...the Gusi peace prize awardee

Filipino peace prize awardee

By Manila Standard Today
Nov. 26, 2012

Dr. James G. Dy, the Gusi Peace Prize winner for Social Services and Philanthropy, was the only Filipino among 20 Laureates out of 128 candidates from Canada, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Iraq, Kuwait, Serbia, Uganda, Mauritius, Argentina, USA, China, United Kingdom, Mexico, Slovenia, Finland, Ukraine, Malaysia, Peru, and Russia.

Recognition rites will be held on November 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center for the philanthropist, who has been involved in social, civic and charitable work for more than 30 years.

Dr. Dy is the President of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., which operates the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center that served as his vehicle in supporting various charitable causes, including fund-raising and livelihood projects, medical and dental missions to far flung areas, and relief operations to devastated communities in times of calamities and disasters.

In 2002, he was elected Governor of the Philippine Red Cross and Governor of the Philippine Constitution Association, positions which he holds up to this day.

He earned four honorary doctorate degrees: Doctor of Humanities, University of Pangasinan in 1999; Doctor of Business Administration, Lyceum-Northwestern University, Pangasinan, in March 2004; Doctor of Humanities, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, November 2006; and Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management, Technological University of the Philippines, March 2007.

Dr. Dy was named Outstanding Filipino Awardee for Humanitarian Service by the Philippine Jaycee Senate and Insular Life Insurance Ltd. He also received the Outstanding Manilans Award for having distinguished himself in business and industry, hospital administration and humanitarian advocacy during the 428th Founding Anniversary of Manila, and was the outstanding Chinese-Filipino to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Awards for Excellence. His qualities as a civic leader and as a father were recognized by the Ulirang Ama Award along with the conferment of the title Ambassador for Medical Tourism in 2001.

...the World's budget English Teacher

BBC report: PH drawing thousands of foreign students for its affordable English classes

By Lawrence de Guzman
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, November 12th, 2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines — The world’s “budget English teacher.”

This is how the Philippines was called in a recent BBC News report  highlighting the country’s relatively cheap access to education compared to other English-speaking nations.

The report, written by Kate McGeown and posted online on Monday, noted the surge in the number of foreign students attracted by the country’s competitive rates for English education, which costs only a fraction of the tuition in schools in the United States or Canada.

Aside from language students, the number of foreign graduate and post-graduate students in the country is reportedly on the rise, apparently recognizing that local universities are at par with global standards.

A check with the Bureau of Immigration Student Desk indicated that as of October 2012, a total of 24,680 foreigners had applied for study permits, which was more than thrice the applications in 2008 totaling 7,569.

The agency also expects the applications for full student visas to reach at least 23,000 by the end of the year, which is over four times the 2008 figure of 5,336 applications.

A major advantage for Filipinos is having a clear American accent, according to the report, “partly because the Philippines was a US colony for five decades, and partly because so many people here have spent time working in call centers that cater to a US market.”

But studying in the Philippines has presented some challenges to students, the report pointed out.

“Living here means coping with the bureaucracy and corruption, and if you’re in Manila, the heavy pollution,” it said.

Moreover, foreigners may find it difficult to understand Taglish, a mix of Tagalog and English which Filipinos use in informal communication.

“But for an increasing number of people, these are small obstacles compared with the benefits of studying in the Philippines,” added the report.

This is not the first time the country has been recognized for its English proficiency.

Last April, the Philippines topped 75 other countries in the Business English Index 2012 prepared by the GlobalEnglish Corp., a California-based company that aims to advance business English among global organizations.

Only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, a “level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks,” GlobalEnglish said in its release.

The Philippines is joined in the top five by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19).

Noting that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success, GlobalEnglish said that “it is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank.”

...the Pinoy doc to UN post

Pinoy doctor elected to UN committee vs. torture

By Rio Rose Ribaya

26 October 2012

 

A Filipino doctor is among the 12 new members of a committee in the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland, a local group disclosed on Friday.

Dr. June Pagaduan Lopez, founder of Medical Action Group (MAG), was elected as a member of UN Anti-Torture Committee’s Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT).

In a statement, MAG congratulated Lopez for bringing Pinoy honor, by serving as one of the experts who will monitor detention conditions in more than 60 countries around the world until 2016.

