4 Filipino 'Asia's Got Talent' acts bring pride to the Philippines
By CNN Philippines Staff
15 May 2015
El Gamma Penumbra, Gerphil Geraldine Flores, Gwyneth Dorado, and the Junior New System brought pride to the country as they performed their finest pieces for the 'Asia's Got Talent' grand finals.
(CNN Philippines) - Filipino talent was abundant in the grand finals of TV talent show Asia's Got Talent as four out of nine acts were from the Philippines.
El Gamma Penumbra, Gerphil Geraldine Flores, Gwyneth Dorado, and the Junior New System brought pride to the country as they perform their finest pieces for the Asia's Got Talent (AGT) grand finals.
Other acts were from Singapore (Dance Thrilogy), Thailand (Talento), Mongolia (Khusugtun), China (Gao Lin snd Liu Xin), and Japan (Triqstar).
The winner will be announced on TVchannel AXN on Thursday (May 14). The prize includes $100,000 and an opportunity to perform at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
The audience at home will ultimately determine who wins the first season of Asia's Got Talent. Asia's Got talent is hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Grammy-winning musician David Foster, Taiawanese-American Vaness Wu, former Spice Girl Melanie C. and Indonesian rock icon Anggun judged the competition.
Gwyneth Dorado
The talented 10-year old songstress has always been interested in music. She's all-around performer having learned how to lay the keyboard, piano and guitar -- mostly through Youtbe tutorials.
Asia's Got talent is the first competition she joined.
When she is not practicing for her performance, dorado is typically a student who tries hard to excel in school .
For her final performance, Dorado performed a stripped-down version of Sia's hit "Titanium
El Gamma Penumbra
Filipinos first heard of shadow play group El Gamma penumbra when they became a finalist in Pilipinas Got Talent in 2013, but the whole world took notice when they became a finalist in the AGT.
The team members from Tanauan City, Batangas decided to join the AGt for the reason they wanted to experience the international TV stage and show the world what they can do as performers.
That simple dream led them to realize that they now have an opportunity to honor the Philippines and to make the Filipinos proud.
Judge Anggun pressed her Golden Buzzer for El gamma Penumbra, which automatically advanced them to the competition's semi-finals.
Their shadow play final performance featuring the song "Colors of the Wind" was a touching tribute to Mother nature. Judged moved to tears by the performance.
Gerphil Geraldine Flores
The 24 year old powerful soprano singer has always been hooked to the classical music because she feels it transports her to a different world.
When AXN asked Flores as to what she will do with the prize money if she wins, she said she will help her family. Aside from that, she wanted to help aspiring musicians to achieve their dreams.
Flores also joined Pilipinas Got Talent five years ago.
Flores is the second Filipino act to get the coveted Golden Buzzer when judge David Foster gave it to her-- immediately sending her to the semi finals.
She chose to sing "The Impossible Dream" from the musical Man of La Mancha for her final performance.
Junior New System
The funky dance group Junior New System prides themselves as a group who performs hiphop with a twist.
they teamed up on 2009, and since then, they have dominated the dance floor where they perform.
In the semis, junior New System received unanimous nods from the judges to head to the grand finals.
Prior to AGT, these young boys were named the grand winner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Arts NCAA sayaw Pinoy in 2012 and 2013 in the hip hop category.
The Junior New system showed off their dance moves to a song mash-up while clad in American football uniform.
Zinnia B. dela Pena Philippine Star 12 may 2015 MANILA - The
Philippines is expected to continue to hold up well to external headwinds as it
has enough fiscal space to counter any global risks, Finance Secretary Cesar
Purisima said. Purisima
said the country remains one of the region’s most resilient to external shocks
due to its sound fundamentals that compare well with many regions in the world.
“We have built ample buffers that strongly position the Philippines to weather changes in the external environment. We are less vulnerable to external risks, but we will never be complacent,” Purisima said.
Purisima issued the statement amid fears the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by June or September, its first rate hike since the financial crisis.
