Comic Mondays with Seasoned Ventriloquist Ruther Urquia

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Start your week right with laughter as the BEST Stand-Up Comedy acts in the country is coming to Vu’s Sky Lounge!

This September, Vu’s Sky Lounge launches its new themed night - Comic Mondays with The Comedy Cartel - a veteran comedy group who has been performing all over the Philippines since 2007.

on Monday (Sept. 21), Seasoned Ventriloquist Ruther Urquia will take centerstage at Vu's Sky Lounge! 

Show starts at 9:30 PM! See you there!

Tickets are priced at Php 888.00 with a complimentary standard drink.

Vu’s Sky Lounge is the first sky bar in Ortigas, located at the 45th floor of Marco Polo Hotel, Ortigas, Manila.

For inquiries or reservations, text 0922-8596144.

Lazada Mobile App Updated for Enhanced Online Shopping Experience, Update Available Now

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lazada, the Philippines’ One-Stop Shopping and Selling Destination recently launched an updated version of its mobile app. Available to download for free in AppStore (for iOS users) and Google Play Store (for Android users), the updated Lazada Mobile App is part of Lazada’s continuous effort to encourage more Filipinos to shop online.

The new Lazada app update provides a more seamless shopping experience through its new and improved design and in-app features. The new homepage features more product deals, shopping guides, and flash sales. For all those looking for the best deals from their favourite brands, the new Lazada app update has a brand tab containing the top Lazada brand partners in one tap. It is also equipped with an order tracker where shoppers can view the order status anytime, anywhere.

“We want more Filipinos to experience how effortless and fun it is to shop with the new Lazada Mobile App. We understand that our consumers now spend more time on their smartphones and it is important that we provide them the best-in-class mobile shopping experience. This includes optimized viewing and browsing of our products, secure payment options, and our robust logistics capabilities and customer service,” says Inanc Balci Co-Founder and CEO of Lazada Philippines.

Real Estate and the Importance of Social Media in the Philippines

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Let’s face it: most people, especially in the Philippines, do their research online and looks for various sources to know whether a piece of information is legit or not. The social media community has also grown bigger over the past few years, which is why most businesses spend a lot of money just to be in their customers feed in the hopes of gaining a sale, or simply for exposure.

“The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life.” - Andrew Brown

There’s no difference when it comes to real estate, wherein buyers look online for answers to their questions, and sellers seek potential clients. But while the internet has already become a trusted medium, using it should always be done with caution.

Open Data, Government and Freedom of Information: Effects of the Political Landscape of the Philippines

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Ever wonder why the Freedom of Information Bill is still not rendered to as a law? Ever heard of such a thing as “Open Data”? The UP People Oriented Leadership for the Interest of Community Awareness (UP POLITICA) co-organized with the School of Data, will conduct a forum entitled: Open Data, Government and Freedom of Information: Effects of the Political Landscape of the Philippines. The event will be held on September 28, 2015, from 1:00-4:00pm at the Claro M. Recto Hall, Faculty Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

The forum seeks to elucidate the difference between Open Data and Freedom of Information; how actors from the private sector and civil society groups see its role in promoting a more transparent and accountable government; and how Open Data is shaping up the political landscape of the Philippines. Invited speakers are Ivory Ong of the Open Data Task Force – Department of Budget and Management, Ms. Happy Feraren of Bantay.ph, and Malou Mangahas of Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism.

The Eye Bank Foundation Launches Exhibit of Artworks Centered on Gift of Sight

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The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines (EBFP) opened last September 14 an exhibit of around 80 artworks for its Nationwide Poster Making Contest. The public viewing, which will run until September 19 at the lobby of Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, features the creations of Filipino artists which were made through various techniques to encapsulate the EBFP’s poster contest theme for 2015: “A journey’s end, a gift of hope, a new beginning.”

Submissions came from the metro to as far as the Visayas as a testament of the growing number of support to the EBFP’s advocacy of giving the gift of sight. All the artworks underline the theme which references to the hope that donors give others at the end of one’s journey on earth through the act of cornea or eye donation. The theme elaborates that both the recipient and the donor begin new lives; one still on earth and the other in the afterlife.

“It is heartwarming to know that we have local artists from all over the Philippines who support our cause at the Eye Bank Foundation. These artworks fuel our excitement. Hopefully, these will equally inspire the viewing public to come and join our endeavor as we mark another milestone of the EBFP’s 20th year celebration,” Dr. Minguita Padilla, President and CEO of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines, said.

A press conference was held by Dr. Padilla, together with other members of the board, to foster the participation of and dialogue between the EBFP, stakeholders, partners and media personalities on the former’s campaign to reduce corneal blindness in the country; as well as to showcase the wonderful works of art created by Filipinos to inspire others to share the gift of sight. Guests to the event were also serenaded by the Lyric Opera of the Philippines’ tenor Sherwin Sozon and soprano Ana Feleo. Some of the judges who were present to officially launch the exhibit are renowned painter Manuel Ocampo and owner of web design company MAGCON, Mike Maglipon. Joining them in adjudging the best entries are Arch. Joven Ignacio and ophthalmologists/artists Dr. Eva Olivar-Santos and Dr. Victor Lopez.

Brokers Can Start Receiving Inquiries Through SMS

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In an effort to make its service more efficient for licensed real estate professionals, global property portal Lamudi Philippines (www.lamudi.com.ph) is launching an SMS service that will have brokers receiving text messages from prospective buyers directly to their mobile phones. This service allows brokers to receive SMS notifications one hour after property-hunters have inquired about their properties through the Lamudi website.

According to Lamudi Philippines managing director Jacqueline van den Ende, the first hour after a potential buyer inquires is a very important window in sales. “In order for real estate brokers to successfully close this sale, they must reply to a customer inquiry before another seller does.”

In fact, as study conducted by U.S.-based CRM platform Salesforce, online customers who receive a reply one hour after an inquiry are 60 times more likely to convert than those contacted after 24 hours.

Called the first-mover advantage, a seller who replies to an inquiry the fastest can earn a potential buyer’s loyalty. This is really important in e-commerce, said van den Ende, as online customers are generally not loyal. “Research shows that even through a customer is going price-shopping online, a sense of loyalty drives them back to the vendor who responded to them first.”

Ekotek's Spectacular September Promo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Your September is about to get even more spectacular as the Ekotab Encore 3G takes center stage. That’s right, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Encore 3G for only P3999*, that’s a whopping P1500 discount.

Oh but the fun doesn’t stop there. This September, we’re serving up 3 power packed combos that are sure to keep you updated all day, every day: the Storage Bundle, Power Bundle and the Super Bundle.

STORAGE BUNDLE: One can never have too much storage space am I right? We say there’s no such thing as having too many selfies, too many games and the like. With that in mind, we’re throwing in an 8GB MicroSD card with your Encore 3G for only P100.

POWER BUNDLE: Always on the go but can’t get enough of your favorite games? We’ve got just the thing for you. Just add P600 and you can get an Ekopack Slim 4000Ah with your Encore 3G!

SUPER BUNDLE: Can’t decide which combo to get? Neither can we! The Super Bundle gives you both the power and extra storage you need for only P4799*

Are you as excited as we are? Then hurry to any of our kiosks** from September 15-30, 2015.

Stoves Fired Up, Spatulas Ready, Which Team Will Triumph In Kitchen Whiz

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Follow two teams of junior chefs face-off to score the most points in KITCHEN WHIZ, a fast and fabulous kids’ game show with a focus on the world of food, cooking, and food science! On each episode, the contestants will compete in fun, messy, tactile tasks as they take on challenges posed by host Alice Zaslavsky. Along the way, they will also find out interesting facts about food, cooking styles, and ingredients. KITCHEN WHIZ premieres on Discovery Kids every weekday at 5.30 p.m. (SG/MY/PH) from 21st September 2015.

