beep Card Presents Modern PUV Automated Fare Collection Solutions at 2nd PhilAPEX

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III (third from left) visits the beep™ booth displaying its latest payment solutions for public transportation during the 2nd Philippine Auto Parts Expo at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia. beep™ payment solutions offer a working fare collection system that can be readily installed in modern jeepneys and other PUVs. It supports the government’s PUV Modernization Program, which aims to make public transportation more convenient, safe, and environment-friendly.

With Delgra are AF Payments Inc. executives Johan Diaz (Senior Business Development Manager), Peter Maher (President and CEO), and Agnes Padilla (Marketing Head).

Interested parties may inquire about available beep™ card solutions at <johan.diaz@afpayments.com>.

UBE Express to Offer Free Rides Around Araneta Center for 3 Weekends

Wazzup Pilipinas! Starting August 18, UBE Express will offer free rides to the public going around Araneta Center via its articulated bus for three straight weekends. Starting August 18, UBE Express will offer free rides to the public going around Araneta Center via its articulated bus for three straight weekends. The articulated buses will pick up and drop off passengers at the Araneta Center Bus Station, the Smart Araneta Coliseum Green Gate, the Ali Mall on General McArthur Avenue and the Manhattan Heights on General Romulo Avenue on August 18, 19, 25, 26 and September 1, 2 and 3. The scheduled dispatches are at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm. These trips are a prelude to the upcoming launch of UBE Express’ premium point-to-point route that will run from Araneta Center to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, and back, which will be launched on September 3. UBE Express’ articulated buses are 61-feet tall and can accommodate up to 156 passengers. Meanwhile, Araneta Center’s environment-friendly e-shuttle services will remain in operation all days of the week from 12 noon to 9 p.m. The service, which picks up and drops off passengers at the Gateway Mall and Ali Mall, is a unique and free offering of Araneta Center to its shoppers and senior citizen visitors. At 35 hectares, the Araneta Center is one of the biggest mixed-use commercial hubs in the country. Visit www.aranetacenter.net for more details or follow our social media accounts: @aranetacenter on Facebook and Twitter and @thearanetacenter on Instagram.

DOST-SEI Boosts Scholarship Programs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) revealed recent developments regarding its scholarship programs, which include an increase in the number of slots being offered and a higher monthly stipend rate for all its scholars.

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña and DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo made the announcement in a press conference held last July 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. 

The event coincides with the celebration of the 2018 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), which Biyo considers an opportune time to drum up the public’s interest in DOST’s scholarship program.

DOST-SEI recently posted the names of 8,994 new qualifiers for its undergraduate scholarships, the biggest batch since the program started in 1958. 

Biyo hopes to further increase the number of scholars being supported in by DOST-SEI from 20,618 in 2016 to a target number of 33,256 scholars for 2019.

Scholars will also benefit from the increased monthly stipend of 7,000 pesos per month from the previous amounts of 5,000 to 6,000 pesos. 

This is in addition to the 40,000 pesos per year tuition and other school fees subsidy, 10,000 pesos per year book allowance, one-time 1,000-peso uniform allowance; one-time 1,000-peso graduation allowance, one economy-class round trip fare per year for those studying outside their home province, and group insurance. 

“Through the new benefits in our scholarship program, we hope to get more scholars and graduates who will eventually work in S&T for the country,” de la Peña said.

Biyo acknowledged top scholar-graduates, Ruben James Rosal and John Kenneth Malilay, who joined the panel to share their experiences as DOST scholars. “The testimonies of our scholars are always the best proof of the effectiveness of our programs,” she said.

Interested Grade 12 students are encouraged to submit their applications for the 2019 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Science and Technology Scholarship until August 31, 2018. Examination will be on October 21, 2018. 

Incoming 3^rd year college students taking identified S&T programs are likewise invited to apply in the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) program. JLSS application ends on September 14, 2018. Examination is scheduled on October 20, 2018. For details, you may log on to www.sei.dost.gov.ph or email seischolarships@gmail.com.

Short Film on T'boli Tops CCP's Gawad Alternatibo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A film about a T’boli dancer, who experiences a sudden turn of events in her pursuit of a good life for her family, bagged first prize in the Short Feature category and Best Regional Entry at the 30th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video awards night held last August 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

Rufyla, Coleen Tanco‘s capstone project under the digital filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) bested more than a hundred entries in the said category. The young filmmaker hails from Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

“Rufyla started when our house helper left us in her pursuit to get married to a foreigner. She is a 23-year-old girl who desired for a good life even if it took her to a red-light district in Manila. She believes that only a wealthy man can save her from poverty. As luck would have it, she nailed it,” the Benilde alumna explained when asked what inspired her to make her thesis film.

