Youth Congress for Information Technology Harnesses the Boundless Potential of Technology and the Youth with AWS Educate

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 16th Youth Congress for Information Technology (Y4IT), an enabling event recognizing young Filipinos as key drivers of the IT industry’s continued advancement, is set to happen on September 24 to 26, 2018 at UP Diliman, Quezon City. About 10,000 senior high school and tertiary students, educators, and IT practitioners from all over the country are expected to attend.

Organizer, UP System Information Technology Foundation, Inc. (UPSITF), will be leveraging the AWS Educate global program to reinforce Y4IT’s aim to provide a venue for learning, exchange of ideas, and dialogues about IT trends, innovations, and breakthroughs.

According to Vincent Quah, APAC Regional Head for Education, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, “We believe in the value of supporting like-minded organizations that harness the boundless potential of the technology and the youth. This echoes our own initiatives to educate and train the next generation of IT and cloud professionals in view of global digitalization.  We promote accelerated cloud learning so that they will be ready for the future.”

This year Y4IT is themed “I.T. Feels Like Home” as it returns to UP Diliman after years of being held in other venues as it reached out wider audience that continues to grow annually. The three-day congress will hold its main activities at UP Theater, with satellite activities happening at the UPFI Film Center and Ang Bahay ng Alumni.

Highlighting the event is the cloud essentials training led by AWS, which will provide students the opportunity to learn about storage, database, and load balancer services.  With free AWS Educate promotional credits, they will also get to practice cloud architecting and participate in the Gamified Hackathon Challenge using AWS technology where they will solve real world scenarios by innovating solutions using cloud technologies.

The congress will also feature an exhibit showcasing the latest products and happenings from Accenture, AMA Online Education, TaskUs, 3D2Go, Optum, and Manila Bulletin. Also joining in are Cognizant, Converge ICT Solutions Inc., Microgenesis Business Systems, JobStreet.com, Kalibrr, Tanda, Enchanted Kingdom, Maroons, and Healthy Family Purified Water. Throughout the congress, participants will have the opportunity to connect and network with a variety of industry experts who may guide them in their IT journey.

“This year, Y4iT will be back in the University of the Philippines Diliman. It will provide opportunities for learning, interaction, and collaboration between and among participating companies, universities, colleges, and schools,” according to the UPSITF Executive Director Dr. Jaime DL Caro.

For more info about the event you may visit https://y4it.org/

Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition Celebrates Peace Day and Peace Consciousness Month Through PIYC 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition is one with the world and all its youth in celebrating the International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”), commemorated globally every year on 21 September, as well as the National Peace Consciousness Month in the Philippines with the theme, “Mithiing Kapayapaan: Sama-samang Isakatuparan.”

SKC is a national alliance of youth leaders and a consortium of youth organizations in the Philippines firmly believing that peacebuilding is among the strong foundations of sustainable development in the country. This would require the key role of the youth in securing peace and inclusiveness amidst diversity in all regions, supporting the Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. On the other hand, the Philippine celebration of the month of September as National Peace Consciousness Month calls for a unified action towards the shared aspiration for a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace regardless of ideology, religion, and culture. The carrier tagline of this year’s Peace Month is “Peace Na Tayo,” a simple way to communicate the theme’s call for a participative pursuit for peace.

To showcase its strong commitment to peacebuilding and unity towards development, the SKC together with the Rotary Satellite Club of Fort Bonifacio Global City Titans will hold the Philippine Intercultural Youth Convention 2018 on 22-23 September at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. This convention gathers Filipino youth around the country to unite and embrace the diversity of Philippine cultures, faith, and languages, while discussing with government officials and key experts on the significant contribution of the youth in Philippine development.

"Through the Philippine Intercultural Youth Convention 2018, we celebrate peace with the world and with the country as one youth community that is recipient of peace building efforts of generations before us, and responsible to the next generations that deserve a future with inclusive peace and development."  said Ellirie Aviles, SKC National President and Chiarman of Rotary Satellite Club of Fort Bonifacio Global City Titans.

DOE Petroleum Contracting Roadshow Goes to Palawan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Caron Lascano delivers her opening remarks during the local road show of the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program for Petroleum at The Legend Palawan Hotel on Thursday, 20 September 2018.

The PCECP local road show for petroleum aims to assist the country attain its goal of energy self-sufficiency by introducing its new contracting program for exploration and development investment opportunities.

