Fruitas Holdings’ Le Village Lifestyle Park Line Up Fun Chinese New Year Offerings

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"It's a “Pawsome” Chinese New Year for 2018 as we celebrate the year of the dog at Le Village Lifestyle Park."

Food is regarded as an important part of every celebration. In the Philippines,
families all over the country find ways to celebrate around food, drinks, and good company.

This February, Fruitas Holdings Inc. (FHI) celebrated Chinese New Year with fun line up of activities at Le Village Lifestyle Park last February 16-18, 2018.

Year of the Dog

While Chinese New Year calls for a feast, it is also a celebration of the luck in store in the coming months. This 2018, Le Village Lifestyle Park welcome the Year of the Dog with activities for the entire family—even for the furbabies!

From February 16-18, FHI invites guests to bring their pooches and take part in the Bring Your Dog photo contest by heading over to the photo booth found in the lifestyle park and have a photo of them
wearing Chinese costumes. Guest with the best photo with their dog will win special prizes.

Le Village is set to bring luck with their unique offerings that are sure to delight everyone. Head over to Le Village located at E. Rodriquez Avenue cor. Cordillera, Quezon City for truly memorable celebrations.

“We at Fruitas Holdings believe that good food should be paired with good memories. Through our lifestyle parks, we continue to bring not only new food concepts but sophisticated dining experiences as
well to Filipinos,” said Carrillo.

For more information on future events and happenings, you may follow Le Village Lifestyle Park on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LeVillageLifestyle/) and Instagram

(https://www.instagram.com/levillagelifestyle/).

Fruitas Holdings Inc. is the leading group in the food cart industry in the Philippines. Since its first stall opened in 2002, the group now has over 800 stores all over the country and over 20 brands in its portfolio, which includes well-loved food concepts Fruitas fresh from Babot’s Farm, Fruitas Ice Candy, Black Pearl, Buko Loco, Juice Avenue, Friends Fries, the Mango Farm, Halo Halo Islands, Johnn Lemon, Shou Hand Pulled Noodles, Cindy’s Candy Cloud and Fancie.

For more information, you may visit: http://fruitasholdings.com/

National Information Convention Boosts DOE’s E-Power Mo Campaign

Wazzup Pilipinas!

#NIC2018 Boosting E-POWER MO: Speaking on behalf of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella presented the DOE programs and policies during the 1st National Information Convention (NIC) on Feb. 19 in Davao City. Plenary Session 1 was aimed to make the public understand government programs and policies.

Around 1,800 information officers and participants attended the NIC 2018. The DOE joined the Presidential Communications Operations Office in co-presenting the convention, together with the Social Security System.

(Davao City). The Department of Energy (DOE) joins hands with the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) in ensuring responsible communication to boost “E-Power Mo” at the National Information Convention (NIC) on 19-21 February at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang, Davao City.

In the speech delivered by DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, Energy Secretary Alfonso G.  Cusi emphasized that "an informed energy consumer is an empowered one.”

According to Usec. Fuentebella, the DOE took the opportunity through the NIC to inform the public on the "E-Power Mo" concept for the country’s quest to globally compete.

“The power of information can help consumers cut unnecessary costs while industry players are bound to compete more effectively," the DOE official said.

Using the metaphor of a basketball game, Usec. Fuentebella outlined how energy users can play competitively following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the energy policies for an increased consumers’ power of choice, diversity in energy resources, energy resiliency, energy efficiency and conservation, and energy smart consumers.

On addressing the impact of the TRAIN Law, the DOE initiated pro-active measures including advisories and timely monitoring that saved the public around P2.64 billion for liquid petroleum fuels (i.e., gasoline, diesel, kerosene) and P58.4 million for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

For increased consumer power of choice, the DOE together with the Energy Regulatory Commission will push for the full implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). With RCOA in place, “Contestable Customers” or huge electricity users with at least one megawatt (1 MW) demand are now able to choose their power suppliers to reduce their costs.

Toward providing more choices, the RCOA implementation aims to include consumers with 0.75 MW demand (likened to a nine-storey building) then consumers of 0.5 MW, until reaching 0.10 MW (at least a 2-storey building).

Another choice is the "Green Energy Option" which gives consumers the power to choose a sustainable and more environmental-friendly energy for their utilization.

Moreover, the DOE presented its program in diversifying the country’s energy resources, highlighting its activities for the realization of a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal and the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

For energy resiliency, the DOE issued policy guidelines to ensure the energy sector's preparedness, quick response and rehabilitation mechanisms to address adverse impact of natural and human-induced disasters.

