Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Monday, May 16, 2016

Casa Italia Cafe Food Tasting Event with Zomato Foodies

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I admire food establishments, such as restaurants or cafes, when they make efforts to include the public in guiding them towards the best decisions in finding the right taste, texture, color, combination, etc., of their newly concocted dishes.

Normally, most would just trust their own team and keep it within the kitchen and the chefs, plus the owners hands-on running the restaurant, and a few higher management, to decide on what new dishes to promote or introduce.

Zomato, the online food and restaurant portal containing a wide database of establishments for foodies, invited us to join their food tasting event at Casa Italia Cafe BGC branch.

Upon entering the restaurant, the first things that you would notice is their various selection of gelatos and the huge number 8 at one portion of their wall. It gives you an impression that it's most likely an ice cream (for those who do not know the difference between an ice cream and a gelato). If you did not take a look at their menu, you would miss the fact that they also offer other culinary delights.

Aside from their superb gelatos (that frozen delight that's a lot better than ice cream), Casa Italia Cafe also serve hot dishes. It is very evident from their giant menu displayed at the front of their restaurant which could be a clever idea since customers would already have an idea of the food and prices of the dishes. They won't also get intimidated when they enter the restaurant and browsed the menu containing the name of the dishes and their corresponding costs.

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Miss Bikini Philippines 2016 has succeeded in getting my interest again when it presented to media the 30 candidates all vying for the highest title possible. My becoming a media partner of the event was an opportunity to once again see bikini-clad sexy and alluring ladies in action on the runway. There is so much to see, but so little power (for both the camera or smartphone) left to do a more complex and elaborate presentation.

Since I arrived early at the Diamond Hotel in Manila on May 15, 2016 for the media presentation, I was able to catch them practicing their walk on the runway. I really thought they nailed it on the last practice, but when the actual event took place, the mistake was almost a disaster.

I also took the liberty of taking some photos and videos using my smartphone and immediately uploaded them on my social media accounts as BTS or Behind The Scene updates.

If a company wants to reach a greater number of people, the best way is to find a blog or social media account that could definitely help them on your way. You might find yourself among the many who would understand that most people nowadays use their smartphones to research or find a specific destination or establishment.

Below are the photos of every candidate wearing their swimsuit attire. Fesh from the phtod aken using the:

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Congratulations to Miss Bikini Philippines 2016 candidates #3 (Clarise Perez), #24 (Christine Opiaz), #25 (Ivy Tapic) and #16 (Gregelhi Pahilga) for the special awards they received at the media presentation of the Slimmers World International beauty pageant celebrating the beauty of the Filipina at a higher level as it continues to set trends in the search of the lady who will represent Asia's leader in slimming, fitness, health and beauty.

Now on its 9th year, Slimmers World International takes a turn to high fashion with Miss Bikini Philippines 2016. The beauty pageant continues to take the country by storm as it brings out the best bikini figures in the nation. After months of screening, 30 candidates have been chosen to heat up the ramp as the competition takes on high fashion for this year’s theme.

On May 15, Ms. Bikini Philippines opened the competition with a press launch and the pre-pageant at the Diamond Hotel Manila. As expected, it was attended by many members of the media including some who participated as judges to rate every contestant so the organizers can determine who the people think really stands out.

There are two parts of the media presentation - a swimsuit presentation with creative posing and Q&A in the morning, and a long or evening gown competition in the afternoon. The hosts were both vibrant enough to keep the mood of the audience alive and at awe even after a hard fall by one of the candidates who quickly stood up and continued her catwalk.

Miss Tourism Philippines 2016 Candidates: Glamorous Wearing Their National Costumes

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The month of May has always been regarded as the merry month of blooms and foliages, when flowers and greeneries are profusely in full season. This is why there's a Flores De Mayo which means Flowers of May and highighted by a Santacruzan were beautiful ladies parade wearing their best and most flattering gowns.

The candidates recently wore Filipiñiana gowns or their national costumes showing the best creation of our fashion designers for the Flores de Mayo showcase at the 2nd Tourism, Lifestyle and Business Expo held on May 10, 2016 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Here are some more awesome group photos of the candidates that were all smiles and elegance during the event. I am truly proud of our Filipino designers for their magnificent Filifiniana gowns that indeed brought out the oozing appeal of every candidate. The Philippines is truly blessed to have so many beautiful women.

