ONE Championship VP of Medical Services Says Athlete Health and Safety is Top Priority

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As martial arts continues to introduce revolutionary developments in its rapid evolution over the last few years, safety for athletes has become even more paramount to the sustainability of the sport. When Dr. Warren Wang came on board ONE Championship as Vice President of Medical Services, the renowned physician saw plenty of opportunities to improve upon the promotion’s medical practices.

“It’s about making the sport safer for all participants,” said Dr. Wang. “Martial arts is a full contact sport, and athletes are its most important components. Whenever we have an opportunity to make the sport safer for athletes, we have to explore every possibility.”

Wang is an experienced physician in the field of Emergency Medicine with over 10 years of knowledge and practice under his belt. He joined ONE Championship in 2015 but has been with the company since 2014 under a different capacity.

He is also no stranger to martial arts, having trained in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu since 1996. Based in Taiwan, Wang helped bring martial arts to mainstream public consciousness with his work as Founder of the Taiwan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Tournament Director of the Taiwan BJJ Open.

Needless to say, when it comes to martial arts, he certainly knows a thing or two.

“I know the specific risks that athletes take whenever they step into the cage. I am able to identify which areas of the sport require critical focus,” said Dr. Wang.

One of the major revolutions in ONE Championship’s safety procedures is the complete ban of weight-cutting by dehydration. Dr. Wang was part of the team that revolutionized ONE Championship’s weigh-in program a couple of years ago. Today, athletes are happier, healthier, and most importantly safer in competition.

“It’s developments such as this that is the future of martial arts,” said Dr. Wang. “I am proud of my team and what we have accomplished. My dream is for this to catch on with other organizations. Weight-cutting by dehydration is one of the most unsafe practices that has plagued combat sports, such as boxing for example. Here at ONE, safety is our top priority.”

Although relatively unseen cageside, Dr. Wang moves like a shadow watching matches closely as they unfold. At a moment’s notice, he’s always ready to swoop in and handle all situations as they arise. While most everyone else is fixated on the action inside the cage, Dr. Wang is busy making sure athletes are safe, amidst all the action.

“It’s my job to stay attentive. We can’t get carried away with the excitement of these bouts, although it’s very easy to fall into that,” said Dr. Wang. “Our team has to be focused on every athlete. Could they be hurt? Are they able to defend themselves properly? Are they too exhausted to compete? These are the things we watch out for.”

At any given event, ONE Championship has up to three doctors and a nurse backstage in the post-bout medical room ready to lend a helping hand. As such, Dr. Wang has the authority to halt any bout and check on the athletes should he notice anything of concern. He is also responsible for determining if athletes are able to continue or not.

“It’s my job to protect our athletes. Our martial artists are tough people, they will soldier on despite injury and will sacrifice a lot to get the victory,” concluded Dr. Wang. “So it’s my prerogative to have the better judgement.”

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.

Tech101-NCR Demo Day of Technopreneurship 101

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The University of the Philippines - Diliman thru its Technology Business Incubator and accelerator UP Enterprise, the partner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the TechHub Project in NCR, invites you to the Demo Day of Technopreneurship 101 on 19th April 2018 / Thursday at the UPSCALE Innovation Hub, GF National Engineering Center, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

Technopreneurship 101 program is part of the establishment of Technopreneurship Hub (TechHub). It aims to train engineering faculty members who will support innovation and technology transfer and teach the technopreneurship subject to be required by CHED as a GE required course starting 2018.

We launched the Tech101-NCR last January 22, 2018. We have 20 participants from 10 schools in Metro Manila. They are progressing technology cases in the areas of agriculture, electronics, energy, e-commerce, etc.

For the Demo Day, the cohort will pitch their ventures, including their prototype/design, proposed business model, and market feedback, in a 5-minute elevator pitch.


The proposed event program is as follows:

2:00 Registration
2:25 National Anthem
2:30 Welcome Remarks by Luis G. Sison, PhD
2:40 Tech101-NCR Overview
2:50 AVP
3:00 Pitches
5:30 Dinner and Networking


The following venture teams from different universities from NCR will be pitching:

1. Automated Drug Dispensing System -	A drug dispensing system for OTC drugs to reduce the long queue lines in pharmacies.
2. Vehicle Hydro Protect	Protect the vehicle from flood causing mechanical and physical damages
3. LockIT -	A Self-Service Locker
4. FunduSpec -	An imaging device capable of detecting minuscule damage in the retina.
5. Baconet -	A geotextile from banana and coconut fiber used for slope protection
6. BiogenFer -	A biogenic fertilizer that conditions the soil and promotes plant growth organically.
7. AMPS -	Analytics Monitoring for Power Systems
8. Elixir -	An Electronic Meter to Detect Cacao Pod Maturity for Harvesting
9. Automated Coco Coir Machine	An automated coconut husk defibering and drying machine
10. Pro-ject -	Portable Projector with APPS for Retail Marketing
11.Geopolymer	- Alkali-activated Geopolymer Concrete: Sustainable Construction and Building Material for Extreme Environment

Things You Need to Know About ONE Super Series’ Much-awaited Debut in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Launching at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR is the highly-anticipated ONE Super Series, a celebration of the world’s most effective striking arts as it invites the very best martial artists from Muay Thai, kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Wushu, Sanda and more to showcase their skills on ONE Championship’s global media platform.

ONE Super Series was created to showcase the adrenaline-pumping action of top-notch martial arts on the biggest and most prestigious stage of competition, designed to showcase the purest forms of world-class striking.

As it makes its debut in Manila, Philippines on Friday, April 20, here are some of the important details that martial arts fans should know about ONE Super Series.

Four exciting bouts

Introducing a new global league specially for elite strikers, ONE Championship has booked four exciting striking-only contests.

The premiere offering for Manila’s ONE Super Series is a three-round kickboxing encounter, featuring international superstar Giorgio Petrosyan of Italy who takes on “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut of Thailand.

In other ONE Super Series match-ups, celebrated Thai kickboxer Nong-O Gaiyanghadao is scheduled to duke it out with French-Italian dynamo Fabio Pinca in a three-round Muay Thai tussle.

Elliot Compton shares the ring with Cosmo Alexandre in a Muay Thai clash, while Brad Riddell locks horns with Regian Eersel in a kickboxing showdown.



Introduction of ONE Super Series ring

Aside from the marquee talent debuting at ONE Super Series in Manila, the organization will also unveil its brand new five-rope ring.

Up until this point, the promotion has held martial arts bouts inside the famed ONE Championship cage, but in its 13th venture on Philippine shores, a new battlefield will be revealed.

The ONE Championship ring measures by an external dimension of 28 feet by 28 feet, while its internal dimension is 24 feet by 24 feet.

Surrounded by five ropes in bright white, the ring canvas is light gray, in typical color of the traditional ONE Championship cage.

All 11 bouts at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR are expected to be held inside the new ring, including matches that are officiated under the organization’s Global Rule Set.

For the first time in ONE Championship history, mixed martial arts contests will be held in the ring instead of in the cage.


Gloves and rules

ONE Super Series athletes will either wear eight-ounce or ten-ounce boxing gloves depending on the weight of the athletes. Ten-ounce gloves will be required in matches above 65.8 kilograms.

Handcrafted by Bangkok-based combat sports brand Boon, ONE Super Series gloves will be in all black with laces.

Unlike its mixed martial arts counterpart, Muay Thai and kickboxing matches in ONE Super Series will be scored in a ten-point must system and will be contested in three three-minute rounds.

Moreover, an in-ring competitor who is knocked down three times in the same round will be declared knocked out by the referee.

Elbow strikes will only be allowed in Muay Thai bouts as kickboxing matches in ONE Super Series will follow the heavily-praised oriental rule set, which was famously used by the now-defunct K-1 organization.



​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. ​ ​

Advocating Education for the Filipino Youth, One Diploma at a Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For Filipinos, education is considered as a symbol of wealth that parents can bequeath to their children. As such, every family, as well as the government and civic organizations, are actively doing their best to make this precious wealth accessible to everyone, regardless of their status in life.

Through the Free Tertiary Education Bill, government programs, and our State Universities and Colleges, the government strives to make attaining a college degree possible. However, there is still so much to be done. A recent survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that one in every 10 Filipinos, aged 6 to 24 years old, is out of school due to the high costs that go with the pursuit of an academic career. The survey also showed that more than 50 percent of out of school youths belong to families whose income falls at the bottom 30 percent of the entire population, based on their per capita income.

To help in advocating education, Prestone, a known brand for trusted and quality auto care (Motor Oil, Brake Fluid, and Coolants) products, launched its Anak ng Mekaniko Scholarship Program as part of its 90th Anniversary celebration. It is a grant that aims to pay tribute to the country’s auto mechanics in the automotive sector by giving their children a chance to earn a tertiary level education.

