TransCo Fast and Free Internet is in Sight

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Communication and Telecommunications (DICT), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) signed last Friday, June 8 a Memorandum of Agreement that will make internet speed faster at no charge in selected public places nationwide. From L-R: DICT Usec. Denis Villorente, TransCo President Atty. Melvin Matibag, DICT Acting Sec. Eliseo Rio, NGCP President Anthony Almeda, TransCo General Counsel Atty. Noel de Leon, and NGCP Chief Admin Officer, Atty. Bryan Co.

The National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) said that fast and free internet is in sight following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement among DICT, NGCP and TransCo on the National Broadband Project.

TransCo President Atty. Melvin Matibag the country is well on the road to accomplishing the promise of President Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) to give fast internet speed at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government offices, hospitals, train stations, airports and seaports nationwide.

“This is major milestone. We are very happy that this MOA was finally signed. This will also help hasten the processing of licenses, permits, clearances and other government issuances nationwide,” Matibag added.

Matibag thanked Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi for their steadfast support to the national broadband project. “They were always helping us overcome our challenges.”

Matibag also congratulated DICT Acting Secretary Rio for DICT’s major accomplishment.

“DOST started this project seven years ago, which was continued by DICT following its creation in 2016. Secretary Rio had been tirelessly pushing for this agreement, fixing things, overcoming obstacles.”

President Matibag gave special thanks to NGCP President Anthony Almeda for allowing the free use of the dark fiber in the transmission lines for the use of government.

“I am happy that despite our differences, NGCP and TransCo, as the concessionaire and the owner of the transmission facilities, have partnered to deliver this gift to the Filipino people. This is a fine example of government and the private sector joining hands to spur progress and development in the countryside.”

Finally, Matibag said all this would not have happened if not for the leadership and political will of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Our president created the environment to make this happen.”

New OPM Musucak Geegee at Waterina Set to Open on August

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Artist Playground proudly announces the staging of an original Pinoy musical “ GEEGEE AT WATERINA ” with book and lyrics by J. Dennis C. Teodosio in August 2018 at Arts Above, Artist Playground II, 112 West Venue Bldg., West Avenue, Quezon City.

The roles of GEEGEE AT WATERINA will be portrayed by Norman Penaflorida and Roeder Camanag respectively.

GEEGEE is an entertainment actor, radio host and a counselor of Pasay City. More than 60 years old.

WATERINA is a ‘comfort gay’ during Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. More than 70 years old. She is one of Gee-gee’s Golden Gays.

With original music composed by Jesse Lucas, and choreography by Lezlie Dailisan, GEEGEE AT WATERINA will be directed by Andrew de Real.

“ Geegee At Waterina ” was first presented at the CCP Virgin Labfest in 2005. A short film version was produced for Cinemalaya in 2006.

The performance schedules of GEEGEE AT WATERINA are as follows:

August 18 (3pm & 7pm)
August 19 (3pm & 7pm)
August 25 (3pm & 7pm)
August 26 (3pm & 7pm)

For further inquiries, please call or send SMS to Ms. Kimberly Somoza at 0975-9193179.

PPA Upbeat Over Prospects Brought About by New MICT Post-Panamax Cranes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago witnessed the arrival of a pair of Neo-Panamax and Post-Panamax quay cranes to be used at the country’s biggest container terminal, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

The pair of cranes arrived Thursday, 07 June 2018.

“The new cranes will definitely boost the capability of the MICT and will definitely guarantee a congestion-free international container terminal,” Santiago said at the sidelines of the arrival ceremony held at Berth 6 of the MICT.

“This is by far the biggest and largest crane that any port in the Philippines has. This enables the port of handle ships with capacity of up to 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs),” Santiago said.

“We expect other ports to follow suit as we continue to drive towards our vision of a globally competitive port by 2020,” Santiago stressed.

The new quay cranes were manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC). The quay cranes are part of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)'s $80 million capital equipment program for MICT. The pair of Neo-Panamax cranes and the Post-Panamax crane will be positioned at Berths 6 and 5, respectively.

Upon full commissioning, MICT customers can expect quayside productivity gains, translating to shorter port stays.

Aside from these pair of cranes, MICT is still set to receive eight (8) Rubber Tire Gantry (RTG) Cranes by November 2018, and two (2) quay cranes on the first half of 2019.

With the new acquisitions, the MICT now has a total of sixteen (16) quay cranes, the largest fleet in the country.

In December 2016, MICT reached its first year-to-date two million TEU move, triggering a multi-billion-peso capacity improvement commitment with the PPA, in line with the growing consolidation trend among major carriers and the advent of larger vessels.

