7 Places to Visit in Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With more than seven thousand islands and eighty-one provinces, the Philippines is definitely a favorite for many people planning their vocation abroad.  Indeed, as a tourist traveling to Philippines, you will be spoilt for choice since the country has a lot of breathtaking places to visit. In this post, I share my top seven places that I believe should be visited by those making a visit to the Philippines.

El Nido, Palawan
This is my top place to visit in the country despite the fact that the location is located in the Southern region of Luzon – Yes, its one of my top favorites in the country. Every time I visit the place, I find the place unique while the experience is exceptional. The white sand beaches and the clean waters makes the place refreshing. Thus, if you love swimming, diving, and even wondering around a beach, then this is the place for you.

Coron, Palawan
Yes, the spot is in Palawan again – just like the first choice. The diving and snorkeling experience on offer in Coron is just out of this world. Island hopping is also on offer and quite common with the tourists frequenting the area. Apart from that, you also get to enjoy climbing Mount Tapya which will take you about half an hour to get to peak. The efforts are worth it since at the top, you will enjoy great views.

Banaue, Ifugao
This is located in the Northern region of Luzon and actually a top choice for tourists. The location is ideal if you need a holiday where you get to breath fresh air while enjoying a cold breeze that is accompanied by stunning views. By visiting the place, you will really get to appreciate unpolluted nature. “I had a great time at Banuea, its like I was in another planet. There is no pollution and you get to enjoy breathing unpolluted fresh air” – Noted James who is a travel writer at Best Assignment.

Baguio City – Philippines Summer Capital 
The city is christened the summer capital of Philippines. It is liked due to its temperatures, stunning views, and obviously the strawberries. It is most advisable to visit the place in February since it is in this month that the Panagbenga Festival which is also known as the Flower Festival takes place. You will enjoy dancing in the streets with street dancers wearing costumes made of flowers.

Taal Volcano, Batangas 
A visit to Taal volcano is a must if your have a liking for lakes and volcanos. The volcano is among the most active volcanos in the country. The views from the view point are breathtaking while the climb is easy to the extent that the kids can even make it to the view point. “The volcano is for real a great experience since you see firsthand how volcanos look like and how they react. This area should even be considered for study travel by schools that want to take students abroad”, remarked Irene who specializes in Travel Projects at cheap custom writing.

Cebu
This is the place to visit for those looking for an all-inclusive holiday. Among others, you get to see ancient churches, waterfalls, clean beaches, and enjoy delicious foods. Moreover, you get the chance to dive and swim with the whales.

Kalanggaman Island - Leyte
Even though small in size, the island offers a quiet island that is gifted with distinct beauty. Specifically, the sandbar and the super clean waters are spectacular. It is ideal for couples who want to have a quite time. “We went to the island for our honeymoon and had a good time. This is the place to visit if you want a quite holiday in a great island with your partner” Remarked Emma who is a Travel Writer at custom writing service.

Irene Mathew is a Travel Blogger and Content Creator at Affordable Custom Writing. When she is not travelling or writing, you will find her working on freelance photography projects.

Llyod Copenbarger - An Estate Planning Attorney with Expertise on Estate Tax Laws

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Laws

As unpredictable as life is, most of us spend maximum part of our lives earning and banking in as much money as we can for securing the lives and future of those who we leave behind. But one major aspect that we generally tend to ignore or postpone it for future days to come is to plan as to how our property or assets will be dispersed among the family members. To avoid the situation where your property would be dispersed among the members as per the inheritance law, a common and timely resort would be to opt for Llyod Copenbarger estate planning attorney who holds expertise in the arena.

Having an extensive perspective regarding the procedure of probate as per your state together with state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the estate tax laws, Llyod Copenbarger ascertains that your absolute desire regarding the dispersion of your property among the members along with your health care demands are duly met. Coprebarger as an estate planning attorney will assist you no matter what in every aspect whether you wish to get a will drafted for your estate, modify the already running one to demonstrate an alteration in your social stratum or best weight distribution hitch whether it is to include points in you already existing one.

