Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Friday, February 3, 2017

BOC Raids Kimstore's Tondo Warehouse Full of Smuggled High-End Gadgets

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Shit... so all this time, Kimstore's products were smuggled. It's all illegal and shit. I looked at my phone and then said "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Well, I'm still #shookt that Kimstore, one of the top online shop in the country, got raided by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). I got my phone from them. I'm a purchaser in good faith and for value!

KimStore is a multi-awarded online store. A part of me sympathizes with it being shut down, and a part of me is angry at the government for double-charging people, including businesses, in taxes.

But there's always the other side of the story. Again, media are said to expose only half-baked truths. We have not heard the side of Kimstore yet. I'm pretty sure Kimstore is a legit business with authentic products but they seem to be lacking on proper paperworks or from what I've heard, they wrongly declared on gadget amounts to pay less taxes. What a waste. This should be a warning for everyone desiring for a business. DO IT RIGHT. I cannot stress this enough.

I bought some of my gadget accessories from them, and my Samsung S7 Edge for a price lower than other stores.. Yun pala.. sad.. Government, sana wag nyo ibulsa ang gadgets. We are watching you.

Rumor has it that Kimstore was harassed by customs people and was asked for bribes. I guess Kimstore didn't bribe the BOC officials well enough. Seriously, we will follow the news trail, and find out where these gadgets end up.

Dear BOC, What will happen to the 45M worth of gadgets you confiscated at Kimstore ? Just curious.

Early, or late, Christmas for the Bureau of Customs? After 2 days, employees from custom be like...""just got my 'new' laptop, mobile phone, tablet, power bank, etc." Damn those iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. If those raided gadgets at @kimstore is going to be used personally by those guys at customs then I will be pissed.

Yung CDR KING kaya? Hmmmm. Lol!

Me: Gusto ko bumili sa Kimstore ng Iphone7

Also Me: kay SPO4 na lang kasi mas mura, kasama sya dun sa nag raid

Fortinet Extends Security Fabric Protection into the Internet of Things

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“Malicious cyber actors have been increasingly targeting the billions of IoT devices online today, essentially turning the Internet of Things into an Internet of Threats. It’s critical that today’s enterprises implement security solutions that can identify, understand, and protect their infrastructures from the massive attack surfaces created by IoT. The Fortinet Security Fabric arms enterprises with proven security capabilities today, while providing a foundation for the visibility and automation required to maintain an effective IoT cybersecurity posture in the future.” - Phil Quade, chief information security officer at Fortinet

Fortinet, the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, today announced the extension of the Fortinet Security Fabric to defend enterprises against the exponentially increasing cyber threats posed by the Internet of Things (IoT). Fortinet’s Security Fabric delivers the visibility, integration, control and infrastructure scale required to successfully defend the complex attack surfaces created by the ongoing proliferation of IoT devices.

A Security Fabric is Necessary to Defend Against IoT’s Massive Volume and Scale
Recent IoT-based attacks have revealed the sheer volume and ease by which billions of devices can be weaponized and used to disrupt the digital economies of entire countries and millions of users. These issues are compounded by the lack of basic security features and management capabilities in many IoT devices.

This is a major challenge for enterprises today whose data needs to remain secure as it traverses many types of devices and environments, from tablets to cloud applications. Current point products and platform security solutions lack the visibility and wider network integration necessary to see, let alone secure, the IoT attack surface.

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Bakit trending si Chavit Singson? Basahin sa Wazzup Pilipinas - Ang Pambansang Blog ng madlang people. Lol

Seriously...it's because he was declared as Mister Universe...by whom and why?

If you've been seeing photos and videos from the Miss Universe beauty pageant the letters SOLAR, LCS and MUO, they actually stand for Solar Entertainment, Luis Chavit Singson and Miss Universe Organization - the main proponents that made the Miss Universe hosting in the Philippines possible.

Since the government was reported not to spend a single peso in hosting the event, Chavit Singson spent around USD15 Million for hosting the leading beauty and brains competition in the country.

