Lower house approval of HB 9147 a step in the right direction, says WWF-Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines lauds the House of Representatives for the passage of House Bill 9147 or the Single-use Plastic Products Regulation Act on its third reading yesterday, July 28, 2021.

“The passage of HB 9147 is a step in the right direction,” said Ina Guingona, WWF’s No Plastics in Nature’s Policy Officer. “Plastic pollution has been a scourge to our environment and our communities. A more integrative approach that is grounded and solutions-focused is needed to address the multifaceted issue of plastic pollution. The passage of this bill signifies the Philippines’ commitment to tackling the problem in a holistic manner.”

HB 9147 is one of several bills pending in Congress that include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This scheme, advocated by WWF, is a policy tool that holds producers accountable for the plastic packaging they put into the market throughout the whole life cycle of the product.

According to the bill, manufacturers and producers will be mandated to implement their EPR programs such as recovery of their plastic wastes two years after the enactment of the law to prevent their single use plastic products from entering the environment.

Furthermore, the bill also mandates manufacturers to divert 100% of their plastic wastes within five years from the date the law takes effect. Business establishments are also mandated to provide reusable and locally made materials to the public.

EPR is a critical policy tool with a track record to hold manufactures accountable for their plastic products and packaging’s end-of-life impacts, as well as to encourage holistic ecodesign in the business sector, according to WWF’s position paper on EPR.


On banning SUPs

Unnecessary single use plastic materials including plates, saucers, cups, bowls, lids, cutlery like spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks, will be phased out with medical exemptions within four years from the effectivity of this Act.

Other materials such as drinking straws, stirrers, sticks for candy, balloons, cotton buds, buntings, confetti and packaging bags less than ten microns will be phased out one year from the effectivity of the Act.

Thereafter, the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision or use of the said plastic products shall be prohibited.

Properly labelled flexible disposable plastic drinking straws for persons with special medical conditions shall be allowed, when no suitable reusable or compostable alternatives are available.

A WWF report launched in October 2020 showed the challenges for waste management in the Philippines. More than 2 million tonnes of plastic waste, 15.43 kg per capita per year, is generated annually in the Philippines, 760,000 tonnes or 35% are leaked to the open environment while 706,000 tonnes or 33% go to landfills and dumpsites while only 9% is recycled.

“We hope the positive momentum brought by the passage of this bill will continue through the Senate and eventually, to the Office of the President. Our work is cut out for us, from the need to eliminate unnecessary plastics, redesigning the way we consume things, to implementing waste reduction and management as mandated by RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, there is clearly so much work to be done to address the plastic pollution problem in the country,” said Czarina Contantino - Panopio, No Plastics in Nature’s National Lead.

Film & AV Productions sa NCR, Isususpinde mula Agosto 6-20 dahil sa ECQ laban sa COVID-19 Delta Variant

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng mas nakakahawang Delta variant ng COVID-19, isasailalim ang National Capital Region (NCR) sa Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status mula Agosto 6 hanggang 20. Alinsunod ito sa Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 130-A na inaprubahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Sa ilalim ng ECQ, hindi pinapayagan ang film, music, at television production at lahat pa ng production activities sa NCR. Ang iba pang ECQ areas mula Agosto 1 hanggang 7 ay Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Gingoog City, at Cagayan de Oro City.

Mula Hulyo 30 hanggang Agosto 5, ang NCR ay nasa General Community Quarantine (GCQ) na mayroong “heightened and additional restrictions” at pinapayagan ang film, music, at TV productions na magkaroon ng hindi lalagpas sa 50 katao sa kahit na anong oras pero hindi lalagpas ng 100 katao buong araw.

“In as much as we are hoping for our film and audiovisual industry to bounce back from the many challenges due to the pandemic, production activities in ECQ areas need to be put on hold again as a preventive measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, especially its Delta variant,” sinabi ni Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson at CEO Liza Diño.

“As for areas under MECQ, GCQ, and MCQ, productions may continue provided that there is strict adherence to the operational capacities and health and safety protocols set by the government,” idinagdag ni Diño.

Ayon sa Memorandum Circular No. 21-14, Series of 2021 ng Department of Trade and Industry, pinapayagan ang film, music, at TV productions at activities na mag-operate ng may 50% capacity sa ilalim ng modified ECQ (MECQ), habang pinapayagan ang mga ito na mag-operate ng may 100% capacity sa ilalim ng GCQ at modified GCQ (MGCQ).

Mula Agosto 1 hanggang 15, ang MECQ areas ay Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Cebu City, Cebu province, Lapu-Lapu City, at Mandaue City. Ang status ng Cebu City at Cebu province ay subject sa mga apela ng kanilang mga pamahalaang lokal.

Ipapatupad ang GCQ with heightened restrictions mula Agosto 1 hanggang 15 sa Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Naga City, Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, Butuan City, at Zamboanga del Sur.

Mula Agosto 1 hanggang 31, GCQ ang status ng Apayao, Baguio City, Isabela, Santiago City, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Batangas, Puerto Princesa, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, General Santos City, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, at Dinagat Islands.

Isasailalim sa MGCQ ang iba pang lugar sa Pilipinas na hindi nabanggit para sa buong buwan ng Agosto.

Hinihikayat ng FDCP, sa pamamagitan ng Safe Filming Program nito, ang lahat ng film at audiovisual productions na sumunod sa safety at health protocols ng gobyerno. Maaaring mag-register ang mga production sa Safe Filming Program para matulungan at magabayan sila ng FDCP habang nagsasagawa ng production sa new normal.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa safety at health protocols para sa production shoots at audiovisual activities sa gitna ng pandemya, basahin ang DTI-DOLE-DOH JAO 2021-0001 sa http://bit.ly/OmnibusGuidelinesNFVPforCovid19 o bumisita sa www.safefilming.ph.

How To Improve Your Sex Drive: For Men

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The reality is when it comes to your libido, it's susceptible to a very human process of completely organic fluctuations. With that being said, there's no reason that you need to find yourself in a stressful situation where you simply can't seem to summon the sex drive necessary to walk through the dating world with self-assured purpose, or even get excited back in the bedroom if that's where things end up leading. The good news is that this era continues to welcome a promising series of breakthroughs in the health and wellness scene.

Maybe you've already had a friend who caught a case of erectile dysfunction. It wouldn't be beyond reason to guess that after receiving proper medical advice, they tried out a highly effective medication like Cialis or Viagra. Or, perhaps you're dealing with your own case of compromised libido. Maybe it's more of a mental block. Well, fear no more, because we've rounded up an absolutely stellar collection of great tips that you can use yourself or share with friends while on the quest to level up that sex drive.

1. Safely experiment with pharmaceutical drugs.

Countless men out in the world have had their successful go-around with the iconic Viagra at this point. If you're unaware, Viagra is a brand of sildenafil citrate and is engineered specifically to increase blood flow for the purpose of helping combat erectile dysfunction. Maybe your partner has already shrugged off the famed Viagra as being too good to be true. Well do your own research, and check out that Viagra price.

With a company like USARx, you're bound to encounter some discounts that could be all the extra persuasion you need to get that product looked at with a new set of optimistic eyes. Just make sure that you or anyone you're planning to purchase the product for visit the doctor for professional medical advice beforehand. This is the best way to guarantee peace of mind throughout the process.