Copenbarger law firm also facilitates you to realize your estate planning goals depending upon your current financial position that would incorporate your investments and your properties. He as a professional attorney would also make clear the rational picture of the prospective requirements of the survivors and also bring forth a clear understanding of your own medical desires at your last minute.

Following these details, Llyod Copnebarger Estate Planning Attorney would illustrate you the finest substitutes so that you get to see that your estate and the designed will is followed as per your desire. Apart from discussing your will, they would also facilitate you with options to trim down your taxes and penalties incurred on your estate. In case there are changes in your personal lives, like you have remarried or have lost your partner, Llyod copenbarger would inform you regarding the required mandatory alterations to be made.

There might be certain conflicts that would arise possibly because of your change in the personal situation like you getting remarried and would like to include your new spouse’s name in the will which your children might oppose. In this situation, the attorney of the Copenbarger law firm would help you refrain from any such conflicting situation by drafting a will that would distribute the property and assets as per your own wish among your family members.

Llyod Copenbarger is a professional estate planning attorney who would outline and carry forward all the formalities regarding the legal documentation that would include your will, your medicinal instructions and important power of attorneys that would be mandatory to execute your desires. A comprehensive research would be carried out if required to ascertain that you save maximum tax and penalties and also some part of it is curtailed as per the state laws by having a meeting with the tax experts.


How Estates and Trusts Provide Asset Protection

One of the tenets of asset protection is that your plan must not look like one of asset protection. That purpose must be concealed behind some other justification for your business entities and their activities.

Estate planning can be very useful for this purpose. It can be the veil behind which you hide asset protection. Estate planning is a means to state what you want done with your properties and assets after you die. You can declare how much, if any, each of your heirs should receive. This allows your family to avoid paying for death taxes and a probate. A probate is a court-supervised process of distributing your wealth.

Estate planning becomes your justification for forming a Family Limited Liability Company. A Family Limited Liability Company (FLLC) is a business entity that you form and control as the recipient of your estate. It allows you to transfer your assets from your ownership to the FLLC’s. You can then assign shares of these assets to your heirs while remaining in control of them.

This strategy helps you avoid estate taxes as you can decrease the taxable value of your estate. Not only can you transfer property out of your possession, you can also decrease its value when you move it into an FLLC.

Notice that an FLLC’s assets are considered separate from your own. It now becomes unavailable to claims from attackers or from taxation. It becomes, in essence, an asset protection tool. This wonderful side benefit is a product of estate planning and is therefore unlikely to be held under suspicion.

This arrangement may still be improved. An FLLC would still need a bank account and creating one would require you to sign documents. This decreases your privacy. Your own life insurance is subject to estate tax. A tax that could be as high as 40%!

Using trusts helps you solve these problems. A privacy trust can be set up to be the manager of your FLLC. You may then have a trustee sign the documents on behalf of your FLLC. Using an “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust” also allows you to avoid estate taxes so long as the policy has been in the trust for at least three years before you pass away.

The intricacies of putting together trusts, estates and FLLCs are better explained at length in Chapter 3 of Michael Scott Ioane’s “Asset Protection Manual”. Do not forget that you also need to find someone you can trust to become your trustee; another need addressed by the book.



Bio: I’m Mark, a journalist. I used to see the meaning of life in creating news so that people knew the whole truth. I tried to work promptly, impartially and qualitatively. Now I’m writing a blog in which I describe about my experience and knowledge.

Ang Pinakamakisig sa mga Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To close its eighty-fourth Theater season, the Far Eastern University Theater Guild (FTG), in partnership with the President’s Committee on Culture (PCC), is proud to re-stage one of the most successful productions of the organization, “Ang Pinakamakisig sa mga Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig”, a journey that takes place on an island in the middle of the vast ocean.

FTG closes its season with a musical from RIsa Jopson’s adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s short story entitled “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”. “Ang Pinakamakisig sa mga Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig” is directed by Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) senior member, director and actor and FTG’s Artistic Director, Mr. Dudz Teraña. The musical production will be front-lined by the production’s original cast and the organization’s new members.

