Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Pinoy Beauties Rule on Twitter as New Queens Named at #BbPilipinas2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After the highly celebrated win of Pia Wurtzbach (@missuniverse) at the last Miss Universe pageant, all eyes are on the Filipina candidates of #BbPilipinas2016 who are vying to follow the footsteps of the reigning Miss Universe. Filipinos were so excited about the event, which saw 25-year-old Maria Mika Maxine Medina as the new Binibining Pilipinas Universe, that they sent more than 340,000 Tweets about the #BbPilipinas2016 pageant. The Twitter conversation peaked at 2,500 Tweets per min at1:26am, April 18th to celebrate her win.

The event also marked Pia Wurtzbach’s final walk on the stage as the crown holder of Binibining Pilipinas. Her emotional farewell speech likewise generated much interest and conversations on the social media platform. Even celebrity doctor Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Vashavski (@RealDoctorMike), whom Pia is dating, posted a sweet message for the incumbent Miss Universe which was the most shared Tweet of the night with over 9,000 ReTweets.

But more than anything, it was the night of Maria Mika Maxine Medina who was ultimately crowned as this year’s Binibining Pilipinas Universe. Unlike her predecessor, it was her first time to join the pageant, but she is about to face the challenge of the big shoes (or stilettos!) that Pia has set for her.

Aside from Medina, other crowned beauties include Kylie Verzosa (Binibining Pilipinas International 2016), Jennifer Hammond (Miss Intercontinental 2016), Joanna Deapera (Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016), Nicole Cordoves (Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016), and Nichole Marie Manalo (Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016). Meanwhile, Angelica Alita and Jehza Huelar bagged the first runner up and second runner up awards, respectively.

DOTC, ULC Break Ground for MRT-7, Bulacan-QC Railway to be Operational by April 2020

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Residents from Quezon City, Caloocan City, Bulacan, and neighboring areas in the north can look forward to a faster and more convenient commute to the center of the metropolis, as the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony today, April 20, 2016, at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

“The long-awaited MRT-7 will serve commuters who ply the heavily congested Commonwealth Avenue area for work and school on a daily basis. The new railway system will not only significantly lessen travel time along this corridor, but also help decongest traffic in Caloocan and NLEX,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

The P69.30-billion project includes the development of a 23-km railway system with 14 stations from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Once completed and operational by April 2020, the MRT-7 is expected to initially accommodate 350,000 daily passengers and shorten travel time from the current 3.5 hours on the road to one (1) hour. Once further upgrades are made, ultimately 800,000 passengers per day will benefit from the project.

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the groundbreaking ceremony, together with DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya and Ramon Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the parent company of contractor Universal LRT Corporation (ULC).

The project covers the development of an integrated transportation system, which includes the said railway system, a 22-km highway from the NLEX Bocaue interchange, and an intermodal transport terminal (ITT) adjacent to the San Jose del Monte Station. Commuters can take public utility vehicles (PUVs) or private cars and use the new highway from NLEX, alight at the ITT, and board the MRT-7 going to North Avenue, Quezon City.

Photo credits to Bayang Matuwid

Lubao International Balloon Festival 2016: Interview with Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We had a short interview with Lubao, Pampanga Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab during the first day of the Lubao International Balloon Festival. We intentionally made it short as we can see how the mayor was extremely busy personally seeing to it that everything goes well for the 3rd run of the hot air balloon festival.

We even mistook her as one of the security heads as she was wearing a blue outfit while giving instructions to people. Unlike the others wearing a brown version of the outfit, she was more hands-on and totally immersed on the responsibilities. We don't usually see that kind of commitment with other government officials of her same level of office.

Maybe because the event is practically theirs to begin with as the venue itself is owned by their family. Pradera Verde, where the wakepark, villas and a golf course, plus an upcoming waterpark, is owned by their family.

However, we have to commend the Pineda clan for putting Lubao, Pampanga in the map for holding one of the much awaited event every April. There may be another hot air balloon event being held at Clark but they boast of being the biggest hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia.

