Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Yule Ball by Portkey Events: Another Harry Potter Inspired Event

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This Holiday Season, Portkey Events is bringing you the most magical gathering known to Wizarding kind: The Yule Ball!

Join us for a night of great food, beautiful music, romantic dancing, and wonderful friends! Ready your dress robes wizards and witches!

P1,800 (Early Bird Rate until September 1, 2016)
P2,000 (Regular Rate)

REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/kobhjhWstCiDYzcj2

#YuleBall2016 #PortkeyEvents

The Food Revolution at Retail Promenade Sapphire Bloc

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A four-tower complex, The Sapphire Bloc is the new destination in Ortigas that houses a one-of-a-kind retail mix, perfect for your distinctive taste. It is designed with a walkable lifestyle in mind, with everything convenient and accessible.

They are changing the culinary scene of the metro with 8 unique concept dining restaurants at The Sapphire Bloc. Have a taste of their signature dishes and get to know the master chefs behind it.

Dine the night away and listen to the urban vibe of The Akafellas.

August 18, 2016 | Thursday | 6:00 PM - 8:00PM
The Sapphire Bloc Retail Promenade
Sapphire Road corner Onyx and Garnet Streets
Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Take advantage of the early move-in terms as low as 15% down with tie-up financing from partner banks or avail the zero percent interest affordable payment option.

Actual unit now ready for viewing. For appointments and inquiries, please contact:

+63932 8797088 (mobile, wechat, viber, whatsapp)
robinsonslandcondos@gmail.com (email)
@Robinsons_Land (twitter)
pinterest.com/robinsons_land (pinterest)
@robinsonslandcondos (instagram)
facebook.com/robinsonslandcondos (facebook)

Karen Bordador and Boyfriend Emilio Lim Found in Possession of 3M Worth of Illegal Drugs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Behind all that glamour and beauty, it was surprising that celebrities are involved in drugs. What would push them to resort to using illegal substances? Probably to give them that "extra energy" or "boost" to go through their everyday work which would most of the time involve a day of shooting up to graveyard time. Is their work too hectic and physically demanding that they needed more " juice" than what energy drinks can provide?

The latest on the war against drugs involves former "I Do" contestant and disc jockey for the FM station Monster Radio RX 93.1, Karen Bordador, who claims she was only visiting her boyfriend, Emilio Lim, when the bust went on. Emilio did not comment on the issue.

However, the police officers are claiming ecstasy tablets were found in her possession.

So who is lying?

Reports say that around P3 million worth of ecstasy, marijuana, and marijuana oil were found at Lim's condo unit in Pasig City.

FM station Monster RX 93.1 said it was shocked by the apprehension of Karen Bordador since she displayed no signs of drug-related activities in the workplace.

According to the Southern Police District (SPD), the Karen and her boyfriend Emilio's initial drug test results came out positive. However, she has refused to sign the consent form on her urine test unlike Lim.

Meanwhile, Karen's former boyfriend, Chris Tan, is crying foul after some news sites mistakenly used his photo thinking he was Lim.

Lim, Tan ...hhhmmm..seems Karen's type of boyfie are Filipino-Chinese! Lol!

Police are now saying they have a list of the couple's celebrity clients. Oh oh. This would mean a lot of rattled celebrities.

"Hindi totoo 'yun. Si Karen ay against drugs. We don't deserve this. We don't deserve this. Tigilan na nila yung pagko-condemn sa kanya," the mother of radio DJ Karen Bordador said.

7 International Startups Make it to Geeks on a Beach Pitching Contest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Seven promising global startups will be joining the international pitching competition at the Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) tech and startup conference at Bellevue Hotel in Panglao Island, Bohol on August 25-26, 2016.

The seven finalists are:

· AnnualBooks (Philippines), a platform that allows schools to create Online Yearbooks, School Newspapers, Collaboration Tools for Teachers/Parents/Students, E-Learning system, Alumni Center, Grades Monitoring System, and much more;

· engageSpark (Philippines), a digital solution that lets non-techies at non-profits (and businesses) build interactive Automated Phone Calls and 2-Way SMS programs to engage the poor in developing countries.

