...the queens of beauty

Bravo Shamcey, Eren, Brenna and Diana! Bonne chance, Gwedoline!

By Filipinos Abroad

October 7th, 2011

Jose D. Patao Jr. – Pageant Watch – Malaya Business Insight

Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup was given a rousing welcome when she arrived from her record-setting feat as 3rd runner-up at the 60th Miss Universe Pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil last Sept. 12. She made it two in a row for the Philippines after Venus Raj’s 4th runner-up finish in Las Vegas last year, a feat unprecedented in the history of the pageant; there has been no other occasion where two Filipinas made it to the finals for two consecutive years. Congratulations Shamcey, may you inspire more Filipina beauties in their quest for more honors in the international pageant arena!

Meanwhile, Mrs. Philippines-Universe and bank executive Erilene Noche-Tumali won two special awards in the recently-concluded pageant for married women held in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was named Mrs. Sponsors and more significantly, Mrs. Universe Ltd., where she will serve as spokesperson for the Mrs. Universe organization’s advocacy "No to Violence". The 2011 pageant was won by Venezuela’s Moira Farmas and Erilene will travel to Caracas, Venezuela for next year’s Mrs. Universe pageant.

As we write, Brenna Cassandra Gamboa, a 21-year-old, 5’9" BS Nursing student from Cavite, is set to arrive from Fiji after emerging as first runner-up in the World Supermodel Pageant held in the tiny South Pacific island last Sept. 30. The title went to Lebanon’s Danielle Salamoungy with South Pacific’s Mikaela Swany winning the Miss Teen Supermodel title. Brenna was also voted as Best in Evening Gown. Australia’s Casey Newport was 2nd runner-up.

Last Oct. 3, Diana Sunshine Rademann was crowned as Sympatie Miss Princess of the World in Prague, Czech Republic, sharing the limelight with Miss Princess of the World 2011 winner Carmen Isabel Chavez of Mexico, 1st Vice Princess Michaela Karakova of Slovakia and 2nd Vice princess Yen Cao of Vietnam. A BS Biology student from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Diana was also voted as Miss Friendship and was a top 3 finalist in the talent division where she did the "Pandanggo sa Ilaw" Filipino folk dance. Forty-one contestants worldwide competed.

Meanwhile all eyes are now on newly-crowned Miss World Philippines 2011Gwendoline Ramos Ruais (pronounced roo-wes), the 6-feet tall Filipino-French beauty who will vie for the country’s first Miss World crown in London, UK on November 6. Ruais threw a thanksgiving party at the Midas Hotel last Friday for all the people who supported her in her triumphant experience. Gwen intimated that if she wins as Miss World, it will be the proudest moment for her and the Philippines. Having the heart, passion and dedication to make the country proud, Gwen said that the Philippines should be recognized in the world’s oldest and longest running world beauty pageant.

Bravo Shamcey, Eren, Brenna and Diana! Bonne chance Gwendoline… bring home our first Miss World crown!

...the aspiring city dad in Vancouver

Fil-Canadian to run for city councilor in Vancouver

by Cecil Docto

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

10/07/2011

VANCOUVER - A young Filipino-Canadian is slowly making his mark in local politics, after winning a bid to run as city councilor in November.

Rafael JR Aquino is running for city councilor under the Coalition of Progressive Electors or COPE.


Aquino won the nomination by a narrow margin, as he defeated 3-time COPE councilor David Cadman by 7 votes--316 to 309.

“It demonstrated the need for reinforcement for the Filipino community to mobilize and really understand the process if they want to nominate somebody within the community,” Aquino said.

Long-time COPE member and city councilor Ellen Woodsworth, who nominated Aquino for the position, said she believes the 30-year-old political newcomer will bring a fresh perspective to the Vancouver City Council.

“I think RJ is a great candidate. He's committed to the same issues I'm working on so I was happy to help him out and get him elected today,” she said.

Aquino has been a long time advocate of workers' rights and new Canadians. He used the power of technology to connect communities and foster relationships for social change.

In his speech, Aquino championed the need for affordable housing, public transit and child care in Vancouver. He also called on the youth to become more involved in the city's decision making process.

“I want them to know so they care; I want them to care so they take action; and I want them to take action so we can see change,” he said.

Woodsworth and former city councilor Tim Louis will join him in the COPE slate. If elected, Aquino will be the first city councilor of Filipino ancestry in Vancouver.

...the bigtime OFW

OFW quits job to open school in N. Ecija

 

 

abs-cbnNEWS.com

10/07/2011

 

 

MUSCAT, OMAN – Dr. Emmanuel San Juan quit a stable and high-paying job in Oman to return to the Philippines and open up a school in his hometown in Nueva Ecija.

“Ako ay nag desisyon na huwag nang mag-renew (contract) bagamat mayroon mga pagkukumbinsi na ipagpatuloy yung paglilingkod sa college na ito,” said San Juan.

San Juan has been in Oman for about 2 years but he has already achieved so much.

