Dusit Recognised for Outstanding Sustainability Performance on Thaipat's ESG 100 List for 4th Consecutive Year

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DTC) has been selected by Thaipat Institute as one of the top 100 ESG performers among the 683 publicly listed companies assessed in 2018.

Established in 2015, Thaipat’s ESG Rating Unit assesses publicly listed companies in the areas of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to find those with outstanding sustainability performance.

Thaipat’s sources of data include the listed companies’ public disclosures in the form of annual filings (Form 56-1), including annual reports, sustainability reports and sustainable development performance data. This is then used to determine the 100 companies with the most outstanding performance by industrial sector

For the fourth consecutive year, DTC has been placed in the top 100 companies in the service sector, reflecting the company’s commitment to total quality management and a solid strategy for sustainable and profitable growth.

“We are delighted to be named on the ESG 100 list for the fourth consecutive year,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, DTC. “That we keep making the list reflects not only our strong corporate governance, but also our commitment to creating long-lasting value for all of our stakeholders by following our three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth – balance, expansion, and diversification.

“During the first half of 2018, we achieved our investment goals for this quarter by establishing Dusit Foods Co. and entering the food business with an equity investment in NR Instant Produce Co. (NRIP) – and we also introduced ASAI Hotels, a new affordable lifestyle brand aimed at the fast-growing market of millennial-minded travellers. Following economic recovery in the tourism sector, we are confident we will be able to explore even more opportunities to add even more new revenue streams to our company.”

Speciality & Fine Food Asia (SFFA) and Restaurant, Pub & Bar Asia (RPB Asia) Return for the Second Year

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Speciality & Fine Food Asia (SFFA) and Restaurant, Pub & Bar Asia (RPB Asia) return for the second year from 17 – 19 July 2018 at Suntec Singapore and are bringing together major F&B, foodservice, hospitality and retail players to discuss the issues facing the industry, how innovation plays a part in ensuring sustainability, and future trends that will impact the way we eat, dine, and live. 

Expect smart solutions, cutting-edge products and revolutionary concepts to be on display at the show which will also include the following highlights:

·         Launch of e2i’s new F&B mobile modules on ULeap for quick, bite-sized learning on the F&B industry by Guest-of-Honour Ng Chee Meng, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office

·         SFFA-created Investor Pitching Series that will see over 10 innovative companies live-pitch their ideas to a panel of industry leaders including representatives from MasterCard, The Lo & Behold Group, UOB, Enterprise Singapore, and more

·         Unveiling of Inaugural Asia Food Innovation Awards Winners

·         Bartender Invitational 2018 by The Bar Awards that will see four country representatives vie to be crowned the region’s Best Bartender

·         Chef-Owner Isaac Mchale from London’s famed The Clove Club – highest ranked restaurant in the UK at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018 – will headline SFFA. He will also be conducting Live Cooking Demos during the show as part of the media tour. 

Angelina Cruz Releases Latest Single Kaya Mo Ba?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Following the successes of her debut single 'Sumilong Ka' and her lovely rendition of the Orange and Lemons classic 'Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby), both of which have reached over 1 million streams on Spotify, Angelina Cruz is back to serenade listeners with her latest single 'Kaya Mo Ba?'

The taglish song explores the story of a girl's longings and well wishes to her possible suitor, waiting to see if they're up for the test of being in a relationship with her, all while being 'narrated' through Angelina's signature sweet-sounding voice.

Talking about the tune, Angelina says "I love how this is is my first taglish song; it shows how my [upcoming] EP has a variety of songs, allowing me to expand both my musical genre and language more.'

This lovely song, which leads up to the release of her self-titled debut EP on July 20, 2018 under Universal Records, will surely be a hit to everyone who has experienced the same feelings of 'kilig,' and are looking to be charmed further by the darling singer.

Kaya Mo Ba? is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, and Amazon under Universal Records

For more updates, follow Universal Records on Instagramuniversalrecordsph and Twitter @universalrecph, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/universalrecordsph and YouTube

Follow Angelina Cruz

on Instagram @angelinaisabele, Twitter@angelinaisabele and Facebook athttp://facebook.com/angelinacruzmontano

Celebrity Xian Lim Got to Experience Tough Mudder in Scotland

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Photo Caption: Tough Mudder Philippines Brand Ambassador Xian Lim, gets to try out Tough Mudder in Scotland.


