Celebrate What's Great at Philippines-Australia Friendship Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Australian Embassy and the Australia Global Alumni in the Philippines will mark the first official Philippines – Australia Friendship Day with an outdoor festival on Saturday, 20 May at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. 

 “This is a celebration of the longstanding and close friendship between our two countries,” said Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely, “We have strong people-to-people links nurtured through educational and cultural exchanges. So I am very pleased that Australia Global Alumni are leading the celebration of the first PhilippinesAustralia Friendship Day.” 

Inspired by Australia’s lively outdoor lifestyle, the festival will feature a free film screening and concert, a food and fashion fair, kid’s games and a traditional Aussie sausage sizzle hosted by alumni and volunteers. The award-winning Australian family film Paper Planes will screen in the afternoon, followed by a fun paper plane making competition. 

To cap off the festival, Australian sax duo Half Sound with Erick Calilan and Tusa Montes, Indie Alternative band Oh! Flamingo and Filipino rock icons Razorback will perform. Festivalgoers will also enjoy a free shuttle service around Bonifacio High Street on Star 8 solar jeepneys. 

These green public utility vehicles feature innovative Australian technology that modernises the classic Filipino jeep. “I thank our Filipino friends and my fellow Australians for their warm support of last year’s celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations,” Ambassador Gorely said. 

 “One of the outcomes of that was a Presidential Proclamation declaring 22 May of each year as Philippines– Australia Friendship Day so we can celebrate what’s great between our two countries,” she added. The Philippines is one of Australia’s longest-standing bilateral relationships. While formal relations commenced with the opening of Australia’s first Consulate-General in Manila on 22 May 1946, links between the two countries date back to the 1800s, driven by trade and migration. 

Lasting ties were forged in the heat of battle when 4,000 Australian service personnel fought alongside Filipino and allied forces for the liberation of the Philippines in WWII. 

Today, Australia and the Philippines cooperate closely across a range of areas, including defence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, education and development.Australia is the second largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Philippines, with AUD 83 million (PhP 2.8 million) in 2016-17 strategically deployed to support the Philippine roadmap for sustainable growth. “I invite everyone to join us in celebrating this inaugural friendship day,” said Ambassador Gorely. 

The Ambassador launched an online campaign to inspire people across the Philippines to join the celebration by sharing their stories of friendship using the official hashtag #AUPhWeAreMates and #FilAussieDay. For more information about the first Philippines–Australia Friendship Day celebration, visit www.philippines.embassy.gov.au, like Australia in the Philippines on Facebook and follow @AusAmbPH on Twitter.


Here’s the link to the pre-publicity video: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianEmbassyManila/videos/1347323208683873/

Advocacy Group Encourages the Youth for their First HIV Test

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With 30 Filipinos being diagnosed with HIV every day, LoveYourself, Inc. will hold a free, fast and confidential HIV screening day for the Youth on 28 May 2017 (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) at Victoria Court, Malate dubbed as “Let's TestMNL.”

Let’s TestMNL specifically targets the Youth sector following the rate of HIV infection in this population, but nonetheless, all are invited, to register at this link: go.loveyourself.ph/testmnl to join the event.

“We are aggressive in bringing this free, fast and confidential HIV testing to the Youth because of their apparent vulnerability to the causes of the disease, and most importantly, only through testing that we can detect if one has the virus,” LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan underscored.

According to the latest Department of Health (DOH) data, there are 2,160 individuals aged 15-34 who have contracted the virus for the first January to March of this year alone.

Pagtakhan clarified, “Let’s TestMNL testing day is for all ages, but LoveYourself highly encourages college students and those in their early 20s to support the movement in knowing their HIV status for the first time, especially in a safe yet welcoming space.”

4th Philippine Property Expo: Find All Things Real Estate under One Roof

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Mediacom Solutions is staging the 4th Philippine Property Expo, to be held on May 27-28, 2017 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila and will be open from 11:00am until 08:00pm.

With its tagline “Find All Things Real Estate under One Roof”, the Philippine Property Expo will feature over 80 property developments, from condominiums to house and lot, as well as various real estate suppliers, from furniture, kitchen, technology to home accessories.

