BREAKING

Monday, February 5, 2018

New DOE Policy to Establish WESM's Independent Market Operator


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a policy that would guide the establishment of an Independent Market Operator (IMO) of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). The WESM serves as a venue to trade electricity as a commodity.

Under Department Circular No. DC2018-01-0002 otherwise known as Adopting Policies for the Effective and Efficient Transition to the IMO for the WESM, the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will ensure fair competition and the promotion of public interest as envisioned in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

“WESM is an added option for the electricity sources of our consumers, especially addressing the stability and efficiency of power supply,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Cusi added that the WESM and IMO would be consistent with the wisdom of EPIRA to ensure quality, reliable, secure, affordable and reasonable prices and electricity supply through a transparent, free and competitive power market.

The policy on IMO outlines the mandates of the DOE and the ERC over the operator; its guiding principles; its composition, including the Board of at least five (5) members; its functions; and WESM’s new governing and governance structure and the conditions for transition.

In particular, the issuance will provide guidelines on the procedures for:

·        Establishing the merit order dispatch instructions for each time period;
·        Determining the market-clearing price for each time period;
·        Administering the market, including criteria for admission to and termination from the market which includes security or performance bond requirements, voting rights of the participants, surveillance and assurance of compliance of the participants with the rules and the formation of the wholesale electricity spot market governing body;
·        Prescribing guidelines for the market operation in system emergencies; and
·        Amending the rules.

The Circular on IMO was published on 4 February (Sunday) in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, which will take effect immediately after its publication.

“This policy on IMO will ensure full public accountability to safeguard, foremost, our energy consumers,” Cusi emphasized.

DOTr-CAB Intensifies Public Assistance Efforts in Commercial Airports


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation- Civil Aeronautics Board (DOTr- CAB) has intensified its public assistance initiatives, setting up Passenger Rights Assistance Desks (PRADs) in commercial airports to help travelers with various concerns.  

CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said that since the implementation of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR) in 2012, the Board has been very active in implementing measures to ensure passenger rights protection and awareness.

For the first semester of 2017, Arcilla reported that a total of 132 Passenger Rights Assistance Officers (PRAOs) have been deployed to man the 31 PRADs in the country, including the NAIA terminals and commercial airports outside Metro Manila. 

Aside from the establishment of PRADs, he said that CAB has conducted APBR orientation to airport operators, air transport regulators, and air carriers. CAB also continuous to monitor airline operations via flight inspections and resolve complaints on possible APBR violations. For public education and awareness, leaflets on passenger rights are being distributed in airports, while CAB officials make the rounds in different campuses all over the country.

CAB, in partnership with Dynamic Outsource Solution 1 Inc. (DOS-1), also launched Hotline 165-66 for 24/7 passenger assistance. CAB also launched the first phase of a system software designed for online application for approval of flight schedules. The second phase of the system is expected to be launched this month.

Streamlining business processes
Upon the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, CAB has instituted reforms to streamline and simplify business processes. For example, the requirements in applying for a permit to operate transport services is now down to six, from a maximum of 36. The 24 requirements for renewal of application have been cut to just three basic requirements.

“We were able to reduce the use of paper by 70 % through the implementation of the less-paper transaction program,” Arcilla said. 

CAB, an attached agency of the DOTr, is mandated to regulate the economic aspect of air transportation, and shall have the general supervision, control and jurisdiction over air carriers, general sales agents, cargo sales agents, and air freight forwarders as well as their property, property rights, equipment, facilities, and franchise.

Two Pinoys to Headline Ringstar Boxing's Roar of Singapore IV Night of Champions on April 20


Wazzup Pilipinas!
Expect an action-packed fight night at Ringstar Boxing’s ‘Roar of Singapore IV - Night of Champions’ on April 20, which will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.  The back-to-back IBO and WBC event will also be the first professional boxing bout at the venue. 

The ‘Night of Champions’ will have 3 main events, with unbeaten Singaporean boxer Muhamad “The Chosen Wan” Ridhwan (9-0), who will go against 23-year old Filipino boxer Jeson Umbal, currently ranked 8 places higher than Ridhwan in their IBO ranking.  At stake is the vacant Intercontinental Featherweight title for both boxers.  

While another Filipino boxer, who is making waves in his country, Michael Dasmarinas will go against French boxer Karim Guerfi, at stake is an IBO world championship title.  And finally, the last main event will witness Malaysia’s Mirage Kahn show his wares against New Zealander Chase “Hellboy” Haley, who will be defending his current IBO Oceania title, as they both challenge each other for the vacant WBC Asia Continental light heavyweight title.

Ringstar Founder & CEO Scott Farrell says, “We are Asia’s hottest sporting property and we have raised the bar by having the first professional international boxing match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium - a premiere venue in Singapore.”

Tickets go live on February 10, 2018, with ticket prices for VVIP tables at SGD 5,000, with early bird rates at SGD 4,000, up to March 20, 2018.  This includes a 4-course dinner with free-flowing wine and beer, VVIP gift bag which includes Ringstar shirts, corporate branding on the table, half-page ad in the fight program, exclusive VIP entrance and red-carpet access and photo opportunities with top celebrities and world-renowned athletes.

While the VIP Ringside Seats are at SGD 288, with early bird rates of SGD 200 up to March 20, 2018.  While Stadium Seating are at SGD 38, with early bird rates at SGD 20.

Promo codes will also be released on sale date - February 10, 2018

Sponsors and Partners of ‘Night of Champions’ include Roomaif International, and Marina Bay Sands, which be the official venue for the pre-fight events, such as the press conference and the weigh-ins, also for the post-fight events.


For more information, please visit www.ringstar-boxing.com.  Tickets go live on sale on February 10, atwww.sportshub.com.sg/roarofsg4 

Regal Tells a Fresh Feb-Ibig Tale Via My Fairy Tale Love Story


Wazzup Pilipinas!

This new movie offering of Regal Entertainment Inc., starring Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, seems unique, and if not first of its kind in Filipino mainstream movies, also seemingly perky enough to entertain so I'm sharing it's press release for those who would like to see it during the Valentine's season.

Janella has been around for a few years already but I've never seen her in the lead role yet. I'm curious to see if she would be successful enough to carry this movie. I hope this once upon a time opportunity for her repeats and lead to a happily ever after soon.

So here's the write-up about the movie:


This Valentine's Day, prepare to celebrate extraordinarily inside the cinemas as Regal Entertainment Inc. treats the lovers and the singles with a not-so-ordinary tale of love through its latest offering, "My Fairy Tail Love Story."

Topbilled by Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, the film will take moviegoers to a journey under the sea as Janella's character, the pampered princess, Chantel was cursed to be a mermaid who could not speak but can only sing to air her thoughts.

Popularly known as the ElNella loveteam, Janella and Elmo's onscreen chemistry has been recognized by fans and critics since their team-up was launched in 2016 via primetime series "Born For You" on ABS-CBN. Since then, the two talentend showbiz progenies (Elmos is the son of the late OPM legend Francis Magalona; Janella is the daughter of actress-singer Jenine Desiderio) have been enjoying the limelight as one of their generation's hottest loveteams.

After several TV specials and blockbuster movies, ElNella is now ready to take a new project with an extraordinary story.

"Our movie will remind everyone how thoughts and wishes could be so powerful," said Janella. "Chantel's story will open our eyes not only to the beauty of the marine life but to the real beauty of our own lives and the people who love us unconditionally."

Elmo, meanwhile, shared his excitement on how the audience will react to their not-so-ordinary movie.

"While we join our characters in their quest to figure out how Chantel could be turned back to a human again, we will all surely be proud of this film that has just the right Disney feels that will make us remember all our happy feelings as a kid," said Elmo who plays Noah the bestfriend of Chantel.

On the other hand, another lead star of the movie, Kiko Estrada described "My Fairy Tail Love Story" as a brave Valentine's Day movie that will courageously go head to head with several international movies that will hit the cinemas on the same playdate as their movie.

"We believe that what will set us apart from the foreign films is our story, which is closest to the hearts of Pinoy viewers," said Kiko who plays Ethan, Chantel's crush. "We'll tackle family, friends and the challenges that ordinary Filipinos face. It's something that we can all connect to, especially to millennials like us who are still exploring life and finding out the real meaning of true love."

Directed by Perci Intalan, "My Fairy Tail Love Story" also stars Kiray Celis, Dimples Romana, Dominic Ochoa, Kakai Bautista, Kaladkaren Davila, Rubi Rubi and more.

Experience a unique romantic tale of love this Valentine's Day by watching "My Fairy Tail Love Story" as it hits cinemas nationwide on February 14 (Wed), directed by Perci Intalan.

For more information and latest updates about "My Fairy Tail Love Story," simply visit Regal’s official social media accounts: Facebook.com/ RegalEntertainmentInc/, Twitter.com/regalfilms, Instagram.com/regalfilms50, and Youtube.com/RegalCinema.

#MyFairyTailLoveStory

Himig ng Pag-ibig: A Lolita Carbon Valentine Special


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Coming from the big success of her FULLBLAST! PINOY SUPERBANDS concert last Oct 20 2017, Lolita is once again set to excite and entertain her loyal fans on Valentine’s Day. First ever will they see their Folk Rock idol (aka “Voice of the Earth”) onstage of the most prestigious Manila Hotel singing their most coveted, beloved hits of all time!

This being the ‘first ever’ big valentine concert of Lolita, she promise to offer her fans ALL her greatest hits from ASIN, her own signature hits and ‘never been heard’ before cover rock love songs!

Together with the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra, come and be mesmerize by the voice of Earth, Lolita Carbon and the boys on February 14 2018 at the Grand Ballroom of The Manila Hotel. Dinner buffet starts at 6pm . Show starts at 8pm.

Himig ng Pag-ibig: A Lolita Carbon Valentine Special is definitely one Valentine date to remember!

Limited seats available:

SILVER : P888 (show) GOLD: P3088 (Dinner buffet-show)

Tickets are available thru ticketnet online , Araneta box office and Rockfordproductions, Inc.

For inquiries, call: 911-5555(ticketnet) or (0916)6392291 (Rockfordproductions)


HISTORY
(Lolita Carbon of ASIN Band)


At age 10, Lolita won in the “Tita Betty Children’s Show”, a live radio talent show, and her winning song was “The Impossible Dream”. She was dressed all in yellow. Ironically, said song became the signature song of Filipino martyr “Ninoy Aquino” when he was assassinated in 1983 and yellow also became the color of protest of the Filipino people until the bloodless “February Revolution” in 1986.

She joined the Philippine Navy Band N2 Division as a singer for 6 months when she was only 13 years old. At a young age, she was already singing numbers from Shirley Bassey.

Lolita grew up in Malate, Manila and her father had a lot of musician-friends in the neighborhood. Lolita grew up in a house full of instruments that's why she learned how to play the guitar a very early age and really wanted to become a singer.

She first became a professional singer in "One Way Up Band" in 1975 covering songs and duets by Marvin Gaye, Peaches & Herb, Cold Blood, Tammi Terrell, among others.

Her first stint as a folksinger was at Kola House located at Ermita, Manila back in 1976 where she first sang a number from Janis Joplin called "Me and Bobby Mc Gee".

In late 1976, the folk-duo of Mike "Nonoy" Pillora Jr. and Cesar "Saro" Banares Jr. encouraged Lolita to join them which later became the "Salt of the Earth", after a Joan Baez tune. Said folk-trio were popularly known then as the "Peter, Paul and Mary" of the Philippines and started singing at the "Bodega", a premier folk venue during the 70's.

Lolita did the Japanese version of "Anak", the phenomenal international hit by Freddie Aguilar.

In 1977, the folk-trio was signed up under Vicor Music Corporation and they changed their name into "ASIN" (literal meaning, salt). The band released their first solo album "Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran (Look at the Environment)" which contained an all-Filipino repertoire in September 1, 1978. They were one of the first bands to successfully explore social and political themes in their music.

Her song "Pagbabalik", which was included in the first album, won as the "Best Folk Song of the Year" in the 1978 Aliw Awards.

Their 2nd album contained "Himig ng Pag-ibig" which became the favorite Pinoy love song of all time.

In 1981, she released her own vinyl single under the name "Lolita and the Boys" with the song "Usok" which was the first reggae approach in Philippine music history flip-sided by "Ganyan Lang" a blues-based song which depicts life the way Lolita simply sees it.

