WOCEE and WOSAS 2023: Enter a New World of Innovations and Safety

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The country’s biggest and most innovative technology and safety expositions are finally back at the SMX Convention Center Manila. Today, the 5th edition of WOCEE and WOSAS officially launched, showcasing more innovations and safety features than ever before. This year’s themes for both events highlight how these events will take you away to a new and never before seen place. WOCEE will take you to a “World of Innovation” and WOSAS will take you to a “World of Safety”.

The opening of WOCEE and WOSAS was graced by DOST - Industrial Technology Development Institute Ms. Annabelle V. Briones, Undersecretary Department of Information and Communications Technology Republic of the Philippines Ms. Anna May Yu Lamentillo, DILG Assistant Secretary for Public and Safety Mr. Florencio Bernabe, and Chief of Staff - Pasay City Mr. Peter Eric D. Pardo. All of the distinguished guests provided their own keynote speeches towel come the return of WOCEE and WOSAS.

Both expositions will feature an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and product demonstrations, offering attendees an unforgettable opportunity to engage with industry pioneers, and thought leaders. These events will also showcase the greatest innovations and inventions the Philippines has to offer. These range from security lock systems, durable apparel, advanced security cameras, robots, and even smart AI tools. You can also visit the different and informative seminars from the Tech Talk and SECUCON seminars. These seminars will feature different topics to get you the jumpstart you need in getting on the right track to living in the future. Lastly, come and see the different product demos from the exhibitors who are eager to show off their latest products and see how these inventions can help enhance a person’s lifestyle. You can even try out these products when you come to these exhibits.

This year’s WOCEE and WOSAS is shaping to be the prime event for innovations to shine.

Enter a brand new world of innovation and safety at the SMX Convention Center Manila starting today until August 12, 2023!

Dogs in the Philippine History: A chronicle of cultural and historical encounters with 'man's best friend'

Book Author Ian Christopher B. Alfonso narrates his journey of completing his book "Dogs in Philippine History" during the book launch held at the Presidential Car Museum at the Quezon City Circle, August 5, 2023.

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

A book that discusses the nearly 4,000-year relationship of dogs and humans in the Philippines was recently launched at the NHCP Presidential Car Museum, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City.

Dog lovers and history lovers gathered together to support the launch of the book Dogs in Philippine History by Ian Chistopher B. Alfonso published by Alaya Publishing, Project Saysay, and the Philippine Historical Association (PHA).

Scholars and popular figures who delivered their reviews during the book launch receive their printed copies at the event.


Author Ian Christopher B. Alfonso shared in an interview that he started gathering photos, paintings and illustrations back in 2013 while writing a narrative resulting in a book with 600 plus pages.

“Hindi ko in-expect na kakapal ng ganyan ng 10 years kasi nga unti-unti dumarating ‘yung mga datos na dati talagang wala pang nagsusulat, ang hirap hanapin ng mga sources,” Alfonso stated.

[I didn't expect it to be so thick in 10 years because the data is slowly coming that no one has written before, it's hard to find the sources.]

Alfonso added that the book also features some monuments of dogs in the Philippines such as “Kabang,” the hero dog of Zamboanga, who lost her snout for saving two children from a motorcycle crash.

He explained, dogs are also part of history and he envisioned that stories about dogs will also spark conversations about the Filipino culture and society in order to provide some solutions to the faults in our culture.

“Lalo na meron tayong problema sa rabis hanggang ngayon. Baka may problema na ‘yung kultura natin? o problema ba talaga ‘yung kultura? Baka puwedeng mag-adjust ‘yung kultura? [Gaya ng] ginawa ng mga Hapon, pinilit nilang maka-diskubre ng bakuna para sa mga aso para lang maligtas ‘yung aso nila dahil ganon nila kamahal ‘yung mga aso nila,” Alfonso shared in an interview during the book launch.

[Especially, we have a problem with rabies until now. Maybe our culture has a problem? or is culture really a problem? Maybe the culture can adjust? [As] the Japanese did, they tried to discover a vaccine for dogs just to save their dogs because they love their dogs that much.]










Historian and Professor Xiao Chua delivers his testimonial during the book launch.


Historian and Professor Xiao Chua said during the book launch that the book “Dogs in Philippine History” is a public history that showed what the people and society did to dogs through the years.

