​68th Palanca Awards Issues Last Call for Entries

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Calling all writers and aspiring Palanca awardees! With the deadline of submission set on 31 May 2018 until 6pm ONLY, participants are highly encouraged to send in their entries now.

Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your entries to the 68^th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. As a reminder, you may submit only one entry per category. This year’s Palanca Awards is accepting entries for 20 categories:

·         English Division - Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;

·         Filipino Division - Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;

·         Regional Languages Division - Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano;

·         Kabataan Division - Kabataan Essay and Kabataan Sanaysay

o   Kabataan Essay: “How will you encourage the Filipino youth to read more books?”

o   Kabataan Sanaysay: “Paano mo hihikayatin ang mga kabataang Pilipino na magbasa pa ng mga aklat?”

Entries may be submitted directly or by mail or courier to the Palanca Foundation office at Ground Floor, Greenbelt Excelsior Bldg., 105 C. Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Winners will be honored in a special ceremony later this year.

For more information, visit the websitewww.palancaawards.com.ph or contact cpmawards@gmail.com / (632) 843-8277. Look for Ms. Leslie Layoso.

DOTr Crackdown Againat Corruption Continues, 2 LTFRB Employees Face Possible Dismissal for Extortion

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two employees of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are now facing possible dismissal from service, after being allegedly involved in corruption.

On 23 May 2018, the LTFRB assisted in filing an estafa case at the Quezon City Prosecutors Office against Jean Gunda, an employee of LTFRB-NCR, for allegedly collecting money in exchange of a taxi franchise.

Mr. Rogelio Colita, a taxi franchise applicant from Mandaluyong City sought the help of the LTFRB Main Office to formally lodge a complaint against Gunda.

According to LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada, Colita’s sworn affidavit says that Gunda promised to help him secure a taxi franchise sometime in April 2016 in exchange of PhP175,000.

“Although there was no written agreement, the complainant allegedly personally handed over PhP175,000 to Gunda in her office in Quezon City. But, after more than a year of waiting and constant follow up, not a single franchise surfaced, which prompted the complainant to bring the matter to proper authorities,” BM Lizada said.

According to Colita, Gunda offered to pay him PhP5,000 every month, but he declined as he needed the money in full. 

Meanwhile, Amelia Dela Cruz, transportation development officer of LTFRB-NCR is also facing a complaint filed before the Ombudsman for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty, grave misconduct and falsification of documents, and was directed to present her counter affidavit and witnesses before the Ombudsman.

A video of Dela Cruz surfaced extorting PhP250,000 from an unnamed complainant in exchange of a UV Express franchise.

LTFRB Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra, upon the instructions of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, has ordered thorough investigation and filing of appropriate administrative charges against the involved employees.

“Patunay ito na wala tayong kinukunsinte. Mataas o mababa ang posisyon, basta may iligal na aktibidad, tayo mismo ang magsusuplong sa kanila. Hindi ako papayag na sayangin nila ang pagod natin na linisin ang hanay ng LTFRB”, said Delgra.

For his part, Tugade issued a fair warning not only to corrupt employees but to the public as well. 

“Dumaan po tayo sa proseso. Ang pagsupil sa korapsyon, two-way ‘yan. ‘Wag niyo ilapit sa tukso ang mga empleyado kasi tayo po mismo ang naglalagay sa mga sarili natin sa alanganin. Gawin natin ang tama. Paalala lang sa lahat: Kung ayaw ninyo kaming maging korap, ‘wag niyo kaming korapin. Doon naman sa magpapatukso, yariin ko talaga kayo. Alam niyong hindi ako nagbibiro,” said Tugade.

Paw-some! Araneta Center is Now Pet-friendly

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Already considered as the premium live-work-play community in the country, Araneta Center opens its doors to the cutest members of your families—your pets—as it officially becomes a pet-friendly destination.

Already considered as the premium live-work-play community in the country, Araneta Center opens its doors to the cutest members of your families—your pets—as it officially becomes a pet-friendly destination.

Araneta Center will be celebrating the paw-sitive development when it launches its Pet Pals program with a pet soiree on Sunday, May 27, at the Gateway Mall Activity Area.

Pet owners and their fur babies will be treated to an afternoon of bonding and talks on taking care of pets despite the owners’ busy schedules and on first aid for pets facilitated by experts Jester Jo Onchuan and Dr. Flori-Ann Buiser. A handful of cute freebies—including leashes for the early birds—will also be given to the attendees and their pets. The Quezon City Hall Animal Care and Disease Control Division will also administer free rabies vaccination.

Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Jehza Huelar and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Eva Patalinjug will also join in the fun and share their fun stories about their own pets.

Now that it is pet-friendly, Araneta Center will start allowing owners to bring their pets to the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza and other parts of the Center, provided that they have secured the Pet Pals ID.

Owners who want to apply for the Pet Pals ID only have to submit the following requirements to the malls’ concierges: original and photocopy of rabies vaccination record, 1x1 colored photos, and Pet Pals ID application form, which is also downloadable on www.aranetacenter.net. The ID will be given for free.

The temporary Pet Pals Day Pass IDs will also be available to those who have yet to complete the requirements.

Even after they have secured their Pet Pals ID, pet owners still have to be responsible in bringing their pets around the Center by keeping them on a leash while they are walking, carrying them while riding escalators and elevators and cleaning after their wastes.

For other guidelines on this initiative, visit Araneta Center’s website and follow it on its social media pages: @AranetaCenter on Facebook and Twitter and @TheAranetaCenter on Instagram.

CAPTION: Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Jehza Huelar, a dog lover, will grace Araneta Center's Pet Pals launch on Sunday, May 27, at the Gateway Mall Activity Area.