Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Castelo: Emergency Powers Should Also Cover Aviations

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Addressing the country's aviation problems should be included in the emergency-powers measure being considered to enable the Duterte administration to effectively deal with the traffic crisis in Metro Manila.

Quezon City Rep. Winston "Winnie " Castelo made the suggestion yesterday as he stressed the need for an "integrated and holistic approach to the traffic problem."

"Metro Manila's traffic woes are just a manifestation of the decades of government's neglect of the country's transport infrastructure requirements," said Castelo, pointing out that the failure of past administrations to construct regional airports and expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have cause air-traffic congestion that also extends to road traffic congestion.

"We need a complete and comprehensive transportation plan that covers land, air, and water," Castelo said. The chair of the House committee on Metro Manila development said aviation must be included in the emergency-powers bill because air traffic-congestion causes delays in take off and landing that bear huge economic losses and international embarrassment, said .

"Also, NAIA has on always been listed among the worst airports in the world, which not only embarrasses Filipinos but more importantly discourages tourists and investors from coming to the country," he added.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Another special treat from Flash Plus Philippines—one of Asia’s rising developers of lifestyle and smart devices—is coming your way this yuletide season as it joins the annual Online Revolution Sale of e-commerce giant, Lazada Philippines! This time, Flash offers its signature smartphone, the Flash Plus 2 (3GB), at the price of Php 6,990 for November 11 only.

Now, on its 4th year, the annual online sale will be bigger than ever. It will highlight some of the online shoppers’ most well-loved products from Lazada, including the Flash Plus 2.

“Flash Plus 2 has received positive reviews from its users as we launched it in the country earlier this year. As a way of giving back to our loyal customers, we tied up with Lazada’s annual product culmination in which they can purchase the Flash Plus 2 (3GB) at a more competitive price for a limited time only,” Sheree Gayas, Flash Philippines’ marketing manager.

The said smartphone boasts its future-forward attributes that bring superior durability, efficiency, and convenience to the users. These include high-definition phone camera, Hi-Fi audio capacity, and fingerprint recognition capabilities, all enclosed in a sleek metal case.

Sleek metal case
Flash Plus 2’s exterior is made more stylish with its aluminum case, which is also crafted to achieve superior durability through several kinds of metal polishing processes.

The case’s sides are treated with Bead Blasting textures, allowing for a sleek side view. The back panel, on the other hand, is treated with high-density hairline metal drawing processes for excellent grip and added protection against scratching.

HD camera phone

As a camera phone, Flash Plus 2 exhibits the same superior photography DNA, found in all Flash smartphone offerings. With its built-in high definition camera with a 13-megapixel rear lens, Flash Plus 2 allows you to take high definition photos and videos. It also adopts PDAF and contrast focusing features, which are useful for capturing fleeting moments.

It also makes shooting under dim light much easier with its built-in rear dual color flash lamp, RealTone, and front LED flash with Color Rendering Index.

Fingerprint recognition

Through the smartphone’s fingerprint recognition capability, you can now ensure optimum security and convenience in phone unlocking. This feature has a high accuracy level that responds in half a second. It can also safeguard all your apps and private folders by assigning specific fingerprint to access them. For instance, you can use your thumb to open your Facebook account, index to send an e-mail, among others.

Hi-Fi Audio

With Flash Plus 2, you can also have an immersive music experience. This is due to its high-fidelity amplifying functionality. It has a quality-retaining earphone acoustics, high sound volume effects, and MIX music production.

These are made possible through the independent AKM4375 audio decoding chip coupled with state-of-the-art IRD sound digital filter, with value-retaining signal output measuring up to high-fidelity acoustic effects.

Flash Plus 2 has two color options—Luna Silver and Venus Gold, which will all be available in Lazada’s Online Revolution Sale.

For more details, please visit the website at http://www.flash3c.com/ph.

