Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Friday, December 19, 2014

Top Trends, Happenings and Events: Yahoo Philippines Unveils 2014 Year in Review

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Did you know that Vice President Jejomar Binay was the Philippines’ ‘top newsmaker of the year’.... and that the Gilas Pilipinas' participation in the FIBA leads the ‘top Philippine sports stories’... and stories about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus tops ‘most in-demand gadgets’ list?

More of these top and in demand topics was recently announced by Yahoo Philippines in their 2014 Year in Review (YIR), an annual recap of the top trends, happenings and events, which grabbed the attention of Yahoo users in the Philippines. YIR is based on what users searched for through the year, and an editorial selection of what was most read, recommended and shared on Yahoo in 2014.

Yahoo YIR offers insights into what captured the user’s interests across categories like Philippines’ Top 10 Newsmakers, Top Sports Stories, and Global Obsessions, among others.

A perfectly coned-shaped volcano, a TV host’s bedroom shenanigans and a smartphone were among the top searches by Yahoo Philippines users in 2014. However, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year topped the most searched list. The intensity and path of Typhoon Ruby brought back nightmarish memories brought by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year. The popular animated movie Frozen, an international beauty pageant and the death of a transgender woman also made it to the list of top searches on Yahoo Philippines in 2014.

A Look at Philippine Real Estate’s 2014 Performance

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With China’s property market cooling after years of rapid growth, and Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s housing markets expected to decline steadily, 2014 has seen real estate in the emerging markets come into focus. The Philippines, in particular, performed (and is performing) well. Although GDP growth slowed slightly, the country’s economy continues to outperform most of its neighbors.

“The Philippine property sector’s 2014 performance is marked by exuberance in certain segments traditionally overlooked,” said Lamudi Philippines managing director Jacqueline van den Ende. “For example, Metro Manila’s commercial real estate sector was and continues to be buoyant, bolstered by a healthy demand from traditional office takers and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.”

As the year draws to a close, global real estate portal Lamudi looks back at an eventful 12 months for the Philippines’ property sector.

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International property platform Lamudi has relaunched with a complete revamp of its website to offer a more intuitive design that streamlines the online house-hunting process for users globally.

The new website introduces a responsive design, with the site adapting to match the user’s particular device and screen size. The platform’s appearance has been improved to display properties for sale and rent in an easier-to-read format with larger photos. Dedicated sections for real estate agencies and new space for advertisements have also been introduced.

Lamudi is a global real estate portal focusing exclusively on the emerging markets. The website is currently available in 28 countries in these regions. The new design has been rolled out for all countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with Latin America to be relaunched in early 2015. To ensure the website remains highly relevant for each of its local markets, Lamudi has introduced different variations of the website, including a customised search field for each country.

Lamudi’s Global Co-Founder, Kian Moini, said: “This redesign puts the user at the center of our product. The responsive design is very important because we know an increasing number of our users access Lamudi on a mobile device in addition to a desktop PC. The new design is tailored to our customers’ needs, making it easier than ever before to find the perfect property online and to contact real estate agents via phone, SMS or email.

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Man’s greatest survival tool in dire situations is the strength, comradeship and skill of the people he is with – so long as he can stand them. In each episode of Discovery Channel’s latest original series TETHERED, two people from opposite backgrounds and philosophies must embark on an epic journey across treacherous terrains on a mission to escape the wild. But in the harsh wilderness, the best way to force two polar opposites to work together is to physically lock them at the waist by a steel cable. Stripped of nearly every modern convenience, they will be forced to pool their ingenuity and work together – whether they like it or not! TETHERED premieres every Tuesday on Discovery Channel at 8:00 p.m., starting December 30.

The men and woman of TETHERED have varying degrees of survival experience – from none to some! A rich real estate mogul is paired with an environmentalist dedicated to a non-materialistic lifestyle; a shaman with a biology professor; a free-spirited yoga expert with a hard-headed military man. They might not all have the necessary survival expertise, but the common thread that links them is the eagerness for a life-changing experience that will either see them forge lifelong friendships or arch enemies in the process!

Dropped at a meeting point with just either a four-foot (over 1.2 metres) or six-foot (almost 2 metres) steel cable that binds them together, a basic map and a limited survival kit, each contrasting pair has 10 to 12 days to overcome their differences and work hand-in-hand to escape the wild. From swimming across shark-infested waters, trekking through bear-infested woods, dodging alligators and hanging over dangerous waterfalls in addition to fighting hypothermia and dehydration, each duo may have to learn the hard way that the best way to survive is to stick together.

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To give thanks and their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the bloggers who have helped Friendly Alliances and Media Expressions (FAME), Inc. FAME is a subsidiary of Trianoin International Group of Companies owned by cardiologist Dr. Rafael Castillo, with the advocacy of spreading the word on health medicine through its magazines. It later expanded when it ventured into commercial publications and promoting both Philippine and International tourism.

The company organized a year-end thanksgiving party entitled "Holiday Delight: A Year-End Bloggers Party" last December 17 at Green Sun, one of the newest events venue in Makati. It is a “New Arts” Center that caters to the fresh works and performances of young Filipino creatives in the field of arts, design, music, and culinary.

The venue is located at 2285 Chino Roces Avenue Extension in Makati city. Just a very short ride from the Magallanes MRT station. You can even walk from the MRT station if the weather is fine.

The event, themed as a White Christmas Party, capped off FAME's social media programs this year and gathered various bloggers from different industries for a cocktail dinner and socialization party amongst several consumer brands and stakeholders like booths from Goldilocks Bakeshop and Foodshop, Australian Harvest Oats, Trianon, LRI Therapharma and Tupperware.

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EarthCam is the global leader in delivering webcam content, technology and services. Founded in 1996, EarthCam provides live streaming video and time-lapse construction cameras for corporate, tourism and government clients in major cities around the world.

EarthCam's all-weather webcams, innovative software and mobile applications enable users to showcase unique views, increase exposure and generate positive public relations. EarthCam launched EarthCamTV, a 24-hour “TV channel” devoted to live views of scenic destinations around the world.

The Webby Award winning company hosts many highly trafficked tourism cams, with views of popular locations and landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Las Vegas Strip, Bourbon Street, Eiffel Tower, Andy Warhol’s gravesite, Hollywood Boulevard, Miami Beach, Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Petra in Jordan and Abbey Road Crossing in London.

EarthCam revealed its “25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2014!” For unforgettable experiences, travel to www.earthcam.com/top25 and… Blast off 268 miles into space, defy gravity with an indoor skydiving webcam, enjoy a sunset over the Bernese Alps in Austria, and spend the day in Dillie the house deer’s bedroom.

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If you are careful of what you put in your body, you should also give importance to what goes onto your skin. Many women would spend a little more just to be assured that what they put onto their skin is something pure, genuine and of highest quality that's free from many harmful ingredients.

Did you know that goat's milk has more benefits than you can imagine? Go ahead and try these products blended with goat's milk as the primary ingredient. Give in and treat yourself to dessert for the skin.

The Cream Factory, a US brand that offers premium and natural products, believes in the goodness goat's milk, that is why their products are made by and for people who are passionate about goat's milk for bath and body products. The Cream Factory products contains 100% Active Botanical extracts to provide multiple benefits for your skin, and leave it feeling velvety-smooth and fresh, even into the night.

While there are many small brands of goat's milk bath and body products, there are very dew imported, quality options available in the market. Real Netherlands goat's milk is prized for its purity and quality.

Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree Lighting at Fuente Circle Eastwood

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The Christmas tree has been a long-time tradition being practiced in many countries worldwide including the Philippines. Through the years, there have been so many different versions and style of the Christmas tree, as well as the manner they are decorated. Usually topped with a star at its very peak, and tree is also colorfully lighted all over to provide more beauty and attract more attention. This symbol of the holiday season is also bound to every man’s independent spirit and belief in what this season is about.

No matter what tradition, the community and togetherness are always in the heart this time of the year. Just like the Jack Daniel’s Holiday Barrel Tree which is a Lynchburg Tennessee holiday tradition that through the years has spread to the United Kingdom and Canada.

The holidays just keep getting better now that the Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree comes to Manila. The 30 feet and 7 barrel-layered composed of 82 pieces of barrels had a ceremonial lighting last December 16, 2014 at the Fuente Circle in Eastwood Libis Quezon City.

Mr. Anthony Ramirez, Brown Forman Corporation Philippine Market Manager initiated the lighting of the first and only Jack Daniel’s Barrel Tree in Asia, along with Mr. Gabriel Fajardo, Jack Daniel’s Philippine Brand Manager. Another tree will also be setup at The Fort Plaza in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) on Saturday, December 20, 2014 thus offering more wonder and amazement for the Filipino people especially to the ones near the two locations.

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Where do you start when you have so much to say?

The city of Malolos from the province of Bulacan has so many rich historical and cultural discoveries that it is a huge enigma why not so many people are aware that it is in this city where the first democracy in the continents of Asia and Africa was founded, specifically at the Barasoain Church. This is where the first Philippine Republic was proclaimed.

At the press conference that we attended at Bahay na Tisa restaurant during the media launch of Vamos a Malolos held last December 15, Mayor Christian Natividad passionately shared his sentiments that after more than a century, of us proclaiming the very first Republic of the Philippines, it seems we have all forgotten about the real significance of that moment, and we are now just contented that every January 23 we are just going to raise the flag of the Philippines, while the President, Vice President, House Speaker, Senate President, Supreme Court justices, and other honorable guests from the government, will all be coming to Malolos to attend a short program, and that's it. Nothing more.

Everyone goes back home until the same event next year when we would be doing the same thing all over again. Is that how it should really be?

If we don't look at back at our past, how would we be able to understand ourselves? If we are not going to look back at the important events that took place a long time ago, where do we intend to go? Which direction are we heading?

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Singapore Airlines passengers flying from Manila to Singapore will have the option to fly in even greater comfort and luxury as Singapore Airlines launches its First Class cabin on its Manila to Singapore route starting January 12, 2015. Singapore Airlines will be the only airline offering the First Class product on this sector.

Singapore Airlines offers four daily flights on the Boeing 777-200 and the Airbus A330-300 aircraft at present, but by next year, travelers from Manila will get to experience flying on the airline’s B777-300ER fleet which features the First Class product. Operating the SQ910 and SQ917 daily service, the B777-300ER will provide eight first class seats, 42 business class seats, and 228 economy seats.

In First Class, each passenger is provided with a vanity corner complete with a mirror, a table that can be adjusted for height to suit individual preferences, and a 35-inch seat that can be converted to the largest fully flat bed in the sky.

First Class passengers are treated to the airline’s world gourmet cuisine created by its International Culinary Panel of world-renowned chefs accompanied by a tantalizing selection of wine and beverages specially designed to delight the discerning palate.