Working Smarter with Ricoh MFPs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In these fast-paced times, professionals and office workers are accustomed to multitasking, working with tight deadlines, and taking on projects that require intense creativity and efficiency. Although this may be considered already the norm in the modern-day workplace, many still find it challenging to cope with the demands of their respective dynamic and competitive industries.

Continuously improving the way people work requires simplification of day-to-day processes that may seem menial, but can actually contribute greatly to getting tasks done in faster, easier, and in more cost efficient ways.

One such daily task is the printing of various documents and other materials, ranging from printing for individual consumption, preparing for meetings, to producing materials for events or for mass distribution.

Smarter ways to work

As part of its vision to empower professionals with a new way of working that is tailor-fit to their needs, global imaging and electronics leader RICOH pioneered its innovative Multi-Function Product printer (MFP) models MP C2004SP ,MP C4504SP upto MP C6004SP.

RICOH MFPs present a wide variety of paper and finishing options designed to help users achieve more creative and efficient output. These printers can deliver up to 60 color pages per minute, has an expanded capacity of 2,300 to 4,700 sheets in its stock. Innovatively designed rollers reduce paper curls for more uniform paper stacks and fewer jams.

Users can produce marketing collaterals such as handouts, flyers, brochures, and banners with an excellent print quality of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi. These new printers also do away with manual stapling, and can automatically bind up to five printed pages together with no staple wire using the Hybrid Stapless Finisher—spelling cost and work efficiency.


Fingertip access to information

Featuring a 10.1”-wide touchscreen Smart Operation Panel with intuitive interface, users can swipe, scroll, drag-and-drop, and pinch-flick as they would with their smart phones and tablets to print, scan, copy, and fax using comprehensive applications.

The embedded apps also allow users to simplify and personalize even complex workflows. Repetitive, manual jobs can be bypassed, such as in scanning one’s weekly meeting notes and sharing them with the same pre-entered recipients with a touch from the printer’s home screen.

Moreover, RICOH’s Integrated Cloud Enterprise Solutions allows documents to be saved in a folder or cloud storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Evernote. The RICOH Smart Device Connector App, on the other hand, allows personal mobile devices to connect to the MFPs and print and share information from almost anywhere.

For other tasks such as scanning, RICOH’s 100-sheet automatic reversing document feeder (ARDF) enables sharing of digital information through a multitude of scanning capabilities. The printers can also fax contracts and other forms just as quickly, as faxes can be sent and received between email inboxes to save on paper and transmission costs.



Managing workstyles and eco-efficiency

Further adding value in cost efficiency is RICOH’s EZ Charger Xpress. which is a software that manages individual users or departments’ usage of the printing equipment. An IT administrator can customize automated cost charging for the different users, and set print quotas. This spells utmost convenience for organizations and corporations in managing their paper use, and even helps conserve resources.

For archiving and protection of files, the MFPs can store up to 3,000 frequently used documents in the document server, and files can be retrieved quickly through keyword searches. Access to specific functions can also be restricted, print jobs can be deferred until the author releases them, and watermarks can be added on documents to prevent unauthorized copies of important information.

For RICOH, offering high performance and innovative equipment should always take into account managing environmental impact and energy consumption as well. Hence, the MFPs have a wide range of eco-friendly features, including an in-built human detector sensor that recovers the machine from sleep mode as soon as a user is nearby. Its 0.5 second switch-on time is the fastest in its class.

The RICOH MP C2004SP and MP C4504SP are products of the company’s solution-focused Workstyle Innovation Technology that revolutionizes peoples’ ways of doing things to support them in accomplishing their goals at work.

RICOH products are showcased at its main office in Makati (tel. no. 865-9500) and branches located in Laguna (045-502-7243), and Cebu (032-256-4559). For more information, visit www.ricoh.com.ph

Netflix is Looking for the Best Translators Around the Globe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We’re pleased to introduce HERMES, the first online subtitling and translation test and indexing system by a major content creator.

Since Netflix launched globally, the scale of our localization efforts has increased dramatically. It’s hard to believe that just 5 years ago, we only supported English, Spanish and Portuguese. Now we’ve surpassed 20 languages - including languages like Korean, Chinese, Arabic and Polish - and that number continues to grow. Our desire to delight members in “their” language, while staying true to creative intent and being mindful of cultural nuances is important to ensure quality. It’s also fueling a need to rapidly add great talent who can help provide top-notch translations for our global members across all of these languages.

Since we unveiled our new HERMES tool two weeks ago, thousands of candidates around the world have already completed the test, covering all represented languages. This is incredible to us because of the impact it will ultimately have on our members as we focus on continually improving the quality of the subtitles on the service. We’re quickly approaching an inflection point where English won’t be the primary viewing experience on Netflix, and HERMES allows us to better vet the individuals doing this very important work so members can enjoy their favorite TV shows and movies in their language.

More information about HERMES can be found on the Netflix Tech Blog.

- Chris Fetner and Denny Sheehan

Chris Fetner is Director of Media Engineering and Partnerships at Netflix

Denny Sheehan is Director of Content Localization & Quality Control at Netflix

Ayala Land and Ube Express to Launch Preferred Airport Bus Service

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ayala Land, Inc. and in partnership with Ayala Malls, Glorietta, and Greenbelt wishes to launch Ube Express' Preferred Airport Bus Service from Makati City to NAIA Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3. This event will formalize the partnership, which will provide a seamless ride from Makati to NAIA Terminals.

Ayala Land, Inc. intends to highlight the concept that they call “Easy Ride” wherein they offer all Ayala Mall customers the ease and comfortability of their travel while ensuring a seamless ride all the way to their desired location. Ube Express' Airport Bus Service will be part of that concept and is a new route innovation within the Ayala Malls.

Together with Ayala Land, Inc. and its executives, the send-off rites will be on April 5, 2017, Wednesday at 8:00 am, park area in front of Glorietta 4, Ayala Avenue, Ayala Center Makati City. Join Ube Express as they strengthen their partnership with Ayala Land, Inc, and formally launch the Airport Bus Service from Makati to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Government officials from DOTr, LTO, LTFRB, Makati City Officials, and Easy Ride Transport Leaders will together converge for a simple program and refreshments after.

Rob Lisita Determined to Break Losing Spell in Upcoming Bout

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If there is a perfect way to describe Rob “Warrior of God” Lisita as a mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor, he is the true epitome of a gallant warrior inside the cage.

The 34-year-old native of Campbelltown, Australia is known as a relentless offensive force, armed with powerful striking combinations with the intent of scoring highlight-reel finishes.

Lisita is 14-9 as a professional mixed martial artist and has proven to be a fixture in big fights owing to his fan-friendly style.

His reputation as an MMA athlete with a never-say-die attitude gained the attention of ONE Championship, which is widely regarded as the frontrunner of the sport in the Asian region.

Lisita quickly made an impact in ONE Championship by easily taking out Japanese rival Yusuke Kawanago with a 28-second knockout in May 2014.

Under Armour Announced Test of Will Winners to Compete in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 6

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine leg of Under Armour’s ‘Test of Will’, took place last weekend at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

The winners of the event, for the Men’s Division, on 3rd place was Gian Carlo Mercado with a total score of 136. On second place was Merwin Torres, with a score of 140 and for 1st place, winner was Raje Fama, with a total score of 150.

For the Women’s Division, on 3rd place was Rachel Ann Martin, with a total score of 93. On 2nd place, it was Lynette Suler, with a score of 98. While, Joyce Reboton won for first place, with a score of 126.

Joyce Reboton and Raje Fama will be sent to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on May 6 for the Finals, to compete with other representatives from other countries.

There were a total of 260 participants who competed in the said event, with 114 participants competing on the first day and 146 participants on the second day.

UA ‘Test of Will’ Philippine leg, offered athletes the chance to compete in a simple 4-minute circuit consisting of Burpees, One Arm Thruster, TRX Rows and Sandbag Throw. The side-events also included arm wrestling challenge and a fitness session with Elle Adda.

Discover the Extraordinary with Animax this April!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This April, be dazzled by the fantastical with two same-day-as-Japan simulcast series premiering on Animax! Both series will be available in localized subtitles for the enjoyment of anime fans across Asia.

Even the ordinary can become heroes in My Hero Academia (Season 2)!

The highly rated My Hero Academia series returns for a power-packed second season, premiering on Animax on the same day as Japan this April! The young, idealistic Izuku Midoriya dreams of becoming a hero even though he was born without a “quirk”, which is a superpower that the majority of the population develops. His life changes in a chance encounter with his idol and top hero All Might, who decides to share his power with Izuku. With his newfound superpower, Izuku begins to attend a high school for budding heroes and finally embarks on his lifelong dream to become a hero himself.

My Hero Academia (Season 2) premieres on 1 April, every Saturday at 10pm on the same day as Japan. 

 
Dreams really do come true in Alice & Zouroku!

Adventure awaits when grumpy old man meets nonsensical young girl! Based on an award-winning manga series by Tetsuya Imai, Alice & Zouroku revolves around main character Sana, a member of a group of young girls who possess a mysterious power known as “Alice’s Dream”, which gives them the ability to turn their thoughts into reality. These girls are locked away in secret so they can be experimented on. However, Sana manages to escape one day and encounters a stubborn old man Zouroku, who intensely dislikes disruptions to his orderly life. Will life ever return to normal for Zouroku with a girl like Sana around?

Alice & Zouroku premieres on 2 April, every Sunday at 11pm on the same day as Japan.


Apart from the two highly anticipated simulcast series, viewers can also enjoy whimsical comedy series This Art Club Has a Problem! and action-packed mecha series Gyrozetter on Animax in April.

The former series follows along the adventures of middle schooler Mizuki as she attempts to play her part as a member of the art club, with just one problem – she’s the only member who actually seems interested in art! Surrounded by outrageous fellow club members and distracted by her crush on one of the other members, can Mizuki continue to pursue her passion for her craft?

Based on a manga series, which was also adapted into a video game, the latter series Gyrozetter features an alternate version of 21st century Japan, in which cars have been equipped with artificial intelligence. As a student training to operate these cars, fifth-grader Kakeru is one day assigned to the transforming robot known as Gyrozetter. Together with other specially selected drivers, he must now use Gyrozetter to save the world from the evil organization Xenon.

This Art Club Has a Problem! premieres on 11 April, every Monday and Tuesday at 8pm, with two episodes back-to-back. Gyrozetter premieres on 19 April, every Monday to Friday at 5.30pm.



Animax is available on Sky Cable Channel 46, Cignal Channel 73, Dream Satellite TV Channel 07, and GSat Channel 24.

Get to Know Usanimals Better and Discover How Great it is for Your Child’s Health!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Are you confident that your child is getting all the nutrients he or she needs for daily nutrition and overall health? How do you encourage your child to like or even enjoy taking vitamins?

With the help of Usanimals by USANA, parents can support their children’s growth in a fun, convenient and healthful way. Usanimals is a daily multivitamin for children ages 2 to 12 with a balanced formula that contains 23 essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support healthy growth and development for healthy immune functions and energy levels, and bone support.

“Good growth encompasses all aspects in the development of children – from physical, physiological, intellectual, emotional and psychological. We are proud to say that Usanimals by USANA can support the nutritional demands of growing children by providing the relevant and the most comprehensive nutrients that result in improved overall health development,” said Gen Blasurca, Corporate Pharmacist at USANA.

Gen Blasurca (right at top cover photo), Corporate Pharmacist at USANA Health Sciences (USANA), leads a discussion about Usanimals, an FDA-approved multivitamin for children and teens, at a recent press conference on March 31, 2017 at the Happy Garden Café in Makati.

Usanimals was relaunched locally in response to parents’ clamor for complete, high-quality and effective kids’ multivitamins. According to Blasurca, each tablet is complete with 23 essential multivitamins, minerals and antioxidants to promote children’s healthy growth and development, a healthy immune function, balanced energy levels, and bone support.

With Blasurca are two of USANA’s to-earning distributors nine-star Diamond Director Josephine dela Fuente (center) and Emerald Director Mara Pasco (left), both of whom are mothers. During the discussion, Dela Fuente and Pasco revealed that Usanimals has nearly eliminated their children’s allergies and sick days, boosted their energy, and enabled them to enjoy taking vitamins through the chewable and animal-stamped tablets.

Founded in 1992, USANA is a U.S.-based nutritional company that manufactures high-quality supplements, personal care and healthy food products in its FDA-Registered Drug Establishment in Salt Lake City. In the Philippines, the company recently celebrated its 8^th year, earning PhP4 billion in local sales last year.

Children’s nutritional needs
Children need a diet sufficient in macro and micronutrients. Macronutrients refer to carbohydrates, fats and protein needed by the body to provide the vital energy and body building elements for survival and development.

Meanwhile, micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals children needed in small amounts to support their physical and mental development. A child’s diet must also be sufficient to provide for the accumulation of stores of nutrients in preparation for the accelerated growth spurts of the teen years.

