...the online Miss U poll leader

Shamcey leads Miss Universe online poll

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Newsroom 

27 August 2011

Filipinos are again proving their online power. Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup is leading the race in the 2011 Miss Universe online poll, whose winner automatically gets to the Top 16 semi-finalists.

This is the first time in the pageant’s 60-year history  that organizers are involving fans worldwide to vote for a contestant to advance to the semi-finals. Those living in countries joining the pageant can vote for their representatives until September 11 through the Miss Universe’s and NBC’s official websites.

Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. said in  a statement released in ‘Bandila’ that Shamcey got a total of 25 percent of votes for a total of 1,578 votes. Puerto Rico’s Viviana Ortiz comes in second with 745 votes.

Shamcey expressed gratitude to her kababayans for their support. Before she left for Brazil, Shamcey said that her supporters are her lucky charm. Filipinos can vote for Shamcey 10 times a day per e-mail address.

“Thank you for always praying for me and supporting me. It has been a roller-coaster ride and I'm getting my strength from all the Filipinos who kept on sending me messages on FB and Twitter. Thank you. I will be doing my best,” Shamcey’s statement said.

Shamcey, with her 1,288,817 votes, is also leading another online poll by Telemundo network. She is followed by representative from Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Meanwhile, Shamcey shared her experience with Operation Smile’s free surgery mission with cleft palate patients as beneficiaries. Shamcey feels fulfilled and happy since she’s in a position to help more people, now that she’s a Miss Universe contestant.

“You could see them so happy to find their children well and cured. So it was a fulfilling experience. God has really placed me here for a higher purpose that is to help and give hope,” Shamcey’s statement says.

This year’s Miss Universe pageant will be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil on September 12.

Shamcey Supsup (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)

...the little Kingdom with a big heart

Bahrain's PM donates to Bukidnon High School

abs-cbnNEWS.com

8/27/2011

BAHRAIN – Poor Filipinos have long been benefiting from the generosity of Sheik Khalifa Salman bin Al-Khalife, the prime minister of Bahrain.

Whenever the country faces a calamity like typhoon Ondoy, the prime minister is always on the list of foreign donors helping the country.

Recently, he responded to the request of a sick teacher in Bukidnon High School in Malaybalay.

Sarah Querol has been teaching for 32 years in Bukidnon.

Most of her students belong to cultural minorities and lack knowledge on new technology.

Querol said she just read on the newspaper that Sheikh Khalifa helps the poor.

Although it was a long shot, Querol still sent him a handwritten letter requesting for a DVD set and a computer. She never expected that her small wish would come true.

Students and faculty members of the Bukidnon High School were so happy with the donation they received from the prime minister.

Sheikh Khalifa also helped in the medication of Querol when he heard that the teacher is suffering from hypertension.

He hopes to one day visit the school to personally meet Querol and her students.

Prince Khalifa admitted having a soft spot for Filipinos because his house help and the nannies of his grandchildren are all Filipinos.

He even introduced to the news team 2 of his grandchildren who can speak a little Tagalog and Ilocano.

Also for the first time, the prime minister admitted having a hand in the safe release of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz and finance specialist Robert Tarongoy—the 2 Filipinos abducted in Baghdad in 2004. – Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau Chief

...actor in NY review

Joel Torre on NY Times review: Like I hit gold

By: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Torre in “Amigo”: “Hangdog brilliance.”

Filipino actor Joel Torre is ecstatic that he and his film, John Sayles’ “Amigo,” got a rave review from the New York Times.

In an SMS, Torre, who is in the United States for the film’s promo tour, told Inquirer Entertainment: “You know how insecure actors are about their performances. Good reviews validate the hard work we put into ‘Amigo.’”

Torre, who top-bills and coproduced the indie movie on the Philippine-American War at the turn of the century, was particularly moved by the New York Times piece, published Aug. 18 and written by chief film critic AO Scott.

