...the summer's best place

Why the Philippines is the place to be this summer

By INQUIRER.net

Monday, March 17th, 2014

 

MANILA, Philippines – When you live in a country that fuses together urban sophistication, impressive skylines, gorgeous beaches and the friendliest people on this side of the world, it’s hard not to look forward to it at its finest – during the summer.

 

Yes, the Philippines boasts some of the most exciting prospects for the summer, so before you book that trip to the Maldives or Ibiza, here are few reasons to make you stay in the Philippines for the summer holidays.

 

1. You can go back in time

 

Well, okay – it doesn’t literally mean going back in time, but the Philippines is home to some of the most historic spots in the world! Corregidor Island, for one, is guaranteed to transport you back into the Second World War with its perfectly maintained Malinta Tunnel and Pacific War Memorial, among others.

 

 

 

 

But if that’s not up your alley, fear not – there are many other options to satisfy your craving for exciting history. There’s also Mactan Island to check out Magellan’s Cross,

 

 

 

or Fort Santiago to be a witness to the heroics of our countrymen during the Spanish era.

 

 

 

2. You can finally catch that perfect wave

 

Even Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers can attest to this – the Philippines boasts some of the best surf spots in the world. Be sure to check out Siargao Island for a thrilling adventure that will surely be the talk of the town for whole of the summer.

 

 

 

 

CNN agrees too – the Cloud Nine surfing hotspot on Siargao is among their Top 50 Best Surf Spots in the World. Now why would you want to miss out on that?

 

3. The food (Oh yes, the food)

From the sisig of Pampanga to the lechon of Cebu, there is no end to the culinary feast that The Philippines can bring. Yes, the Philippines is home to a wide range of quality dishes – both local and international fare.

 

Sisig

 

Lechon

 

 

 

Whether it’s a frosty glass of halo-halo by the beach that you’re craving for, or a sumptuous lechon dinner at the heart of the city, or a quick 2-piece chicken meal from Jollibee, the Philippines has it – and so much more.

 

Halo-halo

 

 

 

4. We have some of the best beaches ever

 

The summer is the perfect time to hit up the beaches around the Philippines – and there are just so many to choose from. There’s the gorgeous Bohol for one of the most scenic destinations in the country,

 

Alona Beach, Bohol

 

 

 

exciting Boracay Island for the partygoers and socializers

 

Boracay nightlife

 

 

and beautiful Palawan for some of the most exotic and solitary beaches in the Philippines.

 

El Nido, Palawan

 

 

Local travel website tripmoba.com has some enticing travel packages for many of the country’s top beach destinations, and it’s so simple to use – a few clicks and you’re in for a summer holiday you won’t ever forget.

 

5. The list never ends

 

The Philippines never seems to run out of things to do – whether it’s going on a hike up Mt. Pinatubo, riding horses in Baguio or partying the night away around The Fort or Capitol Commons. Yes, the Philippines offers a widely extensive list of things to do, making it the perfect summer destination for families, colleagues and friends alike.

 

6. There’s always something to do for everyone

 

You don’t have to worry about mom getting bored or your youngest brother getting restless this summer – there are so many things to do across many different age groups, and now that it’s summer, there’s even more time to do it. tripmoba.com has a wide range of flights, hotels and experience packages that cater to many different ages and interests, and all it takes is a click of a button. The up-and-coming Filipino website is so efficient that it’ll take just a few minutes to get your dream destination started.

 

 

The Philippines is really a melting pot of diversity – among people, cultures and natural wonders alike, and this summer, the country is set to take centre stage and show the world why it really is more fun in the Philippines.

 

...the Miss Universe Canada 2013

Pinay to represent Canada in 2013 Miss Universe

 

By Miguel Dumaual, ABS-CBNnews.com

05/28/2013

 

 

MANILA -- A former "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate is set to represent Canada in the upcoming 2013 Miss Universe pageant, after being belatedly declared winner in the national competition.

Riza Santos (left) is Miss Universe Canada 2013. Denise Garrido (right) is 3rd runner-up. Photos courtesy of the official website of Beauties of Canada

Riza Santos, who represented Calgary in the 2013 Miss Canada pageant, was named first runner-up during the coronation night held Sunday (Manila time).

Candidate Denise Garrido from Bradford was initially declared Miss Universe Canada.

On Tuesday (Manila time), however, pageant organizer Beauties of Canada (BOC) announced that it had erroneously announced the winner and runners-up of the competition.

In the "final results" released on BOC's official website, the organization said Garrido placed 3rd runner-up. Santos, whose parents are both Filipinos, was named Miss Universe Canada 2013.

