The After Six Club Accused of Scam, Changed Contest Mechanics On Last Minute

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS: This is a complaint against The After Six Club suddenly changing the mechanics of a social media contest on the last minute of the event.

The organizers were insisting that they have the right to change contest mechanics even on the last minute of the contest.

Wow! Even a child would know that is wrong and unacceptable.

Calling on Drew Binsky, this is obviously a scamming group. Avoid them and help us expose this people.

Speaking with The After Six Club EIC Author Kath Eustaquio-Derla via their official Facebook page, she checked if  the complainant who sent messages on their official Facebook page was invited to cover as media or blogger/vlogger. She was informed that the complainant registered as an attendee since the event was open to the public. Later, the complsinants was prevented in messaging the page. Blocked it seems!

Unlike Anton Diaz or the other influencers there,  the complainant registered. Similar to his participation at the event of Nas Daily held at the Mall of Asia where we also did a video composed of the crowd that attended. We saw ourselves on the video too.

Most of the attendees were there as fans, but since somebof us are bloggers and vloggers as well, it has been habitual to also take photos and videos, and when the need arises, upload immediately especially when there's a social media competition announced.

Bloggers are very competitive thus we often win because we pay close attention to the instructions and try to be as creative as possible

So when they, Kassy Pajarillo  founder of The After Six Club and Ricky Shetty of Daddyblogger.com, announced that the person with the most number of posts will win a 3days and 2nights stay in Boracay, we were naturally excited to participate since we want to see the island after it's 6-month hiatus brought about by the order of the President to rehabilitate it.

Thus, we did our usual routine at every event coverage we attend, took videos and lots of photos, and since there's a contest, immediately uploaded the photos and some short videos after every segment break. Like after the event introduction where they announced the social media contest, after Drew Binsky's introduction of himself, after a few Q&A, after Edwin Nombre's talk, after Cora's talk, after the donation portion, after the group video where we had to shout some words prepared by Drew Binsky, after the group photo with the other influencers, after the selfie with Drew, and so on.

As you can probably imagine, we were working fast-paced and thanks to our data connection, we were able to upload immediately in an effort to win the contest.

However, towards the end of the event when Kassy was announcing winners of minor prizes, she kept adding new hashtags and announced a different mechanics for the contest.

That was absurd! Why will they suddenly change the contest mechanics at the last part of the event when all uploaded already content based on the original instruction?

Was it to favor someone else to win? Nobody would just change the mechanics of a contest after everyone already did their part to join, and posts lots on Facebook, for a chance to win the Boracay contest, and also they never announced the criteria of their choice for a winner. It was not a computer-generated choice, neither the one with the most Likes, but just whoever they prefer to win.

We smell something fishy here. Maybe they like her more because she was with a child that was actively engaging with Drew?

It is a good thing that a few of us were video recording, so their original announcement was recorded thus having proof without any doubt. It was loud and clear on video so they cannot deny it

However, we were shocked that when we approached them to complain, they seem to be oblivious of their original announcement, and they even told us "Would you like a planner instead?" that coming from the The After Six Founder, Kassy Pajarillo herself. Good thing a friend was there to witness what she said. Our friend just tried to calm the complainant away, and said he will try to talk to them later since he knows the members of The After Six Club.

As we left the area temporarily to answer the call of nature,  our attention was called by a lady wearing Tje Afyer Sicmx Club shirt, as we passed by her before continuing on our way to the bathroom below, she was told about the incident, and clearly emphasized about the original contest mechanics that was announced at the start of the event, but she just said "I'm sorry. Next event na lang.'" like confirming it was true but realizing also that Kassy suddenly changed the mechanics during the last minutes of the event when majority were busy lining up for a selfie with Drew Binsky.

Ninja moves! She probably thought people won't mind since they were too starstruck with Drew. But since we were more observant and engaged with everything that was happening, this incident was clearly a complete turnaround of the original contest mechanics.

Why did she made this other person to win? Are they friends? The winner seems to be the mother of one of the kids who were present there. One of the kids was even given control of a microphone and started talking as if he was one of the emcees. It was not normal for kids to be there unless thet are with their parents who are equalky engaged in social media and/or fans of Drew.

Though we were happy to meet Drew, there seems to be something bigger to prompt us to dig deeper here, and we are challenged to find out the organizer's connection with this particular winner.

Call it investigative bloggerism. We need to expose these scammers.


They changed their minds twice. When they first announced the Boracay prize, it was to be raffled among the attendees of the event

Then at the event they changed it to whoever will post the most on social media with the hashtag #DrewBinskyInManila

Then on the last minutes of the event when they were already giving away minor prizes, and everyone was busy lining up for a selfie with Drew, they changed the mechanics to three  hashtags  (#EmbraceAmbition and #TheAfterSix and #DrewBinskyInManila), must be checked in online at the venue, and the best post about their dream ambition...

As you can see. ..it was very intentional


#WazzupPilipinas #DrewBinskyInManila #PambansangBlogger #TheAfterSix #MyTownPH

Cusi: Scientific Assessment of Going Nuclear Shouldn't Be Taboo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

PH NUCLEAR TEAM:

PH NUCLEAR TEAM: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (center), together with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Division Director Dohee Han and the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) members headed by Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos, gather for a photo after the morning session of the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission held on Monday, 10 December, at the Makati Shangri-La, Manila hotel. "The more we learned about nuclear energy, the more open we became about it," Cusi said in his keynote address.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted Monday (10 December) the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INRI) Mission at the Shangri-La Makati hotel as part of the activities of the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO).

