Former Congressman, Transport Official Vouches for Tugade

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Former Representative of Southern Leyte Roger Mercado assailed as baseless and politically-motivated the attacks against Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Mercado, who also served as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Legal Affairs of the old Department of Transportation and Communications during the Arroyo administration, said Tugade possesses the brand of leadership that the government needs.

“Sec. Tugade is working hard to do something about our present traffic situation. He is strong-willed and unyielding. He’s the kind of leader that doesn’t seem to take ‘no’ for an answer. He’s impatient, and that’s good because he gets things done,” said Mercado.

Mercado was commenting on recent attacks made by the so-called Road Users Protection Advocates (RUPA), which has been advocating for the ouster of Tugade.

“This group has not laid down a single advocacy for road users. It is very clear that the only thing they care about is for Tugade to leave the DOTr,” he added.

Mercado said significant changes in traffic flow have yet to be felt, but he insists that it is worth giving Tugade and the DOTr a chance.

The former transport official also added that transport infrastructure and other initiatives are long overdue and it is better for the public and supposed advocacy groups to rally behind DOTr than zero in on besmirching Tugade’s reputation.

The Entrepreneurial Heartset

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Researches show that 50% of startup businesses fail within a year, 80% fail in five years, and a whopping 96% in ten. Simply put, out of 100 businesses, only 4 will live up to a decade!

Such staggering numbers would leave us asking what went wrong. Is it the product? The pricing structure? The marketing strategy? Did the business owner fail to “unlock his entrepreneurial mindset”?

1. Speaking at DTI's Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Cagayan de Oro

I am no business guru nor an MBA, but I can speak based on my own experience as an entrepreneur, whose company just celebrated its 11th anniversary last October (*confetti*).

In 2005, I built my voiceover company, Creativoices Productions, not because I wanted to compete against other recording studios or to earn big money doing voiceovers. I built the company in order to open the first and only voice acting school in the country, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting. My mission was to open the door of the voice acting industry to anyone who aspires to be part of it, and to equip them with the tools, skills and techniques they need to succeed. I know in my heart that my business is a success not because of the profit it generates, but because of the impact it has on the industry. I’m also proud to say that my contributions to the voice acting industry was recognized even by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, more popularly known as Go Negosyo, when I was awarded as Most Inspiring Bataeno Microentrepreneur in 2009. Since then, I have been one of Go Negosyo’s “Angelpreneurs,” as a business mentor focusing on Youth Entrepreneurship.

One Championship Announces Blockbuster 2017 Schedule

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced its blockbuster 2017 schedule.

This past year, ONE Championship delivered world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) action to iconic Asian cities across the region, breaking into new Chinese markets while continuing to delight fans in key Asian destinations. The promotion also successfully held a live event at the Cotai Arena in glitzy Macau, and became the first-ever major MMA promotion to hold a live event in Bangkok, Thailand.

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “2016 has been a phenomenal year for ONE Championship. It was absolutely historic for the promotion and 2017 promises to be even better.

“With the addition of key senior leaders to aid ONE with our growth plans, the promotion is in an unbelievable position to make some major waves in the global MMA industry. Together we aim to deliver fans a continuously unique experience that they will never forget.

“ONE Championship is coming out in full force to hold electric live events all over mainland China, with plans to break into new and exciting markets in Vietnam, South Korea and Japan. I know fans can’t wait for ONE to come to town. Get ready for one of the biggest years in MMA.”