WSOF Global Awards Kristine Nolasco as Ring Girl Search Grand Winner

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Misagh Bahadoran, Philippine Azkals and Global FC football superstar, and currently Folded & Hung’s newest model, was celebrity judge during the World Series of Fighting Global Championship (WSOF-GC) Ring Girl Search held on July 23, 2016 at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City. Misagh joined the other judges which included WSOF Global owner Dunesa Hesser and fellow lifestyle and sports blogger Jared Baliguad of Supladong Runner blog.

We would like to send our congratulations to Kristine Nolasco for winning the ring girl competition. She was impressive with her witty answers during the Question and Answer portion where she effectively highlight her edge as a sports enthusiast specifically on the field of swimming and Taekwondo. 

This is aside from her slim and sexy physique, plus the adorably pretty face that added to her plus points. It is great to know that the judges value her intellectual and passionate prowess to finally pick her as the grand winner as Decagon Girl during fight night on July 30 at the Araneta Coliseum where 20 mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters will go against each other face-to-face in a battle where physical strength, speed and agility are the primary skills needed to win.

Akbayan Summons Heroes to Oppose Marcos Burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan party-list along with other human rights advocates today donned Filipino hero costumes in vehement opposition towards plans to bury former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The groups called on President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his plans to allow a hero's burial for the late dictator, ahead of the scheduled SONA of Pres. Duterte.

“We appeal to President Duterte to scrap plans for a hero's burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and instead focus the energy of his administration towards the recovery of all ill-gotten wealth as well as the pursuit of justice from the Marcoses instead,” said David.

The anti-martial law advocates further emphasized that real change can only happen, not by disregarding the Marcos sins, but by instead seeking accountability for the Filipino people.

“For genuine change to come, there must be justice – every Filipino was conned and victimized by the Marcos dictatorship,” said Akbayan spokesperson Paeng David. “His plunder of the country’s coffers represents taxpayers’ money which went into buying luxury shoes for Imelda and hosting lavish London parties for Bongbong.”

The groups further hit the late dictator for his fabricated military records, which the human rights advocates belive should disqualify the late president from being buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Marcos was neither a decorated veteran nor a distinguished military officer,” added David. “His war medals have been proven to be fake by the US Army, further adding insult to the idea of being buried alongside soldiers who actually sacrificed their lives for the country,” she said.

David further emphasized the stark contrast between the lifestyle of the Marcoses and the lifestyle of ordinary Filipinos, many of whom were forced to live in poverty.

“For more than thirty years, Filipinos have languished in poverty while the Marcoses kept moving their stolen wealth around and away from the hands of the Philippine government and its people,” added David. “A hero’s burial effectively legitimizes all the dictator’s excesses, and serves the interests of nobody but the family which benefited from this plunder.”

Akbayan members dressed up as Darna, Lastikman, Captain, Barbel, and other heroes in protest and denouncement of plans to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They were joined by grassroots organizations from the urban poor and peasant sectors.

Free Hepatitis B Screening & Lay Forum On World Hepatitis Day 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Center for Liver Disease Management and Transplantation (CLDMT) and the Center for Patient Partnership (CPP) will celebrate World Hepatitis Day 2016 with the theme “Prevent Hepatitis: Its up to YOU! this coming July 28-30, 2016. 

As part of our thrust in making patients our partners, a lay forum and FREE HEPATITIS B SCREENING shall be held on July 30, 2016 8:00AM at 4th floor conference room, Podium Building, The Medical City.

In line with this, we would like to invite you, your families and friends to this interesting forum and screening. This forum is FREE but pre – registration is strongly encouraged. We shall give 200 Hepatitis B Screening kits to childbearing age women as well as pregnant (pre-registration is required).

For registration and inquiries, please call Center for Patient Partnership office at 988 – 7000/988 - 1000 loc. 6444, visit us at the Ground Floor, Podium Building, or email us at cpp@themedicalcity.com.

DOE: Nationalistic Approach Needed in Dealing with Shell and Other Business Partners

Wazzup Pilipinas!

When asked to comment on the arbitration case filed by Pilipinas Shell against the Philippine Government, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi stated that “We welcome this as an opportunity for the national government to effect real change and to come up with definitive and clear-cut policies in dealing with our partners."

