Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Time for Bloggers to Shape Up or Suffer the Consequence

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Thanks to Vigattin Radio of Radyo Inquirer, we are no longer just getting invites as a blog site or online media but as an accredited media practitioner too.

Vigattin is short for Victory in Governance and Technology Information Network which primarily guests technopreneurs and startups who would like some exposure. It also highlights both government and private initiatives and projects dwelling in science and technology. We would also sometimes have guests from other industries that we welcome with open arms.

We were at a press conference a few days ago and we noticed that there were no bloggers invited for that particular media briefing of what I believe is a very important news scoop that needs to be shared to as many as possible. There were several people from print, TV and radio but no bloggers. Then we realized that we've been to their other media briefings and no bloggers were there too.

You know what we did? After we asked our question during the Q&A, we also suggested that the organizers consider inviting bloggers to help them disseminate the information to a wider audience. There was also this media practitioner who raised a question on why it was very rare to hear news about one of the agencies and it was probably only because their activities and projects are not getting enough media exposure.

We know that may be the only reason because one of our relatives works for a government agency, and they have so many activities that are not known to the public. They do not practice the habit of distributing press releases or photo ops at every activity that they do, unlike politicians who would always share even their littlest feeding programs or charity donating activities.

We recommended to the organizers that they include bloggers in their event invites so we can help them in social media presence.

But why were bloggers not invited to the said press conference in the first place?

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Ushering in a new generation of empowered youth, YouthHack is an organization that educates students on the world of startup, technology, and entrepreneurship through holding various events that allow participants to pitch their own ideas, and have a go at creating their own business.

Started only one year ago by incoming University of Pennsylvania Sophomore and Xavier School graduate David Ongchoco, YouthHack has already generated much clout and is on its way to disrupt how the youth think of entrepreneurship and technology. What started out as a two-day event in Manila back in July 2014 has now become a global community with events and programs held in the US, Singapore and later this month, Hong Kong.

For this year’s YouthHack Manila Startup Challenge 2015, Kalibrr CEO Paul Rivera, ABS-CBN Chief Digital Officer Donald Lim, Katasyt.ph CEO Pinky Natividad and Chikka Founder Dennis Mendiola all came in as keynote speakers to share their story and gives pieces of advice. YouthHack also brought in workshop speakers from fast-growing startups and incubators like Kalibrr, Uber, Shopinas.com and IdeaSpace to talk about topics like ideation, marketing, product development, growth hacking and more.

Here are a few lessons we took away straight from the event held last July 25-26, where over 200 student participants came together in Xavier School.

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Last July 25-26, 2015 at Xavier School Greenhills, aspiring technopreneurs from both high school and university were faced up to this question. The YouthHack Manila Startup Challenge offered two days worth of activities to help these students think, create and innovate as they learn to assemble their very own startups. Through keynote speeches, workshops, a startup fair, and a startup competition for the participants, eyes and minds were opened and participants slowly began to find their answers to the proposed question.

To kick off the first day, YouthHack Founder David Ongchoco delivered his welcome address by sharing his origin story. “It felt surreal for the 18-year-old who just graduated high school,” he says. YouthHack sprouted from David’s realization that the youth of today can play a vital role in revolutionizing “technopreneurship”—the blend of technology and entrepreneurship—in the startup world. The organization is living proof of this belief, as aside from the Manila Startup Challenge (considered “the biggest and baddest YouthHack event” to date), YouthHack is currently growing and making its away outside our nation’s borders to places such as Philadephia and Singapore.

In the first keynote speech, we learn some of the startup industry’s secrets from Kalibrr CEO Paul Rivera. When it comes to the core of your startup, he advises them to be inspired by something more than profit. Though sometimes this would mean pursuing a riskier path, Paul persuades the participants that “[t]his is the time to be experimenting. This is not the time to play it safe.” Failure is inevitable in the startup world, and Paul reassures everyone that this is part of the process and something entrepreneurs learn to move on from. “Entrepreneurs take calculated risks and tolerate uncertainty,” he says.

“Your network becomes your net worth.” He stresses the importance of finding the right people who will help you take your startup to greatness, teaching the crowd that “[l]ife networks matter” and they must “[p]lug into the right ones.”

Boracay Beach Resort Deal Secures Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts a Piece of Philippines Paradise

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Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has secured its own piece of paradise in one of Asia’s most exclusive holiday destinations, having signed a deal to manage the Sol Marina Resort, which will soon be renamed Mövenpick Resort Boracay, in the Philippines.

