Mayon Volcano Erupts, Alert Level 4 Raised in Albay

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Mount Mayon Volcano in the Philippines is one of the most beautiful and active volcanoes in the world. Known for her perfectly shaped cone body. Mother Nature is truly spectacular!

Now that it is erupting, our message to our fellow Filipinos in the area; stay safe and God speed! Look after yourselves and the  animals too.

Governor Al Francis Bichara advises everyone to stay indoors especially to our friends in the third district of Albay. Classes are suspended in the whole of third district of Albay.

"Situated on the island of Luzon, about 330 kilometers (205 miles) southeast of Manila, Mayon is one of the world's most active volcanoes.

The volcano has erupted 47 times, with many of the explosions causing deadly mudflows and ash falls.

In 2013, five climbers died when they were hit by falling rocks thrown up by a particularly violent blast. In 2014, thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate after an alert was issued.

However, the volcano's most devastating eruption took place in 1814 when at least 1,200 people were killed."

Mayon Volcano is currently erupting or what media has been reprting as "fountaining" due to the fountain-like appearance it is showing especially at night. She is now currently erupting at one of the highest level 4 in the seismology scale.

The lava fountain reached about 700 metres into the sky and produced a 4 km-high ash plume. And it's not over yet.

It is undoubtedly an amazing site but scary and dangerous at the same time.

There are reports of ashes everywhere on the west side of Mayon specially at Camalig, Guinobatan, ligao, Oas, Polangui, etc.

The people of the Philippines face battles every day...two active volcanoes, cyclones/typhoons, floods, numerous bus, motorcycle and ferry accidents, traffic and public transportation problems, a volatile leader-- we deserve some good news.

Mt. Pulag Fire Burns Hectares of Grassland

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here is the Press Release on the Mt. Pulag Fire from BFP-CAR Public Information Unit
                     
"Fire started at Saddle Camp, Mt. Pulag National Park, Eddet, Kabayan, Benguet at around 3:00 PM, January 20, 2018. Tourist guides proceeded on site at 4:30 PM where they called Kabayan FS at 5:10 PM, the nearest fire station 46 kilometers away.

Firefighters arrived at the scene 7:10PM. They proceeded with suppression until the fire was under control 8:30PM. Fire Out was declared 9:15 PM. There were no injuries nor fatalities.

Upon initial assessment, more or less 1.5 hectares of grassland was burned, with a portable burner with butane canister suspected to be the origin of fire."

 The basic principle of the triangle of fire consists of oxygen, fuel, heat and chemical reaction. You just need to remove one to prevent starting a fire.

Heat= cool the materials
Fuel= remove fuel source
Oxygen = smother air supply.

Wait, there's one more thing, ..... Lack of common sense!

That's probably the cause of the fire at Mt. Pulag - lack of common sense on the proper procedures in dealing with nature.

The trend lately is to flaunt our accomplishments online. Damn the Facebook hiker(s)/FBneer(s). For the sake of being seen by our friends seen on social media, we endanger our world.

We should be responsible mountaineers/hikers/campers.

If you're planning to bring burners please make sure you know how to use them so you wont end up panicking and cause trouble.

If we don't know how to extinguish a simple burner. We better bring cooked food for our meals instead.

Due to our clumsiness and unpreparedness to act in a right way. The beautiful grasses and trees of a mountain suffer.

For hikers/campers it is essential for us to know or to be aware of hazardous things that we bring. We must know how to use it and how to keep it away from danger. And we must know also our responsibilities as visitor to a place.

Please leave Mt. Pulag clean during our stay, and as we leave. Or even if it's not clean when we arrive, we better clean it as well. The mountain has no janitors to clean our mess.

We are hoping for the fast recovery of the mountain grass. We salute the bravery of the fire fighters who extinguished the fire. Its not that easy to travel swiftly that 46km to reach that scene of fire.

Grass and Bamboo dwarfs can't be planted back anymore.. It was there for decades.. Best solution is to close the whole Pulag for Mountaineering for the meantime to give time for rehabilitation.. Plants will just grow up again..just give it time.. Maybe 2-5yrs.