“I hope the film will create and build a language that helps delineate what it means to be living in a remote area in the southern part of the Philippines. I also hope that the film will root for the indigenous people and make everyone aware not to treat the Filipino culture like a worthless material,” Tanco added after learning about her twin victories.

In addition, other Benilde entries E and Ang Kabit ni Papa won honorable mention in the Experimental category. Directed by Benilde film alumnus, and now humanities and literature professor Jose Mojica, E zeroes in on a man who wakes up in an unfamiliar room and sees a mirror for the first time. By looking at himself, he discovers sexuality and sin.

Meanwhile, Ang Kabit ni Papa by Benilde film student Robin Estargo is an experimental drama which focuses on a boy’s recollection of memories of his father who works abroad. The film explores confined rooms and empty spaces, with an unending fear of being discovered for telling the uneasiness in this what-could-have-been relationship.

“Since I was born, my father has always traveled abroad to work with no other choice. We rarely see each other in a year, and whenever we do, we rarely talk. It is this separation that makes us move away from each other inch by inch through time, that there is this fear that our relationship in the future would be non-existent,” Estargo revealed.

“Through time, I have met friends who have Overseas Filipino Worker parents as well, with some having more unfortunate conditions than mine. This separation results to doubt, sparking conflict in the family, as the child does not know the distant lifestyle of the parent, and vice versa,” the young filmmaker concluded.

Rufyla is the first in BenildeFilm’s 10-year history to win the grand prize in the Gawad Alternatibo. The department came close to accomplishing the feat in 2018 when Benilde films dominated the 29th Gawad by bagging four of five awards, with the first prize going to Sa Saiyang Isla of Christian Candelaria from the University of the Philippines Film Institute.

Last year, Benildean filmmakers also shone in the Gawad Alternatibo’s Short Feature category. Alfonso Silva bagged second place for his short film Proxy. Andrea Arias and Mia Rosero placed third for their entry Auntwo Susan. Tim Rone Villanueva and Vince Sevillano got honorable mention awards for Santa Nena! and Ma’am La, respectively.

Rufyla is also among the short films that will compete at FACINE 25: The 25th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival from October 18 to 21 in San Francisco, California.
Established in 1987, Gawad Alternatibo is considered the longest-running independent film festival and competition of its kind in the ASEAN region. A few years ago, it became one of the major components of the annual Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

https://youtu.be/KQEdfMRBn8U

Meizu M6T Officially Launched With Dual Camera, Long Battery Life

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Meizu M6T model was officially unveiled by Meizu Technology. It comes with colorful polycarbonate body, 5.7-inch all-screen display, dual-camera configuration for its rear camera, stable and strong performance guaranteed by its eight-core processor, and its 3300mAh battery ideal for gamers. Backed up with the new Flyme AI acceleration system, it naturally becomes the benchmark that interprets the pure expression of contemporary smartphones. M6T comes with standard 3GB internal memory and three colors: Champagne Gold, Meteorite Black, and Coral Red. 

Gorgeous Colorful Body Like Summer Flowers

Meizu M6T will sway the youthful strokes in the form of its polycarbonate molding with colors of Champagne Gold, Meteorite Black, and Coral Red. The surface is perfected with PPG master paint, which excels at its sturdiness and durability. It’s tough enough to fence off any stains and to keep its brand-new appearance. With its light weight of only 145g, it gains the spirit of keeping up with the times. With its 5.7-inch HD+ all-screen display, M6T is enchanting, delicate on the touch. Its In-Cell complete fit screen technology lights up the screen with all the stories took place in youth time. The fresh Super mBack full-screen gesture interaction is also embedded in the new design. The classic “small circle” brings mBack to the screen by pressure and returns with a light touch, which is considered Meizu’s classic operation. It feels like summer blossoms with the bright screen on, while as quiet as the autumn leaves falling off the tree when it is in standby mode. 

The Latest and The Most Affordable Dual Camera Benchmark for Smartphones

M6T comes with rear facing dual camera backed up by virtual hardware, and it is revolutionary for these affordable smartphones to be no longer restrained on a single camera. In the 13MP + 2MP dual camera combination, M6T main camera adopts the high-performance Sony IMX278 RGBW four-color sensor, which allows the camera to take in more external light and enhances its low light photographing performance. It is now possible to freeze the time and save every wonderful moment on bright color photographs for anybody, especially young adults.