Pradera Verde located at Prado Siongco here in Lubao Pampanga is a 350 hectare property and currently only 34 hectares are in use. This means more developments are possible with the property. This makes me wonder what other attractions will soon rise from the place. Could this area be the next Disneyland of the Philippines? Why not?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The hot air balloon night glow is a traditional activity done at every end of the day during the hot air balloon events showing how beautiful the hot air balloons are even during night time.It is often held as a climax to a hot air balloon festival. Usually it is done before the night concert but for this year at the 2016 Lubao International Balloon Festival, the organizers decided to have the night glow after the concert.

Actually, there would have never been a night glow due to the fact that the wind was blowing at dangerous levels - dangerous for the balloons to be side by side to each other as they would result to disaster - so they opted to have just one hot air balloon lit just to please the crowd that night.

The night glow activity thus presented just one hot air balloon, the SM from both Philippines and Belgium by Jonas Van Doorsselaere. However, there were other balloonists who just lit their "flames" to come out with a very interesting routine. I don't really know how to explain it, but you can see from the video below what I mean.

The wacky thing is that even before the concert was even finish, the hot air balloon was already being playful as if trying to be in sync with the music of True Faith, the local band performing that night. The band was even telling the crowd that the hot air balloon night glow would not start unless they give out a loud cheer.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hot air balloons from all over the world gathered together again for the third time at the Pradera Verde property located at Barangay Prado Siongco of Lubao, Pampanga to participate in the Lubao International Balloon Festival.

We ad the opportunity to interview a few hot air balloon pilots or ballonists before and after the actual balloon flights during the first day of the event on April 14, 2016. The #LubaoIBF2016 is a four day event happening from April 14 until April 17, 2016.

As expected, thousands of people from all over the country, and even from some parts of the world, could be seen admiring the colorful view of 40 hot air balloons all seen together as they are inflated and one by one flew up into the Pampanga sky.

I am one of the fortunate ones to get a chance to fly high up into the clouds aboard a hot air balloon thanks to the Ultra Magic hot air balloon from Spain flown by Jordi Diaz. It was my first time to ride a hot air balloon so that's another item checked off my bucket list. But I would tell the story of my hot air balloon ride on a separate article soon.

For now, I would want to share the different interviews we made during the first day of the event. We flew on a hot air balloon on the second day and spent the first day ogling on the various hot air balloons and messing around with the pilots while they take their breaks at the VIP area. Lol!

Below are a few of the interviews we made so enjoy:

My Consciousness, My Reality by Neville Hodgkinson on May 3

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“Scientists have demonstrated that both the brain and the body change constantly, according to how we use them. They tell us, for instance, that when we fall in love or become parents, massive brain reorganization takes place. Millions of old neural networks fall away, as millions of new ones form.”

Thus, British journalist and author Neville Hodgkinson writes in the introduction to his latest book, “I Know How To Live, I Know How To Die.” The book discusses on many levels how quality of life is determined by the way the mind is nurtured.

Hodgkinson, former correspondent for several national newspapers in the United Kingdom—among them The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, and Daily Mail—will speak on the subject in a free public program entitled “My Consciousness, My Reality” on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 7-9 p.m. at OnStage theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

“As a newspaper reporter,” he narrates in the book, “I specialized in writing about science and medicine partly because of my own appreciation for the scientific method and distaste for religious fanaticism and dogma.”

However, in the 1980s, he had “a visionary experience” that led him to what he describes as “an ascetic path whose central thrust is to quieten ‘noise’ from mental conditioning and the senses, in order to foster the experience of love and wisdom from a realm of awareness that lies beyond the brain.”

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Globe Telecom held its Annual Stockholders Meeting, on April 13, 2016, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. Globe Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (second from right) reported during the event that the company in 2015 surpassed its performance in the previous year, posting new highs in service revenues, EBITDA and net profit.

The company’s remarkable performance was driven by broad-based data-driven growth across its key services, helped in part, by the consolidation of Bayan in the second half of last year, he said.

Photo above also shows (from left) Globe Director Fernando Zobel de Ayala; Globe Corporate Secretary Solomon Hermosura; and Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu.

Following its impressive performance last year, the Globe board of directors approved early this year the declaration of a first quarter cash dividend of P22 per share for holders of its common shares.

UP Tomo-Kai Proudly Presents Indayog: An AcousTKafe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Stressed out? Hibiscus in Hanakotoba means "gentle." And gentleness is something you definitely need right now!

Relax, unwind, and listen to the beat of Japanese and Filipino music at UP Tomo-Kai's Indayog: An AcousTKafe at Palma Hall Room 400 from 2:30-5:30 pm.

