#APECtado Ka Rin Ba ng APEC Summit?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In this modern world, almost everything could have been done through online (e-mail, video-conferencing. chat, etc.). Though a personal transaction is nice, technology is there to make it more convenient and less expensive for us as compared to personally traveling to a destination just to initiate agreement(s) that would eventually fall in the hands of advisers or team of experts, like economic and legal advisers, for consultancy before it gets a final approval. Even before coming here to our country, the other world leaders must have consulted already with their advisers. It would be dumb for anyone of them if they will just come here without any offer of assistance or collaboration. After all, each one of them knows what APEC is all about.

Thus, pampering the leaders with luxurious meals, accommodation, outfits, entertainment, etc., eventhough our country is poor, should not have been necessary. We did not need to excel what China did for last year's APEC Summit. It would have been more interesting if we showed the world that we would not spend billions just to make us look good to countries who already knows who we are even before they landed in our country.

How can the world leaders recognize what the country really needs if we hide the real situation from them?

Filipinos are naturally like that. The attitude is similar to the annual holding of a town fiesta. The traditional heads of the families or clans would always find ways to serve a festive feast regardless if they borrow money, use credit or sell their belongings just to gain enough money for a celebration.

But I'm not that knowledgeable to to the nitty gritty discussions involved during an APEC Summit so I could not really justify both my opinions and the rants of the many "intellectual" netizens out there with their many viewpoints.

The SALt Lamp Is Not Really Salt-Powered But Still An Innovative Light Source

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There has been a widespread misconception about Engr. Aisa Mijeno and his brother Raphael's SALt (Sustainable Alternative Light) lamps. The product and its inventor has been on the spotlight lately after Aisa was invited by the Whitehouse to sit down with US President Barack Obama and Jack Ma of Alibaba at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit discussion where her invention was highlighted. While many people praised the inventor for the honorable opportunity, there were others who tried to dig deeper about the invention and now declaring the SALt invention has been falsely advertised.

Many think that the invention need nothing but a continuous supply of ordinary salt water for it to run indefinitely. The truth is, the salt water only facilitates the disintegration of a piece of metal—called an "anode" electrode—that is immersed in the solution. It's the disintegration of this anode, rather than the salt water itself, that produces electricity.

Some are reacting because the invention doesn't really run on saltwater. The saltwater only carries the accumulated negative charges between two different kinds of metals (from the cathode and brings it to the anode). The saltwater closes the circuit, allowing a steady flow of charges that powers the device. Saltwater is only one of the elements involved but can be replaced with other items with dissolved ions like lime juice, vinegar and sports drinks.

What has contributed to the misconception? Well, the name of the product is one, and the many press releases and features about them with headlines containing the words "salt-powered lamps."

But why did the siblings market their product that way? Maybe to be easily understood by their targeted users? 

Voices in Harmony 2015: The 17th Annual Awit-Tagisan ng Batang Pilipino

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If one would look closely at the iconic logo of Voices in Harmony, one would notice that the three faces are tilted in different angles.

Yet there is one thing in common - they are all singing. This symbolizes the different perspectives individuals have and emphasizes how in singing, people unite and create harmony.

Through ViH, let us continue encapsulating the essence of Filipino culture and the arts - diverse but unitive.

Voices in Harmony, with its passion and heart for music, has withstood the Philippines' struggles for almost two decades. It has stayed strong together with the Filipino youth in preserving this country's culture through music.

The years made their music stronger. 

With OPM and with you, ViH will not stop as long as there is Filipino music to be made.

Join them as they continue the mission.

Witness the top ten choirs as they sing it out for the championship in the grandest, most prominent, and most sought-after high school choral competition in the country, Voices in Harmony 2015: The 17th Annual Awit-Tagisan ng Batang Pilipino!

Don't miss your chance to experience the talent, the victory, and the glory of music on December 6, 2015, 5:00 PM at the AFP Theater. Mark your calendars and join them as they celebrate the endless possibility of writing new musical history.

Who will take home the coveted Aria? See you at the Finals Night!