Mitsubishi Electric Moves the Philippines Towards a Greener Tomorrow

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Global electronics leader Mitsubishi Electric contributes towards a more sustainable planet through a momentous environmental project. Senior management and staff of the Mitsubishi Electric Group of companies in the Philippines embark on a tree planting activity in the mountainous area of Tayak Hills in Rizal, Laguna as part of its Environmental CSR programme to preserve the environment and social infrastructures.

A thousand indigenous seedlings will be planted by the Mitsubishi Electric Group of companies in the Philippines. The companies comprise the elevator, escalator, air-conditioner, and chiller equipment distributor International Elevator and Equipment Inc. (IEE) led by its president Ramoncito Ocampo, and automotive parts manufacturer Laguna Autoparts Manufacturing Corporation (LAMCOR) led by its president Yoshinori Osaka. The event is co-organised by Mitsubishi Electric’s Asia Corporate Office (MEAP–ACO), led by its Director of Asia Corporate Office Shoichi Suwa. The event marks the inaugural joint environmental projects between the companies.

The activity is supported and participated by the local government of Laguna, led by its Mayor Tony Aurelio and Vice Mayor Vener Munoz.

“Mitsubishi Electric recognizes that our planet needs to be protected for future generations. Climate change is one of the most critical issues that we must address to realize a sustainable global environment,” said Mr. Suwa in his welcome message. "By planting a tree, we promote life. Not only do trees take in carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis, it also gives oxygen as by product and this is vital for human survival," added Ocampo.

6 Trends to Try from Power Mac Center at Philippine Fashion Week 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Power Mac Center returned to the runways of the Philippine Fashion Week to flaunt the latest and hottest in tech accessories. Joining the visual spectacle were Power Mac Center premium partners Sonix, Moshi, Wraps, Jabra, Sennheiser, and Hoco. Meticulously crafted audio accessories, cases, portable chargers, watch bands, and laptop bags, perfect for the fashion savvy and tech-obsessed millennial generation took center stage along with the Holiday 2017 collections.

“Power Mac Center stands at the forefront of technology that bridges function and form. This 21^st Philippine Fashion Week  is a testament  to  how  our curated collections, featuring everyday digital must-haves, can seamlessly integrate into any style and wardrobe,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

True enough, here are six trends the Official Technology Retail Partner presented at the country’s biggest fashion event that happened on May 27-28, 2017 at the Discovery Primea in Makati City. 

Printed power banks

Prints are all the rage during summer season but Sonix predicts they’re here to stay even through the holidays. From its bestselling iPhone cases, dainty, cool prints have invaded portable chargers or power banks to add a little sparkle and be your pick-me-uppers come the stressful holiday season. They make for unique statement pieces, all while providing protection from everyday wear and tear. 

Full-sized yet lightweight backpacks

Even if your work or school getup requires a spacious laptop bag, you’re guaranteed to be always looking preppy with minimalist pieces like the Moshi bags that graced the Philippine Fashion Week runways. Gone are the days when “techie” meant “geeky” in the looks department. That stereotype has gone passé as current designs of accessories for Apple devices and other gadgets are as sophisticated as they are stylish.

Incognito pieces

You know those pieces that don’t look like what they are? Power Mac Center has them and can’t keep them under wraps anymore! Debuting in the Philippine Fashion Week runway this year was England-based brand Wraps, which owns the design patent of anti-tangle headphones you can wear on your wrist. Multifunctional fashion pieces are definitely a yes!

Integrated training apps

Achieve your fitness goals in style with accessories that help you push your boundaries and beat your best records, all while keeping you looking cool. Earphones, for instance, have long evolved in design to prioritize an ergonomic fit that remains snug even when you’re all sweaty. Wireless earphones nowadays like those made by Jabra come with intelligent apps that help you stay motivated and in the zone.

Luxury headphones

Sometimes, tech accessories are more of a necessity than mere fancy — for instance, if your job involves using your aural capacities. When you belong to that category, your best bets are products from brands like Sennheiser that have stood the test of time. It remains a trendsetter in the industry, carrying with it the quality of workmanship that make for great investment pieces when your life depends on it.

Classic watch bands

Complement your look with accessories made of premium materials like leather, stainless steel, and metal. Whether you want to dress up or tone down your ensemble, you’ll never go wrong with materials that never go out of style. Find inspiration from global brand Hoco, which develops digital and mobile phone spare parts like Apple Watch bands with a quality-first mindset and a devotion to building simple and practical products.

To show how these trends and digital tools are woven into the fabric of modern life, Power Mac Center collaborated with six of the country’s finest fashion mavens. Mixy Dy,Kaye Morales, Jerome Salaya-Ang, Jeffrey Rogador,EsAc, and Pat Santos integrated the fashion forward accessories into their respective collections, effectively marrying world class Filipino fashion and cutting-edge tech products.

Established in 1994, Power Mac Center has grown to be the premier Apple reseller and authorized service provider in the Philippines. It carries world-renowned brands of digital lifestyle essentials and provides Filipinos the complete Apple experience through its extensive network of retail stores, service centers, and training facilities nationwide. More information about products and services may be obtained from Power Mac Center’s 29 branches or at <www.powermaccenter.com> or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@powermaccenter).

Color Manila Celebrates End of Summer with at Least 10,000 Participants at the CM Blacklight Run in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The heavy downpour did not stop the more than 10,000 runners of Color Manila’s CM Blacklight Run Manila leg, held at Filinvest City, Alabang, last May 27, 2017, from enjoying the evening.

Celebrities such as Aubrey Miles, Host Sam YG, Ms. Global beauty queens, Ico Ejercito and Davao Aguilas FC players were among the thousands of participants who joined the much-anticipated non-timed race.

Participants got to experience the various color stations, as they wore their CM Blacklight headlamps that enhanced their blacklight experience. For those who joined the Rockstar and Challenge categories, they also had face paint applied on their faces.

Thousands of runners also partied until early hours of the morning during the Colour Festival, which capped their journey; wherein everyone threw colored powder up in the air, while everyone danced to the music.

“We are glad that we were able to gather at least 10,000 runners this evening and that the participants still got to enjoy tonight’s race, despite the weather. We hope to see everyone again in our next events in Bacolod, Laguna and Davao”, says Color Manila VP Justine Cordero.

CM Blacklight Bacolod leg is set to take place on June 3, 2017, while the CM Blacklight Davao leg will take place on August 12, 2017. The CM Challenge Laguna run on the other hand, will take place on June 25, 2017.


For more information, please visit www.colormanilarun.com.

CHED Approves Increase in Tuition and Other Fees for 268 Private HEIs Nationwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released today the approved applications of 268 private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country to increase their tuition and other school fees for academic year 2017-2018.

The approved applications represent 16 percent of the total number of 1,652 private HEIs in the country. This is 36 HEIs lower than the reported 304 HEIs last academic year.Of the 268 private HEIs, 262 will increase tuition while only 237 will increase other school fees.

Across the private HEIs with approved increases in either tuition or other school fees, the average increase in tuition is 6.96% or the equivalent of PhP86.68 per unit, while increase in other school fees is 6.9% or PhP243.

Considering the total population of private HEIs, the average increase in tuition or other school fees is about 1%. The increases vary depending on the HEI and the region.

In regions with the highest number of HEIs, the average per unit increase in tuition is PhP119.55 or 4.75% for NCR, PhP49.07 or 3.05% for Region IV, and PhP49.50 or 8.64% for Region III. For other school fees, the increases are PhP49.82 or 5.28% for NCR, PhP408.70 or 5.90% for Region IV, and PhP974.26 or 10.73% for Region III.

AXN Extends Asia’s Got Talent Online Auditions Deadline to June 8, 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Due to an overwhelming response from across Asia, AXN has extended the Asia’s Got Talent Online Auditions to midnight on June 8, 2017.

After captivating rounds of open auditions in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines, AXN is giving aspiring performers one last chance to take the spotlight in its record-breaking series.

