TACLOBAN CITY-Acclaimed Filipino novelist Gina Apostol, who is now based in New York, USA, talked about her latest book “Insurrecto” with fellow authors and students at the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban Campus (UPVTC) in Tacloban City, August 10.
The event was part of the August edition of “Harampang” organized by KATIG Writers Network, Inc. and UP Runggiyan, in cooperation with the UPVTC Leyte Samar Heritage Center.
A graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Apostol earned her Master’s degree in creative writing at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Her other award-winning novels are “Bibliolepsy,” “The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata,” and “Gun Dealers’ Daughter.”
She teaches at the Fieldston School in New York City. Apostol is a native of Barugo, Leyte. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY–Paytaca, Eastern Visayas’ first locally developed Financial Technology Application (FinTech App), was launched at Cafe Lucia, this city, on August 23.
“Paytaca is a new app that intends to enter the FinTech market with a particular focus on cashless payments. The primary goal of Paytaca is to capture the interest of potential users and merchants in Eastern Visayas,” said Joemar Taganna, Paytaca president.
“Paytaca’s soft launch also introduces users to the app and initial list of merchants for a short Beta Testing phase that will run from August to October 2019,” he added.
During the launch, the company also gave its beta testers free credits as gifts that they can use immediately at partner merchants.
Aaron J.P. Almadro, marketing director of Paytaca, said their FinTech app aims to have local businesses carry it as a payment option.
“Today, Paytaca is partnered with almost 20 local businesses from Tacloban and nearby municipalities, who will accept payments thru the app. Of course, expansion is our priority, and we are already talking with other businesses from Leyte, Samar, and soon in Biliran, so that we can cover the whole of Eastern Visayas,” said Almadro.
Paytaca is slated to roll-out starting October after the completion of the Beta Testing Phase.
“In the near future, we are targeting Paytaca to be a payment option for utilities, banking transactions, and then large-scale businesses like commercial malls and convenience stores,” added Almadro.
Paytaca is a mobile app that administers cashless payment transactions between a user and merchant.
It uses block chain technology that guarantees a virtually tamper-proof recording of transaction.
For more information, visit www.paytaca.com or contact Paytaca (Marketing) at 0967-687-6185/0919-216-2117. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY-At least 14 competing entries from students and five showcase entries made by local upcyclers took center stage during the first interDependence’s Ecodesign Design challenge in Eastern Visayas held in Tacloban City Friday(August 23).
“This event is called interDependence Day. This is happening simultaneously around the world. I am part of the agency’s Global Climate Change Challenge Programme, a climate leadership program that the agency is running,” said Jacques Palami, event organizer.
“InterDependence is a newly-established UK (United Kingdom) agency that is looking to work on the interdependence blueprint — a plan to fund and scale up climate solutions, local renewable energy, and sustainable food production infrastructure,” added Palami, who studied social innovation in France.
As the only delegate from the Philippines, Palami said he decided to hold the same event in Tacloban, believing that “in the fight against climate change, representation and diversity is crucial.”
“The closest interDependence Day events are in Singapore and Australia. Each event is different, the organizers have the freedom to set up an activity to his or her liking. The Ecodesign Competition is just one aspect of the interdependence Day here—we also have representatives from different social enterprises and NGOs in the region—Greenpeace, Waste 360, BeenGo Farm, CocoAsenso, Green Collectiv,” Palami said.
“We also have partners outside of Eastern Visayas–Plastic Tides PH from Manila, Cleaner Earth from Germany,” he added.
Students from Leyte National High School bagged the first place with their entry “Haribon,” followed by Sagkahan National High School with their “Multi-Purpose Table” and Samar College Inc. with their ecodesign “Pitaka ni Jackie.”
The People’s Choice went to St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban, Inc. (STEFTI) with their entry “Chroma.”
“Local initiatives like Ecodesign Design challenge by interDependence promote public discourse towards climate solutions and best practices, especially among the youth. Tacloban being at the frontlines of climate impacts like Yolanda, has always been an active voice in the fight for climate justice. This sends a powerful statement to the global community in the midst of a climate emergency,” said Joanna Sustento of Greenpeace Philippines and a known climate warrior based in Tacloban.
During the event, participants were also treated to a series of mini-workshops and sessions on climate change, sustainable development, and individual waste auditing, among other topics.
The competition was co-organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban City Division and Yellow Doors Xchange.
(RONALD O. REYES)