Countries that are still running large deficits are vulnerable to flight of capital if the US Fed raises rates sooner or more aggressively than expected. Some emerging markets are heavily reliant on foreign inflows to fund fiscal or current account deficits.
With higher US interest rates, corporations and banks that borrowed in dollars could face additional pressure if they don’t have matching revenues or assets.
Purisima said the Philippines has sustained current account surpluses that began in 2003 with foreign exchange reserves growing significantly on the back of steady remittance flows and a growing business process outsourcing industry.
Vulnerability to foreign exchange risk is tempered with the country’s heavy bias towards local currency. Interest payments have been locked at low rates with the country’s debt portfolio predominantly in fixed terms.
Apart from these, the ratio of the country’s external debt has dropped to 15 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or 0.5 times the Philippines’ dollar reserves – one of the lowest levels in Asia.
Purisima noted that only four percent of external debt will be maturing within a year, reflecting an average residual maturity of over 11 years.
An improved export manufacturing sector has narrowed the trade deficit further easing balance of payment pressures.
Filipina elected as borough and town councilor in UK
Agnes Constante
Asian Journal
12 May 2015
A BRITISH-Filipina was elected councilor of the Hertfordshire borough Hertsmere and town Elstree and Borehamwood in the United Kingdom on May 8, marking the highest level of public office any Filipino has ever held in the European state.
Cynthia Barker, originally from San Pablo City, Laguna, ran under the Conservative Party and garnered 1,513 votes in the UK national elections.
“I am really humbled to have been selected by the residents,” she said, according to the Watford Observer. “I never imagined I would be standing here. I am looking forward to the challenges and working with residents.”
Barker first moved to the UK in the mid-1980s to join her family. Her mother arrived first in the 1970s.
“[My mother] will always be my hero. She made the same sacrifice that most OFWs make, sent all her money home while she worked long hours to ensure that the family was well-fed and educated. We now have four generations of family in the UK,” she said in an interview with the magazine The Filipino Expat.
Barker said she has become accustomed to the British lifestyle since relocating and has immersed herself in the country through studying and exploring the city.
“I was quite insular before and I only went out with fellow Filipinos. This gradually changed as I continued my studies here. [I] realized we are all the same, people wanting to protect our country by becoming involved with our local community,” she said.
Still, Barker said she remembers the Filipino values her parents instilled in her and that they helped her in adapting to British society.
The newly-elected councilor is an experienced immigrant advisor who previously served as president of the Rotary Club of Elstree and Borehamwood, as well as other charitable organizations including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In her local town of Elstree and Borehamwood, she is actively involved in the local church and residents’ association. She is also chair of the town’s museum and is a school governor at St. Nicholas School.
“I have always been curious about everything that happens in our local town,” she said.
Barker said she has always found politics important. She said she has always supported the Conservative Party because of how it ran policy in her local town. Barker became involved with the party’s campaigns even before she became a full member.
The British-Filipina hopes her recent win will inspire more Filipinos to become more active in British politics.
“It is important to be a part of the political machinery – the British are open and they embrace us. But we Filipinos need to make the first step and adapt,” she said.
Gene Alcantara, an immigration adviser in London, called Barker’s victory “a very encouraging wake-up call to the Filipino community in the UK,” as it is indicative of Filipino empowerment and representation in the British community. Alcantara said more political involvement is expected from Filipinos after Barker’s election.
“The vital point about it is that British-Filipinos are participating in the political process,” he said.
Alcantara added that he hopes more Filipinos will also be encouraged to vote not only in the UK, but in the 2016 Philippine national elections.
Prior to Barker’s win, the highest public office ever held by a Filipino in the United Kingdom was a town councilor.
Philippines' Economic Development and the 'Pacquiao Paradox': Shining Individually, Whimpering Collectively
Richard Javad Heydarian
Academic, policy adviser, and author of "Asia's New Battlefield:
US, China, and the Struggle for Western Pacific"
Posted: 5/8/15
For years, I have covered the emergence of the Philippines as the darling of global investors. (In fact, a number of my works on HuffPo have focused on this issue.) After countless exchanges with economists, consultancy agencies, and businessmen in the country and beyond, it is quite clear to me that there is a growing sense of optimism (Keynesian "animal spirits") in and over the long-term economic potentials of the Philippines. Business confidence is building up.
Undoubtedly, the Southeast Asian country is once again on the radar. Certain macroeconomic trends are highly encouraging, particularly in terms of inflation and interest rates, projected annual growth rates, fiscal reforms, debt payments, gross foreign reserves and trade and investment inflows. Recent years have also seen growing regulatory predictability in the government and sustained efforts at closing the country's gnawing infrastructure gap.
Yet, sustained economic development doesn't take place in a vacuum. For the Philippines to become a true "tiger economy" in the coming decades, it has to also experience some changes in its cultural foundations.
A Country of Stars
I vividly recall a poster advertising "Filipino singers" in the elevator of an upscale hotel in Beijing when I was there for an academic visit few years back. Of course, there was nothing surprising about Filipino singers performing in major hotel chains. After all, from the Middle East to East Asia and North America, I constantly came across affable, highly competent, and extremely nice Filipinos, who were at the forefront of the hospitality and tourism business.
But what struck me was how, especially when it comes to singing, being a "Filipino" alone represents a brand. If you are Filipino, you are expected to be a great singer. Countless Filipinos, from Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco to Christian Bautista, have made it big on the international stage. When it comes to singing and dancing, the Filipinos can compete with the best in the world, and often emerge as the indisputable victors. Not to mention, the Philippines' superpower status when it comes to beauty pageants. I have lost count of how many Filipinas (pure- or part-Filipino) have managed to make it to the top 5-10 contestants in every major global beauty contest.
No wonder then that many see the Philippines as the extension of Latin America into the heart of Asia, an island nation filled with the Iberian spirit of musicality and overflowing talent. In certain sports, especially the "Four B's" of basketball, billiards, bowling and boxing, the Philippines has also showcased its ability to go toe-to-toe with the best in the world. From the Philippines' impressive performance in the latest FIBA World Championship, to globally-renowned billiard wizards such as Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco Bustamente, Dennis Ocrollo, as well as world bowling champions such as Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno, it is clear that there has been no shortage of world-class talent in the Philippines.
Above all, perhaps, stands Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who is widely considered as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of his generation. He is the first and only boxer to have won world championships in eight divisions, and his recent (controversial) loss to Floyd "Money" Mayweather should take nothing away from his impeccable legacy.
Yet, astonishingly the Philippines stands among few counties which have yet to win a single gold medal in the Olympics. Despite having one of the most articulate and talented journalists, lawyers, and artists as well as an army of engineers, doctors, and scientists, the Philippines is yet to break out of its "lower-middle income trap". And despite having among the world's best singing and dancing talents, it is South Korea's"K-pop" phenomenon, which is transforming the entertainment landscape in Asia.
The Philippines is a paradoxical nation, where individual glories often clash with a long history of collective disappointment.
The Anti-Asian Values
Singapore's late-founder, Lee Kuan Yew, was fond of talking about the peculiarities of the so-called "Asian Values" (AV). He always insisted that unlike Western countries, Asians are more predisposed to thinking and behaving in collective-communitarian terms, putting the interest of the family and broader community above their individual impulses.
"I don't think there is an Asian model as such. But Asian societies are unlike Western ones... [an Asian person] is not pristine and separate," Lee Kuan Yew argued in an interview with Foreign Affairs back in 1994. To be fair, the legendary Singaporean leader had a more specific notion of "Asia" in mind, since he was primarily referring to "Confucian countries" of China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam.
His Malaysian counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, was even more all-encompassing in conceptualizing of and passionate in his advocacy for the notion of "Asian Values", consistently questioning the universality of liberal democracy, which is primarily found upon the principles of individualism, procedural accountability, and freedom of expression. Instead of embracing democratic capitalism as the ideological end point of history, he envisioned an alternative episteme anchored by principles of deference to authority, limits on individual freedom, and emphasis on hard work and economic productivity.
