Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Hontiveros: Supreme Court has Failed the Test of History

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Supreme Court has miserably failed the test of history and broken our hearts. By allowing the remains of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the high tribunal has failed to protect the truth from the Marcoses' fictional universe.

The decision intends to effectively wipe the Marcos slate clean and negate the sacrifices of the thousands of brave souls who fought and suffered under the brutal Marcos dictatorship.

It also aims to contravene the core policy and historical basis of our 1987 constitution, which was drafted to reject martial law. This decision undermined existing laws such as the Human Rights Victims and Reparation Act of 2013 aimed to provide full and effective reparation to the victims of Martial Law and recognition of the abuses that took place.

However, I believe that the SC decision is not executory. The decision to give the late dictator a hero's burial is still in the hands of President Rodrigo Duterte.

I call on the President to respond to the challenge of history and reject with finality all plans to give Marcos a hero's burial. I ask him to rise above his indebtedness and loyalty to the Marcos family. If at all that he received money from the Marcoses for his Presidential bid, President Duterte has no right to return such favors with the history and the dignity of the Filipino people.

President Duterte is at a critical juncture in history. He could either stand up for truth and justice or submit himself as an instrument to the dictator family's desperate attempt to rewrite history and clear their name. I urge the President to choose well.

I also call on my colleagues in the Senate to sign Senate Resolution No. 86, which I filed, expressing the sense that Marcos should not be allowed to be given a hero's burial. At a time when truth and history are threatened, the Senate must make a brave stand.

Lastly, I call on the people -- especially our millennials -- to fight to make sure their own history is not rewritten for them. Let us not forget George Santayana's warning: "those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."No tombstone, no grandiose cemetery can change the fact that Marcos was not a hero. He was a plunderer, torturer and a thief with a family seeking to rewrite history to serve their interests. It is our duty to stand against this travesty and say--never again. Only then can we look back to the past with pride, and to the future with hope. Let us not fail the test of history.

Hillary Clinton wins “Pandesal Survey” at Kamuning Bakery Cafe

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Pandesal sandwich survey results: Hillary Clinton 37%, Pan de Nada (None of the above) 36%, Donald Trump 26%

Former New York senator and former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton has already won on November 7, 2016 as the first woman president in USA history with 37.138% or 475 votes out of the total 1,279 votes cast in the unique “Pandesal Survey” of the 77-year-old, artisanal, pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Cafe of Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Pandesal Survey used different pandesal sandwiches for each of the U.S. presidential candidates.

Coming in second in the Pandesal Survey was “Pan de Nada” or none of the above at 36.4347% or 466 votes, while coming in No. 3 was realty tycoon & reality TV star Donald Trump at 26.426% or 338 votes.

The “pandesal” is the versatile and popular national bread of the Philippines, and Kamuning Bakery Cafe celebrates “World Pandesal Day” every October 16---also globally marked as “World Bread Day”---since 2015. The Philippines is America’s only former colony in Asia and has copied much of its presidential system of elections since the 1930s Commonwealth election won by President Manuel L. Quezon while still under U.S. colonial rule.

From August 2016 up to November 7, 2016 to measure the popularity of the 2 USA presidential candidates and to encourage discussions of USA politics, the unique “Presidential Pandesal Survey” was conducted by Quezon City’s pioneer artisanal Kamuning Bakery Cafe which is also venue of the newsmakers’ “Pandesal Forum” with media and intellectuals.

Included in its all-day breakfast menu, customers can vote for their favorite USA presidentiable by buying the pugon-bakedpandesal sandwich and drink assigned to each bet at No. 43 Judge Jimenez St. corner K-1st Street, Kamuning, Quezon City. The first edition of Kamuning Bakery Cafe’s Presidential “Pandesal Survey” was held from late 2015 to May 2016, which was won by former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines is the newest member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a network of independent health care providers committed to working together to benefit patients and their families.

