DOE’s ENEReady Goes to Visayas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BREAKING GENDER STEREOTYPES: The Department of Energy presented the gender-neutral careers in the energy sector to 180 students from Lourdes National High School in Panglao, Bohol.

Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy (DOE) believes women can chart successful careers in the energy sector. 

With this thrust, the DOE gathered the students of the Lourdes National High School in the scenic island of Panglao, Bohol last October 16 for its ENEReady Program. 180 grades 7 to 10 students participated with 41 members of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines leading the pack.

The DOE team, composed of young geologists, petroleum and electrical engineers, introduced the challenging and exciting jobs in the energy sector. The resource persons shared their experiences in the field and the practical lessons which emanated from their wise choice of college courses. They explained their responsibilities in the upstream (exploration, drilling, extraction, and production) to downstream (transmission, distribution, and utilization) energy sector activities. 

The DOE found the students very receptive and eager to learn about the relatively high-paying job opportunities that may await them in the energy sector. They include the technical jobs available in onshore and offshore areas, on top of the more common occupations in energy development. 

ENEReady is a continuing effort of the DOE under Sec. Cusi which now reached around 2,500 students after the Panglao visit. Last September, the program was brought to Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School in Cebu. The program is spearheaded by the DOE Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWPO). 

OTHER PHOTOS:

GENDER EQUALITY: Helen B. Arias, Division Chief of the Department of Energy (DOE) Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office, encourages students of Lourdes National High School to pursue science, engineering and technology courses in the ENEReady program held in Bohol last October 16.

FUTURE GEOLOGISTS: Geothermal expert Jose Miguel Paras impresses on students of the Lourdes National High School in Panglao, Bohol the career possibilities in the geothermal sector where the Philippines is the third largest producer in the world. 

EMPOWERED: Lourdes National High OIC Benigno Clarabal (center) awards Certificates of Recognition to the resource speakers of the Department of Energy’s ENEReady Program. 

The DOE speakers are (from left) petroleum specialist Engr. Dan Emmanuel M. Montealegre, hydro energy expert Raymond L. Samson, consumer welfare chief 

Helen B. Arias, Visayas Field Office electric power expert Engr. Keelvin Ed D. Dajao, senior science researcher Christian Joyce T. Cuy, geothermal expert Jose Miguel P. Paras and Engr. Martha Isabel S. Dealino of Meralco’s operations technology group.

Sekswalidad, Karapatan Tampok sa Pink Filmfest 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Matapos ang tatlong taon, aariba na sa ilang mga sinehan ang Quezon City International Pink Film Festival (QCIPFF) 2018 sa darating na Nobyembre 14-25.

Tumutugon ang filmfest sa ordinansang ibinaba ng Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Quezon na naglalayong protektahan ang mga karapatang pantao ng LGBTQ+ community. Sa mga pelikulang ipapalabas, tinatalakay ang iba’t ibang naratibo hinggil sa lesbians, gays, bisexuals, at transgenders. Hanggang sa ngayon, nangunguna ang Pink Filmfest sa pagsusulong ng mga adbokasiyang kapaki-pakinabang para sa kasapi ng LGBTQ+ community.

Kasabay sa pagdaraos ng film festival ang pag-alala sa ika-79 taong pagkakatatag ng Lungsod Quezon. Ginugunita rin ang ika-100 taon ng pelikulang Pilipino.

Mas pinalaki at pinalawak ang mga pelikulang lahok sa taong ito. May kabuuang 64 na mga pelikulang mula sa Pilipinas at mga bansang Estados Unidos, Brazil, Indonesia, Tonga, Espanya, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Syria, Turkey, at United Kingdom ang ipalalabas.

Tampok sa pinakamatagal nang film festival para sa LGBTQ+ community ang mga pelikulang ukol sa sekswalidad at kalusugan. Magsasagawa rin ng mga seminar na pangungunahan ng mga grupong nagsusulong ng karapatang pantao.

