She’s Back! Can The Sacred Riana Survive the Judge Cuts on America’s Got Talent?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Despite receiving a red buzzer from Simon Cowell, "The Sacred Riana managed to sway the rest of the America’s Got Talent judges, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel to the dark side. As The Sacred Riana returns to centre stage, can she survive the Judge Cuts and make it to the Live Show?

Proving that The Sacred Riana’s the original viral scream queen, her Judges’ Auditions performance clip on YouTube has received over 8 million views in less than one month. 

Tune in to a brand-new episode of America’s Got Talent every Thursdays and Fridays at 6pm and 8pm on AXN.

To find out the latest news on Asia’s Got Talent and other exciting shows on AXN, visit @AXNAsia on Facebook today.

AXN is available on Cablelink Channel 38, Cignal Channel 121, G Sat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

Lenovo Opens 20th Concept Store in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 Lenovo’s 20th Concept Store, found in Cebu, is run by Ng Khai Development Corp. 

Present during the store’s ribbon cutting ceremony were (from L-R) Ng Khai owner Melanie Ng, China Deputy Consul General Wu Xiaomin, Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan, Economic Consul Mdm Cai Wen, Ms. Jiang; and (second row) Wilson Ng.

Lenovo, the world’s leading PC manufacturer recently opened its 20th concept store in the Philippines and the second one in Cebu City, located at the third floor of Ayala Center Cebu.

The one-stop PC shop features a wide range of Lenovo products including notebooks, laptops, and desktops – each is designed to cater to different lifestyles and tech needs of growing market segments.

“We are committed to make our innovative tech products more visible and accessible to the public, especially in key cities. Lenovo is set to open more concept stores all over the Philippines to deliver that unique first-hand experience to today’s discerning buyers,” saidMichael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager.

“Though we are in an increasingly digital world, in-store experiences still play an important part in the buying process. People still want to touch and try the products before purchase. Through our well-curated stores, we give visitors the opportunity to experience the features of our products and at the same time to discover what suits their lifestyle and needs,” Ngan added.

Taking the lead in the global PC and smart devices market, Lenovo continues to showcase the latest game-changing products to the public. Lenovo has been the only player consistently introducing new form factors and experiences. Recently, Lenovo launched Legion, its own line of powerful gaming laptops and desktops. Meanwhile, its recent investment in the AI market Star Wars: Jedi Challenges–an augmented reality (AR) device made in partnership with Walt Disney, includes a smartphone-powered AR headset, a lightsaber controller, and a tracking beacon.

Lenovo is set to expand to other key cities and major provinces.

Lenovo is a global leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and data center technology. For more information, visithttps://www3.lenovo.com/ph/en/.

Yanolja Invests USD15M Into Leading South East Asian Economy Hotel ZEN Rooms

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Leading Southeast Asian economy hotel chain and online booking platform ZEN Rooms announces a strategic minority investment of USD15M by Yanolja, the leading Seoul-based leisure company with rights to acquire 100% of ZEN Rooms in the future. This is the largest startup investment by a Korean company in Southeast Asia.

ZEN Rooms, founded in 2015 by ex-Foodpanda co-founder Kiren Tanna and Nathan Boublil, operates a disruptive economy hotel chain and online booking platform in 5 major Southeast Asian countries, including: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Within only 3 years, ZEN Rooms’ business has grown exponentially to over 1,000 economy hotel franchisees and over 7,000 room inventory and established itself as the top-rated affordable franchise in the region, with average Customer Review scores of 7.9 on public OTA and review sites.

ZEN Rooms was founded to disrupt the value-for-money of the Southeast Asian hotel market, helping hotel franchisees be more efficient, competitive, safe & reliable by strengthening their quality standards, resulting in improved customer satisfaction for budget travelers. ZEN Rooms is vertically integrated, combining room booking, branding, sales and management with a self-developed online/mobile platform - which distinguishes ZEN Rooms from other hotel franchises. ZEN Rooms now plans to use the capital to expand its inventory base in current and new markets and continue to invest in technology to keep improving the sector’s efficiency.

The Southeast Asian travel market is today the fastest growing worldwide, undergoing a rapid and continuous surge in both domestic and international economy travel demand, similarly to China 15 years ago and Korea 5 years ago. In addition, Southeast Asia is a favorite tourist destination for Korean travelers, and 17% of foreign travelers to Korea come from Southeast Asia. Thus, ZEN Rooms’ reputation and growth in SEA and the established leisure platform of Yanolja make the combination a leading force in the South East Asian travel market.

Co-Founder of ZEN Rooms, Kiren Tanna, commented: “ZEN Rooms’ mission is to provide quality economy accommodation to travelers across Southeast Asia and help our hotel partners maximize their business potential. South East Asia is still at the beginning of both the hotel franchising revolution and its travel demand surge - and we are delighted to join forces with Yanolja to fulfill this mission. Through its leadership in the Korean market, Yanolja has unparalleled hospitality knowledge and has built a highly refined and innovative business model and best-in-class platform that we are looking forward to bringing to the Southeast Asian market.”

Vice President of Yanolja, Jong-yoon Kim, commented: “ZEN Rooms has built a very impressive business and team within a short timeframe and we are excited to start our collaboration. Starting with this strategic investment into ZEN Rooms, we shall seek to expand to become the most affordable hotel chain and first fully integrated booking platform for leisure activities as well as hotels for leisure activities as well as hotels, going beyond the domestic sphere to around the globe.” “In the future, we shall strengthen our leadership as a tech start-up by providing unprecedented and distinguished services to domestic and foreign travelers by applying innovative technologies including IoT and AI.”

Sunsets and Dining with a View in Harbour City’s Ocean Terminal Deck

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As Tsim Sha Tsui’s largest and most diverse shopping mall, Harbour City in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, has over 450 shops, 60 dining choices, cruise terminal facilities, and three hotels all under one roof. Apart from being a shopping paradise, the destination recently opened its Ocean Terminal Deck to the public for free.

The 270-degree Observatory Deck is located at the rooftop of Harbour City’s new Ocean Terminal extension building designed by renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners. With the addition of the Ocean Terminal Deck, travelers can now visit the one and only spot in Tsim Sha Tsui that offers a whopping 270-degree panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, overlooking the entire Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. A travel tip: The Ocean Terminal Deck is the perfect place to witness Hong Kong’s spectacular sunset.

Besides being a breathtaking viewing point, Ocean Terminal Deck is also a venue for live outdoor performances and various events, like a wine tasting series during Hong Kong’s Wine and Dine festival, and major beauty events. The Ocean Terminal Deck houses two outdoor event spaces: a natural lawn where visitors can freely sit and walk around, and a Grandstand, which can accommodate up to 200 people.



The Ocean Terminal Deck is also the epitome of dining with a view. Enjoy the best angle of Hong Kong’s harbor, sunset, and cityscapes, while savoring delicious global cuisines from several al fresco dining choices. Tsukada Nojo serves superb Japanese cuisine, notably its signature Bijin Nabe (beauty hot pot). Ana Ten is an upscale restaurant offering contemporary Japanese culinary delights. Meanwhile, famous Milan restaurant Paper Moon delights with its authentic, home-style Italian cuisine and original recipes, while A Nu Retrouvez-vous boasts of a French fine-dining experience that has been Michelin-starred for six consecutive years in Japan since 2011.

You can choose from different styles of Chinese cuisine as well: Xi He Ya Yuan from Beijing serves traditional Chinese cuisine as well as New Chinese Fusion, but its menu’s star is the XIHE Beijing Duck. HEXA reimagines authentic Cantonese dishes with an innovative twist, using only the finest local and imported produce. Fu Rong offers an unforgettable menu of delightfully spicy Chengdu delicacies, uniquely more delicate and fragrant than the typical Sichuan flavors.

With its choices for shopping, dining, entertainment, and premier accommodations in Hong Kong, Harbour City continues to be a dynamic destination to keep coming back to. Harbour City’s Ocean Terminal Deck is open for every visitor to enjoy and experience the beauty of Hong Kong. 

Visit www.harbourcity.com.hk and follow Harbour City on Facebook at @HKHarbourCity, on Twitter at @hkharbourcity, on Instagram at @harbourcity, and Trip Advisor at Harbour City Shopping Mall for more updates and information, or  call the 24-hour hotline at (852) 2118 8666.