“Malayo talaga yung kinikita natin dito sa abroad o dito sa Oman kumpara sa kinikita natin sa Pilipinas,” he said.

A volunteer computer instructor of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA), San Juan is also a member of the College Board and Manager of the Center for Enterprise and Professional Development of the Gulf College in Oman.

He graduated with a PhD on Public Administration at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology in 2009.

He initially had second thoughts about working abroad since he already had good job working at the provincial capitol.

“Naghahanap siguro ako ng pagkakataon na lalo ko pang malinang yung kakayahan ko. Gusto kong matuto ng iba-ibang kultura at mas magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makita pa ang education system hindi lamang sa Pilipinas,” said San Juan.

His colleagues in Oman speak highly of him.

“He presented a very good attitude and very cooperative personality. He was very active and the output of what he has done during the very short period, it was very distinguishable,” said Deputy Dean for Computing Department Dr. Mohanned Obaidy.

Khalod Abdulbaqi described San Juan as friendly and outstanding.

For her part, Dr. Wilma Serrano said San Juan has been an inspiration to many Filipinos.

“Hindi lang mga Pinoy napabilib din niya pati ibang lahi dahil sa quality ng pagta- trabaho niya,” said Serrano.

He decided to resign from his job to fulfill his dream of helping kababayans by putting up a school in the province.

“Nakapag-file na tayo ng letter of intent sa Department of Education para sa pagbubukas ng eskwelahan. Ang target nga natin na magsimula sa darating na pasukan sa June 2012,” he said.

Although many of his colleagues want him in Oman, they still expressed their support for him in his new endeavor.

“Ang mami-miss ko kay Dr. Eman ay he’s always smiling and a very approachable person,” said Carmie Cruz.

“He has been a very good colleague of mine, very supportive. Also, he’s a very hardworking person. I have always enjoyed working with him. I wish him all the best,” said Dr. Rizwan Ahmad, Associate Dean for Curriculum. Rowen Soldevilla, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

...the Emmy nominee

Kapamilya drama gets Emmy nomination  (The Philippine Star)  October 06, 2011

From left: Sam Milby, Maja Salvador, Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, stars of Impostor| Zoom

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN earned another International Emmy Awards nomination for its drama series Precious Hearts Romances presents Impostor, a story about a provincial lass who was forced to take the persona of a well-known model.

According to the website of the award-giving body, Impostor will compete in the Best Telenovela category against Argentina’s Contra las Cuerdas, Brazil’s Destiny River and Portugal’s Lacos de Sangue.

“We are very thrilled. The nomination is an honor and a validation of our team’s efforts,” said Laurenti Dyogi, business unit head responsible for the TV series aired last year.

ABS-CBN is the only Philippine media company that bagged an International Emmy nomination. TV Patrol also earned a nomination this year in the Best News category for its coverage of the Manila hostage crisis in August 2010.

Impostor starred Maja Salvador, Melai Cantiveros, Jason Francisco and Sam Milby.  It was directed by Jerome Pabocan and Neal del Rosario.

Apart from the global recognition, Dyogi said the series has been picked up in other countries such as Russia and Ghana because of its appeal and concept that appeals to the international market.

Previously, ABS-CBN earned several International Emmy nominations for its shows and stars such as Dahil May Isang Ikaw (Best Telenovela, 2010), Sid Lucero for Dahil May Isang Ikaw (Best Actor, 2010), Kahit Isang Saglit (Best Telenovela, 2009), Angel Locsin for Lobo (Best Actress, 2009), and Bandila for its coverage of the Subic Rape Case (Best News, 2007).

The International Emmy Awards is given by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS).  The awards will be held on Nov. 18 to 21.

...the helping hands in Middle East

Pinoys in Middle East helping typhoon victims in PHL

10/05/2011

 

Even if they’re miles away from home, Filipinos in the Middle East are helping their kababayans who were affected by the rage of typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel."

In Kuwait, a Filipino community launched a massive in-kind donation drive, while several groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pooled in thousands of Dirham to send to the Philippines.

Typhoon “Pedring" (internationally name: “Nesat") destroyed almost P9 billion in properties and killed 66 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has recorded 10 deaths and P115 million in damages courtesy of “Quiel" (international name: “Nalgae").

"Kindness in-kind"

Spearheaded by the Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC), the donation drive in Kuwait encourages donations not only among coordinating organizations, but also from other Pinoys and even foreigners.

“This is not exclusive for members—even non-members are welcome. In fact, we appeal for help from everybody," FBC chairman Dr. Chie Umandap told the Kuwait Times on Tuesday.

Umandap said they will not accept cash donations “because we are not from government agencies and cannot process such donations."

According to "Kuwait Times," the FBC and other cooperating groups would take in:

canned goods;

instant noodles;

medicines;

clothes, and

blankets.

Umandap asked Filipinos to consider their donation an early Christmas gift to our kababayans. "If there are other nationalities who wish to donate, you are most welcome and may God bless you," he said.

He also shared that a cargo company will shoulder “at least half of the forwarding expenses."

While pleased that the organizations started a donation drive for typhoon victims, Philippine embassy Vice Consul Rea Oreta encouraged Pinoys in Kuwait to send their help to Philippine agencies like the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Oreta also urged Filipinos to donate only to legitimate organizations with proven track records.

Pooling ‘help cash’

On the other hand, Pinoy group leaders in UAE encouraged their members to donate money to charities, after they encountered problems with relief boxes in 2009.

“It’s better for us to send cash donations. From past experience, we’ve encountered lots of problems with relief goods either with the customs, safekeeping, [or] with distribution," Benito Valeriano, consul-general in Dubai, told "The National."

Bayanihan UAE, the umbrella group of all Pinoy organizations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, said it is donating Dh10, 000 from its standing fund.

Bayanihan president Bal Junio also disclosed that they will ask their 68 constituent groups to raise more funds by October 14, after which they will send the donation to PNRC or to Caritas Manila.

Meanwhile, FilCom—the group’s counterpart in Dubai and Northern Emirates—met on Tuesday evening to discuss how they can help typhoon victims.

FilCom handles 99 community groups in the area.

Alan Bacason, the umbrella group’s governing council president, told The National that they are planning “a community-wide fund-raising campaign."

The fund-raising, however, would need the approval of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.

After “Ondoy" (international name: “Ketsana") swept Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, Pinoys in UAE also donated to typhoon victims.

According to Valeriano, they sent about 2, 000 boxes of relief goods and pooled in a total of Dh800, 000. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News

...the leader in disaster preparedness

UN HABITAT CONFERENCE

Philippines hailed as model in disaster response

By Cynthia D. Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

FUKUOKA—The Philippines leads Japan and other countries prone to natural disasters in terms of system preparedness, governance and youth participation in mitigating the impact of climate change on people and property, a disaster risk specialist said here on Tuesday.

Addressing the United Nations Settlement Program (UN-Habitat)’s 6th Asian City Journalists Conference (ACJC), Professor Rajob Shaw of the International Environmental and Disaster Management Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies at the Kyoto University said the Philippine model on disaster response must be replicated in Japan and elsewhere in the world.

“The Philippines has a very good system, particularly in the governance system when it comes to disaster preparedness from the community to the national level, something that is lacking here in Japan and in other countries,” Shaw told a gathering of Asian journalists, UN regional officials, academicians, non-government organizations representatives in this oldest city in Japan.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is one of the journalists-panelists in the conference which examines media’s role during a disaster and in making disaster-resilient cities.

Calamity fund

Shaw cited the calamity fund allocation, which is about five percent of the development budget, from the national down to the barangay (village) level.

He said the calamity fund had been in place for 20 years and can be used for preparedness measures.

“That’s a very, very important aspect. In Japan, we don’t have that one. We don’t have any specific amount of the city government budget that can be allocated for disaster preparedness,” he said.

Shaw said he had been examining the Philippines’ system of preparedness since he first came into the country in 1998 as an officer of the United Nations Center for Regional Development.

He had worked on several UN projects with officials of the Department of National Defense’s Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Coordinating Council, now the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

According to Shaw, a regular funding requirement was “a very important governance structure” that was absent in Japan and elsewhere.

Shaw also particularly cited the high visibility of the Philippine president during relief efforts which could ensure national and international assistance to pour in.

“In the Philippines, you can see the President on television at the forefront of relief efforts and this is very good in the sense that when a president is seen or has very high visibility, it gives hope to the people during a local calamity, it gives a lot of media coverage, and it gives a lot of money especially when it is covered by the press,” Shaw stressed.

“International money would surely come in that kind of situation and we call that the CNN (Cable News Network) syndrome. Unless it is covered by the press, international attention does not come,” he stressed.

Another plus in the Philippine model, he said, is the extent of youth participation in pre- and -post disaster relief operations, as in city planning and decision-making.

He said that Filipino youth belonging to the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in the villages has a seat in the city council and take part with the city mayor and other local officials in helping a community meet an emergency or make the city grow in the future.

Youth volunteers

Also, the presence of science clubs in Philippine high schools whose members can be tapped as volunteers in information dissemination during rescue efforts and in disseminating information before a disaster strikes was a good thing.

Shaw said the Japanese youth who went to the stricken areas as volunteers for relief operation when the 2011 Magnitude 9 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku struck Japan that triggered a tsunami, did that only for a week.

Then they went back to their homes, waiting for the next disaster to happen, making their participation in diaster relief efforts short-term, he said.

Also unlike their Filipino youth counterparts, young Japanese could not take part in the formal discussion on decision-making in the city.

On the minus side, Shaw noted the lack of specific mitigation projects in the Philippines in post-disaster setting and efforts to change the mindset of the people.

Like other nationals in Asia, he said Filipinos were “stubborn” and would refuse to leave their houses and belongings even in the face of death.

...the troupe

Bayanihan dance troupe wins in South Korea festival

INQUIRER.net

October 4, 2011

Ina Feleo (center), soloist of the Philippines' Bayanihan Dance Group, shows off her best female performer award at the Cheonan World Dance Festival.

