Kids Danced to Summer Rhythm at the Araneta Center

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Thirty kids aged 4 to 15 years old from Barangay Loyola Heights learned on April 17 the latest and hottest hip-hop moves from Dance Plus as they participated in Summer Rhythm, Araneta Center’s summer dance program for children. 

As part of corporate social responsibility, Araneta Center partnered with Miriam College and Alagang Kapatid Foundation (TV5’s social development arm) to allow kids from Daan Tubo, Park 7, and Marytown experience Summer Rhythm’s dance class. The activity aims to share the gift of dance to the children from the abovementioned communities and help its participants create memories that the children will cherish.

Launched on April 10 at Ali Mall, Summer Rhythm is Araneta Center’s summer dance program, which includes ballet and hip-hop classes for children aged 4 to 15 years old. The classes run every Tuesday and Friday from April 10 to May 18. Each session is held at the spacious Ali Mall Activity area, giving the participants ample space to move around and master their dance moves. 

The classes are facilitated by instructors from Dance Plus. Known as studio without walls, Dance Plus goes where students are by partnering with schools condominiums, gyms and malls to bring ballet and hiphop closer to where families get together. By conducting dance classes at the Araneta Center this summer, Dance Plus aims to reach more children and give its participants a “childhood enriched through a heart that beats for dance.”

Every P 1,000 single receipt purchase at any Araneta Center entitles kids to join Summer Rhythm. For more info, visit www.aranetacenter.net and www.danceplusph.com.

DOE Pursues Consumers’ Perspective for Electric Bill Reforms

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As part of its commitment to empower consumers, the Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with local government units and electric cooperatives of Leyte province, today held a briefing on the Proposed Uniform Monthly Electricity Bill Format that contains more pro-consumer information.

Two briefings were set for Tacloban City on 19 April 2018 (Thursday) at the DILG Convention Hall and in Ormoc City on 20 April 2018 at the Ormoc City Multi-Purpose Hall.

The briefing follows Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s directive to fully implement the consumer welfare promotion provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

The briefing intends to inform the public on the Unbundling of Electricity Rates and the Proposed Uniform Monthly Electricity Bill Format of distribution utilities/electric cooperatives in relation to the implementation of Section 36 on the Unbundling of Rates and Functions of the EPIRA.

The law requires that any electric power industry PARTICIPANT shall functionally and structurally unbundle its business activities and rates in accordance with the sectors (generation, transmission and supply) and shall reflect the respective costs of providing each service.

DOE Undersecretary Petronilo L. Ilagan, who represented the Energy Chief, said the DOE’s battlecry is to serve consumers.

“The topmost element in achieving this [public service] is through greater transparency. This is the core message for today’s pivotal event that would spark reform in the consumer’s electric bill,” Ilagan said.

The DOE official said the discussions with the energy stakeholders endeavor to support the realization of the provisions in the EPIRA.

“We anchor this activity on empowering all electricity consumers. We need to equip them with accurate information as provided in the monthly electric bill to enable them to manage their electricity consumption more efficiently,” he said.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) issued in 2007 a policy directing all distribution utilities/electric cooperatives to post in their respective websites the breakdown of their generation charges, including but not limited to, their sources.

Another topic of discussion was about “ancillary services,” which are needed in the transmission sector to maintain the stability and security of the grid.

The DOE also shed light on the bill deposit, which is required from customers by distribution utilities of new and/or additional service equivalent to the estimated billing for one month. Currently, bill deposit is also not shown in the monthly billing statement.

Participants in the briefing were local government units of Tacloban City and Ormoc City, including barangay officials, the five electric cooperatives operating in Leyte, local media and other sectors related to the power industry.

UP Engineering Choir Presents Eng’g Choir in Encore

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In its 18 years of service, the University of the Philippines Engineering Choir (UP Engg Choir) has been at the forefront of developing and enriching the talents and skills of engineering students in the field of music through choral singing. It has not only entertained its audience with its different songs, but also brought pride to the college by bagging awards and recognitions from well-regarded choral competitions in the University of the Philippines.

As a way of giving thanks to the College and to the community for its continuous support to the choir's endeavors, the UP Engineering Choir will conduct its annual free-for-all concert entitled “EnggChoir in Encore” on May 10, 2018 (Thursday), 6:00 PM at the Engineering Theater of Melchor Hall. The concert will also serve as a benefit concert for the rehabilitation the UP Shopping Center.

For more information, follow the UP Engineering Choir on Facebook (@UPEngineeringChoir) and Twitter (@upenggchoir). See you there!