Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Airasia’s Red Hot One-Centavo Seat Sale Is Back!

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The highly-anticipated one-centavo seat sale by AirAsia is back, with promotional seats made available to all domestic destinations to/from Manila, Kalibo (Boracay), Palawan, Tagbilaran(Bohol), Davao, Cebu and Tacloban including international destinations from Manila, Kalibo and Cebu to Incheon (Seoul), Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Busan, Hong Kong and Macau and vice versa now available for booking at www.airasia.com from tomorrow, 23 November, until 29 November 2015.

The travel period for red hot one-centavo seats* promotion will be from 1 May 2016 until 5 February 2017, with priority redemption 24 hours ahead from 0001hrs – 2359hrs (GMT+8) on 22 November for AirAsia BIG members, AirAsiaGo users, BIG Prepaid MasterCard and AirAsia Citibank card members.

Philippines AirAsia’s Commercial Head, Gerard Peñaflor said, “Traveling with your friends and family to Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, Davao or to Hong Kong, Korea and other AirAsia destinations make an ideal holiday gift and our one-centavo seat sale makes the deal even sweeter! From as low as P201.00 all-in fares, travellers will get to discover new places here in the Philippines and across AirAsia’s massive network in the whole of ASEAN region and extending as far as China, India, Japan and Korea.”

The AirAsia Group is also offering promo seats to over 100 destinations across 20 countries including Asia and Australia during the same period from 23 to 29 November 2015 for travels from 1 May 2016 until 5 February 2017, with over 3 million promo seats on sale for flights operated by AirAsia in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, China, Japan, India and several others.

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The Children’s Museum and Library, Incorporated is a youth leadership organization that promotes the welfare, development, and empowerment of the Filipino youth through its conventions, competitions, seminars, and tournaments. The CMLI Junior Council Alumni Association (JCAA) presents the grandest, the most prominent, and most sought-after high school choral competition in the country entitled, Voices in Harmony 2015: The 17th Annual Awit-Tagisan ng Batang Pilipino.

Now on its seventeenth year, the Voices in Harmony Finals Night will feature the musical prowess of some of the best high school choirs in the country. It will be held on December 6, 2015 at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The competition continues to promote the talents of choir members and conductors, celebrate the deeper appreciation of Original Pinoy Music (OPM), and encourage the development of the high school choral community.

The top ten finalists are choirs from: Colegio De Sta. Rosa-Makati, Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati, Immaculate Conception Academy, Miriam College High School, Ramon Magsaysay High School-Manila, School of the Holy Spirit, St. Scholastica’s Academy-Marikina, St. Paul College-Makati, St. Paul College-Pasig, and University of Santo Tomas High School.

Wazzup Pilipinas is People's Choice Winner for Bloggys 2015

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The people have spoken.

We would like to thank the many people who voted for WazzupPilipinas.com making it the winner of the People's Choice Award for News and Events category at the recently concluded Philippine Blogging Awards or Bloggys 2015 held on November 21, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center of SM Aura located at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig city.

This is another recognition for WazzupPilipinas.com that will serve as a powerful motivation for us to continue working hard in delivering significant news that aims to inform, engage and educate our readers.

Sharing the stage with other finalists for the News and Events category, our founder, Ross Del Rosario, received the award for People's Choice with great appreciation. The award signifies that there are many people out there who believe in us. We hear the people loud and clear so we promise not to disappoint as we further improve our site to always make it the preferred choice for news that many would appreciate.

Though WazzupPilipinas.com features various topics ranging from travel and destinations, food and restaurants, health and wellness, ats and entertainment, sports and leasure, technology and gadgets, and everything else from most categories presented at the Bloggys awards, we do recognize our strength is really in delivering the news and partnering with the latest events out there since we often collaborate as media partner and brand ambassador of many organizations and brands. However, we try our best to provide a wide array of features to give a more holistic approach and substance in our news and information sharing for both personal and promotional story-telling and campaigns.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In this modern world, almost everything could have been done through online (e-mail, video-conferencing. chat, etc.). Though a personal transaction is nice, technology is there to make it more convenient and less expensive for us as compared to personally traveling to a destination just to initiate agreement(s) that would eventually fall in the hands of advisers or team of experts, like economic and legal advisers, for consultancy before it gets a final approval. Even before coming here to our country, the other world leaders must have consulted already with their advisers. It would be dumb for anyone of them if they will just come here without any offer of assistance or collaboration. After all, each one of them knows what APEC is all about.