One of the accounts shared during the event was about the Spanish Government's declaration of the existence of rabies in the Philippines during the 1800s. Every household is only allowed to have one dog, excess should be killed in order to prevent rabies since the anti-rabies vaccines were not yet available at the time. Those killed are ordered to be buried at Luneta until the arrival of vaccines in the country in the 1930s.

Alfonso said he hopes his book would enlighten society to learn from the faults of the past and develop a better culture away from a mediocre society.

“Sana may ganun din tayong kultura na kaya niyang baguhin yung lipunan hindi lang yung kulturang lilipas lang na parang bahala na, nandyan na yan, parang yung mediocre na society. Sana gamitin natin yung mga faults ng kultura natin para makapagbahagi ng solusyon,” Alfonso stated.

[I hope we also have a culture that can change society, not just the culture that will just pass away as if it's okay, that's already there, like the mediocre society. I hope we use the faults of our culture to share a solution.]

In addition to the author, the following scholars and popular figures will speak at the launch: Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo, NHCP Chairperson; Dr. Ma. Luisa Camagay, President of PHA; Prof. Michael Charleston Chua, public historian and assistant professor of De La Salle University Manila; Ms. Mona Magno-Veluz, genealogist known on social media as Mighty Magulang; Mr. Taj Vitales, archaeologist from the National Museum of the Philippines; Dr. Vicente Villan, historian and anthropologist from the University of the Philippines Diliman; Dr. Jose Diaz, veterinarian and historian from the Cavite Historical Society; Dr. Nicolo Ludovice, animal historian and lecturer from the University of Hong Kong; and, Dr. Jose Victor Torres, historian and professor from the De La Salle University Manila.








Pet lovers were also allowed to bring their dogs and cats at the venue.

Those who would like to avail of the book Dogs in Philippine History may order through the book's official Facebook page (fb.com/DogsPHI).

Cinemalaya: Props up artistic integrity, illuminates Filipino filmmakers' visions of nationhood

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has pushed the boundaries for creative expression in the last 19 years by avidly propping up artistic integrity and illuminating the Filipino filmamakers’ visions of nationhood.

Since 2005, Cinemalaya has continued to discover, encourage and support the cinematic works of upcoming and veteran Filipino filmmakers who boldly articulate and freely interpret the Philippine experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

“Ang Cinemalaya ay hindi lamang panonood ng pelikula kundi rin ito’y pakikisalamuha dun sa mga tinatawag nating mga pangkulturang manggagawa, cultural workers or creative workers ng cinema, tulad ng filmmakers, directors, cinematographers, actors,” Cinemalaya Festival Director Chris Millado shared in an interview during the Cinemalaya 19 opening night held at the PICC.

Cinemalaya Film Festival Director Chris Millado announces the opening of the 19th year of Cinemalaya Film FestivalCinemalaya Film Festival Director Chris Millado announces the opening of the 19th year of Cinemalaya Film Festival

The cast and crew of animation film Iti Mapukpukaw starring Dolly de Leon (center).

Online influencers pose on the red carpet during the opening night of Cinemalaya 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).






[Cinemalaya is not just watching a movie but also engaging with what we call cultural workers or creative workers of cinema, such as filmmakers, directors, cinematographers, actors.]

Director Millado shared that unlike normal film viewing in a cinema where people will just enter the moviehouse and leave afterward, in Cinemalaya, the audience will be able to interact with the present filmmakers of the film, those who worked in front and behind the camera, and ask them about their insights of the film and things about filmmaking.

To date, Cinemalaya has supported and promoted the production of Filipino full feature independent films and short films. Many of these films have won awards in local and international competitions and festivals. Through the annual festival, Cinemalaya has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films.

Regional filmmakers dominate this year’s festival

According to Cinemalaya Festival Director Chris Millado, regional filmmakers outnumbered the filmmakers from Manila joining this year.

“Meron tayong mga gawa at hindi lamang maririnig din natin ‘yung mga wika galing sa Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Bicol. Kaya talagang napakaraming kwento ‘yung nailahad at talagang ibang-iba ang lasa ng bawat pelikulang inihain sa atin ng ating filmmakers.” Festival Director Chris Millado shared during an interview at the opening night held at PICC.

[We will also hear the languages from Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Bicol. That's why there are so many stories that have been presented and the taste of each movie served to us by our filmmakers is really very different.]