In addition to enhancing low-light shooting at the hardware level, the adoption of multi-frame synthesis noise reduction technology also enhances M6T’s low-light performance. The secondary camera responsible for distance measurement makes the background blurry effect even more powerful. In summary, this very affordable smartphone can achieve the same performance as DSLR cameras and shoot exciting photos with large depth of field. it sure will create a shocking wave in the smartphone industry.

The front facing, Samsung customized 8MP beautification camera makes M6T easy for self-portraits and video calls. The Rainbow Soft Beautification algorithm is better at presenting your fine-tuned facial skin tone with Flyme’s support, and each selfie is your own avatar. 

Consistent Performance, Longer Standby Time

With its internal memory starting at 3GB, Meizu M6T uses the eight-core processor that had been carefully polished over the years. Supplemented by Flyme system’s optimization on memory utilization and application startup, four 1.5 GHz cores focusing on performance and four 1.0GHz cores focusing on endurance are ready to deal with every single one of the mainstream games. Mali-T860 graphics processor and Flyme operating system (game mode) give you all the capability you’ve never seen before for easy control of “The Fifth Personality” and other popular video games from both hardware and software standpoints on the 5.7-inch all-screen display.

In addition to enhancing low-light shooting at the hardware level, the adoption of multi-frame synthesis noise reduction technology also enhances M6T’s low-light performance. The secondary camera responsible for distance measurement makes the background blurry effect even more powerful. In summary, this very affordable smartphone can achieve the same performance as DSLR cameras and shoot exciting photos with large depth of field. it sure will create a shocking wave in the smartphone industry.

The front facing, Samsung customized 8MP beautification camera makes M6T easy for self-portraits and video calls. The Rainbow Soft Beautification algorithm is better at presenting your fine-tuned facial skin tone with Flyme’s support, and each selfie is your own avatar. 

Consistent Performance, Longer Standby Time

With its internal memory starting at 3GB, Meizu M6T uses the eight-core processor that had been carefully polished over the years. Supplemented by Flyme system’s optimization on memory utilization and application startup, four 1.5 GHz cores focusing on performance and four 1.0GHz cores focusing on endurance are ready to deal with every single one of the mainstream games. Mali-T860 graphics processor and Flyme operating system (game mode) give you all the capability you’ve never seen before for easy control of “The Fifth Personality” and other popular video games from both hardware and software standpoints on the 5.7-inch all-screen display.

Meizu M6T is equipped with 3300mAh high-capacity battery, which is a 10% increase over the previous generation, and gives you one more reason to fall in love with it. With the safety guarantee from well-known manufacturer like ATL, and with the thorough power optimization from the Flyme system, M6T has excellent battery performance, resulting in a longer service life, and bid farewell to the embarrassing situation of multiple charging within the day.

IT WILL COME OUT IN THE PHILIPPINE MARKET SOON.

WANTED: Superbook SuperStars!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This is your chance! This August, a new breed of SuperStars will rise up! These shining stars will make a difference and change the world. And yes, you can be one of them! 

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE STARS IN THE SKY! Be a source of light and hope in this dark world!

Just like your favorite Bible characters, you can also shine and make a difference – in your family, school, church, workplace, community, and this nation. You don’t have to be famous. You just have to be willing.  The question is, will you take the challenge?

On August 26, 2018, Superbook will launch its fourth season in the Philippines! With the theme Superbook Superstars, Superbook Season 4 aims to encourage the younger generation to shine bright and live a life of purpose. This season includes all-new episodes that will help them discover what it truly means to be a “superstar” as they learn from the stories of some of the greatest Bible SuperStars who ever lived and made a difference in this world.

Superbook Season 4 will feature the amazing stories of Peter and Cornelius, Paul and Silas, Solomon's Temple, Peter's Escape, Jesus Heals the Blind, Joshua and Caleb, Elijah and The Widow. Join Chris, Joy and Gizmo as Superbook takes us on a new adventure-filled journey through the pages of greatest book ever written – the Bible! 

