Top Five Benefits of Traveling

Wazzup Pilipinas!

According to Wikipedia, “‘travel’ is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.”

Many people travel for various reasons, may they be for leisure, business and the like, but what you may not realize is that traveling imbues you with a multitude of benefits:

First, traveling opens your eyes and lets you experience the world from numerous fresh perspectives. You get to live life from the eyes of a person of a different nation. Mary Anne Radmacher once said, “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” It also allows you to be exposed and acquainted with different cultures.

Second, traveling gives you a sense of adventure. It heightens your curiosity for the unknown and allows the discovery of the awesome things about the world outside your comfort zone.

Third, it teaches you to be grateful for not only the blessings you have at home but also for nature’s wonders teeming all around you. These include diverse and beautiful, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring surroundings, landforms, locations and the like which can only be found here on planet Earth.

Fourth, it teaches you to appreciate the impeccable feats of humanity when it comes to building and making all sorts of impressive things such as entire nations, ornate structures, relationships, history, their own reputation and finding meaning out of their lives.

Fifth, it gives you a distinct idea of who you are. By means of learning about the world and gaining more insights and knowledge about what you’ve seen and experienced, you can clearly identify how they affect you – your beliefs, experiences, stances and behavior - as a person.

As you can see, these are only some of the various benefits to be gained from traveling. If you are traveling anywhere soon, there are several online sites where you could book your flight or hotel.  You may find the best travel deals if you do your research patiently.

Contributed by Hannah Krystelle Del Rosario

Resume of a Sought-After Specialist as a Key to Success

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many modern people are looking for a job, since it is an essential part of human lives; we spend the third part of our time at work. For this reason, the question “How to become a sought-after specialist?” is topical for the majority of people. First, you should certainly define what sphere inspires you. Then, you should choose the educational institution according to your future profession and finish it successfully. And only after that, you will be able to set about the process of searching for a good workplace. It seems to be simple, especially if you have substantial support in the form of good education, but it is not enough. There are also too many people who have different troubles with the process of looking for a job. According to sociological surveys carried out in different countries, unemployment is one of the most serious problems all over the world. It may happen so that even a well-educated and qualified specialist will not be able to find a job suitable for him/her. And the reason for such a situation is… a resume.

Composing a resume seems to be a simple task to do, but sometimes it makes too many troubles. Resume is the face of the specialist that is why resume writing needs very responsible attitude of the author. Resume or CV (translation from Latin curriculum vitae means “short biography”) is the first information about you, which you offer to the future employer. So, the right CV may be considered a key to professional success, and vice versa, mistakes made in it can become the reason of future career development failure. Hence, it is very important to know how to present your professional skills successfully with the help of well-done CV.

Tips How to Create an Excellent Resume

To compose a perfect CV, you should be not only a good specialist (this goes without saying), but also have some knowledge in the sphere of psychology. CV, on the one hand, is your visiting card as an expert, and on the other hand, the first opportunity to evaluate you from the standpoint of an HR manager who is hunting for suitable persons. So, try to put yourself into his or her place, what information do you like to see in a proper CV? What qualities are crucial for successful recruitment?

During the process of resume creation, you should use three “be-s”. It means that you must have three definite qualities: you should be consistent, brief, and honest. So, let us discuss all these qualities and their importance for making a superb resume.

1. Be consistent. CV is a concentration of information essential for future recruitment. All data must be well-structured. All working places should be enumerated in a chronological way. Try to organize your CV so that the most important information will be on the first place. It looks awful when a CV of possible candidate starts on a merry note but finishes on a sad one. To avoid such situation, you must first have a firm structure and second, have a critical look on the finished text. Remember that the way of presentation is your chance to become successful. If your CV is well-organized, it will certainly attract attention of managers who are responsible for human resources. To structure your CV in an appropriate way, you may use various automatic forms available on websites devoted to job hunting, they cope with this task with flying colors.

