Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Dole Outs: The Answer to Poverty Alleviation?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Dole outs? Hindi ba mas magandang that the government empower them? Providing the Metro's poor with livelihood skills, trainings for behavioral change, job opportunities, and providing them with good social services are way better than just giving them money. Just don't give them fish, but teach them how to fish. Kapag naubos ang dole out, maghihintay na naman sa bagong ililimos? At hindi ba madami din sa nakakatanggap ng 4Ps ang hindi qualified?" - Heizel Laru-an Mainar
In reaction to an article published by the Inquirer.net regarding the P3.32 billion in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) funds in 2016 to be distributed to the so-called "poorest of the poor" communities of Metro Manila, "bringing to P6.74 billion the National Capital Region’s allocations under the government’s flagship poverty alleviation program during the 2015-2016 period."

The article continues to say "The amount, however, put the NCR’s two-year budget only in the 12th position among 17 regions nationwide, which received a total allocation of P125.05 billion," as reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead agency implementing the program.

Though, "In order to get these cash subsidies, children beneficiaries must be enrolled in school and maintain an attendance of at least 85 percent of class days every month. On the other hand, children aged 5 and below must get regular preventive health checkups and vaccines while those aged 6 to 14 must receive deworming pills twice a year. Pregnant women beneficiaries must avail of pre- and post-natal care while parents are required to attend family development sessions, which include topics on responsible parenting, health and nutrition."

I still believe giving out dole-outs is the wrong move.

All Systems Go for the Philippine 3D Printing and Digifab Expo & Conference 2015

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Imagine a world where creating a product was as simple as “making” it in your own backyard.

Want chocolate? Print it at home. Want those cute pumps? Print it at home. Fashion jewelry? A human organ. A bicycle? A toy action figure? A 3D printer allows us to practically “make” anything.

3D Printing has been rapidly making waves in the maker community and has been touted to usher in a new age in manufacturing.

And the Philippines better be well and ready for this next industrial revolution.

Thus, it’s all systems go for the first ever Philippine 3D Printing and Digifab Expo and Conference 2015 on August 7 to 9 at the SMX Taguig at SM Aura.

3D Printers have been present since the 80’s but it has registered rapid growth as it is now being used in medicine (making prosthetics and even replicas of human organs for surgery), aerospace, car manufacturing, architecture, footwear production, fashion jewelry manufacturing, name it.

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Nowadays, there seems to be a hackathon everywhere we look, and why not? A hackathon is an engaging way to perk up individuals or groups to bring out potentially productive apps that can be useful in many industries. A new-found system can become applicable not only to the current theme of the hackathon but can also be applied elsewhere.

I've been to a rice hackathon at IRRI, a Hack the Climate event at St. Benilde, and a lot more that's too many to mention. I guess everyone is all in favor of finding creative solutions or innovations to our many problems that currently has antiquated or no existing solutions at all.

There are so many young and bright minds out there that there's bound to be someone who can discover an epic way to do things quickly, efficiently or differently.

On August 15th and 16th, WebGeek Philippines will be hosting the fourth edition of the WebGeek DevCup Hackathon at Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, Meralco Compound, Ortigas.

WebGeek has consistently organized DevCup since 2012. From the very start, the goal was to showcase the Filipino talent in information technology and competitiveness in the global space. To confidently compete in the global space. Last year, there were 65 teams who managed to create 55 apps at the end of the 2-day hackathon.

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You can increase your chances of survival during a storm with careful preparation. During emergencies, your priority should always be the lives of people. Protecting your property from damages caused by typhoons are best done by studying your insurance options such as house insurance or comprehensive car insurance.

Here are 18 useful tips to help you survive the next super typhoon.

Before the Typhoon

1) Store enough food and water that can last your family for at least four days. Storing food that doesn’t need to be cooked is best for emergencies. You can could also store charcoal or get an extra LPG tank so that you can heat food even when the power runs out.

2) Don’t forget medicines! You should have the basics like wound care equipment and fever medicines in your first-aid kit. Also stock up on prescription medicines for you and others in your household.

3) Keep updated on the weather reports. Know the path of the storm and how fast it’s moving.

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Justine Joy, a Filipino - Australian-based independent artist, is now in the Philippines to promote her carrier single “Tonight” which she also wrote included in her debut album entitled “Fly Away.” Now available in all Odyssey Music Stores.

Her album launch was recently held at RJ Bistro located at the basement of Dusit Thani hotel in Makati last July 8, 2015. WazzupPilipinas.com was there to cover the event because we totally support newly emerging artists especially those with Filipino blood.

"Fly Away" is a testament of her fun and carefree spirit that soars high with her intense passion for music. Spending her childhood years honing her talent in singing by taking a vocal coach, joining singing talent competition, and performing in numerous school plays, her big break was in 2006 when she was spotted by a dance talent scout and persuaded her to be part of the newly formed hip hop dance crew “Gigabeatz” whom she went on to dance and sing with them until 2008.

Gigabeatz won and placed in the top spots in several local hip hop dance competitions such as “Looze Control” and “Groove Hills”, as well as performed at many local charity and nightclub events.

Dr. Mark Pegram Leads Breast Cancer Symposium at AHMC-Asian Cancer Institute

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A few of my relatives and friends died because of the big C which we all know as cancer. Unfortunately, no one among them survived from the disease even after so many treatments. Some of them refused to spend so much, thinking it will only leave their loved ones in debt due to the very expensive series of treatments that need to be undertaken. They believed the treatments were no longer curing them but only prolonging their agony. Many have succumbed to desperation after hearing they are at a stage when cure is no longer possible. It is so sad that the disease was not detected at an earlier stage.

