69th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Now Accepting Entries

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 69th year of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the longest-running and most prestigious literary contest in the country, is now accepting submissions to its regular categories stated below:

· Novel and Nobela categories

· English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;

· Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;

· Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.

The special Kabataan Division for young writers below 18 years of age is also now open for entries in its two categories: English and Filipino. Submissions must be informal (personal) essays that answer the question “At a time when spreading of misinformation is getting common, what can you do to help people, especially the youth, search for the truth?” (Kabataan Essay) and “Sa panahon na laganap ang pagkalat ng maling impormasyon, paano mo matutulungan ang mga tao, lalo na ang kabataan, na hanapin ang katotohanan?”(Kabataan Sanaysay).

The contest is open to all Filipino citizens or former Filipino citizens of all ages except current directors, officers, and employees of the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. Authors who wish to join may submit only one (1) entry per category. THE DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES IS ON 31 MAY 2019.

Note that published/produced works which were first published or first produced between 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019 and/or unpublished/unproduced works may be entered in the contest. For the Novel and Nobela categories, published works which were first published within a period of two (2) years prior to 31 May 2019, and unpublished works may be entered in the contest. Only unproduced works may be entered in the Dulang Pampelikula category. A work which has been awarded a prize in another contest before 12:00 m.n. of 31 May 2019 is not qualified for the awards.

All submissions must be printed copies. The Carlos Palanca Foundation will NOTaccept online or email submissions for all categories.

Established in 1950, the Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature honors the legacy of businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr. It aims to develop and nurture Philippine literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary work and to be a treasury of the Philippines’ literary gems and assist in its eventual dissemination.

For official contest rules and forms, visit the Palanca Foundation office at Ground Floor, Greenbelt Excelsior Bldg., 105 C. Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. Participants may also contact the CPMA office through email at cpmawards@gmail.com or at (632) 843-8277 for further inquiries and other concerns. Ask for Leslie B. Layoso or Susan Castillo.

Visit the Palanca Foundation website for more details.

8th Philippine SME Business Expo and Conference to Open on May 02, 2019

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Philippines’ Largest Business-2-Business Expo, Conference, and Networking Event for Small and Medium Enterprises – the 8th Philippine SME Business Expo & Conference [PHILSME] is now all set to open its 8th edition on May 02, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

The event provides growth opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through a 2-day interactive business event composed of an expo and a 2-day business conference expecting to draw over 10,000 small and medium sized business owners, business professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. It will run from May 02-03, 2019.

A much bigger expo will be expected for this year featuring over 250 exhibiting brands offering various business solutions and opportunities such as IT solutions, business consultancy, logistics, financial technology, insurance, human resources & recruitment, office spaces, marketing & advertising, franchising, distributorship and many more.

Main highlight for this edition’s expo is the launching of the Innovations Village where technological start-up companies are now given the spotlight to showcase the latest technological business solutions to support SMEs.

“In this age of e-commerce, advancements in technology has been a pivotal machinery for most businesses today. This is the reason why this edition’s PHILSME is different – we invested in technology through the launching of the Innovations Village. We are excited to meet and explore a wide array of new and even more technological business solutions that will strengthen and empower the Small and Medium Enterprises here in the Philippines.” says PHILSME Founder and Mediacom Solutions, Inc. Chief Events Officer, David Abrenilla.

In addition, this edition’s business conference will feature over 20 business talks on areas of digital marketing, e-commerce, logistics, operations, finance, sales, information-technology, human resources, accounting and many more.  Negash Devata, General Manager for Cross-Border Trade from Paypal Southeast Asia and Mr. Mikey Asiddao, the Chief Information Officer of Fexco Philippines will be among the notable speakers for this year.

The 8th Philippine SME Business Expo & Conference is sponsored by LBC Express, Spaces, Esquire Financing, Zoho Corporation, Easy Debit by Fexco Philippines, Epson Philippines, Canon Marketing Philippines and Benchmark Email Philippines. PHILSME is also supported by the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Filipino International Franchise Association, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Cassava Growers and Processors Association.

For visitor inquiries and conference tickets, contact Sunshine Sy at +632-218-9517. +632-266-0092, +63-928-732-5557, or +63-927-395-1575 or send an email to sunshine@philsme.com

Connect with the SME community via Facebook at www.facebook.com/PhilippineSMEBusinessExpo

PICTURE 1. Various business leaders pose for a photo-op during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
PICTURE 2. Director Jerry T. Clavesillas, Director of the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development of the Department of Trade and Industry, expresses his support in PHILSME’s endeavor to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises.
PICTURE 3. International Office Space Company, Regus has been the Gold Sponsor of PHILSME for six consecutive editions. 
PICTURE 4. Transportify Philippines has been one of the business solution exhibitors of PHILSME related to logistics.
PICTURE 5. PHILSME is a suitable platform to meet and learn face-2-face from over 120 exhibitors offering over 250 top business solutions and opportunities.

MARINA Advocates Gender Equality in the Shipbuilding, Ship Repair Industry

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Maritime Industry Authority, through the Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS), continues to advocate equal opportunities for both men and women in the shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry through a gender sensitivity workshop with SBSR stakeholders in Mindanao.

The MARINA believes that the active participation of every Filipino will lead to the fulfillment of the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) and part of it is employing more people in the maritime industry, regardless of gender.

Ms. Marichu Magpantay-Buergo, a Gender and Development (GAD) specialist, discussed the social construction of gender, concepts and tools for gender analysis, as well as gender-based inequalities in the society.

Buergo debunked the myth that men are stronger compared to women. She emphasized that no scientific study has proven the claim, clarifying that women may actually be stronger than men for their capability to carry an unborn child inside their bodies for nine months. She also highlighted that men and women only differed on their physiological aspect and biological make-up.

Finally, Buergo encouraged the participants to share their gained knowledge on gender sensitivity with their colleagues to further strengthen cooperation and oneness at the workplace.

To conclude, the MARINA reminded participants that a more inclusive and less discriminatory environment is instrumental in engaging more individuals in the maritime industry.

“This gender sensitivity workshop is not intended to devalue men by empowering women, but an opportunity to learn how to respect each and every individual," MARINA-SRS Director Engr. Ramon Hernandez said.