Offering its "sincere apology" to Garrido, BOC said the "human error [in determining the winner was] discovered while validating the results."

It added: "Beauties of Canada congratulates Riza Santos as the winner of Miss Universe Canada 2013 competition, and looks forward to working with her as she prepares to represent our country at Miss Universe 2013."

The 25-year-old Santos is a veteran pageant contestant, having won two other beauty competitions in Canada -- Miss Earth in 2006, and Miss World in 2011.

Although born and raised in Canada, Santos is pure Filipino. Her father, Ruel Santos, is from Bulacan; while her mother, Dina Buenaventura, hails from Bataan.

In 2007, Santos was among the housemates of the second "Celebrity Edition" of the hit ABS-CBN reality TV show "Pinoy Big Brother."

With an estimated 1.6 million text votes, Santos won second place at the show's conclusion.
Following her stint as a housemate, Santos appeared in several Kapamilya programs, including the concert variety show "ASAP," and TV series like "Palos" and "I Love Betty La Fea."

As Miss Universe Canada, Santos will compete with the Philippines' delegate to the Miss Universe pageant, Ariella Arida, later this year.

 

...the Pinoys in Khmer country

Cambodians learn English from Pinoys

 

 

By Ryan Chua,

ABS-CBN News

11/17/2012

 

 

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – As countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prepare to be "one community" in 2015, students in Cambodia—this year's ASEAN host—are trying their best to learn English.

And they're learning fast, thanks to their teachers from a Southeast Asian neighbor, the Philippines.

Highly-regarded for their good English, many Filipinos teach in language schools and universities in Cambodia. Some 800 Filipinos here work as teachers, according to the Philippine embassy.

 

 

Gina Lopez, Associate Dean of the College of Management at the University of Cambodia

 

Gina Lopez, a university professor, is one of them.

In 2004, Lopez left her hometown Bataan for Phnom Penh, unsure about her fate. She worked for a non-governmental organization in the Philippines that catered to Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees, and never planned to be a teacher.

When she arrived in Cambodia, Lopez landed a job at an English language school, and then transferred to the University of Cambodia. After only a year in teaching, she became associate dean of the College of Management.

"Cambodians know that when it comes to English, Filipinos are good," Lopez told ABS-CBN News in an interview. "They admire and respect us. They know they will learn something from us."

One of her students, 23-year-old Sor Kalyan, says he is awed whenever he hears his Filipino teachers and their families speak in English.

"I used to be a student at Battambang province, where there are maybe 2 or 3 Filipinos. Their daughter and their son speak English like native speakers," he says.

Kalyan, who lives in a monastery, has been studying English for 5 years now. He believes it's his ticket to a better future.

Besides, he says almost everything on the Internet, which he uses for doing research, is in English.

"I want to be a teacher and also a businessman," says Kalyan.

Lopez believes Filipino teachers play an important role in helping Cambodians meet the challenges of globalization, after many years of the isolation and social instability in their country.

Many Cambodians are very eager to learn English, she adds, treating it as their "weapon" to compete in a globalized world and overcome poverty.

"Education is the foundation of progress. So if you're one of those building that foundation, your role is very important," Lopez said.

...the US investment in Bataan

US energy company to invest $1 B in Phl  By Pia Lee-Brago The Philippine Star June 10, 2012

Manila, Philippines -  Officials of GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant (GMCP) have informed President Aquino of their intention to expand their operations in the Philippines with an investment of close to $1 billion, according to the Philippine embassy in Washington.

During his visit to Washington, Aquino met with Dan Chalmers, chief executive officer of GN Power; Jason Oliver, senior vice president for Development of Sithe Global Power; and Robert Warburton of Denham Capital, when the President was informed of the coal plant expansion in Bataan to be able to provide more jobs to Filipinos.

The President thanked the group for their investment and expansion. He also noted that such investments are crucial for the economy to sustain and build on the 6.4 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of the year.

Aquino added the cost of power needs to be brought down to keep the Philippines competitive, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Meanwhile, Chalmers expressed confidence in the Philippines and informed the President that they would continue to explore possible projects in other parts of the country, such as Mindanao.

He also expressed his support for the President’s good governance initiatives and affirmed that recent successes are taking the Philippines in the right direction.

With the only committed base load power project in Luzon and the projected increase in power demand, GMCP intends to develop, construct, install and operate additional 2x300 megawatt (MW) power blocks.

The project is expected to have the lowest marginal operating cost of any coal project on the grid when completed. It will provide significant benefits to the local community by providing employment and reducing electricity costs.

