Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Ongpin's Mr. Ube and His Advocacy

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A visit at the Binondo church brought us to Ongpin where Eng Bee Tin - the Chinese Deli famous for having the best "hopia" and "tikoy", is located.

Owned by the humble Gerry Chan, otherwise known as Mr. Ube, a legend, not only at the Ongpin area, but also all over the Philippines. I will not be surprised if his popularity has also reached out of the country. He truly has provided the best hopia and tikoy, as well as other Chinese food products, in the country.

I first met the owner during a bloggers event held at his newly opened Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House located in Binondo also. The noodles and rice meals also lived up to the quality that are found in their hopias and tikoys.

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I was born in Pasig city at my father's side of the family where my parents and I just used to rent a house near my grandparent's house. But after a few years when my parents were able to save enough money to build a house on a lot located at my mother's side of the family, we finally transferred our new home we can now call our own. I am no longer living in Pateros and went back to the city where I was born. But the stories I could tell about the town are so rich and plenty.

I grew up in the small town of Pateros and spent my remaining childhood days in the town where "alpombras" and "inutak" became popular. But the most popular product in Pateros known to many was the "balut" - that boiled duck egg with a fetus inside, and the many other variations in cooking the duck eggs.

I was never really a lover of that so-called aphrodisiac delicacy called "balut", but I loved the "Penoy" and "Itlog na Maalat". The "Bibingkang Abnoy" was smelly because it was made from almost rotten duck eggs, but there were still many who enjoyed eating it.

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I'm betting every peso in my pocket right now that everywhere you' ll look within a 10 kilometer radius of a popular mall or commercial district in Metro Manila that there's bound to be a milk tea store somewhere with those creatively coined brand names derived from the use of the word "tea".

I am actually wondering if there's already a milk tea shop called Perplexi-Tea. But, yes! I am truly perplexed on why milk tea shops are spreading like mushrooms. Though they are really great tasting and refreshing , how come restaurants don't just add them on their menus as one of their drinks. Why capitalize on setting up a separate store that primary sells milk teas, then eventually add some sweets, pastries and desserts to match.

I guess we Filipinos would like to drop by stores where we could take out drinks on the go....and we all jump into the bandwagon of fads and the hype of the season.

Wazzup Pilipinas !

Everyone wants to work for an environment that's cozy and conducive for working. Add that with a friendly atmosphere filled with colleagues that are all smiles and greetings every time you pass by each other.

It's not really easy to work for an outsourcing company, where most of you will have to sit down and talk to the concerns of your customers. Patience is always a virtue, and understanding different behaviors and ways of dealing with them is a must.

At Customer Contact Channels or C3, love is always in the air. Thus work becomes more like play rather than a tedious job.

Subic: A Tour of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)

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It's More Fun-tastic in Subic during the Holy Week!

We got invited to attend the Subic Pascha press conference held a few days before the said event which will start on March 26 and will end on March 31 during the Holy Week celebration. Subic Pascha is a Food and Fun Festival to be held at the Subic Bay Boardwalk sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the owner of the Red Crab group of companies which includes restaurants like Seafood Island, New Orleans, Claw Daddy, and a lot more.

Aside from the Food Festival, several activities will be held including performances by bands from Manila which includes Sub Projekt, Matthew Carbonell, Jeff Cifra & the Driven Band, and True Faith.

There will be a Car and Bike Display, an Inflated Playground, an Animal Encounter, Poi/Fire Dance, Fireworks at nightime, Volleball and Football competitions, an Exhibition Game, a Film Viewing of the Passion of Christ, Easter Egg Hunting and many more.

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"So yeah, there you go. I guess future aspiring Senators should look at the following if they desire public office position:

1. Speak well in Tagalog.

2. Huwag maging pala-away. Choose your battles well and always take the respectful higher ground.

3. Have a yuppie-approachable-fit persona. Be perceived as someone's brother or sister - rather than a parent if you are not that old.

4. Be friends with personalities in the entertainment industry."

When I say Chiz, you say Heart!

It's always the first thing that comes into mind (oh well maybe you'll say Escudero) whenever the name of Senator Chiz Escudero is mentioned, especially for those who are fond of watching television and has seen the Senator's co-hosting stint on Kapamilya's Kris TV hosted by Kris Aquino.

But why on Earth am I bothering myself with these petty political-gone-celebrity issues that's obviously just a propaganda to elevate his image to political stardom?

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It is every woman's dream to walk down the aisle of either a church or wherever fitting in this modern age where weddings have been rejuvenated to become sophisticated and classy. Still, the thought of saying each other's vows and the grooms kiss to the bride infront of all their guests to see brings delight to not only the couple involved but also the cheering crowd that bear witness to a union.

Club Balai Isabel will hold its first bridal fair on April 20 to 21, 2013 and will be entitled, “The Wedding Caravan”. It will be organized by R & A Events Specialist by Ricci Ang, and hosted by Vet Lauzon.

The Wedding Caravan is designed for couples who desire a memorable and tailor-fit wedding. The event will showcase different wedding specialists and designers dedicated to making dream weddings happen. This grand event will be held at Club Balai Isabel, located on the romantic shores of Lake Taal in Barangay Talisay, Batangas City from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

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"I think each one of us should be responsible and accountable to what we say online, especially if it involves other people. We also need to think on when do we tackle concerns privately and when do we drag other people who may be clueless to an issue."

I had to give my reaction to a very recent article that came out just today. It asks us questions but also gives us pieces of advice on how people that have a cloud of influence because of their nature of work should behave or discipline themselves.

Social Media or the Internet has allowed us to reach and communicate with a huge number of people instantly and with very little effort. But it also made it easier for haters, spammers, lurkers, scammers, trolls, and all sorts of online misfits.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport - the most dangerous airport in the world

Google Maps has recently unveiled Street View images for Mt. Everest and other notable mountains. This takes armchair explorers like us to great heights even without the extreme cold, avalanche and what not.

"Today, we released photos of the some of the most famous mountains in the world on Google Maps. I was lucky to be part of the team that traveled around the world to capture the imagery and experience the mountains first-hand.

I’ve always had a sense of adventure. In 2011, when my colleague asked if I wanted to go on a trip to Everest Base Camp, I couldn’t resist, and we recruited a group of Googlers and fellow explorers to join us. Then we learned we could capture imagery of our trip for Google Maps with a tripod and a digital camera. We had plenty of room in our packs, so we loaded up our cameras and mountaineering gear, and hopped on a plane to Nepal.

Our adventures began with the trek to Everest Base Camp where we spent 12 days in the mountains battling altitude sickness, an earthquake, mudslides, snow storms and flash floods. The highest altitude we reached was 18,192 feet -- higher than anywhere in the contiguous U.S. -- and we hiked more than 70 miles (or 50 hours) during the trip. We carried our camera equipment everywhere we went and captured a collection of panoramas at key camps and other interesting stops along the way. Below are a few excerpts from the journal I kept during our trip:

Buddhist mantras outside the town of Lukla

Day 2: Today we arrived at Namche Bazaar -- “the gateway to the high Himalaya.” It’s a good-sized town with lots of hotels, shops and a pharmacy. Many hikers stop here for altitude acclimatization on their way to Everest. During our stay there was a 6.9 earthquake! It was scary, especially when we realized we were in a developing country that doesn’t have infrastructure or emergency services like back home in California. We were fortunate that there was very little damage where we were.

Fisheye view of Namche Bazaar

Day 3: We woke up to a clear morning. The mountains were absolutely spectacular! We spent the day taking pictures of the town with our Street View cameras and meticulously taking notes on a map so we could remember what we were capturing once we were back at sea level. Everyone, including me, is starting to feel the effects of the altitude (mostly nausea and headaches), and we’re barely above 11,000 ft.

Googlers Sara Pelosi and Andrew Swerdlow with Ama Dablam looming in the distance

Day 4: The morning was a pretty easy walk, mostly traversing the mountain ridges. After we stopped for tea there was a long climb, "up up up" according to our guide, all on switchbacks. We stopped in Tengboche for lunch, then photographed the monastery with the fisheye lens. Amazing place. The monks watched us closely as we walked around. I don't know if they were more interested in the Americans or the photography. We continued on to Pangboche where we stayed for the night. When we got to Pangboche we saw a patch of blue sky and a rainbow. I'm still optimistic that we'll see at least a glimpse of the peak of Everest. Our guide says, "can be", which we’ve learned is the answer to every question. We're not even quite to 13,000 ft here. A long way left to go up.

The incredible Tengboche Monastery (View Larger Map)

Day 8: We left early in the morning and hiked for about three hours until we reached a small village called Gorak Shep. The hike was flat along a river for several hours, then turned into a very steep climb. When we arrived at Base Camp, it was the most amazing feeling of accomplishment. We had finally made it to the base of the top of the world! We wouldn’t have gotten here without our expert guide and porters who know the mountains like the back of their hand and were essential to the success and safety of our trip. I barely stopped to enjoy the moment before wanting to accomplish the next goal - photographing the Base Camp where a real summit expedition had actually set up camp.

The Everest trekking group with our amazing guides

We’re honored to share this amazing imagery with you on Google Maps and show the world what life is like from its highest peaks! To see more of this collection, visit the Street View Gallery or download Google Maps on your iPhone or Android device. And join us for a Hangout on Air today at 10:00 am PT where we’ll answer questions about our adventures."

*Posted by Sara Pelosi, People Programs Manager, on behalf of entire expedition team

Globe Business is First in PH, Asia to Get MEF CE 2.0 Certification

ONE OF THE BEST IN ASIA AND THE WORLD. The Globe Business Team happily received recognition as the first telecoms services provider in Asia, and the fourth in the world, to earn the Metro Ethernet Forum – Carrier Ethernet (MEF CE) 2.0 certification on March 20, 2013. The certification proves that Globe Business can deploy its products and solutions much faster, and guarantee customers of globally-compliant services which will work seamlessly with their network.

Globe Business reached yet another milestone in the Philippines telecoms industry after earning the Metro Ethernet Forum – Carrier Ethernet (MEF CE) 2.0 certification on March 20, 2013—attesting to its status as being among the top service providers worldwide.

The MEF CE 2.0 certification also means that Globe Business can now deliver added benefits to its customers by matching enterprise users’ application performance needs to MEF services with specific service-level agreements (SLAs).

MEF is a global-certifying IT body, a non-profit organization that sets world standards on Ethernet services in terms of reliability, speed and SLAs and promotes worldwide adoption of Carrier-class Ethernet networks and services.

GLOBE BUSINESS was recently certified as one of the best telecoms service providers in Asia and the world as it received the prestigious Metro Ethernet Forum – Carrier Ethernet (MEF CE) 2.0 certification. This means that Globe Business is able to deploy its products and solutions much faster, and guarantee customers of globally-compliant services which will work seamlessly with their network. The certification also proves that Globe Business is now at the forefront of innovation in the Philippines. Its status as the first company to be MEF CE 2.0 certified in Asia demonstrates that the Philippine telecommunications and ICT industry are moving ahead with Globe Business in the lead. Show in photo is the Globe Telecom’s Network Operations Center (NOC) which is now one of the best in Asia and the world.

“Globe Business is the first not only in the Philippines but in Asia to receive certification for Carrier Ethernet 2.0. It is not only an important achievement for us but it also augurs well for the local ICT industry. It reflects our company’s genuine commitment to deliver world-class and best-in-class services to our customers,” said Globe Business Head Jesus Romero.

Globe Business, which is the pioneer of premium-grade corporate solutions in the country, is now the only Philippine and Asian service provider, and fourth in the world, to achieve MEF CE 2.0 certification with its point-to-point E-Line (EPL and EVPL) and multipoint-to-multipoint E-LAN services.

This strengthens its Ethernet services’ MEF 9 and MEF 14 certifications or MEF CE 1.0 which define Ethernet service functionality and service performance, respectively. As the

These accreditations enhance the company’s end-to-end service Operation, Administration and Maintenance (or OAM) capabilities for the three-level Class of Service and Tier 1 service performance as they make Globe Business Ethernet services the best choice at world-class standards.

Its next generation MEF CE 2.0 also extends the original purpose of Carrier Ethernet with added vital features, including easier interconnection with global Ethernet providers and partners for multiple standard service types as well as enabling new levels of efficiency for mobile backhaul.

Globe Business Head of Enterprise Segments Grace Castillo assured that with their MEF CE2.0 certified services, “we can deploy our products and solutions much faster, provide guarantee to customers of globally-compliant services which will work seamlessly with their network and allow end-to-end visibility to perform faster issue identification and resolution as well as ensure SLA delivery.”

“What this means in terms of Classes of Service is that our customers can run multiple and critical applications while we assist and support them in prioritizing which ones can pass through Ethernet traffic.

“Likewise, we can conduct non-intrusive tests with added testing parameters leading to quicker turn-around time in pinpointing issues and resolutions, less service downtime, ensure SLAs and improve after-sales support. This gives them a definite advantage when subscribing to our MEF CE 2.0-certified Ethernet services,” she added.

Meanwhile, Globe Business Head of Business Products and Services Francisco Claravall said that the accreditation they received from the MEF is a result of the hard work and commitment put in by their Data Network Planning and Engineering; their Product Management team; as well as their colleagues from Tellabs and Iometrix.

“We went through extended days and nights of continuous, round-the-clock assessing and resolving issues during the course of the certification tests. Our synergies were focused toward the collective goal of giving the country its first MEF CE 2.0 certified-service through Globe Business,” he said.

Already, Globe Business customers have commended its move to take its Ethernet services several notches higher, as attested by a long-time client and local insurance giant Philamlife.

“We’ve known Globe Business to be at the forefront of innovation in the Philippines. Being the first locally to be MEF CE 2.0 certified and, better yet, in Asia, is a breakthrough not only for the company but for the country as well.

“This demonstrates that the Philippine telecommunications and ICT industry are moving ahead, with Globe Business leading the way,” said Nilo Zantua, Vice President and Head of IT Infrastructure of PhilamLife.

Romero believes that the MEF CE 2.0 certification is more than just an accreditation document. Rather, it is an acknowledgment from a global certifying body will translate into tangible benefits that Globe Business customers will experience and be delighted about.

“This means simpler and faster deployment, as well as standardized services, from Globe Business that will offer them more choices, and with more reasons to choose Globe Business over and above any other provider,” he said.