LexMeet App Offers Easy Access to Lawyers, Affordable Legal Consultations Right At Your Fingertips

Wazzup Pilipinas!

One of the hardest task to do, aside from reaching out to our government to listen to our pleads, is to get the services of a capable lawyer to fight for our legal rights.

A visit to a lawyer could mean a very costly experience. The initial consultation may already be difficult on the budget, especially if you need to make efforts to visit the lawyer at his office. This becomes a real challenge if you are living at far-flung areas, or working in the provinces or other countries. Filipinos would often seek lawyers of their own race especially when against other races. Not to be discriminative, but it is always easier to converse and discuss the merits or demerits of a case when it is with our fellow Filipino.

I have been familiar with Lexmeet for quite some time now since I've been seeing promotional write-ups about it on the Facebook group which I manage. Some bloggers even recommended itvto me when I had problems with another online publication who was spreading negatively impacting messages to event organizers.

Now, I was recently invited to the launch of their mobile app which further adds convenience in looking for the better lawyer.

Though all these innovations do not change the quality or atittude of existing lawyers, the conveniences they provide are worthy to look at. Mobile apps have continued to rule the economy for its capability to ease the usually strenous activities. From manually hailing a cab, ordering food, booking a room or flight, shopping for groceries, purchasing new car batteries, or calling for road assistance, getting items delivered to or picked up from, even getting a haircut, or hiring cleaners for our homes, has been made a lot more easier thanks to companies that have implemented the use of mobile apps.

The Lexmeet founder deserves praise for such an innovation, but it would have been better if he could also make lawyers never to decline any case. The only hurdle with regards to lawyers is their option to choose only the cases they are comfortable in handling. The tedious search for a lawyer may have been mde more faster, however, only their initial consultation rates may have been made more affordable. Once they've accepted your case, then they can go back charging their usual exorbitant fees.

The primary targeted clients of Lexmeet founders are oyr OFWs, and could only provide pro-bono services to low-income and PWD clients.

Note that Senatorial hopeful and former Solicitor General Florin "Pilo" Hilbay, dropped by to support the Lexmeet mobile app launch.

For more details, below is their official press release.

Seeking legal advice on lawyers is now made more convenient and affordable as LexMeet (www.lexmeet.com), a real-time on-demand online legal consultation webspace where lawyers and clients meet to solve legal problems is now launching its mobile application.

Starting November 2018, the LexMeet App can now be downloaded in Google Play (http://bit.ly/LexMeetbeta) and its IOS version will be soon available for download in App Store.

LexMeet solves difficulties on clients getting proper guidance on their problems that need legal remedies. Aside from fake attorneys lurking in the web as well as the nuances of Philippine law, there are also the rampant misinterpretations of common legal issues that just add unnecessary confusion to a prospective client seeking legal advice. In addition, the lack of access—physical or online—to a lawyer also compounds the issue, especially for Filipinos working overseas. All these concerns are what LexMeet wants to address - lawyer and legal service accessibility to the masses - by making online legal consultations readily available for Filipinos everywhere without breaking the bank.

Using the LexMeet app couldn’t be any simpler. After the client registered their personal details for free, they can purchase credits—for as low as P500- via Paypal, Dragonpay, Coins.Ph and later on Google Pay payment gateways. Clients can initiate a legal consultation request where LexMeet will match their legal problem with a lawyer specialists that meets their requirements. Example, when a client submits his/her legal problem about the title of his/her condominium unit, LexMeet gives him/her a lawyers list with specialisation in Condominium Law. Clients have to submit in advance their legal inquiries and provide their stories, objectives and questions as well as supporting documents through LexMeet sign-up forms. All consultations are conducted over video or voice call— possibly imposing for non-tech-savvy folk, but nevertheless more effective than a lifeless chat window. Their credits are automatically paid to their matched lawyer after the meeting ends. Ratings and feedback mechanism help ensure that LexMeet’s crowdsourced network of 250 lawyers provide quality consults, which seems to be the case as it boasts over 7,500 clients and counting.

LexMeet, a wordplay on the Latin word for “law” and workplace verbatim for setting office meetings is founded by Atty. Marlon Valderama, Managing Partner of Valderama Law Office and the country's pioneer when it comes to e-lawyering. He introduced the e-lawyering concept as early as 2010 in his law office website, E-Lawyers Online.

“LexMeet serves as the Uber of lawyers, where client can seek lawyer’s advice by a mere click. Instead of a Uber vehicle matching with the nearest rider, LexMeet is where client’s legal problem is matched with the lawyer’s expertise, location and language and we serve as a bridge for them to meet via video or call conference,” Atty. Valderama said.

Since its inception in 2017, Lexmeet serves as the online go-to-place by OFWs and SMEs.

“As we all know, Philippines have more than 10.23 million migrant workers scattered all over the world. With Filipino diaspora, there is a demand for legal services for the legal issues left behind by our migrant workers such as marriage, support and custody issues, inheritance, investments, among others. Also, we have so many SMEs, almost 1M now, who are needing legal guidance from lawyers. The lack of online facility to help our OFWs and SMEs in solving their legal problems is our prime motivation on establishing a primary hub of e-lawyering, ” Atty. Valderama explained.

LexMeet has been recently awarded as the Best Life Helper in 2018 ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards as it was recognize in its promising goal in making legal consultations inclusive for all Filipinos.

Fore more information, visit www.lexmeet.com.

The Best VPN For Travelers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nowadays, it seems that internet security is one of the only things people are talking about. Whether it’s thousands of people having their credit card information stolen or other types of massive privacy breaches, cybersecurity seems to be one of the hottest issues in the news.

If you’re a traveler, you’re at an even higher risk of facing security issues. This is because when we travel, we’re often using public Wi-Fi hotspots, which are significantly less secure than our home-based, password protected networks.

Public Wi-Fi networks are more dangerous because they provide internet access to dozens (sometimes hundreds) of internet users at the same time. Theoretically, this means that anybody using the same network could gain access to your unencrypted data as you surf the net.

Leaving your data unencrypted means that things such as your internet cookies, credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords could potentially be nabbed by any malicious person using the same Wi-Fi network as you.

