NTT Data Philippines is the New and Improved Wizardsgoup, Inc.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

NTT DATA Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (President and CEO: Tetsu Sato; Head office: Singapore; hereinafter referred to as “NDAP”) announces today that Wizardsgroup, Inc. will now be known as NTT DATA Philippines, Inc. In January 2016, NTT DATA Corporation, through its subsidiary NDAP, acquired 100% of outstanding shares in Wizardsgroup, Inc.

Wizardsgroup has established a strong presence in high value IT consulting and learning solutions for Oracle and Microsoft technologies mainly in the Philippine market. With over 20 years of experience in the local market, its core services have spanned the entire spectrum from application development outsourcing to implementation of enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) solutions.

“With this development, NTT DATA Philippines will continue to pursue the same corporate direction that has distinguished Wizardsgroup, Inc. across various sectors in the Philippine economy. We will build on NTT DATA’s group vision to be a “Global IT Innovator” and build upon its world-class IT services to the fullest to drive businesses faster in the country and in the region,” says Pocholo Reyes, President & CEO, NTT DATA Philippines.

NTT DATA Philippines’ total solutions package combines Wizardsgroup’s leading competency in deploying Microsoft technologies, and with the highly-developed capabilities on Oracle Engineered Systems. It provides added value in consulting services across industries as well as to software companies, system integrators, and IT service providers. 

NTT DATA Philippines’ main expertise lies in its thorough understanding of the problems their clients are facing and designing and rolling out solutions that respond to these challenges. For the past two decades, this comprehensive approach has contributed immensely to enhanced customer experience.

Presently, NTT DATA Philippines has clients based in the Telco, FSI/Banking, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, and Manufacturing industries in the Philippines. Building on NTT DATA’s track record in as a Global IT Innovator, NTT DATA Philippines will offer a wider range of solutions and services through globally proven best practices, cutting-edge Research and Development capabilities and a strong financial base. Clients will have access to the expanded capabilities and industry offerings as well as get benefits of NTT DATA’s global geographical presence.

Sepang F1 Circuit Blazes Anew with 2016 Michelin Pilot Sport Experience

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The MICHELIN Pilot Sport Experience (MPSE) blazes its way back to the Sepang International F1 Circuit in Malaysia for the 12th consecutive year. For over 25 days in August and September, Michelin will treat more than 600 selected invitees from Asia, the Middle-East, Oceania and Europe to another round of excitement and sheer driving pleasure in the iconic Malaysian track.

Dealers, brand stake-holders, influencers and media were invited to participate in the event together with twenty-five (25) lucky consumers from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Korea. They won their MPSE trip by participating in Michelin Driving Passion, a social media campaign conducted recently that reached 70 million consumers in the region. Campaign participants were invited to describe and share the emotions they experience when they are behind the wheels.

A shared passion for beautiful speed machines that will elicit unique emotions awaits everyone at the MPSE. Guided by an elite team of professional racing drivers and instructors, participants will drive premium racing vehicles such as the Citroen DS3 R1, the Formula 4 car, the Renault Clio IV, the Lamborghini 2014 GT3 and a Formula Le Mans 2-seater exclusively designed for this event.

Meeting motorsports champions who embody the spirit of the race and getting to connect with them is part of what makes this year’s MPSE unique. Special VIP guests in 2016 include Earl Bamber, former MPSE instructor who raced his way to victory and became 2015 Le Mans champion, and Kris Meeke, winner of the 2016 WRC Rally Finland.

At the MPSE, Michelin will launch its new MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 tyre, the newest arrival in the MICHELIN Pilot Sport family. This tyre is specifically designed for premium sedans and sport cars whose owners desire enhanced driving pleasure through superior performance, a unique looks and safety. Participants will experience first-hand the tyre’s excellent steering control and high level of reactivity during a dedicated workshop.

Why does Michelin continue to organize and enhance MICHELIN Pilot Sport Experience, year after year? “There is nothing that can better convey our passion for performance than sharing it with our key stake-holders right where it is most apparent; on fantastic cars, in an iconic setting, with real racers, where one can feel, touch and even smell the difference that MICHELIN tyres can make”. Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of Michelin Philippines, said.

“The enthusiastic comments and the stronger engagement with the Michelin brand which we see in our invitees every year are a clear confirmation that MPSE is an extraordinarily effective platform to share our brand values and make a lasting impression”.

The MICHELIN Pilot Sport Experience was first launched at the Sepang International Racing Circuit in 2006 and has grown today into a key Michelin annual event in the region.

For more information about the MPSE, please visit its website: http://pilotsportexperience.michelin.com/

Hontiveros, Community Leaders File Alternative Mining Bill

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday filed a bill to limit mining operations and ensure the protection of communities and the environment through taxes and heavy fines.

Together with community leaders and advocates from Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), the neophyte Senator filed the Alternative Minerals Management Bill or Senate Bill #1069 to "rectify the failure of Republic Act 7942 or the Mining Law of 1995", the country's current law governing mining.

"There is a need to overhaul our current mining policy to ensure the proper management and utilization of our mineral resources", Hontiveros said.

The Senator also lamented the "low return and high costs of mining", citing that the industry only contributes 0.7% to the country's gross domestic product" while incurring high costs in terms of environmental degradation, loss of livelihood and human rights violations.

Hontiveros, also an environmental advocate, seeks to factor climate change in the government's mining policy framework by inculcating environmental tax and the establishment of a Calamity and Human Rights Protection Fund.

"It's time for mining companies to ensure that their operations do not harm the environment and are a source of contribution to the community", she added. "Super-heavy fines and revocation of licenses to operate await mining companies that violate the law", warned Hontiveros.

"The bill also limits the areas of operations of mining companies", she further explained. The bill protects watershed, key biodiversity areas, critical habitats and geo-hazard areas are no-go zones for mining companies.

Aside from the bill, Hontiveros supports a comprehensive review of all existing mining applications and licenses of all mining countries to determine what companies and mining areas, including places near settlements and biodiversity areas, are compliant with their respective environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) and those that have repeated records of abuse and exploitation. The Senator is also supporting the call of environmental advocates for a thorough investigation on the real economic benefits of mining.