Monique Gonzales, Brand Manager of Prestone, said that they owe a lot of their success to the auto mechanics, who continuously trust and patronize their products in ensuring vehicles are in good condition all the time.

“It is our time now to give back through this initiative and provide a ground for a brighter future for their children through education,” added Gonzales. 

After receiving applications from across the country, Prestone is set to announce the nine deserving ANAK NG MEKANIKO Scholars, who will be granted a full scholarship to a four-year course of their choice in any STI Colleges campus nationwide. These recipients will be flying in Metro Manila early this May to personally receive their awards.

“Prestone is driving this project to help ease the burden that comes with having to pay for education, especially for low-income families. We want to make a positive impact in the lives of these students by helping them succeed through good and proper education”, said Gonzales. “In such a competitive world, getting a good job becomes increasingly hard and education can help pave the way for these nine deserving scholars to achieve their goals for their family.”

To learn more about PRESTONE® and its other products, visit their website at www.prestone.com.ph or follow them on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/prestonephilippines.

Hoppler at Art in the Park 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Online real estate brokerage’s Junior Art Center a big hit among art fair–goers and kids

Art in the Park, dubbed as the country’s most important affordable art fair, was recently held at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, where online real estate brokerage Hoppler successfully organized its Junior Art Center activity—a huge hit among fair-goers and their kids.

At Hoppler’s Junior Art Center, kids stayed for free art sessions. Parents who signed up with the online real estate brokerage received art kits composed of canvas and paint materials, modeling clay, and origami paper. Hoppler also put up a Community Wall where fair-goers were able to doodle or draw things about home that inspire them—a project that is in line with Hoppler’s mission of promoting an engaged and cohesive community.

CEO Ramon Ballesca Jr. said: “Hoppler is committed to community building by making sure that Filipinos find that perfect home in the right community and by connecting them only with duly licensed and reliable real estate brokers and agents. A home is very much like an artwork. It starts like a blank canvas where every family imagines itself living in, gradually taking form, until it becomes a tangible place where children are raised and nurtured.”

Like its previous editions, this year’s event was set to celebrate all kinds of art with the goal of making contemporary pieces more accessible Filipinos and aspiring collectors. According to the event’s organizers, Art in the Park 2018 makes art even more affordable by prescribing a cap of Php50,000 on art pieces. The event is also for the benefit of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.

The 2018 fair featured up-and-coming local artists, 59 galleries, and student groups who exhibited their own unique art pieces in the event, among whom are this year’s two featured artists: Tekla Tamoria and Jacob Lindo.

Tamoria, who has participated in numerous group shows and has been working on developing a unique relationship with paper and fabrics, transformed her feverish energy into obsessive focus on her installation titled “Colony”— intricately made hives attached to a tree.

On the other hand, painter and sculptor Lindo’s work similarly represented the best in Art in the Park: finding new in the familiar. Lindo is fast becoming known for his collages, some of which feature meticulously cut illustrations from old used books presented in new and exciting ways.

Petron Turbo Diesel Field Test Delivers Outstanding Results!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As a fuel innovator, industry leader Petron Corporation is continuously looking for ways to provide Filipino motorists with the best possible products in the market. Having achieved recognition as the best gasoline in the country for its Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, the company’s R&D team recently enhanced the formulation of its premium Petron Turbo Diesel to be the best diesel in the Philippines. Thus, last January, the Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition took off from Manila to Baguio for a week-long series of tests on challenging mountain roads from Baguio to Ambuklao, and then from Baguio to Halsema, the highest elevation in the Philippine highway system, before finishing with a fuel economy run from Baguio back to Manila.

Outstanding Performance Across Vehicle Types

Faced with the challenge of measuring improvements in engine power, engine response, and acceleration, test drivers were asked to rate the performance of different diesel fuels in a stringent double blind procedure. Using a different diesel fuel each day for four days, the drivers drove the same winding, uphill-downhill route from Baguio City to Ambuklao Dam and back. All these while keenly observing whether there was an immediate engine response when going uphill after slowing down on a sharp curve, or if the engine does not feel strained when carrying a full load, or if the vehicle is able to accelerate smoothly even on long uphill climbs.

