Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

PBA Player Jervy Cruz Encourages Aspiring Basketball Players to Follow Their Dreams

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PBA Player Jervy Cruz has a lot to share about his basketball journey, “Sobrang blessed ako kasi narating ko ang narating ko. Kasi sobra-sobrang hirap ang dinaanan ko. Galing akong probinsya pero pangarap ko lang talaga maging isang PBA player”, says Jervy.

He continues by saying that even when he was in high school, he was dead-set on his dreams, though, it didn’t seem possible to attain his ambition, he held on to it, “Nung high school ako, ang laro namin di naman seryoso. Nung nag-college ako, 4 a.m. pa lang gising na ako, tapos Team B ako ng 4 years. So feeling ko, bakit ganoon.”

He said that despite the obstacles that came his way, he never doubted himself. He just kept his unwavering faith and kept the dream alive. “Ang sabi ko sa sarili ko pag susuko na ako,…konti na lang…kaya ko pa, kaya ko pa ito.”

Having accomplished a dream that most young basketball players aspire for, Jervy has made it his advocacy to inspire more young players to hold on to that dream. He has become the voice for Under Armour’s latest program, FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup presented by Under Armour.

3x3 basketball, or streetball is the largest urban team sport of the world. With 12-second shot clock, and 10-minute or first team to 21-point format, the games are usually fast, accessible, and entertaining for the players and audience alike. The format made its global competitive debut at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and the World Championships have been regularly organised by FIBA since then.

The Under Armour 3x3 Southeast Asia 2017 Tournament will take place in Cebu at the Cebu City Sports Club and Ayala Center Cebu on April 22-23, 2017. In Manila, it will take place at Bonifacio Global City on April 28-30, 2017.

Organised by Under Armour in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, the tournament is open to all U-18 male and female basketballers.

Each player who signs up will receive a set of Under Armour teamwear that consists of an UA Tech™ Tank Top and UA Baseline Basketball Shorts. All players will also receive 25% discount on Under Armour basketball footwear, including the latest signature Curry 3 Basketball Shoes that deliver infinite support and total control on the court.

In addition to winning up to S$1,000 or Php36,000 in prize money, respective country’s basketball federation or association may also select the winning teams to be part of the national contingent and compete against other National Teams from Asia in the FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup presented by Under Armour on 26–28 May 2017 held in Cyberjaya Gem in Mall, Malaysia. Flights and accommodation will be fully paid for the selected teams.

“Kung gusto mo makamit ang pangarap mo, kailangan mo mag-try. Kailangan sabihin mo kaya mo ito. Magsikap ka, at wag mawalan ng pag-asa. To all the aspiring basketball players, this may be your chance na mabago ang buhay mo. Sumali kayo sa UA 3x3”, says Cruz.

Registration locations are available online at www.ua3x3.com and can be made at all Under Armour Brand Houses and partner stores from now until 12 April 2017. Visitwww.ua3x3.com for more information on the UA 3x3 Under 18 Tournament.

BGC: Making Dreams Come True for Children of Military Heroes

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Lance was only 4 years old when his father, Army Sgt. Narciso Lawrence Layug died. He remembers how his mom broke the news to him, “Anak, si dad nandun na sa heaven.” (Son, daddy’s in heaven.) To which he gave an innocent answer, “Sundan natin, bisitahin natin siya. Malapit lang naman yun, at may pamasahe tayo.” (Let’s visit him. It’s not that far a place, and we have money for the commute.)

Years later, the family left the province for Manila. As they rebuild their lives in the city, mother-and-son became best of friends, and helped each other in running their household.

Lance is only one of the many children supported by HERO (Help Educate and Rear Orphans) Foundation – a non-profit organization that provides educational assistance in the form of stipends to children of fallen soldiers.

To help support military families, Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation, Inc. (FBDFI), BGC’s social responsibility arm, and the Bonifacio Global City Estate Association recently turned over P1-million and P200,000.00 worth of cash donations, respectively to HERO Foundation.

“Wars, insurgencies and natural disasters keep military families apart. When an unfortunate incident leaves servicemen killed or incapacitated in the line of duty, their families are equally left impaired. The surviving parent and children are left to deal with bouts of emotional and financial stress and their future suddenly becomes unstable. This is why we have partnered with HERO Foundation to help some of the children have a more secure tomorrow through education,” says Aileen Zosa, EVP of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Vice Chair of FBDFI.

Zosa explains that HERO Foundation’s cause is so close to home because BGC, now a vibrant business and lifestyle district, was once a military base. “While BGC has evolved by leaps and bounds through the years, we acknowledge that what once stood here is an integral part of the city’s history. We feel that by assisting HERO Foundation, we are honoring this side of our past.”

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Primer serves as a simple guide for fishers, local government units and the general public to understand and follow the amended Fisheries Code

The Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550) was amended on 27 February 2015 by RA 10654, providing higher penalties while mandating better monitoring systems to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Top marine conservation group Oceana Philippines recently launched a simple primer on RA 10654 in Cebu City. The handy, notebook-sized booklet is meant to serve as a simple guide for fishers and private institutions to better understand the amended Fisheries Code, while helping government agencies enforce the law and empowering citizens to know their rights.

“The amended code is a Godsend for the fisheries sector – but understanding a set of complicated rules might not be easy for all. To address this, we created printed and downloadable primers. We hope this makes the implementation of the amended Fisheries Code faster,” shares Oceana Philippines Vice-President Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

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NPC reminds Business and Government Agencies to Secure Data Processing Systems and for Individuals to be Safe Online for Holy Week

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) issued an advisory for Data Protection Officers (DPO) reminding them to secure data processing systems for the upcoming Holy Week long weekend, in order to prevent the duplication of the COMELEC data breach which happened during Holy Week 2016.

In the memorandum addressed to Data Protection Officers, the NPC recommended the following:

Place non-mission critical systems off-line especially those that contain or have access to personal data.
For systems that are kept off-line, ensure that all system activities are recorded and the aforementioned logs are secure.
Password protect or encrypt files and databases on servers, desktop computers and other devices.
Conduct a backup of systems and databases.
Information Security team needs to retain the ability to remotely monitor systems and be ready respond to any unusual activity.
Discourage physical breaches by securing office premises adequately.

Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro likens the protection of personal data during long holidays to securing one’s home when leaving for an out of town trip, “When one leaves for a long vacation or when you leave home for a long period of time unattended, you make sure that security precautions are in place to ensure that break-ins do not happen. The same way our DPO’s should safeguard their I.T. systems as well as ensure that adequate physical security are in place during times of minimal staffing”. Chairman Liboro said.

“The banking sector is also vulnerable, the Bangladesh bank heist of 2016 also happened on a long weekend (Chinese New Year), the economic significance of the financial sector is the reason why we are looking to have a general assembly of DPOs from the finance and banking sector next,” Commissioner Liboro added.

Early this month the NPC held the first general assembly of DPOs in Government (DPO1) and launched its newwebsite complete with information and tools for DPOs to help in complying with the country’s data protection and privacy laws.

Data Protection for individuals

For individuals going on the road for the holidays, Privacy Commissioner Liboro recommends doing the following data protection measures for their devices:

1. Double-check if your laptop or mobile phone have been updated with the latest security patches

‘Being on the road or away from your home network would mean that data connectivity would be slow and quota is very limited, and so you won't be able to do this reliably”

2. Make sure your personal and work data are backed up securely

“As history have shown in a dramatic fashion, both in Bangladesh central bank and COMELEAK incidents were done during long holidays, as this is a preferred time for criminals to act online.”

3. Turn off your home network router if nobody is going to be left at home

“Powered-off devices, not just home appliances will not only save you money from unnecessary electricity consumption, but also deny criminal an avenue to attack your home remotely.”

4. Be aware of Phishing scams and Fake websites

“Users need to be vigilant of emails and fake websites that aim to extract log-in credentials from unwary users. There has been an increase in these, and users need to be cautious in accessing their accounts from their own devices and most especially from shared devices”

DOTr Inspects Infra Projects to Ensure No Delays in Completion

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In line with the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to make his administration the "Golden Age of Infrastructure," Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade conducts inspections of various ongoing project constructions to ensure timely completion of key infrastructure projects.

Sec. Tugade inspected the ongoing construction of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, which is targeted to be completed by mid-2018. The new structure and the ongoing renovation of the existing terminal is poised to make Mactan-Cebu the world’s first resort airport.

