Basketball Without Borders 2018 Day 2 Recap

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Day 2 of the 10th edition of Basketball without Borders Asia Camp organised by the NBA and FIBA started with life skill sessions for the campers here at the at The NBA Academy India, Delhi NCR. Ryan Saunders, Assistant Coach Minnesota Timberwolves, Darvin Ham, Assistant Coach Atlanta Hawks, Ruth Riley, two-time WNBA Champion and NBA Academies Women’s Program Global Technical Director spoke to the campers on the importance of teamwork and communication.

After the life skills sessions, the campers assembled into their respective teams for practice drills. The boys were drafted into four teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves; while the girls were split into Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx.

Following the drills, the teams scrimmaged in a series of competitive five-on-five games in front of league and team personnel. The day concluded with the NBA players leading a basketball clinic for 64 youth from the NBA Basketball Schools as part of the NBA’s community outreach efforts. The NBA Basketball Schools are based on “the NBA-Way” of developing basketball talent along with the promotion of positive NBA values of integrity, teamwork, respect, and innovation.

Coach and camper quotes:

Bret Breilmaier, Brooklyn Nets Assistant Coach

“The talent level, the kids, how hard they play and the way they play together is impressive. The talent of kids from all the countries is very good. We are lucky to work with these kids and trying help them to improve their skills so hopefully they can take that back to their teams.”

Princepal Singh, The NBA Academy India, India

“It’s a great feeling to have the camp here in India. At home, there is always an extra motivation to do your best. But having said that, this camp also is a great opportunity for Indian campers to learn from the best and see where they stand.”

Amaan Sandhu, The NBA Academy India, India

“You don’t get to play alongside the best in Asia everyday, and also train under the best in the world. Basketball Without Borders is a great platform for all campers to showcase their talent and take in as much as possible from the best in the business.”

Basketball Without Borders 2018 Day 1 Recap

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The NBA and FIBA tipped-off the 10th edition of Basketball without Borders Asia Camp this morning at the at The NBA Academy India, Delhi NCR. Sixty-six top high-school age boys and girls from 16 countries and territories across Asia took the court and had the opportunity to learn from Corey Brewer (Oklahoma City Thunder; U.S.), Caris LeVert (Brooklyn Nets; U.S.), Kelly Olynyk (Miami Heat; Canada; BWB Americas 2009), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada), two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley, and former WNBA player Ebony Hoffman. Indian players Satnam Singh and Oklahoma City Blue and Indian player Amjyot Singh were also on hand to coach the top high school age campers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Current NBA assistant coaches Bret Brielmaier (Nets), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks), Ryan Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Mike Wells (Utah Jazz) are serving as BWB Asia 2018 coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) is the camp director. Casey Smith (Mavericks) is the camp’s athletic trainer.

The players and coaches led the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, shooting and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games. In the afternoon, as part of the NBA’s community outreach efforts, a basketball clinic was conducted for more than 85 youth from the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, respect, determination and community.

Player Quotes:

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

“It was a great first day at the camp. The kids are very receptive here and are eager to learn.  I am looking forward to having a great time with them here.”

Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks

“It’s amazing to see the talent here. From what I saw in the last few hours here, these guys have much more to not only be the best of youth talent in Asia but be among the best in the world. I am glad to be here and help them in whatever way possible.”

Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat

“Back in 2009, BWB was an unbelievable experience. The learning at such camps helps you develop and elevate your game. You have these fantastic coaches and current players, you only get  better from here. It’s a great opportunity. The level of knowledge or competition too for the campers here is awesome. It’s always great to play against the best.”

Satnam Singh, Indian Basketball Player

“This BWB Camp is an opportunity of a lifetime. Life if all about making the most of the opportunities one gets. Like I got an opportunity to be in NBA and made whatever best I could out of it, this camp should serve as a great platform for campers to move up in their basketball careers.”

Amjyot Singh, Oklahoma City Blue & Indian Basketball Player

“This is a great setup for all the campers here. I’m glad that I could come here and share things that I have learnt so far. The level of coaches and players here is very good and the campers should go back as better players and human beings too.”

