Krem-Top Bagong Timpla Songwriting Competition Reveals Top Ten Finalists

Wazzup Pilipinas!
A media launch of the Krem-Top Bagong Timpla Songwriting Competition was held on November 09, 2017 at the Restaurant 9501 located at the 14th floor of ELJ Center building of ABS-CBN in Mother Ignacia corner Sct. Albano Avenue in Quezon City.

The event presented the four Krem-Top barkada - ambassadors Inigo Pascual, Joshua Garcia, Ronnie Alonte and Yassi Pressman, and the top ten finalists (composed of the singer and songwriter) of the songwriting competition based on their songs chosen as the top ten among the many entries submitted to Krem-Top Philippines.

The media were able to ask questions to the four ambassadors and finalists of which video coverage could be found on our YouTube channel. We were also given the first opportunity to vote for our top choice to win and the top 5 to get the chance to perform at the Bagong Timpla concert on December 8, 2017, together with one of the popular bands, Parokya ni Edgar, in the country, including Miles Experience and the Krem-Top Barkada, aside from the other prizes - P50,000 and a music video.

The number of YouTube views will comprise 25% of the criteria for judging for the top 5 finalists, while Facebook shares will be 25% as well. You can also visit Krem-Top Cafés located in different .locations and watch the digital gigs at the soundtrip booths. Take one Krem-Top sample and you'll be given a coaster which you can use to vote. You can also buy Krem-Top packs for more votes.

MRT-3 Train Detachment Incident

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This refers to the unfortunate "train detachment" incident that happened at the MRT-3 Ayala station yesterday, 16 November 2017.

First, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metro Railway Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) management wish to reiterate that it is desirious of addressing the safety issues of the MRT system.

Upon initial investigation of the unfortunate incident, it was found that the Messma Card of the decoupled Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) #68, the 3rd car in Train No. 5, is missing. The Messma Card functions like a black box that records all applied interventions.

MRT-3 Safety Chief Technician Ruel Jose, who led the initial investigation, said there was no electrical fault, as there was no damage to the mechanical parts of the coupler.

"Imposibleng magkahiwalay ang coupler kung walang human intervention," Jose said.

We ask: What is the motive? Who has the capability of removing the black box? Was this an attempt to cover up a mistake on the operation of Train No. 5? Or was there an effort to sabotage the entire operation?

These questions are being addressed right now through proper and scrupulous investigation.

Meanwhile, in response to calls to temporarily stop the operations of the MRT-3, we want the public to know that the DOTr has been considering this option since the first quarter of this year. But, while the DOTr and Secretary Arthur Tugade are aware of the system's current condition, we must also consider the 500,000 commuters that rely on the MRT-3 system daily.

"Basta sa pagsisikap at kasiguruhan ng technical team na ligtas pa rin ang pagsakay sa MRT, tuloy pa rin ang byahe. Bagamat nandyan pa rin ang option na itigil pansamantala ang operation kung ito na talaga ang nararapat na gawin," DOTr Sec. Tugade said.

The DOTr and the MRT-3 management understand the public's dismay. We hear you. We are not belittling the magnitude of the problem, but, we assure the public that the maintenance team is doing all it can, and working overtime to ensure the safety of the entire system. In fact, since the MRT-3 was put under internal management, fewer unloading incidents have been recorded and more number of trains are being rolled out consistently.

The MRT-3 problem is not easy. We acknowledge that it cannot be solved overnight. But, the government is not giving up. The DOTr will not give up. We will do our best until the Filipino people get the service they deserve.

James Reid Leads Fujifilm Ambassadors During Fujifilm X-E3 Media Launch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Known for his well-curated social media feed, James Reid is now armed with the best photo buddy, which truly helps him unleash his innate artistry in taking pictures – the new Fujifilm X-E3. This new rangefinder style, mirrorless, and ultra-compact camera is perfect for the Fil-Aussie heartthrob, who enjoys capturing breathtaking sceneries whenever he travels. Aside from Reid, two of the Philippines’ most sought-after young photographers, Magic Liwanag and Shaira Luna, have also fallen in love with this lightweight and mirrorless camera."

At a media launch held on November 9, 2017 at Dulo MNL in Makati, Fujifilm introduced a few ambassadors promoting the latest product innovations through their work or hobbies. Hosted by Nicole Laurel Asencio, attendees were also treated to hands-on appreciation of the new products, instant print-outs of their photos from their smartphones, great food from the restaurant and bar venue and an after-event party.

Utilizing the latest X-Trans CMOS III sensor and powerful X-Processor Pro for best in-class color reproduction in both stills and 4K movies, the X-E3 camera draws out the subject’s color fast and accurately when shot; thus, creating an outstanding image quality.

