#TheHowsOfUs of KathNiel Leaves Twitter in an Emotional Whirlwind

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Team KathNiel deals with a dilemma on love and career aspirations

The much-awaited comeback of Daniel Padilla (@imdanielpadilla) and Kathryn Bernardo (@bernardokath) in the big screen has finally happened, and KathNiel fans tuned in on Twitter as they countdown on the premiere and show their full support on KathNiel’s new movie, The Hows Of Us (@TheHowsOfUs).

As the preferred platform to share#WhatsHappening in Philippines’ entertainment scene, Twitter brings to light the dedication and commitment of fans in the Philippines and around the world for the Teen King and Queen. Below is the heat map on the movie premiere day.

#TheHowsOfUs tells the story of a long-time couple who have very different career aspirations: Primo played by Daniel Padilla  (@imdanielpadilla), is a member of a rock band chasing stardom, while his partner George played by Kathryn Bernardo (@bernardokath) has her eyes set on being a doctor. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia Molina (@cgm1326).

From the announcement of the release date of the movie up to the premiere, you can feel the KathNiel fever. Fans have been all out on Twitter from expressing their praises for the jam-packed movie mall shows, and as the movie received highly coveted Grade A rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) and Rated PG by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

This particular comeback of KathNiel is even bigger with the release of the#THOUBook or The Hows Of Us: How to love and unlove book that made a lot of fans even more excited on what will happen in the movie. The book is a compilation of all the answers from the netizens about their love stories and thoughts together with the love story of Primo and George.

Fans were overwhelmed by the rawness and reality of the movie, which still came as a refreshing surprise to them. Tweets upon Tweets of appreciation and praise poured as quickly from favorite lines and scenes in the movie,

People were all praises for the veteran director, Cathy Garcia-Molina (@cgm1326)for being able to create such compelling movies that move the hearts of those who watch it.

A lot of celebrities and co-stars of KathNiel came on Twitter to express their love and praises on the movie and the Teen King and Queen.

The film is produced by Star Cinema and is now showing across cinemas nationwide. In for some major hugot with your loved ones? Be sure to check this movie out and don’t forget to Tweet your thoughts using#TheHowsOfUs.

#PinoyPride as Two Filipinos Join the Roster of the 2018 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two Filipinos bring pride to the Philippines as they enter the roster of this year’s JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (JCI TOYP).

HIV advocate and educator Ronivin “Vinn” Pagtakhan, and political analyst and academician Richard Javad Heydarian are joining eight other young active global citizens as honorees of the 2018 JCI TOYP. Other honorees came from Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Romania, Syria, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Humanitarian-Voluntary Leadership

For his compassion for those living with HIV and dedication to empower the LGBT community, Vinn Pagtakhan has been named JCI TOYP Honoree in the category of humanitarian and voluntary leadership.

Over the past decade, cases of HIV have increased exponentially in the Philippines, one of the few countries with a rising incidence of the disease at an average of 31 diagnoses per day. The growth is attributed to the lack of knowledge on HIV prevention, care and support, which has worsened by the stigma around HIV causing many individuals to hide and avoid seeking help. 

Pagtakhan started on Twitter by giving honest and accessible health advices to people asking, mostly about HIV and sexually transmitted infections. This brought Pagtakhan and six of his friends to establish the organization LoveYourself in 2011. 

LoveYourself aims to open self-sustaining resource clinics for the youth and LGBT communities, offering free HIV-related services such education, testing and counseling, treatment, care and support, as well as become a model community to other community-based HIV organizations around the Philippines.

To date, Pagtakhan’s group is serving free HIV testing to around 30,000 clients yearly on its three community centers, and free HIV treatment to around 2,500 Filipinos living with HIV. The organization bridges the gaps in the HIV continuum of care by scaling up HIV testing, linking diagnosed persons with treatment and counseling, and creating a community that has led to reduced loss of life.

Moreover, Pagtakhan empowers the LGBT community and the Filipino youth to recognize their own value and self-worth, take care of their health and well-being, and in the process, join in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Political, Legal and Governmental Affairs

As a leading global expert on security issues across Asia, Richard Javad Heydarian earned a spot in this year’s JCI TOYP.

Heydarian primarily uses his communication skills -writing - for Filipinos to further understand the country’s geopolitical and national issues in an effort to influence a better socioeconomic and political thinking of the Philippine society. 

Along with writing renowned publications including How Capitalism Failed the Arab World and most recently The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy, Heydarian serves as a non-partisan policy advisor and socially-engaged scholar to explore the most pressing political and socioeconomic challenges of our time.

Heydarian has written around 1000 articles and a common resource person by leading local and international media outlets. 

Through these regular media engagements, Heydarian was able to inform not only the Filipinos but all citizens of the world, and raise consciousness about the key challenges facing the world for a more constructive national and international dialogue, inspiring a new generation of leaders who will push boundaries to create positive and lasting change for a better Philippines and a better world.

Beware of LPG-Refilled Butane Canisters — DOE

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Friday warned the public on the emergence of illegally LPG-refilled butane canisters that circulate in provincial markets following the buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Cebu City Police Office Station 1 in Barangay T. Padilla public market last 24 August.

Sec. Cusi also reiterated the DOE's mandate to ensure the safety of the people by monitoring the quality and quantity of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) being sold in the market. 

The Energy Secretary said the buy-bust operations are part of the continuing efforts of the DOE and PNP to eliminate the proliferation of LPG-refilled butane canisters in the province. He urged consumers to refrain from patronizing said products.

“LPG-refilled butane canisters are extremely dangerous, especially since butane canisters should only be used once. Refilling these tin canisters with LPG could cause fire and also greatly endangers the lives of our consumers,” Sec. Cusi said in a statement.

Sec. Cusi also noted that a number of fire incidents caused by leaking canisters refilled with LPG have already been reported. 

The Energy Chief commended the efforts of the DOE-Visayas Field Office (VFO), the province of Cebu, particularly the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, as well as the local police for enforcing the laws that protect the public against illegal practices in the LPG industry. 

Three individuals were arrested in Parian, Cebu for trading LPG-refilled butane canisters. They were identified as Ramir Amaca, Romeo Apparece and Romeo Cuevas, according to the report by the DOE-VFO.

The three were arrested for violating Batas Pambansa 33, as amended by Presidential Decree 1865 after being caught selling and possessing 638 illegally refilled and empty canisters.

DOE-VFO records also show that in Cebu province alone, more than 30 individuals have already been arrested after being caught trading LPG-refilled butane canisters.

The proliferation of this illegal practice is becoming even more pronounced given that 63,055 LPG-refilled and 150,821 empty butane canisters were confiscated in Cebu from early 2017 until August 2018. 

The DOE is also urging local government units and their officials to stop such illegal activities in their jurisdictions and to support the #ESafety campaign of the agency to protect the people.

The DOE further encouraged PNP members in all localities to intensify their law-enforcement campaign against illegal traders of energy products.

The Energy Department assures the public they will continue to monitor illegal activities in the energy industry that pose a threat to the lives of the people. It will likewise provide technical assistance to the police authorities on the apprehension of individuals involved in illegal practices.