Visiting The Philippines On A Low Budget

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is definitely one of the best places that you can go for a vocation. The country is renowned for its variety of tropical islands as well as the numerous stretches of beaches that are not easily found in other parts of the world. In addition to that, the country also boats some of the friendliest people in the world thus making it a great option for those who are looking for a great holiday spot.

However, as you are already aware, holidays in foreign countries are always perceived as an expensive affair even though that is never the case. Below are some tips on how you can enjoy a great holiday in Thailand without having to spend a fortune.


Buy Your Tickets As Early As Possible 

The cardinal rule of flight booking has always stated that for cheaper flight tickets, you must book your tickets as early as possible. However, it is surprising that despite many people bee aware of this, they still make last minute booking which ends up costing them a lot of money. Thus, once you have made you mind that you want to have your holiday in the Philippines, please make sure that you book your tickets as early as possible.


Take advantage of the Low season 

In Philippines, the low season is usually between June and September. As commented by different travellers on Trip Advisor, service providers in Philippines tend to lower down their prices significantly during these months as they purpose to appeal to many customers as possible. Indeed, it is not even a surprise to find that hotels have discounted their prices up to 35%. Thus, you can save a lot by going for vocation in the country during these months. Nevertheless, be informed that the weather might not be quite favourable.

Take Advantage of The Variety of Quality Street Food Available 

You cannot claim to have experienced the Philippines culture without trying out their meals. There are numerous market stalls around the country which offer quality meals. Thus, you might consider avoiding the meals options offered by the hotels and have your meals at the food stalls. For about $5, you will be served a place of quality seafood.


Be Ready To Negotiate 

One of the good things about Philippines is that the prices that are normally quoted are not always the final prices. Thus, when you are out there for excursions, make sure that you just don’t pay prices that are quoted to you at your first time of asking. It is absolutely perfect for you to request for discounts and bargain for prices quoted at first.


Do Not Travel During The Festive Period

Festive periods are quite busy in Philippines as the natives are quite religious. Thus, in order for you to be able to pay low prices for flights, accommodation, and to some extent meals, avoid visiting the country during the festive period when demand for everything is quite high and that tends to increase the prices.


Visit various Philippines Travel Websites for More Information

This list is not in any way exhaustive. There are numerous websites that have written detailed information on visiting Philippines such as Wazzup Pilipinas! You should make a point of visiting these websites when planning your vocation to the Philippines since they have a lot of information that can be beneficial to you.



Written by Dominic Brian - A keen traveller with an interest in freelance photography and freelance writing. Dominic works as a content writer at Affordable Custom Writing

Tower of Power Live in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The much-awaited Manila performance of Tower Of Power is finally happening September 7, 2018 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to be mounted by Ovation Productions. The triple bill event also features Dennis Lambert and Kalapana.

Tower's musical odyssey actually began in 1968 when Emilio Castillo met Stephen "Doc" Kupka in July of that year. When Doc auditioned during a band rehearsal at Emilio's house, Emilio's father called him into the kitchen and offered the following advice: "Hire that guy, he's got something." This was how Doc and his signature baritone sax came to be a major part of the band’s sound, and on August 13, 1968, Tower of Power, as we know them today, began playing gigs, and soon became very well known in the area.

Many other bands came out of the San Francisco Bay area in the late 60's. Bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Journey, and others all helped to define the "San Francisco Sound." Tower of Power has always claimed Oakland, California as their hometown, playing area venues and making a name for themselves.

Tower of Power was signed to Bill Graham’s San Francisco records and their first album was East Bay Grease. All of the compositions were original tunes written by Castillo and Kupka. Their next album, Bump City, led to a string of hits and memorable albums that include many of the songs that TOP fans come out in force to hear, even to this day. Over the years, the Tower of Power Horns have recorded with hundreds of artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with Tower’s musical DNA.

Since the beginning, Tower of Power has never stopped touring and recording. Always in demand, the band never fails to entertain and amaze their fans. Tower is truly blessed to have a dedicated following that often travels to see the band, and in many cases fans will plan their vacation or work schedule around an appearance of TOP. New generations of fans come to see them perform as their timeless music continues to excite fans of all ages.


DENNIS LAMBERT

Another featured performer in this September 7, 2018 Smart Araneta Coliseum event is songwriter-producer and singer Dennis Lambert. Dennis’ album Bags and Things was very popular in the Philippines in the early 1970s and contained hit songs Of All the Things, Ashes to Ashes, Somebody Found Her Before I Lost Her, and So Little Time. He also either co-wrote and/or produced huge 1970s hits for other singers like Ain't No Woman Like the One I've Got for the Four Tops, Rhinestone Cowboy for Glen Campbell, Hard Core Poetry and She’s Gone for Tavares, Baby Come Back for Player, Love Music for Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’77, Dream On and Rock and Roll Heaven for The Righteous Brothers which revived the duo's recording career in 1974. In the 1980s, Lambert continued to write and produce alone under his Tuneworks banner. Credits include hits Nightshift for The Commodores, We Built This City and Sara for Starship, I Live For Your Love and Pink Cadillac for Natalie Cole, and Moment Of Truth for Survivor. Lambert was the subject of an award-winning feature-length documentary film, Of All the Things, directed by his screenwriter son Jody Lambert, which followed him on a cross-country tour of the Philippines promoted by Ovation Productions.


KALAPANA

As for Kalapana, they emerged as one of the most popular bands on the Hawaiian music scene in the 70s, and is much loved by Filipinos for their songs,Nightbird, The Hurt, You Make it Hard, and When the Morning Comes. They still enjoy frequent airplay in Manila’s top radio stations until today. Kalapana received the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Ovation Productions took them on a Philippine Tour back to back with the band America in 2012.

It will truly be a thrill for Filipino music lovers to see all three of their favorite artists perform together in one evening of retro music at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It certainly cannot get any better than this!

Tower of Power 50th Anniversary Tour featuring Dennis Lambert and Kalapana is produced by Ovation Productions. Media partners are FOX, FOXLife, FOX Filipino, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Wish 107.5, 97.9 Home Radio, DWIZ 882, DWWW 774, DZXL 558, 96.3 Easyrock, iFM 93.9, Philstar.com, Inquirer.net, Mb.com.ph, Manilascope, LionhearTV, Manila Concert Scene, Philippine Concerts, and Soundcheck Manila. Ticket Prices are P5250/ P4750/ P3750/ P2750/ P1750/ P750. Tickets available via www.ticketnet.com.ph and regular TicketNet outlets or call TicketNet +632 911-5555 or Ovation Productions +632 532-8883.

OFFICIAL TVC FOR SHARING:https://www.facebook.com/ovationproductions/videos/1884578951562374/

DOE Taps More Media for Greater Public Understanding of the Energy Sector

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ENERGY 101: Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella delivers the keynote address on behalf of Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi during the E-Power Mo: Energy 101 for Media last July 23 in Tagaytay City.

Creating advocates for energy programs and initiatives, the Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) gathered members of the media in CALABARZON for the E-Power Mo: Energy 101 held at the Hotel Dominique last Monday, 23 July.

Substantial reporting of energy-related issues requires at least a basic understanding of the industry. Thus, the seminar provided an overview of energy concepts, including the Department’s policies and programs.

“The reason we hold these forums is to broaden the awareness on the Department’s role in nation building, if not, to clarify the DOE’s role in the energy sector in order to correct any misconceptions about its capacity as a policy making body,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi in his keynote speech delivered by Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella.

Usec. Fuentebella noted that the DOE values the role of the media as its partner in the dissemination of information about the Department’s policies and programs.

However, he pointed out that there are only a handful of economic writers and even fewer who specialize in energy concerns who could enlighten the public on crucial issues.

With the conduct of such seminars, the DOE hopes to narrow the understanding gap by simplifying energy-related technical terms for better and wider reader appreciation. 

Among the topics discussed were energy efficiency and alternative fuels and technology, introduced by DOE Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy and presented by Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Jesus T. Tamang, the downstream oil industry explained by Director Rino E. Abad, and the power industry simplified by Usec. Fuentebella.

A total of 83 participants from print, radio and TV operating in region IV-A attended the seminar.

This event is part of the E-Power Mo movement, which continues to educate stakeholders and consumers alike for a more advantageous utilization of energy information.

The next Energy 101 for members of the media will be held on 15 August in Iloilo City. A session for the Mindanao media group will likewise be held on 16 October in Cagayan De Oro.

OTHER PHOTOS:

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES: Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy talks about the importance of Energy Efficiency and the use of Alternative Fuels and Energy Technology to help update members of media. Promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles is among the current thrusts of the DOE in relation to energy sustainability.

MEDIA AND THE ENERGY SECTOR: The CALABARZON media group with DOE officials at the successful conclusion of the E-Power Mo: Energy 101 for members of the media on 25 July 2018 in Tagaytay City.

Kevin Belingon Domonates Martin Nguyen to Win One Interim Bantamweight World Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), electrified the packed Mall of Asia Arena with another evening of authentic world-class martial arts action. The state-of-the-art showground played host to ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, featuring the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent. In the main event, hometown hero Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of Baguio City, Philippines overcame a stiff challenge from two-division ONE World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen, winning by unanimous decision to claim the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship.

In the main event of ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, Filipino dynamo Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon derailed Martin Nguyen’s goal to become a three-division world champion by outclassing the ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion with his striking superiority. With his hometown crowd cheering behind him, Belingon effortlessly picked Nguyen apart in the stand-up, jolting the two-division titleholder with stunning left hooks and perfectly-executed spinning back kicks. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Belingon to win by unanimous decision after an intense five-round affair, bringing home the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship.

Kevin Belingon, ONE Interim Bantamweight World Champion, stated: “I can’t explain this feeling, I’m the happiest athlete tonight. Thank you to all the people who came out to support me, and of course to ONE Championship, my team, my coaches and trainers, and my teammates. To Martin [Nguyen], it was an honor fighting you. You’re such a great athlete and champion. I trained very hard for this fight, just to get this belt. I’m proud to be a champion representing the Philippines. My friend Bibiano [Fernandes], I respect him as a champion, but we’re in the same weight class and I’m the top contender. So there is no escape in facing me. I hope you recover fast and we can make the fight this year.”

In the co-main event of the evening, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Japan smoothly steered to a first-round stoppage victory over Thai martial arts superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai. It quickly became the beginning of the end for Wiratchai just minutes into the first round, as he was effortlessly taken down by Aoki. On the mat, Aoki barely gave Wiratchai room to breathe, raining down a torrent of punishing elbows that compelled the referee to step in and call a halt to the contest. The victory earned Aoki GoDaddy Knockout of the Night honors.

Brazilian legend Renzo Gracie made a triumphant return to mixed martial arts competition after eight long years, having his hand raised in victory at the expense of Japanese martial arts pioneer Yuki Kondo. Following a lengthy feeling-out process between the two grizzled veterans in the first round, Gracie shifted gears in the second frame and immediately drove his foe to the mat. Taking Kondo’s back, Gracie fastened a wrenching rear naked choke with no hesitation, which left his opponent no choice but to tap.

Hometown hero Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of Baguio City, Philippines turned in another complete performance, earning a unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Aziz Pahrudinov of Russia. Folayang operated behind a relentless stream of leg kicks that left Pahrudinov hampered throughout the three-round contest. Connecting on his combinations with laser-like precision, Folayang dominated the bout as the three judges sitting cageside awarded him the victory.

International grappling superstar Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon of the United States was successful in his second appearance in the ONE Championship cage, defeating Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of India via submission in round three. After testing his striking abilities for the majority of the first two rounds, Tonon went back to his strengths in the third, taking the action to the canvas where he fastened a deep rear naked choke to seal the deal.

After falling short in his ONE Super Series debut two months ago, two-time Muay Thai World Champion Chris Ngimbi sought the redemption that he desired, edging out Armen Petrosyan via split decision in their three-round catch weight kickboxing showdown. Although Petrosyan kept himself aggressive all throughout the contest, Ngimbi landed the more telling blows from bell to bell, which was enough to persuade two of three cageside judges to score in his favor.

In a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest, former ONE Warrior Series entrant Panicos Yusuf of Cyprus earned a unanimous decision victory over Han Zi Hao of China after a gruelling three-round affair. Operating behind a sound game plan and well-placed strikes, Yusuf countered Han consistently with a myriad of combinations off the back foot. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Yusuf.

Former ONE World Title challenger Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines notched his third-straight victory, authoring a spectacular submission victory over rising Thai superstar Pongsiri Mitsatit in the first round. After an emphatic slam to the canvas, Pacio finished the job with a straining armlock, leaving Mitsatit with no other choice but to tap.

