Istela Nunes, Agilan Thani Fighting for Prestigious Piece of History

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Istela Nunes and Agilan “The Alligator" Thani are considered promising prospects in the sport of mixed martial arts due to their talent and dedication to their craft.

Both fighters are reaping the fruits of their labor as they slated to compete in separate world title contests on Friday, 26 May in Singapore.

Nunes challenges Asian MMA sensation Angela “Unstoppable” Lee for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Championship in the main event of ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES, while Thani vies for the ONE Welterweight World Championship against the division’s best in Ben Askren on the same card.

Aside from the chance to lodge themselves as MMA world champions, Nunes and Thani will have the opportunity to have their waists girded with prestigious belts.

Beyond the prestige that marks the bearer as the best fighter in his weight class across the globe, the belt is designed as a symbolic ornament of honor and glory.

Weighing more than seven kilograms, the jewel-encrusted silver and gold-plated belt is mounted by hand on a thick natural leather strap that is locked together securely with ten steel studs.

The pair of warring lions that frame the centerpiece ONE Championship logo represents royalty and prestige, and it is complimented by a crown motif at the belt’s apex.

Two blood-red rubies are placed in the eyes of the lions, while two secondary plates added eminent value to the handmade masterpiece as it is studded with 52 crystals on each side.

“Our belt is definitely one of the richest prizes in the world of martial arts today. We make sure that the bearer of our championship title represents a prestigious piece that reflects the true value of martial arts,” ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong stated.

Capturing the ONE Welterweight World Championship belt will not only put Thani in history books as the first Malaysian mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor to claim a world title, but he will also have an intricately-crafted hardware in his possession.

“The ONE Championship belt is one of the most prestigious MMA titles in the sport today. Having that makes you the best in the game. That’s why I want to win it so bad,” Thani said.

Meanwhile, Thani stressed that bringing home the ONE Welterweight World Championship title to Malaysia by defeating a high-profile opponent like Askren will seal his legacy as a world-class MMA athlete.

“Ben Askren is a legend in mixed martial arts, and beating him will also make me a legend. That will be a great motivation for me. I want to get that belt. I believe this is my time. When that time comes, I will be the next legend,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Nunes is confident that she has what it takes to shock the world by defeating Lee for the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship.

“I have worked very hard to earn this opportunity. Angela Lee is a great, young champion, but I’m coming for the belt. I know chances like this are very rare and I will do my best to take the title home for all my fans,” she said.

Nunes is relishing not just her underdog status when she takes on the highly-popular Lee but also the pressure of the scheduled five-round championship clash.

“I feel strong and ready. I was built for this moment. I have nothing but good words to say about Angela, she is a tremendous champion. I admire what she has done to inspire young women in Asia to take up MMA, but I vow to win this fight at any cost. I have one goal and that’s to become champion. Angela better be prepared to go to battle because I’m coming to the fight with my full arsenal,” she ended.

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

10 Enticing Delicacies that Stood Out at IFEX Philippines 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Amid the celebration of local and international love for savory dishes at the IFEX Philippines event, a few products stood out for their unique qualities. Here we list the products that will surely make you stop on your tracks.

1. Kablon Farms’ Single Origin Chocolate

South Cotabato’s Kablon Farms, known for its tropical juices and jams, launches its dark chocolate bars in 70% dark, 70% spicy dark, 70% Raw Chocolate Single Origin and 60% Spicy Raw Chocolate. All are Single Origin made from Philippine cacao in Mindanao.

2. Carrot Calamansi Spread by Lucille’s

This all-natural, veggie-based spread is packed with nutrients and a great healthy topping, an exciting new alternative to traditional jams.

3. Hillsview’s Mangosteen Kalamansi Concentrate

Hillsview’s Mangosteen Kalamansi concentrate is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, providing an affordable and delicious way to get your daily stamina and detox.

4. Golden Mushroom’s Mushroom Sisig

Golden Mushroom makes ready to eat mushroom tempura straight from the pack. And if that’s not tempting enough, it also offers a ready to eat mushroom sisig, made of sauteed chopped mushrooms with onion and calamansi -- perfect for a great-tasting meat-free meal. 

