A Traveler’s Guide to Mobile Phones Before Flying Off

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We all agree that when traveling, one of the first things that we have in our pocket or bag (besides passport and air ticket) is our mobile phone. Your phone is like your lifeline for keeping in touch with people and the world, wherever you may be. You can use it in case of emergencies, get in touch with family and friends back home, post your latest adventure on social media, check your emails, do a google search, and so much more! It is simply convenient to have a phone to rely on whenever you are abroad.

However, activating your phone’s roaming service can get pretty pricey; nobody wants to go home and find a huge bill waiting for them at the end of the month. Other scenarios that you should consider are not being able to even use your phone or even worse, it gets lost or stolen. The following are some things that you should know before taking your mobile abroad.

Questions to ask your provider when taking your phone abroad

If you are planning to use your phone a lot, the first thing that you should do before getting to the airport is to get in touch with your provider and ask about their roaming service. By doing this, you will know if you can or cannot use your phone abroad. Here are questions that you should ask your carrier:

●     Will my phone work abroad? Most of the providers today do have roaming services but they require activation, so you can opt to do so. If you don’t want to use service abroad, some carriers can opt to temporarily deactivate your service if you want to save on roaming charges.

●     How much will I be charged for roaming? If your provider does offer roaming service, then you should ask how much it costs to make international calls, use the Internet, make local calls, etc.

●     Is my phone locked? If the answer is yes, then you might want to unlock your phone or use an R-sim. Some carriers do lock their phones. If you are to insert a new SIM card (subscriber identity module), it wouldn’t work especially if your phone is included within your mobile plan. Alternatively, you can buy a disposable phone, where you can still call and text. If the answer is no, then you can buy a local SIM card once you reach your destination.

Some tips when taking your phone overseas

Traveling abroad without your phone is like crossing a bridge, without an actual bridge. Many travelers today rely on their phones for finding tourist destinations, affordable hotels, restaurants, checking reservations, posting on social media, getting in touch with people back home, maps, translating, and so much more! So whether you can use roaming service or not, here are great tips to maximize your phone’s usage abroad:

Turn off everything that needs cellular data

If your provider doesn’t provide roaming service or you simply don’t want to, then it is advisable to turn off your cellular data, data roaming service or any such apps. It would also be helpful to turn off any automatic features that would require apps to connect to the internet such as emails, social media, automatic updates, etc. While abroad, you can also make great use of your phone’s airplane mode feature or call your provider to temporarily deactivate your SIM and reactivate it once you are back.

Use ONLY WiFi to connect to the Internet

Your phone is a tool to help you search and explore information from the Internet. It allows you to stay connected with friends and to find out about a certain place or a destination. Even without cellular data, you can still access the Internet via WiFi. Before you travel, download all the apps that you use frequently or your favorite social media apps (though using this requires you to connect to the Internet, you would be surprised at how not getting notifications every minute is simply refreshing and therapeutic). You can also download offline travel apps and interactive maps so that you don’t have to rely too much on the Internet. In doing so, there is no need to worry about finding a hotspot if you want to get connected. Most hotels, restaurants, and other facilities have free WiFi so that you can access everything that you need.

Maximize using apps to communicate

Apps are simply heaven sent for travelers to stay connected. If in the event you can’t use your phone or simply don’t want a huge bill filled with data roaming charges, all you need to do is maximize your using WiFi. Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc., which are useful ways to communicate to your loved ones while you are abroad. It is also a great way to communicate with your friends locally. You don’t need to have cellular service to receive a message. All you need to do is connect to the Internet via WiFi and you can instantly chat, send and receive messages in no time.

Buy a disposable SIM card abroad

Perhaps one of the most popular option for travelers is using a disposable SIM as it is convenient. Not only will you have local service, enable cellular data, you can also make calls both locally and internationally, and send text messages. However, some providers do lock their phones as mentioned above. You need to unlock your phone or use an adapter or R-sim to be able to use the local SIM. At the end of your trip, you can simply deactivate the service and be on your way.

