, Think "BIG" - a mindset that every Startup Business Owner, SME & Entrepreneur should have.

We all want to look good to everyone because having an impressive portfolio is the key to get noticed by potential clients or partners.

But for newbies in the business who are still striving for attention, we should initially work on a presence that would help build trust and assurance to our companies. This includes establishing an office address that I believe is essential in the foundation of every business.

"One of every business’ successes depends on its location. This is regardless if it’s referring to store locations, office locations, virtual office locations, etc. Being in a strategic business location for your company could conclude the level of your success."

Though there are already so many businesses that made it to an undeniable success, having a conducive meeting place to meet with our clients, other than coffee shops and hotel lobbies, would further catapult us to greater heights. Having a business address at a prime and accessible location may spell a huge difference in the final choice of a client on which company they would decide to work with. Just as how job applicants are somehow gauged based on which college or university they came from, a reputable business address could put us up there among the top choices.

It is time to step-up our business with CEO SUITE's serviced or virtual offices. Achieving greatness goes with having a good business reputation that CEO SUITE office solutions can help us with.