...community service

Philippine pride: Besting CNN in 2009, BBC in 2010

By Lala Rimando, abs-cbnNEWS.com

12/30/2010

MANILA, Philippines – This country of 7,107 islands is not only a breeding ground for peaceful revolutions, world-class singers, seafarers, nurses, and beauty queens; it is also a lush source for award-winning social projects.

Social projects that aim to lift the plight of the country’s underprivileged have bested entries from other parts of the world in 2 international media outfits.

In 2009, Efren Peñaflorida was hailed by American cable news network CNN as the “Hero of the Year.”
In 2010, the Ram Pump Project by a non-governmental organization based in Bacolod in the Visayas region was named by the British cable news network BBC as the winner in the “World Challenge.”
Both competitions were determined by number of votes cast for the finalists.

CNN Heroes had 2.75 million online votes cast over 7 weeks for 9 finalists, while BBC had about 167,000 people across the globe casting their votes for 12 finalists over about 2 months.

CNN Hero of the Year 2009 Efren Peñaflorida

The votes came after each international media group featured them on TV and online. BBC World News ran six 30-minute programs and ran features about the finalists in Newsweek magazine. CNN ran a star-studded awarding ceremony in Hollywood.

Both aim to inspire. CNN focuses on the individual who makes extraordinary contributions to help others.

Efren Peñaflorida started a "pushcart classroom" to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership. Peñaflorida’s team of volunteers brings around their mobile classroom stacked with teaching materials to different areas they service.

BBC, on the other hand, champions specific projects or small businesses that make a difference at the grassroots level through enterprising and innovative means.

'No Way But Up', an indigenous hydraulic ram pump project in Bacolod, wins in BBC's 'World Challenge'.

 Besting over 800 projects from all over the world was "No Way But Up," an indigenous hydraulic ram pump that uses a river's flow to literally push water uphill to supply water to villagers living in mountainous regions.

The project -- an entry of the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) based in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City -- does not require the use of electricity.

The foundation is led by Dutch ships engineer Auke Idzenga and has introduced the project to over 170 upland villages benefiting 50,000 people.
Peñaflorida received a total of US$125,000 to continue his work, while AIDFI received a US$20,000 financial grant.

...confidence

MANILA, Philippines - Renewed confidence in the Philippine business climate has improved employment and reduced unemployment and underemployment figures in 2010, according to President Aquino.

Aquino said he considered job creation and unemployment reduction as the biggest achievement in the first six months of his administration.

He made the statement after signing the 2011 budget on Monday.

When he assumed the presidency, Aquino said he met local and foreign investors who had renewed their enthusiasm for and optimism in the Philippines, particularly in the booming business process outsourcing industry.

“Our slogan that the Philippines is now open again for business seems to have taken hold,” he said.
“Business processing outsourcing companies have already started and they have been actually doing recruitment that has made some impact on both the employment and underemployment figures.

“Everybody that I talked to, both local and foreign, talked about the renewed and enthusiastic and optimistic way they look at the Philippines.”

For 2010, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has reported that employment figures generally improved as job creation reached 983,000; unemployment rate was lower at 7.3 percent compared to 7.5 percent in 2009; and underemployment rate improved to 18.7 percent from 19.1 percent last year.

 

NEDA Secretary-General Cayetano Paderanga said the continued improvement in the level of confidence in the Philippines and the implementation of necessary reforms would greatly contribute to the creation of more and quality employment for Filipinos in the years to come.

Paderanga said NEDA was expecting the full-year gross domestic product growth to likely surpass the five to six percent target for 2010, to seven to eight percent this year.

For 2011, the country was expecting more modest growth with the absence of election spending and the still quite fragile global economic recovery, he added.

However, Paderanga said the right policies and continued confidence were expected to help achieve the government interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee’s real GDP growth target of seven to eight percent and a real gross national product growth target of nine to 10 percent.

“With the Aquino administration focusing on improving the lives of Filipinos, we are aiming for high sustained growth. The targets that have been set will sharply reduce poverty incidence and increase per capita income,” Paderanga said.

...techno-savvy

South Korea school robots operated by Filipino teachers

Philippine Daily Inquirer
12/29/2010

SEOUL—Controlled remotely by English teachers in the Philippines, the 29 robots wheeled around the classroom while speaking to the students, reading books to them and dancing to music by moving their head and arms.

About one meter high with a TV display panel for a face, the robots have started teaching English to youngsters at a South Korean city, in a pilot project designed to nurture the nascent robot industry, according to education officials.

The robots display an avatar face of a Caucasian woman and the Filipino teachers can see and hear the children via a remote control system.

Cameras detect the Filipino teachers’ facial expressions and instantly reflect them on the avatar’s face, said Sagong Seong-dae, a senior scientist at the Korea Institute of Science of Technology (KIST).

“Well-educated, experienced Filipino teachers are far cheaper than their counterparts elsewhere, including South Korea,” Sagong told Agence France-Presse.

Kids love them

Engkey, a white, egg-shaped robot developed by KIST, began taking classes on Monday at 21 elementary schools in the southeastern city of Daegu.

