...the National Artist in NY art exhibit

PHL National Artist BenCab featured in New York exhibit

April 20, 2013

GMA News

Philippine National Artist Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, better known for his moniker "BenCab," is among featured artists in an exhibit currently running in New York City in the US.

 

 

According to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement on Monday, BenCab is part of a special exhibit called "Visions of Iberoamerican Art: bi/Coa: 200 Years of Identity."

"The exhibit is an international presentation focusing on understanding Hispanic cultures and allowing art to connect Hispanics with other communities and former Spanish/Hispanic colonies such as the Philippines," the DFA said.

Joining BenCab are other artists such as Rodolfo Abularach of Guatemala and Fanny Sanín of Colombia in the exhibit.

The exhibit started on April 4 and is scheduled to end on April 26. The DFA noted that the exhibit in the coming months will be featured in other Instituto Cervantes branches in the US, such as in Chicago and Los Angeles.

According to the profile on his website, the multi-awarded BenCab is "hailed as a master of contemporary Philippine art."

Born in Manila on April 10, 1942, BenCab studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines and graduated in 1963.

A painter and printmaker, his works have been exhibited in the Philippines and in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

In the past 40 years, BenCab has received several honors such as:

• the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for the Arts) in 1992, the ASEAN Achievement Award for Visual & Performing Arts in the 5th ASEAN Achievement Awards in 1997, and
• the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanan Palace in 2006.

BenCab lives and works in Baguio City, where the BenCab Museum is located. The museum houses BenCab’s own works as well as those of other known and upcoming contemporary Filipino artists.

The BenCab museum is on Km. 6 Asin Road, around 15 minutes from the center of Baguio City. - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News

 

 

...the world's most positive people

Pinoys among world's most positive people

 

 

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

Zamboanga city is marketed as Asia's Latin city. One of the highlights of the Hermosa Festival is the street dance competition participated by different schools, held a day before the actual fiesta, October …more 12. Dancers are dressed in the traditional Hispanic costumes; they are seen in Flamenco dresses, Fallera dresses, ruffled skirts, butterfly sleeve, mantilla, peineta comb, barong, and sombrero cordobés. (Photo by Gael Hilotin) 

Pinoys may not be the richest based on "traditional economic indicators," but they didn't have to be rich at all to be counted among the world's most positive people, results of a new poll showed.

The Philippines was ranked 7th out of 148 countries in terms of "highest positive emotions worldwide" in a list put out by U.S. pollster Gallup.

Results of the survey, which Gallup said showed that "higher income does not necessarily mean higher well-being," are based on telephone and face-to-face interviews conducted in 2011 with 1,000 adults globally

Respondents were asked "whether they experienced a lot of enjoyment the day before the survey and whether they felt respected, well-rested, laughed and smiled a lot, and did or learned something interesting."

Despite their penchant for melancholic soap opera, the percentage of Pinoy respondents who admitted experiencing positive emotions is higher than the global average according to the survey.

This, even as Gallup noted a "relatively upbeat world," with results showing that 85 percent of total respondents worldwide felt treated with respect, 72 percent smiled and laughed a lot, 73 percent felt enjoyment and 72 percent felt well-rested.

"The only emotion that less than half of people worldwide reported experiencing was getting to learn or do something interesting the previous day, at 43 percent," Gallup said.

"Despite many global challenges, people worldwide are experiencing many positive emotions," it noted.

Latin Americans are found to be the most positive people in the world, with eight countries in the region landing in the top 10 of the list.

Panama and Paraguay shared the top spot with 85 percent of respondents admitting feeling positive emotions.

They were followed by El Salvador and Venezuela, tied at 84 percent; as well as Trinidad and Tobago and Thailand, 83 percent.

The Philippines shared the 7th spot with Guatemala.

Rounding out the top 10 in the list are Ecuador and Costa Rica, which both posted positivity scores of 81 percent.

"These data may surprise analysts and leaders who solely focus on traditional economic indicators," Gallup said.

It noted that Panama, which topped the list of countries with positive emotions, ranks 90th in the world with respect to gross domestic product per capita.

Residents of Singapore, on the other hand, which ranks 5th in the world in terms of GDP per capita, are the least likely to report positive emotions.

Singapore emerged as the country with the "least positive emotions worldwide," with less than half (46 percent) of respondents saying they experienced positive emotions.

