LTFRB Recognizes Taxi Drivers Who Are Not "Isnabero"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The LTFRB will commend taxi operators who are supportive of Oplan Isnabero

LTFRB enforcers will list down the taxi trade name, plate number, and name of mall that picks up passengers in the designated taxi bay areas. The Top 10 highest ranking taxis will be formally commended by the Board in January 2017

Oplan Isnabero was re-launched on December 14 in partnership with shopping malls in Metro Manila

Annual operation to protect passengers from taxi drivers who:

(1) Refuse to convey passengers
(2) Do not use taxi meters
(3) Do not give correct change
(4) Do not reach out to PWDs, senior citizens & pregnant women
(5) Do not wear ID
(6) Do not observe traffic rules 

Penalties:

o 1st offense – P5,000
o 2nd offense – P10,000 + 30-day impoundment
o 3rd offense – cancellation of franchise

31 LTFRB enforcers + 80-90 employees to be posted near taxi bays of SM, Robinson's, Ayala, Landmark, Araneta, and Starmall

LTFRB Central issued memo to other regions to implement same ops if applicable in their region

Hotline of Oplan Isnabero: 1342


ATTACHMENT: Reminders from LTFRB on Oplan Isnabero

Body Shots 2016 Candidates in Swimwear at the Grand Finals Night

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here are the female candidates of Body Shots 2016 during the Grand Finals night held on November 30, 2016 at the Expo Hall of Fisher Mall in Quezon City.

Congratulations to the new crop of models who made it to the ranks of the ultimate model at BodyShots 2016.

Bodyshots 2016 is an event of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) and produced by Creative Saints in Manila, Philippines.

Partner Photographer: Collin Sarthou Yap

Miss Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle, is Crowned Miss World 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is home to the most beautiful women in the world, not only in looks, but also charisma, caring nature and positive attitude! It is not surprising that many of our beauty pageant candidates are always getting either a finalist or the top position.

Among the many top beauty pageants is the Miss World which is also a highly anticipated event worldwide. We have regular candidates participating at this pageant yearly, and for this year we have Catriona Elisa Gray who finished in the Top 5, while Miss Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle, is crowned Miss World 2016.

I was already happy with the Philippines reaching up to the top 5 finalists, but was surely hoping to have her getting the Miss World 2016 crown, especially with that fabulous answer to the question given to her by Miss World 2015, Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young hosts the pageant night with Jason Cook. Megan's contract with the Miss World organization apparently expired but they still get Megan Young's services for pageant activities.

Filipinos all over the world are still jubilating! Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray was assured a top spot at the Miss World 2016 quarterfinals for her Multimedia challenge win. Mongolia bagged the Talent award while Philippines is the Multimedia winner! The Beauty with a Purpose Top 5 finalists are India, Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, and Kenya!

Miss Philippines is really a talented woman. Did you know that she wrote the script for her own contestant introduction video to Miss World 2016?

Driver’s License Cards Out in Metro Manila on Monday, December 19

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Plastic license cards will be available beginning December 19, Monday, the Land Transportation Office announced Saturday.

LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said those who have pending applications from Jan. 1 to Oct. 16 may claim their cards at 36 licensing offices in Metro Manila on Dec. 19.

Galvante said applicants only need to present the Official Receipt issued to them when they applied for their license card. He also warned the public not to deal with fixers who may deceive them and ask for fees to claim their cards.

“I would like to caution all the claimants that they need not pay a single centavo to claim their driver’s licenses since they have already paid for it,” he said.

The Metro Manila release of the cards will erase 700,000 of the 3-million backlog in 3-years valid driver’s license cards. Rollout in other regions will follow, and is expected to be completed by February 2017.

LTO’s last supplier of cards was Allcard Philippines Inc. But its contract had expired last May.

The shortage of license cards started in 2013 when the Commission on Audit disallowed payments to former supplier, Amalgamated Motor Philippines Inc., for lack of a proper contract.