Following the kick-off of the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP) international roadshow in Singapore last month, the Department of Energy (DOE) geared up even further and conducted the first of its three local roadshows yesterday (20 September) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

“The DOE is actively promoting the PCECP as it will ensure both the energy security and self-sufficiency of our country. Our petroleum exploration and development activities have been feeble, considering our last major find was made a decade ago,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

DOE officials and members of the DOE-Energy Resource Development Bureau gave the roadshow participants an overview of the country’s upstream petroleum industry, the PCECP and its application process, as well as the benefits to be reaped from hosting energy exploration and development projects.

The PCECP is the DOE’s revised and transparent petroleum service contract awarding mechanism that would allow investors to bid for exploration projects through the competitive selection process or by nomination.

Previously, prospective investors could only develop petroleum exploration and development projects within the 14 Pre-Determined Areas (PDA) identified by the DOE. These 14 PDAs are composed of onshore and offshore sites located in the Cagayan Basin (one area), Eastern Palawan (three areas), Sulu (three areas), Agusan-Davao (two areas), Cotabato (one area) and in Western Luzon (four areas).

Under the PCECP, investors would now be able to develop locations other than those on the PDA list by nominating their areas of interest, subject to the approval by the DOE.

The event was attended by over 120 participants, comprised of petroleum service contractors, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members, petroleum engineering students of Palawan State University, as well as representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, local government units of Palawan, Department of Interior and Local Government–Palawan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Philippine Navy.

The next roadshows are scheduled to be held in Davao next week (27 September) and in Zamboanga next month (October).

The PCECP will be formally launched in November. 

Interested parties may contact:
DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos
(+632) 892-7880
uddm7@yahoo.com

ERDB OIC-Director Melita V. Obillo
melita.obillo@doe.gov.ph

ERDB Supervising Science Research Specialist Demujin F. Antiporda
demujin.antiporda@doe.gov.ph

M. Butterfly Author David Henry Hwang Set to Conduct Strictly By Invitation Only Master Class on Sept. 28

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Noted American playwright, screenwriter, and librettist  David Henry Hwang who wrote the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play ‘M. BUTTERFLY’ (which is currently playing at Maybank Performing Arts Theater until September 30) is coming to Manila to conduct a strictly by invitation only “Master Class” on September 28 – 3 pm.
Presented by Jhett Tolentino and Frontrow Entertainment, the David Henry Hwang Master Class will focus on Playwrighting.
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline — usually music, but also painting, drama, film, dance or any of the arts, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed.

Tony and Grammy Award winner Jhett Tolentino will host the one-hour event to be attended by theater/drama students from select schools and universities; and noted personalities in Philippine theater industry.
David Henry Hwang is probably best known for his Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly, based on the true story of a French diplomat who had a long affair with a singer in the Beijing opera. The woman he loved later proved to be not only a man but also a spy for the Chinese government.
Hwang’s parents were both Chinese-born, though his mother was reared in the Philippines. They immigrated separately to the United States, where they met, married, and raised their family.

David Henry, the only son and the oldest of three siblings, attended Stanford University (B.A., 1979), where his first play, FOB (an acronym for “fresh off the boat”), was first produced in 1979 (published 1983). The work, which examines the immigrant experience from an Asian American perspective, won an Obie Award in 1980–81 for Best New American Play.


Between graduating from college and winning the Obie, Hwang had enrolled in the Yale School of Drama to gain a better sense of theatre history. During his year in that program, he penned two short plays—The Dance and the Railroad (produced 1981), about two Chinese immigrant railroad workers and their expectations, and The House of Sleeping Beauties (produced 1983), adapted from a short story by Japanese writer Kawabata Yasunari—first performed in an omnibus production with The Sound of a Voice as Sound and Beauty. Hwang later adapted The Sound of a Voice into a libretto for an opera collaboration (2003) with American composer Philip Glass.

In addition to further collaborations with Glass, Hwang worked with a number of composers over the years, including Chinese-born Bright Sheng on The Silver River (produced 1997), a one-act opera based on an ancient Chinese folktale; Argentine Osvaldo Golijov on Ainadamar (2003, revised 2005; “Fountain of Tears”), an opera inspired by Spanish writer Federico García Lorca; and Korean-born Unsuk Chin on the opera Alice in Wonderland (2007; based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice books).