In late 1981 to 1982, she had a short stint with Popong Landero and Sammy Asuncion (of Spy) and their band was called "Sulabama" doing original compositions. They were the first reggae band and went on tour in Mindanao where they became such a big hit.

She later on joined a group in early 1983 called "Holy Smoke Band" which became her back-up band when she was based in Davao City (Mindanao, southern part of the Philippines).

ASIN re-grouped and went on tour then later on released their reunion album titled "Himig ng Lahi". The album became the Best Album of the Year for both AWIT Awards and Jingle Magazine Awards in 1984.

ASIN continued to release more albums which contained mostly traditional Filipino songs with contemporary arrangements (Please refer to attached discography). She produced ASIN"s "Sinta" album in 1987, a collection of Filipino love songs. ASIN decided to disband in 1990.

Lolita and other members of ASIN later on became part of an experimental "supergroup" of musicians in 1990 called "Lokal Brown" which released an album with the song "This Is Not Amerika".

In 1991, she gathered together a group of session musicians and called the band "NENE". They released her first full-length solo album which contained the hit song, "Biyaheng Langit". Another song in the album titled "Paraisong Liku-liko" was awarded as "Best Rock Recording" in the 1991 AWIT Awards.

Cesar "Saro" Banares Jr., the main songwriter of the folk-rock group ASIN died in 1993 and everyone thought that was going to be the last of ASIN's music legacy. In 2000, Lolita decided to re-group with the 4th member of ASIN, Pendong Aban Jr. and they released an album called "Pag-ibig, Pagbabago, Pagpapatuloy". The first cut "Dalawang Dekada ng ASIN (Overture)" (a classical arrangement of all of ASIN's top hit songs) won as "Best Musical Arrangement" in the AWIT Awards 2002.

ASIN, represented by Lolita and Pendong, was the only Filipino artists awarded as one of the 2004 Environmental Champions by the DENR-World Bank Publication - Environmental Monitor 2004 given last June 20 2005.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Experience Dining at The Coast Food Park in Malabon






Wazzup Pilipinas!

Food parks have continued trending that nearly every city has more than one of these food hubs with several food choices to choose from. Since they are managed centrally, the food park could offer various kinds of treats to satisfy the cravings of their customers. So aside from the usual comfort foods, they could throw in a mix of other dishes that are either new or popular among the common food hub patrons.

The biggest advantage of food parks is the affordability of the food prices and since stall owners do not need to worry about the other business requirements because the food park owners would deal with that, it is a lot more convenient and easy to operate for even small entrepreneurs that are just starting and hoping their small business will eventually boom.

Even the provinces and cities outside Metro Manila are already being penetrated by food parks but we are yet to see if they are equally successful.

Though some food stalls of a food park may not click with the patrons, they could easily redevelop new concepts or accept other food offerings. Packing up is not a hard thing to do when all their concern is within their stalls. There are several other business savvy individuals who would be willing to try their luck in the food business.



After all, everyone eats at least three times a day that this basic necessity could easily be addressed by providing tasty enough cuisines that would keep people coming back for more. Great customer service could also be a key since many would prefer to dine at a place where customers feel more comfortable and welcomed. Of course, additional value-added services like providing entertainment for the enjoyment while enjoying a meal could attract patrons to hang out and eat at the food hub often.

One food park that is quite new, and should be among the foodies chosen destination soon, is The Coast Food Park located in Malabon city. We were invited to try out some of their specialties a few days ago, and so now I'm delighted to share to you these offerings so you could at least be aware of what to expect at this food park.



My son and I were invited to join this food tasting along with other bloggers. We went as far as Malabon to see if this particular food park can match up with the other existing food parks we've been.

We asked them to serve the dishes all at once so we could do a flatlay of the entire feast. However, there's just no room to take a photo of everything from the top, so more of our photos show the dishes per food stall, aside from the individual shots of the dishes. We also have videos of each food and stall that we plan to compile into one preview of the food park. As of this writing, it is still a pending task since work obligations are not being cooperative and requires me to work even during weekends. Just stand by for the video on our YouTube channel or Facebook page as soon as we have ample time to work on it.