Top 5 Useful Phone Programs for Students

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nowadays smartphone has become the part and parcel of our life. We can’t pass a single day without it. Most of us waste our valuable time by roaming on social media. Especially our young generation is the worst sufferer to this as they are wasting their valuable time on smartphones.

Thankfully there are some useful apps also which can help students to utilize their time in a most effective way.

Being a student I was also addicted to my smartphone and used to spend most of my time on a smartphone. As a result, my academic result started to fall and I started to lagging behind in my studies. But after sometimes I got an idea of why not to use my addiction of smartphone in an effective way that can help me in my studies.

After that I searched a lot related to useful apps for students and today I’m going to share what I got and among them, I will cover five useful programs that a student must have in his/her smartphone.

Microsoft Office (free; iOS, Android, paid; Windows)

Nowadays Microsoft Office is considered as an important teaching material. Microsoft Office is another program which is must to have for students. All the assignments and presentation can be done easily and beautifully by using it. From my personal experience, I can say that after using it for doing my assignment regularly not only it allowed me to do them quickly but also I gained the knowledge of grammar and able to correct my spellings. By the way, sometimes we suffer a lot to write a perfect essay which is given as an assignment from our schools or college, for doing it you can simply seek the help from fast custom essay writing service as they can help you write a proper and perfect suitable essay for you.

Most of the office apps are free of cost and available for iOS, Android and for windows. But if you want to use the full features of Microsoft Office then you have to go for the paid premium version of it.

Office Lens (free; iOS, Android, Windows)

Office Lens is an app from Microsoft. I must admit it is an amazing app as using it we can take pictures of any text from anywhere like from whiteboard, blackboard, magazine, receipts and may more and simply can convert them into editable, shareable text. Moreover, this app allows to take images from angle and process it correctly and enhance the beautify so that you can read it properly.

This app helps to convert their class notes photo into a scanned format which latterly helps them to print them whenever they need. You can also save your taken images as PDFs, Word or PowerPoint files. 

 

Google Drive (Android, iOS) and Dropbox (Android, iOS)

Sometimes some notes need to be preserved for a long time and for doing it the simplest and safest way is to preserve them on cloud storage. Google Drive and Dropbox are considered as the best two cloud storage apps as they are free and a great place to keep your notes as long as you want.


Alarmy: Sleep If You Can

The most common problem in student’s life to wake up in the morning at a proper time. Sometimes students miss their valuable classes and even exam due to this sleep problem. To avoid this problem and to wake up at the proper time most of us use typical alarm apps to do the job and the consequences are known to you. I was also a sufferer of this sleep problem as a result, I had missed some of my classes and exam. But after using Alarmy Sleep If You Can app I have never missed any of my classes and exams. This app has a unique alarm system, if you want to dismiss the alarm you need to take a picture that you set specifically before or you need to shake the phone up and down a number of times. Alarmy also gives weather updates so that you can decide earlier whether you need to carry an umbrella or not. 

MyHomework Student Planner (Android)

Remembering every class schedules, assignments, project deadlines and grades is not an easy task. You can use a planner app to do all these staffs. Among all the planner apps my personal favorite is MyHomework Student Planner as it helps to organize all schedules properly and give you a proper reminder to finish them as early as possible. Although this app is only available for android you can also look for iStudiez a similar app for iOS.

Oxford English Dictionary

Having a good vocabulary is very important for a student. If you want to increase your vocabulary stocks and want to know more about words and their origin, then there is no alternative to this dictionary. Among all the dictionary I personally prefer Oxford English Dictionary, having this app on your mobile you can look up words whenever you are free or even traveling to anywhere. There is a free version with adverts or you can use the paid premium version without ads.


Finally, I would like to tell you that try to use your smartphones in a smart way as an educational material. By using these apps, I hope you can easily use your time properly. Which app are you considering most important for you? Don’t forget to comment us in our comment section to let us know your favorite app and you can also let us know if we have missed any useful apps that can be beneficial for students.

Tagbilaran Runway Repair Completed

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced that the preventive maintenance, repair, and patching works at the Tagbilaran Airport runway, which started last night, have been completed this morning, 08 June 2018.

Continuous rains in the past weeks resulting in water to infiltrate under the runway, causing potholes and cracks, which resulted in the degradation of the runway surface.

Earlier, CAAP Operation Center (OPCEN) issued a notice to airmen advising aircraft pilots of the preventive maintenance works being done, as the damage can affect runway and flight safety which can be dangerous to aircraft.

The preventive maintenance is a collaborative effort between the Department of Transportation (DOTr), CAAP, local government unit, and private contractors enlisted to assist in the delivery and repair works.

CAAP Deputy Director General for Operations Capt. Don Mendoza, together with CAAP Area 7 Manager Atty. Rafael Tatlonghari, personally checked the portion of the 1,779-meter runway that underwent the emergency repair.