It was followed by Armenia at 49 percent; Iraq, 50 percent; Georgia, Yemen and Serbia, 52 percent; Belarus, 53 percent; as well as Lithuania and Madagascar, 54 percent.

Sharing the 10th spot in terms of being least positive are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Togo and Macedonia, all at 55 percent.

Gallup said the survey showed that "leaders who are looking for ways to further improve the human condition in their… need to do more to incorporate wellbeing into their leadership strategies."

...the happiest countries

Philippines among 10 'happiest' countries

(philstar.com)

December 20, 2012

 

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is among the 10 happiest countries in the world, according to a recent survey by a US-based polling firm.

 

US based polling firm Gallup Inc. said that the nation with "highest positive emotions worldwide" were Panama and Paraguay with 85 percent answering YES to the questions: Did you feel well-respected yesterday? Were you treated with respect all day yesterday? Did you laugh or smile a lot yesterday? Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday? Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about enjoyment?

 

Next to Panama and Paraguay were El Salvador and Venezuela with 84 percent and on third place were Trinidad and Tobago and Thailand with 83 percent.

 

The Philippines shared the 4th place with Guatemala, where 82 percent of the surveyed persons answered YES to the six questions.

 

The last pair on 5th place was Ecuador and Costa Rica, which both got 81 percent.

 

An Associated Press news article quoted one of the surveyed Filipinos: a 35-year-old security guard named Felicio Sayat.

 

Sayat commented in the survey: "Just being with my family makes me happy ... We have fun together as a family. ... We have bonding time and we say prayers together. ... They are my inspiration. As long as we are all healthy, I am happy. There is nothing better than that."

 

Sayat works as a security guard at a parking lot in Manila.

 

Gallup Inc. said that the surveys were conducted in 148 countries in 2011.

 

"Results are based on telephone and face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted in 2011 in 148 countries and areas," it said.

 

Meanwhile, the polling firm reported that the country with the "lowest positive emotions worldwide" was Singapore, where only 46 percent answered YES to the six questions.

 

Following Singapore was Armenia with 49 percent; Iraq with 50 percent; Georgia, Yemen and Serbia, with 52 percent; Belarus with 53 percent; Lithuania and Madagascar, both with 54 percent; Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Haiti, Togo and Macedonia with 55 percent.

...the world's most emotional societies

 

PH named 'most emotional society' in global list

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

22 November 2012

 

Pinoy fans show a variety of emotions during a football game in Manila. (File Photo by Marlo Cueto, NPPA Images)

 

 

It has been dubbed as a "bright spot" amid a global slowdown and a "rising tiger" in Southeast Asia, and now the Philippines is also deemed the best in a criteria money can't buy: emotions.

This, as the Philippines is named "most emotional society" in over 140 countries surveyed by U.S. pollster Gallup, a Businessweek report Wednesday said.

Asked questions aimed at determining recently felt emotions, 60 percent of Filipino respondents answered "yes."

But that doesn't necessarily make most Pinoys drama queens, as it could also easily mean that they are the clowns.

Among the questions in the Gallup survey, Businessweek said, are: "Did you feel well rested yesterday? Were you treated with respect all day yesterday? Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?"
 

Respondents were also asked if they experienced enjoyment, physical pain, worry, sadness, stress or anger "during a lot" of the previous day.

Next to the Philippines in terms of feelings are El Salvador, where 57 percent admit to expriencing a lot of emotions; Bahrain, 56 percent; and Oman, 55 percent.

Tied at 55 percent "yes" are Chile, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and the U.S.

Singapore, meanwhile, emerged as the "most emotionless" society with only 36 percent of respondents saying they experienced a lot of feelings in the previous day.

It was followed by Georgia and Lithuania at 37 percent; and Russia, Madagascar, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazahkstan, Nepal and Kyrgystan, which are tied at 38 percent.

Earlier this year, the Philippines figured in the group of countries deemed "happy" in a separate global survey dubbed the "Happy Planet Index."

The country ranked 25th in the latest Happy Planet list, dropping from being 14th in 2009, with an index score of 52.4.

Meanwhile, official government measure of happiness was pegged at 66.2 index points in 2010, down from 67.24 in 2008.

Pinoys are happiest in the areas of education, love life, friends, family and work, data from the National Statistical Coordination Board showed.

