News & Current Events

PH celebrates 445th Manila Day
June 24, 2016

PH celebrates 445th Manila Day

This June 24, Filipinos celebrate the founding anniversary of Manila, the country’s capital city.   Photo grabbed from malacanang.gov.ph   Manila Day is recognized as a public holiday in Manila City. Located at the eastern shore of Manila Bay, Manila is composed of 16 districts which are Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa, and Tondo. It was on June 24, 1571 when Manila was proclaimed as Spain’s capital city in the Philippines where in a government was established. Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson declared June 24 as Manila City’s foundation day and it was in […]
Sari-sari stores with WiFi in PH soon, to be funded by Microsoft
June 23, 2016

Sari-sari stores with WiFi in PH soon, to be funded by Microsoft

WIFI IN SARI SARI STORE. The sponsored WiFi scheme is can help provide connectivity to PH. Photo grabbed from Expatch)   One Philippines-based startup won seed funding from tech giant Microsoft Corporation with its idea to install 10,000 WiFi hotspots in the country using TV White Space (TVYS) technology. Quezon City-based startup WiFi Internactive Network (WIN) was one of the 12 enterprises which bested 248 startups from all over the world that made Microsoft fund them. According to an Inquirer report, this was through Microsoft’s Affordable Access Initiative, which “invests solution that can reduce the cost of Internet access and help more people get connected to World Wide Web.” According […]
State-run media only: Duterte to hold inauguration in Malacañang
June 22, 2016

State-run media only: Duterte to hold inauguration in Malacañang

He made good on his promise. If you’re hoping for a glimpse of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration, you might want to tune in to state-run People’s Television Network (PTV).   STATE MEDIA ONLY. You might not catch the inauguration of President-elect Duterte on TV live, unless you’re watching it on PTV 4, or the other networks get permission from the state-run network to use their live feed. Photo courtesy of Patrick Roque via Wikimedia Commons.   In a report from the Inquirer.net, incoming Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) head Martin Andanar said only the state-run People’s Television Network (PTV 4) and Presidential Broadcast Staff – Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) will […]
What to expect and do: 2nd #MMShakeDrill on June 22
June 21, 2016

What to expect and do: 2nd #MMShakeDrill on June 22

The Metro Manila Development Authority has given the green light for the second Metro Manila ShakeDrill simulation exercise on June 22 at 9 a.m. This can only mean one thing: people should once again be prepared for our country’s “Big One.”   IT ALL GOES DOWN ON JUNE 22. Let’s all participate in this year’s #MMShakeDrill. Photo grabbed from MMDA official website.   Everyone is encouraged to participate in order to promote awareness. To help you cope with everything that will go down on that day, here are the things you should expect do when the alarm sounds for #MMShakeDrill: 1. Drop/duck, cover, hold. Remember these words, as they are […]
Uniqlo bags top foreign brand retailer award from DTI and PRA
June 21, 2016

Uniqlo bags top foreign brand retailer award from DTI and PRA

The wave of international brands is indeed upon us as Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo won at the 19th Outstanding Filipino Retailers & Shopping Centers of the Year (OFR-SCY) Awards.   UNIQLO WINS BIG. The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) recognized Uniqlo as the best in the Large Foreign Brand Retailer category. Logo from Wikimedia Commons.   Uniqlo bested other foreign brands as it bagged the award for Foreign Brand Retailer in the large category. Uniqlo has been in the country since 2013 and has been on a surge thanks to its quality products sold at affordable prices. SM Megamall was elevated to the OFR-SCY Hall of Fame as one of the […]
The King delivers: Cleveland Cavaliers are the 2016 NBA Champions!
June 20, 2016

The King delivers: Cleveland Cavaliers are the 2016 NBA Champions!

History has been made! After a 52-year title drought, the city of Cleveland, OH finally has something to celebrate. The Cleveland Cavaliers have just been crowned the 2016 NBA Champions!   #CAVSWIN. Your 2016 NBA Champions: the Cleveland Cavaliers! Photo courtesy of Cleveland Cavaliers Facebook page.   It was a Finals series that’s one for the history books. Not only was it the first championship for the Cavaliers in their 46 years of existence, but also the city’s first championship in professional sports. They’ve also booked a place in the history books as the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit, beating the Golden State Warriors 93-89. The […]
International luxury hotel brand Conrad opens in Manila
June 17, 2016

International luxury hotel brand Conrad opens in Manila

Led by the SM Hotels and Convention Corporations (SMHCC), one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands Conrad has finally debuted in Manila.     Conrad Manila, which is the luxury flagship brand in the Hilton Family of Brands, is the chain’s 15th location in the Asia Pacific. Owned by the SMHCC and managed by Hilton Worldwide, this 347-room hotel located in Mall of Asia’s lifestyle city complex in Pasay is the newest luxury destination in the metro. With its hugely iconic sail structure and shopping mall, Conrad Manila aims to target the dynamic market of the Philippines for both business and leisure stay.   SMHCC, Hilton Worldwide, and […]
PLDT, Smart unveil new logos in line with change
June 14, 2016

PLDT, Smart unveil new logos in line with change

Change has come to PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. with the unveiling of their new logos in line with a fresh brand identity and a shift towards digital.   CHANGE HAS ARRIVED. PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. unveiled these new logos yesterday at their “It’s a New Day for PLDT-Smart,” held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Photo courtesy of PLDT News Center.   The logos were unveiled during an event held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel called “It’s A New Day for PLDT-Smart.” In line with the rebrand and change in logo is the change in the company’s name, from “Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company” to “PLDT Inc.” […]
Japan honors former PH president Elpidio Quirino in Hibiya Park
June 14, 2016

Japan honors former PH president Elpidio Quirino in Hibiya Park

On June 18, a solemn ceremony will be held in Hibiya Park in Tokyo, Japan to commemorate former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino for his honor.     Several Japanese government officials and Filipino guests will be attending the unveiling of the metal marker bearing Quirino’s face, which will be placed in the park as a grand gesture of peace and friendship between Japan and the Philippines. According to Inquirer report, this commemorative marker was made because of Quirino’s role in rebuilding the two country’s friendship. As the sixth president of PH, Quirino made an important decision of giving a presidential pardon to the last Japanese prisoners of war in 1945. […]
Filipino wins Tony award for best costume design
June 14, 2016

Filipino wins Tony award for best costume design

Another Filipino has been added to the list of talents who have won a Tony! New York-based designer Clint Ramos bagged the award for the play Eclipsed at this year’s Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12.     The University of the Philippines Theater Arts alumni started doing design work for the campus’ theater production, Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, before getting a Master of Fine Arts Design degree for Stage and Film at the New York University’s Tisch School of Arts under a full scholarship. Since then, he has been designing costumes for plays both in the U.S. and internationally. Ramos is the 4th Filipino to have won a Tony, […]
Out Now! Philippine Primer June Issue
June 10, 2016

Out Now! Philippine Primer June Issue

Get Primer Magazine today to discover what’s happening in the Metro this June! via GIPHY Street: BGC For the June issue of Philippine Primer, come join us as we raid the unprecedented streets of Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Visit a modern Manila and walk on the street of BGC as there is always something new for everyone, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or going out on another food crawl. Philippine Primer features new and notable restaurants, establishment, and happenings around BGC. Start flipping the pages, book a reservation, and appreciate the good things in this cosmopolitan city in Manila!     Travel: Laguna Need a vacation destination that is […]
Japan’s famous Cherry Blossoms, soon to bloom in Benguet
June 08, 2016

Japan’s famous Cherry Blossoms, soon to bloom in Benguet

CHERRY BLOSSOMS. In just a few years, you can already see Japan’s much-loved Sakura park in PH!   Now, you don’t have to go to Japan to see Sakura Park. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of sisterhood ties between Japan Prefecture and Benguet province, officials of Atok, Benguet and officials from Kochi prefecture and Japanese embassy planted over 30 cherry blossoms and other Japanese trees in the said province.   Photo grabbed from ABS-CBN News   These trees were planted at a mountaintop park situated at 2,000 meters above sea level. According to a CNN Philippines report, cherry blossoms were propagated in November 2015 but only few survived as […]
Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo wins prestigious award in Japan
June 07, 2016

Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo wins prestigious award in Japan

AMBETH OCAMPO. Author of “Rizal without the Overcoat,” is given an Academic Prize in Japan. Photo grabbed from ue.edu.ph   Known for his writings on national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, historian and writer Ambeth Ocampo has been given the Academic Prize by the prestigious award-giving body Fukuoka Prize in Japan. This Academic Prize is accordingly given to those who “have made outstanding achievements in the field of Asian studies, contributing to the world’s understanding of Asia.” This award is given by the Fukuoka Prize, an award-giving body which recognizes individuals from East, South, and Southeast Asia who have “outstanding contributions to the preservation and creation of Asian Culture through their […]
Dancing MMDA Constables remind everyone of #MMShakeDrill
June 06, 2016

Dancing MMDA Constables remind everyone of #MMShakeDrill

In case you missed it, the Metro Manila Shake Drill is happening on June 22, 2016 at 9 a.m. To remind people of the event, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) released this video on their official twitter account, @MMDA:     Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. Those are 2 of MMDA’s finest constables, dancing to the 1978 hit single Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches & Herb. The Metro Manila ShakeDrill (#MMShakeDrill) is a metro-wide earthquake drill that’s looking to get everyone in gear when a massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits the nation’s capital. This event is organized by the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council […]
“The Greatest” dies at 74
June 06, 2016

“The Greatest” dies at 74

Dubbed “The Greatest”, boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away last June 3 (June 4 in Manila) at a hospital in Phoenix, AZ. He was 74.   LEGENDS IN ONE PHOTO. The Beatles take a punch from then-heavyweight contender Cassius Clay, the man who would later be known as Muhammad Ali. Photo courtesy of Autore Sconosciuto via Wikimedia Commons.   In a report from NBC News, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said the boxing legend died because of septic shock “due to unspecified natural causes.” Ali has been battling Parkinson’s disease for 32 years prior to his passing. Tributes came in waves over social media from all over the world, especially from […]
Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan starts on June 6
June 06, 2016

Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan starts on June 6

RAMADAN. The holy month of the Muslims. Photo grabbed from sundaymail.co.zw   In accordance to the Islamic calendar, Ramadan will start on June 6 which prompts Muslims all over the world to do fasting in commemoration of their Islamic belief. The Ramadan is the 9th of the 12 months of the Hijra lunar calendar, which is considered to be the holiest of all months for the Muslims. It’s also the time when God’s revelation in Qur’an is finally completed. The Ramadan is associated with lunar cycles, which is why when the moon was sighted in Malaysia, according to Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan of Darul Ifta House of Opinion of Maguindanao […]
Share the Feeling today with COCA-COLA Emoticons!
June 03, 2016

Share the Feeling today with COCA-COLA Emoticons!

Have you ever gotten into a situation where there’s something you’re dying to say what you feel… but you just can’t say it? Coca-Cola is here to help you say what you feel with Coca-Cola Emoticons! Just drop by 7-Eleven Caltex Connecticut today, June 4, and get a FREE personalized COKE Emoticon for a minimum purchase of P100!   SHARE THE FEELING WITH COKE. Visit 7-Eleven Caltex Connecticut today and get a free personalized Coke Emoticon bottle! Photo courtesy of COCA-COLA Philippines Facebook page   #TasteTheFeeling with Coca-Cola and who knows, you might just get your message across without saying a single word. Can’t make it today? Follow the COCA-COLA […]
Senate approves bill prohibiting use of phones while driving
June 03, 2016

Senate approves bill prohibiting use of phones while driving

Just recently, the Senate has finally approved the bill that prohibits mobile phone usage and other forms of distracting activities while driving in the Philippines.     According to a press release from the senate, Senate Bill No. 3211 known as the “Anti-Distracted Driving Act,” aims to “safe guard the public from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of vehicular accidents.” This bill prohibits the use of mobile communication to write, send or read text, and to make and receive phone calls. This also includes “using any electronic entertainment or computing device to play games, watch movies, surf the internet, read e-books, perform calculations, and other similar acts,” all while […]
Kojie San Men celebrates “Saktong Pogi Night”
June 03, 2016

Kojie San Men celebrates “Saktong Pogi Night”

Move over hunks and guys who look like movie stars. There’s a new guy in town that the ladies will be after: the Saktong Pogi guy. Kojie San Men celebrated the rise of the Saktong Pogi guy last April 2 at the 12 Monkeys Bar with Saktong Pogi Night.   SAKTONG SAKTO. The Saktong Pogi ambassadors Bogart the Explorer from Davao City (first from left) and Wil Dasovich (last from left) with the Saktong Pogi Dating Game winner Nico Sicio (third from left). Also in this photo are brand manager for Kojie San Men Meredith Villanueva-Balmes, Jinri Park, and host Joyce Pring.   Present at the event were Meredith Villanueva-Balmes, […]
Robinsons Starmills goes green with largest solar rooftop plant
May 31, 2016

Robinsons Starmills goes green with largest solar rooftop plant

Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga can now claim to have the world’s largest solar rooftop plant thanks to Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC)   GREEN MALL. Robinsons Starmills can now call itself one of the country’s greenest malls. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.   The 2.88-megawatt solar plant was switched on last Monday, May 30, breaking the record held by SM City North EDSA, which stood at 1.5 MW. Power from the solar plant will be used exclusively by the mall, cutting its carbon emissions by 2.25 million kilograms – equivalent to planting 100,000 trees. According to RLC President Frederick Go, “The sprawling design of Robinsons Starmills and the wide […]