We witnessed the creativity in showcasing the Filipinos' ingenuity and flair for fashion. It would also be interesting for you to know whose creation reflected our value, culture and traditions that grabbed even the attention and nod of our judges during the national costume competition held at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City before the 2nd Tourism Lifestyle Business and Expo event in Makati.

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We are sending our good luck to Raniel Dy, from Draft The Fort; Eduardo Mayani II, of Draft Alabang; and Jordan Bernarte, from Draft Greenbelt—winners of the pioneer Stella Artois Draught Masters Philippines set to conquer Regional Draught Masters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Stella Artois Draught Masters is a competition of both expert bartenders and Stella Artois fans to try their hand at Stella Artois’ time-honoured 9-step pouring ritual. Stella Artois launched the very first Stella Draught Masters Philippines on February 25, at the Draft Gastropub in Greenbelt 2. There were initially eight participants who exhibited their skills during the competition, but only three of them will represent the country.

A send-off party was held on May 13, that's a Friday night ...wow, it's Friday the 13th filled with music, food, Stella Artois beer, and friendly pouring competition among fans and the bartenders, held at Draft The Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Thank you to Stella Artois, Booze Online and Draft Gastropub for hosting a send off for the three - Raniel, Eduardo and Jordan, who are excited to represent the country in June 2016.

To make the event a lot more interesting, attendees of the party were given a chance to test the skills of the local Draught Masters by personally taking part in the 9-Step ritual. There were elimination rounds where fans must compete with each other in the 9-step pouring ritual. The Stella Artois Draught Masters will judge who between two contestants did well, and the emerging winner will then challenge any of the Draught Masters on the next round. I am proud to say that I was only a few seconds slow as compared to the time of the Draught Master.

Say G Day at SM as We Continue to Celebrate 70 Years of Philippine-Australian Friendship

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There was an overflow of Australian goodies that day at The Block Atrium of SM North EDSA as all of us got to try out a delightful array of Australian-inspired or branded delicacies starting with flat white coffee from Vitonna or Bundaberg cold brewed drinks. There were meat pies from @PieFacePH, lamingtons, Tim Tam chocolate cream sandwich, and a lot more including cupcakes designed with the Australian flag.
But that's not the highlight of the event where your Pambansang Blogger was invited to. I was acually late to the Say G Day at SM event, a social media networking day where the organizers, led by the Australian Embassy with Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely, who invited bloggers and online influencers to celebrate the last leg of the exhibition celebrating the 70th year of Philippine-Australian friendship.

Attendees were given sort of a passport containing some information about the Celebrate Australia 2016 festival. The Australian Embassy partnered with SM Supermalls to host the Say G Day at SM roadshow exhibition which features a historical photo exhibition showcasing the depth and breath between the two countries - Philippines and Australia, parallel to an exhibition showcasing Australian lifestyle and culture, and some on education opportunities. Guests can take selfies from large displays of Australian tourist spots.

FYI, the celebration was launched at SM Aura in Tagig last February, then to SM City Cebu last March, then SM City Davao, and finally at SM City North EDSA for the final leg which will last until May 19.

I regret being late because of my failure to properly estimate my travel time from Makati to North EDSA. Even riding the MRT was problematic since there were several times when the ride seems to be too slow than the usual and times when we had to wait for some stations to clear from existing trains before we can proceed to it. It is no longer like it was before when it was newly built.

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Western Digital Corporation announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Western Digital Technologies, Inc. has completed the acquisition of SanDisk Corporation. The addition of SanDisk makes Western Digital Corporation a comprehensive storage solutions provider with global reach, and an extensive product and technology platform that includes deep expertise in both rotating magnetic storage and non-volatile memory (NVM).

The Company also indicated that the debt financing associated with this transaction has been consummated and that the previously obtained funds from this financing have been released from escrow to Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

"Today is a significant day in the history of Western Digital," said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer of Western Digital. "We are delighted to welcome SanDisk into the Western Digital family. This transformational combination creates a media-agnostic leader in storage technology with a robust portfolio of products and solutions that will address a wide range of applications in almost all of the world's computing and mobile devices. We are excited to now begin focusing on the many opportunities before us, from leading innovation to bringing the best of what we can offer as a combined company to our customers. In addition, we will begin the work to fully realize the value of this combination through executing on our synergies, generating significant cash flow, as well as rapidly deleveraging our balance sheet, and creating significant long-term value for our shareholders."

