George Birkadze is in Town

Wazzup Pilipinas!
The marriage of martial arts and ballet is personified!

As a young boy George started taking ballet lessons because he dreamed of traveling around the world. In those years becoming a famous artist was the only way a USSR citizen would be allowed to travel anywhere outside of the Soviet Block.

When he was 15 years old, George received an invitation to study at prestigious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. While living in Moscow he encountered the bullies and started practicing Karate and Judo. Around the same time he met and became friends with Feodor Emelyanenko, who later became one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world.

At the age of 18 George was forced to interrupt his promising dancing career and enlist in the Soviet Army for a mandatory 2-year service. He served in the Special Forces Division where he perfected his skills in all martial arts like jiu-jitsu used by the army at that time. The young soldier especially liked Jiujitsu because in his words, it was a [bjj][/bjj]“smooth” way of disarming the attackers without getting too aggressive or violent. His flexibility gained by being a dancer allowed him to escape the most complicated leg locks.

Pinocchio All Set to Open on August 16

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of its 22 years of producing well-loved musicals for children of all ages, Repertory Philippines Theater for Young Audiences proudly announces the staging of PINOCCHIO - the story of that familiar wooden puppet whose nose grew when he told a lie.

Originally written by Carlo Collodi as a serial in 1881, Le avventure di Pinocchio (The Adventures of Pinocchio), it has been one of the most famous stories in children’s literature and one of the most adapted. Perhaps the most popular adaptation was the one by Walt Disney. This more current adaptation is by Jim Eiler with music by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy for the Prince Street Players, Ltd.

Set in Italy, this is the beloved tale of Pinocchio, a life-sized puppet created by the caring puppet maker, Geppetto. Knowing of his longing for a son, the Blue Fairy brings Pinocchio to life as a reward for Geppetto's remarkably generous spirit. The Blue Fairy promises Pinocchio that if he always obeys his father, someday he would become a real boy. But the best laid plans can sometimes go awry and Pinocchio's boyish longings lead him away from his father and on an adventure unlike any other. Hurtled from the Land of The Toys to the belly of a giant, Italian-speaking whale, Pinocchio learns that no love is greater than that of a parent for a child.

iACADEMY's iSCE eyes new heights for ASEAN Integration, welcomes new Executive Director

Wazzup Pilipinas!

iACADEMY School of Continuing Education (iSCE) is pleased to welcome its new Executive Director, Mr. Jordan Imutan, who took the lead last July 2014. A seasoned professional whose career spans over two decades of industry innovation and excellence in the IT field, Mr. Imutan now tries to share his learnings and experiences through iSCE in the service of education.

As iSCE's new leader, Mr. Imutan envisions different strategies of maintaining, improving and ensuring that iSCE continues its excellence through his direction. He sees how our fellow Filipinos can be up-skilled for the coming ASEAN Integration. The Integration is expected to open up and boost investments, create jobs and incomes in the whole region. All member states would then be open to zero import duties for ASEAN products and services by 2015, while all nationals within the state would then be allowed to freely work anywhere in the region without exclusions.

The said integration will allow for opportunities for our companies and work force to collaborate extensively and create a stronger backbone for our economy. With a combined $2.2 trillion GDP market, the best companies in the ASEAN nations will be able to compete with local companies of their neighboring country. However, in order to compete, our local companies would need to raise the quality of our products and service. Moreover, the very competency of our human resource must also necessarily improved, in order to compete with the best of the best in the ASEAN.