Superstar Comedian Russel Peters Returns to Asia with the Deported World Tour

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AEG Presents and Ovation Productions are thrilled to announce that global comedy phenom RUSSELL PETERS will bring his DEPORTED WORLD TOUR to MANILA on 10 MARCH 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center’s Plenary Hall.

Tickets for the March 10 show priced at P8190, 7135, 6080, 3970, 2910 will go on sale 10 am of January 8 via www.smtickets.com.

The show features ALL NEW MATERIAL, plus Peters’ signature interactions with the audience. Peters says, “I love getting to know my audience. It’s a collaboration between us.”

Peters last toured Asia in 2015 & 2016 to sold out houses. “I’ve been building the new act in clubs across the States over the past year and I’m very happy with it.”

Peters returns to live touring after taking time off stage since the filming of his last special, Almost Famous for Netflix in April 2016 in Toronto. In between, he’s produced and starred in his own comedy-drama limited series for Netflix, The Indian Detective. The Indian Detective also stars Anupam Kher (The Big Sick, Silver Linings Playbook), William Shatner (Star Trek), Christina Cole (Suits, Casino Royale), Mishqah Parthiephal (Keeping Up with the Kandasamys). The Indian Detective will air December 19th on Netflix globally.

Peters has also appeared in the still unreleased films, The Clapper with Ed Helms, Amanda Seyfried and Tracy Morgan as well as Supercon with Ryan Kwanten and John Malkovich, and Public Schooled with Judy Greer.

THE DEPORTED WORLD TOUR will also feature one of David Letterman’s favourite comics, the legendary raconteur of weird stories, comedian Jake Johannsen.

THE DEPORTED WORLD TOUR will take Peters around the world with shows well into 2019. The Asia dates follow a run through Australia and New Zealand. His last tour travelled to over 26 countries with over 200 performances and more than 300,000 fans in attendance.


RUSSELL PETERS DEPORTED WORLD TOUR MANILA

Date: 10 MARCH 2018
Venue: PICC PLENARY HALL
Tickets: PRICES P8190, 7135, 6080, 3970, 2910


Tickets available at SM Tickets outlets
Ticket Purchase Hotline: +632 470 2222
Internet Booking: www.smtickets.com

Nine Mistakes That Online Shoppers Are Guilty Of

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Buy what you want with just a click. Online shopping has become a great convenience. You can search and shop for almost anything from anywhere around the world from the confines of your room. As convenient as shopping online is, it does not mean you should click “buy” before adequately educating yourself. Here are some mistakes to avoid to ensure a safe and satisfying online shopping experience:


1. Not Shopping Around

Once you see an item that you like, would you buy it straight away? Why not search further for a better price and save. In the current competitive market, online retailers tend to offer products at more attractive prices. By spending a fair amount of time looking through various online stores, you can, not only compare prices, but also gather more information like delivery time and shipping costs to help you make a more informed purchase decision.


2. Forgetting to Search for and Shop with a Coupon

Coupon codes are a great way to save money. Why pay full price when you can save a percent off your product? The majority of online stores offer these money-saving codes, which can be found with just a quick search. Some websites like iPrice, readily provide their coupons by highlighting it on their homepage so that consumers can easily find and use them.


3. Skipping Reviews

There is no greater fury than a customer scorned, either by a bad product or bad service experience. Many tend to make their displeasure known online. However, it is also the forum for those satisfied with their purchase to give praise to their favourite product. Bloggers and vloggers are readily available to provide useful information like how-to-use the product and their opinions after using the product. Always read reviews on the item that you intend to purchase. This can give you better insights on the product quality, what the product is used for and user experience.

As there are many opinions out there, one way to avoid being overwhelmed by it all, is to look out for the three-star reviews. These tend to offer more pros and cons, whereas five-star reviews could be inflated and those with one-star could just be from customers who are never happy.


4. Purchasing from Unknown or Insecure Sites

An important part of online shopping is to be able to trust the website. You can get clues about the security by entering the company’s website url in the browser. A good indication is if url begins with https rather than http, the added 's' shows that it is a secure site. Another clue to look for is 'padlock icon' before the website’s address indicating that the site uses encryption to ensure security. One more clue, you can get if website is secured with SSL certificate such as (Extended Validation) EV SSL of Comodo and that clue is you can also see business/company name in the browser. A good rule of thumb is not to purchase anything from suspicious looking or unknown websites – let alone linger on one. Such websites pose high potential in not only messing up your order but worse of all, compromising your credit card or debit card information.


5. Not Using Your Credit Card

Shopping online with a debit card will help limit your spending as you can only shop with the amount you have in your bank account. However, using a debit card runs a higher risk of identity theft and hackers being able to access your personal bank account and money. Should hackers gain access to your bank account, getting your money back will be difficult and in some cases, you may be forced to close your account.

Using credit cards to shop online is generally more secure than debit cards. With the rise in identity theft and fraud, credit cards offer better consumer protection against unauthorised transactions. Some avid online shoppers even use a separate credit card for all their online shopping. With this, any would-be hacker would have access to that one credit card and a call to the credit card provider would help remedy the situation.

A good habit to practice is to review your credit card statements regularly and keep a track of all your transactions. Should you spot anything that should not be on your bill, do contact the credit card provider immediately.


6. Making Online Purchases on Public Wi-Fi Connections
While shopping over public wi-fi at a café or other public areas may be a good way to pass the time, it is not recommended due to security reasons. Such public wi-fi access areas are often not properly secured and can be easily compromised by hackers. Your personal information and credit card details are at risk. So, it is best to do your online shopping when at home or on a secure private network.


7. Not Reading the Return Policy

Found the item that you were looking for, bought it with just one click and discovered that it was not the correct size. Only then to find out that it is stated in the terms and conditions that the item cannot be returned nor exchangeable once sold. A common mistake but a frustrating one.

When shopping for clothes and shoes, always be aware that different retailers, brand and model has the potential to be different. Checking size charts can give you a better idea of how different garments fit. Keep a reminder of your current measurements and typical sizes by your favourite retailer near your computer for quick reference while shopping online.

As good practice, do go through the return policy of each online retailer before you make your purchase.


8. Getting Caught in the Free Trial Trap

As retailers are always eager to keep you updated and informed of the latest promotion or trends, any online shopper regularly receives promotions and free trial offers. This makes signing up for membership or newsletters easy. If you do so, just ensure that the membership perks or the offers are genuine and they are benefits that you will actually use.

Be especially wary of free trials that require your credit card details. Some retailers may sign you up for a long-term subscription without your consent.


9. Falling for “Attractive” Deals and “Exciting” E-mail Links

A majority of consumers at some point of their shopping experience can admit to have fallen for the “attractive and exciting discounts” which one can enjoy by just signing up the retailers’ online form. However, this is followed by a daily influx of emails proclaiming a never-ending slew of offers and discounts. Such emails can tempt you to spend more, turning one purchase into several more.

If you really want to have updates on the latest sales and promotions, one suggestion is to use a separate email account so that you can check your inbox periodically and not have them be a distraction many times in a day.

Online shopping can mean a world of discounts, infinite number of products (and brands) and an easy purchase experience. But if it compromises your personal information, identity and budget, keep in mind these pitfalls mentioned to avoid long term repercussions. By all means, do search, compare prices and save with great deals in order to enjoy a good and safe shopping experience.


Contributor:

Azhann Rosmin

With a deep love of story-telling and literature, Azhann enjoys writing as much as a kid enjoys ice-cream. With a full and fluent grasp of the English language, he writes almost as good as he spins stories of gasps and awe.

San Carlos Town Center: The Latest Toast of San Carlos City in Pangasinan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The simple and peaceful town of San Carlos in Pangasinan recently welcomed the grand opening of the San Carlos Town Center and we were there to share in the fun.

A colorful and lively cultural dance entertained the eager and excited towns folk before the actual ribbon cutting led by City Mayor Joseres "Bogs" Resuello and the owner's family led by Mike Guico and their associates and other partners.

