Hollywood Child Star Millie Bobby Brown to Bring ‘Stranger Things’ Phenomenon to AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Things take a turn for the stranger as AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016 (APCC Manila) confirmed Hollywood child actress Millie Bobby Brown as the latest celebrity guest of the biggest pop culture gathering happening from August 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Brown is most known for her current role in the ongoing sci-fi thriller series Stranger Things, in which she stars opposite Winona Ryder and David Harbour. Her portrayal of the enigmatic Eleven earned her high praises, including that of Variety.com chief TV critic Maureen Ryan.

She wrote, “Millie Bobby Brown is about to be cast in a lot of projects. With a very small number of lines, Brown gave an indelible performance as Eleven; the ways she subtly yet movingly conveyed fear, sadness, doubt, love and a yearning for connection will stay with me for a long time.”

Previously, Brown was cast after an extensive search as a lead in the series Intruders, opposite Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and John Simm. Brown also took on a recurring role in the series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, as Young Alice. She has also guested in a number of cult favorites such as Modern Family, NCIS, and Grey's Anatomy.

beep Card Starts Limited Public Trial in CAVITEX

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AF Payments Inc. announced that it is expanding for the first time to toll ways, with the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) starting its limited public trial on Monday, August 8.

All types of beep tap-and-go cards, including PayMaya beep cards will be accepted as payment at CAVITEX for the toll fees of Class 1 vehicles. The fee is P24 if exiting in Parañaque, and P64 if in Kawit.

beep cards can be purchased or reloaded at the Parañaque Customer Service Center during the public trial phase.

The CAVITEX is a 14-km expressway along the coast of Bacoor Bay, south of Roxas Boulevard. This road project aimed to strengthen the commercial link between Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas, as well as ease traffic in major thoroughfares in the south.

“Extending the use of beep cards as a payment option at CAVITEX represents another step towards making the beep card an all-in-one travel card for commuters and even private vehicle owners. We hope that the low cost of the beep card (P20) and the wide network of loading options being developed will appeal to drivers who pass along CAVITEX and are interested in passing the toll gates more quickly” said Peter Maher, CEO and President of AF Payments Inc.

“This partnership is a welcome development. The management of CAVITEX is proud to be part of the modernization of different aspects of travel in the Philippines. Now, even private vehicle owners and their passengers can feel the benefits of having the beep™ card,” said J. Luigi L. Bautista, CAVITEX President and CEO.

All beep tap-and-go cards including PayMaya beep cards are accepted in all three elevated railways (LRT 1, LRT 2, and MRT 3) and select bus lines.

The beep card is a tap-and-go payment system accepted in all three elevated railways (LRT 1, LRT 2, and MRT 3) and select bus lines. It can be purchased for P20, is reloadable and valid for four years. More information about beep is available at <www.beeptopay.com/> and on Facebook (beep card) and Twitter (@beep_card).

DOE-IIEE Join Forces to Audit the Country’s Power System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) on 8 August 2016. The parties agreed to organize Task Forces consisting of DOE personnel and IIEE members that will conduct the technical audit of the generation, transmission and distribution facilities in the country.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said: “It is imperative for us to immediately determine the causes, whether technical or contractual, of the current power supply situation. We have to find a lasting solution to this recurring problem as well as establishing and institutionalizing far-reaching formulae, because it is our people who are bearing the brunt of power interruptions and we cannot allow that to continue.”

On a pro-bono basis, the DOE tapped IIEE for being the only Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)-accredited professional association in the field of electrical engineering with the necessary technical knowledge, expertise and competence to assist the DOE in addressing the current power situation. The IIEE has 47,000 licensed and competent electrical engineers and master electricians across the country.

Pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the DOE and IIEE agreed to look into current mechanisms aimed at ensuring the safety, efficiency, quality, reliability and security of the power system.

The audit is also envisioned to disentangle and unbundle the flaws in the generation-transmission-distribution chain that cause deficiencies in our power supply.

The agreement was brought to the table because of the recent spate of power supply reserve deficiencies due to forced outages of major plants in Luzon. These deficiencies resulted to rotational brownouts in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the past few days.

Present during the signing ceremony were (L-R) IIEE National President Larry C. Cruz and DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, along with Atty. Felix Wimpy Fuentebella, DOE Spokesperson; Mr. Ramon P. Ayaton, Executive Director; Engr. Rogelio M. Avenido, 1986 National President; Engr. Alex C. Cabugao, 2014 National President; Engr. Florigo C. Varona, VP for External Affairs; Pete L. Ilagan, DOE Spokesperson; Engr. Florencio D. Berenguel, National Auditor; Engr. Ariel P. Duran, Former Metro Manila Regional Governor; Engr. Hipolito A. Leoncio, 2008 National President; Atty. Gerardo D. Erguiza Jr.; Engr. Arwin L. Ardon, PNOC-RC President and Dir. Arthus T. Tenazas, DOE Legal Services.

The DOE assures the public that it continues to monitor the developments in the power industry and to exhaust all possible measures to resolve the power supply situation in the country.