However, Filipinos think that the "most important" sources of happiness are family, health, religion or spiritual work, work as well as peace and security.

...the OFW Ambassador

OFW is first UN Citizen Ambassador

by Don Tagala, ABS-CBN

North America News Bureau
12/24/2011

NEW YORK City – Twenty-three year old Jonathan Eric Defante's 30-second-pitch on Youtube, his entry to the 2011 Citizen Ambassador's Video Contest, earned him one of the three spots to become the first Filipino Honorary United Nation's Citizen Ambassador.

Honored as best in concept, originality and execution, Defante's "One Bottle, One Life" pitch to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is about using plastic bottles to build model communities around the world.

On his Youtube pitch, Defante said, "So let's create a model community in every Nation, made of used plastic bottles or eco-bricks, built by the people themselves, and are sustained by livelihood from plastic recycled bottles. The communities can be organized into cooperatives to sustain their livelihood for the years to come, changing lives, one bottle at a time."

Defante's entry bested 600 other Youtube entries from 50 countries around the world.

Defante said, "I was like literally jumping (for joy), kasi hindi ko talaga siya in-expect. Kasi after I submitted the video, marami nang pumasok, yung iba talaga may professional editing pa, kasi ako I just used iMovie 11, lahat hiniram ko lang, pati flipcam."

Defante, an OFW working at a Virgin Megastore in Dubai, in the Middle East, together with two other video contest winners from Sudan and Guatemala received round trip tickets to New York and met with the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in person privately last Friday.

“Sinabi niya na “Jonathan, I'm impressed with your idea to build communities in each member State. So, I, myself, as an environmentalist, I would like you to continue this work of yours.” So sana daw hindi lang mag-serve yun as an idea, maging reality daw yun," he said.

The UN Secretary General's inspiring words encouraged Defante to do even more.

"Parang now, I want to do more, to be more involved in humanitarian activities especially sa mga Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), like My Shelter Foundation, saka sa Hug-It Forward in Guatemala," said Defante.

The UN video contest was made in observance of the World Humanitarian Day. Defante encouraged Filipino youths from all over the world to do more humanitarian work, even without getting a prize for doing so.

“Sa mga kabataan especially, this is the best time to express any idea that would benefit mankind kasi we have tools for it, di katulad dati, ngayon we have social networking, we have Youtube, Facebook, etc." he said.

Defante will hold the honorary title as UN Citizen Ambassador for two years but it may be extended by the United Nations if he continues his humanitarian work.

...the UNHRC council member

PHL assumes UN rights council membership

GMANews – Wed, Jun 29, 2011

The Philippines formally assumed last week its membership in the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Evan Garcia said it was an honor for the Philippines to serve as a member of the UN body.

A news release on the DFA website quoted Garcia as saying the Philippines "looked forward to working closely with all members and relevant stakeholders of the Council."

The Philippines had received 183 votes in elections held in the UN General Assembly in May 2011 to re-enter the UN human rights body.

It previously served as a founding member of the UNHRC from 2006 to 2010.

Garcia reported on Philippine initiatives at the recently concluded 17th session of the Human Rights Council. Among the items reported are:1. The HRC adopted by consensus the Philippines and Germany's resolution on combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children, which strengthens the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons.At least 87 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan co-sponsored the resolution.2. The Philippines teamed up with Bangladesh to issue a landmark joint statement on the negative impacts of climate change on human rights, particularly on peoples living in developing countries and small island states.The statement called on the HRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to give more attention to the implications of climate change on human rights.

Over 100 countries co-sponsored the joint statement, including all the members of the African Group and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), as well as Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

Philippine Mission Second Secretary Hendrik Garcia led negotiations on the RP-Germany resolution on combating trafficking in persons and the joint statement on climate change and human rights.3. University of the Philippines Professor Virginia Bonoan-Dandan was appointed by the Human Rights Council as Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity. Dandan previously served as the Chairperson of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

4. Garcia chaired a consultation organized by the OHCHR on draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights.In her opening remarks, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay stressed extreme poverty was both a cause and consequence of human rights deprivation.

For her part, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Magdalena Sepulveda played a leading role in the development of the draft guiding principles.

