Coney Reyes is Wanda Woman in Wanda’s Wonderful World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Award-winning actress, television host, and producer Coney Reyes will once again grace your television screens as Wanda on the rerun of CBN Asia’s Holy Week special, Wanda’s Wonderful World, this Maundy Thursday, April 9, 5:30 p.m. on GMA.

Co-starring with top-caliber actors, Tirso Cruz III and Ricky Davao, Coney breathes life to the character of Wanda, the CEO of a well-renowned events company, Wanda’s Wonderful World.

Despite her successful career, Wanda still searches for love as she tries to fill the void in her heart left by a traumatic experience she had when she was young.

“Wanda is sort of a complicated character. But if you dig deep down in her heart, it’s actually simple why she is the way she is. She was a neglected child, because of that, there were certain things she was yearning for in her life,” Coney explained.

One of the things that Coney could relate to her character was Wanda’s conversations with God and the decisions she made in life.

“Not that I questioned God, but I would often talk to God.” She added, “I made a lot of ‘not-so-healthy’ and ‘not-so-godly decisions’ and because of that I ended up with a lot of mess in my personal life. But when I met the Lord Jesus and I just surrendered my life to Him, everything turned around because God works things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

Following its run last Lent, the faith-based feature film earned the respect of international movie critics and enthusiasts, winning Best Special Effects in a Narrative Feature, Best Experimental/Most Creative in a Narrative Feature, and Best Lighting in a Narrative Feature awards at the Great Lakes Christian Film Festival 2019 in Buffalo, New York.

Wanda’s Wonderful World is written and directed by CBN Asia’s Special Projects Manager Icko Gonzalez. CBN Asia is the producer of the shows The 700 Club Asia, Superbook, and Tanikala featuring inspirational stories that bring hope to millions of Filipinos every Holy Week.

WWF-Philippines Goes Digital for Earth Hour 2020

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Earth Hour celebrations continued this year with digital activities, held on the 28th of March, through the various digital assets of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines. People from all over the world participated through digital as a response to the global COVID-19 outbreak.

Earth Hour continues to be lauded as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment as it moves onto its 13th year of celebrations. Since the first “lights out” event was held in Sydney in 2007, the movement has continued to bring together individuals, businesses, and governments alike in joint acts of commitment toward a future of environmental integrity and where man lives in harmony with nature.

Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives from the COVID-19 outbreak and our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones or who are sick. In this hour of crisis, we need to unite now more than ever to safeguard our future and the future of our planet. It is a time for solidarity and a time to respond to challenges more creatively and work more collaboratively, which is why Earth Hour is being marked through digital events across the globe.”

The Earth Hour movement serves as an invitation for everyone to come together for the sake of the environment. In recognition of this, Maria Isabel Garcia, Chairperson of the Board of WWF-Philippines, said, “All our lives, joys and sorrows play out in our one and only home. Under the crisis of this pandemic, WWF’s Earth Hour signals a powerful call for solidarity with each other and with our planet. We need to affirm it now more than ever. Conservation is not just another advocacy; it should be our second nature. It is the only way we can change the ending.”

Joel Palma, Executive Director of WWF-Philippines, said, “In the midst of this crisis we are all reminded that we are connected and we can only address this if we act as one. Earth Hour calls for our united and sustained response to care for our environment. We need to realize what is important.” As environmental issues grow in scale, the WWF network continues to expand the reach and impact of the Earth Hour movement.

Earth Hour Highlights

Earth Hour 2020 saw people from all across the globe raise their voice to invite action on pressing environmental issues in their countries. Through digital events, digital participation was observed in 190 countries and territories, and #EarthHour2020 and its related hashtags made 3.1 billion impressions globally. Earth Hour 2020 also trended on Twitter and Google Search in 37 countries.

South Africa launched a digital “Power to the People” campaign for a renewed focus on clean and reliable sources of energy. Singapore went fully digital for the first time ever. Earth Hour 2020 - Live & Unplugged, was a live-streamed, digital-only performance bringing together Singapore’s diverse voices for the environment. Australia went unplugged and online via an #EarthHourLive live streamwith music acts, comedians and experts.

WWF-Philippines commemorated Earth Hour 2020 completely online. Prior to the switch-off, an Instagram Livestream was hosted by WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Entitled “Conservation Conversation,” the two ambassadors talked about the environment, climate change, and volunteerism, as well as their own experiences working with WWF-Philippines. The show concluded at 8:30PM, to give way for the Earth Hour switch-off. Afterwards, WWF-Philippines held a watch party consisting of video clips from Our Planet, a nature documentary series made through the collaboration efforts of Netflix, Silverback Films, and the WWF International network.

Pledges of support towards the movement were made by businesses and government agencies, including a message from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. “One of the biggest challenges that the world is facing today is mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. As a developing country that is no stranger to destructive natural calamities, it is imperative to ensure that we are proactive and responsive in addressing the environmental challenges confronting us,” said President Duterte. Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo also gave a pledge of support toward Earth Hour.

“The problems we face, and their effects, are urgent and real. Polar ice caps are melting, species are disappearing from the planet forever, and the weather continues to change because of human activity. But all is not lost, and if we come together now, a solution can be found,” urged Vice President Robredo.