Protect Yourself with a Virtual Private Network

Fortunately, using a VPN, or a Virtual Private Network, can protect you while using public Wi-Fi hotspots. Not only does a VPN protect your valuable information, but it also allows you to circumvent geographical internet filters.

This means that websites which are banned, or simply unavailable in certain regions, can still be accessed simply by connecting to a VPN. In other words, you can still access sites like Netflix or Hulu when traveling overseas.

Now, you might be wondering how to choose the best VPN while traveling. But there are so many types of VPN plans and providers that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is best for you.

Fortunately, we’ve come up with a list of a few critical factors to consider when choosing a VPN for travel.

Quick Installation and Ease of Use

Installing and using a VPN shouldn’t be a very complicated process. This means that whether you’re using Mac, iOS, Windows, or Android, installing one shouldn’t be any harder than downloading the program and running the installer.
With most VPNs, you will be asked to sign up for an account before being able to complete the installation process. Next, the installer will likely ask you a few simple questions, such as whether you’d like the VPN to connect automatically or manually.

In most cases, it’s best to simply use the default options at first, and then if you wish, you can go back and change your preferences later on.

No Added Fees or Restrictions for Multiple Connections

When traveling, it’s a good idea to look for a VPN by reviews and comparisons.

Remember that everything from your laptop, phone, and tablet are all at equal risk when using an insecure Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, it can be extremely inconveniencing if you have to disconnect one device every time you want to switch to another.

With that in mind, make sure that the VPN you choose allows you to connect several devices at the same time, without charging any extra fees.

Use a VPN That Works in Many Different Countries

Not all VPNs are designed the same, and while one might work while you’re visiting Spain, it might not work when you cross the border into France.

We recommend using a VPN that uses the OpenVPN protocol. It’s also a good idea to read a VPN’s user reviews to see if it works in countries such as China or Russia. These countries’ governments are notorious for blocking VPNs, therefore, if you can find one that works there, it will likely work anywhere else that you go.

Look for a VPN That Connects Automatically

It might sound obvious, but a VPN won’t protect your data if you forget to connect to it. But, when your flights been delayed 12 hours, you haven’t slept since Tuesday and you’re suddenly coming down with a cold, forgetting to connect to your VPN can be an easy mistake to make.

Therefore, we recommend looking for a VPN that connects automatically as soon as your device connects to a public Wi-Fi network. Making sure that your VPN auto-connects mean that even when you’ve got a thousand other things on your mind, your data will still be protected without you even thinking about it.

Choose a VPN With Fast Download Speeds

Typically, when you use a VPN, your connection will already be slowed down a bit because your data needs to pass through a secondary server before reaching its destination. This speed can, of course, be affected by several other factors such as bandwidth restrictions, your distance for the server, as well as how many other people are using the network.

However, it’s a good idea to choose a VPN that is known for having fast download/upload speeds. For this, we always recommend using a trial version first, before deciding if a VPN is worth paying for. It’s also a good idea to read its reviews to see what other users have to say about its speed.

PHLPost Releases Villaflor Sr. Hospital 50TH Anniv Stamps in Dagupan City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released new stamps to mark the 50^th Founding Anniversary of the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH) on December 7, 2018.

The Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital is a private tertiary hospital in Mayombo District Dagupan City. With more than 150 highly-trained medical practitioners and paramedical personnel, it is considered one of the leading health care institutions in Northern Luzon.

The commemorative stamps was issued in honor of the founder Dr. Vivencio V. Villaflor, Sr., a surgeon and visionary from Pitogo, Quezon.

His son, Dr. Vivencio Villaflor Jr., a veteran stamp collector (Philatelist) and President of the hospital also displayed his rare personal collections of stamps from 1854 Queen Isabella, which is the first stamp issued in the Philippines and Asia up to Hollywood personalities which he acquired from friends and travel. 

“Each stamps has its own story and history to tell”, he said.  The exhibit will be part of the students educational tour for them to appreciate the history and value of stamps which is "irreplaceable against today’s technology”, Dr. Villaflor added.

His father, Dr. Villaflor Sr. opened a humble clinic along Arellano Street in 1968 to make quality medical care accessible to Dagupeños.

PHLPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos said that the recent commemorative stamps underscored a milestone in the history of the as it looks back at 50 years of dedicated service based on the vision of its founding patriarch – Dr. Villaflor Sr.

An ISO 9001:2008 certified hospital, the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH), joined the ranks of hospitals in the world that meet international quality standards.

PHLPost has printed 60, 000 copies of the DDVMH stamp sold for P12.00 each.

The layout of the stamp was done by PHLPost in-house graphic designer Mr. Victorino Z. Serevo.

The stamps and official first day cover shall be available starting December 07, 2018 at the Philatelic Counter, Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and selected Area Post Offices. 

The Chaotic Coke Studio Homecoming Free Concert: Top Arguments of People Supporting Softdrinks

Wazzup Pilipinas!

On the stampede and rude behavior of concert-goers causing the organizers to postpone the concert to another date:

Vague Initial Statement from Coke:

"We would like to express our profound gratitude for the public’s continuous support for Coke Studio. However, the safety and security of our audience is paramount. After careful assessment and request for the public’s cooperation, COCA-COLA Philippines together with PNP, SM, THE CITY OF PASAY, AND ALL OF THE ARTISTS, we have deemed it necessary to reschedule the concert to a later date.  We apologize for any inconvenience this causes to everyone."

The usual palusot ng mga sumusuporta sa softdrinks:

1. Kung paminsan-minsan lang, walang problema.

2. Marami namang natutulungan through their charity, outreach, support of local artists, and other CSR programs.

3. Masarap at mura eh, Yung healthier options ay mahal.

4. It creates jobs.

More and more people should realize there are better options out there. Sabi nga nung isang organic food restaurant owner "Ask not why organic foods are more expensive, but ask why junk foods are cheap."

He has a point. Our health is vital to our survival. Thus it is but right to invest on our health by spending more. Eventually naman kasi, if the demand for healthier alternatives increase, the supply will increase, more stores will start selling more healthier options, and to be competitive, prices will soon go down.

We will make the healthier options eventually affordable if we start patronizing them more today.