“The continuing deterioration of the runway surface had to be addressed immediately for the safety of all passengers and aircraft operating in Tagbilaran,” Capt. Mendoza said.

Tagbilaran Airport will soon be replaced by the Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Panglao upon its expected completion and commercial operations on August 2018.

Photos by: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)

Mga Indie Buskeros ng Maynila to Perform at San Juan Independence Day Event

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the commemoration of our Independence Day this coming June 12, there will be a music and culture event to be held at Pinaglabanan Shrine grounds (San Juan City) this coming Tuesday, June 12, 2018 from 4PM to 7PM. This is in line with the Philippine Independence day activities happening on the same day. This is in partnership and coordination with the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office of San Juan City.

The main performers for this event would be from Mga Indie Buskeros ng Maynila (http://www.facebook.com/buskeros), a group of independent musicians, poets and artists from different productions. They are given proper permission by San Juan City Government to gather at Pinaglabanan Shrine grounds (near San Juan City office entrance) for a meaningful music mini-concert not only to entertain locals but to inspire them about the meaning and importance of Independence Day and to reignite interest in Filipino culture and the arts. Other musicians not part of the group as well as locals in the area will be also invited to perform and jam for this celebration on the said date.

Mga Indie Buskeros ng Maynila or simply known to music groups as Buskeros has been performing as street performers in Manila open areas and organizing open mics for new artists since August 2014. They have already organized events and concerts for venues like People's Park in Valenzuela, People's Park in the Sky Tagaytay, University of Makati, Intramuros as well as a month long series of musical performances at LRT 2 Stations for the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa celebration last August 2017. They have also inspired audience in private venues like the Venice Grand Canal Mall and worked for good causes like for the Earth Day 2018 celebration activities held at Arrosceros Forest Park and Manila Harbor Square organized by Earth Day Network Philippines and for promotion and support of International Fair Trade Day activity organized by Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP) held at Up Town Center.

Nutriment Workshop Rolls Out on June 29

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Holistic Integrative Care Center's much anticipated holistic nutrition workshop is back!

Let's get your health journey started!

Come and join us in a day of making delectable and healthy recipes and discover why everyone is falling in love with plant-based diet. Be inspired to create new recipes, learn new things, and meet new friends. There will be sampling of yummy healthy dishes, take home recipes, and handouts along with question and answer time and a truly unforgettable experience to share.

With our World Class Speakers:

Chef Arlene Clemente- an internationally trained holistic raw food Chef, with amazing credentials and seasoned speaker for health, wellness and disease management.

Holistic Ambassador Ronnie Liang - certified music hit maker and a health buff, following what is good for the body, mind and spirit.

Mr Eddie Peterson – Korean - American MISSO partner well versed in juicing and oil extractor products, health advocate spreading wellness and goodwill

Registration fee: P2, 500/ person

Venue: IAJWC Conference Room, 33F Atlanta Center, Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan City

Date: June 29, 2018

Time: 10am to 4pm

INCLUSIVES:

FREE lunch, FREE manuals, FREE aprons, FREE take-home samplers, Raffle Prizes, Ronnie Liang’s Album with

Autograph

With Onsite Knife, Onsite Chopping Board, Spices and ingredients - Vegetables and Fruits

For more details and reservations, contact us at the following numbers:

Chef Arlene 0927-567-8562 or PR Jay 0916-917-5054 / 0933-817-9674

HICC hotlines: 02 744-5355 0923-146-8686

Swimming with Mermaids

Wazzup Pilipinas!

My too-tight wetsuit’s turning into a sauna but I don’t mind. We’re aboard a double-decked dive boat in Calauit Island in oh-too-sunny Northern Palawan and today might finally be the day. Over the years, I’ve met some of the sea’s most amazing residents – from macho tiger sharks to playful dolphins – but one creature has been more elusive than others.

With underwater photographer Danny Ocampo and expert guides from the Tagbanua tribe, we’re finally hoping for some downtime with a dugong.

Dugongs are legendary sea creatures, having inspired lonely seamen’s ‘sightings’ of mermaids (being out at sea for months or years, who can blame them). Their last relatives were Stellar’s sea cows (Hydrodamalis gigas), which were wiped out by hunters just 36 years after being discovered by scientists.

“It’s still early so we have a fairly good chance of sightings. Look for splashes or shadows near the surface,” explains our guide Dodong Valera. We gaze at our swim-spotter swimming a hundred feet away, homemade plastic fins slapping the sea’s surface. “There are around 30 dugongs in this area. If we’re lucky, we’ll see the largest and friendliest of them all,Aban.”

My brain’s baking from the heat, so I nod absentmindedly and slop seawater inside my wetsuit, trying to cool down. Twenty minutes and a pound of sweat later, the spotter finally gives the signal: target sighted!