This formal agreement gives St. Luke’s access to the latest Mayo Clinic knowledge and promotes collaboration among physicians. As a result of these shared resources, more St. Luke’s patients can get answers to complex medical questions close to home and at no additional charge.

“Our membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network brings us closer to realizing our vision of becoming an internationally recognized academic medical center,” says Edgardo R. Cortez, M.D., president and CEO, St. Luke’s Medical Center.“The services that we offer our patients, especially those with complex conditions, will be further enhanced to produce good clinical outcomes. All of these come at no additional cost to our patients.”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with its silver anniversary, the Ateneo Blue Repertory goes creepy and topsy-turvy as they present “The Addams Family: An American Musical” with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice for its Newbie Production.

Set in the Addams family home in the middle of Central Park, The Addamses are once again at their graveyard doing what Addamses do, but something has gone horribly wrong, or worse—horribly right. Charming little Wednesday who once poisoned her little brother for a ride in the ambulance is in love-- with a boy from Ohio. The question of “Will Wednesday stay loyal to the darkness inside of her, or is this the end of the Addams family as we know it?” will haunt the audience as they go through the family’s wills and woes.

The leading cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Bryce Palafox – Gomez Addams; Arianna Norton – Morticia Addams; Trisha Balan and Ashe Uy– Wednesday Addams; Janine Idquival – Pugsley Addams; Jolo Fernando and Michael Ubamos – Fester Addams; Mar Argente – Grandma Addams; and Adrian Chio – Lurch.

The supporting cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Don Mabalot and Anthony Peralta – Lucas Beineke; Kirk Kierulf – Mal Beineke; Sofia Santelices – Alice Beineke; and Alexa Prats – Alice Beineke.

The ensemble of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Polo Buenafe – Conquistador Ancestor; Matthew Fernandez – Caveman Ancestor; Sari Avedillo – Soldier Ancestor; Lulay Santiago – Puritan Ancestor; Yanni Bunagan – Saloon Girl Ancestor; Adrie Amante – Courtesan Ancestor; Tara Oppen – Flapper Ancestor; Jam Binay – Indian Ancestor; Frances de Guzman – Cousin Helga; Shawn Landayan – Aunt Herman; Lexi Cruz – Acrobat Ancestor; and Migs Lim – Gambler Ancestor and Grim Reaper.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe Telecom announced that its Board of Directors approved the declaration of the fourth quarterly cash dividend of P22 per share for holders of its common shares. The dividend will be paid to shareholders on record as of November 18, 2016, with payment date on December 2, 2016.

“The latest cash dividend payout brings total dividends for 2016 to P88 per common share. This represents a payout rate of 77% of 2015 core net income on an annualized basis,” said , Globe Chief Finance Officer Rizza Maniego-Eala.

Globe sustained its revenue growth momentum in the first nine months of the year with consolidated service revenues increasing 7% to P89.1 billion from the P83.4 billion recorded in the same period of 2015. The robust revenue growth was spurred by the gains across data-related product segments, despite the increased competitive intensity.

The company’s effective efforts in providing market-relevant data offers, the best of breed solutions to cater to the evolving needs of its customers, backed by the significant improvements in its wireless and wired data networks, have paved the way for its continued success.

PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Rizza Maniego-Eala, Chief Finance Officer; Albert de Larrazabal, Chief Commercial Officer; Ernest Cu, President & CEO; Daniel Horan, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business; Gil Genio, Chief Information and Technology Officer; and Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe General Counsel

Global Filipino School Program Reaches Aklan

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As many as 1,400 public elementary school students from New Washington, Aklan, can now experience what it is like to be a “Global Filipino School” with the recent unveiling of a new Internet-connected computer laboratory.

Through the Global Filipino School (GFS) program, New Washington Elementary School was provided with 24 computers and 10 tablets, Internet connectivity, and other peripherals.

Spearheaded by Globe Telecom and Ayala Foundation, GFS is a long-term educational initiative that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of excellence in information and communications technology (ICT) and innovative teaching methods.

