...the oldest Chinatown

Soup No. 5 in Manila cited in CNN's most scenic Chinatowns

 

September 17, 2012

GMA News

Binondo in Manila, established in 1594, is said to be the world's oldest Chinatown. Sophia Cuevas

Sneer at it all you want, but the "infamous" Soup No. 5 has been cited by an international travel guide as among the notable features of Manila's Chinatown.

 

 

Manila's Chinatown district was tagged by Cable News Network's CNNGo as one of the nine most scenic Chinatowns in the world.

 

 

It recommended the "infamous Soup No. 5, made from a bulls' testicles," as its Dish to Order.

 

 

Because of the main ingredient, the dish is believed to be an aphrodisiac.

 

 

BlurtIt.com lists it as among the world's weirdest aphrodisiacs, while OverseasPinoyCooking.net has instructions on how to prepare it.
 

On the other hand, CNNGo also recommended that visitors dine at Café Mezzanine above the Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli across Binondo Church.

 

 

While Eng Bee Tin is famous for its hopia ube and other flavored hopias, CNNGo noted part of the restaurant’s income goes to Binondo’s fire volunteers.

 

 

The Ube Engine, the fire volunteers' iconic machine, is parked beside the Binondo Church.

 

 

Other features of Manila's Chinatown that CNNGo cited included the dragon decor in the area.

 

 

It also recommended that the best place to start a tour is on Carvajal Street, also known as "Umbrella Alley" due to the umbrellas at the small street stalls.

 

 

CNNGo also cited the Big Binondo Food Wok tour run by Old Manila Walks, co-owned by tour guide Ivan Man Dy.

 

 

"Each participant on the guided walk is given a souvenir Big Binondo Food Wok Map, which lists restaurant and shops, as well as coupons for businesses in the area," it said.

 

 

The Binondo Church itself was cited as another feature by CNNGo, which described it as the home of the Santo Cristo de Longos (Crucified Christ).

 

 

"In the 16th century, a deaf-mute Chinese supposedly regained the power of speech after finding the image," it said.

 

 

Other scenic Chinatowns cited by CNNGo were in:

• Havana, Cuba
• Kolkata, India
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Melbourne, Australia
• Vancouver, Canada
• San Francisco, US
• London, UK

...the top holiday destinations in Asia

Palawan named no. 4 in top holiday destinations in Asia

 

September 18, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Palawan’s powdery sand, crystal waters, and breathtaking scenery have won over travelers and tourists once more as the island earned the number four spot in the Top 10 Holiday Destinations category of a worldwide poll by online travel magazine, Smart Travel Asia.

Limestone cliffs at El Nido. Manix Abrera

Palawan had moved up a spot from last year’s ranking of number 5. This year, it shares its place with Siem Reap and Maldives.

Hong Kong ranked third in the category, while Phuket, Thailand came in second, and Bali, Indonesia placed first.

Not surprisingly, travelers also sang praises of Palawan’s resorts, three of which ranked high in the poll’s Top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts category.

Miniloc Island Resort in El Nido came in 16th place on the countdown, while the mysterious and luxurious Amanpulo came in 15th.

Ranking highest in the category was Lagen Island Resort, also in El Nido, coming in at ninth place.

 

 

El Nido had also been cited as one of the country’s best beaches by CNN Go earlier in the year.

 

 

It was also in El Nido where the international cast and crew of the Hollywood film “The Bourne Legacy” stayed. The film’s location manager Dow Griffith even said that "El Nido, on Palawan Island, is paradise, and for a family trip, you are very well looked after at any of the resorts."

 

 

SmartTravelAsia.com’s travel poll ran from May to July, and is now on its eighth year. Majority of voters were based in Asia, while 15 percent came from Europe, and 15 percent from North America.

