...the earthly beauties

PH bet finishes 3rd in Miss Earth 2011

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 12/04/2011

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ candidate Athena Imperial finished third place at the 2011 Miss Earth beauty pageant held on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Imperial, a native of Casiguran, Aurora, was crowned Miss Water (equivalent to second runner-up).



Imperial was joined by Olga Alava from Ecuador, Brazil’s Drielly Bennettone, and Venezuela’s Caroline Medina in the top 4.

Alava was crowned Miss Earth 2011 by India’s Nicole Faria, Miss Earth 2010 winner.

Brazil’s Drielly Bennettone won Miss Air while Venezuela’s Caroline Medina was named Miss Fire.

The coronation night was held at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

...the tribute

Viral OFW video leaves viewers in tears

INQUIRER.net

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

 

MANILA, Philippines—Raymond Marc tries to fight off tears as he watches a short video on YouTube. He failed.

“Coke has made me cry,” he posts on his Facebook account after watching the 4:27-minute “tearjerker” video of Coca-Cola that is now going viral on the internet.

His Facebook friend, Albert Madrigal, admits to being touched, too, by the short film.

“I cried. I could feel the message of the ad,” said Madrigal, a former University of the Philippines Los Baños professor who now works in Italy.

The video features three overseas Filipino workers: Joe Marie Ballon, Leonie Villanueva, Joey Doble.

Like many of the 11 million Filipinos trying their luck abroad, the three are hardworking OFWs who battle loneliness overseas to give their families back home a better life.

Ballon, an X-ray technologist, has been working overseas  for five years. And for him being away from his family is the most difficult part.

Leonie Villanueva

“I haven’t been home in a long time because my father got sick. He’s almost blind now,” says Ballon.

“Instead of spending for the ticket home, I would rather send him money to buy medicine."

 

 

Villanueva, a caregiver, has for nine years been fighting off the strong urge to fly back home and be with her children.

“I can’t go home, no matter how much I want to. I have house amortization bills to pay every month and all my children are depending on me,” she says.

“Even when I’m sick, I would force myself to go to work,” she adds.

Doble, meanwhile, left their family home in Pampanga when his youngest son was just one year old. That was  11 years ago.

“It can get very sad. I’m all alone here,” says Doble.

But Coke, through its Coca-Cola Where Will Happiness Strike Next: The OFW Project, gives the three a Christmas gift that left them in tears, but happy.

Watch the video and you’ll understand why.

...the Athlete of the Year nominees

Pacquiao nominated as USSA 'Athlete of the Year'

abs-cbnNEWS.com

12/03/2011

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is among the 12 nominees for the United States Sports Academy's (USSA) 2011 Male Athlete of the Year.

Philboxing.com reported that Pacquiao was nominated together with David Beckham (soccer), Patrick Chan (figure skating), Novak Djokovic (tennis), Kirani James (track and field), Ryan Lochte (swimming), Rory McIlroy (golf), Geoffrey Mutai (marathon), Dirk Nowitzki (basketball), Aaron Rodgers (football), Kohei Uchimura (gymnastics) and Justin Verlander (baseball).

The annual awarding rites, which also recognize a female athlete, are held in cooperation with USA Today and NBC Sports.

The 12 nominees for USSA’s “Female Athlete of the Year” are Miki Ando (figure skating), Seimone Augustus (basketball), Tatyana Chernova (track and field), Kim Clijsters (tennis), English Gardner (college track and field), Carmelita Jeter (track and field), Li Na (tennis), Federica Pellegrini (swimming), Yani Tseng (golf), Lindsey Vonn (skiing), Jordyn Wieber (gymnastics) and Chrissie Wellington (triathlon).

...the hard earned money

Migrant remittances top $350bn—World Bank

Agence France-Presse
via Phil. Daily Inquirer

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

The Philippines is fourth largest recipient of remittances in the world for  2011 with est. $23 billion


GENEVA—Migrant workers from developing countries will have sent home more than $350 billion in remittances by the end of this year, a World Bank report said Friday.

The figure tops $400 billion for 2011 if money sent to high-income countries is included, said the report, released during the fifth meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva.

The top recipients of officially recorded remittances were India, which took in $58 billion, followed by China ($57 billion), Mexico ($24 billion) and the Philippines ($23 billion).

Other top beneficiaries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Egypt and Lebanon.

“Despite the global economic crisis… remittance flows to developing countries have remained resilient, posting an estimated growth of 8 percent in 2011,” said Hans Timmer, director of the bank’s Development Prospects Group.

“Remittance flows to all developing regions have grown this year, for the first time since the financial crisis.”


The World Bank expects a 7.3 percent rise in such payments in 2012 and a 7.9 percent increase in 2013.

The two-day Global Forum meeting — attended by 160 nations and 30 groups — was opened Thursday by Swiss minister Simonetta Sommaruga, who called for stronger international collaboration in asylum policy.

The body was set up in 2006 by then UN secretary general Kofi Annan to strengthen cooperation between migrants’ countries of origin, transit and destination.

...the Asia's top player

Juvic is Asia's top player

 

 

By DING MARCELO

Manila Bulletin

December 2, 2011

 

 

Juvic Pagunsan makes history by winning the Asian Order of Merit crown.

HONG KONG — Juvic Pagunsan woke up Friday and a chill ran down his spine, literally.
"Ang ginaw," he said as temperature hit the 15 degrees Centigrade in one of the earliest winter weather arrivals in this bustling city.

But inside, it was warm for Pagunsan who insured his weekend stint at the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling after a second round even par 70 and, for all intents and purposes, is now the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.

His ascension as Asia's best was helped in no small measure by the meltdown of his closest challenger, India's SP Chowrasia, who bombed out with a two-round total of five-over par 145, and missed the cut.

Told that Chowrasia missed the cut, Pagunsan said he was happy but that will not stop him playing the last stop of the Asian Tour.

"Maganda laro kaya dapat I should grab the opportunity," he said.

