Holiday? Palace may suspend class, work in selected areas for November 10-14, 2017 ASEAN Summit

MANILA, Philippines — For the past days, netizens were abuzzed by the alleged memorandum circular, claiming the suspension of classes and work in Metro Manila on November 13-15 for the 31st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit. However, the Malacañang Palace clarified there's no official declaration of non-working holidays yet.

“On ASEAN holiday. No official issuance yet. Will post once provided,” Palace told reporters.

On November 10- 14, 2017, the Philippines is set to host the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings at the Clark Field, Pampanga. This will be the second leg of the semi-annual event after the successful chairmanship in April 2017, which was held in Manila.

The chosen venue would be strategic to avoid heavy traffic and other security concerns on the activities directly connected with the Philippine hosting of the summit.

In April this year, the suspension of classes and work (government and private) in some parts of Metro Manila was recommended by the ASEAN 2017 Organizing Council based on the security, traffic management plan and venue of the meetings.

For the November 2017 ASEAN Summit, those awaiting for the memorandum may expect declaration of class and work suspensions for selected areas near Clark Field, Angeles City in Pampanga, northern part of Metro Manila and or areas directly affected by the event.

Note: This is a developing story. Check back for the updates in the coming weeks.

Same with previous hosting in Manila, we may also expect that suspension of work in the private sector and in places other than those that will be announced will be left to the discretion of their respective local government units and or employers based on assessment of the scheduled activities on November 10-14.

President Trump to visit Manila

As confirmed today, Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella said US President Donald Trump will visit the Philippines this November. Trump's visit underscores the improving PH-US ties and President Duterte is looking forward to welcoming the US President in Manila.

Trump will join other world leaders who will attend the ASEAN / East Asian Summit.

"As host country, we hope to make the event productive and pleasant to our foreign guests. We will let them experience our world-famous Filipino hospitality to make sure they would have good memories of their stay in the Philippines," Palace said in a statement.

In the November 2017 ASEAN Summit having the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” leaders will discuss the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural development of the ASEAN Community.

The Philippines’ year-long and third ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017 coincides with the regional bloc’s 50th founding anniversary.

It will be held together with ASEAN dialogue partners Australia, Canada, China, the European union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

‘Last Night’ Movie Review: A Dark Take On A Rather Feel-Good Love Story

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*

Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga reunite for a brand new film, this time under the tutelage of Bb. Joyce Bernal titled, “Last Night.” Added crowd draw that the film’s treatment is Bella Padilla’s debut work as a screenwriter. A seemingly familiar romantic comedy film on the surface, the movie takes a darker and interesting spin with the introduction of the thriller and paranormal genre kicking of with Mark (Pascual) and Carmina’s (Gonzaga) supposed chance meeting while both are on the midst of committing suicide. The meet-cute in itself is pretty different and a great springboard for the two’s whirlwind romance.

Piolo Pascual as Mark and Toni Gonzaga as Carmina in ‘Last Night’/Star Cinema

First and foremost, the film is shot beautifully. Its various backlighting and scenic locations around old Manila definitely added to the overall viewing experience of watching “Last Night.” The street lamps and old architecture are charming backdrops which made it easy to believe how effortless it is to fall in love and get attached to someone whom you had just met -- especially when there’s already a brewing connection between the two of you. It heightens emotions and definitely pays tribute to the love story that the movie is always meant to be.

Piolo Pascual as Mark and Toni Gonzaga as Carmina in ‘Last Night’/Star Cinema

Arguably a departure from their last project together in “Starting All Over Again,” Gonzaga and Pascual once again proved that they can do just about any genre flawlessly work, thanks to their palpable chemistry and individual good acting. The two plays off of each other’s acting chops really well, making their characters believable and easy to relate to.

While the movie boldly lunges on a different spin at the romantic genre, its plot execution feels too stretched out at times. All throughout the movie, hints of a possible time-lapse are dropped with several newspaper clippings notable from the Martial Law era to the various changes in mood lighting and small details at the background that teases the plot twist. However, the reveal does not come until the third act, which by then, has lost its appeal and intrigue. We already know that a big surprise is coming and we know that it will change the way the whole film is initially perceived, but its prolonged wait time significantly diminishes the element of shock that is meant to go alongside it.

Additionally, the paranormal side of the narrative does not seem to be as well honed as it could possibly. Carmina’s entrapment in the “middle world” and her supposed role of saving other people from committing the same mistake of committing suicide does not do anything really revolutionary to the story.

Piolo Pascual as Mark and Toni Gonzaga as Carmina in ‘Last Night’/Star Cinema

Although it’s not a perfect melding of genres, “Last Night” is still a good romantic flick. The film has all the running tropes needed for a love story -- from its fun dialogue to its tended moments. Its thriller component, however, just lacked the narrative establishment that could be fixed with any additional bits that will help further establish Carmina’s premise more effectively.

Watch full trailer here:

-- ALD, The Summit Express

The Future of Energy: Nanotechnology

Renewable energy resources are very important when it comes to the protecting our future. Across many industries, finding alternative energy sources is incredibly important as a way to stand out against non-environmentally-conscious competitors. With benefits for both businesses and the environment, striving for energy efficiency has never been so prevalent.

Nanotechnology has played a large part in the recent developments of alternative energy sources. The nanotech industry is still in its infancy, but the results are already looking to revolutionize how we can get energy from everyday occurrences.

Here are some of most recent, innovative energy sources enhanced by nanotechnology that experts have found.