Moreover, James also finds its user-friendly touchscreen feature very impressive.

“The biggest thing I've noticed is the fact that there's no D-Pad. This is a step towards to the future of cameras. It's all touchscreen now. It has less buttons, less confusing. It's more intuitive, just swipe up and up,” says Reid.

2 FEU Short Films Vie for Viddsee Juree Awards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Josel Fajardo's Caterwaul and Ralph Quincena's Dungaw (Look Through) are among the ten short films competing for the Gold and Silver Prizes of the Viddsee Juree Awards on November 25 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.

Fajardo and Quincena worked with their fellow communication students at the Far Eastern University in completing their films. They are also both part of the FEU Film Society.

In Caterwaul, deep secrets come to light at a girls’ sleepover. While watching an R-rated movie, a girl (Andrei Eunice Osano) shares her first sexual experience and re-enacts it to a friend (Quennie Abuyuan), who does not know that she's in for a dark revelation.

Fajardo was inspired by a story he heard from his friend about a female colleague who went missing and got found later. He revealed that he felt uncomfortable making the film at first, as a man writing about a female character’s perspective on a delicate subject. “I struggled to find a way to solve this and all came out smoothly when I collaborated with my friend, Jennifer Leoncio, in writing the script, which gave a female’s perspective in telling the story.”

He also shared a problem he encountered during the shoot. “I had reservations in using male gaze in the language of cinematography and consulted my team first in pre-production. We came to the conclusion that it is was necessary evil to amplify the level of eroticism of the film and also provides the audience a peep-hole to the story of the characters,” he explained.

Meanwhile, in Dungaw, a problematic nursing student (Dennise Concepcion) finds unexpected comfort in a school toilet with the presence of a professor (Trechelle Ras). However, there’s more than meets the eye in the dramatic thriller as the student realizes that there are more secrets in the Nursing Building’s hallowed halls than she has herself.

Dungaw earlier won the Short+Sweet Film Festival Audience Choice Award and Best Actress for Concepcion, the 2017 Ateneo Video Open 2nd Best Film, Best Editing and another Best Actress award for Concepcion, and 3rd Best Film, Audience Choice Award, Best Cinematography and Best Editing at the SinePiyu 2017 Black Reel Category, among others.

Quincena and producer Zheina David made the film to communicate the horrors and pressures of teenage pregnancy while incorporating a much-talked-about story in FEU. The director was also inspired by his aunt who suffered the same fate as one of the characters. “This film aims to raise awareness to the helplessness women feel when caught up with a situation where there is only one escape,” he said.

The other finalists are Christian Candelaria‘s Gawad CCP Best Short Film and Indie Un-Film Festival grand prize winner Sa Saíyang Islá (In His Island), Glenn Barit‘s Cinemalaya NETPAC Jury Prize and Sinag Maynila Best Short Film winner Aliens Ata (Maybe Aliens), Marvin Cabangunay‘s and Jaynus Olaivar‘s CMMA Best Short Film Nakauwi Na (Home), Christian Lat‘s Ottawa Digital Film Festival and International Film Festival Manhattan winner Redlights, Tashana Rivera‘s Kaulayaw (Companion), Rogin Losa‘s Lovely is Off Air, Chloe Veloso‘s Inahan sa Kanunayng Panabang (Mother Of Perpetual Help) and Nathan Bringuer‘s Tirador (Slingshot).

The competing films by upcoming talents from FEU, University of the Philippines, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Meridian International College and International Academy of Film and Television can be viewed online at Viddsee.com.

The top two entries will win production equipment including a Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K Digital Cinema Camera EF (Gold Award) and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel (Silver Award), LaCie Porsche Mobile drive 2TB (Gold) and LaCie Portable Drive 1TB Apple exclusive model (Silver), a one-year Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, RØDE microphones and audio accessories, and a five-day Film Immersion Course in Los Angeles, California from the Motion Picture Association.

Each film shortlisted for the competition will be judged by an international panel of jury composed of Loïc Valceschini, festival programmer of the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival and Locarno’s Semaine de la Critique or Critics’ Week, Vietnamese film producer and Yxine Film Festival founder Marcus Manh, and Filipino filmmaker and writer Antoinette Jadaone, who is known for directing That Thing Called Tadhana, Love You to the Stars and Back and Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, just to name a few.

The Viddsee Juree program will start off with talks and film screenings at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on November 24. There will also be workshops, talks and screenings of the ten finalists together with a Q&A session with the filmmakers on November 25 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila before culminating with the awarding ceremonies on the same day and in the same venue at 6 p.m. The finalists and out of competition films will also be screened at Cinematheque on the following day. All these are free and open to the public.

