...the L'oreal awardees

2 Filipino scientists win L'Oreal awards

 

By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

October 1, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipino woman scientists were Saturday honored as the first National Fellows by L’Oreal’s For Women in Science (FWIS) awards.

The two – Dr. Maria Corazon de Ungria and Dr. Laura T. David – were cited for making a name for themselves and for overcoming biases and the seeming lack of opportunities to maximize the use of their potentials in the world of science.

De Ungria and David were awarded fellowship grants worth P400,000 each, after the judging by jury chaired by Prof. Lourdes Cruz, the first Filipino and first ASEAN Laureate of the FWIS L’Oréal-United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Awards.

De Ungria is a professorial lecturer for the Science and Technology Series at the College of Science and head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute of the University of the Philippines. She was awarded the FWIS National Fellowship grant for her research proposal in Mitochondrial DNA Diversity of Philippine Negrito Populations. The project is part of an overall program aiming to study Philippine genetic diversity for anthropological, forensic and medical applications.

David is a professor at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines and is an active member in the Technical Committee on Climate Change of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology and IGBP-Land Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone Project SEAsia Node Core group. Her research proposal in Endeavoring for Wise Mariculture, a study of the different regions of the Philippines vis-à-vis their physical characteristics to evaluate the appropriateness of sites to set up a mariculture park, won her the prestigious award.

For over a decade, FWIS, in collaboration with the UNESCO, is the first of its kind award program, aiming to promote excellence among young woman scientists worldwide.

In past years, it was one of the most anticipated annual events in the scientific community in more than 93 countries. To date, nearly 1,100 women have received FWIS awards – 67 laureates from 30 countries, and over 1,000 fellowship awardees.

The awards, which started 12 years ago, came about because the field of science has traditionally been a man’s world. Since 1901, there were over 300 recipients of the Nobel Prize in the sciences but only 10 of them – about 3 percent – were women.

In 2010, L’Oréal Philippines, in partnership with other participating countries joined the battlecry, “The world needs science... Science needs women,” bringing the ambitious program to the local scene. FWIS National Fellowships – Philippines 2010, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and UNESCO Philippines was launched to search for exceptional women in the Life and Material Sciences.

L’Oréal Philippines Managing Director Luc Olivier-Marque said scientific excellence is always at the heart of L’Oréal. “We invest heavily in research and innovation to ensure that we provide the best in the cosmetics industry,” he said.

...the advocate turned actress

Filipina makes waves in Korea

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 09/30/2011

 

MANILA, Philippines - Jasmine Lee, a Seoul-based Filipina, is appearing in an upcoming Korean film "Punch" (Wandeugi) which stars young actor Yoo Ah-in.

 

Lee is already a familiar face for Korean audiences, having been a panelist on popular KBS television show "Love in Asia" since 2006 and is widely considered an unofficial spokesperson for migrant wives.

Now, the 34-year-old Davao native is dipping her feet in Korean show business with her role in Punch as a Filipina mother who abandons her son.

The role was written as a Vietnamese woman in the best-selling novel the film was based on. But the film's producers decided to change the character to a Filipino once they met with Lee.

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Lee admitted she did not think the producers will change the role to a Filipina for her.

"I really thought they wouldn't change the nationality because they need to follow the book, but they did. I'm proud and worried at the same time - proud that I'll be represented as I am, a Filipina, in the movie. And worried because here in Korea I've been fighting to better the image of married migrant women," she said.

Punch is Lee's second film, after making a cameo appearance as a runaway Vietnamese wife in the blockbuster hit "Secret Reunion", which starred Song Kang-ho and Kang Dong-won, last year.

"After the success of 'Secret Reunion,' some people I met who recognized me from the movie, eh nakikipagtalo pa sa akin na I'm Vietnamese... Now after 'Wandeugi' people will say, 'hey she's from the Philippines'," she said.

Lee has only nice things to say about working with the 26-year-old Yoo, who played her son. Yoo had appeared in the popular drama "Sungkyungkwan Scandal" last year.

"He was great all through out. He's just like a little kid! He's fun and he called me 'omma' (mother) all throughout the filming. So I call him 'adeul' (son) too. When he sees me, he welcomes me with a hug and asks me if im not hungry," she said.

Punch, directed by Lee Han ("Lover's Concerto" and "Almost Love"), will have its world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival on October 9 in the southern port city of Busan. It will be shown in Korean cinemas on October 20.

