Our Awesome VIP Helicopter Ride with PhilJets

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Less than 10 minutes from Makati to Pasay city? 

That's our travel time from the rooftop of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati to the hangar of PhilJets in Pasay City. That was not even the fastest time possible since the pilot sort of toured us along the scenic route where we passed by popular landmark establishments like the Mall of Asia complex and other hotels along the path towards our target destination.

Now, that's not an achievable travel time if you're going to take the roads via any means of transportation especially with the traffic congestion of Metro Manila. It might be possible via motorbike, but you have to be quite a rider to pass through our streets aside from being exposed to the elements like pollution and weather (both from the scorching heat of the sun and the unpredictable rain and floods). Furthermore, you may not be of your very best appearance, and smell, after struggling among the many vehicles that fill the long stretch of EDSA and other inner streets. 

For many businessmen and Very Important Persons (VIPs), time could literally be gold. Every second counts for each moment could mean landing a huge deal or losing an investment opportunity. They need to be from point A to point B ASAP to meet with important partners, clients, investors, etc., to do their business deals. Thus, money spent now may not really matter for the return could be more than a thousandfold. 

This is why those who could afford would not miss out on getting the services of a helicopter transport provider such as PhilJets. It's the fastest and most convenient way to travel! So until we have invented the flying cars just like what the Back to the Future movie showed us as their prediction of the future, these businessmen will settle for a helicopter ride to get to their destination safe and feeling fresh.

Joshua Pacio: “I Will Get the Belt and Bring It Back to the Philippines”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Joshua Pacio has a golden opportunity to turn his lifelong dream into a reality. The undefeated Filipino contender will challenge unbeaten ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito for his title at ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS live on Friday Night, 7 October, from the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

“I will do whatever it takes. If it’s five rounds, I will give it my best and make sure that I will not make a mistake. I am sure that October 7 is the night I will get the belt and bring it home to the Philippines,” the 20­year­old confidently says.

“Bringing that gold strap here to the Philippines and to my family would make me happy because I know I would make them proud and the Filipino people proud, too.”

Pacio, a product of Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, has yet to taste defeat. In fact, all of his eight victories have yet to go the distance, as three of them ended via knockout and the other five via submission.

Most recently, he fought twice under the ONE Championship banner. He first steamrolled through Rabin Catalan, a 2008 National Wushu Champion out of the Philippines, back in April at ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS. He then outclassed Kritsada Kongsrichai, a Thai National Wrestling Champion, at ONE: HEROES OF THE WORLD in August.

Police Take Photo Ops with Marijuana User Suspect Mark Anthony Fernandez

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Pag mahirap, patay agad dahil nanlaban.

Pag celebrity, photo ops at presscon!"

Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez, son of the late actor Rudy Fernandez and former actress Alma Moreno, was arrested Monday night, October 3, 2016, after around one kilo of marijuana was allegedly seized from him by the Angeles City police.

But the incident was not originally intended as a buy bust operation for illegal drugs against him. Chief Insp. Francisco Guevarra Jr. said Mark was flagged down at a checkpoint along Mc Arthur Hi-way in Brgy. Virgen Delos Remedios because his car had no front license plate. A car chase ensued between the actor and the authorities which led to the police firing at one of the Mustang’s front tires. The authorities said that they did not know the identity of the suspect until they caught the actor in San Fernando City.

The actor is currently detained at the Station 6 of the Angeles City police in Pampanga. There is no bail allowed for suspects caught with 500 grans and above marijuana.

However, there seems to be some conflicting statements coming from Mark. 

At first, it seems he confirmed the presence of the 1 kilo marijuana, but later he is saying that he only has a small amount and that the 1 kilo was planted in his car by the police.

Mark admitted to using marijuana but said it's for medical purposes only specifically to prevent cancer.

Mark faces violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Also, some photos of Mark with some police women became viral over social media showing how they took photo ops with the actor. Many have criticized that it was highly unbecoming of the police to have done such acts as if being starstruck and giving special treatment to the actor.

The police also organized a press conference with the actor without any legal counsel representing the actor.

"There were posts shared about the inadmissibility of Mark Fernandez's admissions in reply to questions propounded by police officers during a press conference. These were done in violation of the Miranda doctrine (Art. III, Sec. 12, 1987 Constitution) which mandates that he should have been assisted by counsel. 

