...the NASA awardee

Philippine Team wins NASA Award



Roy Mabasa
Manila Bulletin
21 February 2019


The team iNon from the Philippines on Thursday received an award from the United States government for capturing the Best Galactic Impact category in the 2018 NASA Space Apps Challenge beating out 1,395 other teams from around the world.

Teams iNON and Space Force will represent the country in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Apps Global Challenge
(Photo courtesy of Animo Labs via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim awarded the certificate of recognition to iNON team members Revbrain Martin, Marie Jeddah Legaspi, Julius Czar Torreda, and Matthew Concubierta during the ceremony at the US Embassy. Leandro de Guzman, the fifth member of the team, was unable to attend the ceremony.

The Filipino innovators ISDApp, from the Filipino word "ísda" (meaning fish) to communicate crucial information about real-time weather and sea conditions to fisherfolks.

The app enables local government officials to provide potentially life-saving information to fisherfolk's analog cellphones using NASA globe observer data.

"I am deeply impressed by team iNON's fantastic achievement in defeating teams from around the world to win first place in the Galactic Impact category of the NASA Space Apps Challenge . They can inspire other Filipino youth to develop innovative solutions to problems in their own communities, " Kim said at the event.

ISDApp was conceived by the Team iNON at the US Embassy-sponsored NASA Space Apps Challenge in October 2018.

US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission LAw, who served on the panel of judges, said Team iNON's approach to getting important information out to fisherfolks without internet connectivity struck him as "clever and compassionate.

"I am pleased they received global recognition," Law said.

For Team  iNON member Legaspi, he explained that ISDApp is a "simple solution with an important purpose" which helped the technology swim to success. "This is proof that even technology needs a heart."

His team mate Martin said: "We saw the problem, and figured we could do something to help the lives of coastal communities around the world."

...the second fastest emerging market

Oxford Economics: PH will be 2nd fastest growing emerging market in 2019-2028

Ben O. de Vera

Inquirer.net

20 February 2019

MANILA, Philippines — With an expanding labor force, the Philippines will be eclipsed only by India among emerging markets (EMs) expected to post the fastest economic growth in the next 10 years.

In a February 15 report, UK-based Oxford Economics projected the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by an average of 5.3 percent between 2019 and 2028, only outpaced by India’s 6.5 percent.

For 2019, Oxford Economics had said its expects the Philippines’ GDP growth at 6.1 percent, below the government’s 7-8 percent target range.

China and Indonesia’s economies were both seen expanding by 5.1 percent during the 10-year period; Malaysia, 3.8 percent; Turkey, 3 percent; Thailand, 2.9 percent; Chile, 2.6 percent; Poland, 2.5 percent; and South Africa, 2.3 percent.

The labor force in the Philippines was projected to increase by an average of 2.3 percent during the next 10 years, the fastest among the 10 emerging markets.

The labor force growth figure was computed by Oxford Economics as the number of people in the labor force multiplied to the average number of hours worked.

Total factor productivity growth was seen at 1 percent, while capital deepening or the contribution of capital accumulation to labor productivity growth was projected to rise by 1.6 percent from 2019 and 2028.

In a report titled “Sustained growth in EMs calls for thrift and innovation,” Oxford Economics said that while “countries with higher gross domestic saving (as a share of GDP) tend to have higher trend growth… the Philippines seems to be a major outlier, but its domestic savings are supplemented heavily by remittances.” /kga

...the Pinoy nurse in Irelands Got Talent

Filipino nurse gets standing ovation in Ireland’s Got Talent

Noreen Jazul

Manila Bulletin

19 February 2019

A Filipino nurse in Dublin made headlines after his rousing rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” in Ireland’s Got Talent.

(YouTube / MANILA BULLETIN)

Rodelle Borja received a standing ovation from all four judges — Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, Denise van Outen, and Jason Byrne.

Borja said he joined the competition to inspire others, especially those who stutter like him.

The 29-year-old nurse also shared his struggles growing up with a speech disorder and how music helped him get through it.

“I am not really…I’m not that confident in expressing myself by talking,” he said.

“I express myself more, and I express myself better by singing,” Borja added.

As of writing, Borja’s audition video on Facebook has been viewed over 300,000 times.