Its obviously unintentional.  Yet the best way to punish those who are responsible for this is that they must PLANT what was burnt out,  probably start the project now and gather everyone they can to help and they must make sure that the plants are successfully growing in the affected parts of Mt. Pulag. It'll take time but its how they must repay it.

This supposedly accident goes to show that those responsible are NOT EXPERIENCED MOUNTAINEERS. They have no proper training or knowledge on what to do in situations like these.

Sadly, most of the people who climb mountains like Mt. Pulag are only there for the sake of "papogi" for their social media selfies and photo ops and similar reasons. In their sins the mountain have paid the price.

Respect nature and culture. Kindly be reminded that Mt. Pulag since time immemorial is the so called home of the gods and the final resting place of our ancestors.

It is hard for IPs to see that visitors and guests desecrate their hollowed grounds. They respect us as guests but please respect their culture, be responsible and considerate, considering the fact that they are sharing their way of life with you. Respect nature and culture. Kindly be reminded that Pulag since time immemorial is the home of the gods and the final resting place of their ancestors.

Be it known that Mt. Pulag is not only a mountain to climb. It is hollowed grounds. In Ibaloi, Kalanguya and Kankanaey culture that is the final resting place of their ancestors. They perform Canaos and many other rituals and sacrifices to lead them there. In their belief, Pulag is the eternal destiny where their ancestors will dwell and be reunited with all those who went ahead of them. Respect Pulag as they do.

Those who plan to visit Mt. Pulag will not be allowed to enter the area and will be directed to the Four Lakes instead, all mesmerizing and enchanting due to their sacredness especially Lake Ambulalacao.

The highlanders (Ibalois) believed that the spirits of their ancestors and loved ones dwell on these places. Therefore they have to preserve, protect and keep them clean. In fact, Lake Ambulalacao is several times awarded as the cleanest lake in the Cordillera Region and in 1995, it was labeled the cleanest inland lake in the Philippines.

I hope that the Four Lakes will not suffer the same fate as that of Mt. Pulag and that hikers will respect these sacred grounds.

Go for Same Day Flower Delivery Services to Treat Your Loved Ones to Beautiful Blooms!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The holiday season is knocking on our doors, and no better gift shows how much you care for someone than flowers.

However, in our busy lives these days, we often tend to forget about special occasions, sending gifts until the absolute last moment. So many times, we miss out on occasions because we're busy with our works or had prior engagements, and then at the last moment tried to go to the mall and buy a gift only to be frustrated by the heavy traffic on the road.

Online florists today have the solution to this problem by offering you guaranteed delivery on the same day with London courier service.

It is understandable that many people might have reservations against the system of same-day deliveries during the holiday season considering the holiday rush that exists during this time of the year, and many people are not sure whether they can at all avail same day deliveries.

In this article, you will learn exactly why same day delivery for flowers is a good bet during the holiday season and the advantages they bring alongside.

Convenience
Well, it is possible to send flower to that special person when you have one of those lapses. You can arrange your flower delivery in the comfort of your home online or on the job. Using online floral service is convenient, and you still receive the same great flowers and the same level of service that you expect from a flower shop.

If you want the recipient to receive your flowers on the same day you are placing the order, look at the time because most flower delivery service has a cut off time of 3 PM for same day delivery.

Charges
You ought to check what the costs for delivery would be before ordering. There can be times when same day deliveries are a bit more expensive than regular delivery. Also, it would depend on the day of the delivery, whether it is a special occasion, and what time you place the order. Check the guidelines which florists have put on their websites regarding the delivery charges, see if there are any associated charges or not.

Browse to get the best options
You need to browse the internet and conduct proper research before choosing a florist. Check the prices each florist charges, see who offers the best deals. Read the customer’s reviews before narrowing down on a particular florist. Check the reviews regarding the same day delivery services, whether customers found it satisfying, whether there are any complaints or not, et cetera. Quality of flowers during delivery and timely delivery are two aspects which you have to look out for.

You can visit Flora2000 for same day flower Canada service. They offer the best assortment of flowers to be delivered anywhere in Canada during the same day as your order, during the holiday season.