Bayanihan, the national dance company of the Philippines, on Monday won over 100 other participants in this year’s Cheonan World Dance Festival in South Korea. The best female performer award went to Bayanihan’s solist, Ina Feleo.

The festival is held annually in Cheonan, in Chungcheong province, in celebration of Korea’s traditional dances, songs, and costumes.

Included in the Cheonan World Dance Festival program were street parades, local dance contests, dance classes, dance parties, Korean traditional dances and plays – with the international traditional dance contest highlighting the whole event.

Feleo, a daughter of film director Laurice Guillen and the late Johnny Delgado, is also a stage and film actress.

South Korea is divided into eight provinces, one special autonomous province , six metropolitan cities , and one special city.

...the Filipino movies for Spain

Spanish envoy wants to bring PHL films to Spain ‘soon’

By IBARRA C. MATEO

10/03/2011

GMA News

Even as they are busy preparing for this week’s Pelicula: 10th Spanish Film Festival, Spanish and Filipino officials are also discussing the possibility of staging a Philippine film festival in Spain.

Describing cinema as “a vibrant reflection of culture," Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Domecq said, “We hope that soon the Philippines will take its movies to our country, whose audience is wishing to see the works of Filipino filmmakers."

At a press conference last Sept. 29 to announce the 10th edition of Pelicula, Domecq said, “Spain has taken the initiative to promote Philippine cinema, not only in Spain, but also in the Philippines as demonstrated by the recent publication by Instituto Cervantes de Manila of the book: 44 Cineastas Filipinos/44 Filipino Filmmakers."

The embassy describes Pelicula as “one of the biggest showcases of Spanish and Latin American films in Asia."

“We are aspiring for a genuine partnership with the Philippines in terms of cinema. For that reason, we have initiated this year a partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, which we hope will be most fruitful," Domecq added.

24 films

Pelicula begins on Oct. 4, with the invitational screening of “La Verguenza" (The Shame, 2009), winner of the Best Film and Best Screenplay awards at the 2009 Malaga Spanish Film Festival. Its scriptwriter-director, David Planell, will grace the Philippine premiere of his directorial debut, which tackles the decision of a rich couple to return an adopted child who was found to have behavioral disorders.

“On this 10th year, Pelicula will once again showcase a collection of more than 20 awarded films carefully selected from Spain, as well as from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay, all presenting a wide range of perspectives and styles," said Eduardo Calvo, the newdirector of Instituto Cervantes de Manila.

“I guarantee that Instituto Cervantes will always choose the best quality, the most attractive, and the most interesting sights of all Spanish cultures from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries,’ he added.

Among the 24 films to be shown are the Javier Bardem starrer “Biutiful," for which he won the Best Actor award at the 2010 Cannes International Film Festival and at the 2011 Goya Awards. Directed by Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu, “Biutiful" tells the story of Uxbal, who is engaged in the trafficking of illegal migrants and struggles to reconnect with his children when he discovers he has terminal cancer.

Calvo said a special cycle of screening of all the winners of the “Audience Choice Award" from 2002 to 2011 will be mounted during the festival, along with a photo exhibit documenting the history of Pelicula since it started.

The Asian premiere of Filipino director Raya Martin’s “Buenas Noches, España" (Good Evening, Spain) will be held on Oct. 10, he added.

Jose Maria Fons, cultural officer of the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, told reporters that Filipinos will have a chance to dialogue with “La Verguenza" scriptwriter-director David Planell on Oct. 5 and “Yo, Tambien" (Me, Too) scriptwriter-director Alvaro Pastor on Oct. 11, after the screening of their films. Planell and Pastor will also hold filmmaking workshops for Filipinos, he added.

Fons said one of this year’s highlights is the “Mexican Night" that will screen three Mexican films: “La Zona," a story about two divergent worlds that live in hatred and in fear of each other; Bardem’s “Biutiful"; and “Morirse esta en Hebreo," a comedy about relationships and life after death.

Noting that Filipinos often see some elements of local culture when they watch Spanish films, Ambassador Domecq said the success of Pelicula lies in its ability to “bring over to the Philippines a very accurate picture of what the main concerns and dilemmas of the Spanish people are these days, which these very good directors are making into films."

Beyond film

Calvo said the Instituto Cervantes is looking into the possibility of going beyond films and reaching out more closely to very young Filipinos through other art genres such as flamenco for dance and jazz for music. “We would like to offer the young Filipinos the best of Spanish culture," he said.

Side by side with Pelicula, Domecq said an international conference on the Galleon Trade will be held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman on Oct. 8 to be participated in by Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino experts.

“Foto," an exhibit of photographs by Spain’s top 15 photographers, will be launched at the Metropolitan Museum this month while the National Archives will exhibit historical documents from the Ilocos region in November, he said.

As part of the 150th anniversary of Jose Rizal’s birth, the ambassador said the Spanish Embassy and the Instituto Cervantes are launching an annotated version of “Noli Me Tangere" on Nov. 22 in connection with their “Philhispanic Classics." Historian Ambeth Ocampo wrote the introduction for the latest edition of “Noli" while philologist Isaac Donoso wrote the annotations.