The mall was a plan of Mayor Resuello to San Carlenians.

Like any other mall, the Town Center was comprised of food chains, department store, supermarket, play area and hopefully a movie theater. I was informed that the nearest mall theater was located in Dagupan. Quite a distance away.



Once the mall was opened, the huge crowd of overly excited throng of towns folk finally got to enter their latest town center and I was personally happy for them since it is already simple luxury for the people in the proivinces to have their own malls or town centers.

Not all branded stores were open yet since the mall is still in progress. Expect more stores to open in the next few months this 2018.

San Carlos Town Center is located at Rizal Avenue corner Zamora Street.



Mayor Resuello said the city government stands to earn millions in additional revenues once the establishments start operating.

He added he was assured by the mall owners that they will closely observe city ordinances that seek to protect the environment.

Among the VIP guests who graced the grand openiong aside from the city counsellors and mall partners were the pretty winners of Miss San Carlos beauty pageant.





There were also jugglers and clowns who entertained the kids and families. A special mall show likewise featured celebrity clothing endorsers Miguel Tan Felix and Bianca Umali and a mini concert by Silent Sanctuary.



According to Mr. Guico, its very young owner, they opened the town center in time for the holidays and Christmas/New Year festivities where a lot of people were expected to shop and bond with families, friends and relatives.

So the next time you're in San Carlos, in Pangasinan, check out San Carlos Town Center and enjoy a piece of mall adventure in the countryside.



Written by Mars Callo

DOE Directive to Oil Companies

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi released the Guidelines, thru the Oil Industry Management Bureau headed by Undersecretary Donato M. Marcos, to all oil companies to effectively monitor and implement the new Tax Reform Inclusion and Acceleration (TRAIN).


Pertinent provisions of the Guidelines are as follows:

1) Submission of a duly notarized inventory report as of 31 December 2017. The inventory shall be on per depot and per product basis;

2) Implementation of the excise tax under TRAIN shall not be applied unless the 31 December 2017 stocks of finished products are fully exhausted. (The minimum 15-day inventory requirement shall be enforced in accordance with Department Circular ‎2011-03-0002);

3) Submission of the daily summary of withdrawal starting 01 January 2018 until the depletion of the declared inventory as of 31 December 2017, supported by the Official Registry Book (ORB);

4) Retailers are required to post in a conspicuous area, for transparency, notice of the new excise tax implementation under the TRAIN in a signage measuring 1 meter by 1 meter in size; and

5. Submission of the petroleum products inventory report as of December 31, 2017 is on 5 January 2018.

“We remind the consumers and the oil industry participants that violators face the sanctions under the law,” Cusi said.

The DOE calls on the public to be vigilant and to report any violation to info@doe.gov.ph or to the Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office at Tel. No. ‎‎479-2900 loc. 329.

Traslacion 2018: The Procession of the Black Nazarene

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What is it about the Black Nazarene that moves millions of Filipino Catholics to gravitate to it?

This said to be miraculous image of Jesus Christ has blessed the lives of the devotees, but we should not hide the fact that it also claimed lives during the crowded procession.

But who are we to doubt what millions of people believe. Even at this day, there seems to be a multitude of believers who would literally die for offering their praises towards their beloved God.

Faith is indeed something great to hold on to as it gives many people strength and hope for a better tomorrow. But as they say "Nasa Diyos and Awa, Nasa Tao ang Gawa." We should therefore also exert extra effort to work on our dreams and aspirations, and not rely on a miracle. Praying to win in the Lotto is totally wrong. Praying to get a job without investing on learnings appropriate skills will get you nowhere. We all have to work hard, or smart, to get what we want.

For the annual Traslacion, a media briefing was held on January 4, 2018 at Quiapo church led by Quiapo Church Parish Priest Msgr. Hernando Coronel, MMDA Chair Danilo Lim, at MPD Director PC Supt. Joel Coronel

The Manila Police District (MPD) will be fielding more or less 5000 policemen and augmentation for the safe conduct of the Traslacion 2018 and security of devotees who will participate on January 9.

