AirAsia celebrates inter-Asean connectivity with new Manila-Jakarta flights #AirAsiainJakarta

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Traditional water cannon salute upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

AirAsia is now flying from Manila to Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, further strengthening the airline’s commitment as a truly Asean carrier. 

(L-R) AirAsia Cabin Crew, I Ketut Ferry Utameyasa , Senior Manager of Aeronautical Commercial Division, Angkasa Pura 2, Adji Gunawan, CEO of PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta Tbk, AirAsia Philippines CEO Capt. Dexter Comendador, Marianne Ludwina, CFO PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta Tbk, AirAsia Philippines Chairperson Maan Hontiveros, Dendy Kurniawan, CEO of AirAsia Group in Indonesia, Hon. Budi Dhewajani, Charge d'affaires, Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia in Manila

AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine years running, flew its maiden flight from Manila to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta today with send-off ceremonies held at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. 

AirAsia flight Z2 235 with pilot in command AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador left Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport with 100% pax load and was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

(L-R) Rifai Taberi, Commercial Director AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines CEO Capt. Dexter Comendador, AirAsia Cabin Crew

AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador said, “AirAsia is a product of Asean and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home. We are thrilled to add another Asean destination into our ever growing network. We do love Asean so much that today we are starting Manila - Jakarta and by next week or on January 19, we are to fly Manila – Bali next.”

Officers from the Embassy of Indonesia to the Philippines led by Charge d'affaires Budi Dhewajani and Hidayat Zakaira joined AirAsia Philippines Chairperson Maan Hontiveros aboard the inaugural flight from Manila to Jakarta along with guests from start-ups business community, Filipina CEO Circle in the Philippines and members of the media. 

AirAsia Group CEO for Indonesia, Mr. Dendy Kurniawan, and officials from transportation, tourism and airport ministries in Indonesia, meanwhile, welcomed the Philippine group at a ceremonial dinner held in Seribu Rasa Menteng in Jakarta.

“We want to bring the people across the Asean region closer together with our new flights connecting Manila to Jakarta and Bali following our Manila – Ho Chi Minh City last November, we are looking at adding new routes to Thailand this year and further expand our Asean footprint to serve more and more communities.” Comendador said. 

AirAsia also offers several flights to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Singapore from Manila and Cebu in the Philippines. 

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaFilipino), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPH) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaFilipino).

About AirAsia Philippines:

AirAsia Philippines is a wholly owned subsidiary of AirAsia Inc. which is a joint venture company among Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, former Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao, Michael L. Romero, Marianne B. Hontiveros, and Malaysia’s AirAsia Berhad.

AAP operates a fleet of 17 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo. The airline operates several flights to/from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Tacloban, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Clark, and Iloilo in the Philippines with international flights to/from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon (Seoul), Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Guangzhou, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

AAP is part of the AirAsia Group that has been awarded the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine consecutive years running by Skytrax since 2009 to 2017.

About the AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with over 120 destinations. Within 15 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 350 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 170. The airline is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, India and Japan, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries and beyond. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for nine consecutive years from 2009 – 2017. AirAsia is the first airline globally to collaborate with INTERPOL to implement the I-Checkit system to screen the passports of all its prospective passengers against information contained in the world police body’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

The Moffatts are back!

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Manila Philippines (January 8, 2018) – It has been 18 years since, Canada’s Much Music’s Fan Favourite Band of the Year, and hosts of the 2000 Juno Awards, released any new music. But that’s all about to change!

On January 10th, 2018 The Moffatts, will release the first single from their new 6 song EP of the same name “Secrets”. On January 10th, 2018 The Moffatts, will release the first single from their On January 9, the single will have a world premiere on EasyFM -- 6:15 pm Manila. People can stream it - http://eazyfm.becteroradio.com. 

The EP will follow in the footsteps of past Moffatt records, featuring powerful harmonies, infectious rhythmic melodies, and great guitar licks. The EP was recorded and produced by The Moffatts, and the brothers were writers on all songs. The EP will be distributed by BEC TERO MUSIC; a SONY MUSIC affiliate out of Bangkok Thailand. 

The Moffatts consist of four brothers: Bob Moffatt – Drums, Programming, and Vocals; Clint Moffatt – Bass, Acoustic Guitar, and Vocals; Dave Moffatt – Keyboards, and Vocals; and Scott Moffatt – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Programming, and Vocals. 

Back in the late 90’s The Moffatts were EMI Music’s #1 International Priority, and toured the world extensively, where they sold in excess of 7 million albums, and were presented with Gold and Platinum records in 32 countries – which included going 10X’s platinum in The Philippines. Their last album, Submodalities featured the #1 hit - Bang Bang Boom, which at the time was the fastest #1 single in Canadian music history. 

The Moffatts signed their first record deal in 1994, and at the time they became the youngest band to ever sign a major label, recording contract. Label mates were none other than Shania Twain, and Toby Keith. In 1997 The Moffatts changed genre and signed a new deal with EMI Electrola out of Cologne, Germany.