Worst case scenario - stolen phone

Probably the worst thing that could happen to you abroad is losing your phone. You should be extra careful when taking out your phone in unfamiliar places as pickpockets, thieves, and swindlers often target unassuming tourists. As much as possible, never let anyone carry your phone or let it out of your sight. Not only will you lose your contacts and information, unauthorized use of your phone can result to hundreds of dollars’ worth of charges made to your phone bill. On top of that, personal photos, passwords, and emails might also be compromised. So, never lose sight of your phone while you are traveling.

If in the event that your phone is lost or stolen, do contact your provider immediately to deactivate the service, even if there is still a chance to finding it. You can opt to temporarily deactivate it just in case. You can also ask your provider to further block anyone from using your phone by blocking its IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity). To know your phone’s IMEI, you can dial #60# or simply look behind its battery. Along with your phone’s model number, take note of these set of digits if in case your phone goes missing.

Phone locating apps downloaded earlier into your phone are handy as they can be used to trace your phone and remotely wipe all information in it such as findmyiphone and Android Device Manager. This way you can fully remove all the sensitive information, lock your phone, and make your phone ring remotely.

Make it a point to check your mobile insurance policies to see if they cover lost or unauthorized use of your phone.

Conclusion

Your phone is one of the most important gadgets that you must always have with you at all times while you travel. It is a great tool for many travelers to quickly do a search, stay connected, and communicate through the Internet. If you are travelling abroad with your phone, it is important to get in touch with your provider about roaming service and charges before you fly off. If you don’t want to wind up with a huge phone bill at the end of the month, turn off your cellular data and roaming service, put your phone on airplane mode and simply use WiFi. You can also opt to temporarily deactivate your phone and use a local SIM card throughout the duration of your trip. Make it a point to have your important and personal information and contacts either written down or saved into another device. If you accidentally lose your phone abroad, get in touch with your provider immediately, block call-making services and wipe out all the information on your phone. According to a survey from iprice, when planning to travel, you are recommended to bring along an international travel adaptor so that you can charge your phone wherever your destination.

With a bit of time and effort upfront, you’ll know exactly what options you have when you are abroad and still have an affordable, connected trip with smartphone in hand. Bon voyage!

Contributed by Marjorie Mae Mendoza 

Marjorie is a Filipino-freelance writer currently based in Kuala Lumpur and have been writing professionally since 2010. On top of her superb writing skills, her great command of the English language paved way to enrich her career in radio broadcasting, working with some of the biggest names in radio. To enhance her skills, Marjorie is continuously working as a creative writer who constantly improves and develops her own style with iprice.

DOE Statement: Power Supply Situation (2 August)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to closely monitor the power situation amidst the normalization of the power supply situation following the resumption of operations of several power plants.

Based on the reports from industry players, the 647 MW Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant (SCFPP) Unit 2, the 360 MW Kalayaan U3 & U4 are already back online, while the 300 MW Calaca Coal-Fired Power Plant U2, 280 MW and 280 MW Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) U2 are expected to supply additional power to the grid within the day.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) declared having a normal situation for the three main grids (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).

The DOE is also closely coordinating with NGCP and the generators on the status of the plants that are still out, including the 302 MW GN Coal-Fired Power Plant U1, the 382 Pagbilao Coal-Fired Power Plant U2, and the South Luzon Therma Energy Corporation (SLTEC) U1 & U2 with a combined capacity of 245 MW, the 180 MW MTPP U1; while the 180 MW Kalayaan U2 and the 250 MW Sta. Rita Natural Gas Power Plant U2 are on planned maintenance shutdown.

As of 10:30 a.m., the available capacity in Luzon Grid stood at 9,705 MW, while peak demand is projected at 8,542 MW, leaving the grid with more than 1,100 MW reserve capacity.

For the Typhoon Carina-hit areas, NGCP reported that linemen were able to repair and completely restore the Magapit-Sta. Ana 69-kiloVolt (kV) line which serves the Cagayan II Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO II) and its franchise area in Buguey, Sta. Ana, Sta.Teresita, and Gonzaga in Cagayan province since yesterday afternoon.

Likewise, the National Electrification Administration reported that there are towns and barangays that were scheduled for restoration in the franchises of Cagayan I Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO I) and Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).

Ten HealthTech Solutions Advance to Takeda Digital Healthcare Innovation Challenge Pitching Competition

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Ten HealthTech startups have been selected to advance to the final Pitching Competition for Takeda’s Digital Healthcare Innovation Challenge (DHIC) on August 6, 2016 in Manila, Philippines.