In the critique, Scott said that Torre played his role Rafael, a beleaguered village chief, “with sly, hangdog brilliance.”

Torre admitted:  “I was near tears because I know the weight of a New York Times review. It’s a big deal. I feel like I hit gold.”

Scott said Sayles’ film “[attends] to gray areas and [focuses] on characters whose essential decency is challenged and complicated by circumstances.

In that regard, Scott wrote, Rafael is “an exemplary Sayles protagonist.”

Torre said, “I am elated; these critics are very knowledgeable about cinema.”

Highest praise

Torre joined Sayles in  the promo tour, starting when “Amigo” opened Aug. 19 in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Stockton and other cities.

Today, it’s set to open in Honolulu, Guam and San Jose (California). Next month, it moves to Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Gaithersburg, Virginia Beach, Albuquerque, Chicago, Dallas and Minneapolis.

“Amigo” is also part of the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival, which runs in October.

Scott reserved the highest praise for Sayles, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter for “Passion Fish” and “Lone Star.”

“This is not the kind of movie, and Sayles is not the type of director, to linger in the picturesque past, savoring antique details and re-staging bygone conflicts,” Scott noted.

For Sayles, Scott pointed out, “history… turns on recurrent themes of power, greed, exploitation and principled, often Quixotic, resistance to those forces.”

Scott called Sayles a “left-wing, baby-boom John Ford, spinning fables of the American character out of the threads of myth, memory and ideology.”

The critic then praised “Amigo,” which was shot in Bohol with a Filipino cast and crew alongside Hollywood actors—led by Oscar winner Chris Cooper—as “a well-carpentered narrative, fast-moving and emphatic, stepping nimbly from gravity to good humor.”

Scott asserted that, in orchestrating scenes, Sayles seems to have invited “his actors to find their own ways of wearing the tight garments he has designed.”

In sum, he hailed Sayles as “a pretty good history teacher, the kind who knows how to make even difficult lessons entertaining and relevant.”

...the Pinay in top chess spot

Filipina ties for top spot in China chess tilt

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 08/25/2011

 

 

KUNMING CITY, Yunnan Province – Filipina Woman Fide Master (WFM) Marie Antoinette San Diego settled for a truce with Chinese Huang Mo Fei in the third round of the 2011 China-ASEAN junior chess classic competition in Yunnan Province, China on Wednesday.

San Diego is now tied with Xu Qian Qian of China for first place in the girls 12-and-under category with a total of 2.5 points.

Julius Gonzales of Marikina City also split the point with Zhou Chen of China. He now had 1 point on 2 draws and a loss in the 10-and-Under category.

Other Filipino bets lost their respective rivals.

Malabon’s Daryl Unix Samantila yielded to Zhao Jun Cheng of China; Ronald Canino of Cagayan de Oro City succumbed to Zhu Yi of China; and Dennis Gutierrez III of Bulacan bowed to Huang Ren Lie of China.
The Filipino woodpushers' campaign in China is backed by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). – By Marlon Bernardino

...the Zonta Club awardee

Pinay teen wins Zonta global award

abs-cbnNEWS.com

08/25/2011

 

 

Arriza Ann Sahi-Nocum, the first Filipina recipient of Zonta International's YWPA award. Photo from Zonta International's website

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino Muslim woman was globally recognized for her work in helping build libraries and distribute books in war-torn areas.

Arriza Ann Sahi-Nocum, 16, is one of the 5 recipients of the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) award of Zonta International, a global organization that aims to advance the status of women through service and advocacy.

The 4 other awardees are Emily Kvalheim of the United States, Nasma Dasser of Switzerland, Anjali Chandrashekar of India and Mehitabel Markwei of Ghana.

An awarding ceremony will be held on August 27 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

"I dedicate this award to our Christian and Muslim scholars and library users whose determination to pursue their dreams amid war, hunger and extreme poverty inspires me to work harder to improve myself and to pursue our advocacy work amid my busy school schedules," said Nocum, who is the first Filipina to receive the YWPA award.

The 5 awardees will receive $3,000 each from the Zonta International Foundation.

Nocum will get an additional $1,000 for besting other finalists in the Zonta International District 17, which comprises the organization's clubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Kris Library

Nocum earned the YWPA award for her work in Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library (Kris Library), which was put up by her Roman Catholic father and Muslim mother in 2001. The non-profit organization aims to eradicate poverty and conflict by educating the youth.

The Kris Library has so far established 5 libraries: in a slum area in Quezon City; in a resettlement area for victims of typhoon "Ondoy" in Montalban, Rizal; in a suspected jump-off point of the Abu Sayyaf in Zamboanga City; and 2 others in a Moro Islamic Liberation Front stronghold in Tungawan, Zamboanga del Sur.

It has also awarded 101 scholarship grants to poor children in these areas, provided free computer use and basic computer lessons, and donated thousands of books and school supplies with the help of donors.

As an administrator, Nocum sorts books at the libraries, writes news articles and letters to donors, facilitates activities with children, and interacts with volunteers, donors and partners of the organization.

"My dad always tells me: every book we get from our donors and send to the kids takes them one step away from poverty and one step towards a better life. That's what I believe in, too," she said.

Nocum is an honor graduate of the Philippine Science High School. She is currently a freshman and Oblation Scholar at the University of the Philippines, taking up industrial engineering.

The YWPA award is given to young women aged 16 to 19 years old who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations, Zonta International said.

...the conquerors

Filipinos conquer Asean

By: Marinel R. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Christian Bautista

SINGAPORE—For Filipino singer-actor Christian Bautista, the biggest challenge in playing the role of Daniel Ray in the TV production “The Kitchen Musical” (TKM) is having to dance in all 13 episodes.

TKM is the first international musical TV drama series produced in the Lion City for the regional and international markets.

The series is scheduled to premiere in 19 countries in Asia and Europe in October (on Studio 23 in the Philippines). Each episode features rearranged and re-recorded pop songs with dance sequences. The series, which will run weekly, centers on wine and food.

“In the beginning, I was nervous,” Christian told Inquirer Entertainment during a media gathering held in Republic Polytechnic, where the TKM set is located. “It’s good that Jason Coleman, a top choreographer in Australia, can work with anybody, and with whatever level of dance skill he or she has.”

Coleman, currently a judge in the Australian version of the hit TV series “So You Think You Can Dance,” was choreographer and dance consultant for the animated film, “Happy Feet.” In 2008, he opened the Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, currently the largest dance school in Australia.

Perfecting his moves

Still, Christian pointed out, perfecting his moves has required a lot of practice. “I’m not a natural at this, but, with Jason’s guidance, I’m slowly getting the hang of things. It’s easier for me to get the steps now,” he added. “Jason has so much experience. I didn’t have any idea how big he was the first time we met. He’s so humble and positive. In all of my sessions with him, he would inevitably say, ‘You’re doing a good job.’ I always want to do better because that’s how encouraging he is.”

TKM revolves around a rich young girl named Maddie Avilon (Karylle Tatlonghari) who, after graduating from the culinary school Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, goes to work at her father’s famous restaurant, The Avilon.

Christian plays the role of Daniel, Maddie’s childhood friend and shoulder-to-cry-on. Daniel is unassuming and supportive, but is considered a wild card. He has the most to gain if Maddie, who is a sous chef like himself, decides to leave.

Also in the cast are British actor Stephen Rahman Hughes, French fashion model and singer Rosemary Vanderbroucke and Filipino stage actor Arthur Acuña. Gerard Salonga is musical director and arranger.

Futuristic concept

Malaysia-born, Singapore-based CheeK, a.k.a. Cheah Chee-kong, is creator/director. He is also executive vice president and creative director of The Group Entertainment, which produces the series.

CheeK has directed films like “Stories of Love” and “Chicken Rice War” and is the editorial director of MTV Singapore.