Body Movement

One of the biggest complaints and areas of development in mobile technology is the quest for better battery life. Users want a longer lasting battery, but experts and engineers feel the pressure to find alternative and greener ways of sourcing that energy. Because of the demand in mobile computing, researchers have built a system designed to harvest energy from body movement.

PHOTO CREDIT: pexels.com

Using paper-thin nanogenerators in items of clothing, the sensors can convert both mechanical (movement) and thermal (heat) energies from the body into electric current. The energy can be stored in a self-charging power unit, which requires fall-wave bridge rectifiers to convert the energy.

Alongside the developments in nanotechnology, the decreasing prices of electrical features, like bridge rectifiers, are enabling the search for alternative energy sources to expand. The use of sensors and conductors are widening thanks to them being universally available – such as the bridge rectifiers online at RS Components.

The affordable bridge rectifiers, and various electrical components, provide researchers with the extra resources to create systems like the body-movement nanogenerators. These generators could power electronic textiles, mobile devices, handsets, wearable technology and more.

Air Pollution

Using hydrogen as an alternative energy source has been championed for some time. This is because burning hydrogen with oxygen produces no air polluting waste products, such as carbon dioxide so it’s better for the environment. However, the energy used to produce pure hydrogen often outweighs the yield and uses unsustainable fuel sources, making it a less efficient way of harvesting energy.

Academic researchers in America have created a device that uses an alternative way of producing hydrogen. The device is made up of two compartments, separated by nano-materials. In the one compartment, air pollutants are broken down and the end product passes through the nano-material. This nanotechnology-engineered membrane extracts hydrogen and stores it in the second compartment. The device is powered by solar energy, which makes it entirely self-sustaining and a much greener way of sourcing hydrogen - all thanks to nanotechnology.

PHOTO CREDIT: pexels.com

With air pollution one of the biggest environmental problems in big cities, the hydrogen extracting technology could turn one of the most harmful by-products of fossil fuels into useful, clean energy.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is one of the most common and commercial forms of alternative energy sources. Solar panels can be found on buildings and appliances across the world. Although its popularity is unwavering, it isn’t the most efficient form of harvesting energy from solar rays. Often, only a small amount of the solar radiation is absorbed, with the rest lost as heat and light.

PHOTO CREDIT: pexels.com

Using nanotechnology, researchers have designed a solar panel that absorbs more solar energy. Current solar models use silicon crystals to convert the sunlight into electrical currents, but by using nanostructured silicon instead of crystalline silicon the amount of solar energy absorbed will be dramatically increased.

If this design becomes commonplace in commercial solar panels, homes, and buildings, and business will be able to drastically cut back on energy bills.

Nanotechnology: What does this mean for alternative energy?

Nanotechnology allows scientists to manipulate matter to a scale of nanometers. This intricate ability finds new properties and results from processes that are already in place to source new forms of energy.

Although the nanotechnology industry is still young, the results of working in nano-scale have already had a huge impact on not just renewable energy, but various areas of research.

The results of nanotechnology are clear; to find alternative, cheaper and efficient solutions to problems that effect both businesses and the wider world around it.

Top performing school, performance of schools Librarian board exam September 2017

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) officially announced on Monday, September 25, that 545 out of 904 (60.29%) passed the September 2017 Librarian Licensure Examination given by the Board for Librarians in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Tacloban and Tuguegarao.

PRC hailed University of the Philippines - Diliman (UPD) as the top performing school with 100% passing rate per Commission Resolution No. 2010-547 series of 2010: WITH 25 OR MORE EXAMINEES AND WITH AT LEAST 80% PASSING PERCENTAGE.

RELATED RESULTS

• LIST OF PASSERS: September 2017 Librarian board exam results
• Top 10 Passers: September 2017 Librarian board exam results

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Benguet State University (BSU) - La Trinidad ranked second and third with 90% and 85.71%, respectively.

RANK	SCHOOL	TOTAL NO. OF EXAM.	TOTAL NO. PASSED	PERCENTAGE PASSED
1	UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES- DILIMAN	27	27	100.00 %
2	UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS	30	27	90.00 %
3	BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY- LA TRINIDAD	28	24	85.71 %

The performance of schools in the September 2017 Librarian Licensure Examination in alphabetical order as per R.A. 8981 otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Section 7(m) "To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation" is as follows:

Performance of Schools Librarian-board Exam

Meanwhile, Apolonio Martinez Patron from UST topped the board with 90.85%. It was followed by Sylvan Dan Macabante Moldes from UPD with 89.05%.

TOP 10 PASSERS: September 2017 Librarian board exam results

MANILA, Philippines - The full list of topnotchers or top 10 passers for September 2017 Librarian board exam is available on this page as officially released expected on Monday, September 25, 2017 or in 2 working days after the exam.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the Librarian board exam on September 19 and 20 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Tacloban and Tuguegarao.

RELATED RESULTS

• LIST OF PASSERS: September 2017 Librarian board exam results
• Performance of Schools: September 2017 Librarian board exam results

The successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places in the September 2017 Librarian Licensure Examination are the following:

Updating for the list of topnotchers...

PREVIOUS EXAMINATIONS

In the September 2016 exams, Karl Emmanuel Villanueva Ruiz from University of Santo Tomas (UST) topped the board with 89.90%. It was followed by April Mae Badilla Delola of Holy Cross of Davao College with 89.25%.

In the April 2015 exams, Allana Sanglap Delgado from Central Philippine University (CPU) aced the board with 89.60%. University of San Carlos alum Seachel Sagmon Oyao placed second with 87.25%.

Here's quick summary of topnotchers for Librarian licensure exam in the past two (4) years.

