Senate Cooperative Launches Modern Jeepneys Compliant with PUV Modernization Program

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative (SETSCO) will now roll out their new public utility jeepneys (PUJs), that are compliant under the PUV Modernization Program.

SETSCO is composed of 22 operators headed by its Chairperson Remedios Venturina, and is among the 3 pre-selected cooperatives to participate in the initial implementation of the PUVMP.

At the media launch held on Monday afternoon, 18 June 2018, 15 out of the total 35 modern PUJ units, which will ply the route of StarCity/CCP to PICC, GSIS/Senate to MOA to PITX and back by tomorrow, was initially be launched. A ribbon cutting amidst two of the vehicles was done, and a short program where .

The 20-person seating capacity vehicles are airconditioned, have 4 CCTV cameras, has GPS for monitoring, and you can stand inside where they allow up to 3 passengers standing.

DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Tim Orbos and LTRFB Chairman Martin Delgra III were present and were joined by Senate President Vicente Sotto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

Chairperson Remedios Ventura

Other personalities from both the government and transport sector were also there to witness the launch.

Isuzu Philippines was the chosen vehicle provider as voted upon by the key people at SETSCO, just as how Euro4 Diesel was also selected. Going electric vehicle was not very popular since they believe the industry is not yet capable of providing convenient facilities and fair-priced consumables like batteries, etc.


Below is the official press release:

DOTr-LTFRB, Senate Transport Coop Roll Out Modern PUVs

 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), yesterday rolled out the first batch of modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJs) under the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative (SETSCO), an important milestone in the implementation of the government’s PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).

 

Starting today, 19 June 2018, an initial 15 out of the total 35 modern PUJ units will ply various routes along Metro Manila, which include: Star City / CCP to PICC, and GSIS / Senate to MOA to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and back. The official turnover of the certificate of the approved route was also handed to SETSCO during the event.

 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III led the official launch, along with DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Tim Orbos, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, and Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC) Chairman Emmanuel Virtucio. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian were also present.

 

“The most efficacious way of making a difference is to lead by example, which is what we are doing now. We are giving the Philippine transport system a new face: a transport system that is innovative, safe, and environment-friendly,” Sen. Sotto said.

 

Usec. Orbos hailed the event as the start of a new way of transporting commuters in a safe and secure manner.

 

“This is very historic. Later on, when our children are used to these kinds of jeepneys, they will not remember anymore how difficult it was for us. Ito po ay proof of life — the very first batch of modern jeepneys to carry our commuters. Sila naman po ang pinaka-importante sa lahat ng ito. It’s the duty of the government to make sure that we bring them from point A to point B in the most convenient, most efficient, and safest manner possible,” Usec. Orbos added.

Consistent with the theme “Arangkada sa Pagbabago,” the brand new and modern PUJs are classified as Euro-4, which is equal to 40% less carbon emissions. Electric jeepneys are also being considered in future projects.

Composed of 22 operators, SETSCO was among the three pre-selected cooperatives that would participate in the initial implementation of the PUV Modernization Program. Pre-selection was done by the OTC, whose recommendation was based on the cooperative’s good standing, financial capability, and its established management structure.

 

SETSCO is the second cooperative to have been granted a franchise to operate following its compliance to the program. It was also able to obtain a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

The remaining 20 modern PUJs for the given Pasay routes are targeted to be out by July. The DOTr and the LTFRB are also working double time to process the applications of more than 1,000 new jeepneys. Around 100 - 200 more are expected to be on the road by the first half of July 2018.

#WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger #SETSCO

Ma Hao Bin Expects Big Reward if he Triumphs at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin has always possessed the drive and talent to achieve all of his lofty goals as he has capitalized on every opportunity that has come his way in his professional mixed martial arts career.

The 24-year-old Chinese national freestyle wrestling champion is unbeaten on the ONE Championship stage, acing his six assignments in the promotion with flying colors.

Making his professional debut in 2016, Ma took home the ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (CHANGSHA) Flyweight Tournament Championship, defeating Wu Ting Shen and Bu Huo You Ga in a single evening of action.

