Laugh Struck: The Comedy Cartel's Weekend Specials Return

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After a rousing and successful jam-packed start last Saturday, the Comedy Cartel returns to The Stockpile Bar this Saturday, March 11, 9pm. 

Hosted by Chris Bacula, the event features Kulat Consul, Sergio Belarus and Michelle Defensor with headliners Chip Balbuena and Joseph Montecillo.

The Stockpile is located at The Sapphire Bloc in Ortigas Center (at the back of Marco Polo Hotel).

The show is FREE ADMISSION so bring your family and friends and let's all laugh our work-week stress away! 

Wazzup Pilipinas is a proud media partner.

Text 09178860706 for seat reservations!

Instituto Cervantes, FDCP Present Espacio Femenino Film Series

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of the International Women’s Month, Instituto Cervantes and the Film Development Council of the Philippines present Espacio Femenino, a series of women-themed Spanish films at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Manila, Ermita, Manila.

The film series features four documentaries directed by female Spanish directors which highlight the role of women as drivers of political and social change.

“We are in full support of Instituto Cervantes for this continuing film series made by women and for women. We hope that through this, our own Filipino women audience here will be inspired and encouraged to not just celebrate their femininity but also use it to affect positive change in our society,” said FDCP Chair Liza Diño regarding the program.

Trends and Challenges in Enterprise Risk Management

Wazzup Pilipinas!
"Conquer the modern age of business world in a paced changing society."

Welcoming this year as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Business Administration in partnership with Career Add-Ons, proudly presents a seminar that will set the prime standard for professionals and business community:

Trends and Challenges in Enterprise Risk Management happening on the 29th day of March 2017 at DAP, Virata Middle Room, Pasig City from 9AM to 5PM (Registration starts at 8AM).

This event is organized to cater the needs of managers and corporate professionals around Metro Manila who strive to solve in and outside company's difficulties in the field of Risk Management.

This year, PUP aims to open a new front in management as we unlock the secret of unbiased dealing in trends and risk challenges.

Join us as we learn the ventures behind the successful businesses and mastery of solving risk together with our extraordinaire speakers who utilized their knowledge and skills in order to conquer the risk of business world.

For more inquiries and concerns, you may reach Ms. Lyzeil Rebutica at +639506555634 or email at pupcac.riskmanagement@gmail.com

Don't forget to like and share our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/riskmanagement.pup See you there!

Naxional Scores Victory at Neymar Jr’s Five!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Neymar Jr’s Five is the Brazilian forward’s signature football tournament which pits five-a-side teams in head-to-head in 10-minute matches with a twist. Every time one team scores, the opposition loses a player. It’s fast, technical, and tactical.

This past Saturday, March 04, 2017, eight teams squared off in SPARTA Philippines, in Mandaluyong, for the finals of Neymar Jr’s Five:

Laro
Underground
Strafford
Kidzania
El Retiro
Naxional
Tondo FC
Manila Tala

One of biggest surprises of the Finals was the addition of Tondo FC, who stood in following the withdrawal of qualifying team, Baggie FC. Tondo FC proved to be the sentimental favorites for those who attended February 25th’s qualifier B, making their return to the tournament a welcome surprise.

The afternoon saw a series of round robin matches that ended with Naxional taking the victory following an intense match against Tondo FC. True to the nature of Neymar Jr’s Five, the match was fast and intense, leading to a heated one-on-one draw that lasted well over two minutes.

Neymar Jr’s Five Finals:

1st Place – Naxional
2nd Place – Tondo FC
3rd Place – Manila Tala

Also included in Neymar Jr’s Five’s finals were the FutKal Freestyle Football Championship; a freestyle exhibition that took place between matches. Eight participants squared off, showcasing their unique skill in handling a football.

Futkal Freestyle Competition:

1st Place – Dennis Lucito
2nd Place – Dennis Balbin
3rd Place – Ival de Castro

Winning team, Naxional, is comprised of Miguel Artillera, Roberto Orlandez, Ahmed Hwedi, and former ULF Stallion members, Hector Zaghi, Mark Daniel Rivera and Team Captain, Daniel Matsunaga. The team is supported by the Latin American bistro of the same name, which Matsunaga is part-owner of.

“We are very excited!” the team shares. “It proves that us Filipinos can play internationally. It’s a good experience for us. Neymar is a world class player and we want to learn. He is an inspiration for us!”

Naxional will compete at Neymar Jr’s Five global finals in Brazil later this year.

Australian Nursing Expo Opens Doors for Pinoy Nurses

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Over 200 nurses explored possibilities of nursing careers abroad as they joined the Australia Nursing Career Expo (ANCE) at Radisson Blu Hotel yesterday.

Organized by Enhance Visa to educate local nurses on how to pursue successful careers in the Australian healthcare industry, the expo was open to fresh graduates and registered nurses alike.

