...the Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019

Cebuano nurse Campos wins Mister Tourism and Culture 2019 title




Michelle Joy L. Padayag
Cebu Daily News
01 September 2019

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano nurse, Yves Campos, has brought pride to the Philippines after winning the Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 held in Myanmar on the evening of August 31, Saturday.

The announcement of winners was made by the pageant’s official page where Campos bested 14 other candidates. 

A video of his final question and answer was shared on his official Facebook fan page.

The question was, “As an ambassador of tourism, what will you do to improve and promote the tourism industry worldwide?”

The Cebuano nurse answered, “Technology has been everywhere in our hands. If given the honor to be the next Mr. Tourism and Culture Universe, I will use this to promote tourism. Social media has been the most powerful tool but I believe the best way to do is vlogging. Vlogging is a short video where people can share their experience. Recently, I created a vlog and it created a big impact. If given the chance, I will give my 120 percent to promote tourism through the use of vlogging. 

Because I believe that tourism is part of our country’s identity and we should be proud of it.”

CDN Digital tried to reach out to Campos for a reaction but to no avail as of 2 p.m. of September 1, Sunday. 

Completing Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 court are Quach Thanh Lam of Vietnam (first runner-up), Donghun Chun of Korea (second runner-up), Ravi Rajput of India (third runner-up), Francisco Roberto Galvez of El Salvador (fourth runner-up), and Guillaume Canada of France (fifth runner-up). 

According to Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019’s page, the pageant aims to promote local culture and tourism on the international platform.

Before the finals night, Campos shared his introduction and promotional video where he emphasized that Filipinos are friendly, nice, and hospitable to local and foreign tourists. 

The Filipino games like luksong baka and palo-sebo were also featured in the video.

He visited religious and historical sites like the Magellan’s Cross and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu in Cebu City and the Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Carcar City. 

Filipino food was also part of his highlights like tempura, halo-halo, banana cue, and barbecue at Cebu City’s larsian.

Campos is a native of Sibonga town who works as a nurse in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 is Campos’ second international stint.

In 2017, he joined Misters of Filipinas and won the Misters of Filipinas – Supranational 2017.

The national title gave him the opportunity to represent Philippines in Mister Supranational 2017 held in Poland where he finished Top 20. | dbs

...the UN body chief

Phl heads UN body on status of women

              

By Pia Lee-Brago

The Philippine Star

September 23, 2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has assumed chairmanship of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan has assumed the chairmanship of the Bureau for the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, a move that is seen as the international community’s recognition of the Philippines’ leadership.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Every year, representatives of member states gather at UN headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide.

In a statement, Cabactulan said that the Philippines is thankful for the “confidence placed by the international community” in an important UN body.

“The Philippines is honored by this position of leadership which recognizes the country’s long-lasting and continuing commitment to gender equality and the advancement of women. Under the Philippines’ leadership, we will continue to build on the Commission’s accomplishments and help ensure that current efforts contribute to a future of gender equality and empowerment of women,” Cabactulan said.

The priority theme for the 58th session of the CSW, which will take place in March 2014, is “Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls.”

Other members of the bureau for the 58th CSW session include Christine Loew (Switzerland), representing the Western European and other states group; Neli Shiolashvili (Georgia), representing the Eastern European states; Mohamed Elbahi (Sudan), representing the African states, and Carlos Garcia (El Salvador), representing the Latin American and Caribbean states.

The Philippines served as vice chair representing the Asia Pacific group during the 56th and 57th sessions of CSW.

It facilitated the agreed conclusions of the 57th session of CSW and played an instrumental role in breaking an impasse from 2003, when states were unable to reach common ground on ending violence against women and girls.

A record 146 UN member and observer states and 11 groups of states addressed the meeting.
Nearly 3,000 representatives of nongovernment organizations attended.

Media coverage in more than 50 countries was unprecedented, including a prominent editorial in The New York Times.

 

...the greater PHL role

Intl democracies group wants PHL to take leadership role

August 24, 2013

GMA News

A Warsaw-based international democracy group wants a greater leadership role by the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

 

 

The DFA said Community of Democracies (CD) secretary general Ambassador Maria Leissner wants the Philippines to chair or co-chair a Working Group within the grouping.

 

 

Leissner told Philippine Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann Paez during an Aug. 13 meeting at the Philippine Embassy that the Philippines could chair or co-chair the Working Group on Democracy and Development, or "other working groups which would be of interest to the Philippines."

 

 

In a news release, the DFA said Leissner will visit Manila in November for a speaking engagement during the 20th anniversary of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).

 

 

Paez said the Philippines initiated the formation of the International Conference of New and Restored Democracies (ICNRD) in 1988 during the term of then-President Corazon Aquino.

 

 

Mrs. Aquino was installed in Malacañang through a peaceful revolt that ousted then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

 

 

Leissner suggested that the ICNRD be associated or affiliated with the CD.

 

 

Open govt partnership

 

 

The DFA said Leissner also inquired if the Philippines is a member of Open Government Partnership (OGP), an initiative of US President Barack Obama to foster transparency and accountability by governments.

 

 

Paez told her the Philippines is one of the eight original members of the OGP's Steering Committee, adding President Benigno Aquino III attended the OGP’s launching in New York.

 

 

She added the Philippines was chosen to be one of the Steering Committee members in recognition of the Aquino administration's efforts against graft.

 

 

Philippine Budget Secretary Florencio Abad serves as the Philippine government’s lead person for the OGP, she said.
 

Meanwhile, Paez said she will propose a program of activities for Leissner's official visit to the Philippines, including a possible meeting with women's groups.
 

The CD is an intergovernmental organization established in 2000 to strengthen democracy worldwide by providing support to emerging democracies and civil society.

 

 

Its current president is El Salvador, even as the Philippines and Poland are members of the 24-member Governing Council of the CD. — 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.