Located in the north west of the island on idyllic Punta Bunga Beach, famed for its white powdery sand and aquamarine waters and considered one of Asia’s luxury resort hotspots, the upscale 333-key property will start welcoming guests in December 2015.

The property will not only shore up Mövenpick’s presence in the Philippines, where it already manages Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, but also bolster the hospitality firm’s portfolio of resort properties in top Asian locations. In Thailand the company operates two resorts in Phuket and one on Koh Samui, while construction is underway on properties in leisure destinations such as Pattaya, Thailand, Quy Nhon, Vietnam and Bali, Indonesia.

“Signing a property in Boracay is a significant development for Mövenpick, as it cements our presence in one of Asia’s most established resort destinations,” explains Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Middle East and Asia.

“Punta Bunga Beach, with its crystal-clear waters and soft white sand, is unspoiled and truly idyllic, attracting discerning travellers from all over the world from both the upscale leisure and corporate meetings segments.”

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We were recently invited last August 9, 2015 to attend a media briefing announcing the 20th anniversary of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society (FSSI). The gathering was held at the Gloria Maris Banquet Hall located at the 4th level of Gateway Mall Araneta Center Cubao Quezon City.

The organizers were having a two-day activity-filled celebration which includes open forums on many topics ranging from the challenges to development of debt, tax and fiscal issues, good governance as electoral agenda for poverty reduction or for enabling environment, climate change effects and disaster preparation, enabling cooperatives, and empowering the rural poor through Social Entrepreneurship.

There was also a Social Entrepreneurship product and photo exhibit happening simultaneously at the ground level of the same mall while the talks were being held at the Gloria Maris Banquet Hall.

At the press conference, Mr. Jay Lacsamana, Executive Director of FSSI, showed the impact of FSSI's 20 years of work in helping poor communities get out of poverty through social enterprises.

Mr. Laurence Padilla, Executive Director, of the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCARRT) and Mr. Ernesto Lactao, General Manager of Malaya Development Cooperative, were also there to give testimonials of how FSSI has helped them.

Also present were Mr. Joel Saracho of PETA, Ms. Aurora Luz Villaviray, Ex Officio Member of Board of FSSI, Ms. June Rodriguez, Corporate Secretary of the FSSI Board, Mr. Jerome Ignacio, Assistant Director of FSSI, and Ms. Kathleen Lungub, Advocacy and Communications Officer of FSSI.

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AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline for seven consecutive years, today reached another milestone with 300 million guests flown. The milestone was commemorated with a string of celebrations starting from Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, to TheRitz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place.

Jodie Lazuardie, a 30-year-old Art Director based in Jakarta was the lucky guest who booked the 300 millionth AirAsia seat. Jodie's flight booking from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta earned him a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a hefty 3 million BIG Points from AirAsia’s loyalty programme, also known as AirAsia BIG.

Upon landing in Jakarta, Jodie was treated to a Red Carpet experience which included a private pick up from the plane, fast-track immigration clearance and priority baggage handling, all the while being escorted by a group of AirAsia cabin crew.

Jodie was also driven from the airport to TheRitz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place by a private chauffeur, where he was warmly welcomed by AirAsia Group’s management team. Among those present to welcome the 300 millionth guest were Co-Founder and Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes, Co-Founder and Group CEO of AirAsia X Datuk KamarudinMeranun, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of Indonesia AirAsia X Dendy Kurniawan, CEO of Malaysia AirAsia Aireen Omar, Acting CEO of AirAsia X Benyamin Ismail, CEO of Thai AirAsia TassaponBijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X NaddaBuranasiri, Chairman of Philippines AirAsia MaanHontiverosand Alice Goh, CEO of AirAsia BIG.

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Brandon Vera has called on followers and football fans to support the upcoming match between the Philippine Azkals and Uzbekistan on Sept. 8 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Vera, who has more than 221,000 followers on Facebook alone, posted: “Azkals vs Uzbekistan on Sept. 8 at the Philippine Arena (referring to Philippine Sports Stadium). Watch it live!!! Ousss!!!!!” He accompanied it with the hashtags #WorldCupQualifier #pinoypride.

Vera has made a successful ONE Championship (ONE FC) debut last December when he stopped Ukrainian Igor Subora at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena. He used to fight under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster.

