Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, January 28, 2016

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo on Proposed Salary Standardization Law IV

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To The Hardworking Men and Women of the DOST:

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) supports the proposed Salary Standardization Law IV that is bound to increase the basic salaries of civilian government personnel including S& T workers nationwide.

Likewise, the DOST unswervingly upholds the spirit of RA 8439 which recognizes & properly compensates the efforts of S&T workers in laying down the cornerstones of development in the country.

We will continue to support further moves to safeguard the gains of RA 8439 or the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S & T Personnel in the Government".

In line with these, certain provisions to further strengthen the SSL 4 ,particularly in safeguarding the Magna Carta, have been discussed together with your employee representatives and already forwarded by the DOST’s legislative liaison group to our fellow workers in government presently working on the proposed SSL 4.

I would like to assure everyone that the concerned members of the legislature and that of the executive have accepted these proposals warmly.

Therefore, as the SSL 4 reaches a crucial stage in the bicameral conference committee we trust that the committee composed of members from the Senate and the House of Representatives would arrive at a win-win solution that would address the vital issues and arrive at a final version acceptable to all parties.

To the DOST family, let us keep up our dedication to our work as we hold on to what is just and fair to us as government workers who toil very hard to move the country forward.

Duterte-Cayetano Says Philippines on the Brink of Becoming a Narco State

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The tandem of presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano today warned that if the disorder brought by illegal drugs will not end, the country will become a narco state. The tandem commits to end the "drug chaos" for the benefit of the Filipino people.

In a statement, Duterte said the country is showing alarming signs of becoming a narco state. "In the national capital region (NCR) where the country's capital is situated, the government admitted that 92 percent of barangays are already infiltrated by illegal drugs. If Manila, the country's seat of power, is helpless to address this, what more the other parts of the country where government presence is weak?" The tough-talking mayor said.

Duterte also noted the presence of international drug syndicates in the country, such as the Sinaloa drug cartel, a Mexican-based group considered the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the west.

"This is a clear national security threat. This is an invasion of a new kind. Drug lords, domestic and foreign, have declared a war against our families and children, and the government is helpless about it," Duterte said.

The duo said if elected, they will implement a combination of national, regional and international strategies to combat drug trafficking. "On the national level, we will strengthen and capacitate our security forces. We will cleanse the ranks of the police and military of the corrupt, provide better salaries and incentives and modernize their anti-narcotics infrastructure," Cayetano explained.
"We will also strengthen the five pillars of our criminal justice system. Drug trafficking thrives best in countries where there is grave insecurity and injustice," Cayetano added.

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The Peninsula Manila presents Luminescence DREAMSCAPES 2016, the 18th solo exhibit of new mixed media by MARÍA VICTORIA RUFINO.

Opening Cocktails on Tuesday, 2 February 2016 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. to be held at The Gallery, of Peninsula Manila. Proceeds will benefit Child Protection Network Foundation. Exhibit runs from Feb 3 to 7, 2016 Gallery hours: 10am-7pm

María Victoria Rufino - Filipino artist, writer, concert producer and businesswoman – graduated with honors from Marymount Manhattan College, New York with a Liberal Arts degree, major in Theater Arts and English Literature.

Born in the Philippines, she attended high school in Barcelona, Spain and Rome, Italy where she graduated valedictorian.She studied painting in both the Western and Chinese tradition (Ling Nan) under various masters in Manila and New York. She has held 17 solo exhibitions in Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; San Francisco, California and Manila. A regular columnist for Business World newspaper, her first book, “Beyond Brushstrokes”, an anthology of profiles of significant Filipinos (Bookmark 1995) was launched at the Ayala Museum, Manila. She has written essays for various award winning anthologies and publications. “ROMANZA” a book of poetry by Virgilio S. Almario (RIO ALMA) National Artist for Literature, with translation by Marne L. Kilates, and artworks by Marivic Rufino was launched in Manila, 2009 and at Museo Nacional de Anthropologia in Madrid, 2011 together with her solo exhibition.

As President and executive producer of Maverick Productions, she has produced dinner theatre plays in the Philippines, and musical concerts in the United States, Italy, Hongkong and the Philippines. In 1990, she won a national award ‘Gawad CCP for “Best Television Special” from the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ms. Rufino has served as Board Member and Vice president of Alliance Française de Manille (1998-2005). She serves as vice-chairman-director of Philippine Red Cross - Makati City Branch of Rizal Chapter.