Which ones among the dishes served were my personal favorite? I have to stay that the Longanissa Party of Salongganisa Atbp was my favorite since it allowed me to experience tasting around 10 kinds of these yummy treats from different provinces of the Philippines (Guinobatan, Batac, Cabanatuan - Batutay and Recado, Cebu, Lucban, Calumpit, Tugeugarao, Baliwag - Garlic and BBQ), and best eaten with their special fried rice. The dish is meant for sharing with someone else but I could eat the entire thing on my own. It would be a great first choice for new visitors of this food park.



I'm also a pizza lover so I love all kinds of pizza whatever toppings you put on them. This is why I chose pizza as one of my take-outs so I could share the blessings at home. When I said "blessings," it was meant to emphasize my love for the Overload Pizza of Rox to Go that I want my loved ones to taste it too.



I would have also taken home another batch of the Longganisa Party but I ordered the monstrous Giant fried squid from Hungry Pirate instead which is also another favorite though it lack the spices I am looking for. They could improve on it by adding more herbs and spices to the breading or marinade the squid longer to taste better. I didn't choose it because it was big, but more likely because I prefer to eat seafood which is less fatty than meat.





If I'm really hungry, I would also choose to buy Pancit Canton or Pata Tim at Chelle's Diner. These are comfort foods for me since I always love pancit of every kind. However, theirs was just the right mix to satisfy our taste buds. The Pata Tim was a bit too sweet for me, but it's something too easy to fix, and you'll have a great meal already.





The steaks from Steaks & Sizzles could have been better if they sizzled it. The Beef Porterhouse and T-Bone steaks were quite cold already when we ate it so it became too dry to be appreciated. Maybe when I return there I could try a newly-cooked and still sizzling one.





Hot & Ready Buffalo Wings served two kinds of buffalo wings: Signature (Parmesan) and Garlic. Between the two, I prefer their Signature because it's a lot more distinctive and delectable in taste.







The Ramen and Takoyaki from Hanabi was not that too special to stand out but I could be wrong again since they were already too cold when we got to them. We all know that Ramen, and Takoyaki, are better when hot and freshly-cooked. That's the problem with the need to take photos., or even videos, before trying out the food, you'll end up not knowing the actual taste when served at its best.











For drinks, you have three choices here: either at Street Shakes for different kinds of shakes like their Shawberry Boulevard and Macha-ti avenue (all named after popular Philippine streets), Sebastian's Fish Bowl who has specially prepared drinks like the Peppy Flounder (Green Cucumber) and the Dazzling Ariel (Pink Lemonade Sparkling Punch), and Rox Gastropub for concoctions with alcoholic content like the Chokeslam and the Love Potion.

Each one among the three would work to satisfy my thirst, especially the drinks inside the huge fish bowl-like jars from Sebastian's Fish Bowl. Sweet-tooths would probably choose from the Street Shakes menu especially that the shakes are attractively decorated and generously filled with sweet treats, but the more adventurous peeps would go for the drinks at Rox Gastropub.







For dessert, Scoops and Drizzle serve sweet treats that are quite new in the Philippine market. Examples of their creations are the Customized Egg Waffle and Cake Balls with Nutella. The one they served with strawberry is a favorite since you don't see that choice very often and it is only in Baguio where you could almost only see strawberry-filled dishes as affordable as here.


For more details, below are the names of the stalls and the dishes they served to us for sharing. Also listed are the prices of each:
Hot & Ready Buffalo Wings
Signature Buffalo (P79)
Garlic Parmesan (P79)

Rox to Go!
Overload Pizza (P350)

Scoops and Drizzle
Customized Egg Waffle (P145)
Cake Balls with Nutella (P105)

Steaks & Sizzles
Beef Porterhouse Steak (P134)
Beef T-Bone Steak (P134)

Street Shakes
Shawberry Boulevard (P130)
Matcha-ti Avenue (P130)

Rox Gastropub
Chokeslam (P199)
Love Potion (P199)

Hungry Pirate
Giant Squid (P350)

Chelle's Diner
Pancit Canton (P120)
Pata Tim (P299)

Sebastian's Fish Bowl
Peppy Flounder (Green Cucumber) P89
Dazzling Ariel (Pink Lemonade Sparkling Punch) P89

Hanabi
White Ramen (P140)
Takoyaki

Salongganisa Atbp
Minaisang Longganisa (P90)
Longganisa Party (P245)
Hinilongganisa (P125)


As I've said earlier, the food park trend is still booming right now that you may want to join in on the bandwagon while it's still hot. People would always want something new eventhough there are already several choices to choose from. So my advise to the owners of the food parks, including each individual stall, is that they should always come out with something new. We want to keep our customers' interests sustained so that they'll definitely come back for more. It is therefore advisable to always innovate and introduce additions to the existing list of dishes in their menu, even for just a short time so frequent visitors could expect to find something different to try.