Since then, Ma has strung together an impressive win-loss slate of 11-2, which includes four wins by submission and two by knockout.

In his most recent outing this past January, Ma turned in another well-rounded performance to claim victory via unanimous decision against battle-tested veteran Sotir Kichukov of Bulgaria.

Ma has the chance to cement his status as one of the best flyweights in the world today as he is set to square off with former world title challenger Danny Kingad on the undercard of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER in Macau, China on Saturday, 23 June.

Although a tall order is in front of him, Ma remains optimistic that he will have his hand raised in triumph as he is driven by his desire to become the best competitor in the organization’s 61.2-kilogram weight class.

“Nothing is easy. A person has to go through hardship to become successful. I know it will be hard, but I am willing to dig deep and get that victory. In order to be a winner, you have to endure. I am here to endure all the hardships because I want to be the best in the division,” he stated.

As Ma crosses paths with an opponent, who is a premier flyweight combatant from the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, the highly-touted Chinese prospect artist sees a big reward if he plays his cards right against Kingad.

Holding a professional record of 9-1, the 22-year-old Baguio City native is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills.

“He is so talented as a fighter. I can say that he is exceptional for a flyweight like me. That’s why I am exerting my best effort in training. He is an opponent worthy of a good battle. This match excites me,” Ma said of his three-round flyweight encounter with Kingad.

Following an unsuccessful challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Championship this past November against Moraes, which ended in his first professional defeat, Kingad rebounded with an impressive win over Kichukov four months later.

“We both faced Sotir Kichukov in ONE Championship, and we did walk away with respective victories. Honestly, I believe that I’ve done better than him against Sotir. In our ring clash this Saturday, the commitment to hone and perfect my craft will once again be in full display against Danny,” he shared.

“He is blocking my way. I want that gold around my waist. I have to defeat him in order to reach my ultimate destination in this sport,” Ma added.

Ma hopes that if he secures a convincing victory over Kingad, it will bring him an inch closer to a shot at the coveted ONE Flyweight World Championship.

ONE Championship’s undisputed flyweight crown will be at stake on Saturday as division kingpin Adriano Moraes is slated to lock horns with interim champion Geje Eustaquio in a highly-anticipated rematch, serving as the event’s headliner.

 

“My initial goal is to continue winning until I get closer to the title and become a champion. I want this win. I want to have a remarkable winning result, and then I want to move forward onto that flyweight belt,” Ma ended.

​

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.

Best Tips for Selecting a Sleeping Mattress to Avoid Back Pain

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Sleeping on the wrong mattress can lead to back pain or worsen an already existing back pain. We all know how excruciating back pains can be. It makes every sleeping moment a hard experience, and waking moments are even harder.

A good sleeping mattress will give you a great sleeping posture, and also gives you a relaxed sleep. Getting a quality mattress is one of the most important decision you will make for your home, and it is also one of the most important furniture you can get for your home.

Getting a mattress that supports your sleeping posture is a great decision, but if your current mattress doesn't really fit your body type or sleeping position, then the best decision is to change your mattress.

According to Dr Jeffrey N Katz, a professor of medicine and orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School, changing your mattress can make a vital difference in your back pain rehabilitation.

It is true, there is nothing like a perfect mattress, but there is always a perfect mattress for your body type, sleeping position, and your backpain (if you have one). A good mattress is great for your spine, and getting that mattress to address your back pain can be a life changing decision.

Getting that perfect mattress for you can be a herculean task, from overly ambitious salespeople to the confusion over the best type of mattress, and also the financial commitment involved in getting a quality mattress.

To get yourself the perfect mattress, the best practice was going to the mattress store, and testing out different mattresses till you find the perfect one for your body posture, and sleeping position, and at the same time, overly ambitious and aggressive salespeople breathing down your neck to close the sales.

These days the buying process has changed, with customers able to order for mattresses online, and getting to test the mattress for a week, if they feel comfortable with the mattress then they can purchase it, but if they don't, they can return of for little or no fee at all.

