P15 million earmarked for Samar tourism

THE National Government is allocating P15 million to assist local government units in Samar province to come up with a first ever Island-wide tourism master development plan this year.

The Samar is one of the two areas in the country that will be given assistance in 2011 as a big step to reach its tourism potential.

The other area is Zamboanga del Norte, said Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Karina Rosa S. Tiopes.

“We are hoping that before the end of March 2011, we will be holding our consultative meeting and focused group discussion with representatives from the three provinces of Samar both from the government and private sectors,” Tiopes said in a media briefing held in Catbalogan town, Samar.

She said the budget coming from the DOT will be used in conducting seminars and gatherings with various groups.

“We will be inviting not just people from the government but also from the private sector. In a realistic scenario, private sector should be at the forefront. We need their inputs because they’re the ones investing more in tourism,” the official said.

According to her, this is the first time that the entire island will have a unified plan to develop top tourism destinations.

“The concept is marketing the entire Island. We have to admit that tourist cannot have more experience if he will just stay in one town or city. The purpose is to cooperate with each other and promote each other,” she said.

“This is not spoon-feeding. We have to get the involvement of local governments units. They will have a sense of ownership because they’re the ones who made the plan. They’re part of the process,” Tiopes said.

Two years ago, the three Catholic dioceses in Samar Island have proposed to the Office of the President for the development of seven major destinations in the areas.

These are the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar; Calbiga Caves in Calbiga, Samar; the network of waterfalls in Calbayog City; the Biri Protected Seascapes in Biri, Northern Samar; the San Antonio Beaches in San Antonio, Northern Samar; the Borongan-Llorente forest canopy in Borongan, Eastern Samar; and surfing on Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The newly launched Ulot River Extreme Boat Ride in Paranas, Samar has also been receiving an increasing number of adventure tourists this year, according to the Samar Island Natural Park.

Lack of infrastructure support is the major factor identified in the slow tourism development in the island but officials continue to promote the various tourist spots, Tiopes said.

Linkages have been forged with travel and tour operators to promote the destinations.

Under the Central Philippines Tourism Super Region Management Plan, identified as Tourism Development Areas (TDAs) are the Samar–Leyte Interface (Tacloban-Basey), North Western Leyte (Ormoc), Northern Leyte (Biliran), Southeastern Samar Island (Guiuan), Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay Area), North Western Samar (Catarman).

Value chain approach for listed TDAs was completed last year as one of the strategies to close.

Under the said strategy, members of the tourism committee listed down constraints, sectors that will address the concern, and available local opportunities that could help solve issues.

The tourism department is eyeing nearly half a million annual tourist arrivals in Eastern Visayas by 2016 with the plan to develop these six strategic areas in the region. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)

‘Those who live longest have only 1 wife’

By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Fall in love, have only one spouse—and be faithful.
That piece of advice didn’t come from a priest or from a love guru but from a renowned cardiologist.

“Those who live longest have only one wife,” former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said at Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel, a weekly media forum where the topic Monday—Valentine’s Day—was the effect of being in love on the human heart.

Cabral advised people to spare their hearts of “negative stress.”
“The negative stress comes about when you are compelled to lie everyday to your partner. That’s very bad for the heart,” she remarked, pointing out that falling in love gives a person “positive stress.”

“When you see the person you love, the reaction of the body is like it is undergoing a kind of positive stress,” Cabral said.
“It means your heartbeat is a little faster, your blood pressure goes up a little bit, your pupils dilate, and you feel flushed. But it gives a feeling of well-being.”


Longer, happier life

Cabral said positive stress was not bad for the heart.
“It is like exercise. The state of being in love is good for you. People who have stable emotional relationships live longer and are happier than those who live alone,” she stressed.

Cabral also said that a person’s reaction to stress was important. “You cannot control the things
 that are happening to you but you can control how you react to them,” she said.

“A positive outlook that things will be better” would also help, she said.


Too much TV

Cabral said that negative stress was among the factors that led to heart ailments. The other factors included smoking, drinking too much and lack of physical activity.

“For a healthy lifestyle, a person should not be smoking, [should be] moderately drinking, and observing a healthy, well-balanced diet. Physical activity is also necessary,” Cabral emphasized.