The inclusion of entertainment like a band, some singers, stand-up comedians, or even monologues from "hugot" lines or what is known as the spoken word, are a great way to attract attention and keep diners glued and awaiting for more so they could order more, but not too much because just as how free Wi-Fi access divides the attention of customers, too much entertainment could also keep them from eating at a normal pace and thus leaving their seats for the next diners would take a considerably crazy amount of time.

But in my case, I would definite want to see more stunning performances from the likes of Two Way, and the other emerging artists out there that definitely need breaks to be discovered. It would be such a waste to keep that talent hidden. It is also amazing that some of the tenants participate in providing entertainment since we were surprised to see our host, one of the owners of the stall there, who sang a song for the crowd. Now with that voice, she could totally add more brilliance to an already exemplary act.

My son and I enjoyed a fairly good dinner that night. If you were to ask him, he was not that impressed with the overall experience since we've been to better restaurants with extravagant ambiance with highly decorated and generously spiced dishes. However, the price comparison would tell you the exact reason why. 

Good luck to The Coast Food Park for entering this business venture. We hope that you'll be among those who would survive a very competitive industry. The taste preferences of Filipinos are becoming more sophisticated but there are many who still go back to the comfort foods, just like me, when I'm too hungry to dare to experiment. However, when Filipinos find and discover new favorites, they would stick longer with you. Thus, it is up to these food stall owners to find ways to sustain their quality and also come up with ideas to keep their customers.

Social Media Empowerment Abuse Is Dangerous


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The effective dissemination of information also lies greatly on how our target audience discern and interpret. Many would be biased and closed-minded because their minds are already set to accept only what they believe. It is very rare for people to research for more facts because we can see a lot that are intensely reacting immediately from click-bait headlines alone and not even reading the entire article itself.

Many news outfits would deliberately put out highly controversial or sensational angles to their stories to attract a bigger audience gullible enough to be lured easily and fall victim to a provocation of either hate or dismay towards the main elements of the stories.

I know it is quite hard to avoid looking into tempting write-ups that seem to directly target our emotions and sensitivities. This is why we should delay to give our opinions or reactions so we could wait for further developments to get nearly absolute conclusions, or better yet just hold giving out our final say to the issues. Because if we are not able enough to do our own research to seek the truth among all concerned parties, we might as well postpone sharing our own thoughts, especially those that would be damaging or irreparable.

#FakeNews spread because we easily give in to our emotions. I must admit that I am guilty of it for so many times already, because most people would interpret silence as guilt. I felt the need to defend myself by freely speaking out because I have nothing to hide. But it would often get me into further trouble because my accusers would often try to bombard me with character assassination attempts. That is, they'll try to tarnish my reputation instead if they couldn't get me with the original issue. They will either dig up past mistakes, intentionally fabricate false news, or just harass me with degrading and insulting words that has nothing to do with the issues.

I'm slowly learning to work on this weakness which is something equally prominent among many. Sadly, we may have been empowered by social media and the Internet to freely speak out, but we may be abusing that freedom. People are beginning to be horribly obnoxious to the point that they are becoming senseless just to irk people. They are no longer in search of the truth and are just trying to destroy your day mainly because they just don't like you, or are more allied with their equally obnoxious friends.

Thus media, whether traditional or online, have the immense power to influence the thoughts of many. It is therefore a huge responsibility for thought leaders, influencers, story-tellers, etc., to be accurate, appropriate and complete with their content.

There's just no way to prevent ill-mannered people to get in front of the computer or their smartphones and start posting hurtful words. But it is up to many of us to discern carefully who is really on the side of truth and fairness. Honestly, when you see people ganging up and bullying someone online, you'll realize that many are just too damn excessively aggressive online, but you won't see them do that in person.

Social media has indeed empowered us but could also have made us into monsters who prey on whom they consider as not within their standards.