This 2 day event is also filled with an interactive program where visitors will be able to learn from property industry experts all about real estate, from property market trends, to property investment tips, a guide for first time home buyers, home beatification hacks and more.

“Now on its 4th year, the Philippine Property Expo will provide interested home buyers, property investors and real estate professionals a wider selection to source for their dream property and supplies, as well as the opportunity to learn from property experts, all under one roof for free” says Mediacom Solutions CEO and Founder of the Philippine Property Expo, Mr. David Abrenilla.

More Coffee Export Deals Eyed at IFEX Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Philippine coffee is being positioned for a bigger role in export trade at IFEX Philippines, the country’s biggest international food show, currently held today until May 21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

According to Leandro Gazmin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Services (DA-AMAS), IFEX Philippines will serve as a platform to streamline the goals of the Philippine Coffee Industry Road Map (PCIR) 2017-2022.

Recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last March, the roadmap serves as the country’s coffee industry guide to achieve a more competitive, profitable and sustainable growth, contributing to improving national food security measures and poverty alleviation.

“We want to showcase coffee here at IFEX Philippines 2017. The coffee pavilion will demonstrate the value-chain of coffee from bean to brew. Through IFEX, we would like to promote trade and position the Philippines as one of the sources of the best coffee,” says Asec. Gazmin.

“Roadmaps are vital instruments to provide direction to the industry stakeholders to move the industry forward. Roadmaps assess the current industry situation, identifies critical key result areas which have to be addressed to meet its short term and long term goals of developing the industry. Crafting of these roadmaps is stakeholders-led and thus participation and collaboration of both government and the private sector are promoted,” adds Gazmin.

According to the roadmap, the Philippine coffee industry intends to export 214,626 metric tons of green coffee by 2022. Should the goal be met, the Philippines would have surplus coffee available for export.

“From being a significant player, we are now a minor player in Southeast Asia. But the huge potential of Philippine coffee cannot be understated especially for specialty coffee. Our coffee has distinct flavor and aroma. In fact, based on a study, the Philippine beans is said to be competitive with imports from Viet Nam and Indonesia. Coupled with the right intervention, Philippine coffee has a bright future,” explained Gazmin.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world producing the four coffee varieties: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa. Local coffee farmers have evolved from subsistent farmers to entrepreneurs through the active support from coffee organizations pushing coffee for a more sustainable enterprise. Coffee farmers are continuously adopting environment-friendly technologies and are intensifying their efforts to comply market standards.

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IFEX Philippines is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippines’ and Asia's ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products.

It is one of the official business events in the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit. The three-day event is organized by DTI-CITEM, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the ASEAN Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (CBIP), which is chaired by DTI.

Monde Nissin to Make Favorite Dishes Healthier at Summit of Flavors @ IFEX Kitchen

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Philippine food industry giant Monde Nissin Corporation is bringing a healthier and tastier twist to international delicacies in its participation at the Summit of Flavors @ IFEX KITCHEN, a special event featuring cooking demonstrations by local and international celebrity chefs at the IFEX Philippines event slated on May 19-21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

On May 21, Monde Nissin will feature Quorn, a range of meat-free protein products that makes just about any type of food healthier without compromising its taste. Quorn’s main ingredient is Mycroprotein, a naturally healthy protein from nutritious fungus that is meat-free and non-GMO. It is low in saturated fat and calories, high in protein and fiber, and has zero cholesterol.

Quorn made healthier Monde Nissin’s array of delicacies like the Mushroom Stroganoff, a rich and creamy vegetarian version of the Russian specialty made with mushrooms and Quorn Chunks. It is great for either rice or pasta, and is perfect for the whole family.

The company will also prepare Quorn Greek Style Salad, a healthy and low fat salad recipe with fresh herbs, olives, and avocado served with a vinaigrette dressing, and Chili con Quorn™, a delicious Mexican meat sauce that combines Quorn™ Grounds, beans, and a rich, spicy tomato sauce.

Monde Nissin will also revamp the classic Filipino curry dish with Quorn Chunks simmered in an aromatic curry sauce and thickened with coconut cream.