2. Ride a soothing delta-8 wave.

Delta-8 continues to generate widespread buzz by avid followers in the health and wellness community for the product's ability to help people attain a heightened sense of chill, without having to take the disorienting psychedelic trip while they're at it. This is huge. If you've been weighed down by internal turmoil to such an extent that it's jeopardizing your ability to be present in the bedroom, consider taking a look at Delta North Products.

This company's gummies are made with that premium delta-8, which provides you a VIP pass to the chill factory every time. If you're able to calm yourself down, it can be quite remarkable how this translates to an increased sex drive. So often we can get in our own way by fueling all of our anxious thought cycles. Maybe delta-8 will help you resolve that. Just consult your doctor for more professional medical advice. If it's your first time with delta-8, you'll want to have all your questions answered before you put the product in your body.

3. Exercise regularly.

Not only will regular exercise help you proactively ward off your risk for a heart attack, but exercise can also elevate your sex drive. Maybe you decided that a Viagra or Cialis route from the online pharmacy ultimately wasn't the move for the situation that you (and yours, if applicable) are in right now. Well, doubling down on a consistent workout program is a great alternative. Plus, you'll naturally increase your endurance. Something funny happens when you're not as out of breath as you're normally accustomed to being throughout the day. You end up having more energy, and even more desire to play in the bedroom.

We've covered all the essentials. Just be sure to consult a healthcare professional before your first dose of hemp, or before you take a product like Viagra or Cialis. Otherwise, enjoy the journey toward an improved sex drive.

ALS student from Marinduque

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

With a goal in mind, an ALS student from Marinduque works his way to finishing school and supporting his family at the same time. He may have paused for a while but ensured that a ‘well kneaded’ future lies ahead for his family, especially for his siblings.

At a very young age, Darrel Juliano, 17 years old, from Brgy, Buangan, Torrijos, Marinduque already realized how hard life is. Their family became a member of the DSWD Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2011 after his father left them. Her mother Diane has epilepsy thus she stays at home to look after the siblings of Darrel. Instead of asking for their relatives to give them food, Diane sells kakanin and pandesal to provide for her family. However, what she earns is not enough to support her 3 children who are all attending school.

Darrel saw how his mother works hard despite her condition. To help Diane in providing for their family, he decided to look for a job where he can still attend school and earn money at the same time. Diane discourages his son from working as she wants him to focus on his class lessons. But Darrel is persistent. He took different part-time jobs to help his mother. “Mabait s’yang Kuya. Maalaga, mapagbigay, at maaasahan. Nasa kanya na lahat [referring to Darrel’s character as a sibling]”, said Diane, mother of Darrel.

A true ‘bread’ winner

Since they lack financial resources, Darrel is determined to finish school and help his mother at the same time. But chances really test him how tight he can hold to his dreams. “Napilitan po akong huminto para suportahan mga kapatid ko. Gusto ko na hindi sila mahinto at makapagtapos sila sa pag-aaral”. Darrel stopped attending school and became a NAS (Not Attending School) from 2018 to 2020. From then on, he became the breadwinner of his family. He worked in Valenzuela City as a bakeshop helper. And since his grandfather also taught him vehicle repair, Darell took a part-time job in an auto-mechanic shop during his day off at the bakery.

To bring Darrel back to school, the DSWD Pantawid Pamilya Torrijos conducted numerous counseling sessions with his family. The barangay council also worked closely with DSWD to ensure that help will be provided to Darell’s family in every way possible. Moreover, the DSWD Pantawid Pamilya Torrijos assisted Diane so she can be registered as a solo parent and get purchase discounts for being a Person With Disabilities (PWD). On the other hand, through the LGU assistance and barangay health center, regular provision of maintenance drugs to Diane became possible. This also helped Darrell as he no longer needed to worry about the medication of his mother.

Aside from the child’s perseverance, Diane was surprised how Darrell was able to manage the salary he received when he worked in Valenzuela City. He was able to save Php 40,000.00 and decided to start building a new house for his family. From the light and easily swayed by wind, through Darrell, the family now lives in a semi-concrete house with an installed electricity connection and connected water source from the community pump. He was also able to buy a Php 13,000.00-worth of carabao and a female hog.

Kneading way to success

Seeing how the people in his town helped his family and having savings at hand, Darrel decided to go back to Torrijos in 2020. Since he was already 3 years behind his batchmates in school, the child decided to attend the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program instead. “Ayaw ko pong mapag-iwanan at gusto ko rin pong makapagtapos sa pag-aaral para na rin sa sarili ko. Mas maganda ang magiging future ko kung makakapagtapos din ako sa pag-aaral”. Darrel took advantage of the flexibility of the ALS program. While studying his modules at night, he works in a bakeshop in Sta. Cruz during the daytime to continuously earn money for their family. He regularly sends Php 1,000.00 to his mother as additional support to their daily expenses. The rest of his salary goes to his savings as he plans to buy the land on which their house was built.

The ALS Coordinator in Darrel’s school was also impressed by his perseverance and determination to develop his skills. According to Rosa Lea Santelices, he diligently complies with the school requirements every week. Aside from that, Darell also mentioned to her his interest in acquiring an auto-mechanic certificate through enrollment at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This is because Darrel plans to work abroad after finishing his ALS program.

“Sa mga kabataang tulad ko na may pinagdadaanan na hirap sa buhay, huwag kayong susuko agad. Ituloy lang ninyo ang pag-aaral. Education ang susi para makaahon tayo sa hirap. Umiwas rin kayo sa bisyo upang makamit ang inyong mga pangarap.”

For Diane, she is the true ‘bread’ winner, referring to having Darrel as his son and those people who helped their family at their lowest time. Just like kneading the dough with hands, Darrel created ways on how to help his family without losing his determination to finish school. He said that success is like baking, it will take time, a strong heart, and patience. Indeed no tough dough is impossible to knead and bread to be baked if hearts and determination will be dedicated to achieving it.

PLDT Global Enterprise enables business expansion of CDS Global Cloud

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

PLDT Global Enterprise announces its partnership with CDS Global Cloud Co., LTD, a Cloud and Infrastructure Services provider headquartered in Beijing, China and is regarded as one of the fastest-growing global IaaS and CDN providers delivering exceptional online experiences. The collaboration between the two companies is anchored on PLDT’s Private Network Interconnect (PNI) service - an international direct access between the content and the users that will vastly improve customer experience.



“This new partnership highlights the Philippine Digital Ecosystem’s strong relevance among global Content Delivery Network (CDN) and cloud service providers. We are confident that this initiative will augment CDS Global’s value to the markets they serve by enhancing customer conversion and retention rate via the direct path linking users and content—made possible by the PNI solution we are providing," says Vic Tria, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head.

"It is our goal at PLDT Global Enterprise to enable more international businesses through our expansive solutions and this partnership attests to this mission," Tria added.

To enhance customer experience, CDS Global Cloud will make use of PLDT’s PNI service out of Hong Kong and Singapore that are supported by PLDT’s own international submarine cables linking back to the Philippines. These cables bridge the PLDT public internet subscribers and users directly to CDS Global Cloud’s platforms, thereby solidifying the brand as a Tier 1 CDN provider.