 

 

Other Filipino winners in the poll include Cebu Pacific for top 3 Budget Airline in Asia, Makati Shangri-la and the Peninsula Manila for top 24 Business Hotels in Asia, and Shangri-la Mactan in Cebu for top 16 Best Spa Resort. –Amanda Lago/KG, GMA News

...the Penshoppe goes to Jakarta

Penshoppe gets into Indonesia’s huge market

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

A Penshoppe poster FROM PENSHOPPE.COM

MANILA, Philippines—Retailer Penshoppe has gained a foothold in Southeast Asia’s most populous market, Indonesia, as part of its road map for global expansion via the franchising mode.

Bernie Liu, president of retailer Golden ABC Inc., which owns the Penshoppe trademark, announced in a press briefing on Tuesday that his company has entered into a franchising partnership with the MAP group of Indonesia, which has been planning to open at least 150 Penshoppe stores across Indonesia within the next 10 years.

The first two stores are opening this December—a 476.86-square-meter flagship store in Jakarta’s Central Park Mall and a 355-sqm store at the brand-new Mall@Alam Sutera in neighboring Tangerang City.

His vision, Liu said, was “planting the Filipino flag in as many countries in the coming years.” Being a P1-trillion economy with a population nearly three times that of the Philippines and a $5,000 per capita income, Liu said Indonesia has always been part of Penshoppe’s offshore expansion strategy.

In the Philippines, Golden ABC has about 600 stores employing over 3,000 people. The flagship Penshoppe brand has 300 stores in the Philippines. The next-biggest brand is Oxygen, which has 100 stores. Other brands in the retailing group are ForMe, Memo, Regatta, Tyler and its direct-selling subsidiary Red Logo.

Overseas stores currently number 12, which will increase to 30-40 by 2013, according to Liu.

 

Penshoppe is now present in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, and it also operates stores in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Jubail, Al Khobar, Dammam, Manama and by next month, will open its first store in Dubai.

Liu’s ambition is to eventually grow the international business so that it would be larger than the local business, similar to the business model of Spanish retailer Zara.

With its franchise deal, Penshoppe becomes the first Asian brand to be carried in Indonesia by the publicly listed MAP group, which has a portfolio of over 100 lifestyle brands from around the world.

“Asian brands are just as good as the Western brands. If they have the capability and desire to elevate their standards to become one of the best in the world, then they should be treated equal to Western brands,” said Agus Gozali, president of MAP group’s PT Prima Mode Indonesia.

“We believe Penshoppe is such a brand. It is a fast fashion brand with great up-to-date styles and product design. Its stores provide its customers with world-class shopping experience,” he said in a statement.

The MAP group’s portfolio in Indonesia includes Sogo, Seibu, Debenhams as well as fashion stores under Zara, Marks & Spencer, Topman, Topshop, Lacoste, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and DKNY. It also operates food and beverage stores such as Starbucks and Krispy Kreme, a bookstore chain and a lifestyle supermarket.

PT Prima Mode was created by MAP group for the sole purpose of managing Penshoppe’s retail operations in Indonesia.

...the 'Idol'

Jessica Sanchez: I'm proud to be Pinoy

 

ANDREI MEDINA,

GMA News

September 18, 2012

 

 

"American Idol" Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez, who is in Manila for a concert on September 21, said she was proud of her heritage and proud to be a Filipino.

 

 

“I’m proud of my culture and proud to say that I’m Pinoy and everything so I’m very excited to be here and this is like at the top of my list of the things that I’ve done in my life,” Sanchez said in an interview with Katrina Son on GMA Network's “News to Go” program.

Sanchez said, “I am definitely excited to be here. It’s the first time I’ve ever been out of country and I’m here with all the people that have been supporting me since the beginning and it’s good to know that these people are proud of me.”

On her official Twitter account, Sanchez, 17, said: “Can't believe I'm here. Manila will def be one of my best memories. <3.”
 

"American Idol" concert

The "American Idol" concert will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 21, which also happens to be the 40th anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines.

 

 

 Sanchez’s Filipino fans called “Blujays Philippines” have been waiting for Sanchez's arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 since 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday. and were delighted to finally see their “World Idol.”
 

