...the leaf

Isabela burley in demand worldwide

May 20, 2011

Manila Bulletin

Isabela Burley Tobacco– Chris Nelson, president of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation, tries his hand at spudding Isabela burley tobacco during a visit to farmers in Cagayan Valley.

MANILA, Philippines -- The fertile soil of the Cagayan Valley, nourished by the mighty Cagayan River, and coupled with the humid weather condition resulted in the production of quality burley tobacco that is now sought after by cigarette manufacturers worldwide.

According to the multinational leaf supplier Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI), the leaf, which is globally known as Isabela burley, is now considered to be one of the best types of tobacco that is used to manufacture cigarettes.

“The demand for Isabela burley all over the world has been steadily rising over the years,” says ULPI president Winston Uy.

He also credits the farmers in Cagayan Valley for their commitment to produce this type of leaf. “Without them, Isabela burley would not become famous all over the world,” he said.

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) says that burley production began increasing in 2008, or after years of being in the doldrums due to extreme weather conditions such as droughts and storms.

The damage used to be so extensive that the NTA estimated that some P200 million-worth of tobacco were destroyed several years ago. In Isabela province alone, 26 towns were flooded, displacing more than 4,000 families and destroying millions of pesos’ worth of farm produce.

ULPI, together with the NTA and Philip Morris Fortune Tobaco Company (PMFTC) Inc., immediately provided relief assistance to the farmers and their families so that they could go back planting their cash crop.

PMFTC Inc. President Chris Nelson says “we’ve seen a tremendous growth and improvement in the quality and harvest of home-grown burley following years of support we have extended to the farmers. Our collaboration is finally bearing fruit.”

PMFTC agronomists said good agriculture practices, such as the correct use of fertilizer and pesticides as well use of new farm implements, resulted in the renewed export of Philippine-grown tobacco.

Protection of the environment is also of paramount consideration.

“We will continue to assist the farmers through the use of good agricultural practices as we remain committed together with the NTA to the overall development of the Philippine tobacco industry,” Nelson said.

NTA records show that farmers were able to sell 8.61 million kilos of burley in 2008, valued at P447.5 million. These figures went up the following year, when 13.6 million kilos were harvested, amounting to P918 million.

In 2010, the harvest has already reached 19.4 million kilos, valued at P1.35 billion.

...the doctor

Pinoy doctor wins int'l award for tobacco control

GMANews

 

A Filipino became the first Asian to receive the Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, a recognition given to someone who works to reduce tobacco use through policy advocacy.

Neuro-ophthalmologist E. Ulysses Dorotheo received the award during the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ awards gala in Washington last May 18.

The award is bestowed to those who exemplify the traits of American Judy Wilkenfeld, who worked tirelessly to reduce tobacco’s toll for more than 20 years.

Dorotheo has been a tobacco control advocate for over 10 years. At present, he is the director for the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance’s (SEATCA) Southeast Asia Initiative on Tobacco Tax, a five-year project aimed primarily at raising tobacco taxes and prices in the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam.

"The Marlboro cowboy may have ridden out of the US, but we are continually taking on Philip Morris and other transnational tobacco companies in the Philippines and in Asia. We need to fight collectively to ensure that public health is prioritized over international trade," Dorotheo said in a statement.

SEATCA director Bungon Ritthiphakdee lauded Dorotheo’s achievement, saying the medical doctor has been a "true champion of tobacco control and [has] always put forth consensus building in his working style."

Also, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance executive director Maricar Limpin said she is "proud" that the first Asian to be given the Judy Wilkenfeld Award is a Filipino.

"It is a very significant contribution to the pride of Filipinos working in the global community for public health," Limpin said.

Dorotheo has been crucial to efforts to push for higher tobacco taxes and in simplifying the current tax structure in the country, according to non-governmental organization HealthJustice.

"Such efforts will hopefully relieve the government of health costs and curb tobacco use, especially among the youth whom we have to protect from a life-shortening addiction," it said.

The number of Filipinos dying from tobacco-related diseases has ballooned up to 87,600 annually, the group said.

In the Philippines, the use of tobacco seems to be incontrollable as the country has among the lowest cigarette prices in the world, HealthJustice said.

Also last year, a Marikina City court ruled in favor of the Fortune Tobacco Corp. disallowing the Department of Health from implementing an order that requires tobacco firms to place graphic warnings on their product packages.

