PHILIPPINEXT: Connecting the World for What's Next – A Landmark Event Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations Today!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

OKADA Manila, Entertainment City, New Seaside Dr, Parañaque, Metro Manila – The air at OKADA Manila is abuzz with anticipation as PHILIPPINEXT, a visionary promotional arm of DOST-TAPI, takes center stage! More than just a branding initiative, PHILIPPINEXT is a bold declaration, shining a spotlight on the Philippines as a burgeoning hub for intellectual property (IP) activities, fostering a vibrant landscape of innovation, creativity, and enterprise. This landmark event, dubbed "the next big stop" in the global exposition scene, is bringing together bright minds, groundbreaking ideas, and collaborative opportunities that promise to shape the future.

Attendees from across the globe – including APC TT Regional Members, Inventors and Innovators, Investors, VCs, National Government Agencies, Local Government Units, Non-Profit Organizations, International Agencies, Legislators, CSR Companies, Tech-based Startups, Universities, and Research and Development Institutions (RDIs) – are converging to explore investment-ready innovations, engage in pitching events, and witness the power of Filipino ingenuity. Beyond the intellectual exchange, PHILIPPINEXT offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the Philippines' rich culture, tourism, and world-class hospitality.

Igniting Innovation and Collaboration

Day 1 – July 14, 2025: Laying the Foundation for a Sustainable Future

The inaugural day kicked off with a Registration/Networking session, setting the stage for what was to come. The Preliminaries saw the Philippine National Anthem resonate through the Grand Ballroom, followed by a ceremonial Parade of Delegates and an Introduction of PHILIPPINEXT 2025.

The morning’s highlights included a Welcome and Event Rationale by Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director, followed by insightful messages from Hon. Renato U. Solidum, DOST Secretary, and Ms. Preeti Soni, Head, APCTT-UNESCAP, emphasizing the global significance of the event. The Sustainability Technology PHILIPPINEXT Champions were recognized, with Engr. Mark Kennedy Bantugon of Pili AdheSeal Inc. taking the spotlight. The morning concluded with a Photo Opportunity, an audio-visual presentation on Why we innovate for climate?, and the much-anticipated Opening of Exhibits, showcasing cutting-edge innovations.

The afternoon session plunged into crucial discussions with the Seeing Eye to Eye Conference Sessions. The first session, "Where does IP fit into all this? Understanding the essence of IP protection in Climate Solutions," featured compelling presentations. AD CHAMULETTE GARCIA of DITTB, IPOPHL, elucidated on Empowering IP Protection: IP as a potential driver of Climate Solutions. This was followed by a deep dive into "From intellectual property to policy: A guide to Climate Change Mitigation Efforts" by EDWINA CARRIE, Country Representative, UNDP, and MR. JOHN CHARLES ALTOMONTE, Founder, Verne Solutions. The afternoon culminated with "Amplifying Innovations and Learning: The Benefits of Receiving Recognition," presented by MR. IAN DIATA, Programme Manager, James Dyson Foundation, and ENGR. JOSEPH DE LEON, Power Electronics Engineer, James Dyson Foundation.

Concurrently, a pivotal PHILIPPINEXT Media Launch 2025 dubbed as What's NEXT was held, marking a significant moment for the event. The program included Registration of Media Partners and Content Creators, Opening Remarks by Dr. F. Juanillo, Jr., PhD, Undersecretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, DOST. Presentation of five voices of PhilippiNext- featured innovators Patrick Roland De Guzman of Marissa Turbine, Alvin Phoebe Artemis Valdez of Farmesto, Cristina Macaraig of Alerto PH, Justin Zhang of Tack EVO Finder, and Noel Gary Del Castillo of SeeYouDoc which was followed by Q&A with the media attendees. Next was an overview of Press Handouts and Resources from Mireille Vacal, Head of Media and External Engagement, then concluded with Closing Remarks by Atty Marion Ivy Decena, Director. The media launch was hosted by Karen Nicole Piccio, Miss Universe Philippines, Iloilo 2025.

Take note that throughout this media launch, the media has been widely encouraged to share the stories of the innovators highlighted at the event citing that "the media plays a key role in helping innovators bring their ideas to a wider audience".

In the heart of innovation, where untold stories of Filipino ingenuity echo, a critical truth emerges: these profound human narratives, deserving of global resonance, often remain tragically underreported.

But not anymore.

We stand at the precipice of "What's Next," recognizing journalism as the indispensable fourth strand of the innovation ecosystem, right alongside industry, academia, and government. The media is not just a conveyor of information; it is the vital bridge where policy meets practice, capturing content that no press release or remote briefing ever could.

These aren't just innovations; they are the living, breathing stories of real people – the very next generation of Filipino brilliance. Our reporting doesn't merely inform; it elevates, highlighting the Philippines' unwavering commitment to global sustainability and helping us boldly brand our nation as a recognized leader in innovation, cultivating a truly global ecosystem of creativity.

By deepening our understanding of how knowledge and innovation thrive within digital media, we unlock clearer insights into today's dynamic knowledge economy. This is why initiatives like ICE bring together high-level stakeholders and exhibitors, forging networks and partnerships that will amplify these vital stories and propel Filipino innovation onto the world stage it so rightfully deserves.

The time for these narratives to remain unheard is over. The future of Filipino innovation demands to be seen, to be heard, and to inspire the world.

Day 2 – July 15, 2025 (Morning): Catalyzing Green Investments and Fostering Financial Partnerships

Today, the morning session will continue with the momentum with a Health Break followed by the Conference Session: Financing Climate Crisis Innovations and Technologies. This vital discussion will commence with "Catalyzing Green Investments: Financial Institution’s Approach to Supporting Climate Innovation" by Asian Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, providing crucial insights into funding climate solutions. Following this, "Probing the Public-Private Collaboration to Fund Climate Change-related Innovation" featured distinguished speakers: MR. ACHILLES VOLTAIRE ESTRADA, CPA, Senior Green Investment Officer, Global Green Growth Institute, and MR. ANGELO KAIROS T. DELA CRUZ, Executive Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, will explore collaborative funding models. The session will conclude with a Photo Opportunity, Awarding of Certificate of Recognition, and a Panel Discussion & Synthesis.

In a parallel and equally impactful session, FRONTIERS: Fostering Financial Partnership for Filipino Inventors will be held. The morning will begin with Registration and a Welcoming of Guests & Opening Remarks, Event Rationale. Significant milestones will be achieved with MOU Signing with PEZA and MOA Signing with LandBank, solidifying crucial partnerships for innovation. The program also includes insightful I-Tech Real Stories & IRR and a dedicated Question & Answer segment before its Closing.

What's Next? The Exciting Days Ahead!

Day 2 – July 15, 2025 (Afternoon): Power Pitches and Innovation Ecosystems

The afternoon promises a dynamic showcase of groundbreaking ideas with Power Pitch Presentations featuring innovative companies from around the world. From mobility solutions by Creatara Mobility Pvt Ltd (India) and cryogenic technologies by Cryogen Pvt Ltd (India), to holistic wellness from Dhanayu Holistic Ayurveda Wellness and Research Private Limited (India), and diverse offerings from Global Enterprises Private Limited (India). The pitches will also feature cutting-edge solutions from Hopper AI Solutions Pvt Ltd (India), diagnostic advancements from IOTA Diagnostic (India), and academic contributions from Padjadjaran University (Indonesia). Malaysian ingenuity will be represented by MIMOS Berhad (Malaysia), Singaporean innovation by Tackone (Singapore), and German expertise by Infineon (Singapore).

Simultaneously, the NEXTSTAGE Symposium on Technology Innovation & Commercialization will delve deeper into the intricacies of bringing innovations to market. Following Registration and Opening Remarks, two pivotal Paper Presentations will be held: "From Research to Market: Analyzing the Key Determinants of Technology Commercialization in Selected DOST-R&D in Development Institutes (RDIs)" by Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director, DOST-TAPI, and "Innovation-Based View Evaluation of Knowledge Development Project and its implication to Promote Women Technology Business Incubators in the Philippines" by Dr. M. Ann Ricci. A Roundtable Discussion will conclude this insightful symposium.

The day will culminate with a vital Networking session, followed by the highly anticipated Closing Ceremonies and Awarding, recognizing excellence with the People's Choice Award, Market Trailblazer Award, Industrial Design Award, Kallihasan Award, Young Torchbearer Award, Ilaw ng Pag-asa Award, and Special Choice Awards from Various Partners.

Day 3 – July 16, 2025: International Dialogue and Grand Finale

The penultimate day will begin with Registration before transitioning into "Seeing Eye to Eye International Dialogue". This crucial session will involve a Photo Opportunity, Panel Discussion & Synthesis, fostering global collaboration and understanding. A well-deserved Break/Networking session will follow, providing opportunities for further connection.

The event will then move towards its grand conclusion with the Closing Ceremonies, featuring the announcement of the People's Choice Awards, Power Pitch Award, and the coveted Grand Prix Award. Additionally, Special Choice Awards from Various Partners will be presented, celebrating a wide spectrum of innovation.

Day 4 – July 17, 2025: Experiencing Innovation Firsthand

The final day offers a unique opportunity for attendees to engage in a Field visit to R&D laboratories (RSVP), providing a direct experience of the innovative ecosystems being fostered in the Philippines.

Important Information for Attendees

Event Highlights: PHILIPPINEXT showcases the presentation of DOST Programs and Funded Inventions and Technologies, IP Policy, Initiatives, Technology Transfer, Diffusion and Commercialization of Technologies related to climate change, an Exhibition of International and Local Inventions/Researches, Special Project Outputs, and professional networking and collaborative opportunities. DOST-TAPI will also confer awards to recognize outstanding inventions that demonstrate strong potential to make a significant positive impact and contribute to the advancement of innovation globally.

PHILIPPINEXT is not just an event; it's a movement, connecting the world for what's next and firmly positioning the Philippines as a global leader in innovation. The future is here, and it's being forged at PHILIPPINEXT!

Storms from Afar: The Hidden Danger Behind the Philippines’ Most Devastating Floods

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

They didn’t make landfall. They didn’t even enter Philippine territory. Yet, they brought death, destruction, and deluges to millions. Now, new research reveals the terrifying truth: the greatest threat during the Habagat season might be the storms we don’t see coming.

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In a groundbreaking revelation that reshapes how we understand rainfall and disaster risk in the Philippines, scientists from Ateneo de Manila University, the Manila Observatory, PAGASA, and their Japanese partners have uncovered a startling truth: as much as one-third of the Philippines' rainfall during the southwest monsoon—commonly known as Habagat—comes not from storms that strike the country, but from those that never even touch it.

These tropical cyclones, spinning hundreds of kilometers away, wield an invisible power—supercharging the Habagat and turning moderate monsoon rains into walls of water that drown cities and displace thousands. The findings, drawn from a meticulous analysis of over 60 years of weather data from 1961 to 2022, are more than just academic—they are a call to arms.

“We’ve long been obsessed with the eye of the storm. But the real danger might be lurking far beyond our shores,” warns one of the lead researchers.

The Myth of the Direct Hit

The Philippines, battered yearly by an average of 20 tropical cyclones, has understandably developed a keen eye for tracking storms that make landfall. But this latest research shatters the assumption that only typhoons that cross into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) matter.

In fact, the data reveals that only 15.4% of the monsoon rainfall from July to September is caused by direct hits—cyclones that make landfall or pass close enough to impose their wrath. But the indirect impact—storms that simply hover or pass nearby—accounts for an average of 33.1% of rainfall during the season.

This means that the deadliest deluges may be caused by storms so far away they aren’t even in the headlines.

Typhoon Gaemi: A Deadly Case in Point

In July 2024, Super Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) never approached the Philippine landmass. It danced far to the east, well outside any storm signal zones. Yet its gravitational pull drew massive volumes of warm, moist air into the Habagat, unleashing a catastrophic torrent over Luzon.

Within 24 hours, Quezon City experienced a month’s worth of rainfall. Streets became rivers. Homes were swallowed. 48 lives were lost, and over ₱8 billion in damage was recorded—from a storm that never even grazed the country.

This is the new storm threat: invisible, unpredictable, and dangerously underestimated.

Rainfall Records Rewritten

The research team examined peak monsoon years—1962, 1972, 2012, and 2018—each recording over 2,000 millimeters of rainfall in just three months. The majority of that rain came not from direct typhoon strikes, but from indirect effects, where cyclones far from Philippine shores supercharged the already moisture-laden Habagat winds.

The key lies in what scientists call the "genesis point"—the location where a tropical cyclone forms. Cyclones that emerge farther east tend to curve away from the Philippines but enhance the southwest monsoon as they pull ocean moisture toward them. Ironically, those that form closer to the country tend to move westward quickly, having less time to influence monsoon behavior.

A New Era in Weather Forecasting

For local governments, disaster responders, and millions of Filipinos living in flood-prone zones like Metro Manila, Palawan, Ilocos, and Zambales, the implications are urgent and profound.

“This isn’t just about storms. It’s about how we prepare for disaster,” said a PAGASA meteorologist involved in the study. “We can’t wait for a typhoon to make landfall. We must start tracking its influence even when it’s thousands of kilometers away.”

The research calls for a more sophisticated monitoring system, one that no longer treats the monsoon and tropical cyclones as isolated phenomena. Instead, they must be understood as parts of a deeply interconnected climate system—one that is growing more volatile under the pressures of climate change.

As global temperatures rise, the intensity and behavior of tropical cyclones are shifting. Monsoons, once predictable, now fluctuate wildly. The 62-year dataset is no longer just a record of the past—it’s a blueprint for surviving the future.

A Nation on the Brink of Awareness

The Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone nations on Earth, is no stranger to the wrath of nature. But this latest research pierces through long-held misconceptions and offers a terrifying realization: the most destructive floods aren’t always brought by the typhoon you see on the radar—but by the one too distant to notice.

And in this age of climate extremes, distance is no longer a measure of safety.

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Knowledge, in this case, is more than power—it’s survival. As the Habagat winds sweep across the archipelago once again, may this new understanding help build smarter forecasts, better responses, and safer communities. Because the next disaster may already be forming on a faraway ocean—and it won’t need to make landfall to strike.

Wazzup Pilipinas: Ang Tinig ng Sambayanan, Sumisigaw sa Buong Daigdig

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Sa panahong ang impormasyon ay kumakalat sa isang iglap at ang opinyon ay nagiging sandata, isang makapangyarihang boses ang namamayani sa gitna ng digital na ingay—isang tinig na hindi lang nagsasalita, kundi sumisigaw para sa bayan. Ito ang Wazzup Pilipinas—isang platapormang sumasalamin sa pulso ng sambayanang Pilipino, at isang puwersang humuhubog sa anyo ng makabagong pamamahayag.

Sa likod ng Wazzup Pilipinas ay ang di matatawarang lider, si Ross Flores Del Rosario—isang dating ICT officer ng United Nations, isang multi-awarded blogger, at kilalang tagapagtaguyod ng transparency, community empowerment, at sustainability. Mula sa simpleng mithiin na makapagbahagi ng makabuluhang impormasyon, unti-unti niyang binuo ang isa sa pinakamalakas at pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaang digital media platforms sa Pilipinas.

Ang Wazzup Pilipinas ay hindi lamang nagbibigay ng balita at feature stories—ito ay nagbibigay ng paninindigan. Tumatalakay ito sa mga isyung hindi pinapansin ng mainstream media, binibigyang-tinig ang mga komunidad na matagal nang nananahimik, at binubuhay ang mga kuwentong tunay na mahalaga sa sambayanan.

Mga Haligi ng Makabagong Blogosperyo

Habang si Ross Del Rosario ay patuloy na nangunguna sa laban para sa makabuluhang media, hindi rin matatawaran ang kontribusyon ng iba pang Pilipinong bloggers na nagbibigay-kulay, aral, at inspirasyon sa ating digital landscape:

Anton Diaz – Ang utak sa likod ng Our Awesome Planet, isang blog na nagsimula ng food at travel blogging revolution sa bansa. Kilala sa kanyang mga world-class storytelling techniques at global recognition.

Yoshke Dimen at Vins Carlos – Mga pasimuno ng The Poor Traveler, isang blog na naging inspirasyon ng maraming Pilipino sa pagtupad ng kanilang travel dreams sa abot-kayang paraan.

Tricia Gosingtian – Isang institusyon sa fashion at lifestyle blogging. Ang kanyang aesthetics at content ay patuloy na iniidolo ng bagong henerasyon ng digital creatives.

Laureen Uy – Isang digital superstar na tumawid mula sa blogging patungong mainstream media at brand ambassadorship, patunay sa kanyang kahusayan at adaptability.

Camille Co – Fashionista turned entrepreneur, isang ehemplo ng growth sa digital era. Siya ay simbolo ng matatag at makabagong Filipina influencer.

Angel Juarez – Kilala bilang Lakwatsero, isa sa mga naunang naglunsad ng travel storytelling na nakatuon sa kultura, kalikasan, at pamana ng ating bansa.

Abe Olandres (YugaTech) – Ang pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaang tech blogger sa bansa. Kung may bagong gadget, siya ang unang tinitingala.

Liz Lanuzo – Tagapagtatag ng Project Vanity, isang blog na nagtataguyod ng self-confidence at authenticity sa mundo ng beauty and lifestyle.

Frances Amper-Sales – Isang manunulat na may malalim na pananaw sa buhay, pagiging ina, at kababaihan sa modernong mundo.

Tonyo Cruz – Isang matapang na tinig sa mga isyung pampulitika at panlipunan. Ang kanyang mga komentaryo ay laman ng mga diskusyong may saysay.

Jam Ancheta – Tech content creator na sumisikat dahil sa kanyang simple ngunit engaging na approach sa digital trends.

David Guison – Mula fashion blog patungong digital stardom, siya ngayon ay isang icon ng modernong lifestyle content.

Kara Santos – Isang storyteller na naglalakbay hindi lamang sa lugar kundi sa puso ng komunidad. Ang kanyang mga kwento ay puno ng damdamin at diwa.

Ayn Bernos – Isang makabagong boses para sa self-love, inclusivity, at panlipunang kamalayan, gamit ang digital platforms bilang tulay ng pagbabago.

Ang Kinabukasan ng Digital Journalism sa Pilipinas

Ang tagumpay ng Wazzup Pilipinas ay patunay na hindi hadlang ang pagiging independent sa paghahatid ng de-kalidad at makabuluhang nilalaman. Sa halip, ito pa nga ang lakas ng platapormang ito—dahil walang pinapaboran, walang kinatatakutan, at walang sinasanto maliban sa interes ng bayan.

Ang mga blog, vlogs, at online platforms ng mga Pilipino ay hindi lamang libangan. Sila ay sandata ng impormasyon, boses ng masa, at ilaw sa dilim ng maling impormasyon. Sa bawat post, may panawagan. Sa bawat video, may adhikain. Sa bawat artikulo, may tapang.

Ang Panawagan ng Panahon

Ngayon, higit kailanman, kailangan natin ng mga platform tulad ng Wazzup Pilipinas—mga espasyong hindi takot magsabi ng totoo, hindi napapailalim sa bayad na pananahimik, at patuloy na naglilingkod para sa kapakanan ng lahat.

Sa pag-ikot ng mundo ng media, isa lang ang malinaw:

Ang tinig ng sambayanan ay naririnig—at ito ay mas malakas na ngayon kaysa kailanman.

Ito ang Wazzup Pilipinas. Ito ang tinig ng bayan. Ito ang kwento nating lahat.