To ensure that Petron Turbo Diesel is able to deliver optimum performance across vehicle types, different vehicle categories and brands were included in the field test. The test vehicles consisted of a BMW X1, a European luxury subcompact crossover; a Toyota Innova,  the market leading utility vehicle; a Honda CR-V Diesel, the 2017 Car of the Year-Philippines; a Nissan Urvan, a popular people-mover; a Ford Everest and Ford Ranger to represent the American brand; Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX for the leader in commercial vehicles; and a Ssangyong Tivoli XLV, a Korean SUV model.
When asked to rank the test fuels—designated only by letter codes—in the daily runs, the consolidated results indicated that Petron Turbo Diesel was rated by the drivers as delivering the best performance in terms of power, engine response, and acceleration.

Improved Fuel Economy

Following the test protocol of the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Economy Run, the vehicles traversed some 230.7-kilometers from the Petron station on Kisad Road, Baguio City, going through the relatively busy Marcos Highway, then on to the Tarlac-Pangasian-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), ending at Petron NLEX Southbound in Bocaue, Bulacan.

All vehicles delivered outstanding results, averaging 20% better than the official Fuel Efficiency Ratings (FER) posted in the 2017 DOE Fuel Economy Run. For example, the BMW X1 achieved 34.08km/L, which is 43% better than the 23.88km/L recorded in the DOE Run. The Honda CR-V’s fuel consumption improved by 19% to 28.52km/L from 23.96km/L. The fuel efficiency results were similarly impressive for the other vehicles, as follows: Ford Everest – 27.21km/L; Toyota Innova – 23.4km/L; Ssangyong Tivoli XLV – 22.6km/L; Isuzu mu-X – 19.97km/L; Isuzu D=MAX – 18.44km/L; Nissan Urvan – 17.22km/L; and Ford Ranger – 17.08km/L.

The Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition was observed and certified by representatives from Department of Energy (DOE), Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), and the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI).

Enhanced Diesel Formulation

Petron Turbo Diesel has been further enhanced as a high-performance, technologically-advanced fuel. With robust multi-functional additives in its improved formulation, this superior diesel fuel has been designed to unleash the full power and optimum performance of the most advanced and sophisticated diesel engines.

Petron Turbo Diesel has high ignition quality and combustibility that maximize fuel energy conversion for maximum engine power and efficiency. It has the ability to effectively clean up and keep clean the fuel injection system to deliver exceptional protection and sustained optimum performance.

Like all other Petron fuels, the enhanced formulation of Petron Turbo Diesel allows motorists to enjoy greater benefits from Petron’s TriAction Advantage which are: (1) better engine protection for longer engine life; (2) better mileage for longer drives; and (3) better power.

In real world driving conditions, through the most challenging uphill-downhill and winding terrains, Petron Turbo Diesel has proven that Filipino motorists can enjoy more savings on maintenance and fuel consumption while getting the best driving experience from their vehicle.

E-Power Mo Baguio City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues its series of impactful Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns empowering energy consumers and stakeholders all over the country.

After its soft launch during the National Information Convention last February in Davao City, E-Power Mo takes up to the North in the summer capital of the Philippines – Baguio City on 24 April 2018, Tuesday at the Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza with the theme: “Communicating Efficiency Across the Energy Sector.”

The E-Power Mo Conference will be attended by various energy stakeholders including: energy companies from power, renewable energy, coal, petroleum, natural gas, alternative vehicles and energy efficiency industries, partners from the national government agencies, energy associations, among others.

Registration will start at 8:00a.m., the E-Power Mo conference is open to all media on the following events:

*Preliminaries (Invocation-Open Forum, Diamond Grand Ballroom, 9:00 a.m.-10:30:00 a.m.)

*Lunch/Press Conference (Jasper room, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.)

*Concluding Ceremonies (Coffee Break- Plenary Session Diamond Grand Ballroom, 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.)

Kindly click this link to register: http://bit.ly/EPowerBaguio

Hypothesis by Briccio Santos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Again, Briccio Santos moors us into his “manifold ministrations,” as poet Krip Yuson describes his myriad artistic practice. In his 2nd solo show at Archivo, Santos presents Hypothesis, a selection of new and recently shown works that include paintings and photographs.

Santos’ practice as filmmaker, painter, photographer has given his works a keenness to the nuance of, in his paintings, the fragment or the fractal, and in his photographs, scenography or mise en scène. In this selection, Santos showcases his paintings, where figures are shown as they form and where textures emerge and come to life, and his photographs where we see characters captured both in the literal (held captive and behind bars) and figurative (captured in a photograph). In this exhibit, Santos’ works speak to contemporary predicaments, or true to the exhibition’s title, elaborate hypotheses on the future of life or of being alive in the current moment.

