Liza Soberano, Katarina Rodriguez Call for Independence of Children Against Malnutrition

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

On the occasion of the 123rd Philippine Independence Day celebration, Save the Children Philippines ambassadors Liza Soberano and Katarina Rodriguez call for public support to free around 3.6 million Filipino children aged five and below from stunting.


1 in 3 Filipino children is stunted2 and the Philippines ranks 9th in the world for having the most stunted children or those who are shorter in height for their age.


“It is heartbreaking that a lot of Filipino children are still left behind and are struggling to survive due to malnutrition. The plights of these malnourished children are exacerbated by the current health crisis but we drive inspiration that if we work together with everyone’s support, including civil society organizations, communities, the government, and the private sector, we will be able to provide a healthy future for the most affected and marginalized children,” said Rodriguez.


“Stunting is a silent emergency and is caused by prolonged or chronic undernutrition that starts even before or during pregnancy. It delays both body and brain development which may affect children's school performance in the long run,” explained Dr. Amado Parawan, Save the Children Philippines’ Health and Nutrition Advisor.


To help eradicate malnutrition in the country, Soberano and Rodriguez are leading a fundraising campaign called “Hope for their Future.”


Soberano, shared that every donation in support of Hope for their Future will allow Save the Children Philippines to monitor the nutritional status of young children especially that the first two (2) years of a child’s life is considered a critical window of opportunity for their growth and development.


This initiative is also knocking on the hearts of Filipino migrants and Overseas Filipino Workers who play an important role in nation-building and creating immediate and lasting change in children’s lives.


The child rights organization also recalled the invaluable efforts of Save the Children’s founder Eglantyne Jebb to free millions of children from starving to death during World War I.


Hence, in the last 40 years, Save the Children Philippines has made sure to be at the forefront of ending malnutrition in the country and successfully advocated for the enactment of Republic Act 11148 or the First 1,000 days law, in 2018, which will ensure care for pregnant women and their child, from the start of the pregnancy to the child’s first two years of life.


“Good nutrition starts at pregnancy. After all, what the mother eats, the child receives. By providing adequate access to health and nutrition services, we will be able to reduce the cases of malnutrition and save millions of lives,” said Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Atty. Alberto Muyot.


Hope for their Future will be supporting Save the Children Philippines’ Project NURTURE which implements multisectoral nutrition programs and interventions to prevent cases of stunting among children, and provides guidance and support to parents, communities, and local government units.


“Through Hope for their Future, we hope to liberate malnourished children from the long-lasting impacts of malnutrition. Help us change the narrative of these vulnerable children by sending your donation at bit.ly/PledgeSurvive. Your generosity and act of kindness can be life-saving,” appealed Soberano.

SMEs rally towards business growth with flexible digital solutions

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


PLDT Enterprise equips businesses with digital innovations



The global health crisis has severely affected the business industry, from MSMEs to big corporations, especially when the mandated lockdowns in 2020 extended for months—leaving many business owners needing to pivot their operations and turn to digital innovations in order to survive, and thrive. To this end, PLDT Enterprise continues to equip businesses with digital tools and solutions to help them achieve growth despite the challenges of the situation.



PLDT Enterprise has partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), JCI Manila, and PayMaya for the #UNBREAKABLETuesdays Virtual Forum Series and #UNBREAKABLETuesdays x eBossing Online Class Series, dedicated to empowering businesses through digital solutions.

Businesses pivot through the crisis



DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who gave the keynote speech during the recent webinar on how technology enabled enterprises power through the adverse effects of the global health crisis, relates how businesses have quickly pivoted to digital technology in response to the pandemic, thus making them unbreakable in this new chapter of business. Although digitalization is not without its sets of obstacles, enabling partners such as PLDT Enterprises have provided flexible solutions that allow MSMEs jumpstart their businesses, having them learn to navigate these tools and make them work with their business needs.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups, lauded the efforts of DTI in ensuring that businesses remain updated with digital technology by bringing in industry leaders. “We at PLDT Enterprise are committed to helping businesses and SMEs become unbreakable through our wide range of digital solutions. It is our goal to empower them with solutions that will enhance their resiliency and efficiency, so they can continue to grow despite the challenges the pandemic has brought.”

Among the PLDT Enterprise digital solutions that businesses have been availing of are BEYOND FIBER, PayMaya, Smart Bro, and Smart Enterprise Postpaid.



Solutions to strengthen businesses



BEYOND FIBER empowers businesses of all sizes with a reliable connectivity that enables them to go beyond and take the digital shift. With superior wi-fi powered by Cisco Meraki to securely connect work and guest devices, Curated Digital Solutions to accelerate digital adoption, and business-grade internet with the unique 90-90 advantage, BEYOND FIBER is the best choice for resilient connectivity in today’s new normal. The 90-90 service promise means that businesses can get the most out of their internet connectivity as BEYOND FIBER can provide a minimum of 90% of the subscribed speed at 90% service reliability.



