Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Extra Judicial Killings Exhibit at Baclaran Church: Is EJK the Answer to the Drug Problem and Criminality?

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*while shopping in Baclaran*

Me: *stops in a store*

Sales lady: Hi ma'am! Ano po gusto nyo?

Me: World peace! Maibibigay mo ba?

*runs away*

Merong exhibit ang Redemptorist Church sa Baclaran of violent photos in re: EJK killings. Is this right? Korek ba sa tingin niyo ang ginawa nang simbahan sa Baclaran? Pinalabas nila na "mali ang magpatay." Okay, mali nga, bakit noong Inquisition marami din ang pinatay nang Simbahang Katoliko, including the 3 Filipino priests who opposed church's policies? The founder of the Catholic Church, Constantine the Great, was also a murderer!

The Catholic Church in the Philippines had caused the murder of Jose P. Rizal! Rizal and Graciano Lopez-Jaena (who is 160 years old today) wrote about the excesses of the Catholic Church and the "holy" orders of priests. It is not right to kill as long as you're the one doing the killing seems to be the church's motto!

Mali nga ang magpatay, pero tama ba ang ang magtulak nang illegal drugs? Hindi ba dahandahan na pagpatay rin yan ang magiging adik ka? Dapat ang i-condemn dito ay ang pagtulak at paggamit nang pinagbababawal na gamot! It is very clear na the Church is protecting the pushers and the drug lords in its recent pakulo. Ibang klase nang "lord" yata ang sinasamba nila?"

EJK has long been happening and so rampantly at that during the past administration perpetrated by DRUGLORDS towards hapless drug pushers who failed to remit their sales that the people seemed to have gotten used to it & treating it as a natural occurrence. Why is it only now that the Roman Catholic Church expressed alarmed regarding the situation? Why only now?

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It is no secret that scammers abound during the Christmas season. Whether it's because people are busy and easily distracted, or simply because traditions call for quick flow of cash in December, these scammers take advantage of the holidays, getting more creative in tricking unsuspecting victims to giving them their hard-earned cash or credits.

Smart Communications is once again reminding its subscribers to be extra cautious when dealing with unknown individuals. Be aware and keep your friends and loved ones informed about these common scams and trickeries.

1. The Pretend Pasaloader. This scammer will pretend to be someone (usually an elderly who calls you iho/iha) who mistakenly transferred to your account some prepaid load or credits meant supposedly for his family member. He will then politely ask you to give back the load. The general rule is: Unless you know and trust the person, never ever transfer load. And keep in mind the official Smart Pasaload syntax. Remember that texting to access code 808 is for transferring load to another account.

2. The Fake Promo Master. This one's a classic. This scammer will trick you into believing that you've won a raffle or a contest (without you even joining anything). He, usually pretending to be a lawyer or an officer from a government office or institution, will ask to be called and convince the victim to deposit money in order to process or claim the prize. Do not fall for this scam (even if he invokes high-ranking officials or present you with fake DTI numbers). For Smart promos, Smart only informs its winners through registered mail and a call from the number 7777 (not a text from a regular 11-digit mobile number)

3. The Phony Roaming Relative. This scammer will first try to earn your trust by claiming to be your relative who just acquired a new roaming number. He will also try to bait you with promises of balikbayan box items, your favorite perfume, shoes in your size, and many more. Sooner, this scammer will try to ask you for load credits, and even cash deposits. Remember the rule: always confirm and verify before trusting a stranger speaking with you through SMS and chat. Ask your other relatives, or better yet, ask the relative they are pretending to be, through other means of communication (chat, social media, etc.).

4. The Suspicious Seller. Aside from the common text scams, online fraudsters are also tracking activities and posts of interested online shoppers, especially in social media accounts of online stores. They will gather the information you post through inquiries and purchase intent and use these information to pretend to be the seller, communicating the victims through fake chat profiles. Be sure to transact ONLY through the official store or online channel. Check their contact infromation and always verify before sending the payment.

Remember, it's not a bad thing to be skeptical when receiving messages from people we do not know. Always examine and verify the identities of the people , especially when your money or credits are involved. You've worked very hard, and it's not wise to just give it all away to these scammers.

For more tips on how to detect text scams click here.