Iloilo City to Host the East Asian Seas Congress this November

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Iloilo City has been chosen as the venue of the upcoming 2018 East Asian Seas Congress to be held on November 27 to 30 at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC). Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. said that it is a great privilege to be the host city for the upcoming Congress as the ICC’s state of the art facilities has been “home to congregations that encourage dialogues towards sustainable development and bridging potential collaborations towards the future of the East Asian Seas region.”

“With a coastline of approximately 72 kilometers, Iloilo City is a coastal metropolitan area with a population of around 950,000 Ilonggos,” said Governor Defensor. “We extend our warm invitation to the delegates to explore the historic and scenic side of the city and the rest of the province.”

Similarly, Iloilo Mayor Jose Espinosa III expressed that they are “deeply honored that our beloved city has been chosen as the venue for this momentous event.” He added that the City Government of Iloilo supports the efforts of the Congress in “bringing together various stakeholders and working towards aligning local, national and regional actions and goals with that of the global ocean agenda.”

Mayor Espinosa added that “Iloilo is actively pursuing good and responsible governance that promotes social, economic and environmental development. Aside from the different Congress events, get ready to be welcomed with warm Ilonggo hospitality, to indulge in our delicious cuisine, and to immerse in our rich culture.”

Known as the “Heart of the Philippines,” Iloilo City has successfully hosted international assemblies such as the 2015 APEC High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy and ASEAN in the past.

Initial preparations for the Congress have already commenced, as representatives from the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) convened for a preparatory meeting with the local organizing committee (LOC) members from DENR Region 6 and the Provincial and City Governments of Iloilo and Guimaras during a four-day visit last April 17 to 20.

This year’s EAS Congress will feature an International Conference and Environmental Exhibition alongside other events including the Fifth EAS Youth Forum and PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum which will culminate with the Sixth Ministerial Forum. A special field visit to a PEMSEA integrated coastal management (ICM) site in the Island of Guimaras will also happen.

Registration for the EAS Congress 2018 is ongoing! For more information and updates about the Congress, visit http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/. For questions and inquiries, contact the EAS Congress 2018 Secretariat at eascongress2018@pemsea.org. #SeasAsOne

Globe Philippine Pro Gaming League Returns this 2018 with Tekken 7

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The nation's biggest multi-platform esports league, the Globe Philippine Pro Gaming League 2018, is set to return on June 2018 with the return of its flagship fighting game tournament, Tekken 7.

The Globe PPGL 2018 Season 2 Tekken 7 tournament is a national competition that will seek out only the toughest and fiercest fighters from provinces and cities all over the Philippines. The best performing fighters will get a chance to show off their skills on an international level in the upcoming REV Major, which is set to take place later this year.

The search for the nation's best Tekken 7 players continues after the inaugural season of Globe PPGL 2018 crowned PBE|AK as the grand champion. The new season of the national league will be organized by MET, Asia's top esports tournament organizer. PlayBook Esports will be returning as MET’s partner for the Tekken 7 tournament of the Globe PPGL Season 2.



Prize Pool

· 1st Place: PHP 45,000

· 2nd Place: PHP 20,000

· 3rd Place: PHP 12,000

· 4th Place: PHP 9,000

· 5th-6th Place: PHP 4,500

· 7th-8th Place: PHP 2,500



Tournament Schedule

• TEKKEN 7 Timeline: June 23 2018 - August 19, 2018
• Iloilo – June 23, 2018
• Davao – June 30, 2018
• Cagayan De Oro – July 1, 2018
• Cebu – July 7, 2018
• Manila 1 – July 15, 2018
• Manila 2 – July 29, 2018
• Tarlac – August 4, 2018
• Last Chance Qualifiers – August 19, 2018

The grand finals of the Globe PPGL 2018 Season 2 will take place at BrawlFest Versus Arena, a fighting game event, at SM North EDSA, on August 19, 2018. The top four Tekken 7 fighters 

​​Adriano Moraes Prepares for Top-notch Version of Geje Eustaquio in Rematch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Although he is embarking on an impressive four-bout winning streak, which includes unifying and defending the ONE Flyweight World Championship, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes prepares for what he perceives as the most difficult title defense of his second reign as the division’s kingpin.

The 29-year-old Brazilian champion is slated to put his coveted gold-plated strap on the line against interim flyweight titleholder Geje Eustaquio of the Philippines in the co-main event of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, which takes place at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China on 23 June.