The court holds that the interest of justice will be better served "if the status quo is maintained," Judge Felix Reyes of the Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 271 said in a ruling dated July 1, 2010. — Jesse Edep/RSJ, GMA News

...the kid scientist

Filipino student wins in Intel tilt, gets an asteroid as bonus

 

loQal – Wed, May 18, 2011

 

• 

Miguel Arnold Reyes, a graduate of Philippine Science High School, won second place …

By Alexander Villafania

PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA –Miguel Arnold Reyes will not be reaching for the stars for a while.

 He actually gets to have his name virtually carved on an asteroid, courtesy of a special award given by the prestigious Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Reyes participated in the Materials and Bioengineering Category of the recently concluded Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and bagged second place Grand Award and winning for himself U$1,500 (approximately P65,000).

His project, “Synthesis and Characterization of Composite Plastics from Thermoplastic Starch and Nano-sized Calcium Phosphate for Film Packaging,” is targeted at creating a new type of environmentally safe and biodegradable plastic for packaging.

His win at ISEF also bags him an asteroid identified by the Lincoln Laboratory in its Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program (LINEAR).

Intel has a partnership with the Lincoln Laboratory, through the latter's Ceres Connection, where asteroids from LINEAR are named after deserving students in the fields of science and engineering. The Ceres Connection was started in 2003 and has since named several hundred asteroids to students.

First and second place winners in ISEF, as well as from other programs that are partnered with Ceres Connection, will be “assigned” an asteroid after winning their respective events.

With this award, the 16-year old Reyes, who is a graduate of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), will become one of the youngest Filipinos – not just one of the few – to have a celestial body named after him.

Other Filipinos who have been given the distinction of having a celestial body named after them are former Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Chief Dr. Roman L. Kintanar, Edwin Aguirre, Imelda Joson, PSHS Western Visayas Campus Director Josette Biyo, Allan Noriel Estrella, Jeric Valles Macalintal, Prem Vilas Fortran Rara, and Father Victor Badillo.

During a recent press conference, Reyes remained modest regarding his win in both the ISEF as well as getting a heavenly body named after him.

The soft-spoken Reyes said he hopes that other students would also pursue degrees in science as a means to become contributors to the improvement of society.

Apart from Reyes, Angeli Joyce Dy of Capiz National High School also won fourth place Grand Award for her project “Milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) Serum as an Alternative Media Supplement for Culture of A549 (Human Lung) and HCT 116 (Colon) Carcinomas,” which sought to find a cheap but effective alternative for a serum used in cancer treatment.
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loQal.ph is a website owned and operated by Filquest Media Concepts, Inc. It works under the principle of giving voice to the voiceless, empowering Filipinos and uplifting the image of the Philippines by highlighting its unique culture. To do this, the loQal.ph team produces stories, video, photos and other multimedia content types to inspire and celebrate Filipino achievements, ideas, products and places.

...the candidate

Philippine candidate for IMO top post woos Bangladesh support

INQUIRER.net

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

 

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine candidate for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary general position, Neil Frank R. Ferrer, visited Dhaka recently to campaign for support of Bangladesh, the Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh said.

Ferrer, a highly experienced career diplomat and chairman of the Philippines’ Maritime Safety Committee, outlined his plans for the IMO if given the chance to lead the organization during his meetings with Bangladeshi officials.

He first met with Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs-UN Wing Director Ishrat Jahan Ahmed on April 27. The following day, he was received by Bangladesh Minister of Shipping Shajahan Khan.

Ferrer said that while the IMO maintains its principal regulatory role, it should also be responsible for regulating international maritime issues.

Ferrer said the key to effective implementation of the IMO’s strategic plan is the close coordination of all members and stakeholders.

Among the issues the maritime group needs to address is how it can contribute to international efforts to curb atmospheric pollution and address climate change, he said.

Another is with the greater use of information and communication technology in maritime transport and the improvement and innovation in shipping facilities, Ferrer said.

Ferrer, whose candidacy in the IMO was endorsed by President Benigno Aquino, was assisted by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mary Grace V. Villamayor his visit to Dhaka. Roemart Tamayo, contributor

...the most spectacular volcanoes

5 spectacular volcanoes worth visiting

Wed May 18 2011

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

For round-the-clock volcanic action and stunning vistas, East Java's Mount Bromo is hard to top. The 2,329-meter mammoth reliably spews sulphuric smoke and is often partly engulfed in swirling mist, making it a prime photo-op spot.

Mount Bromo is the youngest addition to the massive Tengger volcanic complex that dates back 820,000 years. From Mount Bromo, visitors can get a good view of Java's tallest mountain Mount Semeru, a highly active volcano that is said to belch out large plumes of volcanic smoke every 20 minutes.

