...the kid designer

7-year-old Filipina named aircraft design competition winner


Gabriel  Baron
Manila Bulletin
05 October 2019

A seven-year-old Filipina was announced as regional winner in future aircraft design competition launched by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Helene Margaret Bariso Elias (front row in blue dress) joins the other winners of the ICAO competition on design of future aircraft. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Canada / MANILA BULLETIN)

Helene Margaret Bariso Elias received her award at awarding ceremonies held on September 22 in Montreal, Canada.

The Filipina was accompanied by her parents when she received the award.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia sent a letter to Elias early September informing her of her achievement ahead of the public announcement made by ICAO.

Garcia thanked Elias for “making the Philippines proud of her accomplishment at such a young age.”

...the winning photo

Fil-Am photographer wins NatGeo photo contest

 

 

CANDICE MONTENEGRO,

GMA News

03/21/2011

Fil-Am photographer Yen Baet's "Rainy Night in Hallstatt" won the National Geographic Exceptional Experience Photo Contest. www.yenbaet.com

Filipino-American writer-photographer Yen Baet won the grand prize of the National Geographic Exceptional Experience photo contest for her photo "Rainy Night in Hallstatt."

On her Twitter account, Baet announced that she won the photo contest: "It's official! Rainy Night in Hallstatt takes Grand Prize at NatGeo Photo Contest. Thanks for the support!"

"A heartfelt THANK YOU once again to those of you who saw this through & made it happen. Will always be grateful," she said in another tweet.

The contest results were also posted on the National Geographic website.

"Those votes were definitely hard-earned, and I can’t stress that enough. Most of it came from people I don’t even know and spurred on by genuine friends and family who believed that this was so important to me, enough for them not to ignore or consider trivial," she wrote on her blog.

Baet was born in the Philippines and is now based in England. She is the only Filipino to make it to the finals of the National Geographic photo contest. In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, she said she is proud to represent the country in the contest.

She bested five other finalists with her entry that was taken two years ago, on a rainy autumn day in the scenic village of Hallstatt in Austria.

The winner was selected through online voting, and each participant was allowed to cast only one vote. Only legal U.S. residents aged 18 years or older were allowed to vote.

The finalist entry that received the highest number of valid votes during the voting phase was declared Grand Prize winner.

Baet won for herself a nine-day trip for two to Peru, where she and a guest will visit the Incan mountaintop ruins of Machu Picchu, listen to music of the Andes, and attend a private weaving demonstration. The approximate retail value of the prize is $13,000.

The five runners-up will each receive a copy of National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs, valued at $35 per book. — RSJ, GMA News

...the "Galing Pook" town

Iloilo town gets USAID grant, wins Galing Pook award

February 26, 2011

Manila Bulletin

BINGAWAN, Iloilo — The municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo has won the much-coveted Galing Pook award for outstanding local governance programs, making it the sole winner from the Visayas in the annual search for best local government unit (LGU) for best LGU programs evidenced by positive results and impact, transferability and sustainability, efficient service delivery and the all-important aspect of people’s participation.

Bingawan earned high marks especially in the latter criteria with its program, “Pamangkutanon sang Banwa: Kwentahan hindi Kwentohan” or Citizens’ Query: Accountability, not Lip Service.”

Through a multi-sectoral initiative, the municipality asks candidates for public office to sign an agreement that they will be subjected to a Performance Evaluation Session called Pamangkutanon sang Banwa (PsB) or Citizens’ Query once elected.

The session is held twice a year after an election. Government officials meet with the townsfolk to discuss relevant governance, clarifications and recommendations on government projects, delivery of basic services, and campaign promises, among other issues.

Questions are written on paper and gathered in drop boxes. They are given to a screening committee before being put to the panelists. Questions not undertaken are passed to a drafting and consolidation committee for action.

These meetings are attended by as much as 2,000 participants, including high-school students. The activity assures townsfolk that public concerns are addressed directly and concretely. This performance-based system of governance also ensures that Bingawan’s officials are truly beholden to the people.

Projects like the construction and rehabilitation of Small Farm Reservoirs and the establishment of day care facilities have been given priority by the municipality. Townsfolk have also asked for a health center and mobile rice mill. The LGU has built a healthy relationship with civil society organizations functioning as members of the screening, panel and other action committees.

The municipality has also recently received a R1 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Transparent and Accountable Governance (TAG) Project implemented by The Asia Foundation.

