...the Math wizzards at Amsterdam

Pinoys win 3 bronzes at Int'l Math Olympiad

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 07/23/2011

The Philippine team to the 52nd International Mathematical Olympiad in Amsterdam, Netherlands (L-R): Vance Eldric Go, Carmela Antoinette Lao, Kenneth Co, Henry Jefferson Morco, Russelle Guadalupe, and Glen Mackenzie Ong. Photo courtesy of DOST-SEI

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino high school students representing the country bagged 3 bronze medals at the 52nd International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Amsterdam this month.

Henry Jefferson Morco of Chiang Kai Shek College and Vance Eldric Go and Carmela Antoinette Lao, both from St. Jude Catholic School, won the medals at the prestigious math contest.

Their victory represents the highest medal haul of the country ever since it joined the IMO in 1988.

Prior to this, the highest medal haul the Philippines got at the IMO was recorded in 1991, 2 bronze medals and 1 honorable mention bagged by Wyant Chan, Wilbin Chan, and Jose Ernie Lope, who headed this year's Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO).

The 2011 Philippine team to the IMO was led by Dr. Julius Basilla and Glen Mackenzie Ong from the Mathematical Society of the Philippines.

Because of the Philippine team's performance in IMO this year, the country's standing in the contest went up to 54 from 74 in 2010 out of 101 countries.

Scores

Morco got the highest score among the members of the Philippine team, garnering 20 points. He ranked 171st among 564 participants in the contest.

Go and Lao scored 19 and 17 points, respectively. Go landed at 186th, while Lao placed 222nd.

Lao previously won a bronze medal in the 2009 IMO, and a silver medal in the 2010 IMO.
Morco, meanwhile, was given honorable mention in the 2010 IMO in Germany.

Kenneth Co of Philippine Science High School Main Campus, another Philippine team member, got 12 points and ranked 321st in this year's IMO.

Dr. Filma G. Brawner, director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), congratulated the team for their victory.

“In our 23 years of participation in the IMO, we have gathered two silvers, 11 bronze medals and 13 honorable mentions. Our performance is improving as well and we are optimistic that we can get even better in the coming years,” Brawner said.

She added that DOST-SEI will continue to support the IMO and PMO so talented students can have an avenue to improve their skills and test them against those of students abroad.

“We shall continue to be on a lookout for young science and mathematics human resource that in the future will be part of our science community and bolster it with exemplar research and development,” Brawner said.

...the Math wizzards at Bali

PH grabs 14 medals at int’l math competition

abs-cbnNEWS.com

07/24/2011

Philippines bags 14 medals at Indonesia math competition

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino students from various schools in the country bagged 14 medals in the recently concluded Indonesia International Mathematics Competition (IMC) held in Bali, Indonesia.
Gene Go Jr. of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School and Grade 5 student Errol John Suarez of Bicol University-Legaspi City won gold and silver medals, respectively.

Awarded bronze medalists were the following:

• Ma. Czarina Angela Lao, St. Jude Catholic School
• Jason Joseph Fernandez, Philippine Science High School
• Charles Kenneth Dee Lui, St. Jude Catholic School
• Karli Ang, Philippine Institute of Quezon City
• Francis Concepcion, Philippine Cultural College
• Lu Christian Ong, Grace Christian College
• Dielle Tan Tio, St. Stephen’s High School
• Charles Emerson Ngo, Leyte Progressive High School
• Ethan Riley Chan, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School
• Raenell Ean Ngo, Chiang Kai Shek College
• Raymond Joseph Fadri, San Beda College-Alabang
• John Aries Ceazar Hingan, San Beda College-Alabang

The merit awardees are:

• Daniel Young, Jubillee Christian Academy,
• Austin Edrich Chua, St. Jude Catholic School
• Kaye Janelle Yao, Grace Christian College
• Hans Bryan Geremy Ong, Grace Christian College of Quezon City
• Aldreich Aldwin Aberilla Mayoralgo, Xavier School
• Mikel Jason Allas, Valenzuela City Science High School
• Arthur Christian Cabatingan, Zamboanga City High School-Main
• Gabriel Angelo Estampador, San Beda College-Alabang
• Albert Jason Olaya, Morning Star Montessori
• Cary Albert Chan, St. Jude Catholic School
• Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa, Westbridge School of Iloilo
• Hans Markson Tan, St. Stephen’s High School
• Miko Johnson Co, St. Stephen’s High School
• Jan Kendrick Ong, Chiang Kai Shek College
• Anna Sofia Serrano, Philippine Science High School

The competition, participated by Australia, Brunei Bulgaria, China, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Iran, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, South Africa, USA, Nigeria, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, South Africa, Korea, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and Indonesia, was held from July 18 to 23.

According to Dr. Simon Chua, head of the Philippine delegation and president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild, almost a thousand students from 27 countries joined the contest.

...the World Youth Day song

UK/Filipino song shines at WYD 2011 contest

By Rose Eclarinal

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

07/23/2011

LONDON - The long wait is over. The results of the World Youth Day 2011 Global Song Contest have been announced. 

One of the winning songs is a UK/Filipino entry from singer and songwriter Cherrie Anderson. 

The song she entered in the competition, "Faith in You", received the highest number of plays (400,405) on the competition’s websites. 

With this achievement, the jury created another category of "distinction" in the published official results. 

Anderson, originally from Manila, is the lead singer of the electro-pop band Ooberfuse. The 4-piece band, made up of Cherie, Hal, Alex and Michel, sang the Youth Anthem for Pope Benedict’s historic visit to the UK in 2010. 

“I am happy and humbled that my songs have been chosen from out of the 270 entries. When I submitted them earlier this year there were only around 20 entries. There are some really good songs included in the other submissions so my expectations were not that high,” said Anderson. 

“It is incredible that both songs “Faith in You” and “Unshakeable” were actually listened to by young people all over the world more than half a million times!” she added.   