In an island where life is stagnant and stale, a mysterious creature washes ashore. Soon, the barren island will change. How would the natives react to this extraordinary day? How would this inconceivably perfect creature change their lives forever? We will be bringing you to a world where the splash of waves and the breeze of the winds blend with the ethereal yet soulful voices of the cast.

Come join us and together let us witness how we unfold the mystery of the handsomest drowned man in the world.

FTG’s “Ang Pinakamakisig sa mga Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig” will run from
October 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 2018
6:30PM at The  PCC Center Studio, Ground Floor Technology Building – FEU Manila

Ticket prices are 100php  for the FEU Community with valid I.D. And 200php for guests.

For inquiries please contact us:
FEU Theater Guild : 09970765168
President’s Committee on Culture (02) 736 4897

Or visit the FEU Theater Guild’s social media accounts for more details,
Facebook.com/FarEasternUniversityTheaterGuild Twitter @feutheaterguild

Mexican Films Based on Classic Literature at Instituto Cervantes Intramuros

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Mexico invite the public to enjoy the richness and variety of Mexican cinema through La Literatura en el Cine Mexicano, Mexican films based on classic literary works, every Saturday this September, 6 p.m., at the new Intramuros branch of the Spanish cultural center, located at Casa Azul, Plaza San Luis Complex.

The film series features classics from the Golden Period of Mexican Cinema, such as La Rosa Blanca (1961), Los Albañiles (1976), Doña Bárbara (1943), Santa (1931) and Pedro Páramo (1967).

The cycle kicked off last September 1 with the screening of La Rosa Blanca, which tells the story of a peasant called Jacinto Yañez, who owns a ranch in the middle of the land that foreign oil companies have acquired for their exploitation. An oil company representative offers Jacinto a huge amount of money for his land but he declines, triggering a series of problems for his family. Directed by Roberto Gavaldón and based on B. Traven's novel, the film dramatizes the struggle for control over Mexico's oil resources in the 1920s.

On September 8, the program continues with Los Albañiles, which was helmed by Jorge Fons from the novel by Vicente Leñero. The film explores several cases of widespread corruption and neglect linked to some unsolved crimes. When a watchman is found murdered on a construction side, the investigation swiftly turns from the criminal to the political aspects surrounding the building which might have brought the situation about.

The Mexican romantic drama Doña Bárbara will be shown on September 15. Directed by Fernando de Fuentes and based on screenwriter and Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos' classic novel, the film zeroes in on the encounter between the titular character and a young lawyer. Doña Bárbara is a woman who, after a dark past, becomes a powerful and wealthy landowner. She takes out her hostilities on the weaker male sex in her country. 

Meanwhile, a young man returns after studying law in Caracas to recover and take charge of his property in the Venezuelan plain controlled by his ruthless, seductive and mysterious neighbor Doña Bárbara. She falls in love with him and tries to make him hers at any cost.

On September 22, the film cycle will screen Santa directed by Antonio Moreno from the novel by Federico Gamboa. The melodrama, considered to be Mexico's first talking picture, tells the story of a beautiful, innocent Mexican girl who lives happily with her family until a soldier, Marcelino, arrives in her hometown, seduces and abandons her. The young woman, who got married to the soldier against her family's wishes, suffers from the shame of her wrong decisions and turns to a life of prostitution, becoming the most popular working girl.

The program concludes on September 29 with the drama Pedro Páramo. Directed by Carlos Velo and based on Juan Rulfo's famous novel, it chronicles the journey of a young man named Juan Preciado in search of his father, Pedro Páramo. Juan arrives at Comala to demand what is rightfully his, due to a promise given to his mother on her death bed.

All films are in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit the Instituto Cervantes’ website (http://manila.cervantes.es) or Instituto Cervantes Facebook page (www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila).

MARINA Probes Cebu Ferry Fire

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is conducting an investigation on passenger ferry MV Lite Ferry 28 that caught fire Sunday, 02 September 2018, in Cebu.