Argument: Tell that to poor people who barely survives every day.  They would first think of how to live and the cost of the food that they will buy.

1.  Promote agriculture more and support farmers.

2.  Give government subsidies and tax incentives to healthier foods.

3.  Increase taxes on junk foods.

Government plays a key role here para mas mapabilis ang mga bagay-bagay.

Reasoning:
Pero kung magiging mas mapanuri ang mga tao mas mura kesa sa mga fast food yung ulam na mongo at malunggay =) saka hindi mostly poor people ang tumatangkilik sa fast food, siguro yung mga street food yan ang pagkain talaga ng mahihirap.

Argument:
Not sa fastfood pero sa mga chichiria na junk food and sa softdrinks and other stuff usually mga low to middle income ang tumatangkilik.

Pero, kahit naman maggulay tayo contaminated pa rin sya ng pollution, fertilizers and pesticides.

Reasoning:
At teast the veggies are still better than junk food. Have you seen the viral video about Shawarma Shack?

Oh di ba... Wala namang 100% clean eh.

We should not expect everything we need to be provided by the government. Sabi nga nila, huwag iasa lahat sa gobyerno. Our politicians may have their own agenda and ulterior motives, but that is another story to tell.

Let us focus more on our own capabilities. As bloggers, we can make use of our own influence to make a change for the better. If we all combine our efforts, we will be stronger.

Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa thinking it is senseless to go against the giants. We are not alone. We just need to be courageous enough to voice our concerns and others will follow and emulate our acts.

The government does play a vital role, but that is another door to knock on.

For now, we could incorporate in our activities an effort to promote the healthier alternatives.

For example, at your events, reach out to organic food suppliers as sponsors instead. Mind you, not all fast foods are junk. Example is Rufo's Famous Tapa, their Pinoy foods are well-deserved of praise. They also sponsor events, big and small. EarthOrigins Westgate Alabang is a great market and cafe that promotes healthy living. Voted as among the Pop Talk Paborito favorites ever featured on the GMA News Channel show. I'm sure there are more out there.

Argument:
Di ako nawawalan ng pag-asa my point is for it to be done faster and on a wider range.  Change should come as a revolution.  We can do our part but it would be better if the powerful would be involved or we can be in government.

Let us put ideas into actions and influence more people faster.

Reasoning:
David D'Angelo Madalas kasi ay reactive ang government.  If they can see more people advocating for healthier alternatives and going against junk foods, then they may notice us, and  implement their own initiatives. Like my visit in Negros Occidental, the Governor there is an advocate of organic foods. I attended their Organic Farms Festival and even interviewed a speaker and a mushroom grower. Unaware lang tayo sa moves and programs ng ibang LGU, but happy to inform you that there are like-minded individuals championing for the healthier alternatives. Kaya nga ako pinapabalik sa Negros, to advocate for community-based tourism focusing on micro-entrepreneurship or communities with their own businesses, rather than having foreign and commercialized brands penetrating the provinces and taking the opportunities away from the communities.   Sustainable eco-tourism will only happen if it directly involves the community.

Why postpone the concert?


It was meant to be, because we all know that the product is not a brand that we should support. They corrupt our minds with lavish campaigns and giveaways, massive line-up of artists, numerous ads and commercials, popular endorsers and celebrities, but in the end, we all know that the product is nothing but junk.

If you support any of their products and sponsored activities, then you are worst than JUNK. ...nothing but a desperate low-life who would go so low as support even the worst products in existence even if we are aware that it ruins the health of the people.

No matter how many advocacies, CSR or outreach programs they would sponsor, or how many jobs they create, and how many workers they employ, nothing will change the fact that they are the makers of the number one source of obesity.

This incident is a miracle from above. Prayers answered.



Argument:
If Coke is junk and bad then same goes to many things like fast food including Jollibee, McDonalds, Wendys, etc.  There are tons of source of obesity including not exercising too and having a bad lifestyle.  I drink Coke at times and what is bad perhaps is just too much of it.  Coke employs people and gives jobs.  It is bad if you take too much.

Coke should still be lauded because they are one of the few who supports local artists and wants to promote them in an overwhelming sea of foreign artist promotion.  Are there good products who does that?  Malungkot ako kasi sayang at hindi mapromote mga OPM artists and for that we should support the artists even not the product.

Reasoning:
It is like saying the gun is not the one that kills but the person pulling the trigger.

But let me ask you this. If there are better choices around that are as affordable as softdrinks, then would you pick the better choices?

If given a choice between a fresh lemonade and a carbonated drink like a softdrink, it is obvious what I will pick. If more and more people will pick the better choices, more and more jobs will be created to further grow and produce the fresh lemonade. Thus it will also employ more people.

If these companies have enough earnings just like Coke, then they can also support local artists, and others.

In other words, if we only support the "better" products, it can do the same capabilities as Coke.

If we discourage people in using the bad products, then we also help in shaping the world into a better place. Make more room for the better choices to compete against the junk products.

Makes sense?

Argument:
It will take a lot of will to change things since Coke is successful worldwide.  If these things are bad for people then the best way is for the government to ban them outright just like cigarettes.  If these things can kill why make them legal in the first place?

Reasoning:
Let us not go far.... Ask the same question with political dynasties and excessive pork barrel funds...or aligned with products, how come cigarettes and tobaccos are still for sale when it has been confirmed to be bad for you.

I guess everyone knows the answer to the question.. many have just been brainwashed by the lavish ads, campaigns, endorsers and seemingly numerous advocacies Coke runs. But like I said, no matter how many good things they do, their product remains as JUNK and harmful to our health.

Argument:
Same goes to all junk food like Piatos, Mang Juan, Tortillos, etc.  So should we all stop buying them then and go for an all healthy and green living?  That would be great if we can all then rebuild agriculture and produce healthier products.

Reasoning:
Yes, I have the same sentiments against everything you mentioned, including the fastfoods. If we all go Green, we would not only be healthier but also help our communities grow. Most of the brands that produce junk food are foreign brands or inspired by foreign brands and products. If we all go for fresh fruit juices, organic or natural and fresh foods, etc., the demand will increase, more farmers will plant fruit bearing trees and vegetables, root crops, etc.,, more jobs will eventually be created to produce, market, deliver, etc. these fruits and veggies, and these companies will be as big as Coke and able enough to do the same advocacies.