Twin Bill Theater Presents Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

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Twin Bill Theater presents "Dog Sees God"

February 11, 12, 13, 14 and 26 at 8PM and February 14 at 2:30PM
Venue: Staple and Perk, Eco Plaza, Pasong Tamo Ext. Makati.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is a play written by Bert V. Royal.

An "unauthorized parody," the play imagines characters from the popular comic strip Peanuts as teenagers. Drug use, child sexual abuse, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, sexual relations and identity are among the issues covered in this drama.

In 2004 it was one of the breakout hits at the New York International Fringe Festival, winning the Excellence Award for Best Overall Production, as well as Theatermania's Play Award of 2004, the GLAAD Media Award for Best Off-Off-Broadway production, Broadway.com's 2006 Audience Award for Favorite Off-Broadway Production and the 2006 HX Award for Best Play.

Featuring Nelsito Gomez, Sarah Facurii, Gab Medina, Vince Lim, Maronne Cruz, Kathleen Francisco, Brian Sy, and Camille Velicaria.

Cast Announced for Manila Production of Les Miserables

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The full company has been confirmed for the Manila season of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical LES MISÉRABLES. Presented in Manila by Smart Infinity, the anticipation remains high for the forthcoming arrival of the musical.

Following an extensive search, Cameron Mackintosh is thrilled to reveal the talented cast for the highly-anticipated Manila engagement of LES MISÉRABLES.

“I am excited to now be bringing the new production to The Theatre at Solaire, which has proved just as successful all over the world as the original production that has celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in London last October – the only place in the world where you can still see the original production. Having created my new production over five years ago to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of LES MISÉRABLES, it is now in its second year on Broadway, having broken box office records across America and in Canada for over three years, with separate companies in Japan, Korea, Spain and of course Australia, where it swept all the top awards and closed last week after an incredible nineteen month run. I am delighted to bring this hugely successful new production to Manila with this incredible cast.” Cameron Mackintosh said.

Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson, fresh from his stint as Prisoner 24601 in Australia. Simon has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in Australia and the UK, including performing in London’s prestigious West End. His portrayal as Jean Valjean has earned him a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical. “I’m so thrilled to be playing Valjean for the Manila season of LES MISÉRABLES,” Simon said. “With arguably the most breathtaking score in musical theatre history, LES MISÉRABLES transformed musical theatre when it first opened. The show remains iconic and relevant today because it deals with themes of love, courage, the human spirit and the difficult choices we make which define who we are and what we stand for.”

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Enter the world of Gabriel Barredo’s acclaimed creation in Ballet Philippines’ season ender, “Opera”. This production brings a synergy between artists and art forms, with French choreographer Redha transforming the groundbreaking installation into a contemporary ballet premiering at the CCP Main Theater on February 13 & 14, with a Fundraising Gala on February 16 at 8:00PM.

The original “Opera” exhibition was first presented at Silverlens Galleries in January 2015, and was recently toured to Singapore last November in time with the opening celebrations of the National Gallery Singapore. For the ballet, Barredo is creating a staggering array of new sculptures, which will comprise the production’s set design.

Redha’s choreography will guide us along a journey into a new experience of art. Envisioning his dancers on bare feet, pointe shoes, and stilettos, he is set to present a work that is stimulating, sensual, and groundbreaking. “Being part of this production is a great thrill for me,” shares Redha. “Meeting Gabby [Barredo] and seeing his work up close was very inspiring.”

“’Opera’ is shaping up to be one of the most innovative productions that Ballet Philippines has produced in a long time,” muses BP’s Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Morales. “We invite everyone to support it and to catch its limited performance run.”

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We first knew thirteen year old Fil-Brit Bailey May as the "Gwapito from UK" on the recent Pinoy Big Brother 737 edition in which he happily landed 4th place and a promising showbiz career ahead.

Who would have thought Bailey just recently launched his self-titled solo CD album under Star Music to the delight of his "Baileynatics" supporters. According to insider reports, his fans really wanted him to come up with an album right after his PBB stint.

After coming across his YouTube covers online some of which went viral, Inspirational Diva, Ms. Jamie Rivera became interested with Bailey's singing potential and immediately came up with a six-track album, two of which are her original compositions.