Bubuksan ng dokumentaryong “50 Years of Fabulous” ni Jethro Patalinghug ang telon ng filmfest. Tinatalakay nito ang kuwento ng pinaka-unang LGBTQ+ charity organization sa buong mundo, ang Imperial Council ng San Francisco.

Mapapanood sa international lineup ang “Liquid Truth” mula sa Brazil, “Boys for Sale” ng Japan, “Mr. Gay Syria” ng Turkey, “Leitis in Waiting” ng Tonga, at “The Driver” ng Thailand.

Itinatampok ng Philippine lineup ang buhay at mga ambag ni Soxie Topacio, tanyag na direktor at dating pangulo ng Quezon City Pride Council. Ipalalabas sa filmfest ang kaniyang pelikulang “Ded na si Lolo.”

Kasama rin sa Philippine lineup ang dokumentaryong “Call Her ‘Ganda’” ni PJ Raval tungkol sa pinaslang na si Jennifer Laude. Sa kabuuan, 42 mga short films mula sa Pilipinas at sa mga nabanggit na bansa ang mapapanood sa Pink filmfest.

Mapapanood ang mga pelikulang tampok sa Pink filmfest sa Gateway Cinema Complex Cubao sa Nobyembre 19-21, University of the Philippines Cine Adarna sa Nobyembre 22-25, at Cinema Centenario sa Nobyembre 22-25. ###

Davao Load Retailer Wins Smart Ka-Partner P1M Prize

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Making the move from Manila to Davao City has been worth it for this load retailer, who has won P1 million courtesy of PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.

The load retailer and variety (sari-sari) store owner, who began selling Smart load just less than five years ago, won the grand prize at the Smart Ka-Partner retailers’ convention at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier in Davao City.

The latest Ka-Partner millionaire is a 65-year-old mother of two, who plans to use her winnings to pay off their house loan and help her children with their family expenses. Born and raised in Manila, she and her family moved to Davao City in the early 2000s to pursue business opportunities and a better life.

“With this amount, I can help my children with their finances. I pray the Lord will grant me a long life, so I can continue providing for them,” she said.

The annual retailers’ convention is Smart’s way of giving back to its load retailers, whose sales account for a significant share of the company’s prepaid revenues.

More than 2,000 Smart load retailers or “Ka-Partners” from all over Mindanao attended the gathering, which featured entertainment, games, and raffle prizes. Apart from P1 million, other prizes were also raffled off to the lucky attendees, such as cash, mobile phones and other gadgets, a brand-new motorcycle, and other exciting prizes.

The participants were able to join the raffle just by selling load credits, which were automatically converted to raffle entries.

The convention is part of Smart’s Ka-Partner rewards program, which gives incentives to the company’s load sellers to help them grow their businesses and enhance their livelihood, while enabling communities to stay connected.

The theme of this year’s retailer convention is “Bilis Asenso sa LTE,” as more and more load retailers are seeing increases in their earnings with the improved customer mobile experience because of Smart’s fast LTE network.

Smart Ka-Partner retailers are usually found at our neighborhood sari-sari or grocery store. Sometimes, they can also be our friend or relative from whom we can buy load, wherever they may be.

Smart hosted five retailer conventions in various locations across the country this year. Each assembly had its own set of raffle winners, including one recipient each of the P1 million grand prize.


Photo caption:

Actor Carlo Aquino serenades a Smart Ka-Partner retailer onstage, to the delight of the audience at the Smart Ka-Partner retailers convention in Davao City.

AIESEC of UPLB Holds Global Village 2018: Wander and Wonder

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AIESEC is an international, not-for-profit, youth-run organization managed by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education. The organization is recognized by the United Nations and similar agencies. AIESEC places its confidence in the youth and help them become global-minded leaders that spread positive social impact and help solve the challenges we face in our society today.