Preparing this mouthwatering dishes at the Monde Nissin booth will be Chef Heart Alikpala, Research and Development Chef at the company.

Also showcasing their products at the event are Magic Melt Foods Inc., Nutri-Asia Inc., and GEMS Inc. CCI France-Philippines will also be presenting some products and its own chef from the Society Lounge and Tauro Pintxos Wine Bar & Grill.

The IFEX KITCHEN is located at The MarketPlace at the main hall of the Philippine Trade Training Center.

IFEX PHL Banners Country’s Top Agri-Export on May 19-21 Show

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines top agricultural export products will be among the highlights of the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines to be held on May 19–21, 2017 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade and Training Center, Pasay City.

In line with its efforts to promote the country’s food commodities to the international market, IFEX Philippines will have special highlights on coffee, cacao, coconut, and fruit and nut products as part of the Food Industry Cluster under the Food Artisans Village. Each pavilion site will showcase the Philippines’ high-demand export commodities in numerous varieties and cultivars.

“Through IFEX Philippines, we hope to close new deals and partnerships with our extensive list of international buyers, a majority of which are new comers to the event,” said CITEM Executive Director, Clayton Tugonon. “We are showcasing only the best in IFEX Philippines and buyers can expect to see the finest agricultural products the Philippines has to offer.”

Agro-based products contributed to 6.1% of the share of the Philippine’s export in the first half of 2016, amounting to a $291.5 million in sales. Coconut products lead the country’s agricultural exports with 34% share to total agricultural exports, closing off the last quarter of 2016 with a total of $487.3 million.

The Philippines is a major producer of tropical fruits, exporting more than 744,000 metric tons of homegrown products in the fourth quarter of 2016. Bananas ranked second in the total agricultural exports with a share of 12% and sales of $172.6 in 2016. Pineapples follow right after at 10.7% with $153.7 million in sales.

Tuna, fourth in the overall export shares with 5.5%, recorded an increase in exports by 39.2% during the fourth quarter of 2016 from $56.58 million in 2015 to $78.76 million. Other seafood products, such as seaweeds, carrageenan, shrimps, and prawns, produced $67.54 million during the same period.

Coffee exports rose by 24.7% from $91.50 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 to $114.14 million in 2016, while cacao closed off the year with $72.16 million, an increase by almost 30%.

“There is a constant increase in the exports of our commodities and with new partnerships, such as our outstanding one with Japan, this trend will only continue within the next years,” said Tugonon. “IFEX Philippines will be our one-stop trade platform in promoting our local products and building relationship with global buyers.”

The 11th edition of IFEX Philippines will feature four major exhibition halls that will present a spectrum of flavors from across the globe.

Top and emerging Philippine exporters and business support organizations (BSOs) in the food industry will be stationed at the “Food Philippines Hall”, while the “International Hall” presents top food products and ingredients from top international companies and manufacturers.

The distinct flavors of the country’s provinces take center stage in the “Food Artisans Village”, presented by the Department of Agriculture, through the Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Service (DA-AMAS). The Food Artisans Village includes the Commodity, Seafood, Mindanao, and Negros Occidental Pavilions.

The “MarketPlace” is a free-for-all where buyers and visitors can purchase on retail throughout the event.

IFEX will also present highly curated exhibit of product prototypes developed through the locally fabricated food machinery operated by Food Innovation Centers (FICs), under the Department of Science and Technology- Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) at the “Food Innovation Gallery”.

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IFEX Philippines, Asia’s ethnic food & ingredients show, is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippines’ and Asia's specialty food, with around 700 exhibitor companies, attracting wholesale buyers, importers and food distributors from all over the world.

IFEX Philippines is a fast-rising Asian marketplace where sellers of unique tropical flavors, products, innovations, and services are linked with international buyers, importers, and retailers, propelling for bigger international presence, wider variety of products, and world-class features. Categories include tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products. It is organized in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), and the ASEAN Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (CBIP), which is chaired by DTI.

Pedal Board Great Action Movie and Sport Soundtrack Sound Effects

As a Sport and Action film enthusiast. Here's one of the best tool to produce great sounds. Electric soundtrack, lets say MMA George St Pierre or GSP, and Floyd Mayweather "Sail" soundtrack of his greatest knockout, defense and grappling, boxing, mma compilation wins. Or the remarkable Top Gun anthem by Joe Satriani. 

