Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, August 13, 2016

WWF and HSBC’s Rain Campaign Prepares Households for Monsoon Season

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The rainy season is finally here!

This time of year, the Rain Campaign of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) is at its most significant.

The Rain Campaign raises awareness on the importance of freshwater supplies while making people more conscious of their water footprint. The campaign promotes the use of rainwater collectors as an alternative source of water for households.

This campaign that started in 2012 has now reached seven schools in Pasig and Donsol, educated more than 1400 students – and helped more than 100 families.

HSBC volunteer employees have helped WWF in teaching students to be more discriminating in using water. Volunteers took part in the collection of water samples to test water quality, like the level of alkalinity and the presence of bacteria in both tap water and collected rainwater. HSBC volunteers also mentored students about simple household solutions to have safe drinking water, while joining students in painting drums that can serve as rainwater collectors.

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“What a Lovely Day” and a “Beastly” good time it is for movie and pop fans around the region as AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016 (APCC Manila) confirmed Hollywood actor Nicholas Hoult as the latest celebrity headliner to hit the stage of the biggest pop culture convention slated on August 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Hoult, who made his acting debut with the 1996 Canadian-British film Intimate Relations, is best known for playing mutant scientist Beast in X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past, War Boy Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road, protagonist Jack in Jack the Giant Slayer, and R in Warm Bodies.

In the past, Hoult starred in the independent, science fiction drama Young Ones opposite Michael Shannon and Elle Fanning and directed by Jake Paltrow, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He also starred opposite Colin Firth in Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man to rave reviews.

Hoult's most recent movie appearances were in Drake Doremus' film Equals, a futuristic drama also starring Kristen Stewart, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, as well as the British independent production Kill Your Friends, based on a novel by John Niven.

He has recently finished shooting writer/director Danny Strong's directorial debut Rebel in the Rye, in which he plays a young J.D. Salinger; and he will also be seen in the film Sand Castle for director Fernando Coimbra, in which he portrays an American soldier on a mission to help a village at the end of the war in Iraq.

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Taal’s ecotourism has received a big boost from the collaboration between Globe Telecom and the non-profit environmental organization Pusod, Inc. which are both working together to empower communities around the lake through environment education and sustainable enterprises.

One of the key programs implemented by Globe and Pusod to address the area’s environmental issues is the promotion of ecotourism through the Taal Lake Conservation Center (TLCC) which gives a low-impact alternative to commercial tourism and promotes conservation of the ecosystem.

As a result of the partnership, earnings of TLCC jumped by 1400 % . From revenues of only P40,000 during its first year, TLCC registered an annual revenue of P600,000 by end 2015.

The facility was established by Pusod, in partnership with the Local Government of Mataasnakahoy and TVPL Protected Area Management Board, in 2011. TLCC serves as a knowledge hub for researches conducted in TVPL and operates the ecotourism program in partnership with Globe Citizenship. The program offers Community Walking Tours, Heritage Tours, Knowledge Tours to the Calawit side of the Volcano Island and other low impact water sports – Kayaking, Oz Goose Sailing, Stand Up Paddling.

“We continue to find ways of cooperation to protect the environment and support sustainable livelihood and conservation, thereby, giving birth to our partnership with Pusod which shares the same environmental values as Globe. Through our joint efforts, we are able to create positive impact across the value chain -- from the community-based tour guides, boat operators, horse guides, local caterer, and community volunteers,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director of Globe Citizenship.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Gear up trainers! Pokémon GO is finally available in the Philippines, and it’s time to fulfill your dreams of becoming a Pokémon master! Developed by Niantic Inc., Pokémon GO blends the much beloved world of the classic Pokémon game, with the real physical world through augmented reality. As a player of the game you must start your journey as a Pokémon Trainer to catch Pokémon, train them and eventually become a Pokémon Master. However, unlike other mobile games, Pokémon GO requires you to put more physical effort and even strategy to progress and master the game.

As the game is now officially available in the Philippines after weeks of anticipation, players are more than ready to go out and explore around. But don’t just roam around, be the very best with these tips when starting your Pokémon GO quest.

Always bring extra power – Playing Pokémon GO uses internet either through mobile data or WiFi, GPS to locate you and Pokémon nearby, and even your camera as part of the augmented reality experience, resulting to heavy battery drain when playing the game. It is best to always bring an extra power bank with you to keep your game going.

