Stan Lee is Coming to Manila for ComicCon Asia 2018

Wazzup Pilinas!

As announced at the January 17 media conference, Stan Lee of Marvel Comics is coming to Manila to be among the special guests at ComicCon Asia 2018.

The comic convention will be held in SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia complex in Pasay city on March 24 to 25, 2018.

The event promises to be the biggest convention of its kind. Stan Lee alone would definitely fill up the venue for every comic book and Marvel fans out out there would not dare miss the opportunity to personally meet the man behind so many amazing comic book characters.

Stan Lee recently denied reports claiming he groped or sexually harassed home care nurses. I couldn't believe the news as the idol of many is very unlikely to ruin his sterling reputation. Almost everyone knows the man so any untoward behavior should have been confined in privacy. We do not really care about what he does in his private life, but it seems wrong in all levels that he should a 95 year old man should be subjected to humiliation. Maybe they just want to extort money from him.

The accusations against Stan Lee have me deeply depressed.

Personalities are all just people. He’s so bright and funny and optimistic and creative... but he’s flawed too, like everyone else. He's too old and doesn’t have long left to be subjected to such controversial issue. Is this how we say goodbye to Stan Lee?

DOE Discusses Tax Issues with Power Utilities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today said he called for a meeting with distribution utilities in order to discuss the effective and appropriate implementation of the power-related provisions of Republic Act 10963, otherwise known as the TRAIN Law. Specifically, the major items that were discussed are the adjustments due to: (a) the value-added tax (VAT) on the transmission sector; (b) the value added tax on the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)-registered electric cooperatives; and, (c) the excise tax on coal and diesel that are used to fuel power plants.

Thereafter, another meeting was organized which included representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Electrification Authority (NEA), National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA), Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and Pangasinan Electric Cooperative I (PANELCO I), which is a CDA-registered electric cooperative.

"We will look into coal contracts and scrutinize provisions as to whether there is a provision on pass-on on excise tax," Cusi said.

The Energy Chief said the meeting would also examine the submissions of coal-fired power plants to the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau.

"Corollarily, the DOE has directed all distribution utilities to require from their power suppliers the basis of any additional charges that may emanate from the Train Law. This Includes the explanation on the implementation of excise taxes vis-a-vis the minimum inventory requirement for both coal stocks and diesel stocks," Cusi pointed out.

The DOE meeting with various stakeholders aims to clarify the salient provisions of the TRAIN implementation in the energy sector and to gather feedback from them on issues and concerns they may have on the first package of the Duterte Administration's landmark tax law.

The DOE and the DOF agreed on the next steps to address the concerns of the energy stakeholders and the protection of the energy consumers.

“The ultimate objective of the Train Law of consumption-to-investment, better infrastructure and social services for the people will be achieved with this strong collaboration between the DOE and the DOF,” Cusi concluded.

Daragang Magayon: The Legend of Mayon Volcano

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Since Mayon volcano is acting up again and threatening to erupt in the next gew days, it seems fit to share this "alamat" that most Bicolano residents know.

Magayon grew up to be a very beautiful and sweet woman that struck the swains from faraway tribes who vied for her attention. But not one of these young men have captivated the heart of Magayon, not even the handsome but haughty Pagtuga (eruption). He is a hunter and the chief of the Iriga tribe. She was the only daughter of Makusog (strong), the tribal chief of Rawis, whose mother is named Dawani (fairy) , who died shortly after giving birth to her. He gave fabulous gifts to Magayon and vied for her attention.

Every man in their tribe courted her including Pagtuga, but Magayon never liked him. Pagtuga is a hunter and a tribal chief from Iriga.

One day, Daragang Magayon was bathing in the Yawa river and she slipped on the rocks, but she did not know how to swim. Then, Panganoron is passing by and saw what was happening to Daragang Magayon so he saved her from the river. He began to court her and days passed by as Magayon accepted his proposal and her father accepted him too.

But when Pagtuga knew about the relationship between Panganoron and Magayon. Pagtuga kidnapped Magayon's father, Makusog, and asked Magayon to be his wife so he'll set Makusog free.

Panganoron knew about the situation so he asked his warriors to join him in the war with Pagtuga in the mountains. The war was fierce and breathtaking. The people and Magayon watched the war between the two of them. The war is between Pagtuga and Panganoron. Then, Panganoron kills Pagtuga and Magayon ran to embrace him.

As Magayon runs to her lover, there is an arrow shot by one of Pagtuga's warriors that kills Panganoron. Magayon holds Panganoron as he dies in her arms.

Pagtuga's warriors surround the lovers as Magayon stood up and took the knife from Panganoron's side and shouted Panganoron's name before she stabbed herself. Her father and tribesmen witnessed how Magayon died with her lover.

Her father buried them as days, months, and years passed when they noticed something about the place where Makusog buried the lovers. It started to shape like a volcano and when the people saw it, Makusog named it Mt. Mayon, after her daughter's name. Mt. Mayon is as beautiful as Daragang Magayon.

Some people said that it's a curse because she took her own life, but myths and legends said Magayon is the volcano and Panganoron is the clouds that surround the beautiful volcano.