Indeed, the Filipino, who also captured the local tour's Order of Merit title last week despite sitting out the last three events to serve a tour-imposed suspension, has been playing very well, his season marked by a second place finish in the Singapore Open where he banked over $600,000 (about P28 million).

He may not go anywhere near that payday, but his lead in the Order of Merit is likely to increase further although that would be unnecessary since the challenge has faded.

His par 70 enabled him to be in the mix as he stayed within five shots of the clubhouse leader after two rounds of the $2.7-million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

His 36-hole total of 138 put him tied for 10th at the moment although that may change as half of the field, led by Rory McIlroy, are still out on the course.

"Mas maganda sana laro," said Pagunsan. He said he squandered his two-under-par round with a three-put bogey on the 14th and after missing a five-footer or par on the 18th. He also bogeyed the sixth after missing the green.

His birdies, all inside 17 feet, were at the fourth, 10th and 11th holes.

He blamed the weather for his up-and-down round as he wore a long-sleeved sweater throughout while most Europeans were in warm-weather attire.

"Maginaw," he said. "Ang hirap mag-putt kasi halos di mo maramdaman yung putter.

Still, the Filipino No. 1 took care of his group, beating three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (70-71) who is on the cutline at one-over.

The other player in his group, Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, was also one-over after 36 holes.

Antonio Lascuna fired his second straight 72 and at 144 may be headed home, while Mars Pucay is still out on the course and battling to stay for the weekend.

But that's more than enough to secure him a weekend stint and further consolidation of his Asian Tour Order of Merit lead which is being challenged by India's SP Chowrasia.

But Chowrasia's chase may have come to an inglorious end here after he finished five over after 36 holes and missed the cut.

...the international singing sensation

Charice to appear on CNN’s 'Talk Asia'

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 12/01/2011

 

 

Charice Pempengco. File Photo

MANILA, Philippines – International singing sensation Charice is set to appear on CNN’s “Talk Asia” on Friday to talk about her humble beginnings and her journey to success.

The interview was done by CNN correspondent Anna Coren before Charice’s dad was stabbed dead last November 1 in Laguna province.

Charice said life was not easy growing up in a not so well-off and broken family.


Charice’s mom left her father years ago, bringing her and her brother along.


“Well, it was really a tough life, not really easy. My mom’s a single mom and she used to be my vocal coach and I really admire her. She’s definitely my inspiration and I look up to her a lot. I mean I decided to be a singer because of her. It was a tough life before but now this whole thing that happened to me really helped me a lot,” she said.

Charice said she had to join singing contests early on to help her mom financially.

“I told my mom to stop working because it was really hard. By the age of six, I was cooking rice and some stuff for my little brother. I was giving him the milk and everything… Every time I did all the singing contests and it was horrible,” she said.

“You start from 10 p.m. in the night and you finish at 7 a.m. in the morning and I had to go to school. She used to cry and she told me to stop and I said 'no' because that was the only way we could get a lot of money from it. I really sacrificed everything but at the same time, it felt great and it was worth it. Seeing my mom’s face every time I won made me feel great,” Charice added.

Charice also said she still gets overwhelmed by the turn of events in her life. She, however, believes she is still the simple girl she used to be.

“Yes. Yes I still get overwhelmed. It happened so fast but at the same time, I worked hard for it and I’m still working hard for it... For me, I’m still me. But, of course, my life has changed a lot. From the hard life, from a really tough life and now, I actually gave stuff that I really wanted to give to my mom,” she said.

The rest of Charice’s interview with “Talk Asia” will be available online at http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/ after the interview premieres on December 2 at 6:30 p.m., and on December 3 at 9:00 p.m. on CNN.

---

...the solar bulbs

Philippines goes for solar bulbs record

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

 

 

The Philippines is on its way to set a Guinness world record as civic groups, led by the Rotary Club District 3830 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), installed more than 11,000 solar bulbs in 30 communities in Metro Manila in one day.

 

The goal was to light 10,000 homes in low-income communities in Metro Manila Wednesday.

Shelly Lazaro, president of Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo and the overall project manager, said the groups were able to install 11,300 solar bulb devices.

The number has to be independently audited by Guinness Book of Records representatives who were on hand during the daylong event.

“We are aiming for the largest grassroots green-lighting program in the world,” Lazaro said.

She said this was done in Brazil a few years back with 3,000 solar bulbs installed in a day.

“For the Rotary, the record is just the icing on the cake. Our aim is community service,” she said.

While solar bulb technology is simple and inexpensive, it has a huge impact on the lives of those who live in slum communities.



Water, bleach

The device calls for an empty 1.5-liter plastic soda bottle which is filled with a liter of water and a proportionate amount of bleach.

The plastic bottle is fitted in a metal sheet, placed in a hole on the roof, so that it can take in light during the day.

The gadget can light a darkened room like a 60-watt bulb does. It can last up to five years before the water has to be changed.

Lazaro recalled that when her group introduced the device at a barangay in San Juan City, a woman cried upon seeing the solar bulb work.

The woman said that with enough light in the room, her children no longer had to go out in the streets to read.


Huge impact
“It’s a very simple technology with a huge impact,” Lazaro said.

The inexpensive and ecofriendly device works not only for darkened rooms in slum areas but also for small grocery stores, public market stalls and even warehouses that need lighting.

Using the solar bulb also reduces the fire hazard from the use of lighted candles and gas lamps.

All 77 clubs under Rotary District 3830 were involved in the project. They provided the materials while the AFP provided the manpower and vehicles.

The project also involved My Shelter Foundation which provided the technology, as well as One Meralco Foundation and local government units.

My Shelter Foundation is led by Illac Diaz, who was part of the group of students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which came up with the device.


Simultaneous

The solar bulbs were installed simultaneously yesterday in tne cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela and Quezon City.

“It is bayanihan spirit at its best,” said Lt. Col. Samuel Sagun, head of the AFP Civil Relations Service’s 7th Civil Relations Group.