Doing good creates ripples of good as well. So let us start encouraging people to make the better choices. Forget about the cheap softdrink and invest on our health instead to further invest on a better future for us and the next generation.

Hindi dapat tayo maging politiko na lahat na lang ay kaibigan kasi daw ay may pakinabang naman sa lahat. Piliin natin ang tamang suportahan.

Argument:
It will take some kind of legislation to make this happen otherwise it will remain as ideas and a utopian wish.  People cannot be forced to buy healthier options since most people earn below minimum and they would buy cheaper options than go to more expensive food.  It will take a political solution to make this happen and a strong one.

Reasoning:
We don't need politicians or a law to tell us that we should live a healthier life. Kaya nga kapag walang choice to drink, water na lang or hihingi ako nung calamansi na dapat sawsawan para gawing calamansi juice. Pipigain ko lang sa tubig at magic..may healthier drink na ko.

If you really want to be healthy, discipline is the key.

If we really want a healthier society, advocate against the junk products like Coke.

Every little move you make will eventually grow bigger if you can convince people to follow.

Kaya nga nagsara na yung  ibang plants ng Coke kasi more people are recognizing these facts.

Kaya nga nagsara na ang ibang print at radio media outfits because brands have realized it is more effective to promote online.

In short "If there is a will, there is always a way."

"Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan. Kung gusto, laging may paraan"


Argument:
Well people would not do that on their own. Masarap ang mga foods na yan eh.

Reasoning:
I have not given up on my fellow men. If we continue to discourage people in drinking softdrinks and other junk foods, we will be heard. Kahit Isa lang ang makinig everyday is enough for me. Eventually, all our efforts will soon be realized as a noble initiative. Huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. We are all basically good. We can do better.

If you told me something  today, I may listen but not immediately follow. But if I hear you saying it over and over again, I may consider trying it out.

Parang billboards lang yan. The bigger and plenty you have, the more it gets to be familiar and recognizable to people. You won't even realize that it unconsciously makes you think otherwise.

So, in short. ..persuading people to choose better options may not happen overnight, but it will happen if we have the persistence and if we do the necessary actions to make it happen.

Lalambot din yang matigas na karne eventually kapag nagtiyaga lang tayo pakuluan...or if we think smarter, use a pressure cooker.

Alam ko na softdrink companies like Coke and Pepsi are too big to match. But if everyone is really concerned about their and the next generations' present and future, then we should act correspondingly.

Argument:
In the end it is also a marketing against their product.  If super sama talaga ang softdrinks it could have killed many by now.  Let us just make informed choices kasi if we want to go healthy living then most of the restaurants like burgers and stuff that we go should also have to shutdown.

Well mahal naman talaga ang healthier options and majority of Filipinos cannot afford it and that is factual.

Reasoning:
David D'Angelo I've already mentioned the reasons why more expensive ang healthier options. The right question to ask is "Bakit mura ang junk foods?"

If you can answer that question, then you'll know the reason why mas mahal ang healthier options.

But as demands increase, the need for supply will follow, more stores will sell the healthier options, creating more jobs and more  competition to eventually lower prices, and our rewards would be a healthier us, family, community, country and world.

Sunod-sunod na improvement if we just start now.



Final Statement from Coke:

Below is a longer official message from Coke Studio

"On December 07, 2018, the Coke Studio Concert organizers, Philippine National Police, the City of Pasay, and SM Mall of Asia decided to reschedule the Coke Studio Christmas Concert to early next year to prioritize the public’s safety.

The safety of everyone is of utmost importance to us. The unsafe behavior of portions of an estimated 15,000 spectators such as pushing, jumping on the barricades and throwing bottles, threatened the safety of the rest of the concert-goers, despite numerous reminders from authorities present.

There were some who sustained minor injuries and were immediately given medical attention. After careful assessment, and repeated requests for the public’s cooperation, Coca-Cola together with all the artists, PNP, the City of Pasay, and SM MOA, deemed it necessary to reschedule the concert to a later date.

We thank the PNP, the local government of Pasay, and SM MOA for their full support in helping ensure everyone’s protection, the artists for their passion and fully supporting the decision to prioritize their fans’ welfare, and lastly, to the concert goers for their understanding and support. We recognize that a lot of them have traveled far to see their favorite artists. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured that we will continue to coordinate with the relevant parties to further tighten control measures in our next events.

Again, we thank everyone for their understanding and their continued support."


Even if they will reschedule the concert, I urge everyone not to attend. If you truly love yourself, your family, loved ones, and the rest of our fellow men, never patronize their products or events. Let us show the world that we want a better future. Let us show Coke that we don't want them to pollute our bodies.

Ask yourself "Why and how is Coke giving a concert for free?"

There are underlying reasons why and how, and if you are smart enough you would find it logical to stay away.

Best Term Paper Outline Writing

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The term of the paper should be an important part of the entire paper paper. On this occasion, when such type of educational work is given, the basic requirements from the author will be examined to explain how it should be understood or what. Real research and writing is not quite simple at all. That's why you need a line to carry out the entire research and writing process. Your term must be a paper and it means that course.
Click here https://gpalabs.com/college-paper-writing/college-term-papers.html if you're tired as hell of college paper writing.

You can make sure this line is written directly. This term is raw materials only for the whole term paper. In this event you feel that this line can be used to use and as well as a term is bound with the paper, at this point, you can clearly tell you your best and molding. I can be found in the outline. The point should be written in the point of view. This is a short time. The line paper will not be wrong in writing this line in a reasonable way. It is given you all the time to do this. Remember that the majority of what is found in this line wants to be quite sensible in the fact that you will need to re-write something to complete the last-term paper only Wikipedia.

There are four basic developments that you need to use to think of this line. You should do everything above which content is being searched, which is required to present in the paper paper. The vast
majority of this line you will not necessarily need. In addition, you should decide what your content is as it is. This means that you must look at what is necessary in your terminal. Third, what should you do as content for this line. This is the place you should all meet together together. For a long time, when you get completely screwed, it will sound more than any line as a real term paper.


The term writing of the trum paper may now be, and then your term can be used as a paper draft. It is based on the fact that there will be a number of other materials available in this regard, which will be available in a last-minute paper. When writing your outline. Make sure everything starts with the offer, your term is directly spoken to the end of the paper. You should also understand that possibly you are able to write a line or write a comfortable line. The casual approach will clearly be less complex than the script.

Sarah Brodie has written to the free legend to write an open source understanding on the most valuable way to write about the papers of great, unauthorized and much more organized terms.

Filipino Filmmakers Bag Major Prizes at German Int’l Film Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Three awards were bagged by Filipino filmmakers and film at the 31^st Exground International Film Festival in Wiesbaden, Germany. 

Director Alberto “Treb” Monteras II’s award-winning film “Respeto” won youth jury award for the best feature film at Youth Days, an international youth film competition. In the coming-of-age drama, Hendrix (played by hip-hop artist Abra) aspires of becoming a rapper and leaving behind poverty-stricken Manila. The team received a cash prize of 2,500 euros donated by the State Capital of Wiesbaden.

“The Philippine film RESPETO has convinced the youth jury in many ways. It introduces us to the frightening conditions of a country where people can be shot by the police on mere suspicion on the street. The film makes excellent use of the language of cinema at all levels: camera, sound and music, effects and the authentic presentation merge to a unity. In the midst of a scene marked by violence, drugs and corruption, Hendrix pursues his dream of asserting himself as a rapper in Manila's hip-hop scene. Fast-paced, driven by the pulse of music, RESPETO shows the struggle for respect and recognition – and how important it is to have role models. With the power of hip-hop, Hendrix manages to counter the conditions and the lack of perspective with something. A real youth film!,” the jury stated in exground filmfest’s press release.

On the other hand, director Jet Leyco’s “Women of Wiesbaden” won the prestigious Golden Gurke award at the exground gong show competition. The group garnered a cash prize of 50 euros sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.

As stated in exground filmfest’s press release, “The jury was impressed with the high quality and the wide range of topics of the submitted films. No wonder only two films got the gong from us and were dismissed. Jet Leyco’s short film was very exceptional. Even more impressive was the fact that he just flew in in the morning of the 19th, learned about this competition and shot the film to hand it over in the evening just before the show started.”

Meanwhile, E. del Mundo’s “Man of Pa-Aling (Manong ng Pa-Aling)” received a special mention in the International Short Film Competition.

In exground filmfest’s press release, the jury mentioned, “Evoking in black & white the bleakness of an otherwise beautiful underwater landscape, this film explores the triviality and the grandness of human existence.”

The Exground Filmfest in Wiesbaden is one of the most significant film festivals in Germany for international independent productions. It takes the audience on a memorable cinematic journey and allows the viewers to experience and discover different countries and cultures through films. The festival program includes exhibitions, workshops, concerts, parties, and panel discussions.

As part of the Philippine cinema’s centennial celebration, Exground Film Festival featured the Philippines as its Country of Focus. This year’s program acknowledges and puts a spotlight to critically acclaimed Filipino films that promote socio-political discourse and reveal a glimpse of the current human rights situation in the country.

The Exground Filmfest Festival 31 was held on November 16 to 25, 2018 in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Forecast for 2019: What Should We Be Looking at?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Prediction No. 1: Business Emails with Nasty Surprises, Attached

Businesses are quickly becoming cybercriminals’ favoured targets. Over $US12 billion worldwide has been stolen over the past five years due to business email compromise. As the theft of passwords and login details becomes increasingly common in enterprise environments, attackers have grown more confident and motivated, targeting small and large organisations by masquerading as partners or internal stakeholders – a pattern that will continue to plague businesses if they fail to adapt. This alarming rise in business email compromise underscores the increasingly diverse and sophisticated methods attackers use today, from mimicking corporate websites to targeting employees’ personal social media accounts to launch exploits. As attackers find increasingly crafty ways to bypass internal checks, will 2019 be the year businesses beat cybercriminals at their own game? Doubtful!

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Where possible, businesses will need to assess their internal flow of information as well as implement more comprehensive checks and approval processes, especially with regard to the movement of resources. As we have seen, passwords remain amongst the weakest links in computer security – easy to steal, difficult to secure and offering little proof of a user’s identity. In response to this, 2019 will see measures such as two-factor or multi-factor authentication and biometrics become increasingly commonplace.

Prediction No. 2: Supply Chain Will Be Your Weakest Link

The digital age has helped break down barriers to create an interconnected, global supply chain, making it very easy for businesses to tap suppliers and outsourced services from around the globe. These links, including the sharing of data and networks, have empowered organisations to embrace new efficiencies through connectivity and analytics. However, this will also prove a boon to opportunistic attackers preying on weaknesses in existing security. These risks have become more apparent in the healthcare sector, where third-party connected medical devices – such as MRI and X-ray machines – plug in to internal networks daily, providing multiple new attack surfaces and vulnerabilities over which hospitals have almost no control.

Pinpointing and avoiding cybersecurity risks will soon be nearly impossible as the global supply chain becomes increasingly complex. Perhaps it is time for organisations in other sectors to start asking, ‘Do we know who or which individuals, organisations and other third parties have been connecting to our networks? Do you know which systems and services your organisation is dependent on?’


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CSOs will need to look carefully at traffic within the network to ensure sensitive information is kept separate and secure, away from external devices and systems. As multiple unsecured devices connect to corporate networks, the internet of things, or IoT, can quickly become an ‘internet of cyberthreats’. Although the use of certain third-party apps and connected devices may be unavoidable in many cases, businesses and organisations need to pay more attention to internal security standards around the procurement of such devices or services. This includes ensuring that firmware and applications are always up-to-date, and login configurations should be changed from the default configuration. If third-party systems and devices reside on your network, apply a Zero Trust mode to inspect and verify all traffic by placing them in a zone which only allows approved users and apps to communicate with them. In 2019, an unsecured connected device could serve as a gateway for attackers as easily as any computer or smartphone. 