Conclusion
Our busy lives keep us occupied so much that we end up forgetting about special occasions until the last minute. Same day delivery services for flowers during the holiday season can alleviate this problem, by delivering the best flowers to your loved ones in excellent quality at the right time, thus brightening up their day.

Isabelle Duterte and Her Lavish 18th Birthday Celebration

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An online publication said "President Rodrigo Duterte’s granddaughter spared no expense in putting together a lavish 18th birthday celebration."

But was it really Isabelle who put together her birthday, or was it her parents?

I would like to think that many people hand a hand in helping her out, and many also volunteered their products and services in exchange of recognition, just as how celebrities do their special occasions.

Needless to point out, we all want the best for ourselves, or our loved ones, so if we do have the dough to spend, or the influence to be given the perks, then we won't hesitate to become as lavish as possible.

But they say it should be different for the Duterte family or clan because they represent something more. They need to be living humbly in respect to the people living in the poverty line. They need to avoid being too excessive with their spendings as the eyes of the whole country are all critical of their acts and words.

Aside from the Michael Cinco gown which is a Swarovski crystals-studded cobalt blue dress with a sweetheart neckline. The gown is an off-shoulder ballgown with a sweetheart neckline in an electric blue color that fades to light blue at the hem of the skirt, and the taller than basketball player cake, Isabelle Duterte also wowed her guests with her Hermes birthday giveaway!

President Rodrigo Duterte was a no-show at the debut. His son Paolo (Isabelle's father), who had a recent public spat with daughter Isabelle, also did not attend. Was it a sign that they are not in favor of the lavish debut?

Since delicadeza is clearly not in the vocabulary and life values of the Duterte family, then the kin of the Imeldific debutante who are current elected officials in government and their respective families should understand that there is a strict code of ethics for civil servants should follow and adhere to.

The supreme law (the Constitution) says, in Article XI, Section 1:

"Public office is a public trust. Public officials and employees must at all times serve the people with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives."

There is also Republic Act 6713, Section 4 of which says, “Officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form."

Why is it so hard for these trapos and their families to understand this? It's either they choose to ignore the law or that they have acquired a super sense of entitlement because their families have been in power for a very long time. Most probably, both.

"The ostentatious display of wealth from Isabelle Duterte's birthday party is borderline immoral. 

Given the horrible lines at the DFA, the LTO, the dockets of the Courts, the state of our public education and Healthcare. 

Borderline immoral."

Geje Eustaquio and Kairat Akhmetov Face-Off at One: Global Superheroes Official Kick-Off Press Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES Official Kick-Off Press Conference last Monday, 22 January at the Manila Grand Ballroom of the City of Dreams. Main event competitors Geje Eustaquio the Philippines and Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan faced-off for media in attendance. They will be competing for the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship in the headline bout of ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES which takes place Friday night, 26 January at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

Also in attendance at the ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES Official Kick-Off Press Conference were Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Global Citizen, Wei Soo, Vice President for Gaming Operations of City of Dreams Manila, Kevin Benning, co-main event competitors Joshua Pacio and Lan Ming Qiang, as well as Filipino martial arts veteran Eric Kelly and his opponent, Rafael Nunes.

Ticket information for ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES is available at www.onefc.com

Photos for the ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES Press Conference can be downloaded here:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X111o02cT6YLTkl3UHwFaNOo3VhKZcvo?usp=sharing

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is always great to be back in Manila because the Philippines is one of the countries that truly and deeply appreciates martial arts. This is the reason why ONE Championship continually upkeeps holding blockbuster shows for our passionate Filipino fans. ONE Championship is set to hold four events in the country for 2018, and our first Manila card for this year will put fans on the edge of their seats, making them crave for more authentic martial arts action.”

Headquartered in New York with offices in Canada, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, Global Citizen was founded in 2012 with the goal of building the largest platform where people can learn about issues, take action on what matters most, and join a global movement working to end extreme poverty by 2030. Since then, millions of Global Citizens around the world have taken over ten million actions, which includes millions of emails, tweets, petition signatures, and phone calls targeting world leaders to end extreme poverty by 2030. To date, the actions by Global Citizen’s global community, along with its high-level advocacy efforts and various partners, have resulted in 130 commitments and policy announcements from leaders, including financial aid valued at over US $35-billion, that is set to affect the lives of over 1.3 billion people.