The original “Noli" was published in 1886 in Berlin by the Berliner Buchdruckerei Actien Geseellschaft, while the 2011 “Noli" is published by the Biblioteca Clasicos Hispanofilipinos.

In Madrid, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opens an exhibit on Rizal on Nov. 28 at the Spanish National Library, Domecq added. - YA, GMA News

...the Muay Thai gold, silver medalists

Pinoy wins gold in Muay Thai World tilt

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 10/04/2011

 

2 other fighters get silver medals

---

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Muay Thai team brought home 1 gold and 2 silver medals from the prestigious Muay Thai World Championships in Uzbekistan.

Ilonggo Robin Catalan, brother of bemedalled Wushu artist Rene Catalan, won the gold medal in the 48-kilogram category.

Jojo Suello Pol (63.5 kg) and Preciosa Ocaya (51 kg) each nabbed silver medals in their respective divisions.
The three muay thai artists are part of an 8-man contingent sent to Uzbekistan for the competition which ran from September 22 to 27.

Small but terrible

Catalan is the smallest fighter in the 8-man muay thai team.

The 20-year-old defeated a taller Afghan fighter in the finals of the 48-kg division.

“Matangkad kasi yung kalaban ko eh… ako yung pinakamaliit, bumawi na lang po ako,” said Catalan.
Catalan said he is happy to win the gold on his first try of the competition. – With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

...the "Amerikana"

Fil-Am moves back to work for PH gov't

 

by Cathy Rose A. Garcia,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

10/04/2011

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – While some Filipinos would do anything to migrate to the United States, Eileen Aparis left a comfortable life in Seattle to move back to the Philippines.

 

 

“Going back to the Philippines was the most irrational thing I could have done. I had a good job, a house, a car and friends,” she told abs-cbnNEWS.com in an interview last week.

Born in Ormoc, Leyte, Aparis was only 8 years old when her family migrated to the US in 1985. She spent most of her life in Seattle, got her MBA in New York and has been working with communities and immigrant refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Vietnam.

Aparis had a passion for international development and a desire to reconnect with her roots and do something for the Philippines. She was inspired by the Aquino administration’s commitment to good government, especially since the late former President Corazon Aquino was her hero.

“I thought what have I done for my country? I haven't done anything… So I said, I’m going to check it out, like a sabbatical, but I decided to take the plunge and see what's really going on because of all the issues I see on TV. I thought: ‘I want to be a part of this’. If I want to see change, I have to do it,” she said.

Much to the incredulity of her parents and friends (“They thought it was craziest, weirdest thing ever,” she recalled), Aparis moved back to Manila in November 2010.

With the help of her mentor in Seattle, she got in touch with Secretary Imelda Nicolas, chairperson of the government's Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Soon she found herself volunteering at the CFO, and later, working as a consultant on an anti-trafficking project.

The CFO was organizing the Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora and Aparis suggested to Nicolas the inclusion of second and third-generation Filipinos from overseas.

Nicolas was impressed enough with Aparis’ dedication that she was tasked to head the CFO's Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) project. YouLeaD was created by the CFO as a framework on how the next generation of Filipinos overseas can contribute to the country’s growth.

Aparis said she is working to strengthen the current Lakbay-Aral program, a two-week cultural immersion program for Filipino youth overseas to learn about Philippine culture and history. The CFO is trying to partner with organizations such as the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines and Science Forum for  Lakbay-Aral.

“It would be great to have a study abroad program that will connect with universities like UP, Ateneo, LaSalle. We can coordinate and recruit young people that would be studying through the UP, Ateneo and LaSalle school systems. It will be cultural immersion but with migration and development as a focus,” she said.

Being an ‘Amerikana’ in Manila

Many second and third generation Filipino-Americans would like to become more involved in the Philippines, Aparis said, especially since they see so much possibility here.

“We realize that culture and identity is important. This is our country… I'm not just American but I'm also Filipino,” she said.

“How do we know where we are going, if we don't know who we are? We're trying to claim it back… There is a great need here for help. Let's make this better because we see our families and their state has not changed. Even the streets, it hasn't changed. And it has to be better than this. We've got to create a difference,” she added.

As a Filipino in the US, Aparis had to deal with discrimination and name-calling but she was still surprised at having to deal with the same thing in the Philippines.

“I'm not called a Filipino, I'm called ‘Amerikana.’ It hurts and nobody gets that. They don't know how much pride we have being a Filipino abroad. We represent the Philippines... People make fun of my accent and I'm trying so hard. Nakakaintindi ako (ng Filipino), pero Bisaya kasi,” she said.

But she has learned to quickly adapt to a different, some would say more laid-back, culture in the workplace, as well as adjust to the horrendous Manila traffic.

“I wrote on Facebook: ‘Gone are the days when I jump into my car to go to a meeting.’ Now it’s MRT, LRT, jeepney, tricycle,” Aparis laughed. “It’s definitely a wake-up call. I'm adjusting."