Due to be operational in June 2018, Sec. Tugade also inspected the ongoing construction of the New Panglao Airport in Bohol, the newest gateway to tourist destinations in the province. It is projected to accommodate 1.9 million passengers annually.

Sec. Tugade however, reminded airport authorities that construction of new structures should not hamper renovations and improvement works in existing airports.

"The construction of Panglao Airport should not be a reason to delay the repairs of Tagbilaran Airport," Tugade told airport officials.

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the launch of NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs around the world open to international male and female players ages 6-18.

The first NBA Basketball School launched today in Mumbai, India as part of a multiyear agreement announced today with India On Track (IOT), one of India’s leading sports management, marketing and development companies. Additional NBA Basketball Schools will be launched in India and around the world in the coming months.

The new initiative adds an additional layer to the NBA’s existing basketball development efforts, including the Jr. NBA, Basketball without Borders (BWB) and NBA Academies.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, will help identify young players who have the talent to attend NBA Basketball Schools. From there, the top players at each NBA Basketball School will have the opportunity to be selected to attend NBA Academies, the league’s network of elite basketball training centers around the world to develop top international male and female prospects. Registration to attend the NBA Basketball School in Mumbai is now open at indiaontrack.nba.com.

“Our goal is to inspire more young male and female players to learn the game under the guidance of established coaches with proven training techniques,” said NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks Meek. “The NBA Basketball School builds an additional track between the Jr. NBA and NBA Academies with the goal of increasing the pool of players who have the talent to attend our academies around the world.”

“There has never been a more exciting time for the growth of basketball in India,” said NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco. “Between NBA Academy India welcoming 24 elite prospects and the launch of NBA Basketball Schools with our partner India On Track, we are investing more than ever in identifying and training India’s aspiring young players.”

“We are now at the cusp of a new phase in India’s sporting journey, and to ensure its continued growth we need to lay down strong foundations for basketball,” said India On Track Founder and Chief Executive Officer Vivek Sethia. “This initiative jointly executed by the NBA and India On Track will help to create a platform to identify and engage the untapped basketball potential in India thereby creating a larger talent pool for academies to choose from.”

Each NBA Basketball School will feature year-long, tuition-based programs open to international male and female players ages 6-18. The NBA Basketball School curriculum, which is designed to help players, parents, coaches and organizations better understand the process of improvement, has been developed by the NBA’s Elite Basketball Development team in consultation with current and former NBA coaches, former NBA players, and player development experts. The comprehensive curriculum covers oncourt training, strength and conditioning, and basketball education for young players ages 6-18 and will be implemented by local coaches working directly with the NBA’s International Basketball Operations staff around the world.

The NBA Basketball School in Mumbai builds on the NBA’s existing basketball and youth development initiatives in India. The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program has reached more than 3.5 million youth and trained more than 3,000 physical education instructors nationwide since its launch in 2013. In November 2016, the NBA announced its plan to launch NBA Academy India, an elite basketball training center in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) for the top male and female prospects from throughout India. NBA Academy India, the first of its kind in the country, will open in May.

Toni Tauru Eager to Capture Second Straight Win in ONE Championship

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Toni “Dynamite” Tauru is determined to keep his winning momentum going inside the ONE Championship cage as the Finnish fighters aims to claim his second consecutive victory under the umbrella of Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.

The 32-year-old native of Utti, Finland is set to square off with Filipino standout Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon in the co-headliner of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 21 April.

After falling short in his first two assignments as a ONE Championship athlete, Tauru broke into the promotion’s winning territory for the first time this past December by submitting Belingon’s teammate Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio with a rear-naked choke in the opening salvo.

Tauru wasted no time in the stand-up trade with the Team Lakay representative, shooting immediately for a single-leg takedown and pacifying Eustaquio on the canvas.

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Red Bull’s signature 3x3 tournament comes to the Philippines for the first time!

Red Bull Reign is inviting the world’s top ballers to put their skills to the test. With several contests taking place all over the world this summer, this unique 3x3 basketball tournament will pit hopefuls against one another in a high-endurance, offensive-driven battle that ends with over 15 countries sending their best to compete at the World Finals in Washington DC, USA.

The rules of this tournament are simple: the teams that score the most overall points in each round will advance until one team remains. Players 16 years old and above are open to submit their teams of three (with one reserve) to compete and must have their passports ready!