Superbook Season 4 will broadcast its first episode on August 26, 2018 at 9:15 am on ABS-CBN. Viewers may also watch it on iWantTV! Watch out for Superbook SuperStar events and more SuperNews! Follow @BatangSuperbook on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

SMM Strategy for Legal Startup

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Any startup today needs social media for growth and expansion. Social media marketing is almost becoming mandatory for any business that wants to excel. You definitely need this for all legal start-ups. Social media has become a very essential avenue of reaching to prospective clients. There are very many outfits making use of this strategy and therefore, it is not just enough to get started with it.

The help of a law essay writing service could be very useful in realizing all that goes into the successful launching and use of an SMM strategy. Your approach should be in such a way to add value to your marketing efforts even as you consider applying it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid 
Getting started with a business is usually challenging, particularly if you are looking forward to having a social media presence. People make the mistake of not having a clear social media approach. Social media should be at the very centre of your marketing options and not just an option among others. Secondly, start-ups make the mistake of not knowing what to do. If you do the wrong thing online, you can easily damage your reputation instead of building it.


Things to do in an SMM Strategy 
To succeed in what you want to embark on, you must decide where your focus is on your social efforts.

Here is what to do:

Have a marketing plan in place taking into consideration the social media aspect. Come up with objectives and goals that you want to achieve especially in creating brand awareness and social media. This is where you decide on where to focus all of your efforts in social media marketing.

What aspects are you looking at? Is it about getting likes and follows? Have metrics to assess how your startup is performing online. Different social strategies have different metrics: leads generated, site traffic, revenue generated, sign-ups and so on.

Procedure to follow
To enhance efficiency in what you are doing, the plan should always come before having your social media profiles. Once all this is set here is what to do:

Choose the social networks to use for the strategy

Recruit team members  to help out in your online marketing efforts

Establish an online community as ambassadors for your brand

Come up with ways of tracking your startup performance.

Final Thoughts
It is advisable for legal startups to embrace SMM strategies owing to their usefulness in making them grow. All the same, the right measures should be put in place in order to gain the full benefits of employing such a strategy.

Author Bio
Rick Klade is an affiliate writer for My Essay Writing services offering social media marketing help to both start-ups and already established business enterprises. He has a Master’s degree and PhD in Business and Marketing. He is an entrepreneur with key interests touching the area of digital marketing and has vast experience in content marketing, Search Engine Optimization and social media marketing.

Signing of Taguig City of Paris Declaration to Fast-Track Cities: Ending the AIDS Epidemic

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Paris Declaration aims for cities to achieve the 90-90-90 target by 2020. 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status; 90% of people living with HIV avail of treatment; and 90% of people on treatment are able to suppressed viral loads. This is anchored further on a vision to end AIDS by 2030, globally.

This declaration intends to stop all new HIV infections and avert AIDS-related deaths, including deaths caused by tuberculosis. It also envisions to end stigma and discrimination. It aims that every person in each city must have access to life-saving HIV and tuberculosis prevention, treatment, care and support services.

In July, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) composed of 145 member-cities pledged to fast-track the AIDS response in the cities, by signing a partnership agreement with UNAIDS to take actions and make investments which would contribute to reducing the number of new HIV infections in the country. The City of Taguig will formalize its commitment by signing the Paris Declaration.

Moreover, the event will also officially launch the Call for Nomination of the 2018 Ripple Awards under the Love Gala, a union of HIV and AIDS advocacy groups, government agencies, businesses, media agencies and socio-civic partners united in stopping the spread of HIV and ending the AIDS epidemic. This also includes the launching of new ambassador of Love Gala and Ripple Awards alongside with Miss Universe 2015 and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. 

Resource Speakers:

1) Maria Laarni "Lani" Lopez Cayetano - Mayor of Taguig City

2) Dr. Louie Ocampo, Country Director, UNAIDS Philippines

3) Dr. Corazon Flores, NCR Regional Health Office Director

4) Catriona Elisa Gray - Miss Universe-Philippines 2018, and Love Gala and Ripple Awards

5) JC Santos - Actor and HIV Advocacy Celebrity Ambassador

6) Ronivin Pagtakhan - Executive Director of LoveYourself Inc., a member of the Love Gala Secretariat.

No More Detours: Kevin Belingon's Sights Firmly Set on Bibiano Fernandes and the ONE Bantamweight World Championship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Six years since his ONE Championship debut, Team Lakay’s Kevin ‘The Silencer’ Belingon is finally a World Champion in the martial arts promotion.

At ONE: REIGN OF KINGS last 27 July, in front of a partisan pro-Philippines crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Belingon defeated reigning ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion Martin ‘The Situ-Asian’ Nguyen to capture the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship.

For Belingon, it was a childhood dream come true.

“I can’t explain this feeling. I’m the happiest athlete tonight,” Belingon said during the post-match interview. “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,”

With the win, Belingon becomes the fifth Filipino to capture ONE World Championship gold, as he joins reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera, as well as Team Lakay stablemates in reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje ‘Gravity’ Eustaquio, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard ‘Landslide’ Folayang, and former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio ‘The Rock’ Banario.

And while making history as a world champion is indeed a prestigious feat, even more important for Belingon is that he’s finally secured his spot as the next person to challenge reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano ‘The Flash’ Fernandes.

Fernandes is currently recovering from an injury, and when the most dominant champion in ONE Championship history finally returns, Belingon will be right there, waiting for his rematch.

“I respect [Bibiano] as a champion, but we are in the same weight class, and I am the top contender, so there is no escape in facing me. I hope you recover fast, and that we can make the fight this year.” Belingon said.

Belingon and Fernandes first shared the cage back in January of 2016 at ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS, in Changsha, China, with Fernandes retaining the title via a first-round submission win.

The loss did nothing but fuel Belingon’s world championship dreams even more, and the road back to the championship picture was a long one for the 30-year old, who had to run through a gauntlet of former world title contenders and a two-division champion in a just under two years.

Currently riding six straight victories dating back to October of 2016, Belingon has taken out the likes of Toni Tauru, Reece ‘Lightning’ McLaren, Andrew Leone, and Nguyen, pretty much a who’s-who in ONE Championship’s bantamweight division.

“I have faced many tough opponents leading up to this interim title, and I believe I have earned my spot to face Bibiano again,” Belingon said in an interview with ONE Championship’s official website (ONEFC.com).

Now, the Baguio City native has his sights firmly set on Fernandes and the ONE Bantamweight World Championship. Nothing else, no one else.

“I am looking forward to our rematch. No more detours. Bibiano should be next, and I fully expect to be facing him soon.”

Surely, ‘soon’ can’t fast enough for Belingon, but the reality is that he’ll have to wait for Fernandes to be cleared to compete.

In the meantime however, the newly-crowned interim champion could use some time off as well, to heal up before getting back to business.

He is, after all, coming off a tough five-round main event.

“Right now, I am just focused on resting and healing my body. I am pretty banged up. My ankle and shin are bruised, and they need time to recover,” Belingon said.

“Once everything is good to go, then I will be back in training. But for now, I am going to enjoy the rest. It still has not sunk in that I am a World Champion.” He continued.

While indeed, the record books will show that Belingon has already held world championship gold, the Filipino star knows in himself that there’s still one more bit of work to be done, and that’s to avenge his loss to Fernandes and become the undisputed ONE Bantamweight World Champion.

“Until I beat Bibiano, [however], I will always feel like there is unfinished business to take care of.”

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.

I-de-defund na ‘yan!: #ZeroBudgetPCOO Trends on Twitter

Wazzup Pilipinas!

#ZeroBudgetPCOO hit the number two spot on Twitter trends with netizens calling to defund the Presidential Communications Operations Office after another mishap. 

The reaction came after Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson posted a live video of a game show which aimed to raise awareness on federalism. Asec. Uson posted on her Facebook page an episode of “Good News Game Show” with Drew Olivar, a fellow blogger, who danced at the start of the show to the chant of “Ipepe, ipepe, idede, idede, ipederalismo!” 

“#ZeroBudgetPCOO becoming the top trending topics in Twitter last night only proves the fact that the PCOO has already lost its credibility in the eyes of the public.” Akbayan Youth leader Nathan Austria said.

https://twitter.com/NathanAust/status/1026396867548987395

Akbayan Youth filed a petition to remove Asec. Uson from her post last April 2, 2018 at the Office of the Ombudsman. The group filed their position paper last June after the Ombudsman found “sufficient cause for further proceedings.”

https://twitter.com/raymondnaguit/status/1026397876115537920

“Ang kakapal ng mukha! Nanghihingi pa ng mas mataas na budget na 1.41 billion samantalang yung ibang ahensya na may pakinabang ay pababa ng pababa” Austria added.

https://twitter.com/justinebalaneee/status/1026294653602082816

https://twitter.com/MrFrankBaraan/status/1026440527951093760

“People are sick and tired of their continuous errors and mishaps so it’s time to make them accountable at the PCOO budget hearing that will happen on August 16, 2018 in Congress” Austria ended