Personnel of MARINA regional office 7 and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are currently assisting all 92 passengers and 29 crew onboard who were rescued, while they probe the cause of the fire.

Initial report revealed that the fire emerged from the ferry’s engine room at 11:45 AM while it was about to dock at the Port of Taloot in Argao, Cebu. The ship left Tagbilaran Port in Bohol at 8:00 AM.

Private cargo ship LCT Miami docked at Taloot Port immediately rescued and transported all passengers and crew to the port.

Two more vessels — PCG's BRP Capones and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)'s MCS 3007 — rendered assistance and firefighting operations.

With the prompt assistance extended during the incident, the fire was immediately declared out.

At 12:45 PM, the distressed ferry was towed towards the shore for a thorough investigation.

National Civil Engineering Summit 2018: A Primer

Wazzup Pilipinas!

At the core of civil engineering is service. In the 13th National Civil Engineering Summit (NCES), UP Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES) challenges its delegates to fortify the pillars upon which the civil engineering profession is built—to build for the nation.

With more than 5,000 delegates from 13 regions in the Philippines, UP ACES once again holds the biggest gathering of civil engineering students and professionals in the country. Stretching to a 7-day event, we understand you might get lost somewhere so here’s a complete guide of NCES 2018.

Day 1: Jumpstart

On September 12, NCES will be launched in the UP Institute of Civil Engineering (UP ICE) with a thanksgiving ceremony, followed by a luncheon open for everyone. This event highlights the ribbon-cutting of an exhibit showcasing civil engineering in action.

Day 2: InCEthink

On September 15, InCEthink will be held for its high school participants in UP NISMED Auditorium and UP ICE. Together with the Bridge Building Competition, High School Laboratory Tour and Career Talk are also held to give them an overview of the profession.

Day 3 & 4: CE Career Fair

The newest addition to the bigtime events of NCES is the CE Career Fair to be held on September 18-19 in UP ICE. This event aims to connect students of UP ICE to corporate entities such as DMCI Homes to jumpstart their career through Job Fair and Company Talk.

Day 5 & 6: National Civil Engineering Symposium

On September 20-21, the National Civil Engineering Symposium will embark with a big crowd of more than 4,000 delegates at the UP University Theater. With the theme At the Forefront: Highlighting the Role of Civil Engineering as a Catalyst in Nation-Building, distinguished professionals will share their expertise in fields such as transportation, construction, and environmental engineering. Simultaneous with this are the following events: Job Fair, Company Talk, College Laboratory Tour, and lastly, AdvanCE: The Six Fields of Civil Engineering.

Day 7: National Civil Engineering Quiz

On September 22, the National Civil Engineering Quiz (NCEQ), the biggest civil engineering quiz bowl in the country, will be held at GT Toyota, UP Diliman. With questions from different facets of civil engineering, 120 teams compete for academic supremacy to win a total cash prize of 100,000 Php. Along with the NCEQ, Job Fair and Company Talk will also be held.

The green light has been signaled. The National Civil Engineering Summit 2018 commences this September 12. There’s a question waiting to be answered:

What do you want to build for the nation?

#TheHowsOfUs of KathNiel Leaves Twitter in an Emotional Whirlwind

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Team KathNiel deals with a dilemma on love and career aspirations

The much-awaited comeback of Daniel Padilla (@imdanielpadilla) and Kathryn Bernardo (@bernardokath) in the big screen has finally happened, and KathNiel fans tuned in on Twitter as they countdown on the premiere and show their full support on KathNiel’s new movie, The Hows Of Us (@TheHowsOfUs).

As the preferred platform to share#WhatsHappening in Philippines’ entertainment scene, Twitter brings to light the dedication and commitment of fans in the Philippines and around the world for the Teen King and Queen. Below is the heat map on the movie premiere day.

#TheHowsOfUs tells the story of a long-time couple who have very different career aspirations: Primo played by Daniel Padilla  (@imdanielpadilla), is a member of a rock band chasing stardom, while his partner George played by Kathryn Bernardo (@bernardokath) has her eyes set on being a doctor. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia Molina (@cgm1326).

