Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Red Ribbon Graces the Yuletide Season with its Many Sweet Delights

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For Filipinos, December is unmistakably associated with the Christmas season. It is a time marked by longer nights and shorter days, as well as that all-too-familiar chill in the air. But while the cooling climate signals the start of the holidays, Christmas has always been the warmest season for Filipino families. It is a time when we all come together to celebrate the spirit of love and giving in every home.

Christmas will not be complete without the many colorful ornaments like parols, dancing lights, and Christmas trees all adding color to the already festive and joyous time of the year. Church bells peal as early as dawn to signal the start of the midnight Mass where many of the faithful come together in prayer.

Of course, the season will not be complete without the company of family and friends meeting once again over Noche Buena before gifts are exchanged and wishes of good tidings and prosperity whispered to each other. Indeed, we celebrate Christmas like no other country can.

"Out of all the Red Letter Days, Christmas is seen as the time for the biggest family gatherings. It is when we share special moments with our families and loved ones. It reminds us of the blessings that we have received throughout the year and at the same time reminds us that it is time to give back,” said Ned Bandojo, Head of Marketing of Red Ribbon.

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) explained the legality and the wisdom behind the downloading of the department’s 2015 unused funds to its attached agencies, which was pointed as (a) possibly illegal (b) a move to “pass the buck” and not to “spend the buck”

During the plenary deliberations at the Senate last November 22, DOTr said some of these funds were downloaded to its attached agencies via a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), a move guided by existing government audit regulations.

Allowed by COA

Downloading funds to an attached agency is allowed under Commission on Audit (COA) Circular 94-013 dated 13 December 2014. The circular states that the source agency, which originally programmed a project and received the appropriation for a project, is allowed to transfer funds to any department or office of the national government capable of implementing or continuing the project.

“Downloading of projects through an MOA is guided by COA, which ensures that the transferred fund is properly taken up in the books of both agencies and are used only for the intended purpose,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman.

Limited time

The new administration took over 30 June 2016, giving the new DOTr office six months to allocate the unspent funds from its 2015 budget before its expiry on 31 December 2016.

Government agencies have two years to allocate its budget before it will be reverted back to the National Treasury as “unobligated” funds.

Entering into a MOA with attached agencies is seen as a practical way to ensure that specific projects will continue.

“We are trying to handle backlogs from the past budget as much as we can, but this was a transition phase. We came in six months prior to the reversion of funds,” he said.

From PHP 19.2-billion in June 2016, the DOTr was able to obligate PHP 1.3-billion, leaving the total amount of unspent funds for 2015 to PHP 17.9-billion as of October 2016.

What will happen to the remaining PHP 17.9-billion ?

Of the remaining unspent funds, PHP 7.9-billion was downloaded to the DOTr’s attached agencies, PHP 6.2-billion was allotted for procurement until the end of the year, while the remaining PHP 3.8-billion will be reverted back to the Treasury.

Most of the downloaded funds were meant to bankroll regional airport projects. Among the recipients of the unspent funds were the: Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

ATTACHED AGENCY	AMOUNT (est.)
Manila International Airports Authority	PHP 474-Million
Clark International Airport Corporation	PHP 800-Million
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines	PHP3.1-Billion

Why it is better to download funds than revert it?

Government agencies are supposed to spend funds and not save it. When government spend the infrastructure funds, it implements the projects previously identified and approved to be beneficial for the citizens.

Transparency and accountability

The DOTr assures the public that the budget spent and allocated will be accounted for and properly taken up in the books of all agencies concerned. Apart from the FOI portal of the government, the major infrastructure agencies -- DOTr, DPWH, BCDA and the NEDA will launch a Transparency Portal that will have the project details of all the major infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration

“Proper accounting and reporting shall be made to ensure the appropriate utilization of funds,” added De Guzman.

Facilitating the Philippines for More Strategic Energy Investments

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As part of the celebration of the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM), the Department of Energy-Investment Promotion Office (DOE-IPO) held on Tuesday (06 December) the final leg of the series of investment forum this year at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in this city.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi explained that “the Energy Investment Forum is an opportunity to share with partners and stakeholders the updates on the DOE’s undertakings, including policy directions and investments opportunities in the energy sector.”