But while Mount Bromo is one of East Java's most visited spots and is relatively accessible (45-minute walking distance or an easy jeep ride from the nearby village of Cemoro Lawang), it's by no means a safe bet -- two tourists were killed by rocks from an explosion in 2004.

Hallasan, South Korea

Mount Hallasan, South Korea's tallest mountain, towers some 1,950 meters above sea level at the volcanic cluster of Jejudo.

Apart from gawping at the 4,000 animal and 1,800 plant species that thrive on Hallasan throughout the year, be sure to check out the crater lake Baekrokkdam at the top. The gorgeous site, which literally translates as "Hundred Deer Lake", inspired a folklore about fairies descending from the sky to play with white deer. Many tourists flock to Hallasan during spring time to catch the azaleas in bloom on the mountain face.

Hallasan is also a relatively easy climb, with a well-marked 10km climbing course that can be completed within a day.

Mount Aso, Japan

It's named the biggest caldera in the world, gave a prefecture its nickname, and it has its own shrine. The mighty Mount Aso is easily the most instantly recognized landmark and moneymaker in the Kumamoto prefecture of Kyushu, Japan.

The 24-km wide Mount Aso's main attraction is the steaming cyan crater lake of Mount Nakadake. A cable car network easily takes visitors up the volcano, where there's a complex crammed with souvenir and snack outlets, and there are neatly paved roads right up the edge of the crater. Aso is also home to a string of hot spring resorts.

Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

Mount Pinatubo didn't only recover admirably from its catastrophic explosion in 1991, it's cashed in on the disaster as a prime extreme sports location.

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo made headlines for producing the second-largest volcanic eruption in the century, which caused the world temperature to drop by 0.9 °F, the death of more than 800 people and some US$250 million in property losses.

Almost two decades on, the cities surrounding Mount Pinatubo are feeding off tourism generated by the legendary eruption.

Angeles City offers extreme trekking and off-road driving packages off Pinatubo's lahar flows, which are giant mudflows of volcanic materials. The city also offers parachuting, skydiving and aerial tours for around US$55 per person.

Mount Fuji, Japan

It's impossible to write about Asia's top volcanoes without mentioning Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san, is a national icon for its pretty looks and its height (at 3,776 meters, it is Japan's tallest mountain.)

Besides being an obvious spot to take postcard shots to send home, Mount Fuji also offers extreme sports for adrenaline seekers. Every summer some 200,000 people scale up the Mount Fuji in a four-to-eight-hour climb. There are also paragliding bases and schools at the fifth station Gotemba parking lot.

Visitors who are unlucky enough to visit Mount Fuji during its infamous cloudy spells may want to head over to the picturesque Hakone to the east of Mount Fuji, and the Fuji Five Lakes, which are north of the volcano.

...the pastry experts

Filipino pastry experts reap gold at HK culinary tilt

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

 

Members of the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines pose for a photo after winning with five Golds, two Bronzes and a team Silver at the recently concluded Hong Kong International Culinary Classic May 11-14 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

THE PASTRY Alliance of the Philippines impressed an international panel of judges by setting a record of wins with five Golds, two Bronzes and a team Silver at the recently concluded Hong Kong International Culinary Classic.




Held May 11-14 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in conjunction with Hofex, the HKICC was a multi-skill event participated in by delegations from over 12 countries.

Benjie Lanas of Cebu carved “Joker,” a colorful jester, out of white chocolate and bagged PAP’s first Gold. Rizalino Manas’ Bronze-winning “Linger” was a collage of geckos, butterflies and birds-of-paradise pulled out of sugar.

Batangas native Bryan Dimayuga executed an all-white wedding cake entitled “Ivory” that scored very high in technical skill, eventually capturing a Gold.



The only two gold medals in the Under 25 Plated Desserts Category both went to PAP: for Clyden San Pedro’s visual feast of passion fruit-coconut-mango “Metamorphosis” and chocolate-rose-hazelnut “Kaleidoscope”; and Michael Aspiras’ refreshing layers of “Corn Field” and “Lemon Garden,” which were just three points shy of distinction.

A winning entry by the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines at the recently concluded Hong Kong International Culinary Classic held May 11-14 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. INQUIRER

Nikki Misa’s focused live execution of her “Passionfruit” in Earl Grey Mousse won her a Gold in the Chocolate Fragrant Tea Cake category.

Likewise, Gen Oliva prepared two desserts live based on the secret ingredient guava for “Fantasy Table,” adding another Bronze to the PAP harvest.

