Miriam Defensor-Santiago: Keynote Speaker at the International Youth Leaders Conference 2014

Wazzup Pilipinas!


"Can I follow you home? Because my parents always told me to follow my dreams."

That was the pick-up line shared by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago during the International Youth Leaders Conference (IYLC), a one-day event that gathered hundreds of college-level, undergraduate youth leaders from colleges and universities all over the Philippines and the rest of the world. Since her audience are mostly the youth, she knows that these future leaders may also have love-life and teen romance competing with leadership-related goals and tasks.

As the keynote speaker, she shared to the youth leaders her wisdom towards leadership. The senator calls on to the youth to help end the cycle of corruption in our government. She did mention, though can be interpreted as less serious, that she plans to offer her recommendations to add a provision to the Constitution to require all individuals running for President and other high positions in the government to have a college degree as a basic prerequisite before they will be allowed to even file for candidacy.

Her speech focused on the qualities of a world-class youth leader and the Crimea crisis touching on the history of Kosovo but knowing the senator who cannot let a gathering pass without sharing a few of his poker-faced jokes, witty pick-up lines, and a few "parinig" pertaining to her "idiot" colleagues in the Senate that are involved in the Pork Barrel or PDAF scam, she got everyone's interest and admiration for her courage to go against the likes of "tanda", "pogi", or "sexy."

IYLC, hosted by AIESEC Philippines, advocates youth leadership by being an avenue for today's youth leaders to not only collaborate with other passionate and like-minded individuals, but to celebrate these youth leaders' triumphs and trials, the achievements of youth leadership in creating social impact.

LINE Call Connects Filipinos To Their Loved Ones Abroad

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LINE, the world’s leading mobile platform with 390 million users worldwide, has released the Android and iOS version of LINE Call, a low-cost IP phone service that allows users to make calls to landlines and mobile devices to over 200 countries and regions—directly from the LINE app without initial set up.

LINE Call connects Filipinos http://line.me/en/call

“There are millions of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) around the world,” says Greg Kim, head of LINE Corporation Philippines. “The only way these everyday heroes connect to their families is by phone—and they pay expensive amounts just to share short conversations with their loved ones. But with the help of LINE Call, they can now reach their families and friends at a much affordable cost.”

Filipino LINE users can now choose between the existing free call service to other LINE users and low-cost calls to any other number with LINE Call, making for a more convenient calling experience.

International Fundraising Art Exhibition 2014 to Support Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts

Wazzup Pilipinas!

On April 6, 2014, a consortium of international and Filipino artists will open the “Haiyan International Fundraising Art Exhibition 2014”. This exhibition, which features art works from over 40 international artists and 17 Filipino artists, showcases the support from the art community from around the world for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

“Haiyan International Fundraising Art Exhibition 2014” was conceptualized by Singapore National Artist Goh Beng Kwan and Filipino artist Florence Cincowhen they and other artists from the ASEAN region convened to celebrate the 86th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Thailand. Alongside Mr. Goh Beng Kwan and Mr. Cinco, the consortium of artists participating in the exhibition includes Mr. Ilseon Ryu (Korea), President and Art Director of Ecorea Biennale Committee and President of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Art & Research; Ms. Grete Marstein (Norway), President of the Norwegian Artists Copyright Association and International Vice President of the International Association of Art (UNESCO); Mr. Trinh Tuan (Vietnam); Mr. Daniel Houle Jayd (Canada), and Mr. Wattanachot Tungateja (Thailand).The exhibition is organized and curated by Mr. Florence Cinco, Mr. Red Mansueto, and Ms. Aimee Villas Adalla.

Each of the artists participating in the “Haiyan International Fundraising Art Exhibition 2014” has contributed an artwork in support of the ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts in the Visayas region.All proceeds from the art works sold during the exhibition will go to MyShelter Foundation, whose Liter of Light program provides low-cost, simple solar lighting to disaster-stricken areas, creating local jobs, teaching green skills, and empowering local communities.