Obviously, the concept of "Asian Values" has been largely discarded by the experience of countries such as India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, which have embraced liberal democracy, albeit with certain modifications, without necessarily becoming "un-Asian". For its critics, the AV concept has been largely dismissed as a thinly-veiled propaganda for autocratic leadership and, quite ironically, an orientalist perspective, which ignores the almost universal demand for Vox Populi and freedom of expression.
Among Asian countries, the Philippines perhaps stands as the extreme opposite of the so-called "Asian Values". It is a country where individualism and lively public discourse undergirds the body-politic, animating the conduct of day-to-day politics and the broader national political culture. It is a country where the mainstream media constantly prioritizes endless gossip about individual celebrities over deep strategic discussions about national interest and development.
It is a country where actors and entertainers are constantly overwhelmed by public attention, while intellectuals are constantly pushed to the margins of public discourse. It is a country where the interests of an individual and his/her family stand as concrete, tangible priorities, while notions of nation and nationalism are treated as largely abstract points of reference, fondly cited in poems, movies and history books.
Philippine Exceptionalism
To be honest, I am not very convinced with cultural theories on national development, always preferring to focus on the impact of trade and industrial policies, the state-building process, and the structure of opportunity in the global economic system. The concept of "culture" is itself too broad and imprecise, often interchangeable with religion, national psyche, or "institutions", which pertain to regularized practices that have gained value over time, shaping the behavior of societies and individuals.
A century ago, leading sociologist such as Max Weber dismissed the ability of Confucian countries such as China to ever catch up with the West, (mistakenly) arguing that Far Eastern cultures tend to emphasize submission, passivity, and spirituality over the mastery of nature and a hunger for material accumulation, which underpin capitalist modernization. Yet, the past decades have seen the likes of Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and China emerging as history's greatest (capitalist) economic miracles. Confucian Vietnam is obviously in the midst of its own industrialization bonanza.
As Fareed Zakaria cogently points out in his Foreign Affairs interview with the Singaporean leader, "Cultures change. Under the impact of economic growth, technological change and social transformation, no culture has remained the same. Most of the attributes that Lee sees in Eastern cultures were once part of the West. Four hundred years of economic growth changed things."
Few recall how in the past even Germany and Japan used to be dismissed as non-Western countries, predisposed to autocratic rule. The European intellectual giant Jurgen Habermas' post-World War II personal project was precisely about transforming Germany into a more Anglo-Saxon like democratic polity. Today, Germany and Japan stand as among the most stable democratic societies in the world, untouched by the bickering and political paralysis that afflicts old democracies such as the United States and France.
Obviously, culture is malleable and subject to change. But in the case of the Philippines, decades of economic stagnation has gone hand in hand with cultural immutability. While a predatory oligarchy has instituted a "shallow capitalism", and exploited hollow electoral institutions in the country, a persistently individualistic/family-centered culture, in turn, has come at the expense of building a collective, national spirit, which has been instrumental to development of most countries in the region.
Perhaps, instead of just creating global stars, the Philippines should also develop a socio-economic ecosystem, found upon a progressive national culture, which nurtures the talents of and provides opportunities for fruition of the vast potentials of the broader Filipino population -- that is to say, every Juan/Juana de la Cruz. And the Filipino political leadership, media, and intellectual class should play a key role in this transformation. This is their sacred duty.
Since booking a trip to the Philippines in 2009, American traveler Bob Bales has been back 7 times. Here, he shares what he loves about the Philippines
MANILA SKYLINE. Back 7 times since my first trip in 2009. All photos provided by Bob Bales
My first visit to the Philippines occurred in 2009. I was working in the Middle East and had a 3-week break. Having always been intrigued about the possibilities of visiting the Philippines, I took the plunge and booked a ticket.
Since that time, I have been back an additional 7 times. My trips have lasted anywhere from two weeks in length to two months. I guess you can say I have adopted the Philippines as a second home.
During my travels I have spent a lot of time in Manila but also traveled to other parts of the country as well. I have been to Puerto Galera, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, and spent 10 days onBantayan Island. In all my travels I have discovered one thing. The Philippines suits me, from the many friendly people I have met to the beautiful beaches, small towns and big city activities.
HISTORY. Pay a visit to Fort Santiago
There were a few things to get adjusted to – one being Filipino time. Having spent time in the military, I am used to being on time. I learned long ago that when someone says to be somewhere at a certain time, I show up 10 minutes early. Not so in the Philippines. When someone in the Philippines says they will meet you at 6 pm, that might mean anywhere in a 4-hour window, or not at all. When you’re told something will be done on Tuesday that might mean this week or next. Things are a little more laid-back.
Traveling in the Philippines, like some other countries, might mean the electricity may be working and it may not. Or in some places the electricity might only work a few hours in the day. There are also some very beautiful island getaways where there is no hot water at all. I really need hot water for showers – I just can’t get used to cold showers; I don’t care what the outside temperature is.
I have overheard, on more than a few occasions, tourists complaining about the service, or the fact that things are not as efficient as it is in their country. To them I say, stay home. I mean, come on – you’re traveling in a foreign country to see and experience new things. If you want things to be the same, then stay home.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Visit the Philippines in 2015
Some people say the food in the Philippines is disappointing. Nothing like the extraordinary and diversified food you get in Thailand, Singapore and other parts of Asia. For me that just isn’t true. One thing I like to do when traveling is to eat where the locals eat.
I love the various nighttime food markets in Manila. Something I wish we had back in Texas, where I am from. When I am in Manila, I always look up the food markets that are scheduled for the week and make plans to visit them.
READY TO EAT. The scene at one of Manila's many food markets
I was warned to be careful as a foreigner walking around at night in Manila. Well maybe because I’m a big guy, 6’1, or maybe because I don’t get drunk and wander down dark alleys, I have never had any problems. The people I have met for the most part have all been friendly and helpful.
Maybe some of that is because I don’t treat everyone as inferior and as if they need to cater to me, like so many tourists expect. I try to speak to everyone I meet, say hi to the waiters, please and thank you, just normal manners I was brought up with. I figure, I am a guest in your house. (RELATED: German traveler's 20 reasons to fall in love with the Philippines)
The beaches are my favorite place. I have visited a few, and there are many more I want to see. I enjoy seeing the all the tourist sites but what I really enjoy is a laid-back beach where there are few tourists and I can sample the culture. The Philippines offers many beaches just like that.
SPECIAL PLACE. Serene beaches of Bohol
There are many more places in the Philippines I want to visit and experience, and it seems I just never have enough time. I guess that means more trips in the future.
All in all I would say my decision in 2009 to visit the Philippines was a good idea. I seemed to have found a place that suits me. – Rappler.com
WOOT! Forbes lists Philippines as 1 of 20 best retirement havens for 2015
By: Azer N. Parrocha, Philippines News Agency February 18, 2015
Taal Volcano as seen from Tagaytay. The latter is considered one of the country's coolest destinations year-round, and among the favorite retirement havens for foreigners. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA - The Philippines is one of the “20 Best Foreign Retirement Havens for 2015,” considering factors such as taxes and the cost of living, according to US business magazine Forbes.
In a recent article, Forbes said the country was best for US retirees since “the principal appeal of the Philippines is a low cost of living in a tropical environment full of English speakers and outdoor beauty.”
It further noted how foreign income in the country is untaxed, and permanent residency can be had on a minimal showing of retirement income.
“Popular locations include Tagaytay, a suburb of Manila, the capital, that is elevated and therefore cooler and Subic Bay, with an infrastructure from the old US Navy base,” Forbes said on its website.
It also mentioned the ease of return to the US with non-stop flights between Manila and the US averaging 15 hours.
Aside from Philippines, other countries on the list include Australia, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and Uruguay.
