PAGAHOM 2017: An Environmental Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Association of Filipino Forestry Students – UPLB, Inc., an academic-environmental organization, will be holding its very first environmental conference entitled PAGAHOM 2017: An Environmental Conference this January 21, 2017 at Lansigan Auditorium, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UP Los Baños. PAGAHOM 2017 will cater Filipino youth participants aged 15-30 years old.

The conference’s name was derived from the Cebuano term pagahom which means “empower”. 

With its theme “Green Minds think Alike”, PAGAHOM 2017 aims to promote environmental awareness among the Filipino youth; to engage the youth in discussions concerning the status of the environment and related issues; to strengthen camaraderie among Filipino youth and to expose the youth to activities that would hone their skills.  The conference will tackle environmentally-relevant topics:  Indigenous People, Soils and Disaster Risk-Reduction Management: Climate Change.

Registration period for PAGAHOM 2017 is until January 7, 2017. Interested participants can register through https://form.jotform.me/62534922234453. For queries and more details, visit and like PAGAHOM 2017’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/pagahom2017, email us at pagahom2017@gmail.com or you may contact Ms. Angeline B. Concepcion at +639058360455.

Sony Channel Brings Comedic Combination of Family Fun and Workplace Wackiness on ROFLing Sundays This January

Wazzup Pilipinas!

January is up for grabs - and laughs ­– as Sony Channel livens up your ROFLing* Sundays in the new year. Enjoy a primetime combination that raises comedy to a whole new level of fun and laughter with the returning season of the workplace comedy, Superstore, and the premiere of the brand new sitcom, The Carmichael Show.

SUPERSTORE Season 2

It’s back to work for the retail employees of Cloud 9 after their protest which they thought would paralyze the store’s operations.

In the new season, things appear to get better for Amy (America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman), Dina (Lauren Ash), Garrett (Colton Dunn) Mateo (Nico Santos), Cheyenne (Nichole Bloom) and Glenn (Mark McKinney). They return to their workplaces and try to keep their acts together as a team as they haggle through corporate politics, seasonal sales, lost and found items, storage theft, another protest, and more.

Superstore Season 2 premieres on January 22, Sunday at 7:30pm.

THE CARMICHAEL SHOW Seasons 1 & 2

Standup comedian Jerrod Carmichael navigates through life with his liberal girlfriend Maxine (Amber West), and his opinionated family - his admirable brother Bobby (Lil Rey Howery) and his old-fashioned parents, the outspoken Joe (David Alan Grier) and the deeply religious Cynthia (Loretta Devine). Spirited conversations dominate their daily routine as they discuss social issues of the day in humorous fashion.

Each argument tests the ties that bind Jerrod’s relationships with his girlfriend and family, and the values they learn from every verbal tussle they get into. In the end, they forgive and find each other in more heartwarming ways than one.

The Carmichael Show Seasons 1 & 2 premieres on January 22, Sunday at 8:00pm with 2 episodes back-to-back.

ROFLing* Roll-On-The-Floor- Laughing

Sony Channel is available on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 120, Global Destiny Cable Channel 62, and Cable Link Channel 39.

What Food Can Lower Your Risk of Chronic Disease and Even Death

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nuts are Kenyan traditional sweets, they can level up your health, lower the risk of chronic disease and can make you live longer

While we regard nuts as sweets and something to treat children with, the world of science proved them to be a powerful source of antioxidants and vitamins. In this article, we will write some general facts about nuts which people usually overlook when they start to care about their health. Eating only 20 grams of nuts per day can lower your risk of dying by up to 20%.

If you are in your middle ages or older and your heart is worrying you, or you are afraid to succumb to cancer you should try eating an ounce of nuts every day. That can reduce the risks of heart disease by 33% and drop a cancer risk by 15%

Having a small portion of nuts in your daily ration can save you from type 2 diabetes, scientific research of this fact is under way.

There is no universal remedy for all diseases which might happen, but one is known for sure – nature worked it all out for us long before doctors appeared. Eating just a few grams of nuts a day is a natural substitution for the expensive and frequently ineffective medicine. Different types of nuts can be found in abundance in any country. They are available everywhere.

There is one more interesting fact about nuts – following the scientific classification nuts are regarded as fruits. Regardless of this technical nomenclature, unlike most kinds of fruit, they have no sweet taste and have an increased fat rate. Eating approximately 20 grams of nuts daily will bring you a daily dose of antioxidants and even decrease your risk of dying by up to 20%.