Globe Network Investments to Amplify Benefits of New Spectrum Assets; Continuously Enhance Mobile Network

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Globe Telecom’s additional network investments will be used mainly to amplify benefits of the telecommunication operator’s new spectrum assets to further enhance its mobile services particularly for data.

The company recently announced an additional capital spend of $300 million for the year in an effort to continuously improve mobile data services. More than half of the additional capital expenditures or $160 million will be devoted to deploying cell sites using the 700 megahertz spectrum as well as additional spectrum in the 2600 MHz band, said Globe Chief Information and Technology Officer Gil Genio.

This year alone, the company has allotted around $400-$500 million in investments for mobile. The company expects to do more in the future, said Genio, speaking at the 1st DICT Summit in the country.

He said the company is targeting to roll out additional 700 sites for LTE 700 MHz in major cities in the country including Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. So far, the company has around 260 LTE 700 MHz sites. The company also plans to deploy close to 2,700 sites for LTE 2600 band. Additional core and transport upgrades will also be undertaken, Genio said.

In addition to investments for mobile, Globe is also aggressively ramping up investments for its corporate data network with additional investment of $50 million, and for home broadband deployment with $90 million more capex.

During the conference, Genio also reiterated the need for the rationalization of permitting process for the establishments of cell sites. He revealed that Globe has a backlog of 3000 sites amid difficulties in securing permits from various local government units, homeowners associations and other government agencies. This is in light of the 4,500 sites committed by Globe to the NTC as part of a 3-year rollout plan as it acquired new telco assets from the SMC sellout.

“We need to dramatically improve cell site coverage in the Philippines,” Genio emphasized, noting that the country only has about 21,000 total cell sites compared about 55,000 in Vietnam. According to Genio, Globe is able to put up 400 to 500 towers every year, or half of its target of 1,000 sites due to permitting challenges.

Photo caption: Globe Chief Information and Technology Officer Gil Genio

Industry Experts to Answer Biggest Real Estate Questions at Lamudi Housing Fair

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From how to enter the Airbnb business to the benefits of a rent-to-own home, some of the property industry’s burning questions will be tackled by experts in the field

Several experts of the real estate industry will gather together and answer the most frequently asked questions regarding property buying, selling, and more at the Lamudi Housing Fair, happening on November 18–20, 2016, at Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong.

“We’re very excited to hold the first-ever Lamudi Housing Event. We’re working with a lot of great minds in the industry to ensure that attendees will come to the event and increase their knowledge of how to carry out their real estate transactions successfully, especially in the midst of the Philippine property boom,” said Lamudi Philippines founder and CEO Jacqueline van den Ende.

The three-day event will consist of several seminars covering various real estate topics from property buying and financing to selling and marketing, as well as predictions about the Philippine real estate landscape. The series of seminars will open with a talk from Colliers International Manager of Research Joey Bondoc on current market conditions and where the biggest investment opportunities can be found, as well as his outlook regarding the most profitable real estate locations in the Philippines.

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Being overweight or being obese refers to the body weight that is greater than what is considered healthy for a certain height. Although many people consider losing weight, or make an effort to avoid being overweight or obese because of their physical appearance, there is more to it than meets the eye. Truthfully, there are serious health risks that we need to address when someone is overweight or obese. This is not just about how the clothes don’t fit well anymore, how it is hard to move and even have an active lifestyle. An overweight or obese person is at high risk in having chronic diseases such as Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Gallstones and even cancer! To avoid having these health hazards, we must be able to avoid having excess weight or being obese—and by knowing the causes, we might be able to successfully avoid being obese!

Causes of Obesity:

1. Lack of Energy Balance – Lack of energy balance happens when one takes in more calories than what is used. Energy IN is the amount of calories you take while Energy OUT is the amount of calories you use. If there is no balance in the energy you take in and use up, the probability of weight gain is high.

