Saturday, December 8, 2012

...the Singapore's Next Big Thing

12-year-old Pinoy singer in Singapore compared to Michael Jackson

 
December 7, 2012
GMA News
A 12-year-old Filipino singer with “the voice of an angel” and compared to the likes of Michael Jackson is making waves in Singapore.
 

An article on Yahoo! Singapore said Miguel Antonio is being hailed as the next big thing.

Born November 9, 2000, Antonio moved to Singapore with his family in 2007.

The eldest of four children, Antonio has wowed audiences by performing in various events, the most major of which was in 2011, when he performed with renowned songwriter David Foster during the “David Foster and Friends” concert in Singapore.

Like Michael

Among the musicians he listens to, Antonio looks up to the most to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Antonio's favorite songs include: "Man In The Mirror" as well as songs from his younger days like "I Want You Back", "Who's Loving You" and "I'll Be There."

He hopes to be like Michael Jackson and that he would "work hard, keep practicing and continue to sing in future."

In his Christmas EP released in October, Antonio included the song "Give Love on Christmas Day,” which was recorded by family quintet The Jackson Five, where Michael Jackson was a member.

According to Grammy Award-winning drummer John JR Robinson, who has worked on several of Michael Jackson’s albums and helped with the drum tracks of Antonio’s EP, Antonio does remind him of the late King of Pop.

Antonio was trained by singing coach Amanda Colliver, who has taught the likes of actors Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

Antonio hopes to release his first full album by December 2013.

"My album is going to have all pop tracks and I will be writing my own songs. In fact, I have already written three songs but there are still some improvements to be made," said Antonio.

Despite his success in his music career, Antonio has not forgotten his academics, saying he finishes school work before practicing singing and the piano.

Old school musicians

Despite his young age, Antonio tends to gravitate more to “old-school” musicians like Elvis Presley, Andrea Bocelli, Journey and The Beatles.

Antonio said he likes how such musicians "put meaning into their music; there is a lot of feeling and soul when you listen to their songs."

He noted that his parents exposed him to the oldies at a young age and "I loved them since then."

He said he’d listen to oldies over pop singing sensation Justin Bieber any day. - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News

...the PH Stock market

PSEi climbs to 36th record high on foreign buying

 
 
December 7, 2012
 
The PSEi on Friday hit the 36th record high, closing a few points shy of the 5,800 mark, as foreign investments continued to pour into the market.


It gained 0.53 percent or 30.56 points to close at 5,794.2 points – its 36th record high year-to- date – while the broader all-share index rose 0.35% or 12.86 points to 3,716.46.
 
 
More than P4.080 billion shares valued at P8.667 billion were traded. But there were more losers than gainers at 89 to 74, while 47 stocks were unchanged.
 
"Essentially, what's on-going on is increased inflows of portfolio investments," said James Lago, head of reasearch at PCCI Securities Brokers Group.
 
 
Investors "who have maxed-out profits" in other markets went to the local bourse in search of better yields, Lago noted.
 
 
"They're moving some money out of China, India and Indonesia," he said.
 
 
Lago added that he expects a slight correction when trading resumes on Monday.


"Inflation in November, which has reached an eight-month low reaffirms the positive outlook on interest rates which also augurs well for the stock market," PSE president and CEO Hans Sicat said in a statement.
 
 
Benign inflation, which slowed to 2.8 percent in November, provided a springboard for stocks to climb its latest all-time high on Thursday, after taking a breather a day earlier.
 
 
Investors in search of higher returns have flocked into emerging markets amid sluggish growth in advanced economies.
 
 
This, has resulted in the PSEi being mostly bullish for most of the year. — VS, GMA News

...the Asian TV awardees

PH Bags Two Honors At ATA 2012


 
 
By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA
December 8, 2012
Manila Bulletin
 

Korina Sanchez
Korina Sanchez


MANILA, Philippines – Veteran news anchor Korina Sanchez and lifestyle show “Chef vs. Mom” were the Philippine bets that won at the 17th Asian Television Awards (ATA) held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore last Dec. 6.