Christian is all praise for CheeK. “He is very humble, patient and creative. He has ideas that nobody seems to even think of. The concept of the musical alone is genre-busting. Who would have thought of combining singing, dancing and cooking? He’s very futuristic.”

Along with the rest of the cast, Christian began working on the series on June 1. They were put through four weeks of intense acting and dancing rehearsals, as well as a kitchen boot camp.

“We were taught how to cut, slice and mince [ingredients] fast. We handled all kinds of knives,” Christian related. “We studied the basic movements of a chef and a cook. We learned all these so that when the camera started rolling, they were second nature to us.”

The actor said being a good cook in real life is a big advantage in this kind of production. “But if you’re just a lover of good food, okay na rin,” he added. “Lately, whenever we eat out, we find ourselves asking, ‘What went into this dish? Does it have jasmine, rosemary or thyme? When we want to drink wine, we already know what to ask for. We’ve really learned a lot.”

Christian said living away from family and friends was tough in the first three weeks. “I was really homesick,” he said, “but I was okay after a month. Now I even think I could live here. It takes a month for me to adjust. Initially, I thought four months of work was too long… and now we’re halfway through.”

Shouldn’t staying away from Manila be cause for concern, career-wise? “I was worried, but changed my mind when I saw how big this was going to be. It more than makes up for all the time I’d be away.”

Christian’s talent manager, Carlo Orosa, added, “He sees that his career could flourish more here, that he could do more things region-wide. He’s been in and out of the country for the past few years. He’s already made his mark in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.”

Disadvantage

But Christian admitted that working overseas is a disadvantage to his love life. “I have thought about that—four months somewhere, two months elsewhere— it’s not going to work out. So maybe it’s not time for a serious relationship. Still, I go out and meet people, make new friends, wherever I am,” he said, adding that he tends to seek out Filipino girls just the same, because of the “instant connection.”

He pointed out, “I’ve noticed that there are two kinds of Singaporean girls—those who are lively and those who are very serious and business-minded. This whole country is about business.”

...the Women Power Award

Philippine team wins inaugural UN 'Women Power' Award

 

 

GMANews – 24 August 2011

SINGAPORE — A scheme training Filipino women to efficiently run neighborhood stores grabbed top prize at an global UN-sponsored contest aimed at empowering impoverished women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

"Project Inspire" was launched in March to commemorate the centennial of International Women's Day.

Contestants, who were judged by economists and academics, had to come up with projects that would better the lives of women and girls in regions where females are often neglected.

The "Hapinoy Program" project, which aims to support 1,000 female owners of "sari-sari" convenience stores in Luzon, won the top prize of $25,000, which will go towards training store owners in business development, management and pricing goods.

A special grant of $10,000 was awarded to a team from Thailand for literacy training to women migrants from Myanmar who live in landfills at the border.

Another $10,000 also went to a team from India whose program aims to benefit abused women from Pingla in the country's east, where women traditionally earn a living by singing and painting.

The winners were selected from 10 finalists chosen from 450 youth-driven teams worldwide who had to pitch their ideas in a five-minute video or in a written proposal. Project Inspire is a joint initiative by UN Women in Singapore and MasterCard. — Reuters

...the 'America's healthiest drink'

'America's healthiest drink' is made in the Philippines

by Cathy Rose Garcia,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

08/24/2011

 

 

'America's healthiest drink'

MANILA, Philippines - An organic coconut water drink once named by Health magazine as "America's healthiest beverage" is proudly made in the Philippines.

Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo told ABS-CBN News that O.N.E. organic coconut water is manufactured in the Philippines but is sold in export markets such as the US.

The product was praised as an example of how the Philippines' coconut product exports can be packaged in an attractive way for the foreign export markets.

O.N.E. organic coconut water is made with coconuts from the Philippines and packaged in shiny blue Tetra Pak cartons. The stylish but eco-friendly Tetra Pak packaging allows the coconut water to remain fresh and can be stored for months without refrigeration.

