Akbayan Youth Likens Pacquiao to Orlando Shooter

Wazzup Pilipinas!
This was the strong statement of Akbayan Youth against Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao on Friday as it recalled the shooting that happened in a gay club in Orlando in the United States last June 12. The shooting claimed 49 lives, many of which were members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] community.

The statement was released in commemoration of June as LGBT Pride Month.

According to the youth group, the celebrated boxer is guilty of committing hate speech against the LGBT that could potentially incite violence among his many supporters.

Early this year, Pacquiao came under fire when he called gays as “worse than animals” in an interview during the campaign for his bid to the Senate. Pacquiao also posted on his Instagram account a quote from Letivicus that prescribes that gays “should be put to death”. The said post has long been deleted after receiving flak from the online community.

Yesha Tolentino, Akbayan Youth’s spokesperson for LGBT concerns, claimed that Pacquiao’s “homophobic public pronouncements are loading the guns that will kill gays and lesbians”. She also said that sooner or later, Pacquiao’s hate speech will inspire others to take a violent stance against people who identify as LGBT.

International Coffee Expert Scott Rao Conducts Workshop for Henry & Sons

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Did you smell the coffee? World-renowned writer, consultant, trainer and author of coffee books Scott Rao was in town recently to conduct a brewing class and workshop with Henry & Sons, a total coffee solutions company.

In late May, Rao — the author of coffee books The Professional Barista’s Handbook, Everything But Espresso, The Coffee Roaster’s Companion, and Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery — trained the Henry & Sons team in the art and science of coffee. Henry & Sons is a company that offers three kinds of goods to the local coffee market: premium roasted coffee beans, top-of-the-line expresso machines and training for coffee shops and companies.

The coffee expert shared a variety of topics ranging from improving roasting skills, manual brewing, espresso extraction and the finer points of coffee science. He mentored the staff, shared coffee secrets, taught them about coffee shop planning, layout and design, and shared trends, new standards and techniques, among others.

Michael Harris Conlin, Henry & Sons president, said he invited Rao to work with his staff to raise the bar of the coffee business in the Philippines. “We pioneered coffee technology in the Philippines in the early 1990’s, and we want to continue to be the leader in this business. We brought Scott Rao here as a longtime partner of our company. He is the best person to help bring us to greater heights as he’s the best in the industry. Nobody comes close to him,” Conlin said.

The World Premieres Film Festival All Set On June 29 - July10

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Film Development Council Philippines in cooperation with the Cinematheque Centre Manila proudly presents the third World Premieres Film Festival (WPFF) slated from June 29 up to July 10, 2016.

The WPFF celebrates the power and magic of film by showcasing the works of film directors from across the globe. Featuring a dazzling array of human narratives, cultural diversities, and social issues, the festival provides a unique opportunity for filmmakers to reach new audiences in the Philippines, and launch their international premieres in Asia’s rapidly growing film climate.

This year, over 60 international films will be shown at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, as well as partner venues: SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Greenbelt 3, the Shang Cineplex, and Uptown Cinemas. Films will be shown at a festival price of P100 at all venues, unless indicated otherwise.

The Festival’s 12-day duration kicks off on June 29 – 3pm at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, with the Opening Film premiere of the newly restored classic, “Pagdating sa Dulo” by Ishmael Bernal. The film features the legendary actress Rita Gomez and Vic Vargas.

At 7 p.m., a variety of local and international performances will take place to give audiences a sneak peek into the films lined up for the WPFF’s newest edition.

The different sections that will be featured in the festival are as follows: Main Competition, Filipino New Cinema, Intercontinental, Vietnam - Country of Honor, ASEAN Skies, Spotlight: China, and many more.