Sagun said the group’s target was to bring the technology to far-flung communities which soldiers can reach.

Their aim next year is to install 107,000 solar bulbs nationwide when Rotary Global marks its 107th anniversary in February, according to Lazaro. “Ultimately my goal is to bring this global,” she said.

Climate change summit

What began as a small-scale effort in a Manila slum early this year has quickly spread throughout the Philippines and even to impoverished communities in Colombia, India and Vanuatu.

It has also earned Diaz accolades from the United Nations, which will bring him to its climate change summit in South Africa next week to show world leaders how “solar light bottles” are helping to tackle global warming.

“This has blown us away,” Diaz told Agence France Presse of the international reaction to the project that is in part due to a powerful YouTube clip and smart use of social media sites such as Facebook.

“Our original concept was just a Philippine project. We didn’t think it was going to be possible to do it on this scale,” he said.

Diaz said another 100,000 would be installed in Cebu province in December, putting the project on track to meet or exceed its goals of helping one million people over 12 months.

“This is a grass-roots revolution, a people-powered revolution, using simple and low-cost technologies,” he said.



Opposite of Gore’s model


Diaz described the bottle concept as the opposite of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth model, which he said required poor countries to import or develop clean energy technologies such as windmills and solar panels.
“These are expensive and not a lot of people… actually benefit from them,” he said.

“So instead of going high-tech, high-specialty, why not go with something that could be done by hand and cheaply, but could be replicated thousands or millions of times. You can affect more people, save more carbon,” he said.

Diaz said each solar light bottle each year saved 17 kilograms of carbon dioxide, one of the gases that causes global warming, compared with a household using an electric light bulb.

“If you multiply that by a million bottles, that will save more carbon than one huge windmill which costs more to run.”


Savings


In the San Pedro slum community on the outskirts of Manila where the project started, residents think not about the climate but of the extra light they enjoy during the day without having to use an expensive electric bulb.

Many of the slum houses are dark even during the brightest days, with few windows in the concrete or corrugated iron walls to let the daylight in.

Monico Albao, 46, has five solar bottles installed into the corrugated roof of his tiny home that he shares with his 22-year-old daughter, her bus conductor husband and a two-month-old grandson.

“My electricity costs have halved. The money we save, we spend on food and clothes for my grandson,” said Albao. With a report from AFP

...the coins

Philippines gathers coins to set new world record

Agence France-Presse

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

 

Volunteers arrange coins during an attempt to break the world record of the longest line of coins at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Thursday, as part of BAngko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ project dubbed, the "power of small change". NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine civic groups and charities lined up almost 73 kilometers (45 miles) of coins on Wednesday in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record and build schools for the poor.

The project, which aimed to set a new record for the longest line of single-denomination coins, received a better response than anticipated with families thronging Manila’s Quirino Grandstand to donate their coins.

While it will take time to get the official certification from Guinness World Records, organizer Paul Chan said the Philippines had clearly toppled the old record of 64.88 kilometers of pennies set in Fort Scott, Kansas in 2008.

“Unofficially, we have received nearly 73 kilometers of coins already but we cannot state that officially unless a geodetic engineer and an architect certifies it,” as required by Guinness, said Chan.

Businesses, universities and private groups all contributed nearly 3.6 million 25-centavo denomination coins, amounting to about 912,000 pesos ($21,000), which will be used to build schools.

The project, supported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is also intended to bring more coins into circulation to ease a shortage of loose change affecting many businesses, organizers said.

...the increase of tourists

Aquino cites increasing tourist arrivals, hopes for more in holidays

 

 

 

By GENALYN D. KABILING
Manila Bulletin

November 30, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino has hailed the 12 percent-increase in tourism arrivals this year and expressed hope that more people to visit the country especially this Christmas season.




Despite the growth in tourist arrivals, the President admitted that the Philippines is still lagging behind some neighbors in Asia in terms of tourism traffic.




The President disclosed that while 3 million people visited the Philippines, there were 32 million tourists in Malaysia and 14 million in Thailand this year.


“With the onset of the Christmas season, we expect more tourists to visit the Philippines. In the first nine months of the year, there were 2.88 million tourists in the country. This is 12 percent higher compared to the previous year,” he said in Filipino during the inauguration of a hotel in Intramuros, Manila last Tuesday.



“I hope the 12 percent increase in tourism arrivals this year will mark the start of better things ahead for the country. The private and public sector must work together to promote tourism to generate more jobs and opportunities for our countrymen,” he added.



The President said the administration has started to modernize airports and seaports as well as improve roads and bridges to entice more tourists in the country’s prime destinations.



With the reforms implemented by his administration, Aquino acknowledged that it was time to invite the world to visit the Philippines.



“Halina kayo’t dumayo sa Perlas ng Silangan; bukas ang aming pinto para inyong maranasan ang kultura, kasaysayan, at hiwagang dito sa Pilipinas lamang ninyo matutuklasan (Come and visit the Pearl of the Orient; our doors are open for you to experience the culture, history and magic of the Philippines),” he said.

...the corruption perception index

PH ranking improves in corruption index

 

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

12/01/2011

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' ranking among the world's most corrupt countries improved slightly, based on the 2011 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on Thursday.

 

The Philippines came in at 129 with a 2.6 CPI in Transparency International's list that ranks 178 countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.

This is better than the Philippines' 134th ranking in 2010 with a 2.4 CPI. The CPI score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and 10 means that a country is perceived as very clean.

“This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International, in a statement.

The Philippines 129 ranking puts it at the same level as Honduras, Dominican Republic and Syria.
But this is the Philippines' highest ranking since 2007 when it ranked 131st with a score of 2.5. In 2010 and 2009, the Philippines had a score of 2.4, showing virtually no improvement in the corruption index.