2. Be brief. Brevity is the sister of talent. There is no need to go into unnecessary details when composing a CV. If you have a lot of experience, and your employment sheet is too big, you may include only places of employment for the last calendar year. It is the most suitable way of organizing a too broad employment record. If you are looking for the definite vacancy, but have working experience in different fields, you may also enumerate only jobs relevant to the certain place and company. In this case, you may even create several resumes for different vacancies. It is another good way to structure your CV perfectly.

3. Be honest. The last but not the least moment is to be honest. It is impossible to give wrong information about yourself, your level of education, and certainly about your professional experience. First, you must provide some documents confirming your level of education and the last place of employment. Secondly, you may not cope with work duties in the new workplace if you stretch the truth about your experience. It should also be noted that serious companies usually have their own security police departments, employees of which constantly check all information about possible candidates for a vacant position. If they find that you have given false information, your candidacy will surely be blacklisted. It is certainly not what you want. By the way, experienced recruiters who have already been working in the sphere of human resources for several years are good psychologists, so they may easily find the length of your foot during the first job interview in the company. Don’t throw dust into eyes, just describe clearly your advantages, disadvantages, and experience in the certain field. An honest description will be enough for a good CV – if you are reasonable and realistic about your job applications.

You may also find various recommendations how to improve your CV and free CV samples in Wikipedia.

Other Interesting Issues

If you want to learn more about different writing techniques, improve your skill of text creation, or find various quotations of famous people, you may do it in our blog at Yourwriters.net. We hope that information provided by this site will be useful for people who are interested in literature, philology, linguistics, and other spheres connected with language. We would like to make your life brighter and easier. See you soon!

Philippine Social Media Awards (Star Achievers & Star Brand)

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Social Media has made an impact on our everyday lives. It's changed the way we access information and communicate around the globe. We're now a generation that embrace the digital convenience of lifestyle and many would regard the Internet as marketplace for information.

It’s apparent that Social Media Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, are becoming part of the way of life to many and that, information nowadays, is really at the end of one’s fingertips. 

Thus, it is but right and proper that many individuals are able to influence us by via social media networks. From out of the many comes influencers that deserve to be recognized so they would continue inspiring others to emulate their likeness.

The Philippine Social Media Examiner, Events and Marketing Services, Inc. is an online data and research entity that aims to provide readily available information that may help individuals and even businesses discover how to make good use of social media platforms in connecting with their prospective clients, drive traffic to their websites and advertisements to increase sales, and generate awareness among best companies/products/brands and services.

Aside from providing essential or formative principle on social media, PSME also aims to acknowledge and highlight an individual’s noteworthy achievement in their crafts, and to companies’ products/brands or services that achieve business excellence thru PHILIPPINE SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS. 

Cloudfone and NBA Launch First NBA-Themed Smartphone in Southeast Asia

Wazzup Pilipinas!
 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Cloudfone, the flagship mobile phone and tablet brand of Cellprime Group, one of the Philippines’ top technology companies, announced the launch of the first Cloudfone NBA Edition smartphone in Southeast Asia. 

The Cloudfone NBA Edition features NBA-themed wallpaper and ringtones, as well as the NBA App and a prepaid mobile data allowance, allowing NBA fans in the Philippines to stay connected to the latest NBA news and updates.  For a limited time only, NBA-themed phone cases will accompany every purchase of the Cloudfone NBA Edition.

The Cloudfone NBA Edition is equipped with a 5.5-inch HD IPS display, improved 4G connectivity, 16GB ROM and 2GB RAM, 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras, and 4,000 mAh battery capacity that allow users to enjoy the NBA on their smartphones.

“Cloudfone firmly believes in developing products that enhance the lifestyle of every Filipino, and partnering with the NBA enable us to realize this vision,” said Cloudfone Chief Executive Officer Eric Yu.  “Through the Cloudfone NBA Edition, we are able to amplify the way our consumers enjoy the game by delivering awesome NBA content and experiences into the palm of every fan’s hand.”

SM Youth Summer 2017 Collection

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TOKYO DRIFT

The SM Youth Summer 2017 collection looks to Japan’s fun mix of quirk and style.

