Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Monday, November 14, 2016

What People Say About PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa's Sponsored Trip at Manny Pacquiao's Fight

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"Strictly legal input: public officials are prohibited under the law from accepting gifts of ANY kind (including donations, even during vacation leave). RA 3019 and the Revised Penal Code provisions on Qualified Bribery and Bribery are some of the applicable laws. 3019 is a special law so it's malum in se, the mere commission of the act is a violation. Lack of intention or malice is NOT a defense. In addition, there are various Codes of Conduct depending on the branch of government. The ratio is clear: to remove actual and APPEARANCE of conflict of interest. It's a protection for the public official, i. E., precisely to avoid situations such as this where the public official's character is questioned, regardless of "clean" intentions. But hey, that's just the lawyer talking." - Agatha De Jesus

Sometimes, you can get in trouble by being honest. Kasalanan din yung tatanga-tanga. This is in reference to Philippine National Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa's sponsored trip to watch Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's fight against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas, and is now the subject of an Omby=udsman probe.

Public officials are not allowed to accept any gifts, money, etc. but tell me how many politicians go on junket trips paid by tax payers money. Is it an excuse if the person(s) in question puts in more days and hours of work compared to many people in government. He used time. to watch the fight If he filed for a leave then, maybe it's a little less of a sin. At least di nya ginamit ang pera ng bayan para makapanood noon? Nevertheless, no matter what is his reasoning, it does not wash off the bigger mistake.

Pacquiao spend his own money to allow his friends to enjoy his fight live (But who's saying he is not also taking advantage of his salary as a government official? After all, he is obviously frequently absent at "work" to attend to his training and fight. There is the question of taxpayer's money spent unwisely since he is expected to come out with less output compared to being 100% at the Senate, or in complying to his previous position). This is a luxury that would have been not possible for honest government employees.

I doubt that anything will come out of it. It's just painful to see such a high-ranking and very visible official claiming that he wasn't aware that there's anything irregular about accepting gifts. That goes for the senator too. I spent two years in government and was briefed about this during my on boarding. How could these officials have gone through the years of service without knowing this?

But people are saying Morales will find any fault with the Duterte government but its obvious she protects the many sins of Aquino and his people. It would be good to see the ombudsman probing SAF44, Yolanda funds, DAF, PDAF scam, hotel in bilibid, proliferation of drugs by DE5, MRT crisis, overprice police jeeps, laglag bala, etc.. first before this bribery issue of Bato.

"I think Bato and his family deserved this once-in-a-lifetime treat. Honest, hard-working man that he is, he has arrived at that point in his life where he is receiving great blessings. I wouldn't doubt he has prayed many-a-time that God grant him an opportunity such as this if only to reward him for his rough journey through life. That would be my perspective if I were in his shoes. Heck, I didn't even have the chance to watch the fight. Anyway.. I could easily say to a certain you-know-who to stop accepting invitations to be part of the Summer & Winter Olympic Games at the expense of the POC while our precious athletes do not even receive enough compensation for their life-long commitments to sports and the glory that it brings to the country; or I could suggest to avoid attending major events like the NY Marathon (for whose glory I'm unsure) while certain children's sports activities are being greatly neglected. BATO has admitted that if it were truly unlawful, he is willing to be jailed for his actions. Of course, if it were not for the sheer amount of money spent (I have friends who can and do afford this!), and okay maybe also the time taken away from his job (because, hey Bato, we need you here!) this would naturally have gone unnoticed. But as it is, he is an important public official who will always be under scrutiny right down to his choice of watch or something. But please, let's pick our fights well and focus on those who have been abusing their place in society for decades. Can't we give the guy a break? " - Suzanne Fc

Vice President Leni Robredo allegedly used a private jet for a speaking engagement. I believe Rotary Club of Naga paid for the private jet rent so that Leni could attend. If this was the case, the Ombudsman should put Leni on the hot seat as well for taking the offer. Just saying....... If the Ombudsman is very particular on these petty stuff, file a case to everyone who violates the law and not just for a selected few.

The same standard applies almost anywhere so I'm irked that some people choose to try to justify these actions or skirt around the issue because, among others (1) one was allegedly on leave, (2) it's not public funds (in this case it is,Pacquiao is a senator so it's possible that a portion of the fund spent came from our taxes), (3) there are others who are more guilty, and, the worst, (4) the OMB should investigate Yolanda, etc. Rule of law was invoked very recently for the LNMB issue. I'm also invoking the rule of law for this one.

Looks like this is the promised change - I am in power so I can choose what laws to follow. The law is the law. Bato is not exempt and so are all government officials. Leadership by example, please.

*Credits to all who made the statements

Sunday, November 13, 2016

1st DICT Summit: Implementing Telecommuting and other ICT-Based Solutions to Mitigate Traffic Congestion Nationwide

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) hosted a summit on “Implementing ICT-Based Solutions to Mitigate Traffic Congestion Nationwide” on November 8, 2016 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. The 1st DICT Summit aims to provide recommendations on how ICT can help in alleviating traffic congestion nationwide.

The one-day summit highlighted ICT-based solutions that our country can easily adopt with the end-in view of realizing the mutual vision for free flowing road traffic.

Representatives from different government agencies like the Department of Transportation (DOTr), including the Senate and the House of Representatives, League of Governors/Mayors, Local Government Unit Officials in NCR, ICT experts, and ICT industry stakeholders shared their vision, insights, and recommendations on how ICT-based concepts may efficiently be implemented. These proposals will then be translated into a joint Position Paper addressed to the President, which will contain the various suggestions and comments of the participating stakeholders with the recommendation for the President to issue an Executive Order on the matter.

Leading the event is DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima who gave the Welcome FRemarks and the introduction of Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella who was in Malacanang Palace where a press conference was also taking place at the same time. A video-conferencing setup was supposed to give a clear communication from the Makati Shangri-La Hotel to the Malacanang Palace but technicalities like the loss and inaudibility of the audio persuaded the government officials to just discontinue the conversation.

The incapability of the video-conferencing was a clear sign that there really is a need for the country and government to invest on ICT infrastructure as the opportunities for growth and development is continuously being hampered by poor technologies available to us in the Philippines.

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The Philippines, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr), will host the 42nd Senior Transport Officials Meeting (42nd STOM) and the 22nd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (22nd ATM).

The high-level meetings to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila from November 14 – 18, 2016 will gather transportation officials from the 10 ASEAN Member States. More than 200 transport officials and delegates will convene to discuss various transport initiatives and policies that will improve connectivity and enhance cooperation in the region.

The STOM leaders, working under the direction of the ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM), are expected to review the implementation and establishment of transport agreements as set by the ATM. Among the projects to be discussed is the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP), which is the transport vision and blueprint for 2016 – 2025. The KLTSP, an important pillar of the ASEAN Economic Integration, aims to make the ASEAN community more integrated, competitive, and resilient.

Other transport initiatives to be discussed include the establishment of the ASEAN Single Shipping Market and the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off Shipping Network, which are both designed to facilitate trade, reduce transport costs, and provide easier access to key markets in Southeast Asia through a more connected maritime transportation network. Liberalization of air services, building safer road networks and efficient railway systems, and promoting sustainable and green transport initiatives are also part of the agenda.

The ATM will convene from November 17 -18 and are expected to consider and adopt STOM recommendations.

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Leg five starts off with a flight from Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where teams make their way to Thanh Da, an indoor fishing pond to receive their next clue. Here, they find their first Fast Forward in the Race.The first team that finishes the Fast Forward challenge can skip all tasks and head directly to the Pit Stop.

Eric & Rona and Treasuri & Louisa are huge fans of The Amazing Race Asia and they conclude that previous teams that had gone for Fast Forward usually end up last, so they immediately opt for the challenge.

At Thanh Da, teams put their angling skills to the test and catch four prawns from the indoor pond before receiving their next clue. As teams settle down to wait for their catch, Tom & Anita decide to take the risk and head to the Fast Forward task.

In this Fast Forward task, teams must break potentially hundreds of clay bowls containing steamed, sticky rice. Only one bowl contains a coin that is the golden ticket to the Pit Stop. However, teams must break one bowl at a time and eat the rice before they can continue their search.

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With a Vietnamese partner who has been successful in the restaurant business in Western Australia for more than 20 years, Michael "Mike" Ang decided to bring the Tra Vinh brand to the Philippines so that Filipinos could also have a taste of the fabulous Vietnamese cuisine that has been awarded many times for its best and freshest produce.

We have to thank Van Chien Ho for agreeing to share his authentic Vietnamese cuisine recipe through Mike for the Filipino people. True enough, the phenomenal dishes are something to rave about by every foodie out there.

Faithful from their original recipe, the Tra Vinh Vietnamese Restaurant has caught the attention of foodies from all over the Metro. I took the extra effort to go there even though it's located at a neighborhood I am not so familiar. Since I'm based in Pasig city, the Banawe, Quezon City area is relatively too far for me. However, the lengthy travel was definitely worth it!

We did an exclusive lengthy video interview session with the owner so he could explain in details about the dishes served to us. This is where we have learned that Tra Vinh is a place in Vietnam where Van Chien Ho's wife lived which most probably has a sentimental value for the creator of the Tra Vinh brand.

Please do watch it here or at our official YouTube channel at http://www.YouTube.com/user/wazzuppilipinas

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For the last 30 years, the Philippines has been a favorite outsourcing destination for animation. Countless international companies have trusted the handiworks of the Filipino animators, and we have not failed them. But when we begin asking ourselves, “What is our own brand of animation? What is the Filipino identity of animation?” We cannot give an immediate reply. We don’t even have a direct translation or an equivalent for the word “animation.”

The event, brought to us by the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), is an attempt to answer these questions. It is ACPI’s way of saying that the Philippines is not just about being an outsourcing destination for animation, but it can also be an excellent source of original content and high quality animation.

Animahenasyon festival is the Filipino equivalent of animagination, as a result of combining the words “animation” and “imagination” (imahenasyon). It is also about the image (imahe) that we want to portray as a nation (nasyon) of animators to the world. But Animahenasyon is more than just a showcase of what the Filipino animators can do. It is really a harvest (ani) of the Filipino talent and creativity. It is a celebration of the Philippine animation industry.

This annual Filipino animation festival features the different animation works of both aspiring and professional animators in the country through a competition. To further advocate continued learning and development on the arts and craft of animation, a series of symposium and interaction between international guest animators with local animators and students were conducted. Also part of the festival is the exhibit of the works of this year’s lifetime achievement awardee.

Katrina Anne Johnson of Davao Wins as Miss Silka Philippines 2016

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Congratulations to the winners of the Miss Silka Philippines 2016 led by Miss Silka Davao, Katrina Anne Castañeda Johnson - the 2016 Miss Silka Philippines.

The Grand Coronation was held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati on November 12, 2016.

Other winners are:

Miss Silka Philippines 1st Runner up - Cebu
Miss Silka Philippines 2nd Runner up - Pampanga
Miss Silka Philippines 3rd Runner up - Tarlac

Miss Congeniality - Miss Lanao

Miss Juicy Cologne - Miss Davao

Miss Photogenic - Miss Davao

Online Choice Award - Miss Iloilo

Best in Talent - Miss Bicolandia

Best in Casual Wear - Miss Zambales

Celebrity heartthrob Piolo Pascual serenaded the candidates earlier with song numbers. Hotspot was also there earlier to grace us with song numbers.

Miss Silka Philippines 2015, Kimberly Weber, was stunning in her elegant white dress during her farewell walk, and to welcome soon the next lady to wear the crown of Miss Silka Philippines for 2016.

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“(I spent) seven months of not hosting on TV. I promised myself, babalik ako for a once in a lifetime, one-on-one interview,” Kris Aquino said.

And that one-on-one interview was supposed to be with the President. However, Kris Aquino’s one-on-one interview with Pres. Duterte did not push through. It was supposed to be her much publicized, much anticipated one-on-one interview with the President of the republic. But as it turned out, television personality Kris Aquino was "stood up" by President.

"President Duterte doesn't know what he's missing" says Kris. Kris tried to lighten the mood after the President skipped the small and medium enterprises summit in Davao City. It was indeed an it was an epic snub which also led Kris Aquino to say "One day mamahalin mo rin ako" to the president who was said to be not feeling well that day. The president arrived before dawn on Friday in Davao City from a two-day visit to Malaysia.

The popular TV host handled the sticky situation with humor by posting a #GandangDiNapakinabangan hashtag after President Rodrigo Duterte's no-show at an event on November 11, 2016 called the "Townhall Interview with the President" at the National Micro, Small, and Medium Entrepreneurs’ (MSME) Summit 2016 organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Go Negosyo Foundation, TV-5 and state-run TV station PTV 4.

"I apologized again that the date hindi natuloy (did not push through). I was stood up. But I assume the next time, he realized that it was fun, sisipot na siya (he will attend)." say Kris.

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At the recent November 10 “China Philippines Dialogue 2016” forum organized by the “China Daily” newspaper at Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City, the Philippines, various speakers led by the Philippines’ newly-designated ambassador to Beijing Chito Sta. Maria look forward to better Philippine and Asian economic growth prospect with the normalization of Philippine-China bilateral economic, diplomatic, cultural and other ties due to efforts of President Rody Duterte. He cited new railways in Mindanao of southern Philippines, seaports, agriculture and others as areas where both countries can cooperate.

Former veteran journalist Chito Sta. Maria said that in tackling differences like territorial disputes over the Scarborough Shoal or Spratly isles, the reformist government of President Rody Duterte prefers the pragmatic and more effective “quiet diplomacy instead of megaphone diplomacy”. Sta. Maria said that China’s pragmatic leaders can reciprocate goodwill in negotiations, citing examples of China concluding territorial dispute agreements with like Russia and Vietnam after several years of high-level bilateral talks with each neighbor.

Sta. Maria explained that Duterte’s announcement of “separation” from longtime military ally and former colonizer USA and charting a new independent foreign policy is his way of pursuing a “hedging strategy” for the Philippines to “diversify risks and maximize the gains” from two superpowers the U.S. and China. The new envoy said that the new pragmatic approach shall also make the Philippines no longer be perceived byChina or others in the international community as “a pawn or vassal state” of the United States.

Former CNN Beijing bureau chief and now Peking University Visiting Professor Jaime FlorCruz is also supportive of President Duterte’s reformist efforts to uphold an independent foreign policy for the Philippines, in rebalancing the country’s diplomatic and economic ties with all powers.

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The new face of the most undisputed "Selfie Expert" has been revealed and it was no other than one of the most popular charming faces in the Philippines, Alden Richards.

With so many celebrity endorsements under his name, Oppo has surely wanted to cash in on his popularity as well. But who wouldn't ? Aside from his partner, Maine Mendoza aka Yaya Dub, which creates their viral tandem we all know as AlDub, the other popular celebrity couples could not really stand on their own when separated from each other.

In this case, we can see Alden Richards making a grand influential presence on his own minus Maine Mendoza. Though they are obviously stronger together since the female part of the AlDub fame also has a lot of followers, not too many brands can manage to afford the talents fees of the two combined.

But as for me, Oppo alone is also a brand that has able to effectively reach out to its consumers with its specifications that beats most brands within the competition. The barnd has not only revealed Alden Richards as its brand ambassador, it has also launced a limited edition Oppo F1s in metallic grey color. The previous Oppo F1s are available in gold and rose gold.