The World Youth Day organizers and jury for the competition chose the winners from entries from 40 countries, picking the songs that embody "the festive, creative and cultural dimension" of the Catholic faith.

  

The “Tuned into Madrid” song contest was aimed at giving young people from all over the world "the opportunity to demonstrate the church's youthfulness and to give testimony to the eternal relevance of the Christian message through music and moving images."

The World Youth Day will be held from August 16 to 21, 2011 in Madrid, Spain and is expected to draw millions of pilgrims from all over the world. It will be the second time that Spain will host the event. World Youth Day 1989 was held in Spain’s Santiago de Compostela.

...the game designers

Pinoys place 2nd in global game design tilt

JM TUAZON, GMA News

07/22/2011

For the second year running, the Philippines bagged one of the top spots in the Imagine Cup, a global student technology competition hosted by software giant Microsoft.

With their puzzle game application entitled "Conjunct!," the De La Salle University (DLSU) team Signum Fidei (Latin for "Sign of Faith") garnered the second place in the Game Design Web subcategory of the 2011 youth software development tilt.

"Conjunct!" is a game challenging the player to clear boards overlaid with photos of real-life global problems.

In 2010, the Ateneo de Manila University team By Implication took home the grand prize in the same category, with their application called "Wildfire," a game about saving the world with the help of social action and volunteerism.

“Winning in this year’s Imagine Cup is a big achievement for the Philippines," said Tim Vergel de Dios, academic developer evangelist, Microsoft Philippines.

The DLSU team—composed of Jeriah KJell Miranda, Thomas Tiam-Lee, Keven Hernandez, and Jenina Chua—said their idea for the game was inspired by the game Tetris, coupled with the competition's theme focused on the United Nations Millenium Development Goals.

“As we realize the vast problems faced by the world today, we saw how Filipinos can make a difference; through our game, we have combined social awareness concepts in order to help make a difference by showing the people the various realities taking place in our world," said Tiam-Lee.

The 2011 edition of Microsoft's competition pooled together more than 400 students from over 70 countries competing in five different categories: software design, embedded development, game design, digital media and Windows Phone 7.

In the category where the Philippines won, Poland took the first place while Slovakia placed third.

To further promote the goals of the Imagine Cup, Microsoft announced a three-year $3 million grant program for the participating students of the competition.

The grant would include, among other things, cash, software, training and consulting support from the technology firm.

“Microsoft is very committed to nurture the talents and skills of all its students and through the grant, we hope to be able to further enhance their capabilities with the help of innovative technology," de Dios said.

“Our Philippine teams have shown potential in the aspect of using technology to help transform simple ideas into technologies that can help transform the way people work," he added. — TJD, GMA News

...the philanthropist in Pacquiao

Pacquiao donates land for poor

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

July 22, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

MANILA, Philippines — Boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao has taken his inner philanthropist to another level by donating three hectares of his land in Sarangani for a housing project to benefit the less fortunate.

“Binili ko ‘yung lupa at binigay ko sa mga tao para magkaroon sila ng sariling bahay... sariling pera ko ang ibinili ko roon, kasi kung gobyerno pa ‘yun, marami pang proseso,” Pacquiao was quoted by ABS-CBN News as saying.

The Sarangani representative, who was hailed as Habitat for Humanity’s newest Hero Ambassador for the deed, said he is happy to give back to the needy, given the love and support that they have continually showered him.

“Natutuwa ako dahil sa suporta na ipinakita sa’kin ng kababayang Pilipino at masaya ako na tumutulong ako sa mga tao,” said he in an interview aired on “Unang Hirit” Friday.

Pacquiao also extends his charitable works through his latest game show, “Manny Many Prizes.”
In the show’s pilot episode last July 16, he gave away a house and lot to 61-year-old contestant John Roldan even though the latter failed to give the right answer in the last round of the show’s main game.

“Masaya ako na tumutulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Pacquiao, who’s now known as the “Pambansang Ninong,” said.

Amid these philanthropic efforts, Pacquiao, one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, is beset with rumors that his wealth is dwindling.

He refuted this, however.

“Ah, talaga? Kaya pala nakabili ako ng bahay sa Forbes,” Pacquiao quipped in the same ABS-CBN News report, pertaining to his multi-million-peso mansion in Forbes Park, Makati City.

In other news, Pacquiao laughed off another rumor that he has fired his business adviser Michael Koncz. As if to disprove the malicious talks, Pacquiao divulged that he was set to meet the latter soon.

"Darating si Michael Koncz. Dala niya ‘yung kontrata nung fight namin against [Juan Manuel] Marquez,” he explained in the “Unang Hirit” interview.

Speculations concerning Pacquiao’s termination of Koncz arose after a post on Pacquiao’s official website announced that he has signed an “extension contract” with VisionQwest Resource Group, inc.
and VisionQwest Accountancy Group to handle all his "accounting, personal and business tax, audits and examinations, as well as all contract reviews.”

...the NBA stars tweets Manila

NBA players share their Manila experience online

By Renee Fopalan

with editing by tjdimacali

22 July 2011

GMA News

Send

From:

To:

Here's a quick selection of tweets from the NBA players, who really seem to be enjoying their stay in the Philippines so far.

Chris Paul and JaVale McGee tweeted about the warm reception and shared photos of the chocolate masterpieces left for them by their hotel.

What a WELCOME from the fans here in MANILA!!! Can't wait to get out on the court 2moro!!! #yesirrrr

CP3 July 22, 2011 at 5:41

This is all made out of chocolate. http://lockerz.com/s/122445478
 cjpaul14 July 22, 2011 at 7:00

Look at this set up.... http://twitpic.com/5tsoyg
JaValeMcGee34 July 22, 2011 at 6:27

So much love on Manila!!!!!! #PierreisinManila http://twitvid.com/9ETOO

• 
  

  JaValeMcGee34 July 22, 2011 at 5:09

Washington Wizards center McGee also took photos of the jeepney and the paparazzi that met their entourage at the airport. 