TV5’s “Chef vs. Mom” won the Best Lifestyle Program award, a Programming category. It bested Singapore’s “Passage to Abu Dhabi,” “Chef On The Road,” and “Lonely Planet Six Degrees China - Episode Shanghai”; India’s “Band Baajaa Bride with Sabyasachi”; and Malaysia’s “Axian Food Adventures (Season 2)” and “Now Everyone Can Fly to New Zealand.”

On the other hand, Sanchez was deemed “Highly Commended” as Best Current Affairs Presenter for her hosting stint on ABS-CBN’s “Rated K - Kwento ng Buhay ko (This is my Life),” but it was India’s Barkha Dutt, host of “We The People with Hillary Clinton,” won in this category.

Aside from the Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and India also took home nods under three umbrella categories of the ATA, namely Programming, Performance, and Technical & Creative.

Last year, the Philippines won the awards for Best Talk Show (ABS-CBN’s “The Bottomline with Boy Abunda”) and Best Theme Song (titled “Ikaw Ang Buhay Ko” for TV5’s “Star Confessions”).

The Philippines clinched 13 nominations in all in this year’s ATA, with the breakdown per network as follows: ABS-CBN with six, GMA-7 and TV5 with three each, and Solar Entertainment (ETC) with one.

The ATAs was launched in 1996 and, according to its official website, it is “the Asian TV industry's most significant and celebrated event, recognizing excellence in programming, production and performance.” The winners in its more than 30 categories are “determined by an expert panel of over 50 judges from across the region," with the results "tabulated and audited by international auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers" and announced during the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner held every December.

...the top property markets

Manila among top property markets


International survey notes big leap in just 3 years

By Doris C. Dumlao
 
 
ONCE a laggard in the region, Manila is rising to be one of Asia-Pacific’s most appealing property markets amid escalating concerns over high property prices in China’s core markets.

 
 
 
Based on a research published by Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2013,” Manila ranked 12th out of 22 regional markets ranked in terms of investment prospects and ninth in terms of development prospects, marking a rapid rise from near the bottom of the rankings in previous years’ polls.

Manila was ranked 18th in the outlook for 2012 and 20th two years before that. This is the 7th edition of the trends and forecasts publication, which is based on the opinions of more than 400 internationally renowned real estate professionals, investors and other stakeholders.

Colin Galloway, principal author of the report, said in a presentation Thursday night that he was surprised that the Philippine did not rank even higher given the number of positive updates from this market. But he said as it would usually take time for all recent developments to be digested by the market, next year’s edition would likely show even more favorable results, even catapulting the Philippines to a leading position.

Manila has fared well in specific property segments, specially in the secondary or rental apartment residential segment where it ranked second to Jakarta. The ranking was based on the percentage of “buy” recommendations of survey respondents as opposed to “hold” or “sell.” Jakarta had a “buy” rating from 43.62 percent of respondents while Manila had 36.46 percent. The residential rental segment was where Manila got its best rating in the report although it also ranked high in office (6th) and hotel (8th) property segments.

Jakarta was named by the report as the top property market in terms of investment prospects. Other cities that ranked higher than Manila were Shanghai (2nd), Singapore (3rd), Sydney (4th), Kuala Lumpur (5th), Bangkok (6th), Beijing (7th), China secondary cities (8th), Taipei (9th), Melbourne (10th) and Hong Kong (11th).

On the other hand, the cities edged out by Manila in terms of investment prospects were Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Auckland, Ho Chi Minh, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi and Osaka.

“Markets in Manila have performed well in the past couple of years as a result of the growing economy, a transparent and business-friendly government and the country’s ongoing success—an eye-opener—in attracting foreign corporate clients to its business process outsourcing (BPO) facilities,” the report said.

“Bureaucracy has declined and transparency has improved considerably over the past few years. As a result, Manila’s appeal as an investment destination climbed from the near-bottom of the rankings in previous years’ polls,” it said.

The report also noted that a large casino development has provided impetus to property development and was expected to boost tourist arrivals when completed in phases over coming years.

But while investment prospects appeared bright, the report also noted that government regulations that bar foreigners from holding majority landownership continued to deter international investment.

“What is more, local developers have little incentive to partner with foreigners given the availability of ample liquidity from domestic sources. Foreign opportunities, therefore, are likely to remain restricted to the gaming and BPO sectors. Admittedly, both present large opportunities, with the latter currently accounting for some 70 percent of new office take-up in Manila,” the report said.