Lastly, Usec. Fuentebella shared the programs for energy efficiency and conservation including practical energy tips.

Around 1,800 information officers and participants from around the country attended the NIC.

The DOE co-presented the convention, together with the Philippine Social Security System.

Three Thrilling Matches to Watch on the Undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ONE Championship, which is widely considered as the frontrunner of martial arts in the world, is set to electrify the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar by holding ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Looking to keep that big ball of momentum going generated by the recent cards in Jakarta and Manila, the blockbuster live event will feature the absolute best in local and international talent, accentuating a tremendous main event bout between hometown hero Aung La N Sang and Brazil’s Alexandre Machado.

With the ONE Light Heavyweight Championship awaiting the winner of the five-round clash between Aung La N Sang and Machado, the spotlight is on the headlining bout of ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

However, Aung La N Sang and Machado are not taking the whole attention away from the event as ONE Championship has prepared a top-notch undercard, which is sure to draw plenty of chatter around the world.

When the cage door closes in Yangon on Friday, 23 February, here is a closer look at three exciting matches to watch out for on the undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Ev Ting vs. Ariel Sexton

Throughout the course of his career, Ev Ting has earned a reputation as a competitor willing to face any challenge.

Ting has been a part of ONE Championship for nearly the past four years and has quickly become one of the most exciting lightweights on the entire roster.

With only a few decisions on his record, Ting prides himself on bringing the pressure to every single opponent he encounters.

Overall, Ting has racked up nine stoppage victories against everyone from top-rated strikers to world-class grapplers and has proven that he is not afraid to mix it up with anyone.

The 28-year-old Malaysian-Kiwi dynamo is determined to continue his ascension up the lightweight ranks and compete against the best martial artists in the world.

In front of a passionate crowd in Yangon, Ting seeks the shine bright like a diamond once more on Friday as he squares off with Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

It has been more than 18 months since Sexton last stepped foot in the ONE Championship cage, but he has never lost sight of his long-term goals in the sport.

With three consecutive wins under his belt, Sexton is poised to make a big splash in his return to ONE Championship as he is set to collide with a former ONE Lightweight World Championship challenger like Ting at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

As much as Sexton wanted to return to action sooner, injuries kept him sidelined throughout 2017.

Although he encountered a career-threatening injury, Sexton has kept his eyes on the prize and has never given up his dream to become a world champion.

Sexton understands as time passes, it is tougher to remember performances like his rear-naked choke submission victory over Eddie Ng in May 2015 or his astonishing stoppage win over Roger Huerta in July 2016.

The next step in his journey takes place at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD, where Sexton will look for his fourth consecutive win as he takes on Ting in the co-feature attraction at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon.

Amir Khan vs. Timofey Nastyukhin

Amir Khan is considered one of the most promising young talents to represent Singapore on the international stage of martial arts like ONE Championship.

Holding a professional record of 9-2, Khan is currently riding high on a six-match winning streak with his victories coming by way of exciting finish.

In his recent trip to the ONE Championship cage last November, Khan figured in his most impressive performance yet, overwhelming lightweight veteran Adrian “The Hunter” Pang with a showcase of impeccable striking and great takedown defense.

Khan will once again strut his wares on the global stage as he takes on Russian wrecking machine Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Despite making a spectacular entrance onto the global stage with an emphatic flying knee finish of beloved Filipino martial arts hero Eduard Folayang in December 2014, Nastyukhin’s time inside the ONE Championship cage has not been without challenges.

Nastyukhin experienced a minor setback in 2015 when he lost to Herbert Burns via submission, but soon returned to knock out “Ruthless” Rob Lisita in just six seconds, tying the record for the fastest finish in ONE Championship history.

But in his very next bout in November 2016, Nastyukhin suffered a broken tibia during his clash with Kotetsu Boku.

Following nine months of extensive rehab and self-reflection, Nastyukhin was determined to continue pursuing his martial arts dream as he successfully returned to defeat Koji Ando last August, and

Nastyukhin now battles Singaporean rising star Khan in a colossal clash between proven knockout artists at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Li Kai Wen vs. Roel Rosauro

After his much-awaited return to ONE Championship ended in unfortunate fashion three months ago, Chinese martial arts ace Li Kai Wen is preparing to make a definitive statement as he makes his first trip to the cage this 2018.