She also has an advice for parents.

“Kids are at risk of having heart ailments because of the lack of exercise or physical activity,” she said.
“Children nowadays hardly do anything else but stay indoors to watch TV, play computer games or portable play stations.”

Parents should encourage their kids to play outside and engage in physical activities.
“Our kids could be taught the outdoor games we used to play as kids,” Cabral suggested.


Stressful sex

Asked how a person’s faithfulness was related to longevity, Cabral pointed out that men who were loyal engaged in “less stressful sex with their wives in the house than with their mistress in a motel, where there is the risk of getting caught.”

“Plus there is the guilt or conscience factor,” she added.

According to Cabral, when a spouse is faithful, his or her partner enjoys a good family life.
“They take good care of each other and ensure that they get a healthy, well-balanced meal and make sure that they get medical checkups,” Cabral said.

“It is more of giving a positive influence to the other, which is good for the body and healthy for the heart.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquire

Welcome our Filipino Class of 2011 for the Oscars!

Hollywood Bulletin

By JANET SUSAN NEPALES

February 27, 2011, 1:58pm

LOS ANGELES – When it rains, it pours.

Moderator and organizer of the event, Winston Emano, summed it up, “Six years ago, we were all excited to have Pia Clemente as our first Filipino-American filmmaker to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short category for her film ‘Our Time is Up.’ Today, we have four of the five Filipinos who will be walking on the Oscar red carpet this year. Welcome our Class of 2011 for the Oscars!”

The four who were present at the SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) facility in LA where the press conference was held were Filipino Oscar nominee Matthew Libatique, cinematographer of “Black Swan,” and the three Filipino-American producers of the Oscar-nominated frontrunner in the Best Live Action Short, “God of Love,” namely Gigi Dement, Stephen Dypiangco and Stefanie Walmsely.

Emano reported, “Too bad part-Filipino Hailee Steinfeld, who is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ‘True Grit,’ cannot join us today. We got word yesterday that Hailee, who just came from a trip to Japan, got the flu bug and she hopes to get better soon.”

Matthew, whom we have met and interviewed a few months ago, arrived in his usual get-up of dark sunglasses, gray suit, scarf and denims. It was also his first time to meet the Fil-Am producers of “God of Love” and the four immediately bonded.

Stefanie, who was a former host of “Eat Bulaga” and a former talent of our friend, talent manager, Girlie Rodis, was filming the occasion for her blog for GMA-7. “I am making a little video diary for them,” she revealed. Stefanie, who was born and raised in Manila, began acting at the age of seven. In high school, she hosted “Eat Bulaga” and has appeared in numerous commercials and TV shows. At 18, she was cast opposite Bob Hoskins in Showtime’s “Noriega: God’s Favorite,” and was later cast as the adopted daughter of Chad Lowe and Kristin Davis in “The John Denver Story.” After high school, she moved to New York to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

“When I told my friends I didn’t know what I was going to wear, suddenly I got three gowns from the Philippines,” she said. Rajo Laurel, who dressed up Pia Clemente with LA-based fashion designer David Tupaz, was one of those who volunteered to dress her up.

Los Angeles-based Stephen Dypiangco, who was excited to finally meet Matthew, brought his mom, the charming, silver-haired Lucila Ocampo Dypiangco. “I still cannot believe that I just met Matthew,” he exclaimed. “I have heard a lot about him and it’s so exciting to finally meet him.” Stephen is also proud that he is a new father of a four-month-old baby girl and is excited to share his new project, “Home Unknown,” which follows his buoyant, thoughtful and emotional journey to explore his roots in the Philippines with a pair of uncooperative sidekicks – his parents.

New Yorker Gigi Dement, who was born in Baguio City, also could not believe that she will be going to the Oscars that she said, “I was saved by fashion designer Oliver Tolentino who will be doing my gown. I told him I don’t have anything to wear and I am not used to wearing high heels!”

The daughter of Deane Dement, a sailor in the American Navy, and Manolita Almario Buenaventura Borja, a former actress. Growing up in Dubuque, Iowa, where she witnessed Sylvester Stallone’s “F.I.S.T.” being shot, it was her experience watching Albert Lamorisse’s “The Red Balloon” that led to her lifelong pursuit of making movies.

