#HackingHIV with PrEP Pilipinas: WHO, DOH & LoveYourself Introduce New HIV Prevention Method

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It was a choice between attending the finals night of a beauty pageant or the event organized by this group advocating awareness, counseling and treatment of HIV and other related diseases usually rampant among the LGBT or MSM community.

Now you know which event I have chosen to attend since I believe I could do a lot more good disseminating information about this new treatment against HIV rather than covering a competition to find the better looking and smarter ladies among several other candidates flaunting their beauty for everyone to see.

Needless to say, I felt more happy knowing I could help out this group called LoveYourself which I have been doing for several months already as I share all their press releases and attend their events whenever I'm available. 

I am also grateful that the Department of Health (DOH),the World Health Organization (WHO), and even the Senate courtesy of Senator Risa Hontiveros, are actively collaborating with LoveYourself in their noble advocacy.

At an event held on November 29, 2016 at MyCinema of Greenbelt 3, Executive Director Vihn Pagtakhan, Senior Director Christopher Lagman, Head of AIDS Research Group of DOH-RITM Dr. Rosanna Ditangco, and WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler, encouraged everyone to share the newly available HIV treatment called PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to add in fighting HIV. The group also recommends the continued use of condoms since PrEP can only counter HIV and not the other sexually transmitted diseases.

LoveYourself and Partners Provide LegislatHIVe Testing and Ideas at the Senate

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Underscoring the importance of the early detection of HIV for the commemoration of World AIDS Day, LoveYourself in collaboration with the Pasay City Social Hygiene Clinic conducted an HIV testing campaign at the Senate of the Philippines on 29 November 2016 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00p.m.

This is in response to the initiative of the Office of the Senator Risa Hontiveros being the Senate Committee Chairperson on Health and Demography, who is also thrusting for the amendments of the Republic Act No. 8504 or also known as “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.”

According to Sen. Hontiveros, the HIV testing day at the Senate aims to encourage more people to look at HIV test as a regular diagnostic tool, such as, blood pressure check-up and urinalysis, to know one’s health status and live a healthy lifestyle.

“An HIV test could spell difference between life and death,” relayed Sen. Hontiveros, while emphasizing the need for such a procedure to generate information that would support a progressive, human-rights-based and gender sensitive policy and programs to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.

Sen. Hontiveros emphasized that Filipinos can avail free and confidential HIV test from any social hygiene clinics and community centers like LoveYourself. 

Christmas is Almost Here and so are Special Deals

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We all love to get the best out of our hard-earned money. This is why many of us go after the sales, promos, deals, and everything else that offer lowered or discounted prices. We usually find these special offers at bazaars or "tiangges" especially when there are upcoming occasions like Christmas. Malls would often have sales done during payday weekends when many will be willing to splurge to reward themselves from all that hard work at the office. Most millennials now also embrace online shopping portals as part of their routine because we simply couldn't resist items that are sold at nearly half the price from the normal.

One form of getting discounts are with the use of online voucher codes that you could easily redeem at sites offering irresistible exclusive online deals that you won't find anywhere else. It feels so good when we could easily just search for a voucher, webshop or product, then just click on a button to receive the code which we use on the checkout process, and finally order the item that we want. Imagine how life would be more splendid if everything can be regularly purchased at special deals.

Aside from the great deals, purchasing online takes us away from the hassles and stress of having to endure the long queues at the shopping malls, and many times withdrawals at ATMs or banks becomes harder due to system downtime, or the worsening traffic congestion especially in the roads of Metro Manila.

Almost everyone we know do not have the patience to fall in line at the sales counters and ATMs so they end up not buying at all. This means loss of sales for the store, and likewise a negative experience for us since we get disappointed from not being able to purchase or desired products.

If ever we do have the patience to endure the long queues, we cannot deny that our next dilemma would be getting out of the mall and reaching our homes with less frustration.

In the Philippines, what used to be just 15 minutes of travel time from the nearest mall, would become an hour of painstaking driving experience on the road. It's a lot worst if you are just commuting on public transportation riding jeepneys, buses or the MRT/LRT trains. This is why road rage incidents have been happening every now and then. Many are just becoming so irritated in being stuck in traffic, or crowded and overloaded vehicles, for so many hours.