Li is scheduled to duke it out with the Philippines’ Roel “Akiyama” Rosauro in a three-round featherweight affair on the undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

After winning the ONE Featherweight Beijing Tournament in 2014, Li cemented his position as one of the most fearsome young competitors from China.

Li utilizes his tremendous striking ability and aggression to overwhelm foes with his offense, which has resulted in a series of impressive highlight-reel stoppages so far in his budding career.

The man known as “The Underdog” was originally slated to face Rodian Menchavez at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD, but the Filipino veteran was forced to withdraw from the contest due to an injury.

Rosauro accepted the offer to step in for compatriot Menchavez and square off against an up-and-coming martial arts talent like Li in his promotional debut.

Holding a professional record of 4-1, Rosauro is a practitioner of the Filipino martial arts discipline Yaw-Yan, a Filipino style of kickboxing with emphasis on hip-torquing motion and delivering attacks from long range as well as the downward-cutting nature of its kicks.

With Li aiming to build some steam towards his campaign of becoming China’s first ONE Featherweight World Champion, he will welcome the gutsy Rosauro to the ONE Championship cage on Friday.

​

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.

The Big Bad Wolf 24-Hour Book Sale Did Not Disappoint!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many were saying that the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale held at World Trade Center did not disappoint. Almost all Children’s Books were under PhP200. The 24/7 bookstore with as high as 80% markdown is a must-go for everyone especially parents and teachers. “Bring a maleta” is not an exaggeration because there's too many choices available. It’s until February 25 so don't miss it.

The organizers held a preview for media and selected guests (plus gave away extra passes for friends) on the day after Valentine's, February 15, before it opened its doors to the public the following day.

You have around 2 million titles to choose from with various genres, and at amazingly low prices (and I am not paid to advertise). Hurry up, since stocks for your favorite books might be running low already.

Books and stuff start at php100 and ranges from that price point up to 1000php++ for premium titles. Well, they are open 24hrs so you literally have all the time to scan, sort, and find what you want.

All the books your heart desires. This in an opportunity to score your dreams books for cheap. A Lady Gaga photobook is sold at PHP580, that's 95% off!

However, I am exaggerating when I say all because the graphic novels that I were looking for were not there. I was looking more on superhero hardbound books with amazing illustrations. I guess what they have there are not the limited and rare editions.

But what is more going on inside my head is to demand that it is about time they lower the price of books to make them really affordable by even the masses. We need to give the people more access to quality books that are not available online to further educate them.

Speaking of online, I understand why some people love books but for those of us who live and breathe online (being active in blogging and social media), I would rather read the digital versions not just to save the trees but also to pack light. Books just add unnecessary excess weight in the backpack when I travel. For us who like to read while on the road, the physical books just aren't practical to bring.

I could store thousands of digital books on my smartphone and even share them to friends. Though I also understand about copyright laws and stuff, but just as how we can give away physical books to our friends or loved ones, we can do the same with the digital books we legally purchased.

Flipping the pages of physical books do have its own magical experience, but we have to be practical that they just don't really lasts and eventually rots and adds to the heaps of garbage. But to compensate, at least they do survive our lifetime and even longer if we take good care of them.

However, just as how some people buy comics to collect and then put inside vacuum-sealed plastics, there are also some who buy books just to display them on their shelves....or hand-carry to show-off to other people that they are smart enough to understand the complex one, or could well afford to buy the expensive ones.

Passing physical books from person to person is also unsanitary because all that unseen miscroscopic dirt accummulates in the books. Yup! I'm a bit conscious about hygiene now eventhough I am brave enough to handle dirty chores when I was younger. Ever since I got a terrible case of chicken pox, I try to stay away from dirt as much as possible.

I've received quite a few books that I have barely read because I just couldn't find the time to even finish a chapter. There will always be something more urgent or important that I need to attend to.

But I'm sure when I retire I'll be able to appreciate books more just as how I did when I was younger.

I cannot deny that I was a bookworm myself when I was still schooling. Now I am trying to bring back that excitement in reading, but fails miserably.

My father once bought a lot of second-hand foreign books from a garage sale which introduced me to the likes of Rudyard Kipling and other famous authors back then. It was also my first reads for illustrated or graphic books like Dr. Who which started my love for such illustrated sci-fi titles which eventually got diverted to comic books from Marvel and DC. I was going through book sales, book stores and other places that sells magazines featuring science fiction, adventure, mystery, horror, etc., In college I collected X-Men, Justice League, Spiderman, Batman, and Superman titles which expanded to Image's Spawn and other similar genres.

I lost all of my childhood collection because of the Ondoy flood which struck our home almost waist-deep. Sad that the memories are gone now but it did taught us a lesson to always store our precious stuff at higher drawers.

Maybe that somehow caused why I don't like investing on books anymore. Disasters like floods, fire, etc., could easily destroy them. Or maybe it is also because I have a family now, I would prioritize the basic necessities instead of going to a bookstore to find something to read. It is also faster to get information online and even coming from different sources giving me a broader perspective of a topic.

But again, it would all be probably different if books are sold cheap. Thus, we appreciate the 10-day book sale by Big Bad Wolf. The cheaper prices and 24-hour strategy gives us no reason not to drop by.

Cats of BGC: Finding FURever Foster for Fit, Friendly & Fixed Felines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Cats seems to be not as friendly as dogs, because we have half-a-dozen of them hanging around at our place yet they mostly sleep and only come to us when we bring out food for them. They literally made the front of our house their home. Itvstarted with just two, but now there's six of them. That's three generations of cats at our home.

It was sort of funny because, the other unit (we live at a bliss home) has dogs as pets. But they keep them inside their homes. While our cats remain outside because my wife is not so fond of them due to her asthma.

From what I have observed at our place, unlike dogs that are always excited to play with you, cats are more reserved with only one exception - one that would always come near me and rub her body on my legs everytime I'm out in the front of our house doing chores like hanging the newly-washed clothes to dry.

I could tell because we had pet dogs before when I was young. It was only when we transferred to a bliss home that we couldn't take care of a dog due to the small space. There's very little room (and no time since we are all out during the day - school for the kids and work for wifey and me) to have a pet dog that requires a lot of responsibility.

For the cats that moved in infront of us, they were just strays who decided to adopt themselves for us...that's because we don't drive them away.

They often try to go inside the house for reasons I am not sure yet. But we don't have rats at our home that they could chase. Maybe they are hunting for something else but I really don't think they're looking for food because they don't go to our kitchen

Without any doubt, I believe there are so many cat lovers out there that would even take the extra time to care and feed even the strays or homeless.

I've even seen other nationalities aside from Filipinos who make it part of their mission in life. They regularly drop by to feed them. And I witnessed this at Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Thus, it is sad to learn that the cats who hang around there are missing and rumored to have been killed as part of a "pest control" movement by one of the hotels there identified as Shangri-La The Fort.

The hotel is being bashed not because of bad service or accommodations but of the possibility that they ended the lives of the missing cats.

Instead of finding an alternative home for these cats (who are said to be littering the areas with their poops) the cat lovers fear that they may have been mass slaughtered.

"This needs to be checked on by the media to open awareness that cats have rights and that they just cannot be treated like pests.  Hope someone who lives near the area who cares for the missing cats take the time and effort to report personally to GMA, ABS-CBN, News 5, Tulfo Brothers etc.  so that there can be justice"

So below is a statement from the group Cats of BGC (can be found on Facebook but is also under scrutiny for hearsays damaging to the group's cause) giving us an update of their search for the missing cats:

(UPDATE)
"Like what was reported, we met with the Shangri-La management in regards to the missing #CatsOfBGC yesterday. Of course, we were very touched by the outpouring love and support our missing Shang cats received from everyone, but we also knew that we at Cats of BGC shouldn't let our emotions get the best of us. Posting this update took longer than we wanted because we had to think of how we can remain compassionate not just for our cats, but for the humans involved as well. How else can our efforts to give our cats better lives come true, if we don't take steps towards harmony in the BGC community?

Yes we miss our cats and it is very heartbreaking for us to wander down the Shang area and feel like our day is incomplete because there are less cats to attend to during our regular routines. Yes, some of our cats (like adoptables Mandy & Belo but not as many as the estimate previously reported) were captured and sent to areas we are still currently verifying, while some that weren't captured have been hastily fostered by protective and caring hoomans.

And yes, we were personally outraged because we have been sacrificing a lot of our time, energy, resources, work-life balance, etc. just so we can keep doing our roles for the welfare of the Cats of BGC.

The good news is, moving forward, the Shangri-La management has offered to help us promote awareness for the adoption of our cats. Their willingness to lend a hand in our efforts to find homes for the cats is something we appreciate. Because the sad truth is, Shang's action is not something new. Friendly, fit and fixed cats in OTHER areas in BGC have been captured in the past as well (even before this page was created), without extending the assistance that the Shang management has promised us now.

