Pinoy Actors Xian Lim and Diego Loyzaga Take on HCON 2018 for Celebrity Car Wars This August

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Past contenders return to the tracks to heat up the upcoming season

Before they go bumper to bumper in an all-new season of HISTORY’s Celebrity Car Wars, Xian Lim and Diego Loyzaga get up close and personal with fans in HISTORY CON 2018 from August 10 to 12 at World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Celebrity Car Wars is an automotive reality entertainment series in which six new popular, socially connected, outspoken, pampered, and coiffured celebrities embark on an eight-week road to automotive discovery. Expect faster and fiercer encounters as HISTORY and Caltex join forces in bringing viewers an all-new turbocharged season on September 2018.

“As Celebrity Car Wars shifts into full gear, Caltex is once again pleased to be part of a journey that showcases how Techron’s high-performance fuel can help vehicles deliver under more challenging scenarios,” says General Manager of Sales & Marketing Support for Caltex, Carlos Rey C. Castaños.

HISTORY’s partnership with Caltex stems from the two companies’ shared values and commitment on the promotion and advancement of the automotive world.

“We are delighted to launch Celebrity Car Wars as the key driver of HISTORY’s global multimedia event, ‘Car Week’ to bring the best of automotive series and special features to our target audience in Asia,” said Leena Singarajah, Managing Director of A+E Networks Asia.

In this new season, six new celebrity contestants from widely different backgrounds go head-to-head in a series of exhilarating four-wheeled feats. Watch how the free-spirted young actor Diego Loyzaga proves that when it comes to wheels, the new is always the better. From modeling and acting to hosting stints, Xian Lim shows viewers a never-before-seen side to him as he uncovers his hidden passion for cars in this series.

As one of her country’s key health and fitness influencers, Thai R&B idol Lydia Sarunrat faces different challenges with a strong and independent personality that goes beyond her goddess-like beauty and angelic voice. Known for co-producing and directing top-caliber films since 1995, Malaysian actor, producer, and director Hans Isaac still has a lot to offer.

Can Thai-Australian actor and martial arts practitioner Matthew Deane kickstart a new career in automotive? Singapore's Munah Bagharib, from the famous YouTube comedy duo Munah & Hirzi, definitely makes a fun and strong addition in the competition!

“Viewers can expect celebrity antics as well as professional tips and tricks to help drivers improve their drive to gain better fuel economy, including how the right fuel can maximize power and increase engine reliability,” says Castaños.

Adding to Filipino pride are car racing experts Gaby dela Merced and Michele Bumgarner who will guide the contestants in every obstacle as their mentors.

Hosted by Bobby Tonelli, Celebrity Car Wars’ third season also features challenges from previous seasons including jeepney race, reverse racing, and insanely tough off-road 4X4 ride along Pampanga’s Sacobia River. Celebrities will also face the dreaded brick wall, which returns to test their personalities yet again.

To amp things up, the new season also sees past contenders Marc Nelson and Phoemela Baranda return to the tracks for the series’ famous drag race, and Dominic Lau makes a special appearance as guest referee for the car-football challenge. This season also introduces a live leaderboard to allow contenders to track each other’s scores.

Find out who will join previous champions KC Montero and Dominic Lau and be enshrined in the Celebrity Car Wars’ Hall of Fame in its brand-new season this September!

HISTORY CON is a world-class entertainment convention which garnered a record-breaking attendance of 68,800 people in 2017 and 50,000 people in 2016.  Buy your tickets now to the exciting three-day event at the World Trade Center before they run out!

Interested HISTORY CON fans may choose from three different ticketing categories, each with exclusive privileges: the HISTORY MAKER VIP Pass (P10,000) has only 100 limited tickets available; the HISTORY MAKER Pass (P2,500) is good for a three-day admission; and GENERAL ADMISSION Pass (P350) entitles bearers to a one-day access to the star-studded convention. Tickets are available for sale exclusively on SM Tickets. Visitwww.historyasia.com/historycon for more information.

Nainital: Explore the Charm of this Lake Town in India

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nainital, also known as the “Lake District of India” is one of the most picturesque hill stations of the country. Surrounded by the misty mountains from three sides, Nainital is located around the beautiful lake Naini.

Situated at a height of 1,938 meters, Nainital has a pleasant climate all year round. This beautiful hill station is surrounded by seven hills, popularly known as 'Sapta-Shring' - Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta and Sher-Ka-Danda.

The majestic mountains and the sparkling waters of the lake make it a must visit destination for those who love nature in its true form. Whether you're going for the weather, the lakes, the adventure, the food, or even the shopping, Nainital has something for every tourist.

Naini Lake has facilities for boating and yachting. You can also enjoy activities like horse riding, skating, golf and rock climbing.

A visit to the Jim Corbett National Park is an absolute must. The oldest national park in India, it is home to the endangered Bengal Tiger.

Famous for its inter connected rocky caves, hanging gardens and the musical fountain, the Eco Garden is quickly becoming a popular destination.

Naina Peak is known for its splendid Bird's eye view of the town, the Himalayas and also the vast expanses of the Terai regions of Kumaon. Horse riding is one of the most popular activities here and many tourists opt for horse rides to explore the beauty of the picturesque hill station.

The Mall Road of Nainital, which runs parallel to the Naini Lake, connecting the two ends of the hill town, is the prime shopping, food and cultural centre of Nainital. Whether it is digging into some mouth-watering dishes or shopping for the snuggly woollens that are to be found, Mall Road is your go-to place.

The Observatory or The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is the center for astronomical studies and optical tracking of artificial satellites.

Finding a nice accommodation is not an issue here as there are plenty of good hotels in Nainital, spread across all categories- from luxury to mid-range, guest houses, cottages and nice budget options. With choices like adventure camps, heritage villas, lodges, colonial style wooden cottages and many more, there is no dearth of places to stay in Nainital. You can choose from options like Manu Maharani, Vikram Vintage Inn, Shervani Hilltop, The Crosswinds, and The Naini Retreat if you are in a mood to splurge on your accommodation as these Nainital hotels are a perfect blend of opulence and comfort while you enjoy their signature hospitality.

Talking about the mid-range hotels, names like Hotel Himalaya, Dolmaar Resort, Hotel Evelyn and Welcome park would be ideal choices as these properties promise a relaxed stay experience without being too expensive on your pocket.
Kurmanchal Hotel, Hotel Moon, Vikrant Hotel, HK Legacy, Kurmanchal Hotel are some of the recommended budget accommodation options and all these hotels are good value for money. The above list includes some of the best hotels in Nainital and hope it helps you in finding the right kind of accommodation option, based on your requirement and budget.

Smart Emergency Communications Boost MMDA Quake Drill

Wazzup Pilipinas!

While the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced that the exact date of its latest earthquake drill will not be publicized in advance, it is no surprise that Smart Communications has again provided support to the agency’s annual disaster preparedness and response activity.

Just like in previous years, the PLDT wireless unit deployed emergency communications support for the MMDA Shake Drill, which simulated the “Big One,” or a magnitude 7.2 earthquake situation in the event of a movement from the West Valley Fault.

“We are doing this to prepare everyone to minimize damage that earthquake may cause. When the Big One happens, we must be prepared,” MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo “Jojo” Garcia Jr. said in a statement released by the agency.

“Our participation in the drill is part of our commitment to use technology to enhance disaster preparedness and response,” said PLDT and Smart public affairs head Ramon R. Isberto. “Our various communication tools, including the cellular and data services themselves, are part of our #SafePH advocacy, which aims to help build more resilient communities and reduce disaster risk,” he said.

Smart positioned multi-equipment on wheels (MEOW) portable cell sites, satellite communications services, and libreng tawag (free calls) stations; and provided Wi-Fi support for incident commanders at the MMDA quadrants. The MMDA has divided Metro Manila into quadrants to better manage response and rescue operations when the Big One strikes.

The quadrants, with their respective evacuation areas, are as follows: the northern quadrant (Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, San Juan), Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Course and Quezon Memorial Circle; eastern quadrant, (Marikina and Pasig), LRT 2 Santolan depot; western quadrant (Navotas, Malabon, Manila), Intramuros Golf Course; and southern quadrant (Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Pateros, and Taguig), Villamor Golf Course.

The #MMShakeDrill began with Smart issuing alerts using the Emergency Cell Broadcast System. Accompanied by a loud siren sound, ECBS sends urgent messages, such as evacuation notices and earthquake and tsunami warnings, to activated mobile devices within the affected area.

Cell broadcast is effective in disseminating quick hazard alerts because it operates on a radio channel separate from that used by voice calls and text messages or SMS (short messaging service), which may get congested in times of calamities.

In 2016, Smart invested over P500 million on ECBS to fully comply with Republic Act No. 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act. The act mandates telecommunications service providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities.

At the start of the program, the participants converged at an open area and were urged to assume the “duck, cover, and hold” position. Residents, workers, students, and government personnel joined the activities, which included evacuation drills, while responders were on standby for mock rescue operations.

The annual #MMShakeDrill drill aims to strengthen the capacity of individuals, households, and local authorities to prepare for and respond to the Big One. According to the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), this scenario may leave more than 30,000 dead and over 100,000 injured.

In times of calamities, Smart provides communications support such as free SMS, calls, charging, connectivity, and satellite solutions to residents and responders. These services have been deployed, for instance, during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013, the series of earthquakes in Batangas last year, and Mayon Volcano eruption early this year, among other emergency situations.

These initiatives are part of Smart’s #SafePH advocacy, which also includes programs such as TNT Tropang Ready, which tours schools nationwide to educate the youth on preparedness and empower them to mobilize their communities in times of calamities; and the Batingaw disaster management app, which allows users to report incidents and features tools such as a flashlight, a siren, a radio, and a directory of emergency contact numbers.

Smart is also providing high-speed connectivity to the Nokia Saving Lives drone system to help boost the disaster response efforts of the Philippine Red Cross. The drone project has been selected as a grantee of the Disaster Response Innovation Fund by GSMA, the organization representing mobile operators globally.

Earlier this month, Smart joined other telecommunications providers and humanitarian organizations from all over Asia at the GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter Regional Workshop for Asia-Pacific held in Angeles City, Pampanga. Smart is one of the three founding signatories of the GSMA HCC, which aims to provide increased access to communication and information for those affected by calamities, helping reduce loss of lives and contribute to humanitarian response.

Cover photo caption:

Representatives of MMDA and PLDT-Smart participate in the #MMShakeDrill, led by MMDA Chair Danilo Lim and General Manager Jojo Garcia (fourth and fifth from left), and PLDT-Smart public affairs head Ramon R. Isberto (third from left).

MMDA employees and other participants duck, cover, and hold during the #MMShakeDrill held at the MMDA headquarters.