Isn`t it great!

Vincent Latoel Lauds Filipino Fighters, but Eyes Big Win Over Vaughn Donayre

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dutch-Indonesian stalwart Vincent “Magnivincent” Latoel (16-18-2) might not have received a warm reception in his past encounters against Filipino fighters, but he is all praises when it comes to their fighting spirits.

The 37-year-old kickboxer from Deventer, Netherlands has fought two highly-regarded Filipino competitors in his 36-fight career. Latoel faced future ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang in December 2013, while he locked horns with featherweight standout Edward Kelly last August.

However, he fell short on both occasions. Although Latoel did not get his hand raised against Folayang and Kelly, he did not mince words about his admiration for Filipino MMA combatants.

“Filipino fighters are true warriors. I’ve faced Eduard Folayang before he became the ONE Lightweight World Champion. He was so tough and a gallant competitor. The same goes with Edward Kelly. He has a big heart,” he said.

“Filipinos fight with their pride and heart. I like these kinds of fighters because I have the same mentality,” Latoel added.

DOE Commits Immediate Restoration of Power in Typhoon Nina Hit Areas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As super Typoon Nina made landfall in Catanduanes on Christmas Day, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi instructed concerned units and agencies to immediately restore power facilities and supply to the damaged communities hit by the weather disturbance specifically in Southern Luzon and the Bicol Region.

“This is another superTyphoon, we’ve prepared for it and we are currently on the ground to assess the damage and quickly restore compromised energy facilities in each province,” relayed Sec. Cusi.

The Secretary added “The energy family is in full force in our disaster response. We’ve activated the Task Force Kapatid to augment affected distribution utilities’ assets for rehabilitation.”

Under the strong directive of the Secretary, DOE Usec. Felix William B. Fuentebella went earlier today (Dec. 26) to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) overall command and monitoring center and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to facilitate coordination on the rehabilitation efforts and set deadlines for the ground assessment of damaged energy facilities in details.

As agreed in the coordination meeting, “the DOE and its partners in the energy sector will deploy restoration teams for the speedy recovery of power to the affected towns and provinces,” Usec. Fuentebella reported.

In particular, the NGCP commenced its aerial technical inspection at 11:30 a.m. today following the typhoon track. By 6:00 p.m., the NGCP will report to the DOE, in detail, the status of the 230 kV lines- the main line connecting the electricity to Southern Luzon (Southern Tagalog and Bicol).

As of 11:00 a.m. (26 Dec.), NGCP reported that eleven (11) 69kV lines and its Daraga substation were currently down due to the superTyphoon affecting the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon.

On the distribution side, NEA committed to come up with more details from the ground by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow (Dec. 27) and to deploy the restoration teams under its Task Force Kapatid.

Usec. Fuentebella reported that “The electric cooperatives will receive the power from NGCP once their respective loads through the distribution lines will be ready.”

Earlier, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) volunteers and the linemen from other electric cooperatives and private investment-owned distribution utilities (PIOUs) committed their assistance to aid the hardly hit electric cooperatives and restore power.

Sec. Cusi calls on everyone to ensure safety in their communities while the energy family works to restore power during the holiday season.

"We will need everybody's cooperation to open the roads and clear the areas for our linemen to have access to the damaged lines and energy facilities. We are committed to restore power immediately," Cusi concluded.

#IAmSmart: I Use My Smartphone to Enjoy a Hassle-Free Christmas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Christmas is that time of the year for family and friends to re-connect and celebrate the season's different festivities. However, the preparation can feel overwhelming, as there seems to be an endless list of things to do and never enough time to do them.

With the current state of traffic nowadays, both on the road, as well as the foot traffic in malls, restaurants, and almost every public place imaginable, it can be quite a challenge to even begin to imagine how you can get through your to-do list. Thanks to the convenience of technology, however, our smartphones can actually help us manage and deal with our Christmas preparation, all with a swipe, click, and tap of some apps. Smart shares some smart tips that can help you enjoy a hassle-free holiday.

For more #IAmSmart tips, go the Smart Communities Facebook page at facebook.com/SmartCommunities.

DOE Closely Monitors Effect of Typhoon Nina on Energy Assets

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As Typhoon Nina intensifies, the Department of Energy (DOE), its attached and partner agencies are ready to take action in the affected areas to ensure continuous energy supply and safety of the people.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The energy family is ready to implement contingency measures for the Typhoon Nina, and we are closely monitoring every development to give timely advice to affected areas and protect them from any harm.”