PayMaya was ably represented in the webinar by PayMaya MSME Ecosystems Head Ms. Irish Kwan, who said that business unusual has become business “as usual.” PayMaya has helped businesses adapt, as it remains one of the biggest financial technology service provides in the country, leading Philippine partners for safe and secure payments both online and face-to-face, through bank payments, credit or debit cards, online payment, and use of QR codes. There are three business pillars in PayMaya: the PayMaya Consumer wallet, an app which has 28 million users, where one can do bank transfers, do top up online or over the counter; the second being PayMaya Enterprise, the enabler of online merchants, both micro and huge merchants, and the third being the Smart Padala, which is the largest agent network with 38,000 agents nationwide.


Another PLDT Enterprise Smart solution is Smart Bro, which runs on the fastest mobile network in the country. It offers wireless broadband connectivity which empowers users to work from anywhere even if they are in and out of the office. It also allows multi-gadget connectivity when you get the service with a pocket wifi or a router. All Smart Bro plans under PLDT Enterprise are 5G ready and can be bundled with Smart’s first 5G-enabled Pocket WiFi, the 5G Rocket Wifi – the best performing 5G device available in the Philippine market today, which allows subscribers to stay connected, be productive and multi-task even while on the go.



Smart Enterprise Postpaid is another offering which allows businesses to access voice, SMS and data services, powering their mobile with choice plans that fit one’s business needs and budget. With Smart’s fastest LTE network based on third party recognition, including Ookla, P3 and OpenSignal, one can stay connected with employees and customers with a superior data surfing experience. Its unlimited all-net calls, texts, and landline concessions lets one stay in contact with partners and staff, while having reliable enterprise support.





Best Practices in Digital Innovation



Toby Claudio, President of Toby’s Sports which has been in operation for 42 years, narrated the need of the company to reinvent and rediscover their business, which had to close for up to three months. There was a reconfiguration of business, keeping in mind that they were selling not just sports equipment, but a healthy lifestyle. “We had to innovate our way out of a crisis, strengthening ecommerce and giving various options as we re-engineered our retail concept,” he said, adding, “there is no excuse for any business now to learn ecommerce, to elevate its operations and harness innovation despite crisis.”



Toby’s Sports, the country’s largest store for sports and fitness with 65 stores nationwide, received the PLDT MVP Bossing Award in 2020, with the theme “Rediscovery, Reinvention,” in recognition of the company’s ability to pull through the global health crisis by adapting and changing to the current normal.



Other speakers were Nino Namoco, CEO of Del’s Apparel and Archit Anand, CEO and Co-Founder of Omnirio.



Del’s Apparel, which has been in operation for the last five decades, was able to credit the year 2020 as their best year yet, being able to adapt to technology innovations and using it to their advantage, as they provided health and safety wear which was greatly in demand during the global health crisis. Being able to know the pulse of the market, its business adaptability, grabbing opportunities, reliability, and most importantly, its use of technology innovations to their advantage have definitely helped their business thrive.



The #UNBREAKABLETuesdays Virtual Forum Series and #UNBREAKABLETuesdays x eBossing Online Class Series are projects of PLDT Enterprise in cooperation with DTI, the JCI Manila Business Academy and PayMaya.



For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. #

Once just a dream, rail line connecting Manila to Bulacan now turning to reality

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

What was just once a blueprint, the rail line that will soon connect Manila and Bulacan is now fast becoming a reality with the continuing construction of the PNR Clark Phase 1, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade said Monday, June 14, 2021.

 
Tugade led the inspection of the Balagtas Station and Calumpit construction yard site of the PNR Clark Phase 1, a project that saw many years of failed attempts to get off the drawing board. The transport secretary was accompanied by other transport officials and Bulacan local government executives.

To date, the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos), the first segment of the massive North-South Commuter Railway Project, has an overall progress rate of 46.68% and is eyed for completion by the second quarter of 2024.

Sec. Tugade said the Duterte administration upon taking office, immediately started work to realize the vision of the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program and make the DOTR-PNR rail project a reality.

“Noong pumasok ang administrasyong Duterte, ang sabi ng administrasyon, gagawa at gagawa kami ng paraan upang ‘yung panaginip, ‘yung pangarap, ‘yung mga planong ginawa tungkol sa riles ng tren dito sa Bulacan ay maging realidad,” Sec. Tugade said.

Tugade likewise announced that the train sets to be used for the project will be delivered in December. Meanwhile, the training center for the rail line will be finished before the year ends.

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the PNR Clark Phase 1 is a 38-kilometer railway that cuts through the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela, and the municipalities of Meycuayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, and Malolos City in Bulacan. Once completed, the project will serve 300,000 passengers daily and is expected to slash travel time from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan from one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes.

To prove that the PNR Clark Phase 1 project is on track and on schedule, Tugade said he personally visited the Balagtas Station and Calumpit construction yard, barely a month after conducting a series of inspections at the project's Meycauayan and Valenzuela segments.

REPRIEVE FOR OFWs

During his inspection, Sec. Tugade was welcomed by 70 former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are now employed at the Calumpit construction yard as part of DOTr’s commitment to provide Filipinos displaced by the pandemic with jobs.

With movement restrictions imposed by states due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many OFWs lost their jobs and were forced to return home.

On the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the DOTr reached out to former OFWs with offers of employment in the country under the Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte Administration.

