Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Monday, January 30, 2017

STI, TTC Forge Tie-Up to Reinvent Agricultural Education

Wazzup Pilipinas!

STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STI ESG) and Tony Tan Caktiong, Chairman and Founder of the largest Asian food service company, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), recently signed an agreement in an effort to boost agricultural education in the country.

For the two giant players in the education and food service industry, the agriculture sector is indispensable in the Philippine’s strategy for inclusive growth. STI and Mr. Tan Caktiong share a common vision of a farm-to-table school that will offer agricultural courses, as well as courses on managing quick-service restaurants that are focused on developing the technical and entrepreneurial skills of students, and in the process creating significantly more business and employment opportunities.

“My experience in JFC has given me unique perspectives on the challenges and importance of having a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality agricultural products. I am excited with this collaboration as it will help to uplift the agricultural and related sectors through education, another potential means for us to contribute to nation-building,” said Tony Tan Caktiong.

Recent studies show that the average age of farmers is 57 years old, which raises alarm over the possible future gap in human resource requirements for agriculture and poses a threat to food security and sustainability, unless a new generation replaces the current farmers,who are expected to retire in a decade or so.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After 63 years, Iris Mittenaere of France wins for the second time the Miss Universe title. The 1st Runner Up is Haiti, followed by Colombia at 2nd Runner Up.

That seems to be a close one between Haiti and France. France seemed to be the total package. But don't even fight me on this. Miss Haiti's answer had way more substance than France's. Well, the judges have the final decision on who to put on top. France may have won the crown, but they say Haiti won the crowd.
Iris Mittanaere made history in #MissUniverse as first non-performer at Moulin Rouge allowed to wear the cabaret costume in the competition. She is the second candidate to win a crown from her country. First was in 1953.

I seldom see France in hot top picks during the preliminaries but she proved to us that an unpopular can nail the Miss Universe crown.

I saw the eyes of Ms.Colombia she badly want to be Miss Universe. Maybe because they almost had it last year if not for the wrong announcement that was immediately corrected leaving Philippines as the real winner.

Malacanang, specifically by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, also sent out a congratulations to France for being the new Miss Universe for 2016, and to Maxine for making it to the Top 6 finalists.

It was humorous when Pia interrupted the announcement to give @IAmSteveHarvey his eyeglasses before he reveals who among Haiti and France won the top title. "A year late but thank you" say Steve. Unknown to many, that scene was actually rehearsed earlier to bring in some comedy to the pageant.

"If this happens again, I will not leave the Philippines" remarks Steve.

I was waiting for Steve to say he messed up but when he said "I'm Steve Harvey, and I got it right!" as his final words, that's the real result. There's no error for bespectacled Steve Harvey this time.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Out of 86 candidates, host Steve Harvey finally announced the Top 13 candidates for the Miss Universe beauty pageant grand coronation day (for the Philippines) or night(for the US). 12 of which was selected by the judges while the 13th was selected via online votes by the people.

With an opening number by Flo Rida to entertain the audience with a mix of his popular songs, the Miss Universe grand coronation officially started at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with Steve Harvey once again hosting. As expected, he can't help but make fun of his memorable mistake from last year when he wrongly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winning Miss Universe 2015, which he eventually retracted and apologized as the real winner was Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines.

These ladies are making a difference just by being a candidate at this very prestigious pageant which is considered as the biggest and most popular competition in search for not only confidently beautiful but with heart.

We wish every candidate good luck, though we cannot hie our support for our very own candidate Miss Philippines Maxine Medina. Like they said, love your own!

Here are the #MissUniverse Top 13:

Kenya
Indonesia
USA
Mexico
Peru
Panama
Colombia
Philippines
Canada
Brazil
France
Haiti
Thailand

So Miss #Thailand got the highest online votes at the #MissUniverse 2016 poll results. What happened #Philippines ? Are we no longer the top in social media? But still, our very own Miss #Philippines Maxine Medina made it to the top 13 finalists. Hoping for the best!

Steve Harvey is having fun since the Miss #Colombia Andrea Tovar is also in the Top 13. It would be hilarious if the two would be among the top three and Harvey would have to announced again the winners. Lol!

Miss Universe 2016 Judges:

Dayanara Torres
Leila Lopez
Mickey Boardman
Cynthia Bailey
Sushmita Sen
Francine LeFrak

Swimsuit competition came up next.

Since there was already a preliminary competition for #MissUniverse swimsuit, long gown and national costume, the judges have already pre-selected the winners per category. The presentation during coronation day is merely a formality to showcase to the audience the ladies wearing the said outfits.

"Maxine slayed the swimsuit round!"

"Thailand works out for 3 hours a day. Girl, it shows!"

For all the candidates in swimsuit "Whew, it's over!" - releases stomach in and starts breathing normally again

The results are in for the #MissUniverse Top 9:

USA
Thailand
France
Mexico
Kenya
Colombia
Canada
Haiti

They delayed the announcement of the #MissUniverse Top 9 ninth spot which was revealed after the commercial break. "Trust me, it will be worth the wait" says Steve Harvey. ...and we all wanted it to be #Philippines

The National Costume winner came up next. With Myanmar announced as the winner from the preliminary competition. Her outfit is something like a marionette - a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings....but she is without a puppeteer which is also called a marionettist.

Evening gown is next at #MissUniverse and we are still rooting for Miss #Philippines with her glittery red and silver outfit

All top six finalist to be announced next. This time Steve promises not to keep us hanging.

#MissUniverse Top 6:

France
Kenya
Colombia
Philippines
Thailand
Haiti

The #MissUniverse Finalists Update still has #Philippines among the Top 6. The excitement is nerve-cracking for #WazzupPilipinas, your #PambansangBlogger of the country.

#MissUniverse Question and Answer portion came up next. #Philippines is first! OMG!

"What is the most significant change you've seen in the last ten years?" was the question for Maxine Medina.

"We are one. As one nation, we are all together." Are you satisfied with her answer. Seems a bit lacking in substance. She was already given the chance to speak her mind clearly using our mother tongue but she didn't. Still a good run even though we could her feel her hesitance and nervousness..

Kenya was asked about Trump, but had difficulty in answering at first but eventually rephrased an answer but ran out of time to finish.

Thailand is asked to name a world leader she admires. and she mentioned the king of Thailand working tirelessly and being a father to the Thai people.

France is asked if countries have the responsibility to accept refugees. She said the countries have the right to open or close their borders. But n France they have open borders., and wishes everyone to allow open borders.

Haiti is asked if she was able to participate in the Women's March last January 21st, what would she have been marching for?

Colombia is asked why violence is prevalent in today's society and what can she do about it. She said she came from a country with violence but they were able to unite and to have a social transformation to educate their children.

#MissUniverse Top 3:

Colombia
France
Haiti

Better luck next time for Miss #Philippines for #MissUniverse as Maxine Medina did not make it to the Top 3. We are still proud of our girl for making it up to the Top 6 finalists.

"You can't serve lechon in your own home and take it back to your kitchen because you want more" - Gloria Diaz.

Last round for #MissUniverse is another Q&A using the exact same question:

Colombia is first to answer the question "Name something over the course of your life that you failed at, and tell us what you've learned from that experience"

France is next with the same question. followed by Haiti answering "If I am here today, is because I am living my dream."

All candidates used an interpreter.

Hilarious and awful. Not one of the women answered any of the questions with a straight answer. Not really sure if the interpreter has something to do with it.

Boyz II Men is now performing at the #MissUniverse grand coronation and serenading the Top 3 finalists before the final announcement of winners.

Pia Wurtzbach has set the standards for Miss Universe title holders. She is not only confidently beautiful with a heart...but intellectual as well. She now does her farewell walk on stage. "Mga kababayan, maraming salamat po. Mahal ko kayo!"

The #MissUniverse judges have spoken:

2nd Runnner Up is #Colombia

Pia hands over glasses to Steve Harvey before reading the final winners:

1st Runnner Up is #Haiti

The new Miss Universe for 2016 is #France

#MissUniverse #WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger