Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Gives Birth to "Stonefish"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara "Inday" Duterte-Carpio has delivered a healthy baby boy they named "Stonefish." In a photo uploaded by her husband, Atty. Manases "Mans" Carpio, we see Sara together with her newborn baby while his husband takes their selfie.

"Stonefish" weighs 2.42 kilos or 5.3 pounds. He was delivered through a cesarean section. The baby was born at 12:56 noon of March 2, 2017.

President Rodrigo Duterte is now off to Davao to see his grandson, and laughingly says the child would be named Marco Digong, nicknamed Stonefish. “Kawawa naman ang bata” he jokingly said.

But is the name a joke? Are they serious with it? Obviously, it must be only a nickname or an alias for endearment because the stone fish we know is a very dangerous fish with venom that is practically fatal to humans!

Should they be tokhanged for naming their child Stonefish?

They named the baby boy Stonefish. Does the couple have two other children named named Sharky and Stingray? Yes! 

Sharky, Stingray, Stonefish.....What's next? Sarciadong Bangus with Tausi.

I hope Stonefish Duterte Carpio ends up marrying Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao.

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Groundbreaking Held

Wazzup Pilipinas!

President Rodrigo Duterte together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Cebu City officials led by Mayor Tomas Osmeña & Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, led the ground-breaking ceremony of the multi-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Dapitan-Pilipog, Cordova in Cebu.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the project held on March 2, 2017 was done by conducting an aerial inspection in Cebu City side going to Virlo Public Market in Barangay Dapitan, Cordova town.

The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway will be like the San Juanico bridge. We hope there will also be a new airport and more railway transits will follow as well. The brdge aims to ease traffic, foster development in the Cebu Province. The bridge will bring greater economic benefit not only in Cordova and Cebu City but to Cebu Province.

The CCLEX, whose construction is set to start this year and anticipated to be completed by 2020, spans 8.25 kilometers linking Mactan Island and mainland Cebu. The bridge will become an alternative route in going to and from Mactan Cebu International Airport. It is the Philippine’s first bridge to have a clearance of 51 meters from the water level and a wide horizontal clearance of 400 meters for ships to navigate.

CCLEC is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPDTC), one of the country’s investment holding firms known to have designed, financed and managed North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.

The toll bridge will adopt a single-tolling system where a one-time fee will be collected from motorist, instead of paying it at several tolling stations.

MPTDC will operate the bridge for 35 years before the structure is turned over to the local government units.

Cover Photo: Artist perspective of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway

DOTr, DPWH, MMDA to Enhance Coordination to Address Traffic Woes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), met yesterday afternoon to discuss measures to enhance inter-agency coordination, especially on the conduct of road diggings, excavations, and similar works in the region.

The meeting was spearheaded by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and DPWH Secretary Mark Villar in order to settle any issue arising from road works, especially on the major thoroughfares of the metropolis.

In the meeting, Usec. Romeo Momo of DPWH requested the MMDA to issue excavation clearance to DPWH districts instead of contractors to prevent delays and for them to efficiently manage road works.

“Instead of issuing permits to contractors, issue it to DPWH and we will ensure that they will abide by our guidelines,” Usec. Momo said.

In order to prevent long delays on project start date, DPWH likewise suggested for the MMDA to allow them to apply for an excavation clearance once a project is advertised instead of waiting until the project has been awarded to a certain contractor.

For her part, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office Director Neomie Recio reminded DPWH to ensure that a Traffic Management Plan be in place before a road work project starts in order to guarantee its minimal effect to traffic flow.

"The contractors should submit their traffic management plan to you so you can review it before passing to us. Once it is submitted to MMDA, we will determine if it is acceptable and recommend necessary adjustments or revisions if needed,” Recio said. “Also, remind these contractors that excavation in major roads are only to be done between 10pm and 5am,” she added.

To sustain the level of coordination and review of existing guidelines, regular inter-agency meetings shall be conducted by the said agencies every 2nd Tuesday of each month. Further, erring contractors shall be determined during such meetings for the imposition of appropriate sanctions.

Inewvation Soars Higher in 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Inewvation International Corporation, the leading digital display and advertising solutions provider in the country, is set to achieve greater heights this year targeting bigger projects in the international business landscape.

With the opening of its Visayas office by 2nd quarter of the year, Inewvation continues to expand its reach in the country as well as in Asia by launching its office in Singapore last July 2016.

Inewvation is led by company’s head honcho Mr. Jayson So, President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Billy So, Chief Operating Officer.

“Last year marks our 5th year in this digital solution business here in the country. I can consider 2016 as a good year, since most of clients are now open to digital age and already appreciated the "quality vs price", that we have been explaining to them since I started the business. Moving forward, 2017 is promising. Just on our first quarter for this year, we already got so much in our pipeline. This year will also be the year for our expansion of the business. We will officially open Visayas branch and looking forward to reach Mindanao as well, ” Mr. Jayson said.