“In the spirit of technology neutrality, I decided to reignite the discourse on nuclear power despite its being taboo,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi underscored.

He also highlighted that the Philippines has ranked first among 125 countries in the Energy Trilemma Index of the World Energy Council in the last four years, with a renewable energy share of 24.6% in the country's generation mix.

However, the DOE chief expressed his concern over the country trailing behind in terms of energy security and energy equity, which are the two other dimensions of the Energy Trilemma. The Philippines placed 70th on energy security and came in at 96th place for energy equity.

Thus, the DOE is openly considering the feasibility of introducing nuclear power into the energy mix of the country in the race to provide uninterrupted, secure, reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity throughout the archipelago. This would also improve the country’s over-all Energy Trilemma Index rank, which currently stands at 74th out of 125 countries.

At the onset of the Duterte Administration, the DOE has adopted a technology neutral approach to allow the unhindered consideration of all options to achieve the energy goals of the Philippines.

The nuclear event serves as the country’s status report to the IAEA of progress made relative to the 19 infrastructure issues that need to be addressed before the Philippines is able to embark on a full nuclear energy program.

The event was attended by IAEA Nuclear Division Director Dohee Han; IAEA Review Team Leader Milko Kovachev; other IAEA personalities and partners from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); and members of the NEPIO headed by DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos.

The country’s initial undertakings on the nuclear energy option with the support of IAEA and PNRI include the establishment of NEPIO in 2016 and the DOE’s submission to the Office of the President of its proposed national position on nuclear energy in April 2018.

The energy chief assures the public that the government will continue to apply a calculated and scientific approach in evaluating the feasibility of nuclear energy for power generation, and ensure that the nuclear policy of the country will be comprehensive and sound, especially in terms of safety.

Sec. Cusi concluded, “We need to make the Philippines energy secure and equitable in the midst of ever-growing demand. We need to generate inclusive and sustainable economic development and make the country globally competitive.”

OTHER PHOTO:

NUCLEAR OPTION: During the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission held on Monday, 10 December, at Makati Shangri-La, Manila Hotel, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (center) highlighted the country's achievements on environmental sustainability. He stressed that a nuclear option could answer the country's lag in energy security and energy equity. The event on nuclear initiatives was attended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headed by Nuclear Division director Dohee Han (left), and the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) members headed by Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos (right).

EQUITABLE POWER: During his keynote address at the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission held on Monday, 10 December, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi emphasized that the country's archipelagic geography makes the pursuit of total electrification a most challenging endeavor. In areas that do have access to power, the costs are high. He explained that a comprehensive nuclear program could help find solutions to this matter.

Make Money While Traveling: 6 How-To Tips

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Traveling is a great way to get out there and see the world, but sadly you still need to earn some money if you want to do stuff. Take a look at our top 6 tips, and see for yourself just how easy it is to keep your wallet nice and full.

Look for work in bars and hostels
Every bar in the world is on the lookout for young energetic staff, so why not be one of them? Better still, you’ll come across plenty of hotels with bars that will offer you free accommodation as part of the deal. Can’t say fairer than that can you?


Find work as an au pair so you can meet more of the locals

If you want to integrate with the locals, then working as a nanny or au pair is a great way to go about it. There is plenty of work in most countries around the world, and it’ll allow you an up close and personal look at how the locals live. You never know, they may invite you around for a traditional dinner from time to time too!


If you’re in a non-English speaking country, use your language skills to work as a guide

Tour guides are always in short supply in tourist hotspots, especially ones who are fluent in English. Use your in-demand native tongue to your advantage by working as a tour guide for a few weeks. You’ll be sure to earn a good return for your hard work.

Not only that, but you’ll get to spend your time socializing and walking about in the sun. What could be a better way to get paid than that?


Fruit picking is a great way to earn some money outdoors in the summer

If you love the outdoors, then picking fruit with the sun on your back is a great way to go about it. Granted, it’s highly seasonal work, but so is travel for the large part!

Find a spot in a stunning bit of countryside and you’ll be sure of a couple of months of consistent hours. In sunnier climates a lot of pickers work early in the morning to beat the sun. This makes it the perfect job if you want to take a siesta and then head out into town in the early evening. 


Use online tools to write when you’re on your travels

Services like Trust My Paper are great for the writers amongst you, because they enable you to earn money without being tied to a specific geographical location. You’ll need to make sure you have a power outlet and reliable internet connection to hand, so don’t venture too deep into the jungle!

That said, with a little organization and focus, you’ll be able to cover all of your travel expenses in just a couple of hours a day. Ideal if you want to ensure you have more than enough time to go and see the sights before sunset.


Teach English as a foreign language

The final top tip that we have for you today, is to consider working as a foreign language teacher. Learning English is big business all around the world, especially in Asia and the Middle East.

By using one of your skills to earn money, you can get paid for doing something that comes naturally to you. Ideal if you want to be able to enjoy your time abroad, safe in the knowledge that you’ll never find it hard to earn the money you need to go and do things.

