Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

ePLDT Enhances Network Performance, Data Security as Amazon Web Services Direct Connect Partner

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Moving to the cloud has ceased to become a novelty for enterprises as they recognize its many benefits, but as the number of innovative cloud solutions in the market increase, it is necessary for enterprises to thoroughly evaluate how to implement a proper cloud transformation strategy into their organization to ensure that they maximize their cloud investments. One important aspect of going cloud is the connectivity to link to your resources. These connections should be fast, reliable, secure, and cost-efficient, if an enterprise were to implement an effective hybrid cloud strategy – that being having an on-premise infrastructure and multiple cloud services working harmoniously together.

To spur enterprise hybrid cloud adoption, ePLDT, the digital enterprise enabler of the country's leading telecoms and digital services provider, PLDT Inc., has once again achieved a milestone in its capabilities to deliver cloud solutions, reliable & SLA-driven connectivity, and expert support. ePLDT recently upgraded its partner level, achieving Amazon Web Services (AWS) Direct Connect Partner status.

“Leveraging on the PLDT Group’s superior international data network as well as ePLDT’s cloud expertise, our elevation to AWS Direct Connect Partner reflects our continuous commitment to help enterprises leverage on the cloud to drive business growth,” said Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer. “With AWS’ Direct Connect, enterprises can enjoy an enhanced cloud experience with reliable network performance and lower latency that only a dedicated connection to the Amazon Web Services cloud can provide.”

DOE Committed to Implement Mechanisms in the RE Law

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The Department of Energy (DOE) upholds the advancement of the implementation of the policy frameworks and programs under the Republic Act 9513 otherwise known as Renewable Energy (RE) Law of 2008, which supports the promotion of RE resources’ development, utilization and commercialization.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said “We have a binding law which is the RE Law, and the DOE is mandated to implement it.” Sec. Monsada emphasized that the policies and programs currently being executed by the government have undergone stringent procedures following the guidelines provided under the law.

Following a series of stakeholders’ consultations nationwide since 2011, the DOE conducted on 16 June 2016 its 8th public consultation concerning the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) at the Shangri-La Fort, Bonifacio Global City. This is in an effort to present the shared perspective on the provisions of the issuance for further fine tuning. The RPS refers to a market-based policy that mandates participating companies to source an agreed portion of their energy supply from eligible RE resources.

“The outcome in the discussions will help us finalize the Department Circular on RPS prior to its issuance,” said Sec. Monsada. She further stated that the DOE still welcomes position papers until 22 June 2016 from industry participants and stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach, and all suggestions are noted and heard. Copies of the proposed RPS issuance and comments and or recommendations submitted are available at www.doe.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) is in full swing consistent with Department Circular No. DC2013-05-0009 or “Guidelines for the Selection Process of RE Projects under FIT System and the Award of the Certificate for FIT Eligibility,” which outlines the procedure for the Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for FIT Eligibility (COE-FIT). The DOE issues the COE-FIT after undergoing validation and review of technical requirements.

Attached is the list of those with issued COE for FIT endorsed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The increased capacity in COE FIT can be attributed to the completion of the second tranche of the 500 MW solar FIT installation target entitled to P8.69/kWh.

Sec. Monsada said "the DOE, through the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, has worked day and night to ensure that each eligible solar developer strictly followed the process and technical requirements." She added that the DOE assures the best interest of the public and all RE developers particularly in meeting the country's commitment towards sustainable and cleaner energy.

Pursuant to RA 9513 or RE Act of 2008, the government shall grant incentives through FIT scheme. Under the FIT System, qualified developers of emerging RE sources are offered at a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of their exported electricity to the distribution or transmission network. This scheme excludes the energy utilized from RE plants eligible for own use.

Along with the Net-Metering Program and RPS, FIT is one of the policy mechanisms provided in the law being implemented by the DOE to encourage the development of RE industry as it aims to maintain the share of RE of at least 30% in the country’s power mix.

Chatri Sityodtong Revolutionizing MMA in Asia with Expansion of ONE Championship

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Every once in a while, someone comes along with an idea -- something so profound that it changes his life and the lives of those around him. Multi-millionaire Thai entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong spent his entire existence abiding by the principles of martial arts which he holds dear, bringing him success and prosperity from his extremely humble beginnings.

The teachings and principles of martial arts, to which he says he owes his life to, has led Sityodtong to pioneer a revolutionary transformation in Asia, uniting its people under one banner -- mixed martial arts, or more commonly known as MMA -- today the fastest growing sport in the world.

Just in the last couple of years alone, MMA’s viewership has exploded across Asia and is shown in over 118 countries all over the world.

