AirAsia is Geeks on a Beach Official Airline Partner

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AirAsia Philippines is the official airline partner of this year’s Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech and startup confab.

This year’s edition of GOAB, renowned for its unconventional work and play by the beach format, will be held in Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Hotel in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on August 24-25.

AirAsia, which has been supporting GOAB since 2015, is servicing several flights to Puerto Princesa, Palawan from Manila and has recently introduced flights from Davao and Cebu to Palawan last April.

“For the third straight year, AirAsia is supporting GOAB as part of our efforts to support promising startups and grow the tech scene in the Philippines,” said Captain Dexter Comendador CEO of AirAsia Philippines.

The airline, known as Asia’s leading and largest low-cost carrier, is also renowned for transforming air travel into a more convenient experience with tech innovations like web, mobile app, e-boarding pass and kiosk services.

“By giving startups, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs a global stage for new learnings and opportunities for meeting potential partners, GOAB has more than made a difference and we are thrilled to partner with AirAsia, a truly Asean airline and a global brand,” said Tina Amper, TechTalks Founder and GOAB Lead Organizer.

Some of the brightest minds in the industry from the USA, Singapore and other countries will be present at this year’s GOAB. Invited to speak are Yobie Benjamin of Token.io and ClickSWITCH.com, Chris McCann of Greylock Partners, Kay-Mok Ku of Gobi Ventures, Manny Ayala of Endeavor, Aldo Carrascoso of GylcoProX Biosciences, Prasad Vanga of Anthill Ventures, Robertson Chiang of Dragonpay Corporation Miguel Perez of Ayannah, Jason Torres of Ticketbase.com, and Chris Tran of North Ridge Partners.

PLDT, Smart, Voyager, PayMaya, ePLDT, Smart DevNet, PLDT Enterprise, and PLDT Innolab, and Ideaspace are supporting GOAB as co-presenters while ASPACE Philippines is co-producer. GOAB is held in partnership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palaweño ICT Association, and DOST-PCIEERD.

GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, powered by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks. For registration or partnership information or further details, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, follow on Twitter/Facebook Geeks On A Beach, or contact hello@GeeksOnABeach.com.

Coke Studio: OPM Artists Collab for Special Music Offerings on TV5

Wazzup Pilipinas!
We often see singers, musicians, artists, and many others in similar fields in entertainment collaborate to produce alternative offerings to their fans or audience. You'll see them partner with each other at albums, concerts and gigs, but I believe this is the first time that a collaboration as big as this one, spearheaded by Coca-Cola Philippines, has ever been made.

The softdrink brand has put together several artists in one project which grouped several artists into two, to come up with musical offerings that fans would go gaga over - preferably for a long time and not just a fad.

Based on studies, OPM artists are still preferred as second to foreign ones. Filipinos still love to hear music from foreigners rather than our very own Filipino musicians. Well, we need not tell you that we still have a long way to go to reach 100% patriotism, which also probably why it makes us a lot more knowledgeable when it comes to content outside the Philippines. Interesting enough, we would see foreign artists frequently being flown in the country for special concerts at fabulously high ticket prices, while Filipino artists get an itsy bitsy of that.

We have to commend Coca-Cola for sponsoring such an activity, and TV5 for broadcasting these special collaborations among artists. We need more of these to keep OPM alive and kicking because we believe that we can soar higher with regards to the music industry if only we make and maintain OPM as cool as foreign music.

Court Denies TRO on PUV Modernization

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The PUV Modernization Program is still a go.

This, after Quezon City RTC Branch 80 denied yesterday, 14 August 2017, the application for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed by Angat Tsuper Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas - Genuine Organization Inc. (Stop & Go) against the implementation of Department Order No. ‎2017-011, otherwise known as the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG), issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) last 19 June 2017.

In a statement, Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement, emphasized that the granting of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) to PUV operators is not a right, but a mere privilege, subject to police power of the state through the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Usec. Yebra likewise argued that there is no urgency and irreparable injury that will justify issuance of the TRO as the target roll-out and full implementation of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) is still in 2018, and that LTFRB has not yet issued the necessary Memorandum Circulars as basis of specific implementation schedules.

As a major component of the PUVMP, the OFG introduces reforms in granting of franchises by implementing new rules in planning routes and improving standards for operators and vehicles. Under the Guidelines, local government units (LGUs) will plan public transport routes based on the current travel patterns in their areas. These routes will be reflected in the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of LGUs which will serve as basis for the issuance of franchise by the LTFRB.

The release of the OFG has paved the way for the lifting of the moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for the issuance of CPCs, which was in force since 2003. This forms part of the PUVMP that seeks to provide safer, more comfortable and environmentally sustainable mode of public transport to commuters by upgrading vehicles to meet international safety, energy efficiency and emission standards.

Other proposed specifications of vehicles under the PUVMP include an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a GPS navigation system, dashboard cameras, Wi-Fi, and speed limiters.