PNOC Exploration Corp., a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the DOE, has a 10% interest in the Service Contract 38 consortium with Shell Philippines Exploration BV and Chevron Malampaya LLC.

Shell filed a case against the Philippine government, specifically challenging the interpretation of the Commission on Audit in the computation of the 60-40 sharing of the proceeds from the Malampaya Project.

In a separate case, the Supreme Court, through a ponencia of Justice Marvic F. Leonen, decided that all service contracts must be personally signed by the President otherwise, such contract is void. The case is under reconsideration before the Supreme Court.

“This issue is not the concern of the Department of Energy nor of the Executive branch alone. The Supreme Court, the Commission on Audit and even Congress have a stake here too.” Cusi clarified.

The newly appointed Energy Secretary pointed out that while there are benefits under a system of checks and balances such as ours in the Philippines, there are drawbacks too.

"In the end, a nationalistic approach is necessary to make a unified stand. This is in line with the Duterte administration’s vision of unity in our country."

Cusi added that “ultimately, whatever mandate each branch or agency has, our bottomline is one and the same: to serve the best interests of the Filipino people.”

The DOE will recommend to the President the necessity of aligning government institutions to work together and act consistently.

"The Philippine government must have a unified stand in all its decisions and actions just as we have shown in the West Philippine Sea issue."

"The DOE will exhaust all possibilities and avenues to study options and bring before the President recommendations that will have one objective: to protect and serve the best interests of our Country and the Filipino people," Cusi concluded.

Enrollment for DLSU Online Health Informatics Course September 2016 Batch is Now Open

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This coming September 2016, De La Salle University- Manila (DLSU-M) in partnership with HealthInformatics, Inc. (Hii) and MedX will again offer the course to interested applicants for a Certification in HEALTH INFORMATICS. This course has started since July 2013 and has been recognizing health professionals from all over the country and around the world.

What are the Benefits of taking the Course?

100% ONLINE.

Using MedX, you can access the course anytime, anywhere you are!

Through MedX, the Health Informatics Course is built in a media-rich environment to engage and motivate doctors, nurses and allied health professionals while learning.

It is SCORM-compliant (Shareable Content Object Reference Model). SCORM is a set of technical standards for online learning to facilitate interoperability among Learning Management Systems (LMS).


Increased Competency.

This course is for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals interested in learning Health Informatics and Health Information Technology (Health IT) for professional development.

Investing in continuing education for health informatics provides the foundation of knowledge in this area of specialty among healthcare providers including nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and other professionals part of the healthcare ecosystem.


Global Certification.

It utilizes both practice-based concepts and experience from experts with topics from the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) to promote techniques, tools and strategies for effective health IT implementations. HIMSS, is an international organization, a leader in maintaining health IT industry standards.
.

More Flexible Payment Options

You can enroll for the entire course or you can also pay per module, whenever you are ready.


Integration of HIMSS Topics

Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) topics aim to promote techniques and strategies for effective health IT implementations.


The course is a 13-week program. Classes start on SEPTEMBER 28, 2016. For details on the Course Objectives, Course Outline, Class Schedules and Payment schemes, please refer to the attached COURSE GUIDE.

Hontiveros Hopes to Hear Health, Hague and Human Rights Solutions in Duterte's SONA

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I will listen to President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) with an open mind and insistence on hope. I am attending this event as a Filipino, health advocate and mother. Thus, I expect three important things from the President's SONA.

As a health advocate, I hope that the President will elaborate on his government's health policy framework.His decision to send our health officials to Cuba to study its health care system is a step in the right direction. Cuba's health care system is hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best. I have high hopes that this will enable the government to live up to its mandate to provide universal healthcare for the people. Universal health care is a great equalizer. Its fulfillment is a step towards eradicating inequality.

As a Filipino, I trust that President Duterte will be guided by the historic Hague Ruling to assert the country's sovereignty and marine jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and in advancing genuine peace and stability in the region. Our historic win before the Arbitral Tribunal must be strengthened by the new government. To deviate from the spirit of this ruling would render the victory hollow and our sovereignty compromised.

As a mother, I expect President Duterte to reaffirm his adherence to due process and rule of law, an oath that he made during his inauguration. Together with this, I hope the President will adopt a different tenor on women's dignity.