She penned, "Can You Be My Girl" and the carrier single out now, "Gusto Kita".

“I'm so blessed to have my own album and to have worked with such great writers and producers. It's also an awesome blessing that my dream has come to be a part of the Star Music Family. God is good,” beamed Bailey.

Philippine Government University Industry Research Roundtable Meeting for Agribusiness

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Farming is a back-breaking job that is not appreciated by many. But farmers are there to feed the country.
I was not surprised to know that the average age of farmers in the country is 57 years old. That, very soon, we may lose our farmers who primarily plant the crops that provides our basic and staple food like rice, root crops, vegetables and fruits.

This is a reality that we may have to face soon if we will not be able to attract or encourage the youth to continue farming as their work or business. The only reasonable

Attending the Philippine Government University Industry Research Roundtable (PGUIRR) Meeting for Agribusiness organized by the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) of the United States Agency International Development (USAID) opened our eyes for the potential of Agribusiness as one of the key solutions for the growth of the Philippines.

The USAID STRIDE invites Philippine academic institutions in Batangas, Bohol/Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa/Palawan and Zamboanga, to submit applications for research in agribusiness, fisheries, and food manufacturing which has a direct link to inclusive economic growth.

The meeting was held on January 21, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza galleria in Quezon City, and was led by Dr. David Hall, COP, USAID STRIDE who also conducted the event introduction and opening remarks.

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For centuries now, this little island between the U.K. and Ireland has recognized no king, but that’s all about to change! David has convinced his wife Pam and twelve-year-old daughter Grace, to move to the island and discover what it really means to be royalty.

David Howe may seem like an average American, but he’s discovered a startling secret. He’s an heir to the throne of the Isle of Man, a descendant of its king before the land was claimed by the British Crown.

Catch David’s royal journey in the all-new series Suddenly Royal, premiering on January 27, airing Wednesdays at 11 PM on TLC.

TLC is a global lifestyle and entertainment destination presenting non-scripted and scripted programming featuring real life stories and universal themes that resonate with viewers around the world. TLC’s programming is told through the lens of larger than life characters and adaptable formats, celebrating everything from relationships and life stages, to makeover and transformation to food and travel. Launched in Asia Pacific on September 1, 2010, TLC is currently distributed to over 150 million subscribers in the region.

For more information, visit TLC at www.tlcasia.com.

Best Android Smartphones at Affordable Prices

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The smartphone revolution has led to some wonderful advancement in technologies and the ability to bring quality phones at affordable prices. It is possible these days to get a smartphone with advanced configurations at a nominal price. It is a steal deal for customers who are looking for the best features in a phone and don’t want to pay more.

Here we bring you the best Android smartphones under 6k in India.

1. Lenovo A2010

The only 4G smartphone in this category, the Lenovo A2010 is powered by a Quad Core 1GHz processor which has 1GB of RAM for multitasking needs. The display is decently large at 4.5 inches and it has a resolution of 480 pixels. The dual-SIM phone has an internal storage of 8GB which is expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card.

There is a 5MP primary camera with LED flash and a 2MP secondary camera for shooting needs. A 2000mAh battery powers the phone. Flipkart coupons from CashKaro.com gives you good discounts along with the benefit of extra cashback.

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The Oriental Palace Seafood Restaurant and Banquet Hall located at Scout Gandia corner Tomas Morato, Barangay Laging Handa in Quezon City is quite new since it's only on February 2, 2015 when they first opened their doors to customers. But they are definitely not newbies in the food industry as the owners have a long history of food artisanship. The owners have plenty of experience running respectable restaurants recognized for their superb culinary masterpieces.

You should know that everything was started by the Chua family's patriarch in 1978, Oriental Palace traces its roots to Wah Yuen (Chinese Garden), a small noodle and dimsum shop across the Love Bus station in Escolta. Chua kun, a young cook from Hong Kong, with a passion for good food and excellent cooking, established the shop with the dream of sharing authentic Chinese food to diners in Manila. Known for their flavorful dimsum, homemade noodles, and traditionally prepared Peking duck, this shop quickly became the go restaurant for the local Chinese community as well as for Filipino families from all over the metro.