Final Thoughts
Earning money on your travels is all about identifying the skills you have which will allow you to earn money on a consistent basis as you move from place to place. With a little planning and foresight you should be able to ensure that you never run low on funds.

Joey Concepcion Recognized as One of the Outstanding Filipinos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hailed as this year’s outstanding Filipino, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion was recognized in his sterling contribution in the advancement of the micro, small and medium enterprises in the Philippines and elevates the entrepreneurship spirit through programs of prosperity for all.

Concepcion was among the four eminent personalities in the country that was awarded in the The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFIL) held in Quezon City last December 5.

Among the awardees were Fr. Benigno P. Beltran for Community and Humanitarian Service; Congressman Raul V. Del Mar for Public Service; and Dr. Hilly Ann Maria Roa-Quiaoit for Environmental Conservation.

Conceived in 1988, TOFIL Award is an annual event and an honor given by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippines to distinguished Filipino men and women, 41 years of age and over, whose exemplary achievements are worthy of emulation.

Embodying this year’s theme, “Leaving a Legacy for a Better Philippines,” the awardees substantiate Filipinos’ valuable contributions that resulted to upliftment of the lives of many and led to the enhancement of the country. Through this, they transfigure symbol of excellence in community service and later on humanize the institutions belief that "service to humanity is the best work of life."

Why Real Estate Brokers Should Master Online Real Estate Marketing

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the busy and fast-paced world of real estate, marketing is always a valuable tool. However, marketing today looks a lot different than that of just a few years ago. As businesses turn increasingly digital, it has never been a more important time for professionals immersed in real estate to ride the digital wave and apply new and updated skills and technologies to their own practices.

For real estate brokers, their roles as marketers are one of the key parts of their work. It is up to brokers to make sure they are constantly marketing not just client properties, but the community, their services, and themselves. But how does one achieve this in the digital age? The answer lies in adapting--learning, re-skilling, and utilizing available resources to stay competitive in the ever-changing market. For brokers, this means exploring and mastering online real estate marketing.

Why and how should real estate brokers adapt to digital marketing? For an innovation with the power to increase your business exponentially, it’s important to know what is at stake:

1. The world is moving to the Internet.

In a world where even the smallest processes of daily life,  such as buying food or groceries, have become automated and digitized, it is not surprising that most people would opt to go online for a decision as big and important as buying a home. For the typical property-seeker, it is much easier to have hundreds of options at their fingertips rather than pursuing more traditional means of looking for homes. Real estate brokers must acknowledge this and thus position themselves in a way that they’re visible, up-to-date, and approachable online. Primarily, most real estate searches begin online--today, this is where real estate professionals need to be. Start with a digital marketing strategy or plan, and work your way forward. Market your listings online. Build a website.

2. Presence and engagement will keep you on top of the competition.

Establishing an online presence opens you up not only to new customers but also keeps already existing customers engaged. Networking on social media, for example, is a technique which allows brokers to keep in touch with buyers and also have the potential to strike up new leads. Brokers will stay in line with their duty towards customer needs and satisfaction and also generate potential sales. Through the digitalization of nearly everything, customers still need the human touch when it comes to transactions. As brokers, this is where you must come in to ensure customers still get a personal experience. Engagement is the way to accomplish this.

3. In a sea of voices, you must establish your own.

The face of marketing has truly evolved--today, customers value experience-based advertising rather than archaic one-size-fits-all cold pitches. With the Internet at their disposal, people now do much more research on their own before talking to real estate professionals.

This makes branding a significant part of marketing your business. The brand is vital to keep you afloat in the market, especially with several competitors surely taking advantage of digital tools to empower their businesses. Content marketing is a great way to get your brand’s vision across, at the same time giving potential customers the experience-based insight they would want to consume before thinking about going into a transaction with you, which they wouldn’t otherwise get through more traditional marketing tactics. Reviews, blog posts, articles--digital storytelling is the truly authentic way to connect with property-seekers.

4. Utilize tools to turn leads into sales.

Tech is changing our world faster than we can grasp, but as more technology becomes available, individuals and businesses must utilize as many forms and channels as they can to grow. For real estate, for example, it becomes easier to target potential customers with several online tools such as SEO. With analytics tools, it becomes likewise easier for you to measure your marketing effectively. To increase presence, even more, you can go mobile. Apps make it much easier for property-seekers to search for potential homes.

If you are a real estate professional looking to grow your business further with digital marketing, training sessions with Lamudi Academy are open and available to both Lamudi subscribers and non-subscribers. Lamudi’s very own training program is geared to help real estate brokers master the world of online real estate marketing was launched just this year.

A comprehensive training package of six courses on topics such as top online lead generation channels; the power of online real estate marketing platforms, such as Lamudi; converting online leads into sales; improving online marketing strategies; digital trends in real estate; and understanding the market. No other training program will equip real estate brokers with such comprehensive skill set and knowledge necessary to stay ahead in the digital age.

To learn more about Lamudi Academy, visit the website.

First Pinoy App Nominated as Global Finalist to the NASA Space Apps Challenge

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Among the 2,729 teams in 200 locations all over the world who participated in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, an app made by Filipino innovators was nominated first time by NASA scientists and experts to become a finalist at the global level. Altogether, they will join the top 25 in competing for the six winners of the biggest hackathon in the universe.

The winning app seeking to communicate scientific data to fishermen even without Internet connection was made by IT professionals Revbrain G. Martin, Marie Jeddah Legaspi, and Julius Czar Torreda from team iNON, which stands for "It's now or never." Named ISDApp, from the Tagalog word "isda" meaning fish, it sends useful information to fishermen such as real-time weather, sunrise and sunset, wind speed, and cloud coverage to plan their fishing activities in catching more fish using the NASA GLOBE Observer app, a data collection from citizen scientists around the world used in concert with NASA satellite data to identify or communicate information, and educating the public about planet Earth. Fishermen will receive SMS notifications from the Amazon Web Services gateway while local government officials would manage their details using a smartphone app connected to the cloud. NASA scientists and experts consider this fisherfolk app made by Pinoys as one of the solutions "with the most potential to improve life on Earth or in the universe," therefore nominated as global finalist for Galactic Impact.

The fishermen app won in the local level on Friday-Sunday, October 19-21, 2018 at De La Salle University, Malate, Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States of America to the Philippines and PLDT. US Embassy deputy chief of mission John C. Law, PLDT Enterprise Core Business Research and Development head Leandro T. Santos, DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development deputy executive director Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, Department of Information and Communications Technology senior planning officer Yvette M. Cabrera, and Animo Labs executive director Federico C. Gonzalez served as jurors at the local level.

An emergency checklist kit app designed for disaster preparedness also won at the local level developed by students Jeorge Loui P. Delfin, Bluen Ginez, Samuel Jose, Rainier G. Narboneta, and Eugenio Emmanuel A. Araullo. Other projects and solutions developed during the hackathon are games using images from the Hubble Space Telescope, augmented reality mobile app to tell a story of the changes in the Arctic and Antarctic ice, artificial intelligence app helping scientists confirm the habitability of exoplanets, and story-based game using NASA Earth imagery. They joined together with teams of coders, scientists, developers, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and everyone around the globe working together in a 48-hour sprint to develop solutions to some of the most pressing challenges on Earth and in space, using NASA resources and data.

A day-long data bootcamp was held to learn new concepts, strategies and skills from keynote speakers, panelists, and mentors. Michael Carroll from Urban Engine in Huntsville, AL and NASA Earth Science Division senior advisor Dr. Patricia Jacobberger introduced Space Apps through a virtual talk while NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, orbiting aboard the International Space Station welcomed everyone to the event. US Embassy science fellow Dr. Anondo Mukherjee and US Fulbright fellow Sarah Marie Hartman gave an online lecture about the Earth's environment. DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute acting director Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. and PHL-Microsat program leader Dr. Marc Caesar R. Talampas discussed microsatellite development and advanced technologies in the Philippines.

Several mentors coming from different backgrounds such as YSEALI alumni Ryan Madrid and Malcolm Flores, De La Salle University professors Jordan Aiko P. Deja and Neil Patrick A. Del Gallego, PHL-Microsat engineers Ariston N. Gonzalez, Lorenzo Sabug, Jr., Benjamin Joseph D. Jiao, and Carlo D. Pastoral, Amazon Web Services developers John Luis Garcia, Dennis Magsajo, and Randy Bardaje, Animo Labs incubatee and MachiBox CEO Simon Gregory Mabanta, VR Philippines lead Cristopher David, Mobility IT 4 Youth lead Art Polo Gabriel III, nuclear physicist Dr. Jasmine Albelda, and entrepreneur Ibba Bernardo guided participants in creating their winning apps and solutions to solve problems on Earth and space. Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary Monchito B. Ibrahim gave an inspiring message to the participants. IdeaSpace and Animo Labs looked upon promising projects and solutions that might have a business potential.

During the hackathon period, teams are expected to find solutions to themed challenges put forth by NASA. They work together with the rest of the world on hackathon weekend to devise creative and innovative solutions to these challenges. Projects do not have to be apps and anyone does not need to become a computer programmer to participate. Participants collaborate to build anything — from open-source software, hardware, data visualizations, and citizen science platforms, to videos, art, and other communications solutions — aimed at addressing global challenges. The overarching theme of the 2018 challenges is "Earth and Space," underscoring the connections between major challenges, and the potential solutions to them, both on Earth and in space. The 2018 mainstage Space Apps event was hosted by Urban Engine in the US Space and Rocket Center at Huntsville, AL, also known as "The Rocket City."

Since its inception in 2012, the International Space Apps Challenge has become the world’s largest global hackathon, engaging thousands of global citizens to collaborate in building innovative solutions to complex challenges using NASA’s open data. Hackathons are technology development marathons that draw on the talents and initiative of bright-minded people. Space Apps inspires local innovation communities to convene, cooperate, and create.

The 2018 hackathon was organized by Matt T. Keener, Jeanie M. Duwan, Randolf D. Mariano, and Xavier E. Lara from the American Spaces Philippines of the US Embassy and Kai Shan L. Fernandez, Christine M. Abrigo, Donna Lyn G. Labangon,  Kevin Anthony Y. Kaw, and Dr. Rafael A. Cabredo from De La Salle University. Another hackathon was organized at Makati-Bonifacio Global City by Womensphere. In the past years, Tzar C. Umang brought Space Apps in Dagupan, Pangasinan on 2016 while Art Polo Gabriel III, Wilson Censon, and Tito Mari Francis Escaño organized one in PLDT InnoLab in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde also hosted Space Apps on 2017 by Dr. Edward M. Moises, Norman Lee, and Catherine Valdellon-Mojado.

Lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas is very thankful that NASA scientists and experts recognized the skills and talents of Filipinos in building projects and open-source solutions that address real-world problems, on Earth and in space, and hoping that Filipinos would win the competition.

Please use the hashtags: #SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH

The Best Filipino Writers Of All Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Love to read? Many of us do. Great writers can take us into realms that we have never seen in real life. Filipino authors have also contributed greatly to the world’s greatest literature. They have truly created some of the most magical works of literature.

Here are some of the best Filipino authors of all time:


Jessica Hagedorn

This female author is namely known for her novel Dogeaters which came out in 1990. She was born and she grew up in the Philippines but then she moved to San Francisco as a teenager. Her book won the American Book Award and also almost won the National Book Award.  Her heritage is largely a mix between Spanish, Philippino, French, Irish and Chinese. This book shows that there are many layers of Filipino people and society as well as that there is a huge American influence on the entertainment market. She also writes poetry and plays.

Her play, Mango Tango was created and produced in the 1978 when she moved to New York where she currently resides with her daughters.


Nick Joaquin

Nick Joaquin won the National Artist Award For Literature and he is probably one of the most esteemed writers in Philippines. He came from an educated family and his first written work was published when he was only 17. Then he won a scholarship that took him to Hong Kong. When he returned to Manilla he worked as a journalist for many years, sharing his intellectual work with the country and rising the standards of journalism. When he returned to writing intellectual work, he wrote a book called The Woman With Two Navels which became essential reading in Philippines. He also wrote a lot of short stories which are interesting and more approachable to the newcomers.


F. Sionil Jose

“This writer reveals a lot about the social justice and his books have been translated into 22 languages. The Rosales Saga is a a five-part book that follows a family and how their life changes over 100 years. His other books are enlightening because they show the world the life in Philippines, especially the provincial parts. He was an anti-elitist and this made him quite unpopular in the past but he later received high acclaim and he became internationally popular.”, says Andy Sachs, a regular contributor to Draftbeyond and Writinity.



Luis Francia

Luis Francia is an award-winning author who lived in New York for many years but he was still under a strong impression of his life and upbringing in Philippines which continued to influence his work and his stories. He was a poet, an author and a teacher since he went to New  York after finishing college. There he wrote the Village Voice newspaper and Eye Of The Fish, his memoir which won many awards.

Jose Rizal

“This is a Philippines’ national hero and a writer as well as poet and essay writer. His novels Noli me Tangere or El Filibusterismo revealed the injustice of colonization and praised the Philippines in its most organic state. These novels paint a great picture of the culture, people, history and how it all reflects today,” says Isabelle Fidel, an author at Researchpapersuk and Last Minute Writing.

Unfortunately, Jose Rizal was executed when he was 35 for these books which were also banned but he also started a revolution that created a way for Philippines to have their independence. However, his books and poems are more than just history, they are also literary masterpieces that influenced writers across the globe and especially Filipino writers.

There are many great Filipino authors out there, some old and some still creating great work. These have been just some of the greatest and the most popular authors from Philippines

Martina Sanchez works as an entrepreneur and a content marketing specialist with Lucky Assignments (https://luckyassignments.com/) and Gum Essays (https://gumessays.com/). She loves writing and contributing to her blog where she talks about digital marketing, SEO tips and tricks etc.

Get Into the Holiday Groove at WBF 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Now on its 18th edition, the World Bazaar Festival (WBF), the country’s longest running annual charity bazaar, returns with another fantastic holiday presentation! Officially opening its doors last December 12 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, WBF 2018 held a grand opening ceremony at the lobby of the bazaar venue.

Spotted during the momentous affair were select VIP personalities including DSWD Assistant Sec. Glenda Relova, Justin Brownlee and Renaldo-Balkman with celebrity guests PhoemeLa Baranda, Miles Ocampo, Dimples Romana and Toni Gonzaga alongside Worldbex Services International’s Founding Chairman Mr. Joseph Ang, Co-Founder Levi S. Ang, Managing Director Jill Aithnie Ang, as well as key officers Rene Ramos and Tessie Roque.

Every Christmas, WBF never fails to mount a spectacular holiday show that gives bazaar goers something new and exciting to look forward to. This year, WBF draws inspiration from the pure and unfiltered memories of yuletides past to present a “Boogie Woobie” Christmas – a retro-inspired celebration that invites everyone to take part in a groovy and nostalgia-infused holiday shindig.

Apart from the awesome bazaar installations and splendid holiday decors inside the bazaar halls, bazaar goers are sure to be impressed by the massive array of shopping finds and fabulous gift ideas that abound at WBF 2018. With nearly 800 booths on display which features top brands, local makers and even foreign retailers. WBF is truly the most incredible one-stop shop for all of your holiday shopping needs.

There's so much in store for everyone with the fantastic bazaar highlights that await at WBF 2018. Among these include the Designers’ Avenue, where one can find a wide range of branded apparel and accessories at affordable prices as well as the holiday edition of Bloggers United, where fans can meet and shop the closets of the metro’s top fashion and beauty bloggers.