As much as we feel dismayed for those past incidents, we'd rather not disclose those areas anymore, because we are hopeful that this recent incident can serve as a lesson to everyone, and finally stop the misconception that removing even the friendly, fit and fixed free-roamers can keep an area cat-free. (Nope, because as soon as those cats are eliminated, new ones, possibly ferals that can multiply and spread diseases, will claim the territory immediately).

We still believe that cats and hoomans can live harmoniously—and we can't accomplish that if we choose to go on the offensive against other hoomans, when we can just focus our efforts in our mission: to continue finding FURever homes for our fit, friendly and fixed felines.

While we are very grateful for the foster parents who immediately welcomed some of our Shang cats, we also know that they are not permanent solutions, since most of them already have their own furbabies they are attending to. We STILL need to find people who can adopt the Shang cats permanently, so they won't have go back to being homeless. Because even if Shangri-La has seen the error in their ways and offered their support in promoting our cats, it is very unfair for the Cats of BGC to be happy, healthy, BUT homeless—just like how they were in the Shang area. They need to find a place where they can be safe forever, especially now that we've also learned that another well-loved cat from a different BGC area had to be sent to the vet and is now being fostered, after a concerned guard noticed him collapsing & vomitting from a suspected poisoning.

Those are the sad realities of homeless cats, and not just in BGC per se. They can be sent for relocation, they can even be poisoned by anonymous cat haters...which is why we are choosing to focus on finding their FURever homes, and reminding everyone to #AdoptDontShop (our BGC cats may be puspins, but the recent incident is a proof of how many people love them. Please give them a chance!), and have #ResponsiblePetOwnership (besides spaying/neutering your cat, please don't dump them, especially in BGC where there are cats we are trying to get adopted. All our efforts will be useless if people keep adding more cats to be fed, fixed and to receive medical treatments.)"

"I normally do not post, but this time I have to break my silence. Just like all of you here, I am very frustrated about what happened to these Cats. Though please be aware that (as pointed out by one poster here) the Cats of BGC is not a formal organization. They are NOT paid to do what they are doing. They do what they are doing out of their sheer generosity and kindness to the Cats and to us Cat Lovers. Remember that they occasionally use their personal resources in taking care of the Cats. This being said, I appeal to all to refrain from making further malicious accusations that their group was paid-out or bribed by Shang."

Transport Groups Pledge to Come Out with Over 3,000 New PUVs in 3 Months

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Several transport groups have committed to come out with more than 3,000 modern jeepneys within the next three months in support of the Duterte Administration’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The commitment among transport groups and vehicle manufacturing companies was sealed during the memorandum of agreements (MOA) signing held last Friday, 15 February 2016 at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) main building in Quezon City, and was witnessed by officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) led by Undersecretary for Road Transport Thomas Orbos.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretart Edgar Galvante, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport Mark Richmund de Leon, LTO Executive Director Romeo Vera Cruz, and LTO Law Enforcement Service Director Francis Almora also witnessed the MOA signing between the parties.

Undersecretary Orbos said the commuting experience would gradually be improved in the next few months due to the commitments of the transport groups and cooperatives to replace their old and dilapidated jeepneys with modern ones.

“Ang direksyon po ni Secretary Tugade ay mapabilis ang paglabas ng mga modern PUVs upang maiparanas ng agaran sa publiko ang comfort at convenience na dala ng PUV Modernization. Kaya doon po sa mga nagtatanong kung nasaan ang mga bagong jeepneys, darating na po ang mga bagong sasakyan within three to six months,” Usec. Orbos said.

He also lauded the full cooperation of the transport organizations, as well as private partners including the vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, to the government’s PUMVP.

“Malaki po ang pasasalamat natin sa mga transport groups at suppliers na naririto dahil ipinakita nila ang kanilang buong suporta sa programa ng DOTr at ng pamahalaan,” Orbos added.

Undersecretary Orbos likewise assured assistance rolling out to transport groups, helping to ease the requirements in getting financing to replace their decrepit units.

LTFRB Chairman Delgra, on the other hand, said thag they are now in the process of readying the local public transport route plans, in order for the Board to issue franchises to various transport operators.

Delgra echoed Undersecretary Orbos’ sentiments, thanking different transport groups for their all-out support to the modernization program.