In 1985, Hwang cowrote the screenplay for Blind Alleys, a made-for-television movie. He also penned Rich Relations (1986), his first play without an Asian or Asian American element. Although that play was a critical failure, the playwright found its reception freeing in that it drove him to embrace experimentation over positive critical response. His next drama, M. Butterfly (1988; film 1993), was a wild success and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

In 1988 Hwang also wrote the libretto for Glass’s “science-fiction music drama” 1000 Airplanes on the Roof (1989). The plays Bondage (1992), a short work about stereotypes that is set in a sadomasochism parlour, and Face Value (1993), a comedy that had only eight performances and never officially opened, followed.

Hwang’s next play, Golden Child (produced 1996, revised 1998), had a relatively short run but ultimately was nominated for a Tony Award. Based on the stories of Hwang’s maternal grandmother, it examines the tensions between tradition and change in Chinese society.

Hwang’s next projects involved music in some way. He cowrote the book for Aida (2000), which featured music by British rocker Sir Elton John and lyrics by British lyricist Sir Tim Rice and was based loosely on the Verdi opera of the same name; wrote a new book for the revival of the musical Flower Drum Song (2002); and wrote the book for an original musical-comedy version of Tarzan (2006).





His stage comedy Yellow Face was first performed in 2007. It is both a reflection on Hwang’s activism regarding the use of non-Asian actors in Asian roles (which he compared to blackface minstrelsy) and an examination of the role of “face” (a Chinese concept embodying dignity, reputation, and respect) in American society.

In 2011 Chinglish appeared on Broadway. It was written in English and Mandarin (with supertitles) and examined the subject of cultural and linguistic misunderstandings.

(M. Butterfly will have its last week schedule of performances from September 25 – 30 Tuesday to Friday – 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday – 3 pm
and 8 pm. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.)

FEU Short Films to Vie for First ORMIN IFF Prize

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Four short films from the Far Eastern University Department of Communication will compete in the student division of the inaugural Oriental Mindoro International Film Festival from November 15 to 17.

Trisha Marie Antonio's "Dama" (Checkers), Angela Aguila's and One Carlo Diaz's "Kumari," Juan Pablo Pineda III's "Pua Iyam" (Coming Out) and Daryll Jameson Apaga's "Retrospektib" (Retrospective) will contend against other short films from the Philippines, Brazil, France, Iran and Russia.

"Joining this contest means a lot to me since Oriental Mindoro is my Mom's birthplace so the possibility of being given the privilege to visit the place after a decade away from it thrills me. Of course, the fact that our film has been shortlisted is another thing, more like an honor to my whole group and to the people behind it," Antonio shared.

"Dama," which tells the story of a father (Rolando Inocencio) who adopts a stray child (Kyle Kaizer Almenanza) to cope with his son's death in a crisis-ridden world, earlier bagged Best Production Design and Best Actor for Inocencio at the 15th annual DLSU Indie Un-Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Diaz, who also co-wrote "Kumari" with Aguila, said that it's a huge honor to have it shown on a bigger platform. "It's done with so much passion and hard work, so for every opportunity it gets outside university, I'd always feel very fulfilled and proud."

In "Kumari," Anna (Arjelyn Apolonio) comes from a family of ballet dancers and her mother (Fe Saligumba) is her avid supporter. Caught in the middle of tradition, fear, and love, she makes the biggest choice that she will ever make in her life.

In "Retrospektib," three activists try to escape the atrocities of the Narkos regime at the height of Martial Law. Jay (Julio Garcia) persuades Boyong (David Paul Farma) and Ramon (Renz Silverio) to travel in time with the help of a faith healer, Mang Jun (Kuya Bata). Little do they know that they are in for a big surprise in the present era. The satirical film previously won third prize at the Active Vista short film competition.

Finally, in "Pua Iyam" (Coming Out), a Filipino-Chinese student (Rowi Du) discovers his true identity and feelings for his childhood friend (Raphael Cruz). The film won at FEU’s Sinepiyu 2017, CineSB 7, Piling Obrang Vidyo XIV, CineMapúa 2018 and 9th Largabista, and was cited at the first Palawan International Film Festival.

The first ORMIN IFF, which will feature ecological, sociological, and anthropological films that are mainly focused on indigenous people and cultures, gender equality, and issues on environmental awareness, is being organized by Dr. Carl Balita Productions and the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education.

Lone PH Film in Competition at Asia's 2nd Biggest Shorts Fest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short film about a teacher battling depression, who convinces an infatuated student to retrieve her baby, will vie at the 8th Kaohsiung Film Festival International Short Film Competition in Taiwan from October 19 to November 4.

