Kai Ting Chuang Intends to Shock the World in ONE Super Series Debut

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Kai Ting “Killer Bee” Chuang is planning to shock the world by making history in her first ONE Championship appearance.

The 23-year-old Taipei will attempt to capture the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship against Thai prospect Yodcherry Sityodtong in the main event of ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS, which takes place at the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China on 7 July.

Chuang is taking the most extreme gamble of her budding professional kickboxing career when she crosses paths with Yodcherry in the promotion’s return trip to Guangzhou, China.

Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, Chuang believes that great risks result to greater rewards as she has an opportunity to establish herself as one of the premier strikers on the planet by claiming a victory over a highly-touted Muay Thai practitioner such as Yodcherry.

“ONE Championship is very famous. Everyone knows about it. But to me, the most exciting part is the fight itself because I am achieving one of my goals,” she stated. “It is my time to finally show what I have been through for the past few years of my life, and what I have learned.”

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Having fought since the age of six years old, Yodcherry is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound female Muay Thai combatants in the world today.

With an impressive professional record of 81-18-1, Yodcherry has garnered many achievements in the ring, having won various Muay Thai world championships throughout her young career.

As a teenager, she cleaned out all females in her weight division and ended up having to take 30 bouts against males, winning 29 of those matches.

Hailing from the legendary Sityodtong Camp in Thailand, Yodcherry has an aggressive style with knockout power and an iron chin.

Although her Thai opponent boasts an outstanding curriculum vitae as a kickboxer, Chuang is not overly concerned.

“I see many ways that this fight could go. Fighters always need to be prepared for a variety of different outcomes. I have to get ready to beat under any circumstance. This will be a long fight, and I need to prepare for it,” she said.

Training at Iron Boxing in Taichung, Chinese Taiwan, Chuang has compiled a solid 16-5 professional record.

Moreover, Chuang holds a notable triumph over the likes of multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Ayaka “Little Tiger” Miyauchi on the way to a pair of WAKO kickboxing championship titles.

Her profile as a prizefighter might not be as imposing as Yodcherry’s standing in the sport, but Chuang believes that she will raise her stock as a competitor if she gets her hand raised against the razzle-dazzle Thai dynamo.

“I believe in myself more, I have more confidence, and I feel like I am where I am supposed to be. I always knew I had potential, and now I am starting to show it,” she declared.

Chuang acknowledges Yodcherry’s talent as a kickboxer, but she assures all and sundry that she will walk into the ONE Championship five-rope ring on 7 July with an uncompromising faith in her abilities.

“I believe in my team, I am going to listen to my team, and we are going to get it done,” she mentioned. “I enjoy training when I have big obstacles. I enjoy the fire inside me. I want a challenge. I want people to really think it is impossible for me to win because that is when I am going to show them wrong.”

​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. ​ ​

DOTr Disqualifies Prospective Bidders With Pending Cases vs the Government

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will no longer allow prospective bidders with pending cases against the government to participate in all its bidding activities.

 

In a Memorandum dated June 26, 2018, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade’s instruction is in line with the procurement principles under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act for a streamlined bidding process.

 

“Common sense lang naman ‘yan. May kaso nga, may problema, bakit mo naman hahayaan na kumita pa gamit ang pera ng taumbayan? Prospective bidders who want to do business with government must have a clean record, and must have a history of good dealings with the government. It’s that simple,” said Secretary Tugade.

Usec. Yebra added the DOTr is duty-bound to ensure that all prospective bidders are properly screened towards the goal of preventing opportunities for corruption in government. 

 

Accordingly, Yebra said all prospective bidders are required to submit a Certification, under oath, certifying that they have no pending case/s against the government. This Certification shall be included in the Bid Data Sheet of Bidding Documents that the DOTr requires for all its projects.

 

“Failure of a bidder to comply with the requirement or submission of a false Certification shall constitute a ground for automatic disqualification,” Yebra said.

The disqualification of prospective bidders with pending cases against the government is one of the reforms instituted by Secretary Tugade in an effort to promote good governance and transparency in the agency's bidding and procurement processes. 

For the first time in the agency’s history, Secretary Tugade last year ordered the livestreaming of bidding processes of all DOTr projects. 

He also required bidders seeking to work with DOTr to file  their bids and other correspondences via e-mail to foster a fast, free, convenient and secure bidding procedure.

Smart Deploys Emergency Communications Solutions at Rizal Quake Drill

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PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications has once again provided emergency communications support for the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill, with the activity’s second quarter installment in San Mateo, Rizal.

The drill was spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense Region IV-A and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in partnership with the local government. It simulated the Big One or a magnitude 7.2 earthquake situation.

During the drill, Smart deployed its multi-equipment on wheels (MEOW) portable cell site and satellite communications suite, and provided libreng tawag (free calls) assistance.

PLDT and Smart public affairs head Ramon R. Isberto said Smart’s participation in the drill was part of the company’s commitment to use technology toward nation-building. “Our various communication tools, including the cellular and data services themselves, are part of our #SafePH advocacy, which aims to help build more resilient communities and reduce disaster risk,” said Isberto.

In line with its #SafePH campaign, Smart has also invested over P500 million on the Emergency Cell Broadcast System. Smart acquired ECBS to fully comply with Republic Act No. 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, which mandates telecommunications service providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities.

Accompanied by a loud siren sound, ECBS alerts are designed to send urgent messages, such as evacuation notices and earthquake and tsunami warnings, to activated mobile devices within the affected area.

Cell broadcast is effective in disseminating quick hazard alerts because it operates on a radio channel separate from those used by voice calls and text messages or SMS (short messaging service), which may get congested in times of calamities.

The drill was led by NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, Vice Chair Eduardo Año, and spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas; and Gov. Rebecca “Nini” Ynares, Mayor Tina Diaz, and various representatives of the disaster preparedness and response council and the municipal government.

Posadas noted the importance of communication and information as part of disaster preparedness. “Information is very important—it’s our lifeline. The area-specific alerts are very much appreciated. It’s a work in progress, but these are baby steps in refining our procedures toward resilience,” he said.

At the start of the program, the participants were urged to assume the “duck, cover, and hold” position and converged in an open area near the municipal hall. Residents, workers, students, and government personnel joined the activities, while responders were on standby for mock rescue operations. The drills started at 1 p.m. and were held at various locations across San Mateo.

The drills also simulated other emergency situations such as injuries, typhoons, flooding, evacuation, fire, and prison break.

In times of calamities, Smart has provided emergency communications support such as free SMS, calls, charging, and Wi-Fi, for residents and responders. These services have been deployed, for instance, during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013, the series of earthquakes in Batangas last year, and Mayon Volcano eruption early this year, among other typhoon and earthquake situations in recent times.

The other programs under Smart’s #SafePH include TNT Tropang Ready, which tours schools nationwide to educate the youth on preparedness and empower them to mobilize their communities in times of calamities; and the Batingaw disaster management app, which allows users to report incidents and features tools such as a flashlight, a siren, a radio, and a directory of emergency contact numbers.

DOE Pushes for More Energy Hubs in West Visayas

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FAST-TRACK ENERGY PROJECTS: Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy tells participants of the Energy Investment Briefing on Wednesday that a policy is in place to fast-track energy projects. Hence the cooperation and feedback from stakeholders are vital for this undertaking. Uy added that the DOE fully supports the Ambisyon 2040 vision of the administration through the provision of secured and sustainable energy services, as well as ensuring an energy-resilient Philippines.

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday (27 June 2018) unveiled more business opportunities for investors, particularly in the energy sector in the Western Visayas area through an Energy Investment Briefing held at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

Spearheaded by the DOE- Investment Promotion Office led by Chief Investment Specialist Lisa S. Go, the forum aimed not only to provide relevant information on emerging business opportunities in the region, but also to establish synergy among key players in the industry for a more efficient implementation of energy projects.

Among others, the forum provided information and strategies to facilitate the establishment of energy-related businesses at the local level, which in turn could help spur the economic progress in the area.

Likewise, the briefing included detailed updates on the Visayas Power Supply and Demand Outlook, as well as the existing and potential energy projects in the region.

In addition, the discussion also focused on the potential benefits that would accrue to a community hosting a power project and the requirements and procedures involved in the implementation of energy projects.

For his part, DOE Visayas Field Office OIC Director Saul Gonzales encouraged the participants to actively contribute in the exchange of relevant information on the energy sector in the region.

In his closing remarks, DOE Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy, expressed hope for increased business activity in the energy sector, noting the significant strides the government has made to establish a level playing field for all energy investors.