“Sila (transport groups) na mismo ang gumagawa sa mga kinakailangan gawin sa PUVMP,” the LTFRB chief said.
“Lahat na po tulong-tulong. It’s a multi-sectoral task…Lahat gumagalaw patungo sa isang direksyon,” he added.

For his part, LTO chief Galvante assured the transport operators that they would be able to distribute new license plates within the year.

During the MOA signing, a private transport supplier committed to deliver 20,000 new PUVs per year while another supplier pledged to help operators in the processing of the financing requirements and roll-out the modern units.

Transports groups such as Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers’ Association of the Philippines (Altodap) signed a MOA with Eco Dyip Inc. for fleet management and replacement of units.

Meanwhile, MCCI Connection Transport Services Corp. also signed a MOA with 17 transport organizations for fleet consolidation and supply of new PUV units.

Other transport organizations and cooperatives who attended the event were Green Earth Transport Services Coop., NJFest, Sta. Ana Service Coop., MJOTS Coop., Compadres Tourist and Transport Services, Manila West Transport Coop., Neco GSIS Coop., CRMT Coop., FACTT Inc., Atodab, Jam Liner, Philtranco, Pasang Masda, ITCD Corp., LTOP Inc., David Motor, Luzviminda NTF, and OTC.

Liza Soberano Loves Sinigang So She Is a Filipino

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Liza Soberano should hire someone to manage her twitter. Don't be a bare minimum Filipino. Just cuz you love Sinigang doesn't make you a Filipino. You need to listen and look at your privileges as a half-white Filipino. The PH media obviously prefer half-whites over brown-skinned."

Finally, Liza Soberano stars as Darna....ooopppsss. It's a different TV series? What happened to Darna? She would rather eat Sinigang than swallow a stone?

Seriously, let's be totally honest here, it is funny how Philippine media creates shows to "celebrate our culture" but simultaneously taints it by glorifying eurocentric standards.

First it was Marian Rivera with Amaya, and now it's Liza Soberano/Enrique Gil for Bagani. The TV series also has Makisig Morales, Sofia Andres and Matteo Guidicelli.

Liza is playing the role of "Ganda" while her love team partner Enrique is playing "Lakas" in the new pre-colonial teleserye.

To say the least, I'm disappointed with Liza's acceptance of the role and her most recent statement — but hey, she looooves sinigang, right?

Though I have to say that only Liza can make the descriptive name "Ganda" an understatement, I do not have the same comment on Enrique because his moves in the teasers were sort of lame.

But the main issue spreading around these days about the teleserye has confused Liza. She is missing the point on why she is being bashed. It's not about who your parents are or whether or not you like Filipino food. It's totally about something else that would have made the portrayal of the roles more culturally accurate.

What does it even mean to be Filipino anymore? brown? adobo? Tagalog? when convenient? I don't know, I'm not sure.

When foreigners think of a Filipino, they'll never think of someone who looks like Liza because she isn't the accurate physical representative of Philippine culture.

People would say even our national hero, Jose Rizal, is not a pure-blooded Filipino. They will say being a Filipino is not merely skin deep, its about what you do for your country; “Ang mamatay ng dahil sayo.” We do agree that "More than our bloodline; it’s really our heart, that matters."

But again, we are not questioning how Filipino you are but what would make their characters look and feel more authentic since they are representing Filipinos from Philippine culture.

How about a show that reflects the present and true lives of Filipinos? Oppressed and taken advantage of its own government. That would be more realistically acceptable.

By the way, do Liza Soberano fans actually believe that she's good at acting? Come on guys .... let's not fool ourselves. She's shit at it compared with the really good actors. Her greatest asset is mostly her face.

However, Liza Soberano though half-American, she took Tagalog lessons to get more roles. Its only been 3 years since Forevermore but her Tagalog is so much better than those other half-Filipinos who have been in the industry longer. You have to give her credit for the effort and discipline.

Also, if you were the producers and the network, you would go for something sure and promising. They invested much so what do you expect, they would go for the most talked about personalities. Showbiz-ness is business.

Lastly, they are not forcing you to watch Bagani. So if you don't like them, feel free to switch channels starting March 5. And if you are against their skin color, nationality and the features of their faces, they are also not forcing you to accept them.

LIZA SOBERANO MEME TEMPLATE: 

And who says were not _______? My Father is _______. I was raised by _______ since the age of 4. I looooove ________ i think thats as pinoy as pinoy can get.