The finalists include six from the Philippines, two from USA, one from Malaysia and one from Thailand. DHIC is a HealthTech pitching competition sponsored by Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. with technical assistance from TechTalks.ph. HealthTech is a term generally used to define software or tech-enabled solutions geared for the healthcare industry.

Following the open call for submission of applicants from around the world last May 10 to June 27, 2016, Takeda DHIC chose the top 10 entries with the most suitable and most relevant tech solutions for Oncology.

The finalists include a variety of mobile and web solutions from electronic medical records, to early cancer detection and diagnosis, telemedicine, wellness platform, e-prescription and blood donation platform.

Mark Carpio "Hiling" Album Launch Videos

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Check out our YouTube channel at http://www.YouTube.com/user/wazzuppilipinas for the video coverage of performances during Mark Caprio's Hiling album launch held on July 15, 2016 at Historia Bar & Cafe located at Sgt. Esguerra Street in Quezon City.

He sang all the songs included in the album plus a few more songs which are not included n the album. His brothers Jeffrey and Jerome also did a few performances so I've included them as well. Some of the songs I've uploaded at our official Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas

The 8 songs included in the album are Hiling, Naghihintay Sa Yo, Kay Tagal, Tampuhan, Kahit Gaano Kalayo, Someday, Imp[ossible and The Move.

The album is released under Warner Music Philippines and with the help of producer Jonathan Ong.

His carrier single, Kay Tagal, has gained popularity when it was used as the soundtrack in a Koreanovela.

The album launch was attended by his family, relatives, friends and colleagues from both the music industry and their family's real estate business, Grand Monaco.

Yabang Pinoy Celebrates Made in the Philippines Week

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Yabang Pinoy has constantly uphold its advocacy of choosing and prioritizing Filipino-made ideas, products and services by supporting the efforts of some organizations lobbying for the revival of “Made in the Philippines Week”. Originally promulgated by former President Manuel L. Quezon in 1936, the Proclamation No. 76 or “Made in the Philippines Week” is a way to give the necessary encouragement and stimulus to domestic industries.

Usually observed on the third week of August, the “Made in the Philippines Week” urges Filipinos to contribute to the growth of local industries by patronizing and prioritizing Filipino products for their personal and home needs. In the past, celebrations of “Made in the Philippines Week” include exhibits, expos, lectures, and bazaars showcasing Philippine products and services.

Over the years Yabang Pinoy has worked with several organizations and entities which also promote the same kind of advocacy. Patch Dulay, Founder of Obrano Heritage Goods and The Spark Project, believes that patronizing Filipino products should start from the consumers’ mindset. He said, “I want the local buyers to at the very least try supporting local, try purchasing local brands. And if they want to go a step further, advocate”. On the other hand, Marco Sebastian of Marsse Tropical Timber Plantation stated that “If [we] get more support from the buyers, we can improve our facilities, our methodologies, we can make it more affordable to other people.”

Entering into another decade of Filipino excellence and ingenuity, Yabang Pinoy strives to create programs and projects that inspire local artists and entrepreneurs to create masterpieces. One of the projects that boosts Filipino entrepreneurial spirit since the organization’s establishment in 2005 is the Global Pinoy Bazaar. This coming August 10 to 14 at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, Yabang Pinoy will hold its 17th Global Pinoy Bazaar in line with the celebration of “Made in the Philippines Week”. The movement believes that by staging projects such as Global Pinoy Bazaar, it may become instrumental in the revival of Proclamation No. 76.

To get updates regarding this proclamation, stay in touch with Yabang Pinoy through www.yabangpinoy.com.            

ePLDT Certified Experts Provide Cybersecurity Assessment to PH Businesses

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest concerns of enterprises these days. Without dedicated personnel to manage this aspect of the business, implementation can be daunting. Companies will need to manage security policies, configure and maintain multiple hardware and systems, implement best practices and compliance, and handle upgrades, while keeping up-to-date with the latest threats.

In line with its thrust to help Philippine businesses implement reliable cybersecurity measures, ePLDT, the digital enterprise enabler of the country’s leading telecommunications and digital services provider, PLDT Inc., recently introduced the ePLDT Managed Security Solutions in its product roster. It is a suite of security services that cover the devices, systems, processes, and expertise needed to protect vital IT infrastructure from most security risks, evolving threats, and malicious software attacks.

