Radisson Hotel Group Appoints New VP of Finance, Tax & IT, Asia Pacific, to Drive Transformation Strategy

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Radisson Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Evelyn Wong Soo Pin as Vice President, Finance, Tax & IT, Asia Pacific, as the company moves ahead with its transformation strategy.

A Singaporean with more than 20 years of professional experience, Evelyn is a graduate of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, where she attained a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree and a Diploma in Maritime Business Management. She is also a registered chartered accountant in Singapore, and joins Radisson Hotel Group from SGX-listed AMOS Group Limited, where she held the role of Chief Financial Officer.

As Vice President, Finance, Tax & IT, Asia Pacific at Radisson Hotel Group, Evelyn will be responsible for all financial and accountancy matters in the region, including overseeing business transactions and strategic investments, developing financial strategies and leading the regional finance team. As such, she will play a pivotal role in the success of the Group as the company continues to execute its ambitious expansion strategy, which is driving the growth of the company’s hotel portfolio across Asia Pacific. She will also spearhead the group’s digital transformation, which is centered around EMMA, Radisson Hotel Group’s new advanced global technology platform, which integrates property management systems, reservations, distribution, sales, loyalty programs and more.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Evelyn to Radisson Hotel Group. Finance and IT underpin every element of our business, so it is vital that we have a dynamic and highly effective leader to drive our efforts. With her exceptional track record and proven ability to get results, Evelyn is the perfect fit to propel our business,” said Katerina Giannouka, President, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group.

“I am very excited to be joining Radisson Hotel Group. I look forward to working with the entire team and providing the benefit of my experience and expertise, as we continue to expand our operations and roll-out state-of-the-art technologies across Asia Pacific,” commented Evelyn, Vice President, Finance, Tax & IT, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group.

Evelyn’s distinguished career commenced in 1997 with KPMG, one of the world’s leading financial services companies. Since then, she has held senior positions with companies in various sectors, from oil and gas, freight and logistics to security management, recruitment and more. She speaks fluent English and Chinese, and her regional experience encompasses multiple countries, including Australia, Egypt, Greater China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. This puts her in the perfect position to oversee Radisson Hotel Group’s Asia Pacific operations, which currently comprise over 150 hotels and resorts in 14 countries, with many more in the pipeline.

Evelyn will be based at Radisson Hotel Group’s Asia Pacific regional head office in Singapore, and she is a member of the company’s Asia Pacific Executive Committee.
Photo caption: Evelyn Wong Soo Pin, Vice President, Finance, Tax & IT, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group

Essential Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Habits to Develop for a safer ride

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


As an avid motorcycle rider, there are few things that, for sure, linger at the back of your mind, nagging you every day. You fear that there might be breakdowns. You worry about scratches. And, of course, you are concerned about those costly major repairs—or worse, finding out that your motorcycle is not in its tiptop shape when you need it the most.

While you can go to your trusted mechanic for regular checkups, knowing some little do-it-yourself maintenance up your sleeves could help you take those worries away. As for your motorcycle, this means ensuring that your ride is always in good working condition, especially if it’s packed with cutting-edge features like the AirBlade150.

This stylish ride, ideal for courageous Filipinos, boasts of its front-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that prevents wheels from locking up and avoids accidents, along with a smart key with added protection from theft. It also has a powerful 150cc SOHC liquid-cooled PGM-Fi eSP engine for superior stop-and-go function and fuel efficiency of 47km/L.

Its other features include a slim body design, a 22.7L U-Box for storage with a power outlet and LED Lamp, and a digital meter panel. It comes in Matte Galaxy Black Metallic, Candy Caribbean Blue Sea, and Candy Ross Red color variants with a suggested retail price of PhP109,000.

So, if you have a motorcycle as stylish and cutting-edge as AirBlade150, what are the basic things you need to know as part of your maintenance checkups? Here’s are some of these handy care tips, as listed by Honda Philippines, Inc., the No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer in the country.

Clean the bike regularly. Keeping your motorcycle clean will not only make it look nice but will help with maintenance, too. By doing so, it makes it easier for you to notice missing or loose bolts and nuts. It is also ideal to use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface of your bike. Lastly, do not overexpose it to direct sunlight. Park your bike in the shade.

Check the tire condition regularly. It is crucial to have a thorough look at the condition of your motorcycle, particularly the air pressure of its tires. Start by checking the wheel balance and alignment. Then, make sure that the air pressure is maintained at the recommended levels. Also, check for possible cuts and scrapes that could cause undesirable things like a tire blowout. Include the inspection of the tire treads at least once a week. If you find any significant problems, do seek the help of your mechanic.

Change the oil. Engine oils lubricate your gears and engines. If you fail to change the engine oil, it might cause damages. That is why the owner’s manual of your motorcycle usually specifies how frequently you need to top up or change it. Regularly check the engine oil level and make sure that you maintain the correct level. The right amount of clean oil ensures that your bike will run smoothly for miles to come.

Change the Air Filter. Air filters are arguably the easiest to change in your garage. These filters keep dirt and other debris out of your bike’s main operational components so, you need to inspect and replace them based on prescribed schedule. You may also seek your trusted auto mechanic service more frequently when riding in unusually wet or dusty areas. Meanwhile, cleaning of air filters of most Honda motorcycles, like the AirBlade150, is not necessary so, it might no longer be a concern when you own one of them.

Lube the Motorcycle Chain. It is integral to lubricate your chains. Otherwise, it may cause damages due to excess heat and will wear out. This cumulative wear on all the separate links makes the chain lose and more likely to fall off the sprockets.

Check the basics. Lastly, it also pays to check some essential components on your bike every day or before using it. Here are some of these things:

• Check the fuel level to confirm it’s not leaking.
• Check all your fluid levels, such as oil, brake fluid, and coolant.
• Check the throttle cable free play.
• Check your lights and horn.
• Check the clutch lever free play.
• Ensure smooth steering movement and notice if there are no restrictions.
• Adjust the rear viewing span of a mirror if you think it is needed.
• Check brake hoses for chafing or leakage.

While these simple care tips will help keep your bike in its tiptop condition, it’s still best to visit your trusted professional mechanic based on its prescribed maintenance schedule. These tips are also applicable not just to AirBlade150 but also to other bikes.

Start developing these habits now! Remember that by taking care of your motorcycle, you are also taking care of yourself as you ensure that your every ride is safe and smooth.

Explore more from Honda and its wide array of motorcycles. For more details about Honda products and promos, visit our website at www.hondaph.com and follow us on Facebook, Honda Philippines, Inc., and Instagram, @hondaph_mc. You can also contact us through our landline number, (02)-8581-6700 to 6799, and mobile number, 0917-884-6632.

Climate Crisis: Children in the Philippines face life with far more scorching heatwaves, floods, droughts than grandparents

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Children born in 2020 in the Philippines will live through 4.9 times more scorching heatwaves, 2.3 times more river floods, 1.2 times more droughts and 1.5 times more crop failures than their grandparents or people born 60 years ago.

Children in East Asia and the Pacific over the past year will face eight times more scorching heatwaves during their lives than their grandparents, according to new research released today by Save the Children.

The outlook is similarly bleak for South Asia, where children will live through 3.6 times as many crop failures as their grandparents. In Nepal, children will see 6 times as many crop failures.

Children in poorer communities will be worst affected, as they are already at a far greater risk of battling waterborne diseases, hunger and even facing death due to malnutrition, increased floods and cyclones, Save the Children said.

Moreover, these climate impacts risk trapping millions more children into long-term poverty.

The data is part of the organization’s new report Born Into The Climate Crisis – why we must act now to secure children’s rights, which outlines the devastating impact of the climate crisis on children if urgent action is not taken.

Under current pledges, children born in 2020 will face 7% more wildfires, 26% more crop failures, 31% more droughts, 30% more river floods, and 65% more heatwaves than if global warming were stopped at 1.5°C.

Save the Children emphasized that there is still time to turn this bleak future around. If the rise is kept to a maximum of 1.5 degrees, the intergenerational burden[ii][2] on newborns is cut by 45% for heatwaves; by 39% for droughts; by 38% for river floods; by 28% for crop failures, and by 10% for wildfires.