Excitedly, we become one with fin and rig and slide gleefully into a vast expanse of seagrass.

SIRENIANS

Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are distant cousins of elephants, growing up to three-meters and weighing about 400 kilogrammes. Also called sea cows, they inhabit shallow waters of the Coral Triangle, wherever seagrass is most abundant. They are the fourth member of the order Sirenia, alongside the three manatee species. A fifth, the gigantic eight-meter long Steller’s sea cow, was completely wiped out by 1768. Dugongcomes from the Malay word duyung, which means ‘lady of the sea.’

Sizeable herds of dugongs once plied the Philippine archipelago until hunting and habitat destruction reduced numbers. Populations still hold out in Isabela, Mindanao, Guimaras and Palawan, but encounters are extremely rare.

Dugongs are thought to live as long as humans (about 70 years), but give birth to just a single calf every three to five years. They are globally classified as vulnerableand are considered critically endangered in the Philippines because of their sparse numbers. Prior to our Coron trip, I’ve spent 20 years looking for one – they’re just thatrare.

Says dugong conservationist Dr. Teri Aquino, “We can learn a lot about sustainable use and responsible stewardship from the dugong. It consumes a lot of seagrass yet leaves the seagrass bed even healthier than before. When feeding, they help release micronutrients from the seabed, making nutrients more accessible for small fish – and this is why we always see fish swimming with dugongs. This gentle marine mammal living the simplest of lives is one of the best caretakers of our seagrass habitats and the animals that live in them.”

A FAMOUS DUGONG

After 20 years of waiting, I’m finally face-to-face with a dugong. It’s not like a whale that steals your breath because of sheer size, nor a shark that inspires more than just a hint of fear, no matter how small it is. Dugongs are huge but friendly, just like a mermaid Hodor.

Dodong signals us to keep at least five meters away from the obliviously grazing bull, crunching on clumps of Halophila ovalis, which unlike most types of seagrass, has small round leaves instead of flowing grass blades. Dugongs wolf down up to 40 kilogrammes a day, keeping hectares of seagrass pruned and productive. Danny starts shooting.

As the animal ambles closer, I notice fighting scars on his hide. This is Aban, confirms Dodong with a nod. Owing to his good nature and natural curiosity, generations of divers have swam and photographed the scarred, three-meter long dugong, who seems perennially surrounded by colourful golden trevally. I notice his skin is brown and not grey (dugongs only look grey in pictures because they’re usually photographed below three meters), his beady eyes and his serene, Siddhartha Gautama-level expression. 

Magical minutes pass, then we fin up to leave the meditative mammal be. Incredibly, Aban says goodbye, circling around us on the surface. I wave adios as he dives and disappears into the teal waters. 

Though dugongs are protected by law nationwide, they still get accidentally entangled in fishing gear and drown. The once-vast seagrass meadows they depend on for food are being destroyed by coastal reclamation and pollution. By protecting not just dugongs – but the seagrass meadows that support them – tomorrow’s Pinoys might too get a chance to come face to face with the real mermaids of the sea.

We climb back on our boat, exchanging high-fives and fresh tales to share with other environment-lovers. The boat revs its engines and we’re off with big smiles etched on our faces.

To book your dugong adventure, contact the Dugong Dive Center’s Dirk Fahrenbach atinfo@dugongdivecenter.com.

Written by Gregg Yan

Extremely Rare and Historically Important Wood ​​Sculpture by Jose Rizal to be Auctioned​​​

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An oval bas-relief wood sculpture 39 inches long, 18 and a half inches wide and 2 and a half inches high, carved from a single piece of heavy wood, possibly narra, with a dark varnish or stain and made by Philippine National Hero Jose P. Rizal in Dapitan. This extremely rare and historically important artwork will be auctioned at the Leon Gallery on June 9, 2018.

It’s provenance stems from the family of Narcisa Rizal (1852 – 1939), the third sibling of the hero’s family. Narcisa and her daughter Angelica would be frequent visitors to Dapitan and, in fact, they would accompany him when he embarked to Manila at the end of his exile from that distant port.

By the end of the 19th century, “physical culture” or the need for exercise had become a European obsession, beginning first in Germany where it became not just an expression of the highest individual development but also as a symbol for nationalism. A nation was only as strong as its citizens’ health and as beautiful as their well-developed bodies.

Jose Rizal was an avid follower of all things Continental, his stay in Europe—in the shadow of the newly-built Eiffel Tower, for example, while in Paris—and its capitals made sure of that. He absorbed not only precepts of liberty, fraternity and equality but also their representations and methods employed to represent these.