“Many businesses find security overly complicated and thereby put it off to deal with later when a breach has occurred. Our goal is to simplify it for them, giving more incentives to make security a priority to minimize the cost of these breaches. Having protective measures is not enough— enterprises need to check for vulnerabilities and respond accordingly,” said Bernice Pineda, Business Development Manager for PLDT Disruptive Business Group.

Following the launch, ePLDT is offering free vulnerability assessment for a limited time, providing critical insight into specific details of a company’s IT system such as bandwidth usage, infected computers, and possible security gaps within the network. A part of the free assessment will be the installation of a tool which can automatically analyze network traffic. This assessment is open for enterprises within Metro Manila and will be free for those who apply until August 31, 2016.

“The vulnerability assessment, which we are currently offering free of charge, will help enterprises understand cybersecurity in greater depth. We will help them test their current security and recommend the appropriate adjustments tailored for their needs,” said Francis Arjonillo, Head of PLDT Business Development for Enterprise Cloud and Managed Security. “In matters of security, being proactive is a must. One shouldn’t sit around and wait for a breach before taking action.”

Those who are interested in the free vulnerability assessment and the ePLDT Managed Security solutions may visit www.epldt.com/solutions/managed-security to sign up or view more details.

Food and Fashion Royalty on TLC

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When it comes to gastronomic affairs and wedding runways, there is no settling for anything less than what kings and queens deserve on TLC. This August, chef and restaurateur Luke Nguyen, and the queens of bridal fashion embark on new shows fit for royal viewers.


Luke Nguyen’s Street Food Asia

Celebrity chef Luke goes out to see for himself just why Asia is widely considered one of the best spots for the best kinds of street food. Exploring through Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Luke goes behind the scenes and discovers the secrets and routines of street food vendors and owners who busy themselves hunting for ingredients, preparing recipes, setting up their stalls, selling their famous dishes and more. Binge on and do not miss Luke Nguyen’s Street Food Asia as it premieres on August 22, airing Mondays at 9:25pm. 

Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss

Wedding bells will soon ring, but the road to the big day is not all bliss. More often than not, brides are pressured to make everything fit princess-perfect: the flowers, the guest list, the dress….It can only go two ways—happily ever after or a total wedding disaster.

Walk down the TLC aisle with plus-sized brides trying to find their dream dress on Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss. The new season marks new beginnings of the brides and follows the inner workings of premier bridal salon, Kleinfeld Bridal. There are many struggles for a plus-sized bride shopping in an average size 6 store, but all will be conquered by love.

Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss premieres August 5, airing Fridays at 9pm.

They Speak To You By Association Art Exhibit at Galleria Duemila

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Galleria Duemila proudly presents They Speak to You by Association, a group exhibition which features the works of six contemporary artists, Felix Bacolor, Mariano Ching, Yasmin Sison, RM de Leon, Jonathan Olazo, and Trek Valdzino—together they present compositions which dislodge from traditional facets of painting and installation formats. Loaded with variation and modified styles, the artists reanimate and restructure existing edifications in art to conflicting yet visually decisive investigations on aesthetic identity and progression.

Felix Bacolor’s artistic practice combines a playful dynamic in production and investigation in art-making through a variety of thoroughly researched interests and media such as video, installation and sculpture. Over the years Bacolor mastered the production of object prototypes for his sculpture studies. All this enabled him to experiment rich possibilities in collecting and repurposing objects, and in working with digitized and tangible prototypes in manufacturing. Bacolor studied Studio Arts (Painting) at University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Among numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Philippines, his work has also been exhibited in the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design; Manila, Osage Gallery; Hong Kong, Equator Art Projects; and Valentine Willie Fine Art; Malaysia.

Having been trained as an illustrator and photographer, Mariano Ching’s work bellies a sophisticated spatial awareness. His references are largely attributed a surplus of his imagination and are bolsters a childlike receptivity, which comes with an underlying psychedelia pushed forward by his various paradoxical leitmotifs such as voodoo or colonial iconography. An accomplish artist he is a recipient of the Monbusho Japanese Grant and Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 13 Artists Award. His works have been exhibited in France, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (major in Painting) at the University of the Philippines. Some of his works belong have been acquired by prestigious art collections including that of the Singapore Art Museum.