Aside from the computer equipment and laboratory, GFS also provides ICT-proficiency training for teachers, which can help them enhance not only the quality of instruction, but the overall classroom experience. The teacher-training component of the program is conducted by Ayala Foundation’s Training Institute program.

GFS in New Washington is also championed by the Municipal Government of New Washington and the Department of Education Division of Aklan.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We have entered the era of startups. Due to the rapid spread of digital tools, it has become easier to turn an idea into a tangible project. However, the challenge of competing with the big players remains. IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.), a local cloud services and data center pioneer, believes that by enhancing flexibility and mobility through a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system a startup can overcome this hurdle.

According to a January 2015 report by Socialbakers, a global social media analytics company, 66% percent of user generated tweets mentioning brands are now executed through mobile devices. In a June 2016 study made by the social media site, half of their 12,000 respondents took action immediately after seeing a brand tweet. This included visiting the brand’s site or Twitter page. Also, the study revealed that almost 1 in 5 Twitter users will eagerly retweet a tweet that mentions a brand and is contemplating to make a purchase after being exposed to a brand-related tweet, proof that brand-based social engagement does drive consumer behavior.

“Because digital tools such as social media and cloud are more cost-efficient compared to the traditional ways of managing and promoting one’s business, it is usually the route taken by budding businesses. As such, we can consider most startups digital natives. With digital now considered the norm, startups are at an advantage,” said Dave de Leon, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Solutions Group of IPC.

However, de Leon notes that the true challenge lies in effectively generating, winning, and keeping business leads. “Here’s where an effective customer relationship management (CRM) tool comes in. It affords a startup's sales team access to crucial real-time information, thereby empowering them to make better business decisions,” said de Leon.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A bright idea is like a little seed. In order for it to grow, you have to nourish it with passion, love, and hard work. You have to give it its chance in the sun: For from today’s humble little seed, it will become tomorrow’s greatest tree. Your idea can help change the world.

Imagine what the future can be if everyone had the chance to develop their own bright ideas.

UP Circle of Entrepreneurs

In cooperation with UBER

Also brought to you by: PaidUp

Special thanks to: Frappe La Rue

Media Partners: Wazzup Pilipinas, DZUP, ClickTheCity, Maroon FM

proudly presents

Young Entrepreneurs Convention 2016: LINKED

Calling all college students in Metro Manila, now's your chance to develop your bright ideas with us in Young Entrepreneurs Convention 2016: LINKED, and get a chance to win up to 10K worth of prizes!

Join us for our two-part event in UP Diliman to learn more about entrepreneurship, app technology, and environmental sustainability:

Convention: Nov 12, 2016, College of Science Auditorium (1 - 5 PM)

Competition: Nov 26, 2016, National Engineering Center Theater (1 - 5 PM)

Registration to the convention is free, and open to all college students in Metro Manila.

RSVP here: http://tinyurl.com/YEC2016LinkedRSVP

Also, join the YEC 2016: LINKED idea generation competition by signing up here: http://tinyurl.com/YECLinked2016Reg

Like our Facebook page for more details:

www.facebook.com/yecupdiliman

For inquiries, contact Karen at 0917 564 3601 or Marielle at 0975 913 1199.

#YEC2016 #Linked

Monday, November 7, 2016

Philippine Association of Food Technologists, Inc - Beta Chapter 40th Food Science and Technology Week

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The Philippine Association of Food Technologists Incorporated - Beta Chapter (PAFT-Beta), a duly recognized academic organization in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, in partnership with Alaska Milk Corporation, will be holding the 40th Food Science and Technology Week with the theme; FOOD TECHNOLOGY: The Next Leap Forward - Food Safety, Food Security, Food Defense, Food Regulation and Innovation Interconnected.

PAFT-Beta is the only organization for BS Food Technology students in UPLB. For the past 40 years, PAFT Beta has been in the forefront of emphasizing the significance of food science and technology in the region.

