DOTC Concludes successful Philippine Transit App Challenge

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Top-winning app lets commuters share traffic, weather info, events and others.

The Department of Transportation and Communication’s (DOTC) Philippine Transit App Challenge, the first in Southeast Asia, was a resounding success, drawing participants from as far as Cebu for a three-month hack-at-home competition to develop an app that will ease commuting in the megacities of Cebu and Metro Manila.

At the culminating event held last 14 October at the GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center Auditorium in UP-Diliman, competition finalists got to demonstrate how their apps worked and the various benefits each offered.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya thanked the developers for sharing their talent in helping provide tools to the commuting public for navigating the two giant metros.

“I commend all of the participants to our App Challenge, especially the finalists who are here tonight, for spending the last three months being a part of the solution to one of our country’s toughest problems,” he said.

Trip Barker, a community-based trip planner for mass transit systems through which users can share real-time weather, traffic, and events with their community, won the Best App Award and P100,000.00 plus a nomination to the 2014 Mobile Premier Awards at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain next February.

There were also three special award winners, each with a P50,000.00 prize.

Sakay.ph, a web- and SMS-based app that gives commuters printable transit directions for jeepneys, buses, and trains in Metro Manila, took the Open Community Award.

The Transport Award went to Transit.com.ph for its app that provides Cebu City commuters with route-planning tools as well as a route editor for city planners and contributors.

Manila Train Guide, a trip-planning app for Metro Manila’s railways, which highlights nearby places of interest, won the Inclusive Technology Award.

Meanwhile, Rklamo, an app that provides a tipping mechanism via SMS for PUV drivers with good behavior was the Voter’s Choice and received P 30,000.00.

The Philippine Transit App Challenge, which was launched by the DOTC alongside the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Cebu City Government in early July, netted 17 entries from which 10 finalists were chosen

http://www.dotc.gov.ph/

FOX premieres three highly anticipated US Blockbuster series on October 19!

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October is a huge month for FOX, as a monumental event in television will be exploding on screens all over the Philippines and Asia on the 19th. On October 19, 2013, FOX will be broadcasting the Philippine and Asian premiere of Season 4 ofThe Walking Dead at 8:55 PM, followed by the premiere of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.and Sleepy Hollow at 9:50 PM and 10:45 PM, respectively.

The three shows are among the most highly anticipated series in the US, each owning a distinct fan base as TV adaptations of successful comic book and movie franchises.

The Walking Dead which FOX International Channels identified at script level and owns the global rights for, is based on a comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, and has had a strong viewership over its last three seasons, garnering 12.4 million viewers for its Season 3 finale and reigns the most watched series in PayTV history.

Meanwhile, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is created by Joss Whedon, director of Marvel’sThe Avengers, along with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, and the TV series is a spin-off of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which includes the Iron Man movies, Thor andCaptain America. The series chronicles the experiences of Agent Phil Coulson, from The Avengers (the highest-grossing film of 2012), as he puts together a team under the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) that encounters and profiles superhumans in the world. It expands the Marvel universe with new characters and adventures, portraying ordinary people put in extraordinary circumstances and placed smack dab in the middle of the epic battle between good and evil.

Clark Gregg reprises his role as Agent Phil Coulson, a character loved by hardcore Marvel fans as well as fans of The Avengers. Gregg is joined by Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge, who play Coulson’s fellow agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. Together, the agents discover new superheroes and realize that not all of them are good. Produced by Disney and Marvel, the series promises the high-level action and storytelling for which the films have been highly acclaimed and loved by viewers around the world over the years.

Sleepy Hollow is a modern-day retelling of the American short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving, which has been depicted and referenced many times in pop culture, such as in Disney’s cartoon version in 1949 and Tim Burton’s 1999 crime film Sleepy Hollow in 1999. The 2013 TV series tells of how Ichabod Crane dies in 1781 after he kills the Headless Horseman, but mysteriously awakens again in 2013 to find that the Horseman is again wreaking havoc in the town of Sleepy Hollow. He partners with Lt. Abbie Mills to stop the evil being from murdering more people and sparking the return of dark, supernatural forces to the earth. Sleepy Hollow premiered on September 16, 2013 in the US and scored a massive 10 million viewers, which bodes well for the Philippine and Asian premiere on October 19.