Its first project outside the country is the biggest indoor LED displays in Shoppes at Parisian Casino, Macau. This pitch 4mm LED screen adds up to the elegance and sophistication of the Temptations Store as it displays different brands as well as its promotions.

Moreover, several projects were done by Inewvation in the past year.

Ash Wednesday Rituals Causing Traffic Congestion? Blame the Christians!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"When it's Iglesia ni Cristo causing traffic jams, social media is flooded with shame campaigns against that religion. How about when it's the Catholic Church? Hardly a word." - Bo Reus

We've read on our Facebook timeline that a traffic congestion along Commonwealth resulted because of the Ash Wednesday rituals happening at many Christian churches on the first day of March 2017. There was an issue raised that hardly news about the struggle comes out when it's the Catholic church that cause the congestion. However, when the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) holds an event, all media outfits, including social media, are all furious with the INC that they could literally strangle the church leaders and members when given the opportunity.

We all know that the majority could easily be manipulated or brainwashed by sensationalized news aggravated by certain groups who have vested interests in mind - there are the "fake news" and the pro or anti political or religious parties who will connect the issue with other issues, and come up with absurd analysis or interpretations.

In any case, we believe the time has come when we should no longer be expressing our thoughts out on the streets where clarity of purpose could never be found.

Regardless of always being able to submit to the authorities your plans to hold strikes or rallies, it is unfair to let the local government provide for the rerouting and contingency plans just to accommodate you. We all know our roads are not enough for all our vehicles that every disruption causes further chaos for all.

The reason why people complain is because they do not clearly understand why you are out there, when we could very well use other means like online networks to reach out to more people, and then personally meet them where both of you will be comfortable and in the best of condition.

Reach out to only a few at certain times to gain more positive results. Going out in the streets could just be perceived as a publicity stunt to get attention. It could be seen only as a show of force to either taunt or ridicule the public of your supremacy.

This suggestion goes out to all religions. We believe the higher form of beings out there would agree with us.

When you're stuck in traffic, and tired, hungry, stressed, and needed to pee, the mind has no room for logical thinking. We would readily curse the ones causing the congestion regardless how noble their cause or intentions are.

Is Manny Pacquiao the Jar Jar Binks of Our Reality?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I've read somewhere that Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is the Jar Jar Binks of our reality. Unfortunately, many also thinks he is not that naive.

Jar Jar did end up wasting his days as a "clown" in Theed, performing tricks for the children who'd pay him any attention...away from their parents who never forgave him for the suffering he'd caused.

Actually quite fitting, seeing as how "children" are now cheering on his antics, while more "mature" folk can only facepalm.

"Manny Pacquiao should stop opening his mouth for he has become a self-righteous, all-knowing faith-fool. Someone needs to remind him that he is no prophet and he's not running a blind gag show.

According to Ezekiel 13:3, New International Version, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!" - Prim Paypon

Regardless, the jabber will still be a jabber because he has nothing to lose. He's already a billionaire and an established artist, maybe not as an experienced political figure (for he sucks big time) but he's already up there which others could only dream in their lifetime.

Pacquiao just showed the entire Philippines his unbecoming of a Christian. Removing a performer as chairman of a committee for the sake of politics is an example. He is a sick soul who is always in the church for absolution. Sadly, he is never healed.

Pacquiao's penchant for speaking out his mind without observing tact and the absence of etiquette will wreak havoc to a once decent hall of senate. Well, with the sitting president who is worst than a "kanto boy" without a trace of delicadeza. Rudeness is now an acceptable alternative behavior to decency.

Execution Is Not the Solution: Say No to Death Penalty

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime of the convicted person. Capital punishment contradicts God's plan for individuals and society, and his merciful justice." - Pope Francis

Let's address the real problem by saying #NoToDeathPenalty and an astounding #YesToWarOnPoverty. These hashtags are better since executions are never the solution.

Let's look at the bigger picture. Poverty is the real source of shit in our country. If everyone can afford to live the good life, there won't be crimes happening, no one will be hooked on drugs to forget their problems, and no one will have to die by lethal injection, firing squad, or any other ways to be killed by the state.

The government should ensure that it is a #WarOnPoverty not a #WarOnThePoor which is what happened to the #WarOnDrugs - a lazy man's way to get rid of crime by eliminating even the suspected or accused without due process of law. Just like how Davao was purged of criminals, mostly those involved in illegal drugs, by the leader who had a codename of "Superman" and the alleged mastermind of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

No to extra judicial killings and death squad. Our current justice system could not even accurately identify the wrongdoers. They could wrongfully persecute an innocent person. Many were wrongfully sentenced to death because of the screwed justice system.

There are OFWs in abroad facing death sentenced, and Filipinos are shouting and calling for clemency but now some are pushing for the passage of the policy here in the Philippines. Ironic indeed!

The Philippine Top Choice Awards for Excellence 2017 Recognizes Outstanding Achievers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We are deeply honored to be recognized again as one of the awardees of the Philippine Top Choice Awards for Excellence for the year 2017. It was way back in 2014 when Wazzup Pilipinas first got the attention of the award-giving body when they conferred to us the recognition of Top Filipino Community Blog Site. We still remember visiting Camelot Hotel on the night of August 23, 2014 to receive the award. Now after three years, we once again join the ranks of outstanding companies to receive the same recognition.

The awarding ceremonies this time was held on February 3, 2017 at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resorts & Casino where several of our fellow awardees from different business sectors gathered together to receive their respective awards for their exceptional achievements.

The Philippine Top Choice Awards for Excellence is organized by the Philippine Communication Event Management Inc., and the Philippine Top Choice Awards Council. The award council aims to acknowledge and reward individuals and companies, products and services, that promote and recognize best business practices leading to consumer welfare and protection, product quality and consumer services.

Recipients that are selected were chosen based on Product/Service Reliability, Product/Service Excellence, Ethical Business Practices, Customer Concern and Intimacy, and Product/Service Trustworthiness.

Selections were based on the nominations from independent body of different industry or category. Market research and survey were conducted by the survey group through street interview, word of mouth, personal and telephone interviews, and focused group discussions. A panel of judges selected a shortlist of companies for each award.

La Estrella: A Night of Music and Flamenco

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Set in the south of Spain, La Estrella follows the story of Carina (Katsie Llave), and her childhood best friends –Alejandro (David Ezra) the shy but sweet village boy, and Ricardo (Arman Ferrer) the headstrong but charming aristocrat, as they journey through life, and discover love in its purest and most steadfast form.

First of its kind, this Flamenco/Classical/Musical Theater showcase directed by Katreen Dela Cruz explores the profound simplicity of life through dance and music: the challenges of growing up, the complexity of friendship, and the pain, strength, and hope in love.

La Estrella is a love triangle story between childhood friends which will be communicated through Spanish classical songs with Arman Ferrer (Philstage Gawad Buhay Awardee for Best Male Featured in a Musical in 2015; last seen on Disney in Concert, Tale as Old as Time with ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, November 2016), Spanish pop songs with David Ezra (Aliw Awards Best New Male Artist in 2015 and Aliw Awards Best Actor Nominee for 2016; son of Asia's Diva, Dulce) and different forms and style of Flamenco dance with Katsie Llave (practiced flamenco in Escuela Amor De Dios: Centro de Arte Flamenco y Danza Espanola in Madrid under legendary teachers Antonio Maya, Alfonso Losa, Miguel Canas, Immaculada Ortega, La Truco and Nino de los Reyes).

Dates: 20, 21, 27 and 28 May 2017
Times: 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Venue: Power Mac Center Spotlight, Circuit Makati.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/YQcVKys9uHZ4BFnO2

#LaEstrella2017 #PortkeyEvents

“Pan de Musika” Open Mic on March 3 at Kamuning Bakery Cafe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Pan de Musika" open mic night of beautiful music & poetry---organized by talented young artists of Songwriters Philippines & Kamuning Bakery Cafe---will be held on March 3 (Friday) 7:30 p.m. onwards and the public is invited.

Among the music artists of Songwriters Philippines performing at the first session of “Pan de Musika” include Santy Leonardo, actor/poet Rey Talosig, Alec Padua, Jayson Joaquin, Gian Bernal, Janine Liao, Norjen Los Añes and others, to be hosted by Bryan Amparo and Edward Dunlao. 

Also invited are some topnotch literary poets. Kamuning Bakery Café plans to support more meaningful yet non-traditional cultural and civic projects, such as the now popular tertulia-inspired “Pandesal Forum” where newsmakers and leaders dialogue with media and intellectuals, also this “Pan de Musika”, possibly publishing a poetry journal, and others.

The venue is the 78-year-old, handcrafted/pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Cafe at Judge Jimenez St. corner K-1st Street, Quezon City. Musicians and poets are welcome to contact Tels: 4161637, 9292216, 4126628, office 4151692, 4126685 or Joanna 09302481553, 09059302339 or Mela 09338604252 or 09228901893 or text 24-hours 09188077777 or 09178481818. Email kamuningbakerycafe@gmail.com. You can also register at the Kamuning Bakery Café branch store at SM North Edsa’s second-floor East Bridge.