Six: History’s New Military Drama Series Debuts In January 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Six, the much-anticipated Navy SEAL drama on History, is set to premiere 19 January 2017, Thursdays at 10:00 pm.

The series depicts the personal and professional lives of the men of Navy SEAL Team Six, America’s elite special operations unit, as they embark on a dangerous mission to eliminate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan, which goes awry when they uncover a U.S. citizen working as a jihadist fighter with the terrorists.

The eight-episode first season, inspired by real-life combat missions of Navy SEAL Team Six, the special forces unit famous for killing Osama bin Laden, authentically portrays the world of these brave and gallant men, how they react when faced with grave danger, how they cope with life-and-death situations, and how they deal with their complicated personal lives.

In the season premiere, team leader Richard “RIP” Taggart (Walton Goggins) makes a questionable decision while on a mission. Two years later, he is captured by the West African terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Now, his former Seal Team Six brothers – led by Joe “Bear” Graves (Barry Sloan), Alex Caulder (Kyle Schmid), and Ricky “Buddha” Ortiz (Juan Pablo Raba) – have to do everything in their power to locate their former leader and attempt a daring rescue mission in the heart of enemy territory – before it’s too late.

HISTORY is available on Sky Cable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125. HISTORY HD™ is available on Sky Cable Ch 165.

Converge ICT: Redefining Internet Experience

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Redefining internet experience. Dennis Anthony Uy, president and CEO of Converge ICT, recently spoke about the importance of internet connectivity in leveraging business operations in the country during a corporate event held at the Prohibition Lounge, Greenbelt 3, Makati City. More than a hundred corporate leaders and business personalities from different sectors gathered as Converge ICT presented its line-up of new business plans for its clients. “Converge ICT has always been dedicated to bringing better connectivity for Filipinos through the capabilities of pure fiber technology. That is why we are upgrading our network and improving our operations as part of our commitment to provide a better experience for our customers." These developments include strengthening its international peering capacity and improvements in its content delivery network.

Better connectivity experience from Converge ICT. Alan Smyth, head of corporate sales of Converge ICT, affirmed corporate leaders and personalities from different sectors that Converge ICT has been upgrading its network and improving its operations as part of its commitment to provide a better experience for its customers. This was during a corporate event, which was attended by the company’s current corporate partners. Converge ICT highlighted the line-up of developments with a goal to strengthen its international peering capacity and improvements in its content delivery network. 

Heeding the call for efficient operations for businesses. Jesus Romero, chief operating officer of Converge ICT, shared the company’s current line-up of plans for their customers in a corporate event held recently at the Prohibition Lounge, Greenbelt 3, Makati City. Romero said that the company has already initiated their plans in upgrading its network and improving its operations as part of its commitment to provide a better experience for its customers. Some developments mentioned by Romero are efforts done to strengthen its international peering capacity and improvements in its content delivery network.

Game On with Lenovo – Introducing the Y710 Cube and League of Champions, ESL One Partnership

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Global technology leader Lenovo continues to excite the gaming industry with its recent announcement of the latest addition to the Y-gaming series, a collaboration with Lenovo-Intel for a championship tournament and a strategic partnership with Microsoft.

The easy-to-carry and VR-ready Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube allows gamers to fully immerse themselves in the world of gaming as it is designed for portability and maximum fun. Built from the ground-up for demanding gamers who like powerful, VR-ready desktops that save on space for gaming at home, the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is portable enough to be moved from the desk to the couch and beyond.

“It’s a great time to be a gamer nowadays. The playing experience has become more enhanced, interactive, and competitive. All thanks to video game streaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager of Lenovo Philippines.

“Lenovo is able to provide these experiences with our premium Y-gaming series. With a wide range of products from this series, we are able to provide the best gaming arsenal that appeals to hardcore and new PC gamers, alike,” added Ngan.

Beyond its range of high-performance and highly customisable products, Lenovo also continues to bring the next level in gaming through strategic partnerships, both locally and regionally. Lenovo is partnering with Garena and Intel to bring “League of Champions” a test of skill and wits to fans and players of League of Legends, a game known as having the world’s most active competitive scene. 

Cha Ocampo and Her Tweets: A Lesson on Dating Girls with High Standards and Expectations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"I DISAGREE WITH YOU, CHA OCAMPO.

The real lesson for all girls is: don't be the hoe who dates guys for the sake of eating at fancy places and for feeding your ego. Date someone who has good intentions. Because at the end of the day, money really isn't everything. I'd rather date a broke man who respects me and has values rather than dating a rich douchebag.

Please don't have a mindset like hers." - Stephanie Escasiñas Toledo

"I DISAGREE WITH YOU, STEPHANIE ESCASIÑAS TOLEDO. Stop romanticizing poverty. This ain't a telenovela!

To all the people who are calling Cha Ocampo a gold digger, tigilan nyo kakapanuod ng telenovela na feeling nyo cute na may mayaman at mahirap. Bakit di nyo i-strive na pareho kayo maging mayaman? Hindi puro love-love, lablabin ko kayo dyan eh. Di naman kayo mapapakain nyang pagmamahal na yan. Gusto nyong broke? 'Pag pareho kayong gutom o ikaw lang nagpapakain sa kanya, tignan natin kung mamahalin mo pa yan.

