Telcos Have 6 Months to Comply with One-Year Prepaid Load Validity

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In order to avoid any public inconvenience, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has given telecommunication companies six (6) months to adjust their systems to the one-year validity of regular prepaid load.

This is in clarification of the Department’s previous pronouncement that starting January 5, the expiry date of regular prepaid load is valid for one year from the date of top-up.

The 6-month period, starting January 5, 2018, was allowed to prevent telcos’ systems from crashing if changes are made abruptly, which may cause serious damage to the industry and disturb the consuming public.

“We apologize for giving the public false expectations, but if we have to err, it would be on the side of being 100% certain that nothing untoward will happen,” said DICT OIC Eliseo M. Rio Jr. in a statement.

Rio, though, emphasized that the adjustment period poses the challenge for telcos to fulfill the new validity period as soon as possible.

“However, the 6-month period is only a time limit where the telcos can be penalized if they have not complied by then,” Rio added.

“We expect the two telcos to really compete by racing to comply, because the winner can attract the subscribers of the other telco. With this, we expect their compliance earlier than the deadline. This will show that there is real competition on their part.”
NTC was instructed to closely monitor and address all complaints of prepaid loads being eaten up before the present expiration periods lapsed during the adjustment period.

Prepaid credits purchased for promos and other services with specific period of use are excluded from the coverage of the one-year validity.

Pinoy Boxer Michael Dasmarinas Gears Up for His IBO World Title Fight

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Photo Caption: Filipino fighter Michael Dasmarinas in top form, and ready for his IBO world title fight for Ringstar’s ‘Roar of Singapore IV - The Night of Champions’


Filipino boxer Michael “Hot & Spicy” Dasmarinas, gears up for the biggest fight of his life, as he goes for an IBO world championship title on April 20, 2018, at Ringstar Boxing’s ‘Roar of Singapore IV - The Night of Champions’, to be held at the 10,000-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Dasmarinas currently ranked 12th best boxer in the world by WBC, will go up against French boxer Karim Guerfi, who is currently ranked 4th by WBC. The fight is also touted by the Singapore promoter as the main event of the evening and will draw much international attention to the Camarines Sur-native.

Dasmarinas had an impressive win and KO’d his Thai opponent Phupha Por Nobnom, during the 2nd round of his match, at Ringstar’s ‘Roar of Singapore
III - The Chosen Wan’, last October 20, 2017, at the Suntec Convention Center, a win which gave way for this world title match.

Michael Dasmarinas says, “Nakakagalak po at nabigyan tayo ng Ringstar ng ganitong pagkakataong mapakita ang ating galing bilang Pilipino. Ngayon po ay puspusan ang aking paghahanda. Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating ensayo dahil nais ko po makamit ang IBO world title na ito. Samahan niyo po ako magdasal na makuha natin ang panalong ito. Ang panalo ko po ay pagkapanalo rin ng Pilipinas.” (I am happy that I am being given this opportunity by Ringstar to show my talent as a Filipino boxer. I am now training continuously, so that I can win this IBO world title bout. Please join me in praying, so that we can win. My win, will also be a win for the Philippines.)

Ringstar Boxing Founder & CEO Scott Farrel on the other hand says, “This is potentially one of the fight of the year nominees for 2018. Michael Dasmarinas WBC ranked 12 vs. Karim Guerif WBC ranked 4, will be a real war which both the Philippine and French boxing fans would love to see. Ringstar is all about a neutral fight platform, giving a genuine unbiased opportunity for both these great fighters to lift the IBO world title.”

Farrel continues, “If Dasmarinas is successful in this fight, he will be catapulted into the top 10, and in line to face the current great champions of the bantamweight division. He has the chance now to move forward and aim for greatness, like what his country’s very own hero Manny Pacquiao has achieved. I wish both fighters the best of luck, and I look forward to promoting this fight. This fight is a must-watch for all boxing fans, we have a Filipino boxer vs. a French boxer headlining a Singapore event, going head-to-head for the biggest fight night of their lives, with the IBO world title at stake.”

For 2018, Ringstar is set to bring its live events across Asia - China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines included. While for 2019, Ringstar plans to do a minimum of ten shows per year and have a combined viewing audience of over 1 billion viewers, making it Asia’s top fight media property.

New Binibining Pilipinas Candidates Known Soon

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As the Philippines continues to cement its reputation as a powerhouse in international pageants, Binibining Pilipinas, the most prestigious beauty tilt in the country, is now searching for a new batch of queens who will carry on the Philippines’ incredible streak.

Interested applicants have until Monday, January 8, to submit their forms. They will then go through a rigorous screening process led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairwoman Madam Stella Marquez Araneta, which will culminate on January 15.

The prestigious international titles up for grabs at this year’s competition are Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Globe and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental.

Binibining Pilipinas has recently produced queens who have made the Philippines proud. In 2015, Pia Wurtzbach ended the country’s 43-year drought when she won the Miss Universe title. A year later, Kylie Verzosa bagged the country’s sixth Miss International crown.

Last year’s winners were not to be outdone either. Nelda Ibe finished first runner up at the Miss Globe competition held in Albania, while Elizabeth Clenci emerged second runner up at the Miss Grand International contest held in Vietnam. Rachel Peters landed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, while Chanel Olive Thomas also scored a Top 10 finish and the Miss Friendship award at the Miss Supranational contest in Poland. Binibining Pilipinas International Mariel De Leon, on the other hand, has a budding showbiz career, starring opposite Coco Martin in her film debut “Ang Panday.” Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez is slated to compete in Egypt on January 25.

For more information on Binibining Pilipinas, visit www.bbpilipinas.com or visit the pageant’s official Facebook page.

CAPTION: Nelda Ibe, Miss Globe 2017 first runner up, and Elizabeth Clenci, Miss Grand International second runner up, are congratulated by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairwoman Madam Stella Marquez Araneta.