Your Name Has Been Dubbed in Tagalog

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Whenever you may end up in this world
I will always be searching for you
We both look up at the same stars
yet see such different things..."

Kimi No Nawa or Your Name is definitely one of my favorite anime movies ever!

"They've never met, but are united through their dreams."

No matter how many times I watch the anime, the feels is just too much that I couldn't stop my tears from falling.

Your Name got me so hooked I set my blogging aside so I won't miss any episode as soon it was available.

I highly recommend this anime! The visuals were stunning and the story was truly something else. Even if you aren't a huge fan of romance I promise you won't regret it. I was so emotionally wrecked by the end of it though, and that's a warning.

 

This movie was truly a gorgeous emotional roller-coaster. It had me laughing, feeling sad, crying my eyes out, but the ending left me filled with joy and a desire for more. Just like Clannad, and Your Lie In April, it has left me with a new take on life.

The love story between these two were great, the only flaw I can find in the movie was the complicated story, which I will not spoil. But if you can look past that, it's a beautiful movie.

You could also read the fanmade manga for the completed ending so you will feel a lot better. Go Google it and you will find it out.

One lesson I learned from the anime is that sometimes the most important thing is telling and showing people how much they mean to us.

Another lesson, the mind forgets but the heart always remembers.

Taki Tachibana is so freaking precious and deserves so much.

The smash hit film by acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai has also been dubbed in Tagalog! If it's Makoto Shinkai, trust me, you'll need to bring rolls of tissue with you. But how come there seems to be a few who hated it?

Honestly, I still love the Japanese more than the Tagalog version. It felt ruined because the original would always be the resounding best.

Not that I have any quarrel with the voice actors, but translating it in Tagalog somehow made it lose its meaningful touch.

You can call it "corny" for a lack of a better way to describe it, but for us who adore the genre, hearing the original words eventhough we are patiently reading the subtitles, is more magical.

Dubbing has indeed grown in popularity but I would prefer an English dub than Tagalog because we should be more fluent in using the International language so our kids would be more competitive globally. I may be nationalistic but I am also realistic.

How about you? Do you like originals being dubbed in Tagalog?

Black Panther Hype Reaches Critical Mass

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the future, the people of the world will be divided into two groups: those who have watched Black Panther (alpha) and those who have not (zeta). The zeta group will serve the alphas. Lol!

The Kingdom of Wakanda is rejoicing! This because according to CBS News, Black Panther has earned an estimate of $25.2 million from Thursday screenings and is predicted to earn $200 million soon.

You'll get totally blown away by the experience. This is Marvel at their absolute best. The depth and texture of the visuals is stunning that you better catch it in 3D too.

"The special effects, sets, costumes, music and production design are phenomenal and overpowering at times. Black Panther earns its spot as one of Marvel's best yet. "

"There were so many beautiful, heart-racing and jaw-dropping moments to take in. From the beginning to the end. I was like one excited kid during the fight scenes."

The joy, love and excitement here and worldwide is spellbinding. Something really special is happening!

Unlike the other big-budget action movies, "Black Panther" has an African superhero, a majority black cast, and is helmed by an African-American director. 

Aside from the lead actor, among the stars you'll see in the movie are South African actress Connie Chiume, Kenyan born Lupita Nyongo, Zimbabwean American Danai Gurira and South African legend John Kani.

The movie is the "Hamilton" of movies. White people DARE NOT criticize it. Pay reparations, watch movie, and RAVE about it like good trained politically correct
Leftist monkeys.

I don‘t understand why people are so pressed because black people are proud of Black Panther. Just let them have their moment to be proud. White people can‘t relate to it because we grew up with all-white casts. Let‘s be real for a moment.

You're not racist if you didn't like the Black Panther movie. However you are racist if you hate the movie solely due to the cast's ethnicity background.

If you rate the movie with anything less than a ten then you’re either racist or a coon.

Some people just won't accept any form of slander against Black Panther. They want us to live up to the hype even for those that are not fans of Marvel.

By the way, is there a reason Black Panther’s African contributors (music and acting) are mostly South African?

I don't want to ruin the fun but Black Panther profits still going to white hands .....Sorry!

there is no going back to the way it used to be. The movie had changed the game in Hollywood! We have attained critical mass. Representation in cinematic storytelling is here to stay.

I'm sure Black Panther is a fun movie, but it has "a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score" in exactly the same way Kim Jong-il got a hole-in-one the first time he tried playing golf.