"The real lesson for all LADY? 

First, DON'T BE A LADY WHO CALLS OTHER LADY A "HOE." 

Second, sure, money is not everything but do not live in your little LaLaLand where you think that "when you are hungry, love will keep you alive." 

Cha Ocampo, the original poster, never implied in her tweets that she would date a guy for her to eat at fancy places and to feed her ego. She's just realistic enough to know that dating a man who can't move his ass to even take you to a nice dinner or even a movie is not worth her time. 

Ladies, respect your self and know your self-worth, know what you deserve. You should not aim for a rich guy but aim for someone who can afford to reach your dreams with you.
Finally, do not fucking settle for a "broke man" just because he respects you and values you. BE WITH A MAN WHO MIGHT BE BROKE BUT RESPECTS AND VALUES YOU ENOUGH TO MOVE HIS ASS AND WOULD NOT WANT BE BROKE HIS WHOLE DAMN LIFE.
Not his fault that he was born broke but it would be his fault if he would not even try. 

PS: Never in my post did I say that I need a man to finance me or the man should be the provider. Stop telling me that I'm a gold digger because I am self-made and I earn my own money. Exactly the reason why I can't be with a dependent guy na laging magpapalibre sa akin. I know the value of money kaya hindi rin ako nagpapalibre. This applies to both men and women! Work so you won't be a burden to your partner and so you can enjoy things together. 

I won't lower my standards because I know what I deserve." - Jackylynne Lambino

Microsoft Holds “Hour of Code” for Gawad Kalinga Students

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Microsoft believes that all young people should have the opportunity to learn new skills that will prepare them for the future workplace and an ever-transforming world.

Microsoft invited 30 students from Gawad Kalinga to the Microsoft Philippines office to participate in the Hour of Code, a global movement to encourage more youth to develop an interest in coding. The children were introduced to basic coding through Minecraft Designer, a free online tutorial on Code.org that teaches users to use computer science commands to bring the Minecraft world to life. The tutorial is set of 12 puzzles that includes creating their own game which can be shared with their friends or played on their phones.

For this year’s Hour of Code, Microsoft Philippines and Gawad Kalinga engaged with 6,000 youth and trained 250 teachers from La Union, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo, Davao, and Compostela Valley.

To try the new tutorial:

aka.ms/hourofcode

To learn more about how Microsoft Philanthropies is helping to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, please visit www.microsoft.com/philanthropies. For more information about using “Minecraft: Education Edition visit http://education.minecraft.net.

Hit Musical CareDivas Opens PETA’S 50th Theater Season

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Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) comedy musical Care Divas returns to open its 50th anniversary with a whopping 50 shows from February 3, 2017 until March 19, 2017 at The PETA Theater Center.

Care Divas a disarmingly funny and candid musical drama about 5 transgender Overseas Filipino Workers in Israel who work as care givers in the morning and transform into glamorous drag queen performers at night. While desperate to make ends meet, they also struggle to search for acceptance in a foreign land.

The musical dominated the 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay! Awards, bagging seven trophies including Outstanding Stage Direction, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Musical Production and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical.

The play’s wickedly funny text, written by award-winning playwright Liza Magtoto, tells of the lives of the main characters: the kind and loving Chelsea, the often-sarcastic group leader Shai, the ditzy Thalia, the bubbly Kayla, and the ill-tempered Jonee.

Vincent de Jesus’ musical score leaves audiences humming tunes as it weaves through the narrative. Under the direction of Maribel Legarda, the creative team behind the show includes costume designer John Abul, lighting designer Jonjon Villareal, visual artist and set designer Leo Abaya, and contemporary dancer and choreographer Carlon Matobato.

Jesse Lucas Masterclass: The Art Of Writing Music For Film/TV

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Top-notch composer Jesse Lucas gives a masterclass on the art of writing music for Film/TV. Jesse is an award-winning and prolific composer who has written music for film, television, theater and ballet.

In film, his works have won awards from different award-giving bodies. In 2010, he was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame for Best Music Scorer. He won the Best Music at the 2005 Screamfest International Film Festival in Los Angeles for the film Sigaw, 2005. His music for films have reaped awards such as Gawad Urian, Best Music Score for Babae sa Breakwater, 2004; four Young Critics Circle Awards for Best Sound and Aural Orchestration in Phone Sex, 2000, Sugatang Puso, 2001, Minsan May Isang Puso, 2002, and Anghel sa Lupa, 2004; Star Awards for Best Music Score for Filipinas, 2004; five Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards for Best Music Score for 9 Mornings, 2003, Filipinas, 2004, Mano Po 3, 2005, A Love Story, 2008, and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, 2007; Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Award for Best Original Song for Babae, 1997; MMFF Best Music Score for Luksong Tinik, 1999; and Gawad Tanglaw for Batanes, 2008.