No money? No problem! Enjoy free snacks and unlimited coffee and tea! We'll be waiting for you!

Indayog: An AcousTKafe is brought to you by UP Tomo-Kai.

Co-presented by Zalora Philippines

In cooperation with the UP Diliman-Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UP Diliman OICA).

Partner Organizations: HallyUP, UP Deutscher Verein, UP KAISA (K1), UP Arirang and University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts

Media Partners: arkadymac.com, magnetic-rose.net,DZUP, Wazzup Pilipinas, Post Your Event,AKTIVshow and 1 Digimedia Audiovisuals Inc.

Thrill-Seekers Would Be Pushed to the Limits With AXN's Ultimate Thrill 2016 in Boracay

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Summer is ultimately more exciting with sand and sea and action-packed activities with this year's AXN Ultimate Thrill in Boracay.

A destination for adventure seekers and beach bummers alike, this event will include challenging obstacles on land, air, and water for the teams. Participants would have to navigate their way from station 1 to 3 as they hope to finish the race ahead of all the others. Exciting challenges like water toss, giantjenga, robotic writer, and paddle bike are just some of the games that they would have to win during the first to third leg of the race. It gets more intense for the main finals as they would have to brave a wild ride on G-Max and glide through a zipline, but with an unexpected twist! Meanwhile, beachfront activities like body jam and hiit classes will surely entertain other beachgoers while the race is going on.

AXN Ultimate Thrill 2016 will be held at Summer Place in Boracay on April 23, starting at 6AM. 200 qualified teams of 2 members, 18 years old and up, will have to register onsite. This onsite registration will be open at Summer Place a week prior to event day.

AXN Ultimate Thrill 2016 is co-presented by Smart and sponsored by C2 Cool & Clean, Fisherman’s Friend, and Smirnoff Mule.

Yamaha Announces New Cards, New Partnership and Official Racing Teams

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Yamaha Motor Philippines recently unveiled their new Privilege and Big Bike cards along with their partnership with Motoworld on April 11 at the Y-Zone located at Greenfield District in Mandaluyong. Yamaha Club Card holders discounts are extended to all Motoworld stores in the country.

The Big Bike card is exclusive to those who are owners of motorcycles in the prestigious lineup. Riders who own an MT-09, Super Tenere, TMAX, BOLT, and YZF-R1 are entitled to several perks like

10% discount to all Yamaha products
Exclusive touring rides and activities
Priority lane in Y-Zone and Type S Yamaha Shops
Preventive maintenance reminder
LTO Renewal assistance
Assistance for motorcycle insurance renewal

They also introduced their racing teams and satellite riders that will carry their flag of excellence around the country and beyond. Yamaha makes it a point to dominate on official racing tracks by recognizing its racing teams and satellite riders. Following a long dominating heritage in the worldwide racing arena, the Philippine setting is no stranger to talented racers.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We recently attended an exclusive film screening that shows the Silverstone journey of Nissan's GT Academy 2015 Top 6 on April 11, 2016 at Bonifacio High St. Cinema 1, 3/f Bonifacio High St. Square 5th Ave. corner 30th. It was a lengthy screening produced by broadcast partner ABS-CBN as every episode from start to finish was shown. The popcorn and water we were feasting were already done yet the shows were still halfway over.

However, the show was sort of engaging as we were all eager to find out who among the Top 6 would eventually win. As they are eliminated every episode, we got an idea who to finally root for depending on their attitude and performance in every episode.

Later at the panel interview with the top 5 namely Terence Lallave, Daryl Brady, Joward Policarpio (the winner), Rafael Miru Lesaguis and Joel Agojo) - Luis Cachero was missing because he went back to his home country, we were given the opportunity to learn more about them. Aside from taking a video of the entire panel interview, I also had the opportunity to interview Joward Policarpio so watch out for the videos soon at our YouTube channel.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Quezon City is experiencing a renaissance. From historical and cultural sights, to a food scene that has exploded in popularity, Metro Manila’s biggest city is the new alternative hotspot for weekend vacations and lifestyle destinations."

I have to agree as QC has always been a very popular destination in the city for so many reasons. It is a city with attractions that you couldn't possibly finish within a single day.

Your Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas was recently invited to a Microtel by Wyndham’s Quezon City hotels media familiarization tour. The two hotels they have in Quezon City are located at UP Technohub (which is obviously within the UP Technohub complex and just a stone throw's away from the many government agencies surrpounding the Quezon Memorial Circle) and Acropolis (just opposite the Eastwood city commercial complex in Libis).

Microtel by Wyndham is a pioneer in the no-frills, back-to-basics service concept and considered as the fastest growing. With 13 hotels across the Philippines, Microtel by Wyndham strategically positions itself at the center of leisure and business hubs in the country. It is the sole Microtel by Wyndham franchise in Asia belonging to the Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with over 7,800 properties and 678,000 rooms in 72 countries under 15 hotel brands.

As what Ms. Ali Makabenta, the General Manager of the Microtel by Wyndham Acropolis, reiterated during our interview with her, "Location, location, location" is a prime factor contributing to the hotel chain's success. But we get to meet Ms. Ali on the second day of our media fam tour when we visit their Acropolis branch which has a feature that's very interesting for me, and I'm sure for the rest of the readers, but I would put you in anticipation for the meantime.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The heat is on, summer has come. It's travel season again where most people have already set their travel itineraries and ready to explore different parts of the country, or the world. This is the time when we get to visit the many beaches and resorts, climb or hike the mountains, or go spelunking at new destinations. It's the time when many travel and tour events are offered to leisure travelers or casual backpackers.

This is why the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Inc. (NAITAS), one of the country's biggest travel and tourism association with more than 400 members and 15 chapters nationwide, has put up once more the "NAITAS Travel and Trade Show (NTTS) 2016."

The 2nd run of NTTS is blistered with more and more exhibitors and stakeholders who participated on April 8, 9 and 10, 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center.

NTTS 2016 offered once more the Philippines' liveliest travel, tourism and trade fair promoting outbound and inbound destinations and allied products and services.

NAITAS, in partnership with the Philippine government through the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, put up an even greater event with more exhibitors, more entertainers, more surprises and more fun.

Pintig: A Night of Live Music and Poetry

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In its 57th year, the UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants takes its Too Much Information campaign, an advocacy campaign initiated to emphasize the value of transparency, a step further through Pintig: a night of music and lyrics, poetry and verse like no other, which will be held on April 29, 2016 at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines, Diliman.

As the culminating activity of the UP JPIA’s Too Much Information campaign, Pintig features performances from some of Metro Manila’s up-and-coming spoken-word artists and acoustic acts: White Wall Poetry, Risen Collective, Us The Trio, BennyBunnyBand, Joie Munoz and many more!

Through this line-up of performances and by showcasing a selection of pieces from these artists, TMI aims to emphasize the role of transparency that goes deep into our personal lives and out to the social consciousness of the people, and engage people to deal with it as a challenge in our daily lives.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook facebook.com/UPJPIATMI.

Pintig is also made possible by ClickTheCity, WhenInManila.Com, Indie Manila, Wazzup Pilipinas, Buhay Kolehiyo, Amplify.PH, pye.PH, AktivShow, 1DigiMedia and DZUP 1602.

CEO SUITE Serviced Offices: Premium Office Suites at a Prime Location

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"Start Small, Think "BIG" - a mindset that every Startup Business Owner, SME & Entrepreneur should have.

We all want to look good to everyone because having an impressive portfolio is the key to get noticed by potential clients or partners.

But for newbies in the business who are still striving for attention, we should initially work on a presence that would help build trust and assurance to our companies. This includes establishing an office address that I believe is essential in the foundation of every business.

"One of every business’ successes depends on its location. This is regardless if it’s referring to store locations, office locations, virtual office locations, etc. Being in a strategic business location for your company could conclude the level of your success."

Though there are already so many businesses that made it to an undeniable success, having a conducive meeting place to meet with our clients, other than coffee shops and hotel lobbies, would further catapult us to greater heights. Having a business address at a prime and accessible location may spell a huge difference in the final choice of a client on which company they would decide to work with. Just as how job applicants are somehow gauged based on which college or university they came from, a reputable business address could put us up there among the top choices.

It is time to step-up our business with CEO SUITE's serviced or virtual offices. Achieving greatness goes with having a good business reputation that CEO SUITE office solutions can help us with.