Saturday, February 5, 2011

...the Recto vision


Batangas focuses on agri development


The Philippine Star
February 06, 2011


MANILA, Philippines –  The enhancement of agriculture is at the top of the list of priorities in a comprehensive plan for the development of Batangas province. The plan was drawn up during an Executive Legislative Agenda Alliance Building (ELA) cum Provincial Development Plans meeting attended by representatives from various national government bureaus and local chief executives in Batangas recently.

The goal of the program is to organize teamwork and alliance among different government agencies to avoid overlapping and double programming.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto who was the progam convenor said the agricultural activities include the establishment of a one-stop trading post with post-harvest facilities, fish trading centers, provision for high-value crops, animal dispersal and dairy farm production and a campaign for the establishment of more cooperatives in the province.

Based on several international studies, cooperatives do improve the chances of its members to uplift their lives.

Also incorporated in the program is a housing development plan that will be equipped with a data banking system to easily determine government-owned lands that can be utilized for housing under the Community Land Acquisition Support Program (CLASP).

The provincial government is set to issue an order that will advise all city and municipal mayors to use the Community Based Monitoring Survey as basis for planning and solving the problem of poverty in their areas of jurisdiction.

...the hybreeder


Phl's hybrid capital in the making
By Sanny Galvez
The Philippine Star 
 February 06, 2011


MANILA, Philippines –  Nueva Ecija may soon become the hybrid rice capital of the country as more and more farmers in the province are now planting the hybrid rice variety and using an integrated farming scheme “which has maximized their rice yield and income.”

Dr. Noel G. Mamicpic and Cathy Galura, vice-presidents for quality control and for operations, respectively, of SL Agritech Corp., made this observation following a visit last week to several rice farms in the province where they talked with hybrid rice farmers whom they described as “extremely happy because of the big harvest they are now having by using modern farm methods and technologies.”

Hamak laki na ang kanilang inaaning palay ngayon than before when they were planting the traditional rice variety and were not working as a group. But now, under a cluster system, their harvest has not only increased tremendously but their income as well,” Dr. Mamicpic said.

The clustering approach is a system of maximizing productivity through proximity and common sharing of resources. The clustering of rice farms was first implemented in 2005 by the Department of Agriculture on selected hybrid rice farms covering a contiguous area of 100 to 200 hectares.

Galura said the Bagong Buhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BBMPC) in Mabini in Sto. Domingo in Nueva Ecija, a cluster of 200 hectares, “is one example where working together as a group or common sharing of resources, will have tremendous effect especially as regards food production.”

Farmer-members of BBMPC, according to Galura, have been posting an average harvest of 230 cavans per hectare using the SL-8H hybrid rice variety.

Galura and Mamicpic, who are currently visiting hybrid rice farms all over the country with SL Agritech farm technicians, commended the members of the BBMPC, the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NMAPMC) in Talavera, also in Nueva Ecija, and other farmers’ groups practicing the clustering approach “for being receptive in adopting modern farm technologies and practices.”

“While we are all aware of the important role played by technology in our massive food production efforts, there is the apparent need for all of us to keep abreast with the various technological approaches and to continuously be in search of new and better systems towards increased productivity,” they said.  

...the newspaper

The Philippines to be featured in French newspaper

 
Manila Bulletin
February 5, 2011
 
MANILA, Philippines — Two French communications experts are in Manila to produce a special economic report on the Philippines which will be published in Le Figaro, the leading French daily newspaper.

“In our report, we will focus on the changes brought about since the election of Benigno S. Aquino III to President of the Republic of The Philippines and the economic and political agendas he wishes to implement during his tenure.As such, the report shall also focus on key sectors of the economy in order to encourage foreign investors to invest in the Republic of the Philippines by showing the numerous qualities and opportunities that the country has to offer,” said Jean-Michel Metthey.

Joachim Lanthier, on the other hand, said the Philippine government’s efforts towards improving Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and promoting efficiency and transparency in government’s project approval process “will most definitely go a long way towards inspiring greater confidence among foreign investors”.

Le Figaro has a readership of 2.5- million daily consisting mainly of the upper class and decision-makers in the economic and political arenas in France.

“Our aim in the Philippines is to produce the best possible report and remain positive,” Metthey added.
France holds the key strategic role in the European Union and currently holds the presidency of the G20.

France has maintained its ranking as the fifth largest economic power, largely through its foreign investments.
Metthey said that with this project, “it seems clear that not only are French readers interested in having more information about the Philippines, but with the recent elections and the ensuing French and European goodwill, it seems even more appropriate and imperative to follow up on some good notes between the two countries and mention the opportunities that the Philippines really represents whilst stressing that, as President Aquino declared, ‘the Philippines is once again open for business’”.

He said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and other officials and concerned individuals have been very helpful in providing materials and facilitating the process to better cover the key sectors of interest for this special report on the Philippines.

...the hopeful wonder


Noy backs Palawan '7 Wonders' bid


The Philippine Star
 February 05, 2011


MANILA, Philippines - The nationwide campaign to have the Puerto Princesa Underground River included in the new Seven Wonders of Nature got a major boost this week after President Aquino asked Filipinos to cast their votes by text to ensure that the Philippines’ famous natural attraction becomes part of the prestigious list.




Aquino said with the huge number of cell phone users in the country, text votes of Filipinos would surely make the site one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature.

“We need your text votes so the Palawan Underground River (would be included in the new Seven Wonders of Nature)… there will be more tourists in the country and the economy will grow with just your text votes,” Aquino said in Filipino.

The President got updates on the campaign from Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the official nominee of the Philippines and finalist to the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

It was declared one of the 28 finalists from over 441 participants. It has also been cited as an example of best practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism.



The 8.2-kilometer underground river is competing against the Dead Sea, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Maldives, the Grand Canyon, Jeju Island, Bay of Fundy, Black Forest, Iguazu Falls, Angel Falls, Yushan, Uluru, Galapagos, Milford Sound, Bu Tinah Island, The Great Barrier Reef, Halong Bay, Komodo Park, the Amazon, Vesuvius, Table Mountain, and Masurian Lake District.

It has been declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as a World Heritage Site and one of the most bio-diverse conservation areas in the world. It is the world’s longest subterranean river.

The river includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right at the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels live on a beach near the cave.

Text votes could be cast online at www.new7wonders.com/n7w <http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w> or by texting PPUR, PPUR7 or PPUR15 to 2861.

 

Friday, February 4, 2011

...the city landfill

SJDM touts world-class landfill


By FREDDIE C. VELEZ
Manila Bulletin
February 4, 2011

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Bulacan — Good news for the province of Bulacan.
Two years after the establishment of the Bulacan Engineered Sanitary Landfill by the VGP group of companies, this city was recently declared one of the cleanest cities in the Philippines.

San Jose del Monte (SJDM) City was listed as one of the top 10 finalists in the Nationwide Search by the Zero Waste Challenge for LGUs of the National Solid Waste Management Commission and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Mayor Reynaldo San Pedro said yesterday the city could not have been included in the list without the efforts taken by Raymond Puyat, president of the engineered landfill, who answered the call for resolving the nation’s garbage problems without harming the environment.

San Pedro said the landfill is a world-class and technically-compliant engineered sanitary landfill -- the first of its kind in the country.

He said the facility operates under specific measures and guidelines set by the DENR.
He said the VGP Bulacan Engineered Sanitary Landfill is their partner in the city's clean and green program.

“Many have been impressed by the quality of the project. This is part of the World Bank and Land Bank of the Philippines’ Mechanism Project in compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)," San Pedro said in Filipino.

“This seeks to address global warming and respond to the dangers posed by climate change. We trust that our engineered sanitary landfill will help greatly in protecting the health and security not only of residents in San Jose del Monte but of all people in the province as well,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, Puyat said their landfill is different to the open and controlled dumpsites which are strictly prohibited.

...the other Spring paradise

Boracay, Cebu top destinations for Chinese spring fest tourists


Cebu and Boracay top the list of favorite destinations for Chinese tourists celebrating the Spring Festival Week in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday.

Citing figures from its offices in China and from tour operators in the Philippines, the DOT said some 3,500 Chinese nationals are trooping to the Philippines for the spring festival, with the wave of tourist arrivals expected within the first week of February.

“Among the top-selling Philippine destinations this year are Boracay and Cebu, with the new available chartered flights to Kalibo direct from Shanghai and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China," the DOT said in a news release posted on the government portal.

Arrivals from China posted a 20.9-percent increase in 2010, while arrivals from Hong Kong and Taiwan posted 8.9 percent and 39.29 percent increases, respectively, the DOT said.

It said the uptrend signifies renewed confidence among visitors from these regions, which comprised more than 13 percent of total tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2010.

"This market is anticipated to push continued growth as activities are undertaken to reposition the country as a safe and secure tourist destination," it said.

As a gesture of goodwill for the tour groups, the DOT said it is providing tourist assistance services for their stay in the country.

The DOT added that Philippine consular and tourism offices in China remain open despite the long Spring Festival holiday there because of continued bookings and applications for visa issuances for travel to the Philippines.

Coinciding with their Spring Festival, the Chinese celebrate the Chunyun period (Spring Festival Transportation Rush), dubbed the world's largest yearly human migration, 15 days before the Chinese New Year. This year's Chunyun started on January 19 and will last for 40 days.

Passenger journeys within China during Chunyun shoot up to as many as two billion, as the period has become an opportunity for family reunions, posing problems on the country's transportation systems.

With more opportunities to travel abroad and visit their overseas kin, Chinese nationals also take advantage of the Chunyun holidays to travel to neighboring countries, including the Philippines.

Last year, Philippine tourism suffered a blow after a dismissed police officer hijacked a bus full of Hong Kong tourists and eventually killed eight of the hostages.

The August 23 hostage tragedy prompted Hong Kong to issue a "black" travel warning discouraging travel to the Philippines.—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV

...the hungry young poet

UP student bags top prize in intl poetry contest


A student of the University of the Philippines (UP) won the top prize in a poetry contest for Filipino students held by the Embassy of Chile and UP.

The "unlikely" winner, Rene Calunsag, an Industrial Engineering student of UP, can perhaps relate to what Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's once wrote: "Poetry arrived in search of me."

"I really love Math, but I started writing in third grade, and after that was a cascade of writing," said Rene Calunsag, who was awarded the first prize of 1000 US dollars for his poem entitled "The 34th Miner."

"I realized that when there were 33 miners, there was supposed to be a 34th because at the time that the 33 miners were freed, the rest of Chile will also be freed. So the 34th miner is the rest of Chile," explained Calunsag.

His poem begins:

"This cold, dark mine; its silent noise
The piercing fear from Death’s grim toys
The hard, course ground I slumber in
They strangle me—I cannot win"

Villarante's "Kiss of Sunrise" places Chile in the bigger picture.

"The earth opens up for thirty-three,
Chile rises
And an entire world grows,
Life without death to this story."

Calunsag, an honor student, admitted that he had hoped to win the prize.

Asked if he thought he would win, he answered "Yes, honestly. I also wanted to get the prize money. First I'm going to pay off our family debt so we can be free of them finally."

Celebration of miners' rescue

The contest was held in commemoration of the Bicentenary of Independence of the Republic of Chile, and in celebration of the rescue of 33 Chilean miners in San Jose.

Over 100 students from all over the Philippines sent in their entries but only six were chosen by the panel of judges headed by H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Chile Professor Dr. Roberto Mayorga.

Also on the board of judges was Consul Luis Alberto Palma, Philippine National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, University Professor Emeritus Gemino Henson Abad, former Vice President for Academic Affairs, UP System Professor Emeritus Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, and UP Vice President for Public Affairs System Professor Isabelita Orlina Reyes.

"It is the first time in the history that young people from one country write poems aimed to another country. It is a truly way to create solid cultural and spiritual bridges among countries," said Ambassador Mayorga.

Second Prize went to Therese Marie Villarante of Cebu Normal University for her poem "Kiss of Sunrise."

The Third Prize was given to Marie Celine Anastasia Socrates of UP Diliman for her poem "Scarred Land."

Mariejo Maris Sawal Ramos of UP Diliman won Fourth Prize for "Chile: Hope is in the Heart."

The Fifth Prize was given to both David John Descalzo Ubera of Nueva Vizcaya State University for his poem "Chile in the land where the earth ends" and Mirava Yuson of UP Diliman for "Immured."

Ramos, the fourth prize winner, said she was surprised that she won.

A Journalism major, she said this is her first time to write a poem. "I just tried it. I adored the Chilean miners because of their bravery," she said.

Yuson, a Creative Writing major said that the recognition encourages her to write more poetry, which is not her preferred genre.

"It's beginner's luck I think, because I'm better at non-fiction than fiction and poetry," she said.

The contest specified that the poems must be on or about the Republic of Chile—its bicentenary, people, scenery, culture and/or society and/or the emotions of the poet regarding the successful rescue operations involving 33 Chilean miners in San Jose.

Touching tributes

While the winners had different approaches, all were recognized as touching tributes to the country

Socrates' "Scarred Land" is heavy with meaning, with lines like "Forgetting, after all, is not a matter of time, but of desire." and "When gunshots cease, there will be echoes."

Ramos' poem ends with
"La esperanza está en el corazon
Never falter, Chile, for hope is in the heart."

Ubera addresses Chile in his poem:

"You are strong and resilient
Earthquakes may shake your tunnels
But not the foundations of your freedom."

Yuson paints a rich picture with "Immured," ending thus:

"All that glitters
Remains hidden
Beyond fathom
When one entombed
Faces blinding walls
Of copper
And prison bars
Of gold."

The winning poems will be published in three languages: English, Spanish and Filipino in an anthology that will be launched in Chile and in the Philippines. – VVP, GMANews.TV

Thursday, February 3, 2011

...the cool schools

More foreign students flock to Philippines — BI

More foreigners are taking up college in the Philippines this school year, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) data.

Their numbers rose 4 percent to 19,121 from 18,353 in the previous school year. BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said the statistics are based on the number of identity cards issued to aliens who are certified as registered in the Philippines.

“The fact that many foreigners are studying here means that the quality of our educational system is continuously improving. Our schools are competing with the best of their counterparts in Asia in attracting foreign enrollees," Ledesma said.

Topping the list of foreign students are South Koreans with 6,000, followed by the Chinese (3,395), Iranians (2,980), and Americans (1,004).

Also in the list are hundreds of Indonesians, Indians, Taiwanese, Kuwaitis, Nepalese, Thais, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Nigerians, Kenyans, Japanese, Pakistanis, Timorese, and Burmese, said BI alien registration chief Danilo Almeda.

Most foreign students are studying in Metro Manila, mostly at Centro Escolar University. University of the East, Far Eastern University, Manila Central University, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University are also schools with a significant number of foreign students enrolled.

Ledesma said foreigners who want to study in the Philippines must secure a student visa, following Philippine immigration laws. He added they should only enroll in authorized schools or those accredited by the bureau. — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMANews.TV

...the furn star

Filipino furniture designer a Hollywood hit


By Yahoo! Southeast Asia Editors
By Jason Gutierrez
Agence France Presse

February 3rd, 2011


600afp_kcobonpue

CEBU (AFP) – His designs may be in Hollywood but his heart is at home: renowned Filipino furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue says he still gets his inspiration from the sun-baked shores of Cebu.