Moraes may be riding a wave of momentum after defeating Kairat Akhmetov and Danny Kingad to cap off his 2017 campaign, but underestimating a familiar foe like Eustaquio could result to a big blunder.

“Geje Eustaquio has earned the highest level of my respect. If anything, there is no chance of me underestimating him. That would be unwise. We’ve all seen his improvement as a martial artist,” he said.

Both men stood opposite each other for the first time in September 2014 when the two collided for the inaugural ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Moraes derailed Eustaquio’s championship aspirations as he found a way to counteract his opponent’s striking prowess in the second round and then forced the Team Lakay dynamo to wave the white flag with a guillotine choke.

Ever since their initial encounter nearly four year ago, Moraes and Eustaquio have gone from success to success.

Against Eustaquio, Moraes stressed that he will be gearing up for the best version of his Filipino counterpart.

“I am preparing for the best Geje Eustaquio possible, and that is the only way I can prepare to be at my best. I believe this match is going to be a battle between two top-notch martial artists. It is going to be a battle from start to finish,” he expressed.

Eustaquio is coming off a title-clinching performance, defeating Akhmetov via unanimous decision in a rematch for the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship last January.

Moraes was at cageside when Eustaquio toppled Akhmetov, noticing the evident evolution of the 29-year-old Baguio City native from a pure striker to an all-around competitor.

In his cage encounter with Akhmetov, Eustaquio displayed on-point sprawls and his ability to sinuously execute sweeps and guards, as well as his sturdy top control on the mat.

“I’ve seen many of his fights, including his last one in Manila against Kairat Akhmetov. He’s more of a striker, but he has picked up his game remarkably. He is a different fighter now. That makes him so dangerous,” he stated.

Eustaquio may have exhibited a new facet of his growing skillset that could pose a problem to the Brazilian combatant, but Moraes seems not worried about it as he sees himself as a different mixed martial arts competitor as well.

“I’m not looking past Geje,” he declared. “Every fight is different, and each fighter has his or her strengths and weaknesses. We’ve expanded our skills since the last time we fought each other. He will come in prepared, but one thing is for sure: I will have my hand raised.”

Heavily reliant on his specialization in the grappling department, Moraes has won three of his last four matches by way of submission.

Although Eustaquio appears to have the upper hand in the striking arena due to his Wushu pedigree, Moraes has no qualms when it comes to trading kicks and punches with the Team Lakay representative.

“I know he is a good and technical striker. He was able to show off in his last fight that he now has grappling techniques. Things have changed for him. The same goes with me,” he pointed out.

“I believe that I can stand and bang with the best in the world. With that being said, anywhere I can get the finish. Whether it’s standing or grappling, I’m taking it,” Moraes assured.

Moraes expects that Eustaquio will dig deep to score the improbable upset victory over him, but the proud Brazilian remains optimistic that he will still walk out with the ONE Flyweight World Championship around his waist.

“Geje Eustaquio is hungry. He will bring something new to the table in our rematch, but I am confident in my abilities. I see myself retaining my championship on 23rd of June,” he concluded.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.​

Smart Backs Seamless Innovations at AngelHack Manila 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Need is the seed of innovation.

This was the inspiration for the sixth edition of the AngelHack Manila hackathon, held recently at ASPACE Makati, with the theme “Seamless.” AngelHack is the world’s most diverse hacker community, driving innovation of tech products through developer programs.

Spearheaded again this year by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications through its Developer Network (Smart DevNet), the event aims to enable up and coming tech rock stars from all over the Philippines to build original, creative, and sustainable projects. Smart DevNet is Smart’s developer community program, which promotes app development and technopreneurship by organizing and supporting tech events and meetups.

Teams of five were invited to develop their own innovations within a series of key performance indicators and under strict criteria. The teams presented in front of a panel of judges, who picked one who would have the opportunity to go to Silicon Valley to further develop their startup project.

Paul Pajo, cofounder of Smart DevNet, said the key to this year’s AngelHack was to discover seamless innovations. “Allow people to see, or let other people experience how technology works when it’s all connected, when it’s all happening at the same time,” explained Pajo.

The organizers expected this year’s theme to produce output that would address local and specific issues. “We want to see something very local. I asked them what their interests were, because I think it’s important to build some product that you actually care about,” said Ha Pham, AngelHack regional manager for Asia-Pacific.

