Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Hashtag Indak 24/7 Wins as Grand Champion of Healthway Medical Dance for Health 2: Take the Lead

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Congratulations to Indaks 24/7 (Team Hashtag) for winning the grand prize for the Healthway Medical "Dance for Health 2: Take the Lead" dance competition.

They were actually my bet as well from the very first time I saw them, not only from their exceptional dance moves but also based from their excellent branding using the popular hashtag symbol, their cool and edgy dance outfits, their outstanding choice of dance beats, and their overall presence on and off the stage.

Ms. Eleonor Bengco-Tan, President of Healthway Medical, was there for a short message to welcome the participants and attendees of the Dance for Health yearly dance competition sponsored by Healthway Medical to promote dancing as an avenue of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

Ms. Carmi De Leon, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Healthway Medical, said that they only hire employees that can dance. I also believe that dancing should be a part of our lifestyle. We should make dancing a habit if we want to reach our full potential. She also gave a sample of her belly-dancing steps during the introduction of judges.

My Luck As a Blogger Keeps Getting Better

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My producer/partner requested me to email my personal profile and some of my photos so UNTV can make me a promotional profile for the TV shows I will be involved in. He then forwarded it to UNTV with the following message:

"Below is an initial profile and photos of one of our partner/producer/host/blogger of our incoming TV shows to promote our merchants & etc..."

That statement calls for a celebration. I believe I deserve a feast fit for a King ... or a Blogger ... that's soon to be a ... "Partner/Producer/Host of TV shows" (not my words).

"Sana di ako magkalat sa taping or shoot. Lol! Sobrang kabado ako. Baka ma-mental block lang ako when infront of the camera. Nakakahiya kapag ganoon ang mangyayari. Sino ba gagawa ng script? Ano ba dapat isusuot ko?. Magpapa-make-up rin ba ako? Kailangan ko na bang magpapayat..o mas nakakatuwa ang mataba sa TV?...Hahaha .. Kaloka talaga!"

I am so grateful that my luck keeps getting better everyday, and I owe it all to the people who believed and supported Wazzup Pilipinas. This is one of the nicest early Christmas present I got this year. My enthusiasm is at its peak right now, and hoping for more good fortune soon.

Let's Take It Offline: A Much Needed Break from the Online World

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A PR approached me yesterday and shared his deep concern of what some bloggers are doing. He said a lot are doing rants against each other, backstabbing, spreading rumors, cursing, etc. He emphasized that these are the reasons why some organizations are still hesitant to invite or partner with bloggers because of the ill behavior some bloggers are showing towards each other in the blogging community. Lack of respect and courtesy. Iisa ang mundong ginagalawan natin pero tayo-tayo rin ang nagsisiraan. Ipinapakita natin sa public ang isang parte ng ating komunidad na hindi kaaya-aya at lubhang makakasira sa ating lahat.

Let me reiterate. He did not mention any wrongdoing of individual bloggers but what bloggers as a whole are doing against each other - spreading negativity about the blogging community specifically through online and social media rants. May pinariringgan, may pinatatamaan at walang humpay na pagrereklamo. Ang impression tuloy ng iba ay tayo ay nagiging sobrang antipatiko, kunsintidor, mayabang, materialistiko, walang utang na loob, makapal ang mukha, inggitero, at kung ano-ano pang malalaswang kaugalian na dapat sana ay maiiwasan kung hindi tayo mismo ang nagkakalat.

Mas nakakairita ang mga taong lalo pang pinaiigting ang galit ng threadstarter. OK lang magbigay ng simpatiya pero kapag ikaw ay kumampi, naniwala ng agad-agad, at ang mas masahol ay nagalit rin sa taong pinatatamaan ng iyong kaibigan, ay higit ka pang nagdulot ng mas matinding yurak para lalong maging magulo ang inyong mundo. Bakit kamo? Dahil imbes na iilan lang ang nag-aaway ay dumagdag ka pa.

This does not apply only to the blogging community but for every group or organization.

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National Geographic Explorer extended its program to the young minds by bringing the world inside the classroom. The organization developed a holistic and integrative environmental education program to further encourage learners and educators to engage in purposive learning. The aim of this organization is not just to inform the public about the what's, the how's and why's of things, but also to inspire them to move and do something about the world around them. Informative, entertaining and interactive activities were developed as well to motivate young learners to explore within the safety of the classroom.

The E3 Pedagogy in Learning: Interactive Approaches Improving Classroom Instructions and Methodologies for Millenial Learners was held at the 3rd Flr. Auditorium, Kaban ng Hiyas Building City of Mandaluyong. The event shared tips and techniques to K12 teachers to become innovative leaders to the students in order to make them life-long learners. They give both prestige and a remarkable experience to the educators of this country.