During the inspection, three (3) former OFWs expressed their gratitude to President Duterte and Sec. Tugade for the opportunity to work under the PNR Clark Phase 1 project.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagbibigay ng aming kabuhayan at maging parte ng world-class construction industry. Sana tuluy-tuloy ang proyekto ng ating Secretary Tugade,” said Aristotle Angeles, a former OFW based in the UAE and is now a deputy manager of the Sta Clara International Corporation, a sub contractor for the PNR Clark Phase 1 Project.

Tugade likewise stated that more employment opportunities prioritizing former OFWs, displaced public utility drivers, and conductors will be opened under DOTr projects.

“Pinipilit at sinisikap ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon na magkaroon ng proyekto at gawain ang ating mga OFWs. Ang inisyatibong ito ay alinsunod ‘ho sa aking direktiba na bigyang prayoridad ang ating mga mahal na OFWs, kasama ng ating mga kababayang tsuper at konduktor pagdating sa pagkuha ng mga empleyado para sa mga proyekto ng DOTr. Layunin nito na sila ay matulungan sa pagtustos sa pang araw-araw nilang pangangailangan, maging ng kanilang pamilya, kung saan hindi na nila kinakailangang lumayo pa o magtungo sa ibang bansa,” Tugade said before 70 former OFWs now working at the Calumpit construction yard.

“Bibigyan natin sila ng hanapbuhay, hindi lamang sa riles, kundi pati na rin sa Aviation, Maritime at Road sectors. Marami tayong proyekto sa Pilipinas, para sa Pilipino,” he added.

Tugade also recalled his Meycauayan and Valenzuela visits, where he was welcomed by at least 188 former OFWs working at the site.

At least 7,500 workers were employed during the construction of the project, while 2,500 additional jobs will be made available once the project becomes operational.

What lies ahead for Jessica Ramella after winning The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the end, there can only be One. And in the recently concluded The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, that One was 31-year old sales director from Venezuela, Jessica Ramella.

Ramella edged out Filipino fellow finalist Louie Sangalang in the exhilarating finale episode where the ultimate fate of the two contenders was determined by their performance in a tough interview conducted by ONE Championship Founder, Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and Grab Founder and CEO Anthony Tan.

The results of the interview coupled with an overall assessment of both contenders’ character, skills, motivation and relatability tipped the scales in favor of the Venezuelan. Sityodtong noted her wide range of skills, and her grace and dignity in the face of adversity as qualities that would carry her through her new job’s challenges.

Sityodtong praised Louie for his integrity and ability to lead with calm judgement, however. But he saw the girl called Lady MacGyver, for her prowess in problem solving, as the more relatable between the two.

“Jessica has very high IQ, very high EQ, a high PhD – poor, hungry, and determined - factor. She has a lot of fire in her belly to do something very big in her life, just like everyone else in ONE. That's something I recognized very quickly. She has the creativity, she has the people skills, she has a natural leadership ability as well. She's a very well-balanced leader who has truly world class potential,” Sityodtong said.

Now the hard work begins for the winner of the ultimate prize of a US$ 250,000 job offer and the chance to be Sityodtong’s protégé and chief of staff in the ONE organization, Asia’s largest global sports media property.

“The Chief of Staff has to juggle multiple projects and the most important priorities of the company. So Jessica has to be my shadow in terms that if I can't attend a meeting, she will attend the meeting for me. Jessica has to be a mini me,” he said.

Also, she will have to prove herself worthy every single day and show that she was the right choice, Sityodtong added. He will be with her every step of the way though, he said, as they aim to take ONE Championship to new heights.

“The path to greatness always involves passion, dreams, and purpose. But it also involves sacrifice and suffering for those dreams, purpose, and passion. It’s one thing to do it for eight weeks, or 10 weeks, or 13 weeks on the show. But it's another thing to do it every day of your life,” Sityodtong explained.

The ONE CEO minced no words in describing the challenges up ahead for his new protégé and chief of staff. “In the quest to unleash your greatness, in the quest to push our mission of unleashing real-life superheroes, time will tell, as time always does. Time will tell us everything about whether Jessica really wants to unleash her greatness in life or not. This was the toughest ‘Apprentice’ in history and this will be the toughest job she's ever had. I am definitely going to be the toughest boss she's ever had in terms of standards of excellence, detail, orientation, my expectations, analytical thinking – everything,” Sityodtong concluded.

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’s premiere in March was the most-watched English-language reality series premiere of 2021 so far. The Philippines’ premiere on AXN exceeded the timeslot average on the cable network by 60%, beating the Season 32 premiere of all-time favorite The Amazing Race.

Jeremy Pacatiw hopes to emulate Team Lakay peers as he signs with ONE

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Jeremy "The Juggernaut" Pacatiw regarded his signing as perfect timing as he is the latest Team Lakay upstart to join ONE Championship.

"I know this is God's plan. This is the perfect time for me to join ONE," he said.

The 25-year-old has been busy making a name for himself away from his Team Lakay stablemates for the past few years.

His last fight came 18 months ago, with Pacatiw stopping Brazilian foe Felipe Efrain with an emphatic knockout victory to hike his record to a 10-4 win-loss slate back in December 2019.

