Now is the Time to Protect Benham Rise - Oceana

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Oceana, Earth’s largest international non-government organization working on ocean conservation, urged the Philippine government to protect Benham Rise – an undersea territory east of Luzon brimming with natural resources.

“Benham Rise is part of Philippine territory. We must exercise our sovereignty over this area and assert our rights. The immediate creation of a management framework to ensure the protection of this special place and the conservation of its marine resources is a compelling first step,” says lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice-President for Oceana Philippines.

The Department of National Defense (DND) recently disclosed that a Chinese vessel conducted an unsanctioned survey in the region, believed to be rich in both marine and mineral resources.

Benham Rise is an undersea territory located east of Luzon. It includes a 13-million hectare extended continental shelf validated in 2012 by the United Nations’ Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UN CLCS) as the Philippines’ newest territory. This expanded the original region from 11.4-million hectares to 24.4-million hectares – just under the total land area of the country, which currently stands at 30-million hectares.

The Philippine government has conducted numerous expeditions to the region to study its resources. Last May 2016, Oceana joined government scientists from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), plus the University of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy for an expedition to Benham Bank – the shallowest portion of the Rise. 

NEC Philippines and NEC Telecom Software Philippines Join the 2017 NEC World Children’s Nature Club

Wazzup Pilipinas!

NEC Philippines, Inc. (“NEC Philippines”) and NEC Telecom Software Philippines (NSP) participated in the 11th NEC World Children’s Nature Club, held in Baguio City, Philippines, 18-20 March 2017.

The 3-day program, focusing on environmental education and arts, was joined by 14 children from the Cordillera Region, the northern region of the Philippines.

The program consisted of a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, with NEC Philippines presenting a short lecture at the start of the program to provide the children with information about their local environment and show how its business helps to ensure the safety and security of communities. Other activities, such as outdoor games relating to the environment, allowed the children to gain more awareness about their surroundings.

NEC members assisted in organizing a video conference for the children where they interacted with participants from other locations, including China, Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia. The video conference also taught the children about the uniqueness of other countries and their cultures by exchanging experiences andlessons learned from the program.

“NEC Philippines is happy to participate in another successful NEC World Children’s Nature Club, and at the same time, we are looking forward to further expansionof the program. Following NEC’s environment charter, we are happy to contribute to the achievement of our vision to preserve our natural environment, enabling all people to pursue their full potential,” said Marivic Segismundo, director for sales and marketing, NEC Philippines.

“NEC Telecom Software Philippines is honored to participate in these activities. I believe that this project is a good experience for children to become more aware of their communities and environments, and to connect with new friends from different countries with diverse cultures,” said Yoshifumi Sakaguchi, President, NEC Telecom Software Philippines.

NEC World Children's Nature Club, started in 2008, is held every year to help children develop an awareness of the natural environment and a global perspective. This year, the program provided children from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan with an opportunity to exchange ideas and information using IT and communications technologies.

Company Call: blueREP at 25 - A Silver Anniversary Concert All Set on April 8

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To celebrate the past twenty-five years, the Ateneo Blue Repertory presents Company Call: blueREP at 25. The silver anniversary concert will bring together current members and alumni for a special event this April 8, 2017. Featuring some of the organization's most recognizable musical numbers and performers, the concert is about coming home to where generations of blueREPPERs discovered their passion for the stage.

The featured productions are Pippin (1991), The Wiz (1992), Godspell (1993), Once on this Island (2001), Into the Woods (2002), Merrily We Role Along (2004), Footloose (2004), Stages of Love (2006), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2007), High School Musical: Live (2007), All Shook Up (2008), Tick… Tick… Boom! (2009), Side Show (2010), Hair (2011), Little Shop of Horrors (2011), 13 (2012), Bare: A Pop Opera (2012), A New Brain (2013), Spring Awakening (2013), Toilet: The Musical (2014), and In the Heights (2015).

The Ateneo Blue Repertory prides itself with the recognition of being the country’s most prestigious college musical theater organization. Every year, blueREP offers a line-up of entertaining and groundbreaking musicals, all professionally executed to rival the demand for quality theater shows in the Philippines. This 25th Season, they opened with the blueREP original Real Life Fairytales (September 2016), staged the critically-acclaimed The Addams Family (November 2016), and are closing with the locally-written Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady (April 2017).