The honorable Mayor Benjamin Abalos was there to give the Welcome Remarks. Ms. Arlene Padua Martinez, President and Managing Director of National Geographic Explorer Philippines gave the Opening and Closing Remarks, while Ms. Jeanne Danielle Martinez, Program Manager of National Geographic Explorer Philippines, launched the program.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Aside from the Gabriela experience that we talked about from our previous blog article, there are a lot of things to do in and around Nurture Wellness Village of Tagaytay. Our one and half hour ride from Metro Manila was all worth the travel time as the beauty and healing properties of the place was extremely rewarding.

Our visit at the enchanting and strikingly soothing place formerly called Nurture Spa, allowed us to experience a more profound self-discovery. It made us look more intimately on our personal totality. There are only a few spots near Manila where you can find a vast array of relaxing eco-friendly amenities located within nature itself.

The esteemed health and wellness destination can be found at Pulong Sagingan at Barangay Maitim II West Tagaytay City and was built by Dr. Mike Turvill, a british national who holds a PhD in Chemistry, and his wife Cathy Turvill, a certified Worksite Wellness Specialist, Health and Wellness Coach and internationally licensed therapist.

Nurture Wellness Village has been widely known for its amazing and high quality spa and wellness services highlighted by their skillful therapists trained by internationally certified trainers and the Amu'in massage oils made from pure therapeutic essential oils formulated by Dr. Mike himself, plus the "ulogs" guest accommodations that are authentic Ifugao heritage huts originally sourced from Banaue built by Igorot natives.

Energizer Playground: World's First Battery-Operated Playground

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The most difficult toys to manage are those that are battery-operated since we ought to maintain its functionality by keeping it with power.We should always have batteries in storage so we are ready in times we would need them most especially when our kids suddenly demand to play with his or her battery-operated toys.

We have to accept the fact that not all batteries are made equal. There are only a few that we can say that puts real value on your money, a battery that you can say was worth every penny. If you want a brand that can really satisfy your need for dependable and lost-lasting batteries, you have to choose Energizer.

Energizer, from the makers of the World’s Longest Lasting AA and AAA batteries, recently brought holiday cheers to Filipino kids through the World’s First Energizer-Powered Playground. Your friendly neighborhood pambansang blogger ng Pilipinas was invited to witness an amazing array of playgrounds dominated by battery-powered toys.

From flying helicopters to high-speed race cars up to several cute toys that light up and move around in all directions, children enjoyed a showcase of colorful playmates.

The activity ran during mall hours from 11am to 10pm at the Trinoma Activity Center last Saturday, December 13, 2014. The event supported the Brand’s new campaign on Max Alkaline which is Power Seal Technology, Protects Your Devices from Damaging Leaks. Guaranteed.

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The theater never ceases to amaze me. There is nothing better than actually seeing the actors perform live and impromptu. It becomes more meaningful when you see the emotions, both gestures and facial expressions, matching fluently with the words spoken.

The best part is seeing some mistakes that are quickly resolved by quick thinking of the actors that are smart and witty. They are the most talented of the rest. No take twos, only unique presentations done in the spur of the moment powered by their memories of the script, learnings from experience, and their innate creativity.

DALANGHITA PRODUCTIONS proudly announces its first production "KAILAN AT BAKIT" - a trilogy of one-act plays set from Dec. 12 - 14, 2014 at the PETA Studio, 3/F Peta Theater Center.

I was thrilled to receive an invitation for a media preview last December 12. I get to again see and appreciate the power of the theater to naturally touch the emotions in a more intimate setting.

What can I say about the three plays? They were "freakish." It's the most perfect word to describe them. They were all freakishly good.

"KAILAN AT BAKIT" shall feature the following productions:

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We are thankful for the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) for inviting Wazzup Pilipinas to A Marvelous BPI Christmas Bash held last December 11, 2014 (Thursday), 11am at the Compass, InterContinental Hotel Manila.

The Media Appreciation Party was supposed to be scheduled last December 9, 2014 but they had to postpone due to the expected landfall of Typhoon Ruby in Metro Manila. They apologized for the inconvenience because they said our safety is of utmost importance and concern for them. For that we are forever grateful as well since not only are they extending us their thanks for a year of partnership, they valued our safety too.

The afternoon was filled with entertainment from a band who performed several song numbers, individual and group games, amazing raffle prizes, a buffet meal where they served "lechon" or roasted pig among the other dishes, and a "sugar rush" section where they offered several sweets aside from the dessert at the buffet table.

The event was a superhero-themed celebration intended to thank the media friends of BPI for a year of support. maybe for them we are their heroes so they are now letting us become superheroes even just for this day.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Napapanahon na ating pag-usapan ang tungkol sa mga rumors, issues at scandals sa blogging community dahil sa mga kumakalat na blogs at trending na usapan sa social media na maaaring makasira sa pagkatao ng ilang individual. Ang timeline ko ay puno ng usapin tungkol sa mga nakataang mga pangyayari na involved ang ilang bloggers at ang karumal-dumal nilang karanasan.

Hindi yata umuubra ang pananahimik. Silence may be interpreted as acceptance of our fate. One the other hand, it may mean being guilty because we offer no words to reason out. Kapag naman nagbigay ka ng paliwanag ay binibigyan ng ibang kahulugan o nang-uungkat ng ibang issues na wala namang kinalaman sa pinag-uusapan.

Ang sabi nga nila, pag mahina ang defense, gamitan ng offense. Maglabas ng sangkatutak na issues na ikasisira nila, tutal mahina ang latest issue so gawa tayo ng listahan ng mga ginawa nila, halungkatin ang nakaraan, exaggerate it, maglagay ng kulang-kulang na impormasyon, haluan ng fiction, tambakan ng katatawanan, kalimutan ang katotohanan, at ipagkalat sa lahat ng taong easily gullible.

Kung isusulat nating lahat ng nalalaman nating baho about other people who say bad things about us ay ilang buwan siguro tayo nakatutok sa computer sa dami ng instances.

Hay, naku! Masalimuot ang mundo ng isang blogger. Marami raw pakitang-tao, marami raw sipsip, at maraming gagawin ang lahat dahil sa matinding pangangailangan. Marami rin ang sadyang nananahimik at walang pakialam dahil ayaw madamay o mabigyan ng kulay. Marami ang nais pumagitna lamang pero ang issue ay papabayaan.

Wally+ for Android: Now Available for Download Via the Android App Stores

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This Christmas season, Pinoys don't have to worry about monitoring their income and expenses as they do their holiday shopping and preparations. With Wally+ for Android, managing finances got easier anytime, anywhere.

Wally, the world’s leading lifestyle app for insights into how your money behaves, recently announced the release of Wally+ for Android. Over 5000 people from the global community helped by beta testing Wally+ to obtain early access.

Wally has been lauded by users and critics alike for using machine learning to adapt to user behavior, giving them real-time insights into their spending patterns, and using a design driven approach.

The team behind Wally is launching the completely redesigned Wally+, exclusively for Android users. Built by millennials to address the issues facing their generation, Wally+ gives people around the world unprecedented perspective into their finances. It centralizes users’ financial lives, allowing them to manage multiple accounts, tag friends in expenses, and understand how they stand financially compared to similar people.

Wally+ is available on Android in 18 languages, just time to get in control of your holiday expenses.

Wally first launched in 2013 on the iPhone where it maintained a global average 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple App Store, reached the #1 finance app in 22 countries, and reached the top 10 in 52 countries (with India, China and the US as the top 3 markets). Wally users have lauded the app for its “ease of use”, “beautiful and intuitive design”, and being “fun, simple and convenient” and real-time insights into their financial life.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It's official! Everything is almost set. We can't wait to begin to level up to our next big step towards the world of tri-media.Your self-declared friendly neighborhood National blog of the Philippines, the Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas, proudly announces another partnership towards greater heights.

From a mere online media or blog, to contributing to magazines like Smile and Breakfast, being featured in a newspaper like Philippine Star, being interviewed at radio stations like Radyo Agila DZEC 1062 AM, Ka-Tropa Radio DWDD 1134 AM, guesting on TV stations like Philippines Uncut of Buddy Cunanan at Global News Network (GNN) and PTV4 News, and a special arrangement with Vigattin Radio of Radyo Inquirer DZIQ 990 AM, we finally were given a break to try hosting for TV show segments incorporated into the regular shows of UNTV, your public service channel.

Aside from the many partnerships with many events, colleges and universities, brands, advocacy programs and other organizations, the awards we received because of Wazzup Pilipinas, starting from the very first recognition as Top Emerging Influential Blog of 2013, and then being conferred with a series of awards as the Most Outstanding Filipino Community Blog, Best Filipino Community Blog, Top Filipino Community Blog, even a personal award for our founder Ross Flores Del Rosario as Influential Social Media Evangelist of 2014, and now the latest of which is for 2014 Outstanding Customer Service for Online Community Blog Site, Wazzup Pilipinas has definitely reached an all time high with the announcement of TV show collaborations.

