PTV4 and NEC Launch Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Services in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

People’s Television 4 (PTV4), the Philippines’ public broadcasting network, has gone from analog to fully digital after the launch of the network’s digital terrestrial broadcasting system on January 2018.

NECPhilippines, Inc. provided overall support for the introduction of digital terrestrial TV equipment, including its installation and the training of personnel, as part of enabling viewers to enjoy their favorite programs with better and clearer reception.

A “switch-on” ceremony was held at PTV4’s broadcasting center in Quezon City and was led by the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Martin Andanar.

Andanar said, “The administration’s goal of bringingthe government closer to its people is now more achievable than ever.” At the time of his appointment, Andanar pushed efforts to modernize the state network. He envisioned PTV to be on par with its local counterparts in the country, and expanded the breadth and depth of PTV4’s educational, cultural andinternational programs.

PTV Network General Manager, Dino Apolonio, said that the network must keep pace with its counterparts, both locally and abroad. “As the state network, we have to take it upon ourselves to lead the charge towards digital transition. It will be very beneficial for the people first of all, and we have to keep up with the rest of the world,” he said.

“NEC is proud to be working with PTV4 to expand the delivery of high quality broadcasting to a larger audience in the Philippines,” said Elizabeth Pangan, President, NEC Philippines. “As part of NEC’s focus on providing Solutions for Society, this equipment will help to ensure that broadcasting and access to information is reliably maintained, especially during times of emergency, such as when powerful storms strike the region,” she added.

Win a Brand New BMW in Araneta Center Promo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The rush is on as Araneta Center’s Bright, Magical, Wonderful car promo is on its final lap and a brand new BMW car is still up for grabs.

The rush is on as Araneta Center’s Bright, Magical, Wonderful car promo is on its final lap and a brand new BMW car is still up for grabs.

For every P1,000 single purchase receipt from any Araneta Center establishment (Gateway Mall, Gateway Tower Mall, Ali Mall, New Farmers Plaza, Farmers Market, Coliseum Circle restaurants, Telus Arcade, Cyberpark I, Shopwise Arcade restaurants, Araneta Center Bus Station, Araneta Center Bus Port, and Manhattan Parkway, Parkview and Heights Arcade) or single or accumulated receipt amounting to P1,000 worth of any Petron products, a shopper is entitled to join the Bright, Magical, Wonderful car promo and get a chance to win a brand new BMW 118i M sport model car.

Four more lucky shoppers will also win P10,000 worth of shopping spree. Six shopping sprees were already given away in draws last December and January.

The grand draw is set on February 5.

Shoppers may redeem their raffle stubs at the Gateway Food Express in the Gateway Mall, the Food Plaza in New Farmers Plaza and the concierge areas of the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and New Farmers Plaza.

So what are you waiting for? Step up on the pedal, the green light is still on for you to get the chance to win these amazing prizes only from Araneta Center!

For more details, visit aranetacenter.net and Araneta Center’s Facebook page.

DIVERSIFIED: Embracing Differences Towards Unified Workforce

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Sixth Sense Production proudly presents you an academic seminar that discusses diversity and promotes inclusion in the workplace. The much awaited celebration of differences in one dynamic environment – an epic feast of diverse talents and brilliance.

What: DIVERSIFIED: Embracing Differences Towards Unified Workforce

Where: 4th Floor NALLRC Bldg., Mabini Campus Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Sta. Mesa, Manila

When: February 12, 2018 (Monday) from 12nn – 6pm

Who: EXCLUSIVE for 3rd and 4th year students of HR and other related courses (i.e. Management, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Behavioral Science, etc.)

Why: This event is organized by 4th year students of Business Administration Majoring Human Resource Development Management as part of the curriculum requirement in PUP-Manila which aims to understand, rationalize, and reflect on the various methods, processes, and issues related to human resources.

As part of the program, the students were tasked to formulate a concept which constitutes any of the pertinent trends and issues that the industry is currently facing.

Hence, the proponents came up with a topic that is being over-looked upon due to emergence of technology and artificial intelligence. Building a knowledge-based nation must not result to impairment of humane values and policies. As a result, the outline of the seminar is:

Introduction of what workforce diversity is and how it changes the work environment;

The need to embrace and recognize workforce diversity as well as the advantages of doing so;

and The effective management of diverse workforce:

The role of HR in managing diverse workforce

The impact of effective management of diverse workforce to the overall performance of organization.

Of course, we did not simply construct a concrete concept without finding the right, competent speakers that will do justice in the event’s objectives. With the stated credentials, it is undeniably fathomable to realize that these people can deliver and have the capability to share immense knowledge to the listeners. 

For our First Resource Speaker, Mr. Jeric Louis Pantaleon, a graduate of De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde (Batch 2003). Neuro Linguistic Programming Master (Certified MASTER Practitioner by American Union of Neuro Programming), Corporate Skill Trainer, Training Consultant and Team Building Facilitator, Motivational Speaker and Life Coach whose expertise is in the field of Practical Psychology, and Owner of JGP TRAINING SERVICES that provide team buildings, motivational talks, HR Training Consultancy, etc. – Mr. Pantaleon will be responsible for introducing the concept of workforce diversity and its significance in building a highly-competitive nation.

Our Second Resource Speaker is Mr. Arvin Crisol, a graduate of Ateneo De Manila University MA, Education Administration (Batch 1999). Presently working at ABS-CBN Corporation as the Human Resources Head, ABS-CBN Regional, Star Magic, ABS-CBN Events, Programming and On-Air Operations Head with core competencies in Organizational Development, Training and Development, Talent Management, Recruitment, and Labor Relations. – Mr. Crisol will teach the future people managers their roles and obligations in honing and unifying the general workforce.

The Motivational Talk will be given by Ms. Jude Miraflor Roces, Chief Learning Officer at BayHewitt Learning & Consulting. A graduate of Business Management and an IRCA certified ISO 9001:2008 Lead Auditor. Having more than 15 years of management experience in Organization and Leadership Development, Training Delivery and Instructional Design, Quality Management Systems, Business Analysis and Process Improvement, Marketing Analysis and Business intelligence, – Ms. Roces is not just an accomplished leader but also an acknowledge inspirational speaker and will practically focus on the subject of Personal Branding.

And because we practice work-life balance, our event is not just plain learning and no fun. Be entertained by our distinguished Guest Performers; Mr. Gabriel Medridejos, Ms. Claire Bricenio, Human Resource Dance Troupe, and from our very own Sixth Sense Production. All of our performers are students of PUP for we want to break the notion that we, Iskolar ng Bayan, only excel academically.

So- already eager to be part of this prestigious event? Here are the requirements we are looking for: 3rd and 4th year management students or any of the related courses – hungry for learning, passionate about leading, determined to establish an avenue of equal opportunity for growth and advancement to all. And ultimately, ready to conquer the corporate arena and gain competitive advantage.
Here at PUP, we firmly stand for free education to all. With our mantra, “Education NOT For Sale. We are NOT For Sale” we do believe that education is a basic right that every citizen must enjoy. Thus, ADMISSION is FREE. Just go to our website and find the link of our online registration.

*Friendly Advisory: We strictly do NOT allow walk-ins on the event day*

For more information and latest updates, please visit our social media accounts FB: HRDiversified.Official Twitter: @HRDiversified2018 you can also email us at diversified.official@gmail.com or reach us at the contact information given above.

ADDENDUM:
The production team decided to be referred as Sixth Sense Production to suggest that emotional intelligence through team work and handling conflict and pressure should be the sixth major sense a human being must possess. We believe, as future HR Practitioners, that emotional intelligence is as essential as the five major senses. The development of EQ will mean the breaking point between success and failure – it is the one that will make you truly distinct.

Moreover, the theme we incorporated to complement the concept of diversity is Rubik’s Cube. Obviously, we used it as a metaphor and pictured the organization as the cube and the tiles as the people or generally, the labor force. These people play different roles and must be “assembled” and put into their respective places in order to function well. The responsible for making the elements work in harmony is on the palms of the HR.