Leading up to the Season 4 premiere of the hit show The Walking Dead, FOX will also be treating die-hard fans to a four-day channel takeover, Countdown To The Zombie Apocalypse. Starting on October 15 at 11:40 PM until October 19 at 8:55 PM, FOX is going to show all three seasons of The Walking Dead non-stop right up until the Season 4 premiere, giving the ultimate chance for FOX viewers to catch up with the latest developments in the series.

October 19 is the night to stay glued to FOX as it shows not one but three long-awaited series premieres, starting at 8:55 PM with The Walking Dead Season 4, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at 9:50 PM, and Sleepy Hollow at 10:45 PM.

THE SEARCH IS ON! Baby & Family Awards 2013 - ParentPreneur of the Year!

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ParentPreneurs are the modern day moms and dads who have successfully balanced parenthood and their role as an entrepreneur through hard work and dedication.

On December 6 - 8 , the very first Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 at the SMX Manila, Mall of Asia Complex Pasay City we will be honoring ParentPreneurs, not just mompreneurs but also dadpreneurs. 

NOMINATION MECHANICS:

To qualify as a ParentPreneur nominee:

•   Owns and operates a registered and active business, may be a founder or co-founder along with his/her partner(s) and has been involved in the business conceptualization and building for at least one year from January 2012.
•    Can be home, office, web or mall-based, as long as it is a mom/dad-founded enterprise.
•    Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business / company.
•    Has successfully managed parenthood and being a hands-on entrepreneur.

Nomination Guidelines:

1.   Go to the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 website and proceed to the Baby & Family Awards page, then to ParentPreneur Awards.

2.    Fill up the form – Name of the nominee, Company / Business Name, Category, Why does
he/she deserve to be called a mompreneur / dadpreneur in this category (1 paragraph, min: 3
sentences; max: 5 sentences), Links and references of the ParentPreneur and business.

3.    Submit and you’re done!

How to nominate:

•    A ParentPreneur may be classified in only one of the following categories:

1. The Breakthrough ParentPreneur – someone who has successfully started a business and has created the biggest impact and buzz in a span of one year. The business must not be more than 2 years old and not less than 1 year old since establishment.

2. The Innovator – someone who has remarkably created the most innovative and creative product or business idea in its field.

3. The Advocate – someone whose business has made and is making a difference in the country and has been strongly influencing and moving people with their advocacy.

4. The Digital Maven – someone who has notably established innovative and successful social media and digital strategies and campaigns for their own business.

5. ParentPreneur of the Year – honors the most outstanding ParentPreneur couple for 2013, this couple has been a role model to all aspiring couple entrepreneurs who has successfully balanced parenthood and entrepreneurship together.

•     Nomination period will be from October 7 to 18.

•    Incomplete nomination forms will not be accepted, the organizers also has the right to verify and conduct further research to confirm the validity of the information provided if
necessary. All information will be kept confidential.

Screening Guidelines:

•    The business should not be less than 1 year old since establishment.

•    All nomination forms are subject to evaluation and will be shortlisted by the organizers.

•    The ratio of mompreneur and dadpreneur nominees will be based on the nominations
received.

•    Qualified nominees will be informed for confirmation before the voting period and will be asked to submit a valid DTI and or SEC articles of incorporation.

•    Failure to comply with the guidelines and / or submit the needed requirements may result in disqualification.

•     The official list of ParentPreneur nominees will be announced and launched on October 21, indicating the start of the voting period at the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 website.

VOTING

How to vote:

1.    Go to the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 website and proceed to the Baby & Family Awards tab and click the ParentPreneur Awards where the nominees’ profile can be seen.

2.    Vote by clicking any of the social media buttons found on top of the nominee’s profile and you’re done! Multiple voting is allowed.

3.    Voting period will be from October 21 to November 22 at the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 Website.

4.    Only one dadpreneur or mompreneur will win per category based on the criteria which includes 20% of online votes. For the ParentPreneur of the Year, only one couple will be awarded.

Criteria:

Business idea innovation and creativity          - 40%
Management and Leadership Skills               - 30%
Impact on community                                    - 10%
Online Votes                                                  - 20%
Total                                                          - 100%e entrepreneurs who has successfully balanced parenthood and entrepreneurship together.

AWARDING:

•     A total of five winners will be announced and contacted on November, a month before the expo.

•    The ParentPreneur Awards will happen at the Baby & Family Awards, to be held on the last day of the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 – Sunday, December 08.

Visit and vote at http://babyexpo.ph/baby-and-family-awards/parentpreneur/. 

Back to Back with the best of pop rock music !

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Here's one of the best of pop rock music! Stephen Bishop, Michael Johnson, Joe Puerta of Ambrosia, Side A, and the classical-pop tenor trio The Angelos, will be performing together in a once in a lifetime show on Friday, October 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Titled Back 2 Back 2 Back, the concert is a production of Viva Live Inc. and Redstone Media Production.

Don’t fail to watch Stephen Bishop, Michael Johnson, Joe Puerta and Side A perform their hits live at the Big Dome in Back 2 Back 2 Back on October 18, 2013.

Tickets are now available at Ticketnet 911-5555 and Viva Concerts 687-7236. Ticket prices are Patron A P3500; Patron B P3000; Lower Box P3000; Upper Box A P1750; Upper Box B P750; and General Admission P400.

Stephen Bishop, Johnson, Puerta and Side A will also be at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City on October 26. Bishop will have a solo performance at the Lagao Gym in General Santos on October 27, 2013.

This Viva Live and Redstone Media Production is supported by major sponsor Phoenix Petroleum; with Midas Hotel as the Official Residence; media partners PBO; Viva Channel; History Channel; ETC; 2nd Avenue; MYX; The Philippine Star; The Manila Bulletin; People's Journal; People's Tonight; Mellow 94.7; Barangay LS 97.1; RJ 100; 96.3 Easy Rock; Rappler.com; Clickthecity.com; Pep.ph; Wheninmanila.com; Manila Concert Scene, Philippine Concerts, and Gala Magazine. Special thanks to the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP); Maria’s Catering of Victoria Court; Rub Ribs & Bbq; Yoshinoya; Aquabest; and Fernando’s Bakeshop.

SEAIR partners with Muranglipad.com to offer fare comparison to passengers

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Enjoy our wonderful world, here's a great news for us happy travellers. SEAIR International (SEAIR) announces its partnership with Muranglipad.com to offer airfare comparison to passengers.

SEAIR, the brand that pioneered commercial flights to Boracay in 2005, is back to offer premium services with fast and stress-free travel to passengers. Part of its thrust to offer innovative services to clients, is the belief to offer the best value-for-money fares to passengers.

Muranglipad.com, a division of Triplestar Travel and Tours Inc, provides airfare comparison to all domestic and international destinations, across all airlines. SEAIR clients can now enjoy expert travel advise from Muranglipad.com’s pool of Travel Specialists.

To avail of specialized travel assistance, passengers may call the reservations hotline at 849-0100 or visit www.muranglipad.com.

Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturdays and Sundays, to accommodate consultations, bookings and reservations.

Triplestar has 11 ticketing offices nationwide, particularly in Makati, Manila Domestic Airport, Quezon City, SM Clark, Cebu City, Cebu International Airport, Davao City, Davao International Airport, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban and Bacolod. All are strategically located to cater to passengers’ immediate travel requirements.

To find out more about the new and exciting service, please like SEAIR Facebook fan page at www.facebook/flyseair and Muranglipad.com’s Facebook fan page at www.facebook/muranglipad for updates on promotions.