Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Cash Cab Philippines Ready to Roll with Ryan Agoncillo on December 22

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Who doesn't love the cool and always composed Ryan Agoncillo? He is excellent as a host and has been doing a great job for several years already. No wonder AXN Philippines has chosen him to be the host, or the cab driver, for their new reality game show where passengers get the opportunity to win thousands of cash just by answering a series of questions.

The show will premiere with a back-to-back episode on the 22nd of December at 8:50 pm so better put it already on your respective calendar of events.

During the show, a specially fitted out Cash Cab will navigate the busy streets of Manila while picking up unsuspecting passengers. The Cash Cab will appear as a regular taxi service however, upon entering the car passengers will find themselves as contestants on a truly mobile game show.

With approved questions coming from AXN, the number one general entertainment channel in Asia, our cab driver host Ryan surprises the passengers every time they get on the Cash Cab. Mixed emotions coming from different passengers but definitely a lot of fun and enjoyment while on board the Cash Cab.

At a media launch on December 9, 2015 held at the Aracama restaurant in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Tagig city, Ryan revealed the basic concept of the game show where unsuspecting passengers get to test their wits and eventually winning cash prizes. They say the biggest prize they were able to let out was Php 23,000 and there are opportunities to even double it if you play your "cab" right.

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Boosting its efforts to provide power to more households nationwide, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded financial assistance to various electric cooperatives during the Opening Ceremonies of the National Energy Consciousness Month on December 7.

As part of the Nationwide Intensification of Household Electrification (NIHE), around PhP114-million were allocated to 22 electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao covering 30,512 households. This program is in support of the efforts of the government's Total Electrification Program which aims to promote the benefits of electricity to uplift the economic well-being of our people especially in rural and remote areas. (Please see attached List of Beneficiaries.)

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said “This program cements the partnership of the DOE and electric cooperatives to support the government’s goal of total electrification of the country,” while also encouraging all electric cooperatives to undertake a more detailed household electrification program to establish a long-term holistic electrification plan.

Under the NIHE, the DOE targets to provide power to at least 45,000 households for 2015-2017 to reach its 90% household electrification aims by 2017.

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Singapore Airlines, in partnership with Changi Airport Group, spreads the Christmas cheer by offering special all-in roundtrip fares to Singapore, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe from USD160, USD200, USD600 and USD890 respectively. Customers may avail of this offer until 31 December for outbound travel from 12 December to 30 June 2016.

From justUSD160 all-in, fly to Singaporeand visitthe newest tourist attractions and exciting theme parks.Explore Southeast Asia such as Bali for USD250, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur for USD200, and Penang, Kota Kinabalu,Kuchi, Langkawi, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Danang for USD 220.

The land down under can also be your holiday destination as Singapore Airlines offers special fares to Darwin and Perth from USD600 as well astoAdelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney from USD650.

There isno better time to fulfill European travel dreams than this Christmas. With Singapore Airlines’ USD890 offer, customers can embark on their vacations to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Rome, Zurich and Istanbul.

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Thanks to a friend, my wife and I got to watch the 40th Anniversary Tour concert of Air Supply - Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell up close on stage at the front seats of The Theater of Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay city.

Held on December 7, 2015, the famous duo of the 80s were live in Manila for the Philippine part of their tour. They will also be holding another concert in Lanang, Davao city on December 9 so that means two runs for the Philippines.

I have to admit that when I heard them sing, I really thought they were lip-syncing because they still sound so damn great. I can't help it because during the parts when they were talking up stage, Hitchcock's voice was very low, but when he sang it was like the same voice from the earlier years when they stole the hearts of everyone due to their unique voices (especially of Hitchcock). Graham Russell even sang a solo after rendering a poem which I thought was equally amazing!

The night was actually started with a few Christmas songs from some young carolers. It was a surprise since their participation was not indicated in any of the posters or announcements of the concert. The only act we knew was of The Company who did three front-act songs including a compilation of songs that covered years of music.I was just wondering why their list did not include any of the Air Supply hits.