That long time of inactivity, however, surely makes anyone reflect where they stand in their life, one that Pacatiw surely did as he admitted that there was always a part of him which wondered how he would fare if he was with ONE Championship.

"When I look at my seniors like kuya Eduard [Folayang], I always feel that I want to join ONE Championship. I really like what they are promoting, which isn't all about trash talking but rather building a legacy. I always admired their vision," he said.

Pacatiw needs not to fantasize anymore as he joins the loaded bantamweight division and is aiming to make the same impact under the ONE umbrella, just like how Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon did when he won the ONE Bantamweight World Championship back in 2018.

"I was inspired by their achievements. They really showed that us Filipinos are world champions. That lit a fire under me that I also want to rise to the top and be just like them," he said.

That's not to say that he's not feeling any jitters, with Pacatiw admittedly still in disbelief on this latest chapter in his career -- not to mention having to carry that reputation of being a Team Lakay fighter.

"When coach Mark [Sangiao] told me that I will be signed, I was very excited and happy. But I was also nervous because I know that in ONE Championship, I'll be fighting against high-caliber athletes. There's also pressure because I'm a part of a well-known team like Team Lakay," he said.

"But I handle it through maintaining my focus on the path I want to go to so that I can achieve my goals. My seniors have also reminded me to double-time and focus on my training because this is already a big organization and I'll be facing a lot of high-caliber opponents. So I really have to train hard."

Pacatiw will surely have his hands full given the pedigree of the bantamweight division ONE has.

Not only does it have his fellow Team Lakay warrior Belingon, but it also features no. 1-ranked John "Hands of Stone" Lineker of Brazil, no. 3 Yusup Saadulaev of Russia, no. 4 Fabricio "Wonder Boy" Andrade of Brazil, and no. 5 Shoko Sato of Japan. And of course, at the top of the food chain is reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano "The Flash" Fernandes of Brazil.

"The bantamweight division is very stacked, deep, and has high-caliber fighters," Pacatiw observed, before saying, "But they haven't fought someone like me."

It's a well-needed boost of confidence for Pacatiw, who is hungry to prove his worth in ONE Championship.

"My fighting style is like dancing because I focus on my footwork," he shared. "Everyone knows that Team Lakay fighters are strikers, but I'm more of a danger because I am slick. I'm also a striker and I can also wrestle. I'm a well-rounded fighter and I think that's my biggest strength."

No question, Pacatiw aspires to be the ONE Bantamweight World Champion one day, but he knows that the road to the top requires a lot of sacrifice.

That's why for now, all he wants is to have a memorable debut once he finally enters the ONE Circle.


"My short term goal is to gain the hearts of the fans and give them a good fight. I want my debut to be an impressive win and I need to work to be able to reach my goals," he said.

Globe partners with PhilTower for aggressive network builds in NCR, Luzon

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Globe is partnering with Phil-Tower Consortium, Inc (PhilTower) to ramp up its aggressive network rollout in more areas in the National Capital Region and Luzon.

Boosted by the Bayanihan 2 law which streamlined the permitting process, the partnership aims to install 500 new cell sites within the year.

Globe believes the partnership with PhilTower will boost the company's response to its customers’ ever increasing need for better, reliable and accessible connectivity in the new normal.

“Our partnership with PhilTower will help us accelerate our cell site expansion. Consequently, this will bring better services to Globe subscribers in more locations in the country,” said Vincent Tempongko, Globe Vice President for Site Acquisition.

PhilTower, on the other hand, emphasizes its role in advancing the telecommunication infrastructure in the country.

“As a communication solutions enabler and digital infrastructure provider, we help power critical digital network expansion needs through our innovative cell site technologies. We are introducing new and innovative solutions like the Micro Cell Poles that have a low impact and small footprint with capability to load in radios, battery backup within the pole for network densification,” said Devid Gubiani, PhilTower President.

PhilTower is an independent tower company (ITC) established in 2019. With its partnership with Globe, it is deploying new cell sites in Metro Manila, North and South Luzon.

”We look forward to working with Globe Telecom in providing 4G and 5G coverage to ensure connectivity to many Filipinos,” added Peter Wong, Country Director of PhilTower.

PhilTower has laid out its two-year masterplan which include: focusing on supporting coverage improvements in suburban and rural areas; contributing efficiently to network densification in urban areas in anticipation of mass adoption of 5G through its Micro Cell Poles; and improving in-building coverage with small cells based digital shared infrastructure.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) particularly UN SDG No. 9 that highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development.



To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Pacquiao is not fit for government service

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

When Sen. Pacquiao said there will be no squatters 4-5 yrs in his presidency, Personally, I think we had enough with promises of timed deadlines in solving the major issues of the country. We had enough of the likes of Duterte who promised but then even called his campaign statements as merely jokes meant for the stupid and gullible believers.

Pacquiao promising to give homes (condo units at that) to squatters and the homeless? Gurl, I think I’ve seen this film before. “6 months and we’ll have no more drugs/crimes” whomstve?

This boxer should focus on boxing tournaments more than being involved in politics or worse running as a president.

Pacquiao is the 'president we need', says Koko Pimentel 

Pacquiao is the "president" we can manipulate to advance our personal interests. Fixed it for you.

