Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Early Visita Iglesia with Zooper Cruise of Zoomanity Foundation

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Visita Iglesia is an annual tradition my wife and I do but this time (with apologies to her) I get to experience it alone with other people (twice) and break the tradition since I got an invite to do an early Visita Iglesia with Zooper Cruise (part of the Zoomanity Group but advertised as under Zoomanity Foundation) of the Yupangco Group of Companies, a few days before the actual day, and another invite with another group who are members of the Miata Club of the Philippines. We did the early Visita Iglesia on a Holy Tuesday (March 27), and the other on a Maundy Thursday (March 29) but it got extended until Good Friday (March 30) when we visited another member's luxurious condominium unit at Tagaytay Highlands. To tell the long story short, my wife and I had to cancel our own Visita Iglesia for this year.

This blog, as the title implies, is all about the early Visita Iglesia with the Zooper Cruise (Though I am a bit confused why they used "zoo" in the name but probably just to indicate that it is operated under the Zoomanity group.

As they advertised, you can get to try a Visita Iglesia like no other for only P1,399 per person. But since I am among the media, the tour was offered to us for free so we could help promote it to our readers, or viewers since I also captured the activity on video of which I will alternate showing on our official Facebook page and official YouTube channel.

The Lenten Week activity (normally done on a Maundy Thursday or like us who do it every Good Friday to avoid the same crowd practicing the activity) is just an example of how we could appreciate a tour via the ferry boat that cruises via the Pasig river. There are actually several options to take advantage of how traffic-free the Pasig river cruise is. Minus the seasonal smell of the Pasig river, the ferry cruise could be a great option to travel and tour aroun the Metro especially if the LGUs of each city would participate in rehabilitating not only the Pasig river but also the sights or locations that we passed by.

This is not my first time doing a Pasig river cruise as I have been with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Council twice already, and I could say that there has been a lot of improvement already. This means they are actually doing a great job.

Visionary businessman and agriculture & animal theme-park owner Robert Yupangco sees the potential of the Pasig river cruise so he invested on it. We need more people like him who would take the risk just to prove that there is a visible tourism potential. Some people may call him crazy, but we should rather call him a hero for such an act. We need to emulate his practice because in the long run we will all benefit from the same vision. We need not look far for a solution to the traffic because it is right under our noses. Not to make fun of the pun, but making the Pasig river less smelly is a nationwide task. Each of us should cooperate. From the big businesses to the informal settlers along the rivers, a lot of great possibilities can happen if we all take part in the noble goal.

We are tourists in our own country" says Robert Yupangco, the main man behind the Yupangco Group of Companies which includes the Zoomanity theme-parks.

The Zooper Cruise took us to 7 churches around Makati and Manila. Meeting place was at UnliCity (located at the 3rd floor of Century City Mall) which is also part of the Yupangco Group of Companies. The tour is actually a combination of a by road and river travel (transport by shuttle and cruise) so it involved going to the different ferry ports in Makati and Manila and some travelling by road to a few of the churches.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church

Nuestra Senora de Gracia Church

Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church

Sta. Cruz Paris Church

Binondo Church

Manila Cathedral

San Agustin Church

The churches we visited were St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church located in Bel-Air Village in Makati, Nuestra Senora de Gracia Church (also known as Guadalupe Church) located in Guadalupe, Makati, Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church in Sta. Ana, Manila, Sta. Cruz Paris Church in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Binondo Church (also known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish) in Binondo, Manila, San Agustin Church (also known as the Immaculate Conception Parish) in Intramuros, Manila, and the Manila Cathedral (also known as the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) which is also in Intramuros, Manila.

Below are some of the sights you'll see along the Pasig river:

It took almost the entire day for the Visita Iglesia since we got back to our origin at around 4pm already. Registration for the tour started at 8am and we got down from UnliCity at around 8:30am, and to a shuttle sometime after a few minutes.

They let us stay at a church for around 20 minutes which includes time for prayer and photo ops. For a media like me who takes both photos and videos, it was enough. But I was also documenting the attendees so I am rarely in the official photos and videos. However, I never forget to do my own selfies (posted on our social media pages) though you will notice I am a bit haggard due to that tedious task. I guess I need to find a way to always bring at least one team member with me for travel-related events like these so we could divide or alternate the tasks.