To report text scammers, click here.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Healthway Medical Renews Partnership with Regal-Beloit Asia Pte. Ltd. as Corporate Clinic Services Provider

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Regal Beloit, a leading global manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and residential engineering applications, prefers Healthway Medical to ensure employee wellness through providing superior healthcare, which happens to be what the clinic has been delivering its clients. (L-R) Regal’s HR Officer Mariane Rapadas; Facilities and Safety Assistant Supervisor Roman Angelo Munji; and HR Manager Manuel Casimiro, recently penned the renewal of their corporate clinic services contract with Healthway Medical’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing Carmie de Leon; Sales Manager Noreen Arellano; and Sales Specialist Nica Mae Buñales. “We are privileged to work once again with Regal-Beloit in providing their corporate clinic services because we are a firm believer in the philosophy that a healthy workforce translates to a productive business organization,” said De Leon.

Only One Quarter of Southeast Asian Firms Ready for Digital Leadership

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Nearly one-quarter of Southeast Asian businesses are Digital Leaders, a new study by SAP SE and Oxford Economics, the“ Leaders 2020 study” shows. This is higher than the global average of 16%; this new class of high-performing companies is reporting stronger profit growth, higher employee engagement, and cultures that are more inclusive.

These high-functioning organizations have executives who communicate a company-wide digital strategy, keep management and worker skills up to date, and streamline organizational structure.

Analysis of Southeast Asian firms in the Leaders 2020 study also affirms the business benefits of diversity, showing a correlation between those who are leading in digital transformation and those who have a heightened understanding of the importance of diversity. Digital Leaders around the world and Southeast Asian respondents are both more likely to recognize diversity’s positive impact on culture (66%and 62%, respectively), but only Digital Leaders are more likely to see the benefits in financial performance (37% vs. 25%).

Companies have become more diverse in Southeast Asia than in other regions over the past three years. Three-quarters of Southeast Asian respondents saw diversity improvements in the general workforce of their organization, and 42% saw an increase in board and senior leadership, compared with 67% and 34% globally. However, less than 40% in Southeast Asia state that their company has effective diversity programs in place, signaling more could be done, especially at the senior executive and corporate board levels.

The Leaders 2020 study also found that only 61% of Southeast Asian executives (vs. 55% globally) are making data-driven decisions, a key factor that makes a Digital Leader. It is of little wonder that only 62% of Southeast Asian executives (vs. 59% globally) feel that employees are equipped with the skills necessary to keep up with digital technology.

“A diverse workforce encourages bold, innovative ideas to flourish and in turn, presents insights which are only made possible through that diversity. It is of little coincidence that these two capabilities – leveraging data for decisions and maintaining a diverse workforce – both occur for high-performing organizations,” said Scott Russell, president and managing director, SAP Southeast Asia.

The Leaders 2020 research findings for Southeast Asia revealed at SuccessConnect 2016, the premier conference held by SAP SuccessFactors for HR and C-suite executives in Singapore, shows that it pays to be a Digital Leader:

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Look at any M&A due diligence checklist and you’ll see the same things: financials, customer information, sales, real estate, intellectual property, contracts—and the list goes on. One thing you may not see is information security, and that can be a crucial mistake.

Like any other critical component of running a business, security needs to be right at the top of the list for M&A due diligence. When combining two companies, they often have different and sometimes even incompatible systems and data. That can create opportunities for hackers. If a company is in the news for a merger or acquisition, it’s a fair bet that hackers and data thieves are going to try their hand at breaching its security. A good business decision can turn bad very quickly if security is an afterthought.

A CFO’s job is to realize the optimal business case, mitigate the risk, and protect the company’s assets, both tangible and intangible. In addition to data, some of a company’s most critical assets are its reputation and the loyalty of customers. An acquisition can make customers of both companies apprehensive. If that’s followed up by a massive breach of sensitive customer data, the companies’ customers will flee in droves.

To avoid that worst-case scenario, here are some things to keep in mind during the M&A process.

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Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi directed the energy family and its partner agencies to prepare and closely monitor the entry of Tropical Storm (TS) Nina in ensuring minimal impact to energy facilities for the people to enjoy continuous energy supply during the holidays.

According to the weather bureau PAGASA, TS Nina is expected to make landfall over the Bicol Region, particularly in Samar, between 24 and 25 December 2016.