Thus, pampering the leaders with luxurious meals, accommodation, outfits, entertainment, etc., eventhough our country is poor, should not have been necessary. We did not need to excel what China did for last year's APEC Summit. It would have been more interesting if we showed the world that we would not spend billions just to make us look good to countries who already knows who we are even before they landed in our country.

How can the world leaders recognize what the country really needs if we hide the real situation from them?

Filipinos are naturally like that. The attitude is similar to the annual holding of a town fiesta. The traditional heads of the families or clans would always find ways to serve a festive feast regardless if they borrow money, use credit or sell their belongings just to gain enough money for a celebration.

But I'm not that knowledgeable to to the nitty gritty discussions involved during an APEC Summit so I could not really justify both my opinions and the rants of the many "intellectual" netizens out there with their many viewpoints.

The SALt Lamp Is Not Really Salt-Powered But Still An Innovative Light Source

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There has been a widespread misconception about Engr. Aisa Mijeno and his brother Raphael's SALt (Sustainable Alternative Light) lamps. The product and its inventor has been on the spotlight lately after Aisa was invited by the Whitehouse to sit down with US President Barack Obama and Jack Ma of Alibaba at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit discussion where her invention was highlighted. While many people praised the inventor for the honorable opportunity, there were others who tried to dig deeper about the invention and now declaring the SALt invention has been falsely advertised.

Many think that the invention need nothing but a continuous supply of ordinary salt water for it to run indefinitely. The truth is, the salt water only facilitates the disintegration of a piece of metal—called an "anode" electrode—that is immersed in the solution. It's the disintegration of this anode, rather than the salt water itself, that produces electricity.

Some are reacting because the invention doesn't really run on saltwater. The saltwater only carries the accumulated negative charges between two different kinds of metals (from the cathode and brings it to the anode). The saltwater closes the circuit, allowing a steady flow of charges that powers the device. Saltwater is only one of the elements involved but can be replaced with other items with dissolved ions like lime juice, vinegar and sports drinks.

What has contributed to the misconception? Well, the name of the product is one, and the many press releases and features about them with headlines containing the words "salt-powered lamps."

But why did the siblings market their product that way? Maybe to be easily understood by their targeted users?

Voices in Harmony 2015: The 17th Annual Awit-Tagisan ng Batang Pilipino

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If one would look closely at the iconic logo of Voices in Harmony, one would notice that the three faces are tilted in different angles.

Yet there is one thing in common - they are all singing. This symbolizes the different perspectives individuals have and emphasizes how in singing, people unite and create harmony.

Through ViH, let us continue encapsulating the essence of Filipino culture and the arts - diverse but unitive.

Voices in Harmony, with its passion and heart for music, has withstood the Philippines' struggles for almost two decades. It has stayed strong together with the Filipino youth in preserving this country's culture through music.

The years made their music stronger.

With OPM and with you, ViH will not stop as long as there is Filipino music to be made.

Join them as they continue the mission.

Witness the top ten choirs as they sing it out for the championship in the grandest, most prominent, and most sought-after high school choral competition in the country, Voices in Harmony 2015: The 17th Annual Awit-Tagisan ng Batang Pilipino!

Don't miss your chance to experience the talent, the victory, and the glory of music on December 6, 2015, 5:00 PM at the AFP Theater. Mark your calendars and join them as they celebrate the endless possibility of writing new musical history.

Who will take home the coveted Aria? See you at the Finals Night!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Narantungalag Jadambaa and Marat Gafurov Set for One Featherweight World Championship Bout

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The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), announced today that the mixed martial artists competing at ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS II (BEIJING) are ready for all the action which takes place tomorrow evening, 12 November, at the Gymnasium of National Olympic Sports Centre in Beijing, China. ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa and interim ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov have successfully made the featherweight limit ahead of their main event bout.

Visit the official ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS II (BEIJING) weigh-in photo gallery by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6k384krsvdao0f3/AABoZfKfuYDUszYYrjf_77sta?lst=

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui stated, “ONE Championship is back in Beijing and we’ve lined up an amazing card for fans all across the world! Our featherweight champions, Narantungalag Jadambaa and Marat Gafurov are ready to unify the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Get ready for a thrilling night of world-class MMA action!”

ONE Featherweight World Champion, Narantungalag Jadambaa stated, “I am proud to be recognized as champion. It is an honor for both myself and my country. Tomorrow night, Marat Gafurov and I will determine who will have the privilege to be called the undisputed champion.”