Former Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai of Thailand showcased his world-class striking skills, defeating challenger Brown Pinas of the Netherlands via unanimous decision. Making his ONE Super Series debut, Chamuaktong dazzled, putting his treacherous Muay Thai clinch game on full display, while connecting on a plethora of elbows and knees from close quarters. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Chamuaktong after three rounds.

Filipino martial arts veteran Rene Catalan emerged as an early crowd favorite, bringing the Mall of Asia Arena crowd to their feet with a rousing performance. Over the course of three rounds, Catalan exhibited dynamic striking, feints, sweeping low leg kicks, and a powerful left hook that had highly-regarded opponent Stefer Rahardian of Indonesia in trouble on multiple occasions. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Catalan to win by unanimous decision.

Kicking off ONE: REIGN OF KINGS was Chinese featherweight sensation “The Stalker” Xie Bin. After a brief grappling exchange on the mat, Xie made quick work of Cambodia’s Sor Sey, finishing with a deep guillotine choke that put his opponent to sleep early in the first round.

Official results for ONE: REIGN OF KINGS

ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Martin Nguyen by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds

Lightweight bout: Shinya Aoki defeats Shannon Wiratchai by TKO (Strikes) at 2:16 minutes of round 1

Welterweight bout: Renzo Gracie defeats Yuki Kondo by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:40 minutes of round 2

Lightweight bout: Eduard Folayang defeats Aziz Pahrudinov by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Lightweight bout: Garry Tonon defeats Rahul Raju by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:27 minutes of round 3

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Catch Weight (72.5kg) bout: Chris Ngimbi defeats Armen Petrosyan by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Bantamweight bout: Panicos Yusuf defeats Han Zi Hao by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Joshua Pacio defeats Pongsiri Mitstatit by Submission (Armlock) at 3:37 minutes of round 1

ONE Super Series (Muay Thai) Catch Weight (68.0kg) bout: Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai defeats Brown Pinas by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Rene Catalan defeats Stefer Rahardian by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Featherweight bout: Xie Bin defeats Sor Sey by Submission (Guillotine) at 1:55 minutes of round 1

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.

Visit the official ONE: REIGN OF KINGS photo gallery by clicking: https://bit.ly/onephotos

Benilde Film Tops IUF, Next Competes at Gawad Alternatibo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short film about a 25-year-old lesbian, who is having a hard time coming to terms with her traditional Filipino father, won Best Feature and five other awards in the Indie Un-Film Festival 2018 last July 21 at the Br. Andrew Gonzales Hall, De La Salle University.

Sa Pag-agos ng Panahon, a capstone project of Annika Yañez and Janna Lejano under the Digital Filmmaking program of the DLS-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, also won Best Direction for Yañez, Best Cinematography and Best Editing for Lejano, Best Actor for Chase Salazar and Best Soundtrack for song composer M Laciste, song arranger Nick Lazaro and sound mixer and designer Veronica Valdez. 

Yañez, who graced the awards night with Lejano, thanked the organizers “for giving young filmmakers the opportunity to share our art to a bigger crowd, and for inspiring all of us to keep creating films – no matter how bizarre, vulnerable, charged they may be.” 

Meanwhile, Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag ay Paniniwala, an entry from Far Eastern University, bagged Best Pamana Film, Best Cinematography for Rommel Ruiz, Best Production Design for Ron Alos and Best Sound Design for James Manalili. The inaugural Pamana category aims to bring forth stories of Filipino heritage and culture. 

Directed by Francis Guillermo, the film revolves around the continuous disappearances of townsfolk, prompting the local chieftain to find out who is behind it and where they are being brought. Upon conducting a search, he and his son came across a mysterious answer.

Another FEU short film, Dama directed by Trish Ruedas Antonio, bagged Best Production Design for Reopaolo Nuñez and Best Actor for Rolando Inocencio in the Feature category. Inocencio plays a father who adopts a stray child to cope with his son’s death in a crisis-ridden world.

The three films will next vie for awards in the 30th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, also known as Gawad Alternatibo, from August 4 to 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Manuel Conde or CCP Dream Theater.
Also in the Feature category, James Allen Fajardo's Ang Lalaking May Regla sa Gitna ng Dagat won Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay. In the film, a fishing community faces an impending demolition when the landowner plans to turn the place into a beach resort. One of the fisherfolks is a teenage boy who had a menstruation in the middle of fishing. Fellow UP Diliman films Bago and Kasama Ng Paglisan ang Pag-alala at Paglimot won Best Sound Design for Alejo Barbaza and Best Actor for Ruby Ruiz, respectively.