The rewarding part is seeing how the attendees appreciate the tour. I could see that they are somewhat tired and exhausted sometime in between and especially at the latter part, but I could also see that it seems worth the effort for these people. After all, we should be doing a form of sacrifice (all those bits of walking and boat transfers) including fasting (the merienda of macaroni salad was not enough to satisfy) but I heard during one of the interviews that it was intentionally meant that way for this particular tour since it was Visita Iglesia.

Thank you Zooper Cruise for another unique and memorable experience.

Santi and Sons: Cavite-Based Emblem Jeweller Partners with 024 Digital Media

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands." - Psalm 78:72

Through this special blog feature, we give homage to the skillful Filipino craftsmen out there who continue to give our country pride for their outstanding work of art whether they are done for business or as part of the showcase of art pieces in the country. The creations of our countrymen deserve to be known worldwide and thus it is with great honor to be part of a historical tour cum company feature highlighting another pride in the Philippines.

We were back in Kawit, Cavite to visit the Aguinaldo Shrine again. But this time, it's not only because we want to immerse ourselves once again with a part of the Philippine history - the controversial former President of the Republic of the Philippines, General Emilio Aguinaldo, but also because we are to learn about what could be considered a part of history that is quite unknown to many.

Since it was not our first time to visit the home of former General Emilio Aguinaldo (though we do see it differently every time, including now, since the many flags (probably because the city recently celebrated Cavite Day a few days ago) at the plaza were not there and the tour guide was not the same during our previous visits) we still find ourselves amazed because some of the information we got from the tour guide were new, and it was our first time we were taken to the tower. We had to personally climb up to see what it looked like from up there, and found out it's ultimate purpose was not just for aesthetics.

Aguinaldo Shrine of Kawit, Cavite (Photography by Ross Del Rosario)

But this blog is obviously not about the Aguinaldo Shrine (you can see more photos from our official Facebook page and a possible separate story about it soon) but about the emblem jeweller known as T.R. Enterprises which now wish to be identified as Santi and Sons since it's a family business ran by generations of the Santi family.

Originally from Teofilo Ramos Santi, (we learned the meaning of T.R. from Mick Santi, the grandson, who was our host for the tour) and together with Ian Atienza, CEO of 024 Digital Media (a 'Digital Transformation' focused creative technology agency) who was the one who organized and invited us to join this bloggers tour.

The company, now to be called as Santi and Sons, is also based in Kawit, Cavite and is said to be the most experienced maker of emblem jewels since 1906 (but I've read somewhere that their involvement in metal crafts or engraving dates back even further). They are practically just a few steps away from the St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church which formerly had a secret pathway from the Aguinaldo Shrine. We also visited the church to complete our tour (that's why even some newly-weds and their entourage, were part of our video feature).

During an interview, one of the owners introduce the company as originally known as engravers, but we believe they have evolved into something more than that now especially with this new partnership that could help them expand more into other products.

Their products range from bull rings, to medals, and a lot more metal products like pins and dog tags that we could proudly wear to serve as a symbol of either an accomplishment or an affiliation, or just about anything that would proudly boast and shout-out to the whole world who and what we are - like the dog tag they gave us as souvenir from their factory tour.

Below are just some photos we took from the factory tour. We selected these photos below to show you the up close and personal parts of the tour. There's a lot more to show so please check them out at the albums of our official Facebook page.

Wazzup Pilipinas takes pride of being a community of bloggers, vloggers, photographers, social media influencers and the likes so you will find a lot about Santi and Sons scattered throughout our sites and social media networks. As many would say, there is strength in numbers, and we are proud to promote businesses worth the recognition such as Santi and Sons.

For this particular blog feature, we were fortunate to have Collin Yap and Manuel Flores as part of the tour. They registered on their own for the tour and we're fortunate to have been chosen too by the organizer. As expected, there was a lot of iconic Wazzup Pilipinas shout-outs from start to end.

Customers can submit their own designs and Santi and Sons can manufacture them

The factory is more than just a modest place where you could see above and below that eventhough the creation of metal products are assisted by both small and big machines, the quality of the products also relies a lot on the skills of the workers who routinely works on their assigned specialization.

Heavy equipment handled by skilled workers

Santi and Sons is not into small products alone. This gigantic badge is noteworthy. (Photography by Ross Del Rosario)

According to the owners during the product presentation and factory tour, they're expanding their product line to now offer wedding rings aside from their current college bull rings. They have also partnered with 024 Digital Media to expand their market reach.