Located in Mariveles, Bataan, the Board of Investments registered project involves the development of two identical 300 MW power blocks using Pulverized Coal Combustion technology.

The additional capacity would be situated adjacent to the first two 300 MW blocks, with construction expected to commence in the first quarter of 2013.

...the transparent government

Transparency drive lauded by investors

By MAR T. SUPNAD

August 18, 2011

Manila Bulletin

MARIVELES, Bataan, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III’s clampdown on graft and corruption earned a positive review from foreign investors, among them executives of a Hong Kong-based garments firm who noticed an “improvement” in government transactions in this industrial town.

Luen Thai President Raymond Tan said Thursday that the government’s campaign against corruption has improved a lot and this is the reason why his firm signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) for the setting up of a manufacturing plant here.

Tan did not pinpoint which particular agency of government he was referring to about corruption but newsmen gathered that there was a previous incident allegedly involving certain representatives of the Board of Investments (BoI) that hindered foreign investments.

Luen Thai’s project in this town will add to its other branches in Clark, Tarlac and Cebu, employing around 12,000 workers for its export-quality apparel brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Carhartt, Dillard’s and Levi’s, among others.

...the Bataan freeport

HK firm to invest $30M in Bataan freeport (philstar.com) August 17, 2011

 

 

By Punto Central Luzon

 

MARIVELES, Bataan – A Hong Kong firm on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) signaling the start of its operation here by the first quarter of 2012 with an initial investment of $30-million.

 

Raymund Tan, president of Luen Thai International, said they will be operating in Bataan their fourth unit in the country under Luen Thai Group Philippines.

 

The publicly-listed company in Hongkong will invest in fabric mill and garment-related factory in the former Bataan Economic Zone turned FAB that will create jobs for 6,000 workers.

 

He said that depending in the global market, he will increase investments in five years.

 

Luen Thai has been in the Philippines for 22 years with a unit producing polo shirts in Pampanga, another unit manufacturing Adidas products in Cebu and another area manufacturing coat with combined manpower of more than 20,000 workers.

 

In Bataan, he is eyeing the production of a well-known polo brand like the one he wore in the MOU signing.

 

When asked why he chose Bataan and not establish in Cebu or Pampanga where he already has been operating for some time, Tan mentioned his strategy of diversifying focus. He said that each of his unit focuses on one particular customer.

 

“The company will not fight for the same workers and management team in the same way that workers will not be competing in one area,” he said.

 

Adidas is one particular customer he meant. He said that to be successful, a firm has to partner with the right customer. “I chose my customer and I do not allow customer to choose me,” he said.

 

“There is a need to manage well, balance the market and to have incomes in yen, euro, dollar and other currencies to counter the weakening of the market because of the depreciation of the United States dollar,” he added.

 

Tan admitted that the poor showing lately of the U.S. dollar is a global problem that affects many countries.

 

“But it opens new opportunity because when the American currency weakens, we will see China coming up and other Asian countries growing fast,” he said.

 

Joel Villanueva, director general of the Technical Education Skills Development Administration, said that TESDA is ready to supply Luen Thai with skilled and competent workers.

 

The former partylist representative even announced that Pres. Benigno Aquino by text has sent congratulatory message to Bataan officials, FAB management while thanking Luen Thai.

 

Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second District said that FAB is the most strategic location for investments being nearest to Manila.

 

The Bataan Freeport, the congressman said, offers generous incentives, has ready facilities already existing, has highly-reliable manpower and has deep harbor that will complement the seaport in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and airport in Clark, Angeles City.

 

As add-on advantage, the young Garcia said that Bataan will soon have the cheapest power with the operation of GN Power, a Chinese firm, in Mariveles.

 

The Bataan lawmaker is the principal author in the House of Representatives in the creation of the Area of the Freeport Authority in Bataan (AFAB). He is chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry.

 

For his part, Gov. Enrique Garcia announced that they will be building a temporary port since AFAB is still preparing a master plan for a permanent port facility.

...the nuclear tourism

Philippines launches nuclear tourism

By Karl Malakunas

Agence France-Presse

06/27/2011

BATAAN, Philippines - In a fresh but ambiguous take on ecotourism, travelers in the Philippines can visit a remote turtle sanctuary and then venture into the heart of a nearby nuclear power plant.

If tourists feel too weary to make the 3-hour bus drive back to Manila after their unique day of sightseeing, they can stay at a guesthouse overlooking pristine South China Sea waters at the atomic site's private beach.

