Oplan Listas Biyahe: Semana Santa 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With an increased number of travelers expected in the coming days due to the annual observance of Holy Week, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has launched Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Semana Santa 2016 last March 18 to ensure the safety and reliability of various modes of transportation.

All transportation agencies have been mandated to implement heightened security measures at terminals and enhanced services, which include the deployment of additional personnel in airports, sea ports, bus terminals, and highways. To address passenger needs and emergencies, facilities, such as public assistance desks, first-aid stations, additional seats, and charging stations, have been set up.

More frequent worthiness inspections on aircrafts, ships, and buses and random drug and alcohol testing will be done to make sure that these means of transport are compliant with safety standards and the personnel are not under the influence while conveying passengers.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has instructed airline companies to deploy more personnel at check-in counters for efficient processing, shortening queues. Travelers are reminded not to bring prohibited items to the airport and to stow all belongings in one’s carry-on baggage for faster processing at the screening checkpoints.

Storytelling as a Basic Instinct: Egg Theater Company Presents the Filipino Translation of Martin Mcdonagh’s The Pillowman

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After the brief festival run of its productions, Maniacal (Fringe Manila 2015) and Schism (Fringe Manila 2016), Egg Theater Company presents its first full-run production with a Filipino Translation of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman.

Winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play and Tony-Nominated in 2005 for Best Play, The Pillowman is about a writer in an unidentified totalitarian state being interrogated about his gruesome and macabre short stories that has inspired a series of child murders. The Pillowman is a dark comedy that boldly exhibits the riveting power of narrative and how storytelling and invention of fantastical tales is a basic human instinct. With the coming elections and the incessant specter of dictatorships and martial law, this production resonates with its exploration of the fine line between the freedom of an individual to tell a story and its impact on the security of society.

Palanca awardee and Egg Theater Company co-founder, George de Jesus III in translating and directing The Pillowman, remarks, “In examining the dark side of imagination and creativity, the play probes into how stories are created, the motivation that drives a writer to tell a story and the responsibility of a writer on the impact of what he has written. Put that against a totalitarian-state setting and we get a play that are by turns disturbingly funny and emotionally shocking. Given that the play is set in an unnamed totalitarian state, translating it into Filipino affords us not only in making it somehow familiar but it also further fuels the idea of it possibly becoming real.”

PiliPinas Debates 2016 Part 2: Let Their Voices Be Heard

Wazzup Pilipinas!

And the winner in the 2nd Presidential PiliPinas Debates 2016 is...... Luchi Cruz-Valdez! 

This debate didn't help me figure out who I want to be President. What it did was help me figure out who I don't want to sit in the Malacanan Palace. The most important thing that Filipinos shall face right now is to assess the truth based from what they heard or seen - on and off camera? 

Seriously, I think what happened behind the scenes can tell us a lot about the candidates' characters. Which ones are sincere and true to their words, but able to act accordingly? Choosing is not easy. 

Something appealing, something appalling, it was a comedy because it was super hilarious. But definitely the remarks were superlatively serious yet extremely funny because it seems like fireworks exploded in this Cebu debate as the presidential bets tangle on and off camera.

Despite the delay caused by the Binay camp insisting on bringing in notes during the debate proper because the moderator told them they could, the 2nd #PiliPinasDebates2016 is still a big improvement from the first one done at GMA were the two moderators, especially Mr. Imbestigador, were more like a joke! 

There were lots of minutes wasted on personal attacks and accusations! The issues were very slightly answered! Honestly, they are starting to look like nuisance candidates. We would like to inform the esteemed Presidential candidates that the Philippines has much bigger problems than your egos.