...the Miss Tourism International 2019

Filipina wins Miss Tourism International 2019 pageant in KL


Bernama/New Straits Times
09 November 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Cyrille Payumo of the Philippines was crowned Miss Tourism International 2019/2020, beating 39 other contestants at the pageant finals held here, on Friday night.

Charming her way into the judges’ hearts, the 22-year-old will now be realising her dream of pursuing her studies in Mass Communications, as the pageant crown comes with a prize of a scholarship for a course of her choice at any LimKokWing University of Creative Technology, worldwide.

The four-year tertiary study sponsorship for Miss Tourism International 2019/2020 winners and runners-ups was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between the university and Miss Tourism International at the university’s main campus on Nov 1.

Overjoyed Payumo later said: “It is a good stepping stone for me to win, as I would love to pursue my higher studies in Mass Communications and to be able to interact and to touch people’s hearts by being a tourism advocate not only to my country, but to the world.”

She added that she is a language enthusiast, and singled out Malaysia as the best place to learn new languages such as Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil.

This year’s competition – the 22nd edition of the pageant – was themed “Embracing Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020” aimed at promoting Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

The pageant was first held in Sarawak in 1994.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Malaysian contestant, Cheryl Loo Wen Nee, managed to make it into the top 10. She won three out of 16 subsidiary titles – Miss Gintell Wellness, Miss Glamorous Carlo Rino and Miss Glorious Beautiful. – BERNAMA

...the World E-Sports Games SEA champion

PH still overall World Electronic Sports Games SEA champion


Gabriel Pe
Spin.ph
05 November 2019

THE PHILIPPINES  was names overall champion in the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) Southeast Asia for the second year in a row, after getting three podium finishes out of four events.


TNC Predator repeated as regional champ for DOTA 2 after beating Vietnamese team 496 Gaming in a thrilling three-game title series,

The predominantly Filipino squad looked out of form in the opening match, losing key team fights in the late game and ultimately crumbling against their SEA rivals. Backs against the wall, TNC bounced back with a quick sub-30-minute Game 2 to set up a rubber match.

The winner-take-all appeared to be going in 496's favor, as the Viets picked off heroes in the early and mid-game. However, Kim "Gabbi" Villafuerte's Naga Siren was left unchecked and the reigning champions were able to turn the game around with crucial team fights.

TNC, which swept the group stage (4-0), pocketed 7,500 USD — about P379,000 — for coming out on top of the regionals and now have the chance to defend their title in the WESG Global Finals, which will happen March next year.

It was a different story for the country's StarCraft II representative in the upcoming SEA Games, though, as Caviar "EnDerr" Acampado failed to secure back-to-back WESG regional championships and fell to last year's runner-up, Tran "MeomaikA" Hong Phuc from Vietnam. Both players qualified for the global finals.

EnDerr, who netted $2,000 or about P100,000, managed to take the opener, but MeomaikA maintained composure to go all the way in the Zerg versus Zerg matchup.

Meanwhile, female CS:GO Team Amplify took home bronze and the same prize money as EnDerr.

The group of Kyung In "Tr1cks" Lee, Tiara "Alluka" Pleno, Pat "c0ffee" Lagua, Aya "Kuchii" Kashikawa, and Daisy "Dzai" Madulin lost to Indonesian squad Celeste in the semifinals, then beat Thailand's Mystery to finish third.

...the World Travel Awardees

World Travel awards Asia and Oceania 2019 winners announced in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Tatiana Rokou
Travel Daily News  
 14 October 2019

The finest travel brands in Asia and Oceania have been unveiled at a star-studded gala ceremony in Vietnam. The elite of the travel industry assembled for the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2019 on the pristine island of Phu Quoc to find out who amongst them had been crowned best of the best.

   

Winners at the red carpet ceremony included Philippines Department of Tourism, which was named ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’ following a year of impressive visitor arrival growth. The stunning natural beauty and intriguing culture of Vietnam was acknowledged with the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’, whilst New Zealand fended off stiff competition to emerge as ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’.

Hundreds of the travel industry VIPs from Asia and Oceania attended the evening at Vinpearl Convention Center Phu Quoc, the state-of-the-art meeting and event facility and the latest addition to the five-star Vinpearl Phu Quoc integrated complex.

Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said: “It has been an honour to host WTA at the Vinpearl Convention Center Phu Quoc. This fabulous addition to the Vinpearl Phu Quoc integrated complex has proven a gracious host of what has been a spectacular evening of travel triumph, and a highlight of our 26th Grand Tour. We have had the privilege of recognising many of the leading hotels, airlines and hospitality providers from across Asia and Oceania and my congratulations to each of them.”

Dang Thanh Thuy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Vingroup, said: “Vinpearl is proud to have hosted the WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2019 at our Vinpearl Convention Center on Phu Quoc Island. On this special occasion, we have been honoured to present a charming image of modern Vietnam to international visitors, as well as the world’s leading tourism and hospitality brands. This significant event has offered Vinpearl a golden opportunity to showcase its world-class all-inclusive resort complex at Phu Quoc, Asia’s most promising island destination, as well as to promote Vietnamese tourism to the global travel industry.”

In the aviation sector, Singapore Airlines was named ‘Asia’s Leading Airline’ whilst an unprecedented fleet upgrade helped Vietnam Airlines lift the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’. AirAsia collected ‘Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’ and Singapore Changi Airport was named ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’. Oceania winners included Air New Zealand (‘Oceania’s Leading Airline’) and Brisbane Airport (‘Oceania’s Leading Airport’).

The enchanting mix of French Indochine haute couture in a breathtaking mountain setting led Hotel de la Coupole MGallery by Sofitel to be voted ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’. Other newcomer winners included Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (‘Asia’s Leading New Resort’) and Van Don International Airport (‘Asia’s Leading New Airport’).

Vinpearl’s contribution to Vietnam’s travel and tourism economy was acknowledged with victories for Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc (‘Asia’s Leading Family & Beach Resort’) and Vinpearl Discovery 2 Phu Quoc (‘Asia’s Leading New Villa Resort’).

Hospitality winners included The Grand Ho Tram Strip (‘Asia’s Leading Resort’); The Ascott Limited (‘Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’); InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (‘Asia’s Leading Green Resort’); Conrad Hotels & Resorts (‘Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Brand’) and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel Brand’); and InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto (‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel’).

Travel provider winners included Vietravel (‘Asia’s Leading Tour Operator’), Abercrombie & Kent (‘Oceania’s Leading Tour Operator’) and RezLive.com (‘Asia’s Leading B2B Travel Provider’).
  
The VIP ceremony formed the sixth and final leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2019 – a search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world. Other 2019 regional ceremonies included Montego Bay (Jamaica), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Mauritius, Madeira (Portugal), La Paz (Bolivia), with the winners progressing to the Grand Final in Muscat (Oman) on 28.                                            

...the Pinoy world surfing champ

Surfing: PH’s John Mark Tokong tops world competition in hometown Siargao

Kleeseter Macasero

ABS-CBN News

11 October 2019

GENERAL LUNA, Surigao del Norte—Local surfer John Mark Tokong on Wednesday afternoon won the 25th Siargao Cloud 9 International Surfing Cup in this town's world-renowned Cloud 9 surf break with only 45 seconds remaining in the heat.

John Mark Tokong of the Philippines nails a 360 air reverse after a successful barrel over the renowned Cloud 9 break, keying his win during the finals of the 25th Siargao Cloud 9 International Surfing Cup in General Luna town, Surigao del Norte, on Wednesday. Kleester Macasero, ABS-CBN News

The Siargao competition is part of the World Surfing League (WSL) qualifying series.

Tokong's win is his second after the WSL-Asian Surfing Championship QS 1,500 Siargao International Surfing Cup in 2015, and it enabled him to redeem himself of a 2018 loss.

Tokong, 23, locally known as Marama, thrilled fans in a late comeback during the final heat of the competition, edging out a few points 16.80 to 16.75 against island surfer Noah Beschen from Hawaii, and besting 64 competitors from 13 countries to win. 

“I just had to stay calm and cool amid the pressure, I did not push or rushed, but of course I gave it my best,” Tokong said.

The victory came as a sweet redemption for Tokong after a loss to Skip McCullough of the US in the 2018 finals of the WSL Siargao Cloud 9 International Surfing Cup.

McCullough returned to Siargao, but he and Koby Oberholzer of South Africa were eliminated in Round 3 of the competition sending Tokong and Australian Thomas Cervi to the quarterfinals. 

In the quarterfinals, Tokong beat Indonesia’s Oney Anwar 18.75 to 9.50 points to give the Filipino surfer a lead toward the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Tokong gave his best run with a 9.50, 9.55, 8.60 and capping off with a 8.75 to top Tomas King of Costa Rica 19.05 to 15.30. 

John Mark Tokong of the Philippines nails a 360 air reverse after a successful barrel over the renowned Cloud 9 break, keying his win during the finals of the 25th Siargao Cloud 9 International Surfing Cup in General Luna town, Surigao del Norte, on Wednesday. Kleester Macasero, ABS-CBN News

Spectacular finals

In the finals, even with a few good barrels, Tokong and Beschen began to look more to the air for scores as the classic Cloud 9 tubes became harder to find. The two went toe to toe, with Tokong holding the upper hand a majority of the 40-minute matchup.

Tokong's first two waves initially gave him the lead, 9.00 and 5.75 respectively, but Beschen made a series of quick rides on the wave giving him 8.15 and 6.25 and several more waves than what Tokong was giving.