Again before casting the first stone, look at ourselves in the mirror and see how our devilish horns and tails have grown out of control.



#WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger

Up-And-Coming: Fashion Content Creators Who Should Be On Your Radar


Wazzup Pilipinas!

New Year, new faces! Check out these fashion influencers under Gushcloud Philippines who are definitely stepping out of their comfort zones to make a mark not only in their OOTDS and #fashiongame, but also in the industry. 



Chic and Edgy - LAUREN ESPINO (@laurgraces)

Meet Lauren, a Psychology major, whose content features her journey through pursuing her love for arts in the likes of styling, graphic designing, embellishing, and painting, whilst making it a point to ground her content in her brand’s main message of empowering women to find value and self-worth in their passions, purposes, and power to make a difference in the world, as she attempts to do so herself. She likes to describe her style as having a mix of fierceness, quirkiness, and boyishness. She doesn’t put too much effort into curating her feed, as she likes it to reflect her authenticity. She also hopes of others finding beauty and staying true to themselves. She only takes time to edit each post similar to each other by using the app called Preview to easily assess if a post looks fitting. 

On her free time, she enjoys reflecting on life and on new ideas, doing art, watching conspiracy theory and TED videos, singing, playing billiards, and being around the people she loves. This year, she plans to build up her character in pursuing her goals and, ultimately, God's plan for her; continue learning from those around her; be more engaged in finding ways to extend herself to others; and to make the most out of life and share it with as many as she can. Her favorite part of being an influencer is the fact that she gets to connect with so many different people, especially with her followers who she deems as her virtual family. Don’t forget to check out her #SheVictor movement on Instagram too!



Hip and Laid Back - CHAR DEOCAREZA (@chardeocareza)

Char is a graduating Architecture student who is into fashion, travel, and lifestyle. She creates signature styles and changes it depending on her mood. She also uses VSCO and Adobe Lightroom to edit her photos. Thus, it is no surprise that she loves doing photoshoots and exploring different places.

 Through being a blogger, she empowers different individuals to be confident about themselves. She enjoys getting to know her followers whom she treats as her friends. She aims to travel more around the Philippines to produce great content that will inspire and motivate more of her followers.



Trendy and Adventurous - KAS PEREZ (@kasperloooove)

Kas is a fashion blogger who regularly does makeup and outfit posts, travel content, and food features. She’s a simple and casual girl who prefers wearing comfortable outfits, and making it look chic! She curates her feed by using one Adobe Lightroom preset for all her photos.


As a content creator, she gets to meet a lot of people in the industry whom she learns a lot from and get to discover brands and new places she has not been to. When her schedule is not full, she looks for OOTD inspirations and new accounts on Instagram to stalk her favorite icons.

She never planned or imagined herself being a blogger but Kryz Uy, Tricia Gosingtian, and Camille Co inspired her to be one. In this industry, it’s important for Kas to always stay true to herself and not be a copy of someone else. This year, her goals include keeping in line with her schedule, creating more OOTD content, getting fit, and being a happier and more positive person.



Unique and Vibrant - KYNA SY (@kynagem)

Last but definitely not the least, here’s Kyna whose content promotes love, selflessness, kindness, and all things positive. She tries to manifest these values not only into her social media content but through her everyday life as well - from the videos that she produces to the clothes that she designs, and even to beyond the screen! Her style ranges far and wide, extending from 50’s flapper to Legally Blonde-esque to runway ready, and everything in between; all but with a common denominator of an Avant Garde look. Kyna likes being different; she loves to dress in a certain outside-the-box manner, which is why she designs most of the clothes she wears - from the initial ideation to embellishing the designs and even up to quality control.

She loves making content that make people happy, loved, and special. On her free time, she enjoys playing pranks on her peers, playing with kids and diving into ball pits in malls. She plans on starting her own YouTube channel to reach out to more people and to touch more lives. This year, she vows to focus more on God and other people, and less of herself; to apply her life motto of “no longer I but God and others.” 


So there you have it! These are the fresh new fashion faces on Instagram you should keep an eye on. They may be young and just starting out, but these girls have what it takes to positively influence the generations to come. 