BLACK PANTHER SPOILERS

(Do not read if you haven't seen the movie yet)

Can everyone that saw Black Panther stop revealing details of the film, for likes and retweets. We're not looking for proof that you saw it. We're all adults here. Give your friends a chance please.

However, I need to break this down because I’m trying to grasp what the hell was going on in the movie. 

The villain's plan is to steal Wakanda’s weapons and give them to black people around the world to enslave white people?

If I'm getting this right, Wakanda is a highly militarized nation and some what isolationist, protects it's borders, develops technology that it doesn't give away, and fully exploits it's natural resources to create wealth? Sounds awesome! Not!

When Killmonger said “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships because they knew death was better than bondage” I felt that!

The Art of Ranting: Let Me Get This Out of My System!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ranting, eventhough it is frowned upon by many, is actually an effective stress reliever. It is a way of flushing out everything that's toxic, or those that feel irritating out of our system. We need to voice out our concerns regarding any issue we find disturbing and awfully wrong, otherwise we would be consumed from the inside.

It is actually healthy to open up so our heartaches, or whatever is bothering our minds, could have an outlet to express our emotions and thoughts so we could make more room for something else.

It is actually our call to others to symphatize with us, or an invitation to others to support us during a tough time in our life. We may not realize it, but we are desperately seeking attention to our concerns.

"Note that the whole point of a rant is that you don’t actually need any specialised knowledge in the area, as long as you have an opinion and a strong emotional attachment to the subject, you are ready to rant about it."- Gina Romero

I'm the kind of person who believes that statement above but it only gets my 100% approval if the accussations discussed within the rant are justified and proven to be true.

So, here's my special rant for this particular day and I promise it sums up all my hunches because of so many verified confirmations from reliable sources:

"From a poster, I could quickly guess which events management company told the event organizer about how this online publication does not want to be co-media partners with Wazzup Pilipinas.

This is the same events management company that told her colleague, belonging to the same industry, about the same requirement of the online publication "Never Wazzup Pilipinas as a co-media partner."

Sadly for them, her colleague told me, and is still actively getting my support as a media partner of their events. I pity the events management company because they would rather encourage the dirty deed just to keep the support of a despicable online publication that flaunts their high stats that are actually gained just because they post numerous trashy content designed to bait people for clicks.

I am glad that there are still noble people who would not subject themselves to this oppresive online publication which blatantly resorts to unfair competition practice. They would do dirty deeds just to gain an upperhand in the online media industry. Who knows what else they are doing to gain the numbers.

There has been many reports and personal testimonies with matching screenshots reeking with foul arrogance from this online publication... which makes us wonder why they need to pull us down if they are truly above us, or everyone else for that matter. ...or maybe they're desperately trying to block our way to the top - a status they do not want to share with others because they are too greedy.

With this recent report which mentions the editor-in-chief and founder of the online publication personally demanding that we be removed from the media partner list of an event, we are challenging this spineless wretched being to admit he is indeed the person behind such a gruesome and desperate act, or forever be branded as a coward who eats his own shit for breakfast.

That's what they feed their readers. Shitty rehashed articles grabbed from refurbished viral, trending or controversial trivial stuff that are just dumbing down the masses.

Should we dare him to show up in a debate so we could finally see if he has the guts to defend his actions...or will he likely immediately retreat upon seeing us, just as how he squirmishly retreated when a colleague tried to patch things up between the two of us.

I could swear I saw his face turn bloody red the moment he realized we were setup to see each other that cold but dreary night somewhere at a coffee shop in Makati. The guy who took the initiative to reconcile us got kicked out of their team.

I still remember how they also did a witch-hunt to identify my allies so they could kick them out too. They removed all the articles we wrote that feature stories about the many brands and establishments just to remove every trace of us in their system.

They resort to the easy way out....which entirely why I lost faith in their corrupted system which prioritizes their sponsors instrad of their writers. If you can't be submissive, it's goodbye to you. Not that they kicked me out too because I already stopped writing for them even before they closed their doors to me.

It is so sad they couldn't seem to move on with their lives. Why do they need to drag us out of the picture when we've already made a lasting mark on the online world as the self-proclaimed "Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas."

"Ranting is an art not a science – find your own way to rant that complements your personality.

You may have to find a continuous flow of new audience members for your rants. Networking is a good way to do this, online and offline.

Remember, ranting is not a popularity contest and there’s no such thing as bad publicity." - Gina Romero