Everyone seems to be in Japan—it’s the new millennial playground, where the young, hip and travel-obsessed go in search of new inspirations and Instagram fodder. But as far as style goes, the country has always been a great influence to how the youth dress themselves. But anime and J-Pop aside, Japan and all its nooks and crannies—Tokyo, Harajuku, even the less-populated lands of Hokkaido and Niseko—have proven to inspire a great deal of stylish individuals. This inspiration makes up SM Youth’s Summer ’17 collection.

Set in a pitch black yet lantern-lit space, the SM Youth Summer ’17 Collection is inspired by Japanese cuts and prints, Asian minimalism and the stylish quirks of young Tokyo. Eastern-inspired patterns are seen in dark florals and ancient Asian illustrations, while kimono-like cover-ups introduce a Japanese-like silhouette that’s a great, less structured alternative to the common guy’s hoodie or blazer. Asian minimalism is also seen in the collection, with oversized, boxy shirts, shorts and denim jackets done up in solids and spartan stripes. Bringing a jolt of craziness into the collection comes kooky cartoon prints and colors reminiscent of Harajuku’s vibrant, crazy-cool and devil-may-care style, pared down to be palatable to the SM Youth dresser: pop art banana prints, aqua-themed paint splash board shorts, and pastel Tees are just the right punch of sunshine this summer.

The SM Youth Summer ’17 Collection campaign was shot with SM Youth’s Richard Juan and Janna Tee. The collection is a line-up of Asian-inspired summer staples that can be worn on a beach trip, at a city staycation and even on a cool trip abroad.

Until May 31, get P100 on a purchase of any three (3) regular-priced items from Tee Culture, Markus, Tank, Character Brands and Coco Republic Teens.

Visit facebook.com/SMYouthLifestyle or @SM_Youth on Twitter and Instagram at for more details.

Calling All Writers as 67th Palanca Awards Deadline Nears

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The deadline for entering the 67th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is fast approaching! At midnight of April 30, 2017, the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc., its sponsor and organizer, will be closing submission to the country’s longest running and most prestigious literary competition.

Participants may submit only one entry per category. This year’s Palanca Awards is accepting entries for all 22 categories: English Division - Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play; Filipino Division - Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula; Regional Languages Division - Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano. Published/produced works which were first published or first produced between 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2017 and/or unpublished/unproduced works, may be entered in the contest. Only unproduced works may be entered in the DULANG PAMPELIKULA category.

This year, the Kabataan Division for young writers 17 and below begs the question “How can the youth contribute to building interest in Philippine culture and literature?” (Kabataan Essay) and “Paano makaaambag ang mga kabataan sa pagsulong ng interes sa kultura at panitikang Pilipino?” (Kabataan Sanaysay).

Completing the lineup are the Novel and Nobela categories open this contest year. These categories accept unpublished and published works, provided they were first published within a period of two years prior to April 30, 2017.

Entries may be submitted at any of the Palanca Foundation offices at Unit 603, 6th Floor Park Trade Centre Bldg., 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City or at Unit 3G, OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, or through the CPMA website at www.palancaawards.com.ph.

Winners will be honored during a special ceremony on September 1, 2017.

For more information, contact cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph or call (632) 511-0003 or +639253887103. Look for Leslie Layoso.

UP Medicine Choir Presents Abendlied: An Evening of Songs for SLE Patients

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Let your worries take flight; soothe your soul with melodies to fill the night. Come and fly with us in our journey to share the love and heal through music.

UP MedChoir, in partnership with Wazzup Pilipinas and Doktor Doktor Lads, presents:

Abendlied: An evening of songs for the benefit of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
May 5, 2017, 6:30 PM, at the UCCP Cosmopolitan Church, Taft Ave.

With our songs, we not only hope to free the mind, quench the heart, and heal the soul of every listener, but also hope to share advocacies close to our hearts as future medical professionals, especially in time with the Lupus Awareness Month this May.

Lupus is a lifelong autoimmune disease wherein one’s own immune system attacks the different body systems that it is supposed to protect. It presents with several manifestations with varying degrees of severity, leading to chronic pain and disability. Management of the disease then should not be limited to medications but must also encompass emotional and psychological support.