 

Asked why they like Sanchez, one of her fans said, “Aside sa magaling siya kumanta, yung talent niya is unbelievable at super sweet kasi siya sa amin.”

 

Another fan also said, “I just want to say that [Jessica,] it’s more fun in the Philippines and I hope na mag-enjoy siya dito."

 

The Blujays brought Sanchez’s CDs and a large tarpaulin banner with a message of their support for the young singer.

 

 

On Twitter, many Filipinos also welcomed Sanchez's arrival.

 

Karen Galarpe: “She’s here :) ~ American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez arrives in Manila http://shar.es/uZSFc via @gmanews”

 

Rowell Aurellano: “Jessica Sanchez arrives in Manila :))”

 

 

iamjjb: “Welcome to Manila Ms Jessica Sanchez #americanidol”

 

Wants to visit Bataan

Sanchez will be staying in Manila for a week with the "American Idol" Season 11 top 10 finalists for a week where they will have a concert as a part of their live tour.

 

Sanchez also mentioned that she will be extending her stay to visit famous places in the Philippines and that she also wants to meet her relatives in her mother’s hometown — Bataan.

 

“I definitely want to [see them]. So, they live in Bataan, so I’m going to try to make some time,” she said.

 

 

Her mother's kababayans

 

 

In Orani, Bataan, Jessica’s grandfather Eddie Bugay said he was going to the Manila Hotel with Samal Mayor Gene dela Fuente and a few others to meet his granddaughter Sanchez, his daughter Editha (Sanchez's mom) and his wife Virgie (Sanchez's grandmother).

 

Asked what he would say upon seeing his granddaughter, the retired American navy man said “I am proud of you!"

 

Bugay's grandchild Yeth Cruz, on the other hand, said she will tell her cousin Jessica whom she will meet for the first time, “Excited to meet you personally."

 

Bugay's residence in Orani was being renovated for the possible arrival of Sanchez.

 

 

“Malalaman ko mismo sa asawa ko at anak na si Editha kung uuwi dito si Jessica at ipapaalam ko agad sa inyo,” said Bugay.

 

Bugay used to live in Samal town where most of their relatives are. However, he transferred to Orani a few years after his retirement from the US Navy. - with a report from Ernie Esconde, VVP, GMA News

...the case of speaking Filipino

Filipinos win settlement in English-only case

Associated Press

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

 

 

DELANO, California — Dozens of Filipino hospital workers in California will share a nearly $1 million settlement in a lawsuit claiming they were targeted by a rule requiring English only at work, federal officials said Monday.

The settlement involves nearly 70 nurses and medical staff members who accused Delano Regional Medical Center in California’s Kern County of banning them from speaking Tagalog and other Filipino languages while letting other workers speak in their native languages, including Spanish, the US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission announced.

The lawsuit, filed jointly by the commission and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in 2010, accused the hospital of creating a hostile working environment for Filipinos by singling them out for reprimands and by encouraging other staff to report them.

The medical center defended its English-only policy as essential to patient care. In a written statement, officials said the hospital did nothing wrong.

Under California law, employers can require workers to speak English if there is a business necessity.

For decades, thousands of nurses from the Philippines have migrated to the United States to alleviate the nursing shortage. More than half of American nurses trained abroad are from the Philippines.

Filipino nurses in Delano said they were called to a special meeting with hospital managers in 2006, warned not to speak Tagalog, and told surveillance cameras would be installed, if necessary, to monitor them. No other language groups were included in the meeting, the lawsuit states.

Since then, workers said, they were told on a daily basis by fellow staffers to speak only English, even on breaks. The workers allege they were targets of undue scrutiny, discipline, harassment and threats over the issue.

The hospital’s policy, which requires the use of either English or the patient’s preferred language while care is provides, remains in effect, the hospital’s statement said, though it has been updated.

As part of the settlement, the hospital also agreed to develop strong protocols for handling complaints of harassment and discrimination; adopt a language policy that complies with the Civil Rights Act; and conduct anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all staff with additional training for supervisors.

Delano Regional Medical Center is a 156-bed hospital located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Bakersfield.

