All-New Suzuki GSX-R1000 Wins at Senior TT Race of Isle of Man TT

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 supersport bike has reigned supreme by owning the roads of the Senior Tourist Tour (TT) of the Isle of Man TT in British Isles of Man recently. Ridden by now 14-time Isle of Man TT winner, Northern Irishman Michael Dunlop of Bennetts Suzuki; a motorcycle racing team supported by Suzuki’s British subsidiary Suzuki GB, has achieved a prestigious win at the said class.

Isle of Man Tourist Tour (TT) is a historic public road racing which started in 1907. There were nine racing classes by displacements and vehicle types for this year with the Senior TT as the most prestigious race; the category where Dunlop proven the power and performance of his GSX-R1000.

At the Senior TT race, the final day of schedule for this year’s event, Dunlop on board the all-new GSX-R1000, which has undergone a full-model change this year, took the lead on first lap and then pulled away gradually from the battle for second place to run alone at the front, finishing more than 13 seconds ahead of the second placed rider.

In another category of the race which is the Superbike TT, Dunlop was able to set the fastest lap time but had to retire due to technical issues.

Chaos Manila Features International DJ Duo Boombox Cartel on July 28

Wazzup Pilipinas!

City of Dreams Manila’s trendsetting nightclub, Chaos Manila, brings in international DJ duo Boombox Cartel to headline the show-stopping EDM event on July 28. The two are set to liven up Chaos Manila’s dance floor with energy-filled electro, dubstep, and trap beats that have made waves in the Los Angeles dance scene and the rest of the United States.

Boombox Cartel, the LA-based team-up of Americo Garcia and Jorge Medina, is best known for their dynamic 2015 hit track “B2U” with Ian Everson. Armed with their sick beats, they continued their unique and innovative sound through succeeding releases such as “Spaceless”, “Aftershock” with NGTHMRE, and “Jamba” with Jackal, as well as remixes of Skrillex’s “Killa”, Diplo’s “Be Right There”, and Cash Cash’s “How To Love”. Since “B2U”, Americo and Jorge have received near universal support from heavy-hitters in the industry such as DJ Snake and Martin Garrix.

In 2016, Boombox Cartel’s single “Colors” garnered more than 250,000 plays on its first week in music streaming site SoundCloud. The quickly rising duo’s latest EP album called Cartel was released this year with five fresh tracks, including infectious songs “Widdit” and “Jefe”.

Americo and Jorge met in Monterrey, Mexico and went to the same school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They both stem from highly diverse musical backgrounds and the result of their collaboration showed their undeniable musical chemistry that catapulted them to rise to the top of the city’s DJ scene. Eyeing even greater opportunities to share their forward-thinking sound, they moved to Los Angeles where their rise as an international powerhouse duo began to take hold. With a slew of their popular tracks permeating the American EDM experience, Boombox Cartel is currently touring the U.S. and is slated to perform at festivals in Europe and parts of Asia.

Chaos Manila resident DJs MVRXX, Merms Dabu and MC Ronthug will also perform during this spectacular EDM event.

Tickets for Boombox Cartel’s EDM event are available at Chaos Manila and are priced at PhP 1,000 each inclusive of one drink. For Chaos VIP table reservations, guests can call 0917-8863678 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com.

Netmarble’s Lineage2 Revolution Adds New Clan Bosses

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Netmarble Games Corp., the fastest-growing mobile game company in Asia, today announced that its mobile MMORPG Lineage2 Revolution introduced contents including new clan dungeon bosses and an expansion to the Tower of Insolence. 

New bosses entering the clan dungeon today are ‘Varkaron’(hard) and the ‘Queen Ant’(easy). Varkaron requires a high level of play difficulty and it is advised for players to be in a party of at least 20 members. When players defeat Varkaron, the clan is rewarded with adenas, small clan coin box, Varkaron box, core and etc., which allows a faster growth of the clan. 

The Queen Ant can be played by beginners and with a party of just 5 members. When players defeat the Queen Ant, they can receive the small clan coin box and Queen Ant box. 

The ‘Tower of Insolence’ which tests the limit of each player as they defeat monsters on each floor, has been expanded to 70 floors. Players can receive runes that help strengthen their character as they move from floor to floor and defeat stronger monsters. 

From today, players can meet the new boss monster ‘Amadeus’ in the open field ‘Summit of Dissonance.’ The new boss monster Amadeus has a high HP(health) and AP(attack) and needs players to cooperate with each other to defeat it. 