Although The Moffatts were not performing as a band from 2000 to 2018, it doesn’t mean that they had hung up their instruments. Scott was the producer that broke Slot Machine, Thailand’s most successful international Pop/Rock band, and won producer of the year. Currently Scott produce’s country music Super-Star Luke Combs. Bob and Clint released a number of projects under various names. Same Same featured the biggest selling international album of the year throughout S.E. Asia in 2006 with the #1 hit ‘Love Isn’t’. Like Strangers had a top 20 hit with ‘Goodbye Baby’ in 2014, and Endless Summer’s hit ‘Amen for Women’ reached #1 on Spotify Canada charts in 2016. When The Moffatts disbanded Dave choose a completely new direction, pursuing the spiritual path of Yoga, until mid 2017 when he chose to return to the world of music, and joined his brother’s to record this new record, and write songs within Nashville's prestigious A circle. 

The Moffatts will begin touring in late April of 2018.

Globe blocks nearly 2,500 illegal sites with #PlayItRight

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Globe Telecom stepped up its drive versus illegal content by blocking a total of 2,471 domains or sites in 2017 that hosted lewd content and child pornography as part of its #PlayItRight advocacy campaign.

The company has taken a stronger stance to combat child pornography by blocking websites and related content as stipulated in the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009. 

  “As a purpose-led organization, we have a responsibility to ensure that our products and services will not be used for illegal activities. Globe Telecom is strongly committed to help address child pornography in the country,” said Yoly Crisanto, SVP for Corporate Communications. She emphasized that the company will actively look out for illegal sites that contain vulgar content involving children.

Having partnered with global and local content creators and distributors for its content business, Globe has also taken an active role in promoting legitimate sources of online content. In 2017, the company launched the #PlayItRight advocacy to help the entertainment industry curb piracy and protect intellectual property rights. 

  “Our advocacy #PlayItRight goes beyond anti-piracy, it also aims to protect customers against malware and other cyber security threats that normally accompany illegal content or torrenting sites,” Crisanto revealed. 

“With today’s highly accessible and affordable data and content packages, downloading content from legitimate sources has become so easy and convenient,” she said. “As more mobile and home broadband customers get used to streaming videos on their devices, it is imperative for us to provide our customers with safe and quality content, at the same time, protect the sources of original content including the licensed content of its global partners,” she added.

She said that the #PlayItRight campaign sends a strong message to the public to consume digital content the right way. “We want everyone to consciously behave positively online and stop illegal torrents or other illegitimate online sources. Let’s create new habits that would encourage people to create original content more and give them what’s rightfully due them,” she said.

In 2014, Globe introduced Spotify that changed the way Filipinos download music, helping curb illegal download of mp3 music from illegitimate sources.

Tsinelas to Superheroes: The Elmer Padilla Story

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The artist shares the secret ingredient for his quality work.

From salt-powered lamps to the legendary karaoke machine, stories of Filipino ingenuity and creativity have always inspired us, as well as people all over the world. Now, we take a look at the latest among our countrymen to be recognized on the international stage for his brilliance.

Last September, Elmer Padilla made headlines when his handmade action figures, made of recycled tsinelas, were posted on Facebook. He has since made an appearance on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, and his work was even handed to Thor: Ragnarok actors Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, who praised Elmer’s depictions of their characters.

Elmer has always loved action figures, though he could never really afford them as a child. He turned to his creativity at a young age so that he could make his own. “Nine years old po ako noong magstart ako sa paggawa. Hindi pa po character ang mga ginagawa ko noon. Bangka-bangka lang po gamit ang mga tsinelas na sira hanggang sa nakakabuo na ako ng mga robot sa sarili kong imahinasyon. Hanggang sa nahilig ako sa mga action figures sa movie. Sinubukan ko na po gumaya ng mga action figures. (I was nine years old when I started making these. At the time, I didn’t make characters. I just made boats out of broken flip-flops until I was able to make robots of my own imagination. Then, I began taking an interest in action figures from movies. At that point, I tried imitating action figures.),” he said. 

Originally hailing from Samar, Elmer, his wife, and two daughters recently moved to Imus, Cavite to try and fulfill his dream of making and selling action figures. It was here that he was discovered selling his tsinelas action figures on the streets, and from there, his fame skyrocketed.

Today, Elmer receives guidance from Jerry Santos, a toymaker who makes life-sized statues for his store, Jerry’s Life-Size Statues and Collectibles. Orders for his work have piled up so much, he can barely keep up with demand. “Actually, sa isang araw, nakakatanggap kami ng 70 orders. Yung iba hindi na niya nasasagot sa social media dahil nga medyo busy na rin talaga. Akala nila suplado si Elmer pero talagang marami lang talagang dating ng order. (Actually, in a single day, we can receive up to 70 orders. He can’t respond to the others on social media because he’s really busy. They think Elmer is being snobbish, but really, there are just so many orders coming in.),” Jerry Santos said.

Elmer’s primary expense in making his action figures has been the purchase of MIGHTY BOND. Sometimes, when he runs out of money, he’d just buy ordinary shoe glue, but this lowers the quality of his work. 

“Kapag ordinaryong shoe glue lang talaga, madaling matanggal ang dikit kapag natutuyo na. Kapag MIGHTY BOND ang gamit ko, mabilis dumikit at matibay kahit na yung sa mga parte pa ng action figures na mahirap dumikit gaya nung mga wires at plastic. (When I use just ordinary shoe glue, the stickiness easily fades when it dries. When I use MIGHTY BOND, it sticks quickly and it stays sturdy, even with the parts of the action figures that are hard to glue like wires and plastic.),” he said.

Right now, Elmer’s income from his craft remains a little slow, as it’s just him working on fulfilling the orders. Already, though, he’s being courted by international flip-flop brands hoping to become his supplier. And in the coming days, he’s going to personally hand action figures to President Duterte and President Trump, during the ASEAN Summit. 

In spite of rising fame and fortune, Elmer’s dreams remain squarely grounded at home. He wants to be able to buy a house for his family, and buy whatever they need. With all the hard work he puts in for his family, he truly is as good as the superheroes he depicts.

All set for Black Nazarene Traslacion

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The Black Nazarene (Poong itim na Nazareno)

More than 12 million devotees are expected to join the annual “traslacion” procession of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church this Tuesday.

San Sebastian, Recoletos St. - January 9, 2014, Traslación of the Black Nazarene (myrns.roman)

Every year on January 9 during Fiesta in Quiapo, millions of Filipino devotees gather in Manila for a procession of the Black Nazarene, a life-sized statue of a suffering Jesus fallen under the weight of the cross, along a 6.5 km route from Rizal (Luneta) Park to the minor basilica in Quiapo.

Quiapo Church, January 9, 2014, Traslación of the Black Nazarene (myrns.roman)

The procession reenacts a seemingly minor historical event, the 1787 solemn Translacion, or transfer, of the image from its original home, where Rizal Park is now located, to its present home at the basilica in Quiapo. With the namamasan, the barefoot rope bearers who pull the carriage bearing the Black Nazarene statue, push their way through the crowds. 

Most Filipino Catholics consider the Nazarene statue to be miraculous, able to heal terminal cancers and other sicknesses, to grant petitions, and to help those in need.

Photo : Jim Guiao Punzalan

Schedule of 2018 activities of Feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo

The official Facebook Page of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo released the list of activities for the upcoming Traslacion.

Last December 31, 2 am – Thanksgiving Procession and  December 31 to January 8, 6 pm – Novena Mass

January 7, 1:30 pm – Replica procession

January 9, 12 mn – Eucharistic Celebration at Quirino Grandstand. Fr Hernando Coronel is the presider of the mass while Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will give the homily.

January 9, 5 am – After the morning prayer at 5 am, Traslacion starts from Luneta to Quiapo Church.

Historical background

An image of the Black Nazarene, carved of mesquite wood by an anonymous Mexican sculptor, arrived in Manila in the mid 1600s. The statue was partially destroyed in 1945 during the liberation of Manila in World War II. The Archdiocese of Manila commissioned a renowned Filipino santero, or saint carver, Gener Manlaqui, to sculpt the present day replica, using the original head.

The Black Nazarene statue was brought to Manila by the first group of Augustinian Recollect friars on May 31, 1606. The image was originally housed in the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan (now part of the Rizal Park), which was established on September 10, 1606, and placed under the patronage of Saint Juan Bautista Saint John the Baptist.

In 1608, the image of the "Nazareno" was transferred to the second, bigger Recollect church dedicated to San Nicolas de Tolentino (Saint Nicholas of Tolentine). The Recollect Fathers dynamically promoted devotion to the Suffering of Our Lord represented by the image that in fifteen short years, the Cofradia de Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno was established on April 21, 1621. The confraternity obtained Papal approval on April 20, 1650, from Pope Innocent X.

In the year 1787, then Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina, ordered the transfer of the image of the Nazareno to the church in Quiapo, again providently placed under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist.

The Black Nazarene made a lot of miraculous things. These are the survival of the image from the great fires that destroyed Quiapo Church in 1791 and 1929, the great earthquakes of 1645 and 1863, and the destructive Bombing of Manila in 1945 during World War II. Today the head and the cross stay on the Altar Mayor of the Minor Basilica, and the original body image of the Black Nazarene is used in the processions. Other, even smaller replica can be found in other churches.

The Quiapo church uses a main hymn to the Black Nazarene that has been composed by Lucio San Pedro

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Sinasamba ka namin (We worship you)

Pinipintuho ka namin (we admire you)

Aral mo ang aming buhay (Your lessons are our life)

at Kaligtasan (and our salvation)

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Iligtas mo kami sa Kasalanan 

(Please save us from our sins)

Ang Krus mong Kinamatayan ay 

(Your cross from which you died on)

Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan 

(is the sign of our Salvation)

Chorus:

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)

Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno 

(Our Father Jesus Nazarene)

Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)

There are religious celebrations anywhere in the world can match this feast in terms of the number and fervor of devotees surrounding the procession.