He should just remain as a cultural icon, because he definitely has no business entering politics. He doesn't have the brain  functional enough to process a sane and logical thinking.

Sorry but I have to say this, I am a fan of Pacquiao the athlete and not the politician. Give your vote to those who deserves it and has a potential to be a great president and not to a homophobic false prophet aka wrongly Bible interpreting athlete. Vote wisely.

A homophobic, all-around prejudiced bible verse cherry picker, anti-same sex marriage, pro-death penalty, absentee politician? 

NO!

Pacquiao has no business in politics bcos politics is more than just donating money to poor. Man should've stayed in the ring.

If Pacquiao & clowns can run for President, then, just about anybody can run for President, too.

'Di ba? 

Simple logic.

Personally, I like Sen Pacquiao, but lately, he's becoming more of a politician than anything else. He seems to be listening more to the people surrounding him, who obviously have personal interests that they want to protect and use Pacquiao as an instrument.

If I may also share this directive of the Philippine Statistics Authority. It has defined a squatter, or ALTERNATIVELY "informal dwellers", as "One who settles on the land of another without title or right or without the owner's consent whether in urban or rural areas". kind of mindset.

Thus both Squatters and Informal Dwellers can be used in any statement which refers to illegal settlers of any land. That is all.

This is to inform that I just repeated what the Senator has said in his statement. If you feel that "squatter" is deragatory then I might suggest you direct your anger to the Senator.Upon researching the word can still be used generally as it is in the merriam-webster dictionary.

Not Pacquiao wanting to run for presidency when he can't even understand the separation between the state and the church. His interpretations of the Bible are a reflection of how stupid he is. He is not fit to be in government. 

Pacquiao's already throwing socialist rhetorics. That's his weapon for next year's election. Focused on housing and wage, basically uplifting the poor. He'll win the masses, like ERAP & FPJ. They will vote for him. The middle and upper classes will vote for Leni. The DDS will still vote for Sara. Yup, they remain stupid.

Sakit parin sa puso na trapo si Pacquiao.

The dude could've literally lived the rest of his life without a single Filipino hating him but here we are...

Guys, Manny Pacquiao is a false opposition. Digong’s drama has started. And Manny is the first actor. Simpleton lang naniniwala sa palabas nila. Yes. Their strategy is divide and conquer. It's a trap. An old strategy but could still fool a lot of gullible Filipinos. He is just one of the Trojan horses of the administration.

I see him as opportunist having changed political affilation manny times. A political butterfly without basic program for uplifting PH. I'd like candidates with vision for PH industrialization sync to our educational system and universal health care system. PH political parties have none.

Hindi na kayo nasanay sa pakwela ng mga payaso alalahinin natin na master sa peryahan mga yan,  gagawin lahat masentro lang sa.kanila ang manunuod.

Instead of choosing Pacquiao  or Sara as my President, I'd rather vote for Rick Astley because of the following reasons:

He'll never give u up

 never let u down

never gonna run around and desert you.

never ever make u cry.

never ever say goodbye.

 never tell a lie and hurt you.

Film & Audiovisual Workers, Freelancers Now Eligible for Vaccination under A4 Priority Group

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Film and audiovisual (AV) workers can now register with their respective local government units (LGUs) for their vaccination after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) simplified and expanded the A4 Priority Group for the country’s vaccination plan to cover private sector workers and freelancers who work outside their homes.

This was announced on June 7 during the NCR+8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination of A4 Priority Group for the quick and efficient mass rollout of the vaccination program for A4 workers. “With the start of our mass vaccination, the A4 priority category, our workers in both public and private sector, will have an added layer of protection against the disease,” President Rodrigo Duterte stated in a video message.

Pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 114, the Implementing Guidelines for the A4 Priority Group involves three classifications with priority given to the NCR+8 areas of National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao for Phase 1 to be followed by areas outside the NCR+8 for Phase 2:



A4.1 - Private sector workers who work outside their homes

A4.2 - Employees in government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and LGUs

A4.3 - Informal sector workers and self-employed who work outside their homes and those working in private households

According to the Department of Health (DOH) Department Memorandum (DM) No. 2021-0259, establishments, agencies, and organizations may provide A4 workers with proofs of eligibility such as, but not limited to, their company ID, contracts or permits, certificates of eligibility, or any proof of occupation.

“The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) welcomes the expansion of the A4 priority group, which makes our film and audiovisual workers eligible for vaccination. We have been lobbying for this since last year because vaccination is the key for the industry to properly resume its activities,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

The national film agency has lobbied for the vaccination of film and AV workers to the IATF, DOH, and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Diño continued, “The FDCP is willing to assist our workers should they need a proof of eligibility to be vaccinated under A4 priority group. Through the FDCP National Registry, we can issue a certification to all our registered film and audiovisual workers which they can use as proof of occupation. We thank the IATF for heeding our call to prioritize the safety and health of production workers in the workplace, which has its peculiarities and unique needs in terms of working setup.”

Film and audiovisual workers, previously considered for the C Group and then possibly for the B3 Group, are now part of the 35 million essential workers or economic frontliners in the A4 Priority Group. With the kickoff of the vaccination rollout for A4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. considered it as a historic moment.