Sec. Cusi said, “I asked the energy family, specifically the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA), to prepare necessary pre-cautionary measures, especially for the speedy restoration and recovery if the storm will affect the power facilities.”

“Even during holidays, the Task-Force Kapatid will be readied for easy mobilization of assets,” Secretary Cusi added.

In particular, the Secretary also alerted the concerned electric cooperatives specifically those within the projected track of the storm of their contingency measures and to closely coordinate with concerned government agencies and local government units.

As to petroleum products, Sec. Cusi asked the oil companies to ensure prescribed inventory of fuels, especially to those communities that depend on gasoline and diesel for their daily activities, to protect oil consumers from hampered services.

On the other hand, Sec. Cusi reminds the public to immediately report to the nearest authority/ies any incidents affecting the power supply facilities and to exercise emergency and safety measures as follows:

· Charge flashlights and mobile phones
· Be informed on the latest news updates
· Switch-off circuit breaker and other electrical systems to avoid electrocution, among other electrical mishap.
· After the typhoon, check first before using the electrical systems to avoid short circuits.

“We should not downplay the possible impacts of Tropical Storm Nina. We have to consistently prepare and ensure that the generation, transmission, distribution and oil facilities are all operational before, during and even after the storm. The DOE is committed to work for the Filipinos to enjoy the holidays despite the coming of the typhoon,” Secretary Cusi concluded.

CHED Supports Broadest Access to Higher Education

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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) supports the inclusion of an eight billion peso (PhP8B) budget for Free Tuition for all Undergraduate Students in all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as a special provision in the 2017 General Appropriations Act.

In the short term, this will incrementally improve enrollment rates, and will help free up financial resources for other college expenses and needs of the students. From a wider perspective, this amount will eventually increase the available income of families.

To bring the country closer to the reality of Free College Education, the Commission will work overtime to ensure that the wisdom and specific intentions of lawmakers will be accurately reflected in the Free Tuition guidelines it is set to create. CHED will coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Audit (COA) and other oversight government agencies to ensure the legality of all the proposed processes and procedures in the guidelines. CHED will also coordinate with all private Higher Education Institutions, both individually and through their various associations, to help ensure their role under this new policy regime. CHED will also work closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for improved complementation.

In light of issues and concerns raised by various sectors, CHED is aware of its responsibility to ensure that these funds are spent according to how they are intended. It will be guided by fairness, cost recovery and alignment of incentives.

CHED will ensure that the wide-reaching implications of this major reform in Higher Education will be brought about effectively, and any negative consequences will be
minimized. The timing of this reform is fortunate, as strong political will and a robust economy allows the country to embark on major reforms that were not possible in the past.

Issued this 23rd of December 2016 at the Higher Education Development Center Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

For the Commission:

(signed)
Patricia B. Licuanan, Ph.D.

Chairperson

Ricky Lee Releases New Book

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After five years, award-winning screenwriter and author Ricky Lee comes out with his latest book Kung Alam N'yo Lang: Mga Kuwentong Pambata Para sa mga Hindi na Bata, a collection of four stories told from the point of view of four children.

The 250-page book, which targets both children and adults, tackles topics as diverse as the search for God (Ang Nawawalang Diyos), a kid who sees letters come to life in his room (Ang Sayaw ng mga Letra), bullying in a town that has forgotten a dark secret from its past (Si Inggo at ang Santo Kuwatro), and the concept of death (Nang Mapagod si Kamatayan). It also includes illustrations by four different artists, Kenikenken (Ken Bautista), Diigii Daguna, Jether Amar and Ivan Reverente.

Lee, who grew up reading comics, said children may read his new book in order to prepare them for the real world. Although Kung Alam N'yo Lang is considered a children's book, it also appeals to adults who have forgotten how it is to be young. It is published by the Philippine Writers Studio Foundation, Inc. or Writers Studio.

Aside from being a book author, Lee is also a scriptwriter and playwright. He has written more than 160 scripts for Filipino films since 1973. Many of these have won awards here and abroad. Among them are Himala, Karnal, Moral, Brutal, Salome and other films directed by acclaimed Filipino filmmakers, including the late National Artists for Film Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. His script for Salome has also been translated into English and published by the University of Wisconsin for its film studies.