However, Mark Fernandez made the same admissions when he was asked by Media (which is not an agent of the state) about the incident involving him, a check point, a car chase with the police, and a kilogram's worth of marijuana found in his possession. 

Does the Miranda rights doctrine, as well as the exclusionary rule, cover confessions made to Media outlets? If not, are there legal safeguards (domestic law or international law) which protect suspects from making declarations against their interest brought about by the oftentimes mis/leading prodding by Media practitioners?"

Mark backtracked his earlier statement that he bought a kilo of it for P15,000.

"Nung hinuhuli po ako, nakita ko po, pinatong sa kotse ko [iyong marijuana]. Bibilhin ko pa lang, titingnan ko pa lang, pero hindi ko pa nabibili, or hindi pa ako desididong bilhin, pero nilagay po sa kotse ko [I have yet to buy the marijuana block when they arrested me. They just put it in my car]," he said.
The police has since denied Fernandez's claims.

"We stood with our spot report that there's no such thing that this marijuana was planted to him. First and foremost, we don't have any reason for him para i-plant itong marijuanasa kanya. Secondly, kung makikita mo kasi pinaigting talaga namin ang police operation namin. Again, it was a chance arrest," Pampanga Regional Police head, Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino said.

Though there is still no official bill legalizing it yet, using marijuana for medicinal purposes is allowed. However, one must first secure a special permit from the FDA to avoid legal conflicts.

The bills filed in the Senate and House of Representatives to legalize cannabis are still in limbo, but groups or individuals who want to use marijuana for medicinal purposes may apply for a special permit from the FDA.

Marijuana use has been decriminalized in some countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico, albeit the possession and sale still come with restrictions. Colombia, for example, sets the limit at 22 grams for personal use and 20 plants for cultivation.

Certain states in the US also recently approved the medical use of marijuana.

Wow! Weight Loss Has Never Been This Easy!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

They say that the key to a successful weight loss is a change of lifestyle. Many people can attest to that and when you change your lifestyle, eating habits change as well. You will transition from eating everything, to checking every bit of nutritional facts of the food you eat. Here are some facts you need to know. This is really easy when you put your mind and heart to it.

1. Make sure the calories you take are equal with the calories you use. By maintaining a 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day for women and exerting enough effort on a daily basis will help effectively in losing weight.

2. Get a healthy eating plan. A healthy eating plan will give you the nutrients you need without compromising your health yet it will help you balance the calorie intake which then will aid in losing weight.

3. Know the food that you should limit. Foods that are high in saturated and trans fat raise blood cholesterol levels which is bad for the health. Fatty cuts of meat, processed meat, poultry with skin, high fat dairy products, oily and fried food—aside from being bad for the health, it mainly causes you to gain weight. Sodas, sweets, and drinks that have added sugar will contribute in blood sugar increase and aside from gaining weight form these; it also might affect organs or even cause diabetes. 

Carbon Black and IBM Has New Technology for Critical Endpoint Vulnerabilities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Carbon Black, the leader in next-generation endpoint security, today announced an expansion of its partnership with IBM Security. The companies have collaborated to deliver a unique technology, which empowers customers to patch, within seconds, the most pervasive and critical vulnerabilities affecting an enterprise’s security. IBM will also deliver Carbon Black directly to customers as part of the expanded relationship.

According to Gartner’s September 2016 Report, It's Time to Align Your Vulnerability Management Priorities With the Biggest Threats, “organizations are struggling to figure out the delta between ‘what can I fix’ and ‘what will make the biggest difference, with the pragmatic reality of the time and resources that I actually have,’” making vulnerability management one of the biggest problems plaguing the security industry. A lack of visibility into which endpoints are being actively exploited across the enterprise often leads to non-directed, broad-based patching of endpoints. This approach can leave endpoints vulnerable to the most pressing attack vectors.

IBM and Carbon Black have designed a new, integrated offering, which correlates Carbon Black’s endpoint activity data with public Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) databases to deliver a prioritized list of actively exploited vulnerabilities tailored to each organization. Designed to manage active attack remediation, the new collaboration takes the guesswork out of which endpoint vulnerabilities security professionals need to prioritize.