Finally, this event will not be possible without the support of various public and private institutions. First off, the PUP Administration and the College of Business Administration. Secondly, our partner companies.  Learn, educate yourself while enjoying fun and amazing treats from our generous sponsors!

Major Sponsors:
Otsuka-Solar Phils. Inc (Pocari Sweat)
Lazada Philippines
Trampoline Park PH
Adobo Magazine
Blair Cosmetics

 Co-Presentors
Naruko
Red Logo
TheNet.Com
Chic Centre
Co-Partners
Oreo
Frappe La Rue
Dermcare

Official Studio Partner
Relans

Official Media Partner
Wazzup Pilipinas

Calling all future people managers! Join us as we share our similarities and embrace our differences on February 12, 2018 at PUP Bulwagang Balagtas Hall! Be Involved. Be Unified.

Let us all be #DIVERSIFIED

#HRDiversified2018

East-West Seed Appoints New Chairman of the Board

Wazzup Pilipinas!

East-West Seed is pleased to announce that Ard Groot has been appointed the Chairman of the Supervisory Board (SB) effective 1 January 2018. He succeeds his father and company founder Simon Groot, who will continue to serve the Board as Honorary Chairman and Founder.

Ard Groot succeeds Simon Groot as chairman of the supervisory board of leading tropical vegetable seed company East-West Seed.

“I’m greatly inspired to take up this role, with the support of our members of the supervisory board (SB), our dynamic and forward-looking board of management (BOM), dedicated managers and all our 5,000 professional and hard-working staff around the world,” said Ard Groot. “I am happy to build on the legacy that my father Simon worked so persistently to create. We have come a long way in the last 35 years. Since our humble beginnings, we have established strong and mature companies in many countries. Innovation leading to improved vegetable crops with better yield and quality is now fully accepted and appreciated by farmers.”

Ard’s appointment upholds the stability and continuity of the family ownership of the business, which the board considers crucial to sustaining East-West Seed’s long-term vision. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board since 2012. Longtime seed industry professional Douwe Zijp will take over the role of Vice Chairman. In his role Ard will continue to closely collaborate with the Board of Management, consisting of CEO Bert van der Feltz van der Sloot, Vice President Simon Jan de Hoop, and Vice President Michel Devarrewaere, who are charged with executive management of the company.

Founder Simon Groot emphasizes the company’s long-term vision to serve smallholder farmers in the tropics. “It gives me a sense of pride to pass on the leadership of the Board into the new generation, ensuring that East-West Seed remains an independent, privately owned and most importantly, farmer-centric company. I am convinced that this is the best way to sustain our long-term vision. Serving farmers has always been, and will always be the driver of East-West Seed.”

Smallholder vegetable farmers in the tropics are East-West Seed’s main clients.

Bert van der Feltz, president and CEO of East-West Seed, is optimistic about the company’s future. “We remain focused in developing the tropical vegetable markets in Asia, Africa and tropical Americas. We want to bring East-West Seed to a greater level of granularity -- to know our farmers better and offer them innovative, tailormade solutions. Knowledge transfer, something that is unique to East-West, will continue to be our main instrument for farmer development and market stimulation. We will develop further as a robust organization of talented seed professionals working together as one team, passionate about our mission. Ard Groot’s leadership of the supervisory board is essential in this process of expansion and organizational growth.”

The ceremonial turnover of the SB chairmanship took place on 24 January 2018 in Hortanova Farm in the Philippines, whose significance as the birthplace of East-West Seed made the occasion more special and meaningful.

The Supervisory Board forms the basis of East-West Seed’s corporate governance. They perform a non-executive role and are appointed to promote the company’s interests by supervising and giving advice to the Board of Management. The current SB is composed of Ard Groot (chairman), Douwe Zijp (vice chairman), Dietrich Schmidt, Ivan Chung, Rutger Groot, Joost Pekelharing, Johnny Santos, James Amatavivadhana, and Simon Groot (honorary chairman and founder).