Face of Filipinos in Korea

Lee is widely considered the face of Filipinos and migrant wives in South Korea, as she works to change deeply-held stereotypes and improve multiculturalism efforts in the traditionally homogenous Korean society.

Her life even sounds like a telenovela. She met her future husband Lee Dong-ho in Davao in 1994.

The 18-year-old Ateneo de Davao student fell in love with the Korean sailor, who was 12 years her senior. They married and moved to Seoul in 1995.

There were many difficulties at first, adjusting to life in Korea and not knowing the language, culture and traditions. But she managed to overcome these adversities, speaking Korean fluently like a native, becoming a naturalized Korean citizen and raising a son Alex and daughter Chloe.

Lee slowly made the transition to a public figure around 2006, when she was asked to be a panelist on the TV show "Love in Asia." In 2008, she became a TV presenter on educational broadcasting network's "Basic Korean for Foreigners".

But tragedy struck last year, when her husband Dong-ho died while rescuing Chloe from drowning in a river. The incident was widely reported in Korea, where there has been increasing interest in multicultural families.

This only served to raise Lee's profile in Korean society. She was asked to deliver lectures multiculturalism in various schools and universities around the country, and has been profiled in newspapers and featured on TV shows.

Lee was also the only foreigner who was invited to participate in a series of G20-themed lectures, with her speech on "Multiculturalism makes Korea strong?" Earlier this year, Lee was even personally invited by Korean president Lee Myung-bak to a meeting at the presidential house.

Lee earned the respect and admiration of many Koreans, even receiving the accolade "People Who Enlighten the World" from Korea Green Foundation in 2010. At present, she works for the PR team at the Seoul Global Center, one of the first migrant women hired to be civil servants by Seoul City Government.

With all these achievements, many Filipinos in Korea are proud that a "kababayan" is raising the image of the Philippines among Koreans.

Asked how she feels about this, Lee said she is "flattered, proud, unnerved at times."

"It's a big responsibility, but it can be a burden at times. Tao lang naman kasi ako. I want to make mistakes like any other human being but I can't let everyone down. But it kind of gives me the courage and the strength to do good in everything because I know my family, married migrants, the Pinoys here in Korea and of course the country I represent, are all rooting for me," Lee said.

...the Hong Kong landmark case

Filipina wins landmark Hong Kong residency case

Agence France-Presse, Associated Press

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Eman C. Villanueva, second right, secretary general of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, and other supporters of the Filipino migrants organizations flash victory signs outside High Court in Hong Kong Friday. AP

HONG KONG—A Filipino maid in Hong Kong won the opening legal battle Friday in her fight for permanent residency after a court ruled an immigration provision excluding the city’s hundreds of thousands of foreign maids was unconstitutional.

The legal action, brought by Evangeline Banao Vallejos, who has lived in Hong Kong since 1986, has cast a spotlight on the financial hub’s treatment of its army of 292,000 maids, most of whom are from the Philippines or Indonesia.

The High Court ruled that the immigration provision denying the maids the right to gain permanent residency after seven years — as other foreign residents can — was inconsistent with the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

“My conclusion is that on the common law interpretation approach the impugned provision is inconsistent with (Hong Kong’s Basic Law),” Judge Johnson Lam wrote in a ruling issued Friday.

Lam rejected arguments by Hong Kong government lawyers that the maids did not have the same residency status as other foreign residents.

“The mere maintenance of (a) link with her country of origin does not mean that (a maid) is not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.”

The government is likely to appeal Friday’s ruling.

The case was launched by Vallejos, a longtime foreign domestic helper, who sought a judicial review after her bid for permanent residency was rejected.

Vallejos’s lawyer Mark Daly hailed the decision as “a good win for the rule of law.”

“To be clear, Ms Vallejos won on the unconstitutionality of the provisions,” said Daly, one of the lawyers handling her case.

“We spoke to Vallejos—she said she thanks God and all the people who have helped her, including her employer and her lawyers,” he said. “She is busy working so she has no time to be here today.”

The case has divided opinion in Hong Kong, with some arguing that immigration provisions barring maids from applying amounts to ethnic discrimination.

Activists said the legal challenge would entrench domestic workers’ right to equality, but opponents fear it will open the floodgates to new immigrants, which would put a strain on the city’s resources.