Since majority of the people in the Philippines are poor or mid-income employees, it was not surprising to learn that our country has the biggest case of breast cancer as reported by the Philippines Society of Medical Oncology. There have been so many deaths due to cancer. Last year's estimates by the WHO were 28, 700 males and 27, 900 females. The men are more susceptible to lung, liver and colorectal cancer, while women suffer with breast, colorectal and lung as the most fatal.

Tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity are the major factors that can heighten the chances of getting cancer, as well as other diseases. I really believe we should start living a healthy lifestyle before its too late.

We recently got an invitation to attend the Asian Hospital and Medical Center-Asian Cancer Institute’s (AHMC-ACI) first multidisciplinary scientific symposium on breast cancer entitled “Optimizing Outcomes in Neoadjuvant Breast Cancer Management”. The symposium was held on July 11, 2015 (Saturday) from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) located in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

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Krispy Kreme has just announced their promotional offer of Php 78 for every half-dozen doughnuts on July 13, 2015 from 7 am to 8 pm at all their 60 branches. This is in celebration of their 78th Anniversary or what they would like to call birthday celebration.

An advance party was held last July 10 at their flagship branch at Bonifacio Global City to announce to the blogging community about the great news. Ms. Ariane Martinez Valinton, Marketing Head of Krispy Kreme was there to celebrate with us for a doughnut party. Being 9 years already in the Philippines, the Filipinos also share some sentimental memories of the brand just like me.

I remember my college days when I would often pass by this doughnut shop along Taft Avenue on my way to my Intramuros-based school known as the Mapua Institute of Technology. Doughnuts or donuts were popular for me because it gives me that sugar rush I need for hectic school work. I remember my goal back then was to be able to taste a different flavor of doughnut every visit. If Instagram or Facebook were already existing back then, I would have filled the said social media accounts with photos of doughnuts.

I was also working my way through college so a bite of some donuts would keep me energized. I was studying during the day and working at night up until morning. My colleagues and I would always hang-out at doughnut shops after work since most restaurants during the wee hours of the morning were already closed. There were not too much 24-hour-open establishments back then since call centers and BPOs where not popular yet. But I found myself visiting the doughnut shops at anytime of the day simply because a sweet tooth would ignore time when the craving kicks in.

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We were in a desperate search for a generator or an alternative power source when the country was once suffering from abnormal power outages and black-outs. I remember my father concocting up something with the car battery and was amazed how he was able to make it power a light source from it. I was so young back then that it was already something magical for me.

The curious me was expected to tinker with the setup and I could see the clamps and cables running from the battery to the light. It could also run a mini electric fan but we never tried hooking it up to the television.

Now that we can afford to buy a generator, the main problem is the huge space it requires and the noise it will produce. I always prefer to work late at night until the wee hours of the morning so I'm afraid the neighbors may complain if I run the generator during that time. We could probably have that setup at our home in Pateros or at our rest house in Rizal province, but we cannot really do that at our "condo" in Pasig.

Now that Powertech Asia Pacific introduced a portable indoor generator they are calling Promate 240, and for less than 10k only, we are given a better option for our household power needs. I've seen from their mini demo skit that it can even run the LED TV while the electric fan and lights are simultaneously running. That's something we would appreciate especially during the rainy season when we experience more brownouts and power outages.

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A panelist at a break-out session in one of the conferences that I attended once said that we should not be antagonizing the "big players" like those who monopolizes the industry since there's only one or few choices out there. We should be working with them instead since no one will be eager to work with you if you start out the relationship with ill thoughts towards the other. Instead we should focus on the positives they say. However, it is sometimes hard to ignore and not give any comments about the shortcomings and intentional drawbacks to progress especially if those responsible are coming up with absurd resolutions that only restricts, limits and gives us no choice but submission.

Just like the deafening question of whether we should react about the 12 year old child celebrity Andrea Brillantes who recently trended in social media because of a video scandal, we are split into either talking about it due to curiosity and our eagerness in sharing the latest news, or staying away from the issue out of respect to the people affected.

Though the issue about the oligarch monopolies is so totally different from the viral scandal involving the underage, both issues divides our decisions and warrants us to ask everyone else if we should side with a team or remain apolitical, and if we should protect the innocent and promote respect, or continue in sharing the news as it happens and how it happens.

We add to the noise if our news reporting is not based on well-researched information coming from reliable sources. But for those of us who do not have access to such privileges just like the big publications and TV networks, we try our best to release "balanced news and fearless views" coming from what is readily available to us. You'll be surprised that sometimes it is within the noise where we can find the most significant information.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What does Abbey Fleck, Richie Stachowski, George Nissen, KK Gregory, Hart Main, Frank Epperson, Sarah Buckel, Kelly Reinhart, Chester Greenwood, and Cassidy Goldstein have in common?

If you will Google their names, you might get results that they are just some of the inventors who came up with ideas at a very young age. At a time when most kids are playing with their toys, these individuals are patenting their creations giving them the right to earn from the royalties when their products are used and sold.

Galileo Enrichment Learning Program shares the vision of nurturing children to grow up like these bright minds by proving them with top class and innovative learning methods that traditional schools could not offer. It is within their classrooms where children reach their full potential to be more globally competitive.

The learning center recently held its 3rd Singapore Math Learning Festival's plenary and learning sessions last July 4, 2015 at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati city. The whole day activity had educators all gathered to listen to speakers who have excelled in their respective fields and shared the knowledge, insights, skills and technologies they know for the benefit of the attendees.

The learning methods and ideas will hopefully be echoed to other teachers so they can all teach their students valuable ways to become more productive and efficient.