“Ang pagbabakuna sa A4 ay masasabi nating game changer sa ating laban dito sa COVID-19. Layunin natin na ligtas na makapaghanapbuhay ang ating mga manggagawa. Ito rin ang magsisiguro na kahit andiyan ang coronavirus ay hindi masisira o matitigil ang serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan,” Roque said during the symbolic vaccination event held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

He also made known that depending on the availability of vaccines in the coming months, priority may be given to A4 workers aged 40 to 59 should there be a limited supply of vaccines. A4 workers are also requested to kindly coordinate with their LGUs regarding the availability of vaccines in their area.

FDCP National Registry Workers can request for a certificate of registry from the FDCP to use as proof of occupation. For other film and AV freelancers who wish to register with the National Registry, kindly contact nationalregistry@fdcp.ph or visit https://nationalregistry.fdcp.ph.



For more information:

IATF Resolution No. 114: http://bit.ly/IATFResolution114

DOH DM No. 2021-2359: http://bit.ly/DOHDM2359

PH Film Industry Promotes to China at Shanghai Int’l Film Market Online

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) proudly showcased the diverse locations, film incentives, high-quality equipment, and especially the creative and hardworking people of the Philippine film industry at the International Film & TV Online Market that ran alongside the 24th edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai TV Festival from June 6 to 14 in a hybrid format.



On June 7, “The Philippines - Let’s Create Together!” presentation featured “The 10 Funtastic Reasons to Film in the Philippines,” introduced the selected Filipino film in the International Panorama Short Film Section, “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” by Sonny Calvento produced by Southern Lantern Studios, and presented the Philippine delegation composed of six production companies.



The delegate companies are the North Luzon Cinema Guild, Digital Dreams Inc., Atom & Anne Mediaworks, Daluyong Studios, Globe Studios, and Man Overboard Productions. Their company pages on the SIFF online platform featured five of their projects, and they were given complimentary passes and access to online meetings and events.



“The Filipinos and the Chinese are still bound in affinity, historically and culturally. Our similarities and sensibilities as ethnic siblings are evident in our cities, our language, our businesses, and many artistic and cultural aspects,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño in her opening remarks.



“It makes perfect sense for us then to seek partnerships and collaborations with China in the field of cinema where we can further enjoy films from China as well as tap into their market and introduce to them the essence of Filipino films. The goal is for us to activate co-productions between China and the Philippines and for us to discover or rediscover stories that unite the two cultures together,” she continued.



Technical Consultant Agathe Vinson of the FDCP’s FilmPhilippines Office further discussed the FilmPhilippines Incentives offered by the national film agency: Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-production Fund (ICOF), ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF), and Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX).



FDCP’s FilmPhippines was also given a complimentary booth during the online market, which included a company page on the SIFF platform, complimentary passes, access to online meetings and events, and an option to hold a pre-recorded event on the platform — “The Philippines - Let’s Create Together!” that premiered on June 7 at 5 p.m.



Since its formation in 1933, the SIFF has become one of the most important festivals in Asia and the world, where past events have featured films from Filipino filmmakers. Paolo Villaluna, who is part of the jury in this year’s competition, was awarded with the Golden Goblet, the highest prize of the festival, for his film “Pauwi Na” in 2017.

Kinds of religious or spiritual jewelry items; learn about the latest designs of catholic necklace pendants

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Wearing jewelry is a simple everyday ritual for most of us, but for a few, it is an expression of love and gratitude. If you are still planning to buy one of the best statement religious jewelry items, then you have landed on the right place; here we are discussing some of the most common kinds of religious or spiritual jewelry, such as necklaces and pendants, which most people wear.

Have you ever worn a religious pendant? These are not very common but look really cool when you wear one. Most people prefer to wear one which is according to their religion; for some people, it does not matter.

The best part about religious pendants and jewelry is their beauty, they are indigenous, and you will not get such jewelry items everywhere. You might need to find a shop selling these pendants, or you either need to order online.

We are not targeting any kin do faith here, as there are people believing in different faiths, so we will try to cover all the religions as much as possible.
Catholic pendent

If you are a Christian and want to show your connection with Christianity, then the best way to express it is by wearing a catholic pendant. Christianity is one of the most widespread and common religions, so we all know that this pendant will have the main figure of Christianity. The best part about having this is the availability of different styles and designs. Check out the Nano jewelry’s catholic pendants.
Islamic jewelry

Islamic jewelry is quite fantasizing and indigenous. You might have seen the attractive Arabic letters; Islamic jewelry is all about the pendants with letters, a crescent, or stars. It is quite different from the regular Islamic arts; you can have the letters engraved on the metals giving an amazing look. It is for the people who want to give the unique antique designed look, the Islamic jewelry might look very old, but you can have it to maintain that aura of antiqueness with these.
Star of David

The star of David is a discreet way of expressing solemnity with the Jewish faith. It is one of the amazing jewelry items that every Jew will want to wear. It is common among the Jews; however, due to the symbol star, many people love to have it.
The dharma wheels.