· Grow360 (Singapore), a platform that provides feedback, self-development tools and access to coaches for professionals;

· iUNGOCorp (Netherlands), a platform for managing energy demand, so that home owners, building administrators and utility service providers can manage energy consumption in a more intelligent way;

· Liser Robotics (Philippines), a robotic educational system for teaching computer coding to kids;

· LookingFour (Philippines), a platform where buyers post products they need and match suppliers notified; and

· TrustMyStaff (Cambodia), a digital service that is aimed at employers who wish to fill a job vacancy quickly, efficiently and with an honest candidate. It helps find a candidate who is a good psychological fit for the vacancy.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A wild mix of non-human entities dominate the scene as AXN’s newest show BattleBots 6x60’ feature robots fighting for glory.

BattleBots show cases an action-packed tournament of machine versus machine inside the ring, each one meticulously designed and built by its creator. A decade after it was first aired, BattleBots is presented as a 6x60’ series with bigger and even better robots. Even the arena is a new and improved version of the original, allowing viewers to witness the action close up.As ten years has passed, viewers can expect to see more advanced creations and more even better opponent-crushing power. Each episode brings a real thrill and engages fans in the heat of the combat. Follow the series as new creators bring mecha-entities to life and fight for the coveted title.

The show is hosted by Sam Ponder, Chris Rose, Kenny Florian, and Faruq Tauheed. The judges are Jessica Chobot, Fon Davis, and Leland Melvin.

BattleBots 6x60’ airs Tuesdays-Thursdays at 8:50pm. first and exclusive on AXN

AXN is available on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, Gsat Channel 12, SKYCable Channel 49.

Luke Nguyen: Exploring Malaysia One Dish at a Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Planning to take your gastronomic experience to another level? Why not try these food trails in Malaysia and get to taste the best of Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta?

(Luke Nguyen’s Culinary Trip in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Check on the best gastronomic stops in Malaysia and satisfy your Malaysian cuisine craving through this food trails.)

WHEN IN KUALA LUMPUR
Multi-hyphenate Luke Nguyen of Street Food Asia is giving you a quick and easy tour on the food stops in Malaysia. Luke continues his street food journey venturing into multicultural Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Luke meets his friend, Tana, in Brickfields which is filled with a variety of different Indian dishes. Tana escorts Luke to his favorite street food stalls where Luke tastes delicious sweet and savory treats, including the curry puffs said to provide the consumer with prosperity and happiness.

Luke then meets the famous Mr. Hung with a reputation for flying instant noodles nearly two stories high. Luke then heads to Ramal Food Junction where he visits Willy's Satay Stall, considered to be the best satay in Kuala Lumpur.

JAKARTA’S BEST

Luke continues unearthing different street foods in Kuala Lumpur starting at the central Jalan Imbi market. With the market already busy at 7:30am, Luke is lucky to meet a friend with a table where he's able to taste different dishes walking past him. Having reserved the table, Luke heads off to talk to some local stall-holders and fills his plate high with different tasty treats. Luke then meets Mr. Sou who has been cooking a hearty Pork Bone Soup with medicinal herbal properties for over 20 years. Luke learns from Grandma Lim who's perfected her noodle making skills for 40 years to the most delicious fresh Chinese-Malay dish.

Luke continues his street food adventure exploring Jakarta, Indonesia. Meeting up with his old friend, Derice, Luke unearths the delicious delicacies of Chinatown, finding the experience a melting pot of diverse cultural cuisines. Luke joins the locals beneath the tall city skyscrapers and uncovers a truly authentic Indonesian stall which serves every part of a chicken. During the busy lunch break, Luke joins the hustle and bustle, meeting local Hadi, and dines on a diverse range of dishes. Moving onto dessert, Luke visits a vendor selling a sweet snack that resembles his grandmother's hair.

Luke completes his street food journey in Jakarta, Indonesia where he visits a busy stall that's been serving a traditional Indonesian salad since 1961. Luke indulges in an Indonesian dessert, the sweet Martabak, known as the 'King of Street Food'. After exploring the streets of Jakarta for the best Nasi Goreng, Luke is put to work helping to cook and serve the largest 'wokful' of Nasi Goreng he's ever seen.