Valentine’s Laugh Fest with Stand-Up Comedian Mike Unson & Friends at Century City Mall & Hineleban Café


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The best way to celebrate the Valentine’s season is through laughter and giggles. Valentine’s Laugh Fest of stand-up comedian Mike Unson and his troop of artists in “Crisis: Mayhem One” will be held during the Fringe Festival on February 15, Thursday, 8pm at the 4th level, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City and “Caffeinated Mayhem” on February 16, Friday, 8pm at Hineleban Café, 830 A. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City.

Couples in love and even groups of friends relishing Singles Awareness Day will have a good time in “Crisis: Mayhem One”, a variety show of comedy, musical performances and spoken word. Unson headlines the event and other featured comics are Sergio Belarus, Korte Supremo, Eric Salazar, Sheena Pena and Herman Gacosta. Spoken word artists Mark Hhosn, Ristichen, Abe Herma & Kenneth Monserrate will take the stage for urban poetry on different dimensions of love. Jana Garcia will perform rock ballads and Guil Sanchez will host the event.

For a Friday laugh-out loud night combined with coffee fix, “Caffeinated Mayhem” showcases Unson together with the same band of stand-up comedians. He is will also stage another show in Hineleban Café on March 16, 2018, 8pm.

Unson is featured in the 1st episode of iFlix comedy series, “Hoy, Bibig Mo,” and is currently filming his own special. His classic observational comedy skit on taxis can be seen in the iFlix teaser: https://web.facebook.com/iflixPH/videos/1579190128860787/

He is a 2016 Aliw Award Nominee for Best Stand-Up Comedian. His previous shows: “Mayhem in the First and Second Degree,” were held at Century City Mall last year. This time around, he will bring a new line up of diverse artists from spoken word, stand-up comedy, musical performances.

In his 15-year career, he is known for building up comic rhythm with impeccably time punchlines and thought-provoking insights, leaving the audience in stitches and wanting for more.

Unson and his brand of point of view stand-up comedy puts emphasis on everyone’s head-scratching, cringe-worthy or even absurd life experiences.

His arsenal of wholesome jokes includes his views on urban life, childhood memories, relationships and interactions with everyday people as he dishes out his original material on annoying encounters with cab and jeepney drivers; street vendors; mall security guards; (un)talented bands; his childhood nanny; dealing with middle child syndrome; being in the friend zone, breakups and many more relatable true to life situations.

Currently, he is part of the creative team of GMA 7’s “Pepito Manoloto,” the number one TV sitcom in the Philippines. Earlier in his career, he was one of the hosts of an alternative comedy show “Front Act” on TV5. He was also part of the “Men’s Room” on Studio 23 and a recurring guest on Jojo Alejar’s “The Medyo Late Night Show.”

Unson has opened for Rob Schneider and performed with Rex Navarette. His list of performances in major venues included Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Resorts World Manila; Grand Ballroom, Solaire Resort; and Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Hotel, Cebu.

Tickets for “Crisis: Mayhem One” and “Caffeinated Mayhem” are at P300 per person and half of the price is consumable for the later event. 

For other updates and information, visit www.facebook.com/mikeunsoncomedy or connect on IG @mikeunson @comedymayhem or call Marco Aventajado of Cardinal Events & Comedy Mayhem at +639209281681 or email aventajado@aol.com.


Youtube:

FB iFlix teaser:

#comedymayhem #betterstandupbymikeunson

Neocolours Signs with Universal Records


Wazzup Pilipinas!

One of the biggest names in the OPM scene, Neocolours, will finally release new songs this year. 

To jumpstart this awaited music launch, the band signed up today with its record label, Universal Records. Universal Records’ top executives led by VP Ramon Chuaying , General Manager, Kathleen Dy-Go and Operations Manager, Peter Chan welcomed the members of the band during the contract signing.

Neocolours' songs have been a mainstay of many Filipino listener's playlist. Their songs such as Maybe, Kasalanan Ko Ba, Hold On, Say You'll Never Go and Tuloy Pa Rin have transcended generational barriers and repeatedly re-recorded by some of the country's top recording artists. 

With the release of new songs starting this March, the band hopes to continue this artistic and musical tradition. 

Aside from the completion of a new album, Neocolours' other music activities includes a 30th year anniversary show at the Music Museum on April 28, as well as a national tour for the rest of the year.
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