Tough Mudder Expands Into the Philippines with Proactive Sports Management

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First Tough Mudder in the Philippines is scheduled this July 2018

Tough Mudder, Inc., a leading sport, active lifestyle and media brand, and Proactive Sports Management, a premier sports agency known for organizing the largest fun runs in the Philippines, announced today a new partnership to bring the world’s leading obstacle course event, Tough Mudder, to the Philippines for the first time in 2018. This marks the first time Tough Mudder has licensed its events in the country. Tough Mudder holds events on five out of the six habitable continents.

The inaugural Philippine’s Tough Mudder Event Weekend will take place in July, followed by another event in November 2018.  Both events will feature Tough Mudder’s signature obstacles.

“This is the first time that Tough Mudder will be in the Philippines, and Tough Mudder is not just about being tough, it is also about teamwork and determination,” said Proactive COO Justine Cordero.

This new licensee follows the success of Tough Mudder’s licensed events – hosted to date in Mexico, Bali, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. It will provide access to events for active lifestyle individuals living or visiting the Philippines seeking the challenge, camaraderie and thrills that only a Tough Mudder experience can offer.

“Tough Mudder events have united millions seeking a more engaging, communal form of active lifestyle.  We are excited to partner with Proactive Sports Management, who have a proven track record for success for athletic events in the Philippines, to ensure locals and tourists alike will have the same unparalleled experience that has made Tough Mudder the must-do event for OCR enthusiasts and weekend warriors alike,” said Will Dean, CEO and Co-Founder, Tough Mudder.  

With more than 3 million participants to date across five continents, Tough Mudder has offerings ranging from accessible yet rewarding challenges, such as the Tough Mudder 5K and Tough Mudder Half (five-mile event excluding fire, ice and electricity), to competitive events, such as Tough Mudder X (the toughest mile on the planet) and World’s Toughest Mudder (24-hour endurance event).

This year, Tough Mudder, Inc. and its licensees will host an unprecedented 150+ events across nearly a dozen countries, such as the United States, The United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Canada and two new countries, South Africa and Oman, welcoming participants worldwide into a global community that lives courage, personal accomplishment, teamwork and fun.

Tough Mudder in the Philippines is held in partnership with Proactive Sports Management, a sports events company which started in 2012, and is known in the industry for staging various marathons and mass participation events.

Registration is ongoing, for more information, please visit FB/ToughMudderPhilippines.

One Championship Global Citizen Ambassadors Visit Youth in Tondo Area Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held an athlete outreach activity that saw ONE Championship athletes visit youth living in metropolitan Manila. Global Citizen Athlete Ambassadors Angela Lee, Brandon Vera, and Eduard Folayang, in conjunction with Young Focus, spent time with children from Smokey Mountain Area, while spreading a message of hope and the importance of access to education.

Visit this link for the photo gallery: <link>

Young Focus is a local NGO in the Philippines that provides underprivileged youth in the Tondo, or “Smokey Mountain” Area of Manila the chance to develop themselves intellectually, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Through education, Young Focus addresses poverty directly by giving the next generation the best possible opportunities in life.

Athletes toured the area, met community members and visited Young Focus centers which cater to children from infancy, preschool, all the way up to the tertiary educational level. Young Focus founders Paul and Ann Wijgerden have over 1,500 children from the area participating in the program. Athletes not only helped children of all ages in their various classes, from English to Mathematics, to Music and Dance, but also inspired them by sharing their own personal stories and reinforcing the importance of education. The day finished with a martial arts demonstration.

ONE Championship also invited 100 Young Focus students and staff to attend the ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES event on Friday night, 26 January at the Mall of Asia Arena.

As part of the partnership with Global Citizen to encourage fans to become Global Citizens and take action, ONE athletes will continue to play their part in driving this social movement as well as supporting local initiatives that provide access to education to tackle extreme poverty.

To learn more about the ONE Championship and Global Citizen partnership, visit www.globalcitizen.org/one. For more information on Young Focus, please visit www.youngfocus.org.