Learn more about Luke Nguyen’s culinary trip in Malaysia on Luke Nguyen’s Street Food Asia airing this Monday, August 25 at 9:25pm on TLC.

Channel 62 (Skycable), channel 53 (Destiny Cable), channel 29 (Cignal), channel 26 (Dream Sattelite TV), channel 32 (Sky Direct).

Poco Deli: Your Little Deli with Big Flavors

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Poco Deli, has a new branch located at One Parkade building 7th Avenue corner 28th street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig city.

Wazzup Pilipinas spent the evening with an awesome food tasting event organized by Zomato Philippines, the leading restaurant portal and community for foodies. Zomato also has a mobile app where you can order for home delivery.

As usual, I'm the earliest who arrived, and had to wait more than an hour for the other invited guests but that's alright because I prefer to be early than late which gives me a greater chance to talk with the owners or organizers of the event. Many opportunities comes my way whenever I'm punctual at events.

Poco Deli is your little neighborhood delicatessen known for the finest artisanal sausages and meats, select cheeses, imported wines, and great coffee. What they serve are my kind of meals if I want to go carnivorous for a food binge night munching on great meat complemented by their excellent cheese and wines selection. Needless to say, you'll encounter big flavors when you dine at Poco Deli.

They sell the meats so you can actually bring home these gastronomical wonders and be assured of quality handcraft deli. All branches, namely Kapitolyo, BGC, and Ayala Triangle, offer the same quality dishes they have been known for several years.

I would love to visit all of their branches especially the one in Kapitolyo, Pasig since that's the nearest branch to me. I would probably hot two birds in one stone by visiting also their coffee shop known for great coffee as well.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the very affordable price of P400 (lunch) or P500 (dinner) during weekdays (Monday to Thursday) and P600 during weekends (Fruday to Sunday), the buffet offering at 7 Flavors Buffet Restaurant is amazingly hard to resist. Especially now that they are offering the buffet at a promo price of P350 and P450, respectively, until August 31, you'll be crazy not to take advantage of the price cut until end of the month.

Located at San Juan, specifically at 196 A. Mabini street at barangay Addition Hills, 7 Flavors Buffet offers a spread that's worthwhile enough to visit. It may not offer the high-end dishes like prawns and lobsters, they have enough comfort foods that would be quite enough to please the appetite. With more than half a dozen main dishes, plus their soup, salads and other starters like their crunchy tacos, and their desserts like ice cream, halo-halo and sweets, you are sure to go home tummy-filled and satisfied.

Another significant information that you need to know is that celebrity Chef Boy Logro is recognized as part of the restaurant including its culinary arts school and catering business. The Kusina Master often conducts special workshops and courses for the brand. We were invited to attend one of their food carving events but unfortunately, we had to decline due to a conflict with our schedule. But that would surely have been fun to watch Chef Boy Logro and his comedic ways to keep us engaged.

Going back to the buffet, we visited the restaurant during a rainy evening but their dishes would easily brighten up any gloomy day. I probably went back to the buffet tables three times not including starters and dessert. I really have to emphasize their crunchy tacos - it's not to be missed.

Nestle Crunch Blizzard is Dairy Queen's New Blizzard of the Month

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dairy Queen us to try the new Blizzard of the Month, Nestle Crunch Blizzard on August 17, 2016 at DQ Robinsons Galleria. There are three new DQ Blizzard with Nestle Crunch flavors - Almond Crunch, Overload Crunch, and Strawberry Pretzel Crunch.

Joining us were two of the six lovely brand ambassadors of Dairy Queen namely Joanna Eden (Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016) and Jennifer Hammond (Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016). They were two towering beauties during the photo ops with them. Imagine how it will look like if all six Binibining Pilipinas 2016 beauty queens were all present. I may be vertically-challenged but we all share the same appreciation with Dairy Queens newest frozen delights.

Many would love the Overload Crunch being made up of everything you would die for like cookie crunch and Nestle Crunch with Dairy Queen's soft serve with swirls of cocoa fudge that melts perfectly in your mouth. However, I loved the Almond Crunch more because its simplicity at its best - just the nestle Crunch and almond mixed on DQ's soft serve vanilla. Meantime, the kids would love the Strawberry Pretzel Crunch because of the sweet strawberry toppings and crushed berry knots taht are also mixed in DQ's soft serve.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Our home was once filled with shades or sunglasses during my childhood days. This was because my father's favorite eye-wear was the Ray-Ban brand.

His weekend hobby was hunting for birds and reptiles, both big and small, at different parts of the country. The small birds he would collect inside our freezer for later consumption during drinking binges with his friends, while the big ones he brings to a taxidermist so he could have trophies from his trips.

During these weekend hunting trips, he would always wear his favorite Ray-Ban eyeglasses. He had so many models but since I was still too young to remember or care, I wouldn't know their names. The sunglasses were also too big for me to wear, though I remember wearing them every time I see them on top of shelves or tables.

Needless to say, Ray-Ban was his favorite brand. I am just disappointed that he had to leave us so soon. But he's in a btter place right now and probably still wearing ray-Ban while hunting for angels in heaven. Lol!

I must say that these shades or sunglasses truly brings out the best in everybody. Aside from looking cool and good, it indeed levels up our courage to the maximum. How? Because looking good eventually makes us feel good. Our attire becomes a lot more cooler when we match it with excellent shades.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

From its captivating history to serene beaches and tasty food, Ukraine will charm you before you even know it. To make sure you take the most out of your visit, here are top 10 things to do in Ukraine.

1. Celebrate traditional holidays with distinctive Ukrainian traditions

Join the celebration of Ivana Kupala, a popular pagan festival widely celebrated across the country. In the evening, couples scour the woods for medicinal herbs, while unmarried women weave head-wreaths before lowering them into a river - if the wreath floats, it means they'll get married. The emphasis of the festival is on cleansing rituals: during the night, participants immerse themselves completely into the water and couples hold hands and leap over bonfires to ‘cure’ all that ails them. More common holiday – Easter – is celebrated in Ukraine with a beautiful melding of traditional Christian practices, folklore and ancient pagan symbolism. The Orthodox Easter has the same sacral meaning as for the rest of Christian world, while it is celebrated on a different date and with distinguishable rituals and traditions. Easter is the feast of Christ’s resurrection, which combines both pagan and Christian elements in its observance. It has been celebrated over a long period of history and has had many rich folk traditions.

2. Check out the churches

Ukraine’s churches – in Kiev, Chernihiv, Lviv and the Carpathian region – are all real gems that are worth seeing. Many of them make a part of UNESCO World Heritage List, so one is lucky to get a chance to see them all in one country.

3. Visit castles and fortresses

In western Ukraine, the stone fortress town of Kamyanets-Podilsky - a Unesco World Heritage Site - sits on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by a deep gorge that encircles it almost completely, with the clear waters of river Smotrych flowing far below. Moving not far away from this geographic area, you should also check out castles near Lviv that are one of the major tourist attractions in this region. Their beautiful architecture, mystical history and scenic landscape setting attract many visitors. Khortytsia islands, located in the heart of Zaporizhzhia city on Dnipro River, are attracting the most people to the region with its reputation of being the homeland and residency of famous Ukrainian Cossacks. Khortytsia is a beautiful national historical and natural reserve, where many types of rare plants and animals can be found. Also in the South, Akkerman fortress (the biggest in country) is a unique monument to the defensive architecture of the 13th -15th centuries. Despite its age and all the historical events that it has witnessed, the fortress managed to preserve its original structure. Today it is considered to be the best preserved medieval fortification facility in Ukraine. Pick up few places to see or visit them all – it’s up to you!

4. Get lost in Lviv

Lviv, with its attractive mélange of baroque, renaissance and art nouveau architecture and friendly vibe is the complete antithesis of the post-Soviet industrial cities of Eastern Europe and is one of the must-visit places in Ukraine. You can spend days admiring the highlights, which include the central Rynok Square, surrounded by wealthy merchants' homes dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the Armenian cathedral and the Moorish old Jewish hospital. The best panoramic views of the city are from the High Castle Park on northeast side of Lviv. The symbol of the city is a lion: it is carved into facades, on doorknobs, keystones and gates.