Actor Xian Lim, Tough Mudder Philippines Brand Ambassador, got to experience Tough Mudder in Scotland just recently.  In his Instagram account, Xian got to share his experience to his close to a million followers.  

Tough Mudder Scotland 2018, which was held at the Drumlanrig Castle & Estate in Thornhill, Scotland, served as the backdrop for the full course length of 10.6 miles, and 27 obstacles, which was enjoyed by 11,000 participants.

Xian Lim got to try obstacles such as Mud Mile, Devil’s Beard, Bale Bonds, Hero Walls, Skid Marked, Birth Canal, Sewer Rat, Kiss of Mud, Funky Monkey, Kong Infinity, among others.

Tough Mudder Philippines Brand Ambassador Xian Lim says, “Alone we can do little, but together we can do so much more.  That’s what I learned here at Tough Mudder.  It is absolutely an amazing experience we had here in Scotland…I can’t wait for July 21-22, when we finally have Tough Mudder in the Philippines.”


Proactive VP Justine Cordero says, “We wanted to bring our Tough Mudder Philippines Brand Ambassador Xian Lim to Scotland, so he can try the various obstacles himself, most of which, we will be bringing to the Philippines this July 21-22, 2018, at Portofino Amore, in Alabang.  This will also be the first Tough Mudder which will be mounted in South East Asia.”

“Our Brand Ambassador Xian Lim was also able to experience himself how the thousands of participants, who didn’t know each other, helped each other  out in going through the various race obstacles; espousing values of teamwork and cooperation.  The Philippines will finally have that Tough Mudder experience this coming July 21-22, 2018.” 

Tough Mudder Legionnaire Chris James, who has joined 81 events in the past, and who also helped Xian in some of the obstacles, says, “It’s all about fun, it is like being a kid again.  It is a fantastic thing to do, and there’s nothing else like it.  You get to be human and have fun.  It doesn’t matter how rich you are, how poor you are, or what your background is.  Everyone just has a really good time, and that’s what it is all about.  That’s why I keep on coming back.  Helping people is a fantastic thing, by just being putting your hand out, someone else will pull you up.”  

“Tough Mudder brings out something tribal and fantastic…it creates a community where people help each other out.  And you don’t tend to see that out there in the real world sometimes,” ends James.

For a quick overview, the event hub and start chute will be at Portofino Amore, Vista Land, located at Daang Hari Road, in Alabang. The course will take in parts of the recently enhanced bike trail along with the rolling hills and various varieties of mud in the adjacent farmland. Tough Mudder course designers have set about creating a challenging, creative and muddy course, combining elements of the natural surroundings and land shaping a few more for your muddy pleasure. The course is as challenging as it is picturesque.

Tough Mudder 5K Basic is priced at P1,700, and comes with an event singlet, racebib, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.  While the Tough Mudder Half - Basic is priced at P2,900 and comes with an event singlet, racebib, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.  

The Tough Mudder 5K - Premium is priced at P3,200, and comes with an event singlet, race bib, drybag (10L), towel, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband.

Finally, the Tough Mudder Half-Premium is priced at P4,400 and comes with an event singlet, racebib, drybag (10L), towel, finisher’s shirt and finisher’s headband. 


Tough Mudder in the Philippines is held in partnership with Proactive Sports Management, a sports events company which started in 2012, and is known in the industry for staging various marathons and mass participation events.




Registration is ongoing, for more information, please visit www.toughmudder.ph and FB/ToughMudderPhilippines.

Kai Ting Chuang Defeats Yodcherry Sityodting to Win One Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), made a triumphant return to Guangzhou last Saturday night, as the biggest and brightest stars in martial arts came out to showcase their incredible skills. The Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium played host to ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS and electrified the crowd with world-class martial arts action. In the main event, “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang of Chinese Taipei captured the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Yodcherry Sityodtong of Thailand.

In the main event of the evening, 23-year-old “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang of Chinese Taipei put on the performance of a lifetime, upsetting heavy favorite Yodcherry Sityodtong of Thailand in a five-round ONE Super Series Kickboxing title tilt. The three-time WAKO Kickboxing Champion employed a terrific game plan, avoiding Yodcherry’s powerful right hand and roundhouse kicks while countering with impeccable boxing combinations for five whole rounds. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Chuang to win by unanimous decision, awarding her the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship.