Judith Lopez, chair and senior partner at Isla Lipana & Co., PwC member firm, commented: “Manila is in the midst of a property boom. It’s the best that we’ve seen in decades—clearly a sign of the increasing confidence in our economy.”

Friday, December 7, 2012

...the packing invention

Filipino invents innovative packaging



Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
 
A poorly packaged product may lead consumers to think that it is of inferior quality.

This is why manufacturers have been seeking out attractive yet cost-efficient packaging.

Most manufacturers consider the following questions in choosing the packaging that suits them: Does the packaging make your product safe when they’re on display? Does it give your product a longer life, keeps it fresh and not vulnerable to contamination? Is the packaging convenient and appealing?

If a manufacturer replies yes to all the questions, then it will soon earn a space in its dealers’ minds and consumers’ hearts.

A case study

Filipino businessman and inventor Wilson D. Go recently developed and patented an exciting alternative to expensive packages.

Made of soft plastic material, Wise-Pack™ is pliable and compact, slim and lightweight, as well as economical—an important consideration for producers in a developing country like the Philippines.

Take a 240-ml container—a brand-new glass bottle of that size costs P12, an aluminum can costs P9, while a rigid plastic bottle costs P6.

Apart from the high cost of the packaging material, distributors and retailers are also mindful of the fact that beverages represent significant logistics cost because of the large volume of space and weight eaten up by traditional containers for delivery and warehousing, shelf and cooler space, labor and power costs.

In developing a total solution that will provide Filipino consumers a superior beverage experience at an affordable price, Go saw that the key lay in significantly reducing the combined direct and indirect costs associated with traditional packaging.

It is a problem that weighs down manufacturers, distributors, retailers and, most of all, the consumers.

Go undertook an extensive search for packaging alternatives around the world until he found a container made of soft plastic and shaped like a pillow that significantly reduced the packaging material. Unfortunately, it did not have the capability to stand on its own.

Go then worked with packaging engineers to develop their own version. After years of investing time and money, Go and the engineers came out with a minimalist design—a pouch that’s perfect for stacking horizontally and can also stand on its own like a bottle.

The spout was also extended to serve as a built-in straw, eliminating the cost, hassle and hazards of using a straw.

For this innovation, Go was awarded 2 patents for industrial use and design for 21 years.

7 benefits

Consumers may expect the following benefits:

– Lower packaging cost, higher product quality. The savings generated from eliminating glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans and carton bricks can now be plowed back into the product itself, enhancing the quality of the beverage. Maximum taste for minimum waste.

– Safer than glass, cleaner than plastic. Wise-Pack™ eliminates the hazards and risks, accidents and injuries that come with glass bottles. Furthermore, it is more hygienic than the plastic bags used by consumers who cannot afford to pay for a glass bottle. It also eliminates the need for costly and unwieldy glass bottle deposits.

– Easier to open, easier to use. Even against aluminum foil, the Wise-Pack™ is easier to open because there is no need to puncture it with a sharp object. There is built-in perforation that even children can open.

– Chill it, freeze it. Consumers now have the option to chill their beverage and drink it ice cold, or freeze it and munch on it as frozen delight, just like the popular “ice candy” or “ice drop.” A fruit juice drink that uses Wise-Pack™ can offer a more nutritious frozen dessert than ice cream.

Also, trade partners are in for some rewards:

– Less space, less weight. Because Wise-Pack™ is minimalist in design, distributors and retailers will be able to significantly reduce their logistics expenses—delivery and warehousing, high rental expenses, labor and electric power consumption.

– Cools faster, cools more. Because of the size, shape and material of Wise-Pack™, retailers can optimize the electricity consumption of their coolers and maximize profits more than if they were to stock up on traditional packaging containers.

– Environment-friendly. Wise-Pack™ is environment-friendly because it is 100-percent recyclable. And since it’s pliable, it can even be rolled up after use and kept in one’s pocket to avoid littering.

The name

The name offers an integrated solution—a packaging innovation that allows higher product quality at an affordable price.

It delivers maximum value to consumers while it provides maximum profits to retailers.

Go is quick to disown full credit for the invention, invoking an old proverb: “Nothing is truly original because everything already exists in nature.”