President Benigno Aquino assumed power last year on a platform of good governance and anti-corruption, and has been actively pursuing electoral sabotage and corruption cases against his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Among 35 Asia-Pacific countries in the list, the Philippines is still perceived as one of the most corrupt, ranking 25th.

Most corrupt, least corrupt

North Korea, along with Somalia, was judged as the most corrupt not just in Asia but in the world.
"There are no checks and balances in North Korea, no public accountability and total political control of the judiciary. And on top of that, civil society as we know it does not exist there," TI Managing Director Cobus de Swardt told Reuters.

Most worrying, he said, was that high levels of corruption fundamentally undermine food distribution, painting a grim picture for North Korea, where the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned of a coming "nutrition crisis".

About two thirds of countries ranked in the index this year scored 5.0 or less.

Other Asia-Pacific countries perceived as highly corrupt are Myanmar (180), Myanmar (180), Afghanistan (180), Cambodia (164), Nepal (154), Papua New Guinea (154) and Laos (154).

On the other hand, New Zealand was judged as the "least corrupt", topping the list with a 9.5 CPI. The top 5 also included Denmark (2), Finland (2), Sweden (4) and Singapore (5). - with Reuters

...the positive power

Philippines optimistic about continued economic growth next year  November 30, 2011 Philippine Star

Zoom    MANILA (Xinhua) -- The Philippine economy is expected to continue growing  next year despite warnings by some international organizations to prepare for the worst amid the economic woes in Europe, a senior government official said on Wednesday.     Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that the country's fiscal situation right low is prudent and it managed to avoid pitfalls that other economies have experienced.     "Our banks have been very prudent in their practices. Our government has not piled on debts. We have been very prudent in our fiscal situation so we believe  hat domestically we are in a good situation," he said.     The Philippine economy grew 3.2 percent in the third quarter of this year, lower than the 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent growth target for this year.     But Lacierda said that with the expected passage of the 1.82- trillion-peso (41.5 billion U.S. dollars) budget for next year, infrastructure spending is expected  to increase.     He said that other public-private partnership projects will be bidded out in 2012.     International organizations, specifically the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), have urged policy- makers around the world to prepare for the worst because of the economic problem in Europe.

...the magical getaways

Time For A Getaway

By Pierra C. Labrador
Yahoo! Southeast Asia
30 November 2011

There are many romantic destinations in the country, including Palawan's magical lagoons and limestone coves

There's nothing like going on a romantic vacation to enjoy quality time, celebrate a special relationship milestone, or even rekindle the sparks with your loved one. And with the wealth of lovely local destinations, you don't even have to go too far!

Here are four highly recommended Philippine destinations for a romantic getaway.

1. Tagaytay

When you need a quick breather from Manila, Tagaytay is the place to go. Favorite date places include the idyllic Sonya's Garden (mostly vegetarian dishes, so carnivores be warned), the elegant Antonio's for an extra special occasion (call to make a reservation at mobile 0918 899 2666), or Buon Giorno at the Cliffhouse Tagaytay complex (reserve the Opium Bed—a popular spot to pop the question!).

Escape toTagaytay for a quick getaway

For an overnight stay, choose from the luxe Discovery Country Suites, the chic The Boutique Bed & Breakfast, the tranquil T House, the quaint Sonya's Bed & Breakfast, or the family favorite Taal Vista Lodge. If you're into wellness, enjoy a cleansing weekend with your sweetheart at the Nurture Spa Village (though you might want to skip the colonics and go straight to the couple's massage).

2. Baguio

There's something about cool weather that just makes you want to snuggle. If you haven't been back to Baguio since childhood, it's time to traverse the zig-zag road with your significant other. Don't be thrown off by the giant SM mall and the throng of people flooding Session Road; promise, your favorite quaint nooks and crannies still exist, as well as some charming new spots.

 

The wooden boats await tourists at the Burnham Lagoon

 

Stroll along Burnham Park, order a cup of hot chocolate at Café By The Ruins, have a photo op and shop for souvenirs at Mines View Park, browse some good reads while having coffee or beer at the literary haven Mt. Cloud Bookshop. Relatively new spots to discover include the must-see BenCab museum, Hill Station Tapas Bar & Restaurant, and Mother's Garden for lovers of flowers and organic food. Stay at the cozy, newly-refurbished Casa Vallejo boutique hotel or the stately yet homey The Manor at Camp John Hay. And don't forget to take home the famous Palaganas Bakery raisin bread at 99 Scout Barrio, just beyond Camp John Hay's Loakan gate.

3. Bohol

Touted as the "quiet Boracay," Bohol offers lovely white-sand beaches, famous tourist spots, heritage sites, and hospitable people. Most of the beach-front resorts are located in Panglao, including the exclusive Eskaya, the charming Amorita, and the good old Bohol Beach Club.

Find white sand beaches in the province of Bohol

Visit the Baclayon Tourist Information and Activity Center and go on a dolphin-watching tour. When in Bohol, you must also do the tourist round—have a kooky photo op at the Chocolate Hills, be serenaded while enjoying the Loboc River Cruise, visit adorable endangered creatures at Corella tarsier sanctuary, and visit historic churches, including the Baclayon Church, where, if you squint hard enough, you can make out the image of Padre Pio that has mysteriously formed on its outer wall (the island of Bohol is quite small, so you can do all these in a day). And, for a romantic date, treat yourselves to the spa at the hilltop Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa, then indulge in its decadent European cuisine, fine wine and rare cigars.

4. Palawan

For the ultimate romantic getaway, head off to Palawan. Even jaded jetsetters are awed by the breathtaking beauty of its dramatic limestone cliffs, virgin islands, and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recently declared one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World."

Palawan is quite large, however, so you'll have to decide what kind of getaway you want. Honda Bay and Sabang Island are known for their diving and island hopping tours, and Coron for their wreck diving, but for honeymooners, it's El Nido hands down. There are affordable accommodations in town, but if you're going to go for broke, choose from the posh Lagen or the charming coastal village-inspired Miniloc island resorts (elnidoresorts.com). Both set in gorgeous limestone coves against lush forests. Don't miss kayaking in the magical lagoons for an unforgettable experience.