She received inputs from states and relevant stakeholders, including persons living in extreme poverty.
"She emphasized that empowering persons living in extreme poverty through human rights could help eradicate extreme poverty," the DFA said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Philippine government under President Benigno Aquino III attaches highest priority to poverty alleviation.

Garcia also underscored the continuing need to enhance international cooperation and assistance to developing countries to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals and build capacities. — LBG, GMA News

...the lakes beautiful

12 Most Beautiful Lakes in the World

By Beth Collins
Yahoo! Travel

These 12 lakes go to all the right extremes—highest, deepest, clearest—and showcase nature at its most spectacular. Soak up the views from a boat, a cable car, a trailhead, or a castle tower.

Malawi

Lake Malawi

Home to 1,000 species of fish—estimated to be more than anyplace on earth—Lake Malawi (also called Lake Nyasa) is Africa's third largest lake at 363 miles long and up to about 50 miles wide in spots. Located in a depression 2,300 feet below sea level, it's positioned at the crossroads of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, and supports hundreds of local villages with its rich underwater stock (which is, unfortunately, gradually being depleted due to over-fishing). The lake's southern portion—as well as a bordering nub of wildlife-rich land, Cape Maclear—represents the world's first freshwater national park; it was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. A star of the waters here is the mbuna, a native freshwater fish known for eating directly from people's hands. Bring your snorkel gear—as beautiful as the scenery is, the best part about Lake Malawi is what's swimming beneath you in the crystal clear water.

Nearby: Cape Maclear, located within Lake Malawi National Park, is a perfect base for exploring the area.



Lake Malawi is positioend at the crossroads
of Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania and
supports hundreds of local villages with its
rich underwater stock.

Photo: Ian Cumming/age fotostock

Alberta, Canada

Peyto Lake

Alberta's Lake Louise is the famous one, on all the postcards and posters. But Louise's sister lake 29 miles north along Icefields Parkway, a two-laner that winds 142 miles through the Canadian Rockies, is even more picturesque. Thanks to glacial rock flour that flows in when the ice and snow melt every summer, the waters of Banff National Park's Peyto Lake are a brilliant turquoise more often associated with warm-weather paradises like Antigua and Bora-Bora. For the most dramatic views of the 1.7-mile-long stunner, encircled with dense forest and craggy mountain peaks, pull into the lot at Bow Summit, the parkway's highest point, and follow the steep hike to the overlook.

Nearby: The town of Banff, the heart of the park, is 62 miles south of Peyto Lake.

In the Canadian province of Alberta, Peyto Lake lies amid the Canadian Rockies. Its waters pop with a brilliant turquoise more often associated with warm-weather paradises like Antigua and Bora-Bora.

Photo: Courtesy Travel Alberta

Oregon

Crater Lake

Thousands of years ago, the top of a 12,000-foot-high volcano in the Cascade Range exploded. The massive pit left behind became known as Crater Lake, the centerpiece of a national park in southern Oregon that displays nature at its rawest and most powerful. Forests of towering evergreens and 2,000-foot-high cliffs surround the lake, where extraordinarily deep waters—at 1,943 feet, it's the deepest lake in the United States—yield an intense sapphire-blue hue. If winter hiking and cross-country skiing aren't your thing, wait until early July to visit, when the roads have been plowed and the trails cleared. Rim Drive, a 33-mile road that encircles the lake, has picture-perfect views from all sides. For a closer look, follow the mile-long Cleetwood Cove Trail to the shore. Brace yourself before diving in: The water temperature rarely rises above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nearby: The laid-back mountain town of Bend, 112 miles away, makes a nice home base for a Crater Lake day trip.

The extraordinarily deep waters of Crater Lake yield an intense sapphire-blue hue.

Photo: Tim McGuire/Corbis

Philippines

Taal Lake

This dangerous beauty, situated just 37.28 miles south of Manila, has two distinct claims to fame: It is the deepest lake in the Philippines, with a depth of 564 feet. It is also home to one of the world's smallest but most active volcanoes, the Taal Volcano, which sits within its waters on the island of Luzon. The lake itself was formed when a larger volcanic crater here collapsed; now seismologists spend a lot of time monitoring this spot for tremors, and sending out frequent eruption warnings through the country's Department of Tourism. Plenty of tour groups offer trips to the natural wonder—in spite of the fact that it has been declared a permanent danger zone. A safer way to see the volcano is by taking a drive along the Tagaytay-Taal ridge in nearby Tagaytay City.