Players can also find boxes filled with varnish, consumable, quest scroll in the wide open field of Lineage2 Revolution. 

There will be a player event in Lineage2 Revolution, which will give away in game items including A to S grade equipment box and scroll: enhance accessory, until July 25. 

During the same period, there will be a dice event where players roll the dice and receive various items as rewards. Players can roll the dice with points acquired by taking part in various gameplay such as exp. dungeon clear and participation in arena. When each player completes the dice board, additional benefits including Maphr’s Protection and red diamonds can be achieved as additional bonus. 

Lineage2 Revolution is a free-to-play mobile MMORPG(Massively Multiplayer Online RolePlaying Game) based on the popular PC online game IP “Lineage2.” With graphics powered by the Unreal4 Engine, the game stays true to its PC original, as it displays a stunning open field, raid, castle siege, characters, and classes in the mobile environment. As players are able to access all areas at once, it provides a gameplay similar to that of the PC game experience. 

For more information on Lineage2 Revolution, visit the game’s official website(http://lineage2-revolution.com/en) and Facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/OfficialL2Revolution/).

DOTr Bares Two New NLEX Exits in Meycauayan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In a bid to decongest traffic in Meycauayan, Bulacan, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), has approved the construction and opening of Libtong and Pandayan exit ramps along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

The construction of the P31.5-million exit ramps project was started by the NLEX Corporation this year to ease vehicular traffic at the Meycauayan Interchange. Apart from constructing additional exits, the Meycauayan southbound toll plaza is also being expanded, while the east portion of its roundabout is undertaking signalization.

During the opening of the exit ramps held last July 6, NLEX Corp. President Rodrigo Franco revealed that more traffic-decongestion programs and enhancements are being undertaken in NLEX to deliver quality service to motorists.

Meanwhile, in her speech, Congresswoman Villarica recognized the significant role of DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade in making the traffic improvement program in Meycauayan possible.

Also present during the ceremony were Meycauayan City Mayor Henry R. Villarica, Vice Mayor Rafael S. Manzano, Jr., other LGU officials, NLEX Corporation Senior Vice President for Tollways Development and Engineering Raul L. Ignacio, Senior Vice President for Communications and Stakeholder Management Romulo S. Quimbo, Jr., Vice President for Project Management Nemesio G. Castillo, Vice President for Asset Management Jennifer Jane T. Go, and Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Roberto N. Tañada.

Incidentally, one of the five stations that were marked during the PNR Manila - Clark Station Marking Event held on June 26 is also located in Meycauayan. The PNR Manila – Clark Railway System is a 106-km railway that will lessen travel time from Tutuban in Manila to Clark in Pampanga to just 55 minutes.

National ID System: A Cure Worse than the Disease?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Statement of the Foundation for Media Alternatives on a National ID System

As a response to various plans and proposals to implement a national ID system, the Foundation for Media Alternatives aims to raise awareness of the possible implications of such unified identity schemes. We believe
that a national ID system could:

1. Expand the bureaucracy and increase its maintenance costs;
2. Make the privacy and security of Filipinos vulnerable; and
3. Be used as a State surveillance tool against the people.

Officials of the Department of Finance made headlines recently with the pronouncement that the government plans to earmark PhP2 billion for the implementation of a national ID system next year. Together with their peers in the executive and proponents of the measure in Congress, these officials all proclaim the merits of having a centralized identification system: a panacea to red tape, and an obvious solution to terrorism, crime, and other security issues. 

We, at the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), believe that such sweeping claims deserve a thorough and in-depth look, lest this turns out to be one of those instances wherein the much-touted cure becomes worse than the disease it is supposed to prevent. 

With red tape, for instance, the problem is by no means unique to government. It is common in organizations owing to poor communication, inflexible systems, and inefficient processes. As such, solutions almost always require comprehensive changes in the way things are done. That is what this administration should aim for and not an ID system, which is far from the vaunted solution it is made to be. If anything, introducing such a system may aggravate the situation by requiring more (and not less) bureaucracy. After all, most proposals seek the creation of a new database, which essentially duplicates the existing civil registry. They also require the establishment of registration centers here and abroad, thereby demanding more manpower or at least additional work for existing state employees. Truly, the system could end up expanding the bureaucracy and increase its maintenance costs. 

In terms of security, for all its supposed merits as a boon for law enforcement and national security agencies, a Filipino ID system also makes Filipinos more vulnerable. If we take the consolidated House bill, for example, it requires a considerable amount of sensitive personal data to be stored in a centralized repository. Having all these information in one place makes millions of Filipinos vulnerable to identity theft and other related crimes, via unauthorized access and other threats. After the Comelec breach incident last year, there is a real and substantial basis for this concern, especially if one considers that no system is ever completely secure or immune from breach. 