And true to the marketing adage, “Do not just extol the virtues of your product; but the virtues of your user,” it makes a statement for the wise user who “pays for the content, not the container.”

The first beverage brand to utilize Wise-Pack™ is Chooga™ Fruit Juice, which was launched in a limited test market in January this year.

Based on internal market surveys, the consumer response has been overwhelmingly favorable to the extent that the brand’s offtake has already exceeded other brands in stores where it is available.

Chooga™ is a fruit drink that has higher juice content than most brands, and comes in orange, mango, pineapple, pomelo and tamarind.

While it is too early to say, it appears that Chooga™ in Wise-Pack™ promises to be revolutionary and game-changing because it offers consumers the taste of a superior fruit juice drink at an affordable price.

The company behind Chooga Fruit Juice is Refreshment Republic Inc. (RRI).

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

...the PH corruption index ranking

PH rises in 'corruption perception' rankings

 




The Philippines has been ranked 105th out of 176 countries (2011: ranked 129th) in the "Corruption Perception Index" put out by anti-corruption coalition Transparency International.


The government's efforts at curbing corruption seems to have borne fruit as the Philippines moved up a global ranking of countries based on perception on corruption.

The Philippines has been ranked 105th out of 176 countries in the "Corruption Perception Index" put out by anti-corruption coalition Transparency International.

This compares to its ranking of 129th out of 183 countries in the 2011 list.

The Philippines scored 34 out of 100 in the composite index, which is based on "a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption, collected by a variety of reputable institutions," the report said.

A score of zero means that a country is perceived as "highly corrupt" and 100 means it is perceived as "very clean."

Last year, the Philippines got a composite index score of 2.6 out of 10, where 0 means it is perceived as "highly corrupt and 10 as "very clean."

"Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all aspects of decision-making," Transparency International said.

"They must prioritize better rules on lobbying and political financing, make public spending and contracting more transparent, and make public bodies more accountable," it added.

This, as it noted that corruption "translates into human suffering" and "generates popular anger."

Commenting on the report, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the improvement is "an affirmation of the efforts to strengthen institutions, provide deterrents against corrupt practices, and hold accountable those who have used power for personal gain."

The administration of President Benigno Aquino III, however, "acknowledges that the anti-corruption drive remains a work in progress," Lacierda said.

"Transparency needs to be instituted across all government agencies, whether on the national or local level. There are still bumps that need to be evened out for the playing field to be truly leveled. In many cases, justice remains to be served," he added.

The Philippines shared the 105th spot with Algeria, Armenia, Bolivia, Gambia, Kosovo and Mali.

Among the nine Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines was the fifth perceived to be least corrupt.

Ranked higher than the Philippines were Singapore, which ranked 5th globally; Brunei (46th); Malaysia; (54th) and Thailand (88th).

The country, however, performed better than Indonesia (118th), Vietnam (123rd), Cambodia (157th), and Laos (160th).

Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are perceived to be the least corrupt countries this year, sharing the top spot in the ranking.

Rounding out the top 10, meanwhile, are Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, Australia, Norway, Canada and the Netherlands.

At the bottom of the list are Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Venezuela, Haiti, Chad and Burundi.

...the next investment hotspot

Philippines: The Next Investment Hotspot

 

Amid growing investor confidence spurred by government and private spending, the narrowing trade deficit, and sound economic policy and fiscal management, investment analysts from Philam Life state that the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) has enough momentum to hit 6,000 points by next year.
 
In a recent press briefing at The Peninsula Manila, Junie Banaag, First Vice President & Equity Fund Manager of Philam Life, said that the PSEi has advanced better than other stock markets over the past two years.
 
“The PSEi’s 32% growth from 2010-2012 outpaces that of the S&P 500, the Indonesian and Malaysian Stock Exchanges, Germany’s DAX, and even the Dow Jones Industrial Average,” said Banaag. “Strong economic fundamentals and the Philippine government’s effective management of fiscal and monetary positions will fuel the growth of the Philippine market.”
 
Banaag also points out that the Philippines has “one of the fastest growing economies” in the region and the world as of late. He points to the 5.9% GDP performance of the country in Q2, which he says makes the Philippines the fourth fastest growing economy in Asia, trailing behind China, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Moreover, Banaag feels positive about the recent credit rating upgrades for the Philippines, and is excited about the country’s prospects of making investment grade in the near future, which he says will surely bring in fresh funds and more investors into the country.
 
