TikTok and COMELEC Team Up to Encourage More Filipinos to Vote

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, has partnered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to enable Filipinos to gain easy access to reliable election information, leading up to the National Elections in 2022. Through this partnership, TikTok continues its ongoing initiative to ensure that users stay informed, and maintain authenticity on the platform, especially during the elections season.

Moreover, in recognizing the need to promote voter registration, especially among first-time voters in the country, TikTok and COMELEC will proactively encourage users to take part in the upcoming elections. To better educate voters, the official TikTok Account for COMELEC will not only serve as a resource for trustworthy election-related information but also advocate for voter participation leading up to the May 2022 Election Day through featured events, videos showing relevant election data from COMELEC, and up-to-date voting results.

The partnership between TikTok and COMELEC was officially kicked-off with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing on September 8, 2021. The event, which was streamed on TikTok Live via the COMELEC TikTok account, was hosted by content creator, Julienne Ipapo. Also present were Kristoffer Rada, TikTok Head for Public Policy, and COMELEC Commissioner Aileen Ferolino. 

According to Kristoffer Rada, "TikTok's partnership with COMELEC opens up new and innovative ways to share and consume accurate information about the coming elections for the Filipino public. We are committed to providing credible, fact-based content to help Filipino voters make informed choices during the election period."

“Venturing into emerging platforms and tapping into their vast network of users has been our long-standing advocacy, as it allows the Commission on Elections to broaden the reach of its voter education and information drive,” COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez said. “Through this partnership with TikTok for the 2022 National and Local Elections, we forge a valuable cooperation that will buttress our goal of conducting clean, honest and credible elections.”

Apart from being a space for creative expression, TikTok also supports the community through educational content, and authoritative information on important public topics such as elections. The high priority that it places on safety and authenticity, along with its Community Guidelines that are designed to help keep TikTok a welcoming place for everyone, makes the platform a safe space for COMELEC to encourage Filipinos to exercise their rights to vote. These Community Guidelines fight misinformation by restricting users from posting inaccurate content on the platform, and empowering community members to report misleading content related to the elections. This is similar to a previous effort launched by TikTok to counter disinformation about COVID-19, which included fact-checking by experts, and the removal of false information within the platform.

Stay updated on the latest election facts and information on TikTok. Download the app on your iOS and Android devices today.

Roque's meltdown towards doctors was uncalled for

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

"Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque blew his top during the online IATF meeting last Tuesday after a group of doctors opposed the government’s decision to relax the quarantine protocols in NCR despite the soaring COVID-19 cases."

Roque angrily reacted to the comments and pleas of Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, during the IATF meeting.

In the video, Roque was furious over the disagreement of a group of doctors on the easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila amid the rising COVID-19 cases.

“Do not sit there as if you’re the only ones right… How dare you think that we are not considering steps to prevent the loss of lives?” 

“This group, they have never said anything good about government response!” said Roque in a raging tone.

Asan na yung "kalma lang, ako lang ito"? Kayo nga hindi makakalma. #kalmaAkoLangTo just like this circus government is nothing but a joke.

On what capacity is he speaking? Personally or as presidential spokesperson? Bumalik kasi sila sa Earth para alam nila ang totoong nangyayari. Napasarap na yata sa sarili nilang mundong di makatotohanan.

The doctors he just lashed out on, knows more about what's happening on-ground more than he does. Inggrato siya. Paupo-upo nga lang diyan tapos siya pa may ganang manigaw? If maayos ang government response they why is the burden all on HCWs?

Gusto nila ng experts sa meetings pero pagpipilitan pa rin yung mga gusto nila kahit na sila na nagsabi na hindi makakatulong? Sasabihan pa niya na wala silang ginawa kundi mag criticize eh yun pala hindi pala sila pinapakinggan kahit na sila ang experts?? Kapal ng mukha!

Also, once they accepted a post to be a public servant, be ready for criticism kasi expected na maglingkod sila.

Pinupuri nila sarili nila, kaya taumbayan na lang ang pupuna. Kung sana tanggap nila ang totoong sitwasyon, hindi na kailangang mag-ingay ng mga ordinaryong Pinoy.

Fascinating how this government is digging their graves. Nagtitimpi lang mga tao and they still keep poking us. If HCWs abandon the frontlines, that’s when government will succumb to the power of the people.