"With PLDT's extensive network capabilities, we are confident that CDS Global will successfully widen its global reach in the Philippines. Through this partnership, we will be accelerating their full scale access to PLDT's IP community—creating a seamless and great customer experience both for CDS Global and their end consumers," says Jeff Mendoza, PLDT Enterprise Asia Pacific Regional Head.

CDS Global Cloud is a listed company at the Shenzen Stock market. As a leading ISP and IDC operator, CDS offers fast and reliable global private networks throughout the US, Europe and Asia, and provides full stack IT solutions, Data Center-related services, and Content Delivery Network (CDN) services with round-the-clock support service. CDS Global’s unique Global Interconnected Cloud was developed to help deliver any type of digital content to the region by leveraging its Global Private Network (GPN), a full-stack service with best-in-class service and global support. The Philippines is part of CDS Global’s market where users can access content through the nearest CDS Global platform servers in Hong Kong and Singapore.

“We are very happy to partner with PLDT Enterprise and are very grateful for the services that we will get out of this collaboration for our business expansion,” says, He Jian Ming (何剑鸣), VP Strategic Cooperation of CDS Global Cloud. “This will definitely add value to the experience our customers will get from us.”

For more information on PLDT Global Enterprise and its products, visit https://www.pldtenterprise.com/pldt-global/enterprise.



For more information on CDS Global Cloud and its products,

visit https://www.cdsglobalcloud.com/





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Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. gives back on its silver anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In recognizing the value of the company’s success, the Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) kicks off its 25th anniversary by giving back to the communities within the company’s vicinity.

The tire manufacturing company is set to donate tires for the emergency service vehicles of its neighboring communities to support the quick Covid-19 and emergency response of its local health units. Aside from this, YTPI will also be donating printing materials to nearby public schools that are currently under the modular learning system due to the pandemic.

"YTPI has come so far in the past 25 years. I am humbled and grateful for the support the company and our team have received over the years. Despite the global pandemic, I feel blessed that we have grown YTPI into a business that can give back,” said YTPI President and CEO Tetsuya Nagao.

Moreover, several events are also lined up to commemorate the plant’s 25th anniversary, including a social media project that will feature some of the people behind the success of the company, and a photo exhibit about the company’s milestones through the years.

To build camaraderie in the workplace, several in-house activities will also be held, including a board design contest, an online gaming contest, and the launching of an informative video series. In addition, custom-made insulated bags and free food will be distributed to employees on the anniversary launch and culmination day.



From producing 5,000 tires per day to manufacturing 27,000 tires everyday

25 years had passed since the Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. (YRC) established YTPI in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. Two years after the company’s inception, the first S-760 passenger tire model was manufactured at the first Yokohama tire manufacturing facility in Asia outside Japan.

Since then, YTPI has become a strategic and vital subsidiary of YRC that is essential to the local and global distribution of high-performance passenger car radial and recreational vehicle tires.

Over the years, tire demand and industry growth have resulted in YTPI’s several business expansions marking the company’s focus to proceed in several phases. On June 9, 2003, Phase II expansion started to ramp up production to 10,000 tires per day. Two years after, the company started the construction of its Phase III expansion, increasing production by 70 percent. 2008 was a banner year as YTPI set a record by producing 22,000 tires in a day. In 2011, YTPI officially started building the West Plant. The expansion move increased the company’s total land area from 16.5 hectares to 44.7 hectares. It also ramped up production resulting in a huge increase of the company’s manpower. By 2014, the second and last phase of YTPI’s West Plant Expansion was finally completed. To date, YTPI manufactures 27,000 tires per day and employs over 3,000 staff.

In less than a decade, amazing strides were made exponentially increasing production by fastidious and daring shifts. As manufacturing continues to achieve gain after gain, its workforce has grown as well, providing even more opportunities to the community.



Triumphed over challenges

Things did not go easily for the company as misfortune struck on May 14, 2017, when the YTPI East Plant – Phase 3 was razed with fire. As an agile and resilient company, YTPI began the rebuilding and reconstruction the same year. And by June of the following year, partial production has already commenced.

In the constantly changing business environment, the company was able to recover and quickly stay the course. YTPI’s dauntless leadership and ability to adapt with complex shifts was crucial not only to maintain its momentum but also to move beyond. Nowhere is this more pronounced than the symbolic year of 2018, a year after the unfortunate event, when YTPI manufactured its 100,000,000th tire.

“Credit goes to every diligent employee who gave their all day in and day out. Their commitment and dedication to build quality tires that people can trust can only be matched with an unquenchable thirst for success,” said Nagao

As a testament to quality and excellence, the tire manufacturer has obtained ISO 9001 in 1998 for the Quality Management System and ISO 14001 certification in 2000 for the Environmental Management System. Moreover, in 2010, the Occupation Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) certification was given to the company. A tire produced from YTPI guarantees that it has been manufactured abiding by the international standards of quality, and safety.

For YTPI, it has never been easy to create a good enterprise. As the company strives to attain its business goals, the management ensures that its business processes are founded on fair practices and compliance to all regulatory agencies. YTPI’s accomplishments are the employees’ achievements as well. It is a shared purpose, where the company’s leadership invests in its workforce and both have worked together towards the company’s mission and vision. YTPI’s singularity of providing safe work spaces whilst yielding quality that meets international standards has been a yardstick that defines it, all while committing to an environment where employees thrive, are valued and heard.



Giving back to the community

As a keen adopter of sustainability and eco-friendly business, it was all too clear that corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship has been part of the company’s mission. As an industry leader in reducing its carbon footprint, YTPI undertook the expansion of the Forever Forest, a global initiative of its parent company. Several generations ago, it all seemed that the world’s resources were infinite, but in the intervening years, wisdom and experience has shown otherwise, and in the time that YTPI has been involved with Forever Forest, over 44,000 trees have been planted within the facility and nearby areas.

The company has admirably committed and invested in sustainability and in 2019, YTPI has installed its own 4MW solar power rooftop. It is the second largest rooftop solar plant in the country and the largest in Central Luzon. It is considered as one of the company’s biggest environmental milestones to date as it greatly reduced Freeport’s annual CO2 emissions. In addition, a 1,020m3 rainwater recovery tank to harvest rain water for industrial purposes was constructed.

YTPI also devoted equal importance to strengthening partnerships with the local communities. Some of its notable projects include scholarship grants to nearly a hundred college students. The company has also donated health and sanitation facilities to public schools and has provided extensive and active support to Brigada Eskwela. In 2006, YTPI donated Php 1,000,000 worth of materials and supplies for the rehabilitation of the water system providing potable water to Indigenous Peoples (Aeta) families in San Vicente in Tarlac province. Socially responsible to itself, its stakeholders, and the public, YTPI is conscious of the kind of impact the company has on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental facets.



Braving through the new normal

As the whole world faces the challenges brought by the pandemic, the tire manufacturer officially launched The New Normal: Together We Can Beat This Better protocols and programs to ensure the safety of its people. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the company continued to contribute to the economic development of the country by generating employment opportunities, paying its taxes dutifully, and creating profit through fair and honest business activities.