Revitalizing or making an image from found images is key to RM de Leon’s practice—from the kitsch and cartoonish, or at times the banal, he interweaves them together, deconstructing or obliterating to the effect of abstracting the recognizable. Though the accumulated process of omitting or reanimating elements to aesthetic balance is certainly not a minimal task, his outputs are painstakingly sparse and comes with a certain sensitivity. He incorporates these fragmented elements with exquisite painterly acts—the result is a hybrid of images that bestride representation and abstraction, painting and graphic design, products that seemingly embody the contemporariness and ambiguity of the insurmountable surge of images in today’s technological apocalypse. De Leon completed a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines in 1984. He was a recipient of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Awards in 1990. An accomplished artist he has received numerous accolades and grants such as Vermont Studio Center (USA) scholarship for studio arts program for painting. He is currently an art professor at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.

Jonathan Olazo’s work manipulate and merge an array of materials and formats such as oil and acrylic on canvas, assembled objects in wood, aluminum, ready-made industrial materials, and photography related media. Olazo’s recent outputs pushes forward through and attempts to preserve William C. Seitz’s 1961 commentary on assemblage as, “all forms of composite art and modes of juxtaposition.” The artist situates his work to a rich possibility of dialogue between the bespoke and the readymade, painting and sculpture, and between the act of painting and the reproducibility of images. Jonathan Olazo completed a BFA Painting degree from the College of Fine Arts at University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, in 1992 and was a recipient of Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Award in 1994.

Yasmin Sison incorporates pop art and figurative elements in her oeuvre; she is also well-known for her sensitive and unwavering children portraits, which offers a panoptic view of the subjects shifting emotional, physical, and psychological transitions. An accomplished artist, Sison holds a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting in UP Diliman. She was a recipient of a 13 Artists Awards in 2006 and was shortlisted for the Ateneo Art Awards in 2007.

Trek Valdizno wields unconventional painting tools to achieve gestural abstraction, which is brought by his distinct process; mobilized with urgency; and mostly resulting in layers of quaintly overlapped biomorphic figures. Pluralistic and athletic, the works take the onlooker on a frantic gestural joyride. His work quintessentially showcase, in every sense of the word, a excess of painterly acts as it is not a secret that his acrylics can prance, skate, rollover, crochet, coil, collide, and coagulate. He completed a BFA Painting degree from the College of Fine Arts at University of the Philippines in Diliman. His work has been exhibited in Ayala Museum, Vargas Museum, and Cultral Center of the Philippines.

Exhibition Run: August 6 - 29, 2016 
Opening Reception: August 6, Saturday 4pm

They Speak To You By Association
Felix Bacolor, Mariano Ching, RM de Leon,
Jonathan Olazo, Yasmin Sison and Trek Valdzino

Hackzilla in Manila Video Interviews with Hackers at Freelancer.com

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Build the Tech, Stop the Carnage, Save the World.

Freelancer.com recently completed the largest inter-collegiate hackathon for disaster response management - Hackzilla in Manila which was held on July 22 to 23, 2016 at the Freelancer.com office, 30th floor, Ecotower, 32nd cor 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The first-ever Hackzilla in Manila, with a theme of "Preparing the Philippines to effectively respond to natural disasters through the use of technology," is Freelancer.com’s inter-collegiate hackathon. Within 36 hours, students were challenged to build mobile applications, websites, and various other technological solutions that will concentrate on alleviating the harmful impact of natural calamities.

This event is in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Response Foundation (PDRF), The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Project NOAH, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Developers Connect Philippines (DevCon), and the Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE).

Below are some photos and videos from the hackathon venue - Freelancer.com's office at BGC:

Below are the video interviews we conducted with the 11 teams who participated at Hackzilla in Manila:

Road or Online Rage: Which Should You Fear More?

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"Today, the Philippines is gaining a reputation for a rampant and nationwide campaign of extrajudicial killings. 

Voters knowingly endorsed this when they elected the incumbent president and his anti-crime platform that tacitly included extrajudicial killings. 

Citizens knowingly endorse extrajudicial killings when they post and comment death threats online against an erroneously identified road rage murderer or a college student critical of the incumbent president. 

Filipinos knowingly endorse the deaths of innocent fellow Filipinos as acceptable collateral damage with their silence and lack of outrage." - Romano Cortes Jorge

Now that the real killer of the cyclist from a recent road rage incident has been caught by the authorities, people now rant against him instead of the previously mistaken killer who was tagged by a popular online site and thus has gone viral due to a frenzy of shares on social media.

The suspect in the Quiapo road rage slay, Vhon Martin Tanto, apologized for the death of bicycle rider Mark Vincent Garalde. But sadly, any amount of apology won't bring back the victim to life. He could rot in jail but that won't return the lives of people from both the victim and accused side back to normal.

The ex-Army reservist who was caught by intelligence operatives in Masbate was seen on surveillance footage shooting a cyclist to death after a road altercation. He now faces murder charges after this arrest. PNP Chief Bato Dela Rosa says a "villain's welcome" awaits Vhon Tanto in Manila. The Manila police already has taken custody of the suspect.

A second victim, a scholar of the Manila City government, remains in an intensive care unit when a stray bullet from Tanto's gun pierced the left side of her back and grazed her kidney.

Cyclists held a memorial in honor of fellow cyclist Garalde. Please remember that cyclist have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to same rules and regulations. Motorists must look carefully for bicyclists before turning left or right, merging into bicycle lanes, and opening doors next to moving traffic. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.

What bothers me the most is not just the road rage incident but also how social media contributed to the smearing of reputation of the innocent causing possible harm and stress to both the wrongly accused and his loved ones. Please cut Top Gear Philippines some slack. They have done more good than bad for this country. It's also the gullible people that are responsible for many of them have shared without verifying facts.

People who accepted and shared the wrong information are as guilty as the first who shared the news. No matter how good are intentions are, we are liable if we did not validate our information as accurate and correct. A slight variation from the truth will always be nowhere near our search for fairness and justice.

The online bullies ranted and cursed like they know what really happened even though we only see a blurred video footage with no audio. The surveillance video showed no clarity of what really transpired before the incident. We don't hear any of the verbal exchange of assaults between the two individuals involved. Yet, many netizens quickly harassed the suspected car owner wrongly accused due to a wrong plate number.

I fear that we have gone more violent online where no one can prevent us from going wild and crazy.

We can also see from the CCTV footage that both personalities involved in the road rage were both violent in nature. I am just wondering that if the cyclist also had a gun with him, he could have done the same as what the car owner did.

Road rage is never cool and causes more harm than good. We should keep our cool when driving eventhough other motorists, or commuters, act irrational and abusive. It's probably the horrible traffic congestion we encounter everyday. It's probably the stressful realities happening all around us that has been so overwhelmingly turned us into savage beasts ready to strike anybody who crosses us.

However, with the rise of a new President with a reputation that is nowhere near decent, Filipinos today are more encouraged to openly curse and wish other Filipinos dead - following the example of the new leader of the country with a history of violence. 

Everyone is worried to be accused or mistaken for criminals, especially the drug users and pushers. Even Filipinos who might threaten the power of the idolized leader, including those who disagree with the leader's supporters, are not safe to roam the streets now.

Nowadays, people get killed and authorities will dismiss it as normal and reason out that the fatalities resorted to fighting back. However, it has always baffled us why they would kill and not incapacitate instead. The many bullet holes would say otherwise as just a means to protect themselves because that will be too much as defense to their safety. One bullet can already stop anybody who intends to hurt you, so why multiple shots are often seen at crime scenes.

Disturbing to know also that only the small time and lowly suspects gets busted and eventually killed. Seldom do we see big time criminals get caught, or even killed.

The road rage incidents happening is an indication that people are getting so confident in abusing their rights. Knowing the President endorses vigilantism and immediate killings of even the accused, more and more people are finding the nerve to kill when opportunity allows.

Are we blaming the President for the several occurrence of road rage, irrational killings by policemen, cardboard justice for drug pushers, snatchers and the likes? Maybe, maybe not. 

Remember that we should not be attacking the person but the behavior that he or she indulges. We are persecuting how gullible Filipinos are for patronizing Duterte justice and order, and not Filipinos in general.