The combination of IBM Big Fix and Carbon Black empowers security professionals to, within seconds, identify and patch the endpoint exploits most threatening to their particular organizations. This process increases enterprise-wide visibility and speeds response time. The integration is further bolstered by IBM QRadar, which, together with BigFix, provides threat prioritization of vulnerabilities at the network level. The most pressing alerts can now be escalated for security professionals to immediately remediate, delivering the most comprehensive threat-based patching and remediation solution.

“From top to bottom, security is in our company’s DNA,” said Carbon Black CEO, Patrick Morley. “Our products were created by security experts who intimately know how difficult managing alerts can be. This new, ground-breaking offering from Carbon Black and IBM leapfrogs other management solutions on the market, which lack a proactive, continuous approach to capturing critical endpoint data.”

As customers seek to focus their security-tool portfolio, IBM will offer the integrated BigFix and Carbon Black solution to its customers, enabling security professionals to:

Find it: See precisely which endpoints are being actively exploited enterprise-wide and filter by a specific vulnerability.

Fix it: Understand which patches will have the biggest impact across the organization and then patch, within seconds, the most actively exploited vulnerabilities.

Secure it: Stop an attack dead in its tracks, and prevent future attacks of a similar nature.

With Carbon Black endpoint data funneled into IBM BigFix, security professionals can act quickly and decisively to patch devices enterprise-wide within seconds.

Together, IBM BigFix and Carbon Black create the only solution on the market that combines continuous and centrally recorded endpoint data with the ability to enforce policies on devices enterprise-wide to solve the pervasive patch-management problem security teams are facing.

“IBM BigFix delivers the industry's best ability to detect non-compliant and vulnerable endpoints,” said James Brennan, Director of Strategy and Offering Management, IBM Security. “Beyond detection, IBM BigFix also offers a complete vulnerability remediation solution as part of its patch compliance capabilities. The expanded partnership with Carbon Black leverages their leading ‘Patterns of Attack’ technology, which detects suspicious behaviors on the endpoint. We’re now bringing that data together, with a patch/compliance view, giving complete visibility into customers’ endpoints.”

In addition, IBM and Carbon Black have finalized new global agreements that will allow customers to purchase Carbon Black solutions directly from IBM, enabling IBM customers to quickly take advantage of the new integrated BigFix and Cb Response solution. Joint customers will experience a simple and streamlined way to adopt both products.

Micfrosoft Announces Excel World Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Microsoft is excited to announce the Excel World Championship competition! There are millions of people who rely on Excel to get things done faster and make their lives easier.  We want to meet all Filipino Excel lovers and see what you can do.

Excel fans can show their skills and creativity as they work through questions focusing on:

·       data management,

·       data visualization, and

·       formula writing.

From October 2016 to November 2016, Microsoft will run four rounds of Excel tests for residents of select countries.  Only the top competitors in each round will make it through to the next, until ultimately there is one Excel Champ from each country!  Prizes for the country competitions vary.

In Early 2017, the country champions and our International winner will compete against one another for the title of Excel World Champ and our Grand Prize of a trip to Seattle, USA and a meeting with Excel Product Leads to provide feedback on the next features added to Excel.

Round 1 begins October 3^rd!  For more details on the competition rules, eligible countries, and registration check out http://aka.ms/ExcelChampPH

In the meantime, check out some surprising things you didn’t know about Microsoft Excel with this simple tips and tricks story.

Thank you to all the fans who have supported us over 30 years!  We look forward to seeing how you Excel! 

Suzuki Philippines Kicks Off Online Promo for AFF Suzuki Cup

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As preparations for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup continue to heat up, with Philippines co-hosting the world-class tournament for the first time, Suzuki Philippines Inc. intensifies the excitement with an online promo that will give football fans a chance to score great prizes. The AFF Suzuki Cup, inaugurated in 1996, is a biennial football tournament organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Suzuki has been the title sponsor of the Cup since 2007.

Through the AFF Suzuki Cup Experience Facebook Photo Contest, two lucky winners and their companions will be able to witness the games up close and cheer on for the national football team on the opening day of the tournament, November 19 as the Philippine Azkals try to outscore Singapore, an ASEAN powerhouse. The matches will be held at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.


Game face on!

The online photo contest will run from October 1 through 31. Prizes at stake include two sets of 4 passes to the games, and other Suzuki premium items. Plus, the winners, whose names will be announced on November 9, will get a free ride in the all-new Suzuki Ciaz to and from the venue so they can fully enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience in great style!

