MoneyGram Honors Overseas Filipino Workers' Families with a Special Gathering

Wazzup Pilipinas!

MoneyGram launches a campaign to recognize millions of Filipinos working overseas and their families back home as modern day heroes.

“We understand the challenges and emotional stress experienced by families that are set apart. We want to bring them together not only thanks to our reliable and convenient money transfers but also give them a chance to reunite,” says Alex Chan Lim, country manager for the Philippines at MoneyGram.

“MoneyGram Idol Awards” are designed to honor our modern day heroes with one-of-a-kind gathering to take place in May 2017. To participate in this contest, receivers should visit http://global.moneygram.com/ph/en between December 5, 2016 and March 5, 2017 and fill in a simple form. By providing their personal as well as transaction details, participants get the chance to win cash prizes (20 x 5,00 pesos and 10 x 20,000 pesos) as well as an invitation to a special dinner hosted by MoneyGram in May, 2017. Lucky winners will be announced in the 4th week of March 2017.

“Philippines is one of the world’s largest remittance markets, according to the World Bank. In 2015 over $28 billion flowed into the country constituting for 9.6% of its’s GDP. At MoneyGram, we firmly believe that the money OFWs send back home provide not only for everyday needs of their families but also support them in achieving their dreams linked to education and investments,” added Lim.

"Best Pig Ever" Zubuchon of Cebu to Open in Manila by Early 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

When it comes to any special gathering, the lechon or "litson" is always the ultimate star of the dining table, don't you agree?

This is why Filipinos highly anticipate a roasted pig at the most special occasion like fiestas, weddings, anniversaries, reunions and just about every huge gathering that wants to please their guest with the very best dishes.

The lechon is placed in the middle as a centerpiece. Its rightful place should always be at the center. But in some events, they are placed at a certain corner because they still need to chop this pig into pieces to be served to the guests. Like bone-in-hams, rib-eyed steaks, roasted turkeys, etc., the lechon defines the best event from an ordinary event.

This is probably why when news about Zubuchon coming over to Manila was heard, many wanted to know when they can have a piece of this "best pig ever."

Zubuchon, coined from the words ZUBU (Cebu's name in old Spanish maps) and LECHON, aims to produce very high quality and superb tasting lechons and related food products and dishes using the finest ingredients and artisanal methods. To provide good value and superior service for customers while achieving profits for the benefit of all the stakeholders, with an emphasis on employees and the communities we operate in, makes this business establishment "real."

As stated from their Facebook page, Zubuchon source their pigs from backyard raisers all over the province of Cebu, are fed 100% organic feeds a week before they are cooked to totally cleanse the pigs’ systems. A "Zubuchon" lechon is stuffed with more than a dozen herbs and spices, and the pig’s skin is “acupunctured” or pricked all over, then sprayed with fresh coconut water. These processes result to a crispy and brown skin once roasted. No MSG nor soy sauce are used. The lechon is roasted over charcoal, using bamboo poles.

Getting confirmation from their official Facebook page, Zubuchon of Cebu hopes to open in Manila early 2017. This means anytime soon they'll be announcing a grand opening of their Manila branch.

Just as how popular restaurants from the provinces are beginning to make their presence felt in Manila, Zubuchon - which was made famous by the visit of Anthony Bourdain years ago - is now setting up a branch for their fans in Manila. Bourdain mentioned the lechon as the "best pig ever" in his defunct travela nd food sho "No Reservations."

The first branch of Zubuchon in Metro Manila will be located at Yakal corner Talisay Street at San Antonio, Makati, according to food mobile app Booky.

However, the Cebuanos are very much serious with their lechon. There are some netizens who are claiming that Zubuchon is not really the authentic Cebu lechon experience. They are saying that "Zubuchon isn’t legit Cebu lechon. It’s just… lechon made in Cebu." - Anna Oposa.