Directing the anniversary concert will be two of blueREP’s esteemed alumni, Toff de Venecia (Director of blueREP’s All Shook Up, Freakshow, and Little Shop of Horrors) and Andrei Pamintuan (Director of Stages of Love, Festival Director and founder of The Manila Fringe Festival (Fringe Manila)), with the help of Ejay Yatco (Musical Director for blueREP’s original Toilet, Edges, and Little Shop of Horrors) as Musical Director with Assistant Musical Directors Alecx Lorica and Lulay Santiago, with choreography by Jim Ferrer (performer in Beyond Theater Award- winning “Here Lies Love”) and Stephen Vinas (performer in Dulaang UP’s Ang Nawalang Kapatid and choreographer of PETA’s Bongga Ka ‘Day!) along with their Assistant Musical Director, Michael Ubamos.

All this strung together by the scriptwriters headed by Gabbi Campomanes and her team, Bea Racoma and Iago Guballa. Costumes and Makeup done by Rio Tanchuling; Set designed by Trency Caga-anan; and Lights Designed by Joseph Matheu.

The featured performers are alumni– Abi Sulit, Alys Serdenia, Amos Francia, Arion Sanchez, Bibo Reyes, Boo Gabunada, Bym Buhain, Carelle Mangaliag, Charmie Inigo, Derrick Fuentes, Ejay Yatco, Franco Ramos, Gab Medina, Gab Pangilinan, Gabbi Campomanes, Gabs Santos, Ian Hermogenes, Jade Albert, Jill Pena, Jim Ferrer, JQ Quesada, Juancho Escoto, KC Kane, Kyla Rivera, Lara Antonio, LJ Galvez, Luis Marcelo, Mahar Mangahas, Mako Alonso, Maronne Cruz, Mian Dimacali, Meg Yatco, Melje Belvis, Moira Lozada, Nelsito Gomez, Nica Del Rosario, Oli del Rosario, Pauline Gaerlan, Red Concepcion, Rolls Pagunsanan, RR Herrera, Tricia Torres, Victor Robinson III; and current blueREP members– Alex Masucol, Alyssa Jamille Binay, Erika Rafael, Helene Enriquez, Janine Idquival, Justine Narciso, Mia Fortugaleza, Nicole Garcia and Samantha Chan.

The production team are lead by Danielle Navarrete as Co-Production Manager along with Tomik Tendero, and Irvin Embalsado as Assistant Production Manager. With Marga Lumabas as Head Technical Director; Gayle Mendiola and Noelle Zarza as Co-Head Stage Managers; Alex Bay and Miko Castro as Co-Front-of-House Heads; Kat Bautista as Costumes & Makeup Technical Director; Luigi Soriano as Lights Technical Director; Denise Congson as Sounds Technical Director; and Stephanie Escuadro and Danica Uy as Set & Props Technical Directors.

The Committee Heads of Company Call: blueREP at 25 are as follows: Kelsey Lim – Chief Finance Officer; Trisha Balan – Design and Publications Head; Chapy Fadullon – Design and Publications Art Director; Ria Castillo – Logistics Head; Josh Vera – Documentations Head; Danielyn Del Rosario and Marty Nevada – Co- Videographers; Maia Dapul – Alumni Relations Head; Austin Gonzales – Corporate Relations Head; and Samantha Chan – Public Relations Head; Adrian Chio – HR Representatives; Alix Goño and Enzo Mendoza – Sprocomm Representatives.

The 25th Season Concert will be showcased at Cine Adarna, UP Film Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon city on April 8, 2017, Saturday, at 3PM and 8PM.


Tickets will cost P500, P600 or P700 each. For ticket inquiries, please contact Alex Bay at 09175201998.


You may also visit Ateneo Blue Repertory’s official website: http://www.bluerepertory.org.


Connect to Ateneo Blue Repertory online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY
Twitter: @_blueREPERTORY
Instagram: @blueREPERTORY