Apart from reading books, the robots use preprogrammed software to sing songs and play alphabet games with the children.

“The kids seemed to love it since the robots look, well, cute and interesting. But some adults also expressed interest, saying they may feel less nervous talking to robots than a real person,” said Kim Mi-young, an official at the Daegu city education office.

Kim said some robots may be sent to remote rural areas of South Korea shunned by foreign English teachers.
She said the robots were still being tested. But officials may consider hiring the robots full time if scientists upgrade them and make them easier to handle and more affordable.

Shy ones

“Having robots in the classroom makes the students more active in participating, especially shy ones afraid of speaking out to human teachers,” Kim said.

She stressed the experiment was not about replacing human teachers with robots. “We are helping upgrade a key, strategic industry and all the while giving children more interest in what they learn.”

The four-month pilot program was sponsored by the government, which invested $1.37 million.
Scientists have held pilot programs in schools since 2009 to develop robots to teach English, math, science and other subjects at different levels with a desired price tag of $4,400 to $7,000.

$8,700 each

Sagong stressed that the robots, which currently cost $8,700 each, largely backed up human teachers but would eventually have a bigger role.

The machines can be an efficient tool to hone language skills for many people who feel nervous about conversing with flesh-and-blood foreigners, he said.

“Plus, they won’t complain about health insurance, sick leave and severance package, or leave in three months for a better-paying job in Japan… all you need is a repair and upgrade every once in a while,” Sagong added.

...beaches

'Philippines one of top holiday hotspots for 2011'

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 12/28/2010

MANILA, Philippines - An Australian travel website considers the country as one of the must-see destinations next year, primarily because of its untapped pristine beaches.

Travel.com.au has released a list of top holiday hotspots and airlines for 2011, citing travel trends and statistics. Other countries included in the list are Brazil, India, United States and New Zealand.

"While affordable airfares and its rich culture were the key factors for Brazil's selection, interest in India continues to rise as well as the Philippines, which is becoming increasingly popular due to the political unrest in Thailand and its untapped beaches," reported news.com.au.

The Australian travel website is also expecting a change in holiday patterns as travelers start to book months in advance to get cheap seats. Among the carriers to watch out for in 2011 are Singapore Airlines, V Australia, Asiana Airlines, Emirates, Thai International Airlines and Korean Airlines.

A small Philippine island was recently named by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the world's most romantic travel spots. Pamalican island, more popularly known as Amanpulo, is said to provide couples with "luxurious seclusion" with its 40 pitched-roof traditional villas and a pristine beach with sand "so white it's blinding."

Other islands that made it in Travel and Leisure Magazine's list are Rangali Island in Maldives, Santorini in Greece, and Harbour Island in Bahamas, among others.

Aside from Amanpulo, other popular tourist destinations in the Philippines include Boracay island, Bohol, Camarines Sur and Ilocos. A recent Boracay visitor is Mark Salling who plays "Puck" in the hit TV musical series "Glee."

...running for a cause

'Run for Pasig' certified world's largest race

abs-cbnNEWS.com

12/27/2010

Run for Pasig River finishers near the Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Photo by Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines  – It's certified.
The prestigious Guinness World Records has officially declared the "10.10.10 A Run for the Pasig River" as the largest footrace event in the world.

The race, held last October 10, saw 116, 086 runners crossing the finish line with the aim of helping clean up the polluted Pasig River.

It has now overtaken the record by San Francisco’s "Bay to Breakers" race in 1988.

It also broke the official Philippine record of most number of runners in a foot race.

The race, which was organized by the ABS-CBN Foundation, had 3 race divisions - the 3k, 5k and 10k.

Local celebrities and national figures, including ABS-CBN honcho Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, ABS-CBN Foundation head Gina Lopez, Manny Pacquiao, and Piolo Pascual had joined the event.

Days before the race, Gina Lopez said she was confident the said run will break records.

She said participation in the race "will send the message that Filipinos care, and that united we can make a difference, and united, we can break world records. We all care about cleaning the river, so everybody should make things happen because this is the pulse of the nation.” – With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

...pug King

Pacquiao tops Sports Illustrated's boxing story for 2010

By Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 12/25/2010

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s exploits in the world of boxing was picked by Sports Illustrated as their top boxing story for 2010.

Columnist Bryan Armen Graham, who compiled Sports Illustrated’s Top 10 boxing stories for 2010, said the Filipino boxing hero has penetrated the American sporting mainstream “like no Asian-born athlete in history”.

“He's won major sanctioning-body titles in eight different weight classes, nearly half of the sport's 17 divisions. He was the subject of a 60 Minutes profile in November, less than 12 months after being named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people,” Graham said.

Graham also cited Pacquiao’s success in politics, having been elected as the lone representative of Sarangani province.

Last March, Pacquiao defended his world Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title by outpunching the defense-conscious Joshua Clottey. This was followed by his 12-round demolition of Antonio Margarito last November.

Graham has branded 2010 as “the year of Pacquiao.”
Also selected by Sports Illustrated as Top 10 boxing story of the year is the breakdown of the fight negotiations between the camps of Pacquiao and undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“The much-anticipated showdown between Mayweather and Pacquiao nearly came together twice in 2010. But it rapidly came apart over Mayweather's demand that Pacquiao submit to a blood test up until the day before the fight -- and Pacquiao's refusal to acquiesce,” said Graham.