A total of four qualifiers will be held all throughout May:

Cebu Qualifier - May 13^th (Sacred Heart de Ateneo) (12pm Start)
Manila Qualifier A - May 20^th (Buendia Food by the Court) (5pm Start)
Manila Qualifier B - May 26^th (Buendia Food by the Court) (5pm Start)
Last Chance Qualifier and Finals - May 27^th (Nagtahan Bridge Court, Pasig River) (12pm Start)

Each qualifier will host 16 teams with the top two teams from each day advancing to the Finals. Qualifying tournaments and Finals are open to the public. Each team will be required to pay a registration fee of PHP500.00. Registration is based on the first-come-first-served policy. Once the quota of 16 teams has been reached, teams registering will be placed on a waitlist.

Check out Red Bull Reign’s event page and register your team here:

Online Registration: win.gs/redbullreignph
FB Event: win.gs/redbullreignphrsvp

Sony Channel Takes Viewers to More Drama in New Season of “Chicago Med” this April

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Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf brings more of the emotional drama that unfold at the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center in the hit medical series Chicago Med, which begins its sophomore season in April on Sony Channel.

Saving lives is the only thing they do best when it comes to this spirited team of doctors, nurses, and staff members as they continue to work together to handle day-to-day emergency cases at one of the city’s top trauma centers.

This season, attending physician Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) becomes personal with his new position and thinks familiarity breeds contempt when working with trauma surgery fellow Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell), who chooses a new specialty and has a new mentor. ER nurse April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta) copes with a health crisis after her recent diagnosis. Former Navy surgeon Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) is now in charge as the new chief resident as he continues to battle PTSD. Pediatrician Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto) comes across as rigid from one of the nurses. Psychiatry department chief Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt) guides new psych intern Dr. Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo) as she copes with her newfound career. Meanwhile, hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) deals with an emotional baggage as she tries to move on with her life.

Chicago Med Season 2 premieres on April 24, every Monday at 8:50pm.

Sony Channel is available on SKYCable Channel 35, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cignal Channel 120, and Cablelink Channel 39.

DOE Moves to Restore Remaining Power Facilities Affected by Temblor

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In light of the most recent earthquake swarm which occurred last Saturday, the Department of Energy (DOE), is hastening to restore remaining power facilities that had been affected in Batangas.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today (10 April) reiterated his directive to energy players, especially power plant operators, to ensure the safe and immediate restoration of their power facilities affected by the earthquake.

Cusi emphasized the need to disaster-proof energy facilities and to apply the build-back-better principle to avert or mitigate any impact of calamities to such assets.

“We are currently on the final crafting of a policy on energy resiliency planning and programs to guide our energy industry participants to strengthen their existing infrastructure facilities, incorporate mitigation improvements into the restoration of damaged infrastructures, and improve operational and maintenance standards and practices,” said Cusi.

As of 10:00 a.m. today, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) reported Red Alert Status of the Luzon Grid from1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. following the loss of 2,905 megawatts (MW) of power supply capacities, in which 1,550 MW are due to the earthquake. The affected power plants are Avion Unit 2 (50MW), San Lorenzo Units 1 and 2 (500MW), Ilijan B (600MW) and San Gabriel (420MW).

To augment power supply, the DOE instructed the operation of Malaya Units 1 and 2 Thermal Power Plant with a combined dependable capacity of 450 MW.

Moreover, as of 10:00 a.m., there are already 135 Interruptible Load Program (ILP) participants which confirmed to run their generator sets with a total capacity of 196 MW as reported by the Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO).

Other power plants that are on outage are the following:

On Planned Outage (on Scheduled Maintenance) with total power capacities of 918 MW: Calaca Unit 1 (300MW); Pagbilao Unit 1 (382MW), Angat Auxiliary Unit 4 (6MW); Avion Unit 1 (50MW) and Magat Unit 3 and 4 (180MW).

On Forced Outage with total power capacities of 437 MW: Makban Unit 5 (55MW) due to high turbine vibration and Pagbilao Unit 2 (382MW) due to boiler tube leak.

The DOE is also closely monitoring the effect of previous events in power sector on the power rates and is coordinating with the Energy Regulatory Commission for its reasonableness.

“We would also like to advise the public to practice safety measures amid these natural calamities and to remain conscious of their use of energy, especially this summer season when energy utilization is higher than usual,” Cusi concluded.