Youth to Duterte: Honor Paris Agreement to Secure Our Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A youth group on Wednesday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to push for the ratification of the historic Paris Agreement that aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (36F) and strive to keep temperatures at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

"We appeal to our new president to reconsider his position on the Paris Agreement. Ratifying the Paris agreement is not just about honoring our word to the international community; it is about giving the youth a chance to live freely without fear of super-disasters like the recent super-typhoon Haiyan. The Paris agreement is about securing the future of the Filipino youth," said Rafaela David, chairperson of Akbayan Youth.

The youth groups further emphasized how the Philippines must maintain its leadership in the issue, as it has done in the past years.

"We may be a small nation, but we have stood up for what is right by our people, and successfully rallied other nations most affected by climate change to fight for international solidarity in the face of catastrophic changes in our environment. Why then would we renegade on our commitment when victory is close at hand? Kumbaga sa basketball, panalo ka na sana, kaso pinasa mo pa sa kabilang team ang bola”.

The youth groups also urged congress to call for the immediate ratification of the agreement.

"We also call on our legislators to be proactive in ensuring the ratification of the Paris agreement. Even as they wait for the President to transmit the treat to the legislative branch, we hope they do not dampen the hope of the youth, and put in their weight to ensure that the Paris agreement is ratified. By doing so, we are assured that the future of the youth is at the center of their agenda," concluded David.

The Paris agreement was agreed and signed by 195 countries after years of failed negotiations. It will only be considered binding if at least 55 nation-states ratify it by 21 April 2017. Delegates of Akbayan Youth joined the civil society network that monitored the agreement in Paris, France last December 2015.

Style and Comfort Come Together with the Guess Kids 2016 Collection

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Guess Kids 2016 collection features an assortment of lightweight clothes perfect for boys and girls who live in a tropical country. Items from the collection let free-spirited kids have fun and stay in action while maintaining comfort and style.

Guess Kids for girls offers punchy lace eyelet rompers, street-smart sleeveless hoodie and shorts set, timeless denim dresses, and whimsical plaid shirts with flowy-floral prints at the back. Basics like shorts, pants, dresses and denims all in various colors are classic pieces that are given a fun twist.

For the boys, Guess Kids serves some sporty spirit with its screen tee and short sets, mesh crew with stripe screens, and knit shorts. Color blocked shirts, printed polo shirts, and screen tops with mesh panels highlight a more updated look.

To showcase the Guess Kids lifestyle, this latest collection features an array of joyful boys and girls photographed in sunny California alongside Malibu’s breathtaking beaches. The soft sand, lush palm trees and piercing blue waters are the perfect setting for these children, enjoying their surroundings in stylish, comfortable and wearable designs. 

Directed by Paul Marciano, Chief Creative Officer for Guess?, Inc., and captured by long-time collaborator, Rus Anson, the campaign follows an energetic group of kids playing on a warm California day depicting the same sense of wonder and fun that is embodied by the Guess Kids. The children’s make-believe fantasy is brought to life using an oversized-palm tree hut, cluster of multi-colored surfboards and a ship-wrecked sailboat as key props alongside a mixture of fashion-forward looks featured in the collection.

For more information, visit www.GUESS.com.

Hope in 40 Seconds: A Fight to Save Lives

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Every 40 seconds, a life is lost to suicide, making it the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally, according to the World Health Organization. To add, depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19.

With the grim scenario, the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the UP Junior Marketing Association (UPJMA), and the support of Globe Telecom is launching “Hope in 40 Seconds”, a 40-seconder animated digital video competition that aims to promote mental health and encourage those suffering from it as well as their loved ones to seek guidance from HOPELINE, NGF’s free 24/7 suicide hotline.

“We want to counter the suicide rate of one per 40 seconds by offering hope so that those who are in emotional crisis and in need of immediate assistance can have someone they can talk to, someone who understands what they are going through, and who can give them the support they need,” said Jean Goulbourn, Chief Executive Officer of NGF, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing depression to light.

Through animated videos which will be distributed using various channels such as social media and movie theatres, NGF would be able to reach out to more people and provide them with proper intervention so they could veer away from negative and escapist behaviors.