Prediction No. 3: Data Protection Legislation Gains Ground in APAC

As Asia-Pacific countries pledge greater cooperation with cybersecurity initiatives, the move towards formalising data protection frameworks seem inevitable. Countries like Australia and Singapore have taken the first plunge, and others in the region will soon follow as they wake up to the urgency of national security and data protection for their citizens. As digital maturity varies across the region, the framework for these countries to roll out their own version of GDPR could take some time to develop, and the path ahead is not straightforward. However, 2019 could be the year many countries take the first steps towards protecting their citizens’ data.

In the Philippines, for example, the country has made strides for prioritizing cybersecurity with the new 2012 law: the Data Privacy Act. In addition, the Philippines recently won a seat in the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (ICDPPC) after being members of the global privacy body for two years. ASEAN has sets its sights on becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Today, the region is well on its way to achieving this goal, with 700 million active mobile connections, making it the fastest-growing internet region. Recognising this as a good foundation for a flourishing digital economy, the recent Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025) has outlined an initiative to establish an ASEAN Digital Data Governance Framework as a step towards transparency in data privacy and cross-border data sharing amongst member states.

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The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation has served as a clarion call for organisations in the APAC region to pay attention to the data they collect and store. Businesses in this region can use the GDPR as a baseline to assess current gaps in compliance and help determine their overall prevention posture. It may take several years before a similar region-wide framework emerges in APAC, but businesses can use the GDPR’s policies as a way to start minimising unnecessary personal data collection, which could help minimise risks and exposure in the process.



Prediction No. 4: Forecast For 2019: Cloudy Skies Ahead

This app-powered era is thriving partly because of cloud computing, which has become a go-to resource for businesses looking to deliver new products and services without bearing hefty initial investments in compute resources. Cloud computing helps simplify a few areas of security, but it also presents newfound challenges. Implementing a cloud computing strategy often means that mission-critical data and systems will sit with third parties.  These assets will need to be securely stored and transmitted, and only accessible to authorised personnel is of utmost importance. The security of the cloud is not the sole responsibility of the cloud service provider; but is shared with enterprises that also must grapple with the security of data, applications, operating systems, network configurations and more. This intertwined ecosystem has made security a much more complex undertaking, especially for organisations already dealing with the difficulty of finding cybersecurity talent and making sense of the many point products available in the market today.

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With the speed at which enterprises are moving to innovate and deliver new services, all while dealing with a complex web of compute resources, it’s easy to let the discipline required for security slip. DevOps can help speed development, but it can be challenging to get and keep security in place, especially in the transition from traditional IT management to DevOps.

To succeed, enterprises must ultimately have the processes, technology and – most importantly – people in place to keep systems adequately secured.

It is critical to remember that legacy security systems, made up of various point products, have proven inadequate to prevent the rising volume and sophistication of cyberattacks. Too many security tools depend heavily on manual intervention, which can’t enact new protections quickly enough to have a meaningful impact on ongoing, targeted attacks. Reducing cyber risk requires having integrated, automated and effective controls in place to detect as well as prevent threats, known and unknown, at every stage of the attack lifecycle.


Prediction No. 5: We’ll Finally Realise What Makes Critical Infrastructure (C.I.) So Critical

More than just a catchall term to describe public infrastructure and resources, the definition of critical infrastructure (CI) today has evolved to encompass other essential sectors, such as banking and financial services, telecommunications and the media. As CI goes digital and automated, cross-pollination between corporate and industrial networks has made them easier targets for cybercriminals. This is especially dangerous as industry systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and industrial control systems (ICS), which are critical to the energy, water and public transport sectors, often rely on legacy and unpatchable systems. 



The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has already warned that a cyberattack in the UK is inevitable, potentially taking aim at the elections and CI targets. This view has been echoed by the World Economic Forum Global Risk Report 2018, which has identified cyberattacks as a top cause of disruption globally, coming only after natural disasters and extreme weather events. How will Asia prepare itself in 2019?

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Thus far, infrastructure owners have primarily focused on the confidentiality of information and overlooked the other two principals of information security: integrity and availability. This will be especially crucial as countries in the region adopt industry 4.0 technologies (e.g., machine learning for autonomous vehicles). These innovations will rely on telemetry and always-on connectivity, putting the lives of the public in the hands of systems that rely on accurate and accessible data. As a start, CI owners, both public and private, will have to put in place Zero Trust systems and ensure the segregation of access.

Perspectives about compliance need to change as well. CI owners must move away from a compliance-driven approach to security, towards a stance that live and breathes security. Regulators and owners can co-create a regulatory framework that works for both, while cultivating a security-first approach to designing and maintaining all CIs. Think less “tick and flick”, more “secure from the start”.

Nonong Haresco: Keen in Stopping the Construction of SMC's Caticlan to Boracay Bridge

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The government shuttered Boracay for 6 months from late April to late October of this year, to give way to a massive cleanup after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called the island a cesspool prompting many to call for its immediate rehabilitation.

Recently, just a few months ago, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has proposed building a bridge between Boracay Island and Caticlan, and said they can finish the project within 2 years.

The unsolicited proposal has already been submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) somewhere around August or earlier.

Tourists at present get to Boracay from the Aklan mainland only by ferry. SMC President Ramon Ang said that this 3 billion bridge project, the government would not have to rehabilitate Boracay regularly as there would be a pipe that can handle the sewage and waste from the tourist island.

It all sounds so good it seems, but if you consider what else the bridge will bring, and take away, with it's existence, you may reconsider going along with SMC's and Ramon Ang's plans.





Now comes former Congressman Teodorico "Nonong" Haresco of Aklan from the former Kasangga partylist, now running for Congressman in the 2nd district of Aklan. He is a firm believer that the bridge will bring more problems rather than help Boracay. He also believes that it will take away the jobs of micro-entrepreneurship and community-based businesses. From the ferry operators and restaurants, to souvenir shops and entertainers. Because, once the bridge gives access to more foreign or commercialized investors, the LGU of the newly-rehabilitated island may find it harder to stop opportunists with immoral intents.

Take note that to regain SMC's P3-billion investment, SMC will charge a users’ fee for vehicles and pedestrians who will use the bridge, as well as the waste, sewage, fresh water, and power lines that will be passing through it.