He cited the creation of an Energy Investment Coordinating Council under Executive Order 30.

Participants in the briefing included representatives from the local government units, electric cooperatives, as well as existing and potential energy investors in the region.

The investment briefing is part of the DOE’s effort to extend the message of the E-Power Mo campaign to the business sector, local government units and electric cooperatives, highlighting their critical role in providing reliable, steady and affordable energy supply to the consumers.

On Tuesday, the E-Power Mo campaign celebrated its first year anniversary, underscoring the need for the consumers, the developers and the operators of vital energy infrastructures to work with the government in bringing about an energy resilient Philippines.

The Data Protection Landscape in APAC: Preparedness and Compliance will be Key to Winning Customer Trust

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In the wake of Europe’s GDPR implementation, Asia Pacific governments are likely to become tougher on data protection compliance

The data protection landscape in the Asia-Pacific region is rapidly maturing compared to just a few years ago, with implementation and enforcement of privacy and data security laws becoming more rigorous and stringent.

While the region has in the past been perceived as less litigious than the western countries, this is changing as digital adoption increases and governments become more sensitive to the need to protect personal data and confidential information.

Globally, South East Asia is one of the fastest growing regions for digital innovation, spurred by better internet connectivity and smartphone adoption.

Singapore has a Smart Nation vision; Malaysia the world’s first Digital Free Trade Zone; while Thailand has earmarked a ‘Thailand 4.0’ vision for all sectors of the economy to be digital. By 2025, digital commerce in the top 6 countries in ASEAN is expected to reach US$90 billion, up from US$5 billion in 2015[1].

The collection of personal data by countries in the Asia Pacific is also expected to grow exponentially as the processing and analysis of large amounts of personal data become possible with digital technologies.

As cross-border data transactions grow,cyber security and data protection laws are also converging to reflect the demands of the emerging digital economy.

Many Asia Pacific businesses, however, have yet to move towards compliance with current legislation, and are holding back implementation until they can understand what compliance standards would look like.

However, this is set to change as data protection rules become formalised. Europe’s GDPR implementation in May 2018 has set a precedent that is likely to motivate Asia Pacific governments to further tighten the screws on privacy protection, for instance, by setting punitive financial penalties when companies mishandle customer data, demandingstricter internal risk management controlsand putting into law compulsory requirements for data breach notification.

Data protection compliance regulation coming into force across Asia Pacific

China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines have recently updated their data protection compliance rules or will be introducing new privacy and cyber security laws.

China has introduced some of the most comprehensive data protection regulations. A new Cybersecurity Law was enforced in June 2017, placing the onus on companies that conduct business in China—regardless if they have a physical presence in the country—to review their data protection policies and ensure compliance.

From 2014 to September 2017, a total of 1,529 criminal cases of infringement of personal information were heard in courts across the country.

In the next few months, China will be introducing e-commerce legislation to cover areas such as data anonymisation, big data, overseas data transfers and information security. Companies that fail to comply with the law will face severe financial penalties, possibly including the loss of their rights to conduct business.

In Singapore, changes to the Personal Data Protection Act already include facets similar to Europe’s GDPR, particularly in mandatory breach notification and appointment of a data protection officer.

In the first five months of 2018, a number of financial and insurance organisations, including AIG, Aventis, Aviva and Actxa were fined for failing to provide adequate security arrangements to protect personal data, or for breaching rules on the use of personal data. A cyber security bill is widely expected to be passed later this year in Singapore.

The Philippines Data Privacy Act was updated in 2016, making tougher sanctions enforceable on personal data security, including a compulsory 72-hour personal data breach notification.

Data protection safeguards are similarly being put in place in Australia. A mandatory data breach notification scheme was launched in February this year requiring companies to notify data breaches where serious risk of harm to individuals is caused. Failure to comply can lead to fines up to US$2 million.

Elsewhere, Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act was amended in May 2017, the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act was enacted in 2013 and South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act, updated in 2016, contains some of thestrictest data protection rules relating to IT networks and the use of credit information.

Businesses must move to protect their data, and themselves

The need for compliance is profoundlyimpacting how businesses handle personal data and manage their business process.

Security and the need to protect sensitive and confidential information is becoming a critical part of business operations.

All businesses need to be aware of major regional data privacy legislation and how it will apply to them. They need to assess their environments and ensure that they can meet current or oncoming compliance guidelines.

Non-compliance can be costly and lead to serious damages to their corporate reputation.

If businesses have yet to consider the tougher data regulations, now is a good time to start with an information audit and to begin developing awareness.

Crucially, they need to ask if they have the infrastructure, data management processes, and IT and cybersecurity technologies in place to protect their business environment. Do they have a robust data protection framework that can detect and mitigate data breaches quickly and effectively? Do they have visibility deep into their infrastructure, and know where their data is, as well as who and what are accessing it?

Cybersecurity is central to compliance with data protection regulations. Organizations must ensure they have the capability to prevent network intrusion and minimize the risk of serious breach, by reducing the time taken to detect new threats. They must also have effective and tested post-intrusion responses.

Opportunity to win customer trust and loyalty

With the data protection compliance burden growing in the Asia-Pacific region, it’s likely that the effort of achieving compliance, and the risks associated with the failure to comply, will increase dramatically. 

For many businesses, customer confidence is already being influenced by their perceived risk of conducting transactions online, or whether their personal data is at risk of being compromised or stolen. Meeting or exceeding regulatory requirements will go a long way towards assuaging those concerns.

New data compliance rules also offer an opportunity for businesses to re-evaluate their processes and improve data management and customer loyalty. Rather than seeing these new regulations as challenges or barriers, they would be better off viewing them as an opportunity to achieve competitive differentiation, and as a way to drive greater customer confidence and trust in their brands.

By Peerapong Jongvibool, regional director for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, Fortinet

Wrangler’s 2018 True Wanderer Takes on the Marawi Warzone

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It’s been a long journey with many twists and turns, but Wrangler’s yearly search for the ultimate adventurer has finally reached the end of the road as Rhyan Joe Sianquita was chosen as the 2018 True Wanderer.

Of the thousands of participants who shared their best #Live2Wander moments online, 10 finalists were sent on a three-day journey to different places in the Philippines. As a professional travel organizer, Sianquita has explored many beautiful destinations across the country, but chose a unique location for his True Wanderer trip: the warzone of Marawi City.

“I travel every week because of my job,” he said. “But what made this trip so different is the destination. All the blogs called Marawi the ‘city of no return.’ But at the airport, I met so many wonderful people who made me realize that it wasn’t true. They were even inviting me into their homes!”

In this year’s search, Sianquita was one of over 9,500 True Wanderer hopefuls - the highest number of participants in the four-year history of Wrangler’s annual travel program. At one point, he was discouraged as he browsed the other participants’ posts.

“I was up against many professional photographers, and their captions were also so good,” he said. “As the day of the announcement came closer I became more worried, but decided to just tell myself that I already won through the experience.”

And it was quite an experience indeed. The finalists also had to undergo three different challenges during their three-day trip and shared photos and the stories behind them using the hashtags #TrueFoodie, #TrueCulture, and #TrueAdventure. Sianquinta’s entry stood out, with his #TrueAdventure caption reading:

"Every time I travel, it’s important to have a picture-perfect adventure. As I walked through the warzone in Marawi, the angst of being there was real; it’s not a perfect picture. Along with the 1st Scout Ranger Company, I crossed through the memorable sites of ground zero carrying the memories and stories before and during the war. We felt the anguish and pain of losing a fellow comrade. But something sparked in me what only eyes of the heart and soul can see. Beyond the chaos and hostility is a promise of HOPE. Rubbles turned into building dreams of a better Marawi, where faith and camaraderie from each and every Filipino will make this land rise out from the ashes. Let the world know how strong is Lahing Kayumanggi! Bangon Marawi!”

Sianquinta won P500,000 worth of prizes, including a 3-days/2-nights all-expense-paid trip for four to any Philippine destination, as well as travel gear, one drone camera, one tablet, and Wrangler gift certificates. He is particularly excited about the drone camera because he wants to take even more spectacular shots while on his travels.

“I’m a hiker, so I want to be able to hike in mountains abroad like the Everest base camp and Kinabalu. But for my upcoming True Wanderer trip, I’m thinking of going to Bohol,” he shared. “My mother has never been on a plane so I want to bring her with me, along with my graduating sister and my wife.”

“I’m overwhelmed and I’m happy I didn’t let down those who supported me and believed that I could win,” he added. “It’s really not about your destination but it’s about the memories you make along the way.”