Jesse has made scores for some noted TV "teleserye" series such as Maging Sino Ka Man, 2006 and 2008; Kahit Isang Saglit 2008; Lovers In Paris, 2009; Magkaribal, 2010; Princess And I, 2012 and Bridges of Love, 2015.

His most recent TV work is the top-rating Magpahanggang Wakas and for film - the box-office hit The Unmarried Wife.

He won the 2016 ALIW AWARDS Best Musical Director for his work in the theatrical play Happiness is a Pearl.

2016: The Year Filipino Fighters Stood Tall in ONE Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines has produced many notable boxers throughout the years, including Francisco “Pancho Villa” Guilledo, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Although the country has become a breeding ground of world-class boxers, it is quickly carving a niche in other combat sports, particularly in mixed martial arts (MMA).

The nation has been deeply involved with MMA since 1995 when Kung Fu practitioner Onassis Parungao made his professional debut in the United States, but it took seven years before the sport was formally introduced on local shores.

For over two decades, it has been a dizzying rollercoaster ride for Filipino fighters as they encountered a mix of sweet triumphs and heartbreaks.

However, it was a different story in 2016 as Filipino combatants glimmered like diamonds atop an international MMA stage.

Over the course of 14 events in ONE Championship’s 2016 calendar, Filipino competitors tallied 24 victories, including a successful title defense and a stunning championship-winning performance.

Let us explore the moments that left an indelible mark in 2016, courtesy of the gallant warriors from the Philippines.

Hontiveros Sees Health and Gender Equality Bills at the Forefront of 2017 Legislative Agenda

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday vowed to prioritize the passage of several health and gender equality bills in 2017, saying that she and her fellow senators will build on the gains they made last year in the promotion of progressive laws.

Hontiveros, who serves as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, sees longer maternity leave for women this year. She filed Senate Bill No. 215 or the Extended Maternity Leave Act which seeks to extend the maternity leaves of working women from the current 60 days to 120 days and150 days for solo mothers.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently threw his support for a longer maternity leave. Duterte said that mothers should have a longer rest period to give them more time to breastfeed their babies."I agree that you need a longer period of rest for maternity leave. Gusto ko nga isang taon eh (I even want it to last for a year)," he said.

Hontiveros said that her committee is already in the process of preparing its committee report on the different versions of the bill.

Hontiveros also vowed to push Senate Bill No. 935 or the Anti-Discrimination Bill which she filed to penalize discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in schools and workplaces, and offer equal protection to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The said bill already made its way to the plenary and is ready for second reading. LGBT advocates said that Hontiveros' proposed measure is the first anti-discrimination bill to reach the Senate plenary.

As part of her campaign promise, Hontiveros seeks to stop the practice of hospitals asking for advance payment before admitting patients in emergency situation. Hontiveros, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health, filed Senate Bill No. 216 or the Amendments to the Anti-Hospital Deposit Act that seek heavier penalties on hospitals that continue to violate the law while providing tax incentives to those that will admit indigent or poor patients in cases of emergency.

"We will conduct another hearing on this issue, submit the bill to the technical working group and release a committee report as soon as possible," Hontiveros said.

"The Anti-hospital deposit bill is part of my priority legislative bills this new year. We cannot allow the lives and health well-being of our people to be sacrificed any longer in the name of profit," Hontiveros added.

PETA Marks 50th Anniversary and Announces Line Up This 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) recently invited members of the media to a preview of their upcoming shows scheduled for 2017 which is also their grand 50th anniversary.

Several shows are lined-up and since PETA is trying to live up to its name of presenting educational shows, it is not surprising to still find some offerings intended for children which also aims to keep the Filipino culture intact. Though they are starting their year with a revived musical comedy offering showcasing members of the third sex via the Caredivas this February,  come April they will be starting to commemorate their 5oth Anniversary with a series of "going back to their origins" presentations with a concert called Rites at the Fort featuring performances by renowned theater and music giants singing new renditions of PETA's musical gems and original compositions through the decades.

At the media presentation, it was evident that PETA as a whole is somehow politically aligned to a certain perspective when their lead executives expressed their sentiments against the happenings within the current administration or government. But they emphasized to still maintain mutual respect among each other when it comes to political beliefs and affiliations. This will be surely evident when they conduct their year-round A Game of Trolls show, a timely and educational production about Martial Law meant for students and Millennials.

PETA Workshop Express, an annual workshop for kids, teens, and adults will go the extra mile as it travels to different regions across the country to conduct satellite classes in key cities. 

PETA will also gather its local and international partners to a festival of ideas and best practices in the field of Advocacy Theater, of which it is a pioneer, with its Festival of Windows offering

This will be followed on November by Living Voices which is a retrospect of the most significant plays originally mounted at the Rajah Sulayman Theater, with live testimonies shared by PETA legends, and will wrap up in December with a Grand Alumni Homecoming to celebrate those who dedicated their lives to PETA, considered as one of the most original and exceptionally relevant cultural phenomena in Philippine cultural history.