Hydrate properly – Pokémon GO requires you to go around and explore your surroundings, sometimes even walk or bike 10 kilometers just to hatch a Pokémon egg. With this, trainers are advised to always bring water and wear comfortable clothes to avoid dehydration. Who knows, you might even need to climb to the top of a nearby hill just to find the Pokémon you're looking for!

Have fun while being aware of your surroundings – Holding your phone in public can possibly attract thieves who may steal your phone. You might be also too distracted around you when you are enjoying too much of the game so be alert by keeping on the lookout from time to time!

Items are not unlimited – Playing Pokémon Go in the early stage might get you carried away in your excitement to catch Pokémon. Just remember that PokéBalls and other items are not unlimited, so use them wisely.

When catching Pokémon, keep the Pokémon centered in your camera frame so you can catch them more accurately. Don’t worry though, Poké Balls can always be acquired in PokéStops, or if you do ever run out of Poké Balls, you can purchase in bulk using PokéCoins.

Need PokéCoins? With Globe, you can easily buy more on Google Play via the hassle free Direct Carrier Billing so you can easily charge to your postpaid bill or prepaid credits!

Go to convergence areas for more PokéStops – PokéStops are there to provide you items to help you catch Pokémon, and can sometimes be spots where Pokémon can appear when lure modules are applied. PokéStops are most likely located in nearby convergence areas such as malls, parks, basketball courts or even mural paintings and statues. PokéStops refresh in a few minutes, so just keep on collecting items!

Watch out for PokéStops with lots of petals! This means that someone has activated a lure module in that PokéStop, and nearby Pokémon will be attracted to it for 30 minutes. You can activate this too by purchasing Lure Modules using PokéCoins.

Hint: You can check out https://www.ingress.com/intel for potential PokéStop and Pokémon Gym locations, as Pokémon GO uses the same data collected and used by the game Ingress, which is also developed by Niantic.

Form a team! – Are you team Instinct, Mystic or Valor? Once you reach level 5 you have to choose which side you will be. It’s best to form a team within your neighborhood or friends, this will give you better advantage to certain situations such as taking over Gyms, which allows you to gain prestige for your team, allowing more Pokémon from your team to defend the Gym. Plus, if one of your Pokémon is defending the gym, you can get PokéCoins for free every 21 hours your Pokémon is in the gym.

Choose Pikachu! – You can easily get Pikachu from the start of your game, simply ignore any of the starter Pokémon Charmander, Squirtle or Bulbasaur, that might appear around you. Walk around for 3-5 times. Eventually Pikachu will appear and you will be able to capture the iconic Pokémon.

Transfer duplicate Pokémon for candy – Catching Pokémon might get you a lot of the same kind of Pokémon. Got 10 Pidgeys you say? Transfer your weakest 9 Pidgeys to Professor Willow for Pidgey candies!

You can transfer these duplicate Pokémon into candies if you hand them over to Professor Willow. Candies are necessary to increase the combat power (CP) and other stats of your Pokémon. Gain enough candies and you can evolve your Pokémon to its stronger form.

Pro-tip: Always transfer the duplicates with the lowest combat power (CP).

Eggs will make you travel – Hatching eggs will require you to travel a lot, make sure you always have an egg in the incubator to get the most of your travel. Eggs right now can hatch from distances of 10km, 5km or 2km depending on how rare the Pokémon is inside.

Level up fast - make the most out of your Pokémon adventure by using Lucky Eggs, which doubles the experience you gain from the game. Couple this with using lures or incense to catch more Pokémon. The more Pokémon you catch, the more experience you gain!

Pokémon GO just started its wave in the Philippines, and more and more trainers will venture to try out the new game and competition will get more intense in the coming days.

These tips will surely get you ahead of others. Playing Pokémon Go will get you hooked and it’s best to get the most of the trend. Globe offers 7 free days of access of Pokémon GO via the Globe Switch app, so you can maximize your data and enjoy playing without worries.

So go get your gear ready and catch ‘em all!

Pinoy Short Film Competes in Greece

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The Filipino short film “Pipo,” which centers on a boy’s dream of having his family picture taken despite the odds, continues to establish its presence on the world stage after being officially selected to compete at the IndieCrete International Film Festival from August 19 to 21 at the Paradiso Theater in Crete, Greece.