The multi-award-winner is regarded by international design magazines as one of the poster boys of Asia’s chic furniture design industry and his unique works have penetrated the luxury market around the world.

They can be found on movie sets, in the home of US movie star Brad Pitt — who bought a Cobonpue bed — and in leading hotels, establishments and resorts in Paris, London and the Caribbean.

Yet for all his success, the 40-year-old father-of-two remains firmly grounded to his roots.

He says his creative ideas come from nature and locally-sourced materials in Cebu, an island province in the central Philippines, famous for its colourful festivals and sweet mangos.

“In the beginning, I always looked at nature for reference — the transparency, fluidity. These are characteristics of nature that I want to capture in the objects I design,” Cobonpue told AFP at his factory in Cebu City, which is also the country’s booming furniture industry capital.

“But actually, inspiration comes from everywhere. There is beauty in everything we see, if only we can take a second look.”

Although Cobonpue credits his natural talent to his mother, Betty, who is a famous local designer, he sharpened his skills at New York’s Pratt Institute where he studied Industrial Design in the late 1980s.

He was also apprenticed at leather workshops in Italy and in Germany until 1994, before heading to the United States in the hope of landing a job with one of the big design houses there.

However he was forced to return to the Philippines in 1996 when he could not find a spot in the tough US market.

“There was no work to be found. Even Harvard graduates were driving taxi cabs at the time,” he said.
“We had a furniture factory back home, so I took over.”

Once back in Cebu, Cobonpue experimented with different designs using humble rattan as the raw material. He used the skin of the vine for binding and as a weaving material, with its core forming the wooden structure.

Manufacturing under his own name, Cobonpue’s meticulously hand crafted, modern designs slowly gained fame beyond Cebu and replaced the 1980s-era catalogue of his mother.

Each design portrayed a certain kind of character, or had a hidden story behind it.



The first major breakthrough was a collection called Yin and Yang — with beds and chairs made from rattan splits over a frame of steel and wicker that combined form and function using round and square shapes.

Another critically acclaimed set was the Lolah collection, which used traditional Filipino boat building techniques in bending rattan to showcase its flexibility and create sensuous frames.

Accolades followed, including the top prize for a lounge chair at the Maison et Objet exhibition in France in 2009 as well as awards from the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Singapore International Furniture Design competitions.

Several of the designs were also picked for three editions of the authoritative International Design Yearbook, underscoring Cobonpue’s status as a furniture virtuoso.

But perhaps what signalled Cobonpue’s entry into the big league was the 2001 launch of his Voyage collection, cocoon shaped beds that were reminiscent of ancient reed boats.

“They aim to take the sleeper into an imaginative journey into dreamland,” Cobonpue said.

The bed became famous when Pitt, an avid art collector, bought one from a showroom that represented Cobonpue designs in Los Angeles.

Orders then flooded in from Hollywood, and Cobonpue sets were used in movies, including the Ocean’s 11 franchise starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Pitt, among others.

They are also familiar sights in the hit American television series, CSI.

“You know at first, I didn’t know what to make of it. The attention we got after that was incredible,” the soft-spoken Cobonpue said.

“I feel that as an artist, your work should validate itself, not because of some celebrity buying your work.

“The best compliments are from the ordinary people who save up on their hard earned money to buy just one chair. Or from the gasoline attendant who tells me he saw me on television and says he felt proud to be Filipino.”



With his reputation at its highest, the patriotic Cobonpue is now busy building a legacy he wants to leave to young Filipino designers.

He teaches at the local university and picks promising students to work at his shop — one of them has already won an international award for a ceiling lamp made from recyclable materials.

He has also long given up his US green card and is in the early stages of planning his own design academy to impart his art to more Filipinos.

“With all our talent, our country should have a thriving design scene. I don’t see that yet,” he said.
“We have the potential, but it starts with design education and industry.”

In the next five years, Cobonpue said, he wanted to expand to include designing clothes, while toying with some even more radical ideas.

“Right now, I am also designing a concept car made from bamboo as a personal project. Let’s see where that takes us,” he said.

...the hope of the nation

Young Pinoys learn diplomacy at Model United Nations

02/03/2011
 
THE NETHERLANDS - Eighteen students from the International School of Manila, majority of them Filipinos, joined this year’s The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) in Netherlands.
 
The annual gathering of high school students from all over the world is being organized by the The Hague International Model United Nations Foundation to instill in the young minds of the students the core values of the United Nations Organization.

Unique in its concept, the students were assigned to represent another country to be able to develop a more global approach to solving economic and social problems.

The Filipino delegation represented Albania this year. In the five-day conference, students are tasked to discuss, pass resolutions, negotiate, debate and understand deeper various global issues like human rights violations, youth and refugees, environmental problems, economic development, war and peace, among others.

This year has been extra special for the Filipino delegation because they have the most number of students from non-Dutch school selected for chairmanship and officer positions.

Among the delegates are Michelle Ferreol, Economic and Social Council Deputy President, Ayesha Dayaram International Court of Justice President, Kimberly Rodriguez, Advisory Panel President, Anthony Gokianluy who became MUNITY Newspaper Editor, and Leandro Leviste, son of Senator Loren Legarda, who chaired the controversial Human Rights Commission.

“We really need to listen to representatives from different countries about what they can say on the issues that are great importance to the youth. In that, you get to realize how much energy the young people have nowadays, how committed they are on making a difference especially in this commission, we have in human rights. It was inspiring to find out how opinionated young people can be on issues of great importance,” said Leviste of his experience.

Influenced by her mother to be concerned, especially with issues of human rights, Leviste said that one of the most widespread human rights violations happening in every part of the world has to do with children.

“I think what really stands was the rights of children both in post-disaster areas in terms of child labor even sometimes child soldiers. In the Philippines where we have such a large population, I think that’s what the youth can take great interest in and hopefully we can have some advances in the welfare of children there.

Their welfare is always ignored so it would be great if we can have more attention paid to the most vulnerable members of our society,” he added.

Meanwhile for Blanca Villanueva, being in the environment commission made her appreciate more the biodiversity and natural resources of the Philippines as well as learn about other problems the world is facing.
“There was a wide range of topic we can talk about and all of them were definitely interesting. We were a large delegation so we have topics ranging from environment, disarmament and human rights. It was a very good experience especially the debates,” said Villanueva.

Aside from serious daily discussions, the students were also encouraged to interact and make friends with fellow participants.

“It’s great to see everyone, all the countries and different issues that we are debating today. This is one of the best experiences in my life” said Daniel Viray.

Other delegates include Isabel Agudo, Shloka Sharan, Alonzo Virata, Daniel Tan, Patrick Younes, Mahek Tulsiani, Chris Ong, Akshar Bonu, Myung-in Sohn, Mariella Salazar, Esther Park and Gaea Morales.

According to Leviste, they are trying to promote Model United Nations in the Philippines by organizing conferences for different schools in the country with the help of private organizations like the Rotary Club of Makati. Currently Model United Nations conferences are being held only in The Hague and Singapore.

...the new Canadian idol


Pinay singer/songwriter making waves in Canada


By Rey Galupo
The Philippine Star
February 03, 2011



Photo is loading...
Audrey Angchangco (rightmost) wows Canadians with her kind of pop/punk music| Zoom
MANILA, Philippines -  Another Pinay is making waves in the entertainment world abroad.