Gaspar Vibal, publisher of rare Filipininanas “The Life, Times and Art of Damian Domingo” and “Flora Filipina”, theorizes that Rizal’s fascinating sculptures represents the national hero’s deliberate contradiction of the Filipino colonial archetypes.

Prior to this sculpture by Jose Rizal, Filipins had been represented as either indolent savages of prettified, emasculated townsfolk. Watercolors of these representations of half-naked tribesmen or ineffectual, over-dressed supernumeraries would circulate in Europe beginning in the latter half of the 19th century, culminating in the humiliating “Expocision General de las Yslas Filipinas de Madrid in 1887. It featured transplanted northern hillsmen dancing daily around carabaos in a backdrop of thatch huts. (Two or three of these Filipinos would, in fact perish, from pneumonia as a result.

It was the anti-thesis of everything Jose Rizal—or for that matter Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo—stood for. A proud Filipino equal to anybody in the world.

In 1890, he would write the incendiary essay “Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos” (On the Indolence of the Filipinos)—laziness as a result of the hot Philippine climate being a favorite put-down of the Spanish. It breathed fire and brimstone, and along with his novels, would account for his exile in Dapitan in 1892 for four long years until his execution.

Therefore, sometime during his exile between 1892 and 1896, Jose Rizal would create this unique and first prototype of the Filipino: virile, muscular and engaged in a highly civilized, European display of strength. The bas relief (or basso-relieve or low-relief) depicts a young man, half-dressed in fashionable gym clothes of the time, knee length pantaloons with a drawstring at the waist; holding aloft a barbell in a typical exercise stance. The figure’s legs are long and well-proportioned with strong calves; his arm muscles as well are well-defined. His upper torso shows off a tight abdomen and a solid chest.

In fact, a case may be made that this could be a self-portrait of the hero himself, as truly, the ‘First Filipino’, not only gifted and mentally acute but also an outstanding physical specimen. Jose Rizal, in profile, bears a striking resemblance to the athlete in the sculpture.

Leon Gallery Announces the Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Leon Gallery has set the date for its much-awaited, scintillating Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2018 on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at its Eurovilla I showrooms on the corner of Rufino Street and Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village in Makati.

Headlining the must-have masterpieces are an exquisite Lorenzo Guerrero of life along the Pasig River. Guerrero, who became most famous as the mentor of the brilliant and internationally-celebrated Juan Luna, was also a wonderful painter in his own right. He was educated by the foremost Spanish instructors at the Manila academia : Manuel de la Cortina, who was himself a graduate of the Madrid art academy and his successor Nicolas Valdez. Guerrero, in fact, was to become the teacher of Manila’s finest artists, from Simon de la Rosa Flores and his nephew Fabian de la Rosa, Felix Martinez and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Telesforo Sucgang, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Jorge Pineda to name a few stellar painters who passed through the portals of the legendary art school.

A 1917 work by one of Guerrero’s star pupils, Fabian de la Rosa, of a charming pair of ponies in a stableyard, provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look of a Manila home, at a time when horses were more common than automobiles.

Fernando Amorsolo — who happened to be Fabian de la Rosa’s nephew — is also in the spotlight with several riveting and early works : A post-war procession outside the ruins of the Antipolo church; works from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, from an orange-streaked sunset scene by the water to glorious country scenes “Under the Mango Tree”  and by a waterfall. The works are all the collections of several distinguished Manila families. A rare urban scene of the massive Ynchausti Rope Factory is a unique view of Manila in the 1920s.

Scintillating Jose Joyas, one ante-dating his historic participation in the Venice Biennale (the Philippines’ first in that august art fair); others from his halcyon years in the 1970s. Other mid-century moderns include Vicente Manansala with a superb work dated 1949 that speaks allegorical almost in a style more typical of Carlos “Botong” Francisco : a trio of women pound rice, in a variety of Filipino costumes, while men pile grain in tall mountains. In the background, a sunlit landscape which suggests the Benguet rice terraces and in the foreground, a large carabao. Another work, datelined Paris, portrays a grieving mother at a child’s bier. Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, and Romeo Tabuena are likewise represented, as are Juvenal Sanso, Oscar Zalameda, Lao Lianben, Malang, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.

A finely-proportioned ‘comoda’ with original marquetry in a floral design, an imposing Sheraton sideboard, and a ‘Mariposa’ butterfly sofa are just some of the impressive furniture to be included in the June sale.

Among the collectible memorabilia, the country’s most iconic heroes are represented. There is a bread-and-butter note (dated 1891) from the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal to the Scottish millionaire Don Alejandro S. Macleod who had thrived in Manila. Letters from various historical personalities to Teodora Alonso are also available in a single lot, including a Rizal family recipe, and more piquantly, the court documents of the suit brought against Rizal’s mother and her brother. Her unjust persecution greatly influenced Rizal’s nationalism.