Complete mechanics of the promo can be found at the Suzuki Philippines’ and Suzuki Motorcycles Philippines’ Facebook pages.

This is only the first of the many activities, games and surprises which fans of the much-awaited tournament can look forward to as the dates of the competitions draw near. Suzuki is as excited as the fans as it underscores the company’s commitment to supporting world-class sporting events in line with its “Way of Life” mantra.

For more updates on the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 and the online contest, please visit http://suzuki.com.ph/ and like them on www.facebook.com/SuzukiAutoPH and www.facebook/SuzukiMotorcyclesPhilippines.

Philippines Hosts First International Sport Pedagogy Conference On Philippine Soil

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The University of the Philippines’ College of Human Kinetics (UP-CHK) and the Sport Management Council of the Philippines (SportPhil) are in deep preparations for the 2016 International Conference on Sport Pedagogy, Health, and Wellness (ICSPHW 2016 — the first-ever 3-day international academic sporting event to be held in the Philippines.

Entitled “P.E. Plus: Retooling Physical Education and School Sports for Inclusion, Development and Competition,” the international confab will be held from November 18 to 20, 2016, at the Celebrity Sports Plaza and the UP campus in Quezon City. Foreign and local sports experts and educators will take part in the event.

The conference aims to highlight the importance of games, play, and physical activity for the development of students and looks to attract P.E. teachers, coaches, instructors, trainers, managers, students, athletes and sports advocates. Participants will hear meaningful and substantial lectures and get training from distinguished sports scholars from all over the world, including the Philippines.

“This year’s conference promises to equip attendees with the latest pedagogy and workshops and will open up opportunities for them to showcase their research papers and posters,” said UP-CHK Dean Ronualdo Dizer. The event is focused on improving sports education in the country.

Since 2012, UP-CHK has been organizing the National Conference on Sport Pedagogy which has been well-attended by physical educators, sport science practitioners, coaches and human movement specialists from all over the Philippines.

Now that it has gone international, the conference has a bevy of 20+ foreign and local speakers, an expected attendance of 850+ participants, and has been endorsed by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Asian Council of Exercise and Sports Science (ACESS), among other international institutions.

Co-presented by MILO Philippines, and with GoldToe and Delos Santos Medical Center as its assisting sponsors so far, ICSPHW 2016 is offering special early bird rates to registrants until August 30th. Ticket prices for the 3-day affair are PHP4,500 for local participants and PHP3,000 for undergraduate students.

P.E. Plus is the International Conference on Sport Pedagogy, Health, and Wellness 2016’s official theme. For more information, visit www.peplus.ph, www.facebook.com/NCSPofficial, or call us at +63977 831 8749.

FDA vs Drug Stores and Online Shops That Carry Harmful Products

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines have been battling with drug stores that sell fake, illegal and harmful products that are not registered and approved. Now, ever since the social media has been brought to life, it is another chapter of “FDA vs Stores That Carry Harmful Products”. It is now extra challenging because there are a lot of online shops that carry harmful products. By harmful, it means it could basically cause irreversible damage to one’s health! It is heart breaking to know that we trust drug stores and online shops yet they only care about their business and they still carry products that are fake and harmful to the health even though they fully understand the consequences to every Filipinos’ health.

This is written not to point a finger to anyone but who is really responsible for this concern? Is the FDA doing its job or are the shops are really smart and sneaky that’s why they can still operate even though there were instances that they should have been banned a long time ago? Whose responsibility is it anyway?! I guess we’ll have to let this question linger and see for ourselves in the future. The only thing we can do for now is to take measures on how we can protect ourselves from medicinal products and supplements that are fake or have harmful ingredients in it.

1. It is important to know the ingredients of any medicine or supplement you’re buying. If there’s something you don’t understand in the ingredients section or on the label, it’s better to NOT BUY IT.

2. Online shops are good businesses but some of them sell products that are harmful for the health. There have been a lot of slimming products and beauty capsules being sold at a cheaper price in online stores, but the reputation of these products are questionable.

3. Know the difference between what’s fake and what’s original. There are companies who show the difference between their original product and the replica. Do your research and don’t buy what seems to be fake.

4. Any medicine or supplement is supposed to help your health. If it looks like it will harm you, if it promises “to good to be true” claims, then think again.