As of 3:00 p.m. yesterday (24 Dec.), weather bureau PAGASA projected Typhoon Nina’s landfall at 5:00 p.m. on 25 December in Bato, Catanduanes (the southern tip of the province) and to head towards Camarines Sur, Quezon, and Cavite.

On power supply, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that no transmission lines and facilities were affected as of 11:00 a.m. today (Dec. 25).

Per the directive of the DOE Secretary, NGCP has activated its 24/7 operations last 23 December at 5:00 p.m. at the overall command monitoring center (OCMC) in its headquarters in Quezon City.

Regional command and monitoring centers in Dasmariñas in Cavite, Tayabas in Quezon, Naga City in Camarines Sur and Ormoc City in Leyte were activated, while other regional command monitoring centers in other areas of the country will be activated once the typhoon comes near and makes landfall.

The Secretary tasked DOE Usec. Felix William Fuentebella to spearhead the monitoring who checked on the activities at the OCMC with NGCP personnel yesterday afternoon (Dec. 24).

Likewise, another visit at the OCMC is scheduled on Monday (26 Dec.) at 1:00 p.m. for updates on the ground.

“For the public, take all safety and pre-cautionary measures given by government agencies to protect your well-being,” Sec. Cusi finally advised.

Presstitutes: Mocha Uson's Unpublished Column Article on Philippine Star

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What can you say about these statements?

"Moving forward, how about the CEO/owners of these media outlets, could they use their position to affect the news reports? I think it is naive to think that they cannot influence what news reports come out and what must not; who to attack and who must not be touched. Can you honestly say that Rapplers alleged connection with CIA through the Omidyar Network does not influence them to attack President Duterte, who has been vocal in opposing USA’s use of their power to dictate us? How about the Chairman of Benguet Mining Corp. who is related to the CEO of Inquirer, can you really say they don’t influence the news at all? How about the other CEO/owner of other media outlets who are allied to Duterte’s political enemies, can we be sure that they are not using their powers to malign the President in favor of their allies?

Now, for those who refuse to believe that there are members of the press who can be paid, let me give you some examples. There are Private companies who will sometimes call for a press conference, and they will give “Presskit” to them with money inside. The press will now “review” the company but the real goal is to make the company look good. This is also the case when it comes to the press conference of some actors/actress who are promoting their movie or musicians promoting their new albums. These became normal for them but it must now be revealed and changed because they are also practicing it when it comes to politics which is already affecting our country. There is already a corruption in our press and if we want to change corruption in the government, it’s essential that we stop corruption here because they can deceive the people by painting bad and corrupt politicians as a hero, martyr, or a saint. To make matters worse, where do you think they would get back the money they used for the press?" - Mocha Uson (portion of her unpublished article at Philippine Star)

It is true that media can be controlled or manipulated, or to put it bluntly "paid off."

Pipo Short Film Wins Grand Prize in AnakTV’s Sinebata

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A short film which focuses on a boy’s dream of having his family picture taken despite the odds recently won the grand prize in the 8-12 fiction category (based on target audience) professional section of AnakTV’s Sinebata (children’s films) competition held at the Quezon City Experience (QCX) museum.

“Pipo” tells the story of a boy (Maliksi Morales) who comes up with a lot of ideas, including making up rumors to convince an old photographer (Lou Veloso) to take a picture of his family at a bargain price. Providing support as members of Pipo’s family are Chanel Latorre, Ramon Palencia, and Katherine Carel.

Through the boy’s story, the film highlights problems caused by poverty and environmental concerns. Award-winning filmmaker Richard Legaspi also pays tribute to manual film cameras and all the photographers who we often forget to thank for documenting precious moments in our lives.

Legaspi is a graduate of Ricky Lee’s 14th scriptwriting workshop and a film directing fellow at the Asian Film Academy in Busan, South Korea. Majority of his works are focused on raising consciousness and creating space for dialogue on communal issues, responsible transformation of society and creative activation through contemporary art. He is a two-time Gawad CCP winner, a Palanca awardee for his screenplay Primera Bella, a UNESCO Laureate and resident artist of Italy’s Università delle Idee (UNIDEE) and Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto.

LTFRB Warns Uber and Grab on Unreasonable Surge of Rates

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LTFRB strongly warns Uber and Grab not to take advantage of the holiday season as a reason to unreasonably surge their respective rates. LTFRB is in receipt of complaints where the surge ranges from P2,000-P28,000.00.