Nurses got to hear directly from Vikram Sharma, an Australian Registered Migration Agent, on how to qualify for employment and permanent residency in Australia through international education. Sharma also shared about the different skilled work professions in the healthcare industry that are currently in high demand in Australia.

“One of Australia’s problems in recent years is that it is losing most of its professionals to retirement and we need more healthcare workers to meet the demands of an aging population,” says Sharma.

There has been an increasing demand for personal care workers and other aged healthcare professionals which considered skilled work professions in Australia.

According to the Federal Employment Department, healthcare and social assistance jobs are projected to increase by almost 800,000 by the year 2025.

Jose Cuervo Wraps Up Month Long Party at Panagbenga!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This past month, your compadres at Jose Cuervo celebrated Baguio City’s annual Panagbenga festival with three back-to-back weeks of events that kept the city warm through the cold season!

The Panagbenga Festival is among the summer capital’s most cherished traditions. Founded in 1990, the festival began as a means to raise the city from the ashes of the devastating earthquake that ravaged the city in 1990. The Panagbenga Festival celebrates the variety of flowers exclusive to the Cordilleras. Since then, the month-long festival has become a tradition that binds communities together through its elaborate parade.

Inspired by the tradition of the Panagbenga Festival, Jose Cuervo assembled three events over the course of three weeks. The first took place at The Ampersand, where together with DJ Callum David, set the tone for the events to come with amazing music and quality, Cuervo drinks.

“To come up here with Cuervo was an experience”, says DJ Callum David. “The city is beautiful, and the people are equally beautiful. I can’t wait to do this again.”

Senate Inquiry on the Killing of Volunteer Doctor

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a Senate resolution calling for a legislative inquiry to look into the slay of volunteer doctor Dreyfuss Perlas.

Hontiveros said that the conduct of a Senate inquiry will help in formulating and enacting measures to ensure the safety and well-being of physicians and medical personnel in rural areas.

Perlas was part of the Doctor-to-the-Barrios (DTTB) program of DOH and was killed by unknown gunmen in Sapad, Lanao del Norte last March 1. The incident was widely condemned by different sectors.

Hontiveros, who personally met Perlas during his DTTB graduation in October 2014, said that the murder is a great tragedy not only to the poor municipality of Sapang, but also the health sector in general.

“The current state of health human resources in the Philippines is characterized by the maldistribution of health professionals particularly doctors which are concentrated in urban centers”, Hontiveros’ PSR No. 310 read. The situation leaves “a number of rural areas doctor-less which in turn leads to inadequate health care services and poor health outcomes in these areas”, it furthered.

Hontiveros remarked that the killing of Dr Perlas undermines the efforts of government to provide access to health care services in rural areas.

“I am one with the health sector community in seeking justice for Dr. Perlas”, Hontiveros noted. “The Senate as an institution should not back down on this attack against health and healthcare for our people”, she concluded

How to Make Housing More Affordable For Filipinos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Where do we go from acknowledging the importance of a home? As the number one marketplace for all things real estate, Lamudi Philippines talks about affordable housing and how best to make to it available to every Filipino.

“More than just a roof to keep our people safe from external threat, a shelter is where values are formed, hopes and dreams are built, and the true meaning of family is defined. For many of us, a home is indeed a symbol of identity and dignity,” said President Rodrigo Duterte at the 7th National Developers’ Convention of the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP). In the same event, the president called on all economic development stakeholders to unite and formulate development action plans aimed at providing decent homes to Filipinos.

The dream of having a home of their own is one common aspiration shared by all Filipinos but as the rise of property prices continue to shoot up this goal is becoming more and more elusive most especially to low-income earners. To be able to address the housing ownership challenge many Filipino families face, here are some innovative solutions that can be rolled out.

Affordable Finance Schemes

The first step to housing within reach is easier finance schemes and lower interest rates especially for the poor and the marginalized.

In recent financing program of Pag-IBIG Fund, the lowest interest rate they offer to its members is 5.5% for a one year fixed-pricing period, 6.5% for 3 years, 7.270% for 5 years, 8.035% for 10 years, 8.585% for 15 years, 8.8% for 20 years, 9.050% for 25 years, and 10% under a 30-year fixed-pricing period. To avail of the lowest rate of 5.5% per annum, borrowers must have a monthly amortization that should not exceed 30% of the borrower’s gross monthly income; and the ratio of the loan amount to the appraised value of the collateral shall not exceed 75%.

One major worry though is the full risk-based pricing framework that the Fund has recently adopted. This means that the interest rates will only be fixed on the assigned period and might go higher or lower depending upon the prevailing market rates. Fortunately the shelter agency reported that since they used the new scheme, the agency has lowered its rate for five consecutive times. This rule applies to all eligible members of the Fund.