Viddsee Juree Awards, which is part of the online entertainment and technology platform’s commitment to celebrate and support filmmakers and film communities in Asia, is held to celebrate the jury’s picks of Asian short films from all genres: fiction, documentary and animation. The initiative is supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The Juree aims to bridge the gap between digital filmmaking and distribution by working closely with local film communities as the Filipino audience grows and the network of creative content producers from the Philippines expands.

Philippine Short Film on Drug Trade Competes in Singapore

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After competing in the Wide Angle category of the Busan International Film Festival last October, Carlo Fajarda's short film Suerte will vie for awards next in the Southeast Asian short film competition of the 28th Singapore International Film Festival from November 23 to December 3.

Suerte, which literally means luck in Filipino and was used as a name of a street in the film, follows two amateur filmmakers (played by Fajarda himself and the film's director of photography and editor Phillipe Quintos) shooting a documentary about the drug trade. While they go along with their subjects, brothers Betong (Karl Medina) and Roel (Dan Medrana), they slowly get involved until the point of no return. As the night wears on, their dangerous obsession with their project forces them to cross the line between observer and creator.

Fajarda’s thesis film at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde joins three other Filipino films competing for the Silver Screen Awards in the festival. They are Carlo Francisco Manatad's Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month, Margarita Mina's Puppy Love and Andrew Stephen Lee's The Sound of Coins Hitting Brass.

SGIFF will feature over 100 films from 42 countries. It is the longest-running and leading international film platform in Southeast Asia for independent cinema. Also part of the Philippine contingent in the official selection are Salvage: Malay Wild by Sherad Anthony Sanchez, The One Armed Executioner by Bobby A. Suarez and In the Claws of A Century Wanting by Jewel Maranan.

FVR, The FORUM Host 10th Rafael M. Salas Golf Cup

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Former President Fidel V. Ramos and the Forum for Family Planning & Development Inc. (The FORUM) will host the 10th Rafael M. Salas Golf Cup on November 23, Thursday at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club.

With the theme “Nurturing Mother Earth, Women and Girls”, this year’s staging will be participated by at least 100 avid golfers who will play to support the annual event’s cause.

The tournament is open to all amateur golfers for an entry fee of P5,000 that includes a donation to this noble cause, green fee, special edition Salas golf giveaways, door prize, buffet lunch during and raffle.

Participants are also entitled to win the hole-in-one prize at stake – a Ducati Scrambler Sixty2.

Registration opens at 6:00am. Sequential tee-off is from 6:00 to 9:00 am. The ceremonial tee-off at 7:30am shall be led by Former President Ramos himself.

Named in his honor, Mr. Salas is remembered as a patriot par excellence who dedicated himself to serving his people in various government posts notably, Executive Secretary of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. In the international community, he served as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the rank of Undersecretary-General and is known as “Mr. Population”.

The event's generous major sponsors include DKT Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, PAGCOR, Filinvest Development Corporation, Marubeni Philippines, Group Management Development Inc., Team Energy, Lopez Group, Northstar Transport Facilities Inc, Asia United Bank, Alpha One (Benedicto Steel Corporation), PCSO, SGV, San Roque Power Corporation, SSS, Land Bank, DBP, Meralco, Pilipinas Shell, Trans Asia, Quickminds, Philippine Resources Savings Bank, Stradcom, Grand Videoke, Business Mirror, among others.

For ticket reservation or sponsorship, please call Golf Marketing Central at 6970520, 0917.8400119 or email golfcentral.ph@gmail.com. 

Discover Delicious New Favorites at FamilyMart: New Fish and Chips and Milk Tea Superfreeze are a Must-Try

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready to dig into a flavorful new meal as FamilyMart brings you Fish and Chips! Thanks to your go-to place for everyday essentials, grabbing a delicious and nutritious bite is easier than ever.

Traditionally an English favorite, FamilyMart’s Fish and Chips features a tender fish fillet lightly fried to a crisp, served with a side of crunchy fries and a zesty tartar sauce that you’ll want at any time of the day.

Swap out your usual calorie overload for this tasty, guilt-free set for only P79, have your fish fillet with rice for only P69, or order it ala carte at only P59.

Pair your Fish and Chips with a refreshing treat as FamilyMart introduces Milk Tea Superfreeze. Experience your favorite blend of flavors in a cool new way and sip on as much as you can hold, with a 12-oz. cup at only P27, 16 oz. at only P35, and 22 oz. at only P45. Go ahead, take a chill fill!

You don’t have to go far to find healthy, sumptuous meals or discover delightful treats. At FamilyMart, there’s always something you’re sure to enjoy and come back to.

For updates, exciting products, and awesome deals, like and follow FamilyMart Philippines on Facebook, @familymartph on Instagram, and @FamilyMartPH on Twitter. For store locations or more information on FamilyMart Philippines, log on to www.familymart.com.ph.