Though the allure and excitement of martial arts in a safe and competitive environment has drawn fans from all corners of the globe, the sport’s popularity in Asia can be attributed to Sityodtong and his tremendous work in building MMA promotion ONE Championship from a promising, young upstart to the largest sports media property in Asia in a span of just five years.

Today, ONE Championship is the premier MMA organization in Asia.

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A few days before enrollment, the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) announced the abrupt cancellation of their midyear classes. After several attempts to dialogue and appeal with the administration against the said decision, the UPMin University Student Council was able to establish that for the previous years, the University has not allotted any budget for their summer classes and instead relies on their yearly savings, and that honoraria for teaching overloads for the past semester have also not been settled by the administration.

As a consequence, many students have been forced to enroll in other constituent campuses of the University of the Philippines. With the delayed announcement of the cancellation, the affected students further had difficulties securing slots for different subjects in other constituent campuses.

Until now, the administration has not provided solutions to accommodate those affected by the cancellation of classes. The USC continues to await the response of the Office of the Chancellor on the said issue.

We, youth and student leaders from various organizations around the Philippines, condemn the gross negligence and financial mismanagement of the UP Min Administration. The cancellation of the midyear classes is a violation of student rights and welfare. They were not consulted nor properly informed of a critical decision that have been proved to restrict the students' access to quality education.

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Application is until June 30, 2016 while Philippine Auditions on June 25 and 26

If you haven’t grabbed your partner and created an awesome audition video for The Amazing Race Asia, fear not as AXN has extended the deadline until June 30, 2016. You now have more time to create the ultimate application by telling AXN why you should become a season five racer, and possibly the ultimate winner of USD$100,000 in cash.

“We’ve had a fantastic response to our casting call for The Amazing Race Asia which is a real testament to the popularity of the show in this region. What’s most encouraging is the team spirit conveyed in the videos as well as the unique range of talents, professions and interpersonal relationships on display. We’ve received applications from DJs, doctors, bloggers, synchronized swimmers, pilots and dragon boat racers just to name a few, as well as teammates who live in different countries. So this season’s team line-up promises to be our most interesting yet,” said Virginia Lim, Vice President and Head of Content and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

In this latest season, 10 teams of socially savvy, fearless racers from all over Asia will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, traversing the globe and proving their mettle on a quest to be crowned the all-out champion. The highly anticipated series will be hosted by Chinese-American actor and host Allan Wu, who was the face of the race for AXN’s first four seasons.

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World Series of Fighting – Global Championship (WSOF-GC) continues to expand its affiliate program by adding Australian-based MMA promotions, Eternal MMA and Reign Fighting. Eternal MMA and Reign Fighting become the twelfth and thirteenth organizations to join the ranks of WSOF Global Championship.

Eternal MMA/Reign Fighting CEO and Founder, Cam O’Neill, had this to say about the signing. "Signing as an official partner with WSOF Global is a huge next step for our organizations. Not only does it validate us as a pathway for talented and driven Australian MMA athletes to reach the next level of their careers, but it adds the potential for international fights on one of the world’s very best MMA promotions in WSOF Global. It also ensures that Eternal and Reign events will now be shown in millions of homes across the world via WSOF Global’s broadcast partners. Eternal and Reign are committed to raising the level of MMA talent in Australia and catapult these local stars onto the global stage. Now is certainly the time for any Australian fighters that are serious about their careers to get involved.”

"We are thrilled to be adding these high caliber promotions into the WSOF Global family,” said Zachary ‘Bootsy’ Harris, WSOF-GC Affiliate Coordinator. “We specifically sought out Eternal MMA for our official partner in Australia and then found out their plan of introducing Reign Fighting, along with their vision for the two promotions. It only made things more exciting. There’s no doubt that the Australian MMA fan base is one of the fastest growing in the world. It was very important for us to find a great partner in Australia. We look forward to working with them to help bring the best MMA events to those great fans."

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Every artist have dreams to pursue, but it is how one conquers those dreams that make a difference. Over the last couple of months, noted award-winning actor and classical / crossover artist AL GATMAITAN was quietly working on a dream project to further hone his craft in music and theater.

To further widen his horizons, Al Gatmaitan embarked on a major decision --- a bold move that he has taken very seriously in the forthcoming production of Linda Faigao-Hall’s “THE FEMALE HEART” under the direction of Banaue Miclat-Janssen for the UP Playwrights’ Theater

Set in the late 1980's, the play follows Adelfa and her elder brother Anghel’s struggles as resident of the infamous mountain of garbage popularly known as Smokey Mountain. Confronted by extreme poverty and her brother's ailing health, Adelfa agrees to become a mail-order bride in the United States.