Kai Ting Chuang, ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion, stated: “I went over this match with my coaches, and we came up with a great game plan which worked out perfectly. Thank you to all the fans who supported me, and especially my team who helped me in preparing for this match.”

In the co-main event of the evening, Filipino-Australian dynamo Reece “Lighting” McLaren made his case for a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Championship with resounding clarity, edging out Japanese veteran Tatsumitsu Wada by way of split decision. McLaren flaunted his fluid striking, repeatedly hammering Wada with stinging punches and lashing leg kicks. Although Wada posed problems on the mat in the opening moments of the bantamweight contest, McLaren’s impeccable grappling was able to pull out all the stops in the last two rounds of the bout, wearing out the Japanese stalwart with powerful takedowns and submission attempts. In the end, McLaren earned two of the three judges’ nods to have his hand raised by split decision.

Moroccan kickboxer Ibrahim El Bouni turned in a stirring performance in his ONE Super Series debut, attaining a first-round knockout win over Australia’s Andre “The Giant” Meunier. El Bouni patiently waited for the right moment to pounce on his hard-hitting counterpart. When he saw a good opening to strike, El Bouni dropped Meunier to the canvas with a thunderous hook. Although Meunier was able to beat the count of ten, El Bouni knew that the finish was within his reach, prompting him to produce another huge knockdown that put his Australian opponent on the mat for good. His stellar conquest of Meunier earned him the GoDaddy Knockout of the Night.

In a clash of promotional newcomers, Chinese ace Fu Chang Xin emerged triumphant, torching Rustem Yensebayev of Kazakhstan with a full display of his well-rounded martial arts skill set. Showcasing his versatility in his maiden assignment as a ONE Athlete, Fu flustered Yensebayev with pinpoint striking before he vindictively took matters to the ground. On the mat, Fu ferociously secured the finish, blasting his Kazakh foe with a relentless barrage of heavy blows that forced referee Yuji Shimada to intervene and call a halt to the contest.

In a ONE Super Series Muay Thai bantamweight bout, Saemapetch of the world-renowned Fairtex gym in Pattaya, Thailand put on an incredible striking showcase, dominating opponent Deividas Danyla of Lithuania over the course of three whole rounds. Operating behind the southpaw stance, Saemapetch cracked Danyla with whipping left roundhouse kicks and slashing left elbows throughout the duration of the bout. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Saemapetch to win by unanimous decision.

After tasting his first setback in ONE Championship last March, Zhao Zhi Kang of China redeemed himself by defeating compatriot and promotional debutant Ma Xu Dong. Although he went through a rough start at the hands of Ma, Zhao clung onto his submission wizardry, which paid dividends in the third and final round. Zhao put Ma to sleep with a tight guillotine choke to earn the victory.

Former two-time Muay Thai world champion and ONE World Title Challenger Istela Nunes of Brazil made a successful return to ONE Championship after more than a year away from competition, defeating the highly-regarded Gina “Conviction” Iniong of the Philippines. The 25-year-old Brazilian utilized her length and size advantage to keep Iniong out of range for the majority of the contest, and the Team Lakay veteran had difficulty closing the distance. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Nunes to win by unanimous decision.

25-year-old Shuya “Stealth” Kamikubo of Japan made a successful ONE Championship debut, overpowering martial arts veteran “The Terminator” Sunoto of Indonesia with a masterful grappling performance. After softening up Sunoto with ground-and-pound for the majority of the contest, Kamikubo put the finishing touches in the second round, pouncing on Sunoto with punches from top to win by technical knockout.

22-year-old Peng Xue Wen of China made quick and easy work of former two-time SEA Games Boxing Bronze Medalist Eddey “The Clown” Kalai of Indonesia, winning via first-round technical knockout. After trading kicks at the center of the ONE Championship ring, the two began to trade punches. Although he was swapping hard blows with a highly-decorated boxer, it did not deter Peng, who caught Kalai with an overhand right that dropped the Indonesian instantly. Follow-up punches on the ground ended matters just under a minute into the contest, earning Peng the stoppage victory.

Kicking off ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS were strawweights Robin Catalan of the Philippines and Adrian Mattheis of Indonesia. After an impressive striking performance for two rounds, Catalan caught Mattheis with a heel hook midway through the second frame. With Mattheis in no position to escape, Catalan put the pressure on the submission and forced the tap.

