Top 5 reasons why cruising should be on top of your bucket list

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Experiences are defining moments in our lives, marking the many memories and milestones that are to be cherished forever. With the world coming to a standstill this year, travel experiences seem like a far-off memory for most of us and we have realized the importance of traversing the world with loved ones. Getting back on the road, skies and seas will be a precious experience once the world reopens and an incredible post-quarantine holiday with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will be the perfect getaway to rejuvenate your soul as you soak in the beautiful sights that you’ve missed this year. With a fleet of 17 ships offering itineraries to over 300 destinations across all seven continents in 2021, family-friendly activities, top-notch entertainment, luxurious accommodations, and exquisite culinary options, your next vacation is easy with NCL.



Here are five reasons why:



1. The perfect family getaway:



NCL has an array of top-class amenities and activities to ensure that neither you nor your children get bored at any point in time. On board, not only can you admire the sweeping picturesque views of the sea at leisure, you can also have a blast at the majestic waterparks with exciting rides or spend the entire day frolicking at the swimming pools. At NCL’s Splash Academy (Kids Club), kids can play dodgeball, decorate cupcakes and even enjoy face painting. There are a host of onboard activities for all ages, such as the world's only racetrack at sea and open-air laser tag arenas on board its newest ships – Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and the recently debuted Norwegian Encore. The Galaxy Pavilion, a dedicated virtual reality and gaming complex, is also available on Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, offering an immersive virtual experience for guests to enjoy.



To ensure your family or group stays close together, NCL has ample accommodation optionsincluding family mini-suites, two-bedroom suites with balconies and ocean views, or inside studios and interconnecting staterooms. Another major draw for multi-gen cruisers seeking a first-class cruise experience is ‘The Haven’ by Norwegian - the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept known for its luxurious and spacious accommodations and top line customer experience. ‘The Haven’ guests can indulge in the unparalleled personal service of a certified 24-hour butler and concierge team who will make all of their arrangements on board and on shore, including priority embarkation and disembarkation. ‘The Haven’ offers the intimacy of smaller vessels without foregoing the variety of activities and amenities enjoyed on larger ships.



2. Award-winning entertainment:



The distinct, one-of-a-kind performances on all NCL ships promise an out-of-the-box experience for everyone on board. Some of the best entertainment options aboard the newly launched Norwegian Encore include Tony Award®-winning musical, Kinky Boots, as the headlining show. Additional entertainment includes the highly energetic The Choir of Man; the interactive cocktails and theater show Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical; and guest-favorite The Cavern Club, transporting audiences back to the legendary Liverpool club with live musical performances from a Beatles cover band.



3. We time with your better half:









You can spend quality time with your significant other, leaving the cares of the world behind as soon as you step onboard NCL. The newly refurbished Norwegian Spirit has an array of onboard offerings that you can truly enjoy with your partner. Go for a couple’s massage at the double-in-size Mandara Spa, complete with a new thermal suite, relaxation area with heated loungers, a new Jacuzzi room, a sauna, steam room, and unforgettable water therapy experience. Or, spice up your night at the newly debuted Bliss Ultra Lounge and Spinnaker Lounge, which features the Humidor Cigar Lounge, as well as the adults-only retreat Spice H2O, a daytime lounge featuring two new hot tubs and a dedicated bar, which transforms into an after-hours entertainment venue.



4. Pamper your taste buds:



Food can either make or break your vacation. At NCL, you have the freedom and flexibility of Freestyle Dining, which means no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating. So follow your mood, not a schedule. You can indulge in a hearty, sumptuous meal or flatter your taste buds with some of the most complex and diverse world cuisines. NCL’s diverse culinary selections offer world-class dining experiences with a choice of up to 40 restaurants and bars across its fleet. If you want to try something unique and authentic, you can reserve a seat at one of the many specialty restaurants and steakhouses. You can pick from a wide array of food options including Asian fusion and customized Indian menus. Under the Free at Sea promotion, guests seeking to further elevate their dining experience can also choose to take advantage of NCL’s specialty dining package.



5. Stunning itineraries



NCL has recently opened more than a year of wish-list worthy sailings for 2021 through 2023, with voyages to over 20 new destinations across all seven continents, including Antarctica for the first time. If vibrant art districts and historical temples are your thing, you can opt for the 10-day Asia: Osaka, Nagoya, Busan & Beppu cruise from Tokyo or immerse yourself in the storied past and rich cultures of Southeast Asia on the 11-day Asia: Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia voyage from Bangkok. If picturesque landscapes, wildlife and a taste for adventure is what gets you going, NCL offers a wide selection of 12-day cruises to Australia and New Zealand with calls to a variety of naturally beautiful destinations including the South Island. For those looking to venture out of Asia Pacific, do not forget the amazing Greek Isles itineraries, ideal for a romantic getaway, like the 7-day Greek Isles sailing from Istanbul, visiting Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes, on the all-new Norwegian Spirit.



