Awit ng Paghilom: A Gift for the Children of the Storm

Wazzup Pilipinas!


There has been many efforts already to provide assistance to the many survivors of the devastating Typhoon Yolanda that struck the Philippines especially those areas directly affected by the flooding and destruction of their homes and the death of their loved ones.

We are very grateful that the International communities from all over the world are sending in their contributions to help rebuild and rehabilitate a country that has suffered from many calamities. We are forever proud of our fellow Filipinos who, in their own special way, has made initiatives to help ease the burden of the survivors who were left with grief and sorrow. The bad memories will remain so it is up to all of us to give them hope for a better tomorrow. We want to give them all the assurance that they truly need and it may take forever before we could really heal their pain.


Among the many who listened to the outcries of the many victims of the storm are the Elements Music Camp. They were originally envisioned to develop young Filipino songwriters with the hope of one day defining the unique Filipino sound.The highlight of the camp, that has been ongoing for 4 years already, has always been the production of original compositions created by the campers as guided by their mentors, but this time the segment took on a different twist because they couldn't ignore the call for help.

Typhoon Yolanda seems to be the strongest storm ever recorded in Philippine history, and this devastation needs to be addressed equally by hopefully several efforts from many groups including our very own Elements Music Camp.

Asian LP Gas Summit 2014: Building a Safer Cleaner Energy Future with LPG

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Liquified Petroleum Gas or LPG is a vital source of energy for millions of people worldwide. It is a clean and  portable fuel that provides heat, light and power in both densely populated urban areas, as well as remote areas for all their everyday usage like cooking and heating.

Your friendly neighborhood pambansang blogger of the Philippines was a part of the Asian LP Gas Summit 2014 that happened last March 10-12, 2014 at the Manila Hotel.

It was an opportunity to learn about the LPG technology and the several technical facts and theories, both realistic and somewhat fictional issues, that surrounds its usage. A great number of experts both in the private and government sector were invited to share their expertise, studies, research and thoughts in order to educate the attendees and also to debunk the myths that somehow has given the LPG industry a tainted name - the reason why it has not really expanded its usage in the Philippines.

The first Asian LP Gas Summit event was conducted in the Philippines in 2011 to encourage the growth of the LPG industry there. It seeks to promote discussion and industry networking for the sustainable growth of the LPG industry with a focus on technology adoption, safety and consumer education. From household consumption to autogas, it promotes the adoption of LPG as the fuel of choice by providing a quorum for industry stakeholders to meet with policy makers, international technology providers and operators to exchange ideas, share best practices, and shape the growth of the industry.

It is very rare to be exposed to a large gathering of LPG industry experts, and an opportunity to network with possible new business partners in order to enhance the efforts in promoting the technology. It is best to understand the many different aspects in order to come up with better solutions that we can offer to the market.

Grilla Bar and Grill: Witness The Amazing Transformation into a Family Restaurant

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Gone is the menacing gorilla that once adorned its exteriors, tarps and posters. When once it used to frighten children because of the seemingly threatening gorilla mascot, it's now kid-friendly and highlights instead a map on the cover of it's menu. The restaurant has transformed into a dining experience for everyone (barkada, friends, colleagues, classmates, etc.,) to enjoy especially the whole family of kapamilya, kapuso, kapatid and whatsoever. So the next time you want to satisfy your family's hunger, visit the Grilla Bar and Grill (Hey, wait!... I believe they are now calling the restaurant as Grilla Filipino Cuisine),  and be amazed with the incredible transformation.

The Grilla Filipino Cuisine restaurant has fresh new interiors pleasing to all ages. When I got invited to try out their new dishes plus their choices of homemade backyard liquors,  I immediately noticed how the restaurant located in Kalayaan, Makati has changed. From the very moment I saw the restaurant signage that now says only Grilla and below in smaller print are the words Filipino Cuisine.

I was actually looking for the iconic gorilla...but it was totally gone. I visited the Kalayaan branch before and the renovation was really noticeable. I was informed that the changes has happened throughout all the other branches including their very first branch in Antipolo. So expect to see a lot of more new things on your next visit as the transformations are still in their process.

Congratulations to Grilla's new image! I'm sure many will be curious to see for themselves the big changes you have done with both your restaurant and your menu.