Wei Soo, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Global Citizen, stated: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with ONE Championship to bring Global Citizen to Asia. ONE Championship reaches millions of young people around the region and together we will engage them on issues that impact the entire world. Since we launched Global Citizen in 2012, over 13 million actions have been taken, and we are excited to drive more actions and increase our impact for the world’s most marginalized people through this partnership.”

Geje Eustaquio, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “I am expecting another difficult bout. Kairat Akhmetov is tough and has a huge heart inside the cage. That is why I am preparing very well for this rematch. A victory over Kairat would land me a rematch against Adriano Moraes. I believe I have what it takes to become the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion in the future.”

Kairat Akhmetov, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “I am coming into this interim title match-up with the mentality that it will be me versus the world, and I am ready for it. In 2017, I had ups and downs. I do not want to look back. In 2018, I am looking forward to reaching my dream to battle Adriano Moraes for the third time. But of course, I have to beat Geje Eustaquio first to fulfill my dream.”

Joshua Pacio, ONE Athlete, stated: “I have more experience, and I believe the two losses that I have suffered in my career have taught me a lot. I see those setbacks as an advantage, rather than just a blemish on my record. This match means a lot to me. I want to prove that I deserve to be competing on this international stage. I want to show to my countrymen that we also excel in martial arts, and to inspire more youths to pursue their respective dreams.”

Lan Ming Qiang, ONE Athlete, stated: “I am proud to be part of a great martial arts organization like ONE Championship, but my pride is without exaggeration. My pride cannot be moved. It only grows. I want more people to see Chinese athletes at the highest stage. I am looking forward to the match. I do not know what is going to happen, or how the match is going to end, but it is surely going to be exciting.”

Eric Kelly, ONE Athlete, stated: “Rafael Nunes has been away for a while, so I am not sure if he got stronger or improved. All I know is that I am training to achieve a win. My opponent is a human like me, and everyone is beatable. I always put that in my mind. Right now, I have to redeem myself in front of my countrymen. I might be 35 years old, but I am not giving up. I am here to stay.”

Rafael Nunes, ONE Athlete, stated: “I feel so honored to face a Filipino martial arts veteran like Eric Kelly in my return to ONE Championship. I see me keeping the match standing, and I will be using my distance to box with him and use some kicks. If he wants to go to the ground, I will be trying to finish him.”

Top flyweight contender and former world title challenger Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of  Baguio City, Philippines, is one of the most skilled martial artists in Asia, and a highly-decorated wushu practitioner. His solid striking and grappling skill set has led to huge victories over the course of a seven-year professional career. Training in the high altitudes of the Philippines’ Summer capital, Eustaquio hones his craft alongside world-class teammates at the fabled Team Lakay. Known for his incredible ability to keep calm in the face of adversity, Eustaquio is set to headline ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES opposite Kairat Akhmetov for the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship.

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov is a veteran martial artist from Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 30-year-old boasts a solid 24-1 professional record amassed during a stellar martial arts career which has seen him dominate his opponents with tenacious wrestling and powerful striking. In his most recent appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, Akhmetov defeated Geje Eustaquio via closely-contested three-round split decision. Now he faces Eustaquio in a rematch, this time for the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship.

22-year-old Joshua Pacio of Baguio City is one of the fastest rising martial arts stars from the Philippines. He is one of the promotion’s most talented strawweights and a proud member of the famed Team Lakay. Pacio is a wushu practitioner with a solid grappling repertoire. All but one of his 10 career victories have come by spectacular finish, which includes five wins by submission and four by devastating knockout. In his most recent bout, Pacio knocked out veteran Roy Doliguez with a second-round spinning back fist. A former ONE Strawweight World Championship Title Challenger, Pacio is looking to bring himself back to title contention with another victory. A tough task is ahead of Pacio, however, as he is slated to lock horns with China’s Lan Ming Qiang.

Lan Ming Qiang is a national sanda champion, who trains alongside ONE Championship flyweight standout “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin at the Jincan Defense Club. After a 16-2 sanda record and several championship titles, the 24-year-old native of Guangxi, China recently made his transition to the cage and already has a pair of stunning victories to his credit. Lan is set to make his promotional debut under the ONE Championship banner against former world title contender Joshua Pacio.