In the face of both adversity and privilege, within a score and five years, what makes the YTPI’s silver anniversary worth celebrating is that despite the recent challenges of being in the midst of a global pandemic – the company continues to produce and deliver millions of tires that people can trust. All of this, operating within complexities big and small. This kind of success does not come without difficulties. It is through hard work, meticulous planning, cooperation and a great degree of foresight that this degree of accomplishment is envisioned, let alone, achieved.

“I want to congratulate all our former and current employees on this special milestone. It has been a wonderful journey altogether. Let’s continue to defy the odds and hope for the best in the coming years,” Nagao ended.

Grab Philippines reaffirms its commitment to supporting Filipinos amidst tighter lockdowns

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As key parts of the Philippines enter stricter community quarantine, Grab Philippines continues to support Filipinos on safety and hygiene, everyday value and convenience, and growth

Following the government’s implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region from August 6-20, 2021, Grab Philippines is reaffirming its commitment to supporting Filipinos on three (3) key areas: 1) Ensuring that its suite of everyday services ranging from mobility, deliveries, and cashless payment solutions continue to operate smoothly and reliably to support the needs of consumers, 2) Platform safety and hygiene, and 3) Helping local businesses and partners grow amidst the lockdown.

“We believe that by supporting our consumers, partners, and our broader communities, and doing right by them, we are able to help our kababayans better cope with the challenges that come with another lockdown, support our country’s socio-economic recovery, and create a lasting impact in the lives of many Filipinos who rely on our platform to improve their quality of life,” said Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz.

Ensuring that its suite of everyday services ranging from mobility, deliveries, and cashless payment solutions continue to operate smoothly and reliably to support the needs of consumers

Mobility: GrabCar services will continue to provide safe and convenient transport solutions 24/7 to support those who need to commute and perform essential activities. To highlight its commitment to safety, GrabCar Bayanihan - a dedicated fleet composed of vaccinated driver-partners and priced 15% lower than regular GrabCar rides, will continue to provide mobility solutions going to and from vaccination sites to support the ongoing vaccination efforts against COVID-19.

Deliveries: With dine-in options suspended across restaurants and food establishments in Metro Manila, GrabFood, GrabMart, and GrabExpress will continue to operate throughout the ECQ, and support consumers with access to their everyday essentials such as food, groceries, and medicine, while creating livelihood opportunities for local businesses and delivery-partners.

Cashless Payments: To help minimize the risk of transmitting the virus through physical cash exchanges, GrabPay has made significant strides in helping Filipinos better adapt to cashless payments, while helping them make the most out of their money. Apart from using GrabPay to pay for Grab services, consumers can also now use GrabPay as a payment method for various online and offline merchants. In addition, consumers also earn GrabRewards Points whenever they use GrabPay. They can then use these GrabRewards Points to also pay for their purchases or redeem perks offered in the GrabRewards catalogue.


Reinforcing our commitment to platform safety and hygiene

GrabProtect: With many Filipinos wary of the COVID-19 Delta variant, Grab Philippines continues to implement GrabProtect - a robust suite of tools, policies, and procedures aimed to ensure utmost safety and hygiene standards across the Grab platform - helping minimize the risk of contracting the Delta variant on Grab’s mobility and delivery services. As part of GrabProtect, contactless deliveries will continue to be implemented across GrabFood, GrabMart, and GrabExpress.

Vaccination: Through our Vacc to Normal Campaign, Grab Philippines is continuously encouraging its driver- and delivery-partners to get inoculated at the soonest possible time so that they can confidently go out to earn a living and continuously provide for their families.

Zero-tolerance on Fraud: Grab Philippines encourages Filipinos to use Grab responsibly to ensure the safety and security of the platform, and stakeholders who rely on it for essential services and economic empowerment.

Addressing Consumer No-Show (Hoax orders): Grab Philippines immediately conducts an investigation for reported incidents, and will block the mobile phone IMEI of the fraudulent account to avoid similar incidents from happening in the future. Grab Philippines continues to implement its reimbursement policy on consumer no-shows, whereby delivery-partners who have fallen prey to any fraudulent activities on the platform are reimbursed within 24-hours upon receipt of claims.

Safeguarding from Phishing Attacks: As fraudsters are known to constantly evolve and find new ways to target users, Grab Philippines urges everyone to remain vigilant and to never disclose their personal information, login details, bank details, and SMS OTP with anyone else. Should anyone receive any suspected phishing email or messages, do not click on any links in the email or message, download or open any of its attachments, or reply to the email or message. Instead, download the email or screenshot the message, and email it to phishing@grab.com for investigation.

Leveraging its superapp strategy and platform to help local businesses and partners grow amidst the lockdowns:

Social Sellers: Grab Philippines - through its Madiskarteng Boss Club program, will continue to support social sellers on the platform by providing them much-needed visibility through its first-ever #AngatSaMBC Live Selling Event on the Grab Philippines Facebook Page this August 8, 12-1 PM. The live selling event will feature four (4) social sellers and their essential goods. Grab Philippines will also feature these sellers and their products in the MBC Essentials catalogue located in the Grab app.

Merchant Partners: Grab Philippines will also offer 15% off on GrabCar 2-Seater rides to Merchant-Partners in Metro Manila from August 6-20, 2021. This mobility initiative aims to support the staff of its merchant-partners and help them safely go to and from their workplaces and perform essential economic activities, and cushion the adverse effects of the lockdown in their respective businesses.
Drivers and Delivery Partners: Grab Philippines will continue to support its driver- and delivery partners throughout- and even beyond, the ECQ. Grab driver- and delivery-partners will also be able to take advantage of the range of initiatives and programs from Grab Philippines to help address their everyday needs and support their long-term growth despite the ECQ.

5 Most Romantic Places to Visit in the Philip

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


In the Philippines, there is no shortage of romantic destinations. Lovers and honeymooners can find almost anything they're looking for in a romantic getaway. Surrounded by nearly 7000 islands, a honeymoon in the Philippines is the ideal dreamy start to your married life. The Philippines is an archipelago in the eastern region of Asia, surrounded by turquoise waters and uninterrupted surroundings. This picture-perfect Southeast Asian destination is a blessing for all the lovely couples planning a special secluded romantic retreat.

German citizens can currently enter the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa. And, the Philippine government has announced that the new Philippines visa requirements for German citizens will be issued soon. Germans will be required then to apply for an eTA to the Philippines before departure.

Palawan

Palawan Island, popularly known as the "Last Frontier," is a sugar-coated delight hidden in the mountains. Palawan's islands and islets have incredibly gorgeous beaches, turquoise oceans, and an astonishing underwater environment. This is regarded as the paradise in the Philippines for couples who love island life. El Nido, situated on the northern tip of Palawan, is an excellent location for viewing lagoons and coral reefs. You and your beloved can rent a kayak to explore the magnificent lagoons or go snorkeling and scuba diving to see an ethereal coral reef garden. Coron, a short ferry ride from El Nido, is a once-in-a-lifetime destination, especially if you're a couple who prefers adventure over luxury. You can swim in clear blue waters, snorkel down to shipwrecks, or simply relax on the bow of the boat while your captain prepares a seafood lunch for you and your partner. Due to the many beautiful places to visit in Palawan, it has been named the best island in the world several times by international magazines.