#ChangeTheEnding

WIth the launch of their new campaign, WWF-Philippines is asking everyone to help #ChangeTheEnding on the current environmental crisis. Earth Hour Philippines 2020 serves as a rallying point for the next five years of conservation work for the organization, as it seeks to instill a sense of urgency in the public for the most pressing environmental issues, while urging governments, businesses, and individuals alike to contribute in solving them.

Atty. Angela Ibay, Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director and Head of the Climate Change and Energy Programme of WWF-Philippines, said, “Earth Hour is the time we reflect and remember that every plant, every animal, every being plays an important role in the web of life in completing our planet. Even more so during this global pandemic, let Earth Hour be the time that our interconnectedness shine through as we raise our voices in solidarity to care for one another and for our shared home. It is imperative that we sustain these positive actions beyond the hour that we may #ChangeTheEnding for our collective future.”

Earth Hour Philippines 2020 was co-presented by GCash and was made possible with the help of official media launch venue partner Summit Hotel Greenhills, official apparel partner SSI, and official hydration partner Summit Still and Sparkling Water, with the help of WWF-Philippines’ corporate partners, Viber, Corkcicle, and Concentrix.

We would also like to thank the following national government agencies: the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, Climate Change Commission, National Parks Development Committee, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Light Rail Transit Authority - who all gave their messages of support and issued circulars, urging their employees and constituents to take part in Earth Hour activities leading up to and during the hour.

Last but not the least, we would like to thank our official media partners: ABS-CBN, Myx, MOR, Metro.Style, ANC-X, ABS-CBN Lifestyle, ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Cinema One, CNN Philippines, GMA, GMA News TV, Kapuso ng Kalikasan, Phiippine Star, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Central Luzon TV 36, Our Awesome Planet, Radyo Veritas, Wazzup Pilipinas and Globaltronics - who all helped share the message of Earth Hour Philippines 2020 through their own channels and platforms.

Tugade appeals to cargo owners, consignees to withdraw overstaying cargoes and free space inside Manila International Container Terminal (MICT)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has called on cargo owners and consignees to withdraw overstaying cargoes and help free needed space inside the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

“I am appealing to cargo owners and consignees to remove their overstaying cargoes inside the MICT. A healthy port means no congestion, no delays in the delivery of cargo, and stable prices of goods. A healthy port ensures a continuous flow of maritime commerce and an efficient utilization of the container yard,” said Secretary Tugade.

Secretary Tugade aired the appeal after Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago earlier warned of a possible shutdown of the Port of Manila if cargo owners and consignees remain to ignore calls to withdraw cleared, ready for delivery and overstaying cargoes.

Santiago said that despite efforts to transfer cleared and overstaying containers from the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) to a facility inside the Manila North Harbor, there are still not enough breathing space for the Manila Port terminals to operate efficiently and productively.

“Ports, specifically the Manila ports, are the lungs of the country’s commerce and trade. These lungs right now are not functioning efficiently due to congestion,” Santiago stressed.

“If we continue to ignore calls to withdraw even only those cleared, ready for delivery, and overstaying cargoes, these lungs are in danger of total collapse, resulting in full-blown port congestion, or worst, a shutdown, and consequently a shortage in the much needed goods and supplies which are expected to address the demands of the market,” Santiago explained.

The PPA said yard utilization at the Manila international ports -- composed of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor -- are almost 100 percent full as majority of cargoes now remain idle following the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Secretary Tugade stressed further on the importance of decongesting the MICT yard of cleared, ready for delivery and overstaying cargoes as this will make way for incoming cargoes needed by the government in its campaign against the coronavirus pandemic such as food items, protective equipment and medicine.

“A healthy port is what is most needed now as we find ways to efficiently deliver needed goods and services to our fellow Filipinos who are trying to break free from the clutches of the coronavirus pandemic,” Sec. Tugade added.

The PPA over the weekend has started coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), among others, to find measures that will prevent congestion at the ports after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued an order to clear the ports with overstaying containers.

Among the measures now being considered to help free needed space at the container yard are forfeiture of overstaying cargoes in favor of government, reducing the cargo clearing period and free storage period from the current allowable time, and the imposition of heavy fines, penalties and storage fees on cargo owners in order to force them to withdraw their overstaying cargoes.

“We really need to clear these cargoes to accommodate the incoming ones as most of our needs to fight this COVID-19 pandemic are in these incoming cargoes,” GM Santiago stressed.

The agencies are expected to come out with a Joint Memorandum Circular to effect the needed yard management at the Manila port, the PPA earlier said.

As of Friday, approximately 800+ cleared reefer vans are inside the MICT containing perishables like food, medicines and other essentials while approximately 2,000+ dry containers already cleared and ready for delivery remain inside the terminal.

As a stop-gap measure, PPA has authorized an area at the Manila North Harbor, the country’s premiere domestic terminal, for the purpose of the immediate and accelerated transfer of all overstaying foreign containers already cleared for delivery or withdrawal to maintain the high operational efficiency and productivity of the MICT during the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Based on the proposed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC), all cargoes that have been discharged from the vessels for more than 30 days, and remain at the port, should be withdrawn within five (5) days from the date the JMC becomes effective. Otherwise, the cargoes will be declared abandoned.

Meanwhile, cargoes that have been discharged from the vessels for less than 30 days, and all other incoming cargoes, have to be withdrawn within ten (10) days otherwise they will be considered abandoned.

Once declared abandoned, such cargoes may be forfeited in favor of the government.