Proceeds of the concert will go to the UP PGH Lupus Club, formed back in 1992, with the objective of bringing together lupus patients, educating and empowering them and their families about their disease, and serving as a moral and social support group.

Tickets are priced at P300, P500, and P750.

For ticket reservations, you may visit https://tinyurl.com/AbendliedTicketReservation or contact April at 09209616796.

See you there!

Red Bull’s Signature 3x3 Tournament Comes to the Philippines for the First Time!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Red Bull is inviting the country’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 team 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!


What: Philippine Qualifiers for Red Bull Reign
When: Cebu Qualifier – May 13th (Sacred Heart de Ateneo, Cebu 12PM)
Manila Qualifier A - May 20th (Buendia Food by the Court, Makati 5PM)
Manila Qualifier B - May 26th (Buendia Food by the Court, Makati 5PM)
Last Chance Qualifier and Finals – May 27th (Nagtahan Bridge Court, Pasig 12 PM)
Who: All of the best basketball players in the Philippines.
Why: To find the Philippine Representative to Red Bull Reign who will compete in the World Finals in Washington DC, USA!

CHED, DBM Release Guidelines on Free Tuition in SUCs

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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have jointly issued the implementing guidelines for the use of the P8-billion Higher Education Support Fund (HESF) under the government’s free tuition program for 2017.

The HESF is included in the 2017 General Appropriations Act and is intended for use by the country’s state universities and colleges (SUCs) for the academic year 2017-2018. President Duterte has ordered the conditional implementation of the free tuition program “to give priority to financially disadvantaged but academically able students.”

According to the joint memorandum, the free tuition program will cover “all Filipino students enrolling in undergraduate course programs in SUCs for the academic year 2017-2018, subject to the prioritization directive of the President and the availability of funds in the HESF.”

SUCs will not collect tuition from students and will instead charge this against the HESF through billing statements for CHED. However, miscellaneous and other fees are not covered by the program, and thus may still be collected from the students.


Student beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of government student financial assistance programs (StuFAPs) will be given priority by their respective SUCs. The tuition fees of those receiving more than P15,000 in benefits will still be charged against their StuFAP allocations, while the tuition fees of student beneficiaries who are getting P15,000 or less will be charged from the SUCs’ free tuition allocation.

After all government StuFAP beneficiaries have been given slots, continuing students in their respective SUCs are next in line for available slots. They will be further prioritized according to the following order, subject to the availability of funding:

1. Graduating students with one semester remaining, regardless of household per capita income;

2. Graduating students with one academic year remaining, regardless of household per capita income;

3. Non-graduating students who belong to a household that is or was a beneficiary of 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program);

4. Non-graduating students who were never part of a household that is or was a beneficiary of 4Ps but is still included in the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to their estimated per capita household income; and

5. Non-graduating students ranked according to their per capita household income based on submitted documentation(s) for proof of income.

If there are still funds available, incoming freshmen and returning students who are not receiving more than P15,000 in benefits from any StuFAP will also be eligible for the government’s free tuition program in a similar order.



SUC budget and preparations

The budget allocation for each SUC is based on the estimated tuition income they submitted for the 2017 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing.

The SUCs are required to conduct an assessment on the eligibility of students based on the 4Ps, Listahanan 2.0, and StuFAP beneficiaries. Before the enrolment period, the SUCs should have ranked all assessed students according to the order of priority as stated above.


CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan gave her assurance that the proper implementation of the program will be carried out. “As we implement Free Tuition 2017, we are being guided by the original intention of the legislators and the president’s directive to prioritize financially disadvantaged but academically able students—we will do our best to ensure that the fund goes to as many as possible and to those who need it most.”

Lean: A Filipino Musical by UP Manila Dramatista on May 12 and 13

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free" -Lean Alejandro

27 year-old UP Diliman student and noted "iskolar ng bayan" named Leandro Alejandro was shot and killed in September 19, 1987. As the iconic student activist, Lean fought for national democracy in the university and in the nation. He is one of the unsung heroes who have sacrificed their lives during the turbulent days of the martial law. His life has defined an era of student activism and his work still inspires the youth today.