Roque owes doctors an apology over his "rude behavior" toward them.

Filipinos deserve much more than an apology from Harry Roque. 

WE DESERVE A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT HIM. 

We deserve competent and compassionate officials who recognize that their job is to serve the people, not lord over them.

This government has forgotten that they are meant to serve US and not the other way around. Who after all, is paying for their salaries?

Roque should listen to health workers, not insult them.

“Hindi magandang ehemplo si spox Roque kasi kung ikaw ay nasa ganyang posisyon, dapat pinapakinggan at iniintindi mo kung saan nanggagaling ang sentimyento ng HCWs.” 

"Kung ikaw (Roque) ay nanggagatong lang at baseless kung magsalita, hindi ko sigurado kung karapat-dapat ka ring iboto kahit sa Senado sa darating na eleksyon. Alam kong tatakbo ka ng senador. Hindi maganda na ang isang mambabatas ay may ganyang attitude."

Hindi sya karapat-dapat kahit anong posisyon. Period.

Roque’s behavior is uncalled for. The presidential spokesperson should look after his mental state. 

Roque, from a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, how effective is the white-sand to your mental health now? 

Dalhin asap si Harry Roque sa dolomite beach to cure his meltdown.

Roque better step down. He’s not even a huge help. He doesn’t give hope to any people at all. He is disrespectful and unprofessional.

Roque is actually guilt-tripping our health workers and the whole nation, making the government look good amidst its failure. 

Classic state rhetoric. Walang sorry sorry, sa atin pa sinisi. 

Sa totoo lang, ang kapal ni Roque to shout at concerned doctors when he can easily use whatever connection he has to get a hospital bed ahead of other more critical patients whenever he needs to.

Dalawang beses na nagka-COVID si Roque. Kung di dahil sa mga HCW, ewan ko kung ano nangyari sa kanya. 

Who knows? 

Maybe third time’s the charm.

Next time, send him to the VET.

ASAL HAYOP naman eh.

Norwegian Cruise Line premieres the next episode of EMBARK – the Series

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 54-year history of breaking boundaries, today premieres the next episode of EMBARK – the Series, "Welcome Aboard," which will be live at 8am HKT at www.ncl.com/embark and Facebook.

The Company's five-part docuseries chronicling its return to cruising journey continues with a behind-the-scenes look at its Great Cruise Comeback when Norwegian Jade becomes the first ship in the fleet to welcome guests back on board after 500 days.

In this fourth episode, viewers will witness the emotional moments when crew reunite for the first time after many months, as well as their excitement to do what they do best – deliver memorable cruise experiences. The episode will showcase the final preparations to ready the ship before the first guests embark and Norwegian Jade makes history as the first ship in the NCL fleet to homeport in Athens.

"We have been building up to this moment, when we finally set sail after a long 500-day journey back to cruising," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "From the beginning we set out to bring travellers along as we innovated and prepared for our Great Cruise Comeback. Now, in this fourth episode we bring viewers along to see and feel the emotions and excitement of safely reuniting with our guests, crew and the destinations we've missed for over the last year."

"Welcome Aboard" will premiere live today, Friday 10 September 2021 at 8am HKT. This next episode and the suite of EMBARK content including The Series, Spotlights and Stories are available at www.ncl.com/embark

Norwegian Cruise Line restarted its cruise operations on 25 July 2021 following a more than 500-day suspension, with Norwegian Jade launching seven-day itineraries to the Greek Isles. Norwegian Encore became the first ship in the NCL fleet to return to cruising from the U.S. on 7 August 2021 and is currently sailing her inaugural season of week-long Alaska voyages from Seattle. On 15 August Norwegian Gem was the first ship in the fleet to resume operations from Miami and set sail from the new Norwegian Cruise Line Terminal at Port Miami with a selection of week-long voyages to the Caribbean and four-day cruises to the Bahamas. Additional ships are scheduled to redeploy in Europe and North America as the Northern hemisphere autumn progresses.

The fleetwide redeployment will continue in partnership with local governments and is guided by the robust protocols of the Company’s Sail SAFE™ health and safety program, which at its cornerstone includes that all crew and guests must be fully vaccinated to embark for voyages through 31 December 2021. Working with the leading experts of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council, the robust protocols will be regularly evaluated and modified as needed, making science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.

For more information about the Company’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong on +852 2165 6000 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com.