Michael Alino says "It's not a rumor when it's said to open in Manila...however, being Cebu's best lechon is indeed, not just a rumor, but a farse. I mean, as a true blue Cebuanon who grew up eating and loving lechon, it's like near to an insult when in fact your lechon fell a notch beneath the standards of the tradional Cebu lechon. And a real Cebuano like me knows my lechon. And no matter how you dress it up with good branding, along with some spruced up dining establisments, it simply couldn't compensate with how mediocre you did with the way you roast your whole pig and call it Cebu lechon."

Jeff Mendoza says "For me, an authentic lechon cebu, the skin should be smooth and crispy, well seasoned especally in the rib area with lots of (tangad, sibuyas dahonan ug uban pa) and the meat should be soft. Traditionally Cebuanos season their lechon at the center part of the pig where the flavors are equally distributed. Comparing it to Zubuchon's version, the skin was too salty while the meat was a bit bland. The skin is not smooth instead it looks like that of a chicharon where you can actually taste a mild bitterness of burnt skin. This is not the traditional lechon that makes me crave for lechon. though others might not agree and have a different preference, Lami gihapon ni."

But from what we see all over the online world, not everything you read is true or 100% reliable. These may be just designed to ruin Zubuchon's reputation. Like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, taste is also on the tongue of the taster. What's good enough for me may not be acceptable for someone else. 

Zubuchon already released an official statement regarding the issues:

"For the record, WE NEVER CLAIMED WE ARE THE BEST, NOR THE FAVORITE. NEVER.What you have been reading on social media were authored by the sites' writers and using our photos taken from this FB page.  

We NEVER PAID, NEVER SOLICITED, NEVER ASKED anyone to write about our Manila opening. What they wrote was their own opinion.

Let us all respect each other's preference and stop putting each other down. Our opening in Manila will create more jobs, help Cebu's local economy (as most of our products, even the pigs! will be coming from Cebu). We are currently employing close to 300 Cebuanos/Visayans in Cebu which in turn are supporting more than a thousand family members. We want to increase this number because our PRIMARY objective in creating this business was to provide REGULAR employment. 

Let us create more jobs, feed more people, send more children to school. 

Because in the end, making your life better and helping one another is what your life's goals should be about...

Below is our Company President's statement in his blog, Market Manila. We will put this issue to rest right here.

Thank you and we hope to see you in Manila"

http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/why-doesnt-everyone-just-strive-to-be-better-not-bitter#comments

Before making a judgement, it should be best if we try Zubuchon out first. Becoming gullible to rumors is not healthy. I'm sure the owner Joel Binamira would attest to the quality of their lechon as it would not remain in operation if it was not as they say it is. I've been to Cebu many times but just never had the opportunity to visit a Zubuchon branch. I'm hoping to try it as soon as it opens its branch in Manila.

You may check out http://www.zubuchon.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/pg/zubuchonphilippines for more details.

Amnesty International Reports on the Philippine Police’s Murderous War on the Poor

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"So how did Amnesty International confirm that the "assassins" they interviewed are indeed "assassins"?" - Sass Rogando Sasot

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar says that international human rights watchdog Amnesty International’s (AI) report on PHL’s war on drugs 'unfair.' After AI has reported that policemen are getting paid certain amounts for every drug personality they could kill, the Duterte administration is surely in the hot seat again. The report that police men are behind the vigilante killings is not too far-fetched. It may very well be the reality.

“Acting on instructions from the very top of government, the Philippines police have killed and paid others to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions that may amount to crimes against humanity.”

AI has reported that two persons have claimed being paid by a police officer P10,000 for each killing of a suspected drug offender. The report also says that some police are rewarded by undertakers for sending dead bodies their way, police steal from victims' homes, and paid killers are on the police payroll. "The police are behaving like the criminal underworld that they are supposed to be enforcing the law against, by carrying out extrajudicial executions disguised as unknown killers and 'contracting out' killings." 

The police “systematically targeted mostly poor and defenseless people across the country while planting ‘evidence’, recruiting paid killers, stealing from the people they kill and fabricating official incident reports” says AI.

In its report presented to the media, AI said that the two individuals it interviewed referred to the police officer as their "boss" and that they were hired to kill even before President Rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office.

"They said that before President Duterte took office, they had around two 'jobs' a month. Now, they have three to four a week," AI said in its report.