Enjoy Different Flavors of Ice Cream

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ice cream is also known as iced cream or cream ice. Ice cream is a sweetened frozen dessert which most people eat after dinner. Ice cream is a sweet and frozen dessert, which people preferred to eat in summer. Ice cream is enjoyed by everyone either its kids, youngster or adults. All enjoy Ice Cream very much.

Ice Cream comes in different forms like Kulfi, Chuski and Ice Cream. Ice Cream is made from dairy products like milk and cream by using some ingredients like fruit, dry fruits, vinegar and edible color. For Sweetened sugar or sugar substitutes must be added. For stabilizing the flavor and color, some stabilizer is added.

Ice Cream is offered as dishes in many festivals. People enjoy Ice Cream in a different way like Kulfi. Ice Cream is also added in different dishes like smoothie and sakes. The phrase Ice Cream means "frozen custard", "frozen yogurt", "sorbet", "gelato” and many more and it also varies from one country to another country. In Delhi, there is so many ice Cream Parlor which offers best quality Ice Cream best ice cream in Delhi.

Ice cream served in different ways like in dishes, in cones, kulfi. Ice Cream is a frozen dessert, which is enjoyed by everyone. Ice Cream is also added to different desserts like Apple Pie, sakes and many more.

In Ice cream, people add so many ingredient ts for enhancing the taste and flavor.

As we Know North India is the hot area, so people enjoy Ice Cream and Ice Cream with other desserts in summer.

Ice Cream is made by different popular brands like Amul, Mother diary, Kwality Walls, Cream Bells.

Ice Cream comes in different flavor like Chocolate, mango, Kulfi, Orange and many more.

In Delhi and Mumbai have so many Ice cream Parlor which offers the different flavor of Ice Cream in a different way.

People love to enjoy Ice Cream any time. In summer women are prepared Ice Cream for their children and relatives. Women do experiment with Ice Cream with different flavor using multiple Ingredients. And children love homemade Ice Cream.

Ice cream prepared by women in the home is healthy and cost-effective. Women are also working as an entrepreneur. In summer most of the companies are provided offers on Ice cream to increase sale. Companies are also provided offers on Breaks.

Enjoy Ice Cream in best places of best ice cream in Delhi. People enjoy Ice cream in different weather mainly in summer and winter. They provided different variety of Ice Cream in different ways. all these restaurants and parlor provides different kind of offers to their customer.

As we all know Mumbai is hot climate city. So people love and enjoy Ice Cream. So In Mumbai, there is so many Ice Cream Parlor, which offers best ice cream in Mumbai.

Filipino Visitors in Taiwan Increase at a Double Rate in 2018

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Taiwan is looking to boost its economy through tourism sales and the last year has seen the nation attract a good number of them – with Filipino visitors making the largest chunk of it.

Taiwan is located near China and is known for its beautiful modern cities as well as great night markets, hot springs and Chinese temples. It often features on a traveler’s itinerary when they visit China, but the small nation, with a population of less than 24 million didn’t fare as great to its Chinese counterparts when it came to tourist inflow. Now, Taiwan aims to change just that with more partnerships with other nations.

Now, there might be a good many reasons for you to visit Taiwan. While you may not be able to try out low stakes gambling, you would love the Taiwanese culture, as many tourists would testify.

A Look at Taiwan Tourism

All that might change soon though as Taiwan aims to divert more tourists to this part of Mainland China. Taiwan is expected to have an immense increase in the Filipino tourists in the year 2018 which might go up to 300,000. The reason behind this huge increment of tourism in Taiwan is due the free visa policy which was introduced last year between Taiwan and Philippines. This policy was introduced in order to cover up the loss to the Taiwan tourism industry because of the decline in Chinese tourists.

This decline in Chinese visitors is a result of unstable political relationship between the two countries. After the Presidential election in May 2016, the newly elected President Tsai Ing-wen had refused to accept Taiwan as a part of ‘One China’. Other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand have also got the benefits of ease in visa restrictions.

What’s Happening since 2017?

The policy in question was introduced in November 2017. The tourists in the last quarter of 2017 almost doubled as compared to the last quarter of 2016, it went up from 52,000 to 90,000 According to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) it has went up from 172,475 in 2016 to 290,784 in 2017 which is an increase of 68.59%. The average quarterly tourism is expected to be 90,000.