Finally, it is also worth reiterating how any ID system is one slippery slope away from being used as a systematic and pervasive State surveillance tool against the people. This is because it affords the government the power to monitor not only transactions, but also other activities and events in a person’s life. And it retains all this potential for misuse and abuse, despite the existence of Constitutional and statutory safeguards (i.e., Data Privacy Act). 

In other countries, their experience has shown that a national ID system, once installed, is never used only for the purpose it was originally intended. Here in the Philippines, we have the unrelenting socalled War on Drugs and a renewed drive towards militarization in the South. Amid such climate of fear where respect for fundamental human rights continues to erode, how far-fetched really is the idea that an ID system will be exploited by the government in pursuit of its self-determined priorities? And how unlikely really is the possibility that it will be used, not as a tool for development, but as a weapon for abuse and injustice?

Cusi: 'E-Power Mo! To Empower Energy Consumers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi led today the launch of the government's “E-Power Mo!” campaign designed to empower consumers by providing them information and options on the intelligent utilization of energy resources.

The "E-Power Mo!" campaign brought together the Department of Energy (DOE), the Presidential Communications Operations Office, the Philippine Information Agency and the USAID B-Leaders at the Philippine International Convention Center.

In his keynote message during the event, Cusi emphasized that energy sufficiency is a cornerstone of the Duterte administration's thrust towards a globally competitive and inclusive economy that improves the quality of life of all Filipinos.

Without sufficient energy to power industries, Cusi said, it would be most difficult to pump-prime the economy en route to creating more jobs, improving the delivery of government services, and fast-tracking infrastructure projects.

The DOE, Cusi explained, is pursuing a neutral stance insofar as fuel and energy sources are concerned, and the guiding principle is for the energy mix to take into account both economic and ecological concerns.

The agency, he said, should keep an open mind on the country's options insofar as the energy mix is concerned.

The Energy chief emphasized that the DOE will "work on initiatives to ensure affordable, reliable, modern and sustainable energy. We will pursue a fuel and technology neutrality, balancing environment and socio-economic growth through competitive selection process."

"And contrary to what people might think," he stressed, "I am not against renewable energy, I am against high-energy rates."

He said he supports all energy sources as long as they make economic sense in the long term for consumers, industries and the economy as a whole.

Cusi cited DOE's projection that the country would need an additional capacity of almost 44,000 megawatts from 2017 to 2040.

In order to meet the additional capacity requirements, Cusi said, President Duterte recently signed Executive Order 30 to streamline the regulatory procedures that affect foreign and local investors' appetite to bankroll energy projects.

The EO created the Energy Investment Coordinating Council tasked to coordinate the efforts of various government agencies and private sector participants in fast-tracking the implementation of major energy projects.

The projects will be endorsed by the DOE as undertakings of "national significance" if they are in accordance or in support of the ‎2017-2022 Philippine Energy Plan, Cusi told his audience at the PICC.

"Our projections show that we need additional capacity of almost 44,000 megawatts from 2017 to 2040. We have on hand the Philippine Energy Plan ‎2017-2022 and its comprehensive sectoral roadmaps to guide us in our long-term planning on energy," Cusi said.

The Philippine Energy Plan ‎2017-2022 is the blueprint for attaining the government's vision of economic development contained in "Ambisyon 2040."

He added that the DOE is also institutionalizing disaster resilience in the energy sector for strengthening energy systems and facilities, quick restoration and provision of alternative sources that would lessen the burden to consumers during calamities.

"The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to natural calamities. We experience an average of around 20 typhoons per year, flash floods, storm surges, earthquakes and landslides," Cusi pointed out.

"Just last week, the Visayas experienced a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that affected electricity supply in Leyte, Samar and Bohol. In circumstances like these, it is our task to make sure that electricity services are restored at the fastest possible time.”

CATalinuhan is Back

Wazzup Pilipinas!

CATalinuhan is an annual college admission test review administered by UP LAKAN, an organization of Bulakeño students from the University of the Philippines - Diliman. For years, CATalinuhan has aided a number of Bulakeño high school students with the different college entrance exams in the country. But, with the advent of the K-12 Program, the project was discontinued due to the lack of incoming freshmen in universities and colleges. This year, UP LAKAN is proud to present the revival of CATalinuhan, to be held four times on weekends of July and August at key cities and municipalities of Bulacan.

CATalinuhan 2017 will be from 8am to 5pm with a registration fee of P100. Participants are also encouraged to avail a supplementary reviewer for P100. Follow us on our Facebook page fb.com/CaTalinuhan for updates. Students may pre-register at bit.ly/CATalinuhan2017. On-site registration will start 7 am.

CATalinuhan 2017 is presented to you by UP Lakan and Rexona, in cooperation with the UP Repertory Company, also brought to you by Frappe La Rue and our media partners ClickTheCity, DZUP, and Wazzup Pilipinas.

DOE Assures Energy Aid to Quake-hit LGUs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today said efforts are underway to restore energy facilities in major parts of Region 8 and Bohol by tomorrow following the 6.5 magnitude earthquake.

During the regional coordinating council meeting on Monday in Ormoc City, Cusi and other Cabinet officials assured government assistance to quake-stricken local government units in Region 8 and Bohol.

Cusi said the DOE is addressing the effects of the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in three ways: immediately restore power, find alternative sources of energy, and ease the burden of the people.

“Five days after the quake, we are hoping to start the geothermal power plants and might soon bring back power to major parts of Leyte and Bohol."

The DOE has a 10-day timeline to restore power supply. "The people are working double time to repair necessary energy facilities," Cusi said.

As of 8:00 a.m. today, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) as operator of the geothermal power plants reported that they are already conducting necessary technical tests on the repaired marshalling station or central switching station in coordination with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure its safe operation.

Once all pre-cautionary measures are taken by this critical facility, EDC will submit all tests results by late afternoon today.

If all goes well, this will signal the re-energization of all main transformers and the start-up of Upper Mahiao Geothermal Power Plants (GPP) Units 2 and 3 with 26 megawatts (MW) capacity each, and Malitbog GPP Unit 1 with 77.5MW, which would take about 16-18 hours.

Based on the report, EDC is targeting the delivery of 317 MW out of a total capacity of 625 MW from its geothermal power plants by Day 10 (17 July 2017). The 625 MW capacity is comprised of the following GPP: 180 MW Mahanagdong GPP, 213 MW Malitbog GPP, 120 MW Mahiao GPP, and the 112 MW Tongonan GPP.

EDC has also distributed generator sets to vital town installations, such as Municipal/City Halls, water pumping stations, hospitals, among others, so they can continue their delivery of services.

The DOE is also in talks with alternative power providers, such as Trans Asia, to mobilize the power barges to be brought to Leyte and Bohol.

Last Saturday, the DOE Secretary inspected the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plants, which were heavily affected by the temblor, to check on the extent of damage and how to speed up the rehabilitation of the facilities.

For the transmission part, installation of by-pass lines to enable power to flow from Cebu to augment supply to Leyte, Bohol and Samar has started.

Moreover, reports gathered by the DOE indicated that the repair of the Ormoc substation facility, which delivers power to Southern Leyte, Samar, and Bohol sub-grids, is underway.

For power distribution, all 11 electric cooperatives in Region 8 and 3 in Bohol are already ready to receive power.

As an institutional way forward towards energy resiliency, the DOE has recommended to the Regional Development Council (RDC) for Region 8 to create a Committee for Power to address the power related concerns of the region and prioritize measures related to resiliency, especially of power facilities. One of the best practices being look at by the Department is the Local Government Unit of Bohol through its Power Advisory Committee.

It will also strengthen its information drive for the renewable energy (RE) options for consumers, such as the net metering system (NMS) and the green energy option (GEO).

Apart from promoting efficient and safe utilization of energy, the DOE introduce the concept of accounting for generators to optimize availability of power, as among the emergency measures, to all distribution utilities and consumers in the area.

On transmission sector resiliency, the DOE wants to fast-track the Cebu-Bohol submarine cable targeted by NGCP by 2020 to establish an alternative transmission route for the provinces in Region 8 to ensure continuous delivery of power in the event of similar calamities.

Additionally, it requires the active participation of the Transmission Corporation to check on their transmission assets and the concessionaire's compliance with its obligations including the required ancillary services and resiliency policies.

Above all, the DOE ensures the compliance of industry participants with the reserve or replacement power and ancillary services requirements, and encourage more energy investments utilizing Executive Order 30 which created the Energy Investment Coordinating Council.

Kabataan Partylist (KPL) Southern Tagalog Region to Hold Annual ST State of the Youth Address

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Kabataan Partylist Southern Tagalog (KPL-ST) will hold the Southern Tagalog State of the Youth Address (ST SOYA) 2017 on July 15, 2017, Saturday at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. It is a regional conference that aims to gather the youth from all sectors across the region as they present their situation and vow to stand as a collective force in upholding the interest of the youth and the people for a pro-masses culture and education.

SOYA is in conjunction with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). This event is a build-up activity for the youth in different provinces to have a genuine and truly representative People’s SONA. SOYA is an annual activity of KPL, along with other youth organizations and alliances that uphold a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented social change.

In the present context, where there is an abundance of national and local issues, it is imperative for the youth to speak up and join the discussion for the solutions to the problems the Filipinos face. To be participated by [number of participants] from [where participants are from], SOYA will serve as a venue for the youth from all sectors, whether in schools, communities or workplaces, to speak and present the everyday realities of their lives. Through the lens of the youth, national and local issues shall be tackled-from the aggravated crisis in education and the attempt to sign a false free education bill; to the “war on drugs” and martial law; and to the continuation of peace talks.

Educational discussions, consultations, and orientations shall be featured in the State of the Youth Address. Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago will tackle the situation of the youth in the context of education. National situationer during the first year term of the president will be presented by Ryan Dela Cruz, Anakbayan-CEAT Chairperson. An educational discussion regarding the peace talks and the importance of its resumption for every sector in the society will be discussed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Timog Katagalugan (BAYAN-TK) Spokesperson Petti Enriquez. Moreover, a cultural night will serve as a venue for the youth to showcase their talents in the culture and the arts while cultivating their social consciousness.

Youth and Student Groups to Stage Nationwide Protest Against President’s ‘Fake News SONA’, Killing Spree

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Shibby de Guzman is a 13-year old Grade 9 student of St. Scholastica’s College-Manila who once faced backlash on social media for speaking out against extrajudicial killings borne out of the President’s war-on-drugs. On Tuesday, she announced the plans of the movement she is co-building: #YouthResist.


“Fake News SONA”

#YouthResist, a movement formed by youth groups Millennials Against Dictators [MAD], Student Council Alliance of the Philippines [SCAP], Akbayan! Youth [A!Y], and numerous campus- and community-based youth groups, will stage a nationwide ‘alt-SONA’ on July 18 to counter the ‘Fake News SONA’ of the President and his ‘killing spree’.

“Today, we are announcing that we are continuing to resist and that we are to constantly fight and struggle for this country’s future. We refuse to stop asking for a say into our officials decisions. We reject the notion that the loss of lives can be simplified as collateral damage”, Shibby said as she announced the group’s nationwide protest on what she called “the killing spree” of the President, citing the more than 12,000 homicide cases, including at least 7,000 deaths due to the war-on-drugs, as reported by the Philippine National Police.

The youth groups’ alt-SONA will be held at St. Scholastica’s College-Manila on July 18, 7:30AM-12:00NN and will be attended by thousands of young people from different backgrounds in Metro Manila.



Duterte killed more than Marcos

Karla Yu, co-convener of MAD and one of the complainants against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre before the Ombudsman tagging him as “Fake News King”, expressed concern over the PNP’s downplaying of the statistics on extrajudicial killings.

“Duterte managed to accomplish more in one year than the dictator Marcos in terms of death toll”, Yu explained. “Marcos extrajudicially-killed more than 3,000 in his 20-year regime. Duterte killed more than 7,000 due to the brutal and corrupt war-on-drugs a year into office”, she pointed out.



Nationwide protest

Shamah Bulangis of A!Y explained that mobilizations will also happen in General Santos City and Cebu City. “There is a growing discontent among young people. This discontent is greater than our fear”, Bulangis mentioned.

“Together, young people are a formidable force”, she continued.



How many and how young?

“The all-out war on drugs also kills the youth and our capacity to dream. The more it kills young and innocent people, the more it kills the hope for a better future for our country,” added Jeza Rodriguez of SCAP.

Rodriguez cited the case of Danica (5 years old) and Althea (4 years old), as the youngest collateral damages of the President’s war-on-drugs. “How young and how many before we become outraged by this President’s killing spree?” Rodriguez asked.

“The 18th of July marks the day that this movement is born. 45 years ago, a dictator was toppled down with the help of a youth movement. Today, any emerging dictator will be stopped”, added Shibby.

The group called on their fellow youth to join the nationwide protest on July 18. “Kung hindi tayo ang lalaban, sino ang lalaban?”, Shibby urged.