Best mattresses for different types of sleepers

There are different types of mattress that suits different categories of sleepers, this section will identify the best mattress that best suits your sleeping position.
Stomach sleepers:  Stomach sleepers adopt this position mostly because of back pain, and the best type of mattress that suits this sleeping position is a firm mattress.


2. Side sleepers:   Side sleepers relax their body on their shoulders and hip, and need to mattress that will serve as a cushion to the hips and shoulder. The best mattress that fits this sleeping position is a soft mattress.


3. Back sleepers:   For back sleepers, they need a mattress that is soft and hard at the same time. The best mattress to accomplish this objective is a medium-firm mattress.


Popular mattress types to consider

Adjustable beds:  Adjustable beds are great for people with pain in different parts of their body. And as the name suggests, the bed can be adjusted to accommodate the part of the body feeling the pain at the moment.


Air mattress:  This mattress offers a unique level of comfort and support, and it allows you to adjust it to the level of firmness comfortable enough for you. Air mattresses have an air like chamber covered by bed cushion, which makes it look like a normal bed.


Innerspring mattress:  This type of mattress is extremely popular and features hundreds of springs paddings and coils, and the level of firmness depends on the strength of the coil and paddings used.

Specialty foam mattress: Specialty foam mattresses uses foams to mimic your body type, and provide enormous support. Foams used includes latex, memory, and polyurethane.


Best tip for buying a mattress good for your back

Tip 1: Don't buy firm mattresses:   If you already suffer from back pain, or you're just avoiding it. It is better to keep off firm mattresses. For patients suffering from back pain, a medium firm mattress is the best way to go.

Sleeping on a mattress that is extra firm puts extra pressure on the back, which ultimately results in more back pain if you already suffer from one. So if you have back pain or trying to avoid back pain, keep off extra firm mattresses.

Tip 2: Consider your body type:  You have to consider your body type before making that pocket unfriendly decision of getting yourself the best type of mattress. Tall or short, top heavy, bottom heavy, or lightweight, getting a mattress that supports your body type is major. Soft, firm, or medium-firm mattresses don't matter if it doesn't support your body type.

Tip 3:  Know the best time to buy:    This might just be the best tip you will need, pocket-wise at least. A report from the National Sleep Foundation, the new models for mattresses usually hit mattress stores between May and September. So during that period, you should get a great mattress deal.

Tip 4:  Price don't always mean quality:    When you want to get the best mattress that fits your body type, sleeping position, and great for your back, the price is not a major deciding factor. Because a mattress is expensive doesn't mean that mattress is the best for you. Going for the mattress to avoid back pain depends on the technology behind its creation.

So a mattress that fits your body type might be expensive or cheap, but the price doesn't decide the value it offers to your back.

Tip 5:   Ask for professional opinion:   Knowing the cause of your back or body pain is the best way to start planning the best mattress to buy. Why did you get back pain, how did you get it? You need to get a professional opinion on the issue, then decide on the best mattress that would help correct the why and the how.

If you can address the cause of your back pain, then it is a great tip for you not to get confused when trying to purchase the perfect mattress for you.


AUTHOR BIO
Lana Hawkins is an architecture student from Sydney, Australia. She enjoys cooking, but her truly passion is writing about home décor. Also, Lana loves reading about sustainability and it's inspired by green architecture.

How to Use a VPN to Stream the 2018 World Cup in HD

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With more than 190 countries offering live broadcasts, the 2018 World Cup is expected to be the single biggest sporting event of the year. That said, if you don’t have cable, you might have a hard time streaming.

Fortunately, there are simple tricks you can use to bypass those pesky cable restrictions. If you’re not sure where to stream 2018 soccer World Cup in HD, you’re in luck. Here’s how you can use a VPN (virtual private network) to watch every match live.
VPNs let you stream in HD

When you connect to a VPN, you’re able to access the web in ways you never could before. That’s because VPNs make it possible for you to stream content in other countries. For years, people have been using VPNs in countries like China to unblock popular sites like Facebook and YouTube. They’re a safe and easy way to browse the web without boundaries.