“We’ve witnessed some incredible acts over the last few weeks that really show the cultural diversity and range of awe-inspiring talent on offer here in Asia. But we know there’s even more to be discovered so we’ve extended the deadline to June 8 to give performers some more time to get their acts together,” said Virginia Lim, Senior Vice President and Head of Content, Production and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

Potential stars can visit www.AXN-Asia.com/AsiasGotTalent to submit an application and audition video, which should include a short introduction of the act, and the actual performance. The videos should be under two minutes’ in duration.

More details including Asia’s Got Talent frequently asked questions (FAQs) and the terms and conditions of participation are available at www.AXN-Asia.com/AsiasGotTalent.

Asia’s Got Talent is slated to premiere in the second half of 2017, first and exclusively on AXN.

Traveloka is the official sponsor of Asia’s Got Talent.

Join the conversation via AXN’s Facebook page @AXNAsia

@AsiasGotTalent / #AXNAsia / #AsiasGotTalent / #AsiasGotTalentAudition



www.AXN-Asia.com/AsiasGotTalent

Yes to Peace, No to Martial Law

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan grieves with the people of Marawi, thousands of whom were displaced by the continuing clashes in their home city while many others are still trapped amid the crossfire. The death toll is now at 97, while the airstrikes continue to damage property and livelihood of Marawi residents. In the face of clashes between the Maute group and the government troops, it is the people who suffer most the consequences of violence. 

We also applaud the bravery of many who have opened their homes to the exodus of people and the people from all around the country who have initiated donation drives to help our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao. 

We however condemn the far-reaching Martial Law declaration of the President and the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus as a disproportionate and extreme response to the Maute group; instead of ending terrorism and promoting peace, such extreme response to the Maute group threatens to further escalate violence in the region. Peace, more often than not, is the casualty of Martial Law.

It is also important to point out that Duterte’s martial law is not the martial law that is envisioned under the 1987 constitution. It is akin to Marcos’s 1972 martial law that recognizes no checks and balance. The President not only blatantly boasts of how harsh his martial law will be, as inspired by Marcos’s bloody rule, he further threatens to ignore both its co-equal branches, the Congress and the Supreme Court. 

We in Akbayan do not doubt his capacity to keep true to his bloody promise, we only need to look at the more than 8,000 dead in his equally terrifying war on drugs. 

We therefore call on both houses of Congress to band together in providing the needed safeguards to the President’s reign of terror and convene a joint session immediately. 

We remind Congress that there are no shortcuts to peace. Fighting terrorism is not the only ingredient to lasting peace in Mindanao. They must be at the forefront of scrutinizing any policy measure that masquerades as a silver bullet for peace, especially if this silver bullet will serve to spill more blood on the soils of Mindanao. 

No to Maute terrorism, but in equal measure, we also say no to authoritarianism! Never again to martial law!

One: Dynasty of Heroes Lived Up to Blockbuster Billing

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ONE Championship’s return home to Singapore on Friday, May 26 shaped up to be one of the organization’s most exciting cards for this year as fireworks erupted inside the 12,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium.

With a solid lineup centered around an epic main and co-main event, ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES lived up to its blockbuster billing as the world’s best martial artists delivered excitement and non-stop action.

Singapore was sent into a frenzy last Friday evening as hometown hero Angela “Unstoppable” Lee overcame a tough opponent in Istela Nunes to win by second-round submission, retaining her ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in front of a roaring Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The atmosphere was electrifying as confetti rained down on Lee following her victory, marking the second-straight successful defense of her coveted gold-plated strap.

“I really love you guys and it’s an honor to fighter here in Singapore as your champion. To everyone who is watching from all around the world, thank you guys so much, it means the world to me,” Lee said.

DOTr Starts Livestream of Bidding and Procurement Processes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the first time, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) gave the public access into its bidding and procurement processes via online streaming of the Opening of Bids for several maritime projects.

In the spirit of transparency and good governance, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade ordered the livestreaming of the procurement processes of all projects of the Department.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) opened bids for the following projects: (1) Coastal Port (Hamtic and Bugasong Port) - Construction of Riverlanding; (2) Alobo Port Development Project – Extension and Widening of Causeway and Construction of Concrete Pier Head; (3) Kaputian Port Development Project – Construction of Concrete Platform; and San Jose Port Development Project – Rehabilitation of Port.