FamilyMart is the 2nd largest convenience store chain in the world with over 18,000 stores across Asia. In the Philippines, FamilyMart has branches in Makati, Fort Bonifacio, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pasay, Alabang and Laguna.

8 Philippine Airports Awarded with On-Time Performance Star Ratings

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 

The Department of Transportation - Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (DOTr-CAAP) welcomes the result of ‎‎2016-2017 Official Aviation Guide (OAG), On-Time Performance (OTP) Star Ratings for airlines and airports, with the country’s Iloilo International Airport landing 14th place with a star rating, besting Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Seoul Incheon International Airport and Hongkong International Airport in rankings.

Out of the 79 airports [with 36 airports operating commercial flights] managed by CAAP all over the country, other Philippine airports that earned star ratings on OTP are NAIA, Bacolod, Davao, Tacloban, Laguindingan (CDO), Kalibo and Puerto Princesa.

The OTP star rating is designed to benchmark against set criteria, defined by industry and flight status information experts. OTP is measured across the whole year based on 12 months’ rolling performance.

To achieve an OTP star rating, the world’s airlines and airports must meet two criteria: all airlines and airports must have a minimum of 600 operations a month (minimum of 2.5 million departed seats) and OAG must receive flight status information for no less than 80 percent of scheduled flights within a 12-month period.

The OAG is an air travel intelligence company based in United Kingdom. It provides digital information and applications to the world's airlines, airports, government agencies and travel-related service companies. OAG is best known for its airline schedules database which holds future and historical flight details for more than 900 airlines and over 4,000 airports.

One Championship Introduces New Documentary Rich Franklin's One Warrior Series

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced the production of new documentary series “Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series” which features martial arts legend Rich “Ace” Franklin as he travels from gym to gym all across Asia in search of the next martial arts superstar.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am pleased to announce Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. At ONE Championship, one of our biggest missions is taking martial arts, Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and placing it front and center for the entire world to witness. One of the ways to do this is by developing local homegrown martial arts superheroes. We are excited to travel across Asia, visiting the most iconic cities, to discover the next big superstar.”

Franklin, a multiple-time middleweight world champion, will travel to various Asian nations to visit local gyms beginning in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to discover new and upcoming martial arts talent. Deserving prospects will be rewarded with a six-figure contract with ONE Championship. The promotion’s elite video production team will be following Franklin’s journey across the region, chronicling the action to produce a series of compelling documentary videos.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship, stated: “Asia is the hotbed of the industry’s top martial arts prospects. It comes as no surprise, since martial arts has been home to the region for the past 5,000 years. Throughout my time in ONE Championship, I have been witness to some of the best martial arts talent I have ever seen. Stars today such as Angela Lee and Eduard Folayang came from the grassroots level of talent in Asia, and the next martial arts superstar is just waiting to be discovered. Follow me on this journey to showcase Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and join me on the hunt to find ONE Championship’s new wave of superstars.”

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series is a new documentary feature which will run in 30-minute episodes. Since the establishment of ONE Championship in 2011, various martial arts athletes have shot into superstardom in Asia, names such as “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore, Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines, and “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar. Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series aims at discovering new talent, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness.

The screening and tryouts process will consist of pad sessions, grappling demonstrations, conditioning exams, and an interview process, among others. Once selected, athletes will compete in trial exhibition bouts with a chance at earning a six-figure contract with ONE Championship based on performance. The first episode of Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2018.

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.

John Legend Brings Darkness and Light Tour to Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

10x Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter, John Legend will be returning to Manila for his highly anticipated Darkness And Light World Tour on March 21st, 2018 at the Araneta Coliseum.

John Legend’s latest album Darkness And Light has been a worldwide smash hit with the chart-topping singles “Love Me Now” and “Penthouse Floor” featuring Chance The Rapper. The album debuted on the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and was streamed over 12-million times in the first week.

Legend serves as one of the principles for Get Lifted Film Co., a film and television production company that serves as Executive Producers on the HBO documentary “Southern Rites”, Pop Network docu-series “Sing It On”, WGN America’s series “Underground”, and films such as “Southside With You” and the critically acclaimed “La La Land”. Legend was also featured in the film and soundtrack of La La Land with the single “Start A Fire” and in the blockbuster Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast” with Ariana Grande.

Fans can expect to hear John Legend perform these new hits with his full live band, as well as his well-loved singles “All Of Me”, “Ordinary People”, “Green Light”, “Used To Love U”, “Save Room”, “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”, and many more.

Tickets will be on-sale on Thursday, November 30 via TicketNet.com.ph. For more information, visit Wilbros Live on social media.

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @WilbrosLive

#JohnLegendMNL

#DarknessAndLightTour