Boracay Islands

Boracay, one of the best islands in the world, is a popular honeymoon destination due to its crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, sparkling sunlight, and romantic setting. The Philippine Sea surrounds it to the east, South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The island's main attraction is the 4-kilometer White Beach, which has dazzling white sand and calm, crystal-clear waters and is where you can see one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. If you and your darling are feeling daring, you can participate in some of Boracay's challenging and enjoyable activities like scuba diving, cliff diving, and kiteboarding. Boracay is also one of the ideal places in the Philippines to propose, whether on the beach, on a sunset yacht cruise, or a helicopter ride around the island. Luxury resorts such as Shangri-la Boracay and Discovery Shores are among popular wedding reception locations.

Vigan

Vigan is defined by its heritage houses, cobblestone streets, kalesa, historical attractions, and delectable cuisine. Nothing beats the romantic scent of nostalgia of the city. As one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns globally, Vigan has a distinct charm that would appeal to anyone. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is widely regarded as Asia's most beautiful colonial city. In fact, you won't find much of its classic architecture and cobblestone streets anywhere else in the Philippines. Take your time strolling the cobblestone streets, or spend some time window shopping at the many antique stores along Calle Crisologo. Your partner will undoubtedly love Vigan, as it is one of the best romantic getaway destinations in the Philippines.

Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island is a tropical paradise in the Visayas Sea, just off the northern tip of Cebu. Something is enticing about a sleepy coastal town with long stretches of white sand beaches. This island makes you feel as if you're in your own little world, in your own little space. Allow this small island to tempt you with its laid-back ambiance, beautiful beaches, and native-style accommodations for an amazing quality time with your loved one. Visit famous locations like Ogtong Cave and the neighboring The Ruins for romantic photoshoots. Get on a scooter and ride around town before heading to Kota Park for a sunset session. If you and your partner enjoy seafood, Bantayan Island is perfect for you as you can indulge in a seafood buffet for as little as P250 per person.

Batanes

You'll fall in love with Batanes as soon as you see its rolling hills, scenic landscapes, and breathtaking cliffs. Batanes, nestled in the northernmost part of the Philippines, is one of the most popular places to visit for the anniversary. The traditional stone houses, vast greenery with an otherworldly view of the sunset and sunrise, a boulder beach, and friendly locals are some of the usual sights on this small island. Unlike other tourist destinations in the Philippines, Batanes is never overcrowded, making it ideal for a romantic getaway. Batanes' unimaginably beautiful features make it the best romantic retreat for couples.

Newly-rehabilitated Butuan Airport in Agusan del Norte

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Improved and modern transportation systems will not only push local and regional economic growth, they will also reap tangible benefits for the Caraga Region and the whole of Mindanao, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade said Thursday, 05 August 2021.

The Transport Chief made the statement as the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) unveiled the newly-rehabilitated Butuan Airport in Agusan del Norte. Development works in the said gateway covers the runway asphalt overlay to provide aircraft with smoother take-offs and landings, and the improvement of the airport’s passenger terminal building (PTB).

“Ito po yung kahalagahan nito, sa pagkakaroon ng mobility and connectivity, umusad at lumago ang ating pamumuhay at hindi lang turismo. Binago ang mga equipment na ito nang ganun, tuluyan at tuluyang magamit ang paliparan na ito maski na ‘ho sunset, iyon po ang isang programa na kung saan isang kadahilanan na nagsasama-sama tayo dito,” he pointed out.

Another vital facility added to the Butuan Airport is the Malasakit Hall, which is part of the airport’s modernization and people-centered service delivery thrust. The Malasakit Hall will serve as a waiting area for airline passengers and features a clinic, a childcare room, a loung for overseas Filipino workers, a prayer room, a washroom, and a concession space for passengers.

Sec. Tugade likewise instructed CAAP to further expand the Malasakit Hall, especially the OFW Lounge and the Clinic in order to accommodate more at any given time.

"Mayroon pa namang lugar sa likod, tiningnan ko iyon kanina baka pwedeng gibain na yung likuran at i-extend pa ng sa ganun mas maluwag at mas malaki yung ating mga pasilidad sa tinatawag natin na Malasakit Hall. Ganun pa man, bagamat may rekomendasyon ng pagbabago bago i-inaugurate, meron na agad rekomendasyon na palakihin. Sana ho ay magawa ito sa lalong madaling panahon," he added.

The airport’s passenger terminal building (PTB) will further be expanded as well so to offer passengers better service and accommodation.

“Kaya sinabi na sana ang PTB ay mapalaki at mapaluwag dahil makakadagdag ito sa kapasidad ng 500 passengers. Starting next month, magsisimula na ang bidding and procurement process then actual construction will start,” the transport chief pointed out.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said the P33.59 million Butuan Airport PTB expansion project is now under procurement and will have October 10, 2021 as its target start date and May 23, 2022, as target end date.

DG Sydiongco added that the agency has also completed the replacement of the airport's Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR) - an air navigation aid - last December 2019. The system improves the radio navigation at the airport to aid aircraft in determining their position relative to the Butuan Airport.

Sec. Tugade also inaugurated on the same development projects in the Cantilan Port in Surigao del Sur.

With these transport projects, comfort and convenience to passengers are assured in addition to the region's trade and tourism growth. Small businesses are also expected to flourish as more jobs will be generated with the two upgraded transport infrastructures.

Streamers unite to safeguard forests

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The international streaming community is uniting again to participate in Every Last Leaf, the second collaborative global livestream fundraising event hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Network.

The digital fundraising event which launched on the 23^rd of July runs until the 14^th August to raise awareness and funds to safeguard 150 million hectares of forest by 2030 as part of the global WWF Forests Forward initiative.

Nearly half of the planet’s forests have been cleared – with over 10 billion trees still being cleared every year. This is equivalent to losing an area of forest the size of New York City every day, accelerating the rates of global warming.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide to help keep the Earth cool. Without them, 15 billion tons of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Forests are also vital in maintaining the biodiversity and health of the planet. Currently there are two billion hectares, an area approximately the size of Europe, of degraded forests which can be revived.

“This is a chance for online creators and their communities to make a real difference for people and nature,” said WWF Livestream Fundraising Coordinator Lucy Chen. “Our Wild-Livestreamers communitree provides a beacon of hope for the future of forests around the world.”

Over 90 Wild-Livestreamers have signed up and fundraised over $20,000 USD within the first week of the event. Among the returning streamers is Twitch partner ExcessiveProfanity and his team, the ‘CForce’, who first participated in a WWF event during the Australian bushfires in 2019. And we also have streamers from TierOne Entertainment Malaysia and Blacklist International such as (SpectraMaster) Jasper Yap, Absolute Yana, Chel. C, Aeonz, Hishiko, and Ajimzz. Joining us as well for the second time are the streamers from the Gamer Girls Philippines and TierOne Entertainment Philippines.

"After an incredible response from our community raising $20,000 to Keep Koalas Climbing in 2019, the CForce is back bringing people together again for another good cause: planting trees, because breathing is great and we want to keep doing it,” said ExcessiveProfanity

The Every Last Leaf event is open to all online content creators. Interested streamers can still register on Tiltify. As a fundraiser for WWF, streamers can earn exclusive rewards including WWF T-shirts, keep cups and hoodies. Streamers who raise over $10,000 are also invited to experience on-the-ground turtle research in Queensland, Australia.