The spike in the numbers of extrajudicial killings and random murders on our streets is disquieting. A climate of fear and uncertainty has descended on many families and communities. Not a few women have been killed and not a few mothers have shed tears over the loss of a son or daughter unjustly killed in the fight against crime and illegal drugs. The killings on the streets must stop. The perpetrators, whether they be vigilantes, lawless elements or corrupt and overzealous law enforcers, must all be made accountable. President Duterte, through his first SONA, must send a strong message that it is not the policy of his government to sacrifice human rights and the rule of law in its anti-crime campaign. Human rights and rule of law are essential in any democratic society. The solution to disorder is not greater disorder. The solution to crime is not inexplicable murders. Lasting peace will only be possible with respect for the dignity of men and women and the government's adherence to human rights.

I hope these three issues will be covered by President Duterte's SONA. To make good on his campaign promises, he should know that these three issues are crucial in building a strong, healthy and peaceful country.

Philippine Bridal Week @ Singapore Season 6: Bringing World Class to the Philippine Wedding Industry!

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Tagaytay based Events Company Destination Events and Business Solutions Inc. (DEBS) aims to bring world class to the Philippine Wedding Industry by providing an avenue where wedding professionals can showcase their creation and services.

As part of its drive to position the Philippines as the next wedding destination, DEBS, is organizing another Bridal and Travel Fair in Singapore this coming July 30-31, 2016 entitled Philippine Bridal Week @ Singapore Season 6. The fair will be held at the Grand Ballroom of Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd, and (Marina Square) which will feature 50+ exhibiting companies including wedding venues, hotels, photographers, videographers, caterers, designers, makeup artists, florists, stylists, and more. Soon-to-weds can avail of special discounts and packages from participating suppliers on the said fair.

The highlight of this event will be a mini bridal fashion show, featuring the creation of the Philippines most sought after bridal couturiers; Mitch Desunia and Claiza Bihasa on July 30, 2016 at the same venue.

Future brides will benefit from one-on-one conversations with wedding professionals who understand that wedding planning can be extremely emotional and stressful, and are on hand to help every bride attain her perfect wedding.

The first 200 brides will receive a gift bag upon entry, providing a range of enticing offers and discounts by exhibitors and other donors. Brides may enter to win more amazing prizes throughout the day during a series of raffles. This season’s GRAND prize would be an all expense paid honeymoon package to Boracay complete with accommodation and airfare (Manila to Boracay).

Wazzup Pilipinas is a proud media partner of the Philippine Bridal Week Singapore Season 6.

The bridal and travel fair is open to public from July 30-31, 2016 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm. Fashion show is on July 30, 2016; 6:00PM Admission is free. Online registration is available at www.philippinebridalweek.com .

 For more information please contact: 09173831003/09089612700/0464350827 or email info@philippinebridalweek.com .

Twitter Ushers In Digital Governance for Duterte Administration at #SONA2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipinos can follow the @PresidentialCom official account on Twitter to watch live video highlights of President Duterte’s first-ever State of the Nation Address

Twitter is collaborating with the Duterte administration to connect the new President with Filipino citizens worldwide, starting first with the #PresidentDuterte emoji and #PartnerForChange campaign and expanding now to his first-ever State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 25 July 2016. For the first time ever in Southeast Asia, live video highlights of a head of state’s address to the nation will be shared on Twitter for a global audience. Filipino citizens worldwide, and anyone interested in President Duterte’s plans for the Philippines, can follow the @PresidentialCom account to see high-quality video clips of #SONA2016 in their Twitter timeline, powered by SnappyTV technology. In addition, Filipinos can comment, share and discuss the much-awaited speech using the event’s official hashtags #DuterteSONA and #PartnerForChange on Twitter.

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/PresidentialCom/status/755928661627314177

“The keys to an effective democracy are real-time political updates and live engagement with the government. This initiative with Twitter is a landmark development for the Duterte administration’s digital governance efforts,” said Pratiksha Rao, Head of Media Partnerships, Twitter Southeast Asia. “By providing a platform for live commentary, connections and conversations for the President’s State of the Nation Address, Twitter is enabling the Duterte administration to connect with Filipinos via social media and help initiate change for the country.”

Appstart Academy Bridges the Gap Between Students and Their Dream Careers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Most of us would know how popular apps are nowadays. This is why they would call app developers the rockstars of the new generation when apps literally rule the world due to its innovative usefulness and the convenience it offers to the users.