...The SM empire

SM receives Retail Asia's Hall of Fame award

November 28, 2011

Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — The SM Retail Group was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of Retail Asia’s Asia Pacific Top 500 Awards during a gala dinner in Singapore, highlighting its leadership not only in the Philippines, but also in the Asia-Pacific region.

Considered the pinnacle of the Top 500 Awards, the distinction of being inducted into the Hall of Fame is given to retailers who have been awarded the Best of the Best Award over three consecutive years.

Spearheaded by Retail Asia, the prestigious Singapore–based magazine, the Top 500 ranks retailers in 14 Asia-Pacific economies on sales turnover and sales productivity. This includes retailers from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Drawing from Euromonitor International’s research and analysis of the retail industry around the world, analysts in the 14 Asia-Pacific economies featured did research for the 2011 edition. The ranking continues to highlight companies that have become the movers and shakers in the region’s retail sector.

The Best of the Best Award is presented to a select group of retailers who rank among the top three in their respective market, and whom an independent jury has assessed as the crème de la crème among their peers.

During the same event, SM received its Gold Award as the Philippines’ top retailer for the eighth year in a row.

“These are retailers whose sales turnover and productivity and sales performance have been superlative in their respective niches, and whose performance towers over industry norms,” says Steven HL Goh, Executive Chairman of Retail Asia Publishing. “We are proud to salute their performance and present them accolades for their achievement.”

As a Gold Awardee, SM is among the Asia-Pacific retailers who have “retained their respective exalted position on account of their business volume and market leadership.”

SM’s aggressive mall expansion program has allowed it to open more stores and communities outside the Metro. “Having pioneered bringing world class shopping extensively around the Philippines, we have become part of the communities we serve,” says SM Investments Vice Chairman Tessie Sy Coson.

....the sexiest men of 2011

Pacquiao among world's sexiest men of 2011

abs-cbnNEWS.com

11/28/2011

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is on the list of Salon.com's world's sexiest men in 2011.  

The Sarangani congressman, who narrowly defeated Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in their third bout, expressed surprise at being included on the list.

Pacquiao believes that it is not just because of his looks but also because of his pleasant attitude and friendliness.

Salon.com said Pacquiao's "blood lust and killer instinct... has served the world’s greatest boxer well in 59 fights."

"But outside the ring, the boxer — with the Bieber-esque moptop — has an ability to croon romantic ballads that's just as deadly," it added.

"It’s unlikely for a man with ferocious fists to know his way around a love song. But even hotter? Pacquiao has a humanitarian side that hasn’t been seen in any boxer since Muhammad Ali. In his native Philippines, Pacquiao is considered the greatest national icon in the world (beating out Nelson Mandela, including all others).

"That might be national pride talking, but Pacquiao — elected to the Filipino Congress in 2010 on his second try — has quickly built a humanitarian record that’s every bit as impressive as his collection of championship belts," the US news and entertainment website said.

"He’s used his platform to push for good works; instead of bad-mouthing opponents in the run-up to a fight, he urges the audience to wear yellow to call attention to the fight against global poverty. When he gets an audience with Sen. Harry Reid before a fight, he uses it to lobby for a bill that would help the garment industry, and in turn, his fellow countrymen," it added.

Salon.com also praised Pacquiao's humanitarian work.

"At home in Congress, he’s taken on typhoon relief, improving medical conditions and raising literacy rates.

What he can’t achieve politically, Pacquiao handles himself, donating millions to improve living conditions in his poverty-stricken nation," it said.

"It's one thing to be humble and universally adored. It’s something else to put all that personal magnetism on the line to do something more than sell sneakers or collect endorsements. And these days, nothing makes you look good like doing good," it added. - with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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...the UN development perspective

UN to invest  $375.7M for PHL development

GMA News
28 November 2011

The United Nations and the Philippine government on Monday launched the UN Development Assistance Framework or UNDAF under which $375.7 million will be allotted to help national and local agencies strengthen their capacities to deliver social services.  

“This is a statement of commitment by the UN to align the Organization’s development initiatives with the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016, which is the national government’s blueprint for inclusive growth,” the US said in a statement citing UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Jacqueline Badcock.  

The UNDAF serves as a framework for the UN Country Team (UNCT) in the Philippines in its strategic responses to the development priorities of the country, the UN said.

    “… [T]he UNDAF 2012-2018 is partnership-based, and will be implemented in accordance with the UN philosophy of ‘Delivering As One,” Badcock. 'Cost-effective impact'   This means all 25 UN agencies operating in the Philippines will converge “their respective programs when possible to have a greater, more cost-effective impact,” the UN said. 

 Under the seven-year UNDAF program, which starts next year, $147.2 million in development assistance will be used to strengthen capacities of national and local agencies to deliver quality social services for the poor.  

Also, $46.5 million will be used to generate employment through sustained and “green” growth.   For governance, the UNDAF is giving $67.2 million and $114.8 million to “strengthen national and local resilience to climate change, threats, and disasters.”  

To fund the development aid package, the US said it will source $79 million from regular UN sources and the rest from other sources.   Badcock and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Cayetano Paderanga Jr. signed the 2012-2018 UNDAF on July 21, 2011. — VS, GMA News 

...the Pinoy acoustic wave goes Asian

Sabrina gains following in other Asian countries The Philippine Star November 28, 2011 By Nathalie Tomada

Sabrina releases I Love Acoustic 4 album under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines)| Zoom

MANILA, Philippines - Count Sabrina in among the Pinoy artists gaining fans in other Southeast Asian countries.

The acoustic singer’s I Love Acoustic album series under the recording label MCA Music, Inc., was released not just in the country, but also in other parts of Asia.