I'm proud to say that this is not my first time to visit the restaurant since I was among the few selected bloggers who were invited to try out their fabulous feasts, especially their various dim sums, when they were just a few weeks old. You may want to read my previous article so you would have an idea of their other specialty dishes and dimsum.

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Western Digital announced that it has acquired more than 100 patent assets from IBM. The parties also entered into a patent cross-license agreement. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Patents acquired by Western Digital are in distributed storage, object storage, and emerging non-volatile memory. Western Digital expects the IP to further strengthen its technology leadership position and drive value creation for the company and its customers. The patents will augment Western Digital's existing portfolio of more than 10,000 patents and patent applications.

"This agreement reflects our continued focus on innovation and sets the stage for even more rapid advancement and commercialization of new data storage solutions," said Mike Cordano, president and chief operating officer, Western Digital. "We are building on Western Digital and IBM's long-standing relationship and look forward to future collaborations and business opportunities."

"This agreement with Western Digital illustrates the value of patented IBM inventions and demonstrates our leadership in licensing access to our broad patent portfolio. We look forward to a productive relationship with Western Digital," said William LaFontaine, general manager, intellectual property for IBM.

IBM has led the annual list of U.S. patent recipients for 23 consecutive years. More information about IBM's patent leadership is available at: http://ibm.co/1hLSj8W.

Nyfti Bicycles: The Filipino-Made Three-Fold Bike That Will Soon Change The Way We Travel

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Not all bicycles were created equal. Some are just made from alloy so they would obviously break easily and would probably not last a lifetime especially if you're an avid biker who's out in the streets almost every day.

True-blooded bikers know which bikes are indeed satisfactory and reasonably-priced depending on a lot of factors aside from build and design. I've seen a lot of brands but most of the brands you'll see are either too expensive or cheap because the materials used are inferior.

Who wouldn't want to ride around in a bike that would make you healthy and fit? I keep riding a bike whenever I'm in the province or inside a subdivision where there's plenty of room to bike so fast and even perform some stunts. But since the pollution and traffic situation is terrible in the actual streets of the metro, we may still have to wait a long time before it becomes a common sight in Metro Manila city roads.

It is such a shame since foldable bikes or "foldies" are now popular because of their portability. We have seen many that are even lightweight and folds so elegantly.

The good brands would cost you so much at an average of 60k, and the lowest I've seen was 9K (but this one was just made of alloy), We all know that there's a good reason why a product is cheaper than the others and that should be greatly considered by the buyer. You may want to take a closer look at your investment.

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Currently one of my most memorable trips right now is my three-day adventure in Cebu during Sinulog weekend. It is by far my most daring tour of a place where I courageously tried to find my way within the province.

By all means necessary, may it be riding the multi-cabs, the "habal-habals" (motorbike as a passenger), the buses, or if there's no other way, the taxis, I roam around Cebu guided only by Google maps and directions from the local residents.

There may have been a few language barriers since some of the Cebuanos do not understand Tagalog, or, the other way around, I don't know a word of Bisaya, so I got lost a few times. But I soon found my way with the help of common sense and friendly inquiries to bystanders and PUV drivers.

One of my destinations during my Sinulog weekend escapade was to visit The Suite Room by Casa Verde. They have two branches in Cebu but I was only able to visit their Ayala Center branch due to lack of time. I had such a hectic schedule in Cebu, I failed to show up at a few other committed invitations. The Suite Room was part of my restaurant hopping agenda - to showcase some of the restaurants we can find in Cebu.

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Filipino mixed martial artists have come a long way. Together with the fast rise of the sport, Filipino fighters have upped their games to be able to compete on the world stage. Focus on the grappling arts has taken priority while still maintaining signature striking capabilities.

Baguio City’s Eric “The Natural” Kelly (12-1) returns to the ONE Championship cage this Friday, January 29, at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia against hometown favorite Ev “E.T. Ting (10-3).

They will do battle in a three-round featherweight main event at ONE: CLASH OF HEROES that will bring the victor one step closer to a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship, held by reigning champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov.

“Training has gone well. I feel great. I’m ready,” said Kelly. “I feel strong and ready to bring honor to my country.”

Kelly, considered one of the best Filipino fighters currently on offer, came very close to a title shot back in 2014, following his scintillating victory over “Ruthless” Rob Lisita wherein he overcame sheer exhaustion and a broken nose to seal the deal via rear naked choke.