Featherweight standout Eric “The Natural” Kelly of Baguio City is widely considered one of the best homegrown martial arts athletes to come out of the Philippines. The wushu practitioner combines solid striking techniques with high-level grappling skills, which has resulted in nine impressive submissions and one knockout out of 12 total victories. Kelly’s most impressive showing to date came in a submission win over Rob Lisita in 2014. In his next bout, Kelly will face Rafael Nunes.

20-year-old Rafael Nunes is a martial artist from Sao Paulo, Brazil with a 10-1 record. He is the former Premier FC Lightweight Champion and has steamrolled through the competition in his home country with a knack for winning by exciting finish. All but one of Nunes’ 10 wins have ended within the distance. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, Nunes is equally comfortable finishing his opponents by submission or by strikes. He looks to showcase his multifaceted skill set in his next bout, and will face a tough challenge when he takes on veteran Eric Kelly.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

How Search Engine Optimization and Instagram Can Improve Your Business

Wazzup Pilipinas!

SEO (search engine optimization) is a very important online marketing technique. In fact, if you have been marketing your business and have not done a bit of SEO, you are missing the icing on the cake.

Anyone who has some experience with online marketing knows for a fact that there is no better way of getting a good following than through SEO and social media marketing.

Professional SEO services can boost your site higher than your competitors.

According to SEO specialists, SEO services are meant to help business owners get their sites to rank highly on search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Basically, they ensure that the website has a distinctive setting that will catch the attention of Internet users. And for this reason, SEO experts are becoming the most sought after specialists in the world of digital marketing.

Other than search engine optimization, content development, link building and everything else that SEOentails, there is a recent tactic that website owners are starting to adopt.

Instagram has become a favorable technique that website owners are using to put their brand out there. And being a photo and video sharing social networking platform, you can rest assured that millions of people will see your brand, your products, or services and everything there is to know about your business.

Instagram is one social media platform that has attracted a big number of users in ashort time. People from all walks of life around the globe are on Instagram. From business owners, employees, leaders, parents, teenagers, customers; almost everyone around us has an Instagram account.

Therefore, if you are running your business online, you can use this social media platformto promote your brand as well as increase traffic to your site.

So, how can you promote your business on Instagram? Here is how:

Add location to your photos – With the latest Instagram app, you now have the option to Geo tag your locationon photos before posting them. And because you are on Instagram to promote your brand, ensure that all your posts are business related.

If you happen to have a physical address, tag it to your photos as well. It is the Geo tags that will give your customers your exact location just in case they want to keep in touch.

Make your posts interesting – The core of Instagram marketing is to reach a huge fan base on a more personal level. You can do so by keeping your posts relevant but also interesting. Teasing your followers is also a good way to keep them glued to your profile.

For example, if you are introducing a new product, you can give your Instagram followers a sneak peak of what you are about to launch. This will definitely keep your followers on toes.

Keep the hashtags coming – Have you been on social media for a minute? Hashtags are becoming an effective way of letting people (fans) know what’s trending.

Therefore, take part in the fun and market your products or servicesin the process. As you post your business photos or videos, use hash tags that relate to your area of specialty. This will make your posts more visible even to Instagram users who are not your followers.

For example, if you are running a rehab facility, you can get images or video clips of your facility and post them using hashtags like #cleanme, #sobernesspays,etc.

BIO
Harris is a leading blog writer and content marketing professional with thousands of real Instagram followers for his postings.

Increasing Social Media Traffic to your Business Site

Wazzup Pilipinas!

When you sell products and services online, you are likely to be aware of the significant impact that social media has on boosting customer acquisition and brand awareness. With several customers relying on social media to determine their purchase decisions and trusting products that are recommended by their peers, social media is a vital option for businesses that want to compete effectively online.

Picking Social Networks 
If you are in the early stages of joining social media, you do not have to set up accounts on every available platform. Set aside some time to carry out research to identify the places where your customers spend most of their time online.