SMC already had earlier investments in the area. TransAire Development Holdings Corporation, a unit owned by SMC, renovated the Caticlan Airport, which was opened to jet aircraft for the first time in 2016.

I had an opportunity to meet the former Congressman andaeven had a selfie with the man of the hour during a lunch treat held at Dad's World Buffet in its West Avenue branch.

To be honest, Teodorico "Nonong" Haresco is not really a household name. In fact, it is the first time I've heard of his name or even seen his face.

But we learned that he has quite a number of recognitions under his sleeves, based on what he said during his talk at the event, and several pages of a list of house bills he authored and some press releases or write-ups about him.

Unlike the traditional politician, he doesn't frequently holds presscons or sends out press releases to document his accomplishments, and seemingly just works hard enough to come up with several house bills, all 60 of them, under his name as author or co-author. Special mention perhaps to House Bill HB00111, an act establishing a mechanism for the sustainable development and use of the island of Boracay.

Now you would understand why the man is Keen on opposing the bridge project of SMC and Ramon Ang. The man has a soft spot in the heart for the less privileged. The bridge connecting Caticlan to Boracay would have repercussions that would eventually ruin the community-based livelihood of it's people. Perhaps the main reason why Boracay is supposedly the best beach in the world is because it has not been thoroughly touched by commercialism. However, many would react to this since we've seen how many investments, many of foreign background, have already stepped into it's shores, and which could have been the reason behind the cesspool issue.

The real question is, are we ready to take a chance to subject the island into further molestation, or will the bridge actually bring more fruitful development and more opportunities to it's residents?

But who is Nonong Haresco, based from a press release, he is a happily married father of four Ilonggo who graduated with honors in Economics and Accounting from De La Salle University who developed a little start-up into a 50-hectare prawn-farming venture. But before that, his little start-up was a buy and sell of shrimps he will purchase from his hometown Aklan, and sell in Manila. He then completed his Masteral of Arts in International Economics at the McGill University in Canada. He then went on to participate in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development- International Trade Center in Switzerland where his business acumen led to the formation of the Haresco Trade Specialists Co., and Silver Thread Inc., which exported local capiz shells to the European country.

Still advocating micro-entrepreneurship as the best way to improve our economic development, he is a staunch detractor of those influential people who even threaten him of many stuff just to discourage him in doing good.

Now that he is running for Congressman at District 2, he implores members of the media to ally with him in going against the affluent giants who may soon cause further deplorable acts in Aklan.

He is thankful that the President made efforts to order the rehabilitation of the cesspool-like Boracay as he reveals how 43 hidden pipes led waste to the waters of Boracay. We are also thankful that Duterte has his good sides to order such a task that clearly affected a lot of businesses in Boracay. It takes someone of strong political will to effect such an unpopular order. That we have to thank our President, inspite of his other unflattering attributes.

Imagine that we've been swimming in a water filled with waste coming from the business establishments. Yuck indeed!

We need more men like him who's willing to go against powerful people, and through the help of media, most especially the bloggers, he urges us to help him expose the truth in order to win this war.

Yup! It is actually a war since any opposing forces must be subdued by the power of awareness initiated by media and bloggers.





If we believe that any form of development where the community is not a part would ruin sustainable livelihood and tourism, maybe you should advocate against the building of the bridge and support Nonong Haresco in his run for Aklan Congressman.

If you believe that Boracay must remain pristine by keeping it the property of it's people, then by all means, support Nonong Haresco by voting for him on May 2019.


#WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger #Haresco #Aklan #Congressman #Nonong #Teddy #TeodoricoHaresco #NonongHaresco

Our Singapore and Indonesia Chillax Adventure

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Part 1 of our Singapore and Indonesia adventure last November 11 to 14

I never expected that my first trip to Singapore will give me another opportunity to visit the said country again plus another nearby country, Indonesia.

Not only another visit, but getting an awesome doze of pampering to the max, together with my wife Wilma, at both countries.

I was fortunate to have met a local media in Singapore who invited me to join her in a hotel launch after attending the Speciality and Fine Food Asia happening that July together with the Restaurant, Pub and Bar Asia, food-related trade fairs that happened at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. I was the only media / blogger who came from the Philippines that was earlier invited by the Singaporean-based PR handling the event.

Eventhough the invite to return to Singapore and visit the Bintan Lagoon Resort in Indonesia was as early as July of this year, I decided to return in November during my wife's birthday week. Her birthday was on November 13, so our chosen dates were from November 11 to 14. We would have stayed longer but we were not sure if we can afford to miss the so many other events and responsibilities waiting for us back in the Philippines.

Our gateway is through Singapore, so I planned to spend at least an overnight and a day in Singapore too after we returned from Indonesia. Our stay at Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel at Kampong Glam was more than surprising because even though I already toured the place during it's launch last July, I never thought that they provide a sumptuous buffet breakfast, complimentary slippers, toiletries, and even towels that you'll never expect to find at a supposedly backpackers hotel. I will share photos, video links and more details of our experience there on a separate blog post.

We wanted to go to Malaysia also, specifically to Legoland, but we thought that would be pushing it too far. I don't think I have enough storage space on my three smartphones or on my Sony mirrorless camera. I also brought my GoPro Hero and a new Nikon camera that I recently won only a few days before our Singapore and Indonesia trip, but it was really more convenient and of better quality to just use my new smartphone which has a superb camera resolution. I just used my cameras when I ran out of power on my smartphones and power banks.

Our tour of Safari Lagoi in Bintan Island of Indonesia courtesy of Pt. IndoBintan Tour and Travels

Apparently, we had so many activities done during our special heritage and eco farm tour, courtesy of Indo Bintan Travel and Tours, that all our gadgets we're not enough to cover everything in the six-hour long tour.

I will tell you more about the details of this tour on our next blog post....This will be a series of articles documenting almost everything we've done throughout our 4-day out of the country adventure.

Visiting two countries was already a handful, and it would be better if we just visit Malaysia when we could fully maximize our stay there.

