Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Cesar Montano Painting Exhibit at Kamuning Bakery

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Actor, singer, sportsman, director and painter Cesar Montano, appointed as commissioner of UNESCO in 2005, has his 3rd solo painting exhibit at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City.

Kamuning Bakery Cafe is a venue for painters, sculptors, photographers, poets, authors and cartoonists to showcase their masterpieces related to the arts and culture. It is also a place where non-partisans, leaders, and newsmakers dialogue with media and intellectuals for the so called Pandesal Forum.

This is where popular personalities from artists to celebrities, politicians and advocates, all hold their special press conferences proudly called the Pandesal Forums to honor the Pandesal -the main product of the bakery and cafe.

Cesar Montano's first solo exhibit was at the Glass Wing of the Ayala Museum, and his second was in California. The exhibit showcases diverse works he has created which expresses his love for nature and life.

Notable personalities that attended the launch include Lily Monteverde, more popularly known as Mother Lily, who purchase some of Cesar Montano's paintings amounting to 1 million pesos.

We also learned that Cesar Montano is running alongside two other individuals under the Angat party-list.

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When Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice premiered March 26, 2016 in the Philippines, long lines of die-hard fans of the Bat of Gotham and the Son of Krypton formed in theaters.

But for many, watching the movie once was not enough. The MX4D experience now available in the Philippines let moviegoers double the fun and excitement of watching the super blockbuster in 4D.

MX4D is a movie-watching experience like no other. Right from the start you are part of the action on-screen when you watch movies like Batman vs. Superman in the new format. From the moment when the Metropolis is being destroyed by aliens, you ride shotgun with Bruce Wayne as he races to save his employees from the oncoming onslaught. Smoke comes out of the screen when the building collapses and debris starts flying everywhere.

You’ll never know what, or when, to expect the next big thing if you’re watching a movie in MX4D. Jolts, turns, gusts of wind and scents are some of the extraordinary things you will experience while watching a movie in the format.

It is highly recommended that you immerse yourself completely in the action and not munch on snacks while the on-screen action is hot. MX4D really literally moves you, and you won’t know what’s going to happen next. The action-filled Batman V Superman showcases the best of what the MX4D experience can offer.

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Health advocate and senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros today committed to file a bill that institutionalizes the Conditional Cash Transfer and expands its budget allocation beyond the current appropriation of more than 60 billion pesos.

“Ang CCT ay isang napakahalagang programa ng gobyerno kontra-kahirapan at kailangan ito ipagpatuloy, pero madami pang mga pwede gawin para ayusin lalo ang programa,” Hontiveros said. “Unahin na siguro natin ang improvement ng health facilities na nagseserbisyo sa ating CCT beneficiaries.”

According to Hontiveros, there are currently more than 4 million Filipinos who are under the 4Ps program, but less than half of all barangays in the Philippines have barangay health centers.

“Kahit na mataas ang reported compliance ng mga beneficiaries, kung hindi naman mabigyan ng maayos na health facilities and health providers, hindi natin mamaximize ang programa,” Hontiveros explained further.

“Halimbawa, ang mga facilities para sa pagpapacheck-up ng mga buntis ay napakakonti, at minsan kailangang magbyahe ng malayo para lang magpatingin. May mga balita din ng mga batang pumipila sa labas ng health center ng ilang oras para magpacheck ng attendance dahil kapos ang bilang ng mga health care providers.”

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Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom joins the US Embassy Manila, US Agency for International Development (USAID), and mobile content marketing firm Tone in staging the first Fishackathon in the Philippines on April 23-24 at Globe Valero Telepark in Makati City in an effort to develop usable technology solutions that will address the worldwide problem of overfishing.

The two-day activity, which will be staged simultaneously in 43 host cities worldwide, expect to bring together developers, designers, as well as representatives from government and non-government organizations who will #codeforfish, find innovative ways to collect and analyze data, and find solutions to the world's fisheries and oceans issues.