The integration process will begin immediately through the joint efforts of teams from both companies. As previously announced, Steve Milligan will continue to serve as chief executive officer of Western Digital, which will remain headquartered in Irvine, California. Sanjay Mehrotra, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of SanDisk, will serve as a member of the Western Digital Board of Directors, effective immediately.

"As a combined company, we will be best positioned to address the demands for data storage, which is growing exponentially every year," said Sanjay Mehrotra. "Growth and change go hand in hand, and we couldn't be happier to grow and change together with Western Digital. I look forward to contributing to realizing the potential of this combination as a member of the board."

Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of SanDisk common stock was converted into the right to receive $67.50 per share in cash and 0.2387 shares of Western Digital common stock.

SanDisk shareholders looking for information with regard to the payment of the merger consideration should review the Public FAQ available in the Investor Relations section of our website at investor.wdc.com.

Six Tips for Setting up a Home Office

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Freelancing is quickly becoming a new normal in the Philippine job market. What used to be common in the fields of publishing and graphic design is now becoming popular in other industries as well, such as computer programming, app development, animation, and even executive assistantship. Indeed, popular online freelancing marketplace Elance–oDesk said in a statement that in 2013 alone, 1 million Filipino freelancers earned a total of Php3.3 billion from online work through their platforms.

It comes as no surprise that Filipinos are quickly getting hooked up with freelancing. And who can blame them? Given Metro Manila’s horrendous traffic, people are opting to work from home instead. In addition, as the metropolis’ cost of living continues to rise, it becomes more economical for those based outside the capital to freelance instead.

But this does not mean that freelancing is all fun. Without a properly planned space at home to work from, you will find yourself distracted, uninspired, and eventually unproductive. In order to become a thoroughly productive freelancer, setting up a proper home office is a must. Global real estate website Lamudi Philippines lists down a few tips to create an inspiring and conducive home office.

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Ypur Pambansang Blogger had the pleasure of attending the culmination event for the Power Mac Center Pixelworx short film challenge where six finalists were pre-selected to get the chance to be among the 3 grand winners.

The finalists at the event were all probably both nervous and excited while awaiting the decision of the judges.

Cinemansanas is the second installment of Pixelworx, Power Mac Center’s advocacy of recognizing artists who break the standards of the art scene. It is celebrated with a series of workshops, live demos, and an ultimate art challenge.

The name Cinemansanas is a play between two words, cine and mansanas, to mean film/movie and Apple since the competition required participants to submit 5 minute movies shot using any iOS device.

The awards ceremony was held at the Power Mac Center Spotlight in Circuit Makati. A special screening of all the films were also shown afterwards at the Black Box Theater where the awarding took place.

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The Santacruzan is the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month. Thus the month of May is filled with many festivities involving lovely ladies adorned in their elegant and sophisticated Filipiniana attires.

The Tourism and Lifestyle Expo recognizes the tradition and incorporates the Santacruzan theme as among the attractions that you can find at the second run of the event which was very successful that it had to do another run just a few days after the first.

We've seen the Miss Tourism Philippines 2016 candidates last time on a fashion show for the event, and this time they now flaunt again their beauty at the 2nd Tourism and Lifestyle Expo on May 10 at the Glorietta Activity Center.

Lot's of spectators were at awe with the magnificence of both the ladies and their outfits. They really stood out and truly deserve their spot as candidates for a prestigious beauty pageant, As everyone knows that the Santaruzan is considered to be the "Queen of Filipino Festivals," it seems very appropriate that one of these ladies will soon be crowned and become queen.

I would have been equally thrilled if I knew who the designers were so I can commend them for their wonderful creations. All I know is that these gowns were designed by fellow Filipinos that undoubtedly have world-class talent comparable to other foreign fashion designers. Kudos to all teh designers and we salute you all.

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We all love seeing beautiful women flaunt their assets and this is very evident why many beauty pageants are prime hits during grand coronation nights and our women often win a title, if not the highest, or get a place among the top 10 or 5 chosen ones.