"This will considerably strengthen the mandate of the SPT in torture prevention particularly in the field of mental health rehabilitation of torture survivors and their families," the group said.

The SPT has a preventive mandate focused on an innovative, sustained and proactive approach to the prevention of torture and ill treatment.

Lopez was elected during the fourth meeting of Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) on Thursday.

She will be working with other experts from Switzerland, United Kingdom, Argentina, New Zealand, Lebanon, Serbia, Mauritius, Costa Rica, Brazil, Germany and Republic of Moldova.

A professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Manila, Lopez exemplified “outstanding commitment” to the promotion and defense of human rights, MAG said.

She has been using her expertise in psychiatry for the rehabilitation of torture survivors for many years, the group noted.

The Philippines became the 63rd State Party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in April.

...the Island of 'Survivor'

‘Survivor’ USA shoots in Camarines Sur

 

by Reyma Buan-Deveza

ABS-CBNnews.com

03/27/2012 12:04

 

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Governor L-Ray Villafuerte confirmed that the U.S. version of the hit reality TV show "Survivor" is now being shot in Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur.

 

"Actually may 'Survivor' doon. It's a really big production but I cannot (give more details) because I signed a confidentiality agreement. It's is being filmed right now and it's going to air in September," Villafuerte told abs-cbnNEWS.com on Tuesday.

He added that the shooting only started last week and will wrap up in August.

Contestants perform a challenge for a European version of "Survivor" shot in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Photo from the Facebook page of Caramoan Paradise

According to speculations on the show's fan sites, the American version of "Survivor" with host Jeff Probst is shooting two seasons in the Philippines -- Seasons 25 and 26 -- back to back.

"Survivor" Season 24 is currently airing worldwide. The next season is expected to air in the fall.

Tourism boost

Villafuerte said the filming of the show will help local businesses in Caramoan.

"They are hiring 400 people. They pay them daily wage, they are hiring sasakyan, bangka at lahat ng local supplies doon ay binibili nila so grabe ang business in the locality," he said.

Tourism establishments are also using "Survivor" to market their products.

CK-Inn, in fact, mentioned the shoot on its website.

"The whole Matukad island will be closed during March as production team of USA is now in Caramoan preparing for the Survivor show," it announced on its website.

Tour operator Caramoan Paradise even offers packages that would give tourists a glimpse of the "Survivor" experience.

"Survivor USA is setting up now at Caramoan, shooting will start by March... get the chance to have a glimpse of it.... for only P1,300 2D1N (flat rate)... experience being a castaway," it said on its Facebook page.

Hollywood movie shoot

This is not the first time that Caramoan was chosen as shooting location for "Survivor."

Villafuerte said the French and Swedish versions of the reality TV show were also shot in Camarines Sur.

"Survivors France, Sweden, Belgium, India, Turkey, Serbia, Israel have filmed there as early as four years ago," he said.

But since the American version of "Survivor" attracts a global audience, countries are eager to host the show.

In Asia, the U.S. series has already shot in Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and China.

Aside from "Survivor," Villafuerte also bared that a Hollywood movie will also be shot in the province.

"Magkakaroon ng Hollywood film sa amin this year, I can not say again (what it is)," he said.

---

...the Island of Survivors

How Caramoan wowed "Survivor India"

By ANSELMO V. TALAGTAG,JR

October 30,2011

Manila Bulletin

Matukad Island (Photo by TEDDY L. PELAEZ)

No other country can boast of that many returning productions. Such is the appeal of the islands of Caramoan.


MANILA, Philippines -- India is the latest country with the “Survivor” franchise to be dazzled by the beauty of the Caramoan islands.

Coming after France, Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia and the Strix group (made up of Norway, Holland, Belgium and Sweden), the Miditech group, the contracted entity of showbiz giant Star Plus India that owns the “Survivor” franchise, is already thinking of returning to Caramoan for its next series.

“We all fell in love with the place when we visited last March,” said Niret Alva, who together with brother, Nikhil, are the executive producers of Miditech. Nikhil is also a member of India’s National Tourism Promotions Board and is keen on promoting the Philippines to the Indian market, especially after being impressed with Caramoan.


How it all began

Caramoan’s popularity with the “Survivor” franchises in Europe started with the first French production in Palawan.