Nearby: Adjacent Tagaytay City offers some well-priced accommodations, in addition to the best views of the lake.

Taal Lake, situated just 37.28 miles south of Manila, has two claims to fame: It is the deepest lake in the Philippines at 564 feet deep, and it is home to one of the world's smallest, but most active, volcanoes.

Photo: Courtesy Luca Tettoni/Corbis

Guatemala

Lake Atitlán

Nearly a mile up in the highlands of Guatemala, Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) rests at the foot of three massive conical volcanoes. Small Mayan villages line its shores, which are set off by steep hills draped with oak and pine trees and nearly 800 plant species. There's no single, must-see view of the lake, so try several vantage points: from up high on Highway 1; from the town of Panajachel, the buzzing market hub that juts out into the water; or aboard a lancha, one of the many small boats that ferry visitors from village to village. We're saddened to note that the lake has built up high levels of blue-green algae over the years (in October and November 2009, a film of green scum began briefly marring its surface; since then there have been ambitious efforts to solve the problem).

Nearby: Panajachel is about 2.5 hours by car from Guatemala City.

A fisherman on Lake Atitlán, nearly a mile up in the highlands of Guatemala.

Photo: Frans Lemmens/Corbis

Scotland

Loch Lomond

With a backdrop of windswept rolling hills and medieval castles, Loch Lomond feels like it's straight out of a Victorian romance novel. The 24-mile-long lake is dotted with islands, some so small that they disappear when the water levels are high, and others large enough to be (sparsely) inhabited. Most ferries stop at the largest island, Inchmurrin (population 11), so visitors can get a look at the remains of a 7th-century monastery and the 14th century Lennox Castle, used often as a hunting lodge for kings.

Nearby: The lake is 24 miles north of Glasgow and 66 west of Edinburgh.

A broad view of Scotland's Loch Lomond, with Balloch Castle in the foreground.

Photo: Skyscan/Corbis

Italy

Lake Garda

If the shape of Italy is a couture boot, think of the imprint of Lake Garda as a design from the funky sister line—long and skinny at the top, opening up toward the bottom. Garda is the country's largest lake and one of the most popular vacation spots among Italians. The southern shore is home to hot springs, resort towns with pastel villas and terra-cotta-roofed hotels, and most of Garda's 28 miles of serene, pebbly beaches. To the north are the jagged peaks of the Dolomites, a magnet for hikers and bicyclists who want to test their endurance. In Malcesine, an adorable speck of a town with cobblestoned streets and a medieval castle, you can board a cable car up to Mount Baldo for one of the best aerial views of the lake.

Nearby: Lake Garda is about halfway between Milan (89 miles away) and Venice (109 miles away), but to get the full, relaxing effect, stay in one of the south shore's many small towns.

Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake. The southern shore is home to hot springs and resort towns laced with pastel villas and terra-cotta-roofed hotels.

Photo: Svenja-Foto/Corbis

France

Lake Annecy

This alpine lake in the heart of the French Alps is a looker, but don't expect to spend your visit gazing over the water in quiet reflection. Lake Annecy is all about activity—particularly in August, when Paris shuts down and the French take extended holidays. Sailors, kayakers, and water-skiers crisscross the water; bikers and hikers hit surrounding nature trails; and refugees from the city fill the outdoor tables at the lakeside restaurants and bars. Repeat visitors know to plan their trip for the first Saturday of August, when a staggering, nearly two-hour-long fireworks display illuminates the water.

Nearby: The closest major city isGeneva, 30 miles north, in Switzerland, but most people stay right on the lake.

Lake Annecy meanders past eight miles of nature reserves, waterfront villages, and soaring peaks in the heart of the French Alps.

Photo: A. Gerard/courtesy Annecy Tourisme

Croatia

Plitvice Lakes

These 16 blue-green lakes, hidden by thick vegetation and connected by hundreds of waterfalls, could be the set for the next Jurassic Park. For adventure as well as killer views, start at one of the lower lakes and work your way up following the sturdy wooden planks that turn what could be a treacherous trek into a fun hike. Take a detour along the 10-minute loop that leads to the region's tallest fall, 230-foot-high Veliki Slap ("Big Waterfall"), a breadth of streaming white water that collects in turquoise pools. While hiking, keep your eyes peeled for deer, wildcats, boars, wolves, and bears—a more likely sighting than a T. rex.