This time, it’s Audrey Angchangco’s turn to take the spotlight as she continues to wow Canadians with her different kind of pop/punk music.

A daughter of Environmental Hero Audy Angchangco, who was slain in 2007 for his anti-illegal logging campaign, Audrey is taking her acts with her band Before Helen in different places in Canada and has been receiving great reviews from music critics there.

Born on Oct. 4, 1992 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada while her mom Helen was staying there as immigrant, Audrey stayed with her parents in the Philippines until 2003, then left for good the same year to finish her study.

Allen, as she is fondly called by friends and relatives, works part-time to help out with her schooling and music fees. She was a basketball varsity for six years at the Centennial Secondary School in Coquitlam, British Columbia, then called it quits to focus on music.

“Basketball was definitely a ton of fun, it’s unfortunate that I had to quit because I simply just didn’t have enough time for it. As for college, I plan to take law, psychology and criminology and hopefully get a degree,” said the 18- year old phenom.

“It’s can get tough trying to manage my work, school and music sometimes. It’s all about prioritizing, scheduling and organizing,” she said.

Audrey, who is the lead vocalist of Before Helen (named after her mom), writes her own songs, some of which she performs in several gigs around Canada. Her influences come from bands like Hedley, Paramore, Taking Back Sunday, The Summer Set, Marianas Trench and Dallas Green.

“Their music reflects the emotions that they pour into it, and mostly about incidents in life that you can relate to. I love writing songs about my life experiences because I find that people tend to relate and be more drawn to songs like that,” said Audrey, whose aunts, The Montoya Sisters, made it big during the Clover Theater days.

Before Helen was organized in August of last year after Audrey broke up with her former band She’s No Minor, where she played guitar.

“There’s no animosity between us. Me and my bandmates still hang out and we’re still friends. We just decided that the music wasn’t for us. Back then I really thought that I wanted to be the lead vocalist, so we went our separate ways and I started Before Helen,” she said.

Before Helen’s popularity reached all time high in Canada after the group performed in a charity concert that Audrey organized. Today, the band continues to arrange charity concerts every few months called The Rock House where members are joined by other local bands. The proceeds go to charity institutions of their choice.
Before Helen is composed of Brant Wladichuk on lead guitar; Caitlin Weedle, bass; Miguel Lee Mori, drums; and Audrey, guitars and vocals.

“I chose pop/punk because I find the genre very exciting, catchy and fun to play. I realized I was into this particular genre when I moved here to Canada. Pop/punk was something I wasn’t very familiar with and I took a liking to it immediately. I do write my own music. Most of my inspirations come from everyday life experiences. It always feels great to sit down and write a song after a tough day,” she said.

Before Helen is now in the middle of its preparations for the first album and would be releasing an EP (extended play) at the end of January.

“We’re recording songs right now in the studio. It’s going really well, we should be releasing our EP at the end of January next year. I’m hoping to be able to penetrate the Canadian Market. It’s definitely tough over here but it’s a ton of fun. The challenge adds to the excitement and you get to meet some of the coolest people in the business. We do have a bit of a fan base though we have just started out. I can definitely see myself in the industry in the future,” Audrey said in an interview with The STAR.

The band has considered strutting their wares soon in the country as soon as they can wiggle free from their tight schedule in Canada. This early, the group has been planning to hook up with several local recording companies and show them what they’ve got.

“I consider coming home all the time. I’d love to perform for a big crowd over there. In fact, I’ve been talking to my band about it not too long ago. We would definitely love to. If we were given the chance, we would absolutely come down and rock out,” said Audrey.

Check out Before Helen’s performances at http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Before-Helen/128737977188733 or http://www.youtube.com/user/BeforeHelenBand?feature=mhum.


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

...the FIFA dreamers

Philippines' FIFA world ranking rises

02/02/2011
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has improved its FIFA men's world football ranking following its successful stint in last year's ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

According to FIFA.com, the country is now ranked 152 in the world, one place higher than its ranking last year.
The Philippines accumulated a total of 101 points after garnering 4 points from the Azkals' campaign in the Suzuki Cup.

The Philippine Azkals made waves last year by drawing with Southeast Asian football powerhouses Myanmar and Singapore and defeating the then defending champion Vietnam.

The Philippines also went up in the zonal rankings and is now at No. 28 in Asia just behind Myanmar.

The Azkals are currently preparing to battle Mongolia in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers. The game will take place next Wednesday (Feb. 9) at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Lording over the FIFA world ranking is 2010 World Cup champion Spain with 1887 points, followed by the Netherlands with 1723 points.

Germany ranks 3rd with 1485 points while Brazil is 4th with 1446.

...the strong currency

Peso leads appreciation of Asian currencies

By Michelle Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
02/02/2011

MANILA, Philippines—The peso strengthened back to the 43-to-a-dollar territory, leading the appreciation of major Asian currencies on Wednesday, amid improved sentiment of investors over growth prospects for the global economy.

The local currency closed at 43.965 against the US dollar, up by 24.5 centavos from the previous day's finish of 44.21. The latest close was also the strongest in three weeks.

Intraday high hit 43.955:$1, while intraday low settled at 44.1:$1. Volume of trade inched up to $1.11 billion from only $658.9 million previously.

Traders said the appreciation of the peso, consistent with that of other key currencies in the region, came about following release of favorable reports about the performance of the US manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing output in the United States grew in January to hit the fastest pace in over six years. Market analysts said the report has revitalized the risk appetite of investors. They said that amid favorable growth prospects, investors would be more willing to take risks, such as by purchasing instruments issued from emerging markets like the Philippines.

The United States is the largest export market for the Philippines and other developing Asian countries. A more solid recovery of the US economy from the recent turmoil, therefore, is seen to benefit exporting countries like the Philippines.

Traders said growth in output by the US manufacturing sector cemented earlier forecasts by multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, of sustained recovery of the global economy this year.
Market analysts said the optimism brought about by improved production by US manufacturers superseded the risk aversion created by the political tensions in Egypt.

...the call central

Telus says PHL to stay as a vital global site

Telus International Philippines, a unit of Canada’s leading telecommunications company Telus Communications, said Wednesday the southeast Asian nation would remain one of its most important locations in the group’s global business process outsourcing operations.

As such, it will continue to expand its Philippine operations by hiring more agents to service its expanding clientele of multinationals.

Its call center operations now make up 80 percent of total revenue, and Telus International is saying that call center operations will grow at least another 20 percent this year.

“We will continue to focus on our contact center operations for the near term," Telus International vice-president for global operations Paul Egger told reporters Wednesday.

Most of its 8,500 employees in the Philippines are call center agents, a situation that speaks well of the country’s advantage in having a ready pool of English speakers that reflect how the language is a major in hiring Filipinos.

The Philippines recently earned the reputation as the world’s biggest call center in the world, surpassing India.

Ambitions toward IT services

Egger said Telus International also plans to strengthen its outsourced information technology (IT) services business segment, which is seen as the next growth area for the local BPO sector as the voice sector nears its maturity.

However, Telus Communications has its own ambition to conquer the BPO information technology segment in which India remains the world leader. Most subcontracted IT services in India involve back-office work, according to the Telus executive.

“The Philippines IT-BPO segment is currently at the same stage as call centers were a decade ago… We can execute just as well. We have the resources and we have the people, but we ‘re just not that known for it yet," Egger said.

The plan is to grow its IT services 50 to 100 percent this year, which is trying to duplicate its performance in 2010 when the company expanded to 300 its people working on outsourced IT services.


Telus International last year said it was planning to build its fifth site in Metro Manila similar, something similar to its facility in Cubao’s Araneta Center, which caters to over 2,500 employees.

Its other sites are in Market Market mall in Taguig’s Global City, in JMT Building in Ortigas Center, and in Pasig’s Discovery Center. — VS, GMANews.TV

...the film masters

4 Pinoy films join 40th Rotterdam Film Festival

02/02/2011

 
NETHERLANDS - Independent film directors Khavn dela Cruz and Adolfo Alix Jr. arrived in the Netherlands on Sunday to participate in the 40th anniversary of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), the biggest annual gathering in the Netherlands of film makers from all over the world.

Both directors have 2 films to be screened until February 6 in different theaters in Rotterdam.

Alix Jr. will be showing “Presa,” recently awarded as the Best Documentary Film in Metro Manila Film Festival and the controversial movie “Chassis,” which was given an X rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Meanwhile, “Son of God,” dela Cruz’s collaboration with Danish film maker Michael Noer, will have its international premiere in IFFR together with his other film “Kumander Kulas: The One and Only Concert of the Amazing Kummander Kulas and His Poor Carabao in the Long and Unwinding Road of Kamias”.

All four will be screened under the category Spectrum, together with other films that “provide an essential contribution to international film culture.”

The award-winning film “Pinoy Sunday” of Taiwanese director Ho Wing-Ding, inspired by the lives of Filipino OFW’s, was also chosen for the 2011 IFFR.

Since 2005, the Philippine independent cinema has never failed to be represented in IFFR. Several Filipino film makers and script writers have also been awarded the Hubert Bals Fund, a financial grant for independent films organized by IFFR.

Among these awardees are Lav Diaz, Sherad Anthony Sanchez and John Torres. Both Alix Jr. and dela Cruz are recipients of the Hubert Bals Fund.

According to Gertjan Zuilhof, programmer for South East Asia, one of the more distinct characteristics of Filipino independent films is its ability to tackle social issues and Philippine history.

“In my films, I always look for something that is special in that film making itself, out of the commercial style, you have a lot of approaches that can fit art house cinemas, film festival films or films that are based on society like Adolfo’s film. They have a political interest, they want to say something about society,” said Zuilhof.

He also mentioned films by Lav Diaz, which fulfill their requirement of extraordinary style and substance.

Meanwhile, Dela Cruz, who is already on his 7th year of participating in IFFR, expressed disappointment at the seemingly lukewarm acceptance of Filipinos for independent films.

“Parang incongruent na kumabaga sa labas ka pa tinatangkilik kaysa sa sarili mong bayan hindi sya nabibigyan ng ganoong atensyon. Pero usapin din kasi yan ng istruktura ng pagpalabas dito sa Pilipinas. Siyempre un matinding bias ng Hollywood cinema at yong mainstream. May mga gumagawa naman ng hakbang para magkaroon ng pagbabago sa panonood at pagpapalabas ng pelikulang hindi lang yon at yon din,” said the young director and musician.

Although he feels that it will be a long process to change the attitude of Filipino viewers towards indie films, dela Cruz hopes that the government will help in funding these films and in regulating the screening of foreign movies in the country.

Because of its 40th anniversary celebration, organizers promise that this year will be the biggest IFFR to date.
More theaters and even private building were allotted for the screening. Forty special places including Groot Handelsgebouw, Maritime Museum, Kunsthal and Focuskliniek eye hospital are added to be film venues. Visitors can get special XL passes to access these 40 locations.

Viewers can access screening schedule via http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/.

...the big city

Binay shows Makati dev't

 
Manila Bulletin
February 2, 2011
 
 
MANILA, Philippines – Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Jejomar C. Binay expressed his confidence that the Philippines can emerge as a model for sustainable urban development and management.



In his talk before World Bank (WB) staff during the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) annual meeting in Washington DC on Tuesday (United States time), Binay used Makati as an example of how to plan and implement programs and projects that are mindful of sustainable development.

“The improvement of our constituents’ quality of life is at the core of our efforts in urban renewal and development,” he said.

The Vice President also underscored the need to build a stronger partnership with local government units (LGUs) in order to stimulate economic growth and alleviate poverty.

“I envision complementation of efforts and collaboration in urban strategies where both the national government and LGUs focus on making pro-poor policies a priority,” the Vice President said.

He added that the government must act not only to foster awareness and enroll participation, but also to engage stakeholders and empower communities over the long term.

“We must ensure that the planning is people-centered so that no one is left behind. We must reach out and talk to the grass roots as well as build the capabilities of those closer to them, the LGUs,” Binay said.

The World Bank requested Binay to talk on urban development, recognizing his role as former mayor of Makati and as HUDCC chairman.

His talk was preceded by a keynote address on disaster risk management to World Bank officers and representatives during the same SDN meeting. (JC Bello Ruiz)

...the green shop

Philippines’ first ‘green’ Starbucks coffee shop opens in Bonifacio Global City

By Karen Boncocan
INQUIRER.net
02/02/2011



MANILA, Philippines—Do your bit for the environment by enjoying your favorite brew in an "environmentally responsible location."

Starbucks Philippines announced Tuesday that its branch on 32nd Street, corner 7th Avenue, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, is its first "green and environment-friendly" shop in the country.

Noey Lopez, chief operating officer of Starbucks Philippines, said they "incorporated everything from responsible building materials and furnishings to energy- and water-efficient measures" in creating the branch.

Rustan Coffee Corp. (the Philippines’ franchisee of Starbucks) partnered with Philips Electronics in making the outlet the first Starbucks shop in the country to use Light Emitting Diodes (LED) solutions. This is one way of "designing, building and operating our stores in ways that reduce our impact on the planet," said Lopez.

LED lighting solutions provide customers and employees with "bright, yet soothing, ambient lighting conditions." Ria Nuñez, Philips Electronics' product manager told reporters that different lightning conditions had been set up for both the coffee shop's customers and its employees.

The soft LED lighting solutions not only let Starbucks experience "significant savings" by consuming less electricity, but also make the customers feel more relaxed with the subdued lighting fixtures installed throughout the shop.

Philips revealed that "LED sources can be five times more efficient than incandescent and most halogen sources and are quickly gaining ground on fluorescent." The company also explained that LED lights are environmentally safe as they do not contain mercury, unlike standard and compact fluorescent light bulbs. LED sources do not emit infrared and ultraviolet radiation, which can be harmful to its users.

Gonzalez said a "long-period payback" can be expected by those who use LED sources as they "can last significantly longer than traditional technologies." Philips said LED lights "can withstand impact, vibration and other disruptions,", which means less replacement and maintenance requirements.

The intensity of the light emitted is brighter in the kitchen and serving counter areas to ensure that the baristas and store attendants "can see the food they are preparing,” said Nuñez. Light color from LED can be changed for decorative purposes "to create a visual effect or a unique environment," according to Philips. This particular Starbucks branch maintained its "cozy atmosphere" by sticking to its warm, yellowish light, Nuñez elaborated.

Nuñez also said that instead of using halogen lamps, which consume up to 50 watts, to light the wall paintings, the shop uses 7-watt LED lights. She said that all of the light fixtures in the building efficiently use electricity, saving the company money and being environment-friendly at the same time. The Starbucks-Philips partnership sends "a message to everyone (to) be more environmentally responsible," she said.

"(Philips) has repositioned itself as a health and well-being company," said Rico Gonzalez, Philips Electronics' country manager for the Philippines. The company is "pushing the subject of health and well-being... (while) focusing on the lighting needs of consumers," he stated, adding that this was the reason they partnered with Starbucks Philippines in pushing for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliance agenda.

Although creating a shop that uses only LED light can be quite expensive at first, Gonzalez said that Starbucks on 32nd Street, corner 7th Avenue, saves a lot in the long term. He told reporters that the LED-using cafe gets to "save on energy but also create the right ambiance," he said, adding that "lighting has a major role in creating ambiance."

"Starbucks is always looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of our stores," said Lopez, agreeing with Gonzalez who said that the partnership was a good way to "go green" and promote energy conservation.

Gonzalez stressed that "we work to start change and make an impact, one light bulb at a time."


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

...the rice apps for mobile 2

Globe, IRRI uses mobile tech to give farmers info on crops


GLOBE Telecom, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), has come up with a mobile service for farmers to help ensure sustainability of the country’s rice production.

Through the newly-launched Nutrient Manager for Rice Mobile (NMRiceMobile) toll-free text messaging service, rice farmers, even those in far-flung provinces, can now gain access to vital information on how to properly manage their fields.

The NMRiceMobile is an information communication technology (ICT)-based decision software that uses mobile phones to provide farmers and extension workers with comprehensive, site-specific fertilizer guidelines for their rice fields.

Value-added

Globe head for Corporate Social Responsibility Jeffrey Tarayao said that by giving farmers a fast and cheap way to get information on fertilizers using their mobile phones, the company is able to empower and help them get greater yields.

“More and more, mobile telecommunications services such as voice and SMS are getting commoditized and our stakeholders are looking for value-added services that can meaningfully contribute to their work.  This is the reason why Globe partnered with IRRI and the DA to bring the value of mobile telecommunications to our farmers in a way that is most meaningful to them,” Tarayao said.

According to Dr. Roland Buresh, IRRI nutrient management expert and lead developer of NMRiceMobile, crop management practices must be tailored to location-specific needs in order to produce sufficient food at affordable prices for consumers and with higher profitability for small-scale farmers.

Questions

Globe said farmers, extension workers, crop advisors or anyone interested to learn more about farming can simply dial or call 2378 toll-free from their Globe or TM mobile phone. They can choose their preferred language such as Tagalog, Cebuano, Iloko or English.

About 12-15 questions will be asked such as the cropping season, the type of seed being used, growth duration of the rice variety, field size, water supply, field location, and weight of harvested palay. The questions may be answered by pressing the

corresponding number on the cell phone keypad.

Once the information is provided, the caller will receive a free fertilizer recommendation through text.

...the new net hero

Patrombon barges into Top 10 of ITF rankings

Jeson Patrombon
Courtesy of Jeson's Facebook page
Jeson Patrombon's successful stint in the Australian Open Juniors Championship singles event, where he reached the quarterfinals, earned him additional points in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world junior rankings.

Patrombon jumped from 12th at the start of the year to ninth, based on the latest ITF rankings (January 31).

Aside from that Last 8 finish in the singles of his first Grand Slam event, the 17-year-old Patrombon also reached the boys' doubles second round with teammate Jaden Grinter of New Zealand, where they suffered a 6-3, 7-5 loss to Ben Wagland and Andrew Whittington of Australia.

The ITF awards points to a player based on each finish in a tournament.

Patrombon earned 580 points (520 in the singles and 60 in the doubles) in the Aussie Open Juniors. He becomes the third Filipino junior player that has reached the Top 10 world rankings, after Manny Tolentino and Felix Barrientos in the '80s.

Before Patrombon, Francis Casey Alcantara also made waves in the junior circuit when he placed 14th in the 2009 ITF rankings.

"We're achieving the goals that we have set at the start of the year," said coach Manny Tecson. "Now we have gained a lot of respect from our top rivals. Who knows what can happen in the last three remaining Grand Slams this year?"

Patrombon had another surgery after Tecson found out that a small portion of the wart that was operated on last year was still imbedded in the junior netter's left foot.

Patrombon returns to the ITF tour on March 7, starting with the ITF/LTAT Championships in Thailand. Following that will be the 17th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup from March 15 to 20.

Patrombon returns to the country to see action in the Mitsubishi Lancer International Tennis Championships from March 22 to 27 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. He will then make his pro debut in the Men's Futures in India in April.

"We will be dividing our schedule of tournaments to 60 percent juniors and 40 percent men's tournaments. This year will be a gradual transition for Jeson in the Pros, because he still needs to grow and improve his mental, physical and tactical game in tennis," said Tecson. – JVP, KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV

...the sports legends

PSA elevates Campo, Bata to Hall of Fame


February 1, 2011
Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Two giant figures in Philippine sports take their rightful place in the Hall of Fame of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) when it honors the top achievers of 2010 next month.

Billiards icon Efren “Bata” Reyes and the late former International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Florencio Campomanes are the latest personalities to be elevated in the pantheon of greatness during the PSA-Coca Cola Awards Night set March 5 at the Manila Hotel.

Both Reyes and Campomanes are part of the select list of awardees to be given tribute by the country’s oldest media organization during the glorious event backed by Accel, Harbour Centre, Nihao Mineral Resources International and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

On top of the honor roll are 16th Asian Games gold medal winners Biboy Rivera, Dennis Orcollo, and Rey Saludar, along with Reyes’ long-time bosom buddy, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the reigning World 9-Ball champion, all of whom will be the recipient of the coveted Athlete of the Year award.

The world men’s poomsae champion team of Anthony Matias and brothers Brian and Jean-Pierre Sabido on the other hand, lead the 14 individuals to be handed out with major awards, while the National Sports Association (NSA) of the year will be bestowed to the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).

Boxing superstar and five-time Athlete of the Year Manny Pacquiao was the last sports figure to be inducted into the PSA Hall of Fame. And on this special night, Reyes and Campomanes will finally be in his company.

The first ever man to reign as double world champion (world 9-ball and world 8-ball), Reyes is regarded as one of the all-time greats in the sport of billiards.

As brilliant as Reyes was in the pool table, so did Campomanes in the field of chess.

Considered as the man who trail blazed Philippine chess, “Campo” was national master and two-time national champion who served as captain of the Philippine team to the 1966 Havana World Chess Championship.


...the reporter

ABS-CBN's Ging Reyes honored in San Francisco

02/01/2011

Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr. presents a Certificate of Recognition to Ging Reyes on behalf of the Philippine Foreign Service Missions in North America/DFA
MANILA, Philippines – Former ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief Ging Reyes was recently honored with a reception that recognized her dedication and many contributions to the Filipino-American community.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and the Filipino community gave Reyes a reception dubbed as “An Evening with Ging Reyes” at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center Building last January 24.

Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr. was among those who paid tribute to Reyes and her numerous professional achievements and personal qualities.

Paynor cited the invaluable contribution she gave as ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief, her strong and unwavering commitment to servicing the Filipino-American communities in North America, and her continuous dedication to service and upholding the highest level of professionalism among her peers.

Reyes is the first ABS-CBN North America Bureau Chief.  She was appointed vice president for News and Current Affairs of ABS-CBN after Maria Ressa opted last October not to renew her contract which expired January 3, 2011.

A tribute and appreciation was also done by way of a special hors d'oeuvres menu prepared by Kulinarya 2010 Cooking Showdown winner Chef Ed Grajo, in coordination with food retailer Island Pacific which provided the ingredients.

In her response, Reyes humbly acknowledged the accolades given to her and recalled the early days and growth of the North America News Bureau. She also recalled her interactions and experiences with the Filipino-American community and important remembrances of her almost decade-long stint as North America Bureau Chief.

Among those who paid tribute to Reyes include Rodel Rodis and Charito Benipayo of the US Pinoys for Good Governance); Ester Chavez of the Philippine American Press Club; Joe Pecho of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations; Rudy Asercion of the WestBay Pilipino Multi-Service Center; the Filipino Veterans group; Al Perez of the Filipino American Arts Exposition and San Francisco Entertainment Commissioner; Marily Mondejar, Sonia Delen and other members of the Filipina Women's Network; Marivic Bamba of the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center; Cherina Viloria Tinio and Joseph Mojares of the Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California; Atty. Rene Pascual of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines - Northern California; Carmen Colet of the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce and San Francisco Art Commissioner; Yolanda Stern of the One World Institute.

Melissa Apuya, representing Senator Leland Yee, US House of Representatives Jackie Speiers (Certificate of Appreciation read and presented on behalf of the Congresswoman by Deputy Consul General Wilfredo Santos) and California Legislative Assemblywoman/Speaker Pro-Tempore Fiona Ma (Certificate of Appreciation read and presented on behalf of the Assemblywoman by Consul  Alfonso Ver); Nerissa Fernandez, head of Corporate Affairs ABS-CBN; and, Dennis Normandy of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Council).

abs-cbnNEWS.com is the online news department of ABS-CBN Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corp.

...the youth for peace

Thousands of youths participate in conference for peace


By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
Manila Bulletin
February 1, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of Muslim and Christian students Tuesday participated in a mass video-conference that aims to build understanding towards peace among youths of different cultures and religions through the power of technology.

Dubbed “Building Understanding through Technology,” the video-conference was held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Manila and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the event served as a venue to connect and tackle issues that confront the peace process, as well as to find solutions to bring peace between Muslim and Christian communities.

It added that about 4,000 students from both schools attended the event.

OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo served as one of the resource speakers, while broadcast journalist Atom Araullo and United Nations (UN) Ambassador Baicon Macaraya co-hosted the event in PUP and MSU-IIT, respectively.

The PUP and MSU-IIT event is the second mass video-conference organized by PeaceTech, a non-profit organization that intends to build peace among the youth throughout the country by promoting an understanding of the causes and consequences of conflicts in the Philippines and the common challenges young Filipinos face.

The first was held last Dec. 1, 2010 at the De La Salle University in Manila and Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City.

The OPAPP and the academe have been collaborating with PeaceTech in this endeavor to engage the youth in the peace discourse.

Aside from the video-conference, the OPAPP said the students were also invited to participate in the activities lined up by civil society groups and government agencies in support of the upcoming peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) this month.

...the robocop

Orcullo rips American foe to top Derby 9-Ball

Posted at 01/31/2011
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Dennis "Robocop" Orcullo defeated American Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening, 7-2, in the finals to rule the Derby City Classic 9-Ball division, at the Horseshoe Casino, Elizabeth, Indiana, US, over the weekend.

En route to the finals, Orcullo, a former World Pool Masters Champion in 2010, beat Mika Immonen of Finland, 7-1, in the semifinals.

Van Boening, meanwhile, edged out Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, 7-6, in another semifinals duel.
Orcullo, one of four Philippine Sportswriters’ Association's Athletes of the Year for 2010, pocketed the top prize of $16,000 with his latest feat. This is also Orcullo's first win for the year.

Van Boening, adjudged as the overall Master of the Table Champion, received the runner-up purse of $8,000. He edged out another Filipino entry, Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan, for the prestigious crown.

Perry Mariano of Bugsy Promotion, who keeps Orcullo in his stable, is planning a $20,000 race-to-13 one-on-one showdown for Orcullo against the world's best before the year ends

Monday, January 31, 2011

...the netters

Pinoy netters to bank on 4 Davis Cuppers


The Philippine national tennis team will be banking on the four Davis Cuppers who won over Korea for the 2011 Asia Oceania Zone Group I opening tie against powerhouse Japan from March 4 to 6 at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.

Randy Villanueva, Philta Vice President and Philippine Davis Cup administrator, revealed that the association has named Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey to join local players Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta to carry the cudgels for the host country against Japan.

The Japanese netters have dominated Philippines for some time, winning 17 of the two teams' 26 meetings in the Davis Cup.

Japan even swept the Filipino bets in the last three meetings — in 1996, 2008 and 2010.

It will be a different story this time, said Villanueva, as the country's players will maximize the homecourt advantage over their rivals.

For one, the Philippine Davis Cuppers will have the luxury of training early in the newly constructed tennis court in Plantation Bay, with any necessary that have to be made favoring the host players.

Mamiit, Huey, Arcilla and Anasta were tapped when the country faced Korea in the 2010 relegation tie finals, where the nationals clawed back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next three matches for a 3-2 victory.

“They showed better camaraderie and good vibe, so we have nominated them to play against Japan," said Villanueva.

All four netters have been training with Mamiit, who was tapped by Maria Sharapova as her hitting partner when she was preparing for the Australia Open.

Mamiit and Huey are arriving on February 18 and 21, respectively. The entire team will then go to Lapu Lapu City for training at the Plantation Bay venue, which is a slow court.

“We wanted to neutralize Japan’s power game, and with the crowd expected to support the team, we’re really optimistic we can pull this one off," stressed Villanueva.

“If we get past Japan, we really have a strong chance of making it to the World Group in 2012, since we will be up against Uzbekistan or New Zealand, both of which are not that strong, as compared to Japan," added the Philta official.

Japan has yet to name its players, but the expectation is that their its players, namely Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui, will banner the delegation.

These players saw action in the 2010 meeting as well as in the 16th Asian Games, giving Japan a bronze medal in the team event. - KY, GMANews.TV

...the protagonist

Pacquiao to star in online game -- UAE news report

01/31/2011
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in an online video game? Not impossible.

An Abu Dhabi-based company is planning to create a game which will feature the boxing champion as one of the characters, according to a report in The National, a news website in the United Arab Emirates.

Karkadann Games, a video games company which only debuted this month, said it will attempt to perk the "Pacquiao" character a little bit for the game.

"We're not necessarily going to focus on boxing, we're going to focus on Manny and all the different things that he can represent," Karkadann's general manager, David Ortiz, said.

The company said the Pacquiao-based game will be released online where their target market will have to pay to play.

However, the venture will only come after the Karkadann's first upcoming project, Cricket Power: ICC World Cup 2011, set to be released next month.

Karkadann, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Media Company (AMDC), said it is looking forward to the release of the video games. It hopes to make online gaming more popular in the region.

"This is an untapped market. I think that the Arabic space is probably where you're going to find the next CityVille or FarmVille [online games] in terms of magnitude," Ricky Ghai, the head of ADMC's digital department, said.

According to the report, video games are becoming a huge hit in the Middle East region.

They are also expected to get a boost this year, with researches foreseeing the market to grow into $86.8 billion for 2014 from $52.5 billion in 2010.

...the strong and the mighty

Philippine economy grows at fastest pace in 24 yrs


Associated Press
31 January,  2011


Head of the government's statistical board Romulo Virola said the growth surpassed official growth projections of 5 percent to 6 percent. The economy grew only 1.1 percent in 2009, hit by the global financial crisis.

The government projected growth of 7 percent to 8 percent for 2011.

Virola said expansion in industry supported by growth in the services sector propelled the economy in the first half.

Agriculture, which employs four in every 10 Filipinos, also recovered in the last three months of 2010 after four consecutive quarters of decline due to a dry spell.

"The domestic economy sizzled to its highest annual GDP growth in the post-Marcos era," Virola said, referring to the 20-year rule of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos that ended with his ouster in 1986.

Spending on election campaigns in the May 2010 national polls, increased domestic consumption and investments boosted by the global recovery contributed to the growth, Virola said.

The peaceful election of President Benigno Aquino III on the promise to fight corruption and poverty has lifted investor sentiment, he said.

Out of the 7.3 percent growth for the whole year, 3.9 percentage points came from industry _ mainly food manufacturing and mining _ and 3.5 percentage points was contributed by services, including the burgeoning business outsourcing led by call centers.

"With the prevailing sanguine outlook of both business and consumers, the economic prospects for 2011 are indeed exciting," Virola said.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

...the northern scene

Untouched, Unspoiled Batanes


By Niña Terol-Zialcita
Manila Bulletin
January 30, 2011

It was going to be a different year, I told myself. For starters, I would do away with the usual loud and head-cracking New Year revelry and stay where my husband and I could breathe clean air, fall asleep to the sound of crickets and the crashing waves, and have 360-degree views of Mother Nature at her best. We would figuratively and literally unplug ourselves from my gadgets and from the toxicity of a frenetic urban life, and begin 2011 in a place that is pristine and virginal, removed from the excesses of the life that we had gotten accustomed to in chaotic, cacophonic Metro Manila.



Fundacion Pacita, a cultural landmark in Batanes.
Fundacion Pacita, a cultural landmark
 
For that purpose, there was no other place on our mind but Batanes, that almost-mystical group of islands that has been likened to Scotland or New Zealand but which remains very much in touch with its Ivatan roots. Years ago, people scoffed at the thought of flying to Batanes because of the impression that it was too “backward.” (“We hated flying there,” I had been told by a former flight attendant. “There was nothing to do!”)

Now, however, with sustainability on everyone’s minds, and with a collective call to reimagine the way we live and adopt a back-to-basics approach in our lifestyles, people are training their eyes on Batanes not only as a superb getaway destination where they could (quite literally) throw their cares away, but also—and more importantly—as a model for a sustainable, reimagined Philippines.

Proud of their culture

Imagine this: Even from thousands of feet above the sea, the sights that will greet your eyes will already be enough to declare the majesty of the Batanes Isles deep-green mountainous islands stand proudly against the azure waters of the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, their lush mountaintops showing no signs of erosion or human intervention. Only three (Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat) out of the eleven islands comprising Batanes are inhabited by some 17,000 people, leaving plenty of space for vegetation to grow, for cows to graze lazily, and for Mother Nature to unfurl her virtuous best. The rest of the islands remain untouched and unspoiled by human hands.

A tour around the islands shows how the Ivatans take pride in their collective history and culture. Centuries-old churches remain preserved and stand proudly in the middle of the town, their clean exteriors belying the fact that they had borne witness to the wars, disasters, and struggles that have helped to define a people. In Savidug and Chavayan villages in Sabtang Island, even the ruins of the old stone houses bore the marks of quiet dignity and pride. I wondered about the stories behind these walls and the secrets that they kept, observing that even in the chilly winter weather and in the pregnant silence of the tour, the villages were not eerie at all but seemed to exude the quiet elegance of a grand old matriarch. 

Imagine if more towns in the Philippines could show this much respect for history and culture: What would Intramuros or Binondo look like today?

No poverty, no hunger, no crime

Dignity is a word that can definitely be associated with the Ivatans. Although the towns boast no large malls or spectucular structures, and although the province itself is classified as a fifth-class province, the people eat and live well, are educated, and live in an atmosphere of peace.

According to the Philippine Human Development Report 2008/2009, Batanes had the highest basic education enrollment rate (100 percent in 2004); ranked third in terms of real per capita income in the country (R33,578 as of 2006); was ranked sixth nationwide in Knowledge indicators; and was in the Top 10 provinces with the highest standards of living (rank: eight, as of 2006). It ranked higher worldwide than Laguna, Batangas, or even Indonesia or Morocco. It likewise placed in the Top 10 in terms of gender-related development and employment, and was second nationwide in terms of female participation in economic activity.

When I asked our tour guide, Jacklord Labrador, if it was true that Batanes had “zero crime rate,” he said that it was mostly true because everybody could eat well and was educated, and there was therefore very little incentive to steal or commit crimes. What could be considered “police stories” for them, Jack relayed, would be accounts of neighbors having loud arguments after a night of beer-drinking.

Batanes is also known for a small store called Honesty Coffee Shop, where there are no attendants and where visitors just log their purchases onto a small notebook and drop their payments into a small drop box. (Don’t expect to get any change back!) This epitomizes the trust which the residents of Batanes demonstrate within their community.

Food here is plentiful because residents practice backyard farming, where they grow their own vegetables in their own little gardens. When my husband asked Jack if there was any bartering or selling between residents for vegetables, he laughed and said, “You won’t need to barter or sell because your neighbor would be growing the same thing as you are!”

And because the food and the air are fresh, people can live longer, healthier lives. While at Chavayan Village, a UNESCO-nominated village known for its pre-Hispanic limestone houses, our tour group met Lolo Marcelo, who by now has just turned 104 years old. He is still active as the community’s fishnet repairman, and although he complains of some pains on his fingers and knees because of the cold weather, he still keeps busy and has enough energy to entertain visitors like us. His secret? “I don’t eat meat—especially pork,” he declared.

Imagine if people were well-fed and well-educated, and if people did not have to migrate within or outside of the country just to find livelihood and food to eat? What would our rural towns look like? What would a healthy, educated, dignified population look like?

Born to fly

Our five-day stay in Batanes and our lively interaction with the locals revealed to us the subtle pride with which the Ivatans lived. Their strict adherence to Land Use policies—some dating back to the days of tribes and clans—demonstrate deep respect for culture and tradition that is very much integrated into their everyday lives and transactions. Here, inherited land cannot be sold, and property that has been marked as agricultural land cannot have any sort of permanent structures on them—not even fences. Hence, boundaries of communal pastures and other property are marked by bright yellow-green hedges that add to the brightness of the green landscape.

While at Fundación Pacita, another cultural landmark in Batanes that has become the sanctuary for artists and other creative souls (being the former workshop of the late great artist, Pacita Abad), we spoke to Protogenes Galarion of the Jorge, Aurora, and Pacita Abad Foundation. He proudly relayed to us bits of Ivatan history and of the Foundation’s work in preserving Ivatan houses and supporting the artistic endeavors of indigent Ivatan artists. He spoke passionately about their influences and about how their simple but rich way of life has shaped the way they view the world.

“We are a fifth-class municipality, but we have a high standard of living,” he points out. “We are a highly educated people, and we have more Ph.D.s than [some provinces that claim to be more progressive.] We value education, we value our culture, and we’d rather maintain our simple but adequate lifestyle than be polluted by the commercialization that is now happening in [other islands].”

Speaking of tourism, we noted the steep air fares to and from the province, and we asked why it was that nobody in the island has pushed for more efficient sea transport to the rest of the country.
“We were born to fly,” he said as-a-matter-of-factly. “Our first trips outside of the island are on an airplane. That’s how it has always been, and that’s how we hope it will stay.”

It was a response that caught me off-guard. It was so honest, so authentic, and so real that it was practically indisputable. Batanes is a place of respect and pride, of time-honored values that have kept a people and their traditions intact through the centuries. There was nothing arrogant or flamboyant about them—all the locals whom we met on the trip were gentle people who spoke moderately and without any hint of brashness. They acknowledge what they have and work hard to enjoy their little luxuries, and they don’t spend their time pining away for things that are out of reach.

Now imagine a country where the simple abundance of Batanes could be the norm—where there was pride and dignity not because of medals, awards, and wealth, but because of knowing that one had everything that one needed to stand on his or her own. To me, Batanes is “the little island that could,” and if only we looked back and learned from this town that others had deemed “backward,” we will find that everything we need to reimagine and reshape the country is just within our reach.

Imagine that.