5. Hit the beaches

Usually it’s hard to get lot of pleasure from going to the most popular and easy-to-find beaches. For those who love to spend more time alone and further away from the city noise, there are plenty of yet unknown and extremely beautiful beaches in Ukraine to visit.

6. Visit the hidden mysterious places

For a post-apocalyptic experience, there are some places to visit in Ukraine as well. Head to Chernobyl exclusion zone near Kiev, take Lviv Undergrounds and Dungeons tour to discover Lviv’s mystifying underground world and listen to some spooky legends from city’s history or go down Odessa catacombs - the longest network of catacombs in the world, which is also the only one that has not been fully mapped. Intriguing, isn’t it?

7. Eat with lots of emotions

Lviv is famous not only for its astonishing architecture, romantic mood and unforgettable charm. It is also the center of gastronomic events in the country. The main gastronomic festivals in Lviv, dedicated to wine, cheese, chocolate and coffee, always attract lots of visitors. Moreover, the most interesting concept restaurants in Ukraine are also located here!

8. Shop at the markets

A visit to a good product market will overwhelm you with sights, tastes and smells. Go early in the morning, when the products are the freshest and the housewives and grandmothers come out in force, enticed by the market sellers offering a taste of their wares. Try out the two most famous markets in Ukraine to get the full range of emotions – Bessarbsky in Kiev and Privoz in Odessa, you will find lots of things to do there!

9. Drink wine

Shabo is not just one of the leading Ukrainian Wineries that follows the standards of high grape growing and winemaking culture. It is also the Wine Culture Center, aimed at promoting high culture of noble beverages drinking. Shabo Winery and Wine Culture Center are located in a resort area in the Odessa Region, one of Europe’s oldest regions where winemaking traditions are dated as far back as the ancient times. The center offers highly popular organized tours, hosts tastings and various events aimed at improving the drinking culture, popularizing healthy lifestyle and strengthening family traditions.

10. Get closer to nature

Ukraine has a large territory and is located in many climate zones. This fact makes it an interesting place for ‘green’ tourism that will get you to hit the road immediately! Discover Ukraine’s natural wonders, such as Vilkovo – the ‘Ukrainian Venice’, Bugsky Guard National Park, Askania-Nova reserve, Oleshky Sands Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians that will surprise you with pure beauty and stunning nature!

It is hard to find time to cross out all the points in the list of top 10 things to do in Ukraine, you can read mote at destinations.com.ua. However, this means that you always have motivation to come back any time of the year!

Vampire Diaries Star Claire Holt is the Next AsiaPOP Comicon Celebrity Guest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Things are going to get vicious with Hollywood actress Claire Holt, the latest celebrity guest to grace the biggest pop culture convention dubbed, AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016, happening on August 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Holt is best known for her role as original vampire Rebekah Mikaelson in the CW supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries, based on the novels of the same name, as well as current continuing spinoff, The Originals.

A natural charmer with her looks and attitude, Holt rose to popularity as Emma Gilbert in the Nickelodeon series H20: Just Add Water, and later went on to roles such as lead character Lindsey in Sam Raimi's Messengers II: The Scarecrow, Melanie Mayron's Mean Girls 2, indie film Blue Like Jazz, and a recurring role in hit series Pretty Little Liars as Pride advocate Samara Cook.

She is slated to appear next as Kate, a lead role in Johannes Roberts' upcoming underwater psychological thriller In the Deep. She is also working on the second season of critically acclaimed series Aquarius.

Fans of Holt will be in for the time of their lives, as APCC Manila offers Autograph, Photograph and Meet & Greet session tickets for the rare opportunity to meet her in person. These tickets will be available soon for purchase at the SM Tickets website, https://smtickets.com, and at all SM Tickets outlets.

APCC Manila 2016 tickets are now available via SM Tickets with ticket prices PhP550 (one-day pass), PhP850 (two-day pass), and PhP1,050 (three-day pass). All these will give the ticketholder access to various activities, performances, and the main show floor. The event is free for children aged five years and below for all days, but a valid identification is required for verification purposes before entering the show floor.