From the announcement of the release date of the movie up to the premiere, you can feel the KathNiel fever. Fans have been all out on Twitter from expressing their praises for the jam-packed movie mall shows, and as the movie received highly coveted Grade A rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) and Rated PG by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

This particular comeback of KathNiel is even bigger with the release of the#THOUBook or The Hows Of Us: How to love and unlove book that made a lot of fans even more excited on what will happen in the movie. The book is a compilation of all the answers from the netizens about their love stories and thoughts together with the love story of Primo and George.

Fans were overwhelmed by the rawness and reality of the movie, which still came as a refreshing surprise to them. Tweets upon Tweets of appreciation and praise poured as quickly from favorite lines and scenes in the movie,

People were all praises for the veteran director, Cathy Garcia-Molina (@cgm1326)for being able to create such compelling movies that move the hearts of those who watch it.

A lot of celebrities and co-stars of KathNiel came on Twitter to express their love and praises on the movie and the Teen King and Queen.

The film is produced by Star Cinema and is now showing across cinemas nationwide. In for some major hugot with your loved ones? Be sure to check this movie out and don’t forget to Tweet your thoughts using#TheHowsOfUs.

#PinoyPride as Two Filipinos Join the Roster of the 2018 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two Filipinos bring pride to the Philippines as they enter the roster of this year’s JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (JCI TOYP).

HIV advocate and educator Ronivin “Vinn” Pagtakhan, and political analyst and academician Richard Javad Heydarian are joining eight other young active global citizens as honorees of the 2018 JCI TOYP. Other honorees came from Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Romania, Syria, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Humanitarian-Voluntary Leadership

For his compassion for those living with HIV and dedication to empower the LGBT community, Vinn Pagtakhan has been named JCI TOYP Honoree in the category of humanitarian and voluntary leadership.

Over the past decade, cases of HIV have increased exponentially in the Philippines, one of the few countries with a rising incidence of the disease at an average of 31 diagnoses per day. The growth is attributed to the lack of knowledge on HIV prevention, care and support, which has worsened by the stigma around HIV causing many individuals to hide and avoid seeking help. 

Pagtakhan started on Twitter by giving honest and accessible health advices to people asking, mostly about HIV and sexually transmitted infections. This brought Pagtakhan and six of his friends to establish the organization LoveYourself in 2011. 

LoveYourself aims to open self-sustaining resource clinics for the youth and LGBT communities, offering free HIV-related services such education, testing and counseling, treatment, care and support, as well as become a model community to other community-based HIV organizations around the Philippines.

To date, Pagtakhan’s group is serving free HIV testing to around 30,000 clients yearly on its three community centers, and free HIV treatment to around 2,500 Filipinos living with HIV. The organization bridges the gaps in the HIV continuum of care by scaling up HIV testing, linking diagnosed persons with treatment and counseling, and creating a community that has led to reduced loss of life.

Moreover, Pagtakhan empowers the LGBT community and the Filipino youth to recognize their own value and self-worth, take care of their health and well-being, and in the process, join in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Political, Legal and Governmental Affairs

As a leading global expert on security issues across Asia, Richard Javad Heydarian earned a spot in this year’s JCI TOYP.

Heydarian primarily uses his communication skills -writing - for Filipinos to further understand the country’s geopolitical and national issues in an effort to influence a better socioeconomic and political thinking of the Philippine society. 

Along with writing renowned publications including How Capitalism Failed the Arab World and most recently The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy, Heydarian serves as a non-partisan policy advisor and socially-engaged scholar to explore the most pressing political and socioeconomic challenges of our time.

Heydarian has written around 1000 articles and a common resource person by leading local and international media outlets. 

Through these regular media engagements, Heydarian was able to inform not only the Filipinos but all citizens of the world, and raise consciousness about the key challenges facing the world for a more constructive national and international dialogue, inspiring a new generation of leaders who will push boundaries to create positive and lasting change for a better Philippines and a better world.