Find out as much information as you can about popular social platforms and the ones that will be worthwhile for your situation. This is a good way to know how each platform can be useful for helping you achieve your business goals.

After figuring out whether platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram are suitable for your business, you can start setting up your accounts. Creating one or two accounts is an effective approach that will enable you to manage the channels properly.

It is important to learn about the basic aspects of social media and how different platforms work.

Creating Content 
While seeking to turn followers and fans into customers, avoid making aggressive sales pitches that may end up turning people away. Focus on developing and providing share-worthy ad useful content that will be a valuable addition to your target audience. Maintain an interactive and social experience and use social media channels to share stories, news, tips and advice.

Make an effort to strike a balance between entertaining, educational, and informative posts and posts that are promotional. Being successful on social media requires you to place the needs of your customers above yours. Examples include sharing tutorials, posting event images and showcasing the latest pictures of a project you have completed to Instagram followers.

Providing Customer Support 
Social media gives brands and customers a new and innovative way to communicate. It can be used to drive leads by maximizing on its capabilities. While many brands highlight excellent reviews and loyal customers, there are several others that are reluctant to address customer complaints. They opt to end negative conversations instead of handling the situation.

All interactions with customers are opportunities to earn trust. Social media can be used to offer exemplary customer support and direct interaction is a powerful solution for gaining new customers and retaining existing ones.

Monitoring Competitors 
It can be helpful to keep a close eye on what your competitors do on social media. Keep track of their online activities and get inspiration from their good ideas. Social media has made it much easier for people to research their competition and see the social networks they use, how they present their brands, how they connect with audiences the type of content they share and their responses to feedback.

Conclusion
Activating social media channels for the purpose of converting followers and fans into customers is a strategic process. There are simple and effective ways that can help you turn social channels into lucrative channels for sales without being aggressive or driving your customers away.

Bio
Harris is a leading blog writer and content marketing professional with thousands of real Instagram followers for his postings.

Auditions for Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical Set on Feb. 8-9

Wazzup Pilipinas!

OPM musical BINONDO: - A TSINOY MUSICAL to be directed by Joel Lamangan.
Written by Ricky Lee with music by Von de Guzman,choreography by Douglas Nierras.
Dates: Feb. 8 - 9; 10 am - 5 pm
Venue: Douglas Nierras Powerdance Studios Unit B, 4/F ICITE Building, Eastwood City, LIBIS QC



PREMISE

‘BINONDO: a Tsinoy Musical’ tells the story of how LILY, a Filipina night club singer in pre-Martial Law Manila, and AH TIONG, a mainland Chinese scholar returning to Cultural Revolution-era Beijing, embark on a journey of great love and heartbreak that begins one fated, moon-lit night during the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1971 in the heart of Manila’s Chinatown.

LILY, a hopeless romantic, finally finds her unlikely great love in AH TIONG, a cynic about destiny, during this night of one of the fullest moons ever recorded and on the birthdate of Ge Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon or the Chinese Deity of Love. Vying for LILY’s heart as well is CARLOS, a local Chinese childhood friend of hers who is finally pushed to confront his feelings for her with the arrival of this stranger set on stealing her heart. A triangle centered on different ways of loving and receiving love forms the crux of this story.

Spanning two decades and two countries, the musical explores how love overcomes even times of racial prejudice and political turmoil and endures years of waiting and absence, only to grow deeper and change the lives of everyone who dares to put their hearts on the line.

MGA TAGPUAN

UNANG YUGTO – 1971, Chinatown at Mendiola Manila PH, Shenzhen Harbor at Beijing Labor Camp CN

IKALAWANG YUGTO – 1971-1986, Chinatown Manila PH, Beijing Labor Camp at University Housing CN



CHARACTER SKETCHES

LILY (25/40)
-Filipina, hopeless romantic, laking Chinatown dahil sa factory ng mga Chinese nagtrabaho ang mga magulang niya noon kaya sanay na siya sa kulturang Tsino, hindi nakatapos sa college dahil namatay ang ama sa barilan sa loob ng isang club at kinailangan niyang tumulong sa ina na kumita ng pera, namasukan bilang kahera sa Divisoria bago natanggap bilang isang singer sa The Lotus Club sa Binondo, halos araw-araw bumibisita sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan) para humiling na makita na niya ang lalaking nakatadhana para sa kanya 

