...the lovers' paradise

Pinoys top global 'love ranking' - report

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

02/14/2013 

 

 

 MANILA, Philippines - Pinoys have been identified as the most emotional in the world, and now another survey said they are the ones who get the most love.

 

In keeping up with Valentine's Day, Bloomberg.com said the Philippines topped a Gallup survey of 136 countries which asked: "Did you experience love for a lot of the day yesterday?"

The following are where most of the respondents felt most loved:

1. Philippines - 93%
2. Rwanda - 92%
3. Puerto Rico - 90%
4. Hungary - 89%
5. Cyprus - 88%
6. Trinidad and Tobago - 88%
7. Paraguay - 87%
8. Lebanon - 86%
9. Costa Rica - 85%
10. Cambodia - 85%

Meanwhile, these are the countries that occupied the bottom of the list:

136. Armenia - 29%
135. Uzbekistan - 32%
134. Mongolia - 32%
133. Kyrgyzstan - 34%
132. Georgia - 43%
131. Belarus - 43%
130. Morocco - 43%
129. Kazakhstan - 45%
128. Moldova - 46%
127. Tajikistan - 47%

The Gallup survey was conducted in 2006 and 2007.

...the 2013 Miss Tourism International winner

Filipina Wins Miss Tourism Int’l Title

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

Manila Bulletin

January 1, 2013

 

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippines continued its winning streak in international beauty pageants after Miss Philippines Rizzini Alexis Gomez was crowned 2012 Miss Tourism International during a New Year's Eve pageant held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the second time that the Philippines captured the title, initially won by Ma. Esparanza Manzano in 2000, in the beauty contest, which is the most extensive pageant that promotes the tourism industry.

Gomez, 22, a registered nurse, bested 55 other global beauties for the coveted title. At the same pageant, the Cebuana beauty, who stands 5’10”, also won Best In Evening Gown. Gomez is the daughter of former basketball player Roel Gomez of Alaska. She is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.

Other winners were Miss Venezuela Marieles Alejandra Perez (Miss Tourism Global), first runner-up; Miss Australia Monika Rodulovic (Miss Tourism Metropolitan), second runner-up; Miss Paraguay Lourdes Rolon (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan), third runner-up; and Miss Malaysia Jun Yong Wan Jun (Darling of the Year), fourth runner up.

With two winners from the Philippines, the country now ties for the most number of wins with India (2001, 2008) and Poland (1998,1999).

Gomez earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2012 Miss Tourism International when she was crowned 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism. She also bagged the Best In Swimsuit, a major special award, in the same national beauty contest.

Earlier, Gomez also joined the 2012 Miss Philippines World beauty pageant, won by Queenrich Rehman, who made it to the semis of the 2012 Miss World beauty contest held in Ordos, China.

Other Philippine representatives who placed in the Miss Tourism International contest in recent years were Barbara Salvador (third runner-up, 2010), Sherilynne Reyes (third runner-up, 1995), Mellany Montemayor (second runner-up, 1998), Racquel Uy (first runner-up, 1999), and Maria Riza Martinez (fourth runner-up, 1994).

Introduced in 1994, the Miss Tourism International beauty contest is operated by its president and franchise owner Datuk Danny Ooi. While the pageant is usually held in Malaysia, the contest has been staged in China in 2006. No contest was held in 1996, 1997 and 2007.

Gomez’s victory capped a successful year for Filipinos in international beauty contests in 2012. Last week, Janine Tugonon won first runner-up in the 61st Miss Universe beauty contest held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other winners were Kevin Balot, Miss Tourism Queen International; June Macasaet, 2012 Manhunt International, both crowned in Bangkok,Thailand; Andrew Wolff, 2012 Mr. World, first runner-up, in London; Elaine Kay Moll, 2012 Miss Supranational, third runner-up, in Poland; Stephanie Stefanowitz, 2012 Miss Earth, first runner-up, in Manila; and Ayellee Marie Dasalla, 2012 Miss Humanity International, second runner-up, in Barbados. Nicole Schmitz also placed in the semis of the 2012 Miss International beauty contest in Japan.

...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 Madz in Argentina

UP Madrigal Singers make triumphant debut in Argentina

 

 

08/20/2011

GMA News

The world-famous Philippine Madrigal Singers made a triumphant debut at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, one of the world’s leading opera houses, earning a standing ovation and bravos from some 2,000 spectators.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the University of the Philippines’ Madrigal Singers or “Madz" performed in a joint concert with the Coro Universitario de Mendoza – UN Cuyo (CdM) last Aug. 13.

“Dubbed as the concert of two champions of choral singing from Asia and Latin America, the evening event was attended by over 2,000 invitees from the Argentine government, the diplomatic corps, the academe and business sectors, the small Filipino community in Argentina, as well as a large number of Argentine music enthusiasts," the DFA said in a news release.

The DFA said the audience was greatly impressed by the two champion choirs’ exceptional performances of their individual repertories of sacred, avant-garde, folk, and popular songs.

Both choirs, which were past winners of the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, were directed respectively by Silvana Vallesi of the CdM and Mark Anthony Carpio of the Madz, it added.

The Madz was the first and only Asian choir to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 1997, while the CdM was the first and only Latin American choir to bag the coveted award in 2009.

Following its successful participation in the 9th World Symposium for Choral Singing in Puerto Madryn in southern Argentina last Aug. 7 to 10, the Madz is the only Filipino chorale to have performed in the world-renowned theater.

Among the organizers of the Aug. 13 event included the National University of Cuyo of the Argentine province of Mendoza and TecPlata of the ICTSI Group of Companies.

Tributes

The two choirs also paid tribute to each other’s countries, with the CdM performing Veni Creator Spiritus by Alejandro Consolación II of the Philippines, while the Madz singing the tango Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla of Argentina.

As a finale, both choirs rendered a joint rendition of Tangata, another Piazzolla composition.

The DFA noted the event was a celebration of the fraternal ties of friendship between Argentina and the Philippines.

As a gesture of appreciation, Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang hosted a dinner at the embassy for the members of both choirs at the end of the concert.

Teatro Colon

The DFA noted Teatro Colón is considered one of the world’s top five opera houses in terms of acoustics.

Since its inauguration in 1908, the architectural landmark hosted the performances of the world’s greatest musicians, orchestras, opera singers, composers, as well as orchestra conductors including Argentine-born Daniel Barenboim.

“After several years of extensive renovation, the theater had a grand reopening last year on the anniversary of Argentina’s Bicentennial of Independence," it said.

Surprising revelation

The DFA said the Teatro Colón audience was “awed" by the “extraordinary technique, varied colors and engaging warmth of the Madz’s a cappella singing" and its “uncommon style of rendering songs while seated in a semicircle without a conductor."

“Each of the songs was generously applauded by the audience who, at the end of the Madz’s individual repertory, spontaneously rose to its feet to enthusiastically cheer the Madz in an atmosphere of heart-warming rapport between the performers and the spectators," the DFA said.

It added many in the audience, including the members of the Filipino community, approached the embassy officials to convey their appreciation for such a memorable concert.

“The Madz has once again shown that it is indeed among the best ambassadors of goodwill of the Philippines," it said.

More concerts

Several other concerts organized by the embassy are in store for the Madz in Buenos Aires and La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, from August until early September.

The embassy also organized the Madz’s concerts in Paraguay and Uruguay, countries under its jurisdiction.

“It is most fitting that the first performance in Latin America by the country’s premier choral group takes place in Argentina, a leading country in culture and in the arts in the region," the DFA said. – JE, GMA News