Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Jollibee Launches its First Mobile App Using Augmented Reality

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Kids nowadays belong to the digital generation who could easily learn how to use gadgets and technology. I sometimes find myself getting overwhelmed by the amount of information and adaptability they show in learning how to use new devices in terms of both hardware and software.

Thus, it is not surprising that many companies are now going with the trend since it is the inevitable direction for all especially if we want to belong among those moving forward with the use of technology in most of our activities, may it be at our home, schools or offices. Doing everything from work and learning to entertainment and leisure now involves taking advantage of what technology has to offer.

One of the most popular technological advancement is the proliferation of mobile apps for just about everything from office productivity tools to fun and games. These mobile apps have changed how we do almost everything and whether we would admit it or not, we have embraced its power for our benefit.

Jollibee, the country’s number one fast-food chain, is equally jumping into the bandwagon by recently unveiling its first-ever mobile application called JolliDance Showdown app that is sure to be a hit among Jollibee fans of all ages.

The big reveal held on September 24, 2016 at Ascott Hotel in Bonifacio Global City made public the all-new mobile app that was developed by renowned Los Angeles-based mobile innovation agency, Trigger. The agency has produced applications for other clients like Sony Pictures, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Lucas Film.

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Recognizing students as powerful agents of change, the Department of Energy (DOE) has reinforced its linkage with the academe by establishing a Consumer Education Program (CEP) through its Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWPO), which aims to create greater awareness and understanding about sources of energy while bringing the DOE closer to the public.

Recently, the DOE opened its doors to various student groups. Engr. Arwin Ardon, President and CEO of PNOC-Renewables Corp. introduced basic electricity concepts, safety tips and initiated exercises for the students to work on.

To better comprehend electricity and its usage in practical terms, there were lectures on the dynamics of the power market, such as how trading in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market affects electricity pricing.

The DOE’s energy labelling program was explained by two technical experts, Engrs. Eduardo Fernandez and Isagani Soriano.

The photo above shows DOE-Director for Energy Research and Testing Laboratory Services Amelia de Guzman introducing the energy sector to students of STI College.

A technical tour was conducted for the students at the DOE-Lighting and Appliance Testing Laboratory (LATL) within the Energy Center, where the performance of household appliances and lighting devices is tested and labeled according to their efficiency ratings.

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Rotary Mutya ng Pasig holds first “Great Roots, Greater Fruits” Parenting Summit Saturday program features key resource speakers Pasig City, Metro Manila, September 19, 2016 — Thousands of parents from Pasig City and nearby areas are expected to come to the first “Great Roots, Greater Fruits” Parenting Summit at the Pasig City Sports Complex this Saturday, September 24.

This event aims to help parents get a better understanding of how to raise their children properly through informative discussions from key resource speakers. RC Mutya ng Pasig All-Star President (ASP) Michelle Ballesteros emphasizes the importance of this event in helping parents develop future leaders: “Our vision is to educate and disseminate information on how to properly bring up children in this generation to prepare them as leaders.”

ASP Ballesteros also “With today’s technology that might serve as walls between the parents and their children, we need different approaches on how to train our children for the future.”

Looking forward to future summits, the club’s head said that there are plans to hold it in other cities around Metro Manila and in Luzon by next year with local government units, parenting experts, and private partners who will help parents to understand and develop responsible Filipinos.

The Great Roots, Greater Fruits Parenting Summit is a collaborative event of the Rotary Club of Mutya ng Pasig (District 3800). The City Government of Pasig, Unleash International Corporation, Ex-Link Events and supported by Landbank of the Philippines, Citibank and other private organizations believing and supporting its vision.

About Rotary Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

Porsche, Audi and Toyota Stage Exciting Show in Texas Heat

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Despite the day’s stifling heat, the 2016 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas lived up to its promise to provide spectators with a thrilling show. The race kicked off at 5pm local time with the air and ground temperatures standing at 35°C and 45°C respectively. The first four hours were dominated by Audi Sport, while the final third provided an exciting battle between all three LM P1-H teams.

