Duterte-Cayetano Says Philippines on the Brink of Becoming a Narco State

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The tandem of presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano today warned that if the disorder brought by illegal drugs will not end, the country will become a narco state. The tandem commits to end the "drug chaos" for the benefit of the Filipino people.

In a statement, Duterte said the country is showing alarming signs of becoming a narco state. "In the national capital region (NCR) where the country's capital is situated, the government admitted that 92 percent of barangays are already infiltrated by illegal drugs. If Manila, the country's seat of power, is helpless to address this, what more the other parts of the country where government presence is weak?" The tough-talking mayor said.

Duterte also noted the presence of international drug syndicates in the country, such as the Sinaloa drug cartel, a Mexican-based group considered the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the west.

"This is a clear national security threat. This is an invasion of a new kind. Drug lords, domestic and foreign, have declared a war against our families and children, and the government is helpless about it," Duterte said.

The duo said if elected, they will implement a combination of national, regional and international strategies to combat drug trafficking. "On the national level, we will strengthen and capacitate our security forces. We will cleanse the ranks of the police and military of the corrupt, provide better salaries and incentives and modernize their anti-narcotics infrastructure," Cayetano explained.
"We will also strengthen the five pillars of our criminal justice system. Drug trafficking thrives best in countries where there is grave insecurity and injustice," Cayetano added.

Luminescence Dreamscapes 2016: 18th Solo Exhibit of Maria Victoria Rufino

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Peninsula Manila presents Luminescence DREAMSCAPES 2016, the 18th solo exhibit of new mixed media by MARÍA VICTORIA RUFINO.

Opening Cocktails on Tuesday, 2 February 2016 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. to be held at The Gallery, of Peninsula Manila. Proceeds will benefit Child Protection Network Foundation. Exhibit runs from Feb 3 to 7, 2016 Gallery hours: 10am-7pm

María Victoria Rufino - Filipino artist, writer, concert producer and businesswoman – graduated with honors from Marymount Manhattan College, New York with a Liberal Arts degree, major in Theater Arts and English Literature.

Born in the Philippines, she attended high school in Barcelona, Spain and Rome, Italy where she graduated valedictorian.She studied painting in both the Western and Chinese tradition (Ling Nan) under various masters in Manila and New York. She has held 17 solo exhibitions in Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; San Francisco, California and Manila. A regular columnist for Business World newspaper, her first book, “Beyond Brushstrokes”, an anthology of profiles of significant Filipinos (Bookmark 1995) was launched at the Ayala Museum, Manila. She has written essays for various award winning anthologies and publications. “ROMANZA” a book of poetry by Virgilio S. Almario (RIO ALMA) National Artist for Literature, with translation by Marne L. Kilates, and artworks by Marivic Rufino was launched in Manila, 2009 and at Museo Nacional de Anthropologia in Madrid, 2011 together with her solo exhibition.

As President and executive producer of Maverick Productions, she has produced dinner theatre plays in the Philippines, and musical concerts in the United States, Italy, Hongkong and the Philippines. In 1990, she won a national award ‘Gawad CCP for “Best Television Special” from the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ms. Rufino has served as Board Member and Vice president of Alliance Française de Manille (1998-2005). She serves as vice-chairman-director of Philippine Red Cross - Makati City Branch of Rizal Chapter.

Twin Bill Theater Presents Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Twin Bill Theater presents "Dog Sees God"

February 11, 12, 13, 14 and 26 at 8PM and February 14 at 2:30PM
Venue: Staple and Perk, Eco Plaza, Pasong Tamo Ext. Makati.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is a play written by Bert V. Royal.

An "unauthorized parody," the play imagines characters from the popular comic strip Peanuts as teenagers. Drug use, child sexual abuse, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, sexual relations and identity are among the issues covered in this drama.

In 2004 it was one of the breakout hits at the New York International Fringe Festival, winning the Excellence Award for Best Overall Production, as well as Theatermania's Play Award of 2004, the GLAAD Media Award for Best Off-Off-Broadway production, Broadway.com's 2006 Audience Award for Favorite Off-Broadway Production and the 2006 HX Award for Best Play.

Featuring Nelsito Gomez, Sarah Facurii, Gab Medina, Vince Lim, Maronne Cruz, Kathleen Francisco, Brian Sy, and Camille Velicaria.