When queried by Al’s peers about this challenging job as Anghel, he was straightforward to share his point of view and said that "In an actor's career path, it does not happen all the time when a role that will be much more challenging is offered. From film, television and theater, roles vary from age to genre. And of late, we decided to take ten giant steps to test our mettle in this straight play and not a musical. Apart from immersing ourselves into the role, we have also been simultaneously prepared our physical well-being through a strict diet and workouts in the gym. The rigidity has been getting tougher each and every day. Of late, rehearsals are even much more intense and here’s hoping that when the play opens on July 1, the theater audiences will like and love this one role of a lifetime I have taken. It's really going to be an exciting year for me. To God be the Glory ! ”

Royal Enfield to Open its First Exclusive Store in Manila

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Royal Enfield, the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production is set to open its first exclusive store in the capital city of Philippines – Manila. Royal Enfield’s distributors - Hardcore Brothers Customs Motorcycles Inc. have been responsible for supplying, marketing, reselling, distribution and servicing of Royal Enfield products in the Philippines.

With a view to become the leader in global mid-sized motorcycle segment, Royal Enfield has been expanding its global retail footprint across Europe, Latin America, Middle-East, its bastion market, India and South East Asia. The company is striving to provide an immersive retail experience for its customers that forms an integral part of the company’s core retail strategy, across the world.

The new store in Manila will be as per Royal Enfield’s new global brand retail identity. The store will be retailing Royal Enfield’s oldest motorcycle in continuous production Bullet in 350cc displacement, the standard street model Classic in 350cc variant, the Rumbler 500cc motorcycle which is purpose built for highways and the Continental GT 535cc café racer. Along with the motorcycles, Royal Enfield would also retail its range of purpose-built gear and apparel and accessories.

Philippines is an important market for Royal Enfield, given the country’s high dependence on two-wheelers for commuting and as well as leisure riding. The growing middle class in the country is now looking to upgrade to the middle weight segment that lends itself very well to Royal Enfield’s all-purpose, evocative, classic-styled motorcycles. Royal Enfield’s range of modern classic bikes introduces a new category of mid-sized motorcycles (250cc-750cc) that will make leisure motorcycling more accessible and fun.

Royal Enfield has its manufacturing base in Chennai, India and is wholly owned by Eicher Motors Limited, a leading player in the Indian automobile space.

The H.E.A.R.T. of a Filipino Motivational Speaker

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There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of motivational speakers all over the world. In the Philippines alone, there are seminars and workshops happening everywhere all year round – helping people improve their career, health, finances, relationships, business and even spiritual awareness.

If you have attended a few of these seminars yourself, it is very likely that at least one Filipino motivational speaker stands out from the rest. Do you have one or two favorite speakers? What do you like about them? What makes them remarkable or unforgettable?

Motivational speakers come in different shapes and forms. Some speakers are loud and cheerleader-y, infecting the audience with a rah-rah-rah attitude. Others are low-key and subtle, still others are funny as hell.

In my 15 years as a motivational speaker, I’ve had the chance to share the stage with different kinds of motivational speakers in the Philippines, and have observed what worked and what didn’t. Some of the speakers I’ve met have even come to me for training when they find out that I’m also a voice and speech coach. Having been exposed to the public speaking arena led me to the realization that there is no ONE RIGHT WAY to deliver a motivational talk.

In a single seminar, one speaker can be super serious and the next speaker can be extremely funny, and both of them could be equally remembered as great speakers by the audience. One technique can work very well for one speaker, and can be an epic fail for another. That’s why when I teach public speaking, I don’t focus so much on the “form” – stand like this, talk like that, hold the mic like this, etc. Instead I teach how to cultivate one’s PRESENCE onstage.

So what separates a Filipino motivational speaker from a GREAT one? Great motivational speakers speak with a H.E.A.R.T.

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The world is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si. Below are comments from David Nussbaum, Chairperson of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, reflecting on this important encyclical:

“In its first year, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si has played a huge role in connecting religions, countries, and people around the need for understanding and addressing together environmental and social problems.

The sub-title of the encyclical itself, calling for the "Care of Our Common Home", is a perfect summary of the powerful message for all of humanity. Broken into its component parts, we see the depth of meaning and thought applied to each word selected by Pope Francis: “Care” as the need for empathetic relationships and mutual assistance among people, with other living beings and with nature; "our" and "common" as an invitation to consider the common good and a sense of community; the "home", to emphasize that the Earth is the place that welcomes us, which is linked to our very existence.

Pope Francis’ letter arrived in a crucial year, encouraging individuals and countries to meet on the importance of sustainable development and to address climate challenge. Having helped build this common ground, at a time in which emergencies and competition create strains between countries and within countries, the encyclical has had a great impact in inspiring nations to come together to achieve two important global agreements.