...the Japan's new artist

Charice beats Justin Bieber in Japan's Tokio Hot 100

ABS-CBN - Friday,

February 25, 2011

 

Charice beats Justin Bieber in Japan's Tokio Hot 100

MANILA, Philippines - International singing sensation Charice added another feather in her cap as she won an award in Japan.

Charice won the J-Wave's Tokio Hot 100 Award for Best New Artist on February 24 in Japan, beating popular international artists like Ke$ha, Orianthi, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.

Tokio HOT 100 award is one of the major awards in Japan's music industry.

The good news was sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com by Charice's mother Raquel Pempengco.

Charice, dubbed as the "world's most talented girl in the world" by Oprah Winfrey, is gearing up for her second single and will be returning on US hit musical show "Glee" soon.

...the energetic journalist

MB's energy reporter wins ASEAN Journalism Award

 

Manila Bulletin

February 19, 2011

 

MB’s energy reporter Myrna M. Velasco (L) poses at the Green Technology Awards sponsored by German firm Siemens AG for ASEAN professional journalists during ceremonies held in Singapore last Feb. 14, 2011.

SINGAPORE – Manila Bulletin’s energy reporter, Myrna M. Velasco, has won one of the coveted awards in the Green Technology Journalism Awards sponsored by German firm Siemens AG for ASEAN professional journalists which was conferred last February 14 at the Conrad Centennial Hotel here.

Velasco was declared merit winner in the “Energy Efficiency Category” for her article-critique on the Philippines’ renewable energy policy, entitled: “The country’s renewable energy ambition: Fact or Fiction?”

With her winning piece, she joined the roll of other winners from leading publications in the ASEAN region, such as those from The Star of Malaysia; Singapore’s Straits Times; The Jakarta Globe;
Media Indonesia; as well as magazine publications like Newsbreak (Philippines); Vietnam Investment Review; and Thailand’s Engineering Today.

The winning articles have been chosen based on the journalists’ grasp and explanation of the subject matter; display of adequate research and analytical ability; as well as on the style of writing and presentation of ideas.

Apart from pre-qualification at country-levels, the winning entries were comprehensively chosen by a panel of international judges headed by Dr. Constantin Birnstiel, head of Corporate Communications at Siemens AG’s headquarters in Munich.

The approximately 200 entries considered in the pre-qualification process came from a wide spectrum of media outlets – from the mainstream news dailies and magazines from eight ASEAN countries, the contest-organizers have announced in a press statement. Winning entries were also chosen from the rank of undergraduate students under the young journalists’ category.

“We were very impressed with the quality of journalism displayed by the media in this region. The enthusiasm shown by journalists and editors toward our award program proves that sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in this part of the world – it has grown to become a real and pressing issue in both growing and developed economies,” said Mr. Lothar Herrmann CEO of Siemens Pte. Ltd. Singapore and CEO of Siemens ASEAN.

During the awarding rites, Siemens AG Chief Sustainability Officer and Member of the Managing Board Barbara Kux noted that the launch of the journalism award in ASEAN “is part of our effort to facilitate a deeper awareness of the global green transformation and appreciation for the profound effects of the world’s megatrends.”

She added that for Siemens, “sustainability means acting responsibly on behalf of future generations to achieve economic, environmental and social progress.”

...the slogan

PNoy's anti-corruption slogan wins Asian award

ABS-CBN - Friday, January 21, 2011

 

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bested other heads of state for his communications platform of promoting transparency and accountability.

He received on Thursday night in Hong Kong the PublicAffairsAsia’s Gold Standard Award for Political Communications.

Aquino won over Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor and first Prime Minister of Singapore; Ambika Soni, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting; British Prime Minister David Cameron; ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan; and Indonesian Politician Anas Urbaningrum.

PublicAffairsAsia Executive Director Craig Hoy said: “These awards celebrate the achievements of corporations, governments and NGOs and identify those professionals, consultancies and governmental figures who are driving this important process of engagement and partnership in Asia Pacific.”

PublicAffairsAsia is a network of senior government relations, public affairs and corporate communications professionals operating across the Asia Pacific region.

The group gave credence to Aquino’s “Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap” line that he has been trumpeting since the elections.

In fact, Aquino had made sure that this would be brought into the public consciousness, it said.
Aquino had even capitalized on different platforms to bring this to the public. His communications team, for example, made sure of the government’s presence in the Internet.