The dharma wheel is the symbol of Buddhism. You can have it to show allegiance with Buddhism. It looks cool; the best part about Buddhism is its popularity. There are several people who follow the basic rules of Buddhism.
Om of Hinduism

Hinduism has the symbol "Om," which is written in Sanskrit. Most Hindus have I as a tattoo and the only way to have it in the form of a necklace. These are popular in the south Asian region; you can order these online, as they might not be available easily.

Smart, PLDT Enterprise and ADMU launch Ateneo Smart Online Store

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


The largest, fully integrated telco in the Philippines PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, recently partnered with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) to launch Smart Online Store for their students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The PLDT Group strongly supports the education sector with technology and solutions to help students and teachers cope with the challenges of the pandemic. The launch of Smart Online Store for Ateneo is part of the group’s goal to help enable schools and universities with technology solutions for the benefit of both the educators and students.

The Smart Online Store is an e-commerce site which gives the Ateneo community an opportunity to buy and avail exclusive Smart data and connectivity plans and products. All students, faculty, staff and alumni of Ateneo across the university’s four campuses in Loyola, Salcedo, Makati and Pasig can now purchase Smart Prepaid products such as load cards and electronic loads in several denominations at special rates. Connectivity devices such as Smart Bro Prepaid and PLDT Home WiFi are also available at the online store.

“The Ateneo de Manila University is one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the country. PLDT and Smart have long been partnering with ADMU on their endeavors for the academe. This latest partnership underscores the synergy between PLDT Group’s efforts to promote and expand eLearning, and Ateneo’s own programs and platforms in this area. The ADMU Smart Online Store will further strengthen Ateneo’s digital ecosystem,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

Fr Bobby Yap, President of the Ateneo de Manila University said “We very much appreciate this additional partnership with PLDT and Smart. The ADMU Smart Online Store is a first among Ateneo schools, and the idea of having Smart Prepaid Services available to the community in an exclusive platform is aligned with the university’s continuous digital transformation.”

The ADMU Smart Online Store will be beneficial to the members of the ADMU community who are enrolled in the Smart Giga Study program. Since ADMU is paying for the load of scholars and employees who are using Giga Study, they can alternatively buy prepaid loads from the online store when necessary. Smart Giga Study offers a range of prepaid data packs aimed at giving students simpler access to any website plus a bonus of 2GB learning apps and productivity tools per day.

Rudy Ang, VP for Admin and Information Systems of ADMU said “ADMU purchases monthly load distribution to our scholars and employees enrolled under the Smart Giga Study program. And the new ADMU Smart Online Store now makes it much easier for us to implement this essential program for e-learning in the new normal.”

Smart Bro Prepaid, load cards, and electronic loads are among the most popular and widespread Smart prepaid products in use by students, particularly during this time of the pandemic, with e-learning efforts requiring constant topping-up of load for communications and learning devices.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups, noted that “We at PLDT Enterprise remain steadfast in our commitment to support the academe sector with our services and equip Filipino students with the connectivity they need, and we would like to thank Ateneo de Manila University for allowing us to develop this initiative that will strengthen their e-Learning efforts.”

The group-wide push for supporting education underscores the commitment of PLDT and Smart to help the Philippines attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly SDG #4: Quality Education as a foundation in improving people’s lives and obtaining sustainable development.

“Smart continues to help educators and students adapt to challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis. The ADMU Smart Online Store is an innovative platform that offers the Ateneo community access to Smart products and services tailored for the new normal of learning. These tools ensure that Ateneans are enabled to live smarter as they help build a better world,” said Jane Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

For more information on PLDT Enterprise, go to pldtenterprise.com.

Everything you need to know to kick off celebrating UEFA EURO 2020 on TikTok

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


EURO 2020 has officially kicked off on TikTok, with national teams and players coming to TikTok to show everything from tricks and tips to reliving memorable moments.

TikTok has become a vibrant hub of sports content in the last two years with football content kicking off on the platform. In the last year alone, the daily consumption of popular sports hashtags has quadrupled to 1.5 billion video views daily, with football (and soccer) content amassing over 185 billion video views* in total to date, including some of the most popular footballers and football moments being watched, recreated and relived. TikTok's most-followed footballers include Poland captain Robert Lewandowski and top England striker Phil Foden, who boast almost 5 million followers between them.

TikTok has become the place where people find their communities and rally around a shared love of the sport they love - and it's not just football that fans have been enjoying. Extreme sports like Parkour (5.8 billion video views), UFC (5.2 billion video views) and MMA (4.8 billion video views) have also become hugely popular on TikTok as fans find their tribes and get involved in sharing and watching their favourite adrenaline-pumping sports moments.

As the world now gets ready to enjoy the EURO 2020 football tournament, here's how you can stay on top of the trends, be in on the action and create your own football TikTok masterpieces alongside some of the world's best football players and teams who already showing us their TikTok skills, such as England's Raheem Sterling with #keeptothebeat.



LIVE events you won't want to miss!

TikTok LIVE is where it happens. From football legends to the UEFA volunteers, EURO 2020 LIVE events will take football fans behind the scenes and give them unrivalled access to all the moments that make the tournament come to life. Starting with the opening day in Rome, EURO 2020 will take us on the journey with fans as they arrive at the stadium and as the tournament progresses, you can expect to see incredible, unique LIVE match ups with TikTok creators and legendary UEFA ambassadors. There'll also be a chance for fans to see inside the stadia for a glimpse at the behind the scenes, inner-workings of the grounds.