...the celebrity dancer wins in Korea

Ina Feleo wins Best Dancer award in Korea

By Reyma Buan-Deveza,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 10/04/2011

Ina Feleo kisses award. Photo from Feleo's Twitter account

MANILA, Philippines - Star Magic artist Ina Feleo won the Best Female Dancer award at the Cheonan World Dance Festival held in Cheonan Samgeori Park, Cheonan Station Square, Ceinan Main Stadium, Korea.

Feleo danced with Bayanihan Philippines, the dance group which also won the Grand Prize in the competition.

"Nanalo kami grand prize! At nanalo ako bilang female dancer!!" Feleo said in a text sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Feleo said she's really proud to represent the Philippines.

The Cheonan World Dance Festival celebrates the traditional dances, songs and costumes of Korea.

Visitors participate in singing and dancing competitions or attend reenactments of Korean traditional wedding.

Feleo, daughter Laurice Guillen and the late actor Johnny Delgado, competed in Korea just a week after the death of her grandfather, Ben Feleo.

...the designer on America's Next Top Model

Oliver Tolentino featured in 'America's Next Top Model'

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 10/03/2011

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - After Michael Cinco, another Filipino was chosen as a featured designer in hit fashion reality show "America's Next Top Model."

 

 

 

Oliver Tolentino's creations were worn by model-contestants during the "Fierce and Parade Fashion Show" of "America's Next Top Model."

Seven out of 15 contestants also donned his couture gowns in a previous episode.

The Hollywood-based Filipino designer, known for incorporating indigenous materials such as abaca in his designs, said he is happy to be part of the show.

"Nakakatuwa nga kasi sabi ng producer ng show talagang napakarami daw ng nanonood ng 'America's Next Top Model' sa Pilipinas. 'Yung rating talaga nila sa Pilipinas ay napakataas. Nakakatuwa naman na mapanood ng ating mga kababayan sa Pilipinas ang gawa ni Oliver Tolentino sa 'America's Next Top Model.' Nakakataba ng puso," Tolentino said.

"I'm so blessed na napili nila 'yung mga creations ko para i-present sa kanilang TV show," he added.

Asked if he will be part of the show on a more regular basis, Tolentino said, "Sana! (Laughs) But you'll never know, kasi alam mo naman ang competition dito sa States, ang competition very stiff."

Meanwhile, Tolentino said Filipino designers may have an advantage over others this season.

"Right now, when you see the red carpet, everyone is like, bling-bling. Everyone's shining on the red carpet. And it's an advantage for Filipino designers because we're known for doing very intricate beadings," he said.

Among the celebrities who wore Tolentino's creations are Jenna Ushkowitz, one of the cast members of "Glee."

Tolentino also been chosen as this year's icon for MetroWear, which is dubbed as the biggest fashion event in the country. -- Report from Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

...the top BPO destinations

Philippines joins top BPO destinations

 

 

By ROY C. MABASA

October 3, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has established itself as one of the top destinations globally for services outsourcing, being second only to India, the Philippine government said during the just concluded 58th Session of the Trade and Development Board in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Trade and Development Board, which oversees the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), opened its 58th session last month in Geneva to examine, among other issues, the implications of non-equity modes of international production, which include services outsourcing, contract manufacturing, contract farming, licensing and franchising.

Speaking before the members of the Board, Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Industry and Investments Cristino L. Panlilio pointed out that the Philippines' cost competitiveness, excellent telecommunications infrastructure, large talent pool, strong public-private sector partnerships, and relatively low risk perception are among the factors that transnational corporations considered in selecting the Philippines for services outsourcing.

Services outsourcing in the Philippines includes voice business process outsourcing (BPO), non-voice BPO in finance, accounting, medical transcription, and other areas, and information technology - electronic service outsourcing (IT-ESO).

Panlilio disclosed that in 2010, the Philippine IT-BPO industry reached $9 billion in revenues, and engaged the services of 530,000 full-time employees in financial services, human resources, IT and software development, management services, engineering design, animation and other sectors.

He noted that the industry now accounts for 60 percent of the country's total services exports.

In 2011, the industry is expected to generate US$11 billion in terms of services export revenues, and to provide employment to 640,000 people, he said.

The DTI official said that the IT-BPO Road Map forecasts growth to reach USD 25 billion in revenues and to employ 1.3 million workers by 2016 if key challenges are addressed.

In a statement on behalf of the Asian Group, the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, noted that three countries — India, the Philippines and China — accounted for approximately 65 per cent of global export revenues related to IT-BPO services in 2009. In terms of licensing activity directed at developing markets, the region comprised almost 80 percent of the total, measured in terms of royalty payments in 2008.

...the vege vendor turned shop owner in Riyadh

'Sitaw' vendor now shop owner in Riyadh

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 10/03/2011

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A former vegetable vendor and carabao shepherd is now a perfume and jewelry shop owner in Riyadh.