Pierre gone plank on one of these!!! http://twitpic.com/5tsc20 JaValeMcGee34 July 22, 2011 at 6:01

Manila paparazzi!!!!! http://twitpic.com/5trits JaValeMcGee34 July 22, 2011 at 5:01

Oklahoma City Thunder James Harden took the time before the games to do some shopping.

Shopping at the Shangrila Mall.

JHarden13 July 22, 2011 at 10:01

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams did, too, but was wasn't able to find shoes that fit him.

went to the gucci store.. biggest size shoe they had was a 10 lol

RealDwill7 July 22, 2011 at 10:31

Williams, the second overall draft pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, marveled at the Philippines' fast food options.

and i saw a 24 hour Shakeys on the way here! hopefully they deliver! haa best pizza ever

RealDwill7 July 22, 2011 at 7:16

and mcdonalds delivers?! yo.. ice creams cones and apple pies tonight! lol

RealDwill7 July 22, 2011 at 8:22

Fans are expected to pack the Araneta Coliseum for this sold-out event. The NBA selection will play the PBA selection Saturday at 7pm and the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team on Sunday, 1pm. — TJD, GMA News

...the painter

Pinoy painter wins at Surrey art competition

 

07/21/2011
GMA News

A Filipino artist won in an international visual art competition in British Columbia in Canada, according to a report on Philippine Asian News Today.

Ferdinand Maravilla's "The City's Fireworks Display" got the judges' nod of approval in Surrey's 27th annual juried exhibition of visual art, the report said.

Maravilla's painting was picked among the 220 entries and 55 finalists. His artwork could be seen in an exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery until Aug. 21.

In the report, Maravilla said he was "excited" when his painting was recognized by the judges. He described his artwork as an inspiration by the beauty of Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

“I was trying to capture the energy of the people and the beauty of the city," he said, referring to the coastal harbor city in British Columbia.

Maravilla, 45, an alumnus of Manila’s University of Santo Tomas, works as a freelance graphic designer in Canada. His wife, Jenny, works for the Vancouver Airport Authority.

According to the report, this is not the first time Filipinos won in art competitions in Surrey. In 2009, architect Renante Solivar bagged the top prize for his entry "Return of Ritual" for the "TownShift: Suburb into City" international art contest.

Another Filipino, Richmond-based Lorenzo Pepito, was also a semi-finalist in the RBC's Canadian Painting Exhibition in 2008. — JE/VS, GMA News

...the bullish stock market

Bullish stock market assures Philippines of steady economic growth philstar.com July 21, 2011

MANILA (Xinhua) – The bullish performance of the country's stock market and a big surge in the balance of payments (BOP) surplus would assure the Philippines of a steady economic growth this year.

 

As of the end of June this year, the Philippine Stock Exchange index advanced 2.14 percent, or 90.07 points, to end at 4,291.21. For the second quarter alone, the index was 5.8 percent up, making up for the slack early in the year.

 

By early July, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index has breached the record highs last seen in November 2010. On Wednesday, July 20, the index breached the 4,500 mark setting a new peak for the fourth consecutive sessions.

According to Hans Sicat, PSE president and chief executive, the Philippine stock market resilience has echoed the positive sentiment in Asian and U.S. shares.

"We continue to be optimistic that positive economic fundamentals and favorable corporate earnings toward the end of this year would further boost market confidence," Sicat said.

PSE Chairman Jose Pardo said that "The bullish local stock market is a good indicator of how the domestic economy should be judged." Pardo, a former trade and industry secretary, said that the stock market is the barometer of economic confidence. "There is nothing more to say because the stock market has spoken and risen beyond expectation," he said.

"The best way to grade the administration is to show proof and the stock market has shown proof," Pardo told various business groups trying to grade the Aquino's administration's performance on its first year in office.

Pardo said that their expectation is that the market will further grow this year, especially once the implementing rules and regulations of the REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) get implemented.

"There is enthusiasm and interest in the Philippines," Pardo said, noting that he met with Goldman Sacks for the planned meeting with 20 fund managers.

Because of the bullish performance of the local stock market, the Philippine peso also strengthened. On Wednesday it was traded at 42.71 pesos to one US dollar.

Aside from the stock market, another clear indicator that the Philippine economy is in for a strong recovery was the big surge in the BOP surplus, which registered as of the first half of this year at 5.016 billion U.S. dollars, up 52 percent from the 3.284 billion dollars in the same period last year.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the country's central bank, said that the hike in BOP surplus was due to strong inflows from the bank's investments coupled with remittances from Filipinos working abroad.

bank

However, in June the BOP surplus fell 59 percent to 222 million dollars from last year's 544 million dollars.

But BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. attributed the lower June BOP figure to outflows representing payments made by the national government and the central bank for maturing foreign currency obligations.

Tetangco said that these outflows were offset by inflows from the foreign exchange operations of the BSP, income from investments abroad, and foreign currency deposits of the Bureau of the Treasury.

According to Tetangco, the country's BOP position is expected to register a surplus of 6.7 billion dollars this year and 4.5 billion dollars in 2012. The BOP surplus would likely decrease next year because of expectations of a higher deficit in the current account.

Aside from the stock market and the BOP figures, another proof of investors' confidence is investment inflows and the increase in new projects registered with the government.

Investments registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) in the first half of 2011 increased by 20.27 percent to P204.175 billion over the same period last year.

BOI head Cristino L. Panlilio said businessmen, local and foreign, are "investing and putting their money where their mouths are."

Panlilio cited the booming construction sector, the ongoing expansions of multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, the robust business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and the growth of the microfinance firms.

According to Panlilio, there were 148 projects approved by the BOI for the first semester of the year, or 64 percent more than the year-ago level. The number of jobs to be created once these committed projects go on full commercial operation would also significantly increase by 128 percent to 31,899 compared to 14,021 in 2010, Panlilio said.

With the robust investment inflows, Panlilio said the BOI is now revising upward its growth target this year. "Hitting 302 billion pesos (7 billion U.S. dollars) investments this year is possible," Panlilio said.

From the trade side, the Department of Trade and Industry has aggressively implemented the country's free trade agreements (FTAs) with the ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and recently India.

...the recruiter

UK offers visas for ‘exceptionally talented’ Filipinos

By Jerry Esplanada

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—Paging “exceptionally talented” Filipinos in the fields of science, arts, engineering, the humanities and social sciences.

The United Kingdom has launched what it calls the “Exceptional Talent” special migration program, which encourages the “brightest and the best” in those branches of knowledge worldwide to live and work in the UK.

In a statement, the UK Embassy in the Philippines announced on Thursday that “this new (migration) route for up to 1,000 exceptionally talented migrants will facilitate not only those who have already been recognized, but also those with the potential to be recognized as leaders in their respective fields.”

The program “will be overseen by world-renowned competent bodies that will advise the UK Border Agency on these exceptionally talented migrants to ensure they are the brightest and the best in their field.”

The embassy was referring to the following bodies:

• The Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists, which was tasked to nominate up to 300 migrant applicants;

• Arts Council England, the UK’s development agency for the arts, which will be able to nominate up to 300 applicants;
• Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain’s national academy for engineering, which has up to 200 slots to nominate; and

• The British Academy, the famed UK institution for the humanities and social sciences, which can nominate up to 200 applicants.

This year, at least 500 slots worldwide will be available from August 9 to November 30, while another 500 places will be opened from December 1 to March 31, 2011, Lyn Ayers-Plata, UK embassy press and events officer, told the Inquirer.

Ayers-Plata explained that “the number of places will be evaluated at the end of the first year to determine whether or not the number of places will be revised the following year.”

According to Ayers-Plata, “there are no immigration quotas per country.”

“The decision for endorsement is up to the competent bodies who will vouch to the UK Border Agency that, in its opinion, the migrant is exceptionally talented,” she added.

Some 250,000 Filipinos are currently based in the UK, according to British embassy. The mission, however, did not say how many of them are holding immigrant and working visas.

UK Immigration Minister Damian Green has noted “the UK is a global leader in science, humanities and engineering, and we are a cultural center for the arts.”

But Green said the UK would “continue to welcome those who have the most to offer and contribute to our society and economy.”

“Our new exceptional talent route—available for up to 1,000 applicants—will ensure that we continue to attract the brightest into the UK and keep the UK a global leader. This comes at a time of major reform of the immigration system to bring net migration back down to the tens of thousands, tackle abuses and make sure that the immigration system meets the need of the country,” he added.

Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England, welcomed the launch of the special visa scheme “which will enable the very best artists of international standing to live and work in the UK.”

“The international exchange of artists enriches their art, and I’m sure audiences will welcome the opportunity to experience the finest artistic talents from across the world,” Davey said.

For his part, Sir Adam Roberts, president of the British Academy, said “the humanities and social sciences are flourishing in the UK and attract many excellent scholars from overseas.”

“The British Academy is ready to play its part in identifying those outstanding scholars for whom (the exceptional talent route) is the appropriate visa category,” Roberts added.

Sir Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society, said “the UK is a global leader in science because we can attract the best minds from around the world with our own homegrown talent.”

“The government has listened to the science community’s concerns about jeopardizing our international leadership by restricting the immigration of scientists … The Royal Society will play its part in ensuring that the very best international talente can continue to come to the UK to work,” Nurse also said.

Sir John Parker Freng, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said “In order to safeguard the UK’s future competitiveness, we must ensure that it remains an attractive destination for world-class engineers.”

Freng expressed confidence that “this new visa route will help encourage global excellence to come to the UK.”

Aside from the 1,000 visas for excellent talent migrants, the UK also issues visas to some 20,700 skilled professionals.

For more details about the UK’s special visa program, interested parties may check out this website.

...the stylist

Pinoy hairstylist in L'Oreal tilt finals

by Dheza Marie Aguilar

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

07/21/2011

AMSTERDAM - Filipino hairstylist Jitty dela Cruz was one of the five finalists at the recently concluded semi-finals of the L’Oreal Color Trophy competition Netherlands.

He impressed the judges with his unique interpretation of the theme Avant Garde, inspired by the blooming flowers at the bloemenmarktnear his salon in Amsterdam.  

L’Oreal Color Trophy is a prestigious annual event for hair stylists and colorists held in many countries around the world. Jitty, as he is fondly known in the Filipino community, bested hundreds of Dutch hair stylists and made it to the finals.

Dela Cruz now seeks the support of his kababayans all over the world to win the Public Award of the competition through online voting.

“Being in the finals, parang nanalo na din ako kasi not everybody reach this stage. But of course I want to win the major award so I can inspire more people with my work,” said Dela Cruz.

A difficult beginning

The challenges that Dela Cruz had to overcome on his way to becoming a famous hair stylist in the Netherlands are not for the faint-hearted. He started his salon at a garage in Parañaque and eventually moved to the upper floor where he started building loyal clientele.

His first formal study was under Filipino hair dresser Jun Encarnacion, in between sweeping salon floors and doing menial jobs. 

When he got the chance to study abroad, Dela Cruz went to Allan International and Jingles and Complexion International in London and Institute National Coiffure de la Beaute in Paris to further his skills in make-up and hair dressing.

Because of his perseverance and dedication, success eventually followed. At the height of his career in the Philippines, Dela Cruz was already styling celebrities for both magazines and television programs, in addition to his regular clients.

Unfortunately, his love life has not been as successful as his career. His first Dutch partner fell ill with cancer and had to go back to the Netherlands for treatment. Dela Cruz left the Philippines at the height of his career to be at his partner's side until his dying days.

“Basically, I came here for love,” Dela Cruz joked while reliving memories of his departed partner.

In his early years in the Netherlands, Dela Cruz not only had to deal with being alone but also the difficulties of starting a life here without proper papers.

He endured all the challenges – from running from authorities and the constant worry of being arrested, to losing his self-confidence as a hair dresser while cleaning hotel rooms at Schipol airport.

“Madami akong trials na pinagdaanan. Eventually, with my lakas ng loob and a lot of inspiration to succeed, nagsimula akong magtayo ng salon.”

Secrets to success

His kababayansin Holland helped Dela Cruz get back on his feet. He decided to practice his profession again through clients in the Filipino community.

He also took another shot at love and met another Dutchman, who encouraged him to put up a salon to accommodate his growing clientele. In 2002, Dela Cruz opened the first and only Filipino hair salon in Amsterdam.

When asked what drove him to persevere despite the hardships, Dela Cruz said he wanted to achieve his dreams.

“Hard work, determination and loving your work, I think those are the most key elements kaya ako nandito ngayon. You can achieve anything you want basta meron kang determination and you are willing to sacrifice anything just to fulfill your dreams,” he said.

Dela Cruz also said that having a definite plan and taking things step by step is as important as determination and perseverance.

“Hindi ka dapat magamadali when you want to achieve something, kelangan meron kang plan and the easiest way to reach a certain point is to establish a definite plan in reaching your goal.”

...the positive outlook

Philippines’ economic outlook “favorable”—IMF

Agence France-Presse

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday praised the Philippine government for its handling of the economy, saying the country’s outlook was “favorable” despite the shaky global recovery.

The fund said it expected the Philippine economy to grow at five percent both this year and the next despite a minor slowdown experienced in the first half of this year.

“The near-term outlook for the Philippines is favorable, characterized by moderating but still rapid growth,” the IMF said in a statement following a staff visit to the country.

Although growth eased in the first half of 2011 in part due to the effects of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan, economic activity is expected to pick up for the rest of the year, the statement added.

The fund also lauded the government of President Benigno Aquino, who took office in June 2010, for starting “reforms to address long-standing constraints to growth.”

They include fiscal reforms aimed at raising the necessary revenues to allow for faster growth, which benefits greater numbers of the Philippine’s impoverished population, the IMF added.

The country’s financial sector had remained resilient while the central bank had acted “appropriately” by raising interest rates and banks’ reserve requirement earlier this year to deal with inflationary pressures.

The Philippine government previously announced that economic growth slowed to 4.9 percent in the three months to March.

The government has forecast growth of five to six percent this year.

...the Asian Games (formalized)

Philippines to host 2013 Asiad Centennial Games

By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

MANILA — The Olympic Council of Asia has designated the Philippines as host of the Centennial Asian Games celebration in 2013.

Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella yesterday said athletes and officials from the 45 member-countries of OCA are expected to participate in what will be called the Asian Unity Games to be held in late November 2013 in world famous Boracay.

Puentevella said the Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. immediately formed an executive task force after the OCA approved the hosting during its general assembly meeting last week in Tokyo.

Cojuangco and Puentevella made the pitch to host the event which was also attended by POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros and OCA athletes commission member Mikee Jaworski.

The Asian Games started as the Far Eastern Games, which had its inaugural in Manila 1913. The first Asian Games was held in 1951 in New Delhi.

Puentevella said outstanding athletes all over Asia in the last 100 years will be invited while active national athletes from the 45 nations will compete in several disciplines, including beach volleyball and open sea marathon.

“We haven’t hosted an event of such magnitude in the last 50 years or so,” said Puentevella, whose father, the late Jesus Puentevella, donned the national colors in tennis and baseball during the 1st Far Eastern Games.

...the small town with a big heart

Small town in Holland helps Pinoys big time

By Loui Galicia

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

07/20/2011

HOLLAND - For more than two decades now, a small community of elderly Dutch has been collecting donations from all over Holland and sending them to the rural areas in the Philippines.

Everyday, big heavy boxes of donations for the Philippines are dropped in a warehouse in Heeten, a tiny community here in Holland of mostly elderly Dutch citizens.

The warehouse will be filled up with boxes of mainly medical supplies and hospital equipment until the day the boxes are loaded for shipment. Every loading day, many elderly Dutch go out of their respective homes in order to assist preparing the crates and filling a 16-wheeler truck.

The huge truck will bring the crates to a shipping company in Rotterdam which will deliver the goods to the Philippines.

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau was invited to witness the loading process. Also present were Vice Mayor Roger de Groot and several staff from the Philippine Embassy led by Charge d’Affaires Frank Cimafranca.

After the last crate was successfully squeezed into the truck, the door was closed and locked.

But the last step is always symbolic. De Groot and Cimafranca jointly put the lock on the door of the truck, signifying the solid ties that remain between the Dutch and Filipinos.

This was the scene, for more than two decades now, at the Foundation Center Relief Supplies Heeten Philippines or HHCP.

HHCP is headed by couple Jo and Truus Schoorlemeer, who initially set up a group that collects goods for the depressed areas in the Philippines to help Jo’s now-deceased brother, who was a missionary in Philippines in the 90s.

“Exactly on the 16 of August this year, we'll be 21 [years] because we started in 1990 with the earthquake in Baguio. That’s the way we started collecting goods for the Philippines,” Jo said.

In fact, the couple just recently received medals from Queen Beatrix for their continued charity work for the Philippines.

The couple received the Knight of the Order of Queen Orange of Nassau, which is the highest award bestowed on a civilian.

Their hard work also did not go unnoticed in the Philippines as they received a medal from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2008.

HHCP has already extended its gigantic help to many provinces in the Philippines, particularly in the hospitals in Camiguin, Bicol and Batanes.

As a token of gratitude on the day of the loading, a group of Pinays who are married to Dutch nationals and who are living close to Heeten, came over to serenade the elderly Dutch during their break from loading the crates.

“They're here to also, you know, to give thanks to the foundation here in Heeten that is helping our countrymen back home. It's really a very, very, significant event for all of us,” Cimafranca said.

Even de Groot cannot help but marvel at the magnanimity of the work and the volume of goods during loading.

He was impressed at the Dutch Pinays’ musical number but was more in awe of his fellow countrymen’s dedication and hard work for the Philippines.

“I am very impressed and I love the songs from the Philippine women and it was very good. It’s very good what the volunteers are doing for the Philippines,” de Groot said.

Jo and Truus are not getting any younger, yet they still do not plan to retire from running the foundation because they said that they have left, a long time ago, their hearts in the Philippines.

...the beauty plus brain

Miss Universe bet urges urban planning to stem floods, disasters

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

July 20, 2011

Manila Bulletin

2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup poses during a pictorial for the 2011 Miss Universe website at the Gateway Suites, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. (BPCI)

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s bet for the 2011 Miss Universe contest, who is also a topnotch architect, pushed Wednesday for urban planning to prevent flooding in the future.

“What we need is urban planning. The problem is, in some areas, hindi pinag-aralan yung development ng isang lugar. Kahit na alam natin na hindi pwede gawing residential yung isang area, pinatayuan pa rin (The development of some areas has not been well planned. Even if we know that a certain area cannot be turned into a residential zone, houses are still being built),’’ said 2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup during press briefing at the Gateways Suites, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Supsup, who topped the board exams for architecture, said no amount of development will do in areas which were not carefully planned or studied. “Kahit tambakan yan ng lupa or pataasan ang mga roads, wala pa rin mangyayari kasi pupunta pa rin ang tubig sa mga bahay (Even if the roads are elevated, water will still reach the houses). Its gonna take a lot of effort and money para maayos lahat.’’

She called on local government units (LGUs) to focus on urban planning and implement laws, policies and ordinances to prevent disasters in the future. “We have so many policies, ordinances and laws on that. The problem is execution. I just hope that these laws are properly executed.’’

Supsup, 25, met the press a month before she leaves for the pre-pageant activities of the 2011 Miss Universe pageant to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sept. 12, 2011.

Mrs. Stella Marquez de Araneta, chairwoman of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc., said the pictorial for the evening gown will be submitted to the Miss Universe Organization this week, as required by the organizers.

Araneta added that she is also open to an option for Supsup to be trained abroad, apart from the ongoing local trainings. She said she will soon decide on the matter.

2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Ma. Venus Raj said the architect-beauty queen is now ready for the international competition. “She’s ready for the competition,’’ said Raj, one of the trainers of Supsup. She has been training on catwalk, personality development, language, and history, among others.

Supsup, who graduated magna cum laude at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, said she is not pressured by Raj’s successful standing in the Miss Universe contest in Nevada, USA, last year. “Definitely, I’m not pressured. But I’m inspired. I see it as an inspiration for me to succeed in the contest.

’’

...the young designer

Fil-Dutch designer shines at Amsterdam Fashion Week

by Dheza Marie Aguilar

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

07/20/2011

AMSTERDAM - Jonathan Christopher Hofwegen still needs to write his thesis, but the 24-year old Fil-Dutch designer is already busy attending major fashion shows.

He recently showed his new collection at the Amsterdam International Fashion Week, shortly after being selected by Marc Jacobs himself for the final 5 of the Designer for Tomorrow at the Berlin Fashion Week.

His collection called Personatus gives a unique approach to men’s fashion – pieces which shows prints when under different light or tops that has a scarf on it. He takes inspiration from his everyday life to make his creations and uses insects as starting point to create the forms. He also said that through insects, he wants to show the darker side of mankind.

“My main goal for this collection is to break the boundaries between male and female dressing because mens wear is so strict and so bound. I just want to break that boundaries and be more open on what men can wear,” said Hofwegen.

Influenced by Mom

Hofwegen, who moved to Holland with his mother and stepfather when he was 6, said that his mother Dorothy had a great influence on his interest in fashion even at a very young age. He recalled how he was fascinated by his mom’s show collection and got inspired at how she dressed up.

“I was always thinking about what to do and what to wear,” he said.

This interest took him to Willem de Koning academy for his bachelor’s degree and an internship with Dutch fashion designer Francisco van Benthum. While still fulfilling his bachelor’s degree, he made the collection Deconstructable Gender which was nominated for the academy’s Drempelprijs for design in 2009.

He was then selected by the Artez Fashion Masters, a fashion school in Arnhem where he now belongs to the Generation 12, a group of five international students, carefully selected from hundreds of applicants every year. His group showed their collection at the main stage of this year’s Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

For her part, Mrs. Hofwegen can only be proud of what her son has achieved and the bright future that is waiting for him. She said that the advices that she passed to Jonathan also came from her own mother.

“Kasi ang sabi ng nanay ko kahit mahirap ka, basta maayos ka sa sarili mo, mayaman tayo sa buong puso natin. Kailangan ay maayos ka sa sarili at presentable ka, kahit wala kang pera, kahit hindi ka mayaman, ok ka,” she beamed after watching her son’s show.

Using Filipino fabrics

Hofwegen is proud to use Filipino fabrics from banana and piña for his collections. One of his pieces was made using pineapple fabric which according to him is everybody’s favorite. It was actually stolen before his show so he had another one made. He is also fond of using banana fabric.

“When my mom wanted to get married, she bought me this shirt from banana leaves fabrics and I am so in love with the fabric. It has its own feel to it. It’s not quite silk but it’s not linen, it has totally different look and it has a totally different way of how it falls to the body so I become really interested with that,” he said.

Aside from banana and pineapple fabric, Hofwegen also wants to use other hand woven fabrics from the Philippines.

“I like [to] get in touch with [the] locals and make like really nice fabrics which you can show what the Philippines is capable of.”

For his next collection, Hofwegen already plans to use Filipino fabrics. He believes that Filipino fabrics can have its place in the fashion industry when developed and exposed to the world.

...the public servant

Fil-Am Republican making history in Virginia Beach

By Don Tagala

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

07/20/2011

Ron Villanueva is one of the longest serving Filipinos in American politics/Balitang America

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – He is one of the few Filipinos who has been in public service in the US for a long time. Ron Villanueva (R-VA) represents the 21st district, including parts of Virginia Beach--home to at least 15,000 Filipinos who are mostly employed by the US Navy.

Villanueva was the first Filipino-American elected to the Virginia Beach City Council in 2002, and the first Filipino elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2009.

“You have to have representation, you have to have a voice at the table and if you don’t have that, it’s hard for you to feel truly empowered,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva has been in public service for a decade and is now up for reelection in November.

Philippine Consul General in Washington DC, Domingo Nolasco said: “I encourage (Filipinos) to register as voters because when we campaign in Congress, staffers of the congressman and senators always ask us, where are the Filipinos? I cannot see them in my district,” Nolasco said voting will prove that Filipinos can be a political force.

Villanueva successfully carried legislation which allowed Virginia to drill for oil and natural gas offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.

He also focused on opposing tax increases and worked to ease the blow of severe budget cuts, on education, healthcare and transportation.

Democrat candidate and state delegate Adrianne Bennett is challenging Villanueva this November.

...the young physicists

Filipino students bag bronze in Int'l Physics Olympiad

 

loQal – 20 July 2011

 

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—Two Filipino students won bronze medals in the recent International Physics Olympiad held at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Miguel Arnold Reyes and Gerico Sy, from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main campus and Southern Mindanao campus, respectively, represented the country.

Reyes is now taking up Computer Engineering student at the University of the Philippines Diliman as a Department of Science and Technology (DoST) scholar.

He was also the second grand award winner in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, Califonia. The ISEF award earned Reyes the honor of having an asteroid named after him, aside from the $1,500 cash prize.

Meanwhile, Sy was an honorable mention awardee in the 2010 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA).

Dr. Filma G. Brawner, director of DOST-Science Education Institue, said these awards should encourage the two students to join the local science community.

“Migs (Reyes) and Gerico have brought pride to our country and despite the challenges that our educational system faces, this victory shows that we can excel,” Brawner said.

The Philippine contingent to the 2011 Physics Olympiad was selected through a series of exams led by Dr. Jose Perico Esguerra, training director and associate professor at the National Institute of Physics.

Esguerra said credit should also be given to the high school teachers of the students who built their strong foundation in physics.

Since joining the Olympiad in 1993, the Philippines has consistently won bronze medals in the event. In the 2008 Olympiad held at Hanoi, Tobit James Narciso of PSHS Main Campus also won a bronze medal.

 

...the green paper biz

Environmentalism sparks this entrepreneur's 'paper seed' business

loQal –19 July 2011

By KC Santos

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA- Caring for the environment provided entrepreneur Ethel Francisco the inspiration to put up her unique paper business.

The exhibit "Art and Beauty” at the Ricco Renzo Gallery features the works of five former beauty queens - Maria Isabel Lopez, Lani Lobangco, Nina Ricci Alagao, Melanie Marquez and Evangeline Pascual

Ethel, a self-proclaimed tinkerer, started the Paperpod Seed Paper Company in 2010 after she found a way to make use of bundles of disposed paper items stacked and left unused in her home and workplace.

“I really think nature in itself is doing the work, I just stumbled upon the idea in believing that there is always a greener alternative, something that would lessen our carbon footprint,” Ethel says.

Her unique idea of growing plants through seed paper sheets soon became an instant hit when she finally went full-time with her green venture.

Ethel’s handmade recycled paper product was a borrowed concept from the US but to give it more use, Ethel thought of adding garden plant and vegetable seeds into the product.

“I figured if people are going dispose these paper products, they would still at the very least, give something back to the environment,” she says.

According to Ethel, the process starts with the breaking down of disposed paper materials such as book sheets, used bond papers and magazines. She then adds water so that it becomes pulpy, adds starch to bind it back, mixes dye needed for her product’s color coding system, places it in a mold and then sprinkles seeds onto the sheets before she leaves it to dry.

Ethel says the paper products can be used as a greeting card or invitation card for weddings or as a non-messy alternative to the conventional way of growing backyard plants.

Her items are classified into Notepots (P100), Seed Sheets (P40), Wishes Grow (P70) and Bloompaper (P80). To grow the seed sheets, one must dampen it, place it inside a plastic bag and leave it for 10 days until shoots start to grow. Depending on the weather and the season, the plants grown from the seed sheets normally take six months before it reaches full maturity.

Ethel assigns colors for the kinds of plants each color grows. For now, Ethel has seed sheets for tomatoes, chili peppers, moss rose, carrots, and eggplant. In bazaars where Ethel usually sells her unique green product, she says she has been getting a considerable level of enthusiasm and interest from customers.

Ethel says she is eyeing partnerships with private companies for the use of her paper seed sheets as consumable items like coffee holders or clothes tags. Regardless of who helps her promote her products, she says the important thing is that she gets her green message across to more people.

“Even if they don’t buy it, letting consumers know that these kinds of products exist gives me a sense of assurance that my business is helping people know more about caring for our environment,” she says.

...the electro-monorail prototype

DoST to develop electric-powered monorail for mass transport

By Anna Valmero



QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—A locally developed monorail system, which will be tested at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, is being eyed as a cheaper and safer alternative for mass transport in the country over the next few years.

Dubbed as the Automated Guideway Transit (AGT), the monorail system, to be developed the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), will ply the southern part of the UP Diliman campus in five to nine months, according to DoST chief Mario Montejo.

“The AGT is the future of cheap mass transport system. The train will include a pair of sixty-passenger coaches that will run along a 500-meter track inside the UP campus,” said Montejo, during the groundbreaking rites of the AGT site at the corners of Jacinto and Lakandula streets in UP Diliman.

Based on international studies, the monorail system is the “most cost-effective and less intrusive” mass transport for commuting countries like the Philippines, the DoST chief said.

“By locally developing the system, we would cut down costs to only 25 percent. For the UP monorail, we are allocating around P20 million,” Montejo said.  The budget will include the building of the 500-meter long elevated track and the AGT train, at P16 million and P4 million, respectively.

As its name implies, the monorail will run on a single rail as its sole support and guideway and it will be powered by batteries and direct current. The DoST assures this project will not harm the environment nor trees will be cut at the UP Diliman campus.

Alongside the development of the AGT and throughout its trial running period at UP Diliman, feasibility studies will be conducted on the cost efficiency of running the system and its impact on commuters' behavior as well as the livelihood of campus jeepney drivers, said UP president Alfredo Pascual.

“Our long-term plan (for UP campus) is to allow electric vehicles as alternative mass transport to the monorail system as a means to prevent air pollution,” Pascual said.

Mechanical engineers and and software developers from UP will help to monitor and improve train operations and help expand the monorail to two kilometers.

“The monorail in UP will have a speed of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour similar to the MRT along Edsa. With the feasibility studies, we will also look into increasing its speeds by up to 100 to 120 km per hour,” added Montejo.

Montejo said it is up to the UP administration if it will charge a fare for commuters riding the monorail system.

..the Metro mag

Metro Magazine iPad edition wins Asian award

abs-cbnNEWS.com

07/19/2011

Mark Yambot (2nd from right) accepting the award for Metro Magazine at the Asian Publishing Awards. Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN Publishing’s Metro Magazine iPad Edition was named winner of Best Use of Screen Tablet Platform at the Asian Publishing Awards (APA) held recently in Bangkok, Thailand.

It won in one of the most contested of the 11 categories of the awards, which included entries from 9 countries from across the region.

At the Awards, the Metro Magazine iPad Edition was cited for “not being merely as a translation of its printed edition into a digital screen, but as an extension of the brand with its own personality and capabilities offering a different reading experience altogether.”

It was acknowledged for its achievements in its business model and content, as Metro has consistently been among the most downloaded Lifestyle apps since its launch in 2010.

“In ABS-CBN we appreciate every opportunity to promote the best in Filipino style, fashion and culture. We are excited to be doing this in a highly engaging medium that has a fast growing global reach," said Mark Yambot, Head of Business Development for ABS-CBN’s Cable Channels and Print Media Group, in his acceptance remarks.

ABS-CBN Publishing joined winners from 9 countries, which included 3 others from the Philippines. Adobo Magazine topped the “Effective Digital Publishing” category, and Excellence Awards were given to Hinge Inquirer Publications, which was cited in the category of “Innovative Business Models”, and to Manila Water Company, for “Innovative Corporate Communications in a Multimedia World”.

“With Metro Magazine iPad Edition, ABS-CBN Publishing became the first Philippine magazine on the iPad.

After almost one year, it continues to set the standard in terms of great articles and interactive features…This award is welcome news, and recognition that we are bringing content and technology together at an internationally competitive level”, said ABS-CBN Publishing Head Ernie Lopez.

According to Lopez, the app also helps them connect with overseas Filipinos: “From the feedback we are getting, Metro iPad makes them proud of their culture and present the Philippines as in step with global style and technology trends.”

Anticipating the rapid growth in viewing magazines online, ABS-CBN Publishing launched several digital offerings in the past year, including e-magazine editions of StarStudio, Metro Home & Entertaining, Food, Kris Aquino Magazine, Metro Society, and Vault—which are now available for readers worldwide through their PCs, Macs, iPads and selected Android devices.

...the world's best islands

Boracay world's 4th best island

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

July 17, 2011

Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines -- Boracay Island in the Philippines has been named the fourth Best Island in the world, in the 16th annual “World’s Best Awards” released by an influential American travel and leisure magazine.
 

Known for its white sand beaches, Boracay Island in Aklan received a score of 89.83 in the annual Top 10 Best Island list this year as surveyed by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
 
The Top Island award went to Santorini, Greece, 90.61; Bali, Indonesia was second with 90.45, and Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 89.90, third.
 
Other islands which made it to the list are the Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia, 89.68; Sicily, Italy, 89.51; Big Island, Hawaii, 89.11; Kauai, Hawaii, 89.11; Maui, Hawaii, 88.59 also in Hawaii.; and Galapagos, 88.22.

For the Top Island category, the readers voted for natural attractions, activities/sights, restaurants/foods, people, and value.

In the Top 10 cities, Bangkok, Thailand, was the top choice, with a score of 90.49. Second was Florence, Italy, 89.92; and Rome, Italy, 88.45, third.
 
Other top cities in ranking were New York City, USA, 88.40; Istanbul, Turkey, 88.18; Cape Town, South Africa, 88.06; Siem Reap, Cambodia, 87.90; Sydney, Australia, 87.84; Barcelona, Spain, 87.83; and Paris, France, 87.78.

In the Top 10 Hotel Spas category, Discovery Shores also on Boracay Island was ranked No. 7, with a score of 95.63.

The top honor went to Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa in New Zealand, 98.93.
 
Travel + Leisure is 74-year-old magazine based in New York City. It is published by the American Express Publishing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company led by President and chief executive officer Ed Kelly.