ePLDT, Inc. recognized as 2017 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year for PH

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ePLDT, Inc., an industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, today proudly announced it has won the 2017 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for the Philippines. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“This award reflects our unwavering commitment to our customers, and our drive to provide global-class expertise for ICT solutions in the Philippine market,” said Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operations Officer. “This accolade underlines the importance of productivity in the workplace, which we are truly proud to deliver with excellence to companies that are on their digital transformation journey.”

Jovy Hernandez, PLDT / SMART SVP & Head of Enterprise, meanwhile added, “We in PLDT Enterprise always put our customers at the forefront of our business.  We value their trust and as such ensure to provide only the highest standards of service and experience for them.  This award is a manifestation of this mindset, and we will continue to be partners in enabling their digital transformation.”

Awards were presented in several categories, with winners chosen from a set of more than 2,800 entrants from 115 countries worldwide. ePLDT was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as representing excellent subsidiary engagement in the Philippines.

The Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Awards honor partners at the country level that have demonstrated business excellence in delivering Microsoft solutions to multiple customers over the past year. This award recognizes ePLDT as succeeding in effective engagement with its local Microsoft office while showcasing innovation and business impact, driving customer satisfaction, and winning new customers.

“We are honored to recognize ePLDT of the Philippines as a Microsoft Country Partner of the Year,” said Ron Huddleston, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft Corp. “ePLDT is a prime example of the expertise and innovation we see in our Microsoft partner community to deliver transformative solutions.”

The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognizes Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year.

Various Activities in Store for Everyone at PBEX 2017 This July

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This July, Ex-Link Events proudly presents the 8th year of the Philippine Business and Entrepreneur's Expo, featuring not just one but six main activities during the three-day event which aims to help Small and Medium enterprises.

First up on Day 1 (Friday, July 28) is the Marketing Pitch Competition, wherein students from all over the metro are invited to pitch their ideas, products or services to see which is the best among them all. (For inquiries on the Marketing Pitch Competition, email jay.agonoy@exlinkevents.com.) This is followed by the B2B Meet-up which aims to help businesses get new contacts and close new deals.

On the second day (Saturday, July 29) is the Social Media for Business seminar featuring key resource speakers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Blogging as they share how these tools can help in your business. This is followed by the awarding of the Ten Best Mompreneurs in the community.

The last day is not without a bang as entrepreneurs and consultants from various industries share their knowledge, expertise and experience at the Entrep Success Forum, followed by the recognition of PBEX's SME Idols for 2017.

The 8th Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs' Expo will be held at the Megatrade Hall 1 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City this July 28 to 30, Friday to Sunday. We are open for exhibitors to showcase their products and services - get in touch with Ex-Link at (+63 2) 633-0153, 643-3887 or 535-1150; SMS (+63) 920 981 4376 or (+63) 920 924 2532; email info@exlinkevents.com or message us on Facebook @exlinkevents. Program lineup subject to change without prior notice.

Angela Lee Draws Praise for Exemplifying True Heart of Champion in Title Defense

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The dazzling rise of Asian mixed martial arts superstar Angela “Unstoppable” Lee continued last Friday, May 26 when she staked her ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship title against Brazilian contender Istela Nunes in the main event of ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES.

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.

Behind her well-rounded offense, Lee stifled Nunes with accurate striking and a smooth grappling game, eventually submitting the two-time Muay Thai world champion via anaconda choke in the second round.

Lee may have made it look like an easy night against Nunes, but there were extra challenges than simply overcoming a tough opponent.

After getting the tap from Nunes, the 20-year-old Singaporean sensation dropped to her knees in the middle of the cage and broke down in tears.

It may have seemed at first that Lee was simply overjoyed at securing the win, but it turns out that the champion had to overcome a severe bout of pneumonia before even stepping into the ONE Championship cage.

All-New Season of “The Night Shift” Premieres This June on Sony Channel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

         

Hit medical drama returns for fourth season starting June 28, Wednesdays at 8:50pm same week as the U.S.

The lives of the men and women who work the graveyard shift at a Texas hospital are once again put in harm’s way in the new season of the absorbing medical drama The Night Shift, which premieres on Sony Channel this June.

At the San Antonio Memorial Hospital, former army medic Dr. TC Callahan (Eoin Macken) lead a team of ex-army doctors who face a challenging environment in the midst of all the medical madness that happens when the day ends and their shift begins.

Callahan and company deal with one medical crisis after another while treating more veterans and military personnel using their battlefield-tested knowhow. Despite encountering a good deal of conflict with hospital policies, they have only one mission in mind – in order to save the day, they have to save lives.

The Night Shift Season 4 premieres on June 28, every Wednesday at 8:50pm same week as the U. S.

Sony Channel is available on SKYCable Channel 35, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cignal Channel 120, G Sat Channel 48, and Cablelink Channel 39.

DOE To Lead Inter-Agency Effort to Rehabilitate Marawi's Energy Facilities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has created an inter-agency group to come up with options on rehabilitating Marawi City's energy facilities in the aftermath of damage inflicted by the Maute terrorist group that laid siege on the city last month.

Members of the group are the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, National Electrification Administration and the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative.

As this developed, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATSEF) reported today (June 5) that the power situation in Lanao del Sur province has yet to fully normalize as 15 municipalities are still without power and only 20 percent of Marawi City is energized.

The second district with 16 municipalities is fully energized according to the Task Force based on the report by LASURECO on the current power supply in its franchise area as of 9:00 am on June 5.

Power supply in the three towns of Lanao del Norte remains normal.

With regard to power generation, the National Power Corporation Mindanao Generation (NPC MinGen) reported that the Agus-Pulangi power plants are operating normally, with Marawi Lake elevation at 701.292 masl and Lake Lanao discharge at 160 cms.

The National Grid Corporation Transmission also reported normal operations in its transmission facilities. Mindanao State University, which is directly connected to the transmission lines, has been energized as of 12:34 pm last Saturday (3 June).

Meanwhile, the IATSEF has expanded its membership to include the Department of Finance, Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

The task of the group is to secure all energy facilities in the entire country.

The expanded membership of the IATSEF and the policies on resiliency are embodied in a draft Department Circular that will be scheduled for public consultation.

Thoughts on Commemorating Independence Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We wonder what would be a great topic (and guests) for Independence Day theme. This is for the next episode of Wazzup Pilipinas Radio on Sunday, June 11, 2017.

The only struggle is to wake up early for the 6 to 7 am time slot. But as they say "Pag gusto may paraan, pag ayaw maraming dahilan." Early birds often gets rewarded for the extra effort. That has been personally tried and tested by yours truly. But when sometimes the latecomers win the prizes during raffle time since their names are on top of the fishing bowl, in reality, the early birds get the better impression from the event organizers for being punctual.

We totally admire our previous guests who were able to come early. All the while we thought we would have a hard time inviting guests to come over as early as 6 am since that would mean they would have to wake up at least by 4 am to prepare - have breakfast, take a bath, commute or drive, etc...

The good part is that there's still no traffic congestion by that time especially on a Sunday. However, it is also hard to fetch a cab (or Grab and Uber) or commute by tricycle, jeep, bus if you live at the inner part of a city where public transpo is rare to pass during those very early hours in the morning when the sun has not even glimpsed.

But so far, I am able to work around it by trying out different routes to get to the radio station in Quezon city (three rides the most if you commute)....and always never late. I even arrive too early that I would still catch up with the even earlier radio show - now I wonder how he does it.

Diana Velasco Wins as First Lakambini ng Las Casas (Filipinas de Acuzar)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Congratulations to the very first Lakambini ng Las Casas - Candidate No. 2 - Diana Velasco of Balanga.

While many were cheering for Candidate No. 18 mostly throughout the grand coronation night, Candidate No. 2 shined out the most in the eyes of the judges. 

It may have something to do also with how she answered during the Question and Answer portion - the most dreaded part of every beauty pageant because it could make or break a candidate's chance for the top awards.

However, I could also say it's the overall beauty and brains that made Candidate No. 2 win. Her charming aura spelled the difference only among any of the top placers, but many of the candidates are indeed vibrant on their own.

Maybe many were rooting for somebody else, but still the judges have the last and final word on the decision of who they are going to crown as the very first Lakambini ng Las Casas. 

Who would want to question the decision of the prestigious judges like fashion designers Edwin Uy and Cary Santiago. There was also Mario Dumaual from ABS-CBN, and beauty queens like Janela Joy Cuaton.

Lunch with the Fambam at Red Ginger of City of Dreams Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It was a pleasant Sunday morning when my family visited the luxurious City of Dreams Manila to have lunch at one of its restaurants. An eye-catching and glimmering entrance welcomed us as we made our way into the opulent and marvelous casino and hotel complex.

We couldn’t help but utter “Wow” and wonder when we set our sights on the equally astonishing Red Ginger restaurant which was located on the second floor of the resort. As my brothers and I went in, the first thing we noticed were the sumptuous desserts elegantly lined up near the entrance of the restaurant, much to our eyes’ liking.

The atmosphere and service gave an elegant mien, and the crew were also very hospitable and tried their best to quickly establish rapport with their customers. There was even one who was very eager to chat with us, learn about our family, and even join our group photo. I couldn't recall her name but she definitely made our lunch time a lot more interesting.

We were seated on comfy chairs and presented with a menu which was already mouthwatering by means of words alone. My dad wanted a menu with pictures of the dishes but he instead asked a crew for her recommendations. We took our time to finalize our orders because of the variety of cuisines, and after a good wait, we got to admire the effort put into the presentation of the dishes. 

As an appetizer, we had the Vietnamese Caesar Salad. Nothing like the classics, as they say. The salad consists of Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, parmesan cheese and a soft, poached egg. The first thing we noticed was that there was a poached egg in the salad, which was unusual compared to the salads we’ve tried in the past. My brother liked this menu item and found it very appetizing, as proven by the fact that he ate most of it. The salad costs an affordable 270 Pesos. 

Vietnamese Caesar Salad

Another starter was the Baby Squid in Lemongrass and Lime Soy. It was bathing in its pickled chili and served with soft-boiled egg, mustard greens and cherry tomatoes. The first for my palate to detect were the spices marinated into the squid. Coupled with rice, they made a delectable dish. This menu item costs 350 Pesos.

Baby Squid in Lemongrass and Lime Soy

Baby Squid in Lemongrass and Lime Soy

Topping my list of appetizers was the Popiah, a spring roll or something akin to our native Lumpia but stuffed with barbecued duck and eaten with iceberg lettuce, for us to dip into a vibrant and complementary chili garlic sauce. We were served four spring rolls and ate them by wrapping the spring roll with the lettuce, dipping both into the sauce and biting into their balancing flavors. The item costs 370 Pesos. 

Popiah

This is how you eat Popiah

As for the main, what I can recall first is the Singaporean Crispy Grouper. Southeast Asia is no stranger to seafood, and our Philippine palate just loved this menu item. We were served a whole fish was tender, well-seasoned with garlic peppercorns, brimming with flavor and spice from the chili. Most of us can say that this was one of their best especially when paired with rice. The grouper dish costs 990 Pesos. 

Singaporean Crispy Grouper

Next item for main was the Grilled King Prawns with Roasted Chili and Lemongrass. They were served with three sauces and presented us shelled prawns with soft flesh. The service mentioned that they base it on the weight of the catch of the day – always amounting 250g. It costs 960 Pesos.

Grilled King Prawns with Roasted Chili and Lemongrass

One of the most delectable items was a Double Rack of the Pork Baby Ribs with Sticky Palm Sugar Glaze. It was certainly a mouthwatering item on the menu because the meat was spot on. It was also flavorful and the meat just falls off the bone, ready for us to taste the time dedicated into preparing the ribs. Ribs plus the rice was a match made in heaven. A single rack costs 840 Pesos whereas a Double Rack costs 1600 Pesos.

Double Rack of the Pork Baby Ribs with Sticky Palm Sugar Glaze

Pork Baby Ribs with Sticky Palm Sugar Glaze

During the transition between main and dessert, we got to experience how accommodating the ambience and service were. We took pictures and established rapport with them by means of chatting and conversing about blogging, food and other relatable stuff like sharing experiences. 

All in all we ordered six (6) dishes. That's just like one dish for every member of our family composed of five. Which is the best dish among the six? I have to say the best for the main dishes are the Pork Baby Ribs and Singaporean Crispy Grouper, while for the starters, the Popiah. The Baby Squid is also good but is a bit of a runner-up to the Popiah. I would have picked the Grilled King Prawn as seafood dishes are my favorite, but the serving was just too little to appreciate because for a group of 5, there were only three pieces of prawn to share. 

Desserts for everyone

Finally, every member of the family had their own dessert. Mom had the Green Tea Chocolate Cake, Kyle had the Blackberry Vanilla Praline, I had Jar Mango Triffle, Kyro had the Crunch Caramel, and Dad had Jar Dark Choco Mousse. My youngest brother reckoned his dessert tasted too mature for his liking, since we three children all agreed that his had a strong coffee taste. My mango dessert was very sweet and had a jam-like texture to it, whereas dad’s chocolate dessert presented what it advertised: sumptuous dark chocolate. 

