Short+Sweet Manila is Back with Festival of 10-Minute Plays

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It is without doubt that the Philippines is a country with great potential and a lot of natural talent. As a blogger, I've met so many talented and gifted personalities with various skills and expertise that it gives me great honor to be able to mingle with them even for a short while.

The theater, dance and music industries are among those where you can find real talent. To be able to memorize lines and act seamlessly, sing or dance live on stage, without the audience noticing your mistakes or ad-lib is fascinating. Unlike in mainstream movies, dance or music videos, where the performers are allowed to do retakes, the live performers need to be able to mask their minor errors and finish their acts effortlessly with grace.

What is more remarkable is when they are able to keep the interest of the audience at a high. I would sometimes find myself not noticing time passing by because I was just too deeply involved with the performance.

Now imagine doing a complete performance in just a limited time of 10 minutes. Even for the very talented and experienced performer, that seems to be so challenging. To be able to squeeze in enough substance, intelligence, wit and creativity in one act is mind-boggling for someone like me.

But it seems I am lucky enough to witness such a rare treat. Not just one, but more than a handful will try their very best to fascinate the crowd with their 10 minute performances.

In collaboration with SM Aura, the organizers of Short+Sweet Manila composed of the trio of Divya Rajan Sriram as Festival Director, Vaishall Ray as Festival Producer and Marianne Quintos-Ortega as Production Manager, will hold the second edition of the month long Festival starting September 4, 2015 at The Samsung Hall in SM Aura located at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig city.

Will Drones Fly Over Boracay During Geeks on a Beach Tech Confab?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, will be flying over the world-famous white sand beaches of Boracay on the second day of the upcoming Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) tech conference this August 20-21, 2015.

“Some of the most exciting developments in the world are happening with drones. These cool aerial gadgets are helping people do things in new and exciting ways. Drones and similar devices are going to rule the world so we better get ready,” said Tina Amper, TechTalks.ph founder and GOAB lead organizer.

In the Philippines, drones have been used to survey damage and assist search-and-rescue operations after disasters. It also has enormous potential for use in other fields such as tourism and agriculture wherein drones have been used to count livestock and monitor the health of crops in other countries.

Drones-on-a-beach or the “drones track” discussion during GOAB is set on August 21, Friday afternoon, while the “fly-in” for participants bringing their drones to Boracay is set on August 22, Saturday morning, pending favorable weather conditions and venue permissions.

“Those who are curious about drones can join this event and find out what the fuss is all about. If you already have a drone or want to buy one, joining the event can help you get tips from the experts before choosing your own,” said Amper.

Ericsson Appoints Sean Gowran as President and Country Manager of Philippines and Pacific Islands

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ericsson announced the appointment of Sean Gowran as President and Country Manager for Philippines and Pacific Islands as of August 1, 2015.

Prior to his appointment, Sean headed Engagement Practices for Ericsson in North East Asia and was based in Beijing, China. He has been with the company for the past 28 years, and has held leadership roles in Research and Development, customer solutions, business and technology development, sales and operations.

From 2010-2013 Sean was Executive Vice President of Ericsson Greater China, where he was responsible for sales and operations in South China, covering the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hainan. In 2005 he was President of Ericsson Taiwan, and two years prior to that was Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Ericsson US, where he was responsible for business and technology development with a number of operators, including Verizon, Nextel, and Sprint.

Sean has also held leadership roles in various Ericsson offices around the world, including Ireland, Mexico, Sweden, Indonesia, the United Sates, Taiwan, and China. With his years of experience in Asia, he shared that he is looking forward to his new role.