Sleeping Money
 
However, Ayen Guevara, Senior Vice President & Chief Investments Officer of Philam Life, notes that majority of Filipinos are failing to take personal advantage of the country’s economic boom, largely due to the lack of knowledge and financial literacy.

 
Guevara referred to recent data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which shows that P4.1 trillion are “sleeping” in the banks in the form of savings accounts and time deposits, which earns only 0.375% and 2.75% per annum, respectively. Both have investment returns that are way below the inflation rate, which currently stands at 3.6%.
 
Matching Financial Goals with Investments
 
“We need to ensure correct asset-liability matching,” said Guevara. “Savings accounts and time deposits have their place in a proper portfolio --- short-term savings for short-term needs. However, as seen by the trillions of pesos in the banking system, most Filipinos place their money in short-term instruments even for their long-term financial needs, mainly due to lack of knowledge.”
 
 
“The ordinary Filipino should be able to personally capitalize on where our economy is right now and its growth prospects for the next several years,” said Guevara. “Imagine if their hard-earned money were placed in the PSEi which grew 32% in the past two years, instead of an ordinary time deposit that earns 2.75% per year, less withholding tax of 20% --- more Filipinos would be growing their personal portfolios.”
 
Riding on the Growth of the Philippine Economy
 
“We want ordinary Filipinos to gain from the economic uptrend of the Philippines,” said Anthony Bernabe, Vice President for Marketing. “With Philam Life's Money Tree, Filipinos are given the opportunity to invest in high-performing funds that take advantage of the Philippines’ booming economy.”
 
Philam Life’s Money Tree is a one-time payment, life insurance-and-investment plan whose various funds have yielded returns of as much as 8% to 15% per annum. The funds are managed by investment professionals who use their experience and expertise to help grow your money in the long-term. Moreover, whether you’re a conservative investor or have a strong appetite for risk,
 
Money Tree can adjust to your risk-profile as it gives you the following funds to choose from: the less-volatile fixed-income fund, the high-risk, high-reward equity fund, or a mix of both. Last but not least, Money Tree comes with guaranteed life insurance coverage of at least 125% of your initial payment, regardless of market conditions.
 
“We have empowered Filipinos the past 65 years, and Philam Life has been at the forefront of nation-building all these years,” concludes Bernabe. “The Philippines is at a unique and enviable position right now, and our growth prospects over the next several years are quite positive. Philam Life wants to empower more Filipinos to greater financial prosperity and security through Money Tree, helping them take advantage of the country’s economic boom.”

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

...the hiphop nation

PHL teams sweep int’l hip-hop dance tilt in Sydney

 
GMA News
December 4, 2012
 
 
 
Boyz Unlimited, a team from the Philippines, emerged the Grand Slam Champion of the World Supremacy Battlegrounds (WSB 2012), a competition among international hip-hop dance groups held in Australia’s Sydney Olympic Park over the weekend.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, four other Philippine groups won major awards in the same competition, besting rivals from Australia, the Bahamas, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States.

The winning teams in the International Open Division included
 
  • Boyz Unlimited: Gold
 
 
  • FlipendemicKru: Silver


  • Pinoy Hip Hop: Bronze

  • Rockstars: Fourth Place (no pic)

Unschooled and ADDLIB, also from the Philippines, placed seventh and tenth, respectively, in the same category.

Unschooled, 7th place

 
ADDLIB, 10th place

Another Pinoy group, the A Team, clinched a silver in the WSB 2012’s Varsity Division.


A Team, Silver Placer

Two-year winning streak

This is the second year in a row that Boyz Unlimited, a group of seven dancers from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, has won the World Supremacy Battlegrounds.

Formed in 2004 and choreographed by Marion Evangelista, Boyz Unlimited has won in numerous local competitions, including:
  • Hundred Islands Dance Showdown in Alaminos, Pangasinan in 2011 (Champion),
  • Groove 2010, North Luzon elimination in 2010 (Champion),
  • Amplified Hip-hop Dance Competition in Baguio City in 2009 (Champion), and
  • Smart’s Best Dance Crew in Dagupan City in 2010 (Champion).