Wei Soo, Co-Founder of Global Citizen, stated: “Young Focus and its students are a great example of what we can achieve when a community is able to prioritize education for all. It was exciting to see their work firsthand today, and hear directly from students whose lives have been changed by the power of education. At Global Citizen, we're thrilled to team up with ONE Championship and its fans throughout Asia, and encourage world leaders to invest in education and give millions of people around the world the tools they need for a better future.”

Angela Lee, Global Citizen Athlete Ambassador, stated: “Today was an experience unlike any other. I am truly humbled and honored to have walked these streets, laughed with these people and shared so many smiles with everyone on Smokey Mountain. For me and my fellow Global Citizen Ambassadors, Brandon and Eduard, this is truly the most rewarding thing. We love giving back to our communities! Thank you ONE Championship, Global Citizen and Young Focus for having us here today. We can’t wait to be back!”

Brandon Vera, Global Citizen Athlete Ambassador, stated: “Hanging out with the children was an awesome privilege. It made me appreciate everything a lot more and has motivated me to give back even more when I can. If I am able to help these kids it means the world to me. I have been fortunate enough to be raised in an environment where I never had to face what these kids have to deal with on a daily basis. If only to inspire them to work hard and study hard so they can chase their dreams, then I’m all for it. Hope is important because even just a little bit of it goes a long way. Thank you to ONE Championship and Global Citizen for allowing us this opportunity.”

Eduard Folayang, Global Citizen Athlete Ambassador, stated: “It was such an amazing experience, of course. You really feel for the hardship my countrymen are experiencing now, especially the youth. As a ONE Championship athlete, it is my honor to be able to give back to the Filipino people. I’m sure the entire world would also love to be a part of this movement, so I encourage everyone to check out Global Citizen and how each of us can help in our own little ways.”

ONE Championship recently announced a partnership with Global Citizen, an international advocacy organization with the goal of ending extreme poverty across the world by 2030. The partnership will harness the power of ONE’s platform to engage millions of martial arts fans around the world to support initiatives and find solutions to the issues associated with extreme poverty. Global Citizen and ONE will collaborate across 24 live ONE events scheduled in 2018, and various outreach activations throughout Asia. Fans will have the opportunity to take action and engage with specific policy areas including, education, food security, hunger and nutrition, global health, and gender equality and empowerment.

The first action ONE fans can take will be centred on global education. Fans will be able to call on donor countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and India, to attend the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE) replenishment conference in Dakar, Senegal on 2 February 2018, and make a commitment to GPE to support better education for all. Currently, 264 million children around the world are missing out on an education. Over half are girls, and over 75 million have had their schooling disrupted by conflict or natural disasters. At the replenishment conference, the GPE will raise much needed funds that will allow it to continue to support quality, inclusive education to hundreds of millions of children around the world.

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.

ONE Championship, Asia’s largest global sports media property, is a celebration of Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, martial arts. The promotion engages millions of people across Asia by building local martial arts superheroes, telling their inspirational stories of perseverance and triumph through martial arts, which has been home in Asia for the past 5,000 years.

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.

Lenovo Officially Kicks Off Highly-Anticipated Legion of Champions Series II Grand Finale

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 Ten teams representing eight markets in Asia to compete

for the glory of Asia’s gaming champion

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On January 26, Lenovo officially kicked-off the Finale of “Legion of Champions Series II” in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, held in collaboration with Intel, is a major gaming competition in the region.

 

​Lenovo

, the world’s leading PC manufacturer, has officially kicked off the “Legion of Champions Series II” Grand Finale (LoC; former League of Champions). This three-day gaming extravaganza, held in partnership with Intel, is expected to bring together over 60gaming talents in Asia Pacific together in a Bangkok, Thailand. 

Following last year’s successful debut, the competition has expanded its footprint to include teams from Hong Kong and Taiwan, in addition to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The in-market champions from the eight markets will battle it out and the winning teams will walk away with a combined pool of close to 500,000 THB (approximately PHP 812,000) in cash.
 

