Gel Aquino unveils single about personal loss “Kinakaya”

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Singer-songwriter Gel Aquino will release her deeply personal and moving single, “Kinakaya,” under GMA Music. The song, which taps into the experience of heartbreak and loss, draws inspiration from Aquino’s journey through grief and healing.

Aquino explains that “Kinakaya” is a tribute to those who have suffered the pain of being left behind by loved ones. “My inspiration is those who were hurt by love and those who were left behind by their loved ones. Those broken-hearted who experienced being left behind. ‘Yung mga kailangang bumitaw sa isang relasyon kaya ngayon kinakaya nila ang pag-mo-move on na wala na ang taong mahal nila. ‘Yun ang inspiration nito,” she shared.

The song was born during a particularly challenging time in Aquino’s life. “Sinulat ko ito noong time na active ako magsulat at mag-compose ng kanta. Noong time din na ‘to broken hearted ako and very depressed, pandemic noon tapos nawala na ‘yung lola ko. Hindi ko nalaman agad na nawala na pala siya, two months later ko na nalaman. So para din ito sa lola ko at sa mga taong nakaranas na iwan ng mahal nila,” she recalled.

The loss of her grandmother served as a significant catalyst for the song’s creation. “Independent ako and hindi ako masyadong nakikipag-communicate sa mga kamag-anak ko. Then nakita ko na lang nag-message sila na wala na ang lola ko. Kaya pala ‘nung mga buwan na ‘yun lagi kong napapanaginipan ang lola ko. Kaya nasulat ko ang kantang ito para sa lola ko na kinakaya ko ang sakit na wala na siya. Hindi man lang kami nagkita bago siya mamatay.”

Aquino hopes that “Kinakaya” will offer solace and strength to listeners facing their own struggles. “The message of the song is that we need to endure the pain that we feel from a person who left us. Kailangan natin ng time para makapag-heal and ‘wag tayong mawawalan ng pag-asa at isipin na itong pain na ito ay wala nang katapusan. Darating ang panahon na sasaya ka ulit at magiging mas malakas ka. You can transform yourself to be a better person then.”

“Kinakaya” will be available on digital platforms beginning May 26.

For more information on your favorite Kapuso stars, visit www.gmanetwork.com 

PHLPost released new commemorative stamps to mark Malabon City’s 425th Foundation Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released new commemorative stamps to mark the 425th Foundation Day of the City of Malabon on May 21, 2024.

The commemorative stamps symbolized the rich history, culture and culinary tradition of the City known during the Spanish era as Tambobong.

City Mayor Jeannie N. Sandoval and Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos unveiled the said commemorative stamps in a fitting ceremony highlighting the colorful celebration of Malabon City’s 425th foundation day held at Malabon City Sports Center.

Malabon’s historic journey began during the Spanish colonial era dating back over four centuries. Originally part of the tribal domain of Raja Soliman, in nearby Manila, “Tambobong” derived its name from the numerous tambo trees flourishing in the region.

Records indicate that on May 21, 1599, Tambobong came under the administration of the Augustinian Friars as a “bisita” or parish, along with Navotas. Over the next 260 years, the twin towns were occasionally separated and rejoined before becoming autonomous.

During the Spanish Era, Malabon transformed into a favored retreat for Intramuros friars and government officials. The town earned the name “Malabon”, with the term “mala” (bad) stemming from the mud that flawed their pricey European leather shoes and elegant robes. On the other side of the “bon/buen” (good) symbolized the town’s redeeming qualities- its rejuvenating fresh air and the excellent cuisine.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Tambobong’s proximity to Intramuros and the Galleon Trade in the Manila Bay had spurred economic growth. In 1888, the first “Tranvia de Bapor” began operating along Malabon’s river system, providing efficient access to the Northern provinces.

The strip of three (3) commemorative stamps features the rich history and culture of Malabon City. The first is the San Bartolome Church which stands as a testament to the city’s past. Built in the 1600s, its Baroque style reflects the religious fervor of the time. The second, is the famous and original Pancit Malabon, which is loaded with delicious seafood toppings, smoked fish flakes, pork cracklets and duck eggs laid over thick rice noodles. The third, is the Tambobong Indakan festival, which promotes the rich and colorful culture of the city. The festival featured the talents, skills, and creativity of the people of Malabon City.

PHLPost has printed 42,000 pieces of the P16.00 strip of three (3) commemorative stamps and additional 3,400 pieces of Official First Day Cover. Another 1,000 copies of personalized stamps were printed of the historic “La Princesa '', a large tobacco factory in Brgy. Hulo, owned by the King of Spain which was established in 1851. Malabon City Mayor Jeannie N. Sandoval is featured in the background. The stamps were layout by PHLPost in-house graphic artist Jose Antonio A. Jayme.






The stamps are now available at Manila Central Post Office Annex Bldg. in Liwasang Bonifacio.

After Morong, E911 National Office, DILG aims to bring state of the art emergency response system to other LGUs

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



The town of Morong, a second-class municipality in Rizal, scored a feat this May by being the first-ever local government unit in the Philippines and the first in Southeast Asia, to put in place a world-class, state-of-the-art emergency response center with the Next Generation 911 System used in the USA to better serve their residents.

Executive Director Francis Fajardo of the Emergency 911 National Office and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs Atty. Juan Victor Llamas, activated Morong’s Emergency 911 Hotline Number at the inauguration of Morong’s E911 Local Command Center in Sitio Paglabas, Bgy. San Pedro on May 6.

Fajardo hailed the establishment of the first E911 command center in the country as “a significant step forward in providing efficient and effective emergency response services to every corner of the nation”.

“This center will serve as the nerve center for emergency operations in Morong. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by dedicated personnel trained to handle any crisis with precision and professionalism,” Fajardo said.

Usec. Llamas congratulated the officials of Morong for being the first local government unit with a Next Generation 911 System in the country and said that Secretary Benjamin Abalos and the DILG supports the project.

“Morong will be placed in history as the pioneer LGU to use Emergency 911, made possible with the help of NGA 911”, Llamas said.

Morong will now be able to use the emergency 911 hotline instead of the current ten-digit number for emergency calls. Fajardo revealed that guided by the fundamental principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, his office and the DILG jointly aim “to localize the emergency 911 hotline nationwide in order to fulfill our mandate under Executive Order No. 56 for the institutionalization of E911 as nationwide answering point that conforms with the international standard for emergency hotline number”.

In April 2023, Morong town officials led by Mayor Sidney Soriano and Vice Mayor Jose Fred Feliciano signed an agreement with NGA Philippines (NGA) to provide Morong with world-class and complete solutions for emergency communication and public

safety services. NGA Philippines is the local subsidiary of multinational corporation NGA 911, LLC headquartered in California, USA.

NGA is known globally as the innovator of emergency calling technology used by many states in the USA, and the leader in Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency communications worldwide, NGA’s system is built on the industry standards adopted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) in the United States and the European Emergency Number Association (EENA).

NGA Philippines’ Country Head Robert Llaguno said Morong’s investment in the emergency NG911 system presently used in the United States pioneers the use of technology in the country that will revolutionize the way and speed with which the LGU can handle emergencies. “NGA is prepared to bring the state-of-the-art E911 system to other LGUs in the archipelago, one LGU at a time”.

“All 911 calls to the Morong DRRM Command Center are now fully recorded, and conference and transfer facilities are now seamless,” explained Llaguno. “There is more efficient dispatch and coordination. The LGU will also be able to pinpoint with high accuracy the location of the emergency call and associate the same with the closest responders to provide a more immediate response.”

Llaguno said there are several other LGUs that will follow Morong’s lead within the next two quarters: one in North Luzon, one in Visayas and one in Mindanao.

“There is a growing number [of LGUs] shifting to Next Generation 911 and we are seeing a lot of local chief executives prioritizing public safety [for their constituents],” he added.