Beware of LPG-Refilled Butane Canisters — DOE

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Friday warned the public on the emergence of illegally LPG-refilled butane canisters that circulate in provincial markets following the buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Cebu City Police Office Station 1 in Barangay T. Padilla public market last 24 August.

Sec. Cusi also reiterated the DOE's mandate to ensure the safety of the people by monitoring the quality and quantity of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) being sold in the market. 

The Energy Secretary said the buy-bust operations are part of the continuing efforts of the DOE and PNP to eliminate the proliferation of LPG-refilled butane canisters in the province. He urged consumers to refrain from patronizing said products.

“LPG-refilled butane canisters are extremely dangerous, especially since butane canisters should only be used once. Refilling these tin canisters with LPG could cause fire and also greatly endangers the lives of our consumers,” Sec. Cusi said in a statement.

Sec. Cusi also noted that a number of fire incidents caused by leaking canisters refilled with LPG have already been reported. 

The Energy Chief commended the efforts of the DOE-Visayas Field Office (VFO), the province of Cebu, particularly the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, as well as the local police for enforcing the laws that protect the public against illegal practices in the LPG industry. 

Three individuals were arrested in Parian, Cebu for trading LPG-refilled butane canisters. They were identified as Ramir Amaca, Romeo Apparece and Romeo Cuevas, according to the report by the DOE-VFO.

The three were arrested for violating Batas Pambansa 33, as amended by Presidential Decree 1865 after being caught selling and possessing 638 illegally refilled and empty canisters.

DOE-VFO records also show that in Cebu province alone, more than 30 individuals have already been arrested after being caught trading LPG-refilled butane canisters.

The proliferation of this illegal practice is becoming even more pronounced given that 63,055 LPG-refilled and 150,821 empty butane canisters were confiscated in Cebu from early 2017 until August 2018. 

The DOE is also urging local government units and their officials to stop such illegal activities in their jurisdictions and to support the #ESafety campaign of the agency to protect the people.

The DOE further encouraged PNP members in all localities to intensify their law-enforcement campaign against illegal traders of energy products.

The Energy Department assures the public they will continue to monitor illegal activities in the energy industry that pose a threat to the lives of the people. It will likewise provide technical assistance to the police authorities on the apprehension of individuals involved in illegal practices.

Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka

Wazzup Pilipinas!

September 19 in Cinemas Nationwide

“Dahil ang totoong pag-ibig, hindi basta lang nakakalimutan”

 

Multi-talented actress Alex Gonzaga is a broken-hearted girl who remembers her ex-lover through every word and phrase she voices out in her latest drama-comedy flick NAKALIMUTAN KO NANG KALIMUTAN KA.

 

Gonzaga, who plays Jaz Cruz, considers changing her heart, literally. The now distraught girl walks alone in a bid to forget her past love, which is revealed to be portrayed by hunk actor Vin Abrenica.

 

Jaz’s world seems to have stopped every time she remembers all the memories of her past with her ex-lover. In a quest to forget their moments together, she turns to Doctor Rolex (portrayed by veteran actress Candy Pangilinan) and best friend (portrayed by Jerald Napoles) for help.

 

The movie is full of bittersweet moments and “hugot”, guaranteed to keep you swooning, laughing, and crying as you go along on Jaz’s mission to free herself of the memories.

 

Also starring Rufa Mae Quinto, Jayson Gainza, Loisa Andalio, Alora Sasam, Joj Agpangan, Jai Agpangan, Ricci Chan, Juan Miguel Severo and Keiko Necesario. The film is written and directed by Fifth Solomon. Produced by Wilbros Films – a new film company by top concert promoter, Wilbros Live. Showing on September 19 in cinemas nationwide – Philippines.

 

Follow @WilbrosFilms on social media to know more about the film and get exclusive contents from #NakalimutanKoNa

View FULL TRAILER: https://youtu.be/Yz5-DdsL480

Download FULL TRAILER and POSTER here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iBs_ALfn7U-Y1WEvwtdPlnuFlaEuP9ol