A total of nine teams competed for various prizes. In the end, it was down to three teams, with Team Relax, You’re Doing Just Fine emerging as the winner. Their project was a digital paluwagan named “Ipon Pinoy,” a funds- or investment-pooling system using a multi-signature wallet.

The winning team was composed of Martin Magpantay, Joussyd Calubig, Dan Michael Molina, and Jonathan Leijendekker. The team won a slot at AngelHack’s 12-week HACKCelerator program, and an invitation to pitch to venture capitalists in Silicon Valley for Global Demo Day.

“Ipon Pinoy has been a long-standing idea among us, and we are grateful for AngelHack because now we have venue to start and execute this project,” said Magpantay.     

The first runner-up prize went to Team Mongoose for “Renew: Plastic as Currency,” a system that uses tokens for plastic recycling that can be turned into carbon credits. Team members include Kevin Velasco, Julius Plocios, Daniel Francia, Anthony dela Cruz, and Don Vito Alzaga.

Second runner-up was Team Dolphins with “Ligare,” an educational platform that allows students to learn from people capable of teaching them on classes of their choice. The team is composed of college students Kyle Tan, Pia Zulueta, Alexander Go Tian, and Rupert Seňga.

As technology levels the playing field, there is indeed more opportunities for growth especially in developing countries like the Philippines. If the contestants are any indication of the nation’s future, Filipinos have a lot to be excited about.

CMLI Presents Children's Day 2018 with Theme Kislap: Pagsulong ng Kabataan para sa Maliwanag na Kinabukasan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, regarded the youth as the hope of the nation. Honoring his belief, we continuously strive to help the children realize their role in the nation's advancement and fulfill their duties as responsible citizens of the country.

The Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. (CMLI) is a youth leadership organization that has a purpose of promoting the welfare and the development of the country’s youth towards the attainment of Filipino nationhood. The organization is continuously shaping morally upright youth to become progressive members of the avant-garde Filipino society by providing avenues like leadership training, talent development, and values formation.

The CMLI Junior Council – Regional Executive Boards (JC-REB) are the organization’s regional youth arms which are assigned to execute projects that can attain the objectives of the organization in their respective regions.

Being an organization that is committed to empowering the youth for the betterment of the nation, The CMLI Junior Council – Regional Executive Board National Capital Region or the JC-REB NCR proudly presents the project entitled “Children’s Day 2018” with the theme, “Kislap: Pagsulong ng Kabataan para sa Maliwanag na Kinabukasan”. It is a whole-day outreach program filled with fun activities and discussions that would inculcate the ideals and values of the Filipino youth. We will be holding the event on June 3, 2018, at Ipil Hall, La Mesa Eco Park, from 8:00 AM ‘till 4:00 PM. We will have 80 children from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish as our beneficiary.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/CMLIOfficial on Facebook or @cmlijcrebncr on Twitter. For inquiries, contact (+63 926 045 4568) or (+63 921 643 7492). Our email: cmlijcrebncr2018@gmail.com,

would also serve as our channel of communication.

Every child has the potential to serve and lead the nation. Let us help them be the spark that will urge the

country and its people to move forward!

Swimjunkie Challenge Series Grows Philippine Open Water Swimming

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Swimjunkie Challenge is the only open-water swimming series that offers long distance destination swims in the Philippines.  Racers travel to swim anywhere from 2.5Km to 10Km in exotic, but challenging swim locations. For the  first race of the season, 280 swimmers made their way to Lobo, Batangas on May 6, to swim 2.5km and 5km along the Verde Island Passage. On June 10, a new set of swimmers from the U.S., Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines are registered and training to complete either 4Km or 8Km at Lio Beach, at the Lio Tourism Estate in El Nido.

“I cannot tell you how excited my husband Justin and I are to be given the opportunity to swim in paradise. This has been on our bucket list for a long time now!”, says 15-time Ironman race winner, Belinda Granger, of Australia. Belinda is a well loved pro-triathlete in the Asia Pacific circuit and the Swimjunkie Challenge: El Nido will be her first 8Km open water swim.

Swimjunkie Challenge El Nido is on its second year and will be held at Lio Beach on June 10, 2018. The race is co-presented by Lio Tourism Estate, supported by the LGU and its Mayor, Nieves Rosento, and sponsored by Seafood Island and Wilkins pure water.

The Swimjunkie Challenges were created by Betsy Medalla, a former Philippine national swim team member and the first Asian to make the iconic cold water swim crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand in Cape Town, South Africa.

“If we can get people active, swimming and enjoying the outdoors, and at the same time supporting the incredible marine environments we have here in the Philippines, then we’re all winning.”, says Betsy Medalla.

There is one more leg to the series, Swimjunkie Challenge Caramoan 10K on August 19, 2018. Early registration is ongoing until May 15 at http:// regonline.activeglobal.com/swimjunkiechallengecaramoan10k2018.

For more information, please contact Swimjunkie at swimjunkieph@icloud.com, Instagram: @swimjchallenge and Twitter: @swimjchallenge.

Defeating Adriano Moraes will be Ultimate Career Highlight for ‘King of Rematch’ Geje Eustaquio

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If based on the old idiom “Second time’s the charm,” it would be​ the perfect ​embodiment to depict Filipino superstar Geje Eustaquio’s professional mixed martial arts career as Lady Luck seems to be on his side in every rematch that he has had.

Out of 16 bouts in his seven-year prizefighting stint, Eustaquio has shared the stage with the same foe on two occasions, walking out in both instances with his arm raised in triumph.

After dropping a split decision to Anatpong Bunrad in April 2015, Eustaquio settled the score with his arch-nemesis two years later by edging out the Thai hard-hitter with his own split decision victory.

Meanwhile, Eustaquio clinched the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship, toppling Kazakh rival Kairat Akhmetov by way of five-round unanimous decision in a second encounter this past January.

“Winning the world title is a dream come true for me. Ever since I started my professional career, the goal was to be a world champion. Now, that goal is a reality,” Eustaquio stated.

Believing that it could be sweeter the second time around, the 29-year-old Baguio City native seeks to replicate the same magic as he is slated to lock horns once again with Brazilian flyweight kingpin Adriano Moraes.

Both men are scheduled to face each other in a world title unification clash at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, which takes place at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China on June 23.

“There were lots of trials and challenges. My path was not the easiest, but I always knew what I had to do to achieve it. Like I always say, it’s either you win or you learn. I learned from my past failures. And here I am today. That’s the secret to my success,” Eustaquio shared.

“On June 23, I have a tough task in front of me. However, it is still an opportunity for me, an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. On that date, it’s my opportunity to become the undisputed champion of this division. And I am coming for it,” he added.

Eustaquio and Moraes stood opposite each other for the first time in September 2014 when the two collided for the inaugural ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Moraes derailed Eustaquio’s championship aspirations as he found a way to counteract his opponent’s striking prowess in the second round and then forced the 5-foot-5 Team Lakay representative to wave the white flag with a guillotine choke.

Eustaquio admitted that it was a tough defeat to digest, but he pointed out that he took a lot away from it by viewing it as a learning curve.

“That loss has taught me a lot. Ever since then, I have worked extensively in improving in all areas,” he said. “I have worked extremely hard to get to this point because deep inside, I knew we would meet again. Now I can finally give him a better fight.”

Since his initial meeting with Moraes almost four years ago, Eustaquio stressed that he has grown tremendously as he has matured and expanded his skillset.

“I have evolved as a martial artist since we first met inside the cage in 2014. I know that it will be different in the rematch against Adriano Moraes. The second bout against Kairat Akhmetov is a testament that I am no longer a one-dimensional fighter. I trusted my team, and in the bout against Akhmetov, one of the things we worked on was how to bring the bout back to the feet,” he explained.

In his upcoming rematch, Eustaquio expects that the Brazilian submission specialist may look to focus on using his other skills.

“This time around, I have a feeling we will be standing more. I think he will want to stand and trade with me to test his striking,” he reasoned. “If the going gets rough, then he can focus on taking it to the mat. The same principle applies to me. I want to test my Jiu-Jitsu skills too, and what better opponent than Adriano Moraes to do so against?”

According to Eustaquio, defeating Moraes to become the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion would be the proudest moment of his career.