5. Always buy products from reputable drug stores.

All these are not rocket science and very easy to do, do not be careless because your health is on the line especially if you patronize products that are harmful. Right now, it is a known issue that the FDA is still working on putting down the drug stores and online shops that may carry harmful products. But as long as it is present, be vigilant.

If anyone knows or suspects that a product: medicine or supplement is deemed fake and illegal, contact the authorities and report your concern.

#EveryWoman: Privilege Speech of Sen. Risa Hontiveros

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Mr. President, I rise on a point of personal and collective privilege. I rise as Senate Chair of the Committee on Women, as senator, but most importantly as a woman.

Last Thursday, during the committee hearing for the budget of the Commission on Human Rights, I was jolted by news of the passing of Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Sen. Miriam was many things to many people. To those with whom she crossed swords, they would likely remember her sharp unrelenting tongue. To her family and close friends, she was a loving wife and mother. To the millennials of this country, her biting wit and pick-up lines are the stuff legends are made of. To her supporters from various generations, she was and I quote, "the best President we never had."

To me, I choose to remember her as an ally and fellow traveler in our long struggle for reproductive health. In her I saw the tenacity required to shepherd important and historic legislation into fruition, and with her -- as well as the legions of women advocates -- I saw the importance of the women's voice in pushing policy.

Because love her or hate her, one thing is certain: Miriam Defensor Santiago is a woman who made sure her voice was heard. She paved the way for women like me who believed that there was a glass ceiling that needed to be broken, an old boy's club that needed to be penetrated because this club sought to make decisions about our bodies, our health, our lives and our futures without our consent. In this club, women are either outsiders who must request to get in, objects of spectacle whose existence and agency are defined according to the men in their lives, or recipients of tokenist favors.

Buhay na buhay pa din ang Old Boy's Club sa gobyerno. This Old Boy's Club phenomenon is alive and kicking. At its most benign, it manifests itself in statements like, "of course I will yield to the beautiful senator..".

Then it can progress to catcalling and rape jokes.

Sabagay, hindi lang ito sa Pilipinas. In America, their presidential candidate just called a woman Miss Piggy.

At its worst and ugliest, this Old Boy's Club in the Philippines seeks to shame a woman senator into silence by threatening the release of a video purported to capture her in a sexual act.

Now, Justice Secretary says, we are not going to present anything about the sex video. We are not in possession of any video. Mr. President, we have yet to know from the House of Reps. If they indeed will cease and desist from this threatened assault on a fellow legislator, the victory will be of the netizens, women writers, women representatives, women senators who said: Enough!

Whether you think the video is fake or not is of no moment. What you think of the drug-related allegations leveled against her is of no moment. Isang usapin lang ang inilalatag ko sa inyong harap ngayon: will we allow the House of Representatives to show the sex video allegedly showing Senator Leila de Lima?

In the first place, the release of the video would be illegal. It is in violation of Republic Act 9995, or the Anti-Photo or Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, which requires the consent of the person in the video before its release or distribution. The House Speakership and the Committee on Justice will be party to the commission of a crime under RA 9995. It is, for all intents and purposes, a sex crime. Do we allow our colleagues in the House to be party to a sex crime? Do we allow a fellow senator to be the victim of a sex crime?

But, Mr. President, the legality or illegality of it is not the core issue that I want to get to: it is the systemic and structural machismo that pervades our political culture. The double standards that are so ingrained in our life that they become invisible tools of oppression.

Sa paggiit ng opinyon: Pag lalaki, assertive and decisive. Sinasabi ng lipunan, take a bow. Pag babae, hysterical and shrill. Sinasabi ng lipunan, take a break.

Sa pag-abante ng career: pag lalaki, go-getter. Pag babae, bad mother.

Kaya naman: Pag ang lalaki may sex video, macho, matinik. Pag babae, malaswa, malandi.

Mr. President, we could still be about to cross the rubicon. If we stand by in silence while our colleagues in the House perpetrate this indignity against a fellow senator, we have chosen vulgarity over civility, misogyny over basic respect and decency.

We are telling our daughters that they can be shamed for their sexuality, in ways that that their brothers or husbands will never be. We are telling our little girls that their sexual choices are fair game and that their bodies can be policed.

Sino ang susunod? Sino ang susunod na gagawan ng pekeng sex video? Sino ang susunod na hihiyain sa madla? Ako? Si Senator Nancy, si Senator Grace, si Senator Cynthia o si Senator Loren? O ang babaeng iniwan ang nambubugbog na partner at bilang ganti ay inupload ang sex video nila? Kasi pwede na. Sabi ng kongreso, pwede.