Most explosive is the narration of Gregoria de Jesus of the last days of Andres Bonifacio as well as a dagger bearing the markings of the Katipunan. This document, while having been featured in works on the Philippine Revolution has never been revealed in full previously and is certainly one of a kind. A rare autographed photograph of the Lakambini of the KKK (dedicated to the journalist Jose P. Santos) and a letter to Emilio Jacinto complete the historical offerings that will fascinate the collector and every patriot.

Apropos, a BenCab of Rizal’s last days in Fort Santiago — and featuring excerpts of his “Ultimo Adios” is also a highlight, alongside an appealing work from his “Larawan” series, inspired by turn-of-the-century Philippine photographs. From the contemporary artists, exciting works by Ronald Ventura, Marcel Antonio, Jon Jaylo, Danilo Dalena, Emmanuel Garibay, Edwin Wilwayco, Manuel Ocampo (with a grim Christmas work) and Jose John Santos III are also featured. The Santos work echoes the themes in the rest of the auction of women of the Philippine Revolution : The painting juxtaposes ladies in traditional Filipino wear with Cretan friezes, a view of a bahay na bato through an archway, and a fragment of an antique door.

President Duterte, DOTr Inaugurate New World-Class Terminal in Mactan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“This is the the most beautiful airport in the country today.”

This was the reaction of President Rodrigo Duterte as he led the inauguration of the new terminal at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) today. 

“Alam ko ang kapasidad ni Art [Tugade]. Bilyonaryo ito. He is a very good planner. He is the valedictorian of our class, kaya alam ko talaga kapasidad nito. Art has my respect and I congratulate him, and his partner [GMR Megawide], for making this project,” President Duterte added.

Department of Transportation Secretary Tugade was likewise pleased with the project, which is part of the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of the administration.

“Napakaganda ng terminal na ito. Ganito ang mga tinataguyod nating proyekto para sa publiko. Gusto natin world-class, at gusto natin mabilis ang trabaho,” said Tugade.

When the Duterte administration took over in mid-2016, the terminal was at 16% completion rate. GMR-Megawide was also originally given a one-year extension to finish the project following an 11-month delay due to land issues. However, Secretary Tugade’s directive was to fast-track construction, and the terminal was delivered in three years, instead of four.

Starting 01 July 2018, the new terminal building will start commercial operations and cater to international flights, while the existing Terminal 1 (T1) building will handle domestic flights.

As the premiere gateway to the Visayas and Southern Philippines, the MCIA is the second largest airport and one of the busiest airports in the Philippines. With a total of 25 international destinations, 30 domestic destinations, and with 26 partner airline carriers, the MCIA has become a viable choice connecting Cebu to the rest of the Philippines and to the rest of the world.

The inauguration was also witnessed by key cabinet members, members of Congress, local government officials, executives from the private partner GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), and airline executives.

Philippine Intercollegiate Debating Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Intercollegiate Debating Championship (PIDC) is back on its 17th year, daring over 200 young debaters and adjudicators to #TakeTheLead in critical thinking through quality discourse. There will also be a forum featuring 24th Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Senator Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino III to enrich this one-of-a-kind experience! #PIDC2018!

For the social media accounts: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialpidc/

Twittter: https://twitter.com/pidconline?lang=en

BDO Private Bank Opens 8th Customer Lounge

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BDO Private Bank has opened the doors to its eighth lounge, another warm and welcoming venue for valued clients to explore opportunities for enhancing and preserving their wealth. 

Located at the 47th floor of the BDO Corporate Center Ortigas, the new lounge is the Bank’s sixth lounge in Metro Manila. The other two are in Cebu and Davao. 

In photo: Directors Johnip G. Cua and Violeta O. LuYm (second and third from left) graced the ribbon-cutting, joining Juan Sabino P. Lizares (Head of the Wealth Advisory & Trust Group, leftmost), and from right, Stella L. Cabalatungan (Head of the Relationship Management Group), Cheryll B. Gavino (Head of the Ortigas Lounge), and Albert S. Yeo (President of BDO Private Bank).

Horizon Land Launches Final Phase of Florida Sun Estates

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Horizon Land, a subsidiary of prime real estate developer, Federal Land, Inc. recently launched the final phase of Florida Sun Estates, a master-planned integrated community in General Trias Cavite, featuring a mix of clustered house and lots, low-rise residential buildings, as well as a commercial complex.

Considered as the sunshine state of Cavite, Florida Sun Estates is inspired by the scenic coastal state of Florida USA, known as the land of endless summer, where fun and communing with nature is a way of life. 