With dedicated apps available for laptops, desktops, smartphones, and more, you can use a VPN to simultaneously hide your location as you take on another in a different city, state, or even country.
How VPNs work

Everything you do online is tied to your specific IP address: it’s how webpages communicate with your web browser and how you’re able to access certain sites. Ever tried to watch a video on YouTube only to get a notice that the content was blocked in your area? That’s because your IP address was outside the video’s geographic boundaries.

When you use a VPN, you’re able to access the web from a different area. Every time you connect to a VPN server you simultaneously hide your real IP address as you assume another IP in the location of your choice. A person browsing in the U.S. can connect to a VPN in the UK and instantly unblock British content.
How to use a VPN to stream the World Cup

Now that you know how VPNs work, you can start using one to unblock soccer streams. There are tons of broadcasts options to choose from, but when it comes down to it, the BBC’s ITV is arguably the best option. With free-to-stream coverage spanning all 64 matches, it’s the best option available.

To stream the World Cup on ITV, simply use your VPN to connect to any British-based VPN location, head to ITV and search for World Cup streams. You’ll notice that with the VPN off the site is restricted, but once your VPN is activated you should have no problem streaming.

And that’s all there is to it. You don’t need to sign up to stream or need to download some super extravagant package; all you need is a VPN and little know-how. That said, you’ll want to make sure you use a VPN that offers servers where you want to connect.

You’ll also want to look for VPN providers that offer apps on the device (or devices) you own. Most VPN subscriptions today cover multiple devices, so you should have no problem using a single subscription to download a VPN on your phone, desktop, and even your laptop. Happy streaming!

Viber Makes Messaging Even More Powerful and Personal with New Chat Extensions

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Viber, one of the world’s leading messaging apps, announced new and innovative Chat Extensions, giving its one billion registered users exciting new ways to express themselves and easily manage their conversations.

Viber’s Chat Extensions enrich users’ conversations, without the need to leave the chat—from instantly finding and sharing GIFs and YouTube videos to sending songs from Spotify, places to eat from Yelp and more.

The new Chat Extensions :

Viber Shouts is a new fun way for Viber users to share messages with colorful backgrounds in chat for important updates they want to make stand out from the rest. With more than 20 message bubble background options at launch, Viber will introduce additional backgrounds globally and locally in the future.

Favorites is a new useful Chat Extension that keeps all of the user’s favorite and important GIFs, links and YouTube videos in one handy place. Users can long-tap any GIF, link or YouTube video they’ve received inside Viber and save them into their Favorites. Later on, they can easily access them using the Chat Extension inside different chats on Viber and instantly share them with a single tap.

Location is a new rich location-sharing experience with more relevant information on nearby places to instantly share in chat. The new location message includes an “Open” button of the specific location, that allows the users to choose their navigation app of choice. In terms of privacy, this feature is enabled only for users who grant Viber access to their location and the location is requested only when users actively tap on the Location Chat Extension to share it with their friends.

Since launch, Viber has partnered with over 20 content and service partners globally and locally on various Chat Extensions, such as GIPHY and Tenor for GIFs, YouTube for online video, Spotify for music streaming and others for news, entertainment, sports, and food. In the past year, Viber users accessed the various chat extensions over 4.5 billion times, making it one of the fastest growing ways of communication inside the app.

Viber Shouts, Favorites and Location chat extensions will roll out gradually around the world and will be available on the Viber mobile app on iPhone and Android.

“Viber is constantly striving to enrich the communication experience for the people who use it so passionately around the world. Introducing our three new and innovative Chat Extensions is consistent with our strategy to keep Viber as the powerful and expressive tool it is, offering exciting ways to chat in different styles and fashions. We are thrilled and confident these chat extensions, along with our ongoing commitment for simplicity and privacy, will continue to make the experience on Viber unique and exceptional for everyone.”  says Djamel Agaoua, CEO of Viber.

