First Phase of Mindanao Railway Project to Cut Tagum to Digos Travel Time from 3.5 to 1.3 Hours

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) today said that the 102-km Mindanao Railway Project: Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP-TDD) segment is expected to reduce travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours once it starts operating in 2022.

The MRP-TDD segment is the first of the 3 segments of the Mindanao Railway Project. The design and construction of the Project will begin by 3rd quarter of next year and is expected to be completed by end of 2021.

“The P35.91 billion MRP-TDD will make travel time faster by two (2) hours, with frequency of trips of up to 6 trains per hour,” says DOTr Undersecretary for Rails, Cesar Chavez.

The MRP-TDD is expected to not only make travel faster, but also safer, more convenient and comfortable for passengers in the said corridor. It will have 8 stations, namely: Tagum; Carmen; Panabo; Mudiang; Davao Terminal; Toril; Sta. Cruz; and Digos. A 10-hectare depot will be built in Tagum.

The rail line will be built with a single track, with provisions for future tracks and electrification. It will have six 5-car passenger trains (Diesel Multiple Units) with 3 spare cars, 4 locomotives and 15 freight cars.

Upon project completion, the DOTr expects the daily ridership of the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment to increase to 134,060 by 2022. The Department projects the daily ridership to further increase to 237,023 by 2032 and 375,134 by 2042.

Mike Unson's Mayhem in the First Degree Father's Day Comedy Show on June 16

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With all the fake news on social media, one immensely longs for a good laugh and veteran comedian, Mike Unson, is happy to perform with his relatable brand of observational comedy in his upcoming show “Mayhem in the First Degree” on June 16, 8pm at the 5th level, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Ave., Makati City.

Unson, a 2016 Aliw Award Nominee for Best Stand-Up Comedian, headlines the show with his arsenal of wholesome jokes on his views on urban life, childhood memories, relationships and interactions with everyday people as he dishes out his original material on annoying encounters with cab and jeepney drivers; street vendors; mall security guards; (un)talented bands; his childhood nanny; dealing with middle child syndrome, being in the friend zone, breakups and many more true to life situations that we all experience at times.

In his 14 year career, he is known for building up comic rhythm with impeccably timed punchlines and thought-provoking insights, leaving the audience in stitches and wanting for more!

Opening for Unson will be his current batch of apprentices from The Comedy Cartel namely Chris Bacula, Sergio Belarus, Michelle Defensor and Eric Salazar with musical guest Roy Antonio and comedian host Jerome McCuin.

Unson is also set to release a new comedy album on Spotify later this year.” Currently, he is part of the creative team of the number one TV sitcom in the Philippines Pepito Manaloto on GMA7. Earlier in his career, he was one of the hosts of an alternative comedy show “Front Act” on TV5. He was also part of “The Men's Room” on Studio 23 and a recurring guest on Jojo Alejar's “The Medyo Late Night Show.

A few of his notable performances include opening for Rob Schneider in 2013 and performing with Rex Navarrete in the Philippines from 2004 to 2014.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar: Reconstructing the Heritage of the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

While covering the grand coronation night of the Lakambini ng Las Casas beauty pageant or search for the ambassadress of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, and the following Santaruzan the next day, we got plenty of opportunities to takes photos, videos and vlogs about this magnificent collection of heritage homes and structures in Bagac, Bataan.

We also got a glimpse of Maria Theresa Ochoa Acuzar, wife of Jose Rizalino "Jerry" Larion Acuzar - owners of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, when she participated in the Santacruzan ceremonies before the three queens and the other 13 candidates walked off to start the parade around some parts of the 400 hectare property.

We rented a calesa tour but that just went around some of the places without visiting the insides of the houses, thus we also tried the walking tour which will allow us to visit around 4 to 5 houses for a closer inspection of the interiors plus well-informed stories about the history of the heritage homes from the tour guide.

Other alternatives is to rent a golf cart, either by yourselves or with a tour guide, but that would cost us more at around 1K more or less. You could check out some of the videos we would upload as one contains an interview with one of the tour guides who explained the rates.

The next alternative is via tramvia, a one coach train setup that also goes around like the path of the calesa but also restricted by its rails. But don't worry, that ride is fore free. If you like, you could also wait for their jeepneys, but the route would depend on the passengers destination. Again, that ride is for free.