Following the theme “ilumiNasyon,” the country’s pioneering independent film festival returns with 10 full-lengths and 10 short films in competition, as well as other components that will secure a space for independent filmmakers to tell their stories and share their perspectives on the issues that shape our times, while capturing the audience’s imagination.

The 10 competing full-length films are: ANG DUYAN NG MAGITING (THE CRADLE OF THE BRAVE) by Dustin Celestino; AS IF IT’S TRUE by John Rogers; BULAWAN NGA USA (GOLDEN DEER) by Kenneth De la Cruz; GITLING by Jopy Arnaldo; HULING PALABAS (FIN) by Ryan Espinosa Machado; ITI MAPUKPUKAW (THE MISSING) by Carl Joseph E. Papa; MARIA by She Andes; ROOKIE by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone; TETHER by Gian Arre; and WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER by Kevin Mayuga.

Short films in competition include: ANG KINING BINALAYBAY KAG AMBAHANON KO PARA SA IMO (THESE RHYMES AND RHYTHMS MEANT FOR YOU) By Kent John D. Desamparado; GOLDEN BELLS By Kurt Soberano; HINAKDAL (CONDEMNED) By Arvin Belarmino; HM HM MHM By Sam Villa-Real And Kim Timan; KOKURYO: THE UNTOLD STORY OF BB. UNDAS 2019 By Diokko Manuel Dionisio; MAKOKO SA BAYBAY (I AM GOING TO THE BEACH) By Mike Cabarles; MAUDI NGA ARAPAAP (LAST DREAM) By Daniel Magayon; SIBUYAS NI PERFECTO (PERFECTO’S ONION) By Januar Yap; SOTA (HORSE CARETAKER) by Mae Tanagon; and TONG ADLAW NGA NAG-SNOW SA PINAS (THE DAY IT SNOWED IN THE PHILIPPINES) by Joshua Caesar Medroso.

Additional genre participate in the competition category

Cinemalaya Film Festival Director Chris Millado shared that there will be a 90-minute animation film entitled Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing), and a 75-minute documentary film entitled Maria joining the competition category for the first time.

Iti Mapukpukaw is a Filipino-Ilocano rotoscope animated film that follows Eric’s life as it twists and turns after the arrival of the familiar alien and his uncle's death; both trigger Eric to remember his past and untangle his memories.

Maria documentary follows three women named Maria after the bloodbath of Former President Duterte’s drug war. A staunch supporter turned victim, a wife & mother fighting for their rights, and a woman who became a beacon of hope.

Cinemalaya 19 takes place at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) this year

This year’s Cinemalaya 19 brought its brand of cinematic experience to the Philippine International Convention Center amidst the ongoing rehabilitation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Building where the usual Cinemalaya Film Festival is usually held.

“We hope to retain the unique community spirit of the festival, which was one of the main considerations when we were deciding on the venue. If we look at the history of the convention center, PICC is quite conducive for film screenings, having hosted the Manila International Film Festival in the 1980s,” CCP President Margie Moran-Floirendo stated.

For its 10-day run, the Cinemalaya films will be screened at three meeting rooms, Cinema Rizal (Meeting Room 1), Cinema Bonifacio (Meeting Room 2 and 3), and Cinema Felipe (Meeting Room 4). Fringe events and talkbacks will be held at Cinema Palma (Meeting Room 5). The exhibitions and filmmakers’ profiles will be on display at the Executive Lounge.

Film enthusiasts and festival fans will continue to enjoy the festival’s mainstays: Retrospective, lookback to winning films of past Cinemalaya editions; Best of the Festivals, which showcases the best films from local festivals; Visions of Asia, featuring award-winning Asian and Netpac films; Premieres, featuring never-before-screen films; and Dokyu, which screens award-winning documentaries.

The Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, considered the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in the ASEAN region, will once again harvest the best of the best, with films competing in various categories such as Short Feature/Narrative, Experimental, Documentary and Animation. Pre-selected entries will be screened on August 5 to 7, at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater). Awarding will be on August 12.

For more information, visit CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org). Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya Facebook pages and other social media accounts in Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.





The cast and crew of the Cinemalaya opening film dark comedy thriller “Marupok AF (Where Is The Lie?)” directed by Quark Henares, starring Maris Racal and Royce Cabrera.


Cinemalaya Opening Night Red Carpert Photo Gallery:
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