The first of the series, which came out in 2007 when she was only 18, was certified Gold in Thailand and Double Platinum in Indonesia. This spawned a follow-up record, I Love Acoustic Too, which again became certified Gold in Thailand, Double Platinum in Indonesia and did very well in Singapore. The third acoustic album turned Platinum in Indonesia and charted well in other Asian territories.

And she’s in good company: The Pinoy music artists who have enjoyed popularity if not released albums in other Asian countries include Christian Bautista, Rico Blanco, Jed Madela, Aiza Seguerra and of course, Charice.

“It’s very humbling to experience the appreciation of people from other countries,” says the now 21-year-old Sabrina.

Sometime mid of this year, she flew to Indonesia to meet her fans there for the first time. She also became a cover girl for the Indonesian glossy Eve and graced other mags like Cosmogirl. She recently went back to sing in a high-profile wedding. Indonesian fanpages have also been put up for her. “Lahat ng mga ka-tweet ko mga halos Indonesian. Ang laki ng support group ko dun,” she adds.

Sabrina also has a couple of Thai fanpages. “Sa Thailand kasi nag-No. 1 yung songs ko,” she explains.

Meanwhile, Sabrina will be returning to Singapore end of this year, as a follow-up to her successful promo tour late last year.

“I love it so much even if (a promo tour abroad) can be so toxic. I think the best thing about it is that I learn about other people’s cultures, including their fashion and food,” she says.

Sabrina has released the fourth installment of the series dubbed I Love Acoustic 4 and will be available in other countries. The album boasts of her interpretations of such international hits as Price Tag, Who Says, Edge of Glory, On The Floor, Moves Like Jagger, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), California King Bed, Hold It Against Me, Rolling In The Deep, The Lazy Song, Back To December, That Should Be Me, Marry Me and Rocketeer. On its first week of release last month, it went straight to No. 1 of Astroplus’ OPM and international album charts.

Sabrina says that among all the records in the I Love Acoustic series, the latest collection is which she can relate the most, it being a “clearer expression of who I am today, a girl slowly turning into a woman.”

The album also showcases a duet with Indonesian crooner Calvin Jeremy for a cover of Just The Way You Are and with Richard Poon for a version of the Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat track Lucky.Sabrina, who was named Female Acoustic Artist of the Year in last month’s Star Awards for Music, doesn’t mind if there are impressions of her being more recognized in other places, rather than in her home country. In the same way, she is positive that even if there is a general perception that the acoustic scene is not as alive as before, the genre is here to stay because “soothing and mellow music” will always have its slice of the music-loving market.

“What I love about acoustic is the emotions it brings to its listeners. It’s soothing to the ears and very mellow,” says Sabrina.

Her albums are all covers and fresh arrangements of hit foreign songs, but she hopes she gets to sing original compositions someday.

Born Roli Alexandra Orial, Sabrina is a Communication Arts graduate, cum laude, from University of the Philippines Los Baños. She grew up in a very musical household. Her father used to be a folk singer and she once formed part of a performing trio with her older brother and sister. In one of her gigs with her siblings, she was discovered by MCA Philippines executives, who let her grow up a bit and signed her up two years later when she turned 18. Bossa Nova was her first genre, but MCA big bosses deemed it more age-appropriate for her to sing acoustic numbers.

Sabrina says, “My family is very supportive and happy that I pursued music because this is also their dream.”

...the cheer givers

PH places 3rd in world cheerleading tilt

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abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/28/2011


MANILA, Philippines -(1st UPDATE) Team Philippines, headed by the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, made a splash in the 6th Cheerleading World Championships in Hong Kong, placing third in the Cheer Mixed category.

Team PH finished just behind traditional cheerleading powerhouse Japan and Thailand, and bested squads from Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Germany and China.

Joining the UP Pep Squad were members of the Centro Escolar University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines pep squads.

It was the first time that the Philippines had performed in the biennial event, held this year at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

UP Art Studies professor Eloi Hernandez, who accompanied the squad to Hong Kong, said the Pep Squad had a "perfect run" in the cheer mixed category.

The UP Pep Squad also participated in the cheer dance, group stunts, and partner stunts categories.

The UP Pep Squad was sent to the World Championships after winning the 2011 UAAP Cheer Dance Competition last September.

The PUP and CEU cheering squads also particpated in the all-female category of the world championships.

...the booming property market

2011 ASSESSMENT

BPO demand high, top developers in construction ‘frenzy’

By: Tessa R. Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Friday, November 25th, 2011

 

THE PROPERTY sector’s strength was focused on the vertical developments and the BPOs and the emergence of new growth centers.

Exactly 35 days before 2011 bids adieu, Inquirer Property has asked analysts to assess the performance of the Philippine real estate industry in 2011. Their unanimous reply:

It has been a banner year for the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

The mid-income condo development is in the midst of a “construction frenzy.”

The demand for spaces in the Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas central business districts was even higher this year compared to last year.

The emerging growth centers like Eastwood and Bonifacio Global City have “arrived” this year.

Leading global real estate services company Colliers International, which claims its research team had been tracking all the residential condominium developments in Metro Manila since 2008, said that in 2010 preselling activities were able to sell 36,000 units, and that in 2011 that number is projected to be surpassed by more than 11 percent to breach the 40,000 units sold mark.

This was revealed by Paul Vincent Chua, associate director for valuation and advisory services and head of consultancy and research.

Top 5

“There are a lot of developers who performed well this year, however, in terms of condominium units sold in Metro Manila, SM Development Corp. remains to be number one. The top five include developers Ayala Land Inc., Century Properties, DMCI and Megaworld,” said Chua.

Enrique Soriano, professor at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and senior adviser at Wong+Bernstein Business Advisory, also cited Megaworld, ALI, SMDC and Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) as the top-performing developers in 2011.

Soriano also added that the property sector in 2011 “was single-handledly fueled by private initiatives.”

Soriano also observed “no movement in the high-end condominium segment, and aggressive construction frenzy in the mid-income condo segment representing 80 percent of all residential developments in 2011.”