Another star-studded affair at WBF 2018 is the Celebrity Pavilion, a designated area within the bazaar where local celebrities set up their own booths to sell brand new products as well as their own pre-loved clothes and belongings. Aside from the unique shopping finds, the Celebrity Pavilion is also a great way for fans to get up close and personal with their favorite showbiz personalities. Other bazaar zones to check out include the Christmas Village, BFAR and Department of Agriculture Pavilion.

Knowing full well that the holidays will not be complete without the music, cheers, and festivities, bazaar goers are also in for a treat with the family-centered events that will be held throughout the 11-day run of WBF such as the Streetdance Competition, Himig ng Pasko, Woobie’s Kid Idol Competition and Christmas Carol with the Angels

After a productive day of shopping, bazaar goers can recharge and unwind over a plethora of mouthwatering food choices and drinks over at Woobie’s Food World. Before heading home, bazaar goers are also encouraged to drop by at Woobie’s Goodies, a massive food shop where one can find a delectable array of holiday sweets and treats. 

WBF 2018 Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting Photo Caption:

Experience an unforgettable Retro-tastic Christmas! The 18th World Bazaar Festival is now open until December 22 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. The event is organized by Worldbex Services International. Hailing the opening ceremony were VIPs, celebrities and WSI executives. <L-R> Ms. Miles Ocampo, Ms. Toni Gonzaga, Ms. Dimples Romana, Mr. Justin Brownlee - Brgy. Ginebra Player, Ms. Phoemela Baranda, Mr. Rene Ramos - WSI Director, Ms. Tessie Roque - WSI Director, Mr. Renaldo - Balkman - NBA New York Knicks and Alab Pilipinas Import, Mr. Joseph Ang - WSI Founding Chairman, ASec. Glenda Relova - Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), Mrs. Levi Ang - WSI Co-Founder, Ms. Jill Aithnie Ang - WSI Managing Director and Mr. Paul Mercado - Chief Marketing Officer of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.

Organized by Worldbex Services International and presented in partnership with ABS-CBN, the 18th World Bazaar Festival runs until December 22, 2018, from Sunday to Thursday at 12:00nn to 10:00pm and Friday to Saturday at 10:00am to 12:00mn at the World Trade Center Manila. The bazaar is for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation. For more information, follow @worldbazaarfestival on Facebook and Instagram, call (02) 656-9239, or email inquire@worldbexevents.com.

PHLPost Released Commemorative Stamps to Mark GenSan 50th Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released new commemorative stamps featuring the City Government of General Santos to commemorate its 50th Cityhood Anniversary.

General Santos City is a First class highly urbanized city in Mindanao. Formerly known as Dadiangas, the city is named after General Paulino Santos, a former Commanding General of the Philippine Army.

Postmaster General Joel Otarra said that aside from being the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City has a great variety of unique travel destinations with countless beautiful places, and more importantly, a sense of history and a dynamic, cultural diversity.

He added that it is only fitting to recognize the efforts of the city government to highlight this important milestones by  issuing four (4) different designs of commemorative stamps to show the rich history, places, marine life and the world famous Tuna of General Santos City. 

The launching and unveiling of the 50^thAnniversary Commemorative Stamp was participated by General Santos City Mayor Ronnel C.Rivera and Postmaster General Joel L. Otarra.

PHLPost has printed 60,000 copies of the four (4) colorful designed stamps by PHLPost in-house graphic designer Victorino Z. Serevo which is being sold at P12.00 each.

The stamps and official first day cover will be available starting today at the Philatelic Counter, Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and selected Area Post Offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-32.

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Cirque du Festin: A CRSmas Bazaar at Eton Walk Centris

Wazzup Pilipinas!

🎵"It's everything you ever want, it's everything you ever need, and it's here right in front of you; this is where you want to be." 🎵 -The Greatest Showman

COOOME ONE,
COOOME AAALLL!!!

The UP Communication Research Society invites you to its annual Christmas bazaar, ‘CIRQUE DU FESTIN,’ happening this DECEMBER 15 at ETON WALK CENTRIS! Witness live performances from emerging local artists while you explore the best goodies and gifts our concessionaires have to offer.

Funds raised from this event will go to the Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid Foundation, allowing you to also contribute to the happiness of our Filipino brothers and sisters.

Spread the joy and love with us this Christmas! See you there!

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: CIRQUE DU FESTIN
December 15, 2018
Eton Centris Walk

This event is in partnership with
DZUP
INQUIRER.net
InqPOP
SparkUp
Wazzup Pilipinas
ASTIG.PH

Sponsored by
Mogu Mogu Manila

Also brought to you by
UP Pre-Medical Society
Architectural Students' Association of the Philippines - UP Chapter
UP Women's Basketball Club - UP Bolera

Special thanks to
UP Economics Society
UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo
UP SPECA : University of the Philippines Speech Communication Association
UP Enkindle
UP Philosophy for Children Society

LexMeet App Offers Easy Access to Lawyers, Affordable Legal Consultations Right At Your Fingertips

Wazzup Pilipinas!

One of the hardest task to do, aside from reaching out to our government to listen to our pleads, is to get the services of a capable lawyer to fight for our legal rights.