PAL Launches Clark-Caticlan Flights at Clark International Airport

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This new milestone is part of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and PAL on 15 December 2016, wherein the flag carrier committed to mount domestic and international flights in Clark beginning December 2016 to first quarter of 2017.

The maiden flight with route Clark-Caticlan was welcomed with a water salute at Clark International Airport today, December 18, 2016.

PAL President James Bautista said the agreement further solidifies the airline’s commitment to help the government develop secondary hubs in order to ease congestion at the Manila terminals.

There will be one Clark-Caticlan flight a day, or seven flights in a week. Starting January 2017, PAL will be adding more flights in Clark for its Cebu, Davao, Busuanga and Cagayan de Oro routes. PAL will also launch daily international flights to Incheon, South Korea from Clark Airport by January 2017. It is expected to have 21 flights per week at Clark airport.

Aleron All-Male Choir Launches their Journey to Europe via Release of “Dakilang Hiwaga” Christmas CD Album

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ALERON, one of the country’s top all-male choir launched recently their debut Christmas album “Dakilang Hiwaga,” which includes a wide variety of songs. Also included in the album are some songs from their European Concert and Competition tour repertoire.

The group aims to further cement the Filipino’s reputation of having some of the world’s most formidable musicians through this trip. The group is set to compete in the most prestigious choral singing festivals and competitions from May to July of 2017.

The most important leg of their tour is the 11th World Symposium for Choral Music which will be held in Barcelona, Spain. The event is hosted by the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) and will feature the world’s finest choirs and choral leaders. ALERON is one of IFCM’s ambassadors for 2017, and they are the only Filipino performer to have been invited to the event.

ALERON, translated from Latin as "the winged one," is geared towards exploring the male choral soundscape. Through innovative programming and the performance of repertoires across musical styles and genres, the group aims to deliver to its audiences a diverse and unique choral experience.

ALERON first came into existence in 2006 as the alumni ensemble of the Ateneo de Manila High School Glee Club under the musical direction of Christopher Ong Arceo. Today, the group is composed of male choristers from different backgrounds: most of which are from the Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines musical networks.

ALERON envisions to broaden the all-male choral genre by continuously commissioning and premiering new works throughout its concert seasons. To date, the group has performed original works by several established and up-and-coming Filipino composers such as Josefino Chino Toledo, Robin Estrada and Mary Katherine Trangco.

Civil Society United in Support of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez’s Campaign Against Destruction of Communities By Irresponsible Global Extractive Mining

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After years of untrammeled destruction of our communities and environment, we finally have the courageous leadership needed to halt the pernicious and irresponsible actions of the global extractive mining industry.

We, members of civil society organizations, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations, have come together to manifest our full support for Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez’s campaign to hold irresponsible global mining interests accountable and to halt operations found to be running afoul of environmental standards.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act, large-scale foreign owned mining has destroyed our natural resources and displaced countless communities, especially in the rural areas. Government has already given mining concessions covering more than 600,000 hectares of land. Despite the hype, these were not able to provide additional revenues for the government, nor uplift the lives of the affected communities. Instead, hectares upon hectares of forest lands have been denuded, rivers and lakes have been contaminated, and agricultural lands have become unproductive. These destructive economic activities must stop.

We believe that Secretary Lopez is a crusader who has the sincere desire to preserve the environment, alleviate poverty, and address social and environmental injustices that have hobbled the poor.

We welcome her campaign against illegal logging, illegal mining, and other destructive practices that aggravate the devastation of our natural resources. Towards the success of this campaign, we recommend that DENR review all permits granted to mining, logging and other environmentally sensitive activities to ensure compliance with government standards. If warranted, they should amend, suspend or revoke these permits.

We are encouraged by recent developments made possible by the mining audit that Secretary Lopez initiated. Some 20 out of 30 mining contracts have already been recommended for suspension. With the suspensions, the mining companies concerned should rehabilitate the natural resources they ravaged. At the same time, government should provide alternative jobs and sources of livelihood to workers in the mining industry affected by the suspensions.

More importantly, we support the Secretary’s campaign against corruption within the DENR and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Many mining permits and Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) have been issued to mining companies in the past, even if some of these companies failed to comply with certain environmental standards and communities were not consulted in the process of such approvals. Corruption in the mining industry and in the agency supposed to regulate it, if left unaddressed, will bleed our natural resources dry, imperil our environment, and beleaguer the future of generations to come.

Lastly, we urge Secretary Lopez to act swiftly against China’s virtual occupation of the Philippine mining industry. The Chinese stranglehold over mining interests in the Philippines began during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, when Chinese corporations registered in the Philippines to mine for gold, iron ore, nickel, copper, manganese, lead, zinc, chromite and cobalt.

These Chinese mining corporations have since operated in 16 provinces in the country including: Cagayan, Benguet, Zambales, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Palawan, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Misamis Oriental, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.

We have long awaited the type of bold leadership currently being displayed by Secretary Lopez in the DENR. The interests of impoverished communities and environmental sustainability have, for far too long, lost out to powerful global mining players. We hope that she will continue to provide the leadership needed to fulfill DENR’s mandate to current and future generations of Filipinos. In every step of the way, in every danger she may face in her crusade, so long as it is for the preservation of our environment and for the welfare of our communities, we will be there to stand by and support our DENR Secretary: Secretary Gina Lopez.

Thank you.

Signed,

KA TRINING DOMINGO (KABAPA) • KA JIMMY TADEO (PARAGOS Pilipinas) • KA ED MORA (PKMP) • KA MANING ROSARIO (PKSK) • KA ELVIE BALADAD (Samahang 53 Ektarya ng Macabud) • AMPARO MICIANO (PKKK) • MA. DIVINA “KA IZA” MUNOZ (IRDF) • DANNY CARRANZA (KATARUNGAN) • RIC REYES (Rights Network) • MEANNE MANAHAN (Focus on the Global South) • ROMEO “OMI” C. ROYANDOYAN (Centro Saka Inc.) • DINNA UMENGAN (Tambuyog Development Center) •ALVARO “AL” O. SENTURIAS, JR. (Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement) • FROILYN TENORIO (Teduray Lambangian Women’s Organization) • MOHAMMAD ABAS (TASBIKKA) • JOSE “JUN” ADORABLE, JR. (Alyansa Maglulubi Mindanaw) • EUGENE QUIRANTE (Negros Farmers Council) • ARZE GLIPO (IRDF) • JHUN PASCUA (PKMM) • KA ELOY MAMPLATA (Laguna Lake Cons. Council) • KA JAIME EVANGELISTA (MAPAGPALA) • KA MELCHOR MAGANO (MAPAGPALA) • MINERVA GONZALES (CERD) • ZENY MANSILIOHAN (KALALAGAN CARAGA) • DAVID SANTOS (Ka Tribu ug and Lasang Foundation) • PATRICIA FE GONZALES • MARILOU C. TAPIA (BRETHREN Inc.) • PABLO ROSALES (PANGISDA-Pilipinas) • ERNESTO LACTAO (Isabela SE-LED Network) • PRINCESS NEMENZO (WomanHealth Philippines/ Campaign for a Life of Dignity) • MARIVIC RAQUIZA •ISAGANI R. SERRANO (PRRM) • MARGARITA C. ROYANDOYAN (Women’s Initiative for Social Development) • AUREA MICLAT-TEVES (National Food Coalition/FIAN Philippines/Peoples Development Institute) • MARITA RODRIGUEZ (Aksyon Klima Pilipinas)

Animate Your Life with Saving Sally at the MMFF 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"MMFF... Maraming Magandang Filipino Films!" - Saving Sally

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) council for this year could should be praised for no longer continuing to accepting poorly conceptualized movies with no substantial or significant story lines and only capitalizes on the popularity of its lead stars.

The acceptance of only quality films would make the movie choices on Christmas Day of December 25 a lot more interesting to watch since it would not cater to the upper level crowd that usually snubs the MMFF due to crap movie choices.

Being low-budgeted does not necessarily mean poor quality films. It only means it was a lot more challenging for the people involved to finish the movie project. It is quite admirable that these individuals have managed to come up with a promising piece even though they do not have the luxury of resources or financial funding.

I would be equally surprised that I would be included among the MMFF choices for the public to watch on a highly celebrated occasion when most people are joyously out there on the streets with their families dining out them watching their choice of movie.

One of the movies included among the 8 MMFF 2016 entries is Saving Sally, a familiar coming-of-age story told with super-stylized visuals. The project blends live action, 2D animation and an abundance of warm, fuzzy feelings to create a totally unique and loveable little film. The movie is from Director Avid Liongoren and Writer Charlene Sawit-Esguerra, with actors TJ Trinidad, Enzo Marcos and Rhian Ramos.

We recently had a bloggers conference (blogcon) with some of the Saving Sally peeps, specifically with actor TJ Trinidad, it's Director and it's writer.  The blogcon was held at the Tomato Kick restaurant located in Sct. Madrinan corner Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

"Witness The Victory 2.0" and "Kick Your Way to Barcelona" with Beko Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Beko Philippines recently held an event for bloggers to inform us of their newest promos, namely the "Witness The Victory 2.0" and "Kick Your Way to Barcelona," which gives everyone a lot of chance to fly to Barcelona.

At an event held at Contis Greenbelt 2 branch in Makati, selected bloggers where given an overview of the promos and mechanics by Plug and Play 360 representatives.

When I entered the room, one of them seemed to be wearing an official uniform of the FC Barcelona team so I thought he was a player but later on I realized he was just wearing it to put in the vibe at the event. There was also a tarp infront showing some of the FC Barcelona team members wearing the newer version of their uniform. You can tell from the video we made that I tried to make a joke about it but failed because I couldn't stop laughing already.

"Witness The Victory 2.0" is open to all buyers of Beko appliances who purchased at SM Appliance Store from November 15, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Buyers can claim raffle tickets whose number will be based on the amount of purchase. Below Php 20K will be equivalent to 1 ticket, below 40K will be 2 tickets, below 60K is 3 tickets, and 6)k and up is 4 tickets.

Two lucky winners will win a trip for two (includes round-trip flights, accommodations with breakfast, city tour and tickets to the game) to Barcelona, Spain and watch FC Barcelona play in the Spanish La Liga match on April 2017.

Wow, that's just a few months away from now since it's already the end of 2016.

There are also 60 other special prizes composed of jerseys, gym bags and soccer balls, so it means a lot of chances of winning at least one of the prizes at stake.

Give Your Best To Your Partner

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What other things can you give your partner this Christmas aside from love and security? Aside from all the material things you can think of, you can give them all your time and attention. It may have seen such a long time since you last cuddled in bed without hurrying so it’s just rightful to give them more of yourself this holiday. Why not spice things up and make love using Robust Extreme?

Robust Extreme provides a different level of intimate long-lasting endurance. With Spiral Algae, Corn Extract, Medlar Extract, Ginseng Extract, Epimedium Extract, Cistanche Salsa Extract and Hawthorne Berry—all these natural ingredients will keep you going for longer hours, giving extreme pleasure and satisfaction!

Show your love and affection by being fun, surprising, creative and exciting when it comes to lovemaking to your partner with Robust Extreme!

Robust Extreme is high content 100% Pure extract of Spiral Algae, Corn, Medlar, Ginseng , Epimedium, Cistanche Salsa and Hawthorne Berry of that is made more effective than powdered ingredients. It is a product of extensive research and development that guarantees top quality and excellent promising health results which makes it absolutely different from other supplements.