Official results for ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS

ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship bout: Kai Ting Chuang defeats Yodcherry Sityodtong by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds

Flyweight bout: Reece McLaren defeats Tatsumitsu Wada by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series Kickboxing Catch Weight bout (105.0kg): Ibrahim El Bouni defeats Andre Meunier by Knockout (KO) at 1:31 minutes of round 1

Catch Weight bout (66.5kg): Fu Chang Xin defeats Rustem Yensebayev by TKO (Strikes) at 4:32 minutes of round 1

ONE Super Series Muay Thai Bantamweight bout: Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Deividas Danyla by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Catch Weight bout (68.0kg): Zhao Zhi Kang defeats Ma Xu Dong by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:08 minutes of round 3

Women’s Atomweight bout: Istela Nunes defeats Gina Iniong by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Bantamweight bout: Shuya Kamikubo defeats Sunoto by TKO (Strikes) at 3:54 minutes of round 2

Strawweight bout: Peng Xue Wen defeats Eddey Kalai by TKO (Strikes) at 0:57 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Robin Catalan defeats Adrian Mattheis by Submission (Heel Hook) at 2:10 minutes of round 2

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.

Etihad Airways Launches Dedicated In-Flight Guest Medical Services

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has launched two specialised services for air travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, ensuring continuity of care and in-flight safety.

The one-stop-shop services – the first in the region to be offered by an airline – will be carried out by members of the Etihad medical team, all of whom are qualified in aviation and transport medicine.

The first service allows guests, who require medical clearance prior to travel, the opportunity to request an Etihad aviation doctor to visit them and conduct an evaluation in consultation with their attending physician.

All medical forms and assessments will be completed by the Etihad doctor on-site, leading to a recommendation about their “fit to fly” status within one day.

The second service is the introduction of an in-flight nurse who can accompany guests during their trip and provide medical support.

Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Medical Services, said: “Etihad is delighted to be the first airline in the region to provide these new medical services which will cater for guests who require medical assistance during their travel.

“Both services will help ensure our guests have a smooth and hassle-free journey, greatly removing unnecessary anxiety they sometimes feel when travelling.”

Guests interested in availing these services can visit: etihad.com/meda

UPCM Freshmen Orientation Program (FOP) 2018: The Grand Carousel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Come one, come all, to "The Grand Carousel", the official Freshman Orientation Program of the University of the Philippine College of Medicine! Start off your ride as first year medical students with exciting activities from July 30 to August 17. Hop on, have fun, and like our official Facebook and Twitter pages for more details. #UPCMFOP2018

Official Facebook Page (for tagging): https://www.facebook.com/UPCMFOP2018/

Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/upcmfop2018

Quotes from Athletes at One: Kingdom of Heroes Press Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held a Press Conference for ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES in Bangkok, featuring participating athletes. The blockbuster event, which takes place 6 October at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand will host an incredible ensemble of world-class athletes. Photos of the press conference are available here.

Ticket information for ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com.

In the main event, The Ring Magazine and reigning WBC Super Flyweight World Champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai will defend his title against an opponent yet to be announced. Also in attendance were ONE athletes Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai, Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex, and Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai.

Here’s what the athletes had to say ahead of ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES:

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai:

“I always love to compete and showcase my skills at home in Thailand, so I am thankful for ONE Championship for giving me this opportunity. History will be made on October 6. I was lucky enough to witness a ONE Championship event earlier this year and I was absolutely blown away by the level of production, the action and excitement that transpired in the Impact Arena. It was an amazing show for sure, and now I can be a part of that. Boxing is my passion and now it’s going to be an important part of ONE Championship. I can’t wait to defend my WBC Worldtitle this October. I will be working very hard to be able to retain my title. This is a new challenge, and I love challenges. I’m looking forward to defend my title in front of my home fans at the amazing ONE championship event."

Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai:

“As one of the top lightweights in the division, I feel very close to a title shot. I am working extremely hard to produce another stunning victory in my next bout, which will come against a legend in Shinya Aoki. It’s not going to be easy, and I will have to be in the best shape of my life to do it. But with hard work, we can achieve anything. I am not worried at all with his grappling, that’s a given. What I am focusing on is what I bring to the table, and before we hit the ground, we have to exchange with striking. I don’t want to make any predictions, but I know one thing is for sure. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”

Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige:

“I have been working very hard on improving my skills, especially in the striking department where I have a lot of work to do. But each day that goes by I become more and more confident in my skills. Working with the best martial arts athletes, training partners and coaches, I am blessed. I hope to be able to represent Thailand to the best of my ability in my next match. Fans can expect a brand new Rika Ishige when I step back into the cage.”