DOE Empowers New Batch of Girl Scouts

Wazzup Pilipinas!

HAPPY ENERKIDS: Grade 5 Girl Scouts together with their mentors participated in the 3rd Enerkids Program conducted by DOE-CWPO staff led by Division Chief Helen B. Arias, and DOE resource speaker, Electric Power Industry Management Science Research Specialist Eduardo B. Fernandez. Aside from attending lectures on energy efficiency, the 43 Girl Scouts also role-played as geologists and identified different types of rocks as part of energy sector career exposure activities.

The Enerkids Program intends to raise a smarter generation of Filipinos by teaching them to value the importance of energy in their lives, and by committing to become Energy Cost Busters.

The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted the 3rd Enerkids Program for this year at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City on 13 June 2018.

This is in line with Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s objective to provide energy education programs to members of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and empower the country's young women. The program was facilitated by the DOE-Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWPO).

Mandaluyong Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, and Eulogio Rodriguez Integrated School sent their second batch of Grade 5 Girl Scouts to undergo the Enerkids Program.

Artinformal Greenhills Presents NIL, an Exhibition Curated by Erwin Romulo and Neil Daza

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Curators Erwin Romulo and Neil Daza proudly presents a disturbing graphical collection of photos entitled NIL. They are on display at the Artinformal gallery’s Greenhills location. The exhibitioned opened on June 9, 2018, and will run until July 14, 2018.

I was present at the opening night and though I've been warned that I'll be seeing crime-related images, it never occured to me that they consider suicide as a crime. But why not, taking our own lives is indeed a crime against ourselves because I do not believe that life could be all hopeless and frustrating enough to take our own lives.

There's no coming back if you kill yourself. Maybe those who end their lives think there will be reincarnation where they will be given an opportunity to run their lives all over again. But sadly, we can not fully control the outcomes of our lives no matter how hard we work on it. There would always be an obstacle, small or big, and if we want to win, it takes a lot of self-realization that nothing in this world should put us down forever. We should always lift ourselves up and try again every time we fall.

By the way, check out my interviews with Neil Daza, one of the curators. There's also one with Tina Fernandez, the Artinformal gallery proprietor. And I was also introduced to the one who did the interviews with the photojournalists of People's Journal.

I posted all interviews on our Facebook fan page so it could reach more people as possible. What we need right now is a continuous eye-opener especially for the younger generation before they read or believe all the rewitten history that has been proliferating all over. Everyone needs to be aware about the truths of the past so we could correct them in the NOW and the FUTURE.

Unfortunately, those in power and influence would always gain an upperhand. But do not let that reality stop us from doing the right thing. Life is just too short to hesitate in making a difference.

I believe resorting to violence, whether toward ourselves or to others, is never the right move. I know karma would balance everything out soon in one way or another. We just don't have to lose hope. Life is supposed to be fair at some aspects. We just need to keep ourselves open and aware of how we can find and connect to our ultimate purpose.

Taking their cue from Daza’s Blacksoup exhibition in 2006, Romulo and Daza are mounting their new show of crime scene photographs taken between the years 1987 to 2002. Also included in the exhibition are video works by Cinema Regla. These are interviews with the crime photographers or photojournalists shown in black and white. I was expecting some gruesome images in the video but was relieved there were none. The photos all over the gallery were already enough to shock you, that is if you are still in the dark about what has been happening all around us. It is not surprising that violent crimes have been existing for years back, and until now. If you've not seen the dates written at the back of the photos, you will think they are recent. But no, crimes as horrible as these have been happening even before social media and smartphones with cameras made it more possible for anybody to capture and post incidents online for the whole world to see. Now that we are capable of being media ourselves, the news have been very noisy that traditional media have been evolving and reinventing themselves without admitting they have been killed by the power of the Internet.

Raw and at times graphic, the show asks: “Is there really such a thing as ‘the good old days’?”