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Aiya Expeditors! Ready those cook books, tie up your aprons, and turn up the heat on that grill!

The Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC), the largest umbrella organization of science clubs in the Philippines, proudly presents the 22nd National Children’s Science Interactive Workshop (NCSIW) 2015 with the theme, “The Palatine Expedition: Deciphering the Recipe from the Scrolls of Edesia.”

Experience a week-long adventure and explore the wonders of food science and food technology. Learn from the best in the field as distinguished speakers share their knowledge and expertise. Be immersed in the exciting science activities and get to know fellow science enthusiasts from all across the country.

What are you waiting for kids? Grab your bags and mark your calendars as we all prepare for this wonderful journey on December 14 to 17, 2015 at the La Virginia Leisure Park and Amusement Resort in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas. We all hope to see you there!

For more information, feel free to contact the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs at (02) 332-8151 or send a message through mail@psysc.org. You may also visit them at www.psysc.org or like their page atwww.facebook.com/psysc.csiw.

Microsoft Partners with PLDT Home to bring you TVolution Stick

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Compared with computers, there are more people who own their own televisions all over the world. Thus, it is not surprising that there are innovations designed to maximize the use of the TV as an alternative medium to access the Internet, play games or work on documents.

Microsoft has partnered with PLDT Home to bring you TVolution Stick, a dongle-sized device which is similar to the previous Compute Stick from Intel that was designed to experience working on a fully-functional computer with your HDMI-ready television.

However, this device from Microsoft has Windows 10 and Office 365 bundled aside from letting users stream movies and videos, search the web, send and receive e-mails and other activities. It also allows you to multi-task since it has a quad processor in side that portable device.

Microsoft is said to continue innovating this product with robust and powerful broadband connection of up to 1 Gbps. Users can watch YouTube videos, browse the web, and check social media accounts on the big screen while lounging in the comforts of their bedroom or anywhere for that matter where there is a television.

Ciaz Revealed as Next Suzuki Car Model for Philippine Market

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It has been confirmed at a media thanksgiving held at the Hyve located at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Tagig city on December 8, 2015, the Suzuki Ciaz, a quite larger than subcompact sedan, was revealed as the next car model to reach the Philippine market soon.

The announcement was personally shared by Shuzo Hoshikura, Suzuki Philippines General Manager before the media thanksgiving night ended.

They said the Ciaz was developed to replace the Suzuki SX4 Sedan in the Asian market. At one glance, you will realize just how big and wide the Ciaz is. According to an earlier report, the Maruti-made sedan has two powerplants: a 1.4-liter gasoline engine, and a 1.3-liter diesel mill. The gas engine generates 91hp and 130Nm, and the diesel version puts out 89hp and 200Nm.

Its elegant design creates a superior aesthetic appeal while its aerodynamic style adds a stunning effect to its looks.

The all-new Maruti Ciaz looks similar to that of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and others in the C-segment. Having several best-in-class features, the Ciaz is one of the better looking Maruti Cars. With a claimed mileage of 26.21Km/l, the Ciaz is also a fuel-efficient vehicle.

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Whatever happened to the supposed to be opponent of Brandon "The Truth" Vera? The One Championship fight night would now have a different match against Vera because of unclear reasons.

After multiple requests made by ONE directly to Chi Lewis-Parry and his manager over the last few weeks, Parry has failed to submit his medical results and his drug tests for the fight this Friday. Additionally, he decided not to board the plane departing from London to Manila. He will not be fighting this Friday.

But do not worry because Vera's fight will continue as scheduled but against a different opponent. We are fortunate that someone immediately agreed to go against Vera with very little notice.

The next top HW contender, Paul Cheng will be stepping in for the World Championship fight against Brandon Vera. Can China claim its first ever Heavyweight World Champion or will the hometown hero make it a storybook win for Filipinos?