 

...the Pinoy Emmy nominees

2 Pinoys get Emmy nods for work on 'Pan-Am,' 'Touch'

 

by Yong Chavez,

ABS-CBN North America Bureau

 09/17/2012

 

 

LOS ANGELES, California - Two Filipinos were nominated for Emmys for their visual effects work in two US TV shows "Pan-Am" and "Touch."

 

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Meliza Fermin and Tony Ocampo said they are proud to represent Filipinos at the Creative Arts Emmys.

One week before the primetime Emmys, the prestigious organization honors outstanding work featured on Hollywood's best shows.

Walking alongside stars on the red carpet are other nominated choreographers, animators, musicians and other people who work behind the scenes.

Fermin previously won an Emmy for her work in the TV show "Heroes."

"If you're passionate about it, it doesn't feel like you're working hard because you're so into that you just get lost in your work, so it's nice," she said.

Ocampo said there are a growing number of Filipinos in the industry.

"Ah, madami na. The thing is you have to prove yourself eh. When you come here, you have to prove yourself. You can't just come here and expect them to give you a work visa, a green card, you have to prove yourself talaga," he said.

Ocampo has already received several trophies from the Visual Effects Society and nominations for his work in TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI," and "Walking Dead."

...the Sultry Pinay

Sultry Pinay is a sports and fitness journalist in US

 

 

September 17, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Jeannette Josue used to imagine herself a broadcast journalist like Connie Chung, whom she and her grandmother would watch on the evening news and admire. But it was a thought that lingered unshared because at that time, Jeannette was conscious of her “speech impediment.”

“I had a Filipino accent and had difficulty pronouncing my “Th’s, Sh’s and D’s,” she told The FilAm. “Even though I was born and raised in Jersey City, my parents spoke mostly Tagalog at home.”

Jeannette got over the inferiority complex after a guidance counselor in high school encouraged her to compete in the beauty pageant Miss New Jersey’s Perfect Teen. In high school, “my world began evolving,” she said.

She went places she never imagined would open for her and met people she once thought she could only watch on TV. Public speaking courses also helped paved the road.

Today, Jeannette is a reporter for MarblePlayTV, a sports and fitness web channel, where she holds the enviable job interviewing sports luminaries such as tennis legend John McEnroe, Olympic medalist Wesley Korir, retired wide receiver Amani Toomer and many more.

Jeannette is slated to co-host this year’s Filipino Heritage Night with the New York Mets on September 17.

“I was a pretty shy teenager,” she said. She recognized now why her guidance counselor continued to encourage her telling her the beauty competition could change the way she saw herself. “She was right.”

In college, Jeannette earned a modeling contract and began acting classes. Soon, she was appearing in commercials and print ads and gracing fashion magazines.

“I had tiny parts in ‘All My Children’ and ‘Sex in the City,’” she shared.

Her sultry looks won her more beauty pageant titles, the latest being Ms. New York-USA 2012.

Not quite satisfied being just ‘another pretty face,’ she earned a degree in Economics at NYU “in three years.” From being a model, she went straight to working for a financial company — a “huge adjustment,” she conceded.

“By the time it was 2009, my resume became a collection of jobs all from different fields,” she said.

MarblePlayTV was a happy accident. She was hired as an advertising sales rep, working closely with a video producer to find various revenue streams.

“One day the freelance reporter cancelled last minute and the producer asked me to cover an event. And there I was, hosting my first interview, at Lincoln Center, for a health detox juice.”

The Pinay who fretted about her accent is now covering more than 15 events each month, and enjoys shaking hands with Mayor Bloomberg, Councilman Peter Koo, and other city officials and celebrities.

“MarblePlayTV is helping mature into this role, and the more I run around chasing stories, the more I love what I do,” she said.

While hers may seem like a glamorous job, Jeannette said running around the five boroughs using mass transit is far from the romanticized movie depiction of a journalist.

“But I enjoy it, and that’s a blessing,” she said. “Not a lot of people get to say that about their job.” - The FilAm