Maliksi Morales stars as the boy who comes up with a lot of ideas, including making up rumors to convince an old photographer, played by Lou Veloso, to take a picture of his family at a bargain price. Chanel Latorre, Ramon Palencia, and Katherine Carel provide support as members of Pipo’s family.

Aside from showing problems caused by poverty and environmental concerns through the boy’s story, award-winning filmmaker Richard Soriano Legaspi says that his film also pays tribute to manual film cameras and all the photographers who we often forget to thank for documenting precious moments in our lives.

Before vying for several awards, including Best Film, Drama award and others, in the Summer Edition of the film festival, “Pipo” also competed in the U.S., Colombia, India, Malta, Portugal, Taiwan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and another Greek film festival in Athens.

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The Danish film “Rosita,” in which acclaimed actress Mercedes Cabral plays the title role, will have its Asian and Philippine premiere at the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on August 13, Saturday, 6:15 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Cabral, who portrays a Filipina mail-order bride torn between an old man and his son, will grace the film’s screening, which is part of Cinemalaya’s “Indie Nation” section. She's known for her remarkable roles in Brillante Mendoza’s award-winning films “Serbis,” “Kinatay,” and “Thy Womb” before she won her first Best Actress award at the 2015 World Premieres Film Festival for Alvin Yapan’s “An Kubo sa Kawayanan.”

It was Mendoza who recommended Cabral to Danish filmmaker Frederikke Aspöck when they met at the Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco. Aspöck eventually won Best Director for “Rosita” at the Moscow International Film Festival last year. She broke into the international film festival scene when she bagged the Premier Prix de la Cinéfondation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 for her short film “Happy Now.” The female director’s feature film debut “Labrador” (Out of Bounds) also made the rounds of international film festivals and also got favorable nods from critics worldwide.

In “Rosita,” Cabral stars with internationally recognized Danish actors Jens Albinus, who portrays the middle-aged widower Ulrik, and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, who plays the role of his son Johannes, along with Julie Agnete Vang, Mads Riisom, Lise Baastrup, and Jacob Moth-Poulsen.

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Local cloud services pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) recently announced that it will be holding regular digital enterprise innovation seminars for business owners and entrepreneurs, free of charge.

Entitled “Gear up to Innovate: An essential blueprint for digital transformation”, the session aims to emphasize to Filipino businesses the importance of taking on a digital mindset in today’s highly connected world. Insights about digital best practices will be shared and the most relevant cloud-based business tools will be explored in-depth.

“Digital is the new Normal. If a company doesn't take advantage of today’s plethora of readily available enterprise applications, it runs the risk of being left behind by competition who do,” said Niño Valmonte, Director for Product Management & Marketing at IPC. “Doing business in this day and age compels us to adopt a digital mindset, and the fastest and most cost-efficient way to do it is through the cloud.”

Attendees will be engaged in an immersive demo of collaborative business applications and witness how workplace productivity can be elevated through these tools. More importantly, IPC will elaborate on the effective ways to migrate business processes to the cloud.

The “Gear up to Innovate” seminar series starts on August 19, 2016 and will run until the end of the year. It will be held at 1:30 PM - 5:50 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from there on at 34F RCBC Plaza Tower 2, Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

Participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. To register, visit http://gearup.ipc.ph.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Taxes Every Future Homeowner Should Keep In Mind

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Lamudi lists down legal dues that you need to know to be a responsible homeowner.

Due diligence does not stop when you have raised the amount you need to acquire a property. The responsibility of a homeowner starts as soon as the deed of sale is signed and goes on until forever. Thus, while you are preparing for your monthly amortization, it is best to familiarize yourself with the taxes and legal fees that you are about to face.

Real estate buying is a tedious process both financially and legally. However, property assets and investments that will soon be under your name and inside your pocket is definitely worth the trouble. To arm your property purchase, Lamudi Philippines lists down the basics that are essential to know.

Real Property Tax

One major law relating to owning a home is paying the Real Property Tax (RPT) every year. Once you step into your new home, it is advisable to have it appraised and assessed for accurate taxation values. All real property are evaluated according to current and fair market value prevailing in the locality where the property is situated. Owners will pay an RPT rate of 2% on properties in cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, while 1% if the property is located in the provinces.

It is imperative to always pay the RPT on time for it will incur penalties that will add burden to your tax obligations. Delinquent payments subject the payer to payment interest at the rate of 2% per month delayed to a maximum of 72% or 36 months. Then again, while late payments are crucial, paying in advance is also rewarding. Discounts are given to homeowners who settle their taxes beforehand.

For taxpayer’s conveniences, other payment options are also available. The RPT can be paid in full or annually and by installment or quarterly. For yearly schedule, payment is due on or before the 31st of January each year, while paying quarterly must be consistently paid on these dates: first quarter, on or before March 31; second quarter, on or before June 30; third quarter, on or before September 30; and on or before December 31 for the fourth quarter.

For payment or to inquire on your home’s RPT, just go to the Treasurer’s Office of the city or municipality where your property is located.

Aside from the Real Property Tax, there are other fees that are equally important. These fees and taxes for real estate transactions in the country are usually divided between the buyer and the seller and are subject to mutual agreement. However, the Contract of Sale or the Deed of Sale must specifically declare the parties in charge of shouldering the costs to avoid confusion or legal problems.

Capital Gains Tax and Other Taxes

The seller’s responsibilities includes Capital Gain Tax, which is 6% of the selling price, zonal value, or fair market value of the property, whichever is higher; and the Business Tax, if applicable, the rate of which will depend on the LGU where the property is located.

On the other hand, the buyer’s accountabilities is comprised of the following:

● Documentary Stamps Tax – 1.5% of selling price or Zonal Value, whichever is higher

● Transfer Tax – rate depends on location of property (ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% of selling price or zonal value, whichever is higher)

● Registration Fee or the graduated rate based on the selling price

Owning a house is a lifetime responsibility, so to break free from possible legal problems in the future, it is best to be familiar and reliable in doing your duties and responsibilities as a taxpayer and as a homeowner.

DOE Taps USAID for Review of Energy Mix

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The Department of Energy is tapping technical experts to discuss possible collaboration in coming up with a responsive and dynamic energy mix for the Philippines.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi met with members of the USAID’s Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) recently to discuss the formulation of an optimal energy mix and look into local reserve requirements.

“Our main concern now is to increase the availability of quality, reliable, secure and affordable supply,” Secretary Cusi said, stressing the need for power supply amidst the fluctuating power supply situation of the county.

“We are also looking at establishing an “army of reserves” so that when there is lack of supply, we have something to rely on,” he added.

The DOE will be coordinating with the USAID B-Leaders and will form a team that will conduct a review of the current energy mix.

“We want to be certain on the decisions that we will make in order to entice more investments.” Sec. Cusi said.

The study will focus on the energy requirements for economic growth trends, load consumption profiles for energy consumers, emerging energy technologies and local industry readiness, transmission configurations and network development. The team will also look into the availability of indigenous energy for ensuring stable pricing to lessen dependence on energy that is dependent on international market prices.

NBA Store Philippines Celebrates 10 Years of NBA Cares by Supporting Filipino Education Initiative

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The three NBA Stores in the Philippines, which are managed by International Athletic Trading Company, Inc. (IATC), announced today the launch of a retail promotion to support Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) in providing more Filipinos with access to quality education.

To commemorate the 10-year anniversary of NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, all three NBA Stores in the Philippines will donate a portion of NBA Name & Number T-shirt sale proceeds from Aug. 10 to Sept. 13 to KCFI. Proceeds from this initiative will fund the foundation’s education program focused on providing multimedia learning resources for students in grades K-12 and training teachers from public schools in the National Capital Region of Luzon.

“As an organization, we are aware of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and how achieving inclusive and quality education is a global priority,” said IATC President and CEO Melvin Lloyd Lim. “We value this opportunity to work with Knowledge Channel Foundation and look forward to bringing this program to life as our own way of giving back to the Philippine education system.”

“We want to provide the Filipino children with multimedia learning resources that provide an enriching academic journey,” said Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. President Rina Lopez Bautista. “Given the popularity of the NBA in the Philippines, we are excited to see how this initiative will enable more people to contribute to our mission of uplifting the lives of fellow Filipinos from poverty through education.”

KCFI is a not-for-profit organization helping empower Filipinos through educational media for the past 17 years. Knowledge Channel’s on-air, online and on-demand educational videos and other multimedia learning resources are accessible to more than 5 million learners in both formal and alternative learning systems in an estimated 6,000 schools and learning centers nationwide. In addition, KCFI is immersed in training teachers and stakeholders who implement the KCFI educational program in the Philippines.