...the world's first public immunization program

Philippines launches world's first public immunization program against dengue

By Nicole Gray

Biopharma

April 6, 2016

Dive Brief:

• The Philippines this week launched the world's first large-scale vaccination effort against dengue, aiming to administer Sanofi Pasteur's dengvaxia to 1 million students from 6,000 public schools this year. Dengvaxia was first approved in Mexico in December 2015, followed by the Philippines, Brazil, and El Salvador

• Dengue is particularly endemic in the Philippines, having one of the highest incidences of confirmed dengue among countries participating in clinical efficacy studies for dengvaxia. 

• Dengvaxia is approved for use against all four serotypes of dengue fever, but only in individuals aged 9 to 45. 

Dive Insight:

Sanofi Pastuer invested over 20 years of R&D into developing dengvaxia, recruiting over 40,000 volunteers across 25 clinical studies. Now, it is finally reaching countries desperately in need for a treatment to counteract the spread of dengue.

In clinical studies, Dengvaxia prevented 8 out of 10 dengue hospitalizations and up to 93% of severe dengue.

Sanofi lauded the Philippines as a "global frontrunner" in the fight against dengue. In addition to the markets where dengvaxia is already approved, the company expects further regulatory decisions in 16 other countries.

Dr. Cecilia Montalban, President of The Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, said: “This first dengue vaccine has been developed and proven effective in countries like the Philippines where dengue is a major public health priority. As a physician and a mother, I am proud that my country plays a historic role in dengue prevention.”

...the Energy Globe awardee

Two PHL projects win Energy Global Awards



By Iris C. Gonzales
Philippine Star
May 24, 2015


MANILA, Philippines - The energy Globe Foundation has selected two Philippine projects as winners of the energy Globe Awards, which proponents dubbed as the largest and most important environmental prize worldwide.

Founded in 1999 by Austrian energy pioneer Wolfgang Neumann, the awards are given annually to projects focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energies.

 It covers more than 170 participating countries and over 1500 project submissions annually.

In the Philippines, the first winning project is the “Bell and Bottle: Low cost early warning system for landslide prone communities in remote areas” by David Manalo of the Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute (FSSRI) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

 The other winning project is by Apolinario Carino of the non-profit Pederasyon sa Nagkahiusang mga Mag-uuma nga Nanalipud ug Nagpasig-uli sa Kinaiyahan Inc. (Penagmannaki) dubbed as the “Rainforestation: A community-based forest restoration initiative on Negros Island.”

 The two winners received an Energy Globe Certificate signed by Energy Globe Jury chairperson Maneka Gandhi and Energy Globe’s founder, Wolfgang Neumann.

 The award for Dr. Manalo was presented by the Austrian Embassy – Commercial  Section on behalf of the Energy Globe Foundation last May 19,  while the award for Carino will be presented at a later date.

 Dr. Manalo received the winner’s certificate from Commercial Counsellor Lisa Koscak and Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

 According to the Energy Globe Foundation, Manalo’s Bell and Bottle innovation is as early warning system for landslide prone communities which are often in hard-to-reach areas where modern  transportation and communication facilities are lacking.

 “The project established the critical rainfall rates at which landslides will most probably occur and the people were trained to use an empty soda bottle (cut into half and turned upside down) to measure the rainfall. Once the rainfall readings reached the critical rainfall levels, the people will hit the bells (made of old gas tanks) to inform and advice the whole community for preparation and evacuation to safe areas,” the Foundation said.

 At least 20 villages have already benefitted from the project and no more casualties were reported in the project site since the installation of the Bell and bottle early warning system, according to the Foundation.

Carino’s Rainforestation project, meanwhile, involves restoration farming through the planting of native or indigenous tree species in combination with agricultural crops.

 “The two-ha rainforestation demonstration site in Negros Oriental proved that planting indigenous and endemic trees can be done along with income-generating fruit trees, cash crops, ornamental plants and cut flowers which provided additional livelihood opportunities for the community,” the Foundation said, noting that six municipalities have adopted the program.

The foundation will announce the other winners in other countries.

...the Canada's Top Country for New Immigrants 2014

Philippines Was Top Source Country For New Immigrants To Canada In 2014

CIC News

May 19, 2015

More than 40,000 Filipinos became permanent residents of Canada in 2014, making the Philippines the top source country for Canadian immigration last year. The Philippines had previously been the top source country in 2012, with China having been the top source country in 2013.