He also launched recently the Public-Private Partnership Center, a cornerstone of its economic policy.
His nomination was developed by EON, a stakeholder relations firm.

“We nominated President Aquino because we believed that he is the person to drive lasting change within the political landscape of the Philippines. It’s a great thrill to see that our efforts have translated in a concrete result not just for the President, but also for the country,” said EON Chief Executive Junie del Mundo.

Last year, the award went to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono due to his exemplary work in addressing corruption in Indonesia through his Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

...the lady weightlifter

Lifter Diaz wins silver in China tilt

By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

mb.com.ph

January 18, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — Olympian Hidilyn Diaz won a silver medal in the China Weightlifting Grand Prix in Fuijian, China over the weekend to boost her preparation of earning a slot in the 2012 London Games.

The 19-year-old Diaz, who finished fifth in last year’s Guangzhou Asian Games, had a total of 195kgs in the 58kgs category after lifting 85kgs in snatch and 110kgs in clean and jerk events.

Her performance was way below her national record of 210kgs which was the winning effort of local bet Deng Wei who had a lift of 90kgs in snatch and 120kgs in clean and jerk.

Nadia Hosni of Tunisia settled for bronze with 173kgs total lift – 76kgs in snatch and 97kgs in clean and jerk.

Her effort which is worth $3,000 is likely to boost her confidence when she competes in World Championship in Nice, France – the lone qualifying tournament for the London Games.

Diaz hopes to nail her second Olympic appearance after earning a wildcard berth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finishing 11th against most senior and

...short stories

FilAm nominated for literary Pushcart Prize

By Lisa Gray-Garcia
INQUIRER.net First Posted 16:07:00 01/09/2011

 

SAN FRANCISCO, California, United States—Filipino American Tony Robles, revolutionary poet, nephew and son of many disaporas, was nominated at the esteemed Pushcart Prize for his short story, In My Country, published in Mythium magazine (http://www.mythiumlitmag.com/).

The Pushcart Prize winners are to be announced in May 2011.

Robles is a deeply rooted community story-teller and poet of the people who follows in the footsteps of his uncle, the late Manilatown poet and historian Al Robles. His short story was nominated by Mythium editor Crystal Wilkinson (www.crystalwilkinson.com) for the Pushcart Prize.

From being a tenant organizer for elders in poverty in the Tenderloin, Mission, and Manilatown districts of San Francisco to being the co-editor and contributor of one of the most revolutionary media organizations in the nation, Poor Magazine/Prensa Pobre, Tony has never compromised his values, his community, or the voices of his multi-racial family of Filipino- and African-descended resistance fighters based in the increasingly gentrified San Francisco Bay Area.

This dedication to community, ethics, and resistance began as a young child with the teaching he received from his family of brilliant, conscious artists, and organic revolutionaries who, like himself, supported their families with work in the janitorial or service industry. Throughout his life of work and in the last two years, Robles has worked as a security guard. Through his own lens this "revolutionary worker scholar," as is the title of his Poor Magazine/PoorNewsNetwork column, has penned a series of brilliant narrative essays and short stories about workers, workplace injustices, and people struggling with poverty, homelessness, and racism in the US.

“In My Country was inspired by poverty and migrant scholar Jose Sermeno of the Apollo hotel located in San Francisco's Mission District," Robles said as he described his connection to the protagonist. He went on to point out that Jose was a tenant representative and worked with other migrants in poverty like himself who were working as day laborers.

In addition to working as a tenant advocate and community journalist, Robles authored two bilingual (English and Tagalog) children's books, published on Children's Book Press: Lakas and the Manilatown Fish and Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel. As well, Tony is a teacher and playwright who authored a play, Hotel Voices, which he co-produced with his wife, Lisa "Tiny" Gray-Garcia, co-founder and co-editor of Poor Magazine.

Hotel Voices is an innovative theater production which took place in the Single Room Occupancy Hotels of San Francisco and included a 20 week script-writing and performance workshop and was performed to sold-out audiences across the Bay Area in 2009.

The phrase "In my country", according to Robles, means in my heart, and with his heart, the protagonist of the story, like himself, brings his country, his heart, and his humanity into the struggle for place, home, memory, and justice into the increasingly cold and bereft land where all of us poor workers, migrants, elders, and families struggle to dwell.

...perseverance and determination

Pinay int’l student tops class in San Francisco

By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

12/22/2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Twenty-two-year old Mikhaelle Padilla Viernes is on top of the world — or at least at the top of her class.