For more information on Every Last Leaf, sign up on Tiltify, join the Wild-Livestreamers Discord or stay tuned on the WWF Wild-Livestreamers Twitter page. For other enquiries you can contact WWF-Philippines at donations@wwf.org.ph. In the online communitree, #EveryLastLeaf counts.

 

Media contact:

 

Angelica Carballo Pago, Communications Manager

World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines

apago@wwf.org.ph | +63 949 889 1332

 

Chezka Guevarra, Assistant Manager for External Communications
World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines
cguevarra@wwf.org.ph | +63 927 656 6436

FDCP, City of Manila Begin Vaccination of 3,500 Film & AV Workers

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

A total of 3,500 film and audiovisual (AV) workers will be inoculated under the #GoodJAB Vaccination Program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with the City of Manila through its “Vaccine Nation is the Solution” Program.

On August 2, over 1,500 members of the film and AV industry received their COVID-19 vaccination at Palacio de Maynila. Their second dose schedule is on September 27, with the venue to be announced.

The remaining almost 2,000 film and AV workers will receive their first dose on August 9 at Adamson University. Their second dose schedule and venue will be announced as soon as finalized.

The partnership between the FDCP National Registry (NR) and the City of Manila Health Department for the vaccination of film and AV workers was made possible by the approval of Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

FDCP’s #GoodJAB and Manila’s “Vaccine Nation is the Solution” is also supported by Sound Check and the National Live Events Coalition Philippines.

“The FDCP and Manila LGU VaccineNation Day has been a success, many thanks to Mayor Isko Moreno and the City of Manila’s vaccination team as well as the FDCP National Registry team and FDCP employees who volunteered to assist our film and AV workers. It is our goal to make sure that we deliver the best service possible in providing support to address the immediate needs of our industry,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

“Sa gitna ng pandemya, kaisa ang Film Development Council of the Philippines sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga manggagawa — mula ayuda hanggang bakuna — mapa-pelikula, telebisyon, media, teatro, advertising, live events, animation, o music industry man, para sa ikalalakas ng ating iisang industriya ng creatives,” Diño added.

The FDCP National Registry has more than 5,000 registrants. Apart from the 3,500 workers to be vaccinated by the City of Manila, 1,500 workers have already been inoculated by the Quezon City Government’s #QCProtekTODO Program through “Bakuna Nights para sa Film at Entertainment Workers” in partnership with FDCP.

In addition, the City of Manila has vaccinated all FDCP employees to ensure their safety and health as they continue to render public service for film and AV industry stakeholders amid the pandemic.

 

Quick and organized process

At Palacio de Maynila, the vaccination process, which the FDCP spearheaded and facilitated, lasted less than an hour per individual. A total of 45 staff from #TeamFDCP and 35 from the City of Manila Vaccination team came in full force to make sure that the system will be safe, smooth, and efficient for the workers.  Burgers and bottled water were served and photo booths were set up to encourage film and AV workers to pose as #GoodJAB ambassadors to enjoin others to get vaccinated.

Filmmaker and journalist Leilani Chavez was one of the 1,500 film and AV workers vaccinated during the August 2 event which she described as “well-managed.” “Getting vaccinated is important, especially for informal workers in the industry. Because of the nature of our work, we mingle with different groups of people in a week so there’s a higher risk of us being exposed to the virus. We could also be inadvertently spreading it that’s why we need to be proactive in curbing COVID-19 especially the Delta variant,” Chavez told FDCP.

On Facebook, production manager Carlito Marquina Alvarez posted that the event was “mabilis, maayos, at organisado” while creative director, colorist, and photographer Marco Constantino said his vaccination process took less than 10 minutes. He added that half of his team has been vaccinated as well.

Meanwhile, NR registrants who want to register with their respective local government units for their vaccination may present as proof of occupation their FDCP National Registry Certification, which can be downloaded from their MyFDCPRegistry Profile on the NR website (nationalregistry.fdcp.ph). Freelance workers without a company ID can use this to prove that they belong to the A4 Priority Group.

The FDCP, which has lobbied for the vaccination of film and AV workers since 2020, aims to assist NR registrants with their vaccination. Film and AV workers and freelancers who wish to register with the FDCP NR may visit the NR website to fill out the registration form.

For updates on the #GoodJAB x “Vaccine Nation is the Solution” schedules and venues, visit the Facebook pages of FDCP (https://www.facebook.com/FDCP.ph)  and NR (https://www.facebook.com/FDCPNationalRegistry).

For inquiries and other concerns, kindly email nationalregistry@fdcp.ph or visit https://nationalregistry.fdcp.ph.

PLDT Enterprise, Smart and OLFU launch eLearning online store

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The largest fully integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise and wireless unit Smart Communications, has partnered with Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) Inc. for the launch of the OLFU Smart Online Store that aims to support the digital learning needs of its students.

OLFU is a progressive and multi-awarded educational institution: a Philippine Quality Award recipient; an Autonomous University as granted by the CHEd, and certified ISO 9001:2015. Most recently, OLFU’s proactive initiatives towards a seamless Fatima Learning Experience (FLEX) paved the way to becoming one of the first out of a few select schools to be granted the authority to conduct limited face-to-face classes—an indication of its commitment to strengthen its academic delivery through technology, improved processes and enhanced facilities.

And to boost FLEX where digital initiatives for eLearning are key, the University opened its OLFU Smart Online Store—an e-commerce platform that will provide its students and teachers access to exclusive connectivity plans and services to support their online education from home.

“Our Lady of Fatima University reiterates its commitment to our students wherein we will continue connecting with them. We will go that extra mile for our students and teachers to ensure that we can leverage all means possible to address their needs,” said OLFU’s Student Financial Services Head Vincent Kenneth Mercado.

Since the onset of the pandemic, OLFU has implemented various digital initiatives that have made transactions and classes easier for students. “Our goal is to always be flexible and agile, quick to act and adapt to the circumstances,” stated Mercado.

At the onset of the pandemic, OLFU immediately fully utilized its learning management system to be able to deliver flexible instructional modes. Students were likewise offered easier payment terms for their tuition fees.

Through the collaboration with SMART, the University was able to tailor-fit data plans suited for the needs of its teachers and students for navigating through different software. As such, OLFU and SMART offered Smart Bizload plans to students and teachers at a more affordable price without the need to go to retail stores.

OLFU President, Dr. Caroline Marian Enriquez averred, “This partnership with Smart will only further fortify the University’s intent to help our faculty become better teachers; using time more efficiently, creating modules more creatively and effectively. On the other hand, the access to Smart’s affordable products enhances the learning journey of our students by making it more rewarding because of stable digital connections and communication products at reasonable price points. And these collaborative B2C opportunities during tough times can only be viewed as educational triumphs.”

“Despite the challenges that we face, we believe that it is the right of our dear Filipino students to continue their education. And with the launch of the OLFU Smart Online store, we will enable hundreds of students and teachers alike in the member schools of the Our Lady of Fatima University system with the best products that Smart can offer to support their digital learning wherever they are - so that no learner is left behind,” said Al Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

PLDT Enterprise has been a longstanding partner of the University in delivering digital solutions according to their requirements. Over the years, PLDT Enterprise has provided OLFU with end-to-end connectivity and data services including MPLS, trunk lines, Enterprise Broadband, iGate lines, and Smart Bizload.