Mr. President, Sen. Leila has her political battles and many of you might disagree with her positions. So be it. But on the singular issue of the sex video, the battle is bigger than Leila. It is about respect and decency between institutions. It is about chipping away at the structural misogyny that pervades our culture. Most of all, it is about raising little girls who believe that they can define themselves with no fear of shame, and who believe that their bodies and their lives are theirs and theirs alone.

This is not just about Sen. Leila. This is about every woman.

Thank you, Mr. President."

DOE Sec. Alfonso Cusi Speech: EU-Philippines Economic Ties A New Chapter Unfolds

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here is the speech of the Department of Energy (DOE) Sec. Alfonso G. Cusi during the EU-PH Business Summit earlier today October 4, 2016, held at Shangri-La Hotel Makati

Theme: EU-Philippines Economic Ties: A New Chapter Unfolds

To the EU-Philippine Business Network (EPBN) and its members from the various European Chambers of Commerce based in the Philippines, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, panelists, European business leaders and stalwarts, esteemed guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

"Good morning.

It is a privilege to be invited here and be with our energetic business partners from the EU who are looking for investment opportunities in the world. We are grateful as a people for the gift of innovation, infusion of capital and infrastructure development that you have shared with us through the years and which helped build our nation into what it is today.

And what an exciting chapter is opened this year indeed! Among other things, a new Administration is in place and is making headway in its first 100 days. With its beginning emphasis on curbing drugs, criminality and corruption, the Administration is making good its promise to improve the peace and order situation in the country, which of course is necessary to a healthy and conducive business and investment climate.

The Philippine energy sector is one area rife with investment opportunities, it being capital-intensive and primarily private sector-led. Our priorities in the sector remain centered on energy security‎, with stark focus on increasing supply, improving reliability and resiliency of our energy infrastructure.

We are aiming for total electrification of every household throughout our three major islands by 2020. We are also targetting a "One-grid Philippines", with the Mindanao grid finally interlocking with the Visayas and Luzon grids, not later than 2022.

‎In our pursuit of energy security, we build on and improve on the well-considered and highly evolved Power Development Plan, which comprises sectoral strategies on transmission, distribution, missionary and household electrification.

We will continue to explore and use local or indigenous sources, like renewables, fossil fuels and alternative fuels, focusing primarily on the development of our geothermal energy. Guided by our international and environmental obligations, we are geared to promote and adopt innovative, green, efficient technologies without compromising DOE’s mandate to provide reliable, quality, secured and affordable supply of electricity.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte has firmly declared that with our vigorous pursuit of industrialization and economic development, we will be expecting an increase in the demand of power supply. As such, we are now in the process of reviewing our fuel and capacity mix policy to really ensure the right level of diversification and balance in our existing energy resources, to avoid overdependence on any one fuel source.

‎To ignite interest and pave the way for investments, we will identify the portfolio of installed and dependable power capacities, specifically for baseload, mid-merit and peaking requirements. ‎We have held and lined up various energy investment fora and regional energy investment briefings to inform, update and stoke interest in the business and investment community.

Deserving of special mention, our nascent natural gas industry urgently requires substantial investment in infrastructure development. Our plan is to build a common liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving and distribution infrastructure as part of the future "clean energy city". ‎Worthy of note also is the plan for total privatization of PSALM's remaining power generation assets within the next 3 years.

‎The DOE will mirror the Administration's priorities of fostering a safer and healthier business‎ climate for investors. Thus, with the same tenacity, we will implement measures to improve the conditions and ease of doing business in the energy sector.

We will streamline and simplify our permitting processes. Not only have we remodeled our office workflow and procedure, but have also developed, for pilot-testing in renewable energy projects, a web-based system--the Energy Virtual One-Shared System (EVOSS)--to enable prospectors to monitor the status of their applications.

Pursuant to the DOE’s commitment to maintain and strengthen the predictability, certainty and consistency of investment rules of the country, the DOE has strongly affirmed its position in its Motion for Reconsideration pending before the Commission of Audit that the income tax of the Malampaya contractor shall form part of the 60% of government share.

