Pinoy Beauties Rule on Twitter as New Queens Named at #BbPilipinas2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After the highly celebrated win of Pia Wurtzbach (@missuniverse) at the last Miss Universe pageant, all eyes are on the Filipina candidates of #BbPilipinas2016 who are vying to follow the footsteps of the reigning Miss Universe. Filipinos were so excited about the event, which saw 25-year-old Maria Mika Maxine Medina as the new Binibining Pilipinas Universe, that they sent more than 340,000 Tweets about the #BbPilipinas2016 pageant. The Twitter conversation peaked at 2,500 Tweets per min at1:26am, April 18th to celebrate her win.

The event also marked Pia Wurtzbach’s final walk on the stage as the crown holder of Binibining Pilipinas. Her emotional farewell speech likewise generated much interest and conversations on the social media platform. Even celebrity doctor Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Vashavski (@RealDoctorMike), whom Pia is dating, posted a sweet message for the incumbent Miss Universe which was the most shared Tweet of the night with over 9,000 ReTweets.

But more than anything, it was the night of Maria Mika Maxine Medina who was ultimately crowned as this year’s Binibining Pilipinas Universe. Unlike her predecessor, it was her first time to join the pageant, but she is about to face the challenge of the big shoes (or stilettos!) that Pia has set for her.

Aside from Medina, other crowned beauties include Kylie Verzosa (Binibining Pilipinas International 2016), Jennifer Hammond (Miss Intercontinental 2016), Joanna Deapera (Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016), Nicole Cordoves (Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016), and Nichole Marie Manalo (Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016). Meanwhile, Angelica Alita and Jehza Huelar bagged the first runner up and second runner up awards, respectively.

DOTC, ULC Break Ground for MRT-7, Bulacan-QC Railway to be Operational by April 2020

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Residents from Quezon City, Caloocan City, Bulacan, and neighboring areas in the north can look forward to a faster and more convenient commute to the center of the metropolis, as the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony today, April 20, 2016, at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

“The long-awaited MRT-7 will serve commuters who ply the heavily congested Commonwealth Avenue area for work and school on a daily basis. The new railway system will not only significantly lessen travel time along this corridor, but also help decongest traffic in Caloocan and NLEX,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

The P69.30-billion project includes the development of a 23-km railway system with 14 stations from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Once completed and operational by April 2020, the MRT-7 is expected to initially accommodate 350,000 daily passengers and shorten travel time from the current 3.5 hours on the road to one (1) hour. Once further upgrades are made, ultimately 800,000 passengers per day will benefit from the project.

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the groundbreaking ceremony, together with DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya and Ramon Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the parent company of contractor Universal LRT Corporation (ULC).

The project covers the development of an integrated transportation system, which includes the said railway system, a 22-km highway from the NLEX Bocaue interchange, and an intermodal transport terminal (ITT) adjacent to the San Jose del Monte Station. Commuters can take public utility vehicles (PUVs) or private cars and use the new highway from NLEX, alight at the ITT, and board the MRT-7 going to North Avenue, Quezon City.

Photo credits to Bayang Matuwid

Lubao International Balloon Festival 2016: Interview with Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We had a short interview with Lubao, Pampanga Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab during the first day of the Lubao International Balloon Festival. We intentionally made it short as we can see how the mayor was extremely busy personally seeing to it that everything goes well for the 3rd run of the hot air balloon festival.

We even mistook her as one of the security heads as she was wearing a blue outfit while giving instructions to people. Unlike the others wearing a brown version of the outfit, she was more hands-on and totally immersed on the responsibilities. We don't usually see that kind of commitment with other government officials of her same level of office.

Maybe because the event is practically theirs to begin with as the venue itself is owned by their family. Pradera Verde, where the wakepark, villas and a golf course, plus an upcoming waterpark, is owned by their family.

However, we have to commend the Pineda clan for putting Lubao, Pampanga in the map for holding one of the much awaited event every April. There may be another hot air balloon event being held at Clark but they boast of being the biggest hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia.

Pradera Verde located at Prado Siongco here in Lubao Pampanga is a 350 hectare property and currently only 34 hectares are in use. This means more developments are possible with the property. This makes me wonder what other attractions will soon rise from the place. Could this area be the next Disneyland of the Philippines? Why not?