“We would like to thank Our Lady of Fatima University for trusting us for the Smart Online Store project and we aim that through this partnership, we would enable them to maximize their digital capabilities,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President, and CEO; SVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups. “We at PLDT Enterprise are committed to helping OLFU with technology services that will bolster their education efforts and at the same time improve the online learning experiences of its students nationwide.”

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.

Jane Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart, said "the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted how students learn. And Smart has responded to the disruption by rolling out innovative solutions and services that enable students to adapt to and thrive in the new normal for education. Smart continues to encourage the youth to live the Giga Life and bring a sense of purpose into their day-to-day activities so they can live smarter and help build a better world.”

For more information, please visit pldtenterprise.com

Whang Od Academy of Nas Daily is a scam

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Online content creator Nuseir Yassin, who maintains the Facebook page Nas Daily, has taken down the online course featuring tattoo master Apo Whang-Od after her grandniece called it out for being a “scam.”

Grace Palicas—Whang Od’s grandniece and protegée—is warning people away from signing up to the course, calling the Whang Od Academy “a scam”. 

The moment Nas Daily posted about the “Tattoo Course” I knew it was impossible. How can someone teach an indigenous tattooing “course” by only visiting a village for days? Hindi lang simpleng body art ang tattoo for them. 750 pesos for what? 

The Cordillerans have already experienced enough abuse under repressive state mechanisms. Clearly, Nas Daily's attempt to capitalize Whang-od's craftsmanship obscures the Cordilleran people's quest for self-determination! 

The Cordillerans are not commodities, they are people! 

Not Nas Daily being cancelled in the Philiipines in just a matter of 1 minute. Okay then, see you tomorrow.

Nas daily, one-handedly, and inappropriately, took a piece of our culture, then sell it to us for ₱750? that has to be the worst, downgrading cultural insult I've ran into. 

We should tell this guy to leave the Filipinos alone. Was he not satisfied with Pinoy baiting, so lemme gentrify and exploit their art and culture, too? He's been milking 3rd world countries for poverty porn since day one. Is Nas Daily a scam and does it deserve our attention? Nas daily has been problematic ever since, not to mention how he supports the Philippine Government.

I mean, just the idea of the 'tattoo academy' for Php750 is already fishy and kinda disrespectful to the culture. 

I Can’t wait for Nas Daily ’s official statement. Trying my best to withhold judgement for now.

But isn’t “exploiting our culture” a bit too defamatory though? Who isn’t exploiting anything to earn money? Is it because he’s a foreigner? I really don’t know where this hate towards him is coming from.

Don't be too quick to cast your judgements. It is vital to hear  both sides so that we are able to see the whole picture, which helps us to find the root cause of the problem and discover a solution that takes the needs and feelings of everyone involved into consideration.

Even if he has reason, Filipinos should stop supporting him too much. His NasAcademy is kinda problematic. It has many issues. He will repeat this again and again.

He’s been Pinoy-baiting for far too long. The guy is literally trying to profit off deceiving an indigenous woman and our culture. He already did that to another Southeast Asian countries. Now he did it again.

I used to be one of the fans of Nas daily, but when I heard the news about him using our cultures just to make money. I came to think that unfollowing is the best solution.

"hear the other side first"

Kinumpirma ng kamag-anak ni Whang Od that she wasn't informed about this. The entire thing is a scam. There is no justifying his actions.

Sure, the government should intervene. But I strongly doubt the current one would intervene. This administration is likewise a scam. I'm doubting that the government will intervene because the tourism department of the Phillippines is also sponsoring him. 

The now-deleted online Nas Daily course appeared to have attempted to instruct subscribers in Apo Whang-Od's methods.

Social media is pop culture and Nas Daily has been exploiting it. In many countries, pop culture is not exactly the most popular because they have sports, arts, literature. In the Philippines, where even petty issues among actors will be trending, then it's not surprising at all.

Nas Daily go to hell challenge. He's the epitome of the cringey and harmful #goodvibesonly culture that people love to eat up.

Please spread this. Nas Daily has been exploiting my country’s culture for years. He even gave light and voice to a homophobic senator who wants to be a president. Foreign content creators, stop using my country’s culture for views and exploitation.

Filipinos are thirsty for global validation, of course Nas daily took advantage of that.

How do we avoid getting Pinoy baited by the next Nas Daily that comes along? 

For starters watch more regional films by regional filmmakers.

I hope the international media picks up Nas Daily / Nas Academy issue with Whang Od.

Subjugation should never be tolerated, Nas Daily is just proving that colonisation still exists and we Filipinos still don't know what to do.

Honestly, NasDaily making content in the Philippines by exploiting the people in it is not new. Irresponsible from the start.

Not only Phllipines content, Thailand and other countries content are also like this. And the way he encoraged people that they don’t need to graduate or get a diploma saying it is not that important while he graduated from Harvard is so hypocrite.

It's clearly begpacking and Filipino baiting.

Exoticism tawag dyan. Branding places with indigenous and unique cultures as "exotic"

As what’s long been clear about foreign content creators, they like to sate Filipinos’ thirst for int’l validation while getting lots of money from it. At this time, this Nas Daily goes after our indigenous culture, & we mustn’t let them exploit it. Let’s protect Whang-od.

So quick to take down the course and posts re Apo Whang Od Academy but where is your public apology, Nas Daily? 

Pnoy legacy lives on with Commemorative Stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) unveiled the Commemorative Stamp to pay tribute to the late former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III held at the iconic Manila Central Post Office Building on August 02.

This occasion also marks PNoy’s 40 days while coincidentally, was yesterday’s death anniversary of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

Postmaster General Norman “Mr. Postman” Fulgencio thank the family of the late President headed by Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz for allowing to proceed with this special program to honor their brother. Ms. Deedee Siytangco, former spokeswoman of Pres. Corazon Aquino, was helpful in coordinating the intention of the family.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that the launching of the Philippine Postal Corporation’s official “Pnoy Stamp” is to pay tribute and celebrate the legacy of public service he (Pnoy) had imparted to each one of us.

He added, It is also noteworthy tor remember how Pnoy fought for and promoted our democratic foundations of liberty, sovereignty and justice which the Duterte Administration shares and continues to uphold.

Although the Aquino sisters were not present during the launching ceremony for health reasons and the threat of the virus, they requested their cousin Mayor Len Len Oreta of Malabon City to represent the Aquino family.

”We are thankful to the Post Office for paying tribute to President Pnoy”, Malabon City Mayor LenLen Oreta said.

Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, one of the Aquino sisters sent a video message thanking the Post Office for recognizing his services and contributions to the country. The Aquino family is deeply honored for this recognition”, she said.

Postmaster General Fulgencio said that it is the mandate of the Post Office to immortalize and pay tribute to former Presidents, who in one way or another have served and contributed to the development of the country.

He added, The Postage Stamps we issue symbolize unity, respect, love of the country and concern for one another regardless of color, race or creed. When a former president passes away, we set aside politics and the whole country mourns.”

10 Ways To Reduce Email Bounce Rate

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Email marketing is a rewarding online marketing strategy, but it’s not easy to master!

It takes a lot of effort and hard work to plan and carry out an authentic email marketing campaign. One of the biggest obstacles to a successful campaign is a high bounce rate. Imagine how disheartening it can be if you discover that some of your audience didn't even receive the email since it bounced right after you sent it!

Marketers are trying to fight high bounce rates and are having a hard time in doing so as the reason behind increasing bounce rates and its solution is not always clear.

What Is email bounce rate is and what are its major causes:

Email bounce rate measures the percentage of recipients who did not receive your message as it was rejected by their server.

There are two types of bounces that you can face: soft bounce and hard bounce.

Soft bounce refers to the temporary failure in the delivery of your email caused due to reasons like

no space in your recipient’s mailbox,
server issues,
your message could be too big to be received, etc.

Such factors don’t require fixing and neither are they in your hands.

Hard bounce refers to the permanent failure in the delivery of your message to an email address caused due to reasons like

incorrect domain names,
invalid email addresses,
subscriber’s mailboxes that are no longer active.

Hard bounces are a bigger problem and require attention since they cannot be resolved with subsequent emails.

Any email that does not reach its intended address is useless in terms of persuasion or information, lowering the effectiveness of your email campaign. A high email bounce rate can harm your reputation and, in the worst-case scenario, prevent you from sending emails at all.

A bounce rate under 2% is considered a standard rate. Anything between 2-4% requires attention and efforts to bring it down. A 5% or above rate is serious and can be extremely damaging for your campaigns and should immediately be taken care of. Hence, it is very crucial to check on your email bounce rate and work to keep it low at all times.


How To Reduce The Email Bounce Rates


Verify Your Email Authenticity:

Email authentication is important to save yourself from email fraud, low deliverability, and getting tagged as spam. Especially when you use third-party ESPs to deliver your messages. During the process of delivering the emails, the servers check the legitimacy of your emails by determining their relevance and if the source of the email is secure or not. SPF, DMARC, and DKIM are three fundamental ways of authenticating your emails.

Hence by authenticating your emails you will save yourself from a negative reputation and high bounce rate.

Avoid Free Sender Domains:

. A professional domain is a must-have for email campaigns as using free email addresses such as gmail.com, yahoo.com, etc increases your chances of being categorized as spam, which can harm your email sender reputation and raise your bounce rate.

Instead of using free sender domains, it is better to use your company domain to pass the DMARC policy check. Using your company’s domain for sending out emails increases your credibility as a legitimate business and keeps your newsletters out of the spam folder.


Ensure Your Email doesn’t Appear to be Spam:

If you're not paying attention, you might end up as spam. Spam filters are designed to determine whether or not your email appears to be spam. The difficult aspect is that, because spammers' strategies vary all the time, the filters must update as well.

It implies that you cannot simply set your emails and forget them. You must ensure that the content & the templates used are up to date and don’t have any features that make it appear to be spam. Otherwise, it can increase your email bounce rate significantly.


Obtain Your Email List The Right Way:

Make sure you get your email addresses the right way. If you buy a list of email addresses, you'll run into a lot of issues, such as dealing with outdated and inactive addresses and getting marked as spam by people who have never heard from you before, and it's not worth the risk.

Using an opt-in strategy and organically growing your email lists with your content and marketing activities is far more effective. Every individual on your email list should have given you their email address voluntarily, knowing what they will get in return.

You can gather email addresses in a variety of ways, such as by including an email signup form on your blog or website, and through social media platforms as well.


Regularly Update Your Email List:

Relying on your initial email blast to clean your email list is a major mistake. It's an injustice to both your business and your ESP. Furthermore, if you do not clean and update your email list, you risk being blocked and tagged as spam.

It's time to update your list if it's been a while. To begin, separate the recipients and use a high-accuracy email validation tool to detect invalid, inaccurate, dormant, and suspicious email addresses. You will enhance your deliverability and open rates, as well as reduce your email bounce rate significantly, by filtering out such contacts.

Consider Adopting The Double Opt-in Method:

There is always a debate regarding the use of single-opt-in and double-opt-in methods. Well both of them have their advantages. But if you want better results it is better to go with the latter. The upper hand of using double-opt-in is that you will know if the email address is coming from a real and monitored inbox as double opt-in requires the users to confirm their subscription to your email. This will help you generate a high-quality subscriber list avoiding the chances of facing bounces.

Companies that have previously experienced low open rates or abuse complaints should adopt the double-opt-in method for better campaign performance.


Use Segmentation:

Email segmentation may aid with personalization, which is crucial for the success of your email campaigns. When you segment an email list, you divide it into smaller, more meaningful chunks. This allows you to adapt your email marketing to the exact wants, challenges, and preferences of your target audience. Creating email content that is relevant to your audience lowers your email bounce rate while increasing open rates and conversions.

You can segment your list depending on the factors such as gender, geolocation, age, profession, purchasing history, page views, etc

Produce High-Quality Content:

Your email marketing strategy's nerve is content. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Nobody will like to open an email that does not immediately grab their attention and engage them.

The quality and relevance of your email content impact how servers will interpret your message and whether it will be classified as spam. Thus, any component of your email newsletter, from the subject line to the text and graphics, must be engaging, entertaining, authentic, and direct.

Avoid Spam and Improve Website Security:

Mail servers consider the quality of your content, historical user involvement methods, and other reputational considerations as well. Hence it is advisable to link your website content with your email content to lower your mail bounce rate. For instance, while promoting your brand, its products, or services, ensure that your CTAs and links direct customers to the appropriate pages.

Most importantly, keep your website secure. The use of SSL certificates is crucial for increasing brand visibility and client confidence. Browsers will tell customers that your website is not safe if it does not employ HTTPS. Customers who do not wish to jeopardize their data security will most likely leave the transaction, stop opening your emails, or even mark them as spam. This will result in a higher bounce rate in the long run.


A/B Test Your Campaign:

It's not easy to create an email that's both entertaining and converts straight away. Your target audiences have a variety of interests, issues, and habits. Some emails do better than others, which is unsurprising. The idea is to do A/B tests on important components of your email content to see which ones resonate the most with your subscribers.

A/B testing, in the context of email, refers to the creation of two variants of a campaign and comparing them. The process's complexity varies. To evaluate open rates, you might manually develop and send email alternative subject lines. Most email service providers, on the other hand, allow you to automate this procedure and acquire key insights faster.

You can run an A/B test on subject lines, Content, Visualizations, Emails containing and excluding images, etc.

Analyze Your Email Campaigns

You should never rely on your instincts when it comes to email marketing. Only by tracking the performance of your efforts can you make informed judgments, reduce bounce rates, and increase open rates.

Create a tracking schedule first. Tracking email performance on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or campaign-by-campaign basis should be done. This will help you to track your progress, compare outcomes, uncover improving patterns, and uncover new trends.

Second, you should outline your email marketing goals. This will help you decide what you want to measure and which metrics to use to show how well your efforts are performing.

To wrap up:

Now, it must be clear that email bounce rates can occur due to so many reasons and there is no particular way of keeping it low. We all know that prevention is better than cure, to have the upper hand you should keep a check on your bounce rates and focus on avoiding them from the very beginning rather than trying to fight it after it goes out of your hand.

By keeping the above points in mind you will surely be able to maintain a lower bounce rate and carry out successful email campaigns.