The lack of micronutrients such as iodine, vitamin A or iron in their daily diet may result in brain underdevelopment and poor performance in school, as well as the inability to cope with stress.

Usanimals contains quality antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help ensure that the essential nutrients are present in your child’s diet. It contains vital micronutrients such as Vitamins A, C, E, and zinc to boost immunity; B6, B12, folate, and choline for healthy brain function; calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D for strong bones and teeth; and iron, thiamin, and B12 for energy. It also contains calcium pantothenate, biotin, inositol, antioxidant phytonutrient complex (blackberry, raspberry, cranberry, blueberry fruit powder), selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum.

It is free of artificial flavors and sweeteners. Each chewable tablet is easy to eat, is stamped with animal shapes and has a natural wild berry flavor, making it a yummy and fun treat for kids!

Gen Blasurca, Corporate Pharmacist at USANA Health Sciences, recently presented Usanimals, an FDA-approved dietary supplement for children and teens, during a recent press conference at the Happy Garden Café in Makati. The multivitamin was relaunched in response to parents’ clamor for complete, high-quality and effective kids’ multivitamins. According to Blasurca, each Usanimals tablet is complete with 23 essential multivitamins, minerals and antioxidants that promote children’s healthy growth and development, a healthy immune function, balanced energy levels, bone support.

Each tablet costs only PhP18 versus purchasing discrete multivitamins and minerals which would cost more. Additional benefits of Usanimals include its chewable form compared with messy syrup counterparts, and its sugar-free formulation.

Founded in 1992, USANA Health Sciences is a U.S.-based nutritional company that manufactures high-quality supplements, personal care and healthy food products in its FDA-Registered Drug Establishment in Salt Lake City. In the Philippines, the company recently celebrated its 8^th year, earning PhP4 billion in local sales last year.

Feeding Program

USANA True Health Foundation (THF), USANA’s corporate social responsibility organization, recently partnered with Cornerstone Foundation – an education program under the group Couples for Christ, the Ateneo Center for Educational Development and the Department of Education – to conduct a six-month feeding program during their Saturday classes.

Throughout the program’s duration, the students were individually weighed and their heights measured before and after each feeding cycle, to track their physical development. It also allowed USANA’s program coordinators to monitor the other health needs of the children.

Aside from the weekly feeding sessions, USANA also generously gave each of the students a six-month supply of Usanimals. Results of the student’s physical progress, to be available later this year, will be used to improve the program further.

The USANA difference

“USANA ensures that it manufactures products that are well-researched and is backed by reliable and accurate science,” said Aurora Gaston, USANA Vice President for the Philippines and Indonesia. “We have in-house world-class scientists who test the potency and purity of USANA product to ensure complete and balanced formulas.”

“Our Scientific Advisory Council consists of independent associates whose insights into product applications and efficacy help us deliver high-quality products that promote human health.

“We work with distinguished scientific institutions who conduct research to ensure out company provides cutting-edge nutritionals.”

“At USANA, we believe that the quality of raw ingredients is of the utmost importance. USANA only uses ingredients of high quality to ensure maximum purity, potency, and bioavailability.”


For more information on Usanimals and other updates from USANA Philippines, visit and follow USANA’s social media portals on Facebook (facebook.com/OfficialUSANAPhilippines), Twitter (@usana_ph), and Instagram (usanapilipinas).

Three Ways Smart Uses Tech and Social Media for a Better Workplace

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Can you see yourself sharing a work idea with your CEO via social media?

For some people, such a scenario is difficult to imagine, as many companies still ban the use of social media (and sometimes even phones!) in the workplace. But for employees of Smart Communications, communicating with top bosses via social media is a normal thing. In fact, Smart encourages them to use digital tools that can improve productivity and make work more fun. Here are some of the ways they do this:

1.      Facebook for work

Smart is one of the telcos in Southeast Asia to use the platform called Workplace by Facebook. This is very much like your favorite social media site, except that it connects people within companies or a group of companies. Smart employees use this to share information and ideas (even with their CEO!), ask questions, receive instant feedback from colleagues, see real-time company news, communicate with co-workers via messaging, and even host video meetings. It allows them to collaborate with people from different departments and across different levels.

But it’s not all about work. Here they can also join different interest groups. There’s one for coffee lovers, another for members of the dragon boat team, and even one for sneakerheads!

Corporate learning is made more fun via gamified sessions.