Students of the University of the Philippines, being a state-funded institution, are called “Iskolar ng Bayan” or People’s Scholars. The description gained political weight during the First Quarter Storm (FQS) in the 70s, a time of discontent by a generation of Baby Boomers. The description also carried with it the aphorism “Serve the people.”

Described as a Filipino left wing activist and nationalist, UP student leader Lean Alejandro actively fought the dictatorship in the 1980s. Lean became a member of the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy in 1980-81. In 1983, he was chosen as a President of its University Student Council (USC). After Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. – himself a fighter and hero and a great pride of the UP students– was assasinated, Lean left the University and went full time in the anti-Marcos struggle. In 1985, Lean was one of the founders of the left-wing umbrella organization BAYAN becoming it's Secretary-General. He was arrested and detained for two months and participated in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt after he was released. Post-EDSA Revolution, Alejandro ran for a seat at the Philippine House of Representatives for the small district Navotas-Malabon losing to Teresa Aquino-Oreta, the sister-in-law of then president Corazon Aquino. in a controversial and disputed election.

After losing in the election, Lean returned to his previous activities as secretary-general of nationalist organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. Lean openly criticized the 1987 coup d’tat that killed and injured innocent civilians. On 19 September 1987, after the failed coup attempt led by Col. Gregorio Honasan, Alejandro announced plans for a major demonstration against the return to fascism. Returning by car to the headquarters of BAYAN, he was fired upon by a gunman instantly killing Alejandro. One suspected that the assassination had been in the angle of Marcos loyalists from the Philippine Army, but no one was arrested for the assassination. Up to this untimely death, Lean offered his life to people’s movement, speaking in mass demonstrations, writing articles and discussing social issues inside the campus and in urban poor communities.

Lean’s multi-roles as activist, politician, friend, husband, son and father will be recreated in the forthcoming LEAN - A FILIPINO MUSICAL produced by UP Manila Dramatista.

The playdates are: MAY 12 - FRI. - 7 PM and MAY 13 - SAT. - 4 PM / 7 PM.

Venue: ADAMSON UNIVERSITY THEATER located at 900 SAN MARCELINO ST., ERMITA MANILA.

The cast are as follows: Kenneth Mangurit (Lean), Frances Mendoza (Lidy), Carlo Cabahug (Ka Tanny), Carmela Reyes (Bobby), Dean Lopez (Edward), Lalaine Quinan (Jojo(, Neil Suyat (Noli), Raffy Baybay (Chino) and Uriel Molina (Mr. Tim).

Don't fail to watch this musical about the turbulent 1980s written by Gary Granada, one of the Philippines' best composers of songs that evoke nationalism and pride in our country. In this musical play, Gary Granada remixed the tune of “UP Naming Mahal” in a contemporary rock version and gave it a new and more "nationalistic sounding" lyrics, reasserting the purpose of the Iskolar ng Bayan as a "Iskolar ng Sambayanan, Tagapaglingkod ng Taongbayan".

LEAN - A FILIPINO MUSICAL shall also feature powerful catchy songs that breathe new life to the many different characters and personas of the 1980s. Through song and dance, the musical not only tells the story of the influential student activist but also creatively re-imagines the loud cries of the masses.

The September 1997 original production of LEAN THE FILIPINO MUSICAL was produced by the Leándro L. Alejandro Foundation and the UP Student Council in cooperation with the UP Diliman Committee for Arts and Culture. The musical featured renowned artists like Chikoy Pura, Bayang Barrios, Cookie Chua, and Noel Cabangon. In 2013, it was restaged by the University of the Philippines Repertory Company (UP Rep) with youth activists Vencer Crisostomo of Anakbayan and Third Alub of the League of Filipino Students who both played the role of Lean.

For further details and tickets, please call 0906-427-3981 c/o Zoe Caballero.

APRIL 26 - PRESS PREVIEW
APRIL 28 - FRI. - 7 PM
APRIL 29 - SAT. - 4 PM / 7 PM
ADAMSON UNIVERSITY THEATER
900 SAN MARCELINO ST., ERMITA MANILA