Color Manila Launches Blacklight Tour

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Manila, Bacolod and Davo will soon be lit via blacklight as thousands of runners are soon to join Color Manila's Blacklight Run Tour happening soon.

The first CM Blacklight Run will happen at Filinvest in Alabang. You can check out the video invite we got from the two founders of Color Manila, which may not be the very first fun run organizers that grew into an epic series but it is undoubtedly the most "colorful" one indeed.

The organizers has truly lived up to its name as even their race singlets deserve more than a second look for its very attractive designs. 

I've seen runners carrying lights on their heads from other runs but Color Manila brings it one level above by making it a black light instead. I'm sure to take advantage of the black light, there will be neon colored shirts and props within the race venue to make it a really awesome spectacle of blacklight-lit items.

Though the Filinvest area is quite far for me, I'm tempted to join the run. I just hope there won't be a conflicting event happening that day which will prevent me from joining.

Celebs, Advocates Celebrate Senate’s Passage of Mental Health Law

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A day after the Senate's passage of the country's first ever mental health law, celebrities and mental health advocates joined Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros in celebrating what they describe as an historic victory for mental health rights.

In a press conference in Quezon City, advocates led by Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, Be Healed Foundation’s Jerika Ejercito and actress Antoinette Taus, lauded the passage of Senate Bill No. 1354, otherwise known as the Philippine Mental Health Law. The bill, which was sponsored and authored by Hontiveros, seeks to integrate mental health services and programs in the public health system by setting up basic mental health services at the community level  and psychiatric, psychosocial and neurologic services in all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals.

"We would like to thank the Senate, particularly Senator Hontiveros for passing this important measure. This bill brings our country one step closer to realizing a national mental health policy that will respond to the Filipinos' mental health needs and erase our record as one of few countries left in Asia without a clear mental health measure," Verzosa said.

Taus said that she hoped that the Senate's passage of the Mental health law will mainstream mental healthcare and remove the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health illnesses. "There is nothing really shameful or embarrassing in talking about one's mental health issues and finding the appropriate healthcare services to address them. Seeing a psychiatrist is no different from visiting your OBGYNE or your ophthalmologist," the actress said.

Oceana’s Statement on Rejection of Gina Lopez as DENR Secretary

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As Earth’s largest marine conservation nonprofit, Oceana commends the trail-blazing achievements of outgoing DENR Secretary Lopez in bravely pushing for policies to sustainably protect the country’s environmentally-critical areas including protected seascapes and save them from destructive activities that threaten their ecological integrity.

Secretary Lopez has set the highest standards for environmental stewardship and mainstreamed partnerships with civil society organizations - a feat that merits replication by her successor.

Her commitment and sterling leadership in ensuring justice and equity especially to affected communities most dependent on a vibrant web of life is her most precious legacy for all of us. Oceana is most grateful.