One of our major strategies to manage the surge in demand for energy is the promotion of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) in all sectors. We thank the EU for helping us draw the Roadmap and Action Plan for Energy Efficiency and Conservation. To attain permanence and general application of these EEC measures, we will advocate the enactment of an EEC law in Congress‎. Senator Win Gatchalian is here, and being the one in charge of energy-related initiatives in the Senate, he can perhaps give us a lowdown on the particular developments in the sector.

At any rate, for as long as I am here as its chief steward, the DOE will be a proactive advocate and partner of Congress in the timely passage of legislation, especially those that parallel the Administration's priorities and those sought for by the energy sector and, more importantly, our consumers.

We also plan to lay down important energy policies that bear an impact on business and investment.

(1) First, we desire a policy of declaring energy projects as projects of national significance--which they really are anyway. Hence, they should enjoy expeditious and preferential treatment in the permitting process, should be protected from court injunctions, and be entitled to incentives, such as exemption from real property taxes and other local taxes.

(2) DOE will also draw up and streamline the preferred areas for locating energy infrastructure, which can‎ lessen, if not eradicate, right-of-way (ROW) issues and improve competitiveness of local governments.

(3) We are also studying a National Policy on Clean Civilian Nuclear Energy in order to determine its rightful place in the energy mix, and to resolve with finality the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) impasse. ‎

In fact, just last month, we successfully hosted here an Asia-Pacific clean civilian nuclear energy conference. It may have caused some frowns and drawn criticism from the ECCP. However, but please kindly understand though that these efforts of ours are neatly aligned with the current regional policy developments and commitments in the ASEAN.

Finally, and most important of all, the DOE commits to strengthen and forge further international ties‎, with other States and international organizations, cognizant that comity and reciprocity are what really set the stage and the tone for a healthy inflow of investments to the country.

In the process, we not only contribute to our economic development, but also enhance our reputation in the international community and help achieve the ideals of the United Nations, one of which is Sustainable Energy for All.

Anyway, being in the energy sector, I should be the first to ensure fullness of energy here, and not lack or unnecessary dissipation of it. So I will relent and not prolong this any longer. We assure the ECCP and the EU business community that investment prospects in the Philippine energy sector are full of promise and potential‎ energy.

Again, thank you to the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) and the European business community for continuing to bet on the Philippines, which definitely improve the condition of our citizenry and communities.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay kayong lahat!"

STI Celebrates 33 Years of Well-Rounded Education

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Taking pride in its rich history and looking forward to a bright future, STI Education Services Group, Inc. marked thirty-three years of real life education in a grand festivity on September 30, 2016 at the country’s famous amusement park, the Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

More than 20,000 senior high and college students nationwide joined in the much anticipated celebration filled with exciting activities and social competitions, providing STI students a stage to showcase their creativity, talents, and achievements beyond the classroom.

While students enjoyed the exclusivity of the theme park, the real deal went down at the Enchanting Events Place where the most talented STI students battled it out for the STI Talent Search’s National Finals.

These competitions featured the best of the best in musicality as gifted singers and young musicians belted out for the Singing Idol and Battle of the Bands. Another crowd drawer were the electrifying dance groups who showed their breathtaking stunts in Hataw Sayaw. The night continued with The Search for Mr. and Ms. STI 2016 where the candidates captivated the audience with their beauty and wit. All contestants are winners in their own right having championed in their respective local cluster competitions, coming from as far as Laoag to Zamboanga, to represent their perspective schools.

No to Illegal Slimming Products

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Since the 90’s, the government has been struggling to fight illegal slimming products that may contain harmful substances to one’s health such as amphetamine and sibutramine. The products that contain these ingredients may be effective not because that’s what it was meant to do but because of the underlying effects. These substances raise the blood pressure, causes damage to different organs most especially the kidney and liver. It also brings down the strength of the immune system and can even affect the cells of the body! They say it is effective, but IT IS ONLY EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BODY SICK! It makes you lose weight BECAUSE YOUR BODY DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ANYMORE. Instead of patronizing these products, find something that benefits your health and provides good side effects instead of bad ones.

For someone who is desperate to lose weight quicker than usual, without exercise, without diet—these ILLEGAL slimming products promise the moon and stars! They say that when you take it you will lose about 10-20 pounds in just a week without exercising and without dieting. Sounds like a dream to many people who want to lose weight right? But this is too good to be true. There have been many instances of chronic diseases and deaths that rooted from these illegal slimming products. In the early 90s, several suffered different kinds of cancer, most of them have cancer in their organs, some suffered liver failure and some died because of cardiac arrest. Seems like a very natural case but these are the effects of illegal slimming products.