Al Basir from the Lyceum of the Philippines University won for Best Direction for Raymond Cultura and Best Editing for Ralph Quijano in the Pamana category.

Mapua University's entry Dory, which is about a 101-year-old transwoman who walks around the streets of Tondo, topped the Documentary category and bagged Best Direction for Beverly Ramos, Best Editing for Kristian Palma, and IUF People's Choice award.
Si Baste, a documentary on the 127-year old all-steel Basilica of San Sebastian, brought home Best Sound Design for Xamantha Asdisen from Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Deane Marie Yase of UP Cebu won Best Cinematography in the same category for Unscathed, which tells the story of resilience of the victims of the recent Pasil Fire.

Vince Entuna from UP Diliman won Best Experimental Film, Best Direction, Best Production Design and Best Sound Design for Ang Lisyang Edukasyon ng Pilipinas while John Peter Chua of Ateneo de Manila University won Best Cinematography and Best Editing for Liyag.
In the Music Video category, Ghost won Best Direction for Aaliyah Ybañez, Best Editing for Miggy Arnonobal, and Best Production Design for the UPD entry while Riel Louise Castalone of DLS Lipa took home Best Cinematography for A Place Somewhere.
Organized by the DLSU Green Media Group, the 15th annual intercollegiate digital film festival celebrates film by showcasing the competition’s finalists and a plenary talk involving the country’s renowned filmmakers. The IUF talks, held last July 14 at Warehouse Eight in Chino Roces Avenue, had award-winning scriptwriter Clodualdo "Doy" del Mundo Jr. and filmmakers Antoinette Jadaone, Pepe Diokno, Ice Idanan and Kaj Palanca as speakers. 

The award-winning entries will again be screened on August 3, Friday, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Waldo Perfecto Seminar Room, Ground Floor, Br. Connon Hall, DLSU. For tickets, visit the DLSU GMG booth at 5F Artist Commons of the same hall. Interested parties may also visit www.indieunfilmfestival.com or contact Jenni at 0915-1291021. 

BDO Bares Ways to Thwart Phishing

Wazzup Pilipinas! 

BDO Unibank said there are scams now circulating through email which attempt to lure bank clients into giving out their internet banking ID, password, bank account number, credit card account number, and other confidential information.

Known as "phishing", these email scams are designed to obtain sensitive banking information and other personal data from unsuspecting clients, with the objective of committing fraud or theft.

The email messages usually contain links that, when clicked, may lead clients to what appears to be their bank’s Internet banking login page/website. Some links may generate a pop-up window requesting clients to enter confidential personal and financial information.

BDO is taking extra measures to thwart if not minimize the impact of the said fraudulent activity such as monitoring the Internet for the phony messages and sites, and implementing additional authentication procedures.

Tomas Victor Mendoza, senior vice president of BDO transaction banking group, said the bank has already taken actions but would like to remind the clients to exercise caution in providing personal and financial information on suspicious sites and to check for signs of fraud.

"We urge our clients and the public to be vigilant when banking online to prevent their critical information or their funds from being compromised,” Mendoza said.

He added, "To protect the clients against these email scams, we advise them to be alert to any type of communication that solicits information about their account."

Following these reminders would be useful:

•        BDO will never contact clients by phone or emails to ask for confidential and sensitive information such as Internet banking Username, Password or One-Time Password.

•        Likewise, the Bank will never ask clients to change their password through an email request. The change of Internet banking passwords should be done only after they have successfully logged on to the secure BDO online banking sites. Please do not respond to emails requesting for the above information.

•        Watch out for URL redirects where the objective is to divert clients to a different website with identical design.

•        Do not click on any link provided by such emails. Make sure to personally type the website address (or URL) in the address bar of the browser to get the desired website.

•        If clients suspect that an email they have received is an attempt to phishing, please report immediately by forwarding the said email toReportPhishing@bdo.com.ph and if clients think they may have responded to a suspicious e-mail, change their password as soon as possible by logging in to BDO Personal Online Banking.

Mendoza underscored that the clients' best defense against fraud is to keep their personal and financial information confidential at all times.