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao:

“When ONE Championship launched the ONE Super Series, a feeling of excitement quickly came over me. I was once again ready to showcase my skills and talent to the world. I look forward to competing against the absolute best the world of striking martial arts has to offer. After a great career in Muay Thai, I am moving on to bigger and greater challenges. The future is something that truly excites me and I crave the competition. My first experience in ONE Super Series was an unforgettable one. I look forward to performing in front of millions of people once again.”

Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex:

“They say I have done many things in the sport of Muay Thai, but I feel like I have much left to accomplish. I continue to work hard on my skills everyday. Joining ONE Super Series is an exciting new challenge for me and I feel renewed in my quest for greatness. Making my debut at the last event, it’s such an amazing experience and I can’t forget it. I want to get right back in there and do it all over again. I want to compete as many times as I can and make Thailand proud on the global stage of martial arts.”

Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai:

“Seeing my peers in Muay Thai make their ONE Super Series debuts, it brings a sense of excitement to me. I am much more energized in training and I am working very hard so that when my time comes, I can also give a good performance. I can’t wait for October 6 and to be able to show the world that I still have a lot left in me. ONE Super Series also hosts the best in the world in striking, and I can’t wait to test my skills against them. This is a great new development in sports, and I want to prove that Thailand still has the best Muay Thai fighters and kickboxers.”

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

Malaysia’s Shadow Cat Looks to Inspire More People Through Her Career

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan might just be the next young superstar in ONE Championship as she had a ton of hype behind her coming into her promotional debut at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY last March.

The 19-year-old native of Johor Bahru, Malaysia lived up to the billing with a submission victory over India’s Puja Tomar in front of a raucous crowd in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

While Radzuan comes from a Muay Thai background, she was looking to show off her ground skills as she repeatedly looked to drag Tomar to the ground and test her submission defense.

Radzuan nearly locked up an armbar on the mat in the second frame, but the Indian competitor refused to give up, forcing Radzuan to transition into a triangle choke.

As much as Tomar tried to ride out the submission, there was no escape this time. The end came at 2:23 into the second round, giving Radzuan her first win on the global stage of ONE Championship.

“I couldn’t even describe my emotion and the feeling when my name was announced as the winner of the bout. As a young martial artist, I just showcased what I am capable of on the global stage. The whole world was watching, and it’s definitely a dream come true,” she recalled.

As a young, vibrant female mixed martial arts competitor, Radzuan is breaking the mold and giving women of all ages a legitimate sporting role model to look up to.

Living in a conservative Muslim country like Malaysia, many people in her homeland believe that what she is doing is un-Islamic, and she should be taking on more traditional activities such as cooking and domestic interests.

Inspired by Ann Osman’s advocacy to erase the negative perception of women’s participation in combat sports, Radzuan believes that religious consciousness from certain people should not stop female mixed martial artists from pursuing their dreams.

“Being a mixed martial artist and being a Muslim as well shouldn’t hinder what I want to do or with achieving my goals or my ambition. We don’t believe religion should stop us. Islam teaches us to work hard,” said Radzuan, who also works as veterinary nurse.

Over the past decade, women’s mixed martial arts rose from relative obscurity to noticeable heights that many could not fathom in such a short span of time.

The once male-dominated sport has been infiltrated by women equipped with equal prowess to engage in high-testosterone action, at times even with more gusto than their male counterparts.

After years of being told that they “just weren’t good enough” and that there “wasn’t enough girls to form a legitimate bracket”, women are finally gracing the biggest platform of the mixed martial arts world.

“Some people even say I should just stay at home or do another job, but I ignore this kind of people. This is my passion. I believe it’s great because we are making a difference, especially in Malaysia,” she expressed.

“Now I see women who are interested in martial arts for self-defense purposes. It’s a great start,” Radzuan added.

As she continues to open eyes and introduces legions of already passionate enthusiasts to the burgeoning realm of Asian mixed martial arts, Radzuan seeks to exemplify the utmost confidence of a woman in ONE Championship.

“I just hope to inspire other women or even boys and girls to do what they want to do. Whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve as long as you put in the commitment and work hard,” she stated.