ONE Championship’s CEO, Mr. Victor Cui also made a formal announcement on Facebook. Please click here to view his official statement.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

One FC Fighters Vera, Striegl, Julaton Showcase Wares at Open Workout

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Just a few days ahead of ONE Championship’s annual year-end show in Manila, Philippines, Filipino Mixed Martial Arts superstars Brandon “The Truth” Vera, Mark “Mugen” Striegl and Ana “Hurricane” Julaton appeared at the KMA Fitness Gym in Makati to showcase their skills to invited media in an ‘open workout.’

The trio will represent the Philippines, along with a posse of local fighters, at ONE: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS, which takes place Friday, December 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I just can’t wait to kick his ass,” said Vera, who will be competing for the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship against former English pro-basketball player, Chi “Chopper” Lewis-Parry.

“I’ve never been in shape like this. I’ve never been this big and my body fat has never been this low. My cardio’s never been this high. My confidence is through the roof with this,” Vera added.

“You need to train 1000% all the time -- 500% training and the other 500% you need to take care of your body.”

The life of a fighter is a long and arduous one, with countless nights spent in a sweltering gym, wailing away at leather, honing a craft that will be ultimately responsible for either victory or defeat.

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Have so many friends and loved ones to give gifts this holiday season but short of budget to buy for them all?
Get ready for discounts up to 95% as Lazada, a leading online shopping and selling destination, culminate its Online Revolution sale with a 3-day Grand Christmas Sale on December 10 to 12.

This was announced to members of the media during the Lazada Grand Christmas Sale Media Meeting held at the Makati Shangri-La hotel on December 7, 2015. Inanc Balci, Lazada CEO and co-founder, expressed his excitement for all the things lined up.

Starmobile CEO Ulysses Lao and Cherry Mobile's Lorraine Javalera were also present to share their support to the online retailer. Even Belo Essentials has special promos to all Lazada fans out there with 50% off and Buy 2 Get 1 Free promos.

The e-commerce giant will be offering new Shocking Deals, P12 Deals, and P99 Deals featuring limited quantities of popular branded items at half-price including an Apple iPad Mini 2 Retina (16GB), a hoverboard (one of the fads these days that even a telecom company has it) and a My View 40" Full HD LED TV.

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The P3 Award Philippine Ceremony will be held on 11 December, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the DOST-ICT Office at CP Garcia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. The ceremony will be hosted by the ICT Office in recognition of the valuable contribution of our local partners in this initiative.

The “TV White Space (TVWS) Supported Fisherfolk Registration in the Danajon Reef” was a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Office, the USAID-supported Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), and Microsoft-Philippines. As a technology trial under the Smarter Philippines Program of the Philippine government, TV White Space—or unutilized broadcast frequencies—was used as a means to establish internet connectivity to support municipal fisherfolk registration or FishR in six pilot municipalities in Bohol over nine months.

The TVWS partnership became the recipient of this year’s P3 Impact Award held last October 2, 2015 in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. It bested more than 50 other applicants, including finalists from Coca-Cola, the Global Development Lab, Dow Chemical, and General Mills, which speaks of the exceptional impact that this partnership has made. The award was given by Concordia, the U.S. State Department, and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. The P3 Impact Award is considered a top honor in the arena of public-private partnership development.

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Michelin tires for passenger cars, SUV and light truckshave become more affordable with new suggested retail prices that came into effect starting October 1, 2015.

Vehicle owners are invited to visit the Retailer Locator on the Michelin Philippines local website (http://www.michelin.com.ph/Home/Buying-Guide/Find-Your-Dealer)to find the nearest retailer. New retail prices may vary per retailer of Michelin tires.

“Michelin cares about safety,first and foremost, Thanks to this initiative, we, through our partner-distributors in the country, are happy to make our tires more affordable for our Filipino consumers so they can experience firsthand what makes our tires different from the competition. Michelin tires deliver multiple benefits such as fuel saving and good handling, plus comfort and noise reduction, without ever sacrificing safety. Michelin is able to deliver all these through its extensive innovation coupled with research and development which are translated into Michelin Total Performance, which is our DNA,” said Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of Michelin Philippines.