If you want to lose weight, you have to work hard for it. It doesn’t mean you have to dedicate your life to working out and exercising but it means you need a change in your lifestyle.

1. Eating properly is the most important thing. You don’t need to starve yourself just so you could shed all those weight. You just have to eat a well-balanced diet meal every day. Incorporate vegetables, fruits and healthy protein in your meals because the healthier, the better.

2. Exercise regularly. No need for extensive exercises and work outs, just a regular routine every day will do the trick. It does not only make you lose weight, it also makes your body stronger.

3. Sleeping at least 6 to 8 hours every night. With the right amount of rest and sleep, you’re allowing your body to repair what is damaged and used up. Your metabolism also revs itself up and prepares enough energy for the next day.

4. Let go of bad habits. Vices such as illegal drugs, cigarette smoking and excessive drinking can make you gain weight. It weakens your body that’s why it does not function properly.

5. Detox and cleanse regularly. This does not just promote weight loss but it also makes sure your body gets rid of toxins and wastes properly. By eating fruits and vegetables regularly, you can detox your body. There are also supplements that contain natural ingredients or certain juice drinks that aids in proper cleansing!

Always remember that the cliché HEALTH IS WEALTH is in fact something that should be taken seriously. No one deserves a bad health just because of products that are fake and illegal which contains harmful ingredients!

Having to deal with fake and ILLEGAL products is a huge problem already, what more to be encounter an irreversible damage to the health right?

The next time you want to purchase something, make sure you do it at a reputable drug store or supermarket.



If anyone knows or suspects that a product: medicine or supplement is deemed fake and illegal, contact the authorities and report your concern.

#InternetForAll: Cebuanos to Enjoy Future-Ready, World Class Network from Smart

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Residents, tourists and businesses in Cebu are set to enjoy future-ready and world class connectivity as Smart boosts the coverage of its LTE and 3G mobile data services in Metro Cebu. The biggest gain will be in LTE coverage, which will quadruple while 3G coverage will double in the country’s second largest urban center.

This initiative is part of Smart’s major expansion of its mobile internet coverage in Metro Cebu over the next three months as part of its three-year network improvement program that aims to bring high-speed internet service to 95% of the country’s cities and towns.

“The activities we are implementing will greatly improve the reach and quality of our mobile phone and mobile internet services in Metro Cebu which is the central hub for business, education, and tourism in the Visayas region,” said Joachim Horn, chief technology and information advisor at PLDT and Smart.

Even as LTE is the focus of the network improvement program in Metro Cebu, Smart noted that is just a part of a broader effort to improve the overall quality of service available to millions of Smart, TNT, and Sun subscribers in the entire Cebu province.

Horn also noted that in the process of this network expansion and upgrade, there may be bumps along the way that may affect the experience of subscribers in the region.

“As with every major network improvement program, some of the changes we will implement in both hardware and software might result in some service disruption and affect small clusters of subscribers from time to time,” said Ramon Isberto, head of public affairs at PLDT and Smart.

These activities are being done during the most inactive hours of the day, assured Isberto, and Smart is putting systems in place to minimise the impact on subscribers.

“We have a lot of work to do. But everyone in Smart is working twice as hard to make this entire exercise as painless as possible to our customers. We are also actively updating them, so they can prepare accordingly.

In the end, our commitment to all our subscribers is that they will have the best possible experience, particularly for mobile data,” added Isberto.

San Pedro Calungsod the Musical Set to Open October 15

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Propagate the Sainthood of a Visayan and the Second Saint of the Philippines, San Pedro Calungsod, through a Beautiful and Inspiring Musical Play about His Life and Faith !

This is the First English and Original Version of the Musical written by LUIGI NACARIO with Original Music by EUGENE BELBIS.

We are inviting all Devotees and Believers to Watch and Be Inspired of His Holiness!

Date: October 15, Saturday at 2PM and 6PM
Venue: St. Cecilia's Hall, St. Scholastica's College Manila

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

call TicketWorld Manila at 891.9999
www.ticketworld.com.ph

For Sponsorship and Showbuying call 507.3396 / 0915.4478959

kidsactsphilippines@yahoo.com.ph