Santos’ works show a fondness for images already familiar to him. He likes to return to images that have captivated him in past work. He returns to a range of figures that he then continually refines, until they are in such a state that the figure that emerges is a figure beyond the imagination of its initial instance. Santos intimates a poetics akin to making a series of studies: these renderings portray a mind constantly processing, calibrating, a mind alert to the barest shift or tilt of sightline, keen on slight variations. It is this tendency that makes Santos’ choice of technique (cubist) and technology (the photograph) most apt.

Briccio Santos, born in Manila, received most of his education and artistic training abroad, principally in Europe and the United States. His first painting exhibition was held in 1978 in Manila. He continued to exhibit around Manila until the late ‘90s, whenSantos moved to Paris. Santos lived in Paris for some years, during which time he exhibited at Galerie Duroc and Accatone. Santos’ work has been frequently exhibited in recent years. His most recent exhibitions have included: the sculptural installation “Heritage Tunnel,” which exhibited at Singapore Art Museum in 2010; “Viral Series,” a painting and photography exhibition held at White Wall Gallery in 2011; and “Numbers Revisited,” a photography, painting, and installation exhibition held at Manila Contemporary in the same year. “Mutations,” a solo show of paintings was held at Archivo in 2015. In 2017, he was awarded the honor of becoming a Chevalier (Knight) in the Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honor), one of the premier distinctions conferred to individuals by the government of France, for his work with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in developing and promoting Philippine cultural identity through cinema, particularly in the preservation of Philippine film heritage through the creation of the National Film Archives.

The Educational Projects of the Education Above All Foundation in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Manila has the honor to extend its invitation to follow the celebration of Education Above All Foundation that will take place on April 27, 2018 in New York City, on the occasion of the achievement of the Foundation’s targeted goal of commitment to enroll 10 million children deprived of basic education,

The Embassy looks forward for your kind support in clarifying the Foundation’s efforts and highlighting Qatar's pioneering role in providing and protecting education in developing countries, and celebrating the declaration of the organization's commitment to the education of 10 million children deprived of education, by following the event in social networking sites via hashtag: #TogetherFor10Million.

Education Above All Foundation, in cooperation with its international, regional and local partners, aims to form a global movement that may contribute to the promotion of human, social and economic development through the provision of basic education, which is in the interest of those affected in areas of poverty, dispute, conflict and natural disasters.

The umbrella for Education Above All includes a number of programs and initiatives, that have expanded to work with a number of partners around the world in 70 educational projects spread across 50 countries, at a total cost of US $ 1.4 billion, in which it seeks to enroll 10 million children in primary education.

The Foundation and its implementing partners have attempted to overcome barriers to education in the Philippines, by implementing projects worth of US $ 600,000 aimed at supporting the education system and enabling governments to commit to education projects for children deprived of basic education.

Epson Establishes New Sales Subsidiary in Vietnam

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, “Epson) and Epson Singapore Pte. Ltd. recently announced the opening of its new sales subsidiary and office in Vietnam.

The new subsidiary, Epson Vietnam Co., Ltd. (EVNL), began its operations last April 1 and was officially launched at Hotel Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Hideto Nakamura, general director of Epson Vietnam, said that prior to its establishment, Epson had previously sold products through its sales subsidiary in Thailand. In 2010, it established a Vietnam representative office focused on market research.

“The establishment of the office in Vietnam will strengthen Epson’s business and brand presence in the region. There is much potential for growth in the country, especially with a GDP forecast of at least 6.5 percent in 2018,” said Nakamura. “We look forward to rolling out new Epson products in our four key areas of innovation, such as the inkjet, visual communications, wearables, and robotics.”

In 2017, Epson recorded a high demand for its products in Vietnam. According to the latest IDC Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker report, Epson’s market shares for high-capacity ink tank printers for the Q4 last year stood at 53 percent.

“Vietnam’s printer market is currently dominated by laser printers. However, there is extensive scope for growing sales by emphasizing the advantages of our high-capacity ink tank printers. Epson Vietnam will play an important role in developing this promising market,” Nakamura added.

As a market leader, Epson will continue offering unique value and solutions to its customers in the said region through the new Epson Vietnam office. It is located at Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Cover photo caption:

(2^nd from left) Hideto Nakamura, general director, Epson Vietnam; (3^rd from left) Koichi Kubota, director, senior managing executive officer

& chief operating officer, Printing Solutions Operations Division; and (1^st from right) Tanaka Toshimitsu, managing director, Epson Singapore.