A visit to a lawyer could mean a very costly experience. The initial consultation may already be difficult on the budget, especially if you need to make efforts to visit the lawyer at his office. This becomes a real challenge if you are living at far-flung areas, or working in the provinces or other countries. Filipinos would often seek lawyers of their own race especially when against other races. Not to be discriminative, but it is always easier to converse and discuss the merits or demerits of a case when it is with our fellow Filipino.

I have been familiar with Lexmeet for quite some time now since I've been seeing promotional write-ups about it on the Facebook group which I manage. Some bloggers even recommended itvto me when I had problems with another online publication who was spreading negatively impacting messages to event organizers.

Now, I was recently invited to the launch of their mobile app which further adds convenience in looking for the better lawyer.

Though all these innovations do not change the quality or atittude of existing lawyers, the conveniences they provide are worthy to look at. Mobile apps have continued to rule the economy for its capability to ease the usually strenous activities. From manually hailing a cab, ordering food, booking a room or flight, shopping for groceries, purchasing new car batteries, or calling for road assistance, getting items delivered to or picked up from, even getting a haircut, or hiring cleaners for our homes, has been made a lot more easier thanks to companies that have implemented the use of mobile apps.

The Lexmeet founder deserves praise for such an innovation, but it would have been better if he could also make lawyers never to decline any case. The only hurdle with regards to lawyers is their option to choose only the cases they are comfortable in handling. The tedious search for a lawyer may have been mde more faster, however, only their initial consultation rates may have been made more affordable. Once they've accepted your case, then they can go back charging their usual exorbitant fees.

The primary targeted clients of Lexmeet founders are oyr OFWs, and could only provide pro-bono services to low-income and PWD clients.

Note that Senatorial hopeful and former Solicitor General Florin "Pilo" Hilbay, dropped by to support the Lexmeet mobile app launch.

For more details, below is their official press release.

Seeking legal advice on lawyers is now made more convenient and affordable as LexMeet (www.lexmeet.com), a real-time on-demand online legal consultation webspace where lawyers and clients meet to solve legal problems is now launching its mobile application.

Starting November 2018, the LexMeet App can now be downloaded in Google Play (http://bit.ly/LexMeetbeta) and its IOS version will be soon available for download in App Store.

LexMeet solves difficulties on clients getting proper guidance on their problems that need legal remedies. Aside from fake attorneys lurking in the web as well as the nuances of Philippine law, there are also the rampant misinterpretations of common legal issues that just add unnecessary confusion to a prospective client seeking legal advice. In addition, the lack of access—physical or online—to a lawyer also compounds the issue, especially for Filipinos working overseas. All these concerns are what LexMeet wants to address - lawyer and legal service accessibility to the masses - by making online legal consultations readily available for Filipinos everywhere without breaking the bank.

Using the LexMeet app couldn’t be any simpler. After the client registered their personal details for free, they can purchase credits—for as low as P500- via Paypal, Dragonpay, Coins.Ph and later on Google Pay payment gateways. Clients can initiate a legal consultation request where LexMeet will match their legal problem with a lawyer specialists that meets their requirements. Example, when a client submits his/her legal problem about the title of his/her condominium unit, LexMeet gives him/her a lawyers list with specialisation in Condominium Law. Clients have to submit in advance their legal inquiries and provide their stories, objectives and questions as well as supporting documents through LexMeet sign-up forms. All consultations are conducted over video or voice call— possibly imposing for non-tech-savvy folk, but nevertheless more effective than a lifeless chat window. Their credits are automatically paid to their matched lawyer after the meeting ends. Ratings and feedback mechanism help ensure that LexMeet’s crowdsourced network of 250 lawyers provide quality consults, which seems to be the case as it boasts over 7,500 clients and counting.

LexMeet, a wordplay on the Latin word for “law” and workplace verbatim for setting office meetings is founded by Atty. Marlon Valderama, Managing Partner of Valderama Law Office and the country's pioneer when it comes to e-lawyering. He introduced the e-lawyering concept as early as 2010 in his law office website, E-Lawyers Online.

“LexMeet serves as the Uber of lawyers, where client can seek lawyer’s advice by a mere click. Instead of a Uber vehicle matching with the nearest rider, LexMeet is where client’s legal problem is matched with the lawyer’s expertise, location and language and we serve as a bridge for them to meet via video or call conference,” Atty. Valderama said.

Since its inception in 2017, Lexmeet serves as the online go-to-place by OFWs and SMEs.

“As we all know, Philippines have more than 10.23 million migrant workers scattered all over the world. With Filipino diaspora, there is a demand for legal services for the legal issues left behind by our migrant workers such as marriage, support and custody issues, inheritance, investments, among others. Also, we have so many SMEs, almost 1M now, who are needing legal guidance from lawyers. The lack of online facility to help our OFWs and SMEs in solving their legal problems is our prime motivation on establishing a primary hub of e-lawyering, ” Atty. Valderama explained.

LexMeet has been recently awarded as the Best Life Helper in 2018 ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards as it was recognize in its promising goal in making legal consultations inclusive for all Filipinos.

Fore more information, visit www.lexmeet.com.

The Best VPN For Travelers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nowadays, it seems that internet security is one of the only things people are talking about. Whether it’s thousands of people having their credit card information stolen or other types of massive privacy breaches, cybersecurity seems to be one of the hottest issues in the news.