A Look at How Philippines is Driving the Tourism Growth

In 2018, the expected tourists from Philippines is expected to be around 300,000. The free visa policy is about to end on July 31, as it was introduced in a trial period for nine-months. Filipino tourists can visit Taiwan and stay there for 14 days as a result of this policy. Apart from free visa policy, new air routes have also been introduced between the two countries.

Talks are being held between TECO and Manila Economic and Cultural Office regarding the extension of this policy as this a great opportunity for both countries to know each other well. Have you visited China or Taiwan yet? Do you think your China trip will also include a visit to Taiwan? Let us know in the comments below!

Synergize: CMLI Launches First-ever Summit

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With the intention of renewing its commitment to serve God and the nation for the past 60 years, the Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. (CMLI), introduces its first-ever SYNERGIZE: CMLI Youth Leadership Summit to be held at Colegio San Agustin – Biñan on July 13 – 15, 2018.

In line with this, the CMLI Junior Council – National Executive Board (JC-NEB) 2018 Batch Salinlahi are calling on Junior and Senior High School students from both public and private schools to take part in this three-day summit composed of talks, workshops, team building activities, and the organization’s trademark commission discussions.

The CMLI Youth Leadership Summit will revolve around the theme of “Embrace Diversity and SHINE: Sustaining a Harmonious Impact towards Nation-building and Excellence.” Through this endeavor, the JC-NEB 2018 aims to help the student delegates enhance their leadership qualities and ignite their desire to serve the nation through developing their professionalism, critical thinking, and open-mindedness.

Moreover, the summit would also serve as an avenue for the participants to engage in creative cooperation and forge potential collaboration with their fellow students through participating in relevant discourse about current issues that the country is facing.

The event will have a registration fee of ₱2000 that is inclusive of the SYNERGIZE souvenir kit, and lunch and afternoon snacks for the entire duration of the summit. Students may view the invitation package at tinyurl.com/SYNERGIZE2018 and pre-register at tinyurl.com/CMLISynergize.

For any inquiries or concerns, you may contact Carmella Gabriel, Vice President (0956 052 8578) or Angel Lucas, Assistant Secretary (0947 518 6020).  You may also contact the CMLI Secretariat through 924-2304 or cmlijcneb2018@gmail.com. For more information and updates about the upcoming summit, you may visit CMLI’s Facebook page or follow CMLI’s Twitter account.

New York Asian Film Festival 2018 Features Fresh Breed of Filipino Films

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This year, an incredible lineup of six Filipino films will be screened competing in the 2018 edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) beginning on June 29, 2018. This is double the number of competing Filipino features last year. 

For years, NYAFF has brought pieces of Philippine cinema to the West, opening the minds and captivating the senses of the Western audience with our own cinematic vision.

The following six (6) Filipino films be represented in NFYAFF - BuyBust directed by Erik Matti, Neomanila directed by Mikhail Red, On the Job directed by Erik Matti, Respeto directed by Treb Monteras II, Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story) directed by Irene Villamor, and We Will Not Die Tonight by Richard Somes.

Three (3) films have already earned nominations, and received accolades from prominent award-giving bodies in the Philippines, as well as other countries, namely Neomanila, On the Job, and Respeto – all of which illustrate the Philippines in an engrossing manner that sees artistic integrity drawing power from realism and grit. 

Meanwhile, BuyBust, an action-thriller will make its world premiere at NYFF, giving the world a first look at esteemed filmmaker Erik Matti’s hotly anticipated action film alongside Richard Somes’ explosive genre piece, We Will Not Die Tonight, which will also be having its world premiere at the said event. On the other hand, Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story) has received positive reviews from film critics all over the Philippines where it was praised for its non-conformity to conventions, and a captivating allure brought about by Irene Villamor’s filmmaking.

Representatives of the Filipino films will be supported by the FDCP’s International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP), including Gawad Urian Best Actor, Abra of Respeto, producer Dondon Monteverde and directors Richard Somes, Treb Monteras II and Erik Matti. 

“All around the world, Filipino films continue to compete and be recognized by the most prestigious of film festivals and we are proud that NYAFF is doing its part in introducing Filipino Films - genre Filipino films especially - to the North American audience. We hope that this is the first step for more of our films to be recognized and distributed in that side of the world. We wish our delegates the best of luck,” said Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

The 17th New York Asian Film Festival in New York City, USA runs from June 29, 2018 to July 15, 2018.