Mercury Drug Partners with Enchanted Kingdom for a Special Anniversary Promo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines’ leading drugstore is turning 75 this year, and in celebration of their special milestone, they partner with the first and only premier theme park in the country, Enchanted Kingdom, to give its valued Suki a magical treat.

All Mercury Drug Suki and My Wallet card holders are entitled to avail of a discounted Regular Day Pass tickets. Price starts at P725.00 on weekdays and P825.00 on weekends from March 7-29, 2020!

Promo is open to ALL walk-in guests upon presentation of their MERCURY DRUG SUKI CARD, MERCURY DRUG MY WALLET CARD or MDC Employee ID. Maximum of ten (10) discounted tickets may be availed per card or ID/day. Discounted tickets are not valid for rebooking. Promo is available at the Makati Sales Office, Group Sales Office, and the Park’s Front Gate ticket booths. Promo is not valid in conjunction with any other promo including the Senior Citizen, PWD, and other special discounts.

For more information, please call 0939-935-3535 / (+632) 8 830 3535 or send an e-mail to ekcorpmarketing@gmail.com. To get fresh updates and announcements, don’t forget to like Enchanted Kingdom’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph.

DOTr: Driver's License Exam to be Translated in Different Languages

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to make the driver’s licensure exam available in English, Filipino or the language most common in the region.

Signed by Sec. Tugade, Department Order 2020-003, issued on 14 February 2020, states:

“In the interest of justice and for the effective enforcement of land transportation laws, the DOTr recognizes the need to afford examinees the opportunity to fully comprehend the Driver’s License Examination.”

According to Secretary Tugade, the initiative is a product of his dialogue with Davao Oriental 2nd District Representative Joel Mayo Z. Almario, which proves that no one has the monopoly of ideas in the road sector.

“Sa isang pulong, hiningi ni Cong. Mayo na isalin sa iba’t-ibang lenggwahe ang examination questions. Napakagandang suhestyon nyan kaya bakit hindi natin tatanggapin at ipatutupad?,” Sec. Tugade said.

The Transportation Chief likewise said that the initiative aims to put into consideration those who will be taking their exams in the Visayas and in Mindanao, and those who cannot understand either English or Filipino.

"The written examination for driver's license should not be limited to two languages -- English and Filipino. What if they will conduct the test in Visayas and in Mindanao, and those poor countrymen of mine cannot understand Tagalog and cannot fully understand English?" Secretary Tugade said during the Asia CEO Forum last 26 February 2020.

"I instructed the LTO, all examinations shall now be done in English, Tagalog, or the local language of the examinee."

The mandate complies with Article 14, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that “for purposes of communication and instruction, the official dialect of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English. The regional dialect are the auxiliary official dialect in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein.”

Directors of the LTO’s regional offices have 30 days to provide a translation of the driver's license exam in their respective regional languages from the effectivity of the order.

For his part, LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said the agency has formed teams to translate the exam into each of the major languages. Each draft translation will be validated by experts of the language.

“We have already created a team for each of the major dialects. The assigned team will translate the driver’s license examination. The translation will be checked by experts of the language to ensure that the terms are accurate and official,” the LTO Chief said.

The department order shall take effect 15 days following the publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020: Mechanics, Co-Production Funds & Intensified Sine Kabataan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), which will be on its fourth edition this September, has leveled up in four ways. Firstly, it will produce an esteemed lineup of 10 films. Secondly, it will be choosing six finished films or films in post-production and four projects in their advanced development stage or production stage. Thirdly, it will be offering co-production funds of up to PHP 2 million via the FilmPhilippines Philippine Co-Production Fund. Finally, it will hold a beefed up Sine Kabataan 4, which will also offer production grants and film development lab sessions to young filmmakers.

PPP 4, which will be held from September 11 to 17, 2020 is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP). The opening day of PPP is the final day of the year-long Philippine Cinema Centennial celebration as mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 622, Series of 2018.


The photo above shows the PP3 Best Picture, "Lola Igna"

As the country officially closes the celebration of One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema, the FDCP aims for PPP to be the venue to gather the entire film industry together as it looks to the future of the next hundred years of the industry. In line with this momentous celebration, PPP has a lot more in store this year.

PPP 4 will feature 10 films, making it the second year in a row that PPP will be screening 10 entries in more than 900 cinemas nationwide. It will be accepting four projects in their advanced stage of development or production stage and six finished films or films in post-production. FDCP has set the deadlines for PPP applications: March 20, 2020 for projects in their advanced stage of development or production stage and June 15, 2020 for finished films or films in post-production.

A wide variety of genre films with commercial and global appeal will be showcased in PPP 4. These could be family-oriented, romantic-comedy, horror, fantasy, and historical films, or arthouse films that reflect Filipino culture and sensibilities. A maximum of two entries per genre will be included in the final selection (e.g., romance, comedy, action, etc.).

Meanwhile, PPP 4 also introduces the Philippine Co-Production Fund (PCOF) of FDCP’s FilmPhilippines Program. The PCOF will give funding of up to PHP 2 million to selected works in their advanced stage of development or production stage via the PCOF co-production investment fund. Selected finished films or films in post-production may also opt to receive up to PHP 2 million from the PCOF.

Director Adolfo Alix, JR. with the cast of "Circa" led by Anita Linda and Enchong Dee

As for Sine Kabataan, it will return on its fourth year as an amped-up short film competition that now has a film development lab program. Sine Kabataan aims to encourage filmmakers aged 18 to 30 to make short films on issues relevant to the youth revolving around family values, education, health, or security and peace building. Sine Kabataan, which runs alongside PPP, will also grant production funds to applications featuring story concepts.

Each Sine Kabataan finalist is set to receive a PHP 50,000 cash grant and another PHP 50,000 worth of post-production grant. The finalists’ short films (with a maximum length of 5 minutes) will be shown nationwide during the PPP duration, with one short film to be shown before an official PPP entry. Sine Kabataan 4 finalists will also get to learn about script development, film production, film editing, and post-production in the Sine Kabataan Film Lab sessions that will be held throughout the year. The deadline for Sine Kabataan applications is on March 20, 2020.

FDCP Chairperson/CEO Liza Diño at the PPP 3 Sine Sandaan Press Conference with Sponsors and Partners

With all the new things happening in PPP 4, FDCP expects its flagship program to add vibrancy to the commemoration of the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema. PPP hopes to sustain the culture of support that it has created by encouraging Filipinos to watch local films in cinemas (student admission prices are PHP 180 for Metro Manila cinemas and PHP 130 for provincial theaters) and enjoining local filmmakers to showcase their creativity and originality with the support of production grants.









To view the PPP 2020 Mechanics, visit


http://pistangpelikulangpilipino.ph/mechanics.






For the Sine Kabataan 4 Guidelines, go to http://pistangpelikulangpilipino.ph/sine-kabataan-4.






For submission inquiries and further information, contact the PPP Secretariat c/o Film Development Council of the Philippines at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila or (02) 8256-9948 local 104.






For Sine Kabatan inquiries, send a message to sinekabataan2020@gmail.com.


For more pictures visit: http://fdcp.ph/media/pista-ng-pelikulang-pilipino-2020-mechanics-co-production-funds-intensified-sine-kabataan