If you’re a traveler, you’re at an even higher risk of facing security issues. This is because when we travel, we’re often using public Wi-Fi hotspots, which are significantly less secure than our home-based, password protected networks.

Public Wi-Fi networks are more dangerous because they provide internet access to dozens (sometimes hundreds) of internet users at the same time. Theoretically, this means that anybody using the same network could gain access to your unencrypted data as you surf the net.

Leaving your data unencrypted means that things such as your internet cookies, credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords could potentially be nabbed by any malicious person using the same Wi-Fi network as you.

Protect Yourself with a Virtual Private Network

Fortunately, using a VPN, or a Virtual Private Network, can protect you while using public Wi-Fi hotspots. Not only does a VPN protect your valuable information, but it also allows you to circumvent geographical internet filters.

This means that websites which are banned, or simply unavailable in certain regions, can still be accessed simply by connecting to a VPN. In other words, you can still access sites like Netflix or Hulu when traveling overseas.

Now, you might be wondering how to choose the best VPN while traveling. But there are so many types of VPN plans and providers that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is best for you.

Fortunately, we’ve come up with a list of a few critical factors to consider when choosing a VPN for travel.

Quick Installation and Ease of Use

Installing and using a VPN shouldn’t be a very complicated process. This means that whether you’re using Mac, iOS, Windows, or Android, installing one shouldn’t be any harder than downloading the program and running the installer.
With most VPNs, you will be asked to sign up for an account before being able to complete the installation process. Next, the installer will likely ask you a few simple questions, such as whether you’d like the VPN to connect automatically or manually.

In most cases, it’s best to simply use the default options at first, and then if you wish, you can go back and change your preferences later on.

No Added Fees or Restrictions for Multiple Connections

When traveling, it’s a good idea to look for a VPN by reviews and comparisons.

Remember that everything from your laptop, phone, and tablet are all at equal risk when using an insecure Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, it can be extremely inconveniencing if you have to disconnect one device every time you want to switch to another.

With that in mind, make sure that the VPN you choose allows you to connect several devices at the same time, without charging any extra fees.

Use a VPN That Works in Many Different Countries

Not all VPNs are designed the same, and while one might work while you’re visiting Spain, it might not work when you cross the border into France.

We recommend using a VPN that uses the OpenVPN protocol. It’s also a good idea to read a VPN’s user reviews to see if it works in countries such as China or Russia. These countries’ governments are notorious for blocking VPNs, therefore, if you can find one that works there, it will likely work anywhere else that you go.

Look for a VPN That Connects Automatically

It might sound obvious, but a VPN won’t protect your data if you forget to connect to it. But, when your flights been delayed 12 hours, you haven’t slept since Tuesday and you’re suddenly coming down with a cold, forgetting to connect to your VPN can be an easy mistake to make.

Therefore, we recommend looking for a VPN that connects automatically as soon as your device connects to a public Wi-Fi network. Making sure that your VPN auto-connects mean that even when you’ve got a thousand other things on your mind, your data will still be protected without you even thinking about it.

Choose a VPN With Fast Download Speeds

Typically, when you use a VPN, your connection will already be slowed down a bit because your data needs to pass through a secondary server before reaching its destination. This speed can, of course, be affected by several other factors such as bandwidth restrictions, your distance for the server, as well as how many other people are using the network.

However, it’s a good idea to choose a VPN that is known for having fast download/upload speeds. For this, we always recommend using a trial version first, before deciding if a VPN is worth paying for. It’s also a good idea to read its reviews to see what other users have to say about its speed.

PHLPost Releases Villaflor Sr. Hospital 50TH Anniv Stamps in Dagupan City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released new stamps to mark the 50^th Founding Anniversary of the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH) on December 7, 2018.

The Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital is a private tertiary hospital in Mayombo District Dagupan City. With more than 150 highly-trained medical practitioners and paramedical personnel, it is considered one of the leading health care institutions in Northern Luzon.

The commemorative stamps was issued in honor of the founder Dr. Vivencio V. Villaflor, Sr., a surgeon and visionary from Pitogo, Quezon.

His son, Dr. Vivencio Villaflor Jr., a veteran stamp collector (Philatelist) and President of the hospital also displayed his rare personal collections of stamps from 1854 Queen Isabella, which is the first stamp issued in the Philippines and Asia up to Hollywood personalities which he acquired from friends and travel. 

“Each stamps has its own story and history to tell”, he said.  The exhibit will be part of the students educational tour for them to appreciate the history and value of stamps which is "irreplaceable against today’s technology”, Dr. Villaflor added.

His father, Dr. Villaflor Sr. opened a humble clinic along Arellano Street in 1968 to make quality medical care accessible to Dagupeños.

PHLPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos said that the recent commemorative stamps underscored a milestone in the history of the as it looks back at 50 years of dedicated service based on the vision of its founding patriarch – Dr. Villaflor Sr.

An ISO 9001:2008 certified hospital, the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH), joined the ranks of hospitals in the world that meet international quality standards.

PHLPost has printed 60, 000 copies of the DDVMH stamp sold for P12.00 each.

The layout of the stamp was done by PHLPost in-house graphic designer Mr. Victorino Z. Serevo.

The stamps and official first day cover shall be available starting December 07, 2018 at the Philatelic Counter, Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and selected Area Post Offices.