ITDI pursues backend innovation, inaugurates MMIC

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) will be inaugurating the country’s first innovation hub on February 18, 2021.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña, together with Undersecretary for R&D Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, and ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, will be opening to the public the Modular Multi-Industry Innovation Center (MMIC) or "InnoHub sa Pinas" located at the CED and MMIC Building at the DOST Complex in Taguig City.

The MMIC is one of several projects supported by the Science Department, through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). 

With MMIC, the Philippines is joining the ranks of Canada, Malaysia, and Mexico in setting up an Innovation Hub for advanced scale up of researches on food and nutraceutical products.

The aim is to give back to Filipinos the experience and way of work and life that is made more functional, efficient, and cost-effective because of science. 

MMIC or "InnoHub sa Pinas" is the Department’s platform to innovate and meet growing industry demands. It is ITDI’s core R&D facility, which uses manufacturing by-products as raw materials, otherwise known as "backend innovation." It is equipped with modular equipment that are multi-functional. ITDI can retrofit these machines for use by different manufacturing lines, using both manual and automated processing.

These facilities, complete with handling support equipment, can be used by the local industry sectors as a venue for developing new products, product equivalents, product variances, and product reintroductions, as well as, pilot capacity production.’

And so while the country is slightly hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, ITDI continues to pursue ways to boost industry competitivenesseven at the backend.

149th death anniversary of martyred priests GomBurZa

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), City Government of Manila and the National Parks Development Committee led the commemorative rites for the 149th death anniversary of martyred priests Frs. Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomes and Jacinto Zamora on 17 February 2021.


The commemorative program started at 6:00 a.m. with the blessing of the tomb of the martyred priests at St. Pancratius Chapel, Paco Park Cemetery, Manila to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Joel Rescober, C.M. with selected NHCP officials.



Simple commemorative rites followed at the GOMBURZA execution site, Rizal Park, Manila at 7:00 a.m. The National Anthem was administered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ceremonies were led by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso together with NHCP Chairman Dr. Rene R. Escalante, National Parks Development Committee Executive Director Cecille L. Romero, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director Al Ryan S. Alejandre, Intramuros Administration Administrator Atty. Guiller Asido, and DepED-Manila, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Magdalena Lim.



They were joined by the principals of Mariano Gomez Elementary School, Jose Burgos Elementary School and Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in Manila, selected officials from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Knights of Columbus – GOMBURZA Assemblies, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.



Unveiling of a declaration marker and launching of the GOMBURZA@150 logo immediately followed at the GOMBURZA monument, Burgos St., Ermita Manila at 8:00 a.m. headed by Manila Mayor Domagoso, NHCP Chairman Escalante, Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, National Museum Chairman of the Board Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, NM Director General Jeremy Barns, NHCP Executive Director Restituto L. Aguilar, and Ms. Pearl Saprid, daughter of Mr. Solomon
Saprid, sculptor of the GOMBURZA monument.



NM Director-General Barns delivered his welcome remarks. NHCP Chairman Escalante gave his message in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the martyrdom of GOMBURZA and presented the certificate of the GOMBURZA marker to Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who gave her acceptance speech. Manila Mayor Domagoso delivered the message.



The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine historical heritage through research and publication, conservation, marking of historic sites and structures, and administration of national shrines and museums.

Denice Zamboanga All Praises for 16-Year-Old Victoria Lee Ahead of ONE Championship Debut

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Teenage fighting sensation Victoria “The Prodigy” Lee is all set to make her first appearance inside the Circle, and #1-ranked atomweight Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga is looking forward to her highly-anticipated debut.

Lee, the younger sibling of ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee and ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee, will face off with Thailand’s Sunisa “Thunderstorm” Srisen at ONE: FISTS OF FURY, which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 26 February.

Zamboanga believes the youngest Lee fighter yet has a bright future ahead of her and is all praises for the rising star.

“I think Victoria, coming from a renowned fighting family, is destined to become a world champion like her older brother and sister. She’s got a good camp, and her future looks bright,” said Zamboanga.

“This fight against Sunisa is going to be a good match. Victoria is so young and talented, while Sunisa has some experience.”

ONE Championship announced Lee signed with the promotion late last year, joining her older siblings in the Home of Martial Arts. Despite being just 16 years of age, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was buzzing with excitement at the teenage star’s potential.

Sityodtong iterated that Lee’s age had no correlation with her ability to fight. It’s a sentiment that Zamboanga seems to share with ONE’s head honcho.

“I really admire Victoria because at such a young age, she’s already fighting in professional mixed martial arts in the best organization in the world. When I was 16, I hadn’t even started martial arts yet. She’s got a fantastic running start, and I have no doubt she will go far,” said Zamboanga.

“When it comes to mixed martial arts and fighting, I don’t think age matters. It’s all about skill and capability, strength, technique. With her support system and resources available to her, she’s going to be a strong contender. I believe she can smash all of her opponents, even if they are older than her.”

In the main event of ONE: FISTS OF FURY, reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi defends his world title against multiple-time Lumpinee Stadium World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9.


Also seeing action on the card is kickboxing legend Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, and reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon.