One Championship Renews Partnership with Broadcast Giant ABS-CBN

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that the company has renewed its partnership with ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment organization. The multimedia conglomerate, with a reach that spans the entire nation and millions of homes all around the globe, will have access to all ONE Championship content, including live events in the Philippines.

ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history and the largest media broadcast in Asia, streamed to a potential one billion homes in over 118 countries worldwide. Among the best Asian martial artists and world champions in ONE Championship are Filipino athletes who have exemplified courage and honor inside the ONE Championship cage.

ONE Championship and ABS-CBN initially commenced their monumental partnership in 2016, resulting in a successful year filled with memorable mixed martial arts (MMA) events across the region.

In 2017, the two global giants have continued to enjoy incredible success, highlighted by one of the most watched sporting events in Asian history, ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY which took place last April. The event achieved the highest rating of any martial arts program and edged out live 2017 NBA Playoffs coverage in the Philippines, according to Nielsen Sports.

Both ONE Championship and ABS-CBN are poised to continue this tremendous collaboration for an extended period.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “ONE Championship is proud to announce its renewed partnership with Philippine television network giant ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN is by far the largest TV broadcaster in the Philippines with reach that spans the entire country, as well as internationally to millions of homes across the globe. The sport of mixed martial arts has seen an amazing year in the Philippines so far, and we are excited to continue this awesome trend of delivering a unique and authentic martial arts experience to fans all across the country.”

Dino Laurena, Head of ABS-CBN Integrated Sports, stated: “Our continued partnership with ONE Championship is a huge boost to our advocacy of promoting sports, including mixed martial arts, to the Filipino audience. We believe that more than to just entertain and to inspire, sports can change people’s lives for the better. We are proud to be partnering with the largest sports media property in Asia, ONE Championship, in bringing a world-class MMA experience to our viewers. Who knows, one of them could be a future ONE champion, following the lead of Eduard Folayang and Brandon Vera.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Ka-Entrep Opens PBEX 2017 with SME Fair and Forum

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The Ka-Entrep Micro and Small Entrepreneurs Organization of the Philippines (Ka-Entrep) will open the 8th Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs' Expo with their SME Exhibit and Forum on Friday, July 28, 2017.

Established almost a decade ago, and now with over nine (9) entrepreneur centers across the metro and nearby provinces, Ka-Entrep has been rallying to empower entrepreneurs in order to empower the nation through its programs that aim to empower entrepreneurs, encourage entrepreneurship and establish enterprises.

At PBEX, Ka-Entrep will share tips for aspiring entrepreneurs and businessmen on how to empower their business at the SME Forum. They will also have their SME Fair which showcases products and services of their members. These will happen on Friday, July 28 at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 1. Admission is free, and seats come in a first-come, first-serve basis.

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.

What Properties OFWs are Searching for Online

Wazzup Pilipinas!
 

Global real estate website Lamudi studied the online property-seeking behavior of OFWs

Undeniably, one of the biggest contributors to the Philippines’ booming economy is the remittance coming from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Their hard work and sacrifice to be far away from home and from their loved ones have helped keep the country’s economy afloat despite global economic uncertainties.

According to Michael McCullough, managing director of local Savills associate KMC MAG Group, owning a home is a cultural achievement that is very important to all Filipinos—a state of mind that every Filipino, especially those working abroad, harbors and one of the factors that have been driving the local housing market.

In recognition of the hard work of OFWs in providing for their families left behind in the Philippines, global real estate portal Lamudi is making online real estate hunting easy and uncomplicated. With approximately 70,000 property listings online and close to 800,000 users every month (as of May 2017), Lamudi’s onsite data are shedding some light how Filipinos, particularly OFWs, behave while looking for properties online.

Online Search Behavior

Close to 5 million users visited the Lamudi website in 2016, as of these users, close to 25 percent are based overseas. The top 10 countries where overseas traffic coming to Lamudi.com.ph are the following:

●     The United States leads the pack, with 6 percent of all users in 2016 came from. This figure corresponds to close to 300,000 website users for the entire year.

●     The United Arab Emirates came in second, corresponding to about 2 percent of all users who visited the website in 2016, which is about 95,000.

●     These two countries were followed by Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Qatar—countries where there are sizeable Filipino communities.

House and lot came out as the most searched property types for all these 10 countries (equivalent to 61.29 percent of all searches), followed by condominium (18.11 percent) and land (15.08 percent). Commercial properties and apartments corresponded to 3.65 and 1.87 percent of all searches in 2016, respectively.

Top Cities Explored by OFWs

In terms of preferred destinations by Filipinos working abroad, Lamudi found out that the top 10 most searched cities include Quezon City, Cebu, Makati, Davao, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Tagaytay, Pasig, Taguig, and Baguio, respectively. The prevailing reasons why these locations emerged at the top may vary, but it can be safe to say that some OFWs buy to get a permanent residence for their families left behind, while others are looking for areas that can be allocated to family members (e.g., college-bound students) in the metro. Likewise, many might also be looking to buy with the intention of having a retirement property in the future (hence, the presence of touristy areas in the top 10 such as Cebu, Tagaytay, and Baguio).

Lamudi Affordable Housing Fair

Apart from harnessing technology, Lamudi is also reaching out to house-hunters through events such as the upcoming showcase of value-for-money properties at the Lamudi Affordable Housing Fair, slated to happen on July 15 and 16 at Glorietta 3 Activity Center in Makati City.

Through the fair, OFW home-seekers can send their families in the Philippines to check out and avail of property discounts offered by developers during the event. The investment process will also be guided as home-buying seminars and other real estate–related forums will be held on the two-day event.

Key national agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-IBIG Fund will also be present at the fair to highlight various programs and benefits that every Filipino can take advantage of. The fair will also feature an auction of foreclosed properties, which is another way to secure a reasonably priced property.

The first Lamudi Housing Fair was a three-day-event successfully held November of last year and was attended by more than five thousand visitors. To know more about the Lamudi Affordable Housing Fair, visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph/events

Hue And Me: Embracing Art In Life

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hue And Me: Embracing Art In Life, an art fair that celebrates art in all its forms, invites everyone aged five to ninety-five to join painting the town in bright hues on July 8-9, 2017 at SM Aura Premier, Taguig.

Hue And Me upholds the philosophy of incorporating art in everyday life for entertainment, aesthetics, personal development, business, or even to effect social change. The fair aims to provide opportunities for learning new art skills and crafts, appreciation for art, and discovering its therapeutic benefits that improve quality of life, as well as empowering the youth with applicable knowledge and entrepreneurial artistry.

Artists and entrepreneurs exhibit their unique creations while engaging visitors to interesting and profitable workshops like how to make dream catchers, nail art, terrariums, charm bracelets, and pottery; cupcake designing; face painting; tattooing; food carving; make-up application; T-shirt printing; slippers painting; and rags/fabric weaving.

Visitors get to participate in informative talks like Make-up Application, Photography, Art Therapy, Art Entrepreneurship, Doodling, Calligraphy, Nude Sketching Session, Painting, Latter Art and Digital Art in Character Development.

Hue And Me: Embracing Art In Life is produced and organized by ArtisteSpace in collaboration with SM Aura Premier.

Entrance fee is P200 regular rate and P100 for students. For more information on sponsorship opportunities and event activities, visit the website at www.hueandmeph.com.

Portkey Events Proudly Presents the First Ever Quidditch World Cup in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here to bring you yet another first for the Wizarding Community in the Philippines, Portkey Events, Inc proudly gives you The Quidditch World Cup 2017!

In partnership with The Perfect White Shirt, you will have the opportunity to compete under two of the best Quidditch Teams in the world: Ireland and Bulgaria. You may register individually or as a team, and you may choose your position: whether it be Keeper, Chaser, Beater, or Seeker. But a warning for those daring enough to enter: this is not for the faint of heart.