Paula Shugart of the MUO gifted Chavit Singson with a sash having the words Mr. Universe for being the main man responsible for almost everything. You could even see him going around with the ladies all over the country. FRom Baguio to Boracay, to Ilocos Norte (his home turf) and most other places that the ladies visited as a tourism effort to promote the country.

True enough, we got worldwide exposure since all eyes of the mena dn women interested with the status of the Miss Universe were all looking to the Philippines for updates. So every time there is a post about the ladies, whether by the Department of Tourism, the Miss Universe official web site or social media pages, or by the brands who sponsored products, venues or services, interest is high to see these ladies.

Chavit Singson said that PHL could play host to the Miss Universe pageant next year...if the government would now help with the expenses. He's willing to do it again, as long as govt helps out.
With properties like a 600-million pesos luxury yacht, the Baluarte Zoo with its many animals and structures, and other ownership, the former Ilocos Sur Governor and the almost blatant display of expensive yachts & planes that he owns, gives us no surprise that he could possibly spend even more if ever he decides to host another Miss Universe pageant in the country again.

Pa-burger ka naman, sir Chavit!

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Thrice a Decade of Decadence: Manuel Ocampo at Archivo 1984 Gallery

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The heat is on for art events this February, National Arts Month, but more specifically for contemporary art. It’s been a while now that trendy Filipino artists have been getting hair-raising attention due in part to auction results. Credit however must be given to neophyte galleries--being in business for just a little over a decade and having made their presence felt in the local if not the international art market. Swanky art buyers have definitely outgrown in number the artists who kept alternative spaces alive at the turn of the century. Add to that an assortment of home-grown art fairs and what have you in the capital is a robust art scene indeed.

If contemporary art were to be defined as the territory of the young, emergent and experimental, then it would be inappropriate to classify as such the works of Manuel Ocampo whose large canvasses of laboriously loaded symbolism abound in an exhibition at Archivo 1984 Gallery in Makati. This painter is certainly no new kid on the block and has been around for a long time, nurtured early by the ruckus of California in the late 1980s. Many in the international art scene know him by his ascent to notoriety through participation in seminal exhibitions around 1992 namely Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990s, capped by the infamous exclusion of four of his canvasses at Dokumenta IX in Germany.

By 2003 Ocampo had already begun spreading his audacious subjects and maverick personality through collaborative and fun exhibitions with like-minded artists in Manila. His inclination to support his peers resulted in the curation of shows abroad representing a slice of youthful art from Manila and the opening of a gallery named the Department of Avant Garde Clichés in 2011. The art space was one among the few that provided a global reach to local audiences however short-lived. Nowadays, Ocampo is busier than ever in Europe preparing for, among other projects, his participation in the upcoming Venice Biennale in May this year.

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ePLDT, Inc., an industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions to enterprises in the Philippines, was awarded as the 2-Tier Partner of the Year by Cisco Philippines during the recently concluded Cisco Partner Conference 2017 at Solaire Resort and Casino, Manila City. The Award is given to organizations that set the standards in revenue growth performance and commitment to innovation.

ePLDT helped Cisco expand its business to new geographies by winning key deals in the BPO sector through its unique service offerings. According to Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer, it was ePLDT’s strategic imperative to drive managed service growth that brought about big wins from enterprise verticals primarily in BPO, Hospitality and Manufacturing.

“We want to thank Cisco for recognizing our efforts in bringing innovative solutions to enterprises that solve their real-life business concerns,” Ramos said. “Our company has been setting the pace for IT innovation in the country. And with our long-standing and still growing partnership with Cisco, we will can enable fresher and more relevant technologies as well as value-creating IT solutions to the country.”

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Parasat Cable Television (PARASAT), Mindanao's only digital television system provider, further boosts its services with connectivity solutions from Globe Business, the information and communications technology arm of Globe Telecom, in response to high demand for broadband internet in the region.

PARASAT has signed up for Globe Business’ Direct Internet which allows the company to offer its customers fast and reliable internet access supported by a robust and broad international and domestic network.

Elpidio Paras, Chairman of PARASAT said, “We continuously improve our operations to achieve a level of excellence that is vastly superior to all others in the industry. Thus, we put our trust in Globe Business to help us strengthen our leadership in state-of-the-art cable TV and broadband services in Southern Philippines and allow us to expand our reach not only in Mindanao but also in Visayas.”

Mike Frausing, Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT Enabled Services Group, on the other hand, said: “We are thrilled and privileged to have been chosen by PARASAT. We are very excited for the partnership and we look forward to the different ways Globe Business can help grow their business through the services that they availed from us.”

To date, PARASAT has coverage in the following areas: Cagayan de Oro City and municipalities of Opol and Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; and San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. It has also formed partnerships with other cable operators in El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan, and Balingasag in Misamis Oriental, as well as in Don Carlos and Valencia in Bukidnon. It is continuously expanding its coverage to the east and west sides of Misamis Oriental.

To learn more about Globe Connectivity Solutions, visit business.globe.com.ph/solutions/connectivity or contact a Globe Business Account Manager.

PHOTO CAPTION:

(L-R) Parasat Cable TV Chairman Elpidio Paras and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu formalize the partnership between Globe and PARASAT.

Chemo @ 25: Chemokinesis to Celebrate 25th Founding Anniversary

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The UPLB Chemical Kinetics Society more popularly known as Chemokinesis is a duly recognized organization at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Chemokinesis will be celebrating its 25th Founding Anniversary on March 11-12, 2017 with the theme, “Chemokinesis: Broadening Horizons with Dedicated Service and Untarnished Excellence for 25 years”.

The 25th Founding Anniversary will be celebrated as part of the CHEMO Month which is an annual series of events carried out by the organization throughout its existence to showcase the importance of chemistry in our daily lives as well as to strengthen the bonds among members, faculty members and other students. CHEMO month is compose of activities namely, 25th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming, Career Orientation, Royal Rumble, CHEMistreat, Exhibit, Symposium, Food Fair (Food Trip sa Physci), and Chemolympics.

The 25th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming will be held as a celebration of the 25 years of untarnished excellence of the organization. In the said event, the organization wishes to strengthen and re-establsih bonds among members which would entail the success of the organization’s endeavors in the future.

Meanwhile, CHEMistreat, an outreach activity in partnership with the faculty members of the Institute of Chemistry in UPLB is the organization’s way of giving back to the community. In the previous years of conducting the said activity, the organization have already experienced giving out to orphanage, home for the aged, and to Brgy. Bagong Silang which is the most impoverished barangay in Los Baños, Laguna.

Exhibits and symposiums are always set up by the organization to enhance understanding and awareness of the public with regards to the importance of Chemistry and other related fields in our day-to-day lives. A food fair, better known as Food Trip sa Physci, is also usually set up by the organization as a fundraising activity by bringing various concessionaires inside the campus. It also serves as easy and near food stop for students taking their classes at physical sciences building.

Chemo Month Exhibit

Chemo Month Symposium

Moreover, an activity which aims to enhance the sportsmanship and leadership skills as well as to achieve one of the organization’s objectives which is to foster closer relationship and camaraderie among members is held and called Chemolympicss.

Lastly, for the first time the organization will be holding a Career Orientation with one vision in mind which is to guide Chemistry majors in choosing their career path after college. The organization will be inviting speakers from various career paths, the Chemistry majors might take.

PhilJets Strong Results 2016 & Plans for Expansion in 2017

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PhilJets Continued its Growth In 2016

PhilJets, the Boutique Aviation Group that started out as an aircraft charter company with only one helicopter in 2013, has consistently developed its activities in the last 3 years. Now, PhilJets operates a total of 6 helicopters and is about to take delivery of its 2nd business jet in the coming weeks.

The company is seeking to sustain its admirable growth over the past years, but aims especially to continue to enhance its expertise in business aviation.

PhilJets has continued to grow to become one of the leaders in Business Aviation in the Philippines involved in Aircraft Investments, Aviation Services, Distribution, Air Transportation, Aircraft Management, Tourism, and Geophysics Mining but also Disaster Relief, Rescue and Medical Evacuation. The clientele in the past year has seen a surge in both local and international companies based in the Philippines, but also in tourists and business travelers, representing close to 30% of the total passengers.

In 2016, the PhilJets Group reached slightly higher than Php 90M in revenues, a strong growth of almost 90% compared to the previous year’s results. In comparison, 2015 experienced growth of 77% compared to 2014. The company has also broadened its network, creating partnerships with luxury brands like Aston Martin and Jewelmer Joaillerie, as well as 5-star hotels like Sofitel Philippine Plaza, The Manila Peninsula, and Conrad Hotel Manila or financial institutions such as Citibank.

In the same year, PhilJets has consolidated its customer base and structured its team, managing to attract some well-tenured managers with overseas experience pilots who came back to the Philippines and joined the company. Among the new members are Captain Eduardo Bonavente, Director of Operations and Lawrence Santos, Director of Maintenance, who both formerly worked in the oil and gas industry in Asia and Africa. Together, the Managerial and Operations teams have worked hard to achieve great results in 2016.

In the last quarter of 2016, PhilJets through its mother company Starline Global Industries, signed with Airbus Helicopters for 2 additional brand new Airbus H130 helicopters (1 firm and 1 option) in order to continue its increasing coverage of the domestic market.

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Renewable Energy (RE) investments have already saved the Philippines PHP4.04 billion, according to a Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) report. Climate change solutions-provider World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) said that offsetting the cost of expensive fossil-fuels saved each Pinoy consumer 5.67 centavos, simultaneously generating more local jobs and reducing the country’s share of carbon emissions by an impressive 2.8 million tonnes.

“With the government’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2017 until 2022 now being finalized, we challenge the government to increase the share of RE to 50% by 2030,” explains WWF-Philippines climate and energy programme head Atty. Gia Ibay. “Green and sustainable development fits perfectly with the administration’s mantra of Malasakit, Pagbabago at Kaunlaran because RE provides affordable, sustainable and accessible electricity – especially for remote communities.”

Clean and renewable energy sources like geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar energy are among the country’s few competitive advantages – especially since it has no significant deposits of fossil-fuels. Its continued dependence on imported fuel has made Philippine electricity rates among the highest in Asia.

Relying more on RE has brought down the cost of electricity with fuel diversity, shielding Filipinos from price fluctuations as no fuel cost is incurred. This shows the care or Malasakit of the government, particularly coupled with increased energy access with distributed RE reaching off-grid communities.

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"Walked into my office and husband had electronics all over the floor. I'm like, what are you doing? And he's like, "working on a #flatlay." - Lena Almeida

You've seen almost everyone posting flatlays, may they be fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food, travel or any kind of blogger or social media enthusiast, celebrity or not, veteran or newbie, or whatever else there may be out there. We are always snapping our - food before we eat it, clothes before we wear them, gadgets before and after we unbox, make-up and accessories right out from the box, etc.

It's also not exclusive to women (though I see this done by more ladies), since men do follow what's "IN" too, regardless if it's only a fad (as long as others do it). It would also look bad if you're the only one not doing it in a group. Feeling OOP or "Out Of Place" is not cool. Trust me!

The trend has gone so infectious that nearly everyone with a smartphone or tablet (or phablet) could not help but make extra efforts to lay-out what's infront of them in their best top view, (photo or even video since it's also neat to video flatlay). Everyone's doing video nowadays that combining it with your flatlays add so much fun as well.

Of course, the shot could also become "unnatural" especially if they add on extra stuff that are not really part of the normal experience(who puts their watches or jewelries right beside their food on top of the dining table), but the photo does become a bit more interesting seeing a variety of items to spice up the otherwise boring photo.