NBA Name & Number T-shirts are part of the comprehensive selection of authentic NBA merchandise available at all three NBA Stores in the Philippines, which also offer official jerseys, footwear, performance gear, lifestyle apparel, basketballs, toys and collectibles. The NBA Stores at Glorietta 3, Mega Fashion Hall and TriNoma carry products from all 30 NBA teams, and feature brands such as 2K Sports, adidas, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, Panini, Spalding, Stance, and many more.

For more information on Knowledge Channel Foundation, visit www.kchonline.ph and follow the official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/knowledgechannel). For all the latest news and updates on the NBA Stores in the Philippines and the NBA, visitwww.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba), Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines) and Instagram (@nbastoreph).

Hontiveros: Imprisonment Awaits Hospitals Violating Anti-Hospital Deposit Law

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros is pushing for a 4-6 year imprisonment for hospital administrators and officials who are guilty of violating the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.

Hontiveros, who is the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, filed Senate Bill No. 216 that seeks to amend the existing Anti-Hospital Deposit Law and impose stricter penalties.

"Emergency-case patients are in life-and-death situations", Hontiveros explained. "The state must do its best to provide hospital and medical services to the people. The government must guarantee that they will not be denied hospital treatment just because they cannot give an advance payment," Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros' bill proposes a 4-6 year imprisonment for erring hospital administrators and officials who demand any deposit or other form of advance payment, as a prerequisite for admission or medical treatment of an emergency patient. In addition, from the current PhP 100,000, Hontiveros' bill seeks to raise the maximum penalty to PhP 1,000,000.

The Senator explained that harsher penalties will ensure compliance, especially if it includes eventual revocation of hospitals' licenses to operate. “Upon three (3) repeated violations committed pursuant to an established policy of the hospital or clinic or upon instruction of its management, the health facility’s license to operate shall be revoked by the Department of Health”, includes the bill filed by Hontiveros.

However, Hontiveros was quick to say that her bill provides tax deduction for hospitals that will admit indigent or poor patients in cases of emergency. "I am confident that majority of our hospitals are compliant with the law. We will make sure that their efforts in partnership with government hospitals to help close the public health care gap are duly recognized," she said.

Early this year, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital came under fire when Andrew Pelayo took to social media to air his grievance regarding his wife’s miscarriage due to the hospital’s refusal to provide treatment before any deposit was made.

"Kahit saan natin tignan, mas mahalaga ang buhay ng tao kaysa anumang deposito. Ang deposito ay mababayaran. Ang buhay na nawala ay hindi maibabalik o matatawaran," Hontiveros concluded.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Home Credit and Samsung Bring Back its Samsung Galaxy J Series Promo

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Due to popular demand, Home Credit Philippines and Samsung Philippines have decided to bring back the Samsung Galaxy J Series Promo where consumers can get a hold of the latest Samsung Galaxy J5 2016 and J7 2016 at 0% interest from August 5 to September 4, 2016.

Home Credit Philippines is a consumer financing company that offers easy, simple, and fast loan installment plans to Filipinos. The company only requires two valid IDs and an initial cash-out for the loan application. The approval process can take as little as 15 minutes, after which the consumers can take their Samsung J Series phones home.

"Our first 0% promo with Samsung for the J Series smartphones last summer was a huge success, and there is demand from customers even after the promo was over,” remarked Home Credit Philippines’ Head of Sales, Adam Bernasek. “So it was a very easy decision for us to bring back the promo with Samsung, and help more people get their hands on the amazing J Series phones.”

Customers may avail of the Samsung Galaxy J5 2016 for as low as ₱1,199 per month, or the Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 at ₱1,499 on instalment-basis for 6 months, through any of Home Credit’s retail partners.

The all-new Samsung Galaxy J5 and J7 2016 both feature 48GB memory, which can store thousands of selfies. At the same time, both units feature two new technologies, Signal Max and Ultra Data Saving, both first launched in the Philippines through the J5 and J7 2016. Signal Max provides for wider signal coverage and enhanced call quality. While its Ultra Data Saving feature enables consumers to save up to 50% on their mobile data consumption. Imagine how many more additional hours of internet browsing, video and music streaming, and photo uploads you can do with these savings. They also feature HD Super AMOLED displays, for true-to-life colors and clearer and deeper images. They even have improved cameras, with a 13MP back and 5MP front camera, f/1.9 aperture and LED front flash, both units produce high-quality pictures even in low-light conditions. They also come with 3,100 mAh and 3,300 mAh, for J5 and J7 2016 respectively. On top of these, they also feature Ultra Power Saving to help extend battery life, as well LTE Dual SIM, for added convenience.

"We are happy to be providing Filipinos the option to purchase the gadgets, appliances, and electronics they need via affordable loan installments, allowing them to manage their finances better. And we are very fortunate to have partners like Samsung who share the same vision," said Bernasek.

For more information, please visit www.homecredit.ph.

Another Podium in Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ Belt at SAC Round 4

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And the Philippine flag is on the podium once again in the international racing scene! Amidst the very tough races, Team Suzuki Pilipinas made sure that they got a podium on their belt when they go home.

In a series of heart pounding laps, April King Mascardo, Eane Jaye (EJ) Sobretodo and Mario Borbon Jr. battled it hard with their equally strong contenders to win a trophy. The race track was bumpy and tricky but first timer Sobretodo was able to lead the pack of riders on Race 1 when teammate April got an overshoot after leading the first laps of the competition. However, the chicane caused him to overshoot as well, resulting to a crash.

The team concluded with 5th for Mascardo, 9th for Borbon Jr. and 11th for Sobretodo – all riders with improved lap times. On Race 2, EJ took the lead but was cornered by his equally aggressive contenders.

This gave the chance to April to advance into the race. Positioning first on the last lap, April went fast and got out of the pack giving chance to other contenders Jefri Tosema of Indonesia and Rozaliman Zakaria of Malaysia to get in the lead.

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Things take a turn for the stranger as AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2016 (APCC Manila) confirmed Hollywood child actress Millie Bobby Brown as the latest celebrity guest of the biggest pop culture gathering happening from August 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Brown is most known for her current role in the ongoing sci-fi thriller series Stranger Things, in which she stars opposite Winona Ryder and David Harbour. Her portrayal of the enigmatic Eleven earned her high praises, including that of Variety.com chief TV critic Maureen Ryan.

She wrote, “Millie Bobby Brown is about to be cast in a lot of projects. With a very small number of lines, Brown gave an indelible performance as Eleven; the ways she subtly yet movingly conveyed fear, sadness, doubt, love and a yearning for connection will stay with me for a long time.”

Previously, Brown was cast after an extensive search as a lead in the series Intruders, opposite Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and John Simm. Brown also took on a recurring role in the series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, as Young Alice. She has also guested in a number of cult favorites such as Modern Family, NCIS, and Grey's Anatomy.

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AF Payments Inc. announced that it is expanding for the first time to toll ways, with the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) starting its limited public trial on Monday, August 8.

All types of beep tap-and-go cards, including PayMaya beep cards will be accepted as payment at CAVITEX for the toll fees of Class 1 vehicles. The fee is P24 if exiting in Parañaque, and P64 if in Kawit.

beep cards can be purchased or reloaded at the Parañaque Customer Service Center during the public trial phase.

The CAVITEX is a 14-km expressway along the coast of Bacoor Bay, south of Roxas Boulevard. This road project aimed to strengthen the commercial link between Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas, as well as ease traffic in major thoroughfares in the south.

“Extending the use of beep cards as a payment option at CAVITEX represents another step towards making the beep card an all-in-one travel card for commuters and even private vehicle owners. We hope that the low cost of the beep card (P20) and the wide network of loading options being developed will appeal to drivers who pass along CAVITEX and are interested in passing the toll gates more quickly” said Peter Maher, CEO and President of AF Payments Inc.

“This partnership is a welcome development. The management of CAVITEX is proud to be part of the modernization of different aspects of travel in the Philippines. Now, even private vehicle owners and their passengers can feel the benefits of having the beep™ card,” said J. Luigi L. Bautista, CAVITEX President and CEO.

All beep tap-and-go cards including PayMaya beep cards are accepted in all three elevated railways (LRT 1, LRT 2, and MRT 3) and select bus lines.

The beep card is a tap-and-go payment system accepted in all three elevated railways (LRT 1, LRT 2, and MRT 3) and select bus lines. It can be purchased for P20, is reloadable and valid for four years. More information about beep is available at <www.beeptopay.com/> and on Facebook (beep card) and Twitter (@beep_card).