Wondering how Quidditch will work without flying? Check out the first tutorial in this week's series of videos. If you didn't know before, Muggle Quidditch is a real sport, and it's just as fun and just as magical!

However, you can also cheer for your preferred team! Spend a few Galleons on Wizarding merchandise, and get to know your community amidst all the excitement this magical sport has to offer!

30 July 2017, Sunday
10 AM - 4 PM
ASCOM Football Field, Taguig City
Make Krum proud everyone! See you at the Quidditch Pitch!

#QWC2017 #QuidditchWorldCup2017 #PortkeyEvents

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Ticket prices are as follows:

Php 900 per player (regular price)
Php 150 audience

For Team/Player Registration, please click here: https://goo.gl/forms/rX7836ck73yVTO8g2

For Audience Registration, please click here: https://goo.gl/forms/wNW0UjWEfv9gj1DP2

WESM Mindanao To Be Launched on June 28

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Some 11 years since being established in Luzon and over six years since taking a foothold in the Visayas, the Wholesale Electricity Spot (WESM) will come to Mindanao on Wednesday, 28 June 2017.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi waxed optimistic with the establishment of WESM Mindanao, saying it “signals the start of a competitive electricity market in the region whose costing is very transparent.”

Cusi said that the provision of more reliable and competitive supply that results in more affordable power to consumers in the region is in line with the Duterte administration’s thrust to vastly improve Mindanao’s economy and the quality of life of its people.

“WESM facilitates a transparent electricity market with which Mindanao power generators will have an avenue to trade un-contracted power supply,” said Cusi.

“WESM will provide consumers more sources of electricity to choose from, increasing their chances of lower-priced energy,” he added. 

The launch of WESM Mindano is set at SMX Lanang in Davao City.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 mandated the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish WESM as a venue for trading electricity as a commodity.

WESM started commercial operations in the Luzon grid in June 2006 and in December of 2010 in the Visayas grid, while the intricacies of the Mindanao power industry delayed the establishment of WESM Mindanao.

WESM Mindanao will be operated by the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), a non-stock, non-profit corporation which also operates the Luzon and Visayas WESMs.

“WESM Mindanao will enable a transparent and fair mechanism to bring in more competition, more investors and a sustainable business climate that will eventually redound to empowering consumers from Mindanao of their power of choice,” said Cusi.

Jimmy Yabo Banks on Experience, Avoids Being Complacent vs Brazilian Foe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A tough test awaits Jimmy “The Silencer” Yabo in his first outing under the ONE Championship banner in 2017, but the Filipino fighter believes that he will be the roadblock to his highly-touted Brazilian opponent’s impressive run in the organization.

After ten months sitting on the sidelines, Yabo makes his return to the ONE Championship cage to take on Brazilian grappling ace Bruno Pucci on the undercard of ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION, which takes place at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar on Friday, 30 June.

Yabo, who has been competing in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) for nearly a decade, stressed that his experience will play a pivotal role in trumping Pucci in their five-round featherweight encounter.

“My advantage coming into this fight is my experience. I have fought different caliber of opponents throughout my career. Don’t count me out yet because I am here to go back to the Philippines with the sweet win,” he said,

Holding a professional MMA record of 5-4, 1 NC, Yabo boasts one of the best finishing percentages in ONE Championship’s featherweight division as his last five wins came by way of knockout.

Yabo’s most impressive victory was when he knocked out Pakistan’s Bashir Ahmad in 21 second with a counter right hook in February 2016.

“He knows what’s on the line. I also know what’s at stake in this fight. As a veteran of this sport, I know I can spoil the party. If I can execute my game plan perfectly, I will get the job done,” Yabo stated,

Animax Brings Back All the Comedy and the Action When “Assassination Classroom” Returns for a New Season this July!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready for another semester filled with studying, intense training, and new ways to kill the teacher in the latest season of the highly popular anime series Assassination Classroom, which premieres on 10 July every Monday and Tuesday at 8pm on Animax.

The second semester is about to begin at the Kunugigaoka Junior High School. While some things have changed, the assignment of Class 3-E remains the same: to kill Koro-sensei, their tentacled, smiley-faced teacher, before the school year is over.

Nagisa Shiota and his classmates take another chance at redemption as they devise more ingenious plans in killing their alien teacher.

But Koro-sensei has become the class’ favorite teacher as more and more lessons are learned, and the skills and confidence of the students are developed.

In the end, their loyalty will be put to the test as they are faced with a dilemma more challenging than any final exam they have ever encountered: Will they choose to save the world? Or will they choose to save the world’s greatest teacher?

Assassination Classroom (Season 2) premieres on 10 July, every Monday & Tuesday at 8pm, with 2 episodes back-to-back, first & exclusively on Animax.

Animax is available on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Channel 73, Dream Satellite TV Channel 07, Destiny Digital Channel 46 and G Sat Channel 24.

Google I/O Extended Cebu 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Are you ready Cebu?

If you think GDG DevFest and Cebu Code Camp was action packed, this year's I/O Extended Cebu 2017 is expected to be more awesome and bigger to cater the technology enthusiasts of Cebu. The event is composed of a series of keynotes, talks, Codelabs, and workshops organized by Google Developers Group Cebu (GDG Cebu), a non-profit group of amateurs and professionals in Cebu's developer community who are passionate about Google technologies. The I/O Extended Roadshow is made possible by its General Sponsor: Google, Event Partners: ASUS and Accenture, In-Cooperation with Kyocera Document Solutions Development​ Philippines Inc., with support from Symph, Event’s Official Internet Provider PLDT InnoLab and its Official Media Partner, PR Works.

The I/O Extended Roadshow will happen in numerous locations in Visayas, starting from Cebu. Comparing I/O Extended Cebu 2015 and 2016, where the number of participants grew from 50 to 500 attendees. This year, GDG Cebu is expecting around 1,000 developers, tech enthusiasts, students and other techie participants.

The theme for I/O Extended Cebu is focused on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Other major topics covered will be: Firebase, the Cloud, Material Design, Internet of Things, VR, Android, and 2017's Web Trends. Local and international speakers and experts will be imparting their knowledge and experiences with these technologies; sharing information and tips to students, designers, developers and tech-savvy individuals.

Number of participants for this event is limited, and final attendees will receive a confirmation email for further instructions for the event. For more information about I/O Extended Cebu 2017, you can go to their website at gdgcebu.org or the event site at ioextended.gdgcebu.org. You may also follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ under GDGCebu.

Catch the Rerun of REP’s Original Musical Production, The Glitter Trap

Wazzup Pilipinas!

REP is giving everyone another chance to catch their magical musical masterpiece as The Glitter Trap holds a weekend run on August 20 at Circuit Makati.  

Starring a young and talented cast, all aged 11 to 17, Repertory Philippines’ The Glitter Trap is based on Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson’s young adult novel of the same title.

The original musical production tells the story of middle school misfit Lacey Unger-Ware as she takes on the responsibilities of the cranky, glitter-loving, fairy godmother Katarina who accidentally gets trapped in Lacey’s hair. As the new fairy godmother of the most popular girl in school, Lacey learns that things aren’t always what they seem from the outside, and gains a better appreciation for what she has.

22 performers, including Rayne Cortez as Lacey, Michelle Cornejo as popular girl Paige, Chez Cuenca as fairy godmother Katarina, and Stacy Tsai as Lacey's best friend Sunny, will be bringing their talents to the stage.

Playful, poignant and entertaining, the show is directed by Joel Trinidad and Nicky Triviño, with book and lyrics by Joel Trinidad, music by Jon Meer Vera-Perez, musical direction from Adonis Tabanda, and choreography from Deana Aquino.