The main pastry event that was Live Bakery required Bubbles Cruz-Lerias, Maricar Salvador and Roel Vargas to prepare 15 different types and shapes of bread, plus a bread showpiece within nine hours.

 Their ingenious and delicious Ensaymada con Prosciutto, Back to The (Ube) Roots, Duck in a Box and Pili Citrus Twist won the team Silver.

PAP Competitors

Professional Pastry Showpiece (display):
Rizalino Manas (Shangri-La Manila) – Bronze; Benjie Lanas (Waterfront Cebu) – Gold
Wedding Cake (display):
Bryan Dimayuga (Shangri-La Manila/Lyceum Batangas) – Gold
Under 25 Plated Dessert (display):
Michael Aspiras (Wilton/Resorts World/College of St. Benilde) – Gold; Clyden San Pedro (Wilton/Richmond Eastwood/College of St. Benilde)—Gold
Chocolate Fragrant Tea Cake (live):
Nikki Silverio Misa (Park Avenue Desserts/College of St. Benilde) – Gold
Fantasy Table (live):
Gen Oliva (Enderun Colleges) – Bronze; Live Bakery Team (live) – Silver: Roel Vargas (Global Academy), Bubbles Cruz-Lerias (ISCAHM), Maricar Salvador (Philippe Agnese), Anne Ramos – team support (ISCAHM)

Coaches and team support

James Antolin (Delegation Head) for pastry showpiece; Buddy Trinidad (Park Avenue Desserts) for live desserts; Penk Ching (Pastry Bin) for wedding cake; Peachy Juban (Shortcrust/Wilton) for wedding cake; Jackie Ang-Po (Fleur-de-Lys/Wilton) for plated desserts; Philippe Agnese (Tilawi Foods) for pastry showpiece and live bakery

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...the Philippine seafoods

Philippine seafood showcased at EU expo

 

by Raquel Bernal-Crisostomo

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

05/19/2011

 

BRUSSELS, Belgium - For the first time, the Philippines participated at the annual European Seafood Exposition (ESE), with 10 companies from the local seafood industry joining the trade fair.

Through the joint efforts of the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the USAID-Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM), the companies joined the fair which aimed to bring together seafood buyers and sellers around the world.

The 19th ESE provided seafood business professionals an opportunity to reach out to global retail, food service and wholesale companies.

Around 1,600 exhibitors from 72 countries participated in what is considered as the world’s biggest seafood fair.

The Philippine delegation - composed of Ayala Seafoods Corporation, Bluefin Seafood Export Incorporated, FAB Sea Resources Corporation, JN Mercado Food Supply, Jess Aquamarine Traders, Well Delight Network Corporation, Jarla Trading, MS Seafood Supplier, Nuevo Fresco and RDEX Food International Phils. Incorporated - believe that the exposition will help boost the Philippines’ seafood industry.

Leandro Gazmin, Director of the Department of Agriculture -Agribusiness and Marketing Services, said the event is an opportunity to showcase Mindanao’s best seafood products.

“Maganda yung expansion natin sa marine culture parts with regards to lapu-lapu, pangasius, bangus and tilapia. And malaki talaga yung magiging output natin ngayon so maganda nating matarget na market itong European market”, he said.

Based on the database of European Commission on Fisheries, the Philippines is the 4th biggest exporter of tuna to EU.

Canned sardines from the Philippines are also among the favorites in Asian food stores in Europe.

Low supply

Despite having a potential market in Europe, the Philippine delegation hope to develop a sustainable resource management schemes to assure continued stocks of marine products.

Lucie Morales of Bluefin Seafood Export Incorporated said that occasionally, supply of seafood products is low compared to the demand.

“Yung lendings of supply is very low compared to the demand which we do not know why maybe because of global warming. It’s a natural phenomenon which we cannot explain really but it’s not just in the Philippines. It’s in some neighbouring countries, there is a very low supply like in the past six months, we have low lendings which is unusual”, she said.

GEM-USAID however maintained that with the current support from the government, illegal or dynamite fishing would be put to an end.

Meanwhile, in a special dinner prepared by the Philippine embassy, Ambassador Enrique Manalo thanked the 10 companies, GEM-USAID and the Department of Agriculture and expressed confidence that the Philippine seafood will soon penetrate the EU mainstream.

“I’m very happy to note that the Philippines under the offices of Department of Agriculture and the support of USAID has decided for the first time to participate collectively in the ESE and by participating in ESE, the Philippines can now show that it is ready to establish itself as a reliable and world class supplier of fisheries products.”