RISE conference is returning to Hong Kong in March 2022

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Today, the company behind RISE and “the world’s most influential tech event”, Web Summit, announced that RISE will be returning to Hong Kong in March 2022 as an in-person event. 

RISE was launched in Hong Kong in 2015, where it has already been successfully hosted five times and where, according to CNBC, it has become Asia’s largest tech event. 

Over the years, the event has gathered many thousands of global tech founders, startups, investors and members of the media to the city. The event has become an important opportunity for eastern and western companies to make connections in new markets. 

Past speakers have included Alibaba co-founder and executive vice chairman Joseph Tsai, Stripe co-founder and president John Collison, Magic Leap CEO Peggy Johnson, and Sequoia Capital founding managing partner Neil Shen. 

“We are extremely grateful for the support the city of Hong Kong has given RISE over the last five years, and we couldn’t be more excited to return in-person in 2022. We’ve seen the region's tech and startup economy grow from strength to strength since we launched RISE in 2015,” said Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder and CEO of RISE conference and Web Summit. 

“We always intended to come back to Hong Kong at some stage. RISE has grown to what it is today after five successful years in the city. The event has now become an important nexus that connects the east and the rest of the world. CEOs and investors from around the world want a window into the region, and vice versa,”  he continued. 

"I’m very excited to see RISE, a world-renowned tech event, returning to Hong Kong. This is a testimony of Hong Kong’s success to containing the pandemic and keeping infection rate among the lowest in the world, thereby giving international event organisers confidence that they can stage their events here safely. I am sure the staging of RISE will showcase Hong Kong’s capacity to deliver amid the challenges posed by the epidemic, and connect our tech start-up ecosystem with that of the globe. I look forward to welcoming more world class business events to Hong Kong, injecting new vigour into our economy.” said  Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development, Edward Yau. 

“We welcome the return of RISE to Hong Kong for another five years in 2022–2026. The city’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and venues, complemented with a favourable business environment and unique travel experiences, are all part of the equation reflecting Hong Kong’s appeal for international business events. With Hong Kong’s strategic location in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, event participants can also capitalise on the multitude of opportunities in the region. With the strong commitment to hygiene and safety across all community sectors, the city is gearing up for a new milestone, and the HKTB will continue to make its best efforts to maintain Hong Kong’s status as The World’s Meeting Place.” said HKTB chairman YK Pang.  

“Hosting RISE in the coming 5 years bears an impactful significance to the recovery of Hong Kong’s MICE sector, as it marks the return of top-class international events to Hong Kong. With stringent anti-epidemic measures in place and our quality service, we will continue to work closely with organisers to deliver world-class events to maintain Hong Kong as the Asia’s premier meeting hub and attract more international events to the city” added AsiaWorld-Expo chairman Ng Chi-kee. 

The city boasts a growing and diverse startup economy. Between 2018 and 2020, the number of local startups rose 28 percent to 3,360, with non-locals counting for 26 percent of founders. Additionally, in 2020, foreign direct investment to Hong Kong surged by 62 percent year-on-year, to US$119 billion, making Hong Kong the third largest FDI recipient in the world, behind the United States (US$156.3 billion) and mainland China (US$149.3 billion). According to the World Bank, Hong Kong is number three in the world for doing business. 

RISE will now take place as an in-person conference in AsiaWorld-Expo (the AWE) from March 14–17, 2022.

'On The Job: The Missing 8’ Set for World Premiere in Venice Film Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

To set the first Philippine Film Industry Month in motion this September, “On The Job: The Missing 8” by Erik Matti, the only Asian film selected to compete, will proudly represent the country in the 78th Venice International Film Festival in Italy from September 1 to 11. 

The crime thriller sequel to Matti’s film “On The Job”, “On The Job: The Missing 8” will have its world premiere competing for the Golden Lion, the highest award in the Venezia 78 Competition, against 20 other entries. Academy Award Best Director Bong Joon-ho of multi-awarded South Korean film “Parasite” will preside over the competition jury.

The competing film centers around a corrupt media man, played by John Arcilla, who seeks for justice for the disappearance of his colleagues, crosses paths with an inmate-hitman, played by Dennis Trillo. The film also stars Dante Rivero, Christopher De Leon, Lotlot De Leon, Leo Martinez, Joey Marquez, Eric Fructuoso, Vandolph Quizon, Agot Isidro, Sol Cruz, Wendell Ramos, Lao Rodriguez, Andrea Brillantes, Isabelle De Leon, Megan Young, Levi Ignacio, and Carlitos Sigueon-Reyna.

On September 12, the first three episodes from the six-part HBO Asia Original series “On The Job” will premiere exclusively on HBO GO, with new episodes every Sunday.