According to its website, the coconut water drink is a product of O.N.E. One Natural Experience, an all-natural beverage company founded by Brazilian businessman Rodrigo Veloso. He launched the company in Los Angeles, and introduced O.N.E. organic coconut water at Whole Food Markets in 2006.

The drink quickly became the number one alternative beverage sold in the supermarket chain's outlets in southern California.

The website said Health magazine even named the drink as "America's healthiest beverage" for providing enhanced hydration, essential nutrition and all five essential electrolytes (calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium).

A dozen 11-oz O.N.E. coconut drinks is being sold for $21 on Amazon.com.

Coconut products are one of the Philippines' top exports.

As of June 2011, the Department of Trade and Industry reported a 14.9% decline in exports of coconut products year-on-year mainly due to supply restrictions.

However, year-to-date sales improved by 48% because of improvements in exports of higher value-added products such as coconut oil and desiccated coconut.

In contrast, lower value-added products such as copra and copra meal or cake declined by 43% and 19% respectively.

"These data reflect the path of coconut sector towards moving up more export products in the value chain as contained in the Philippine Export Development Plan 2011-2013," the DTI said.

...the PH Olympians in World Athletics

2 Pinoys in 2011 World Athletics

abs-cbnNEWS.com

08/23/2011

 

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Olympians Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres will compete in the 2011 World Championships in Athletics which will be held in Daegu, Korea starting Saturday.

 

Torres and Dagmil will join the tournament’s long jump event.

The 29-year-old Dagmil hails from South Cotobato.

Dagmil won the gold medal in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games (SEAG). In 2007, he broke the SEAG long jump record by clearing a distance of 7.87 meters.

His personal best jump of 7.99 meters was achieved at the U.S. Track and Field Championship in 2008.

He represented the country in the 2008 Olympic Games.

The 30-year-old Torres, on the other hand, hails from Negros Oriental.

She took home the gold medal for the long jump in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). Torres was also the Philippine Team's athletics representative to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Studio 23 will be airing highlights of the 2011 World Championships in Athletics from August 28 to September 5, 2011.

...the KL 9-ball Champ

Corteza bags Kuala Lumpur 9-ball title

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The Philippines’ Lee Van Corteza subdued Chinese-Taipei’s Ko Pin-chung, 13-8, on Sunday to win the Malaysian Golden Break 9-Ball Asian Invitational tournament at the Golden Break Snooker and Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Corteza showed his class in the semifinals with an effortless 45-minute 11-1 thrashing  of Indonesia’s Riyan Setiawan, setting up a showdown with Ko, who beat his elder brother Ko Pin-yi in the other semifinal duel, 11-7.

It was Ko’s second consecutive finals appearance and also his second crushing defeat after losing to Malaysia’s Ibrahim Amir last year.

The semifinals clash between the brothers was neck-and-neck in the first few racks before Ping Chung raced to leads of 7-4 and 10-6.

Requiring just one more rack to win and enter the finals, Ko felt the pressure as Pin Yi won the 17th rack to move to within 10-7.

But Ko settled down to reel off rack No. 18 and book a place in the finals against Corteza, the 2010 US Open 10-Ball champion.

Living up to his favorite’s tag, the 32-year-old Corteza showed superior form in the semifinals.

Corteza, a four-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, raced to a 9-0 lead against Setiawan, leaving the Indonesian helplessly seated in his chair.

Finally, Corteza committed an error in the 10th rack, giving Setiawan a chance to get to the table and clinch one rack.

That was all Corteza, spearhead of Negros Billiards Stable of Jonathan Sy, would concede as he took the next two racks to wrap up the match and bag the $7,000 top purse plus trophy. Ko Pin-chung received $3,500.

Three other Filipinos, Rodolfo Luat, Antonio Lining and Allan Cuartero, who represented Kuwait, were eliminated in the early rounds.