A pro-government political party has warned there would be an influx of as many as 500,000 people — including children and spouses of foreign maids — that would cost HK$25 billion ($3.2 billion) in social welfare spending.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong forecast unemployment could jump from the current 3.5 percent to 10 percent.

The government has declined to say how many maids would currently be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Under Hong Kong law, foreigners can apply to settle in the city after seven years of uninterrupted residency, but maids were specifically excluded.

Vallejos challenged the restriction, saying it was unconstitutional and discriminatory, but the government argued in court it was “appropriate” and that it is empowered to define who is eligible for residency.

Another court hearing will be held on October 26 on whether Vallejos can now be declared a permanent resident, but government lawyers have already said they would appeal any ruling in favor of the maids.

The case could also have implications beyond Hong Kong for other Asian economies that rely on cheap imported labor for cooking, cleaning and care of the young and elderly.

Foreign maids in Hong Kong are entitled to better working conditions than in other parts of Asia — they are guaranteed one day off a week, paid sick leave, and a minimum wage of HK3,740 ($480) a month.

But rights groups say they still face general discrimination and a lack of legal protection. A maid’s visa is tied to a specific employer, leaving her vulnerable to domestic abuse, the activists say.

Without the right to permanent residency, if dismissed by her employer she must find another job in domestic service or leave Hong Kong within two weeks.

Daly said he expected the government to appeal within the 28-day deadline.

About 290,000 of Hong Kong’s 7.1 million people are foreign maids.

...the Pinoy films in Dubai fest

Award-winning Pinoy films to be featured in Dubai festival

09/29/2011

GMA News

Award-winning Filipino films will be shown in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 25 and 26 as part of the first "Philippine Festival" there.

According to the news site Gulf News, the festival will also feature workshops with Mowelfund executive director Boots Anson-Roa and actor and director Soxie Topacio.

The films to be shown during the festival are:

"Rosario;"

"Ded na si Lolo" (Grandfather is Dead);

"Botelya" (Bottle), and

"Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?" (We Were Like This Before, How Are You Today?).

The organizers of the event include Kitsch Company and the Philippine Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund), a foundation for movie industry workers founded by former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, who was also a movie actor.

Kitsch Company managing partner Obet Ramos told Gulf News that the festival intends to reach out to Filipino youths born and raised in the UAE.

While admission is free, Gulf News said the number of festival tickets is limited. Those who are interested may send an email to marketingservices@thekitschcompany.com.

Featured films

"Rosario" is a period film set in the 1920s. Directed by Filipino actor Albert Martinez , it is based on the story of a young and liberated Filipino woman who defied convention and risked her comfortable life for love.

"Ded na si Lolo" is a drama-comedy about the superstitions and mourning practices of Filipinos. It was the Philippines' entry in the foreign-language film category of the 82nd Oscar Awards last year.

"Botelya" is a story about different mothers separated by time but all giving unconditional love to their children.

"Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?" is an award winning Filipino romantic musical drama set in the Spanish era, directed by Filipino National Artist Eddie Romero. - VVP, GMA News

...the math wizzards at Modena, Italy

4 Pinoy students win math, science medals in int'l tilts

 

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD

September 29, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines — The medal haul of the Philippines in the most prestigious mathematics and science competitions in the world continued as four high school students bagged gold, silver and bronze medals in the recently-concluded 5th International Earth Science Olympiad, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DoST-SEI) disclosed Thursday.

Bringing honor and pride for the Philippines from Modena, Italy where the competition was held were gold medalist Williard Joshua Jose of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus, silver medalists Christoper Jan Landicho of PSHS Bicol Region Campus and Charles Kevin Tiu of St Jude Catholic School in Manila and bronze medalist John Allan Olesco of Aquinas University Science High School. Jose earlier won a silver medal in last year’s IESO held in Nigeria.

The winning team was mentored by Prof. Miguel Cano of Bicol University and Dr. Marietta de Leon with PSHS Main Campus Director Dr. Helen Caintic acting as an observer.

IESO, held September 5-14, 2011, is the premiere international earth science competition for secondary school students, 17 years old and below. It was the first time that the competition was held in Europe and in Italy. The Philippines hosted the IESO in Bicol in 2008.

The competition covers areas such as astronomy, geology and geophysics, atmospherics and meteorology.
DoST-SEI Director Dr. Filma G. Brawner extended her congratulations to the team, urging them to venture into science careers.

