Tugade Orders Transport Sectors to Intensify Security As Christmas Season Draws Near

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade today directed all transport sectors – railways, road, maritime and aviation – to further intensify their respective safety and security measures in preparation for the Christmas Season when thousands flock to transport terminals to travel and spend the Holidays in the provinces.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade also reminded transportation officials and personnel to assure the riding public not only safety and security, but also comfort while in the various bus terminals, sea and airports, and train stations.

“May I once again reiterate the great importance of maintaining and assuring the safety, security and comfort of the riding passengers and the public. Accordingly, please continue implementing and improving our security and safety measures to protect people, facility, structures, equipment, and the like,” Secretary Tugade said.

The transportation chief also pointed out that both the government and commuting public “must be proactive, alert and vigilant”, share information and maintain close coordination among stakeholders that would further improve the security safety nets in the transport sectors.

During the All Saints’/All Souls Day commemoration last November, the different transport sectors activated their Oplan Biyaheng Ayos to ensure the security and safety of the thousands of commuters flocking to the transport hubs for the traditional exodus to the provinces.

Top 25 Teams Advance to Philippine Startup Challenge 4 Semis

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Twenty-five teams composed of students from different colleges and universities are moving to the Semi-final Round of the Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC) 4, the national competition for college students aspiring to be the next big startup geniuses.

Trimmed down from a pool of 202 entries, the 25 selected teams will now undergo coaching for further development of the teams’ ideas, which attempt to give technological solutions to various societal concerns on transportation, health, environment, agriculture, security, and even food shortage.

After the coaching sessions and evaluation of the teams’ Business Model Canvass and Minimum Viable Product, further judging and assessment will determine the ten (10) teams who will advance into the National Finals on April 2018.

The Philippine Startup Challenge is organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) together with industry partners Ideaspace Philippines, Huawei Technologies Philippines, Microsoft and Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE).



Below are the Top 25 Entries advancing to PSC 4 Semi-Finals:



ARKILA by Team Arki Devs from Lorma Colleges: Arkila is a ride-hailing and logistics services transport solution app that offers wide range of vehicle selection.



BLOODPLUS by Team BloodPlus from the University of San Jose – Recoletos: BloodPlus is a web and mobile application where people can request for blood if they are urgently in need for blood and notifies eligible blood donors.



BUHAY++ by Team Buhay from the University of Cebu, Main: Buhay++ is an Online Platform for Ethical and Legal Organ Donations



BUILD by Team Build from Bulacan State University: BUILD is a web and mobile application wherein buyers (clients) and suppliers (bidders) from different areas can connect through one centralized electronic procurement system.



CONVASS by Team Cord from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines: Convass is a website for online canvassing and purchasing of construction materials for government agencies whose budget is Php50, 000 below.



E-PURSE by e-Pursuers from the University of Southeastern Philippines: e-Purse is mobile wallet application that digitally pays the items and also store changes up until the last cent.



FACE TRACK 2.0 by Team Trackers from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology: Face Track 2.0 was inspired by the slow inspection system in Iligan City that would take an hour for verification of each citizen and that disturbs the activities and appointments of each citizens and sometimes, unmonitored or lack of enforcement.



GIMME SPOT by Team Gimme Spot from the University of Southeastern Philippines: Gimme Spot is a toilet finder for both public and private toilet. it will also let you host your own private toilet to be rented.



IN-SHOE TRACKER by Team Wayfarer from Bulacan State University: Wayfarer is a tracking device designed to track travelers by incorporating the device in the traveler’s shoes using piezoelectric transducer.



JAC IN THE BOX by Team Eventrix from Bulacan State University: Jac in the box is an application intended to provide convenience in organizing celebrations and surprises based on the customer's time and budget, delivering all services directly to them.



LABADO by Team Rushmore from Saint Louis University: Labado is a pickup, wash, and deliver service that provides transient students a convenient way to have their laundry done.



LAUX by Team AQ from Ateneo de Davao University: Laux is a service app primarily handling laundry services that focuses on cleaning, washing, and dry cleaning clothes.



LINKMED by Team Nexus from Bulacan State University: LinkMed aims to make the Philippines’ doctor services to become more flexible by reaching the distant patient and extending the hospital services by using technology.



LINQUE by Team Linquers from the University of Southeastern Philippines: Linque is for all sari-sari store owners and company's sales workers who are experienced hassle delivery, inefficient and improper distribution of goods.



LUGAN by Team The Boys from the University of the Cordilleras: Lugan is a shared ride service that picks up multiple passengers heading in the same direction and keeping rides affordable and easy.



MOMENTS by Team Eksena from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines: Moments is a web-based platform as a service to be used by event organizers in finding event resources provided by legit businessmen.



MYMDLAB by Team The Elaborators from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation: myMDLab is a mobile and digital application that lets the patient request for laboratory services at the comfort of his home.



PARKinLOT by Team Accelerate from Saint Louis University: ParkInLot, is a mobile-web application that will help lessen road obstruction by utilizing unused parking.



PETPAL CO. by Team Bangan from Ateneo de Davao University: Petpal Co. is an application that can help you find trusted pet sitters.



SENTINEL by Team #Proud IIT from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology: Sentinel is a Smart Watch with GPS locator with a feature that, when activated, will locate the person in any place.



S.M.S by Team Fibonacci from Gordon College: S.M.S or Send me to school is a scholarship-matching application designed to ease the scholarship searching and application process.



SWIFT by Team The Night’s Watch from Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion: Swift lets you hire bike and motorcycle riders to deliver your documents from point A to point B securely, easily, and swiftly.



TAP TRACK by Team TechnoGeeks from University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines: Tap Track is a Portable RFID Based Attendance Management System with SMS Transmission for Field Workers.



TRAVEL WATCH by Team Metanoia from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology: Travel watch is an IoT technology that helps the drivers to stay alert, secure and safe throughout the travel.



VENTURE PAL by by Team Rocket from University of Cebu – Main: Venture Pal is an online investment pooling platform for Philippine Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Benilde Dance Major Wins in Malaysia

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Olivia Bugayong, a third year dance student from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, recently won the bronze medal in the senior category of the second Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix.

The competition, which ran from November 26 to 30, was divided into three stages — preliminary, eliminations and final. Participants were judged based on both classical repertoire (80%) and contemporary pieces (20%).

After the total score was accumulated, Bugayong was among the ten finalists who got into the final round of her category. She eventually became the first Filipino who made it to the top three of the said competition.

The DLS-CSB scholar is grateful to dance faculty Nina Anonas, her coach for ballet who joined her in Malaysia; dance chair Christine Crame, her mentor for contemporary; and associate dean Dr. Sunita Mukhi for her support to the Benilde’s Arts and Culture Cluster.





The MIBGP organizers, witnessing the growth of ballet and the performing arts scene, worked with the HELP College of Art and Technology to launch the competition in 2016.

The event aims to provide opportunities for all dance enthusiasts globally, boost the status of dancing, build integrity and friendship among dance enthusiasts, and share the knowledge of ballet.

Bugayong started her classical ballet training when she was just three years old at the Vella C. Damian School of Ballet, Inc. where she learned the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Syllabus under the tutelage of Damian herself.

The dance major previously won the gold medal at the 2016 Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts named her one of its Ani ng Dangal awardees the following year for her achievement.

She performed the role of Black Swan in Crame’s contemporary choreography of Swan Lake with the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company and also played the part of Ina in Brillante Mendoza‘s Ang Pagtatapos which aired on TV5 last April 22.