3rd IdeaSpace Startup Competition: Turn Your Bright Tech Ideas into Reality

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I believe each and everyone of us has probably thought of a few great entrepreneurial ideas only to let it pass because of lack of motivation due to the absence of enough resources, funding or support. We may be missing a lot on opportunities to become the next big entrepreneur if we continue to let go of our ideas.

Here's the big break we are all waiting for. We have great news from the largest privately-backed technology incubator in the country. IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc., a 500-million peso funded organization with over 5 years of support from many top and leading companies, is once again looking for the next big and bright tech idea on the 3rd run of its startup competition. Here is our chance to turn our ideas into realities with the help of a significant startup fund and support that you may receive from the 3rd IdeaSpace Startup Competition.

The top 10 selected startups get early-stage funding worth at least P1M consisting of seed investment, training and services: P500,000.00 investment, including an acceleration program that provides office space, housing for non-metro manila residents, mentorship on financial modeling and costing, marketing, design thinking, and legal advice. The founders go through an Entrepreneurship Development Program at the Asian Institute of Management. IdeaSpace also provides incorporation and intellectual property protection support to these startups, as well as an optional offer to invest up to P5,000,000.00 in follow-on funding on a convertible note.

Applications are accepted until January 15, 2015 so better check out IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc.to learn more on how you could become the next big technopreneur!

If you're really keen on making that idea a reality, come join the Ideaspace Bootcamp happening on November 29 and 30 at the Microsoft Philippines office at the 8/F of 6750 Ayala office tower in Makati City. The bootcamp is hosted by the 2013 winner PortfolioMNL.

Limited slots left. RSVP details here:
http://portfoliomnl.com/contests/join/bootcamp

36 Days of Buqo Christmas: Free Books and Magazines Everyday

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We can see holiday decorations all over already. Almost every home and establishment have put up their colorful lanterns, lights, and other creative icons of the season. Our much-awaited Christmas is just around the corner and ‘tis the season of giving and, yet again, the Christmas spirit brings out the generous side in most (if not all) of us.

What you would love to know is that Buqo have also contracted the generosity bug that’s been going around! So to mark their very first Christmas, they have prepared a little something (quite awesome, actually) just for you!

Buqo wants you to re-experience that “childhood” feeling of anticipating, of finding your gift under the Christmas tree, up to the moment of opening it to your heart’s delight. But this time, they want to do it digitally (they’re an app after all). Dear friends, Buqo presents to you their “36 Days of Buqo Christmas”. Yes, that’s 36 days! Because 12 days just isn’t enough!

So what happens in those 36 days? Buqo will be giving away a book or magazine EVERY SINGLE DAY from November 26 up to the very last day of 2014. A new item will be featured daily and will be completely free to download for 24 hours. Hey, that’s a total of 36 books and magazines you’ll be finding under the “Christmas tree” (a.k.a. the “36 Days of Buqo Christmas” banner in the app). Isn’t that exciting?!

Butler-Potard Rematch Set for One FC: Warrior's Way

Wazzup Pilipinas!

At One FC: Total Domination last year, light heavyweights Sylvain Potard and Jake Butler faced off in a highly anticipated contest. Jake Butler, the former NCAA wrestler and captain of his wrestling team at Princeton University was riding a three-fight winning streak with all finishes, and was hoping to add another win to his record. Meanwhile, the unheralded Potard was making his ONE FC debut.

Potard though, had other plans. After a close first round, the Frenchman started the second round with a left hook that landed on Butler’s chin. He then followed it up with a series of relentless strikes that called an end to the contest. The win was a huge upset that silenced the 12,000-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Butler, the Ivy League alum who gave up Wall Street for an MMA career is hungry for revenge. He believes that he is the better mixed martial artist and simply got caught. He bounced back from the defeat by trouncing Egypt’s Mohamed Ali, and immediately asked for the rematch. Butler was granted his request. Now more than a year removed from that contest, Butler and Potard are once again set to lock horns at One FC: Warrior's Way.

Power Up and Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Holiday season can be both exhilarating and tiring at the same time. To be able to enjoy the season’s festivities fully, it is important to stay healthy all throughout the “ber” months.

Get enough sleep. The holiday season is filled with parties and reunions but don't use this as an excuse to scrimp on sleep. Sleep is the secret to good health, there's no other way around it. If you wish to have energy to enjoy the season, sleep is essential. To be your best, make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

Dance and move. The season also means one thing: a lot of eating. Don't deprive yourself but allow yourself to enjoy the season by working out. Don't wait until January to start on your fitness goals; start with something small like walking or even dancing in your living room. Stay hydrated with the help of Summit Natural Drinking Water. Summit is filled with minerals that help you concentrate on your tasks while at the same time hydrating you to be prepared for anything this season.

Power up. If you can't avoid the late nights, make sure you're powered up with Cobra Energy Drink. Cobra Energy Drink is the number one energy drink in the Philippines and contains carbohydrates and B vitamins for that extra push of energy one needs this time of the year.

OFW Business Expo Gives Head start to SME Companies

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The ASEAN integration augurs well to prepared Filipino Companies. As collaboration between ASEAN companies become a commonplace, Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is poised to benefit from this set-up.

However, the belief that “build and they will come” set-up that many Philippine SME companies hold may not jive with the opportunities that the ASEAN Integration offers.

Marketing and Promotion of these companies at the same time working hard to find the right partners are the keys to realize the benefit of this economic set-up.

The 11th Megabalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) set this December 18-20, 2014 at SMX Convention Center is a longest running business expo targeting the OFWs and Balikbayans and encouraging them to go into business.

2nd International Travel Festival: The Ultimate Christmas Travel Event

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines' Department of Tourism aims to achieve 10 Million tourists every year until the end of 2016.

This target is aided by the major improvements in International Airports in Manila and secondary airports in Cebu, Clark, Iloilo to mention a few.

The rise of budget fares led to significant growth in foreign tourists and domestic travels. This increased led to major hotel players investing in the country. Fairmont, Raffles and Tune Hotels are some of the brands that increased their presence in the country.

In the coming year, the Department of Tourism launched the “Visit the Philippines” Campaign. Already some of the notable international events that will take place in the country for the year 2015 are the Papal Visit, APEC Summit, Madrid Fusion, Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition, 40th Kiwanis Asia Pacific Convention to name a few.

Amidst these positive developments in the tourism industry, the 2nd International Travel Festival (ITF) slated this December 18-20, 2014 at SMX Convention Center aims to support the momentum the tourism industry is experiencing.

Proactiv 30-Day or 60-Day Kits: Easy, Safe and Convenient Online Ordering

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many have probably found out already how easy, safe and convenient it is to order online. The security measures provided over the Internet are now stronger and harder to penetrate by hackers or online identity thiefs that many people are now ordering almost everything using a mobile app or an online system from a friendly shopping portal.

Would you believe I pay my bills, order restaurant food, book a taxi, and a lot of other things using my mobile app? many users are now more comfortable entering their personal details like credit card information for many online transactions and deals. Life has become so convenient that developers of mobile apps and online portals have become rock-stars of the online world. They are now designing our future with their online systems.

You'll be glad to know that you can also order the Proactiv 30-day kit or 60-day kit online (at https://my.proactiv.com.ph) with the same ease, safety and convenience. Why waste time commuting or traveling to a crowded shopping center, grocery or drug store when you can just use your smartphone to order your Proactiv kits?

Shark Adventures Until End of November at Discovery Channel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

November is fast ending but it’s not over till end-November! Shark-related stories continue for the rest of the month of November at one of our favorite cable TV channels. Brace yourselves for more of these sharp-toothed carnivores. Shark lovers and “finatics” can watch out for more jaw-inspiring tales and brand new premieres such as I Escaped Jaws 2 and Sharkageddon. Sharks take the center stage every Sunday until November 30 from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Discovery Channel.

We all loved the Steven Spielberg movie series Jaws, and couldn't get enough of other stories related to sharks. These creatures of the sea are considered the most ferocious and threatening. Who doesn't fear waters infested with sharks. I wouldn't to go to the beach only to find out my life, or limbs, is/are in danger.

Discovery Channel's iconic annual series Shark Week has been showing since early November with a bigger bite with Shark Month. Shark lovers and "finatics" have been treated to a month-long special packed with more jaw-inspiring shark, including brand new premieres:

Animahenasyon 2014: Ready for November 25 to 28 at iAcademy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Animahenasyon" is a word play for the combination of two exciting words namely "animation" and "imagination" (imahenasyon). The animation festival spearheaded by the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), has been stirring our imagination with regards to the field of animation for several years already. The Animahenasyon event, now to be held at the new iAcademy building (formerly Mondragon House) along Buendia avenue, has been running for 8 years already and has undoubtedly improved throughout the years. Animahenasyon 2014 is now ready to further take us up and above greater heights as symbolized by their hot air balloon event poster.

At a press conference held at the Ascott Hotel in Makati last November 16, 2014, key officials of ACPI shared the overview and highlights, schedule of specific events, special VIP guest and speakers and other things to expect at the four day event happening from November 25 to 28, 2014.

Among the key officials of ACPI present at the press conference were Ms. Joie Sales, the Festival Director; Ms. Ayeen Pineda, Conference Director, and Mr. Ricky Orellana, Festival Programmer. There was also Mr. Omar Aguilar, Emerging Artist Awardee for 2014, who also gave a short talk.

Honey's Kimchi: Where Everything Can Be as Sweet as Honey

Wazzup Pilipinas!

They actually got me on the first bite! Their proud Beef Stew specialty deserves a loud applause. This is what I've been looking for when it comes to a fine budget meal since most of us Filipinos are really into the more affordable and little bit sweet and little bit salty dishes that easily pleases our appetite. I feel like I want to eat more rice to accompany this amazing viand. So simple yet so filling. It can be truly considered the star of the show at their simple food spot at the food court of SM North EDSA.

Honey's Kimchi may look so small since they are normally located at food courts, yet if you really want to get value for your money, you'll have to try out their reasonably priced but tasty meals with the most expensive being only P140. Wow! These are affordable meals suited for minimum wage earners and even students with very little budget.

But why do they call it Honey's Kimchi? Well, Honey is the pet name of the Filipino owners (husband and wife calling each other "honey"), and Kimchi is among their specialty as well. It's their popular side dish that goes really well with all their meals. By now you've probably realized that you'll find more than just kimchi at Honey's Kimchi.

For the information of those who don't know yet, kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made of seasoned vegetables usually based on cabbage. It can be fresh like a salad or fermented. Most popular varieties are spicy and you can eat it along side almost every meal. The versatility of kimchi makes it great to use in everyday cooking.