One of the objectives of our organization is to emphasize the significance of food science and technology not only to our fellow college students and food technologists but also to individuals of our society. For this purpose, we hold activities like symposiums, food demonstration, product development, exhibits,etc.

40th Food Science & Technology Week
Food Technology: The Next Leap Forward
Food Safety, Food Security, Food Defense, Food Regulation and Innovation Interconnected

FREE ADMISSION for the inaugural ceremony, all food demonstrations and symposia (first-come, first-served basis)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Sorry, but if you express your sentiments publicly on Twitter, you naturally invite dissent." - Atty. Fernando Topacio

"I just took a nap and woke up to Mocha Uson having a column in our newspaper? WHAT THE FUCK? I just sent my dad this text. Not sorry at all.

THE STAR WAS FOUNDED WITH 'TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL' UNDER ITS MASTHEAD. TO HAVE MOCHA USON PEDDLING LIES IN IT IS A DISGRACE TO MY LOLA'S MEMORY

I'm so angry and so disappointed I'm fucking crying. I have never been more disappointed in my life. My God.

There's nothing more I can do than to express my displeasure, which I've done here and in private. I can't change anything on my own. Sorry.

PRESSTITUTE NA RIN SIYA. HIPOKRITA.

Allow me to grieve something I know I do not have the power to change. Argue with someone else.

The family sold its majority stake in the paper a few years ago. Doesn't change the fact that I grew up in that building and still care.

I'm just a girl in the world and can change nothing, but I'm allowed to hold on to my beliefs and my principles, and to feel what I feel.

And what I feel is very sad. And nobody, not people on the Internet, not even my family, can take those feelings away from me. That's all.

I've read her writing, seen her page. If anything, hopefully having an editor will teach her that freedom and discipline go hand in hand.

Attack of the Trolls. Folks, I'm irrelevant and have no power. I had the right to be upset and also understand speech can come with fallout.

So you can tweet me all manner of profanities, call out my love of the 'f' word, call me ugly and tell me to kill myself, that's your right.

But it is also my right not to dignify you with a response other than this one. I have better things to do with my time. Good night."

"Hold your breath and count to ten. Fall apart. Start again." - Regina Belmonte

What People Say About Mocha Uson as Philippine Star Columnist

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"Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, The Philippine STAR will welcome Mocha as a columnist, not in the Entertainment Section but in the Op-Ed Section. Her title will be called Hotspot and that sums up what “hot” items you can expect from Mocha every Tuesday." - Philippine Star

Regina Belmonte, the daughter of Philippine Star President Miguel Belmonte expressed her dismay over Mocha Uson's commentary space on their newspaper.

"THE STAR WAS FOUNDED WITH ‘TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL’ UNDER ITS MASTHEAD. TO HAVE MOCHA USON PEDDLING LIES IN IT IS A DISGRACE TO MY LOLA’S MEMORY,” Belmonte said in a separate tweet, referring to Philippine Star founder Betty Go-Belmonte.

“There’s nothing more I can do than to express my displeasure, which I’ve done here and in private. I can’t change anything on my own..." Belmonte said.

While many are arguing about Mocha's commentary space offer, few realized that above and over, this is "business." Philippine star's probable reason why Mocha got a column space was due to her popularity.

Mocha doesn't need the Philippine Star. The Philippine Star needs her.

Let's talk about the "truth," and the "truth" is Philippine Star columnists, writers, reporters and editors have, at one time or another, been equally guilty of defying the motto, "truth shall prevail." Unless she's been hiding in a hole deep and far enough to shield her from reality, she should not be in denial of the crap so many of that newspaper's staff and columnists have been spewing out over the years. But when we talk about violating the truth, we should also talk about sins of omission, because these are just as damaging. And when I speak of BS artists, I'm not just talking about hard news people but fluffy, social-climbing and mundane types. In a way, they're even worse.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The biggest business delegation of Sweden in Asia paid a courtesy visit to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier today and expressed their support for the aggressive infrastructure and transportation plan of the administration.