This October 18, 2018, the AIESEC in University of the Philippines Los Baños held its 4th Global Village with the theme: Global Village 2018 “Wander and Wonder” at Carabao Park (C-Park) from 7-9 PM. It was a festive event with country booths, interactive activities, free food, and other freebies. The event aimed to promote cross-cultural interaction and understanding in the UPLB community and beyond. 

Six countries were featured in this year’s installment of Global Village. Cultural background, replicas of famous landmarks and exchange opportunities from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Brazil, and Italy were showcased along with caravan-inspired booths. Delegates were immersed in fun activities and exchange opportunities that are linked to a specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

This event is sponsored by their Gold Partners which include Leslie’s Corporation and Café Tribu LB. Other event partners include Equivox Pro Lights and Sounds, Mizpeh Korean Café and Restaurant, Da Fernando and media partners: Rappler and Wazzup Pilipinas.

For more information visit our official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AIESECinUPLB or follow us on our Twitter account @AIESEC_UPLB.

Lenovo Bolsters IdeaPad Lineup with New Windows 10 Laptops

Wazzup Pilipinas!

They’re perfect for students and yuppies on a budget

Answering the need for a powerful yet budget-friendly laptop, Lenovo refreshed its IdeaPad lineup by introducing three new devices suitable for casual users, on-the-go workers, and students looking for the perfect productivity and study tool for the upcoming school year.

These new additions come with a wide range of features at reasonable price points. They all come pre-installed with Windows 10 and are excellent options for those looking for a great deal.

Here's a list of what you can expect from the new models.

Lenovo IdeaPad 330 – The Right Fit at the Right Price

The most affordable of the trio, the IdeaPad 330 packs a punch with up to 8^th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, allowing processing, storage and graphic configurations capable of handling day-to-day tasks.

You can also choose from integrated graphics up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 for more intensive requirements that involve processing and graphics such as photo editing and gaming. In addition, the device can have up to 16GB DDR4 memory and up to 2TB for storage.

The IdeaPad 330 comes in “14, 15, and 17-inch” anti-glare screens, in HD and full HD resolution options. Starting at 4.6 lbs., the device is made up of sturdy PC-ABS material and promises up to 8 hours of battery life.

Prices of the Lenovo IdeaPad 330 start at PHP 17,995. It comes in Chocolate, Midnight Blue, Onyx Black and Platinum Grey.

Lenovo IdeaPad 330S – The Ultra-portable Productivity Tool

If you’re looking for a laptop that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle, the IdeaPad 330s is the ideal device for you. An upgraded version of the 330, it is slimmer, lighter, and a notch higher in the looks department.

It features an aluminum shell and true to the ‘S’ in its name which stands for ‘Slim’, it starts at only 0.7 inches thick and 3.6 lbs., which is a pound lighter than the IdeaPad 330.

It comes in Full HD 14 and 15-inch versions that use IPS (In-Panel Switching) technology providing better color reproduction and a wider, more accurate viewing angle.

It can support up to an 8^th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor which assures a faster boot-up time and gives a boost when it comes to multitasking, gaming, and entertainment. Graphics options are AMD Radeon™ 535, AMD Radeon™ 540, or Intel® Integrated, and its memory can be expanded up to 12 GB DDR4, and storage of up to 2TB.

The device also boasts of an 8-hour battery life.

Prices of the Lenovo IdeaPad 330S start at Php 39,995. It comes in Iron Grey, Midnight Blue, Platinum Grey and Rose Pink.

Lenovo IdeaPad 530S – A Top Shelf Road Warrior

The most premium device of the lineup, the IdeaPad 530S features an all-aluminum polished metal chassis that is only 0.6-inches thin, weighing just a bit over 3 lbs. It also packs an impressive 10-hour battery life, good enough to last you through the day on a single charge.

Its beautiful exterior is complemented with a vibrant 250-nits 14 or 15-inch IPS Full HD resolution display. The 14-inch version features an immersive Wide Quad HD (WQHD 2560 x 1440) wide-angle display.

Running under the hood is an 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and super-fast SSD storage up to 256GB M.2 PCIe. For graphics, you can up your game with the graphics coming from the NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 card for a boost in light gameplay or video and photo editing.

The IdeaPad 530S has 4GB DDR4 Memory but can be upgraded up to have 16 GB Intel® Optane™.

Prices for the Lenovo IdeaPad 530S start at Php 49,995. It comes in Mineral Grey.

All 3 IdeaPads come equipped with the latest Windows 10 Home operating system. Aside from the requisite Wi-Fi and USB Type-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, and a 4-in-1 card reader ports, there’s also Rapid Charge—15 minutes of charging can give you up to 2 hours of use.

So whether you’re looking for a thin and light laptop for mobility, or a chic design in an eye-catching hue, Lenovo’s got an IdeaPad that’s right for you.

PH Inks Oil Exploration Deal with Israeli Firm

Wazzup Pilipinas!

FIRST SERVICE CONTRACT SIGNED: President Rodrigo R. Duterte signs Petroleum Service Contract No. 76 covering Area 4 in Eastern Palawan under the Fifth Philippine Energy Contracting Round.
The first petroleum service contract signed under the Duterte administration, Ratio Petroleum Ltd. would be able to conduct exploration activities in the East Palawan Basin for potential energy resources. 
In photo are (L-R) DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., H.E. Rafael Harpaz, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Yigal Landau, owner and Member of the Board of Ratio Petroleum Ltd., and Mr. Itay Raphael Tabibzada, Ratio Petroleum Ltd.'s CEO and President.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi attended today the Ceremonial Signing of the Petroleum Service Contract (PSC) for Area 4 (East Palawan Basin) of the Fifth Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR5) at the Heroes Hall of Malacanan Palace.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Sec. Cusi signed the PSC on behalf of the Philippine government, while Mr. Itay Raphael Tabibzada, company President and CEO, signed for Israeli firm, Ratio Petroleum Ltd.

Sec. Cusi noted that the event bodes well for Philippine-Israel economic relations, as well as the country’s upstream petroleum industry.

“The President has been very clear – our country needs to attain energy security and sustainability at the soonest possible time. We are currently experiencing how our dependence on importation has left us at the mercy of price movements in the global oil markets. We need to boost the exploration and development of our own energy resources and the awarding of the petroleum service contract to Ratio Petroleum is a step in the right direction,” he said. 

The awarded PSC is part of PECR5, which was launched in May 2014. The PECR was established as a transparent and competitive system of awarding service or operating contracts for prospective petroleum or coal areas within the country.

Ratio Petroleum will now be able to explore Area 4, covering 416,000 hectares across the East Palawan Basin for potential oil and gas resources. Projected minimum total expenditure is valued at US$34,350,000 to be derived from studies, data gathering and drilling activities over the initial seven-year contract duration.

Established in 1992, Ratio Petroleum has a number of large-scale operations at the Levant Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Israel, as well as off-shore operations in the Republic of Malta and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

“This is the first petroleum service contract signed under the Duterte administration. In fact, the last service contract awarded was with PXP Energy Corporation. This was almost five years ago in 2013,” Sec. Cusi further emphasized.

PXP Energy Corporation is the operator of PSC No. 75 in North Western Palawan under the fourth PECR. Said service contract was signed on 27 December 2013.

Also present were Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos, Assistant Secretary Aicitel E. Lascano, Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III, Assistant Secretary Gerardo D. Erguiza Jr., Director Melita V. Obillo, Ms. Maria Teresa F. Mendoza, Mr. Demujin F. Antiporda, Ms. Javerri T. Bullock, and Mr. Christian Luke C. Sevilla from the DOE, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz and his spouse, Mrs. Shulamit Harpaz, Deputy Chief of Mission Yulia Rachinsky-Spivakov, Mr. Yigal Landau, owner of Ratio Petroleum Ltd., and Mr. Eitan Aizenberg, Ratio Petroleum Chairman and Senior Vice President for Exploration and Production.

OTHER PHOTO:

PHILIPPINE-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION: Officials of the Philippine government, the State of Israel and Israeli firm, Ratio Petroleum Ltd., come together for a photo after President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed today (17 October) the Petroleum Service Contract of Area 4 (East Palawan) under the Fifth Philippine Energy Contracting Round.

(L-R) DOE Assistant Secretary Caron Aicitel E. Lascano, DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos, DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., President Rodrigo R. Duterte, H.E. Rafael Harpaz, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Yigal Landau, owner and Member of the Board of Ratio Petroleum Ltd., Mr. Eitan Aizenberg, Chairman and Senior Vice President for Exploration and Production of Ratio and Petroleum Ltd., and Mr. Itay Raphael Tabibzada, CEO and President of Ratio Petroleum Ltd.

A*Live! REVOLUT10N: The Addlib 10th Anniversary Concert

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Witness the 2017 Aliw Awards Best Dance Company, The Addlib, give you show stopping performances together with the award-winning junior team, Addlib Beta Crew at A*Live! REVOLUT10N: The Addlib 10th Anniversary Concert.

Gathering 100+ of some of the best dancers in the country today, from hip-hop to contemporary, collaborating on one night at the New Frontier Theater this Oct. 24, 2018.

Tickets are available at all TicketNet Outlets or at The Addlib Dance Studio.

Nearly Half of Cyber Threat Alerts Not Addressed by Companies in Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Companies in Philippines do not address nearly half of the legitimate cyber threat alerts they receive, according to Cisco 2018 Asia Pacific Security Capabilities Benchmark Study, released today.

Among those surveyed, 42 percent say they receive more than 5000 alerts each day. While companies in Philippines rank the lowest in Southeast Asia among those receiving more than 5,000 alerts per day, the real challenge lies in what comes after the alert is received, and how many are actually investigated.

The study shows that on average just 50 percent of the alerts received are investigated by companies in Philippines. Of those investigated, on average, only 30 percent turn out to be legitimate, of which only 51 percent are acted upon and corrected. This suggests that more work is needed to help companies and security professionals in Philippines to tackle the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.

The results of the study highlight the scale of the challenge faced by the companies, with 79 percent of respondents saying their organization has suffered a breach in the past year.

Cyberattacks are also having a significant financial impact. Among those who suffered an attack in the past twelve months, 35 percent say it cost them US$500,000 or more, while 25 percent say the cost was US$1 million or more. This includes costs from lost revenue, loss of customers, and out of pocket expenses etc.

“In the Philippines, digital transformation has been a favourite theme for consumers, businesses, and the government. While we have seen many benefits from digital innovation and adoption, it is important to ensure that we have the right infrastructure, processes, and technologies in place that continue to enable and empower digital growth. The ability to tackle the cybersecurity threat is critical on that front,” says Karrie Ilagan, Managing Director for Philippines at Cisco.

“All stakeholders need to work together in a coordinated manner to achieve this. Businesses need to raise awareness about the issue, have proper processes in place and deploy the right technologies to help identify, block or address any attacks. We need strict regulations that deter malicious actors from taking the risk of launching such attacks. Finally, we need to develop local cybersecurity talent so we have the manpower to support the country’s digital drive in a sustainable manner,” she adds.

Cyberattacks are starting to evolve from just targeting IT infrastructure to attacking operational infrastructure, intensifying the challenge for companies. According to the survey, 19 percent of respondents say they have already seen cyberattacks on their operational infrastructure, 35 percent said they expect similar attacks to take place on them within the next one year.

Given the growing scale of cyber threats, respondents say they expect scrutiny of their security policies to increase over the next one year from all stakeholders, especially their customers who are keen to ensure their data is protected. Among those surveyed, 76 percent say they expect increased scrutiny from customers. Privacy concerns are also delaying sales for the companies, with 66 percent of respondents saying such concerns are adding time to the sales cycle.

“When it comes to cyber security, it is no longer a case of a company needing to protect just its own IT infrastructure. Today, business partners, customers, and employees expect a company to keep their data secure. With stringent regulations like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force, the pressure on companies to have the right policies, technology and resources in place will only increase. Those who lag behind run the risk of not only facing high financial penalties, but also losing the trust of customers,” says Stephen Dane, Managing Director of Security for Asia-Pacific, Japan and China at Cisco.

The use of multiple vendors and products is making the challenge more complex. The study shows that 39 percent of surveyed organizations work with more than 10 security vendors, while 41 percent use more than 10 security products or solutions. This creates complexity and increases vulnerability, as having different security products, can lengthen the time to identify and contain a breach. The study highlights that companies are already facing this issue, with 97 percent of respondents saying they find it challenging to orchestrate multiple vendor alerts.

To put this in context, it is estimated that an almost instant detection of a cyber security breach within a large enterprise costs the business US$433,000. If detection is delayed by more than a week, this figure triples to an average US$1,204,000.

Key recommendations: Based on the findings of the survey, the study has made a series of recommendations that will provide companies with more actionable visibility into the threat landscape, reduce their exposure and improve their security posture. The report states that companies should consider:

Adopting next-generation end point process monitoring tools

Accessing timely, accurate threat intelligence data and processes that allow for data to be incorporated into security monitoring and eventing

Implementing first line–of-defence tools that can scale, like cloud security platforms

Employing network segmentation to help reduce outbreak exposures

Reviewing and practicing security response procedures regularly

Manila Art Fair Featured in PHLPost Personalized Stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) launches today, Oct. 17 the Personalized Stamp featuring the historic postal building and Manila Art, celebrating a decade of Artistic Excellence of Filipino artist to held at SMX Aura Convention Center Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

ManilaArt, commemorate its 10th year with a “theme: Ang ARTe ng Pilipinas”.

The country’s National Art fair brings Filipino artists together to celebrate creativity.

The art fair is being supported by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and presented by Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO).

The personalized stamp showcases artworks of Filipino Artist to promote Philippine cultural heritage and national art consciousness.

The Personalized or Photo stamps can be used not only as a gift or souvenir but also to mail letters and packages. The postal service seeks to revitalize the Philatelic business by making it appealing to the public.

“It’s like creating your own history in postage stamps,” PHLPost said.

UE CFAD Entry Bags Best Student Film in La Union

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An experimental short film, directed by University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design alumna Rodmarie Angeline Tabilog, won Best Short Film in the Student Category of the Pagwanawanan Film Festival in La Union last October 6.

The nine-minute film “Marangle” (Farm) narrates the life of a farmer who risks everything, including his land, just to have a chance to work abroad and provide a better future for his family.

Tabilog worked with other UE alumni, writer Gerard Halabaso, director of photography Isabelo Bucao, production designer Chelsea Mae Natividad, assistant director Rhuva Patiag, production manager Aldric Matthew Manapat, costume designer Erica Balaan and production staff Cyrill Mustera, Jayson Torres and Kent Santos, in shooting the film.

The film was officially selected last year as part of the Cinebalu program of the 17th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival, Sinepiyu X Film Festival, Cinesilangan and the 28th Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines Independent Film and Video Festival.

Another UE entry “Maling Akala: Ang Misteryo ng Unamuno,” an animated film by Elvin Jay Macanlalay and Arvileen Yongzon, competed in the same category of the film festival.

Tabilog is currently on a one-month internship in Taiwan for filmmaker Richard Legaspi’s new documentary project.

“Marangle” was also shown last October 6 at SEAT – South East Asia x Taiwan film colloquium and last October 13 at Brilliant Time Bookstore, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City.