A similar sunny and tropical vibe is nurtured in Florida Sun Estates, more so in the new Orlando phase, a 29,788 sqm development comprised of 161 house and lots, plus resort-inspired amenities and open spaces. Florida Sun Estates offers three type of housing units – the 131 sqm 2-storey single detached unit, Madison; the 126 sqm 2-storey single attached unit, Lauren, and the  86 sqm Bungalow unit, Holly.

This charming Southern community harmonizes rural and urban living, offering residents a peaceful neighborhood that is close to educational and medical facilities as well as commercial, economic and industrial hubs.  Within Florida Sun Estates lies The Plaza, a commercial complex that houses shops, restaurants, recreational spaces, including a transport terminal. 

With all these conveniences, Florida Sun Estates is an ideal community for families who prefer a less-stressful environment and more laid-back lifestyle.  To know more about Florida Sun Estates, visit https://federalland.ph/properties/florida-sun-estates/.

BGC Revs Up Father’s Day with ‘Wheels, Tech, & Grills’

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Bonifacio Global City pulled out all the stops to give dads a super-charged Father’s Day Weekend with “Wheels, Tech, and Grills.”

Returning to Bonifacio High Street for the third time on June 16 and 17, the event will showcase what dads love – handsome cars, cool gadgets, great grub, and more! Bonifacio High Street is the place to treat the #1 man in the house to a well-deserved break!

“BGC teamed up with different groups this year -- ranging from auto, tech, retail, and food to bring a bigger and brighter Father’s Day celebration. Whatever dad’s personality is, he’ll definitely find something interesting to explore at the whole stretch of Bonifacio High Street together with the whole family. It’s our treat for all the dads out there!” says Sean Luarca, Marketing and Community Relations Manager of BGC.

Part of Bonifacio High Street will transform into a car haven of the newest and hottest lineup of automobiles from renowned makers like Bentley, Mercedes Benz, and Harley Davidson, plus rare classics from global car brands. Dads can rub elbows with other car enthusiasts, join a car club, or take part in a die-cast car swap meet led by Diecast PH.

Tech-savvy dads will enjoy exploring a wide collection of gadgets ─ from the latest PCs and laptops to virtual reality/augmented reality gears and cameras. They can also take part in Bosch’s workshop on using the newest power tools at the DIY corner. Dads can try out some of the most popular video games from Sony Play Station and other gaming devices, courtesy of DataBlitz and Summit Media.

Style-conscious dads can score great finds in a new offering this year dubbed as “Market Meet Up.” Check out accessories, and other fancy items from Urban Traveler, Gouache Bags, Pacaro Leather, and many more! Visit a lineup of food pop-ups for yummy grub and cold bottles of beer, as well.

It’s also the time for dads to catch up with their squad-- play a game of hoops or join the quiz night courtesy of Top Gear Philippines. Before the day ends, relax and enjoy the music of top

local acts Franco and True Faith (June 16) as well as Quest, Rouge Band, Johnoy Danao, and Leanne and Naara (June 17) in a free live concert from 7pm onwards at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

Gear up and bring the whole family to BGC on Father’s Day Weekend! “Wheels, Tech, and Grills” is open to the public for free from 11am to 11pm. To know more, visit BGC’s official Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph and www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet/.

New World-class Terminal at Mactan-Cebu International Airport Ready for Inauguration

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Envisioned as the world’s friendliest resort airport, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s (MCIA) Terminal 2 (T2) building is set to be inaugurated today, 07 June 2018.

The inauguration will be led by President Rodrigo Duterte, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, key cabinet members, senators, congressmen, and executives from the private partner, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).

Construction of the new terminal building officially started in June 2015, with the aim of reducing airport congestion and increasing the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 4.5 million passengers per year to 12.2 million. 

“It was our job to make sure that construction will be completed by June 2018 as stated in the contract, and that’s what we did, and that’s why we are here. No delays, no corruption,” said Secretary Tugade.

The new terminal was designed in collaboration with world-class Cebuano and Filipino artists, as well as international design and architectural firms, with the aim to provide a welcoming ambiance that is distinctly Filipino.

With a floor area of 65,000 square meters, twice more than the 27,000 minimum floor area in the concession agreement, the new terminal is designed to increase the airport’s total handling capacity. 

Part of the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the MCIA Terminal 2 will start commercial operations on July 1. The new terminal will cater to international flights, while the existing Terminal 1 will handle domestic flights.

The MCIA is the second largest airport and one of the busiest airports in the Philippines. As the premiere gateway to the Visayas and Southern Philippines, it is currently handling an estimated of 5.9 million passengers per year, which is beyond its capacity of 4.5 million passengers per year.