A Quiapo Church rector also said that organizers will be setting up 12 prayer stations along the procession route - an effort to give other devotees another option aside from joining the procession.

Classes in all levels for both private and public schools and work in government offices in Manila are suspended on January 9 in observance of Traslacion 2018.

Several roads will also be closed as early as Sunday from 1 p.m. onwards. Due to safety considerations, new route will be implemented for Traslacion 2018, veering away from the Lagusnilad: from Manila Hotel proceed to Katigbak drive to pass thru Intramuros to NPC to Jones Bridge then same route as to the previous years will be followed.

Aside from the signal jammers to prevent usage of mobile phones, a 48-hour gun ban will be implemented in the city from 12mn of Jan 8 to 12mn of Jan 10 as an security measure. 

There is no actual, direct or imminent threat reported.

As usual, it is expected that Manila will be a very busy day so it is advisable for commuters to avoid passing through the areas where the Traslacion is held. Pregnant women, children, elderly, sick and disabled or handicapped, are discouraged to attend since even the strongest man could be trampled upon by the over-eager crowd all wanting their share of the blessings.

We believe that God will grant our wishes even if we are miles away from the image of the Black Nazarene, or any other saint and church. We should not be required to actually be present at religious places to receive the blessings of the Lord. As we all believe, God is omnipresent and thus is everywhere. He is omnipotent which makes him capable enough to whatever he desires.

God gave us the free will to choose and decide for ourselves, so there is no wrong choice or decision, and that includes standing up to what we believe in. What is wrong is to give in to what the majority dictates in spite of our personal disbelief. We see Science and technology slowly enlightening us but there are still many questions left unanswered. We believe it will be a never-ending quest for answers as there are just too many wonders in this world.

Life alone is a miracle that still has many intricate complexities. We are forever a continuous story, and though we could not make it as perfect as we hoped for, the effort to go through life believing, or not, still serves many purpose for those who have gone through life loving others unconditionally.

Our fervent hope is for the devotees to spread their love not only towards the Black Nazarene, but to others as well. It is such a disappointment seeing religious people participating in the Traslacion and other similar activities but are perpetrators of unethical acts. Sadly, some just want to be seen for publicity - and this is not limited to the celebrities or politicians. 

Here's the Secret to Your Law Firm's Content Marketing Success

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to promote a law firm. By sharing blog posts, videos, and other informational content related to your particular area of the law, you can establish yourself as an authority.

Sharing “evergreen” content should play a major role in your strategy. You want to share information that will be relevant to your audience years after you first posted it. The following information will help you better understand how law firms can implement this approach.


What is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content is content that remains useful or informative for long periods of time. For instance, if a personal injury law firm were to publish a blog post sharing details about an upcoming seminar on preventing slip and fall accidents, the information would be irrelevant after the event is over. That’s not an evergreen blog post.

An evergreen blog post for a law firm (depending on would be closer to “What to do When You’ve Been in a Car Accident,” “How to File a Wrongful Death Claim,” or “5 Tips for Choosing a Divorce Attorney.”

Barring any major changes to the law, that kind of content is useful for readers no matter when they find it.



Why is Evergreen Content Important?

Evergreen content has lasting value. When promoting a law firm, you want to share information that readers will keep discovering and sharing. Interest in a piece of content tends to fade once it is no longer relevant or helpful. As a result, it’s effectiveness as a promotional tool fades, too.

By sharing evergreen content, you can also develop your law firm’s overall ethos. A firm that shares only timely content won’t have the same authoritative web presence as one that shares useful, evergreen content.

Of course, understanding the value of this marketing strategy is one thing; actually adopting it involves a little more work. Don’t jump into your promotional strategy haphazardly. Follow these steps to develop an evergreen content marketing plan that works.



Select an Area of Focus

You shouldn’t share any content that’s vaguely related to the law. You’ll establish your authority more effectively if you select specific topics on which to focus.

However, going too broad is also dangerous. There’s a lot of content out there; yours will get lost in the mix if it’s too general. For instance, posting basic pieces of content about personal injury cases means your posts will blend in with all the other posts about personal injury cases.