“On The Job: The Missing 8’’ Screening Schedule

 

●      On The Job Screening

September 9, 7:30 PM - Sala Giardino

September 9, 8:00 PM - Sala Darsena

Access: Press, Industry

 

●      On The Job Red Carpet

September 10, 2:30 PM

 

On The Job GALA PREMIERE Screening

2:45 PM - Sala Grande

Access: Tutti gli Accrediti

 

●      On The Job Screening

6:30 PM - Rossini 1

Access: Pubblico

 

On The Job Screening

6:30 PM - IMG Candiani 1

Access: Pubblico

 

●      On The Job Screening

September 11, 9:30 AM - IMG Candiani 1

September 11, 9:30 AM - Rossini 1

Access: Pubblico

 

September 11, 2:00 PM - Sala Darsena

Access: Pubblico, Tutti gli Accrediti

 

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) FilmPhilippines Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP) recipient and Epicmedia Productions, Inc. partner, "Electric Child" by Simon Jaquemet and "Plan 75" by Chie Hayakawa, a Japan-France-Philippines co-production, will take part in the Venice Gap-Financing Market, a platform designed to support European and international producers to secure financing for their projects through one-to-one meetings with potential and pertinent international professionals.

"The participation of Matti’s ‘On the Job: The Missing 8’ in Venice commences the very first celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month. We are proud and honored to be a part of this triumph which will inspire our hopeful Filipino filmmakers and significantly elevate the industry, further promoting the advocacy of the agency," said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

On September 9, the FDCP will hold events in Venice: On The Job Cocktails, Philippines Production Table and Spot on Screens at the Venice Production Bridge, and the Panel Discussion "From the Philippines to the World: The On The Job Franchise and Exploring New Ways of Global Content Distribution" moderated by Venice Film Festival Programmer Paolo Bertolin with "On The Job" director Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde as panelists.

Founded in 1932, Venice is the oldest film festival in the world. Along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival, it is recognized as one of the three most prestigious film festivals in the world. The festival is part of the Venice Biennale, a major cultural festival held every two years that features international art exhibitions, architecture, visual arts, cinema, dance, music, and theatre.

The Venice International Film Festival, with the theme “The Venice Biennale: Cinema in the Time of COVID,” will run from September 1 to 11.

For more information on Venice Film Festival 2021 and the participating films and projects, visit their official website at www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2021.

Venice International Film Festival 2021

 

Venezia 78 Competition

 

●      “On The Job: The Missing 8” by Erik Matti

 

Venice Gap-Financing Market

 

●      “Plan 75” by Chie Hayakawa

●      “Electric Child” by Simon Jacquemet

 

FDCP Events at Venice

 

●      Panel Discussion

Title: From the Philippines to the World: The On The Job Franchise and Exploring New Ways of Global Content Distribution

Date: September 9, 2021 - 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Venue: Spazio Incontri, Hotel Excelsior

 

●      On The Job Cocktails

Date: September 9, 2021 - 5:00PM - 6:00PM

Venue: Terrazza dei Fiori

 

●      Philippines Production Table and Spot on Screens at the Venice Production Bridge

Date: September 2 - 7, 2021

 

As school year opens, do not forget Learners with Disabilities; urge Congress for immediate approval of Inclusive Education Bill

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Save the Children, the foremost child rights organization in the Philippines, is urging Congress for the immediate approval of the the Bicameral Committee version of the Inclusive Education (IE) Bill for Learners with Disabilities to be signed into law by the President.



“As School Year 2021-2022 is set to open on September 13, we must also consider the welfare of 5.5 Million Learners with Disabilities who have limited access to quality and inclusive education even before the pandemic,” said Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines.



“The early enactment of the ‘Inclusive Education Bill’ will provide children with disabilities with equal access and opportunities to quality education thereby making the educational system of our country more inclusive,” Muyot said.



The IE Bill, which is advocated by Save the Children Philippines and partners, was approved on 3rd Reading in the House of Representatives in December 2020 and in the Senate last May 2021.



The organization has raised concerns on the disruption of education among marginalized children and learners in the Philippines who were most impacted by the pandemic – with “lack of support, access to the internet, accessible software and learning materials” as just some of the many factors that “deepen the gap for students with disabilities” as per policy brief “A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19” by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.



Children with disabilities face “major concerns” accessing: education (51.8%), child development services (50.7%), habilitation and rehabilitation services (48.5%), and general health services (42.8%) according to the “Situation of Children with Disabilities in the Context of COVID19” online survey in 2020 by the Council for the Welfare of Children – Sub-committee for Children with Disabilities. 14.1% of the respondents also cited a “decline in mental health and wellbeing of children” as a result of their inability to access mental health and psychosocial services.



Sierra Paraan, Basic Education Advisor of Save the Children Philippines, believes the IE Bill is crucial in supporting marginalized children during the pandemic, and improving education for all.



“The IE Bill is important in ensuring that the rights of children with disabilities to quality inclusive education are upheld as they, and their families, are among the most impacted by discrimination and inequality during this pandemic,” said Paraan.



The IE Bill seeks to provide learners with disabilities access to public and private schools, support services and capacity building to students, their families/ caregivers, and teachers, including the establishment of Inclusive Learning Resource Centers (ILRC) that will serve as knowledge hubs.



Among many of the IE Bill’s other provisions, an Advisory Council for Education of Learners with Disabilities will be made to support the Department of Education (DepEd) in further improving the country’s educational system, and to provide a support system for parents so they may be able to further care for their children at home. Learners with disabilities who have not had early childhood and basic education services will also receive support through the Child Find System which will identify and facilitate their inclusion in learning programs.



“This is why Save the Children urges everyone to support the bill,” said Paraan.



“With accessible, inclusive, appropriate education and services through the IE Bill, no student will be left behind.”