Nancy Vitales designs one of a kind jewelry products and sells perfume made in Paris.

“Bale, ito yung produkto ng White Crystal. Mayroon kaming 44 brands ng signature perfumes. First of all, yung perfume namin made in Paris. So hindi siya gawa sa iba-ibang place," Vitales said.

Original perfumes are expensive but Vitales made them available to Filipinos at an affordable price.

“So nag-isip kami na bakit hindi natin i-repack o i-innovate ang mga perfume na to into size na ma-afford kahit sino man? Kung mayroon kang 400 riyals, apat na signature perfume ang mabibili mo,” she said.

At a young age, Vitales realized the value of hard work to be able to put food on the table. She took care of a water buffalo and sold vegetables like sitaw.

“So, nakamulatan ko na po na sa umaga, gumigising ako, kasama ko yung lola ko, yung nanay ko namimitas kami ng gulay tapos ibinibenta naming,” she said.

Vitales said the values she learned in the past helped her achieve the success she’s enjoying right now.

“Gusto ko na lahat ng bata ganun na pag binigyan mo ng P100, hindi niya iisipin kung anong bibilhin niya.

Kundi, maiisip niya kung paano palaguin yung P100. Kaisipang Intsik, sabi nga nila,” she said.

Ambassador Ezzedin Tago was all praises for Vitales who found innovative ways to succeed. She also was able to use her savings wisely by investing in a worthwhile business. She also shared her ideas to OFWs who may want to enter the same business.

“But we do encourage this. The first thing is for everyone to know what the rules are and to work on saving more and also getting into new creative ideas para dyan," Tago said.

Tago said the embassy supports businesses run by Filipinos, which is why they are doing everything they can to protect it.

“Pero lahat ng mga business people gusto malaman na protektado ang kanilang investment. So what we are working on right now is to compile yung database ng mga batas ng Philippines at sa Saudi para malaman ng mga tao yung karapatan nila when it comes to getting into business whether here in Saudi or in the Philippines," he said. - Marilyn Lavina, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

...the champions on a mission

Dragon boat champs join rescuers

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Niña Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

The world champion dragon boat racing team, using the same vessel that earned them international renown, has joined military forces mobilized to rescue or bring relief to villagers trapped in heavily flooded parts of Bulacan and Pampanga.

The 20-member Philippine Dragon Boat Federation Team, dubbed the “Pinoy Dragon Warriors,” participated in the humanitarian missions on Sunday in response to a call from the Army chief, Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz, for soldiers to join in the rescue effort.

They used the very same dragon boat they rode to five golds and two silvers and set two world records at the world championships held in Florida in August, according to the team manager, Army Major Harold Cabunoc.

Since the boat can accommodate only 20 people, team captain Sergeant Usman Anterola said that for every trip, the boat carried eight paddlers who ferried 10 villagers at a time.

There are 11 soldiers in the team, mostly from the Philippine Army, based at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. The rest are either members of the Coast Guard or civilians.

Cabunoc explained that the team practiced for six hours every day for more international competitions this year even without support from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Payback time
Another team dispatched to the disaster zone in Bulacan at the weekend was made up of victims of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” in Marikina City two years ago, according to Marikina Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz.

“The city mayor, upon seeing the news about the floods on Friday morning, instructed our Rescue 161 to go to Bulacan and offer whatever help we can give,” Cadiz told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The city sent two motorboats, an ambulance, search-in-water equipment, outboard motors, generation sets, and other first-aid kits recently purchased in preparation for an Ondoy-type disaster. More than 100 of the nearly 500 lives Ondoy claimed came from Marikina.

In dispatching the 15-member team, Mayor Del de Guzman admitted that the city has yet to recover from the losses of properties and lives, but said, “Now, it’s our turn to help.”

Caught unprepared
Ronald Mejia, officer in charge of Marikina’s Rescue 161 and team leader in the two-day Bulacan rescue operations, said the floods in the coastal towns were “very much similar to Ondoy.”

Although the roof-high floodwaters reminded him of Ondoy, Mejia was able to spot the difference.
He said the flood that entered their homes in Marikina City came with mud while the floodwaters in Bulacan were crystal clear as it directly came from the dams.

“In Marikina, the floods were gone after a few hours. In Bulacan, it was taking several days for the floods to subside,” he added.

Mejia said that when his team arrived in Paombong town in Bulacan, people came rushing to them and asked them to rescue relatives marooned in their flooded homes.

The team managed to save more than a hundred lives, including a pregnant woman standing on her house’s roof.

“It was the first time they experienced huge floods so they were really shocked and caught unprepared,” Mejia said.

...the Asian boxers

Asian boxers dominate world championship

Rey Saludar of the Philippines reaches third round

Agence France-Presse

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

BAKU—Asian Games flyweight champion Rey Saludar of the Philippines reached the third round of the world championships on Sunday with a confident 28-12 win over Tajik Yusufi Safevidin.

The 23-year-old Saludar, who won bronze at this year’s Asian championships, will now face Rau Shee Warren of the United States, who outclassed Ukraine’s Georgiy Chygayev 22-15.