“The IESO is a good starting point for students to look at the earth from a different point of view and explore it. There is still so much more to be discovered and we are hopeful that the IESO winners will take the lead in looking for new information about the world we live in,” Brawner said.

Brawner said contests, such as the IESO, is a good venue for students to be competitive and to excel in the fields they want to pursue.

“Competitions make pupils go beyond what they learn inside their classrooms. With time pressure incorporated in competitions, students are trained to work with grace under pressure. But, more importantly, exposure to international competitions should translate into entry into science careers,” she said.

Brawner said that beyond the medals, math and science competitions also raise public awareness on how science affects lives and moves the country forward.

“The IESO is intended to raise student interest in and public awareness of earth science, to enhance earth science learning of students, and to identify talented and gifted students in earth science,” she said.

Cano, meanwhile, expressed its gratitude to Philex Mining Corporation, Rapu Rapu Polymetallic Project, Geological Society of the Philippines, Hope Christian High School, Bureau of Mines and Geo-sciences, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Vibal Publishing House; and APO Central Italy for making possible the trip of the team to the contest venue.

...the Signature Art finalist

Pinoy a finalist in prestigious Signature Art Prize

abs-cbnNEWS.com

09/29/2011

 

 

"Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero di Mabilang" by Rodel Tapaya

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino artist is one of the 15 finalists in the 2011 Signature Art Prize, a competition that recognizes significant works of art coming from the Asia Pacific region's contemporary art landscape.

Rodel Tapaya was chosen out of 130 hopefuls from 24 countries and territories. A total of nine Filipinos participated in the Signature Art Prize this year.

This is a breakthrough achievement for the Philippines since this is the first time the country is participating in the contest, said Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation, funder of the Signature Art Prize.

"Filipino artist Rodel Tapaya's painting, 'Baston ni Kabunia, Bilang Pero di Mabilang,' employs imagery from Filipino folklore juxtaposed with elements of modern day Philippines, commenting on pre-colonial myths, stories and cultural heritage while also commenting on current issues such as environmental destruction," APB Foundation said in a statement.

The rest of the finalists came from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. South Korea has two finalists this year.

"Each of the 15 shortlisted artworks has stood for its strength of concept and execution, and many are also extremely moving pieces," said a statement from the jury panel, which includes art experts from the region.

"The Signature Art Prize does not rest on a system of national quotas. Rather, it recognizes and honors the outstanding merit of the singular artwork or art project."

APB Foundation said the 15 artworks will be presented at the finalists' exhibition, which will run at the Singapore Art Museum from November 11 to March 12 next year. The winners will be named on November 17.

The Grand Prize winner will receive 45,000 Singapore dollars. Three Jurors' Prize awardees and one People's Choice awardee, on the other hand, will receive 10,000 Singapore dollars each.

The Signature Art Prize is organized by the Singapore Art Museum.

...the English-speaking finalist

Filipina wins major London tilt

September 29, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

 

British Am bass ador Stephen Lillie (left) and wife Denise (right) hosted a reception for Germaine Chuabiao (fourth from left), Philippine delegate and finalist in the annual International Public Speaking Contest organised by the English Speaking Union.

MANILA, Philippines — British Ambassador Stephen Lillie recently hosted a reception at his residence in honor of Germaine Chuabiao, Philippine delegate and finalist in this year’s International Public Speaking Contest organized annually by the English Speaking Union (ESU) in London.

Chuabiao was chosen as one of six finalists of the competition out of 82 national winners from 49 countries. The competition was held at the headquarters of HSBC Bank in London’s Canary Wharf.

A Communication Arts and Accountancy student at De La Salle University, Chuabiao spoke on what it has been like to have a special child as a twin sister, and how society should learn to cope with such situations.

At the reception, Ambassador Lillie noted that Philippine competitors had joined the International Public Speaking Contest every year since 2002. “This is a great tribute to the Philippines as one of the world’s largest English-speaking nations. Within just a decade, Philippine candidates have achieved great success at the ESU competition.”

Also at the reception were the chairman of the ESU Philippines Board, former Ambassador to the UK Cesar Bautista; ESU Philippines president Dr Ma. Luz C. Vilches of Ateneo de Manila University, and other board members.

Sponsors HSBC and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation were represented by their Philippine country heads Tony Cripps and Edgar Chua, respectively.