According to Nikolo Juvan of the Philippine Film Studios Incorporated (PFSI), the event handling company, the French wanted to film again in the Philippines but on a more secluded group of islands because El Nido, Palawan is crawling with tourists.

PFSI was then introduced to Caramoan by the son of Governor Lray Villafuerte; and after seeing the islands’ great potential, the French were informed and then it was their turn to be awed.

“There was, however, a condition by the French that housing facilities should be built on the main island to accommodate all its crew, contestants and VIPs. The French producers promised Gov. Villafuerte that they will do the series if there will be facilities built on the main island that was still bare at the time,” Juvan said.

The rest, of course, is history for Caramoan tourism. Facilities were built in what was to be called Gota Village. The French filmed the series, which was shown all over Europe, and the other franchise holders followed suit.

“The French series is the second largest franchise after the United States; so even if we didn’t make any marketing programs to follow it up, the inquiries came,” Juvan revealed.

The latest, of course, is India, whose producers, just midway in the competition, have already signified their intention of returning for their second season, expecting a big slice of the Indian viewers. The first season was a celebrity edition, with 10 celebrities competing against 10 other contestants from corporate to man-on-the-street.


An Economic Opportunity

The “Survivor” series provides jobs, not just for local labor, but also for Manila based personnel. Juvan revealed that every production brings with them a large international crew with various needs from technical expertise to manual labor. It has also provided an opportunity to showcase Filipino talent, skills and friendly disposition that leave a positive mark with each visiting country.

Juvan related that on the first edition of the Israeli series, the producers brought their own carpenters and labor force; but when they saw the ability of the Filipino counterparts, they didn’t bring any of their labor force the next time.

For their part, Miditech Indian managers are pleased with how the Filipino crew handle pressure. “ We usually shout and feel pressured, but the Filipinos just smile and tell us not to worry because things will be done on time.”


Win some, lose some

Juvan and some of his staff have been living in Gota Village for the last four years to handle all the various “Survivor” productions that have returned, time and again, to do their series in Caramoan.

“One thing that stands out is because the islands, numbering around 20 ( only seven are being used regularly because of proximity to Gota) have so much variety. They come in different shapes and sizes, different characters and topography. Some are forested, there’s one with a sandbar, some with rice fields that add a dramatic appeal,” he said.

Definitely an inviting description that will appeal to tourists, domestic and foreign; but, for now, Caramoan may be losing some tourism revenue because it is an exclusive playground of the “Survivor” franchise with Gota village and its nearby islands being opened to the public just two months in a year at least (November and December). But, it more than makes up for it by showing our country’s beautiful islands to the rest of the world.

No other country can boast of that many returning productions. Such is the appeal of the islands of Caramoan.

...the islands of 'Survivor'

Philippine province may be among the world's top tourist destinations

By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO

June 19, 2011

MANILA, Philippines -- The province of Catanduanes is poised to become the next tourist destination in the Bicol region as almost P700 million in infrastructure projects geared to improving access there rolls off and roars on.

In particular, Gotta beach, in Caramoan town aims to rival the island paradise of Boracay, considered one of the top beaches in the world. Gotta beach was put on the world tourism map with the filming of the international franchise ‘Survivor’ TV series by several countries.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said P682.73 million worth of infrastructure projects have been allotted to Catanduanes this year that seeks to address the access problems there.

“The province has a lot of potential in terms of tourist destinations. They have beautiful and unspoiled beaches which are now gaining popularity for aqua sports such as surfing, scuba diving and sports fishing,” said DPWH 5 Regional Director Danilo Dequito following inspection of the completed Codon Rockcauseway in the municipality of San Andres.

The completion of the Codon Rockcauseway, financed to the tune of P48.2 million, provides a gateway to Gotta Beach. The Port of Codon is just a 30-minute boat ride to Gotta beach, which has become the favorite location shooting of the international reality television show Survivors.

In 2009, Caramoan was introduced to Europe when the Serbian, Bulgarian and Swedish versions of the Survivor series were filmed there.

The place also hosted French version of the series where television director Corinne Valiant gushed at the “powdery sand” and the “wild” natural atmosphere.

In June this year, the Poland edition is set to be shot also in Caramoan.

Dequito said the DPWH project is like hitting two birds in one stone.

“We developed Catanduanes and at the same time opened a convenient gateway to Caramoan peninsula where the future Boracay waits,” Dequito said.