 
5. Kitchen Witcher Basimatsi

Taste the Philippines in a bottle, promises this maker of all-natural vinegars in the combinations we love. Basimatsi makes one-of-a-kind dipping sauces in seven mouth-watering variants, in delightful rustic packaging that got the attention of even visiting Michellin-starred chefs. Named after the popular local combo of bawang (garlic), sibuyas (onion), kamatis (tomato), and sili (chili), it’s a must at the family dining table.

6. Colonial Creamery Sili Ice Cream

Colonial Creamy claims to be the only local brand that makes and sells Sili Ice Cream. To put the chili flavor, the company mixes green and red chili on a blender, and then cooks the mix in olive oil. Then oil is then mixed with coconut milk to come up with the finished product.

7. McNester Mango Ketchup

McNester destroys everything you know about ketchup. For one, they proved that ketchup can also be yellow. It can also be a little bit sweeter than you know. McNester’s Mango Ketchup is made from Mango by-products, primarily from the flesh that sticks to the fruit’s seed, and is definitely tasty surprise. The company also offers Mango Sauce that may be used on pasta, vegetable salad, and fish.

8. Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s Tea Spread

Think that you must always drink tea to enjoy it? Think again. Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s turns your regular tea into a snack dressing. Now you can enjoy your tea on a cracker. The company makes their Green Tea Spread from green tea powder from Korea and their Black Tea Spread from products in Sri Lanka. They also import products from Peru to make their Cacao Nibs Choco Berry Spread and from Spain for their Bee Pollen Spread – yes, they make a spread out of bee pollen. All these products have zero food coloring.

9. Dewi’s Diamond’s Vegetable Premium Nutri-Noodles

When Dewi’s Diamon found out that different brands are making noodles out of vegetables, they put on their thinking cap. And after 17 years of research and experimentation, the company hit found their eureka moment. While other brands use one vegetable to make veggie noodles, Dewi’s Diamond picked five and mixed them to maximize the nutritional value.

The company used malunggay, red camote tops, saluyot, monggo, and soya, to make a noodle that is 85% vegetable. It is edible as a snack when dry and can be easily cooked just like your regular instant noodles. It also has a shelf life of one year.

10. Mira Hills’ Vigan Longganisa

Mira Hills brings the garlicy aroma Vigan Longganisa into their ready to cook version of the product. Even better, you do not need cooking oil to cook their longganisa. Just put Mira Hills’ in water and boil it, and it will be cooked in its own oil.

The much-awaited IFEX Philippines is a chance for food lovers and entrepreneurs to discover new products. Tagged as ‘Asia’s ethnic food & ingredients show’, it is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippine and Asian specialty food products, attracting wholesale buyers, importers, and food distributors from all over the world.

IFEX Philippines runs from May 19-21, 2017 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

Cover photo: CITEM Executive Director Clayton Tugonon led the opening toast to formally open the festivities at IFEX Philippines on May 19, 2017. IFEX Philippines is organized by the CITEM under DTI.

Millennials ‘Make A Difference’ While Exploring Romblon Through Volunteerism

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Driven by their passion and desire to make their time worthwhile this summer, twenty volunteers  from across the country who were mostly millennials recently gathered for a three-day outreach program called I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) Camp  in the municipality of Magdiwang,  Sibuyan Island, Romblon.

The millennial volunteers consist of old and new ones united to help 50 students of Tomas and Maria Maglaya Memorial School in Magdiwang to develop their innermost potentials and to make a difference in many simple ways starting from themselves to their families, schoolmates, and their community.

“I am a millennial myself and for me, having a purpose is empowering. Just as we millennials are seeking to find purpose in our career, we also seek purpose in almost everything we do which includes travelling. But regardless of generation, we are all human beings. Each of us is looking for a place to belong, feel loved, and know that we are truly making an impact. This is what I am MAD, Inc. is doing, making meaningful difference not only to our beneficiaries but also to our volunteers who are committed to discover and share their passions through volunteering,” Mark Conrad ‘Maco’ Ravanzo, co-founder and CEO of I am Making A Difference, Inc. said.

During the first part of the camp, students were engaged to various sets of fun and educational activities including storytelling, team-building, games, and obstacle courses—all advocating the four core values of  I am MAD of being Maka-diyos, Maka-tao, Makabayan and Makakalikasan.