Also, LTFRB has not been consulted on Uber's "Upfront fares based on predictions".The commuting public is requested to report any violation, you may reach our 24/7 Hotline at 1342 or SMS/Viber: 0917-550-1342 or 0998-550-1342. You may also e-mail us pictures or screenshots of said incidents at complaint.ltfrb.gov.ph@gmail.com.

LTFRB reserves its right to suspend/cancel the accreditation of Uber and Grab if these unreasonable surges will persist.

Extra Judicial Killings Exhibit at Baclaran Church: Is EJK the Answer to the Drug Problem and Criminality?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

*while shopping in Baclaran* 

Me: *stops in a store* 

Sales lady: Hi ma'am! Ano po gusto nyo? 

Me: World peace! Maibibigay mo ba? 

*runs away*

Merong exhibit ang Redemptorist Church sa Baclaran of violent photos in re: EJK killings. Is this right? Korek ba sa tingin niyo ang ginawa nang simbahan sa Baclaran? Pinalabas nila na "mali ang magpatay." Okay, mali nga, bakit noong Inquisition marami din ang pinatay nang Simbahang Katoliko, including the 3 Filipino priests who opposed church's policies? The founder of the Catholic Church, Constantine the Great, was also a murderer!

The Catholic Church in the Philippines had caused the murder of Jose P. Rizal! Rizal and Graciano Lopez-Jaena (who is 160 years old today) wrote about the excesses of the Catholic Church and the "holy" orders of priests. It is not right to kill as long as you're the one doing the killing seems to be the church's motto!

Mali nga ang magpatay, pero tama ba ang ang magtulak nang illegal drugs? Hindi ba dahandahan na pagpatay rin yan ang magiging adik ka? Dapat ang i-condemn dito ay ang pagtulak at paggamit nang pinagbababawal na gamot! It is very clear na the Church is protecting the pushers and the drug lords in its recent pakulo. Ibang klase nang "lord" yata ang sinasamba nila?"

EJK has long been happening and so rampantly at that during the past administration perpetrated by DRUGLORDS towards hapless drug pushers who failed to remit their sales that the people seemed to have gotten used to it & treating it as a natural occurrence. Why is it only now that the Roman Catholic Church expressed alarmed regarding the situation? Why only now?

Outsmart Fraudsters! Beware of Scams This Holiday Season

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It is no secret that scammers abound during the Christmas season. Whether it's because people are busy and easily distracted, or simply because traditions call for quick flow of cash in December, these scammers take advantage of the holidays, getting more creative in tricking unsuspecting victims to giving them their hard-earned cash or credits.

Smart Communications is once again reminding its subscribers to be extra cautious when dealing with unknown individuals. Be aware and keep your friends and loved ones informed about these common scams and trickeries. 

 
1. The Pretend Pasaloader. This scammer will pretend to be someone (usually an elderly who calls you iho/iha) who mistakenly transferred to your account some prepaid load or credits meant supposedly for his family member. He will then politely ask you to give back the load. The general rule is: Unless you know and trust the person, never ever transfer load. And keep in mind the official Smart Pasaload syntax. Remember that texting to access code 808 is for transferring load to another account. 

2. The Fake Promo Master. This one's a classic. This scammer will trick you into believing that you've won a raffle or a contest (without you even joining anything). He, usually pretending to be a lawyer or an officer from a government office or institution, will ask to be called and convince the victim to deposit money in order to process or claim the prize. Do not fall for this scam (even if he invokes high-ranking officials or present you with fake DTI numbers). For Smart promos, Smart only informs its winners through registered mail and a call from the number 7777 (not a text from a regular 11-digit mobile number) 

3. The Phony Roaming Relative. This scammer will first try to earn your trust by claiming to be your relative who just acquired a new roaming number. He will also try to bait you with promises of balikbayan box items, your favorite perfume, shoes in your size, and many more. Sooner, this scammer will try to ask you for load credits, and even cash deposits. Remember the rule: always confirm and verify before trusting a stranger speaking with you through SMS and chat. Ask your other relatives, or better yet, ask the relative they are pretending to be, through other means of communication (chat, social media, etc.).

4. The Suspicious Seller. Aside from the common text scams, online fraudsters are also tracking activities and posts of interested online shoppers, especially in social media accounts of online stores. They will gather the information you post through inquiries and purchase intent and use these information to pretend to be the seller, communicating the victims through fake chat profiles. Be sure to transact ONLY through the official store or online channel. Check their contact infromation and always verify before sending the payment.

