Araneta Center Marks Fiesta Month With Grand Santacruzan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I was invited to witness the much-awaited Araneta Center Grand Santacruzan that reeled off last Saturday, May 18 at Araneta Center,  Cubao Quezon City. 


The Santacruzan is an iconic Filipino tradition that commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena and her son, Emperor Constantine. The festive mode of thanksgiving of finding the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is replicated many times over in several parts of the country during the fiesta month of May. However, none compares to the pageantry and the overload of beautiful Binibinis of the Araneta Center Grand Santacruzan. The event has become a staple in the celebration of Flores de Mayo in the metropolis.

The winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2013 led the line up and was joined by some of the other candidates of the recently concluded Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

Disaster Risk Mitigation in the Community : A Quest for Japan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Last March 12 and 13, Japan Foundation Manila held a seminar for Disaster Risk Mitigation in the Community at Ateneo de Manila University. This seminar wasn’t an ordinary one; in fact this seminar was very special to aspiring Japanese language learners who are dreaming of visiting Japan. About a number of 20 students from different schools all over the Philippines joined the said event.

The seminar was held for two days, the students were allowed to stay in the PASS Dormitory for the night, all expenses (food, transportation, dormitory) were sponsored by Japan Foundation. The first day of the seminar was full of lectures and fun activities held by two guest speakers. One of the speakers was Dr. Hiroko Nagai, director of Japanese Studies Program in Ateneo de Manila University. The other speaker was Mr. Hirokazu Nagata, president of Plus Arts, a non-profit organization in Japan. The lectures and workshop held by the two speakers were surely informational.

Vin Diesel and Other Cast of Fast and Furious 6 Graced Philippine Premiere at MOA

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano, and Luke Evans along with Fast and Furious producer Neil Moritz plus some select foreign press where brought into the Philippines by a movie premiere. This was Manila’s first big Hollywood franchise that cared enough to bring in four of its film’s stars.

Diesel did say that it was the best premiere that he has been into as he repeatedly shouted to the crowd "Mahal ko Kayow!". 

Should we be expecting Manila scenes in the next installment of the Fast and the Furious?