Porsche Team went on to take the victory, assisted by the strategy of the N°1 919 Hybrid (Bernhard/Hartley/Webber) which took advantage of a Full Course Yellow interruption to ease into the lead. Audi Sport came second with the N°8 R18 of Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (who very nearly retired), and Toyota Gazoo Racing came third with the N°6 TS050 Hybrid (Sarrazin/Conway/Kobayashi). The latter was helped by its drivers’ ability to double-stint their MICHELIN ‘SOFT Hot Weather’ tyres during the evening, whereas their rivals ran the ‘Hot Weather Plus’ compound early on.

After dominating Friday’s qualifying, the two Audi R18sgot away to a strong start and, after a short scrap with Porsche, managed to pull out a gap during the opening hour, leaving Porsche and Toyota to battle in their wake. The two German teams opted for the MICHELIN ‘SOFT Hot Weather Plus’ compound, while Toyota preferred the MICHELIN ‘SOFT Hot Weather’ option.By the start of the second hour, the order seemed to be well established, with the Audi R18s lapping two seconds apart, the two Porsches more than half-a-minute back and the Toyotas gradually losing ground.

This situation lasted around an hour until Toyota Gazoo Racingchose to stay on the same tyres after its third refuelling stop which took place during a Full Course Yellow interruption. The time saved allowed it to re-join in a stronger position. By this time, however, Audi Sport had established a handsome lead which it defended until the 100-lap mark…

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The National Geographic Channel (NGC) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recently gave 50 portable solar lamps to the Taw’Buid – an indigenous Mangyan group inhabiting the remote mountains of Mindoro. Park rangers protecting the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park also received new hammocks, raingear and all-weather patrol uniforms from the Primer Group of Companies.

The deployment is part of NGC’s Earth Day Run, which has been supporting WWF projects since 2013. Race proceeds reforested Isabela forests with 20,000 fruit-bearing trees in 2013 and deployed fibreglass bancas for Palawan fishermen in 2014.

Proceeds from NGC’s 2015 race funded the solar lamp deployment, which was held inside the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park last 3 September. About 15 million Filipinos lack regular access to electricity and Mindoro’s Taw’Buid tribesfolk are no exception, relying on kerosene and firewood to light their homes.

“We gave portable solar lamps because burning fossil fuels accelerates climate change,” says WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma. “Solar energy is an economical and safe power source because there are no emissions to trigger respiratory ailments. Our goal is to cover basic Filipino needs while fighting climate change.”

The photo above shows newly-outfitted park rangers and their Taw’Buid tracker spot wildlife from the summit of Mt. McGowen in the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, last refuge of the critically-endangered Tamaraw, a legally-protected species.

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A style of property that originated and is still common in Southeast Asia, bungalows continue to be the ideal choice for Filipino homebuyers with close family ties.

Featuring only a single story (while those with second floors are kept low by being built into a sloping roof), bungalows are ideal for residents with impaired mobility, such as retirees or those relegated to wheelchairs. Its low-rise design also makes it the ideal living space for children, where the worry of them being left unsupervised in an entirely different floor or tumbling down the stairs by accident is minimized.

Being that the Philippines is a popular retirement and vacation destination, and Filipinos’ having a cultural affinity for living with or close to family where members of the household often including seniors and children, bungalows are indeed a popular choice in the country. The property’s modest size compared to homes with multiple floors also makes it more favorable from a price standpoint.

There are a number of quality bungalows currently for sale in the Philippines, most of which are listed on leading real estate platforms Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph, who shares 10 that can give potential buyers the best value for their money:

1. Two bedroom, two bathroom bungalow on the Island of Panglao

Located in a gated community situated in the Libaong area of Panglao, Bohol, this bungalow is presently on available for an asking price of P4.95 million. Featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms, interested buyers get their money’s worth with the property’s total land size of 165 square meters, which is inclusive of car space, and access to the guarded community’s big common swimming pool and tropical garden.

More information

2. Collinwood Village bungalow with proximity to Mactan, Cebu

Situated right across Mactan’s Gaisano Grand Mall, Collinwood Village is the ideal place for the retiree bungalow owner, as it is less than a handful of minutes away from Mactan Doctor’s Hospital and ten minutes away from a number of Mactan beach resorts and hotels. For only P2.7 million, one can own a 120 square meter lot with a two bedroom bungalow in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City closed community.