Interim ONE Featherweight World Champion, Marat Gafurov stated, “It has always been my dream to be champion. I won’t stop until I am considered the best in this sport -- for my family, my country and for myself. Tomorrow night, I have the chance to claim sole honor of being ONE Featherweight World Champion. It’s an opportunity that I am ready to seize.”

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For the third straight year, Globe Telecom President & CEO Ernest Cu is on the elite list of Global Telecoms Business Power 100 for 2015. Cu is the only Filipino executive to make it to the Power 100 and among the top 10 in Asia. The GT Business Power 100 annually releases its list of the most powerful people in telecoms worldwide.

This year’s list of Power 100 is different from previous year’s versions as inclusion was divided into a number of different categories such as operators in various parts of the world, over-the-top and content providers, hardware companies, among others. Cu was listed in the Top Ten Operators from Asia.

“Under Cu’s leadership, Globe Telecom has held its own against stiffening competition in the telecoms market in the Philippines. Setting itself apart from its rivals, the operator has focused on growing its revenue from the market’s postpaid subscriptions while providing consumers with value-added services such as music streaming service Spotify and video streaming service Hooq in a bid to boost its revenues,” Global Telecoms Business said. Global Telecoms Business is the only magazine and website dedicated for senior executives of telecommunication companies worldwide.

“Our business success catapulting Globe as the leading mobile operator in the Philippines is a result of our strategy of providing differentiated customer service. Globe shall continue to deliver innovative and game-changing products and services most relevant to our customers’ digital lifestyle,” said Cu.

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Taking inspiration from the honored traditions of ancient Japan, Slimmers World International conducts the search for the 2015 Mr. & Ms. Great Bodies on November 21, 2015 at the Resorts World, Manila.

Asia’s foremost name in health, slimming, fitness and beauty, Slimmers World celebrates the 20th year of Mr. & Ms. Great Bodies with the biggest ever search for the pinnacle of physical perfection.

This year’s 32 candidates embody the spirit of the samurai, sacrificing time and effort, training relentlessly, and conducting themselves with unwavering discipline and honor to reach the ultimate goal of achieving the peak of the human form.

The 32 elite candidates, the practitioners of the way of the warrior are a diverse group from all across the country.

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The Michelin Pilot Sport EV overcame difficult weather conditions to deliver consistent, competitive performance and grip throughout the day in Putrajaya, Malaysia, despite temperatures in excess of 30°C, a track temperature of almost 50°C and humidity levels of between 60 and 90 percent.

Round 2 of the 2015/2016 Formula E ePrix featured the same format as 2014, with a 12-turn, 2.5km track and the start brought forward by two hours to 2:04pm local time in order to minimise the threat of wet weather. Indeed, torrential rain swept over the city an hour after the chequered flag was shown. The hot, damp conditions made the day hard not only for the drivers, but also for the battery of their all-electric single-seater racing cars. However, the teams knew they could count on their Michelin tyres which effectively proved a match for the challenge

Excellence and versatility

While all the teams are using the same chassis as least season, the latest technical regulations of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) now allow them to run their own motor, transmission and electronic management system. The rear suspension may also be modified, but the rest of the specification – including the battery – is identical to last season. Meanwhile, the FIA has authorised a power increase from 150kW to 170kW for the races, and from 170kW to 200kW in qualifying, and that has resulted in an improvement of around two seconds per lap at circuits like Putrajaya.

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AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline for seven consecutive years, launched its all-new mobile application offering innovative new features, smoother functionality and an improved interface to provide guests with an enhanced and seamless flying experience with AirAsia.

AirAsia's mobile app is nominated as the 'World's Leading Low-Cost Airline App' at the upcoming World Travel Awards. This enhanced version is now available in 11 languages and it can be downloaded from the respective app stores of both iOS and Android devices.

Siegtraund Teh, Group Chief Commercial Officer of AirAsia said, “We are constantly investing in technology and innovation to make flying easier and more enjoyable for our guests. Our all-new mobile app offers our guests everything they need right at their fingertips. There has been over 9 million downloads of the AirAsia mobile app on both iOS and Android platforms, and we hope that more people will discover the convenience of our new and improved mobile app.”

Among the new features of the AirAsia mobile app are the ‘Add to Calendar’ feature, which automatically links upcoming flights to the calendar; faster and simpler flight booking process, as well as improved mobile check-in and Manage My Booking experience where guests can include various add-ons to their flight bookings easily.

Alodia Gosiengfiao, AKB48, Akishibu Project, Kawaii 5 and Friends at Cool Japan Festival 2015

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We just experienced the biggest Japanese event dubbed as Cool Japan Festival 2015 last November 7 and 8, 2015 courtesy of Hallo Hallo Alliance.