"We are supporting the advancement of the Philippines’ national social and economic agenda, by undertaking policy and market reforms complimented by an active stewardship of the public interest in the country’s energy resources and industries.” Sec. Cusi further stated.

In his presentation, Sec. Cusi discussed the current situation and investment opportunities in the power, upstream and downstream oil and gas, coal, renewable, coal, alternative and biofuels and energy efficiency and conservation.

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To protect consumers from adulterated petroleum products, the Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB) has conducted a series of inspections of several retail outlets/gas stations around Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, and Quezon.

"We have to protect our consumers from buying and using adulterated petroleum products, hence we are conducting onsite inspections," Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

“We cannot allow the oil players, especially illegal peddlers, to short-change our people by selling them adulterated petroleum products,” Cusi alerted.

From January to November 2016, a total of 924 retail outlets/gas stations were inspected by the DOE-OIMB. In the inspections conducted, 46 gasoline stations were found to have methanol blend ranging from 1-16% per volume.

Of the stations inspected, three belong to major players, 18 to independent players and 25 are white stations or retail outlets/gas stations that only have 1-5 existing service stations.

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Internet connectivity has become a necessity for many Filipino homes. A reliable access gives every member of the family many possibilities to shape their digital lifestyle. Globe Broadband reinforces their commitment to provide these connections through its line-up of offers launched at the recently held Wonderful World with Globe 12.

“During the first quarter of 2016, we announced that we will connect two million homes with fast Internet by the year 2020. We’ve made strides in expanding our reach to different key cities around the country and we are proud to be fulfilling our mission one city at a time,” said Barbie Dapul, Vice President of Globe Broadband Marketing.

At the start of the year, Globe Broadband transformed and powered Binondo, Manila to a “one digital city” using fiber technology. This was followed by a rollout to other key cities such as Quezon City, Cebu City, and Davao City. To complete an enriched home digital lifestyle, Globe Broadband also launched its new and improved customizable plans with 3x the speed and 3x the data allocation set to transform homes into the ultimate entertainment hub.

For this wonderful time of the year, Globe Broadband gives its customers new traditions in family entertainment with engaging content, plus a portfolio of devices to bundle it with.

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This Holiday Season, Bonifacio Global City’s streets come alive as countless retail and office buildings, bedecked with red glistening ribbons, transform into larger-than-life Christmas presents waiting to be unwrapped, while main avenue lamp posts and even BGC buses are adorned with beaming bows that bring the holiday festivity all over the city. In true, quirky BGC-fashion, even the traffic lights are a-glowing with green Christmas trees to tell you when to go and red stars for when it’s time to stop.

The main centerpiece is a 50-foot Christmas tree filled with sparkling ornaments, standing tall at Bonifacio High Street, complemented by a massive gift-box train, an instant blockbuster and favored selfie-spot amongst BGCitizens, families, and guests.

But perhaps the most exciting new attraction this year is BGC’s Epic Sights & Sounds Spectacle at the Bonifacio High Street Park. It is not your typical lights show, not like the ones you see in other estates. More than a showcase of illuminations and decorations, it is a full production: concert-quality, multi-colored strobe lights and moving heads dance in perfect sync with over-the-top, world-class musical scoring from international composer Brock Snow, a third year major of Film Scoring at the Virginia-based Liberty University who also plays as cellist for the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra.

BGC’s Epic Sights & Sounds Spectacle is sure to be a sensorial treat, perfect for BGC’s young, vibrant, and millennial-driven community. An Epic Experience, this is the Christmas of the future.

Catch this one-of-a-kind show at the Bonifacio High Street Park, fronting Italiannis, from December 1-26, every 30 minutes, between 6pm to 10pm daily.

A Christmas Carol, The Musical: On stage
Another holiday treat that kids and adults alike will surely love is the staging of “A Christmas Carol.”

It’s a world famous Christmas-themed play that’s based on the book by English author Charles Dickens. It revolves around the life of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly encounters, brought the life by the music of acclaimed musical composer Alan Menken.

Over 30 well-known and emerging talents in the Philippine theater industry will bring “A Christmas Carol” to life beginning December 1, 6pm at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

More Christmas treats at BGC

Of course, the Filipino Christmas wouldn’t be complete without celebrating the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi.

The BGC Association, in partnership with the BGC community city gives everyone the chance to hear the Holy Mass every night, from Dec. 5-24, at 6pm at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

A nearby stall from Lorenzo’s Way will greet you after the mass for a treat of hot choco and ensaymada!

Exciting perks also await Mastercard cardholders on this most wonderful time of the year!

Use your card to earn prizes! Secure a raffle coupon for every minimum spend of Php3,000 (single or accumulated receipt) at any Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Stopover, Crossroads, One Parkade, Two Parkade, The Fort, or Park Triangle establishment, and get a chance to be one of five winners of an epic P100,000 shopping spree at Bonifacio High Street; an overnight stay at Seda Hotel BGC; two free admission tickets to The Mind Museum & two complimentary passes to Bonifacio High Street Cinemas.

From the smallest of details to the grandest of gestures, BGC fulfills its promise to spread the Yuletide cheer and provide an epic Christmas adventure like no other!

For more information on BGC’s full holiday schedule of activities & promos, visit www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Microsoft Cloud Summit Helps ISV Partners Bring Innovative and Disruptive Solutions to the Philippine Market

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As businesses in the Philippines are embracing the cloud to make them highly competitive, Microsoft and its independent software vendor (ISV) partners have staged cloud application solutions for various industries during the Cloud Solutions Summit at the Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City.

The Cloud Solutions Summit has helped executives and business owners discover how embracing the hybrid cloud model can help IT manage increasing security and complexity in line with changing business needs. This event followed Microsoft’s recent general availability of Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 in the Philippines, which are directed at helping enterprises accelerate moves to the highly secure hybrid cloud.

At the event, Microsoft and its ISV partners showcased cloud application solutions for manufacturing, retail, banking, healthcare and small & medium enterprise (SME) sectors for businesses to jumpstart their digital transformation journey. Participating ISVs presented their cloud app pitches similar to the “Shark Tank” reality TV show, with My-Checkpoints emerging as winner. My-Checkpoints (https://www.my-checkpoints.com/help/aboutus.html) is a performance and rewards platform developed for BPO companies designed to provide fun incentives and rewards to their employees.

Photo caption: Herns Hermida, Microsoft Philippines Cloud & Enterprise Business Lead moderates the panel discussion at the Cloud Solutions Summit with (left to right): Brian Perry Ortañez, Systems Engineer, Fortinet; Dr. Ryan Bañez, Chief Medical Informatics Officer of Health Informatics; Dindo Fernando, Senior Channel Manager, Microsoft Philippines; Lars Jeppesen, CEO and co-founder Tech One Global and David Mould, Chief Digital Advisor, Microsoft Consulting Services

Explanation of Vote of Sen. Hontiveros on AIIB

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros’ explanation of vote on the Philippines’ ratification of membership to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
"Mr. President, I have refused to sign the resolution ratifying the Philippines’ accession to the Articles of Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

This is because, before becoming a member of another international financial institution, we should put our house in order by verifying whether the loan agreements our country has entered into with these institutions are in accordance with the principles on responsible sovereign lending and borrowing published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Among others, these principles make lenders responsible for making realistic assessments of the sovereign borrower’s capacity to service a loan based on the best available information and following objective and agreed technical rules on due diligence and national accounts.

Lenders are also made responsible for performing their own ex ante investigation into and, when applicable, post-disbursement monitoring of, the likely effects of the project, including its financial, operational, civil, social, cultural, and environmental implications.

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The stars came out to sparkle and shine at the Promenade and Theater Mall on Tuesday, November 15.

Over a thousand small and big lanterns lit up one by one at the traditional Christmas Lighting Ceremony of Greenhills Promenade and Theater Mall, and this year, a star-studded cast participated in the countdown.

Encantadia star Sanya Lopez, Destiny Rose star Ken Chan, heartthrob Hiro Peralta, hunk Jak Roberto, model Mac Manicad, and veteran stars Tirso Cruz III, Carla Martinez, Donita Rose and Director Gina Alajar were on hand to press the button that would turn on the Christmas lights and lanterns. John Nite, co-star of the late German “Kuya Germs” Moreno in his Saturday show “Walang Tulugan”, merrily played event host for the night.

In the past, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno made it a point to glam up the Promenade Greenhills Christmas ritual by bringing along showbiz friends and alagas like Gloria Romero, Barbie Forteza, Jake Vargas, Bea Binene and others. This year, his “alagas” carried on the tradition on his behalf.