With extremely comfortable and beautifully decorated rooms, quality service, a wide range of entertainment, top class amenities and thrilling itineraries, your holidays with NCL will be an unforgettable experience.

Spiderverse: Is there such a case as too many Spider-Men?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

People worrying about Spiderverse. This is gonna be epic if the writers know how to handle all the characters.

Reports suggest former Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, as well as Mary Jane actress Kirsten Dunst, may all reprise their roles for the next Spider-Man film in the MCU.

Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst, & Emma Stone are CONFIRMED to be returning & joining Tom Holland in Marvel Studios’ ‘Spider-Man 3’ (2021), in what may be the most ambitious crossover in the MCU thus far.

This is every Spider-Man fan’s dream come true. Well, one of their dreams, among the multi-dreams.

As of right now #SpiderMan3 will feature villains from both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man franchises. 

CONFIRMED: 

-Jamie Foxx, Electro (THR)

-Alfred Molina, Doc. Octopus (THR) 

I know a lot of people are excited about this, but personally,  don't you think the big advantage to the movies has been the simplicity compared to the comics? Is bringing in alternate versions and parallel dimensions going to make things overly convoluted?

Spiderman 3 was bad because they introduced too many characters.

Sam Raimi didn't like Venom and was forced to put him in the movie, and then didn't know what to do with him so it felt like too many characters. 

Amazing Spiderman 2 was bad because they introduced too many characters

Marvel/Sony Spiderman 3: Let's get all the Spider-Man. This movie is now being developed with the idea of having many characters in mind. It works for the Avengers.

Avengers work because they make a lot of solo movies first for that particular character for introduction like Iron Man, Hulk, Captai America, Thor, Dr. Strange, etc. then merge it together in the Avenger movie. Spiderman 3, it's not.

Infinity war was filled with characters we already knew and had character arcs built up to the endgame. Spiderman 2 only referenced Eddie, he shows up in Spider-Man 3 for no reason along with the symbiote, TASM 2 introduced Electro, Rhino, And Harry Osborn/ Green Goblin.

I don't think it was too many characters that did either film in. Spider-man 3's execution of venom was cringey, and amazing spider-man 2 was simply lackluster and forgettable.

Into the Spider-verse was awesome and has more characters than any of the other films.

The mentioned Spidey movies could have been bad because the writing was awful in both bringing in too many characters these Spider-Men are established so not much more has to be done. If spiderverse can do it the MCU can too.

The characters maybe a lot but we already know their background story, so its not really a problem.

It worked out just fine for Spiderverse - I totally think that a live version, if produced with care, will do just as well.

This is a very valid concern to have, I’m personally thinking it’ll be better since it seems like there’s no conflict between directors vision and studio wants, the 2 movies you mentioned both had problems with the studio forcing things into those films.

Even if it ends up like overcrowded, I think the nostalgia and awe of it will overtake the flaws.

If this is confirmed they better make the pointing Spider-Man meme into actual scene and have all three dancing the emo Peter Parker dance. 

I’d say they’ll appear in an end credits scene, leading up to Multiverse of Madness.

BSP endorses Smart Asset Managers for SEC registration

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Smart Asset Managers (SAM) continues with its expansion program in the Philippines now that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) granted its initial endorsement for the company to proceed with the registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government agencies for amenabilities.

The SAM Digital E-wallet, a subscription-based platform, shares and provides economic opportunity. In line with this, one of the company’s 2021 projects include OFW subscribers as the primary beneficiaries of a livelihood program. 

SAM Digital Technologies is the parent entity of SAM and it’s registered as digital currency exchanger in Australia under AUSTRAC. SAM is into digital and conventional businesses.

SAM founder, Rommel Santos said he wants to widen the company base in the Philippines to help his fellowmen, seeing how financial technology or fintech is slowly becoming more inclusive in recent years. 

He has a vibrant outlook for e-commerce in the Philippines, specifically for online businesses, which is expected to grow approximately five times from US$1.1 billion in 2015 to US$4.6 billion by 2025. Subscribers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and other southeast Asian countries along with those in Europe and Saudi Arabia, have active participation in SAM.

Santos, a Philippine-born New Zealander based in Australia says that with a minimum subscription of $20 or P1k, a subscriber gets to be rewarded daily as SAM’s appreciation for subscribing. The reward is up to 15% monthly from one’s subscription.

SAM’s aim is to reverse the conventional method of entrepreneurial journey through economy sharing in which a subscriber can directly engage in conventional business if he so desires.

Under SAMPD, other SAM businesses include SAM Ride, SAM Delivery, Remjon Petroleum, SAM Remittance, among others.