Bintan Lagoon Resort key cards

My wife appreciating her birthday cake slice

A comfy bed decorated with rose petals and two towels - one shaped like an elephant and another one into something like a fountain or well

We already have itineraries planned as organized by our accommodation, meals, activities, and tour sponsors in Indonesia, and another set of special accommodation and meal sponsors in Singapore, and the only thing we paid for out of our own pocket was the Singapore River Cruise, taxi and train transpo within Singapore, and our round-trip flight to Singapore. I never bothered to look for more sponsors in Singapore since I was already able to visit the primary attractions of interest for me, like the Gardens by the Bay and Universal Studios Singapore, and a few more, during my first visit last July.

Our ferry trip from Singapore to Indonesia was also shouldered by the resort, the 70 minute travel from Singapore to Bintan island was like a quick yet lonely trip since there were only a handful of people on board inside a very spacious boat that could accommodate maybe a hundred passengers. It makes you think that the island may truly be catering to only the affluent. We are so blessed to be going there that afternoon.

My name flashed on a placard welcoming me to Bintan Lagoon Resort

You may call it a lavish or luxurious experience, but the days spent in Indonesia was designed to really pamper you to the max. In fact, I was boasting that we felt like among the affluent because we were given meal credits amounting to hundred of thousands.

The majestically designed lobby of Bintan Lagoon Resort. Our cover photo is the equally impressive big pool

The kiddie pool at Bintan Lagoon Resort located at it's Leisure Center together with other amenities like the kiddie playroom, a spa, a gym, Segways for rent (in our case, a fifteen minutes for both of us, is part of the Chillax package, and many more)

But after learning that 1 Singaporean dollar (SGD) is equivalent to 10,000 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), a US dollar (USD) is equivalent to 1.37008 SGD, and 1 IDR is equivalent to 0.00363947 Philippine Peso (PHP), I realized it was because the value of the Indonesian currency is just too low to make it seemingly like we spent millions.

So our budgeted daily dinner credit of IDR 420, 000 per person is equivalent to only PHP 1,528.88. There's two of us so our lunch credit was IDR 840, 000 or PHP 3,058.45 only. Very much affordable for Filipinos or anybody else from other countries considering how much food we can order from that meal credit. It was more than a meal but a festive feast. Don't forget about our lunch credit, while breakfast was complimentary every morning.

Checking out the dishes at Haskell's restaurant near the golf course of Bintan Lagoon Resort in Indonesia

Dinner and our first meal at Nelayan seafood restaurant at Bintan Lagoon Resort in Indonesia

These amounts are part of the Chillax package given to us. The Chillax package is designed for a three days and two nights experience.

Chillax Package: https://www.bintanlagoon.com/bintan-packages/chillax-package/

The Chillax package cost IDR 4, 042,500 per person so meaning the two of us we're given a total of IDR 8, 083,000 credit to enjoy our stay at Bintan Lagoon Resort. That's actually equivalent to only PHP 29,457.45. Again, very affordable considering the luxury we have experienced. If we compare it with our spending in the Philippines, the cost of stay in this Indonesian island resort is a lot more attractive.

If you'll check the details of what the package is composed of, you'll see that the cost is truly value for money. The Chillax Package is meant for single or 2-to-go travellers. Perfect for me and my wife.

They also have other packages available like the Fun & Stay Family Package, the Rejuvenate Package, the Golfer's Stay Package, the BBQ Villa Package, and the Villa by the Beach Birthday Package.

Please check the link below for details of all packages:

https://www.bintanlagoon.com/bintan-packages/all-bintan-packages/

But wait, there's more! I have to also mention our special Heritage and Eco Farm Tour with Henry, our tour guide, and organized by Pt. Indo Bintan Tour and Travels, where we went to several destinations starting at Safari Lagoi, aaChinese temple, a Muslim temple, a public beach, and culminating to a festive late seafood lunch feast at Bintan Mangrove in a restaurant in stilts....and going back to our resort in the late afternoon. The entire tour cost only IDR 1,000,000 per person equivalent to only PHP 3,643.830. There were two of us so our IDR 2,000,000 tour is only PHP 7,288.083. That price is relatively cheaper compared to others.

Late Lunch at a seafood restaurant on stilts within Bintan Mangrove

Again, more details will be written on a separate blog article mentioning all the details of the tour.

More photos, video links and details on the actual blog at WazzupPilipinas.com and a series of articles discussing more details of every destination and restaurant we visited.

This is just an overview or introductory of everything but soon proceeding to write the details soon...so I'm coming out with a series of blogs...like a separate blog article for Bintan Lagoon Resort, a sepate for every restaurant visited in BLR including Malayan Council in Singapore, another one for the Bintan island Heritage and Eco Farm tour, another for the Singapore tour, another for Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel, etc.


Again, excited to write more details, post more pictures, and video links (but you may go now to our official Facebook page to see most of the videos we uploaded there), through a series of blog articles soon at WazzupPilipinas.com

#WazzupPilipinas #BintanLagoonResort #Indonesia #Singapore #ChillaxPackage #BintanIsland #IndoBintanTravelAndTours #CubeBoutiqueCapsuleHotel

DOE, Palawan Ink MOU on Local RE Planning

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) under Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Provincial Government of Palawan (PGP) on 28 November for the Development for Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) project.

Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, who represented the DOE, emphasized the importance of ensuring energy efficiency, safety, security and ‘diskarte’, as enshrined in the Department’s E-Power Mo campaign.

With the vision of providing stable and strong energy supply in Palawan, the DOE commended the PGP for positively responding to the call of the DREAMS Project.

The MOU signing was in support of the DOE's project to boost localized planning in the development and usage of renewable energy (RE), following the successful series of consultations with the provincial governments of Palawan (4 September) and Iloilo (26 September).

The DREAMS project aims to provide efficient and reliable energy services, develop indigenous and clean sources of energy, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the capacity building of the stakeholders and the consumers.

In photo (from left) are DREAMS Project Assistant National Project Director and Chief of the National Renewable Energy Board Gaspar Escobar; DREAMS Project National Project Director and OIC - Director of the DOE - Renewable Energy Management Bureau Mylene Capongcol; DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella; Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez; UNDP Country Director Titon Mitra; and UNDP Program Manager Floradema Eleazar.