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Ikinatuwa ng Department of Transportation ang pag-usad ng proyektong “pedestrian bridge” na magdudugtong sa NAIA Terminal 3 at Newport City.

Sa pamamagitan ng tulay na ito, maari nang bumaba sa Newport City ang isang pasaherong may biyahe sa Terminal 3 at gamitin ang pedestrian bridge sa halip na umikot ang sasakyan sa rotunda sa dulo ng Andrews Avenue.

Maari itong makabawas ng sasakyan sa Andrews Avenue.

May elevator mula sa baba na kakabit sa Newport mall patungo sa pedestrian bridge.

Airconditioned ang pedestrian bridge at may walkalator ito sa kabuuang 220 metro.

Ayon sa Travellers International Hotel Group na syang gumawa ng proyekto, ang kapasidad ng pedestrian bridge ay 2-libo katao. Sa isang araw kaya nitong mag lipat ng 216-libong katao (216,000 people).

Kapag nabuksan na sa Abril 2017, ito ay libre sa publiko, at bukas 24 oras, 7 araw kada linggo.

Sa inspeksyon ni DOTr Sec Art Tugade at DPWH Sec Mark Villar kanina, idiniin nila ang kahalagahan ng kaligtasan sa paggawa at siguraduhing hindi makaka-antala sa trapiko ang konstruksyon.

Lazada Philippines Wraps Up Online Revolution with a 6-day Grand Christmas Sale

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The country’s largest online one-stop shopping and selling destination, Lazada Philippines, is set to culminate its Online Revolution campaign with a bang with its Grand Christmas Sale, which is slated to happen this December 7-12.

With the success of the ongoing and highly in-demand Lazada Online Revolution, the company continues to offer its customers the best holiday shopping experience as it reveals further markdowns, the hottest deals and crazy discounts in its 6-day Grand Christmas Sale finale.

Don’t miss this mega-sale event of the year where you are in for an even sweeter holiday treat on amazing deals for Tech, Fashion, Home & Living, Health & Beauty, Travel, Toys & Babies and more.

Shop from the comfort of your homes and go online via Lazada.com.ph or boot up the Lazada mobile app and check out the wide array of the best product bargains, with prices up to 95% off.

Expect jaw-dropping and well-curated offers from popular branded items including a Lenovo Vibe 16GB phone for P4,499; Starmobile Engage Aura 14" Cherry Trail Quad-Core Windows 10 laptop for P7,999; a Logitech Optical Mouse for P199; GoPro Hero5 HD Camera at P18,999; Bosch Impact Drill-DIY Tool Set at P2,499.

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It’s the eighth leg of The Amazing Race Asia and teams must depart Singapore and head to Yogyakarta, Indonesia where they must make their way to Jomblang Cave to retrieve their next clue. The first team that reaches the Garuda Indonesia check-in counter in Singapore gets special access to the Garuda lounge.

JK & Mike are first to reach the airport and they decide to gift the special access to the other teams via a simple lucky draw. Rona & Eric win the pick of the draw and they gleefully make full use of the lounge.

“What a bunch of sweethearts!” exclaimed Eric, touched by their action.

At Yogyakarta, the teams rush out to grab a taxi to Jomblang Cave. Drama ensues as Treasuri & Louisa squeeze through the other teams and forcefully get their tickets first. The other teams look on with disdain and shock.

“We have a pact with Eric and Rona, and that’s to get rid of Treasuri and Louisa. That’s the goal,” says Parul and Maggie revealing their strategy.

While the other teams make their way to Jomblang Cave, Eric & Rona have to perform their Speed Bump penalty to make up for the last leg’s non-elimination. At this Speed Bump, Eric & Rona have to drink a traditional Indonesian herbal concoction while being blindfolded and guess which one it is. The duo bravely down the concoction and using its bitter taste as a gauge, they manage to guess the correct bottle in just a few minutes.

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Team Suzuki Pilipinas once again made the country proud as they conclude the Race 2 of the last leg of the Suzuki Asian Challenge (SAC) at the top spot. The Philippine national anthem was played for the first time at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand as Mario Borbon gave the Philippines its very first win in motor sports at the said track. This is also Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ 2nd championship title at the SAC this season.