Led by His Excellency Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines Harald Fries and the Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg, the Swedish delegation got insights into the long-term transportation roadmap of the DOTr. The delegation signified interest on the many transportation-related projects such as the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system using high-quality and high-capacity buses, promotion of electric cars, and cleaner fuel alternatives.

The expression of support from the Swedish delegation is not only a welcome development following the launch of big-ticket transportation projects, but also demonstrates a strong business climate that goes beyond the country’s strengthened partnerships with China and Japan.

Representatives of automotive manufacturers Volvo and Scania were also present in the meeting.

Sweden will also open its embassy in the Philippines tomorrow, November 7, 2016.

DPC and PLDT Launch 31st Visual Arts Competition

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The much-awaited painting competition for young artists is back!

The 31st edition of the DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition (VAC 31) takes off on November 8, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Manuel Conde. The launch, followed by a VAC 31 roadshow in north and south Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, celebrates the rich creative talent of fine arts students across the country.

Organized by Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the competition is open to student artists, aged 18-24, who are currently enrolled in accredited Philippine tertiary schools with a fine arts program.

This year, VAC 31 challenges fine arts students to interpret the theme “Habang May Buhay, May Pag-asa” in oil or acrylic. Essentially, their task is to create paintings that depict how Filipinos value life and how Pinoys remain cheerful and hopeful despite the adversities they face everyday.

Each participating fine arts school or department selects a maximum of five official entries to the competition. Direct student entries will not be accepted. Official entries must be delivered to the DPC Main Office, 2322 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City between February 20 and March 3, 2017 from 10 am to 5 pm.

The top three winners will have their works featured on the covers of 2017-18 telephone directories of DPC (Yellow Pages) and PLDT (White Pages) in key cities in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

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Mastercard and Uber team up to take you to the Grammys. Mastercard brings you a once-in-a-lifetime Priceless moment – a chance to win tickets to personally experience the glitz and glamour of the 59th GRAMMY Awards!

The leading global payments and technology company teams up with worldwide transportation service Uber to deliver this thrilling experience for cardholders. Each ride gets you a chance to win a trip for two (2) to watch the Grammys, and strut your stuff on the red carpet. For an entry to the raffle promotion, use your Mastercard on your next Uber trip, enter the code 'GRAMMYS' in the promotions tab of your Uber app and take a ride before December 24, 2016.

You might just be the lucky winner to get that coveted 4 day-3 night Grammys Priceless Moments Collection package. Start booking and looking forward to getting up close and personal with your favorite celebrities at the biggest annual music awards show in the world.

Sec. Tugade to DOTr Officials and Employees: Do Not Accept Gifts!

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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, once again, reiterated to all officials and employees of the department to not accept gifts of any kind from any other individual or organization such as vendors, suppliers, customers, employees, potential employees, and potential vendors or suppliers, to avoid conflict of interest, and to uphold the department’s high standard of ethics in public service.

“Bawal mag-solicit o tumanggap ng regalo. Kusa niyong layuan ang lahat ng klaseng regalo kahit pa ito ay kusang ibinigay sa inyo (ngayong Pasko),” Tugade said at the department’s flag raising ceremony on Monday, November 7.

He further warned that he will be “unforgiving” to all officials or employees who will receive or solicit gifts. This is one way to demonstrate the department’s commitment to treating all people and organizations, with whom it come into contact or conduct business with, impartially.

“I have a way of knowing it. Bawal tumanggap ng regalo sa opisina, sa parking lot, o sa bahay ninyo (mula sa mga government contractors),” the secretary further said.

In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-corruption directive among government offices, this policy is also in conformity with the following laws enacted to guide the conduct of public officials and employees: Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Presidential Decree (PD) No. 46, s. 1972 (Making it Punishable to Receive, and for Private Persons to Give Gifts on Any Occasion, Including Christmas), and RA No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).