2. Inactive Lifestyle – An inactive lifestyle is when you spend hours sitting down, watching TV and purposely choosing lying around than exercising. With this kind of lifestyle, weight gain is very much possible. This is because the amount of energy you are using is not the same as the energy you take in from food and drinks. When you prefer to ride cars, use elevators and escalators all the time, you are just putting your energy on rest which results to weight gain.

3. Environment – The place we live in, the place we are exposed to are a huge part of our health choices. Like the lack of affordable gym that people can use anytime, lack of sidewalks and bike lanes. Huge meal portions at restaurants, lack of healthy food choices that are made affordable for the general public. Even the working schedules are not health friendly at all. With this kind of environment, we are exposed to an unhealthy lifestyle/

4. Genes and Family History – Mostly, obesity is carried out because of family history. Families share food and activities together so if a family eats unhealthily and live a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain or even obesity may follow. This is because a person adapts the unhealthy lifestyle he/she gets exposed to.

5. Health Conditions – Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Underactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone will slow down metabolism which causes weight gain. Cushing's syndrome is a condition in which the body's adrenal glands make too much of the hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome also can develop if a person takes high doses of certain medicines, such as prednisone, for long periods. People who have Cushing's syndrome gain weight, have upper-body obesity, a rounded face, fat around the neck, and thin arms and legs. PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that affects about 5–10 percent of women of childbearing age. Women who have PCOS often are obese, have excess hair growth, and have reproductive problems and other health issues. These problems are caused by high levels of hormones called androgens.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Mr. President, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

I rise on behalf of Susan Quimpo, a prepubescent girl during the early years of Martial Law, who spent her weekends packing cooked rice for detainees at detention centers holding political prisoners. Five of her siblings were imprisoned during Martial law – all of them student activists belonging to the underground movement. Her brother Nathan, was stripped naked and clubbed several times by his captors. Her brother Jan, and I quote from her book Subversive Lives, “had his head repeatedly immersed in a commode filled with urine, water was injected into his testicles, and his feet were doused then jabbed with live wire.” Jan Quimpo joined the ranks of the desaparecidos, and the last conversation Susan had with him was when he asked her to leave some dinner. Another brother, Jun, was shot in Nueva Ecija in 1981.

I rise on behalf of Sixto Carlos, now a jolly man in his seventies with ruddy cheeks and an easy laugh. He was arrested with no charges filed in 1978 and put under solitary confinement for two years. He was viciously beaten, had boiling water poured at him, and was hung from the ceiling from his handcuffed hands. In his own words, he said, “I was held on either arm by two men and the third man sat on my lap. The blindfold was removed and replaced by a towel on my face. They commenced to put water over the towel on my face. I had the sensation of drowning." This is what is known as waterboarding, an innocuous name for a torture technique so repulsive and dehumanizing.

I rise on behalf of Etta Rosales, former Congresswoman and former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, who was repeatedly raped and tortured during Martial Law. She recounts her torture under the hands of her prison guards: “They tried to make me speak by burning me, pouring what felt like hot wax from a burning candle on my arms and legs. When that didn’t work, they tore off my clothes, pressed the barrel of a gun against my temple and played Russian roulette.” When she was elected Congresswoman of Akbayan in 1998, she met one of her captors who had now become her colleague. “The last time I met you,” Etta said, with her trademark candor, “was in the military safehouse where I was tortured.”

I rise for them, and I rise for all the victims of Martial Law. Ako ay tumatayo sa harap ninyo ngayon alang-alang sa mga natorture, mga pinatay, mga kinulong ng rehimeng Marcos. Ako ay tumatayo alang-alang sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay – mga magulang, asawa at anak na inulila ng diktadura. Para po sa kanila ang resolusyon na ihahain ko sa Senado ngayong hapon.

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Audrey Hepburn had it. Jacqueline Kennedy had it. Even Fred Astaire had it. They all had poise. And you can have it too.

By definition, poise is a self-confident manner or bearing that offers steadiness and stability. It is most often indicated in a particular way one carries himself or herself, and it can make the difference on whether you are respected as a business leader -- or not.