Available as either web or mobile apps, these user-friendly, affordable and most of the time free applications can be accessed almost anywhere as long as you have a smartphone with Internet or data connectivity.

This made app developers very much in demand and has also paved the way for even young but bright-minded individuals to form startups seeking funding opportunities from potential investors who they try to impress with their globally useful and sustainable ideas. Usually, these ideas revolve around the usage of apps accessible through mobile phones since its the most "in" thing to have right now especially by the millennials who are fully engaged with everything mobile and online.

You can actually become "appreneurs" if you know how to code and design your own apps, and would surely give you financially rewarding either on your own or through collaboration with like-minded individuals.

Unfortunately, ordinary individuals would not have the full knowledge of successfully developing their apps by their own unless they enroll in a training center or be tutored by a developer. However, there seems to be no school focused on app development training alone so you have to shell out big bucks Luckily there is now a training institution that caters to app development training.

Appstart Academy is a training institution built with the mission of bridging the gap between students and their dream careers in the tech industry. Through their immersive program, students will be able to create and launch their own iOS apps in a very agile manner all in just 12 weeks of training for three times a week with 3 hours every session. 

"It is more than just a school, it’s a place where barriers are broken and goals are reached. Where visionaries can finally make their ideas happen, where everything can now be applied to something actual and workable."

AppStart Academy was formally launched through a Press Conference on July 22, 2016 at Makati Shangri La Hotel in Makati city. The event was led by founder and CEO, Ann Villar Jacobe, together with her co-founder,]and CTO, Lyndon Cruz, as well as the other team members that made up Appstart Academy.

The event was attended by members of the media including bloggers, the new breed of media or journalists managing online sites where they can easily express their personal thoughts, ideas and opinions.

There was a lot of questions since Appstart Academy can be considered a pioneering company for this particular industry. Most of the app development success stories happens outside the Philippines, so it gives us pride and joy to finally have a local initiative that aims to fill up the lack in app development training. It is about time to put the Philippines in the mAPP!

We also learned about the Apprentice program which is Appstart Academy’s way of recognizing real talent and helping those who want to get started with their goals right away. With the “Learn Now, Pay Later or Join Us” option, students can pay as they learn with realistic terms or eventually be a part of the Appstart Team.

Apportunity Initiative is Appstart Academy’s own way of supporting and encouraging women to be active in tech and the app development scenario. Through it, headstrong women in tech can be sponsored by willing financiers, companies and foundations. Given the proper funding and support, every determined woman can finally be given the chance to learn and become prime movers in the tech world. 

Appstart Academy is open to most kinds of collaborations, especially investment opportunities, so it can help them fully realize their vision of bridging the gap between you and your dreams through innovative app development ideas.

Congratulations to Appstart Academy for this new venture. They are literally quite new, with less than a month in conception as of this writing, but we see big things ahead for them.

Watch out for our video interviews with them at our YouTube channel at http://www.YouTube.com/user/wazzuppilipinas

More photos will be available at our official Facebook fan page at http://www.Facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas

Interested parties may visit http://www.appstartacademy.io/ or call (02) 828 2298 for inquiries.

Solar Power Developers Courtesy Call to DOE Secretary Cusi

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Confederation of Solar Developers of the Philippines, Inc. (CDSDP) sought an audience with Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi to discuss the country’s solar power development last 18 July at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) compound in Taguig City. CDSDP is composed of seven founding generation companies, including AboitizPower, Bronzeoak, EDC, Equis, NV-VOGT Philippines, SolarPacific and Solar Philippines. These solar power developers have combined, installed and in operation capacities of up to 515 megawatts.

As shown in the photo together with Sec. Cusi (center) are (L-R) the DOE Chief-of-Staff Jesus Cristino Posadas, Engr. Arwin Ardon, Ret. Admiral Reuben Lista, Central Tarlac Biopower Inc. President Don Mario Dia, Equis Manager Craig Marsh, NV-VOGT Phils. President Vivek Chaudhri, North Negros BioPower, Inc. President Arthur N. Aguilar, Reynaldo Casas CSDP President, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. Senior Vice President Juan Antonio Bernad, Carlos Aboitiz of Aboitiz Power, Solar Philippines President Leandro Leviste , SolarPacific Energy Corp. Senior Business Development Officer Dyna Enad, DOE Spokesperson & NASECORE President Pete Ilagan.