In its Facebook page, the group said its members were brought together in the objective of dancing “for the glory of God.”

The group believes that “as long as we continue to learn . . . we will achieve our dream—to be the best dance crew not only in our country but in the whole world.”

After winning the championship at the WSB 2012, the group expressed its gratitude in a Facebook post:

“Hindi naming alam kung pano naming sisimulan ang sobrang pasasalamat naming sa inyo at sa lahat ng tumulong sumuporta, naniwala, at higit sa lahat nagdasal po para sa amin at sa lahat ng Team Pilipinas,” the page’s administrator said.

Dedicating its award to its Filipino supporters, the group added, “Sobrang maraming salamat po! Iba talaga ang pusong Pinoy!”

Fil-Australian businessman and WSB founder Marco Selorio said the Philippine teams consistently impressed international judges and competitors. - with Karla Maquiling, VVP, GMA News

...the PH stock market

Philippine stocks climb to 34th all-time high year-to-date


 
December 4, 2012
 
 
Shares on the Philippine Stock Exchange closed broadly higher in active trading Tuesday, buoying the main PSEi to a 34th all-time high in the year-to-date.
 
 
Tuesday's trading results prompted Justino Calaycay Jr., senior analyst at Accord Capital Equities Corp., to say the “strength is legitimate,” supported by volume that makes the 5,800 target for the year “look feasible. It looks like it will be done.”
 
 
The strength is coming from “a strong economy... proven by the 7.1 percent GDP growth in the third quarter, which is already above the target,” Calaycay noted, saying “the five to six percent target has already been exceeded by default.”
 
 
In terms of foreign buying, “there were no significant spikes but a steady stream of foreign funds coming in... supporting the market,” said Accord Capital's analyst.
 
 
The main PSEi rose 33.58 points or 0.59 percent to end the session at 5,706.28.
 
 
More than 3.092 billion shares valued at P8.290 billion were traded, with all sub-sectors posting gains.
 
 
Winners led losers 76 to 75, with 56 issues unchanged.
 
 
While market players are waiting for a correction on the perception that Philippine stocks are expensive at 18 times earnings compared with the 15 times historic average, Calaycay said “we might be seeing a change of norms” in terms of the price-earnings ratio.
 
 
“Only if there is no support from company earnings can we say that stocks are overvalued, but company earnings are supportive of the valuation of stocks and the market's movement,” he noted.
 
 
With interest rates at historic lows, there is no way fixed-income placements can compete with the 30.5-percent gain of the PSEi in the year-to-date, he added, saying “the Philippine market is now the top perfromer in the world.” — BM, GMA News

Sunday, December 2, 2012

...the renaissance of choral music

Philippines seeing a renaissance in choral music


By Suisan Isorena-Arcega
 
 

CEU MALOLOS

Thanks to the seemingly unbreakable habit of Filipino choirs bringing home trophies and medals from the world’s most prestigious choral competitions, there is a renewed appreciation for choral music hereabouts—and the Yuletide season heightens it even more.

This is more than underscored in Manila Broadcasting Co.’s (MBC) National Choral Competition on Dec. 3-7 at Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

In keeping with MBC’s reputation as being attuned to the masa, the contest has been designed to draw public attention to the outstanding vocal talent in schools, churches, offices and the community, and at the same time provide grassroots entertainment.

Choral music has been part of community life in the Philippines since Spanish colonial times. Although indigenous island people did not have choruses, music—both instrumental and vocal—was certainly a part of their lives and rituals. Later, the rise of public and private education during the American era gave rise to choral groups on various campuses.


UNIVERSITY of Baguio Voices


The real explosion in local choral music, however, has occurred in the last 50 years, with the formation of groups reflecting social and musical emphases.

Today the Philippine choral community finds its members extending to both the public and private sector, with special-interest groups thrown in for good measure.

UP versus UST

The University of the Philippines has led the academic sector in putting a premium on choral music. Three of their groups—UP Concert Chorus; UP Singing Ambassadors; and what is now known as the Philippine Madrigal Singers—have taken the European circuit by storm.
 

PAMANTASAN ng Lungsod ng Maynila


With the help of alumni communities in the United States, Asia and the Middle East, they have made Filipino choristers a force to reckon with on the global musical stage. The Madz is the only choir to have won the European Grand Prix twice.