When choosing your subjects, consider what kinds of cases you’re trying to bring in. Do you want to represent more clients facing deportation? Share content that directly relates to their needs, like “How to Apply for a United States Work Visa” or “5 Immediate Steps to Take When Facing Deportation.”



Know Your Audience

The more you know about your ideal audience, the easier it is to target your audience appropriately.

Start by considering their overall demographics. Maybe you stand out from other firms in the area by representing non-English speakers. Post content that’s relevant to potential clients seeking attorneys who speak their language.

You should also consider their location. Someone looking for a divorce lawyer in NYC is going to search for “NYC divorce lawyer” in Google. Include those kinds of terms in your blog posts to reach the right people.

Finally, if you’re simply struggling to come up with more topics to post about, put yourself in a client’s shoes. What problems do they have? What questions do they need answers for? This will help you better understand what kind of content will attract them.



Focus on Timeless Ideas

When you’re ready to actually develop content ideas, always go for topics that are evergreen. If you know that certain laws and regulations relevant to your area of expertise tend to change regularly (this is often the case when emerging technology, like cryptocurrency, triggers the need for new legislation), focus more on the areas of your specialty that rarely change.

While you may want to promote upcoming events every now and then, limit these posts. They shouldn’t play a major role in your long-term strategy.



Experiment with Different Types of Content

You want to reach potential clients via as many forms of media possible. Blog posts are effective because they allow you to clearly share information, but with many mobile device users consuming video content these days (it accounts for more than half of all mobile traffic). Therefore, it’s a smart idea to include it in your strategy.

Fortunately for law firms, longer blog posts are rising in popularity. This means you truly delve into a topic, instead of oversimplifying it.

Hiring a freelance graphic designer to translate your content into infographics gives you yet another way to attract clients. Infographics are eye-catching, and they make it easy to share a lot of information in a compressed space.

If you have the time, you might even consider hosting a regular podcast that delves into some of your major areas of interest more deeply. Most importantly, include a call-to-action whenever relevant. Tell listeners to call your firm; promote your free consultations. This is how you turn someone consuming your content into a legitimate client.



Getting it Out There

A quality website is the ideal platform for hosting your content. That said, you shouldn’t rely solely on this platform. Social media accounts give you the chance to reach even more people. Because it’s fairly easy to share content on social media, if your audience appreciates what you post, they’ll be more likely to share it with their followers.

Don’t think of content marketing as a minor promotional strategy. For a law firm, it’s how you develop your ethos, establish your authority, and let potential clients know you can help them address their specific needs. When your content is evergreen, the positive impact lasts much longer.

G.SKILL Releases New Sniper X DDR4 Memory Series

Wazzup Pilipinas!

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is releasing the new Sniper X series DDR4 memory that features 3 different camouflage designs and available in speeds up to DDR4-3600MHz. This new family of high performance memory kits is perfect for memory upgrades or for building PC gaming rigs and custom system builds.





Unique Camouflage Design

Sniper X is designed with a militaristic camouflage top bar to compliment any gaming system with offerings in three distinct patterns: Classic Camo, Urban Camo, and Digital Camo. Classic Camo is inspired by the classic jungle green camouflage design, while Urban Camo is styled to blend into a concrete jungle combat setting with multiple shades of gray. And developed to match the ASUS TUF Gaming series motherboard, the Digital Camo features yellow stylistic highlights for a modern warfare look. All three variations are paired with minimalistic aluminum heatspreaders that further optimizes cooling performance under heavy computing load, so you won’t miss out on the next firefight!




Extreme Performance & Massive Capacity

Never miss a shot with memory speeds ranging from a standard DDR4-2400MHz up to an extremely fast DDR4-3600MHz. On top of the blazing speed, kit capacities are also offered up to an impressive 128GB (8x16GB) configuration for PC systems that handle gaming and content creation, such as 3D rendering or multimedia editing. Each memory kit is also validated under a series of rigorous tests for maximum compatibility and reliability on a multitude of platforms.