The Sept. 8 match is crucial as it could determine Azkals’ standing in Group H and its chances in the ongoing qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Philippines, with two wins, is currently in second place in Group H with six points behind North Korea, which is leading on account of having scored one more goal (5-4) than the Azkals in two matches.

Tickets for the Azkals vs. Uzbekistan game to be held at the Philippine Sports Stadium on September 8, 2015 are now available at www.ticketworld.com.ph. Tickets are at P531.80 for Price Zone 1, P331.14 for Price Zone 2 and P125.40 for Price Zone 3.

Fr. Harold Rentoria and Augustinian Fathers Announce Kaplag in Celebration of the 450th Founding of Sto. Nino in PH

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We just came from a press conference led by Father Harold Rentoria and the Augustinian Fathers. It was held at the San Agustin Church in Manila earlier this morning, August 10, 2015.

In celebration of the 450th Anniversary of the finding of the sacred image of the Sto Nino by soldiers under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, friars of the Order of St Augustine, who administer the Basilica Minore del Sto Nino de Cebu, will be bringing the pilgrim image of the historic relic to Manila and Laguna from August 14 to 18 under the aegis of Kaplag, a year-long commemorative programme that takes its name from the Visayan term for "discovery" or "finding."

Upon arrival on the 14th, there will be a motorcade to Quirino Grandstand followed by a foot procession for the image to teh San Agustin Church, and His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will preside over the Mia De Pueblo at 12 noon.

On the 15th, there will be a mass in the morning at Manila Cathedral, a trip to the Baseco compound for the veneration of the faithful, and Sinulog rites in the afternoon, before bringing back the image to the Manila Cathedral. Simultaneously, there will also be the 450 Kaplag Heritage Conference at the auditorium of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts beginning at 1:30 pm with Father Czar Emmanuel Alvarez OSA, Professor Regalado Jose Jr., and Attorney Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto as resource speakers.

Sugarleaf Makati Celebrates 4th Anniversary with #RawFoodIsTheNewHot

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Sugarleaf Makati continues its 4th anniversary celebrations with #RawFoodIsTheNewHot: a five-part workshop series with UP-cum laude graduate and Bali-certified raw chef Sonia Astudillo. “We are thrilled to be doing what we do best – organise a series of raw classes which our customers, loyal and new appreciate will surely learn a lot from.” Sugarleafer Angelo Narciso Songco shares.

#RawFoodIsTheNewHot will guide students to raw food whether they are in it for the long haul or a quickie adventure," said Chef Sonia, who's been teaching raw food classes in Manila since June 2013. Attendees learn a lot from each class and builds up one’s knowledge about raw food, benefits of ingredients, going organic, superfoods and more.

At the end of the day, we decide what is best for us and how committed we are to a certain lifestyle. In my classes, students are introduced to the perks of a healthy raw vegan lifestyle and an array of dishes–most of which are considered the healthier alternatives to the real but not so healthy thing. Classes are held in a very relaxed, home visit like style that welcomes people from all walks of life. Home is the place where you are accepted as you are - whether you're vegan, vegetarian, raw foodist, meat eater, or an optionarian. In my classes, it's all about how you feel and how your body reacts to raw food," said Chef Sonia.

#RawFoodIsTheNewHot will discuss the benefits of raw vegan lifestyle and why it is gaining popularity among the healthy community. "Years ago, we wanted fancy, elaborate dishes. Now we're moving back to basic, unprocessed food," observed Chef Sonia.

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BeamAndGo Pte Ltd, an alternative remittance service that guards against misspent funds through digital gift certificates, has forged a partnership with I-Remit to offer over-the-counter payment services for OFWs to provide for their families’ grocery shopping in the Philippines.

BeamAndGo CEO, Jonathan E. Chua said, "We understand that many of I-Remit’s customers have apportioned a specific budget from their remittances to their families’ monthly grocery spending. Instead of sending cash, OFWs can now purchase our convenient digital gift certificates which can be redeemed by their loved ones at our participating supermarkets.”

The insight on the behavior of I-Remit customers is further supported by a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) study on OFWs which revealed that 82% of overseas remittances are allocated for their families’ basic needs such as food, supplies, medicine, healthcare, and utilities.

The partnership with I-Remit, which owns 12% of OFW remittance market, will expand BeamAndGo’s distribution network to over 1,400 payment centers. At present, BeamAndGo actively promotes its digital gift certificates in 9 markets: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, UK, UAE, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and the Philippines.