This tour-with-a-difference is part of the government's latest effort to make use of the idle Bataan Nuclear Power Plant -- one of the country's most expensive and troublesome burdens.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant will be opened to tour groups. (AFP: Ted Aljibe )

"This will be the only tourist-friendly nuclear power plant in this part of the world," Dennis Gana, spokesman for state-owned power firm Napocor that runs the site, said over a lunch of barbecued tuna steaks and chicken at the beach.

"You don't see a nuclear power plant every day. Especially a nuclear reactor... so I think for most people it would be very thrilling."

Built nearly 3 decades ago under the rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos for about $2.3 billion, the plant has never produced a watt of energy and continues to cost taxpayers more than $10,000 a day to maintain.

Uranium was actually trucked into the site in 1984 and, for nuclear power advocates, the switch was at that point tantalisingly close to being turned on.

But the plant's fate was doomed in 1986 as Marcos was overthrown in a revolution and global fears over atomic energy spiked with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine.

Critics of the Bataan venture had also insisted the plant was built too close to earthquake fault lines, and that it was madness to entrust such a dangerous venture as nuclear energy to the corrupt Marcos regime.

Nevertheless, despite safety concerns over nuclear energy rising again amid the ongoing crisis at Japan's tsunami-ravaged Fukushima plant, Napocor and some politicians still dream of reviving the Philippines' only atomic power option.

"We are not saying we should go nuclear 100%, we are saying we should include nuclear in the power mix," Gana said.

A bill seeking to get the plant running is before Congress, although even Filipino nuclear adcovates concede there is little chance of it becoming law during President Benigno Aquino's administration, which runs until 2016.

Gana said promoting the Bataan site for tourists, which began after the Fukushima plant melted down in March, was aimed at raising money to pay for the Philippine site's maintenance budget but also to show it was safe to revive.

"Because of what happened in Fukushima, this facility has been dragged into the nuclear issue. We have to show the difference between this and Fukushima and why what happened there wouldn't happen here," he said.

In this light, Napocor is aiming to attract students from around the country and the globe to tour the Bataan plant.

Local authorities in conjunction with Napocor have also recently begun including the plant on a day-tour itinerary of the area that takes in the turtle sanctuary, branding the trip perhaps a little ambitiously "ecotourism".

For an entry ticket into the plant of just P20 (50 cents), tourists get a tour of the enormous concrete structure that sits 18 meters (60 feet) above the ocean on a mountainside.

The first part of the tour involves a power point presentation that explains the safety features of the plant, including its apparent ability to withstand a nine-magnitude earthquake.

Visitors are also assured there is no uranium at the site -- the nuclear material was sold in 1997 at a huge loss of $35 million.

One of the most remarkable stops on the tour is on a steel bridge just a couple of meters (yards) from the reactor, the rods for which are still wrapped in the plastic that they came with when they were installed.

From the reactor, tourists walk along submarine-like passages into the control center, which similarly has barely been touched since the 1980s.

What was once state-of-the-art equipment -- a computer the size of a desk, analogue phones, dot matrix printers -- stands as a monument to how quickly technology becomes obsolete.

Gauges showing how much energy the 620-megawatt plant is producing sit, as they always have, on zero.
And while rust has corroded other parts of the plant, Cora Balduyot, a chemical engineer who works permanently on site and helps to take the tours, said getting it working again was possible.

She pointed to a 2009 study by a South Korean power firm that said the plant could become operational again within 4 years -- although it would cost $1 billion to upgrade.

After the tour of the plant, visitors can go for a swim or have lunch at the 356-hectare (880-acre) site's private beach, where hammocks hang under trees and goats roam the hillsides above.

The former environment monitoring station on the beach has also been been turned into a guesthouse that can hold 45 guests, and the accommodation is cheap.

One of the smaller rooms, which can sleep 7 people, can be rented for just P2,700 ($65) a night.

In a twist to Napocor's efforts to attract visitors, anti-nuclear environment group Greenpeace International has embraced the tour packages and similarly labelled them "ecotourism", but for the opposite reasons.

"Greenpeace supports the decision to finally turn the BNPP into something more practical: a monument to remind people of the inherent dangers of nuclear power," Manila-based Greenpeace campaigner Francis Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz accompanied a group of nature club members, travel bloggers, photography enthusiasts and adventure race organizers on a tour of the site this month.

And despite the differences over the merits of nuclear power, DeLa Cruz agreed with Napocor's Gana that visiting the plant was a fascinating experience and it could prove an unlikely tourism hit.

"How many people can put a photo on Facebook of themselves taken from the middle of a control room of a nuclear power plant?" Dela Cruz said.