Digido, UnaCash volunteers plant over 700 trees at Tanay, Rizal as part of commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Deforestation and forest degradation remain major global threats while growth in protected area coverage of key biodiversity areas has largely stalled.

Digido Finance Corp. (DFC), operator of award-winning consumer finance platform Digido and in-app and in-store finance solutions provider UnaCash, planted 710 tree saplings and seedlings during its latest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activity in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal.

With support from the Rizal provincial government, nearly 40 employees and management of DFC took part during the activity, planting an assortment of native and fruit-bearing trees that included narra, dao, bani, soursop, cashew and jackfruit. Those involved were also given a refresher course on the essential techniques in proper tree planting and aftercare.

Volunteers from online payment gateway DragonPay, a trusted partner of Digido and UnaCash, also took part during the event and made a monetary donation to support the company’s initiative.

Ahead of the event, DFC also mobilized creative, in-house fundraising efforts to add more tree saplings and seedlings for planting.

Deforestation and forest degradation remain major global threats while growth in protected area coverage of key biodiversity areas has largely stalled, according to this year’s edition of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Report.

Tree planting activities in designated areas in Barangay Cuyambay are expected to aid in the conservation of the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve (KWFR) and the larger Sierra Madre mountain range. The KWFR plays a significant role in regulating the flow of water towards the National Capital Region while the Sierra Madre has historically shielded urban dwellers from unfavorable weather generated in the Pacific Ocean.

“We are incredibly glad to have planted over 700 trees for this initiative, which is our humble contribution to global efforts related to biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient development. While we are a digitally native business, we affirm the essential value of nature by doing our part to take care of the planet,” Digido country manager Farit Shakirov said.

UnaCash president Aleksei Kosenko added: “We hope our tree planting activity in this community is our first of many. Alleviating the effects of climate change is a daunting task for all, but we believe it is imperative, especially for industries, to proactively contribute where we can to build a more sustainable future.”

WWF-Philippines recognizes individuals, project partners in annual Partners’ Night 2023

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

WWF-Philippines celebrated its annual Partners’ Night together with staff, project partners, awardees, and a guest of honor.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines awarded groups and individuals for their contributions to conserving nature well as project partners from the private sector who supported WWF’s projects and advocacies.

WWF-Philippines held its annual Partners’ Night at the Raffles Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on October 24, with the 2023 theme “Web of Change”, underscoring the interdependent roles of every group and individual in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

Guests, staff, and partners graced the occasion, with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga as the guest of honor.

“We all have a role to play in conservation as we are all tenants who temporarily live and share a common home,” the Secretary said in a speech. “We should strengthen and reinforce these connections for positive change and be a voice for biodiversity conservation to encourage everyone to be part of simple and concrete solutions.”

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga was the guest of honor of WWF-Philippines’ Partners’ Night 2023

WWF-Philippines also introduced its newly elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees Atty. Anthony Charlemagne Yu.

“This year’s partners’ night celebrates our strength in diversity — of individuals who commit to changing the ending for the planet, of ideas and solutions, of actions and roles that we play in addressing the twin challenges of nature loss and climate change,” said Yu in his remarks. “We thrive in diversity and in our intricate interconnectedness.”

The highlight of the night was the awarding of the Force of Nature awards to groups and individuals whose contributions made a significant impact in promoting and scaling the advocacy of nature conservation and promoting sustainability.

The Force of Nature awardees included San Jose Sico Landfill Multipurpose Cooperative for their contributions to achieve a world without waste through collecting, recycling and composting waste from business establishments in Batangas City.

WWF-Philippines honored groups and individuals for their contributions in promoting and scaling the advocacy of nature conservation

The Association of Young Environmental Journalists also received a Force of Nature award for helping spread the environmental communications advocacy, by training over a thousand youth and professionals on environmental journalism and communications.

Rodel Cadigal, President of United Ilijan Agricultural Workers for Sustainable Development in Negros Occidental, was the final Force of Nature awardee, and was honored for his involvement in addressing deforestation and agricultural land degradation issues as well as watershed management, water conservation and sustainable farming.

WWF-Philippines also honored BPI and BPI Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc., Globe Telecom, HSBC, Mynt, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for consistently supporting the organization's projects and advocacies.

“We hold all of these wins and these lessons together within this web of change. WWF means World Wide Fund for Nature, but among us pandas, we also say WWF means work with fun and work with friends. WWF Philippines is the organization it is today because of all you. We count you as our friends–people who make this work fun and fulfilling,” said WWF-Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio.

Pulp Studios Unveils ‘Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul’

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

This groundbreaking film collaboration will redefine action-comedy in Philippine cinema

PULP Studios proudly announces the upcoming release of its latest cinematic venture, Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul. This groundbreaking action-comedy film is a significant collaboration between the Philippines and South Korea. It’s set to hit Philippine cinemas nationwide on November 15, 2023.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Melai Cantiveros-Francisco. The comedienne-TV host is joined by Alora Sasam, Bernadette Allyson Estrada, Dustine Mayores, Enzo Almario, Jennica Garcia, Karylle Tatlonghari, Manel Sevidal, Pepe Herrera, Sela Guia, and more. Adding to the excitement, the film features special cameos by K-Drama and K-Pop stars such as Do Ji Han, Lee Seunggi, Rolling Quartz, and Yuju.

PULP COO, Happee Sy-Go, the visionary behind this original creation, masterfully blended humor with suspense, setting Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul on a trajectory to become a standout in Philippine cinema.

Speaking about the film, Happee Sy-Go expressed, “Working on 'Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul' has been an exhilarating journey. The fusion of Filipino and Korean cultures in this film is something truly special. I'm thrilled about how it turned out and am very eager to share this unique cinematic experience with the public. I genuinely hope audiences will embrace the film with as much love and enthusiasm as we poured into creating it.”

The film follows a courageous policewoman on a secret mission to South Korea, where she disguises herself as a tour guide to apprehend a dangerous fugitive. Along the way, she encounters a myriad of characters, each adding to the film's adventure and humor.

The film promises a riveting fusion of genres. It’s sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats while delivering heartwarming moments and laughter.

PULP Studios has given audiences a sneak peek into the making of this much-anticipated film with a behind-the-scenes teaser shot during their South Korea filming. This teaser provides a glimpse into the dedication and hard work the team invested in bringing this cinematic gem to life. The unveiling of the first poster, featuring Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, further heightened fans’ anticipation. To introduce the film’s talented cast, PULP Studios also released an initial batch of cast featurettes, offering viewers insights into the characters they will bring to life on the big screen.

As excitement continues to build, PULP Studios unveiled the official trailer, teasing audiences with snippets of the action, comedy, and star-studded performances that await them. With every reveal, excitement for the movie has surged, solidifying its place as a must-see film of the year.

Save the date, as Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul premieres in Philippine cinemas nationwide on November 15, 2023.

Follow PULP Studios on social media for more updates and exclusive content about the movie.