Nearby: There are four hotels in Plitvice Lakes National Park, but most people drive in for the day from Zagreb, about 2 hours by car.

Croatia's 16 blue-green Plitvice Lakes are connected by hundreds of waterfalls. The waters are amazingly clear. Walk on well-maintained wooden planks to get to the edge.

Photo: 29cm/Flickr

Kenya

Lake Nakuru

The water is blue enough, and the backdrop—grasslands and rocky hillsides—has the makings of a nice photo, but neither is what sets this lake in central Kenya apart. The real draw here is the mass of pink on Nakuru's edges. Flamingos are one of the few species that can withstand the lake's hostile conditions—the water has so much sodium carbonate that it burns nearly everything that touches it —and they flock to the lake en masse. There can be as many as a million birds feeding on algae in the shallows at one time, wading side by side.

Nearby: The lake is in the heart of Lake Nakuru National Park, a sanctuary for black-and-white rhinos, three hours by car from Nairobi.

An African buffalo wades along the shoreline of Kenya's Lake Nakuru. In the background, flamingos feed in the shallow lake.

Photo: Martin Harvey/Corbis

New Zealand

Lake Matheson

Alternately known as Mirror Lake, this South Island lake is famous for its reflections of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Visiting just after dawn is ideal, when the water is at its calmest and mirror images are impossibly perfect. The lake itself is well worth exploring, too. Park near the Clearwater River suspension bridge and follow the 1-mile loop past kahikatea and rimu trees, which have extra-tall trunks and fanciful bushy tops and look like something from a Dr. Seuss book.

Nearby: Fox Glacier township, a village that serves as a base camp for trekkers, is three miles east of the lake.

Lake Matheson in New Zealand is also known as Mirror Lake—for good reason.

Photo: Hugh van Noorden/go_wild/Flickr

 

Slovenia

Lake Bled

Why not get to the good stuff right away? To take in this Slovenian lake's most breathtaking vista, head immediately to Bled Castle, at the edge of a sheer, 460-foot-high cliff. You'll see mountains in every direction—the Julian Alps and the Karavanke range—and below, the Alpine lake and its main attraction, Bled Island, a tiny forested circle that's home to the 17th-century Church of the Assumption and its prominent baroque clock tower. Down on the lake's shore, board a pletna boat (similar to a gondola) to the island. Be sure to ring the church bell and make a wish before returning to the mainland. Mountains shield the water from icy northern winds, so Lake Bled is warm, relatively speaking (79 degrees Fahrenheit). If that's still too chilly, head to the lake's northern section, where three hotels have built pools around natural thermal springs.

Nearby: The Slovenian capital of Ljubljana is an easy 35 miles away.

At Slovenia's Lake Bled, you'll see mountains in every direction, including the Julian Alps and the Karavanke range.

Photo: Walter Bibikow/JAI/Corbis

..the prexy

DFA: PHL assumes presidency of LMMC until 2012

GMANews – 08 jUNE 2011

The Philippines has assumed the presidency of the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC) for 2011 to 2012 during a meeting in Canada.

The LMMC is a negotiating bloc of 19 countries that harbor 70 percent of the Earth’s biological resources.

“[The Philippine assumption of the LMMC presidency is] a vote of confidence in our stewardship of our bio-resources and our country’s environmental programs," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement Tuesday

The DFA said the group met in Montreal in preparation for the “First Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefits Sharing of Genetic Resources in Montreal" from June 6 to 10.

In the opening statement delivered by the Philippines, the LMMC called for immediate collaboration on measures to operationalize the Nagoya Protocol, an agreement that establishes more predictable conditions for access to genetic resources.

The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in October 2010, stemmed from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which the Philippines ratified on Jan. 3, 2007.

The LMMC was established in 2002 when 17 countries rich in biodiversity banded themselves together to promote their collective interests in the preservation and sustainable use of biological resources and aims to protect traditional knowledge.

“The Philippines has about 7,000 endemic plant, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and fish species, and is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety, a megadiverse country and has enacted an access and benefit-sharing law in 1995," the DFA said.

The group’s members include Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and Venezuela. — JE/VS, GMA News