“This rematch is very big. It is the biggest of my career, no doubt. I am treating this bout as the most significant of my time as a professional mixed martial artist, but because of my hard work and preparations, all that is left is to give the performance of a lifetime,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

DOTr, CAAP Inaugurate Rehabilitated Virac Airport

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) inaugurated today the newly-rehabilitated passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Virac Airport.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Manuel Antonio Tamayo, CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, Philippine Airforce Commanding General Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar, Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua, and Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes, led the inauguration.

The construction for the terminal rehabilitation project began in January 2016, and involved turning the old design of the passenger terminal building into a modernized structure.

The PhP39 million project, whose initial completion date was on July 20, 2016, was suspended on May 23, 2016 after additional retrofitting works were considered necessary to provide stability for the old building originally built in 1963. It was suspended once again in December 2016 due to damages brought by Typhoon “Nina,” resulting in added PhP4.5 million in cost to repair the passenger terminal building.

The rehabilitation project was finally completed on May 24, 2018. 

“When President Duterte appointed us in his Cabinet, he gave us one important directive— ensure that we make the Filipino comfortable. That is why we continue to build, build, and build. We build to enhance mobility and connectivity, not just to improve movement of transportation of people and goods, nor just to improve travel. We do this to enhance the Filipino’s way of life,” Sec. Tugade said.

With the inauguration of the rehabilitated passenger terminal building, Virac Airport will increase its capacity from 100 passengers to 300 passengers. The ground floor and second floor pre-departure areas have been expanded, and the arrival area in the ground floor has also been rehabilitated.

Gigmoto Mayor Ding Guerrero, Baras Mayor Chito Chi, Bagamanoc Mayor Remigio Villaluna, Caramoran Mayor Agnes Popa, and San Andres Mayor Peter Cua, DOTr Asec for Maritime Andoy Perez, and PPA General Manager Jay Santiago were also present at the inauguration

Virac Airport is the only airport serving the island province of Catanduanes. It started its operations in 1946 as a feeder airport with its first commercial flight landing in 1947 and its first private aircraft flight landing in 1947. On October 27, 2013, Cebu Pacific launched the first Airbus flight to Virac and its Manila-Virac-Manila route every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. In December 2017, Philippine Airlines launched its Clark-Virac-Clark route every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Explore the World of Food Franchising at MAFBEX 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Back to serve up another exciting round of gastronomic excitement this June is the highly-anticipated 12th edition of the Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX). Organized by MAFBEX Events Management, a subsidiary of Worldbex Services International, and presented in cooperation with the Young Hoteliers Exposition (YHE) and the Organization of Bar Professionals (OBP), this year’s MAFBEX aims to take show attendees on the “Ultimate Foodventure” by bringing together the finest food and beverage innovations from here and around the world.

Guaranteed to unleash the foodie out of every Filipino are over 500 booths by close to 300 exhibitors who will collectively showcase the widest array of F&B items across the massive 15,000sqm venue of the show. With representatives from countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam, this year’s MAFBEX is expected to offer a wealth of tastes and flavors that are bold and distinct as they are familiar and comforting.

But more than just a haven for those with an insatiable appetite for good food, MAFBEX 2018 is an advantageous event for investors and trade players alike who are in search of the latest ventures in the F&B trade. In particular, one highlight that has consistently drawn business minded foodies is the Franchising Zone, a designated area which hosts various food cart/stall businesses that are open for franchising.

Get to know more some of the franchise businesses that will be participating at MAFBEX 2018!

Iyah’s Ice Cream Milkshake
In a tropical county such as the Philippines, it comes as no surprise that people can’t get enough of Iyah’s Ice Cream Milkshake. Add to that the fact that its milkshake menu comes in a wide variety of flavors that were carefully developed and refined to suit the various tastes of customers.

Franchising rate: P345,000


Master Siomai
Over the years, this humble siomai food cart has garnered a loyal following for its tasty dimsum selections that perfectly cater to the Filipino taste bud. Apart from selling ready-to-eat dimsum fare, Master Siomai also specializes in the production and distribution of processed meat such as ham, siomai, and etc.

Franchising rate: Master Siomai (P280,000), Master Tempura (P150,000). Rates include all equipment and staff uniform.