Please take note that no matter how impressive it seems that "Change is Coming," we cannot welcome a change that puts us into violent times. We would never support a nation filled with raging hearts, may it be on the road or at the comfort of our homes behind our computers, smartphones or tablets. 

"This is not the Philippines I can be proud of. This is no longer the Philippines I can call my own.  

I want my country back. I will stand my ground."

Portkey Events Celebrates Everything About Harry Potter

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and all the rest at Hogwarts School of Witchracft and Wizardry, would be greeting Harry Potter now a "Happy Birthday!" ‪such as what the Potterheads from Portkey Events' last leg of their House Cup Series subtitled as It All Ends.

The last day of July is a special day for Harry Potter fans which deserves magical celebrations to commemorate the following:

First, it's the day in which the eighth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,is being released; it's already expected to be the best-selling book of the year. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now available at leading bookstores Fully Booked and National Book Store, selling for either P999 or almost at P1500 respectively depending on where you'll buy it.

Secondly, it's the day in which Harry Potter creator, J.K. Rowling, was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England; she turns 51 today! 

Thirdly, it's the day in which fictional character Harry Potter was born in Godric's Hollow, West Country, England; he turns 36 today!

Going back to the event held at the Top Shelf of Fully Booked Bonifacio Global City in Taguig city on July 30, 2016, we would like to congratulate Gryffindor for winning the Portkey Events' House Cup Series 2016!!!

Meals-to-Go: Arlene's Cuisine Knows the Trend of the Near Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I hate to admit it, but the signs explicitly shows what would seem to be the trend of the future. Without any doubt, Catering Services, Meals-to-Go or Take Outs, Food Deliveries and everything else similar would be the future of every society.

With condos being the most prevalent means of housing easily accessible to many of our countrymen, there is no room enough for a big kitchen that's conducive to cooking meals, and since condos were designed for a small family basically composed of two to four individuals who would be either working or studying in school most of their waking hours, cooking for a small family may no longer be economically justifiable.

With so many emerging sources of take-out or delivery meals from fast-food outlets, home cooking is in the losing end. With services such as catering, meals-to-go or take outs, food deliveries, etc., easily available, it becomes more convenient to avail of them to accommodate more time for other activities.

Now, what I see that would differentiate these kind of services from each other is the quality and affordability, aside from the actual taste of their cuisine. Being innovative and creative in presentation, marketing and promotions, would also be a plus factor. Truthfully, there are so many great products out there are are not popularly known because of poor marketing due to lower access to resources for promotions or marketing campaigns.

Who Wants to be a Blogger?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are times when I think about not wanting to be a blogger anymore after witnessing numerous irregularities in the blogging community. I should pack up my computers, cameras and other gadgets, because blogging is not for the weak of heart.

There are so many shocking incidents that makes me cringe in horror. How would you react to the many online bullying, bashing, and attacks behind your back even to the point of tarnishing your reputation just to get you out of the way.

Those bloggers who post hate speech against you just because he sees you as a competitor. Those who would deceive others by never stating the complete facts and truth behind incidents. Those who can easily lie in the belief that his friends would support his mischief. Those whose minds and actions are controlled by their greed to gain financial rewards.

Some bloggers are motivated by loot bags, raffle prizes, perks and freebies they receive from the brands and companies. They become so grateful that they lose their sincerity in writing so as not to displease their sponsors. They would cease to write the negative facts about the products or services and only mention the positive stuff. 

Who suffers from all these? The readers for expecting too much from the brands bloggers write about. Readers would son realize that they are victims of false advertising. This becomes worst when the bloggers write about personalities. They make a person look good but in reality they are only hired to do so. Bloggers comply to the requests of brands because they want to keep the relationship even to the point of being dictated on what to write.

What happened to the original intention of blogging? It was supposed to be an online journal of our life, and as an outlet to bring out and share our thoughts, opinions and point of views. It was never meant to be a money-making tool. That's a welcome bonus but it should not be the only motivating element that made you get into blogging.

Some would say bloggers try so much to become journalists. But we should know that the main difference is that we are freely open to all kinds of writing style, and we could write any statement whether controversial or sensational. Unlike journalists whose works pass through an editor, bloggers have the freedom to publish whatever we want without fear. 