Life is made less complicated when our desired products can be conveniently chosen online containing all the product description details, prices, and other options for add-ons, and eventually delivered direct to our homes quickly. It becomes even nicer when we get to avail discounts and special deals - a big bonus for our online transactions.

Philippines: Lost in the Lion City, Eric Roars in Frustration!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It’s time to visit the Lion City! Leg seven starts with the teams leaving Vigan City and heading to Singapore. At Changi Airport, the teams must travel immediately to Resorts World Sentosa and find the Sea Aquarium.

At the Sea Aquarium, teams receive their Roadblock task – ‘Who’s ready for an underwater show?’ – One team member must dive into the open ocean habitat, pick a card from the chest showing the name of an exotic marine creature. Their partner from the other side of the glass must match the name with the correct photo of the marine creature. Teams are only allowed three tries or risk getting back to the line.

Eric, Maggie, Yvonne, Mike and Louisa will be diving into this challenge.

Yvonne picks Unicofish and Chloe is able to identify it easily, making them the first team to finish this task. Treasuri guesses Harlequin Filefish, Black Blotched Fantail Ray and Yellowfin Tuna wrongly and they head back to line. Parul and JK identify their marine creature correctly. It’s down to just Eric & Rona and Treasuri & Louisa. Eric experiences some difficulties getting his diving gear to stay.

Once they complete their Roadblock challenge, they must head to Gardens by the Bay East and find the marked lookout station along the Skyline Promenade. At Gardens by the Bay East, teams realize that there are only two pairs of binoculars. Once the team finds the marked lookout, they must head to that building immediately for their next clue. Since JK & Mike and Yvonne & Chloe are there first, they strike up a temporary alliance to search for the marked lookout together.

Teamwork proves to come in handy as both teams quickly find the marked lookout at OUE building. Parul & Maggie and Treasuri & Louisa manage to find the marked lookout without much difficulty, leaving Eric & Rona struggling at this task. Rona thinks she saw a flag at Standard Chartered building and they immediately make a rush there.

Globe, PLDT Sign Agreement to Cut Interconnection Rate for Voice Calls

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Globe Telecom signed a memorandum of understanding with PLDT to reduce the interconnection rate for voice calls between the two operators. This means the price of domestic mobile and fixed line calls between Globe and PLDT-Smart will be reduced, effectively benefitting consumers. The reduction of interconnection rates will not affect Globe to Globe (intra) calls as these are not subject to interconnect charges and are already offered to consumers in an unlimited basis. International calls will likewise not be covered.

Under the agreement, the two telcos committed to take steps to lower retail rates for voice, taking into consideration the reduction in interconnection rates. Both parties also committed to maintain GOS (grade of service) in interconnection. This means both operators will ensure that sufficient telecommunications circuits or routes are available for efficient transmission of calls.

The agreement is related to the issuance by the National Telecommunications Commission of a memorandum circular providing for a reduction in the interconnection rate between the two networks. Under the circular, interconnection charge for voice calls shall not be more than P2.50 per minute from P4.00/minute previously, representing a 38% reduction. The reduction shall take effect not later than January 1, 2017.

“For many years now, Globe has been strongly advocating the rationalization of interconnect access charge between the two telcos. We are confident that a reduction in the cost of interconnection for voice calls will eventually redound to a more robust economy, providing our customers with an affordable and easily accessible way of communication,” Globe Chief Technology and Information Officer Gil Genio said.

A New Family Adventure Awaits with the Premiere of Disney’s MOANA

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In recent years, Disney fans have witnessed a new generation of Disney Princesses – headstrong with a powerful spirit. Princess Moana joins in this new breed of Disney Princesses as her story comes to life in Walt Disney’s new animated movie, Moana.

Moana is an adventure-filled movie about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master way finder and fulfill her ancestors' unfinished quest. During her journey, she meets the once mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds.

In partnership with Disney Philippines, new and existing customers on a Globe myLifestyle Plan who avail of GoSURF Share or GoSURF with Rollover are instantly entitled to raffle entries to win two (2) movie invites to Disney's Moana, premiering in theaters on November 30, 2016.