     
Crazy Tako Food Cart
With takoyaki carts sprouting everywhere across the country, there’s no doubt that Filipinos simply can’t get enough of this savory Japanese street grub. However, not all takoyakis are created equal. Seeking to provide Filipinos with an authentic takoyaki experience without having to go to Japan, Crazy Tako Food Cart was born. In fact, the first batch of ingredients used by Crazy Tako were flown directly from Osaka! Today, Crazy Tako is proving that good food need not be expensive. All it takes is a genuine dedication to perfect and refine the food that you are serving your customers.

Franchising rate: P250,000


RNL Food Concepts (Snack-A-Ttack)
The reason why a lot of people love street food is because it satiates hunger conveniently, innovatively, and above all, without burning a hole in your pocket. But with all the street food trends that are on offer these days, this simple concept somehow gets lost along the way. Aiming to bring back the essence of what street food is really all about and turning it into something absolutely unique is Snack-A-Ttack. For only P29 pesos, you can already enjoy a snack and a drink that are conveniently combined in one handy snack pack – perfect for when you’re on-the-go!

Franchising rate: P399,000 (food cart), P999,000 (café type).


Lugaw ni Bossing
You can never go wrong with lugaw! But what makes Lugaw ni Bossing unique is that not only it serves its variants hot, clean, and fresh but also with various options for toppings such as Adobong Tito or Matres ng Baboy, Adobong Paa ng Manok as well as other lugaw varieties like Lugaw with tuyo and Gotuyo.

Franchising rate: P200,000-230,000


JC Worldwide Franchise Inc.
You might not have heard of JC Worldwide but you’d be surprised to know that it is the company behind some of the most popular food stalls/carts in the country such as Burger Factory, Siomai King, Sgt. Sisig, Siopao da King, and Noodle House – all of which owes its premium quality to the company’s commitment to use quality ingredients every day.

Franchising rate: P158,888


Bringing people more than just food finds, MAFBEX 2018 is the most ideal place to explore various food business opportunities. The 12th MAFBEX is happening on June 13 to 17 from 10:00am to 7:00pm at the World Trade Center Manila.

MAFBEX is for the benefit of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. For more information, follow @mafbex.ph on instagram and the Manila Food and Beverage Expo fan page on facebook or call (02) 6569239 or email info.worldbex@gmail.com.

Music and Heroes at the Skydome

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Making way for lives to be easier, SALI Production a group of young men and women presents benefit concerts for everyone to enjoy.

SALi already won the hearts of many at the Himig At Tugma Para sa Buhay last April 21. Under the smoldering afternoon heat of SM Cabanatuan Garden, fans have gathered to listen to the irresistible vibe of IV of Spades. Together with local artists who performed their original songs and compositions the event successfully connected with the concert goers.

As time ticks during the event and fans’ excitement fills the air, the harsh heat swiped away as IV of Spades took the stage to sing their songs. Fans, as if on a slow-motion danced and sang to the music, mesmerized by the bright colors that is Zlid, Badjao, and Blaster.

The night goes on as fans scream for their idols, with some raising orange flags in support of the band.

With the triumph of the Cabanatuan event, Sali Production heads for their second event bringing music and hugot lines to the city.

The second Himig at Tugma Para Sa Buhay will be happening at SM North Edsa Skydome bringing with them local singers and spoken poetry artists. SALi delightfully shared two band who will perform in the second event.

For the concert’s Tugma, Carlo Hornilla, Crystel Bars, and Antonio Bathan will share their beloved original compositions. For the Himig, brother and sister Virtus and Olive Lenon the whose voices will surely mesmerize you will share their original songs. Completing the Himig line, Ben & Ben and Silent Sanctuary will headline the concert.

Everyone who has brought the tickets has saved the lives of Briley Jane Flores for her medictations, Maryrose Bermejo for Chemo therapy, Gibram Gam for liver operation and Liza Guevarra for medicine and maintenance. SALi Production hopes for the events success as it will further help their beneficiaries into the next stage of their medications, after all SALi is an acronym that means SAVE A LIFE.  Join us in our cause and enjoy our benefit concert.

Be our hero and let’s save a life!

For more information, visit our Facebook page Sali Porduction and our Twitter account @SALiProduction.