Exam Date	Topnotcher	School	Rating (%)
September 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA
September 2016	KARL EMMANUEL VILLANUEVA RUIZ	UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS	89.90
April 2015	ALLANA SANGLAP DELGADO	CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY	89.60
April 2014	MARIA VICTORIA DEMATERA ANONAT	UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES	86.05
November 2013	BILYSON DOMINGO ALEJO	UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUISTUGUEGARAO	88.05

From which school will be the topnotcher for September 2017 Librarian board exam?

FULL RESULTS: September 2017 Librarian board exam passers list, top 10

MANILA, Philippines — The September 2017 Librarian board exam results including the official list of passers, topnotchers (top 10), top performing schools and performance of schools are expected to be released online on Monday, September 25 or in two (2) working days after the exam.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the Librarian board exam on September 19 and 20 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Tacloban and Tuguegarao.

The members of the Board for Librarians who gave the licensure examination are Yolanda C. Granda, Chairman and Lourdes T. David, Member.

LIBRARIAN BOARD EXAM RELATED RESULTS

• TOP 10 PASSERS: September 2017 Librarian board exam results
• Top Performing Schools, Performance of Schools: September 2017 Librarian board exam results

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
LIBRARIAN LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on SEPTEMBER 19 & 20, 2017
Released on SEPTEMBER 2017

Now updating for the official list of passers..check back for the results

REGISTRATION AND OATHTAKING

PRC advised that registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be done on-line. Please go to www.prc.gov.ph and follow instructions for initial registration.

Those who will register are required to bring the following:

• duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal
• 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background
• complete name tag)
• 2 sets of documentary stamps

Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, PRC said.

VERIFICATION OF RATINGS

Librarian board exam's verification of ratings (passers, non-passers and removal) can be done online.

Visit PRC's "Verification of Rating" service and enter the required information to verify your identity. Note that this will be available in few working days after the release of results.

COVERAGE OF EXAMINATION

The two-day examination covers the following subjects: library organization and management (20%); reference, bibliography and user services (20%); indexing and abstracting (15%); cataloging and classification (20%); selection and acquisition (15%) and information technology (10%).

RELEASE OF RESULTS

According to PRC Resolution No. 2016-1019, the target release date of the recent Librarian board exam results is on Monday, September 25 or in 2 working days after the test.

Note that work in government offices was suspended on September 21 as the Palace declared "national day of protest" in time for the 45th anniversary of Martial Law. With this, it is also possible that results would be released on Tuesday, September 26.

In the same period last year, results were released in 3 working days. A total of 738 out of 1,140 passed the exams. University of the Philippines - Diliman (UPD) topped the board with 100% passing rate.

In the April 2015 exams, results were also announced in 3 working days. PRC named 349 out of 742 who have successfully hurdled the exams. UPD was also named top performing school.

Here's the quick summary of previous examinations.

Exam Date	Total Examinees	Total Passers	Passing Rate	Days before results release
September 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
September 2016	1,140	738	64.74%	3
April 2015	742	349	47.04%	3
April 2014	533	149	27.95%	3
November 2013	834	382	45.80%	2

UPDATES

Monitor this page for the real-time updates on Librarian board exam results. Check out also the official website of PRC for more information.

#WalangPasok: Class suspensions on Monday, September 25, 2017

MANILA, Philippines — Some local government units and schools announced the suspension of classes on Monday, September 25, 2017 due to the scheduled transport strike against the government's plan to phaseout old jeepney units.

In a report, the Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization (Stop and Go) said it would hold a two-day transport holiday on September 25 and 26.

Stop and Go Transport Coalition President Jun Magno told the press the participation of at least 90 percent of their 74,000 member-operators nationwide.

As of 4:50 p.m., here's the list of areas where classes have been cancelled for Monday, September 25, 2017 #WalangPasok (refresh page for the updates)

LUZON

• Malolos City — Pre-elementary to college, public and private

METRO MANILA

• Updating...

SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES

• La Consolacion University - all levels, including office work

In the past months, jeepney operators had protested against the modernization program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in which public utility vehicles (PUVs) that are more than 15 years old will be banned from the road, and will be replaced by vehicles with "low-carbon and low-emission technology."

Magno added that drivers and operators could not shoulder the P1.6-million loan for new jeepney units and daily amortization of P800.

The group proposed for the rehabilitation of old jeepneys instead of acquiring new units.

RELATED STORY
#WalangPasok: September 18, 20, 21, 27, 29, 2017 special holiday declared in selected areas

FULL RESULTS: September 2017 LET teachers board exam passers list, top 10

MANILA, Philippines — The September 2017 Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) or teachers board exam results including the official list of passers, topnotchers (top 10), top performing schools and performance of schools for Elementary and Secondary levels are expected to be released online in November- December 2017 or 10-12 weeks after the exam.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the second LET board exam this year on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in at least 27 testing centers in the country and in Hong Kong and Bangkok (Special Professional Licensure Examination or SPLE).

Testing centers include Baguio, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Catarman (Northern Samar), Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Laoag, Legaspi, Lucena, Manila, Rosales (Pangasinan), Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Pagadian and Zamboanga.

Meanwhile, PRC designated additional test centers per requests of local government units and recommendation of the Board in accordance with Resolution No. 2017-1047 — Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Odiongan, Romblon; Kidapawan Cotabato, Boac, Marinduque; Virac, Catanduanes; Puerto Princesa City, Palawaan and Masbate City.

The members of the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) who gave the licensure examination are Dr. Rosita L. Navarro, Chairman; Dr. Paz I. Lucido, Vice Chairman; Dr. Paraluman R. Giron and Dr. Nora M. Uy, Members.

TEACHERS BOARD EXAM LET SUMMARY OF RESULTS (check back for the activation of links)

• September 2017 LET Results Elementary: Alphabetical List of Passers
• September 2017 LET Results Secondary: Alphabetical List of Passers
• TOPNOTCHERS: September 2017 LET Elementary Top 10
• TOPNOTCHERS: September 2017 LET Secondary Top 10
• Top Performing, Performance of Schools: September 2017 LET board exam
• September 2017 LET passers registration, verification of ratings and oathtaking schedule, venue

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
L.E.T. — ELEMENTARY and SECONDARY — All Regions
Held on SEPTEMBER 24, 2017
Released on NOVEMBER 27, 2017

Updating for the official list of passers...check back for results.

REGISTRATION AND OATHTAKING

Once results are out, PRC shall advise the schedule for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration for Elementary and Secondar level exams.

The requirements for the issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card (ID) are the following:

• Notice of Admission (NOA)
• duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal
• two pieces passport size pictures (colored with white background and complete nametag)
• two sets of documentary stamps

PRC said that successful examinees should PERSONALLY register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The dates and venues for the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, the Commission added.

VERIFICATION OF RATINGS

LET board exam's verification of ratings (passers, non-passers and removal) can be done online.

Visit PRC's "Verification of Rating" service and enter the required information to verify your identity. Note that this will be available in few working days after the release of results.

NOTE: If you have 'Jr" name suffix, please add it after your FIRST NAME (i.e Eduardo Jr ) to avoid 'no matching record found' error.

COVERAGE OF EXAMINATION

The September LET covered two (2) parts for Elementary - General Education (40%) and Professional Education (60%) and three (3) parts for Secondary - General Education (20%), Professional Education (40%) and Specialization (40%).

The test covered the major areas of General Education (English, Filipino, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences), Professional Education (teaching profession, social dimensions of education, principles of teaching, education technology, curriculum development, facilitating learning, child and adolescent development, assessment of student learning, developmental reading, field study and practice teaching). The 10 specializations for Secondary Teacher with exam coverage depends on the chosen course: English, Filipino, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies or Social Sciences, Values Education, MAPEH, Agriculture and Fishery Arts and TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education.

In order to pass the recent LET, examinee must obtain an average rating of not less than 75% and must have no rating lower than 50% in any of the tests.

Note that passing the teacher licensure exam and having valid professional license from the Commission are necessary before the practice of teaching profession in the Philippines. Otherwise, those who will violate may face fine and imprisonment based on penal provisions.

RELEASE OF RESULTS

According to PRC Resolution No. 2016-1019, the target release date of September 2017 LET board exam results is on Monday, November 27 or in 44 working days after the test.

The computed total number of workdays excludes Saturdays and Sundays and two (2) holidays namely — special non-working day (Tuesday, 31 October 2017) and all Saints' Day (Wednesday, 1 November 2017).

PRC Board News, our partner website for PRC exam results said that the probable release date of September 2017 LET exam results is between November 20 and December 8, 2017 ( 39-51 working days).

Note that results may be released earlier or beyond the target date due to several factors such as the total number of examinees, effect of work cancellations due to calamities and unforeseen events and system of checking the pencil-based tests.

PREVIOUS EXAMINATIONS

On the September 25, 2016 LET, results were released online on November 28 or in 48 working days after the exam. PRC announced that 23,378 elementary teachers out of 77,466 examinees (30.18%) and 31,334 secondary teachers out of 92,754 examinees (33.78%) successfully passed the exams. University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of the Philippines- Diliman (UPD) topped the schools for Elementary and Secondary exams, respectively.

For September 27, 2015 LET, PRC announced results on November 30 or in 48 working days. A total of 21,461 elementary teachers out of 68,442 examinees (31.36%) and 34,010 secondary teachers out of 81,463 examinees (41.75%) successfully hurdled the exams. UST topped both the Elementary and Secondary levels.

The same period exams in 2014 had its results released in 51 working days. 25,301 elementary teachers out of 70,786 examinees (35.74%) and 26,767 secondary teachers out of 77,803 examinees (34.40%) were registered in the teaching profession.

Here's the summary of teachers board exam (LET) in the past 4 years:

Exam Date	Total Examinees	Total Passers	Passing Rate	Days before results release
September 24, 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
March 26, 2017	126,499	24,082	19.04%	40
September 25, 2016	170,220	54,712	32.14%	48
March 20, 2016	95,829	30,938	32.28%	41
September 27, 2015	149,905	55,471	37.00%	48
March 29, 2015	100,740	30,007	29.79%	38
August 17, 2014	148,589	52,068	35.04%	51
January 26, 2014	80,735	23,153	28.68%	32
September 29, 2013	126,952	45,139	35.56%	40
March 10, 2013	75,550	25,533	33.80%	27

UPDATES

Same with the previous LET examinations, The Summit Express will provide reliable updates before the release of results. Takers can expect the most probable or exact date of release on this page.

Monitor this page for the real-time updates on Teacher board exam results. Check out also the official website of PRC for more information.

Experience the Philippines with TravelBook.ph's Tours and Activities

MANILA, Philippines — TravelBook.ph, a leader in providing excellent online hotel booking deals in the Philippines, now becomes a one-stop website for all your travel needs as they launch their Tours, Activities, and Transfers platform!

Customers may now experience the best in the Philippines when they book affordable travel packages, exciting tours and activities, and convenient in-land and boat transfers via Travelbook.ph. All they have to do is log on to www.travelbook.ph/tour, choose an activity, transfer service, or travel package to avail, and indicate their preferred travel destination and date.

During the official launch of their Tours, Activities, and Transfers recently, TravelBook.ph provided several reasons why travelers should book their next trip with them.

Known for having the cheapest rates on hotel accommodations among other OTAs, TravelBook.ph performs daily market monitoring so they can also offer even their tour services at its most affordable prices.

In addition to that, customers no longer have to wait too long for their booking confirmation. Travelers can expect immediate confirmation on their reservations alongside the necessary details of the activity they availed. Prices are also fixed so customers don’t have to worry about the additional fees and charges that is usually charged by other OTAs. With TravelBook.ph, that is how convenient and reliable it is!

With over 1,300 exciting tours and transfer choices available nationwide, customers may now plan the activities that they want ahead of their trip.

Get ready for the September Promo and Discount Blast from TravelBook!

TravelBook.ph never stops in giving you more opportunities to travel more! As TravelBook.ph introduces their Tours, Activities, and Transfers to the public, they will also be giving huge discounts and multiple raffle prizes in the whole month of September!

If you’re planning to go on a trip anytime before 2017 ends, book it ahead as TravelBook.ph will be giving an amazing 25-60% discount on popular tour plans for all confirmed bookings made within the month of September! Popular activities and plans like Zoobic Safari, Underground River Tour and Coron Island Tour are guaranteed to have lower prices compared to the ones offered by other travel agencies! The huge discount varies on the wide selection of TravelBook.ph’s popular tour and activity plans. Check out the popular plans of TravelBook via www.travelbook.ph/tour.

Aside from huge discounts, every week of September, TravelBook.ph will be offering exciting raffle promos for customers who will book a tour, activity or transfer service!

Take part of the most exciting raffle from TravelBook.ph this September! Book your Tours, Activities and Transfers anytime within September 18 to October 4, 2017 to get a valid entry for our Book Now! Travel More Raffle Promo! This promo will be giving an All-In Travel Package that includes a luxurious accommodation, tour package and flight for eight (8) lucky winners! The winners may win any of these packages:

• 3D2N stay in El Nido Palawan with free luxury accommodation in El Nido Lagen Resort’s Forest Room (With Breakfast) and roundtrip economy class flights straight to El Nido via Airswift airline good for two (2) pax
• 3D2N stay in Bohol with free luxury accommodation in Hennan Resort Alona Beach Pool Villa Room (With Breakfast), Tagbilaran & Panglao Tour Package and roundtrip economy class flights via Cebu Pacific airline good for two (2) pax
• 3D2N stay in El Nido with free accommodation in El Nido Beach Hotel Deluxe Room Sea View (With Breakfast), El Nido Tour C Package, and roundtrip economy class flights straight to El Nido via Airswift airline good for two (2) pax
• 2 Winners of 3D2N stay in Coron Palawan with free accommodation in K-Heights Inn Standard Room or Coron Vista Lodge Standard Room (With Breakfast), Coron Town Tour and Coron Island Hopping Tour Package and roundtrip economy class flights via Cebu Pacific good for two (2) pax
• 3D2N stay in Boracay with free accommodation in La Carmela De Boracay Semi Deluxe Room (With Breakfast), Barkada Activity Package with helmet diving, parasailing, banana boat, and island hopping, and roundtrip economy class flights via Air Asia good for four (4) pax
• 2 Winners of 2D1N stay in Antipolo, Rizal with free accommodation in Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens with meals and body massage with inclusion of free accommodation in Loreland Farm Resort Standard Double Room, and roundtrip transfers from Manila good for (2) pax

The winners of the said raffle promo will be drawn on October 5, 2017 and will be announced on the Facebook page of TravelBook.ph on October 6, 2017. Apart from the eight winners of the All-In Travel Package, 100 lucky customers that booked within the same period will be chosen to receive a gift check either from Trampoline Park or Tree Top Adventure as consolation prize.

With all the huge discounts and exciting raffles for the month of September, you can now spare yourself from those boring ber-month weekends! Start planning your next bonding activity that you’ve been eagerly waiting to happen!

Modern Juan paves the way for gender equality at home

MANILA, Philippines  — Perhaps no era has prompted a more dramatic shift in gender norms than this one; and these changes are most evident in one of the most basic facets of daily life — chores.

Where household tasks were once viewed as “women’s work” decades prior, nowadays, a more equal division of tasks for cooking, cleaning, laundry duties, and the like in the new millennium is far from unusual.

According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Filipino men are getting more and more involved in household work. In fact, statistics show that a significant increase was seen in the beginning of 2000s, with employed men allotting an average of 5 hours working on chores. This is a big jump, compared to the average of 1.87 hours from the numbers gathered on employed men from 1979.

With these findings, it’s exciting to see how this would continue to take off to new heights. A contemporary and fresh perspective on equality always starts from the core of the community, the family, and this is precisely why laundry detergent brand Ariel wants to keep the conversation going for every Juan.

As an homage to the men who show their support with the simple yet powerful act of contributing to housework, Ariel’s #JuanWash campaign seeks to inspire men to embrace one of the crucial roles in making a house a home by simply chipping in on the laundry. On September 1, 2017, Ariel launched the campaign online as a thank you to the Juan Washers, or the men who confidently help with the laundry. In partnership with Eat Bulaga, Ariel will be scouring through many different barangays in Metro Manila to find Juan Washers every Friday.

“For a long time, it has been common for women to have a bigger share in terms of household chores. With the rise of double-income homes and a more open-minded cultural landscape, men are now much more accepting of the idea of contributing to the housework,” explains Luisito Morante, Regional Brand Communications for Procter & Gamble, ASEAN Fabric & Home Care.

Many homes have their laundry washed twice a week. If the men of the household were to set aside one day for laundry, this can mean a world of difference for the family as a whole. As a convenient reminder of how each week gives men an opportune moment to show their support, Ariel is looking to dedicate Fridays as #JuanWash days. With this slight addition to their weekly routine, the men of the household can be a New Man as an expert in laundry.

By celebrating the men who take a stand for equality through #JuanWash, Ariel continues to break barriers after coming from the successful launch of #AhonPinay – a project in partnership with TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) that sought to provide women with more work opportunities by training them in commonly male-dominated jobs. Through #JuanWash, Ariel further emphasizes the advocacy of empowering Filipinos by showcasing the modern Juan’s role in laundry chores as a critical step towards welcoming the change to lead. Because someone who is man enough to do laundry, is someone who cares enough to let the women in their lives have the same opportunity to progress even more.

OPPO A71 now available for only P927 per month at 0% interest

MANILA, Philippines - Prague-based Fintech company Home Credit and OPPO, the Philippines’ Top 2 international smartphone brand, are partnering once again to offer the new OPPO A71 smartphone at 0% interest installments even without a credit card.

Photo Credit: OPPO Sri Lanka

With its already affordable price tag of P8,990, the new OPPO A71 can be availed by budget-savvy shoppers for only P927 per month at 6 months, with a 40% downpayment. The promo runs until January 31, 2018 and offered in leading partner outlets throughout the country. Customers only need to present at least two valid IDs to apply, right inside the store, and can get the result of their loan application within minutes.

“At Home Credit, our job is to empower Filipinos by helping them afford the things that matter most to them, through easy-on-the-pocket installments even without a credit card,” remarked Franchette Cardona, Chief Marketing and Product Officer of Home Credit Philippines, which does in-store financing of smartphones, appliances, furniture and other goods through their retail and producer partners.

The A71 is a 5.2” smartphone with OPPO’s latest sleek uni-body design and luster edge for a more compact, enjoyable and ergonomic grip. Measuring only 7.6mm thick and weighing just 137 grams, this smartphone is finished with a nano-silver technology for a more elegant and overall premium feel. Its immersive 5.2” IPS HD display, powered by the latest Color OS 3.1 UI, provides the best experience whether watching movies or playing games. Its great screen color reproduction is complemented by a protective scratch-resistant glass.

Improved Photography Experience

Alongside the strong performance of the A71 is the improved camera optics of a 13-Megapixel camera with 1/3.06 sensor size for better sensitivity. It even includes multi-frame denoising technology for an overall clearer performance even in dark conditions.

The 5MP front camera with a bigger 1.4 µm pixel size will give better selfies with more detail, light and HDR mode for the best output. Additionally, you can have more dramatic effect with preset filters, selfie panorama, or bokeh for a richer selfie experience. All these with OPPO’s famous Beautify technology, to give the best selfie experience through natural enhancements.

Shooting more complex photos is also easier with OPPO’s expert photography mode. Settings such as white balance, exposure level, ISO, Shutter speed and focus can all be manually adjusted for the most ideal setting in any scenario. More details can also be captured with the A71’s Ultra HD mode to take Ultra high-definition 52MP photos.

Fluid User Experience

Experience speedy operation with the A71’s latest Color OS 3.1 based on Android version 7.1. User experience is enhanced with fluid launching time of apps, and more intuitive controls, including a wellness-promoting night shield mode to reduce eye-strain in scheduled times. Users can also take advantage of the split-screen feature to use two apps simultaneously like watching videos while browsing the web.

All these are possible with the A71’s 3GB RAM and Octa-Core processor that is built for multi-tasking when needed, as well as a bigger 3000mAh battery for all-day usage.

Top performing schools, performance of schools Physician board exam September 2017

MANILA, Philippines - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) officially announced on Friday, September 22 that 3,340 out of 4,064 (82.19%) passed the Physician board exam given by the Board of Medicine in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao this September 2017.

PRC named Cebu Institute of Medicine and Saint Luke's College of Medicine as the top performing schools garnering 100% passing rate.

RELATED RESULTS

• LIST OF PASSERS: September 2017 Physician board exam results
• TOP 10 PASSERS: UST grad tops September 2017 Physician board exam

West Visayas State University (WVSU) - La Paz ranked second with 99.01%.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) got the third spot with 98.15%.

The top ten (10) performing schools in the September 2017 Physician Licensure Examination as per Commission Resolution No. 2010-547 series of 2010: WITH 50 OR MORE EXAMINEES AND WITH AT LEAST 80% PASSING PERCENTAGE

RANK	SCHOOL	TOTAL NO. OF EXAM.	TOTAL NO. PASSED	PERCENTAGE PASSED
1	CEBU INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE	122	122	100.00%
	SAINT LUKE'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	83	83	100.00%
2	WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY-LA PAZ	101	100	99.01%
3	PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA	108	106	98.15%
4	UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA	150	146	97.33%
5	UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS	482	468	97.10%
	ATENEO DE MLA UNIV. SCHOOL OF MED. & PUBLIC HEALTH-PASIG	138	134	97.10%
6	UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST RAMON MAGSAYSAY MEM MEDICAL CTR	326	316	96.93%
7	XAVIER UNIVERSITY	56	54	96.43%
8	SAN BEDA COLLEGE	106	100	94.34%
9	CEBU DOCTORS UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	110	103	93.64%
10	FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY-NICANOR REYES MEDICAL FOUNDATION	268	248	92.54%

The performance of schools in the September 2017 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) in alphabetical order as per R.A. 8981 otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Section 7(m) "To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation" is as follows:

Performance of Schools Physician Board Exam by TheSummitExpress on Scribd

Meanwhile, Vincent Edouard Anthony Retardo Gullas from University of Santo Tomas (UST) aced the board with 90.50%. Jan David Choa Monzon and Robert Carandang Rena both from De La Salle University (DLSU) - Health Sciences Institute got the second highest place with 90.08%.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ Movie Review: Charming Outrageousness To The Next Level

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*

Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is back in the field, but this time, in a bit more dire situation as the British underground organization that he belongs to is attacked by a secretive new world group dubbed The Golden Circle spearheaded by kooky but deadly antagonist, Poppy (Julianne Moore). With his back against the wall, he and his trustee ally, Merlin (Mark Strong) cross the pond to America to seek help from their Stateside counterparts known as the Statesman. Backed-up by some new allies like Champ (Jeff Bridges), Tequila (Channing Tatum), Whiskey (Pedro Pascal) and Ginger Ale (Halle Berry), they will work together to foil their new adversary’s evil plans. On top of that, survival of Harry (Colin Firth) remains to be the looming mystery surrounding the film.

Taron Egerton as Eggsy, Channing Tatum as Tequila and Halle Berry as Ginger Ale in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’/20th Century Fox

With an impressive cast chockful of industry veterans, it is hard to not be interested with “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” But for movie fans, the movie is more than just an assembly of big stars, much attention is given to it because of the person behind the camera for the project -- Matthew Vaughn who was notorious for turning down sequels. From “Kick-Ass” to “X-Men: First Class,” the British director seems to be content with just setting up a potential franchise until he came across this budding franchise.

Taron Egerton as Eggsy in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’/20th Century Fox

The sophomore outing from the franchise is highly anticipated after its predecessor surprised everyone with how well crafted of a project it was. But the question now is, how did the sequel fare compared to its very well received predecessor. The verdict, just like the film is a little bit more complicated.

Channing Tatum as Agent Tequila and Halle Berry as Ginger Ale in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’/20th Century Fox

“The Golden Circle” definitely upped almost everything. From the stunning visuals to its set pieces, going global in itself is a major upgrade from a seemingly small story which is ironic given how the first film’s threat was perceived world wide -- not to mention how fun it was seeing Bridges’ back to his western roots. It just makes sense that this is the organic progression of the story. Sure, we have lost Roxy (Sophie Cook) and JB, but it was nice seeing the franchise have a clear narrative trajectory rather than being just stuck in a rut, doing the same things over and over again.

If you think the gore in “The Secret Service” is already too much to handle, its sequel just doubles down on it. The movie is not Rated R for nothing anyway. This one, however, fully embraces its freedom that exploding heads and bleeding people seem to already be the norm. Remember they doubles down on it? “The Golden Circle” literally grinds alive people, makes their flesh into burger patties and feeds it to other people. Too much? For some maybe, but in the realm of this franchise, not totally improbable. Especially when it is basically a nod to the over-the-top ‘60s spy thriller that most of the time borderlines insanity.

Unfortunately, just as how “The Golden Circle” ramps up some aspects of its predecessor, it scales back on the other. The action sequences are a little less exciting than those of its predecessor, especially with the jaw-dropping Church sequence featuring Firth -- which in itself is already surprising to see given his usual dramatic expertise. The revolving camera shot trick is once again utilized, but it just doesn’t have the angst and charisma that the Church action set piece had.

One shall never underestimate Vaughn’s flare for twists, especially with the “Kingsman” franchise. He was able to cleverly execute one in the original film with Michael Caine’s Chester King apparently a cohort in Samuel L. Jackson’s Valentine’s plans. However, compared to its predecessor, this one seems a little lame, maybe event a bit melodramatic. It was nowhere near the gasp-inducing reveal in “The Secret Service” about Chester crossing his very own organization. That said, it was a bold attempt and is a sure great callback to the traitor’s TV gig.

Colin Firth as Harry and Taron Egerton as Eggsy in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’/20th Century Fox

More than anything, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” is a heck of a great time in the theater. While it does not quite surpass the lightning in a bottle success that was “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” it is able to maintain everything that we have loved about the original film. True, some of the cast are barely involved in the whole kerfuffle, but everybody got their due. Most especially, despite a plethora of characters, the film remains focused and not all over the place. The expansion of the lore with the inclusion of the Statesman opens up a lot of opportunities in the future and and judging by how the film left it off, it appears that Vaughn already has a plan with regard to where he wants to take this franchise.

Watch full trailer of ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’:

-- ALD, The Summit Express

Atom Araullo is now a Kapuso, joins GMA News and Public Affairs

MANILA, Philippines - Almost a week after leaving ABS-CBN, broadcast journalist Atom Araullo returns to rival network GMA-7 to be part of the network’s News and Public Affairs group. The big reveal was made on flagship news program 24 Oras on Thursday.

Photo Credit: GMA Network

“I’m very excited. Ang dami kong gustong gawin, particularly in the realm of documentary production. I think this is a great place to do all of that,” Atom expressed.

GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon welcomed Atom, the former host of 'Atomic Sports' on 24 Oras, on his homecoming.

“Dahil kilala ang GMA-7 sa paggawa ng world-class at award-winning documentary and public affairs programs, kami ay nalulugod sa paglipat ni Atom Araullo para lalo s’yang mahasa sa pagiging magaling na broadcast journalist at documentarist among others,” Gozon said.

Atom's first project in the Kapuso network will be special report on the country's biodiversity and as announced, he will join the award-winning documentary program "I Witness."

In the past decade, he has earned the trust of the viewing public and the respect of his colleagues through the news stories and documentaries he produced. His documentary on climate change on ABS-CBN earned Atom a Bronze World Medal at the 2017 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films.”

Atom is now is looking forward to doing more documentaries with GMA.

“Ano man ang mga gagawin ko rito will be the next stage of my career. Gusto kong mas marami pang mai-share sa mga tao tungkol sa aking mga paniniwala, at 'yung passion ko to do documentaries,” he said.

TOP 10 PASSERS: September 2017 Physician board exam results

MANILA, Philippines - The full list of topnotchers or top 10 passers for September 2017 Physician or Medicine board exam is available on this page as officially released (expected) on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 or in three (3) working days after the exam.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the second Physician board exam this year on September 9, 10, 16 & 17 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao.

RELATED RESULTS

• LIST OF PASSERS: September 2017 Physician board exam results
• Performance of Schools: September 2017 Physician board exam results

The successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places in the September 2017 Physician Licensure Examination are the following:

Now updating for the list of topnotchers...

PREVIOUS EXAMINATIONS

In the September 2016 Physician board exam, Jeri Charlotte Albano from University of Santo Tomas (UST) topped the board with 89.50%. It was followed by Edwin Mark Lim Chiong also from UST garnering 88.75% average grade.

Kark Emmanuel Cueva Mercader from University of Perpetual Help System Dalta - Las Pinas aced the board in the March 2017 Physician exams, 88.58%. Alvin Lester Samson Villas, graduate of Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela ranked second with 87.17%.

Here's quick summary of topnotchers for Physician licensure exam in the past two (2) years.

Exam Date	Topnotcher	School	Rating (%)
September 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA
March 2017	KARL EMMANUEL CUEVA MERCADER	UNIVERSITY OFPERPETUAL HELP SYSTEMDALTA-LAS PIÑAS	88.58
September 2016	JERI CHARLOTTE CO ALBANO	UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS	89.5
March 2016	AL PATRICK CAJANDAB ALAJAS	SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY- MATIASH. AZNAR MEM. COLL. OFMED.	88.67
August 2015	ANDREW CHUA TIU	CEBU INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE	90.67
February 2015	VENIL LOVELY ESTELLA BOLAMBAO	SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY-COLLEGEOF MEDICINE	88.33

From which school will be the topnotcher for September 2017 Physician board exam?

FULL RESULTS: September 2017 Physician board exam passers list, top 10

MANILA, Philippines - The September 2017 Physician board exam results including the official list of passers, topnotchers (top 10), top performing schools and performance of schools are expected to be released online on September 20 (today) - 21 or in 3-4 working days after the exam.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the second Physician board exam on September 9, 10, 16 & 17 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao.

The members of the Board of Medicine who gave the licensure examination are Dr. Clarita C. Maaño, Chairman; Dr. Edgardo T. Fernando, Dr. Miguel L. Noche Jr., Dr. Eleanor B. Almoro, Dr. Eleanor J. Galvez and Dr. Ma. Graciela Garayblas-Gonzaga, Members.

PHYSICIAN BOARD EXAM RELATED RESULTS

• TOP 10 PASSERS: September 2017 Physician board exam results
• Top Performing Schools, Performance of Schools: September 2017 Physician board exam results

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
PHYSICIAN LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on SEPTEMBER 9, 2017 & FF. DAYS
Released on SEPTEMBER 2017

Now updating for the list of passers...refresh page for the results.

REGISTRATION AND OATHTAKING

PRC said that registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be done on-line. Please go to www.prc.gov.ph and follow instructions for initial registration.

Those who will register are required to bring the following:

• Notice of admission
• duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal
• 2 pieces passport size pictures (colored with white background and complete name tag)
• 2 sets of documentary stamps

Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, PRC added.

VERIFICATION OF RATINGS

Physician board exam's verification of ratings (passers, non-passers and removal) can be done online.

Visit PRC's "Verification of Rating" service and enter the required information to verify your identity. Note that this will be available in few working days after the release of results.

COVERAGE OF EXAMINATION

The second medicine board exam this 2017 covered the following subjects: biochemistry, anatomy and histology, microbiology and parasitology (September 9); physiology, legal medicine, ethics and medical jurisprudence and pathology (September 10); pharmacology and therapeutics surgery and opthalmology, otolaryngology and rhinology and medicine (September 16); and obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and nutrition and preventive medicine and public health (September 17).

RELEASE OF RESULTS

According to PRC Resolution No. 2016-1019, the target release date of the recent Physician board exam results is on Thursday, September 21 or in 4 working days after the test.

In March 2017 exam, PRC released results after 3 working days. A total of 813 out of 1,317 passed the series of exams.

In September 2016, PRC announced results also in 3 working days. 2,899 out of 3,695 successfully passed the exam.

We advise examinees to monitor results release starting today, September 20 or in 3 working days. Note that government offices will be closed on Thursday, September 21, as the Malacanang Palace declared "national day of protest" in time for the 45th anniversary of Martial Law.

Here's the quick summary of previous examinations.

Exam Date	Total Examinees	Total Passers	Passing Rate	Days before results release
September 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
March 2017	1,317	813	62%	3
September 2016	3,695	2,899	78%	3
March 2016	1,044	483	46%	2
August 2015	2,921	2,491	85%	3
February 2015	832	594	71%	2

UPDATES

Monitor this page for the real-time updates on Physician board exam results. Check out also the official website of PRC for more information.