The number of raffle entries corresponds to the GoSURF variant one is enrolled in. GoSURF 999 for example earns a customer 999 raffle points. The higher the GoSURF, the more chances of winning.

Davao IT-BPM Industry to Benefit from Globe Business Davao Data Center

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Growing exponentially, the information and communications technology (ICT) industry of Davao City, the largest local economy of southern Philippines and second largest economy to Metro Manila, will continue its upward trajectory ensuring economic development and providing employment opportunities in the region.

Davao City was recognized in 2015 as the 66th information technology and business process-outsourcing (IT-BPO) destination of the top 100 IT-BPO destinations in the world. This underscores the maturity of the City and the greater Mindanao region of its ICT readiness and capability.

With that in mind, Globe Business keeps its commitment to enabling a digital nation by accelerating the adoption of ICT enabled services across Philippine enterprises, specifically those based in the southern region.

Recently announced in the Wonderful World with Globe event in Davao, the Globe Business Davao Data Center will provide the ideal IT Infrastructure not only of businesses located in Davao, but also for enterprises in Luzon and Visayas.

“Globe Business is aggressively ramping up on investments such as the Davao Data Center to help our enterprise clients achieve local and global competitiveness. Instead of worrying about the maintenance of information, equipment and assets, the data center will secure our customers’ ICT requirements and will allow them to focus on their day-to-day business operations,” said Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group Mike Frausing

Globe iPhone 7 Customers Helped Create a Global Filipino School in GenSan

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Thousands of Globe Telecom customers who availed of the new iPhone 7 contributed significantly in the creation of a Global Fiipino School (GFS) in General Santos City which allows teachers and students to access 21st century learning within and beyond the classroom.

With iPhone 7 and Globe myLifestyle Plan, customers were not only able to get the phone of their dreams but also had the opportunity to give back to various communities through the Globe of Good bundle.

For every approved iPhone 7 renewed contract, Globe made a donation to selected partner causes which included the GFS program. For this activity, all proceeds went to General Santos City SPED Integrated School (GSCSIS) where one-fourth of the 4,000 student population comprises of kids with special needs.

The transformation of GSCSIS into a GFS not only benefits regular students but also the special children who require online therapy and learning engagements using information and communications technology (ICT).

GSCSIS received from Globe and its customers a GFS Creative Space which is a multifunction ICT laboratory complete with netbooks, tablets, and projectors powered with superior internet connectivity. The Lab can be used in every class across different subject matters to encourage creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

At the same time, the school was provided with teacher training to empower the teachers with skills to seamlessly use ICT tools in their subject expertise. The teachers were also coached to share such knowledge to their colleagues to benefit more learners.

“The importance of ICT in education cannot be overly emphasized as it is a necessary tool in improving learning. Mobile internet adoption and the availability of affordable data-capable gadgets make it easier now for both students and teachers to access a vast library of information previously out of their reach. Thus, we are grateful to all our customers who renewed their postpaid plans for the new iPhone 7. With their support, we were able to bring 21st century learning to more teachers and students in public schools,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications during the Creative Space turnover ceremonies in GSCSIS.

At present, many public schools are still missing out on the benefits of ICT, prompting Globe to help address the concern through GFS. The program, which started in 2012, intends to transform at least one school in each of the 221 school divisions under the Department of Education into centers of ICT excellence within the next four years. By the end of 2016, Globe expects the program to be implemented in 80 untapped school divisions in the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao regions representing 80 schools with combined student population of about 120,000.

Thus, Region 12 Assistant School Division Superintendent Mario M. Bermudez, CESE, expressed his gratitude to Globe for helping provide quality education to the students in GenSan.

“The implementation of the K-12 curriculum is very challenging to DepEd knowing that there are many trials ahead but then these challenges are lightened by the support coming from our stakeholders like Globe. Educating our 123,000 elementary and secondary school students in the division of General Santos is not that easy if DepEd will do it alone. That is why we are very happy that at last we have come to a point where our partnership with Globe is getting solid, more functional. Our partnership will continue as long as our education officials and our teachers are equipped with the proper attitude, values, and skills. Globe Telecom is guiding us, capacitating us and giving us their support. What DepEd needs to do is to sustain what has been started,” he said.