4% vacancies

Chua said that in terms of commercial space uptake, the demand from the BPO sector is still remarkably high.
“If you look at vacancies in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Ortigas, the average vacancy for the third quarter is now less than 4 percent compared to the same period last year, which had an average vacancy rate of more than 6 percent. Even with the (addition of a) number of planned office developments in the next couple of years, we expect vacancies to remain low as the demands for these spaces are still very high.”

Soriano said the industry’s strength was “focused on the vertical developments and the BPOs and the emergence of new growth centers following the success of Eastwood and BGC.”

But have there been any downsides to this year’s flurry of developments? “The singular focus on the mid-income segment, and neglecting other asset classes,” replied Soriano. He reasoned, however, that the property sector was just keeping up with “unmet demand, fueled by buyer demand, especially (from) overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and overseas Filipino expats (OFEs).

Morale booster

The positive analyses for 2011 and the strength of the Philippine real estate industry this year come as a morale booster, coming at a time when the city of Manila has recently been tagged as “below fair” to “abysmal” by foreign investors in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2011 survey conducted by the Urban Land Institute.

Global real estate investors, who participated in the survey, gave Manila a score of 4.56 points out of a possible 9. Topping the survey in the Asia-Pacific region was Singapore with a score of 5.96 points, followed by Shanghai with 5.87, Mumbai with 5.79 and Hong Kong with 5.70.

Chua countered that the Philippines has been one of the few countries in Asia where foreign land ownership is limited to 40 percent. He urged the sector to look at the brighter side, particularly the lower rental rates compared to other Asia-Pacific countries.

He pointed out that for the office sector alone, with 25 Asia-Pacific cities covered by Colliers International, Makati City offers the third lowest rent, ranking No. 22 on the list with an average net rent of $21.48/square feet. The city that commands the highest rent, Hong Kong, has an average net rent of $185.91/square feet.

Looking at the capitalization rate or prime yield of these cities, Makati ranked second with 9.77 percent, following topnotcher Mumbai with 10.6 percent.

Soriano said the low ranking was a wake-up call, and that the Real Estate Investment Trust law must now be implemented in the country, citing Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia significantly benefiting from REIT. He added that implementing REIT would open more opportunities for investment.

...the future of Manila

Green Architrends

What will Metro Manila be like in 2030?

By: Amado de Jesus
Philippine Daily Inquirer

November 25th, 2011

 

MELBOURNE was judged in August 2011 as the most livable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit considering availability of goods and services, low personal risk and an effective infrastructure.umagoya.net

What will Metro Manila be like 19 years from now? How will it deal with natural disasters, especially those brought about by climate change? What will be the sources of energy? Will transportation problems be solved by then?  How will it handle corruption? How about the environment?

These are some of the issues discussed recently during a series of workshops titled “The Asia City Innovation System Project” or CIS-ASIA. The project aims to document, analyze and forecast the social issues that threaten the development and growth of cities more specifically in Southeast Asia.

CIS-ASIA was collaborated by six major Asean cities, namely: Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore, and seeks to document, analyze and forecast major urban issues that will lead to city innovations for a more livable, prosperous and equitable city living.

The consultation process conducted through workshops included stakeholders representing the academe, industry and government.

Rapid urbanization

The world faces rapid urbanization as the United Nations reports that the world population is seen to be 69 percent urban in 2050. The greater percentage of increase in the urban population is concentrated in cities and towns of less developed economies.

This trend in urbanization led to the formation of megacities like Metro Manila. Megacities have more than 10 million in population.

In 2025, the same report predicted that more than half of the world’s 20 megacities will be in Asia including Manila and Jakarta in Southeast Asia.

This speedy migration of people to the city imposes strain on resources and creates social problems on housing, environment, transportation system, health and sanitation, and peace and order.

The Philippines, is described as a newly industrialized economy and the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia. According to the World Economic Forum 2010, it is classified as a factor driven economy, ranked 85 out of 139 countries for global competitiveness.

Young population

The gold mine is our young population. Philippine population is young with 34.6 percent in age group 0-14 years, 61.1 percent in 15-64 years age group and 4.3 percent for 65 years and above.

This is in stark contrast to Norway for example where the average age today is 57 years old. In France, the average age is 39. This has given rise to the terms greying and shrinking cities in many discussions regarding future cities.

The project came up with 3 scenarios in 2030 based on current trends and present situation in the city.

Future scenarios

Mobility in the city will be improved with more roads and means of transportation through the build-operate-transfer scheme of the government.

Most schools will be privately owned so literacy will be maintained and quality of education will be dictated by competitive forces. The public school system will require mandatory enrolment of students up to age 16.

 Unabated unemployment will encourage the youth to be entrepreneurs rather than employees.

Unemployment will continue to rise since no effective programs have been instituted by the government. More people will try to find employment outside the country.

Current research will give rise to city farming and hydroponics technology in plants. Online business and transactions will be the norm.

...the Pinoy youth in Abu Dhabi Robot Olympiad

Three Pinoy kids make a splash at the World Robot Olympiad

By Sheila Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

 

 

 

From Nov. 18 to 20, three teenage boys aspiring to be robotics engineers trekked to Abu Dhabi to compete in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO). It was a much-awaited trip for the boys, who put in hours upon hours of whatever spare time they had left after school, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays, in preparation for the competition.

 

All that hard work paid off as teammates Lucas Ramos, Cristian Ayala and Rom Villarica had a truly unforgettable experience, bonding not only among themselves, but also with kindred spirits from around the world. Geeky as it may sound, they found themselves among peers who shared a passion for building Lego robots and for NXT programming.

Much to their surprise, on their first day at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec), Lucas, Cris and Rom were welcomed by the “rock stars” of the robotics world—Daniele Benedettelli and his Cyclops, Marc-Andre Bazergui and his Wall-E, David Gilday and Mike Dobson and their current Guinness World Record holder CubeStormer II, to name a few. All under one roof, face-to-face, with hands-on demonstrations of what their revered robotic inventions could do.