AH TIONG (27/42)
-mainland Chinese, iskolar ng Beijing University na katatapos lang ng PhD sa Amerika, pragmatic kaya hindi naniniwala sa great love o destiny kundi ang pag-ibig ay isang duty na kailangang bigyan ng commitment, tanggap niyang may nakatakda na sa kanyang aasawahin pagbalik sa Tsina, nadaan sa Pilipinas para magbakasyon ng 2 linggo bago umuwi sa Tsinang nabalitaang nabalot na sa gulo ng Cultural Revolution

CARLOS (26/41)
-local Chinese, kababata ni LILY, anak ng may-ari ng factory na pinagtrabahuan ng mga magulang ni LILY noon, lumaking malapit sa mga kaibigang Pilipino, nagsimulang maging aktibista mula college kaya sinasama-sama niya si LILY tuwing may kilos-protesta, nasanay nang tinutulungan si LILY gaya ng pagpapapasok dito sa The Lotus Club na pagmamay-ari ng kaibigan ng pamilya nito, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig kahit magsimulang simple ay pinipili at ginagawang great

JASMINE (26/41)
-mainland Chinese, kasamahan ni AH TIONG sa Beijing University at anak ng malalapit na kaibigan ng mga magulang nito, ang babaeng itinakda para kay AH TIONG hindi lamang dahil malakas ang mga magulang ni JASMINE sa Communist Party kundi dahil lumaki rin siyang kilala na ng pamilya, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig ay desisyon na tanggapin ang isang tao nang buong-buo

RUBY (15)
-Chinese-Filipina, anak nina LILY at AH TIONG, lumaking alam ang katotohanan na hindi si CARLOS ang tunay niyang ama kaya mas mamahalin pa niya ito at isusumpang ayaw nang makita pa si AH TIONG, pinalaking Chinese ng mga magulang ni CARLOS matapos sila tanggapin mag-ina, testigo sa sakripisyo ng inang si LILY na pumayag na maging halos ghost/miyembrong walang boses sa bahay ng mga CHUA kapalit ng magandang buhay para sa kanya, matututunan mula sa halimbawa ni CARLOS na ang pag-ibig ay debosyon at ang paghahangad ng ikabubuti ng minamahal

MATANDANG TSINO/GE LAO
-matandang Tsinong nagbabantay sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig para sa mga Tsino, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan), kilala na si LILY dahil sa halos araw-araw na pagbisita ng dalaga upang hilingan ang estatwa, sa totoo’y siya ang incarnation ni Ge Lao sa lupa upang makahalubilo ang mga tao

LIDER NG KORO, at sina KORO 1, 2, 3, at 4
-mga miyembro ng Koro na magsisilbing mga tagapagkwento ng musical at gaganap sa iba’t-ibang mga karakter sa dula (hal. mga waiters sa club, reporter ng balita, lider ng mga rally, mga miyembro ng Philippine Constabulary, mga miyembro ng Red Guard, atbp.), mga alipin ni Ge Lao sa pagtatakda ng tadhana, makukulit, witty, at madalas comic relief ng mga eksena

MRS. DELA ROSA (50)
-nanay ni LILY, mapagmahal, boto kay CARLOS na maging kasintahan ang anak dahil matagal na niyang napansin na may pagtingin ang binata dito, tututol sa umpisa sa pagmamahal ng anak kay AH TIONG na estrangherong aalis at baka hindi na bumalik, may malubhang sakit kaya parating nangangamba para sa kinabukasan ng anak na dalaga sakaling maiwan na niya ito

MR. CHUA (53)
-tatay ni CARLOS, hindi mapagsalita kaya wala masyadong relasyon sa anak kahit mahal niya ito, tutol sa pagsama ng anak sa mga rally dahil para sa kanya sadyang magkaiba ang mga lannang (local Chinese) at mga hwanna (barbaro/pej. for Filipino), itatakwil ang anak nang bulagain siyang bitbit-bitbit nito ang anak ng dating mga pahinante na buntis