Remember, it's not a bad thing to be skeptical when receiving messages from people we do not know. Always examine and verify the identities of the people , especially when your money or credits are involved. You've worked very hard, and it's not wise to just give it all away to these scammers.

For more tips on how to detect text scams click here.

To report text scammers, click here.

Healthway Medical Renews Partnership with Regal-Beloit Asia Pte. Ltd. as Corporate Clinic Services Provider

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Regal Beloit, a leading global manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and residential engineering applications, prefers Healthway Medical to ensure employee wellness through providing superior healthcare, which happens to be what the clinic has been delivering its clients. (L-R) Regal’s HR Officer Mariane Rapadas; Facilities and Safety Assistant Supervisor Roman Angelo Munji; and HR Manager Manuel Casimiro, recently penned the renewal of their corporate clinic services contract with Healthway Medical’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing Carmie de Leon; Sales Manager Noreen Arellano; and Sales Specialist Nica Mae Buñales. “We are privileged to work once again with Regal-Beloit in providing their corporate clinic services because we are a firm believer in the philosophy that a healthy workforce translates to a productive business organization,” said De Leon.

Only One Quarter of Southeast Asian Firms Ready for Digital Leadership

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nearly one-quarter of Southeast Asian businesses are Digital Leaders, a new study by SAP SE and Oxford Economics, the“ Leaders 2020 study” shows. This is higher than the global average of 16%; this new class of high-performing companies is reporting stronger profit growth, higher employee engagement, and cultures that are more inclusive.

These high-functioning organizations have executives who communicate a company-wide digital strategy, keep management and worker skills up to date, and streamline organizational structure.

Analysis of Southeast Asian firms in the Leaders 2020 study also affirms the business benefits of diversity, showing a correlation between those who are leading in digital transformation and those who have a heightened understanding of the importance of diversity. Digital Leaders around the world and Southeast Asian respondents are both more likely to recognize diversity’s positive impact on culture (66%and 62%, respectively), but only Digital Leaders are more likely to see the benefits in financial performance (37% vs. 25%).

Companies have become more diverse in Southeast Asia than in other regions over the past three years. Three-quarters of Southeast Asian respondents saw diversity improvements in the general workforce of their organization, and 42% saw an increase in board and senior leadership, compared with 67% and 34% globally. However, less than 40% in Southeast Asia state that their company has effective diversity programs in place, signaling more could be done, especially at the senior executive and corporate board levels.

The Leaders 2020 study also found that only 61% of Southeast Asian executives (vs. 55% globally) are making data-driven decisions, a key factor that makes a Digital Leader. It is of little wonder that only 62% of Southeast Asian executives (vs. 59% globally) feel that employees are equipped with the skills necessary to keep up with digital technology.

“A diverse workforce encourages bold, innovative ideas to flourish and in turn, presents insights which are only made possible through that diversity. It is of little coincidence that these two capabilities – leveraging data for decisions and maintaining a diverse workforce – both occur for high-performing organizations,” said Scott Russell, president and managing director, SAP Southeast Asia.

The Leaders 2020 research findings for Southeast Asia revealed at SuccessConnect 2016, the premier conference held by SAP SuccessFactors for HR and C-suite executives in Singapore, shows that it pays to be a Digital Leader:

Byline: Don’t Neglect Security in M&A Due Diligence

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Look at any M&A due diligence checklist and you’ll see the same things: financials, customer information, sales, real estate, intellectual property, contracts—and the list goes on. One thing you may not see is information security, and that can be a crucial mistake.

Like any other critical component of running a business, security needs to be right at the top of the list for M&A due diligence. When combining two companies, they often have different and sometimes even incompatible systems and data. That can create opportunities for hackers. If a company is in the news for a merger or acquisition, it’s a fair bet that hackers and data thieves are going to try their hand at breaching its security. A good business decision can turn bad very quickly if security is an afterthought.

A CFO’s job is to realize the optimal business case, mitigate the risk, and protect the company’s assets, both tangible and intangible. In addition to data, some of a company’s most critical assets are its reputation and the loyalty of customers. An acquisition can make customers of both companies apprehensive. If that’s followed up by a massive breach of sensitive customer data, the companies’ customers will flee in droves.

To avoid that worst-case scenario, here are some things to keep in mind during the M&A process.