TPB Volunteers Help Families Displaced by Mayon Volcano Eruption

Wazzup Pilipinas!

On January 13, 2018, a phreatic eruption occurred at Mount Mayon in Legazpi, Albay, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents. The event was followed by sporadic eruption, lava flow, ash fall and volcanic earthquakes, forcing the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) to raise the status to alert Level 4, which resulted to the displacement of more than 61,000 families from different barangays in just less than a month.

Three months later, Mayon Volcano's alert level status has been downgraded to Level 2 by authorities and most of the affected families have returned to their respective homes.

Yet, the volunteers for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) continued on their mission to aid those affected by Mayon's wrath, unleashed after nearly four years of stillness.

Headed by Marivic Sevilla and Mariel Angelica Dimaano of the Corporate Planning and Business Development Department, 12 kind hearts went to Legazpi and Guinobatan on April 19 and 20 to pack and distribute rice and grocery bags to 498 families with the assistance of the Department of Tourism Region 5.

The team also paid a courtesy call on Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco of Guinobatan, Albay before heading to Brgy Muladbucad Pequeno, one of the barangays within the 6-9 km radius of the crater that was largely affected by the eruption and where the distribution of relief goods took place.
Despite the sweltering heat, the operation was conducted in an orderly manner, and the helping hands were greeted with sincere and warm smiles. According to Sevilla, the activity was not originally part of the year-round program until COO Cesar D. Montano saw the need to help the victims. She also noted that the Bicol contingent was the smallest group to implement a CSR program so far, but it turned out successful, thanks to the assistance of the DOT Region 5 office.
For volunteer Princess Elefante of the Office of the Corporate Board Secretary, the CSR experience was an unforgettable one. "I have witnessed how this activity can lead to social awareness and build good working relationships," she said.

One lesson resonated throughout the program; a venerated one from the late great poet and activist, Maya Angelou: “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed".

And the blessing not only gave hope to the families who have managed to survive weeks of uncertainty but also the volunteers who are now more inspired to continue the journey of giving a helping hand.

ONE Championship Rises As Largest Stand-Up Organization in the World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fresh off the debut of its highly-anticipated ONE Super Series on 20 April at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR, ONE Championship offered fans a taste of what’s to expect with its latest innovation -- an all-striking league showcasing the best of the world’s striking martial arts.

The premise is simple. ONE Championship wants to provide a proving ground for the world’s best strikers to face each other under a single banner -- a prestigious global platform to showcase the beauty of striking arts such as Muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, taekwondo, Kung Fu, wushu, sanda, silat, lethwei, and more.

Last Friday night in Manila, ONE Championship showed fans a glimpse of the sort of action that they can look forward to with ONE Super Series -- and it was legendary.

Gracing the promotion’s all-new five-rope ring was kickboxing superstar Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, who put on an absolute clinic against opponent Jo Nattawut of Thailand. Also in action was Muay Thai legend and former 4-time Lumpinee Stadium champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao who took on France’s Fabio Pinca.

For those who don’t know, Petrosyan and Gaiyanghadao are two of the most famous legends in the world of striking martial arts. The mere fact that they appeared together on the same card is just mind-blowing. If ONE Championship’s aim is to introduce these striking legends to the world, it has certainly achieved its goal early on.

Needless to say, both Petrosyan and Gaiyanghadao lived up to their billing and turned in inspiring performances. For the first time in history, an audience the magnitude of ONE Championship’s 1.7 billion potential viewers in over 136 countries worldwide were able to witness the greatness of these athletes.

And there’s much more to come. Names such as Lerdsila, Yodsaenklai Fairtex, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, and Singtongnoi Por Telakun have also been announced as having joined ONE Super Series.

By having these monumental figures of striking martial arts, and encompassing multiple styles of martial arts, ONE Championship has effectively become the largest stand-up organization in the world.

Other organizations such as Glory Kickboxing or K-1 offer a similar product. But by having more than one “flavor” of martial arts on its menu, ONE Championship emerges as the undisputed pack leader. And with bigger names to boot, ONE Super Series will continue to draw massive audiences.

The next event to feature ONE Super Series bouts will be ONE: GRIT AND GLORY, which takes place 12 May in Jakarta, Indonesia. This is followed by ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS which happens a week later in Singapore.

Both cards offer a handful of compelling ONE Super Series contests. Singapore in particular will see the first ONE Super Series world champion crowned when Sam-A Gaiyanghadao takes on Sergio “Little One” Wielzen of the Netherlands for the inaugural ONE Super Series Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship.

ONE Championship aims to gradually assimilate ONE Super Series bouts into its cards, and athletes will be able to select from a series of ring and cage rule sets where they wish to compete. This means that kickboxers could move into Muay Thai, or Lethwei, or Sanda, if they wanted to. The flexibility opens up a myriad of possible combinations that should have martial arts enthusiasts salivating.

The invitation is also open to its current roster of mixed martial artists. So it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think of maybe someone like ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera competing under Muay Thai rules against one of these striking legends. It’s a bold step forward in the right direction for ONE Championship, who prides itself in being the ‘Home of Martial Arts’. With ONE Super Series, the promotion certainly lives up to its reputation.

Eventually, the promotion envisions staging standalone ONE Super Series cards in the future. It’s an ambitious project that will take the combined efforts of ONE Championship’s elite team of professionals working behind the scenes to make sure each event is a smashing success. But one, that if it takes off, will turn out to be an idea of pure genius.

At its core, it is a celebration of the purity of striking. For fans who crave the sort of classic action and excitement that will leave them on the edge of their seats, they need look no further than ONE Super Series.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Legendary Duo Air Supply Takes Santa Rosa in May

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Iconic Australian duo Air Supply takes us back to the 80’s for a special one-night show on 31 May 2018 at the Santa Rosa Sports Coliseum in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This year’s Philippine concert is the first of several shows part of their Over Asia 2018 Tour following dates all over Canada and the United States.

Still supplying the classic hits 43 years since the release of their debut album, singer-songwriter and guitarist Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock celebrate their trademark soft rock sound by serenading us once again with their massive catalog of evergreen love songs.

Air Supply began its humble musical journey opening for Rod Stewart back in Australia and eventually across North America and Canada, breaking through a whole new U.S. audience. Subsequent to their fourth studio record, Life Support, was the success of many beloved songs, including “Lost in Love” which unexpectedly rose to Top 10 in Australia. Their refreshing take on soft rock music somehow found its way to the distinguished Arista Records in New York. Immediately after the duo signed with the label, "Lost in Love" became the fastest-selling single in the world, leaping to the top of the charts worldwide. The band’s second single, "All Out of Love," attracted more fans and reigned the charts even longer.

Eight Top 10 hits later, "Lost in Love" was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies.

Russell Hitchcock's soaring tenor voice and Graham Russell's pure yet majestic lyrics have created a warm signature sound that would live on for a very long time.

Other hits of Air Supply areMaking Love Out of Nothing at All, The One That You Love, Here I Am, Two Less Lonely People, Every Woman In the World, Sweet Dreams, I Can Wait Forever, Lonely Is the Night, Having You Near Me, to name a few.

(Air Supply Live in Santa Rosa is produced by Ovation Productions. Tickets available via www.smtickets.comand regular SM Tickets outlets. Ticket Prices are P4,500/ P3,500/ P2,500/ P1,500. For info call SM Tickets +632 470-2222 or Ovation Productions +632 532-8883.)