One way to see the women and all their splendor is by seeing them wear their swimsuit so we could see how flawless and well-sculpt their bodies are. A lot of women now are conscious in maintaining their physique because the world usually relates beautiful with being slim and sexy.

The Swimsuit Competition of Miss Global Philippines 2016 is just one of the many competitions that aims to discover who among the candidates are rightful to become the grand winner. The competition was held on May 6, 2016 in Boracay island of Aklan, specifically at the Wave Bar and Lounge, and out of the 23 candidates who all showcased their beauty and physique, three stood out among the rest for best in swimsuit this year.

Congratulations to #23 Perlyn Ocampo for being the Best in Swimsuit this year. Candidate #12 Anne Antonio got the 2nd runner up and #11 Kristine Cruz is the 1st runner up.

But this story is not just to announce the winners of the Swimsuit competition because we also took the opportunity to have some fun shots with the girls during some of the breaks aside from the reguar photo-shoots at the Puka Beach, at Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center, and at Boracay West Cove... We even had shots while onboard the boat of Montenegro lines. The beauty of these girls is just so alluring that photographers couldn't stop themselves from clicking their cameras. We all love to capture these beauties and make them among pour prized possessions.

Puka Beach located at Barangay Yapak is one of the most pristine beaches in Boracay. It's hardly a hidden gem anymore since we obviously have known of it and now used it as one of the beautiful site for our photo-shoot with the candidates. Aside from its powdery white sand, the different hues of blue, green, and cyan shows how clean the water is.

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Most of us who frequent the Bonifacio Global City have seen the more than a dozen works of art spread all over the area surrounding all those business establishments and buildings. These include the murals that vibrantly fill an otherwise dull sight of certain areas especially the firewalls of buildings.

I love the astronaut mural which can be seen painted on the firewall of the Icon Plaza building somewhere at The Fort area, and very near is another masterpiece showing a lady comfortably chilling on a sofa with her cat and some other stuff that makes the mural a lot more interesting, and of course, they also have a huge mural of Andres Bonifacio himself done in a way that even Bonifacio will be proud of. There's a lot more smaller paintings all over BGC that will sure catch our attention, and I am glad that the people behind this project are at it again.

The artists who painted all those masterpieces or "obra" are indeed full of creative and imagination thus some of them will be coming back again to showcase once more their magnificent visions of various colors, shapes and sizes.

Splashes of color are ready to fill the walls of BGC as Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) celebrates ArtBGC Mural Festival 2016. A press briefing was held on May 10 at Seda Hotel BGC to officially introduce the festival.

Michelin PH Continues Fill Up with Air Campaign in 2016 in More Sites Nationwide

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Michelin Philippines accelerates its road safety campaign this summer with more Fill Up with Air (FUWA) activities nationwide. The campaigns started this month with a FUWA campaign for motorists at S&R Nuvali on April 15-16

More FUWA campaigns are scheduled nationwide in select branches of S&R Membership Tire Centers. Fill Up With Air activities will be held in Mandaluyong, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga and Davao from May to July 2016.

The Fill Up with Air Campaign is Michelin’s free offer to consumers to promote road safety and mobility. Motorists are invited to avail of free tire safety checks in strategic places where Michelin tire experts provide advice and guidelines on proper tire pressure and proper maintenance -- the essentials of road safety and fuel efficiency. Motorists who participate in FUWA get their vehicles inspected and their tires inflated to the correct air pressure, all under eight minutes.

Fill Up with Air is a Michelin global initiative to increase public consciousness for road and public safety.

For more information on Fill Up with Air and more road safety guidelines, visit michelin.com.ph

Risa Hontiveros: There Is Much to be Grateful for; There is Much to be Done

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Our long wait is over. After seven years of waiting and heartbreak, of hoping and then failing, of “almost-there but not quite”, we are finally there. We are in the Senate – borne on the shoulders of more than fifteen million Filipinos who believe that it is now time to open the Upper Chamber to ordinary people.

It has been a long wait, but it has not been a lonely one. I have had the good fortune of being surrounded by the foolhardy and the stubborn, you who had the audacity to believe that the Senate dream was within reach. To those who spent time knocking on doors, campaigning for me, raising funds, inviting me into your barangays and your homes, even sharing our social media posts, to those who stood by my side after the elections of 2010 and 2013 and who never gave up on the idea of an activist in the Senate, I thank you with all my heart.