Editor, writer, producer, and composer Erwin Romulo curated Everyday Impunity: Ang Mga Walang Pangalan, an exhibition based on the work of photographer Carlo Gabuco at Art Fair Philippines 2018 as well as an exhibition of sound art and multi-media art during the fair’s 2017 and 2015 edition, respectively. He was also one of the curators of Wasak! Filipino Art Today, shown in Berlin in 2015.

Filmmaker and photographer Neil Daza is known for his work in films like Bwaya, Emir, and Dekada ‘70, among others. In 2017, he marked his 25 years in the film industry with an exhibition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, 25 Times: Images From Behind The Camera. He has curated several shows of photography for arts space Blacksoup in Cubao, including KAMBYO, an exhibition of cellphone images, and Detritus, featuring photographs from which this current exhibition is based.

Filmmaker collective and guerrilla media outfit Cinema Regla is an online magazine and channel run by documentary filmmakers Rico Ibarra, Blair Camilo and Jun Sabayton. Founded by visual artist, animator and director Roxlee, it is dedicated to covering Filipino culture, with a focus on (in no particular order) art, photography, music, literature, science, politics, history, environment, crime, violence, truth, sex, drugs, and budotz.

Here's what is written on the wall:

NIL.

Wala. Pero meron talaga.

NILalaman ng pagtatanghal na ito ang ilang mga eksena ng kawalan―ng malay, ng katinuan, ng bait, ng karapatan, ng buhay. Nakagugulantang ang mga imahe pero hindi nakagugulat sa karamihan ang ipinapakita. Naging laman ng mga balita, isinuka para sa maralita, habang nagpaparaya ang mga may-kapangyarihang dapat talagang makakita.

Sa KamayNILaan nakunan o saan man, ang mga litrato rito ay sumasalamin sa realidad na may nagtutunggaling mga panig sa anumang usapin. Sa isang banda, ihahalintulad ng ilan ang mga larawang ito sa basura, na dapat idispatya at huwag nang ilantad kaninuman. Sa kabilang banda, hindi kaunti ang maghahalintulad ng mga ito sa mga bagay na pampagising ng diwa, dala ng pagpupukaw na maaaring maranasan kung pagmasdan at pag-isipan ang makikita rito.

Iba’t ibang buhay man ang panandaliang iNILalahad rito, nagkakaisa ang mga litratong ito sa pagpapakita ng katiwalian. Ngunit sino ang tunay na tiwali? Ang mga nasa larawan? O ang lipunan o sangkatauhan na kaNILang NILalarawan?

Ang mga tao na makikita―karamihan ay mga DaNILo (hindi tunay na pangalan), may ilang mga BeNILda (hindi tunay na pangalan)―ay NILason ng gutom, hirap, poot, pighati o kaya, oo, maling asal at hindi wastong diwa. NILabas ang anumang armas o nagtangkang tumakas. NILamon ng kabaliwan, kamunduhan, kasakiman, kahirapan. NILusob, ng sarili man o ibang pwersa, ang sana’y mapayapa NILang mga tahanan, barangay o kinatatayuan. NILamas, hindi NILinis, ang pagkatao. NILunok ang dangal, NILamangan ng mga mapang-api, NILapastangan ng mapanghusga, NILoko ng matatakaw na kapwa tao na halimaw ang kalooban. Binalot ng trahedya, sinaksak ng pulitika, NILaglag ng sistema.

Ang masuwerte sa kanila ay NILalamok, NILalanggam sa selda. Hindi man makapag-NILagang paborito o relyenong gusto, maaari pang magbago, maaari pang lumaya. Ang iba rito ay NILagutan ng hininga, ninakawan ng pag-asa kapalit ng paglaya mula sa pang-habangbuhay na rehas nitong malupit na mundo.

Ang malungkot pa rito, bagama’t ilang taon na ang nakalilipas nang makuha ang mga larawang ito―noon kapanahunang hindi pa NILalabas ang pinagsanib na kamera at telepono―hindi pa rin nawala sa ating bansa ang ganitong mga eksena. Kung hindi natin papansinin ang mga detalye sa ilalim o paligid ng bawat litrato, iisipin natin na kahapon lang o nung makalawa nakunan ang mga nakalarawan dito.