The event highlighted the biggest idols from Japan and the Philippines namely AKB48 Team 8, our very own cosplay queen Alodia Gosiengfiao, Akishibu Project, Kawaii 5 (featuring Amachan), the Japanese drum group Tokoro Taiko, Hello Kitty and Doraemon and his friends Nobita and Shizuka.

Alodia Gosiengfiao did a fabulous song number with the Akishibu Project to the delight of the crowd who were all fans of both celebrities.

The two day festival also featured Japanese-inspired attractions like the teamLab Drawing Aquarium where drawings on paper come to life on massive screen, http://www.team-lab.net/en/all/products/aquarium.html, the teamLab Camera where a photobooth with 3 kinds of fun backgrounds and unique themes is available: https://youtu.be/Pfb1taVJ5Ac, a real Sushi Nigiri Experience where they had a chef straight from Japan who taught attendees how to make sushi!

There were also a Make-up Workshop where we learned the kawaii style makeups from BCL cosmetics, a Hello Kitty / Sanrio booth giving you nothing but cute and kitty goodies!

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Finally, the advocacy for Cordillera Autonomy goes national. On November 25, 2015, the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera Administrative Region (RDC-CAR) will be holding a National Conference on Cordillera Autonomy at the Novotel Manila, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Around 350 officials of national government agencies, Congress and the Senate, the Judiciary, civil society organizations, executives of the business sector and the Cordillera leaders and elders will attend the National Conference.

The collective struggle for an Autonomous Cordillera has indeed come a long way. Since Philippine political independence in 1946, there have been several attempts by the Filipino government to integrate the Cordillera into the mainstream. The Commission on National Integration was established in 1957. In 1964, the Mountain Province Development Authority (patterned after the Tennessee Valley Authority) was established to facilitate development efforts in the region. By the 1970s, the Cordillera became a hotbed for foreign-funded infrastructure programs foremost of which were dams. The Cordillera peoples who continued to experience geographic and social dislocation opposed all these efforts. To suppress the local resistance, militarization in the region intensified.

Finally, in 1987, the Philippine constitution recognized the need for the establishment of autonomous regions in Mindanao and the Cordillera. Today, however, the Cordillera peoples still have to define the substance of that autonomy which would fully put to practice the Cordillera people’s vision of having control over their institutions, their economy and their affairs.

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MiCab, the Cebu-based tech startup that developed a low cost taxi-hailing app, will be sharing their experience as a startup or innovation-driven enterprise at the Startup Weekend (SW) Iloilo on November 12.

The tech start-up which started as a pitch during Startup Weekend Cebu in 2012 will also be sponsoring the inaugural SW Iloilo at UP Iloilo.

MiCab’s Chief Executive Officer Eddie Ybanez will be a judge and Chief Marketing Officer Kenn Costales will be mentoring the participants for the 54-hour startup competition and seminar.

“We at MiCab feel humbled and excited to share our experiences, failures and learning points, and hopeful that we can help in our own little way,” Ybanez added.

“MiCab are bringing their experience and perspective of running a homegrown startup. They can help participants go over their strategy and business model to hopefully form their own homegrown startup,” said Kyra Ann Dianon, SW Iloilo co-organizer.

“Our goal is to create an environment where skilled and creative people can come together to build a business idea within 54 hours. Startup Weekend offers participants the opportunity to learn, network, see their potential, and see a business idea turn to reality,” said Dianon.

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Congratulations to Sharla Santillan of Baragatan Festival-Palawan for being the very first Mimaropa Festival Queen. Marielle Sarmiento of Oriental Mindoro is 1st Runner Up while Princess Anne Noche of Marinduque was 2nd Runner Up.

Marrielle Sarmiento, Miss Oriental Mindoro, was also Best in Modern Filipiniana Casual Wear, and Best in Barong Inspired Long Gown. She also won the Sponsors Awards for Miss Avon, Miss Kia Motors, and Miss Aram Wellness.

Miss Photogenic was Princess Anne Noche, Miss Marinduque. Best in Festival Wear was Mikaela Diestro, Miss Puerto Princesa, and the Best in Dance Presentation was Miss Palawan, Sharla Santillan.

The other Festival Candidates candidates are Ariane Garcia, Miss Calapan City, and Kattline Joy Eranes, Miss Romblon. Occidental Mindoro was not able to send a candidates since they are also busy celebrating their own 65th founding anniversary.