...the Homeless World Cup

PHL shocks USA in Homeless World Cup

RENEE FOPALAN, GMA News

08/23/2011

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

The Philippines recovered from an opening day loss to Slovenia when it defeated the United States, 4-3, Monday at the Homeless World Cup in Paris, France.

The Filipinos made up for Slovenia's come from behind victory against them last Sunday (4-6), winning against Ghana (4-3) and the United States.

With a 2-1 win-loss card, Team Philippines will play consecutive matches against Switzerland and European powerhouse Netherlands on Tuesday.

Switzerland suffered consecutive losses against Netherlands (2-9) and the United States (3-4) before finally winning against Slovenia (4-1) on Monday.

The Filipinos' second opponent, Netherlands, also scored lopsided wins against Ghana (8-1) and Slovenia (9-1). The Netherlands' lone loss was against Kenya (1-14).

The Philippines, along with USA, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ghana and Slovenia, are in Group H. The top three teams in each group will advance to play in Section 1 while the other three squads will be relegated to play in Section 2.

A total of six championship cups are being played for in the tournament depending on team rankings, but only the top eight that emerges from Section 1 will play for the Homeless World Cup. - JVP, GMA News

...the language...and the people too

A lesson in Filipino

 

By Shielo Mendoza, Yahoo! Southeast Asia |

The Inbox 

22August 2011

 

Photo by NPPA Images

In celebration of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, we at Yahoo! Philippines paid tribute to our national language by translating to Filipino the headlines and teasers of the stories we featured on our frontpage on August 15.

 

Amid the positive and negative reaction, it was clear that there's some confusion about our national language — Filipino.

To address the questions raised by our readers, we consulted with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

Filipino, Pilipino, or Tagalog?

"Are Tagalog, Pilipino and Filipino different languages? No, they are mutually intelligible varieties, and therefore belong to one language," said former KWF chairperson Ricardo Nolasco in his article "Filipino and Tagalog, Not So Simple."

Nolasco said that Tagalog, Pilipino and Filipino share identical grammar. They have the same determiners (ang, ng, and sa); the same personal pronouns (siya, ako, niya, kanila, etc); the same demonstrative pronouns (ito, iyan, doon, etc); the same linkers (na, at, and ay); the same particles (na and pa); and the same verbal affixes -in, -an, i- and -um-.

"In short, same grammar, same language," Nolasco said.

The former chairperson added that the reason the national language was changed from Tagalog to Pilipino then to Filipino is largely socio-linguistic.

"From being a language confined to native Tagalogs and their provinces, Tagalog has grown into being the common language of an entire people. It has become nationwide," explained Nolasco.

Based on the 2000 census, nine out of 10 Filipinos speak and understand Tagalog with varying degrees of mastery.

"Inter-ethnic communication through the national language has become a reality. Thanks to TV, radio, movies, comics, out-migration and the educational system," he said.

Article XIV Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution says, "The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages."

Nolasco explained that the country leaders then named "Filipino" with an "F" to signal that the national language will not be based only on Tagalog but also on other Philippine and foreign languages.

For his part, current KWF chairperson Jose Laderas Santos said to Yahoo! Southeast Asia in an interview, "Ang Tagalog ang nukleyo ng ating wikang pambansa dahil ito ang may pinakamaraming naiambag na word entry sa wikang Filipino (Tagalog is the nucleus of our national language since it has the most number of word entries to the Filipino language)."

The official use of Filipino

Aside from the confusion with the national language, the readers also questioned the use of English in the government and in academic institutions.

While the Constitution assigned Filipino as the national language, it also named Filipino and English as the official languages of the Philippines for purposes of communication and instruction.

Santos, however, cited Executive Order 335 of the late former president Corazon Aquino directing all government offices to use the Filipino language in official transactions, communications and correspondence.

The KWF head commended President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's move to deliver his State of the Nation Address in Filipino.