Among the 300 students who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in the University of San Francisco last week, Viernes emerged as the summa cum laude.

Only the top 2% of the class receive this highest honor.

“I’m honored. I worked really hard and I feel successful in the endeavors I took — despite the hardships. I’m happy and I feel blessed,” said Viernes.

Viernes was an international student from the Philippines. In 2008, Viernes left behind her family and friends in the Philippines to study Applied Economics in the US. She received her F1 or student visa.

“Considering that the US is a first world country, I was hoping to learn valuable economic lessons that I could someday use to help the Philippines,” she said.

But her first few months in the US were not easy.

“I felt like an outsider coming in. But then after awhile, I got used to it. I got to know other people,” she said.

She also knew that not everyone is given the chance to study abroad, and so she persevered.
USF professor Sunny Wong said, “She’s really hardworking, very smart as well.  She always tries to do her best by studying hard.”

Viernes is just among the 700,000 international students who enrolled in US schools last school year. These foreign students pay top dollars — investing about $200,000 for a four-year course.

Viernes’ mother, Pearl, said their sacrifices are worth it. She said, “We are so proud of her not only as a child, but also a Filipina who is at the top of her class.”

Even with the tough economy, Viernes said she’s determined to land a good job.

She said, “Hopefully, I find a job in finance because that’s what I want to do for now.  I’ll just have to start looking for work and we’ll see how I can go from there.”

Viernes, who is now on an Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa, can work anywhere in the US for a year until she can find an employer who can sponsor her for a work visa. Balitang America

...literary masterpiece

Pinay author in longlist for Man Asian Literary Prize

12/21/2010

 

Author Cris Yabes at the Turtle Islands in Tawi - Tawi.

Filipina writer Criselda Yabes has made it to the longlist of the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize 2010 for her first fiction novel Below the Crying Mountain.

She is the lone Filipino among the 10 contenders that include Nobel Prize for Literature winner Kenzaburo Oe, who wrote The Changeling. The others in the longlist are:

Three Sisters by Bi Feiyu
Way to Go by Upamanyu Chatterjee
Dahanu Road by Anosh Irani
Serious Men by Manu Joseph
The Thing About Thugs by Tabish Khair
Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna
Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa
Monkey-man by Usha K.R.

Now on its fourth year, the Man Asian Literary Prize is an annual award that recognizes the best novels by Asian writers and carries a cash prize of US$30,000.

A shortlist of five novels will be announced in February 2011 and the winner will be announced during awarding ceremonies on March 17. This year's judges are British writer Monica Ali, Harvard University professor Homi Bhabha, and Malaysian novelist Hsu-Ming Teo.

Yabes is a journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman and has worked for several international news agencies. In 2008, Below the Crying Mountain won the UP Centennial Literary Prize for fiction in English.

The Man Asian Literary Prize website described her book as follows:

In Below the Crying Mountain the Moro rebellion that broke out in Sulu in the 1970s and that continues to wound the nation is seen vividly through the lives of the mestiza Rosy Wright, the Tausug girl Nahla, the rebel leader Prof. Hassan, the soldier Capt. Rodolfo as well as in the quest of the book’s narrator. The personal is political as war fuels the clash of emotions, histories, and cultures.

Among the five published books of Yabes are Sarena’s Story: The Loss of a Kingdom, which won the UP Centennial Literary Prize for Creative Non-Fiction.

Yabes lived in Paris for several years before returning to Manila in 2006. An excerpt from her latest book on Mindanao scheduled for publication next year was recently featured in the series of articles on the Ampatuan massacre anniversary on GMANews.TV, where she is an occasional contributor. - Jayme Gatbonton/YA, GMANews.TV

...the youth power

Alcala bags Singapore Youth crown

Manila Bulletin - Monday, December 20

 

MANILA, Philippines - Malvinne Ann Alcala capped her remarkable campaign in the Singapore Youth International Badminton Championships 2010 by beating local bet Xiaoyu Liang, 21-15, 21-18, to rule the girls' Under-17 crown at the Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall last Sunday in Singapore.

The 15-year-old Alcala got off to a hot start then held off the rallying Liang in the second set with a steady game to pull off the 37-minute victory before a dejected hometown crowd. "It was tough but I really gave my best shot to win this one," said Alcala, who reached the main draw of the tough Hong Kong Super Series last week. "This win only proved that we can be at par with the best."