CONSLA Partylist Files Petition at SC for Allege May 2016 Manipulation of Votes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The CONSLA (Confederation of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Associations) party-list, one of the 115 party-list groups accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to participate in the May 2016 elections, recently filed with the Supreme Court in Manila on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, a Petition-in-Intervention to the case filed by Atty. Eduardo V. Bringas', Bishop Reuben M. Abante's, and Moses C. Rivera's petition for mandamus to compel the COMELEC to order an independent and thorough investigation of the discrepancies between the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Council for Responsible Voting's (PPCRV) results which were obtained from the Transparency Server and the COMELEC's canvassing to clarify what happened in the aftermath of the May 9, 2016 National Elections.

On May 10, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., PPCRV's own Twitter account, @PPCRV_2016, showed that CONSLA was 14th overall with 523,753 votes. An hour after, or at 12:00 noon, CONSLA maintained its 14th position, with its votes increasing to 555,896 votes.

Surprisingly, however, COMELEC's own canvassing results eventually showed CONSLA failing to obtain even half of the votes twitted by PPCRV through its Twitter account, as CONSLA only garnered a total of 213, 814 votes.

CONSLA's missing votes could be a case of outright negligence on the part of COMELEC and PPCRV, or could have been a deliberate effort to rob CONSLA of its seat in the 17th Congress.

Protect Your Liver This Holiday Season

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As we welcome the holiday season, we also welcome overeating “good” food and binge drinking sugary and alcoholic beverages. Though it is okay to cheat a little, the holiday season doesn’t provide a free pass for you to eat and drink everything you want without affecting your health. Whatever you drink or eat, whenever it is and whatever occasion it is, your body will take in the consequences. Some of us may not think about it, but it definitely would affect your body in the long run. Avoid this from happening especially during the holiday season, get yourself a supplement that protects the liver’s health, get LiverMarin!

ATC LiverMarin is specifically made to aid our liver with its Silymarin and Sodium Ascorbate compounds. Here are the benefits of Silymarin and Sodium Ascorbate:

· Silymarin – Is an anti-fibrotic which helps avoid tissue scarring. It also blocks the toxins away from our body, away from our liver.

- It regenerates liver cells damaged by alcohol or drugs.
- It protects us against industrial poisons.
- It is a good antioxidant

· Sodium ascorbate – Has general immune boosting properties. It helps prevent the body from getting diseases.

- Has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which aids in protecting the body from harmful diseases.
- Is essential for the body to be able to synthesize collagen, which is an essential component of connective tissues.

Takeda Philippines Awarded 2017 Top Employer Status

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. (Takeda Philippines) has been certified as a Top Employer for its outstanding employee offerings. The recognition comes from Top Employers Philippines and Top Employers Asia Pacific 2017 through independent research conducted by the Top Employers Institute.

The annual international research undertaken by the Institute recognizes leading employers around the world: those that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organization, and which strive to continuously optimize employment practices. Takeda Philippines is one of the select companies to achieve the exclusive Top Employers Asia Pacific 2017 certification. Takeda has also been similarly certified in a number of other countries in the region.

“This is a significant milestone for Takeda in the Philippines,” said Gabriel Georgy, President and General Manager of Takeda Philippines. “We have focused on investing in our staff, providing an environment that encourages learning and also put in place initiatives that will help our people develop and flourish in their careers. For an organization that has been operational for less than two years, this is something that we should be very proud of. Takeda is also delighted to be part of the exclusive and internationally renowned community of Top Employers in Asia Pacific.”

The Top Employers Institute globally certifies excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. It recently announced the overall results of this year’s research into the employee conditions of significant employers in the region. Crucial to the Top Employers process is that participating companies must meet the required high standards in the research in order to achieve the certification. In addition, organizations that achieve certification in at least four countries within the region are awarded the special Top Employers Asia Pacific 2017 recognition.

Exciting Condo Projects to Look Forward to in 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Global property portal Lamudi Philippines lists down some exciting real estate projects slated to be completed in 2017

As Philippine real estate continues to flourish, developers all over the country are giving their best to provide the most unique real estate projects that match the evolving needs of Filipino homebuyers. For 2017, another batch of fresh and exciting properties will once again change the Philippine real estate landscape.

In Metro Manila, a couple of exciting developments will open this 2017. Taguig alone will welcome a vibrant mix of residential properties from top real estate companies. Megaworld, the real estate arm of business mogul Andrew Tan, will welcome the first residents of its Venice Luxury Residences and The Viceroy, both of which are in the developer’s mixed-use McKinley Hill township in Fort Bonifacio.

Venice Luxury Residences is a three-tower Italian-inspired high-rise condo development. Sitting right next to the Venetian Grand Canal Mall, it offers executive studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 39 to 120 sqm. The Viceroy, on the other hand, is a much more affordable option offering studios and one-bedroom apartments, and is geared towards young professionals. Also in McKinley Hill, this four-tower condo high-rise is expected to be turned over in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Avida Land, a subsidiary of property giant Ayala Land, will complete and turn over this 2017 its newest residential offering, the Avida Towers Verte at the corner of 9th Avenue and 34th Street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). A variation of the Spanish word, “to see” Avida Towers Verte is carefully designed to maximize the optimum views of the greens and wide spaces of the northern section of BGC. Avida Towers Verte is slated for turnover in December 2017.

Filipino Fighter Rene Catalan Aims to Establish First Winning Streak in ONE Championship

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Winning has been closely associated with Filipino fighter Rene Catalan (1-2) in international Wushu tournaments as he has brought home numerous gold medals for the Philippines.

However, having his hand raised as the winner in mixed martial arts (MMA) has been elusive since he transitioned to the world’s fastest-growing sport in 2013.

Like capturing the gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, one unforgettable moment in his illustrious fighting career was when Catalan finally claimed his first victory as an MMA competitor last September.

With an incredible work rate and accurate striking, Catalan dominated Chinese combatant Zhang You Liang to win the three-round strawweight encounter via unanimous decision at ONE: UNBREAKABLE WARRIORS.

After his remarkable conquest of Zhang in September, Catalan moves onto his next assignment as he faces ONE Strawweight Indonesian Tournament Champion Adrian Matheis (3-1) at ONE: QUEST FOR POWER in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January.

The 38-year-old Filipino Wushu veteran sees his marquee match-up against Matheis as an opportunity to extend his success inside the ONE Championship cage.

“This is my chance to establish my first winning streak in ONE Championship. It’s not impossible. That’s why I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training. I want to keep on winning,” Catalan said.

According to Catalan, he is inspired to win against his Indonesian foe because this gives him another opportunity to give honor to the Philippines.

“I am inspired to win the fight because I am representing the Philippines. It is always an honor to fight for my country. My goal in this fight is to win and bring pride to my nation,” he stated.

Although both men possess superb striking pedigrees, Catalan believes that he still has the upper hand in the stand-up department.

“I still believe that my striking is better than his stand-up game. I am very comfortable in that aspect. If he wants to strike with me, it will be my pleasure,” he pointed out.

With the aim to be a more versatile fighter than his cage counterpart, Catalan revealed that he worked extensively on his ground game in training camp.

“For this fight, I added more emphasis to my ground game. Even though I am coming off a win, I shouldn’t be complacent. I trained with the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the country to hone my grappling skills,” he bared.

Catalan hopes that if he secures a decisive win over Matheis, it will grant him a date with Yoshitaka Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt.

“Every fighter dreams to become a world champion. I really hope that ONE Championship will give me an opportunity to fight for the title in the future. This fight might be the door to a world title fight. Let us all hope for the best,” he said.

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