Bermudez’ statement was echoed by Agney C. Taruc, focal person of Adopt-a-School Program and Brigada Eskwela in Region 12 who represented Regional Director Arthur Bayocot during the turnover ceremonies. “To develop 21st century learners, we need ICT. This is a very inspiring moment because we can now produce global students in a global Filipino school. We want this to be the showcase or highlight of Region 12 and we assure Globe that we will do our best so that the objectives of this program will be immediately realized.”

Based on the GFS impact assessment released by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Global Market Research Company early this year, digital skills among teachers and students particularly on the usage of mobile technology and computer software, showed marked improvement. Students also became more well-rounded due to increased engagements driven by various pillars under the 21st Century Learning Framework. The notable increase in the presence of ICT equipment also resulted in more students and teachers now using ICT in their daily academic proceedings and becoming more engaged in the lessons.

GFS was recently recognized by DepEd as an official partner for the Adopt-A-School Program which aims to provide quality and relevant education to the Filipino youth through private sector participation.

For TM and Globe prepaid and postpaid customers who want to help public school students achieve their dreams, cash donations may be sent by texting GFS to 21580437 (0GFS) and following the instructions in the text messages. The general public, on the other hand, may deposit any amount to BPI Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Inc., Account No. 2421-0037-45. For inquiries, please email bridgecom@globe.com.ph.

Globe Seeks Rationalization of Permitting Process for Cell Sites as Data Traffic Rises Dramatically

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Globe Chief Information & Technology Officer Gil Genio emphasized at the recent DICT Summit, hosted by the Department of Information & Communications Technology, the need for more cell sites in the country taking into account dramatic rise in mobile data demand. He pointed out the company’s quarterly data traffic increased exponentially to 98 petabytes in the third quarter of the year from only 9 petabytes in the first quarter of 2013 amid growing customer propensity for multi-media content. To sufficiently meet growing customer demand for data, there is a need to rationalize permitting process for establishing new cell sites. The process, involving at least 25 permits, takes a minimum of 8 months to complete, Genio said. Above photo shows Genio (center), flanked by National Telecommunications Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba (right) and Chia Tan (left) Cisco Systems Director for Engineering Service Provider Asia Pacific Region Japan Region.

Who Wins the Ultimate Uber, Grab and Taxi Comparison?

Wazzup Pili[pinas!

This is a battle for the cheapest fare in SEA.

The stakes are high for the ride-hailing market in Southeast Asia. Two big competitors, Grab and Uber, are competing to gain market share, which is expected to become a $13 billion industry by 2025.

Since its inception 4 years ago, Grab has created a strong foothold in Southeast Asia with funding support of $750 million by Softbank in September 2016 and has great plans to advance further in the region. On the other hand, Uber’s recent move of selling off its China unit to DiDi in August 2016 is a clear indication that they are focusing their expansion efforts in Southeast Asia as well. This is apparent as Uber has been doubling down on resources, staffing and technology. While this sounds great for consumers, the ride-hailing industry is getting intensively competitive in the region.

This study was conducted to compare and identify the cheapest mode of transportation between the two ride-hailing giants with local taxies in each major Southeast Asian country. Our research in Southeast Asia takes in account on price differences by Grab, Uber and taxies based on various price components and price points.


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In the Philippines, based on moderate traffic in non-peak hours, people spend on average 30 minutes for 5 kilometers travelling within the city center. As such, consumers prefer Grab as it costs about 95 Pesos as compared to Uber at 135 Pesos and taxies at 125 Pesos respectively.

We see a similar trend as well in farther distances as it would cost 285 Pesos by Grab, 330 Pesos by Uber and 325 Pesos by taxies when travelling from the city center to suburban areas of 20 kilometers radius at about 80 minutes of travelling time.

As of 17 November 2016, Uber is still widely unavailable in the country because of the absence of Google turn-by-turn navigation needed by the app, except in Manila. Grab is available in major areas of the country such as Manila, Cebu and Davao.


Source: iPrice Study