With only two minutes left, Beschen took off on a set and lined up for a tube that never eventuated, forcing him to launch a massive straight air slob grab. Beschen landed the air smoothly and posted an 8.60 to take the lead and what looked to be his first qualifying series victory.

Then Tokong swung on a set wave with 45 seconds and pulled into a deep tube as the 20-second countdown started, came out and bashed the lip, posting a 7.80 and taking the final by just 0.05 of a point.

"In the end, I almost gave up because there was no time left and then when that wave came I knew exactly what I had to do,” Tokong said.

"Noah is such a crazy surfer, he does so many airs and is so good in these kinds of waves so it was sick to have a final with him. Being from Hawaii he's so good in the barrel and at hitting big sections so I loved surfing with him at Cloud 9.”

On its 25th year, the Cloud 9 competition is part of the WSL Asia sanctioned men’s qualifying series. This year, the WSL Asia has given the event a QS-1,500 category, giving surfers on the circuit a chance to gain additional QS points with a total $15,000 in prize money up for grabs.

“With the QS ranking, surfers are expecting more WQS points, giving competitors a chance to gain higher overall WQS ranking points. Everyone wants a slice of the points, the prize money is more of an added icing on the cake,” event director Gerry Degan said.

The winning surfer will bring home $5,000, while the second spot $3,000 and third spot $1,500.

In the first round kick-off on October 4, surfers from the Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hawaii, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the US, and Venezuela advanced to Round 2 of the competition. By the third round, only Tokong was left of the 21 Filipino surfers who competed. 

The WSL plans to make the event bigger next year, as the Philippine Sports Commission promised to help organize and raise funds for the event in 2020. 

...the Russian filmfest awardees

Filipino films score trophies abroad

By: Regina Mae Parungao

 September 20, 201

There’s no stopping Filipino films from conquering big festivals abroad.

Louie Ignacio’s short feature “Ngiti Ni Nazareno” bagged the Jury Award at the 2019 Innuendo International Film Festival in Milan, Italy.

Starring child actor Kenken Nuyad, the synopsis of the 15-minute film reads: “Nazareno’s birthday falls on a very special day, as thousands of people move through the streets of Manila. When he comes back to his mother after the festival, with a piece of aluminum foil as a gift, of all things, it is touching and shaking at once.”

SCENES FROM ‘Ngiti Ni Nazareno’ ; ‘Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gitna Ng Digma’

“Ngiti” was an entry to the 5th Sinag Maynila Film Festival, where it won 3rd place in the short film category. Iar Arondaing’s “Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat ng Digma” took home the Best Cinematography Award for Mac Cosico at the Internacional de Cinema da Figueira da Foz-Film Art 2019 in Portugal.

It was originally released as part of the 2018 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Sound in the full-length feature film category.

The movie is about an old man who recounts the coming-of-age tale of a young Muslim girl named Eshal (Junyka Sigrid Santarin). She is forced to hide in the forest with her infant brother Affan to escape the violence of the inter-familial dispute (locally called “Rido”) that has plagued her family. In the forest, he meets a boy named Farhan (JM Salvado) with whom she develops a friendship as they wait for adults to find them and bring them back to their families.

The film will be screened at the Baikal International Film Festival in Russia this month.

...the winning lensman in Russia

Filipino lensman bags second place in int’l photo contest



Gabriela Baron
Manila Bulletin
17 September 2019


A Filipino photojournalist bagged second place in the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest in the Top News, Singles category in Moscow, Russia recently. 

Basilio Sepe's "Baywatch" (Photo courtesy of Photojournalists' center of the Philippines, inc./Manila Bulletin

Basilio Sepe, a member of the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP), won the award with his photo capturing informal settlers scavenging recyclable materials in Navotas after Typhoon Karding hit in August 2018.

The photo contest was launched by Rossiya Segodnya under Russia Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to support young photographers and to popularize the challenges of modern photojournalism.

Photographers from 80 countries on five continents participated in the photo contest with over 6,000 works submitted.

The 24-year old photojournalist has previously won the IPA (International Photography Awards) Filipino “Photographer of the Year” last year for his work on the Philippines war on drugs.

Sepe was the former chief photographer of the Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas (UST), and an alumnus of the Angkor Photo Workshop 2016.

He is currently an independent photographer based in Manila and has done multimedia works for local and international news agency.

...the Venice Film Fest awardee

Filipino film ‘Verdict’ wins special jury prize at Venice film fest

Gabriela Baron

Manila Bulletin

08 September 8, 2019

A Filipino film that tackles domestic abuse has won the Special Jury Prize at the 76th Venice Film Festival.

Verdict (Photo courtesy of La Biennale di Veneza / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Brillante Mendoza picture was the sole film from Southeast Asia that made it to the prestigious film festival this year.

The film also premiered at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 5.

...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