"Isa siyang malakas na ehemplo sa paggamit ng wika. Kaya sa tingin ko maganda ang naging feedback sa kaniya dahil mas nauunawaan siya ng mga Pilipino (He is very influential in using the language. That is why I think he received good feedback because Filipinos understand him well)," he said.

How to value Filipino

According to Santos, valuing the national language is as simple as: "Gamitin ito nang mahusay, malinis at magalang. Dahil kapag ginamit mo ito nang tama, tiyak na magalang din ang pagsagot sa iyo ng iyong kapwa (Use it correctly, modestly and politely. Because if you use the language right, others will definitely respond to you politely too)."

 

...the Emmy nominee

'TV Patrol' gets Emmy nomination for Manila hostage crisis coverage

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 08/22/2011

 

MANILA, Philippines – ABS-CBN evening news program "TV Patrol" has earned an Emmy nomination for its coverage of the Manila hostage crisis last year.

"TV Patrol: Manila Hostage Crisis" is among the 4 nominees from around the globe in the news category, according to the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which holds the annual Emmy Awards ceremony.

"The Academy is proud to be bringing these riveting shows to the global audience," Bruce Paisner, president and chief executive officer of the Academy, said in a statement.

"The 2011 nominees offer unique perspectives from all parts of the world on the events that have shaped the year and touched audiences."

The winners will be announced on September 28 at the Lincoln Center in New York. -- ANC

...the IMF outlook

IMF cites improvement in Phl economy By Pia Lee-Brago The Philippine Star August 21, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine embassy in Washington reported that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged the improvement in the Philippine economy, fiscal consolidation and quality of growth.

Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. met yesterday with IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara and discussed the government’s ongoing efforts toward fiscal consolidation.

The embassy reported that Shinohara told Cuisia that the Philippine economy is doing well, the fiscal consolidation has clearly improved, and that the quality of growth is changing.

The IMF projects the Philippines to grow by six percent this year, up from the revised forecast of 3.6 percent last April 2011.

Cuisia expressed appreciation for the successful IMF staff visit to the Philippines in July 2011 which concluded that “the near-term outlook for the Philippines is favorable” and that “the Philippine government’s steadfast moves to achieve fiscal consolidation are very appropriate in light of the maturing recovery and the need to create space for priority spending.”

He also conveyed the government’s congratulations to the IMF’s new Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

Prior to his appointment to the IMF in March 2010, Shinohara had occupied various senior positions, including as vice minister of finance in Japan and the country’s executive director at the Asian Development Bank.

Meanwhile, the embassy said that a Partnership for Growth (PFG) Joint Country Action Plan would be drafted that aims to be “collaborative, inclusive and sustainable for the Philippines to achieve broad-based economic growth.”

Cuisia met with US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for the Philippines Gloria Steele last Aug. 15 and discussed the progress of the Partnership for Growth (PFG) initiative.

He congratulated Steele for her leadership in convening a joint technical team that identified constraints to economic growth in the Philippines.

Steele informed Cuisia that planning teams are currently working on specific requirements under the PFG priorities framework.

 

...the best diving area

PH voted as best diving area at Japan fair

abs-cbnNEWS.com

08/21/2011

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines was chosen as one of the top diving destinations of the world during the recently concluded 19th Marine Diving Fair in Japan.

 

 

 

The country was voted as Best Diving Area and Best Dreaming Area, alongside heavyweights such as Maldives and Palau, the Tourism Department said in a statement.

Four companies -- 2 from Cebu and 2 from Bohol -- were also recognized:

• Blue Coral, Cebu - Favorite Dive Operator
• Good Dive Shop, Bohol - Favorite Dive Operator
• White Sands Beach Resort, Cebu - Best Diving Resort Hotel
• Bohol Tropics Resort - Best Diving Resort Hotel

"We are particularly proud of our strong showing in the Best Diving Area category, which has placed us in the company of some of the most acclaimed dive countries in the world," former Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said.

"We anticipate that the Philippines will secure a more significant slice of the Japanese diving market after these latest successes, especially that Japan has been very supportive of encouraging 2-way tourism between our countries."

The Marine Diving Fair, which began in 1993, is considered one of the largest dive and beach resort exhibitions in Asia. This year's event featured 213 exhibitors from 59 countries and attracted over 50,000 visitors.

The Tourism Department estimates that the Japanese scuba diving population at 5 million. It added that Japan is the third largest source of foreign visitor arrivals to the Philippines.

...the Madz in Argentina

UP Madrigal Singers make triumphant debut in Argentina

 

 

08/20/2011

GMA News

The world-famous Philippine Madrigal Singers made a triumphant debut at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, one of the world’s leading opera houses, earning a standing ovation and bravos from some 2,000 spectators.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the University of the Philippines’ Madrigal Singers or “Madz" performed in a joint concert with the Coro Universitario de Mendoza – UN Cuyo (CdM) last Aug. 13.

“Dubbed as the concert of two champions of choral singing from Asia and Latin America, the evening event was attended by over 2,000 invitees from the Argentine government, the diplomatic corps, the academe and business sectors, the small Filipino community in Argentina, as well as a large number of Argentine music enthusiasts," the DFA said in a news release.

The DFA said the audience was greatly impressed by the two champion choirs’ exceptional performances of their individual repertories of sacred, avant-garde, folk, and popular songs.

Both choirs, which were past winners of the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, were directed respectively by Silvana Vallesi of the CdM and Mark Anthony Carpio of the Madz, it added.

The Madz was the first and only Asian choir to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 1997, while the CdM was the first and only Latin American choir to bag the coveted award in 2009.

Following its successful participation in the 9th World Symposium for Choral Singing in Puerto Madryn in southern Argentina last Aug. 7 to 10, the Madz is the only Filipino chorale to have performed in the world-renowned theater.

Among the organizers of the Aug. 13 event included the National University of Cuyo of the Argentine province of Mendoza and TecPlata of the ICTSI Group of Companies.

Tributes

The two choirs also paid tribute to each other’s countries, with the CdM performing Veni Creator Spiritus by Alejandro Consolación II of the Philippines, while the Madz singing the tango Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla of Argentina.

As a finale, both choirs rendered a joint rendition of Tangata, another Piazzolla composition.

The DFA noted the event was a celebration of the fraternal ties of friendship between Argentina and the Philippines.

As a gesture of appreciation, Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang hosted a dinner at the embassy for the members of both choirs at the end of the concert.

Teatro Colon

The DFA noted Teatro Colón is considered one of the world’s top five opera houses in terms of acoustics.

Since its inauguration in 1908, the architectural landmark hosted the performances of the world’s greatest musicians, orchestras, opera singers, composers, as well as orchestra conductors including Argentine-born Daniel Barenboim.

“After several years of extensive renovation, the theater had a grand reopening last year on the anniversary of Argentina’s Bicentennial of Independence," it said.

Surprising revelation

The DFA said the Teatro Colón audience was “awed" by the “extraordinary technique, varied colors and engaging warmth of the Madz’s a cappella singing" and its “uncommon style of rendering songs while seated in a semicircle without a conductor."

“Each of the songs was generously applauded by the audience who, at the end of the Madz’s individual repertory, spontaneously rose to its feet to enthusiastically cheer the Madz in an atmosphere of heart-warming rapport between the performers and the spectators," the DFA said.

It added many in the audience, including the members of the Filipino community, approached the embassy officials to convey their appreciation for such a memorable concert.

“The Madz has once again shown that it is indeed among the best ambassadors of goodwill of the Philippines," it said.

More concerts

Several other concerts organized by the embassy are in store for the Madz in Buenos Aires and La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, from August until early September.

The embassy also organized the Madz’s concerts in Paraguay and Uruguay, countries under its jurisdiction.

“It is most fitting that the first performance in Latin America by the country’s premier choral group takes place in Argentina, a leading country in culture and in the arts in the region," the DFA said. – JE, GMA News