Poise is being aware of your surroundings and being flexible and adaptable. Poise is not something you are born with or can acquire overnight. It is something you must practice daily.

Here are a few ways you can cultivate poise:

1. Practice manners and etiquette.
First impressions count when meeting with someone. Stand tall and act confident (even when you don’t feel it). Give a firm handshake, offer an enthusiastic greeting and maintain eye contact. Always introduce yourself by saying your first and last name. If you forget someone’s name, don’t fret. Just say something like, “It’s been one of those days; please tell me your name again.”

Be mindful of how your behavior affects others and learn the proper etiquette of dining and socializing. People notice your manners, whether you are taking a co-worker to lunch, networking in a crowded room, negotiating a deal or simply interacting around the office.

Related: The Best 25 Motivational Quotes To Kick Start Every Morning

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We are inviting you to the 16th Achievers & Leaders Summit to be held on November 9, 2016 at 9 am onwards at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. The summit has 6 speakers including Jacqueline Whitmore, a business etiquette expert, author and speaker who will talk about personal branding, among other things.

At a press conference held a day before the actual event, Salt & Light Ventures, together with event partner Flair Image Consultancy, brought in Jacqueline to meet with the members of the media, including bloggers. The press conference was held at Balboa restaurant located at the EDSA Shangri-La Mall, just a stone's throw away from the event venue, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. The Philippine Daily Inquirer is also one of the main partners of the event.

Jacqueline said she will be talking three time at the event so you can be sure you won't miss her at any of your bathroom, smoking or coffee breaks. But who would want to miss out on the 6 top speakers who will share stories and information significant to every leader and achiever.

Aside from Jacqueline, the summit will feature other experts and thought-leaders on the subject matter such as motivational speaker, Bo Sanchez, former Morgan Stanley CFO, now Chairman of International Care Ministries, David Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer of Investors in People Philippines, Gerry Plana, Managing Director of DSM Manila LLP, Carlo Mata, and Chief Learning Engineer of LinkOD Solutions, Luigi Mapa.

Also check out Jacqueline's book Business Class of which all of us who attended the press conference got a signed copy.

Since I will be attending the morning portion of the event, I will surely share with you again additional stories soon. For the meantime, below is my impromptu video interview with the organizers and Jacqueline during the press launch:

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced another key addition to its team of senior leaders with the appointment of Japanese executive Yoshiaki Ito as President of ONE Championship (Japan). The promotion looks to expand its reach into the country and other Asian nations in the near future.

Ito is the Founder of X-TANK Consulting, former CEO of Haier Asia Group, and a former Senior Vice President at Sony Pictures Entertainment. During his tenure at Haier, Ito was responsible for US$1.2 billion in revenue and over 6,400 employees. Popularly known in inside circles as a business maverick, Ito’s stringent business acumen and undeniable talent has immensely boosted the performance of every organization he has led.

Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, Ito speaks Japanese, Thai, and English. With over 20 years of professional experience, Ito brings with him a plethora of impressive accolades. He has received various awards throughout his career including being named among the Top 100 global leaders/innovators of 2015 by Nikkei Business, the Direct to Top Award and Best Leader Award from Dell Asia Pacific, as well as the Money Ball Award and Global Best Leader Award from Sony Pictures Entertainment, amongst others.

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship stated: “ONE Championship continues to seek out the top executives from various fields to become part of our elite senior management team. Yoshiaki Ito is an excellent asset to have on our team. He, along with our very capable leadership, will be responsible for taking our organization to the next level and beyond. We are excited at the possibilities and welcome Ito-san to the ONE Championship family.”

Yoshiaki Ito, President of ONE Championship (Japan) stated: “I am elated to join ONE Championship, one of the greatest global sports brands. It’s amazing to be a part of the rapid growth of MMA in Asia. I will focus my efforts on developing the budding Japanese market. Japan has always enjoyed sports entertainment and ONE Championship’s unique live event atmosphere is something I am delighted to share with Japanese fans.”