It is that amazing to hear? Great fighting sport and fighting flying mighty US air-force. This 6 pedal, 9 volt with LED power indicator is a perfect tool to produce cool sounds. Ready to rock n roll now with these pedal board?  Pedal Board Great Action Movie and Sport Soundtrack Sound Effects. Aside from that they also have soprano sax musiciansfriend.com

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So imagine yourself in Hollywood movie settings with these cool soundtracks. Or just simply racing or doing any sport like Boxing, MMA. Basketball, Football or Tennis or Produced by guitarist and musicians with the help of Pedal Board Technology creation. Sponsored Post by Jayson Biadog, Follow me on Twitter @jbiadog

Wazzup Pilipinas Recognized at Philippine Social Media Awards 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We did it again!

We could say we are truly blessed for receiving multiple awards for the past four years when we started our blog site. It has now evolved into more than just an outlet to express our thoughts and opinions, and it is no longer just a site where we share our experience.

Wazzup Pilipinas has leveled up into something a lot more awesome. Not to exaggerate, but we believe we are reaching out to not just our online followers but we've been noticed even through other means.

We've had our own part in other traditional media, and those experiences were spectacular indeed. Now that we've started airing the Wazzup Piipinas Radio - which is more than just on air broadcasting but it also airs online via livestreaming at popular social media networks Facebook and YouTube through the 8Trimedia Network.

We would like to thank the Philippine Social Media Awards for conferring to Wazzup Pilipinas a Star Brand Award for being a Top Filipino Community Blog Site, and also acknowledging our founder, Ross Del Rosario, for the Star Achiever Award for his excellence in entrepreneurship and management.

The awarding ceremonies was held at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel on April 28, 2017, and was attended by fellow awardees coming from notable brands and various business sectors.

World-Class Davao Chocolate Firm to Launch New Products at IFEX Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

One of the chocolate firm that is shaping Davao to become the ‘Cacao Capital of the Philippines’ is launching their new line of ‘fruity and sustainable’ couverture chocolates at the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines on May 19-21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

“For this year’s IFEX, we’re developing products using local fruits to help promote sustainability and inclusive growth in our area,” said Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation’s sales and marketing head Rex Victor Puentespina. “Ayun din naman ang campaign nggovernment, to help development in the countryside so we want to use local products in Davao.”

Aside from their new product line, the Davao-based company will also offer neatly packaged dark chocolates ranging from varying rate of cacao concentration—100% Unsweetened, Malagos 85% Dark Chocolate, Malagos 65% and Malagos 72%. They will also sell roasted cacao nibs and dried fermented cacao beans, as well as quality cacao seedlings, seeds, scions.

Law Banning Small Children from Riding Motorcycles to Take Effect on May 19

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The law banning small children from riding motorcycles as passengers shall be implemented starting on May 19, Friday.

Under Republic Act 10666 or Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015, two-wheeled motorcycle riders may not be allowed to drive a motorcycle with a small child on board. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) stipulate that only children whose feet can reach the foot peg, could wrap their arms around the driver’s waist, and wears protective gear such as a helmet may be allowed to ride on a motorcycle with an adult.

The law covers all public roads, including roads where there is a heavy volume of vehicles, where there is a high-density of fast-moving vehicles, or where the speed limit is more than 60kph. An exception applies only to cases where a child to be transported requires immediate medical attention.

Violators will be fined PHP 3,000 on their first offense, PHP 5,000 on their second offense, and PHP 10,000 on their third offense and suspension of driver’s license for a month. Beyond the third offense, violators will have their licenses revoked.

The Department of Transportation believes that this proactive and preventive approach will secure the safety of passengers, especially children. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) shall be the lead implementing agency and may deputize traffic enforcers and Local Government Units (LGUs) to implement the law.

RA 10666 was signed on July 21, 2015 but was only implemented now upon the aggressive push of Secretary Art Tugade.

According to the World Health Organization, in its 2015 Global Status Report on Road Safety, 53% of reported road fatalities in the Philippines involved motorcycle riders.