The boxing columnist said the much awaited Pacquiao-Mayweather fight has become an obligation needed to quench every fight fan’s thirst.
“It wouldn't just be a showdown between the sport's two best pound-for-pound fighters, it'd be the most delicious clash of styles boxing fans have seen in ages: Pacquiao's oppressive, offensive force against Mayweather, the foremost defensive tactician of our generation,” said Graham.

...surname

Guam senator a Batangueña

By Maricar Cinco
Inquirer Southern Luzon
12/26/2010

SENATOR SAM Mabini of Balayan, Batangas, is the first Filipino senator in Guam.

 

 

SAN PEDRO, Laguna—Her roots go back to Balayan, Batangas, but Sam, whose real name is Shirley Abinales Mabini, said she had no evidence of her lineage to the country’s revolutionary hero, Apolinario Mabini.

But growing up in Guam, she could not but toy with that possibility. There are streets in Guam named after Apolinario Mabini, who also hails from Balayan. He was exiled along with many other Filipino revolutionaries at the start of the American occupation in 1901.

Jogging in Guam’s Asan Park almost daily, she quickly made her favorite place the spot where a monument to the famous hero now stands. (In fact, there are two Mabini monuments there.)

“I never dug into it, but I’m proud of my last name,” said Mabini, in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the passengers’ waiting area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Clad in denim pants and a shirt which read “I am a proud Filipina,” she came without any security aide to catch a flight for Cebu to attend a relative’s wedding.

It was her first visit to the Philippines since she was elected the first Filipina senator in Guam in November.

Service to community

The elections also made history as two Filipinos won in the 15-seat legislature.
About half of the population in Guam claims Filipino descent.

From Cebu, Mabini will head to the United States to spend the holidays before she formally takes her oath of office on January 3.

If there is one thing that links Mabini to the Filipino hero, it is her urge to serve her community—composed not only of Filipinos but native Guameños as well.

“Service is in my blood,” she said.

As a young girl, Mabini remembered staying after school to volunteer teaching English to the refugees of the Vietnam War, many of whom migrated to Guam during the ’70s.

She collected boxes of old magazines and romance novels which she would then donate to poor communities. She also used to volunteer for animal clinics.

Humble beginnings

In 2007, Mabini, with friends Roy Adonay and lawyer Elizabeth Cena, started the only Filipino language talk show on FM radio, “Damdaming Pinoy.”

She said the program discussed Filipino sentiments, from education to business, and served as a “life connection” to the thousands of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Hawaii and the United States.

Mabini said she came from a poor family. Her mother, Antonia, 74, a seamstress, lived by “kuskos-bote” or washing used bottles to earn a living. Her father, Larry, worked as a carpenter in Batangas, until he found a job at a construction site in Tamuning, Guam.

“They never finished elementary school, so education was one gift they wanted me to have. The importance of education was drilled into my head,” Mabini said.

In Tamuning, Antonia used to plant vegetables in their backyard, while the children frequented the beach to collect “sukid” (sea shells) and crabs so the family would have something to eat.

“It was not an easy life. They worked hard to earn the money they paid for my high school education,” Mabini said.

She said she did not want to be a burden so she worked hard and earned two full scholarships in the University of Guam and in the University of San Francisco.

Mabini finished her Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Work, Community and Family Education at the University of Minnesota.

A piano for her mom

“My mom’s biggest dream was to walk into a big house with a piano. She said maybe one day, my daughter could buy me one. And I did! I became a pianist and had my own baby grand piano,” she said.

Mabini said she owed her passion for education and public service to her mother. It was also her mother who introduced her to Philippine culture and values by taking her back to Batangas from time to time to visit relatives.

Mabini said she misses the warm Christmas celebration in the Philippines and the Parada ng Lechon (roasted pig parade) in Balayan. She said she misses being in the small town, where everybody knows everybody.
“I wouldn’t have gotten all these if I were not taught Filipino values,” she said.

Not a career politician

Mabini worked as a professor of education and business. She was also appointed acting director of the public library system and served as the general manager of television network PBS Guam.

“But I realized that no matter how big your dreams and good your ideas were, sometimes they’re just not enough,” she said in a mix of English and slang Filipino.

Being a rookie politician of the Republican Party, Mabini said her win would allow her to help a larger number of incoming new residents with the planned transfer of the US military base from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.

She said an influx of more than 20,000 people, among them Filipino teachers and OFWs, is expected.
Mabini eyes legislation that will improve the educational system by focusing on career and technical education.

 She believes graduates should be guided on the appropriate skills training and the career path they should take.

When she ran for office, Mabini said she was never after the prestige and never considered politics as a career, but as “access to the right people who could make a difference.”

“Now that I am a senator-elect, I am seated with the top people in the prefecture who make the biggest decisions that have the biggest impact,” she said.

The Filipina-Guamanian senator is hopeful she can make now make an even bigger difference to improve education and public service in Guam.