Written by Danielle Macadangdang

UP Fighting Maroons and 3M Philippines Seal Partnership Deal

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The University of the Philippines (UP) got a new major boost for their basketball program after UP inked a partnership deal with 3M Philippines, Inc.. 3M Philippines president and managing director Ariel Lacsamana, UP president Danilo Concepcion, and officials of the Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation (NTGBUP), a volunteer group of UP alumni that help the university’s varsity programs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Tuesday, May 29, at Quezon Hall of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Also present at the MOU signing are UP head coach Bo Perasol, his coaching staff and the UP Fighting Maroons. 

UP’s partnership with 3M is one of the huge offseason moves that the Fighting Maroons has made in preparation for the upcoming UAAP season and the seasons to come.

Companies in Philippines Urged to Strengthen Cyber Security Readiness Ahead of European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fortinet identifies key industries impacted by the EU’s GDPR compliance requirements, and recommends steps to prevent, detect, and remediate data breaches on Personally Identifiable Information

Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions today advised organizations in the Philippines to make final preparations to abide by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), effective 25 May 2018.

This law protects the personal information of all citizens of the European Union (EU) and will be enforced through fines, sanctions, and injured-party compensation. It is quite similar to an existing law in the Philippines, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which subjects any business located in the country to stringent data protection laws that could cost offending organizations fines and jail time of up to six years.

As such, industries impacted by GDPR will need to review all business processes involving personally identifiable information (PII) and assess their organisational readiness to meet the 72-hour data breach reporting mandate.

The GDPR finely balances the rights of EU citizens to control their personal data against the responsibilities of organizations to protect that data both in the course of normal operations as well as in the case of data breaches. Significant new EU personal information protections include the right to explicitly approve personal data usage and a “right to be forgotten,” enabling people to demand that an organization purge any personal data about them. While businesses and governments with a physical presence in the EU will need to abide by GDPR, it may also apply to firms with significant EU customer or client bases.

Despite the impending deadline, most Asia Pacific businesses, which serve the EU market or have significant transactions that capture PII are still not fully prepared. According to the third biennial EY Global Forensic Data Analytics Survey by Ernst & Young (EY), only 12 per cent of firms in APAC have a GDPR compliance plan in place.

“While GDPR affects private and public sector organizations handling PII, certain key industries will have heightened exposure as a result of the volumes of PII data they handle as well as the nature of their business,” said Peerapong Jongvibool, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, Fortinet. “These include e-commerce-based organizations operating internationally, as well as companies that serve significant numbers of tourists, visitors, or expatriates from the EU.”

Fortinet lists the top three industries impacted by GDPR:

• Retail − Retail businesses most likely to curate GDPR-relevant PII data include cross-border e-commerce operations, multi-venue retail chains, hospitality, travel, and F&B businesses. Brick-and-mortar businesses serving EU customers can also find themselves liable to GDPR PII protections. Paying with a credit or debit card, providing shipping address information and participating in a customer loyalty program all fall under the protection of GDPR.
  
• Healthcare − GDPR extends its coverage to non-EU organizations storing or processing the medical information of EU persons. GDPR enacts particularly stringent protection and processes for handling particular types of PII medical information. In general, an organization may collect and process personal medical information only if it is necessary for patient treatment and diagnosis, and with the explicit consent of the patient. GDPR also mentions genetic data as an area of particular concern.
  
• Financial Services - Financial organizations often maintain huge stockpiles of PII data on account holders. They also consume and generate vast quantities of highly personal marketing data to support selling financial services and assessing credit worthiness of commercial and individual customers.

Organizations preparing for GDPR must focus on reconfiguring their business processes and IT architectures, as well as reducing exposure of PII data.

Fortinet advises enterprises in the Philippines to take the following steps to accelerate GDPR compliance:

1. Engage a third-party firm to assess data protection practices and exposure to GDPR rules.
2. Conduct a comprehensive data audit to understand data source, collection and processing. It should include documenting where GDPR-impacted data is stored, how it is communicated between systems within the domain, and any external clouds or third-party data custodians.
3. Determine how long it takes for data-breach detection and mitigation and what is required to improve these processes to meet GDPR requirements. This element of the action plan should also include a detailed security assessment.

“At the end of the day, complying with GDPR may well turn out to be the right thing to do to protect the privacy and interests of all stakeholder communities linked to an organization,” concluded Jongvibool. “As onerous as GDPR might seem, it could mark a big step towards restoring public confidence in the ability of businesses to deliver social benefits while simultaneously curbing social risks.”