The report quoted a "male killer" as saying that all of their kill orders come through the police officer, who was not identified.

"When we're given an order, there's an envelope," the male killer said, adding that the envelope would contain their target's name, address and a picture.

"It's almost a complete profile... Someone else has already been assigned to do surveillance," AI quoted the male killer as telling them.

The male killer claimed to AI that they carry out the killings as a "riding-in-tandem hit-and-run" style.

The female paid killer added that the envelops given to them "now give a drug link" of their supposed target.

"The rate depends. For a user, it's 5,000 pesos. For a pusher, 10,000 to 15,000 pesos. It depends on the person," the female killer was quoted as saying in the report.

She added that there are times when they kill more than one suspected drug offender, they are paid "per head."

"If they work in pairs, they split the payment," AI said.

The AI report revealed that "many drug-related killings are extrajudicial executions that directly implicate the police."

AI said its researchers interviewed 110 people nationwide, and documented 33 cases of drug-related killings, of which 20 occurred in formal police operations and 13 involved unknown armed men.

However, the PNP are denying the key finding in the report. “There is no such pay-offs,” says Chief Supt. Camilo Cascolan, chief of the PNP’s Directorate for Operations. “(We) never [knew] about such thing. We just do our job for the people,” he added.

More than 1,000 people are being killed a month in drug crackdown...and we have a President who boasts of the killings and even more if these suspected or alleged drug personalities do not shape up. But the easy way out is only for the affluent. Those who live in the slum areas are gunned down easily with a defense that they fought back against the drug bust raiders. No matter how the relatives testify that the victims did not and do not even have guns, their cries remained ignored by the government who is more protective of their police rather than the citizens.  The police have routinely claimed that they had been fired upon first, which directly contradicts the witnesses' claims.

Indeed, the police corruption and abuse is strikingly real. There is no war on drugs but a war on the poor. The same streets that Dutete vows to get rid of crime are now filled with bodies of people illegally killed by his own police. Often on the flimsiest of evidence or hearsay, people are accused of selling or using drugs, and being killed for cash in an economy of murder.

The report on the war vs drugs is also a big slap in the face of the Senator Richard Gordon-led Senate Justice Committee. Not surprisingly, Gordon calls the AI report as mere hearsay. Menawhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson wants AI to show proof or evidence to back their report.

Sr. Maria Vida Cordero, member of AI Philippines Board of Trustees, urged Duterte to put an end to his war on drugs.

"The war on drugs has become war on the poor," Cordero said. "Mr. President, listen to the cry of the poor. You cannot solve a crime with another crime."

On January 29, Duterte ordered the disbandment of all anti-drug units of the Philippine National Police in relation to the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, where several policemen are allegedly involved.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said they will focus on "internal cleansing" for the meantime with the suspension of anti-illegal drug operations.

The war on drugs of the Duterte administration, however, would continue and will now be led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Huge Fire at House Technology Industries at Cavite Economic Zone Injures Over 100

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Cavite Governor Boying Remulla held a presscon in front of EPZA confirming two (2) missing persons from the February 1 fire that broke out at the House Technology Industries Ltd., (HTI) factory located at the the Cavite Economic Zone in General Trias, Cavite. The fire, the biggest to hit the province, caused injury to over 100 while 10 are in critical condition. One was already reported dead. But are these the real numbers?

We should be refraining from circulating unverified information that might cause panic since all of these figures are not yet the final counts.

Thousands of employees were supposed to be on duty at the time of the factory fire, so there could be hundreds hurt or dead from the blaze. The factory is operational on a 24 hour basis and has three shifts for its workers.

If you have a missing relative or friend, you may report it to House Technology Industries' help desk at Gate 5 of the Cavite Economic Zone.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the victims of the fire will get aid from them and also from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

HTI, CEPZ and EPZA should pay for the medical needs, or burials (if worst comes to worst), of the victims. The employees should be compensated fairly.