“It will be exciting to see effective and useful apps emerge at the Fishackathon 2016 Manila. We at Globe Labs, are proud to serve as a partner again with the US government in looking for ways for information and communications technology to be used in addressing issues that plague the world,” said Glenn Estrella, VP for Digital Ventures. Globe Labs partnered with the US government in hosting the TechCamp Hackathon two years ago.

Fishackathon 2016 is also in line with Globe Telecom’s sustainability advocacy to create a #WonderfulPH through positive societal impact with the use of modern technology. Globe has ongoing eco-tourism efforts which include communities involved in fisheries and aquatic resources such as the following: PUSOD on protection and enhancement of Taal Lake in Batangas ecosystem; Save Philippine Seas on protection of thresher sharks through engagement and education of community stakeholders in Malapascua, Cebu; Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative on the establishment of an environment hotline center in Boracay, Malay, Aklan; and Casa San Miguel on livelihood opportunities for those living along the coastal barangays of San Antonio, Zambales.

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WSI, a reputable IT distributor in the country brings together the best-of-breed Unified Communications and Cloud solutions to fit Manila’s emergent commerce.

Life has become faster in the digital age. Most people today are familiar with Skype or other low-cost or free voice calls made via the internet. Many businesses of all sizes rely on this concept of IP-telephony. In many cases your customers are already using their own form of unified communications and they expect you to keep pace.

That’s why your business must work to embrace a Unified Communications solution now more than ever. Think about all of the moving parts and pieces in your business – the constant stream of emails, texts, files, voice mails and meeting reminders. These moving and redundant tasks inside an office is hard enough, unless you can find a way to organize or unify them into one tidy and manageable stack of data. Unified Communications or UC is the integration of all of your business communications needs under one, cohesive system. This includes instant messaging systems, email, telephone, audio and video conferencing and cloud sharing in order to reduce friction and create a better customer experience.

Wordtext Systems Inc. (WSI), a reputable IT distributor in our country today offers Unified Communication products and solutions that transform the way organizations communicate and collaborate.

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Now available at 0% interest on installment in select Home Credit partner outlets nationwide

The Samsung Galaxy J Series, the latest from Samsung’s highly popular Galaxy line, is now made even more affordable as Home Credit Philippines is offering units at 0% interest on installment from April 15 to May 29, 2016.

Home Credit is a global consumer financing company that offers affordable installment plans to Filipino consumers in an easy, simple and fast way. Customers only need to present two IDs and an initial cash payment. After which, Home Credit reviews the loan application in 15 minutes or less, and once approved, the customer can leave with their purchases in hand.

The Samsung Galaxy J series is one of Samsung’s most sought-after smartphones, and for all the right reasons. Incredible selfie functionality, enhanced viewing experience and longer battery life are all part of the deal with the Samsung Galaxy J5 and J7.

The Galaxy J series can produce the brightest and clearest photos with a 13 MP rear camera and f1.9 aperture. With a built-in front camera flash, photos are also well-lit even in low light conditions. Photos and videos may also be viewed on a higher level as the Galaxy J5 and J7 boasts its Super Amoled Display showing true-to-life color reproduction and contrast ratio. With faster web browsing, gaming and HD video-viewing, its high-capacity battery delivers a lengthened powerful mobile experience.

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The inaugural Paris ePrix took place in chilly but dry weather, a first for the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV and a challenge to which it rose without flinching.

The first Formula E race in the streets of Paris was a moment that the teams had long been waiting for, especially the French teams, of course, and also Michelin, a founding partner of the innovative electric single-seater series.

The 14-turn circuit of almost two kilometres in length formed a loop around the famous Hôtel des Invalides in the French capital’s seventh district and it turned out to be one of the most technically demanding of the championship. Its profile and surface were particularly hard on tyres, while Saturday’s cold weather – which saw the temperature rangefrom 9 to 12°C – prevented them from reachingtheir ideal working temperature as quickly as possible.

Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin’s Formula E programme, didn’t see that as a major problem, however: “Since the beginning of the Formula E Championship, we have come across practically all the types of conditions you can imagine. Our tyres have performed in track temperatures ranging from as lowas 5°C during testing at Donington [Great Britain] and Issoire [France], to as high as 55°C in Putrajaya [Malaysia] and Buenos Aires [Argentina]. The versatility of the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV, which was designed specifically for Formula E, is unique in the world of single-seater racing.”

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Globe Telecom small and medium enterprise arm (SME) Globe myBusiness is set to strengthen its presence in the Filipino-Chinese SME community in the country as it brings its nationwide digital solutions caravan in Binondo, Manila after successful runs in North Luzon (Cauayan, Isabela), Mindanao (Davao City), and South Luzon (Batangas City).

Happening on April 28, 2016 from 10:00am to 6:00pm at The Atrium of Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, the 4th Globe myBusiness Day caravan is expected to benefit Filipino-Chinese SMEs and merchants in the area as they discover new ways of doing business to stay competitive in the digital age, learn from interesting exchange of best practices from industry experts, and explore from a wide array of business investment opportunities from various suppliers, franchisors and loan facilities.

“Binondo is home to many milestones in the development of entrepreneurship in the country and we are excited to expand the reach of our Globe myBusiness Day caravan to Filipino-Chinese SMEs in the area so we can help them embrace the digital revolution to become more globally-competitive,” said Barbie Dapul, Vice President at Globe myBusiness.

Globe myBusiness has been working relentlessly with local government units (LGUs) nationwide to bring one of the country’s much-awaited ground fairs for existing and aspiring SMEs to help them learn the ropes of entrepreneurship in the digital age.

Dee Girls: Soon to Rock Your World with Their World-Class Talent

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Jimmy Dee, a multi-talented entertainer, businessman, motivational speaker, philanthropist, humanitarian and so much more, is here in the country on a mission. He has the noble advocacy and genuine love of helping young ladies achieve their dreams, especially the most promising ones who have the beauty, talent, passion and determination to reach greater heights.

Jimmy Dee Productions aims to discover and train naturally talented young females to achieve their rightful place among the popular entertainers of the world. They give dreamers the opportunity to shine and impress a global audience starting with the Philippines, then to Guam, Hawaii, Las Vegas and the Asia Pacific, and even to Hollywood, as the girls can really make it as among the top-notch entertainers.

They are the production behind the "Dee Girls”- the newest, sexiest and hottest female group of world class entertainers, which is managed hands-on by Jimmy Dee himself as he is personally involved in the selection and training of the girls from start to finish.

The launch was held at Merci Restaurant & Bar in 83 Timog Avenue, South Triangle Tomas Morato, Quezon City on April 27, 2016.

But who are the Dee Girls? ·There’s Lea Ibanez, Nicole Nasayao, Tin Oco, Mary Rose Romualdez, Mariane Brenda Bordador, Jay Burbano, and Glyza Ibanez...and more to be added soon as Jimmy Dee Productions is always open to accept all those qualified to be among their best talents. If you believe you got what it takes to become a successful entertainer, such as having great poise, confidence, showbiz personality and stage presence. Then they're definitely looking for you!

The future is set for these young and vibrant ladies who form part of the Dee Girls as they are soon to eagerly rock your world with their undeniably intense performances. To entertain their audience with all their heart will be the ultimate goal for each member of the all-female group. So get ready to be astounded by world class entertainment from the Dee Girls!

Change is Coming... It Is Inevitable! Welcome a New Breed of Superheroes!

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There's a new team of superheroes that has been formed and continuously growing its members as many others are joining the cause. They are about to change the world.

They've grown tired of being called resilient, and just accepting our sad fate. They've grown tired of all the promises which were buried with excuses.

It's time that they make a stand and enforce what is rightfully theirs.

There's no more room for only talking. They aim for immediate action because they deserve more than what is given to them.

It's about time they stop becoming slaves to an authority. They are after blood.