XMP 2.0 Support & Availability

This latest G.SKILL Sniper X DDR4 series supports the latest Intel XMP 2.0 for an easy one-step memory overclocking experience, providing a boost to memory performance across all types of workloads. The Sniper X series will be available at authorized G.SKILL distribution partners in 2018 Q1.

TCL Brings Superior TV Experience with TCL’s Asphalt Nitro Racing Competition

Wazzup Pilipinas!

TCL takes high tech entertainment to a whole new level

TCL Multimedia, the world’s third largest TV manufacturer and leading QLED TV innovator, conducted an exciting virtual racing competition, in partnership with Gameloft, makers of Asphalt Nitro, for mallgoers of the SM Mall of Asia Cyberzone Area in Pasay City.

The three-day racing event gathered hundreds of participants, who competed for the coveted daily grand prize, which is a brand new TCL 32” D2900 and a smartwatch from Gameloft.

To win the race, every participant was put in a nerve-wracking round of the video game, Asphalt Nitro, and try to finish the race in the shortest possible time.

The winners who emerged on top of the lever board were determined on a daily basis based on the shortest time to reach the line. They are Cezar C. Dela Cruz Jr., Miguel M. Rabago, and Paul Yap.

The top prize shall be claimed at the TCL Sun, Inc. office located at 4/F Zen Towers NA Lopez St., Manila City. The winners must present the notification from TCL representative (direct message on Instagram or announcement on Facebook), together with any valid ID.



Redefining TV entertainment experience

During the racing event, the participants enjoyed the thrilling features of TCL C2 Android TV and the TCL X3 TV. These sleek and state-of-the-art TVs promise a whole new and exciting entertainment experience with its cutting-edge innovations in connectivity, picture quality, sound, and multi-functional features.

“Today, TV is more than just for watching your favorite programs. It is an experience that encompasses everything you are looking for,” said Eason Cai, chief executive officer of TCL. “Consumers now want a TV that allows them to connect to the internet, play their favorite games, watch live streaming programs, and even listen to their favorite tunes. TCL’s C2 Android and X3 offer multi-dimensional entertainment.”

TCL C2: The best in Android TV

TCL’s C2 TV is the latest Android M-powered TV that allows users to access a wide range of content and enjoy many functions including Google Play Store, games, music, movies, TV shows, Chromecast built-in, and voice search.

The C2 TV allows users to search and install their favorite Android apps to download movies, TV shows, music, and sports programs. It is complemented by a built-in Chromecast streaming capability allowing viewers to play their favorite video games and access preferred apps from mobile devices in the TV screens.

TCL’s C2 TV comes bundled with Netflix giving viewers a wide selection of programs to choose from. The Netflix application delivers TV and movie titles of up to 4k allowing viewing of thousands of contents. Its exclusive Netflix button directs users to the site with one click and the “T” button on the remote directs users to content express where TV channels and internet content are integrated so viewers can get what they want instantly.

Finally, TCL’s C2 Android TV delivers a stunning viewing experience with its HDR Pro, Wide Color Gamut (WCG) 4K UHD and Micro Dimming technologies. Superior sound is delivered via its front-facing Harman Kardon speakers and the Dolby Audio and Smart TV Volume that produces a studio-like sound quality.

TCL X3: TV gaming was never this exciting!

Another innovative offering is the TCL X3. Part of the premium XESS Series, this trailblazing TV combines many great features in one. It features a 65-inch Quantum Dot screen display and a curved body that highlights a sleek, modern and streamlined design that is slim and lacks edges.

It has a metal frame giving it a premium feel and look and showcases six circular Harman Kardon speakers in the front. Some units come with a game controller and two remote controls with one having a motion sensor.

The TCL X3 allows for superior resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels that allows users to play

4K videos easily. Its Quantum Dot display technology allows for better color accuracy and higher brightness making pictures sharp and showing clearer details.

The TCS X3 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and TV+OS 3.0 enabling users to access different applications from Google Play Store. It also features apps like Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, T-Launcher, GoLive TV and many others.