Yes! You heard it right! We're going to be on TV!

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The Marvel site describes Iron Man as ".... the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man."

Now that's actually the plot of the 2008 movie starring Robert Downey Jr. who plays billionaire industrialist, philanthropist and genius inventor Anthony "Tony" Stark, president of Stark Enterprises who's primary clients was the military. I'm not really sure if the comic books is similar since I've read somewhere that involves a villain named Mandarin and another captive friend named Wellington Yinsen. We all know Hollywood tends to do glorified changes to make the story more of a blockbuster.

The Captain America movie also gave us a glimpse of his father, Walter Stark, as the one who invented the invincible "Shield" that also acts like a boomerang since it would always swing back to Cap's hand. Thus, ingenuity, and creativity (for those cool designs), really runs in the family.

For Yexel Sebastian, who is obviously a fan of Iron man, the world of Iron Man is probably a fascinating one to be in. Thus he recreated the extremely cool Iron Man room in his Amazing Stories of Yexel's Museum situated at the 2nd floor of the Manila Ocean Park. But the suits were recreated using cheaper materials that he patiently carved out of styrofoam and treated with a tedious process that can also be learned at the museum.

All I Want for Christmas is the Freedom to Rant Without Fear

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Sometimes we just need to fight for what we believe is right no matter how insignificant or less important it is. We should be following a principle guided by moral values that we should strictly adhere to even if it means sacrificing our personal interests.

It is very rare in this world to see people concerned about the small and trivial things which could very well eventually lead to bigger problems if ignored or taken for granted.

Sa maliliit na mga bagay nagsisimula ang mga malalaking kalokohan kapag pinabayaan o ipinasa-Diyos na lamang. Tandaan, "Nasa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa." Dapat rin po tayong kumilos because we owe it to ourselves, and to the other people who may have encountered the same situations, to seek the truth and demand for justice.

Huwag hintaying lumala ang mga bagay-bagay bago tutukan ng pansin. Nasa huli ang pagsisisi. Huwag nating hahayaang ipagpatuloy ang tila karumal-dumal na mga gawain ng mga nilalang na halang ang kaluluwa.

Dapat ba na kumanta na lang tayo ng "Let It Go" at hayaan na lang na humupa ang ating galit?

Pero teka, di ba dapat rin nating tandaan na ang lahat ng bagay ay nareresolba kapag may tunay na hangaring maisaayos ang nasirang pagsasama o mapagkasundo ang magkabilang panig na nagtutunggali?

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"Like any good deed, gender equality should start at home" says Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Jun Abaya in his first statements of the closing remarks speech he gave at the Gender and Transportation Summit, a milestone in the history of the transportation sector, held at the Philippine International Convention Center last November 17 and 18, 2014.

Secretary Abaya was grateful for the representatives from the private sector who took time out to participate in the gender equality and transportation activity. This is the first time that the transportation sector would join hands and put into writing the various commitments to advance gender equality of each of the transport sub-sectors - the road, railways, civil aviation and maritime.

He also recognized the efforts of Director Quiogue and Assistant Secretary Lantin for their valuable contributions in the preparation, coordination and setting up of the activities involved in the Gender and Transportation Summit.

Below are statements grabbed from his speech done on the second day and con concluding hours of the summit before the signing of MOUs took place. Some of the statements were re-arranged in order to give a clearer presentation of facts. We also removed some of his other statements that we feel are no longer necessary.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It's the time of the year again to recognize outstanding companies and individuals who have excelled in their respective businesses and careers. It is but proper to give recognition to a year of hard work and perseverance especially to those who went through some desperate times before they finally reached their success. An award is an acknowledgement for all the efforts exerted, a reminder to keep the perseverance, and an encouragement to always do our best.

Everyone reveled in happiness as each one of the awardees of the National Costumers' Choice Annual Awards for 2014 received their respective awards conferring to them the recognition for their most outstanding contribution or achievement. The awarding ceremonies was held last December 4, 2014 at the Hotel Richmonde Eastwood in Quezon City.

The awards celebration is a joint undertaking of the National Customers' Choice Awards Annual Council, Philippine Events Specialist and Marketing Services Co. Ltd., Consumer Eye Marketing and Research, and the ShopBest Magazine.

A huge gathering of Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs (SME) were seen in attendance at this awarding ceremonies that's now definitely bigger and better. There were lots of familiar brands present that were all eager and anticipating the moment they would go up on stage and received their much-awaited award.