Public–Private Partnerships

In a study of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the affordability of housing has been adversely affected by out-of-control urbanization and unplanned urban sprawl where demand for residential land far outstrips the available supply of land, particularly in densely populated areas.

The best course of action for this dilemma can start with more proactive engagement of private investors in the national agenda. With the government and the private sector sharing ideas and working together, planning for future developments of a city that will include more low-cost housing will be made much easier.

The only listed example of public and private cooperation under property development in the portal of the Public–Private Partnership Center of the Philippines is the Pabahay sa Riles Project which can be recalled as not exactly a success.

As upcoming projects such as the Cavite–Laguna Expressway and the NLEX–SLEX Connector Road has been proven to be helpful, we can only hope that joint venture real estate developments will soon be planned and conceptualized for Filipinos.

Lower Rental Costs

Taking a leaf from the plans of former HUDCC chief Leni Robredo, a public rental housing program can likewise help ease the financial burden of housing to salaried workers and employees. This initiative will help individuals and families who temporarily chose to reside near their workplace in the city but do not intend to acquire a home there. By providing value-for-money ready-for-lease units, the families can save up for that dream house that they can own in the future.

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 2004, 33% and 17% of the Philippines’ urban population are renters and sharers, respectively. Through helping this big chunk of the market, this might be the way to not only help future homeowners save but also address the issue of informal settlements in key urban areas.

End the Abusive and Corrupt "Oplan Tokhang"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As the Duterte government proceeds to resume its implementation of the suspended Oplan Tokhang, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a resolution calling for an end to the anti-drug campaign, which she branded as abusive and corrupt.

Hontiveros, who in a senate hearing called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to suspend Oplan Tokhang, said that the campaign is a widely discredited operation which has cost the deaths of thousands, among them a Korean businessman, and stained the integrity of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

On October 18, 2016 Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was taken from his home in Angeles City. He was brought to Camp Crame and strangled to death allegedly by police officers assigned to the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG). Following the ensuing public outcry, PNP Police Chief Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa suspended all anti-drug operations last January 30, 2017.

“The resumption of Oplan Tokhang and project double barrel will only result in more suffering and needless death for our countrymen. Oplan Tokhang has been used by corrupt and abusive policemen as a cover for, among other things, acts of extortion and murder. The president himself has said that nearly 40% of the police force is engaged in illegal activities. Prudence demands that the cleansing of the PNP and regaining the trust of the public be our first priorities. ” Hontiveros said.

Before its suspension, the administration’s war on drugs has claimed over 7,000 lives, 2,555 came from police operations and another 3, 603 unsolved drug-related killings, many presumed to be extrajudicial in nature.

“Our message remains the same. The drug problem is a public health issue and should be treated accordingly, using a variety of approaches. If experience of other nations that have implemented a punitive strategy against drug addiction can teach us anything, it is that these strategies do not work,” Hontiveros said.

Under Armour Circuit Challenge

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Under Armour Circuit Challenge was held last weekend at Greenbelt 3, and was part of a two-part event which served as a preliminary event to help prepare the participants of the regional fitness challenge UA ‘Test of Will’.

Under Armour athlete Elle Adda hosted the event, along with Bellator fighter AJ Matthews and Celebrity trainer Mama Kat. Elle is a French-Filipino fitness trainer, actress, model and an international performing artist. Hosts all wore the latest Threadborne line of Under Armour.

One of the highlights of the event was the on-the-spot challenge that the crowd requested between fighter AJ Matthews and Elle Ada. In said challenge, Matthews and Ada also competed over a round of ball slams, squat, ball rock and roll-ups, press and burpees. Matthews won with a 1-second margin over Ada. Fighter AJ Matthews also showed some self-defense techniques.

Winners of the UA Circuit Challenge event for this leg were Edwin Lobelia (1:47),Ted Waikin (1:56), Jayson Ang (1:57), Jona Constantino (1:53), Marianne Roulade (1:54) and Ericka Mesia (2:00).

The UA Circuit Challenge sets the stage for the much awaited UA ‘Test of Will’ set to take place on March 25 & 26 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. It is on its second year and will be held in 6 countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Participants in ‘Test of Will’, will compete in a four-minute circuit consisting of Burpees, One Arm Thruster, TRX Rows and Sandbag Throw. Each competitor will be scored based on the maximum number of repetitions they can achieve within 60 seconds. The highest scoring man and woman of the national heats from each respective country will win an all-expense paid trip to compete in the regional finals, happening in Kuala Lumpur on 6 May 2017.

This year’s overall champion of the regional finals will walk away with S$2,500 cash prize, or around Php 88,000.00.

For more information on how to register for ‘Test of Will’, please visit: www.testofwill.com.