On a quest for greatness and to deliver a show-stealing performance, Radzuan returns to action on Friday, 13 July as she squares off with Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER, which takes place at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Even though she is facing a more experienced competitor in her second ONE Championship outing, Radzuan is confident that she will walk away with her hand raised in triumph.

“I know she is a good fighter with a good background in martial arts. Plus, she is more experienced than me. But one important key to success is self-confidence. The trait has always been with me in this journey. I look at things optimistically,” she shared.

Radzuan stressed that she is proud to be among the youngest athletes representing Malaysia in ONE Championship.

“It’ll be just another day in the office for me. I’m super excited. I am definitely taking home the win in front of my hometown crowd,” she guaranteed.

​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. ​

Benildean filmmakers make it to FACINE 25

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Four capstone projects from the Digital Filmmaking program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) will vie for the Best Short Film at FACINE 25: The 25th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival from October 18 to 21 in San Francisco, California.

Among those which made it as finalist to FACINE's short film competition are "Caramel Child" by Kim Timan, "Rufyla" by Coleen Tanco, "Suerte" by Carlo Fajarda, and the documentary "Hope Spots" by Joseph Dominic Cruz.

"Caramel Child," co-written by Timan with Palanca awardee Lino Balmes, is a light drama about a Filipino-American girl Katherine Kaye Jones (Angelica Ulip), or Kakay, who tries her best to look for her absentee father. Kakay's curiosity is triggered by a regional science quiz bee poster and an American client (Savino Bellini) of her mother (Sue Prado). It won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Performer and Best Musical Score (Marcus Santos and Joseph Salcedo) at Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival 2018. It also brought home the Best Screenplay award from De La Salle University’s Indie Un-film Festival 2017 and competed in the short film category of Cinema One Originals Festival last year.

In "Suerte," two student filmmakers are shooting a documentary about the drug trade within their city until it descends into a very dangerous obsession for them. As they go on along with their subjects, they slowly become characters in their own film, crossing the line between observer and creator. The film competed at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, 28th Singapore Int'l Filmfest and Taipei Film Festival in Taiwan.

In "Rufyla," a T'boli tribeswoman dances for a living and encounters a dramatic turn of events in pursuit of a better life for her family. The short film is a CineFilipino 2018 student category finalist.

"Hope Spots," a finalist in the documentary category of UP Cinema's Piling Obrang Vidyo, looks into the debut of women wrestlers in a fight sponsored by the Philippine Wresting Revolution. It zeroes in on the local professional wrestling scene, presenting the polarizing sport of pro wrestling through the lens of the homegrown promotions' first female talent.

The competition will open FACINE 25 on October 18 at the San Francisco Main Library and the SF Philippine Consulate. The winner will receive a $100 cash prize and certificate of recognition. Special citations will also be awarded in any category upon the jury's discretion.

Aside from the four Benildean student films, "Hulid" (Lie Together) by BenildeFilm program coordinator Jan Philippe Carpio also made it to the competition. The experimental narrative questions sexual pleasure, voyeurism, detachment and the paradox of public anonymity.

The selected films cover a wide range of format, genre, style and subject, with varying lengths of 45 minutes and less, both student and professional works, including notably films by non-Filipino filmmakers with the Filipino as subject.

"The finalists cover a wide range of genre, format, style and subject, all 45 minutes and less in length, both student and professional works, including notably films by non-Filipino filmmakers with the Filipino as subject," FACINE Director Mauro Feria Tumbocon Jr. said.

Meanwhile, nine full-length films will slug it out for the Best Film and other awards in the main competition from October 19 to 21 at the Roxie Theater, also in San Francisco. Vying for awards in the different categories are "2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten" written by Jason Paul Laxamana and directed by Petersen Vargas; "Bomba" by Ralston Jover, "Kita Kita" by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo; "Meet Me in St. Gallen" by Irene Emma Villamor; "Melodrama / Random / Melbourne" by Matthew Victor Pastor; "Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha" by Mes de Guzman; "Pauwi Na" by Paolo Villaluna; "Tale of the Lost Boys" by Joselito Altarejos; and "Tu Pug Imatuy" written by Arnel Mutia Mardoquio and directed by Arbi Barbarona.

FACINE is organized by the Filipino Arts and Cinema International, a nonprofit media arts organization that aims to promote and develop Filipino cinema from the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora. It has organized the festival for the past 25 years.