A lone bidder, LNR Construction, submitted its bid for the Coastal Port Project and was declared eligible by the BAC after passing the technical and financial eligibility requirements. LNR Construction also submitted its bid for the Alobo Port Development Project but was disqualified for failing to submit some of the technical eligibility requirements.

FAAA Construction and Trading was the lone bidder for the construction of a concrete platform in Kaputian Port, a gateway to Davao’s Samal Island. Said bidder was declared eligible after satisfying the requirements.

For the San Jose Development Project, four bidders were declared eligible.

The bids of the eligible bidders will now undergo detailed evaluation by the TWG.

The first livestream coverage via Facebook reached more than 45,000 followers, viewed more than 8,000 times, and received positive feedback from followers as of 2:00 PM today.

Link to video: https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/videos/902916029847534/

Power Mac Center Marries World-Class Filipino Fashion and Cutting-Edge Products at 21st Philippine Fashion Week

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Power Mac Center returned to the Philippine Fashion Week runways to flaunt the hottest tech accessories and show the world how marrying top-notch Filipino fashion and cutting-edge tech products is done. This partnership cements Power Mac Center’s position as a lifestyle brand dedicated to setting trends in fashion tech that coincide with the global vision of Philippine Fashion Week.

As its Official Technology Retail partner, the premium Apple reseller brought its newest collection of meticulously crafted accessories to the country’s grandest fashion congregation on May 27-28, 2017 at the Discovery Primea in Makati City.

This year’s line-up was composed of premium brands with an international audience. Power Mac Center partners Sonix, Moshi, Wraps, Jabra, Sennheiser and Hoco wowed the fashion glitterati with their latest innovations, integrated into the Holiday 2017 collections of some of the country’s renowned fashion designers.

“Power Mac Center has always supported creative self-expression. Over the years, we’ve seen brands reinvent tech accessories in terms of design and functionality and we’d like to see how that plays out with this year’s roster of designers and their collections,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

 

A trendsetter in consumer electronics in its own right, Power Mac Center carefully curated the pieces that best represent its vision for the future of tech accessories. Among the trends it will present this year are printed power banks, wristband headphones, full-sized yet lightweight backpacks, wireless earphones with integrated training apps, classic watch bands, and luxury headphones.

To show how these trends and digital tools are woven into the fabric of modern life, Mixy Dy, Kaye Morales,Jerome Salaya-Ang, Jeffrey Rogador, EsAc, and Pat Santos worked closely with the brands to create an exceptional collection of fashion-forward pieces that mix well with designer tech accessories. Gone are the days when “techie” meant “geeky” in the looks department and in its place is a new aesthetic that’s perfect for the fashion savvy and tech-obsessed millennial generation.

Established in 1994, Power Mac Center has grown to be the premier Apple reseller and authorized service provider in the Philippines. It carries world-renowned brands of digital lifestyle essentials and provides Filipinos the complete Apple experience through its extensive network of retail stores, service centers, and training facilities nationwide. More information about products and services may be obtained from Power Mac Center’s 29 branches or at www.powermaccenter.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@powermaccenter).

DOE Opens ASEAN+3 Energy Forum, Bares PH LNG Plan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines played host to the 3-day 6th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea) Oil Market and Natural Gas Forum and Business Dialogue on Tuesday at the Sofitel Hotel  as the country deals with increasing domestic demand for fuel amid the declining supply of indigenous natural gas.

Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas, who represented DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, opened the forum conducted under the platform of Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) +3 and ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM)+3. The forum aims to continue sharing knowledge and expertise, policy updates, best practices on oil and natural gas situation and developments among ASEAN+3 member countries.

Explaining the outlook of the Philippines in the oil and natural gas industries, Posadas told forum participants that the Philippines' natural gas supply from the Malampaya natural gas field is projected to last until 2024, making the country an emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) market in Asia.

“We are working closely with legislators to facilitate the enactment of a law declaring energy projects as projects of national significance and for the Philippine Department of Energy to develop a program for LNG infrastructure,” Posadas said.