Tayo ay nangahas, at tayo ay nagtagumpay.

But as this seven-year project comes to fruition, a new and bigger one begins. There is work to be done. We will bring the fight for universal health to a new platform, cognizant that the uneven access to health care services are but reflective of larger structural inequities. We commit to do our part towards an independent and strong legislature, which is the best check against executive or judicial overreach. Most of all, we will be a voice for the sectors and a representative of the underserved – they for whom we push for reforms, they from whom I will constantly seek direction and inspiration.

There is much to be grateful for; there is much to be done. Our grand adventure begins. Sa Senado na ang larangan ng mga laban na hindi binibitiwan.

History Announces Cast and Contributors of Upcoming Global Docu-Drama ‘Barbarians Rising’

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Premiering 7 June on the same day as the U.S., the cast of Barbarians Rising includes Tom Hopper, Steven Waddington, Richard Brake, Kirsty Mitchell, Ben Batt, Gavin Drea, Emil Hostina and Nicholas Pinnock.

HISTORY, announced today the cast and contributors for the global eight-part docu-drama, “Barbarians Rising.” The cast portrays the legendary warriors as they’re engaged in one of mankind’s most timeless struggles – the fight for freedom.

“Barbarians Rising” features the true stories of nine of history’s greatest warriors, the cast includesNicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger; Fortitude) as Hannibal, who vowed a blood oath at the age of nine to destroy Rome; Ben Batt (The Edge of Love; “Shameless(UK)”) as Spartacus, the slave-turned-rebel who led a barbarian revolt; Kirsty Mitchell (“The Royal Today;” “River City”) as Boudica, the avenging Celtic warrior Queen; Tom Hopper (“Black Sails;”“Merlin”) as Arminius, the son of Germany surrendered to Rome; Emil Hostina (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts I andII) as Attila, scourge of the east; Gavin Drea (What Richard Did;“Love/Hate”) as Alaric, the king of the Goths; Steven Waddington (The Imitation Game) as Fritigern, the warrior who took down anEmperor; Richard Brake (Batman Begins;“Game of Thrones”) as Geiseric, the last barbarian standing; and Jefferson Hall (“Vikings;”“Game of Thrones”) as Viriathus, the shepherd-turned-rebel leader.

To reveal the fact-based history behind the legends, HISTORY and October Films amassed an eclectic group of experts and contributors that includes General Wesley Clark, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, one of the first female combat veterans’ in the U.S. Congress; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader; Dr. Clarence B. Jones, speechwriter and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.; CSM Eric L. Haney, U.S. Army(Ret.); Dr. Darius Arya, American Institute for Roman Culture(U.S.); Professor Barry Strauss, Cornell University(U.S.); Dr. Virginia Campbell, University of Oxford(U.S.); Dr. Dan-El Padilla Peralta, Princeton University(U.S.); Dr. Steve Kershaw, University of Oxford(U.K.); Colonel Kevin W. Farrell, military historian(U.S.); Professor Noel Lenski, Yale University(U.S.); Professor Peter Heather, King’s College London(U.K.); Vanessa Collingridge, author(U.K.); Valerio Massimo Manfredi, archaeologist and writer(Italy);and Professor Walter Pohl, University of Vienna(Austria).

“Barbarians Rising” tells the story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the barbarian rebel leaders. It is a visceral journey into the heart of a wave of rebellions against absolute power. The Roman Empire called them “barbarians” – tribes the Romans viewed beyond the fringe of civilization that lived a brutish and violent existence. However, these were also men and women who launched epic struggles that shaped the world to come.

The eight-part docu-drama reveals the true story of the 700-year battleto bring down one of strongest empires the world has ever known, “Barbarians Rising” is a global co-production for HISTORY in the US and internationally. This limited event series is slated to premiere on 7 June 2016, Tuesdays 9pm.

“Barbarians Rising” is a global co-production for HISTORY channels worldwide produced by October Films. Executive producers for HISTORY are Kristen Burns, Russ McCarroll and Paul Cabana. Adam Bullmore is executive producer, Simon George (HISTORY’s "World War II From Space") is executive director, and Michael Waterhouse (HISTORY’s “The Bible”) is series producer for October Films.

A+E Networks handles worldwide distribution for “Barbarians Rising”.

HISTORY is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.