Mongolia’s Tugstogt Nyambayar, the 2009 world championship silver medalist, battled into the third round with a tough 17-14 win over India’s Suranjoy Singh Mayengbam, the Asian Games bronze medalist.

Top-seeded Misha Aloian of Russia, who won bronze at the 2009 world championship, was in complete command against Botswana’s Oteng Oteng, winning confidently 18-5.

Asian Games light welterweight champion Daniyar Eleussinov of Kazakhstan defeated Japan’s Masatsugu Kawachi 14-4 and next meets Hungary’s Gyula Kate, the third seed, who beat Canada’s Yves Ulysse 27-17.

Asian champion Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg of Mongolia also advanced with a 20-6 win over Lyndel Marcellin of Saint Lucia.

Kazakhstan’s two-time welterweight world champion, and Asian Games winner, Serik Sapiyev outclassed Apichet Seansit of Thailand 16-7 forcing the referee to stop the bout in the second round.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Taras Shelestyuk upset 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist Carlos Banteur Suarez of Cuba, 17-15.

In the light heavyweight category Cuba team skipper Julio De La Cruz Peraza experienced few troubles against Caner Sayak of Turkey, winning 17-7 in his second-round bout.

Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazimbetov produced another upset battling into the next round in a tough bout with Asian champion Hyengkyu Kim of South Korea, winning 14-9.

In the super heavyweights, reigning champion Roberto Cammarelle of Italy, who enjoyed an opening round bye, saw off Venezuela’s Jose Payares 17-8.

China’s Zhilei Zhang, the Asian Games gold medalist, also breezed into the third round beating Joseph Parker of New Zealand 15-7.

...the champion painter

Filipina, 13, hailed best out of 600,000 in United Nations painting contest

By: Dexter R. Matilla
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

A very mature, yet simple, take on the global state of forests helped 13-year-old Trisha Co Reyes to bring home 1st Place in the 20th International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).

Reyes’ work shows a young girl parting gray curtains filled with pictures of the devastation and death brought about by floods, which, as the young artist perhaps intended, is caused by the excessive cutting of trees. Behind the curtains she sees an ideal world filled with lush greens and with animals in peaceful coexistence.

“My painting shows two sides: a good and sustainable forest, and the causes of forest destruction,” says Reyes. “Forests are essential for life on earth, but [today] the destruction of the forest has become a worldwide problem. We must treasure the earth’s greatest biological treasure, so that we will always have forests in our lives.”

Reyes, who aspires to be a pediatrician, adds it is her love for walking through the forests that served as her inspiration, and she hopes people would start planting trees and appreciate the value of forests so that in the future her “little patients will enjoy the good health” she wants them to have.

This year is also declared by Unep as the International Year of Forests and Reyes says it is a noble cause that makes people aware of the need to preserve the forest before it is totally destroyed.

“Through art, children like me can express our stand to help save our forests,” Reyes says. “Because forests are essential for life on earth, they give us shade and shelter, medicines, refuge and refreshment, clean air and water.”

The student from St. Stephen’s School received $2,000 in prize money and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference on the Environment in Bandung, Indonesia, where she will formally receive her award.

The 2011 International Children’s Painting Competition, with the theme “Life in the Forests,” has seen over three-million children from some 100 countries participate by painting their hopes for the environment, damaged through the years, portraying how they hope to solve the problems that include pollution, habitat destruction, deforestation.

...the fate of Busong in Kazakshtan

‘Busong’ wins in Kazakhstan

By: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

October 2, 2011

The winning streak of Auraeus Solito’s “Busong (Palawan Fate)” continues.

The Filipino indie film has won the International Critics’ Prize from the Fipresci [International Federation of Film Critics] at the Eurasia International Film Festival, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from September 19 to 24.

“Busong” premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes fest in May and won best director at the Cinemalaya fest in Manila in July.

It was the first Fipresci honor for Solito whose debut film, “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,” won various international awards in 2005.

“I told my actor Dax Alejandro that I’ve never won a Fipresci before. I wished for this award and the universe gave it to me,” Solito told Inquirer Entertainment via e-mail.

In his acceptance speech, he thanked the critics “for honoring my tribe’s stories. This is the first Palawan indigenous film. I would like to thank the guiding spirit of my shaman ancestors.”

The film, which topbills Alessandra de Rossi as a maiden afflicted with a mysterious illness, depicts legends from the director’s home province of Palawan.

Solito said that the Fipresci jury was headed by Russian critic and TV host Andrei Shemiakin. Other members of the jury were critics Salome Kikaleishvili of Georgia and Oleksii Pershko of Ukraine.

According to the fest’s website, Hollywood actresses Sigourney Weaver and Nastassja Kinski attended the Central Asian festival.

“I wasn’t able to attend the festival, but I’ve been praying for our movie. It has a beautiful message about nature that the world needs to hear,” De Rossi told Inquirer Entertainment.

“Busong” will also be screened in the Hawaii, Mill Valley and Brussels fests.