Gone are the meek and obedient.

Gifted with extra-ordinary superpowers, this new breed of superheroes is transforming the way we live, work, play, think, and everything else we do in our daily lives.

Polish Your Masterpiece Now as 66th Palanca Awards Issues Last Call for Entries

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Aspiring Palanca awardees only have until the end of the month to polish their masterpieces as its organizer and sponsor, the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc., has announced its last call for entries. Contenders are urged to submit before the deadline at midnight of April 30, 2016.

This year’s Palanca Awards is accepting entries for the following categories: Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play (English Division); Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula (Filipino Division); Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano (Regional Languages Division).

For this year’s Kabataan Division exclusive to young writers under the age of 18, the theme is “How do social media affect the formation of self-identity in the youth?” (Kabataan Essay) and “Paano makaaapekto ang ‘social media’ sa paghubog ng sariling pagkakakilanlan sa mga kabataan?” (Kabataan Sanaysay).

The Novel and Nobela categories are not open this year. Contestants may submit only one entry per category.

Entries may be submitted at any of the Palanca Foundation offices at Unit 603, 6th Floor Park Trade Centre Bldg., 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City or at Unit 3G, OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, or through the CPMA website at www.palancaawards.com.ph.

The announcement of winners will be on September 1, 2016.

For more information, contact cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph or call (632) 511-0003 or +639253887103. Look for Leslie Layoso.

Mastering The Voice

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The great Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”

Every skill, easy or difficult, can be mastered through TRAINING. Whether you’re an athlete, a performer, painter, movie director… the skills you need to learn in order to be great in your respective field must be learned, rehearsed and applied with discipline and consistency. And voice acting is no different.

Voice artists are the anonymous people whose voice you hear in radio and TV commercials, dubbed films and telenovela, audiobooks, video games, radio drama, corporate videos, e-learning materials, and even in the train stations reminding you to take care of your belongings. Many people have a misconception that anyone who has a “good voice” can become voice artists… but it’s like saying, “you have nice, long legs, you should join Miss Universe!”

Even I had to train and practice in order to develop the many voices I have done for voiceovers, dubbing, commercials, radio drama and many more. I started as a self-taught voice artist, then eventually trained through books, videos, and mentors from the local and international voice acting scene. When I began working as a Voice Director, that’s when I realized that even those who have been in the industry for some time could use some formal training to learn the principles and the vocal mechanism behind voice acting.

That was the main reason I started my company, Creativoices Productions, in 2005. I didn’t build Creativoices just to become another audio production house. I built it in order to establish the very first voice acting school in the country, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting. Since then, I was on a mission to promote voice acting as an art and to professionalize the voice acting industry by honing aspiring voice artists with the knowledge and tools they need to ACT with the their voice. Creativoices became the venue to help our graduates to get their foot in the door of the voice acting world. I am proud to say that 10 years and 36 batches later, our school has produced more than 1,000 graduates, and many of them have built a successful career as voice artists, hosts, broadcasters, and even public speakers.

Alexx Agcaoili

So what happens in our voice acting class?

Voiceworx – our basic voice acting and dubbing workshop – is taught by the best voice directors and voiceover artists in the country – Danny Mandia, Alexx Agcaoili and Neil Tolentino, who are veteran voice artists and dubbing directors in ABS CBN and Hero TV; Brian Ligsay, one of the most sought-after voice artists, events host and voiceover (TRIVIA: he’s the voice behind the safety reminders of LRT Line 2); and me, the VoiceMaster of the Philippines. You can read all about my voice acting credentials at www.voicemaster.me.

With the instructors’ credentials and experience, you already have an idea that you will be learning a lot from the workshop. Our classes are intensive and highly participatory. Students are exposed to real-life radio broadcasting, dubbing and recording sessions.

Another thing worth mentioning is that in Voiceworx, we teach students how to ACT with their voice, and not just alter it. Sure, imitating voices is a nice talent to have, if all you want to do is impress (or annoy) friends and family at a dinner party. But when it comes to being a voice artist, it’s not all about how many characters you can imitate, but how many you can CREATE.

