Hackzilla in Manila 2: Challenging University Students to Build Artificial Intelligence Technology

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In continuous support of young Filipino talent and positive change with the use of technology, Freelancer.com is running its second intercollegiate hackathon, “Hackzilla in Manila 2”. University students from all across the country are challenged to use artificial intelligence (AI) in building tools that can improve people’s lives and shake up industries. The event will take place from March 31 to April 1, 2017, at Freelancer’s office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The theme for this year’s hackathon is: EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. To join the hackathon, university students must be currently enrolled in a CHED-accredited school, and form teams with a maximum of five members. Each team must submit a 2-minute video outlining their hackathon pitch. A maximum of 10 teams will be selected by the organizing committee, consisting of Freelancer.com senior engineers and staff, to compete in the event.

Deadline for submission of entries will be on February 28, 2017. Selected teams will be notified via email by March 15, 2017. Teams can win a total of P100,000 in prizes.

Judges will include representatives from DOST-DICT, DevCon and Freelancer.com.

To know more, visit: www.hackzilla.io

DOE Strengthens Sector-Wide Disaster-Response System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To manifest that the various components of the country's energy sector are all up to speed, the Department of Energy (DOE) continued its series of Disaster Response Protocol Workshops on January 23 held at the Fiesta Hall of the National Power Corporation (NPC) headquarters in this City.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi yesterday asserted that “all industry participants must be attuned to the existing nationwide disaster-response system of the energy sector.”

During the series of workshops and international dialogues about energy resiliency, Sec. Cusi emphasized that “the energy sector has long been implementing protocols to address and respond to calamities and disasters that take their toll on vital energy infrastructures.”

"The DOE continues to update its system of protocols, advance notifications and quick-response strategies to fit the country’s current requirements," Sec. Cusi asserted.

At the Protocol Workshop, DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella highlighted that “the primary objective is for the energy sector to periodically review the implemented and established system of rules to effect the correct and appropriate conduct and procedures to be followed by the industry stakeholders.”

During the workshop, the DOE, NPC, National Electrification Administration (NEA), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Aboitiz Power Corporation, and Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) presented their respective standard operational procedures (SOPs) for disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

The presentations of the agencies specifically outlined the strategies and methods they are observing during and after calamities including the recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of all distribution utilities.

Among those who also attended and participated in the workshop were DOE Usec. Raul B. Aguilos, Usec. Petronilo L. Ilagan, Engr. Arwin L. Ardon aside from energy family officials and representatives from the DOE, NPC, NEA, NGCP, Aboitiz Power and MERALCO.

Sec. Cusi has consistently emphasized that the DOE will and is proactively advocating energy resiliency in the face of the frequent and disastrous occurrences of natural and human-induced calamities in the country.

The Secretary has been reiterating the need for the sector to be vigilant in upgrading its best practices in DRRM, so as to make them more responsive and adaptable to the highly evolving realities on the ground.

“The DOE has been regularly convening the industry partners to mainstream climate change adaptation in connection with DRRM strategies in the sector. This is to reduce the vulnerability of vital energy systems to the destructive effects of calamities.”

The Secretary revealed his plan to include climate change resilience in the agenda of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, which will be sponsored by the Philippines in August of this year.

"The DOE will make sure that the Philippines is prepared to showcase its own workable and effective energy model before the Asian community," Sec. Cusi concluded.

Milo #NutriUpYourGame Challenge with Erwan and Solenn Heussaff

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The first ever Milo #NutriUpYourGame Challenge was held on January 21, 2017 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati city. The event featured siblings Erwan and Solenn Heussaff in an exciting showdown of fitness and endurance as they team up also with other celebrities in a challenge witnessed by a huge crowd of spectators.

#TeamErwan and #TeamSolenn became additional hashtags for the day as as the likes of Wil Dasovich, Daniel Matsunaga, Jeron Teng, Dennise Lazaro, Ellen Adarna and Chie Filomeno, joined their equally fitness-enthusiastic celebrity friends in the Milo #NutriUpYourGame Challenge.

Solenn Heussaff is undoubtedly physically fit and she even wrote a fitness book entitled "Hot Sos" released last August 2016. Even now that she's married, we still see her flaunt her amazing body amidst her everyday activities.

Erwan Heussaff's fitness journey is also seen from his Fat Kid Inside blog and his culinary creations on and off TV and at his restaurants also highlights healthy dishes that complement his active lifestyle. Now that she's already engaged with Anne Curtis Smith, we see them still advocating health and wellness since Anne is also a fitness buff.

The siblings are truly the ideal brother and sister team that live, speak and breathe "healthy lifestyle." They are great individually, but absolutely awesome together. Milo has chosen well.