After Kentex (a slipper manufacturing factory in Valenzuela where 74 people were killed in a fire), now it is HTI. When will DOLE impose workplace safety standards? When will companies agree to obey them? The HTI EPZA tragedy again reflects how Filipino workers are deprived of proper occupational health & safety & other fundamental workers' rights.

It was also proper that Cavite took back its declaration of a state of calamity since that is not the real case.

Gina Lopez and DENR to Shut Down Mining Firms in Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Mining companies should pull off an Ellis Wyatt on Gina Lopez. 

"I am leaving it as I found it. Take over. It's yours."

What happened, Pilipinas?! Ganito na ka kalbo ang mga kabundukan natin and it only took a new DENR Secretary to reveal the truth behind our balding mountains.

"Now I know why there is fighting in Mindanao;" ; there are many mining companies in Mindanao, says Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.

There are "22 mining companies are closed, 5 suspended , 2 differed, final decision is the President" reports Lopez. She earlier stressed the need for convergence and human development in the priority areas during a DENR Expanded Excom in Rizal province.

President Rodrigo Duterte throws weight behind Gina Lopez's closure of 21 mines. The President says he has never asked the Environment Secretary to 'slow down' with the DENR's mining audit. There's no slowing down! I hope many will fully back the goal to eliminate illegal mining in the country.

Most of these mining companies were closed on grounds of destroying watersheds, while 6 others were suspended for violation of environment laws. The Secretary remarked that those who benefit from the mining operations are only the businessmen and not the residents.

Gina Lopez is an amazing embodiment of true public service w/o being partisan. I think she is the few good appointees of the President. I hope this is true-to-goodness "change." We admire her for the passion in her work. Setting aside political differences makes a difference when you start working for the benefit of the people and environment.

Our utmost respect goes to her for rejecting the plans of Viacom for environmentally damaging Coron, Palawan with the Viacom Nickelodeon Spongebob Squarepants underwater theme park. "..You can't kill the corals.For a theme park? No, no way man." says Lopez. She said Investors are welcome, but let us not over-commercialize Palawan. Let's give a big hand to the DENR Minister for turning down a tourism project which would cause major ecosystem destruction . However, Palawan officials say there has been no application's received, but the developer says theme park is a go. Huh?

Last January, Lopez also cancelled the environmental clearance to reclaim 635 hectares of coastal waters along Paranaque-Las Pinas-Bacoor corridor. The Secretary buried Ramon Ang's Manila Bay reclamation project, while San Miguel Corporation (SMC) clarified it has no participation in the proposed reclamation plan that was scuttled by the DENR.

Please also save the trees along Commonwealth Avenue of Quezon City that will be affected in the construction of MRT 7. Only 623 will be transplanted while 1,215 will be cut down to make way for the project.

There's also the pending Quezon City government appeal to reconsider her plan to shut down the Payatas sanitary landfill. I hope she doesn't give in since the area is not healthy for living conditions.

She should also work with the Department of Health to test if the reported health problems of the residents in Limay, Bataan were caused by the ash fall or spill from a byproduct storage facility being used by SMC subsidiaries in the coal plant.

Kudos to to the DENR Secretary for being true to her mandate of protecting our environment. Do you have a feeling that she will someday run for a high position in the government and win?

Meanwhile, critics want her probed on an anomalous deal. But she denies the allegations on the mentioned Air Quality Monitoring equipment. She sees a hidden agenda behind the graft complaint and says there are no strides without enemies. She suspects that the filing of the complaint versus her with the Ombudsman has something to do with the publication of DENR's mining audit.

"Ansabe ni Gina Lopez sa mga pinasarang minahan na umaapela pa? 

Eh di..... NEVER MINE!" 

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“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.

Chavit Singson Receives a Mr. Universe Sash for Making #MissUniverse Happen in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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!

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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.

ePLDT Receives Cisco 2-Tier Partner of the Year Award

Wazzup Pilipinas!
 

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.”

Mindanao’s Parasat Cable TV Boosts Service with Globe Business Connectivity Solutions

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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. 

Renewables Best Way to Power Philippine Development

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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.

Flatlay Like A Pro: How to Creatively Perk Up an Otherwise Plain View

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"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.