Sa pagsulyap sa mga litratong ito, marahil ay mapapatanong tayo: May pag-asa pa ba ang mga Pilipino, lalo na ang kagaya NILa na karamiha’y dukha? May pag-asa pa ba para sa lipunang marahas? May pag-asa pa ba para sa ating iisang bayan na, sa kabila ng lahat, ating sinisinta?

Marahil ang sagot ay oo kung tatanggapin natin, pagniNILay-NILayan at gagawan ng paraan ang katotohanang ito: Sila ay tayo. Tayo ay sila.

Menhir Salento Wine Pairing Features Special Dinner Prepared by Chef Jessie Sincioco and Chef Musaro Rocco Roberto

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Wines are said to be better in taste when paired with food, and likewise enhances the flavor of food as well making them more delectable and their taste more distinctive. We highly appreciate the wine pairing dinner and hopefully they do a repeat because there has to be more wines on their list that should be highlighted. We are just very curious which wine will almost perfectly match certain dishes, or vice versa. Pairing these wines with food is obviously also an art that should be studied i order to be able to give the consuming public the best options they deserve.

Chef Jessie Rockwell Club, iPhor Trading Inc. & Menhir Salento recently featured a very special dinner prepared by their guest chef from Origano Osteria in Puglia, Italy, namely Chef Musaro Rocco Roberto, and the Philippines' very own Chef Jessie Sincioco of Rockwell Club. We are fortunate enough to have been included among their select list of guests to experience fine dining dinner especially prepared for just one night.

Both chefs collaborated to come up with these dishes that doesn't disappoint. Honestly, I never had a dinner yet that is as glamorous as this. The wine choices presented that night are worth the praise that I am glad we were given a bottle of one of the wines to bring home so we could share it to others.

Tanduay Is Now World's Number 1 Rum

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Surpassing Bacardi in sales of Rum, Tanduay proudly announces this proud achievement for the Filipino brand landing the number one spot. Though the bulk of the sales are still coming from the Visayas and Mindanao areas where rum is more popular, while gin and brandy are far better performing in the Luzon area, the achievement amidst the shrinking liquor drinking nation of the Philippines is still noteworthy. It isn't everyday that a Filipino brand would get to exceed expectations when compared to the previously leading foreign brands.

This awesome news sourced from global spirits think tank Drinks International is truly monumental since who wouldn't be proud of knowing a Filipino brand excelled even among foreign brands who originally dominated the scene.

No less than Lucio "Bong" K. Tan Jr, President & Chief Operating Officer of Tanduay Distillers, was present at the event together with Mr. Gerry Tee, Over-all Head of Distillery Operations LTGC & Chief Operating Officer, Absolut Distillers, Inc., and Mr. Nestor Mendones, Chief Financial Officer, and also Mr. Paul Lim, Chief Marketing Officer.

All four were seated on stage to share Tanduay's Executive Report to the members of the media, including bloggers and social media influencers. A Question and Answer followed later, plus some photo ops with  the main man himself.

Visionary businessman Dr. Lucio Tan Sr. acquired Tanduay from the Elizaldes way back 1988 even when business acquisition and investment was deemed volatile because he believed that Tanduay would someday be a widely known brand worldwide. But it was also the brand's plant modernization and expansion, plus when the younger Tan took over the helm as CEO and made disruptive changes within the company, including the historic expansion in the world arena and the strategic alliance with companies in the United States to expand its distribution capacity. 

Tanduay has an unmatched aging capability harvesting only the world's finest from its aged rum reserve. All facilities are operating based on ISO standards ensuring quality, efficiency, and food safety. 

The brand also reached out to the younger market by incorporating a nationwide music marketing campaign, tapping sports enthusiasts by sponsoring NBA team Golden State Warriors, connecting with health-conscious and athleisure-loving individuals through Tanduay Athletics, and a sponsorship of the Century Tuna Superbods.

Congratulations Tanduay Distillers, but now you now have a more challenging task ahead, and that is to keep being at the top. Like they said, there are no other directions to go but remain on top but continue moving upward by continuous increase in their sales, or the dreaded downward path which should be avoided at all cost by remaining a worthy product to be patronized especially by the Filipinos eventhough the foreign market is another avenue to explore.

The event was held at Century Park Hotel on June 13, 2018.

Special Italian Buffet During Weekends at Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Businessmen and entrepreneurs like restaurateurs know that Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday, or otherwise known as the weekend or the busiest days of the week when most people spend longer hours outside because the usual work at the offices are done, and school is of course on a break. It's an opportunity for both young and old to extend their time outside to eat, meet and be merry.

With emphasis on eat because everyone do need to replenish their energy by consumption of food, and if ever, we would always want the best out there to satisfy our cravings at the most worthy price fair for our money.

This is why weekends are often filled with promos and special discounts to attract the attention of the consuming public. Each one of us wants value for our hard-earned money and so we look for the best food offer out there that would truly fill us up with no regrets.

Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano recognizes the need to serve satisfying meals, and in order to please its customers, it has offered a special weekend buffet for only less than P200.

With quite a number of dishes included in the buffet menu, we get to eat authentic Italian favorites led by pizza and pasta choices.

From the freshly mixed salad with Italian dressing called Insalata Mista all Italiana or the awesome breads of many kinds, to the homemade Pumpkin soup called Zuppa di Zucca all Aceto di Balsemico,

Have some pasta  such as the Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino, or pizza with the Pizza all Trancio (Five Cheese, Capprisiosa, Salome, Romano).

The Aranchini di Riso or the Deep-fried Risotto balls with meat, cheese and Pomodoro fillings, is also best paired with the Penne Bolognese al Forno that is with ground beef with red wine tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.

Fill up with Porchetta served with mashed potatoes or Pollo Arrosto with roasted potatoes, or choose the plain white rice Riso Bianco.

These servings are more than enough for its price. If you're a big eater, you'll definitely get your money's worth. But it is also important to take note that these are authentically prepared under the supervision of a real Italian Chef and not just anybody who learned Italian cooking from a culinary school. Chef Davide is purely Italian and understands how to cook real Italian delicacies as it was originally prepared.

So if you want to experience how it is like to be in Italy, start with eating their cuisine, and the taste may let you immerse yourself in an authentic Italian food trip.

Thank you to Thomas of Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano for a buffet weekend coupled with game night (If I joined in I could have won) where some of us won additional GCs to let us return to the restaurant and try again the food. But next time is an opportunity to bring along some friends or families so we could share the Italian experience with them as well.

Quiz night tested our knowledge of the restaurant based from the talks of Thomas. But the others at the farther end of the table were contesting they couldn't hear the talk...hehehe... Excuses, they should have just stood up and listened attentively coz the quiz was announced from the start of the event! Seriously, they have another chance to seat nearer Thomas during the next event for bloggers - Pizza night!

Let us also not forget the bonus Pinocchio pizza that they let us try. These treats are ideal for kids who identify the shape similar to that of an ice cream cone, but instead they have pizza filling instead. Maybe they could really put some ice cream on the cone. In reality, it was named as Pinocchio because the original hat shape of the wooden boy toy of Geppetto that came to life was really cone-shaped.

Hhhmmm...nice! But I knew that already so it was not so much a surprise for me. I am insatiably curious and my quest for learning never stops so I keep in mind as well all these trivia especially if it concerns my well-loved animation or cartoon characters from the cutesy Disney to the cool hi-tech anime robots.

So I also remembered a fact they also stated during the buffet weekend - that their tables are uniquely designed. Those tiles that decorate the tables are specially handmade or painted that makes it all different from each other. But this information is just one of the reasons why you should take note of how the owners value the importance of creativity and appeal aside from the comfort they assure their customers that when they dine at Buona Vita, they are to expect quality service matched with an ambiance conducive to a satisfying dining experience.

Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano is located at the Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa.