Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Monday, February 15, 2016

Digital Tech Startup Squadzip Closes Successful Seed Funding from Kickstart Ventures and Plug and Play

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Squadzip, a mobile-first software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for productivity and collaboration that applies the ease of use and familiarity of popular social media platforms to a sales and project management context, received an undisclosed amount of funding from corporate venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures and Silicon Valley-based seed-stage investor and innovation platform Plug and Play Tech Center.

Squadzip is the first co-investment between Kickstart Ventures and Plug and Play Tech Center. This also marks the first investment of Plug and Play Tech Center in the Philippines.

Squadzip was inspired by CEO and co-founder Roman Mercado’s own frustrations in using productivity solutions while he was working in enterprise sales for medical, banking, and digital media industries.

In his corporate life, Mercado saw many corporations sink huge amounts of money into enterprise solutions, the implementation of which meant high upfront fees, hardware cost, complex user trainings, and time delays. These solutions ranged from the free to typically expensive legacy enterprise platforms. The situation prompted Mercado to tap colleague and now CTO and co-founder Joaquin Barandino to help build Squadzip, a productivity tool for businesses that allows teams to communicate in real-time and share data without having to endure lengthy forms.

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The Government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF), reinforces efforts for Mindanaoans to enjoy the benefits of reliable and continuous supply of electricity.

The IATFSEF fast-tracks resolution of the right-of-way (ROW) issues to strengthen collaboration among national agencies and law enforcers to facilitate restoration of transmission tower no. 25, which remains isolated since the rehabilitation crew is being denied access by the claimants/landowners. The situation has impeded Agus Hydroelectric Plant Units 1 & 2 from supplying about 80 megawatts of cheaper power to Mindanao consumers and providing reliable power supply reducing, if not eliminating, rotating brownouts.

Apart from the provision of inexpensive power from hydro, the IATFSEF is exhausting all means to immediately return the benefits of host communities from the sale of the electricity from Agus 1 & 2. Under the Energy Regulations 1-94, host communities of Power generating facilities are granted a share of P0.01/kWh of electricity sales to be used for projects that will uplift the living conditions of the communities.

If the transmission tower remains unrepaired, this will result in unutilized electric power generated from Agus 1 & 2, depriving people in affected areas of their entitlement to undertake potential projects; such as, electrification, livelihood, health benefits (i.e., ambulance, clinic equipment), social infrastructures (i.e., roads, sports court), and reforestation, among others.

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I used to help out my uncle in his Goto business when I stayed for awhile in Pasig at my "Mama" who is my grandmother's youngest sister so I sort of have an idea how its run and managed. It was a time when I stopped my college days because of financial problems due to the separation of my parents. I could even still remember how I ask customers what they like to put in their "lugaw," "goto," or "arroz caldo."

Until now, I couldn't still remember the differences of the three varieties of the same porridge-based delicacy that is best eaten either on it's own or with "tokwa't baboy" or what we know as tofu and fried pork together with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar and some sugar together with chopped onions. Though the porridge can be eaten with very little added ingredients, we have a choice whether to put hard-boiled eggs or the "tuwalya" or a particular kind of pork meat part called trife into our porridge. Some would put chicken or pork meat or even the chicken feet which is a favorite of many Filipinos.

I like mine with chicken, hard boiled eggs and the "tokwa't baboy" as a regular side dish. Sometimes I would eat it along with "lumpia" or spring rolls, while others can choose puto or rice cakes but I guess that's a better match for the "dinuguan" or pork blood stew.

I know that this kind of business is very profitable which is why they have popularized the term "tubong lugaw" because you can do things to the "goto" to maximize your earnings.However, it sacrifices the quality by masquerading the "goto" with spices or condiments like soy sauce and pepper. But the owners of Goto Monster says she makes sure the food they serve are top quality and not the usual type of servings that are only meant to increase profit earnings.

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Chinatown Lai lai Hotel celebrated Chinese New Year with a big bang as several programs along with talent competitions entertained both local business owners and residents, as well as the numerous visitors from all over the Philippines and even from other countries, on the eve of the Chinese New Year fro 2016.

Not to be missed out are the many dragon dances all over Chinatown Binondo. In fact, on my way to the hotel for their media event were many dragons of all shapes, sizes and colors. Chinese people often use the term “Descendants of the Dragon” as a sign of ethnic identity. They are often seen on festive celebrations especially the start of the Chinese New year.

The Dragon has always been the highlight of the celebration and represents power, wisdom, and wealth.. The Dragon Dance performed on New Year's Day scares away the evil spirits and all the bad luck with them.

I passed a couple of them on my way to the location of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel in the corner of Ongpin and Padilla streets in Binondo, Manila so I was surprised that these similar dragon dances have been occurring for the entire day.

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A new adventure-packed seminar is coming your way! 5TRIVED Productions proudly presents BLOGSMASH: Tour. Eat. Blog! “Discovering the Content Hub of Marketing through Blogging”. It will be held this coming 23rd of February, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, at SM City Sta. Mesa, Cinema 9. Generally, it is for the marketing students of PUP-Manila, but the event will also gather the students from different courses, as well as from the different schools/universities like Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Quezon City Polytechnic Univerity, Centro Escolar University, and more. The seats are limited, so the organizers will implement the First-Come, First-Served policy. Nevertheless, the admission is free, and interested participants are all welcome.

The seminar aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) discuss the importance of making blog as the company’s content marketing hub, 2) enlighten the audience about how influencing the blog media today, and the bloggers as the new brand ambassadors, 3) exploring the nature of Food and Travel blogs, and 4) showcase the Blogging Community in the Philippine. These objectives will be possible to tackle, with the help of the three (3) guest speakers who are in line and known in the realm of blogging. The event also wouldn’t be possible without the support of the sponsors and media partners. Please see poster for details.

5TRIVED Productions is a group which composed of twenty-three (23) fourth year marketing students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Main Campus.

The Philippines is 7107 No Longer with 400 New Islands Discovered

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Mapping agency National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) recently announced the discovery of 400 more islands within the Philippines where mostly can be found within Mindanao.

So now the Philippines can be called the country with 7507 islands. Textbooks need to be rewritten, and teachers need to be aware of the discovery. I'm sure there are more than 400 islands out there that are still waiting to be discovered as advancement in technology will allow us to become more skillful in determining our geographical status.

If there are islands somewhere within the West Philippine Sea, then we should guard these islands or else China will try to claim if it...so to speak. They say the entire Philippine Islands is in the watchful eyes of greedy China. Lol!

The Republic of the Philippines is a sovereign state in archipelagic Southeast Asia categorized into three main geographical divisions which are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Our islands are hotbeds of life, with approximately 12,000 plant species, 1,100 land vertebrate species and at least 400 coral species. And more are being discovered as you read this! More than 5,000 islands of the archipelago are yet to be named. With the addition of 400 more, that means 5,400 are now still nameless. Where does one register to have an island named after a person? Who do I need to pay to have an island named after me?

Go Negosyo and ATI on Radyo Inquirer's Vigattin Radio Show

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A day before the special day of the hearts which we all call Valentine's Day, were guests coming from the Go Negosyo team, namely Aeron and Gian, who were mainly there to promote the Go Negosyo 8th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit on February 18, 2016 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Our discussion focused on how they advocate entrepreneurship and shared some inspiring success stories brought about by setting up an own business. Elison asked them about possible sources of capital while I told them I share the same advocacy towards a vision where Filipinos no longer seek employment but can stand on its own by passionately putting up our own businesses.

What is the right business to setup? It will largely depend on your interest, skills and passion. Not all stories may turn out positive because every business has always been a risky venture, but if we are really determined to succeed, failures will only strengthen our will to bounce back and try again.

Also one of our guests was Rommel, the Creative Director of American Technologies, Inc. (ATI), the sole distributor of the Wacom brand in the country. The brand is known mostly for drawing tablets which most artists use for their digital drawings or animation requirements.

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The Panagbenga or the Baguio Flower Festival is when flowers conquer the city of Baguio. The term “Panagbenga” comes from a Kankanaey term meaning “season of blooming.” It is the time when flowers are in full bloom thus many can generously use them to decorate almost everything, from the home interiors to the exteriors of offices and establishments.

Most of the days in Baguio are always cooler compared to Manila and the other parts of the Philippines so the plants and flowers grow a lot better and more beautiful because of this cool climate. This is why Baguio has been called the Summer Capital of the Philippines because it is a favorite destination when its disturbingly hot in Manila.

Aside from the Strawberry Farm in Benguet where you can eat ice cream with real strawberries, or the other popular places to visit within the areas of Baguio city like Burnham Park and Camp John Hay, Baguio has also been conquered by the biggest mall chain in the country.

Baguio celebrates starting February 1, but the highlight of the event is of course at the very last week which is on February 27, 2016 when they hold the Grand Street Dancing Parade at Panagbenga Park-Session Road-Magsaysay Avenue-Harrison Road – Athletic Bowl starting at 8 am, then on February 28, 2016, the Grand Float Parade will be held at DILG – Session Road – Harrison Road – Athletic Bowl.

Liquid Concepts Scores Golden Buzzer after Wedding Proposal on Pilipinas Got Talent

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"Liquid Concept's performance and proposal display was so perfect for today. With that precision to bar tending, kahit walang proposal I'll press the golden buzzer if I'm one of the judges." -

Will you marry me baby?

Love is definitely in the air on Valentines Day at Pilipinas Got Talent reality TV competition when a proposal took place with the tandem called Liquid Concepts.

The first ones who actually made a similar proposal were the couple doing interpretative/contemporary dance bf/gf confession of love, and then the second couple is this bar tending performers whose male member decided to do a wedding proposal.

Well, they were successful in creating a stir among the audience as even the peeps on social media are sharing the moment and is now going viral or trending among netizens.

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"I don't know where to put my attention. That proposal sa Pilipinas Got Talent, sa scandal ni Michael Pangilinan, or sa suicide sa SM Megamall. Busy Valentine's Day. Sad pa ba your heart?" - MJ De Leon

This is the most depressing news of the day.

The breaking news that is now spreading all over social media is that a lesbian committed suicide by jumping from the 4th or 5th floor of SM Megamall Building B. Many heard the loud fall and were all shocked when they saw the body. "The alleged suicide appeared to be a female wearing green t-shirt and khaki shorts. The lifeless body of the person was sprawled face down on the mall’s tiled floor near an elevator."

The photo above was posted by a Cherryl Luis in one of the threads that discussed the suicide.

True enough, it's supposed to be the day when love is all over, but sadly one soul is now no longer among the living as she obviously has a broken heart that is so depressed that she decided to end it on this special day when hearts should be rejoicing.

I really do not know how to react upon hearing about this very unfortunate moment, but now is the time to keep your loved ones closer and to also remember that there may be lonely individuals out there that are desperately seeking our affection.

They need our love. Be generous enough to share some affection especially to those who are seemingly troubled.