Not to be outdone, the University of Santo Tomas Singers has also been named Choir of the World at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in Wales twice. (Wales is a place in the United Kingdom where musicality seems to run in the blood.)

Being the oldest university in Asia, UST’s Dominican heritage links it to another ancient musical institution, the Tiples de Santo Domingo, which, having been founded in 1578, makes it also the oldest existing boys choir in the Philippines and, perhaps, in Asia.

The Dominican-Tiples shares honors with the Benedictine communities of Mendiola and Malaybalay in having produced the country’s finest all-male choruses.

Unsung heroes

Other schools such as the University of the East, Ateneo de Manila University, the University of San Agustin-Iloilo, University of the Visayas, Philippine Normal University, De La Salle University, Adventist University of the Philippines, Miriam College and Ilocos Norte National High School have earned their fair share of accolades overseas.

A slew of children’s choirs led by the Las Piñas Boys Choir, Loboc Children’s Choir, Mandaluyong Children’s Chorus, Vox Angeli, Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, and the Calasiao Children’s Chorus have all taken their turns at competing—and winning—in the World Choir Games.

ST. MARY University

 
But since Filipino choirs have reaped awards from major festivals abroad, particularly in Europe, all things being equal, beating another Filipino choir on home ground is the ultimate test.

Many choristers remain unsung heroes, and are often taken for granted. But community choristers are also volunteers who give much of their time to come to rehearsals, usually needing to take leave from work just to be there. They buy, rent or have their costumes made for concerts, usually on personal funds.

Unlike athletes who sometimes receive living allowances from their teams, some choristers even have to pay dues for the privilege of being in a chorus.

Why do they do it then?

Choral music adds great meaning and richness to their lives. In today’s depersonalized world of rush and stress, choral activity is one source available for people to be inspired, refreshed and rejuvenated.

Singing allows them to sift through emotions and feelings, but being in a chorus allows them to make friends who could empathize with whatever situation they’re in.



TARLAC State



Choristership, indeed, is one way of answering questions relating to the nature and purpose of contemporary music. After all, it is considered by many as being halfway between art and life, between aesthetics and reality.

In this year’s MBC National Choral Competition, for instance, Claude Debussy will be given equal treatment as National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon and Psy of “Gangnam Style” fame.

Contenders

A cursory look at this year’s roster of choirs which will be competing in the semifinals of the MBC National Choral Competition supports this view.

Seeing action in the Children’s Division will be Himig Bulilit of St. Paul Parañaque; Pasig Catholic College; Malate Catholic School; Juan Luna Elementary School; Batasan-Commonwealth Singing Voices; Himig Silangan; Himig ni Juan; Himig Pag-asa; Laoag City Children’s Choir; Fatirium Children’s Choir; Angelicus Children’s Choir; CES Himig ng Kabataan; GenSan’s The Voice; Banga Elementary School of Koronadal; Himig Hilaga of Lagao Central Elementary School; and the Angelicum Choir of San Fabian, Pangasinan.



UNIVERSITY of Manila Singers



Semifinal qualifiers in the Open Category include Regina Coeli; Coro Obscento; FEU Chorale; OMPHP Youth Ensemble IV; Coro Amadeo; Vox Amigos; Chorus Vocales; St. Mary’s University Choral Society-Bayombong; Tarlac State University Chamber Choir; Gloria Patri Singers; ISU-Ilagan Rhythmic Society; Voices and Graces Cultural Federation of Nueva Vizcaya State University; Junior Teens Choir of San Antonio de Padua; Leviticus Chamber Singers; La Salle Bacolod Chorale; Kinaadman Chorale of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University of Iloilo; Himig Sanghaya; Kammerchcr Manila; 2nd Chronicle Singers; University of Manila; Centro Escolar University-Malolos; Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro; University of Baguio Voices; Coro de Manila; Mariano Marcos State University CTE Choral Society; New UMAK Chorale; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Student Choral Society; Philippine College of Criminology-Manila Law College Chorale.

Even with the incredible diversity of opportunities today, people still want to create music as a gift they can offer back to another entity—whether God or the community. Listening to a choir—whether in school, at work, while worshipping in church or watching a high-profile competition, still give immeasurable fullness to our daily lives.