After three days of intense competition, from January 26 - 28, the champion team will walk home with a cash prize of 210,000 THB (approximately PHP 341,000), while the first and second runners up will be awarded 110,000 THB (approximately PHP 178,000) and 70,000 THB (approximately PHP 113,000) respectively.

Lenovo Legion gaming devices will be the enablers for qualifying champion teams to compete during LoC, empowering them with a world-class experience in speed, performance and consistency. The anniversary edition of Legion Y520 laptop will also make its first appearance at LoC to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the launch of Lenovo Legion, a gaming sub-brand first introduced in CES 2017. Coming in two designs – one in red and another in black and gold. In the Philippines, the black and gold version will be available in limited stocks in February 2018.

Legion of Champions Series II is one of Lenovo’s major efforts in nurturing the next-generation gamers and growing the gaming community in Asia. Professional or amateur gamers alike, the teams competing at the Grand Finale of LoC are the best in Asia’s gaming scene. These in-market champions have stood out despite the fierce competition; all of them have gone through multiple elimination rounds at the local level to finally reach the highly-anticipated Grand Finale, competing against other top-notch talents for the

ultimate gaming glory.
 Hundreds of gaming fans are expected to attend this year’s Grand Finale of “Legion of Champions Series II” in Bangkok, Thailand to watch the heated battle and the birth of a new champion. For those who reside outside Bangkok, they can watch the live-streaming of the competition viahttps://www.facebook.com/LenovoTH/videos/10155550049041843/.

For more information on LoC 2018, please visithttps://legionlenovo.com/loc2018/.

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Ivan Cheung, Executive Director and Regional General Manager of Lenovo Asia Pacific said: “Asia is at the center of the rise of e-sports. While e-sports is a key driver of PC gaming growth in the region, it is more than that. It has brought disruption to the technology industry and beyond by inventing new meanings to gaming. Increasingly, e-sports is recognized as a professional sports, just like basketball and football. As such, Lenovo has hosted Legion of Champions II, providing a battle field for top gaming players to shine, as well as letting more gaming enthusiasts be part of a growingly influential community.” 
George Chacko, Director of Global Account for Lenovo, Intel Asia Pacific and Japan said: “We are very excited to once again be part of the “Legion of Champions” tournament. Along with the rapid growth of the vibrant and passionate gaming community in Asia, we are also seeing increased expectations for better and faster processors to support and deliver amazing gaming performance. At Intel, we’re committed to supporting the gaming needs of the eSports community by helping them perform their best through our innovative technologies, and delivering the ultimate gaming experience.”

FDCP to Hold Annual Film Ambassadors' Night

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In honor and recognition of Filipino films and filmmakers who made waves internationally, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is hosting this year's FDCP Film Ambassadors’ Night on February 9, 2018 at Sampaguita Gardens, New Manila, Quezon City.

"Our Film Ambassadors' Night is the best way to start the year. It's a special night which celebrates the triumphs of our Filipino filmmakers, especially those who brought honor to our country by winning awards various international film festivals last 2017. This is our small way of showing our appreciation for their passion and hard work," said Chairperson and CEO Liza Liza Dino.

More than eighty (80) filmmakers, actors, and production will be recognized by the FDCP for their wins from last year alone, falling under the creative, technical and performance categories.

FDCP hopes that the event will also be an opportunity for filmmakers and industry movers of different backgrounds will come together to strengthen the collaboration among the creative industries.

Aside from the long list of citations, FDCP will also name the A-listers and the Camera Obscura awardees, the highest Artistic Excellence Award given by the Agency for outstanding filmmakers from last year.

The full list of Film Ambassadors will be announced on January 30.

New Honda Big Bike Showroom opens in Honda Flagship Shop in Cebu City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), an innovator of cutting-edge motorcycles, recently opened its Honda Big Bike Showroom to the public in its Flagship Shop at Lahug, Cebu City.

The showroom is a must-see for motorcycle enthusiasts, as a new part of the Flagship Shop which has been constructed to be a premium hub for Honda’s growing community. This shop has a multi-rack display, riders’ lounge, and test ride facility which sets it apart from other 3S Shops.

