Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Microsoft Founder Bill Gates was in Laguna for a Confidential Visit at IRRI

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Inquirer.net reports that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently visited the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna according to the online news reliable sources.
The American philanthropist arrived at 8 a.m. of April 7 Tuesday at the IRRI headquarters aboard a private helicopter and left after a two-hour “confidential visit.”
The rice institute’s spokesperson would not deny nor confirm the visit after IRRI was requested for comments. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports the research and development of IRRI’s Golden Rice, a genetically manipulated rice variety that contains beta carotene."

It is either strange or admirable for the Microsoft founder for being too silent and low profile about his visit to the Philippines.

We all know how popular Bill Gates is and he should have been top news which is why it was surprising that only Inquirer was able to pick up on this news.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Thank you to It Figures Skin Care and Body Shaping - Makati branch for the regular Fat-Burning Radio Frequency (RF) treatments.

I'm already at my 4th visit to get rid of my double chin. They say it will take around 6 to 8 sessions before we could totally burn the unwanted fat but I also need to complement it with right exercise and good diet, otherwise it will just come back.

However, there are some saying the improvements are noticeable already. Just a little off the fat but noticeably better than before.

It Figures Skin Care and Body Shaping - Makati offers non-invasive facial, skin care and slimming services for both men and women.

Thanks to Marnel, who was mostly the one attending to my treatments and, of course, to Gernie for allowing me to experience such an opportunity. I hope to write well the end results of their efforts, and hoping it will be a success.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nope! There's only Josie Rizal announced as a new Filipino character among the three new ones of the Tekken 7 fighting game. The Andrea Bonifacio is fictitious, but why not - Emilia Aguinaldo, Apolinaria Mabini, Marcela Del Pilar, Juana Luna, Nene Aquino and all the rest of our male Pinoy heroes created with a female version seems interesting to watch fight each other on screen.

Or is it not a fitting tribute since it's a fighting game after all. Not really promoting camaraderie or good traits. Even Jose Rizal fought with his pen - which is supposed to be mightier than the sword or the gun. But a fist may be different - still it's promoting violence, and who are addicted to these games bit our kids who will be influenced by these arcade games.

The other two characters new in the game are Jin Kazama and his evil supernatural alter ego Devil Jin. This makes Josie Rizal the newest female character of Tekken 7.

But all the legal aspect issues and the controversies hounding the new character patterned after Jose Rizal may cause the creators of Tekken 7 to delete the character from the game. The name was obviously taken from our national hero Jose Rizal's name but I don't think the outfit makes any resemblance. A cropped yellow top and a red and blue skirt is not really Jose Rizal's type of wardrobe. Though the character is skilled in eskrima and kickboxing, our national hero would also not be fighting his way out of a conflict which means it is not an actual portrayal. It's only the name that they adapted and nothing more.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready to experience the difference as the party that started it all switches to a new frequency. ADHOC is coming back stronger than ever, and this time, we’re giving you exactly what you came for. Enjoy the distinct ADHOC experience brought to you by none other than UP JMA as we bring back everything you love about the biggest college party in the metro. Get hyped with MC Pao and the best DJs in the country as you enjoy overflowing premium drinks, and revel in the one and only ADHOC midnight reveal.

ADHOC Resonance brings you a new spin with the freshest hiphop beats, a new setup, and a new location. On April 25, 2015, SMX will open its doors for the first time ever to the biggest college party in the Metro. Will you be there to witness the change?

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Health Cube's Complimentary Customized Executive Health Care Package for Media

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Health is wealth - so an annual medical check-up at Health Cube in Promenade, Greenhills was where we spent a few hours of our time in a n effort to determine if we are well within the healthy zone.

April 1 was not a fool's day for me and my wife since we got a truly special complimentary medical check-up designed for media. This is almost similar to the very basic package, but good enough to determine if we are in good health already.

Among the any perks of being a member of the media is these kind of services offered in exchange of writing about our experience. This serves as part of their marketing initiative to let us experience their health care services. A tour of their facility was conducted already at a previous visit so what was left that day was a complimentary customized Executive Health Care package.

Health Cube is a premier medical facility in the heart of Metro Manila that provides personalized outpatient health care. The tests scheduled to be given to us were CBC, Urinalysis, RBS, Uric Acid, SGPT, SGOT, Creatinine, ECG, Chest X-Ray, PFT and Stress Test. We were asked to be there at 8 am. We got there a bit earlier but was surprised they started the check-up even before 8 am.

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The Barangay Nutrition Scholars are volunteers with special functions more diverse than the ordinary health worker. They are the special ones trained to be more attentive to details and with the guts to go beyond the common tasks, and even surpassing the role by becoming more than just a volunteer. He or she would have the daunting tasks of negotiating with the heads of the LGU for continued or more support since their tasks would definitely need the cooperation of the local government unit especially the heads from the Barangay Chairperson to the Mayor of the city or municipality.