KITCHEN WHIZ is a food competition show for kids that will have contestants aged 12-14 years old having a sizzling good time – and feeling the heat – as they try to out-do each other and take home great prizes! Two teams will be set different tasks by host and self-confessed “food nerd” Alice Zaslavsky. In the first round, the masterchef hopefuls must take the Food Facts quiz which focuses on the ingredients, taste, texture of a particular dish, and cooking style. They will earn a point for each question they get right. Round Two is called ‘We Show! You Do!’ where contestants have three minutes to replicate a recipe demonstrated by a celebrity chef. Points are earned for each correct step, and teams can score bonus points if they successfully recreated the entire dish.

Then, the teams face the ‘Kitchen Ninja’ – a silent but hilarious master in the art of quick cooking. Will the dishes pass the Kitchen Ninja’s taste test? The scores are tallied up and the winning team is announced. The show does not stop here, as the Kitchen Ninja dishes out a bonus challenge called Alphabet Soup and contestants must draw on their spelling skills. But this isn’t a regular spelling bee… Catch the excitement and join the teams as they race around the super-stocked Kitchen Whiz Pantry! Episodes encore every weekday at 5.30 p.m.

Have Your Wendy’s Favourites Delivered With foodpanda!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With its classic premium hamburgers made with square-shaped patties, signature sandwiches, fried chicken meals, zesty salads, and refreshing Frosty beverages, Wendy’s has always served great-tasting, quality food to the delight of Filipinos, guided by its promise, “quality is our recipe”.

Now, you can enjoy all your Wendy’s favourites at home or at the office, as the famous food chain now delivers with foodpanda! Simply download the foodpanda app or log on to www.foodpanda.ph to place your order.

Whether you are big on bacon flavour and enjoy the Baconator, with two-quarter pound beef patties, two slices of American cheese and six strips of smoked bacon in a Kaiser bun; are a hotdog lover and enjoy the New York Franks with your choice of toppings; or prefer to go healthy with the Taco Salad, made with diced tomatoes, taco chips, signature chili con carne and grated cheese, Wendy’s is sure to have something for you!

Download the foodpanda app now or go to www.foodpanda.ph to view Wendy’s menu and have fresh and delicious meals delivered to your doorstep!

Like the official foodpanda Philippines Facebook page (www.facebook.com/foodpandaphilippines) and follow foodpanda on Twitter (@foodpandaPH) and Instagram (@foodpanda_ph) for more information.

Joint Globe, Police Entrapment Operation Leads To Arrest Of Tattoo Modem Fraudster

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A buy-bust operation conducted by a joint police and Globe Telecom security team resulted in the arrest of a fraudster in Cabanatuan City engaged in illegal sale of Globe Tattoo LTE modems.

Arrested was Paul John Edison Ramirez, 21 years old, a resident of No. 219 Ilang-ilang St. Barangay DS Garcia, Cabanatuan City. Ramirez is believed to be engaged in a modus operandi that involves retrieval of LTE or WiMAX modems from legitimate customers on pretext of an upgrade or repair. The modems are then reconfigured and sold at a one-time cost payment in popular social networking sites such as Facebook.

Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo said the unscrupulous sale of Globe Tattoo modems could compromise mobile data services provided by the company to its legitimate customers.

“We would like to call on our customers to report to us any dubious offers involving Globe Tattoo modems particularly those that are inclusive of free internet offers. We would like to inform our customers that such offers do not exist and are coming from illegitimate sources. As Globe will not tolerate any unlawful use of our network, rest assured that we will continue to work closely with police authorities in resolving such illegal activities,” Castelo said. He emphasized that appropriate criminal charges will be filed against those who engage in illegal sale of Globe Tattoo modems.