Now, with the addition of the Big Bike showroom, the Flagship Shop boasts a total land area of 2,344 square meters, and highlights Honda’s latest collection of big bikes. These big bikes are set for thrill seekers and adventurers, who require tough and heavy duty motorcycles with bigger engine displacements. They are also designed to deliver the speed and performance, suited for highway cruising and taking on rough terrains.

“The power and innovative features of Honda Big Bikes have been seen in action by motorcycle enthusiasts in many countries. Now, it’s time for Filipinos to experience all of these through our latest big bike offerings,” said Mr. Daiki Mihara, president of HPI. “Last December 2017, we’ve already launched our latest collection in Manila, however, since we consider Cebu as one of the important markets, we also see the value of showcasing our latest Honda Big Bikes collection to the Cebuano public, here, in our Flagship Store.”

A total of eight new Honda Big Bike models will be housed in the showroom, as categorized into four types: Roadster, Sports/Racer, Traveler, and New Adventure.

ROADSTER
Honda introduced its roadster category, starting with the Rebel 500, which is designed for both laid-back cruising and a more active sports riding. It features a rider’s triangle, as well as its 471cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin cylinder, four-stroke engine that is tucked in a low chassis, and minimalist design.

Also available is the CB650F, a middleweight, naked street style motorcycle with stylish exhaust pipes that wrap around its four-cylinder, 649cc, DOHC inline engine. It also comes with a new six-speed ratio gearbox, a two-channel ABS, a 41mm SDBV telescopic fork and a fully adjustable Showa suspension for smoother riding.

The CB1100EX, on the other hand, has a classic design integrating modern features with its seamless fuel tank, deep chrome exhausts, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, and a hand-built look. It also has an air-cooled, inline four-cylinder, 6-speed transmission, 1140cc engine, a two-piece front fork, remote reservoir rear shocks, four-piston caliper brakes, floating discs, and a sharper chassis. This model is set to arrive in the Philippine market this year.

SPORT/RACER
Meanwhile, for sports enthusiasts, Honda boasts of its CBR500R, a big bike infused with a next-level, inline-twin 471cc engine with power suited for racing. Designers of the bike fused aggressive styling with its comfortable framework for riding, as well as a traditional bike image and modern, sleek design.

This middleweight sports bike has an aerodynamic fairing and air ducts, specially designed all the way to the two-channel ABS and 41mm SDBV telescopic fork.

There is also the CBR1000RR FIREBLADE SP, which is designed with the MotoGP racing DNA in mind. It is engineered to have lightness, precision, and controllable handling as evidenced by its Selectable Torque Control and Engine Break Systems, New ABS Brakes, Quickshifter, Riding Mode Select System, Power Selector, and an ӦHLINS Smart EC Suspension. This model is set to be available in the Philippine market this 2018 along with the CB1100EX.

TRAVELER
Honda’s Traveler Big Bikes include the CB500X, a mid-displacement bike, designed for all-around use. It is also suited for taking on any type of terrain. This bike also features a liquid-cooled, 471cc, parallel-twin engine, suited for both short and long-distance rides, while still being fuel efficient.

Honda also unveiled the CRF1000L Africa Twin. It has a 998cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, parallel-twin engine and has the exclusive Honda Selective Torque Control for efficient power delivery on a wide range of road conditions. It is also perfect for adventure riding that requires natural and athletic movements, especially that it is built with Biaxial Counterbalance for strength and handling to deliver a smooth and vibration-free ride.

NEW ADVENTURE.
Finally, Honda introduced its New Adventure Category of Big Scooter (Automatic) with the X-ADV featuring a unique crossover platform. It is built around a strong, tubular-steel chassis and has a 745cc twin-cylinder engine and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) for firm handling on different road surfaces and conditions.

To handle dirt roads, Honda X-ADV is also built with a 41mm upside-down fork, a preload-adjustable Pro-Link rear shock, and a ground clearance of 162mm. It is equipped with a five-way adjustable screen, tapered aluminum handlebar, Africa Twin hand guards, Rally-style instrument display, and center stand.