Canada also issued nearly 47,000 visitor visas to Filipinos in 2014, a 56 percent increase since 2006.

The number of new permanent residents from the Philippines is up from 14,004 in 2004, a near three-fold increase in just one decade. Many of the Filipino newcomers originally came to Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program, now simply the Caregiver Program after modifications made last November. The government of Canada’s immigration plan for 2015 states that it aims to convert between 26,000 and 30,000 caregivers to permanent resident status this year.

In just a few short decades, Canada’s Filipino community has grown to become one of the country’s largest immigrant demographics. The more than 700,000 people of Filipino descent in Canada make up one of the country’s larger diaspora communities, and this number is increasing constantly.

Filipino workers in Canada are important to both the Canadian and Philippine economies. While workers in Canada help to fill important labour shortages, families and friends in the Philippines benefit from remittances sent from Canada.

About half of Canada’s Filipino population lives in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with Vancouver hosting the second-largest Filipino population in Canada and Winnipeg also home to a large number of Filipinos.

“Oftentimes, individuals will first come to Canada as temporary workers, leaving spouses and children behind. But many Filipinos have also worked hard to bring their immediate families to Canada. Once permanent residence is achieved, they are then able to reunite with their families in Canada,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“Canada’s generous family sponsorship rules allow permanent residents to sponsor not only children and spouses, but parents and grandparents as well. These include the popular Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program as well as the new Super Visa Program, which offers long-term visitor visas to qualified applicants. The introduction of these family reunification programs has contributed to the upsurge in new arrivals from the Philippines.

“Within the broader Filipino community in Canada, we have observed success after success of smaller communities that have flourished across the country. The story of Filipino immigration to Canada is a story shared between a proud people and a welcoming land.”

...the PH economic growth

Philippines growth racing ahead of neighbors

By Rachel Rosenthal
Wall Street Journal
18 May 2015



The Philippines' economy is shedding its reputation as a laggard and outpacing others in the region - with the fastest growth rate among major economies in East Asia after China.

The country notched growth last year of just over 6%, and the central bank targets growth of 7% to 8% in 2015. That compared with 0.9% in Thailand and 5% in Indonesia in 2014.

For years, the Philippines was viewed as a sluggish economy marred with graft and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

President Benigno Aquino III, who came to power five years ago, has launched an anticorruption drive and has focused on public spending to help lift growth.

The government is planning to spend $13 billion on infrastructure this year, up from $2.8 billion in 2010, and has earmarked $18 billion for 2016. All for that year, the government has approved six major projects with a price tag of just under $8 billion, including a 400-mile rail connecting the capital of Manila to the southern province of Albay.

The Philippines has other advantages. It has a growing working-age population that speaks English, with more than 60% of the population between the age of 15 and 64. There's a large overseas workforce that sends huge amount of money home each month. and unlike many credit-addicted economies in the region, household debt levels are among the lowest in Asia.

It's going to be one of those countries that 's likely going to grow just because they're getting a few things right, and those few things are actually quite important," says HSBC economist Trinh Nguyen referring to the Philippines' low debt levels, improving governance and demographics.

"Relative to anyone, I think they have a good story."

All of this has helped to stoke demand, especially as inflation remains benign because of cheap oil prices. Last year, private consumption generated more than 60% of growth in gross domestic product, driven by a 5.4% bump in consumer spending and a 2.8% rise in employment.

Remittances , which make up about 10% of GDP, are crucial. Low wages at home have pushed many Filipinos to look abroad for work.

Remittances have been growing at about 7% annually since 2009, writes ING. data released last week showed remittances in march rose 11% on year to $1.2 billion, the fastest pace in six years.

There are risks to the Philippines' outlook. Exports contracted in the first quarter because of weak demand and a relatively strong Philippine peso. the currency has gained more than 7% against the euro this year, which lead to slimmer remittances in January and February.

Slowing remittances are the central bank's "biggest concern,"Ms. Nguyen wrote in a research note.
About 15% of the Philippines remittances originated from the eurozone in 2014, according to Barclays.

Another risk is the country's dependence on foreign investment in stocks and bonds, which can quickly yanked out of the country if the U.S. raises interests later this year. that could force the Philippines to follow suit, stunting growth.

Portfolio flows for 2014 were $2.5 billion compared with just $800 million of direct investment which is harder to pull out, according to data from Barclays