After a four-month selection period involving more than 3,200 submissions from 93 countries, Christian Rae Villanueva's Ang Mga Turo ng Gabi (The Lessons of the Night) emerged as one of the 65 short films from 30 countries in the official selection.

Considered "the second largest short film festival in Asia and a unique platform for creative short films in Taiwan," KFF will be held at the Kaohsiung Film Archive with 24 short film programs and more than a hundred shorts in total.

"One of my dreams is to have an international premiere for my film," said Villanueva, who recently graduated from the Digital Filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts.

His capstone project will vie with 45 other films previously selected by prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Rotterdam, Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy, Tokyo's Short Shorts and Busan, among others. "It is an honor to be lined up to these films that won in Cannes, Busan and other major film festivals," he added.

The short film will also contend for the Asian New Wave Award against entries from China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. KFF introduced the award to encourage films with unique viewpoints inspired by the Asian context.

Starring Sheenly Vee Gener and Dylan Ray Talon, the film previously won Best Editing and Best Performance at Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival. It was shown as part of the Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle in Washington.

What Is Preventing Qatar Residents from Performing Hajj?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Contrary to the claims that Qatar has prohibited its citizens from performing Hajj, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has affirmed that it is merely a part of the ongoing campaign to exploit the religious ritual for political purposes.

The unfortunate increasing media campaigns surrounding these allegations contradict reality and that they appear to be a continuation of the campaign to exploit Hajj for political purposes.

Qatari citizens are prevented from entering territories of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain because of this phenomenon.

The Ministry confirmed that there has been recent communication between the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Qatar and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

"We explained all the obstacles and difficulties facing Qatari citizens and the residents of the State of Qatar. We demanded that the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia remove these obstacles; there was no breakthrough in that regard" says the Ministry.

The Ministry added, "All the challenges continue to exist. The border crossing remains closed to Qatari and resident pilgrims with limited income or who cannot travel by plane. The prevention of planes from transporting pilgrims from Doha to Jeddah still exists, as is the case in all neighboring countries. Also, there is no clear mechanism for obtaining a Hajj visa for residents of Qatar."

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs stressed the following:

First: The same challenges and obstacles continue without any tangible progress, and Qatari Hajj companies remain banned from entering Saudi land. Also, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is not allowed to care for its pilgrim, as is the case with all GCC member states.

Second: Dozens of violations related to the rights of Qatari citizens and residents while performing Hajj and Umrah have been recorded over the recent period, and many of them were prevented from entering Saudi land; in some cases, people were returned after reaching Jeddah airport.

Such incidents show selective and ambiguous entrance policies that are sometimes subject to the whims of individuals.

Third: The continuation of inflammatory media discourse against Qatari citizens in systematic rhetoric that potentially represents a threat to their safety.

Such rhetoric prevented Qatari Hajj organizations from carrying out Hajj and Umrah trips for Qatari citizens and residents, like the rest of the GCC member states, based on the foundations of the Hajj agreement signed before 1438 Hajj season.

The Ministry stressed that the previous and their effects would be reflected negatively on the safety and security of Qatari pilgrims and residents and the seamless performance of the holy rituals. In addition to denying Muslims residing in the State of Qatar from performing one of the five pillars of Islam.

At the end of their statement, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs renewed its call on authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to separate religious matters from political decisions, in honor of the sanctity of religious rituals and their sacred site which made them responsible for the House of Allah.

Asia CEO Awards 2018: Let's Build This Country

Wazzup Pilipinas!

TRAIN Taxes, Increasing Inflation, Trump Tariffs, Drug Wars...

"It's all background noise," say the organizers of Asia CEO Awards. People throughout the world see Philippines as a "beacon of regularity and progress."

The real story is more like this:

Infrastructure investments soar. Poverty rates plummet. "Philippine economy in golden qage," says ADB. IMF "forecasts PHL 2nd fastest growing economy in the world."

This is the story that Asia CEO Awards 2018 features the organizations and individuals making it all happen.

Asia CEO Awards promotes the good news story of the Philippines to the world. This year's event features 14 categories:

CNN Philippines Executive Leadershio Team of the Year
Healthway Wellness Company of the Year
ICM CSR Company of the Year
I-Remit Heart for OFW's Company
JLL Expatriate Executive of the Year
Kalibrr Top Employer of the Year
LBC Business Solutions SME Company of the Year
Philam Group Young Leader of the Year
Regus Entrepreneur of the Year
Sitel Service Excellence Company of the Year
Smart Enterprise Global Filipino of the Year
SPi Global Technology Company of the Year
United Neon Most Innovative Company of the Year
WEnergy Green Company of the Year

The Board of Judges and Official Knowledge Partner, PwC, received the highest number of submissions in the 9-year history of the event.