These Honda Big Bikes are now available in HPI’s Flagship Shops in Cebu and Makati, except for the CB1100EX and CBR1000RR FIREBLADE SP, which are set to excite Filipino motorcycle geeks this 2018. Meanwhile, the Honda Flagship Shop in Davao will also feature this new collection this February.

The Big Bike Showroom is open for Honda’s community of riders in Cebu to view the latest and much-awaited collection of big bikes. The shop is located at Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City and is open to accommodate customers every day from 8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

For more information on Honda Big Bikes and Flagship Shops, visit www.hondaph.com or like Honda’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/HondaPH.

DOTr Statement on MRT-3 Smoke Incident

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expresses sincere apologies to those who were affected and inconvenienced by the recent smoke incident that occurred yesterday in one of MRT-3’s trains. 

At about 1:40 PM, around 600 passengers unloaded a train between Cubao and Kamuning Stations due to reported smell and appearance of smoke from under one of the seats. The passengers were safely assisted to the nearest station, and regular service resumed at about 2:50 PM, ending the day with 321,397 riders.

Fault analysis is ongoing, and in the interest of accuracy and transparency, DOTr has directed MRT-3 Management to release to the public their technical findings at the soonest possible time.

The DOTr appeals to the riding public’s understanding while it pushes ahead, in the most expeditious manner, strategies and actions to effectively and sustainably restore and rehabilitate the current MRT-3 system—a system that has deteriorated due to cumulative errors in policy and operational decisions made across several administrations.

DOTr fully supports MRT-3 Management in its continuing efforts to ensure that MRT-3 is continued to be operated safely, thus providing continuing service to the hundreds of thousands of passengers that rely on it for their daily commute.

Strategy Part 2/4: The MRT-3 MTT

 

The MRT-3 Maintenance Transition Team (MTT) was intended to maintain the system for 3-6 months, until a replacement maintenance service provider is procured.

The MTT has put in place necessary human resources, by absorbing around 450 of the former maintenance service provider’s employees (Busan Universal Rail, Inc. or BURI), and hiring additional personnel to compensate for constraints imposed by civil service rules. Support from experienced and well-qualified railway engineers from LRTA and PNR are also part of the team.

 

Due to BURI’s failure to purchase and maintain a sufficient level of spare parts’ inventory, DOTr created a special Bids and Award Committee (BAC), which has been regularly convening to expeditiously procure spare parts that BURI failed to purchase.

 

Many of the spare parts intended to increase MRT-3’s reliability have been ordered as of Dec. 29. With delivery lead times of 30 days to 6 months, delivery of critical components will begin in February, and restoration of service reliability is expected to begin toward the latter part of February and gradually thereafter.

Strategy Part 3/4: Rehabilitation and Maintenance Service Provider

 

At the beginning of January 2018, the Philippines and Japan formalized an arrangement for the latter’s commitment to assist the DOTr in rehabilitating and properly maintaining MRT-3.

 

By May 2018, the rehabilitation and maintenance service provider for MRT-3 is targeted to be mobilized. The DOTr has stressed with the Government of Japan that the provider they will nominate must be highly qualified and with a proven track record.

Strategy 4/4: Long Term Single Point Operations and Maintenance Provider

Many of MRT-3’s problems in recent years resulted from successive short-term and fragmented maintenance contracts, and from finger-pointing due to having different entities maintaining and operating MRT-3.

DOTr is addressing this by pursuing an Unsolicited Proposal for the 30-year operation and maintenance (O&M) of MRT-3. Original proponent status has been given to the proponent, Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation (MPLRC), and the proposal will soon be endorsed to NEDA.

Independent Audit and Assessment

Apart from the above strategies, an Independent Audit and Assessment (IAA) by an ISO 17020 and ISO 17065 certified firm, and a member of the IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies), for the entire MRT-3 system is ongoing. 

The report of the IAA firm, TUV Rheinland, is intended to give DOTr additional inputs and guidance on the interventions needed to rehabilitate and restore MRT-3 reliability.