I was amused that these BNSs are also given training programs on how to dress up properly and to effectively communicate with heads and superiors. These are knowledge that are worth learning even for health works as the scope of advocating for nutrition should not be solely focused on specifically related training programs. The overall physical, intellectual, social and even mental attributes of an individual should be enhanced as well no matter what profession.

They've mentioned the role of a BNS may even become more popular for the society since they have close encounters with the people themselves. Thus some have leveled up towards higher positions in government. It is admirable that still many of them stayed as a BNS because they truly have loved their advocacy.

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Many are reacting to this "yaya meal" hullabaloo... What's your opinion?

Re-post from Balesin Island Club:

"We at Balesin Island Club do not understand this entire hullabaloo about the “yaya meal.” Any talk of discrimination is inappropriate. In fact, if the guest or member chooses to have the Club serve the “yaya” tenderloin steak and lobster thermidor, we will gladly serve it to the yaya. “Yaya meal” is merely an accommodation and an option for the guest for their “yaya”. H...ence, we do not serve this meal if there is no instruction at all from the guest for a “yaya meal” to be served to a “yaya”.

Incidentally, the yayas are thrilled with their meals because these are deliciously prepared by our chefs, as well, for our operating staff at Balesin.

Mike M. Asperin
CEO & Island Director
Balesin Island Club"

A bunch are saying they should have hires a PR to answer such issues since the CEO named Mike M. Asperin was obviously oblivious to the real reason why many people are reacting violently to his statement.

The fact that this place has a so called discriminating "yaya meal" is already a sign that the management, or the people running the place, are OK with offensive terminologies that distinguished their VIPs from their maids or helpers....and in the case of the CEO, their "operating staff" who are also thrilled being served a "yaya meal."

But was the management just complying with the request of a majority of their members? Thus making most of their members the affluent spoiled brats?

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On March 19, Andrew Stotz, CFA, an award-winning financial analyst with more than two decades of experience in Asia, held a live event at Ugnayang La Salle, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas based on his upcoming book, You Won’t Get Rich in the Stock Market… Until You Change the Way You Think about It.

Roughly 1,700 students were in attendance at this seminar, where Stotz taught them about the 12 investment principles from his new book and showed each of them how to secure their own financial future. He also made sure that, by the end of the seminar, each student had made his or her own personal financial plan. This way, each student would have a roadmap to follow to reach financial independence. “It’s very gratifying to see that many people writing out their first financial plan. I feel like I’m making a difference, helping these students,” said Andrew.

In order to engage the students in the seminar, he asked each student to stand and flip a coin over and over, until only those who had flipped heads or tails ten times in a row were left standing. This was his way of illustrating that repeated stock market success can just be based on chance, and you can’t predict who will flip heads ten times in a row, any more than you can practice coin flipping to increase your chances. One student at the event said, “Mr. Stotz not only has a way with stocks but also has a way on reaching out to people.”

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The latest edition of ‘Art In The Park’ featured a new, creative installation – a welcome change from the usual paintings and sculptures. Artist Derek Tumala created a ‘light installation’ that made use of projection mapping technology.

‘Polyflora’ -- a mural that plays on the synchronisation of geometry & light derived from the shapes of the plants – made viewers appreciate the distinctive appeal of using projection mapping to create art.

“I was thinking of how I can make an art installation that can be organically weaved into the park's aesthetics. Plants are the main component of the park where Art in the Park is initiated. The idea of creating Polyflora, a sculptural & mural piece, got me inspired on how plants organically form geometric patterns - often in repetition - and how it can form an abstract formation. By applying light through video mapping, it creates a mesmerizing presentation,” said ‘Polyflora’ creator Derek Tumala.

For his inspired installation, Tumala gives credit to the Epson projectors. “What's most important for my video mapping project is the quality of light that the projector provides. The Epson projector has excellent brightness that is great for video mapping projection. Details, contrast ratio, and colors are accurate and it transformed the illuminated surface into a mesmerizing piece. The transformative value that projection mapping creates can only be effective with a high quality projector like Epson,” added Tumala.

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The Philippine Speleological Society 15th Cave Congress is a yearly gathering whose main objective is to discuss issue and concern regarding the use of our caves and cave resources, and to formulate alternative solutions for the sustainable use of these resources. This gathering is participated by local government units, government line agencies, non-government organization, the academe, caving groups and enthusiast and other stake holders.

This year’s congress will focus on the environmental, social and economic effects of climate change in caves and karst areas. The event will be held on April 20 to 24, 2015 with theme; “Caving in a Changing Climate”. The objectives for this year’s congress are as follows:

a. To impart greater awareness on the effects of climate change on caves and karst landscape

b. To enhance the participants knowledge and greater understanding on the social, economic and environmental effects of climate change and its impact on the sustainable management of karst areas.

c. To develop a sustainable karst management program for the Silop cave system.

The 15th cave congress will feature numerous activities; from plenary discussion and paper presentations to technical trainings and tours. Registration fee is pegged at Php 1,500.00 for non PSS members and Php 1,200.00 PSS members. The registration fee is inclusive of: Congress Kit, event Jersey, dry bag, 3 hosted meals, transportation from school to training sites, Entrance fees & permits.