Be sure to check out the TikTok UEFA EURO 2020 LIVE with Ed Sheeran performing a selection of his best known hits as well as an exclusive first play of a never before heard song Saturday 26th June 2021. The virtual concert is being filmed at Portman Road, the home of Ed Sheeran’s beloved Ipswich Town Football Club, and will be streamed exclusively on Sheeran’s TikTok channel starting from 9pm BST.



Find everything you need in one place with the new EURO 2020 Hub

Find everything you need in the new EUROs Hub whether it's trending content, popular football creators, daily match schedules, results or tuning into LIVEs with some of your favourite stars.

Find the EUROs Hub on the discovery page or search 'EURO 2020' to get started.



Create your own unforgettable match-moments with these new effects!

Keep reading to explore all the new features joining the TikTok lineup, just in time for this year's summer of sport. These effects and features will enable football fans across the platform to get creative and show support for the players and teams they love.



Virtual Trophy Tour

The virtual trophy tour feature has allowed TikTok users from across the world to snap themselves with the Euros trophy, as it travels through cities across Europe. Fans have been using TikTok's new AR effect to lift the trophy for themselves - don't miss out on your chance to hold the trophy and feel like a winner.



Place the Goal

Fancy yourself as a top goal scorer? With TikTok's place the goal feature, you can give your favourite strikers a run for their money. Creators will be able to use the effect to place a TikTok goal on their screen and flick an animated football straight into the back of the net.



Virtual Try-on

Wear your colours with pride this summer using this new feature. Users can select fan clothing and face paint from their home nation to virtually apply to their face and body. You can even mix and match two countries, for those with split allegiances!



Firework Scores

Set the sky ablaze with football-themed fireworks on your videos! Users will be able to celebrate victory by typing match results or the name of their team and watch it come to life as part of an impressive virtual firework display.



Make it a Football Team

Using this new feature, users can turn anything they want into their very own football team. From your car keys to candles, stationery and snacks, bring inanimate objects to life as a keeper, centre forward, centre midfield, and wingback.



Everything can be a ball

Why stop with just a team? Users will also be able to scan any object and watch it appear on screen as a ball. Try some kicks and keepy uppies. A powerful shot will even set your "ball" light on fire!



VAR gesture

Whatever your allegiance, VAR can make us all emotional. By using hand gestures, creators will be able to trigger a new video transition effect. A vertical rectangle will appear on the screen and gradually grow to fill the whole space. Users can place a second video inside that rectangle, and watch the first video transition into the second. Now you can VAR anything!



Sign for an Equal Game

We can only fight racism if we stand together as a team. Join us and Sign for an #EqualGame. Use the #EqualGame effect to show your support for equality in football and unlock the profile frame.

This feature will allow users to sign with their name, unlocking the TikTok equality badge for their page. We’re calling on all members of the football community to get behind the initiative and pledge for greater equality in football. Show your support by signing the pledge.

Explore our new features in-app now - find the EUROS Hub on the discovery page or search 'EURO 2020' for more!



* Methodology: based on global figures from internal TikTok research from June 2020 to June 2021





* Methodology: based on global figures from internal TikTok research from June 2020 to June 2021

Newly crowned US Open Golf Champ Yuka Saso to be featured in Post Office Stampsp

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Postmaster General Norman “Mr. Postman” Fulgencio leads for the issuance of a postage stamp to Ms. Yuka Saso, the first Filipino who won the prestigious US Women Open Golf Championship in San Francisco California USA.

“This is our own little way of honoring and acknowledging her great effort and contribution to the society”, Mr. Postman said.

He added, “The 19 year old Filpina golfer must be given the honor to be featured in Postage Stamp and Postcard for her unprecedented victory".

A two time Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) awardee, Saso received an award in 2017 after winning the gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship team event. She also won two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Fulgencio said that for the first time, the Post Office will constantly honor living Filipinos who have brought inspiration, joy, pride and glory to the Filipino community and have heavily contributed in their chosen field by featuring them in Postage Stamps.

The Post Office announced that they will issue stamps for acclaimed but relatively unknown Filipino writers, designers, sports personalities, musicians, artists, scientists, and other nationally and internationally known figures, both living and deceased.

Aside from this, famous modern day artists namely world renowned Filipino Artist Ronald Ventura, Romulo Galicano, Charlie Co, Adeste Deguilmo, Fidel Sarmiento, Francis Von Caro, Dino Gabito, Whoop Ramos, Pancho Francisco, JR Atienza, Crystal Tranquilino and Josue Mangrobang will create their own rendition for the definitive stamps to add more excitement and prestige to stamp design.

A definitive stamp is a postage stamp that is part of the regular issue of a country’s stamps, available for sale at the post office for an extended period of time.

In addition, members of “Art Tabang”, an “Arts for a Cause” group spearheaded by Cebu City-based Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, an Art aficionado committed their support to the current initiative of the Post Office to revive the heritage and culture of the country.