Badjao Girl Rita Gabiola Scores Photoshoot and Scholarship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dream comes true for a very special little 13 year old girl from Estancia, Iloilo who became social media's little darling. Sometimes dreams do come true. Online sensation Rita Gabiola, popularly known as "Badjao Girl," was treated to a makeover. This girl is a gem! She got really something special. Those eyes that need no explanations. It says everything. Beautiful in and out, and of substance, a rarity these days. From 0 to 10 real quick. That's what a 'good face' can do. 

She lands a scholarship from a sponsor, other promises of aid, and now check out her stunning photos below.

I hope help is provided, not only to Rita Gabiola, the Badjao girl who caught the attention of many because she's a beauty, but also to every native who wants to reach their dreams. As the song goes, "You know it's you babe..." When you photograph beauty today, it becomes a memorable past. Tomorrow's generations will be forever grateful of that ‪‎moment‬.

I'm happy for her. I could understand our fascination with aesthetics though I hope we can transcend that initial stage and seek meritorious system that will encourage the not-so-aesthetically gifted people to strive and be rewarded. I hope other Badjao children get the help they need through sustainable access to education and economic opportunities. May this media exposure help their tribes to have proper education, support, livelihood and other things that most of us have been experiencing.

Her only dream is to become a teacher someday and brings hope to the Badjao community and to help her family by getting viral through social media. There are always good things in store for all of us. We just don't know when they come. Just keep the faith for they will be provided in the most unexpected way.

Videos: Harte Hanks MOA Launch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Opening ceremonies including a small program, a ribbon-cutting and a media tour were held at the Harte Hanks’ BPO facility located at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex in Pasay City, Present at the event were Pasay Mayor Calixto’s representative, Atty. Ray Glenn Agranzamendez, Acie Arroyo-Cruz of IBPAP, Nikki Gilladoga, AVP of SM Prime, Butch Valenzuela of CCAP, Benjamin Chacko, Harte Hanks’ Head of BPO Operations and Jonathan Bondoc, Site Director ofHarte Hanks Philippines.

Moderator during the short discussion was ANC Anchor Ron Cruz.

The Pasay facility, situated at Five E-Com Center, consolidates both of Harte Hanks Philippines’ former primary and secondary locations and creates seats for hundreds of additional new employees.

The US-based firm’s Manila affiliate employs about 2,000 IT-BPO workers, majority of whom are assigned at its primary location in Fort Bonifacio, Global City.

Jonathan Bondoc, Site Director for Harte Hanks Philippines, said the company prides itself as a BPO with a low-attrition rate, or turnover of employees, focusing on in-house programs that engage, enable and retain personnel.

“Our employees generally stay for the culture and work environment we provide,” Bondoc stressed. “We pride ourselves in a culture that is inclusive and embraces diversity.”

Below are videos from the event:

Videos: Book Museum cum Ethnology Center Tour

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We were fortunate to be among the few selected to be part of the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center tour. This awesome underrated attraction is located in Marikina Heights and is hardly noticeable unless you take a closer peek of the insides of this establishment.

From the name itself, they offer not just a broad collection of rare books but also a great number of artifacts from both local and foreign sources which comprise their "ethnology center" part. They have three buildings of which two are sort of dedicated for the ethnology part, aside from the ladies dormitory at one building which they use as a source of income to maintain their collection.

You'd be surprised to find out that the owner, Atty. Dominador Buhain, of the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center is the same owner of the Rex Bookstore. But the bookstore came first, and the collection is a result of the owner's numerous travel in and out of the country which earned him the recognition as among the most traveled individuals in the world.

We decided to take videos so our readers would get an actual walk-through of the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center  so they could somehow experience the same amazement.

Of course, nothing beats being there in person so I encourage everyone to visit this place. Details can be found at their Facebook page or you can refer to our previous blog post about them.

The big bonus about the tour is that they packaged it with some lunch and snacks from two different restaurants. The organizers sure know how to pamper their guests.