Danny Mandia

DJ Big Brian

Majestic Prince dubbing with Voiceworx students in ABS CBN

Papa Neil Tolentino

The VoiceMaster teaching in Voiceworx

Voiceworx Students Dubbing 1911 Movie in ABS CBN

Voiceworx Students Dubbing in ABS CBN

Voiceworx runs for 8 Saturdays, with 4 batches of workshops happening every year. You may visit www.voiceworxshop.com to find out the schedules and details on how to register.

Voiceworx Graduation

I have a vision, and that is to make the Philippines the center of voiceover excellence in Asia. I believe that Filipinos have voice acting prowess that can be competitive in the international market, as we have already proven with clients such as Sega, Itruemart and TAG 91.1 in Dubai. Through Voiceworx, I am confident that this vision has already become a reality.

Contributed by Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales

NBA Opens Manila Office To Expand Efforts in the Philippines

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that the league has opened an office in Manila, Philippines, as part of its commitment to grow basketball and the NBA’s business initiatives in the country.

NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson will lead a dedicated local staff to assist NBA headquarters in continuing the growth of all of the NBA’s business lines in the country, including television, digital, merchandising, events and grassroots programs, and social responsibility. Singson’s nearly two-decade career with the league has included stints in the league’s headquarters in New York City and in the Hong Kong regional office.

“The NBA has experienced tremendous growth in the Philippines over the past decade, and we’ve helped more boys and girls play and enjoy the game,” said Singson. “By establishing an office in market with dedicated staff on the ground, we will be better positioned to work with our valued partners to deliver the best NBA experiences to some of the world’s most passionate basketball fans.”

“Opening an office in the Philippines is the next step in our efforts to grow basketball and the NBA’s popularity throughout Asia,” said NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy. “The fandom that exists in the Philippines presents an ideal opportunity to grow the game that we hope to replicate throughout the region.”

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The Power Task Force Election (PTFE) 2016, led by the Department of Energy (DOE), is almost done with preparatory works to ensure that power supply is sufficient, stable, and reliable before, during, and after the conduct of national and local elections on 09 May.

“We are nearing completion of preparations to ensure the readiness of the systems and power stakeholders who have roles to play during the Election Day,” said Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada. She emphasized that the entire Energy Family is in close coordination to provide uninterrupted electricity services as we all desire for a clean and unquestionable holding of elections.

The PTFE met with power generators on April 25 (yesterday) to discuss their work plans and commitments for the critical election period (one week before and one week after), especially that the conduct of scheduled maintenance services of the power plants have been carried out earlier to ensure readiness during the critical period.

As reported in the meeting, all power generators will be running at full capacity during elections except for the 180 megawatts (MW) Kalayaan Unit 4 which extended its maintenance until 14 May 2016. In Mindanao, dispatch of water resource for hydropower plants is being managed to ensure that there will be higher production during the critical period.

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Transport officials and delegates from the 10-Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened today in this bustling business district to discuss initiatives that will enhance transport connectivity in the Region.

The Philippine Government, through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), is hosting this year’s 41st Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM).

According to the DOTC, around 120 senior transport officials and delegates from the 10-Member States and from the Dialogue Partners will meet until Thursday, 28 April 2016 to discuss the status of various transportation projects and policy measures that will enhance regional cohesion.

The transport sector will also embark on new projects and programs as it adopts the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025, the successor document that outlines 30 specific goals, 78 actions and 221 milestones in the five (5) areas of transportation namely: air, land, maritime, transport facilitation and sustainable transport, to guide the ASEAN economic integration from 2016 to 2025.

In her Opening Statement as Chairperson of the Meeting, DOTC Assistant Secretary for Planning Sherielysse Bonifacio said, “Today’s event also allows us to pursue further cooperative work in the transportation sector that will enhance regional cohesion and provide higher quality of life for the people.”