The victory came on the heels of her 21-16, 21-19 triumph over Indonesian Febtria Adistra Ratoputri in the semifinal round. She earlier beat Nastasia Kristiani Patricia, 21-4, 21-7, then booted out another Indonesian, Uzchi, 21-8, 21-13, before downing Wing Yung Ng of Hong Kong, 21-11, 21-13, in the quarters.

The top-seeded Alcala's latest triumph also made her the player to beat in the Ming Ramos-Victor National Open, Youth and Corporate Badminton Championships unfolding Dec. 27 at Club 650 and PSC Badminton Hall. Registration for the Ming's-Victor Cup is ongoing, according to the organizing Philippine Badminton Association.

"This win is also a big boost for Phl badminton. I will continue to strive hard and train to bring more honors to the country," said Alcala, who also cited PBA president Amelita "Ming" Ramos for providing and supporting the Filipino players' campaigns abroad.

Alcala's title romp also averted a shutout for the Filipino campaigners who reached the semis in the other age-group divisions but lost their bids and settled for bronze medals.

...pambansang kamao

Pacquiao named for 'Boxer of Decade' award

December 20, 2010

mb.com.ph

The Pambansang Kamao in Action. The punch that Margarito never forgets.

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao heads a cast of champions nominated by the World Boxing Council (WBC) for the coveted Boxer of the Decade (2001-2010) award.

Also vying for the award are Americans Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, Mexican Erik Morales and Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.

Pacquiao was also nominated for the Boxer of the Year award, alongside Argentinian Sergio Martinez and Canadian Jean Pascal.

The WBC, headed by Jose Sulaiman, said the winners of the awards will be announced by the end of the year.

The past ten years have been amazing and memorable for Pacquiao, who fought a total of 19 times on US soil, winning 16 (12 by KOs), drawing twice and losing only once.

Since his electrifying American debut in June 2001, Pacquiao has been in the ring with the crème dela crème of prizefighting, racking up victories over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

This year alone, Pacquiao chalked up two impressive wins over much bigger men: Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

In 2011, Pacquiao is booked to surface possibly against Shane Mosley in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after a year-long absence.

Through the years, Pacquiao has received award from almost every award-giving body.

The 32-year-old Pacquiao, regarded as the current pound-for-pound king, has won the Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) three times, the same number of times The Ring magazine also named him for the same award.

The BWAA also named Pacquiao The Fighter of the Decade aside from being recognized by sports publications as the world’s premier puncher.

...film artistry

Emir cited for Best Artistic Contribution at the 34th Cairo International Film Festival

PEP - Sunday, December 12

 

 

 

The Filipino musical film Emir won the Youssef Chahine Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 34th Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt held last Thursday, December 9.

 

Director Chito Roño graced the closing ceremony held at the Opera House in Cairo to personally receive the trophy and plaque awarded by festival director Ezzat Abou Ouf.

This year's edition of the Cairo IFF screened 150 films from 70 countries in a span of 10 days.
This movie tells the story of an Ilocana nanny (played by Frencheska Farr) who risks her life to protect the son of a royal family in the Middle East.

Also starring Sid Lucero, Jhong Hilario, Dulce, Kalila Aguilos, Julia Clarete, and Beverly Salviejo, Emir was shot on location in Ilocos and Morocco.

This landmark film was produced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The Philippines also fielded two entries in the digital competition section of the Cairo IFF: Joel Lamangan's period film about activists, Sigwa, and Danny Anonuevo's military film, Rekrut. However, Mike De Jong won the Golden Award in this category for the film Joy.

With the award that he won, Direk Chito is planning to direct an independent film next year.
Prior to Cairo, Emir was shown in Montreal, Canada last August for the 34th World Film Festival and in South Korea last October for the 15th Pusan International Film Festival.

It was included in the lineup of the "A Window on Asian Cinema" category along with other Filipino films Chassis, Magkakapatid, and Donor.

Direk Chito would like to share this award with the FDCP (former chairperson Rolando Atienza and Digna Santiago as producers), CCP (Nestor O. Jardin), Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the actors and his staff: writer Jerry Gracio, cinematographer Neil Daza, production designer Rodrigo Riccio, editor Jerrold Tarog and musicians Ebe Dancel, Vin Dancel, Diwa de Leon, Gary Granada and Chino Toledo.

The FDCP, headed by its new chairman Briccio Santos, supported the participation of the Filipino films in Cairo.