The Circle of Excellence awardees for each category will be announced at a special Press Conference on Friday, September 14, 2018 at the Manila Marriott, the Official Venue of the grand event.

The board of judges include: Cesar Purisima, former Secretary of Finance; Charito Plaza, Director General of PEZA; Don Felbaum, former President of the American Chamber of Commerce, prominent economist Dr. Bernie Villegas; Jose Cuisia, former ambassador of the Philippines to the USA; principal architect Jun Palafox; Marife Zamora, former CEO of IBPAP; Ricahrd Mills, chairman of Asia CEO Awards.

The grand winners of each company will be announced at the grand gala on October 16, 2018 at the Manila Marriott. The event will host the nation's most senior business and public sector leaders for a night of celebration, introductions and special performances by the Philippine Opera Company's Opus One, Opera Belles, and Harana.

Considered a must-attend occasion for business and political leaders across the region, Asia CEO Awards encourages business development and investment.

Asia CEO Awards 2018 Awards 2018 features sponsors that are the most important organizations in the nation. Title Sponsor: PLDT Enterprise. Elite Sponsors: CNN Philippines, Healthway Medical, ICM, I-Remit, JLL, Kalibrr, LBC Business Solutions, Philam Group, Regus, Sitel, Smart Enterprise, SPi Global, United Neon, WEnergy Global.

Disco Heist at the Nine-Nine: Title of Your Party

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The disco fever has struck the 99th precinct!

OrComSoc is inviting all of UP Manila’s Organizational Communication students to travel back in time and groove to the classic tunes of the 70s at this year’s acquaintance party—Disco Heist at the Nine-Nine!

Get acquainted with the OrCom community and join us for a toit night of games, food, and disco-dancing. Don’t miss the chance to cheer with us as we witness live performances from our very own OrCom talents.

Put on your noicest, retro outfits and get ready to cut loose this coming September 28 at the PGH Nurses Home.

See you there!

This event is sponsored by Red Ribbon, Flying Trapeze Philippines, Trampoline Park Philippines, Bounce Philippines, and Messy Bessy

Official Media Partners: WhenInManila.com and Wazzup Pilipinas

Disco Heist at the Nine-Nine: Title of Your Party
September 28, 2018
PGH Nurses Home
Doors open at 5:00 pm

Visit OrComSoc’s Facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/orcomsoc/

Express Yourself Party Season 2 by Expressions

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Make your own Expression - the bannering tagline of this year’s biggest self-empowering event  “Express Yourself Party” by Expressions.

Express Yourself Party pioneered last year that aims to promote positive self-expression among individuals. Express Yourself Party is an art-based activity that ignites one self-interest in art, culture and social interaction. The activities featured in this fun-filled event are painting, doodling, calligraphy, and crafting.

The success of last year’s  Express Yourself Party resulted to expand the event and reach more stores this time around. From 26 stores last year to 34 this year. Aiming with the same objective, this year, it’s still easy to join. Purchase among these merchandises, Tumbler, Cap, Eye Mask, Apron, T-shirt and Coaster priced affordably. By just simply purchasing one of those merchandises anyone will be given access to join the party. Buffet of art and craft materials are available and free on the day of the event wherein they get to choose the materials they want to use to personalize their merchandise. Materials comprise of different color of paints, brushes, pens, fabric markers, calligraphy pens, beads, and loads of other art and craft materials. These materials are provided by Expressions event partners, among them are Marvy Uchida, Colleen, Deli, Valiant, Prestige Paper Products, ICre8, and Elmers. Selected partners also have activity booths in most of the event locations, participants can experience and enjoy their products and activities.

On top of that, participants are given a chance to meet art enthusiasts wherein they can get inspiration and share their thoughts and experiences.

The event begins this September and ends this coming October. The event is scheduled every weekend at different locations across the country. It is a whole day activity that runs from 10 am to 5 pm.

As more and more individuals discover their inner self, Expressions will continue to make an avenue wherein fun, learning and creativity meet. Expressions expect a double result this year because they are aiming to bring this event to all Expressions stores nationwide next year.

Registration is open until the event date. Interested participants should register at the chosen participating store. Check the link to know how to join.  http://bit.ly/EYPS2ParticipatingStores

Written by Ave Marie U. Gonzales