...the Duty Free Ad

Duty Free ad wins int’l acclaim



Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
 
 
 
MANILA, Philippines—“Paskong Pinoy,” Duty Free Philippines’ 2011 ad campaign that evokes “the Filipino Christmas spirit shared with family and friends after being far away” from home, has been recognized by two award-giving institutions, international and local, the DFP announced in a statement.

For “harnessing the emotions and nostalgia of today’s Global Pinoy, this campaign presented a complete range of powerfully evocative sights, sounds, symbols, festivities and traditions of a truly Filipino Christmas celebration,” the DFP, which marked its 25th anniversary this year, added.

The first citation came from the 28th Frontier Awards, an annual event held in Cannes and known as the “Oscars of the Travel Retail Industry.” For a second year, Duty Free Philippines was a finalist in the Best Marketing Campaign category, putting it in the same league as travel retail giants like Dubai Duty Free and the London Supply Group, the statement said.

In the country, DFP’s ad campaign was a finalist in the Philippine Quill Awards in the Marketing Communications category. The citation came from the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines, the local chapter of the San Francisco-based IABC which counts over 15,000 member in more than 80 countries.

...the best PH hospital

St. Luke’s hospital bags int’l accreditation anew


By Niña Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
 
MANILA, Philippines—St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City (SLMC-QC) on Friday announced the renewal of its international accreditation with the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world’s most prestigious accrediting body of healthcare organizations.



In a press conference, JCI lead surveyor Dr. Enrico Baldantoni reported that St. Luke’s-Quezon City had passed the international standards assessment for patient care and safety among others, and recently received notification of its accreditation—its fourth— from the JCI central office in Chicago, Illinois.

In 2003, SLMC-QC earned the distinction of being the first hospital in the Philippines and the second in Asia to be awarded JCI accreditation. It now claims to be the first to receive the award for a fourth time.

The JCI survey is conducted every three years to ensure that every hospital organization’s policies, procedures and evaluation methods are up-to-date and compliant with worldwide standards.

The accreditation means the healthcare that the hospital offers is benchmarked with the highest standards of care and safety practiced by renowned hospitals around the world, as set by the JCI.

“Earning accreditation from JCI is another step towards excellence in patient care,” St. Luke’s president and CEO, Dr. Edgardo R. Cortez, said in an e-mailed statement.

A team of three JCI surveyors—a physician, a nurse and an administrator—visited the SLMC-QC from Nov. 19 to 23. The team scrutinized various aspects of the hospital including facility management, infection control, patient safety, documentation of patient records, staff qualifications and disaster preparedness, and compared these to over 1500 international standards in continuous healthcare improvement.

In the global healthcare community, JCI is considered the authority in patient safety and quality improvement with a presence in more than 90 countries to date.

...the WWF International Board member

First Pinoy in WWF Int'l Board gets re-elected

12/02/2012
 
 
MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez was unanimously re-elected to the International Board of Trustees of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the organization announced.
 
 
 
Perez is the first and only Filipino to be elected as a member of the 14-person board and has served with distinction since 2010. His second term will be from 2013 until 2016.

"Vince brings to the Board the unpaired experience of private and public policy making, as well as a passion for conservation," said WWF International President Yolanda Kakabadse.

Perez became the Philippines' youngest Energy Secretary in June 2001 and served until March 2005.

He currently sits as Chairman of WWF-Philippines and the El Nido Resorts, and is the chief executive of renewable power company Alternergy Partners.

Among WWF-Philippines' achievements during Perez's term were revitalized engagements with corporate partners, enhanced cross-crounty collaboration between WWF-Philippines and other WWF organizations within Asia-Pacific, and four highly-celebrated years as the world’s most participative Earth Hour country.

"Each WWF International trustee brings to the table unique competencies. Aside from providing excellent insights as to the adoption of clean energy sources, Vince offers sound advice on the measured development of Asia and other developing nations," said WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan.

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997. It develops practical solutions to help the Philippines adapt to climate change, secure food and water sources, conserve endangered species, and promote renewable sources of clean energy.

The WWF is the world's leading conservation organization, with about 1,300 conservation projects and offices in over 100 countries and over five million supporters. Its International Board is responsible for the conduct, administration and representation of the organization globally.