A special Geek Bundle is also available at PhP3500 for the FIRST 100 customers which includes an event lanyard, tote bag, cape, a 3-day pass, and a 1/12 Iron Man Mark XL "Shotgun" collectible figure from Comicave Studios.

For more information and event updates, please visit asiapopcomicon.com/manila and official Facebook Page facebook.com/apccmanila.

“Magtanggol” Goes to Rockwell

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Magtanggol,” a political whodunit film directed by Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez based on a story by producer and investment banker Juanchito “Jojo” Dispo, will be shown at the Power Plant Cinema in Rockwell from August 24 to 30 as part of its week-long celebration of the National Heroes Day.

The film, the first offering of Felix and Bert Productions, revolves around a fictional political clan rocked by a scandal as one scion – a senator who is a strong advocate for protecting the rights of overseas Filipino workers – was tagged as a principal suspect in a spate of killings of abusive OFW employers.

Tom Rodriguez, who plays Senator Juancho Magtanggol, considers his first venture in the political thriller genre an eye-opener. “I didn’t realize the gravity of violence committed against our kababayans who only want to improve the plight of their respective families. Leaving your family behind to work overseas is already painful.”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Apple Premium Reseller Power Mac Center is celebrating its 22nd anniversary with a first-of-its-kind interactive sales event happening from August 17 to 21 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 3. Expect up to 90 percent off on premium items and special rates on Apple products, with major debit and credit cards (straight payment or installment) accepted.

The first few hours of the expo were exclusive to VIPs and Power Mac Center 1 Infinite Card members. The event is free of admission to the public from 6PM onwards on August 17 and during mall hours on August 18-21. Guests are asked to register at the reception booth or pre-register online at https://goo.gl/GjSUHn.

Select partner brands also have their own booths to showcase their products. To complete the experience, Power Mac Center’s Apple Authorized Training Center is holding a pop-up school providing free training and demonstrations on different topics specific to Mac apps. The Apple Authorized Service Provider booth gives free Mac cleaning and consultation.

Individuals may also explore career opportunities at the recruitment booth during the event, whereas local businesses, entrepreneurs, and academic institutions may discuss their proposals and offerings with Power Mac Center at the Corporate Business Group and Education Business Group booth.

“We’re inviting everyone to come to Megatrade Hall 3 because all deals are exclusively available at the event. This is the culmination of Power Mac Center’s month-long celebration. We want to give our guests the complete Apple experience all in one venue as thanksgiving for the past 22 years of unwavering support,” said Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

Over the years, Power Mac Center has proven its position as a premium reseller of Apple products and accessories that enhance the Apple lifestyle. It has grown to a nationwide network of 26 retail branches, eight Apple Authorized Service Centers, and two Apple Authorized Training Centers. Power Mac Center has also partnered with countless schools, businesses, and other institutions that sought to implement the Apple ecosystem.

More information about products and services may be obtained from Power Mac Center’s website <www.powermaccenter.com> and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat accounts (@powermaccenter). The official hashtag for the event is #PMC22.

DOTr Takes Over Traffic Management in Metro Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation will now be working together with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in managing traffic along national roads in Metro Manila.

Upon the marching order of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the MMDA, HPG, and DOTr attached agencies such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will be solidifying traffic enforcement by coming up with just one chain of command.

Metro Manila will be split into at least 10 traffic sectors. Each will have a sectoral head.

“Kapag watak-watak tayo, mahihirapan ang mga tao on the ground. But if we will be given authority under one chain of command, we can now easily issue orders,” HPG Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola said in a press conference earlier today.

Operating as one agency, the HPG and the MMDa will be sharing assets such as manpower and motorcyles. The HPG will also hook up with the MMDA command center for better traffic monitoring.

The agencies are also working on coming up with uniform penalties for traffic violations. Traffic personnel will also undergo joint training.

The inter-agency initiative is a necessary move to ease traffic congestion pending appeal for Emergency Powers.

“We are focusing on enforcement now while waiting for Congress to grant us emergency powers. We have to do what we can do now,” said Transportation spokesperson Cherie Mercado-Santos.