Celebrate Christmas with Yeng Constantino, Up Dharma Down, and Various TV Celebs at Vermosa Holiday Escape

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Christmas is about bringing people together to savor the festive vibe and heartwarming glow of this season of giving. Vermosa, Ayala Land Inc.’s sprawling modern suburban community in Cavite that integrates healthy living with everyday life, holds Vermosa Holiday Escape, a fun-filled holiday bazaar that offers a much needed escape from the stressful shopping experience in the metro.

On December 12 and 13, experience the vibrant holiday cheer with musical treats from some of the country’s most talented musical artists. Providing live entertainment on December 12 are pop-rock best-selling artist Yeng Constantino and acoustic favorite Noel Cabangon while indie-rock band Up Dharma Down will bring the house down on December 13.

Adding more star power to Vermosa Holiday Escape are celebrity merchants led by Christine ‘Tintin’ Bersola-Babao. Shoppers can look forward to a wide range of products such as delectable and healthy Spanish-style bangus from Pinoy Big Brother winner Nene Tamayo, sandwiches and deli products from Donita Rose, skincare products from TV host and actress Gladys Reyes, curtains, bed sheets, linens and adobo from singer-comedienne Marissa Sanchez, and children’s clothes and shoes from award-winning singer-actress Vina Morales.

At its core, holiday bazaars bring families and friends together to bond. Vermosa Holiday Escape goes a step further by incorporating the importance of maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle into the whole gift scouting and giving exercise. At Vermosa Holiday Escape, shoppers will have a wide range of health and wellness items and services to choose from, including organic products, relaxing massage services, active lifestyle apparel and sporting goods. Online entrepreneurs will also sell their wares, offering a new platform to the holiday shopping menu.

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Step Up Boy Band leads Step Up N' Share, an upcoming benefit concert for Johann Mikhail Urminita, a nine-month old baby suffering from Biliary Atresia. He needs to urgently undergo a costly liver transplant as soon as possible as it is the only permanent cure to his condition.

Biliary atresia is a serious liver disorder that occurs before or shortly after birth when a baby's bile ducts (the tubes that carry bile from the liver) become blocked. The body needs bile to aid digestion and carry wastes from the liver out of the body. When blocked ducts prevent bile from being excreted, the liver becomes damaged.

Step Up N' Share will be held on December 30 (Wednesday), 7PM at Selda Dos Music Bar, 389 Visayas Avenue, QC for P300 with one drink to help raise funds and awareness of this rare and yet life-threatening disease. In lieu of this, we invite you to be one of our media sponsors and help promote this event for a cause.

For more information on the event and the cause, you may contact 09955181345 and https://www.facebook.com/HopeforJohann/.

PNP Awards Bus Hero Lady Cop with "Medalya ng Kagalingan"

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Recognition has always been the prime motivator for everyone. Even just a pat in the back, or a sincere smile to acknowledge appreciation of a good deed, is rewarding enough. The moment becomes extra special if you are given a symbol of the accomplishment that will serve as a memorable reminder of the day. The day would be super awesome if you are honored infront of your peers or colleagues especially if that momentous day is even announced to the whole word.

We salute officers of the law for doing their job well. They really do deserve to be recognized to inspire others to follow their ways. It is so difficult to keep a sane and soulful spirit especially if you are tempted to just keep yourself out of harms way. Being a police officer requires you to risk your life but the compensation is a bit demeaning to act like a super hero. Getting yourself involved in a dangerous situation requires accepting the fact that you may get killed doing your duty.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) led by Chief Director General Ricardo C Marquez honored PO1 Judy Ann Dizon De Villa and 14 Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) personnel during the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the PNP National Headquarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City.

PO1 Judy Ann Dizon De Villa, a police officer who singlehandedly foiled an armed robbery on board a passenger bus along EDSA-Cubao, was awarded the "Medalya ng Kagalingan" for her heroic act in responding to a call of duty by foiling a robbery/hold-up incident inside a passenger bus traversing along EDSA/ Cubao, Quezon City last December 1.

“PO1 De Villa manifested her commitment to the call of duty to serve and protect which earned distinct honor and credit not only for herself but also for the Philippine National Police” said PDG Marquez.