"....the industry leader in custom metal arts and crafts in The Philippines announced it would be expanding to several leading markets in the world. The company, which prides itself on crafting world-class metal products since 1906, will tie up with 024 Digital Media to launch an array of digital assets such as a device responsive website, eCommerce store, blog and SNS platforms among others."

Our video interview with Nino Santi, President of Santi and Sons, which can be found at our official YouTube channel together with other videos (4-part video series) from the entire tour, also revealed how the company was like a Phoenix that rose from the ashes after their original factory burned down around two years ago. But now, from a manpower of 100, they've grown bigger with 130 employees many of which are related - from father to son, or older brother to younger brother, etc. Because at Santi and Sons, they take pride of family values and close-ties relationships since the company itself is ran by generations of Santi. Who else would give the business their personal touch and utmost care but first and foremost are your friends and relatives - the same people who helped them rebuild their business.

And now that they've opened their doors to a partnership with 024 Digital Media, it would mean more business opportunities for Santi and Sons. This is something to look forward to as they embrace the new media for global reach.

Ian Atienza, CEO of 024 Digital had this to say, “We are pleased and honored with our partnership with Santi and Sons and look forward to introducing their solid craftsmanship to the US, Australian and European market. There is great synergy between our two companies that we feel will result in a profitable relationship for both of us. We will be launching all the digital tools we feel, will add beneficially to their brand equity, it has been there for 112 years, you know? This time, we want the whole world to know how excellent T.R. Santi Enterprises is. Truly world-class and proudly Filipino.”

Together with Santi and Sons family with Ian Atienza (and his wife) of 024 Digital Media and some of the bloggers (Photography Manuel Flores)

We have to also thank the Titas of Santi and Sons for their warm welcome as we joined them for lunch at their home. Our meals consisted of mostly of a generous serving of seafood and lots of dessert options. Plus there was "puto-bumbong" and "halo-halo" for snacks in the afternoon. It was indeed a festive gathering made more special because of the many adorable Titas - a reflection of how uniquely hospitable their families are. In general, Filipinos are truly the main reason why it is more fun in the Philippines, and you could feel a lot of love with the Santi family.

To be engaged in a business where patience and creativity is a must, we have to give credit to both the management and their employees for a job well done. They won't last in this kind of business if they do not sustain the quality and skillful craftsmanship throughout the years.

Below are more videos from the tour:

Check out Santi and Sons at http://www.santiandsons.com for more information and updates.

To learn more about the joint venture, future plans, or to book an interview, contact 024 Digital at +639199743333 or email, info@024digital.com, or visit the website at http://www.024digital.com.

Credits:

Factory Tour Photography by Collin Yap
Overall Tour Videography by Ross Del Rosario

Other Photos from Ross Del Rosario and Manuel Flores

DOTr Launches Public Transport Modernization Expo: Modernong Sasakyan, Progresibong Bayan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with the goal of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) to provide commuters with an adequate, comfortable, safe, and environment-friendly public transportation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will launch the Public Transport Modernization Expo: Modernong Sasakyan, Progresibong Bayan today at the Philippine Convention Center (PICC) Forum in Pasay City.

The event will showcase different prototypes of modern PUVs, and also highlight the program’s benefits both for commuters and operators.

The event will be led by DOTr officials, along with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Atty. Martin B. Delgra III, and Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante.

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade said that the expo aims to encourage all stakeholders to keep an open mind about the PUVM program. He said the exhibit will offer a peek into what modern road public transportation looks like.

“They say the measure of a country’s progress is the state of its public transportation, and today, we are affirming our commitment to change the sorry-state of public transportation in the country. Today, we will show you the future. Today, we will show you what progress looks like,” said Tugade.

At the expo, various modern PUV prototypes will be on display, such as: five (5) low-floor Public Utility Buses (PUBs), twenty (20) PUVs (Classes 2 and 3), and three (3) e-tricycles. Manufacturers and body builders of the modern PUVs shall have their designated areas at the PICC where stakeholders may inquire about the design, technical specifications, performance, and efficiency of vehicles among others.

Apart from manufacturers and exhibitors, representatives from the DOTr, LTFRB, LTO, Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC), and Government Financial Institutions such as the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will be present to answer queries about the PUVMP.

The PUVMP is a transformational large-scale initiative and flagship project of the Duterte administration, which envisions a restructured, well-managed, and environmentally sustainable transport sector.