Finally, TCL’s X3 TV is powered by a 64-bit A53 quad-core processor, Mali T860 MP2 480 MHz GPU, 2.5GB RAM and 16GB worth of internal storage giving viewers the ability to launch and navigate various applications easily and seamlessly.

“The TCL C2 Android and TCL X3 TVs are just two of our cutting-edge products that will make the best Christmas gift this season giving families the chance to create touching moments in life and bring people together,” added Cai.

Founded in 1981, TCL—The Creative Life, is one of the leading global players in the audio-visual market. The company has invested extensively in research and development to bring the best design and performance on every device.

The company was recognized by International Data Group (IDG) as 2016-2017 Global Top 50 CE Brands and 2016-2017 Top 10 CE Brands from China. The company also won the Global Display Tech Innovation Award of the Year for TCL Quantum Dot TV.

Through its innovative products, it has successfully penetrated the global market establishing operations in 78 countries and regions around the world. TCL’s continued high-end product developments, such as the Quantum Dot, curved, 4K and large screen TVs, among others, putting it on par with other brands in the industry. In the first quarter of 2017, its LCD TV Sales Volume performance has improved by 38 percent, year-on-year.

Dusit Thani Bangkok to Remain Open Throughout the Year so Developer Can Add Even Greater Value to the New Hotel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Originally slated to close for redevelopment this April, Dusit International’s iconic flagship hotel will now operate as usual until 5 January 2019.

International, one of Thailand’s foremost hotel and property development companies, has announced that its iconic flagship hotel, Dusit Thani Bangkok, will now remain fully operational until 5 January 2019 (with final check-out at 2pm on that date), instead of 16 April of this year, as was previously announced.

The hotel’s closing date has been extended to allow Dusit and its partners more time to add even greater value to the new version of the hotel, which will open as part of a THB 36.7 billion (approximately USD 1.1 billion) landmark mixed-use project to be built in partnership with Central Pattana PLC.

Founded by Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui and opened on 27 February 1970, Dusit Thani Bangkok was once the city’s tallest edifice and largest hotel. A new landmark for the capital, the hotel pioneered five-star hospitality inspired by authentic Thai values and ushered in a new era of tourism for the city, revolutionizing dining, entertainment and even the way people organized wedding receptions in the process.

With its new hotel, Dusit International plans to mirror that success by creating a new city landmark that boosts the area’s appeal, enhances existing infrastructure, creates new opportunities for local businesses, celebrates Thai culture, and elevates the brand’s standing internationally.

“Since we officially announced the hotel’s redevelopment earlier last year, we have been inundated with messages from guests, customers and long-time fans of the hotel expressing their opinions about the project,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “While the majority expressed excitement about our next chapter, there were also those who wondered how we could possibly embrace our heritage and continue our legacy in a new building.

“The answer, of course, lies in taking our time to ensure we get it right. We are exploring many ways to add value to the new hotel and mixed-use project in terms of design and innovation. This includes embracing a green concept which reflects our prime location opposite Lumpini Park, creating direct links to both the MRT and BTS mass transit rail systems, and alleviating traffic in the area by providing new infrastructure.

“While our scrupulous attention to detail means we must extend the project timeline by eight months, we are delighted that guests now have more time to experience the hotel as it stands. We plan to enrich that experience by hosting a series of special events throughout the year.”

Former Choir Member Tiffany Teo Determined to Fulfill Destiny as Martial Arts Champ

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If a teenaged Tiffany “No Chill” Teo could see her adult counterpart, she would be unrecognizable.

As a young girl, the Singaporean martial arts standout was heavily involved in choir activities, which she participated in for a decade.

“I was a nerd when I was a kid. I was not very active,” Teo shared in jest.

Today, Teo is the polar opposite as she traded in her songbooks and rehearsal rooms for a pair of four-ounce gloves and the gym.

Teo went from a quiet, unassuming choirgirl to becoming a renowned strawweight martial arts prospect with an impressive record of 7-0.

The winding road to ONE Championship began in the oddest of places — in front of the television screen. Teo’s interest in martial arts, Muay Thai specifically, was stoked by popular reality show The Contender Asia.