Should we just keep on blogging despite these unsatisfying issues? Should we keep on doing what we love to do best? and that is to blog, blog, blog without mental and physical hindrance and obstacles brought about by envious fellow bloggers. Should we remain our own selves or be influenced by what others conform to and recognize as standards or ethics? Should we continue to let our creative juices flow and not let social media "analysts" get into our nerves. Should we censor ourselves and be restricted to what they believe as inappropriate?

The way we blog should be uniquely our own so we should not let others turn our passion into a joke.

The Philippines' Cardboard Justice and Irrational Killings

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Last night, I had friends and family tell me to "give Duterte a chance", "acknowledge the good he has done" and "consider going back to the Philippines". After all, "It's just only the drug dealers in danger. Carlos, you'll be fine". I was really considering the possibility and then I read this today. A man in custody killed by the PNP over a traffic incident. Sigh. Nope. Not moving back. Not for a long while. ‪#‎dutertopia‬" - Carlos Celdran

If you are to refer to comics, cartoons, and the movies, the so superheroes are what we know in real life as vigilantes.

They are usually not legally sanctioned or authorized by a government and would most of the time be an underground or secret operation especially for the group of heroes who all combined forces for greater strength and reach.

In the real world, vigilantes should be frowned upon and discouraged if they resort to killing. We don't want our heroes to freely kill people who they deem as negative elements of society.

These vigilantes include the police force who are more inclined to kill rather than incapacitate. Why are they trained to end a life rather than get the opportunity to dig in deeper into the crimes. If they keep the suspected criminals alive, they would be able to interrogate and investigate further, and find the real source or the "big fish" or mastermind.

I'd like to hear what's gonna happen next in terms of accountability for irrational incidents involving the police. If its not handled well, its a black mark against this administration.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Now Available at Leading Bookstores

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"This is funny. Fully Booked is selling the new Harry Potter book for only 999. While National Bookstore is selling it at almost 1,500. Of course, you would go to the one selling it at a lower price. 

By the way, both bookstores are selling the same story. Scholastic Asia's post made it appear that Fully Booked is selling it illegally. Fully Booked's editions are from the UK publisher. Scholastic Asia from the US publisher. 

It's just unfair that the Harry Potter books (through Scholastic Asia) in the Philippines is more expensive compared to other countries. 

What an injustice to the PH Potterheads, who happen to be one of the most dedicated fandoms in the world. 

I hope J.K. Rowling is aware of this." - Kat De Castro

You must be one of those Harry Potter fans who already have a copy of the book by visiting either Fully Booked or National Book Store early in the morning of July 31 here in the Philippines when the book is officially sold. 

Just keep on mind the price difference between the two leading bookstores since the two releases came form different publishers (US and UK). They have different pricing. But I'm sure for many Harry Potter fans, the price difference is insignificant. They would immediately bu at the nearest bookstore where the book is available in fear of running out of stock of the very popular book series.

The 8th book of the ‪#Harry Potter‬ Universe, which is a compilation of the rehearsal scripts for the play 'HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD', has been released today! The play is set 19 years after the conclusion of 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows'... and held its world premier on July 30, 2016 at London Palace Theater.

The story follows Albus Severus Potter, Harry and Ginny's 11 yr-old middle child, as he starts his own journey at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The play — which opened Saturday at London's Palace Theatre — is receiving equal enthusiasm.

For those who can't get to London, or wherever the show may debut next, Rowling said: "People will be able to read the play, so they won't know everything because there's lots of surprises on stage but they'll know the story."

The surprises of production and plot have stayed largely clandestine, despite two months of play previews, with the help of #keepthesecrets buttons handed out at each performance.

Cursed Child goes far beyond dutiful brand extension with an entirely original and hugely ambitious sequel to the Potter books, presented in two parts and nearly five hours long. Author J.K. Rowling, working with London theatre veterans Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, have delivered a production that’s as spectacular as it is ambitious, stuffed with special effects and twists that had a preview audience gasping, Cursed Childis a story that doesn’t play it safe with the Potter canon and will change how fans see certain favorite characters forever.

The plot, kept under an invisibility cloak of secrecy until now, has a very grabby premise.