There was nothing more satisfying than seeing these students interact with their gurus, those truly credited for thinking out of the box and into the future, imagining a community where robots interacted with and assisted

humans in daily functions.


Rock stars


Benedettelli is a world-famous young Italian robotics engineer. His robots have been viewed more than three million times on his YouTube videos. He has written two best-selling books, which feature full building instructions of his robots. He is the first to build the Rubik’s cube solver Rubik Utopia.

In WRO, Benedettelli showcased Cyclops, a complex robot that could walk and turn smoothly, gesticulate, talk, understand natural speech and interact with people by detecting faces and gestures. Truly, it was an honor for the boys that Benedettelli came and sat to watch Lucas, Cris and Rom present their robots.

And then there was Bazergui, a Canadian IT specialist who created one of the more popular robots featured in the WRO. His robot is inspired by and carries the same moniker as the well-loved animated robot Wall-E. Marc built a 20-cm tall Wall-E that transformed from a cube to its cinematic inspiration.

This Wall-E moved around on tracks, had flexible arms and a bobbing head that featured those popular blue telescopic eyes. Lucas and his robotics coach found Bazergui online earlier this year while brainstorming on what robots they could create for the WRO competition. With a robot carrier in mind, Bazergui guided Lucas in creating the CarrierTron, simpler than Wall-E, but with its own unique functions.




Meeting and chatting with Bazergui made Lucas realize his love for building and figuring out how things moved. This certainly was the highlight of Lucas’ Abu Dhabi adventure, as he found a future mentor.

Throughout the competition, Lucas had in his pocket the two pieces of special Lego bricks Bazergui gave him.

Impressive work

Another impressive work of robotic art and a crowd favorite was CubeStormer II, created by Gilday and Dobson. Last 11-11-11, it set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time for a robot to solve a 3 x 3 x 3 Rubik’s cube, faster than the human world record. During demonstrations at the WRO, it consistently took around five seconds to solve the cube.

And, from robotic art to one robot that actually created art, Sacek’s 3D Milling Machines sculpted 3D faces and shapes with excellent precision. Such fine pieces created out of flower foam took one to two hours to create. Arthur’s machines milled different shapes over the three days that we spent at Adnec.

The possibilities are endless for what robots can be created for, and what these robotic inventions can, in turn, create. There was no better venue to be introduced to all these than at a Robot Olympiad where the minds of close to 1,500 finalists, selected from 15,000 teams from 38 countries, came together to exchange ideas and feast over each other’s creations.




Oh yes, by the way, there was a competition—almost upstaged by the Robotics Rock stars! Definitely worthy of mention is the fifth-place finish, out of 31 entries, of the team of Lucas, Cris and Rom, in the Junior High School Open Category that they competed in.

The highlight of the WRO for Cris was how the five-minute presentation of their robots to the judges was executed nearly flawlessly. Their teamwork and delivery were excellent. The buildup of pressure over the past eight months had been incredibly intense, starting in March when the boys started to plan and build their robots, increasing after they won the gold medal in the Philippine qualifying tilt in September, and intensifying upon their arrival at the gigantic Adnec to see the best robotics kids in the world, all busy getting ready for the big competition.

Global attractions

Though this competition was almost just an excuse to travel together and attend this convention, parents and brothers in tow, the boys were at the top of their game and came well-prepared. Fraser M. Smith, president of Raytheon Sarcos, dropped by to greet and watch the boys strut their stuff. It was Rom who was left in awe by this meeting, as Smith proved to him that one could be both a “hands-on” person and the president of a company.




He spoke at length with the boys about Raytheon’s many projects, including a motion-controlled robot that could lift heavy objects with ease. More notable was how Raytheon had built many robots for attractions across the globe, such as the Bellagio fountains display in Las Vegas and the robots for the Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean theme rides.

Smith handed each of the boys a business card, and it impressed Rom that he was a PhD—something Rom also aspires to be.

Smith is overseeing the creation of human exoskeletons for the US military—the real-life Ironman! Working in Raytheon would certainly be a dream job for the boys.

As Lucas, Cris and Rom made their way back home to Manila, back to school and their day-to-day homework, they now carry with them nuggets of inspiration from their experience at the Robot Olympiad, and a realization that there is a world out there where robots and their creators can thrive side by side.

Bulacan students win 4th place in World Robot Olympiad

Philippine Star

27 November 2011

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines  – A team of high school students from this province won fourth place in the annual World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held recently in Abu Dhabi.

The team from Dr. Yanga’s Colleges Inc.(DYCI) in Bocaue town also bagged the Best Technical Design Award for their robot “MAGIS,” which stands for “Man’s All-Around Global Interactive Solutions.”

The DYCI Primes robotics team is composed of Alexandra Mae Guevarra, Claire Receli Reñosa, and Chelsea Andrea Morales. Beryl Cruz is head coach while Romyr Gimeno is assistant coach.

Team members Reñosa and Morales competed for the first time, while Guevarra was part of the DYCI team that bagged the WRO championship last year.

“The competitions were tough and the competitors were very good, but we were glad that we made it to top four in the open category,” said Cruz.

Malaysia, South Africa and South Korea won the first, second and third place, respectively.

The International School of Manila won fifth place in the open category and the Philippine Science High School based in Camarines Sur, won fifth place in Robot Soccer.

Cruz said MAGIS is a robot that has a calamity tracker dog, which could detect flood. It is also has a mini-screen projector for entertainment; e-brail for the elderly who can’t read; a thermometer and blood pressure measuring device; and is also a personal savings machine.

“MAGIS was design to help man in his everyday life, that’s why it also have an amicus program which can play Tic-Tac-Toe with you and he can display happy and sad emotions,” he said.

The award is the third for DYCI in three consecutive years. In 2009, the DYCI team placed ninth in the WRO held in South Korea; and ruled the WRO held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City last year. - By Dino Balabo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)