2.      Training via mobile games

Remember dozing off at your last corporate seminar? At Smart, trainings are made more fun via the Gamified Mobile Learning (mLearning) Program. Notifications are regularly sent out to inform employees about available online lessons, many of which are translated into games. They can then decide which lessons they want to take AND when they want to take these.  Some enjoy taking these courses while stuck in traffic! Some of the lessons are about telecommunication basics, Microsoft Office, and project management.

3.      Digital activities during events

Toward the end of 2015, Smart organized an event for employees called Paskong Pagsaluhan. While there were a lot of on-ground activities, employees were also encouraged to post about these on their personal social media accounts, and to join a video-making caroling contest. To promote a spirit of gratitude, they were also urged to express appreciation for colleagues on Smart’s online commendation portal.

During the event, employees were also encouraged to use the Customer Advocacy Referral App (CARA for short). Through this app, they can help family and friends determine which Smart postpaid plan best suited them, facilitate postpaid applications, and report subscriber concerns faster.

Workplace has fostered a culture of open communication and collaboration among Smart employees, from all levels and departments.

These three programs won Gold Anvils at the 52nd Anvil Awards, which is considered the Oscars of Philippine public relations. Smart took home a total of 24 Anvils, earning them the Company of the Year trophy. 

Receiving the trophies were Smart representatives led by (starting sixth from left) Chief Financial Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla, People Group FVP Gina Ordoñez, Chief People and Culture Officer Liza Sichon, and People Group AVP Che Agsaoay.

Smart has also won international awards citing it for being a top employer.

If you’re interested to join Smart, please visit smart.com.ph/careers

Up Playwrights' Theater Proudly Presents Angry Christ

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Perhaps one of the most enigmatic works of Philippine contemporary art is the mural entitled THE LAST JUDGEMENT in the Chapel of ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER in the Victorias Sugar Mill in Negros Occidental. The work of the Fil-American painter Alfonso Ossorio was created in 1950, a time of great social upheaval in Negros.

Ossorio was born to a family of great wealth. His father, Don Miguel Ossorio, was from a wealthy Manila merchant clan. Although he was born in Manila, he was sent to study in England at 8 years old and returned to the land of his birth only in 1949. After finishing what many acknowledge as his masterpiece, Ossorio flew back to the United States where he established his reputation as a painter and a patron of such artistic giants as Jackson Pollock and Jean Dubuffet. He never returned to the Philippines.

The mural both shocked and scandalized the people of Negros when it was first unveiled late in 1950. Today, the entire chapel is a tourist attraction as well as an important part of Negros history. It is a singular treasure of Philippine art.

ACT 1 covers the period when Ossorio first came home to begin work. His younger brother Frederic has commissioned a foreign architect to build a chapel. Ossorio brings with him the Countess, Ade de Bethune to design the church’s mosaics. While de Bethune easily integrates herself into the life of the sakadas, Alfonso must struggle with the many influences that shape the mural. The ghosts of his troubled childhood, his sexual preference, the poverty of the sakadas and the growing insurgency all prove deeply troubling. Equally troubling are the conventions of traditional liturgical art which he finds stale and limiting. A fictional character, Anselmo, a boy from a sakada family, is Alfonso’s assistant. Try as he may, Anselmo cannot accept the conventions of Ossorio’s art.

In ACT 2, Alfonso decides on the theme of the mural. Going against all convention and acknowledging all opposing influences, he begins to create a statement that reconciles both dark and light in his nature.

Volkswagen PH Introduces All-New Tiguan SUV, Activates CSI’s Steps to Safety at 13th MIAS

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Volkswagen Philippines, the number one European car brand in the country in 2016, is set to introduce at the 13th Manila International Auto Show on March 30 to April 2, 2017 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City its new product lines as well as activate the second phase of the multi-awarded Child Safety Initiative with the “Steps to Safety” program.


All-New Tiguan

The all-new 5-seater Tiguan compact SUV is powered by a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder turbo-charged stratified injection (TSI) engine with BlueMotion Technology that generates a maximum output of 150 Ps at 5,000 rpm and torque of up to 250 Nm at 3500 rpm, all coming from a compact, fuel-efficient Euro 6 emission-compliant engine mated to a 6-speed direct shift gear (DSG) transmission. This SUV is laden with safety features, most notably the airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver, the ISOFIX child seats’ anchorage points, and the Electronic Stabilisation Program with the driver steering recommendation.