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A short film which tackles brotherhood, parenthood and belongingness recently bagged the Audience Choice Award in the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival short film competition.

Seymour Sanchez‘s Caretaker tells the story of a new caretaker (Rolando Inocencio) who comes in to replace the previous keeper of a vacation house of a wealthy family. He is a single parent trying to make ends meet while taking care of his two sons (Jomari Angeles and Luis Ruiz). He meets his boss (Raymond Riñoza), the owner of the house, and is informed the family will be using it for the holiday. He starts cleaning the house in preparation for the family’s arrival. Meanwhile, the owner’s son (John Paul Duray) has other plans. The caretaker is caught off-guard when the owner’s son comes home one night, with his fraternity brothers. Moreover, the caretaker is unaware that he is in for a big surprise.

Naglalahong Pamana, a documentary by Lucy Lavirotte, Jerrica Manongdo, Berna Sastrillo, and David Simantov-Levi, won Best Short Film “for giving a relevant, poignant, and sensitive discourse on a tribe’s loss of land and culture because of minings and plantations.” Manongdo also took home the first runner-up trophy for her Ipinanganak na Nakayapak short film “for taking the audience in an uneven yet captivating journey in the joys and struggles of a proletariat.” Meanwhile, Hayop by Robert Mark Liwanag got the second runner-up award “for exposing torture and violence in a harrowing narration.”

Richard Legaspi of Red Room Media Productions received Caretaker‘s award from Lourd de Veyra of film festival organizer DAKILA-Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism on behalf of filmmaker Sanchez during the Alab ng Puso: Stand Up for Human Rights program at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani last December 10.

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Quezon City’s pioneer and iconic bakery Kamuning Bakery Café has opened a new branch on December 23 at SM City North Edsa’s East Bridgeway, 2nd floor, this is its first ever branch in its colorful 77 years history.

Founded in 1939 upon the invitation of Quezon City co-founder the media tycoon Don Alejandro Roces, Kamuning Bakery Café’s founder was Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier, it was bought and revived in 2014 by writer and realty entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores.

Kamuning Bakery Café has steadfastly continued its unique pugon-style, artisanal, no-preservatives, all hand-made and Filipino/Spanish baking traditions.

Since September 2015, Kamuning Bakery Café has also hosted the non-partisan “Pandesal Forum” where leaders and newsmakers dialogue with media and intellectuals over pugon-baked breads and excellent Philippine coffee

History of Kamuning Bakery Cafe with intellectuals, artists & reform stalwarts: Kamuning Bakery was founded in 1939 as Quezon City’s first bakery by Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier and her husband Lt. Marcelo Javier (who died fighting the Japanese invaders of World War II in the Battle of Manila). It was acquired and revived in December 2013 by writer, history buff and realty entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores, he restored the old cafe on March 20, 2015. Kamuning Bakery Cafe continues its artisanal and pugon or wood-fired brick oven baking.

Among its many colorful clients include pre-war media tycoon Don Alejandro Roces who facilitated sale of gov’t. land in 1939 at 50 centavos per square meter, his son the newspaper publisher & activist Joaquin “Chino” Roces, press freedom stalwart U.P. Dean Armando Malay, the late President Cory C. Aquino, national artists like Nick Joaquin and Levi Celerio, many showbiz celebrities, to a public school student who used to walk here to buy pugon-baked breads and is now the first female Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

For inquiries or suggestions, please call Cafe Tels: 4161637, 9292216, 4126628; Office Tels: 4126685, 4112311, 4151692, 3326066... Wilson Lee Flores 09178481818, 09188077777, 09228321888 or willsoonflourish@gmail.com

*Photo above is the main branch

Hontiveros Lauds 2017 Budget with Historic Debt Audit Provision, Health Reforms

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"A historic first in the history of the Philippine budget system."

This is how Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros described the passage of the 2017 national government budget that contains a special provision mandating Congress to conduct a comprehensive audit of the country's debt.

The said provision tasked the Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Development Assistance to conduct a debt audit to determine the legitimacy of a list of loan agreements challenged as illegitimate. The said debt audit will be conducted in the 2017 fiscal year.

Hontiveros, who introduced the said general provision, said that the process of a debt audit is an important policy tool to unburden the Filipino people from paying onerous and illegitimate debts and beef up funding for social service spending.

"This is truly a historic first. With this provision, we commit to diligently scrutinize the country’s debts if they are indeed in accordance with the principles on promoting responsible sovereign lending and borrowing by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and repudiate the illegitimate part of our overall debt," Hontiveros said.

"I would like to commend the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Senator Loren Legarda, my fellow senators, the Executive branch and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) for supporting the inclusion of this provision in our national budget," Hontiveros added.

Japan-Made BRP Malabrigo Vessel Commissioned to PCG

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Another Japanese-made Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) has been commissioned to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The BRP Malabrigo, named after a lighthouse in Batangas, was commissioned in a ceremony at the PCG Headquarters earlier today, granting the vessel an authority to belong to a service and authorize her to perform the mandated mission of the agency. It is the second of 10 MRRVs built and delivered from Japan as part of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan led the commissioning ceremony and thanked Japan for its continued support in helping improve the country’s transportation system. He also expressed his gratitude to the men and women of the PCG who have shown unwavering dedication to the service.

“Officials and members of the Philippine Coast Guard have the heart to serve, but need equipment and support,” he said.

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In time for last-minute Christmas shopping and party-hopping, the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) has installed brand new elevators in most stations for the convenience of train passengers.

Twenty-seven out of the 32 elevators will be operational and will be ready to accommodate train passengers starting tomorrow, December 23. Five other elevators are on-going replacement.

MRT-3 General Manager Deo Manalo said the new elevators would ease the commute of passengers during the Holidays. Senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disability will be given priority.

“The elevators would relieve passengers from carrying heavy bags especially this Christmas,” said Manalo

Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade will lead the inspection of elevators, to be accompanied by representatives from commuter advocacy and PWD groups.

The installation of new elevators is part of the efforts of the DOTr – MRT3 to improve over-all station experience and provide convenience to commuters. This development is also seen to reduce queues in stations especially during peak hours.

The elevators were ordered last year with the target completion set on January 2017. Further, repair and rehabilitation of escalators are ongoing and expected to be completed on February 2017.

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Sacrifice means to give up something cherished in order to get something even more valuable in the future. This concept also applies to mixed martial arts (MMA) as the path to becoming a world champion is paved with much sacrifice.

To set foot on the pinnacle of success, all fighters must go through blood, sweat and tears in training. Moreover, MMA athletes have to be separated from their families for months to dedicate their lives to the craft that they seek to perfect.

Australian standout Martin Nguyen (7-1) had to undergo the same process as he is slated to square off with former featherweight title contender Kazunori Yokota (25-6-3) in the co-headliner of ONE: QUEST FOR POWER on 14 January.

“The life of a fighter is difficult, but I understand that in order to be the best, fighters have to make certain sacrifices. Spending time away from friends and family to train isn’t easy,” Nguyen said.

For his high-profile bout against Yokota, Nguyen had to give up spending Christmas and the rest of the Yuletide season with his family to fully focus on his training.

Nguyen admitted the most painful sacrifice is the separation from his family, but he knows that there is a reward waiting for him.

“It’s part of being a professional fighter. A lot of sacrifices have been made. Training in December is one of them. I have to give up Christmas celebrations for this fight,” he stated.

“If I want to consider myself as a championship-quality fighter, I have to make that sacrifice. In the end, I will reap the fruits of my labor. Hard work cannot be denied forever,” Nguyen added.

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Impact Hub Manila introduced StartupBoat through a two-day launch on December 13 and 14, 2016. The overall aim was to build a community of creative thinkers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are passionate to bring change in the community by developing and implementing groundbreaking ideas together. Its main mission is to make innovation accessible for all.

It was during the StartHubs AsiaBerlin Roadshow in Manila when Paula Schwarz (Founder of StartupBoat), Ces Rondario and LizAn Kuster (Co-Founders of Impact Hub Manila), and Ranganath Thota (CEO and Founder of Fuel A Dream India) came together and agreed on launching StartupBoat in Manila, Philippines and Bangalore, India.

In Manila, StartupBoat worked together with Impact Hub Manila and Bayer Foundations to create a platform for individuals who wish to collaborate for the collective growth of the health sector of the country. The main objective was to share, learn and contribute for an implementable action plan in 2017 for the health sector in the Philippines and to mentor startups to act as multipliers.