More information

3. Three-bedroom bungalow for less than three million in Angeles City

Priced specifically at P2.93 million, this 68.65 square meter bungalow in Angeles City provides great value for money with its three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Sitting on a 180 square meter lot, the property also includes provisions for two cars, and is in a secured subdivision which feature amenities such as a swimming pool, park, clubhouse, and 24-hour security, to name a few.

More information

4. Semi-furnished bungalow with a garden and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms

Situated in a gated subdivision near landmarks like the Clark Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone, this bungalow brings great value with its location and notable lot area of 500 square meters. Add to that having three bedrooms plus one maid’s room and three bathrooms plus a powder room, and the bungalow’s initial asking price of P7.3 million seemingly becomes a worthy investment.

More information

5. Bungalow with spacious frontage for sale in Las Pinas City village

A fully renovated bungalow in BF Resort Village in Las Pinas, this home is currently listed for an asking price of P7.8 million and features as many as five bedrooms, and three toilets and bath. With a lot size of 282 square meters, it also includes a single car garage and a front yard with a landscaped garden, and is semi-furnished with a split-type air-conditioner, refrigerator, cook top and washing machine.

More information

6. BF Homes bungalow with a floor area of 250 square meters

Found in one of Metro Manila’s most recognized residential areas, this bungalow in BF Homes, Paranaque is currently listed on for a negotiable asking price of P9.5 million. This price garners the future owner a 2016-built home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and car spaces for two vehicles, all in a community with amenities such as a pool, tennis and volley ball courts, and a function hall, among others.

More information

7. Muntilupa bungalow situated near Ayala Alabang and Portofino

Ideal for the retiree or family wanting to live within the National Capital Region, this bungalow in Muntinlupa City provides owners convenient proximity to Ayala Alabang and Portofino. Given its location and lot area of 300 square meters, the asking price of P5 million can be considered one of the better ones on the market, particularly when compared with other NCR located three bedroom, two bath homes.

More information

8. Three bedroom bungalow in Antipolo, Rizal
Marketed as an ideal retirement home, this three-bedroom bungalow is situated in the quiet Inarawan barangay of Antipolo, Rizal. The elegantly styled single-detached home features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a two-car parking space, and for its asking price of P8.25 million, gives the potential buyer ownership of a lot measuring a total of 386 square meters.

More information

9. Zen-inspired beach house just thirty minutes away from the shore

Retirement properties are always in demand in the Philippines thanks to its many beaches, and one looking to retire in a bungalow can find one in the municipality of San Narciso in Zambales. Featuring Zen-inspired architecture, the P5.9 million property includes four bedrooms and one maid’s room, the entirety of which are air conditioned, parking space for two cars, and a porch with ocean views, among others.

More information

10. Exceptionally affordable bungalow in General Trias City

Presently listed on MyProperty.ph at an asking price of only P600,000, this bungalow provides a great deal of value for only a little investment. The property is located in the Lessandra Estates of Camella Homes in General Trias City, and is marketed to be in an area that is completely flood free. Sitting on a 70 square meter lot is a Camella-designed “Sophia” bungalow, which includes two bedrooms and is semi-furnished.

More information

Microsoft Merges Security, Analytics, and Real-Time Communication Into Office 365 E5

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Collaboration is the key to every successful business, and this could only be successfully implemented if there is quality and security in our means of communication. Of course, we also need to effectively gauge our transaction performance using accurate data analytics.

In today’s complex data-driven enterprises, the productivity and profitability of businesses now depends on the said requirements in order to achieve our ultimate goal.

Microsoft Philippines continues to lead the digital transformation of the workplace as it brings office technology to a new level. It has recently launched the latest enhancement in its productivity tool which they call Office 365 E5.

Held at the New World Hotel in Makati city, the launch introduced us to the capabilities of Office 365 E5 via talks and demo conducted by the people from Microsoft Philippines namely Cian O'Neill, Chief Operating & Chief Marketing Officer; Christian Lim, Office Marketing Business Group Lead; Yvette Watson, Technology Solutions Professional. A Q&A was also conducted to answer the inquiries of the attending members of the media.

As mentioned from the article headline, Office 365 E5's advanced features on security, analytics, and real-time communication is now merged into a single suite, making it unique from previous Office 365 Suites.

Acceler8 Turns 1 and Launches 2nd Coworking Space at Paseo De Roxas

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Congratulations to Acceler8 for turning 1! But the celebration does not stop there for on top of their 1st year anniversary, they also officially opened their second coworking branch in 111 Paseo de Roxas. That's a double celebration that really needs to be punctuated with an exclamation point!

It seems coworking spaces or shared offices are becoming highly in demand right now especially for startups whom we all know probably do not have enough financial capacity to rent or own their own offices. I've had the opportunity to visit several of these establishments from all over Makati and Bonifacio Global City who also invited us to help share the news about their special offer that all entrepreneurs should take advantage.

An office space, though no longer as necessary as before for this digital generation - especially for Millenials, is still more convenient to have if we want to project professionalism. It is still highly prestigious to meet with clients or customers at a presentable place instead of a coffee shop or restaurant.

It is more economical to avail of coworking spaces to lessen a business' operating expenses or overhead. This is also why a group of businessmen are trying to negotiate with mall owners to give startups special rates while they are in the process of growing their business. All these effort is to encourage more entrepreneurs to setup their own business ventures.

We see these visionaries getting younger and younger, and already planning as early during their college days. Making it easier for them to start with minimal cash out or capital would be very helpful. The government should also reduce, if not able to eliminate, the lengthy, tedious and expensive, bureaucratic procedure in applying for a business permit.

Aside from the media launch where the founders gave their opening speeches, Accler8 also organized different discussions and talks that will surely help in our business' development.

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Bartenders may be having so much fun being in the presence of all kinds of liquors at their disposal to come up with a masterpiece drink that will either tame or bring out the beast in you. Thus most bartenders bring their status up to notches higher by really understanding the science behind mixing drinks.

Indeed, it requires you to become a "mixologist" to make bartending level up to its highest form. Frankly, the great ones don't just mix everything together, shake or stir, but also look at the profile of his customer and concocts something appropriate. Now, that's another social expertise that bartenders may apply if they want to go beyond just serving drinks from a bar.

The craft can also be artistic because even the choice of glass, as well as how you make the presentation look more interesting by adding slices of fruits like lemons, apples, and other fruits, may spell a big difference in how customers would appreciate the drink.

For a night showcasing the Art of Bartending, the Don brings the Dutch to Manila to let media peeps experience the basics, and even more, of being a bartender, of which involves being both artistic and scientific. There was a media challenge where teams compete for the best drink, which includes the Don Papa Rum, that they could concoct that night. We have to congratulate the Umali husband and wife team for winning the media challenge.

DOE Takes Active Role in ASEAN Energy Summit

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The Philippines is taking an active role in meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the subject of energy.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi was elected as Vice Chairman when he attended the 34th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM34) and Associated Meetings from 21 to 23 September 2016 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

During the series of Ministerial Meetings of the 13th AMEM+3 (China, Japan and Korea), the 10th East-Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting (EAS-EMM) and the 6th AMEM-International Energy Agency (IEA) Dialogue, Secretary Cusi shared about the broad energy sector direction under the Administration of President Rodrigo Duterte including the possible entry of emerging technologies such as Liquified Natural Gas; revisiting the merits of nuclear energy as an option for power generation and sustaining capital flows from potential investors through policy reforms in the approval process of energy projects.

With the theme “Towards Greener Community with Cleaner Energy” the meetings set into motion greater cooperation on the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025, Phase 1:2016-2020 within ASEAN and Dialogue Partners together with relevant international agencies.

As part of the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017, Secretary Cusi formally accepted the hosting of AMEM35 and its Associated Meetings in Manila from 18 to 22 September 2017. The Philippines hosted the same meetings twice in 1997, with the most recent in 2004.

The ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting provides political guidance and directions in the development and implementation of key energy sector priority initiatives and work programs consistent with the directives of the Heads of States/Governments of ASEAN.
Held annually, the hosting of such is on a rotation basis following the alphabetical sequence of ASEAN member-countries. The ASEAN was established to promote economic growth and shared prosperity in the region. The member-countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

DOE SOLIDARITY FOR ASEAN ENERGY: Ministers of Energy of the ASEAN Member-States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines) hold hands symbolic of solidarity during the 34th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), where Philippine Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (5th from right) was Vice-Chair. In the same event, Sec. Cusi accepted in behalf of the Philippine government the hosting of the AMEM next year.