Ito’s appointment as ONE Championship President (Japan) comes in line with the promotion’s plans to expand into the country. Japanese mixed martial arts athletes are an integral part of ONE Championship’s roster, with exciting fighters such as Koji Ando and Kotetsu Boku, as well as reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki and ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka Naito, amongst others.

The move into Japan also remains in line with the company’s aggressive growth and expansion plans. ONE Championship is the first major MMA promotion to hold a live event in mainland China as well as Bangkok, Thailand. Future markets include Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia, to name a few. Events are broadcast to a potential one billion homes in over 118 countries worldwide.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Lazada Employee Hacks: An Insider's Guide to the Biggest Online Sale of the Year

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Two days to go before we start Lazada’s biggest sale of the year, Online Revolution! We expect customers to go on a shopping frenzy with great deals from our most trusted brands with up to 95% off. Since 11.11 is just a few days away, Lazada employees shared a few tips for those planning to add lots of stuff in their Lazada shopping cart.

Lazada's Online Revolution, the country's biggest online sale, is so big that it can get overwhelming!

Here are some tips from Lazada employees, so you can get the deals you want easier and faster.

Tip # 1: Fill up your Wishlist
Tristan de Belloy – Chief Marketing Officer

Keeping track of all the items you like is easy with the Lazada wishlist function. Browse the Lazada mobile app or website days before 11.11 and add everything you need and WANT to your wishlist. This makes for easier and faster checkouts come November 11. Advance searching also gives you more time to think about the items you've picked and avoid impulse purchases on the big day. If you're shopping for Christmas presents, then the wishlist can work as a virtual Christmas list as well.

Bonus Tip- Sometimes the best gifts are found in the categories we rarely explore. Check out the highlights tab for featured brands and top deals for the day, to start exploring other product categories.

Tip #2: Lazada Social Media: Treasure Trove of New Items and Discounts
Chelo Bacarro – Partnerships

Knowledge is power and the best way to get dibs on the latest deals, steals, sale previews and freebies is by following Lazada's social media accounts and getting updates from daily newsletters. Freebies are also up for grabs through social media games and quizzes. Who knows, you might be the next winner of a Lazada Php1,000 voucher in time for November 11.

Tip #3: Don't be stuck behind a desk, download the Lazada Mobile App
Alex Nuyda – Commercial: FMCG

If you only shop through the Lazada website, it's time to download the App! Not only does this enable you to shop on the go, but you receive real time alerts on special deals and sales. You can also take advantage of app-exclusive offers and discounts that you will never see on the website.

Tip #4: Know your Payment Options
Cha Espiritu – Merchandising

During big campaigns, banks usually have special discounts or offers for credit or debit card holders. Be on the lookout for these discounts to keep your spending in control! Whether it's an added discount or a cash rebate, these additional savings can cover for more gifts for your friend's yaya or your neighbors pet. When in doubt, there's also the Cash on Delivery option so you don't have to worry about your item - you only pay as soon as it gets to your doorstep.

Tip #5: Research and Reviews
Paolo Cari – Commercial: Electronics

Read product reviews and check out unboxing videos of items you wish to purchase, especially if the items you want are pricey. Invest in quality products and brands that will make you more confident about your purchases. Just because you got the item at a cheap price, does not make it a good deal. Familiarize yourself with return policies so you don't waste time worrying about regretting a purchase.

Online shopping can save you lots of time during the busiest time of the year. Enjoy the season by spending more time catching up with family and friends than beating the holiday rush. The best part? There's free delivery around Metro Manila, so there's no pressure to consolidate everything in one checkout.

The countdown to the biggest online sale of the year starts now. Visit http://www.lazada.com.ph or download the Lazada mobile app for free via the iTunes store of Google Play store.