Top CSR Leaders Share Insights on Transformational Change in Building A Shared Future For Inclusive Growth at The International CSR Summit 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Themed “Building A Shared Future”, The International CSR Summit 2018 was organized by Enterprise Asia, Asia's leading association for Responsible Entrepreneurship to help prepare businesses to build and secure a “Shared Future” by combating urgent issues threatening people and planet. At the summit, world reknowned thought leaders and CSR practitioners came together to define an agenda that catalyses inclusive growth and drives multi-collaborations to address the challenges of our time. 

When small sustainable impacts are no longer enough, leaders must deliver real and powerful impact and solutions to meet Sustainable Development Goals, identify the areas and impacts of the business that needs transformational change.

“Organizations have a powerful role to play in all these, we must develop new models for collaboration and collectively tackle complex sustainability challenges of our times. It is time to step up and take responsibility for sustainability, to create a sustainable future for society as whole” says Dato’ William Ng, President of Enterprise Asia.

Speakers of the summit include Dr. Eugene Chien, former Minister of Environment and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Republic of China, and Advisor to Enterprise Asia; Cheryl Maley, President and Managing Director of Novartis Philippines; Laetitia Lienart, Vice President of  Corporate Citizenship APAC of Credit Suisse; Jun de Dios, President Director of Akzo Nobel, Titon Mitra from UNDP, Dr. Niven Huang, Regional Leader of KPMG Sustainability Services Asia Pacific; Maricel Aguilar from UN WOMEN Philippines and Leo M. Herrera-Lim, Chairman, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR); to name a few.

Cheryl Maley, President and Managing Director of Novartis told the audience that comprehensive transformational change is needed for long-term sustainable impact, and Laetitia Lienart, VP Corporate Citizenship from Credit Suisse presented on turning competitors into collaborators while Leo Herrera-Lim spoke on human rights and inclusiveness in businesses.

ICS 2018 Manila was made possible through the support of its Title Sponsor Universal Harvester, Inc. truly embodying what CSR events and programs stand for. Universal Harvester safeguards the interest and welfare of the farmers by offering the best quality fertilizers at the most reasonable cost, and to help to assist farmers in keeping abreast with the latest technology for maximum yield.

Benilde Alumni Get FAMAS Nods

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two short films made by graduates of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Digital Filmmaking program (BenildeFilm) are nominated in the 66th FAMAS Gabi ng Parangal to be held on June 10, Sunday, at the Theatre at Solaire.

This is the first time that the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences is honoring the year’s best works in the short film and documentary categories.

Carl Chavez‘s Sorry for the Inconvenience and Carlo Fajarda‘s Suerte will vie for the “historic” Best Short Film award along with fellow nominees Aliens Ata by Glenn Barit, Babylon by Keith Deligero, Dory by Beverly Ramos, Engkwento by Ryan Machado, Gikan sa Ngitngit Nga Kinailadman by Kiri Dalena, Hilom by P. R. Patindol, Link by Mike Esteves and Si Astri Maka Si Tambulah by Xeph Suarez.

In Sorry for the Inconvenience, a timid teenager named Joshua (Ronwaldo Martin) comes home one night after beaten up by the school’s bully. With revenge on his mind, the teenager decides to take matters into his own hands. When things don’t go as planned, he is left with no choice but to seek help from his policeman father (Simon Ibarra). Cherry Malvar and Luis Ruiz also provide support.

The film bagged the Best Short Film award at the Cinema One Originals 2017 last November. It also competed at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last August.

On the other hand, Suerte follows two amateur filmmakers (played by Fajarda himself and the film’s director of photography and editor Phillipe Quintos) shooting a documentary about the drug trade. While they go along with their subjects, brothers Betong (Karl Medina) and Roel (Dan Medrana), their dangerous obsession with their project forces them to cross the line between observer and creator.

Fajarda’s thesis film competed in the Wide Angle category of the Busan International Film Festival and in the Southeast Asian short film competition of the 28th Singapore International Film Festival last year.

Meanwhile, Nawruz Bernardo Paguidopon‘s God Bliss Our Home, Jewel Maranan‘s Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang and Victor Delotavo Tagaro‘s Yield also made FAMAS history as the award-giving body’s first-ever nominees for Best Documentary Film.

Cinemalaya winner Respeto leads all films this year with 15 nominations, followed by QCinema Best Film Balanginga, Howling Wilderness with 11 and Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture Ang Larawan, Philippine entry to the Oscars Birdshot and the documentary Yield, with six nods each. Love You to the Stars and Back, Changing Partners, Nervous Translation and Historiographika Errata have five nominations each.

FAMAS is undergoing a major facelift this year. An independent jury, which is headed by award-winning writer Ricardo “Ricky” Lee and composed of film practitioners, critics and educators as members, selected the nominees and will vote for the winners.

Piolo Pascual, Kim Chiu and Robi Domingo will host this year’s awards night with Megavision’s Madonna Sanchez serving as the program’s executive producer.