Green Tea Chocolate Cake

Crunch Caramel

Vanilla Praline

Jar Dark Choco Mousse

Jar Mango Triffle

While Kyle’s praline was nice, I barely got to comment on the rest of his dessert, for he had already finished it up before I could get a second taste. All of them were very delectable – Kyle was never too full to finish up what we couldn’t – but the dessert that won my taste buds over was mom’s Matcha Cake, which was not too bitter nor too sweet for my liking. I expected it to be bitter like how the Japanese prefer it, but of all the Matcha-themed food we’ve tasted during our family days out, I deem it the most enjoyable so far. All desserts were priced at 265 Pesos.

Lemongrass Iced Tea

The only negative I could say about the restaurant is that they don't serve fresh juices so we all ended up drinking Lemongrass Iced Tea. I try my best not to encourage the drinking of softdrinks or any sugary drinks which most of the ingredients are artificial or full of sugar that are unhealthy for everyone.

The Happy Fambam at Red Ginger of City of Dreams Manila

All in all, our trip to Red Ginger was fun, relaxing, and palatable. It brightened our mood and painted a glimpse of the luxuriant life in our minds. We reckon that it is of great quality and would love a second trip.

Michelle Tachiangco of Red Ginger at City of Dreams Manila

Be sure to watch our video interview with Michelle Tachiangco of Red Ginger. She explained what Red Ginger is all about and the recommended dishes to try when dining at their restaurant. Though I should have talked with her before ordering as she gave out suggestions from the menu that we have not tried during our visit.

I'll be sure to take down notes so I will be ready on our next visit to Red Ginger of City of Dreams Manila.

Written by Hannah Krystelle Del Rosario

Wazzup Pilipinas Radio Tackles KPop Fandom and Hataw Padyak

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Sharing with you our script fro last Sunday's episode featuring KPop Fandom and Hataw Padyak biking association. 

Just in case you missed last week's episode of Wazzup Pilipinas Radio, we talked about the ever popular and still growing strong KPop sensation, and also the Hataw Padyak organization and their events. Two different but interesting topics.

Marlon Feliciano of Hataw Padyak contacted me for guesting and my co-host had KPop in mind, but no worries, the more the merrier. At least we now know that there are ,any people who are able to wake up early to be able to amke it to a 6 am radio show whose radio station is located in New Manila, Quezon city.

Too bad I was not there because I joined a community outreach cum travel event at Bontoc, Mountain Province for several days going to two hard to reach schools up in the mountains. However, my co-host David D'Angelo did a fine job hosting by himself. Bravo!!!

This Sunday's (June 4) episode will be all about MWF - Can you guess what the acronym means? I jus hope they make it as I think they thought our show is in the evening and not early in the morning. I hope they make it.

Below is our script mutually prepared by me and my co-host. It's fun to read as this guides us on how we should proceed with the show. Totoo yung ma-mental block ka paminsan-minsan or you lose track of time when you are on the console especially when you find the topics interesting. Kulang talaga ang isang oras para sa Wazzup Pilipinas Radio.

Tugade Bares Major Transport Updates During Nationwide Transport Cooperative Congress

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade today bared major transportation updates to leaders and members of nationwide transport cooperatives gathered in this province.

Speaking before transport cooperative delegates and government officials at the 3rd National Congress for the Transport Cooperative Sector, the DOTr Secretary emphasized the infrastructure push of the Duterte administration in order to enhance mobility and connectivity in the country.

Among the updates he revealed is the plan to modernize the Cauayan Airport in Isabela.

“By 2018, your airport—the Cauayan Airport—will be expanded, enhanced, and improved to have night-landing capabilities.”

Secretary Tugade also apprised the members of the transport cooperatives on the status of various rail projects.

“Iyong Bicol Express (Manila to Bicol Railways) ay tatapusin sa termino ng ating Pangulo,” Secretary Tugade said.

On the subway system, Sec. Tugade announced that President Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Abe will sign the agreement in November.

“Yung train from Tutuban-Clark, dati usap-usapan lang yan. Sa termino ni Pangulong Duterte, gagawin ‘yang katotohanan,” he told the transport cooperative delegates.