MRS. CHUA (49)
-nanay ni CARLOS, maaruga at halos i-spoil ang anak para bumawi sa pagka-distant ng asawa, tradisyunal din ang paniniwala ukol sa pagkakaiba ng mga lannang at hwanna pero hinahayaan ang anak na sumama sa mga kilos-protesta dahil alam niyang ito lang ang makakapagpasaya dito, pipilitin ang asawang tanggapin muli ang anak at ang asawa nitong si LILY lalo na’t may supling na silang dadalhin (si RUBY) na palalakihin niyang halos bilang sariling anak at bilang Chinese

MR. ZHANG (58)
-tatay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sosyolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak, magiging biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga Red Guard—ipaparada at ipapahiya nila siya bilang kontra-rebolusyonaryo at iiwang nasa bingid ng kamatayan matapos ng parada

MRS. ZHANG (51)
-nanay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sikolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak dahil alam niyang mabuti itong babae at mas lalo na dahil ang mga magulang lang ni JASMINE ang nakatulong sa asawa niya matapos itong pahirapan at ngayon naman ay para mapalaya rin ang anak pagkatapos itong hulihin pag-uwi ng Tsina

Etihad Airways Executive Embarks on Round the World Record Attempt

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Senior Etihad Airways executive, Andrew Fisher, embarks on a journey of a lifetime on 21 January when he attempts to break the world record by flying around the globe in the shortest time frame on scheduled flights, and with the fewest number of sectors.

Fisher, who works as the airline’s Vice President Fleet Planning, hopes to shave three hours off the current record of over 55 hours by completing the journey in only four sectors.

His flight path begins in the early hours of Sunday morning in Shanghai, taking him to Auckland, Buenos Aires and Amsterdam before returning to the Chinese city in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 23 January.

A self-proclaimed ‘aviation geek’ with a love of studying airline networks and schedules, Abu Dhabi-based Andrew is well placed to chart his journey and fulfill a dream he has been keen to attempt for over 20 years.

“It’s about time the job was done,” he said. “The planning has taken a long time, essentially to ensure the flight timings, routings and transits are kept as tight as possible and there is only a short window of opportunity for this to happen.”

The progress of Andrew’s record-breaking attempt can be followed on Twitter at @AndrewFisherNZ

Picture Caption: Etihad Airways senior executive, Andrew Fisher, jets off from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Shanghai ahead of his round the world record-breaking attempt.

Help PH bet Katarina Rodriguez Advance to the Finals of Miss Intercontinental 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipinos around the world can help Katarina Rodriguez give the Philippines its first Miss Intercontinental title by voting for her online.

The Philippines has so far continued to enjoy success in the international pageant scene in 2017, and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez is hoping to give the country one more crown.

Currently in Egypt for the Miss Intercontinental competition, Katarina is determined to give the country its first ever Miss Intercontinental title. And Filipinos around the world can help her get closer to that dream by voting for her in the pageant’s online poll prior to the coronation night on January 24 (January 25, Manila time).

Netizens just have to go to http://www.missintercontinental.com/voting-miss-intercontinental-2017/ and select Katarina and two other contestants for their votes to count. Voting ends on January 23, 9 p.m. (Egypt time, around 3 a.m. of January 24 in Manila). The winner of the online poll will automatically advance to the final stage of the competition.

This year’s Miss Intercontinental competition will be held at the Sunrise Resort in Hurghada. Sunrise Resort offers a scenic view of the sea and even has its own private beach and lagoon. The hotel is also a primary mover in Hurghada’s party scene.

The blog The Great Pageant Community is also holding a separate online poll, with the winner being named the TGPC’s People’s Choice and advancing directly to the semifinals. Netizens can vote unlimited number of times, but the poll will close on the midnight of January 23 Indian Standard Time (PH Standard Time is 2.5 hours ahead of IST). The link for voting in TGPC’s People’s Choice is https://thegreatpageantcommunity.com/2017/12/16/official-poll-miss-intercontinental-2017-vote-now/

Aside from being a successful ramp, commercial and print model—she finished second runner up in Asia’s Next Top Model in 2014—Katarina is also an advocate of peace and HIV-Aids awareness.