Team Suzuki Pilipinas’ performances have improved greatly over the months. With a podium win at every leg of the race, they proved to be a strong force to reckon with. Held last December 2 to 4, 2016, the team showed an overall impressive race.

30 year-old Mario Borbon proved that his years of experience and perseverance at the race track will one day bring him his 1st top position at the SAC podium finishing with a time of 2:16.781. Coming from behind during the practice race, the Visayas rider showed his improvement during Race 1 as he led the pack in one of the laps of the race. More hopeful on the second and final round, he was able to maintain a good position during the race together with EJ Sobretodo who was also leading during the 5th and 6th lap. However, Sobretodo crashed due to a collision with a Sri Lankan rider during his last turn leaving Borbon to lead the remaining of the race.

Meanwhile, the very strong Mindanao rider April King Mascardo managed to stay at the 6th Place. Sobretoto, Mascardo and Borbon’s final standing is at 5th, 6th and 7th place respectively. The final round of the SAC ended gloriously for Team Suzuki Pilipinas with a sweet victory for our fellow Filipinos. -

Okay na si Lolo: Coca-Cola Agos Program Brings Renewed Hope to War Survivor

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Japanese airplanes were dropping bombs across Pili, Camarines Sur. People in the city fled the plains and went to different areas to save themselves, to save their families. Some ran to the fields, while the others decided to settle and create homes near or at the mountains. However, the safety of one’s life had a price to pay: there was no water.

Barangay Del Pilar is one of the communities that cradled the families who escaped the horrors of those bombings. Located at the upper section of the mountain in Baao, Camarines Sur, it is divided into three zones. As of 2014, it has become home to a total of 75 households, with a population of 384.

Among the residents is Cenederio Lopez. He is 74 years old, lives alone, and has never left Del Pilar since he was born. More than knowing the barangay like the back of an old friend’s hand, he never imagined in his lifetime that water would someday become easily available to them.

“It was really a sacrifice just to fetch water,” Lolo Cenederio shares. He recalls that it was a daily dilemma for most of his life, rooting back to when he was still a child. Whenever his family would run out of water, his father and older brothers would be up before the crack of dawn to fetch water with their containers and a carabao. Years later, it was still a problem, and it became part of the routine that Lolo Cenderio became accustomed to.

Because of his old age, he could no longer hike the way he did when he was younger. What he would do is to buy a water container worth PhP20 from his neighbors, however, this exchange came with a price, he still needed to do an hour’s worth of walking. The situation was simple: he either walked and carried the containers on his shoulders, or there would be no water at all.

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros' statement on VP Robredo's decision to resign as HUDCC Chair

I fully support Vice President Leni Robredo's decision to resign from President Rodrigo Duterte's cabinet. It was an abusive and toxic relationship, after all.

From the start, Vice President Robredo was not given enough support to fully exercise her task as the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairperson. As if by design, she was intended to fail. Worse, as a woman, she was disrespected and objectified on many occasions, by no less than the President himself. Her way of dressing was made object of sexist remarks, she was subjected to inappropriate advances and was even reduced to well-rounded knees.

Even the manner on how the Vice President was ordered not to attend future Cabinet meetings was intolerably disrespectful of the position she holds. It was cavalier and reeked of machismo. It was meant to denigrate Vice President Robredo one last time. It was meant to show that she is unworthy of the Chief Executive's time and any serious consideration.

Of course President Duterte has all the right to remove people from his Cabinet whom he thinks are incapable of implementing his brand of governance. The President and Vice President's "irreconcilable differences" are plain enough.

Yet, while others were removed for their inadequacies, Vice President Robredo was barred from future cabinet meetings because she dared oppose the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, extra-judicial killings, reimposition of death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and misogynistic attacks against women. She was punished for doing the right things.

I also worry that a Cabinet where a healthy divergence of opinion is not allowed is just an old boys’ club. This demonstrates once more President Duterte's intolerance for dissent.

I stand with Vice President Robredo in her fight to defend human rights, freedom and democracy. I also join her in safeguarding the will of the people from dark forces that want to steal the Vice Presidency, rewrite history and restore a corrupt and authoritarian past.

I am confident that the public is behind the Vice President too. The people will more than make up for the support President Duterte and his Cabinet failed to give her. Vice President Robredo has fallen from the Cabinet into the arms of the people.