As for Matthew, we asked him where he was and what his reaction was when he found out he was nominated for the Oscars.

“I was driving to the set,” he said. “I happen to be up that time at 5 a.m. I was driving to Malibu Canyon. My wife was visiting her family. She called me while I was driving and asked, ‘So do you know?’ because she missed the announcement. I said, ‘No.’ She was on the internet and checked. I was a little nervous. But then she just screamed. I asked her what happened. ‘You made it!’ she said. ‘I was actually more relieved. This whole awards season is unlike other awards seasons for me. I have been in the industry for the past 17 years. To have people respond to this film is so incredible. Deep inside, I wanted it to happen although I never truly believed that I would get a shot at it. I didn’t believe that somebody would actually recognize me and nominate me for an Academy Award. Clearly, I am very happy. It was a relief, a burden off my shoulders.”

Asked what he was looking forward to when he goes to the Oscars, the unassuming Matthew said, “I want to meet Tom Ford.”

He added, “I constantly tell myself to enjoy it because it is easy for you to be swept away. I have been around celebrities but after going through the baptism of fire, for the first time in my career, I am a little star struck because it is an intense environment.”

“At the New York Critics Awards, for instance,” he continued, “screenwriter Aaron Sorkin of ‘The Social Network’ spoke before me. I immediately felt insecure. As a cinematographer, I am just a fraction of how elephant he is. So I reminded myself to be myself… all the time. Yes, all the time. I simply tried to enjoy it. Plus I am still thinking whether I really need to write a speech or not. People say I need to. But for me, it’s like bringing a condom when you go out on a date. Probably I should just do my shout out to my Tito Tony Abad because every time he sees me, he tells me, ‘You have to mention me at the Oscars!’ So probably, I am going to do it now since this is the Filipino press. Hopefully, he will see this!”

Formerly a Manila journalist, Los Angeles-based Janet Susan R. Nepales is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Handsome poor no match to ugly rich

Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines—Well, that’s that for romance. In choosing a lifetime partner, more than half of Filipinos (51 percent) prefer someone who is “ugly but rich” to someone who is “good-looking but poor” (46 percent), according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) . But the results of the Fourth Quarter 2010 survey released Friday also showed that more Filipino men than women believe that love, and not money, conquers all. Among Filipino men, 52 percent will choose someonegood-looking but poor, and 46 percent, someone rich but ugly . On the other hand, more Filipino women are inclined to choose a life partner who is rich but ugly (57 percent) to someone who is good-looking but poor (41 percent). The survey also showed that more than half of Filipinos, or 55 percent, are “very happy” with their love life, while 34 percent say it “could be happier.” Those who profess to have “no love life” account for 11 percent. 1,200 respondents The survey, conducted on Nov. 27-30, 2010, asked 1,200 adults nationwide: “If you were to choose one of the following two persons to be your lifetime partner, who would you pick: A person who is ugly but rich, or a person who is good-looking but poor?” Among men, majorities of those 55 years old and above (60 percent), 45 to 54 years (54 percent), and 18 to 24 years or the youth (56 percent) will choose someone who is good-looking but poor rather than someone rich but ugly. On the other hand, 53 percent of men aged 25 to 34 are more inclined to choose someone who is rich but ugly than someone good-looking but poor. Middle-aged men, or those 34 to 44 years old, are divided: 50 percent will prefer someone ugly but rich, while 49 percent will choose one who is good-looking but poor. Among women, preference for a life partner who is ugly but rich is high across all age groups, the SWS noted. The preference is highest among women who are 18 to 24 years old (71 percent). The percentage decreases as age increases: 61 percent among those 25 to 34 years old, 57 percent among those 35 to 44 years old, 51 percent among those 45 to 54 years old, and 50 percent among those 55 and above. By region, class By area, 55 percent in both Metro Manila and in Luzon outside Metro Manila will choose someone ugly but rich for a life partner, while 56 percent in Mindanao will choose someone good-looking but poor. Those from the Visayas are divided, with 50 percent saying they prefer someone ugly but rich, and 49 percent, someone good-looking but poor. By class, more than half of those from classes ABC (57 percent) and class D (52 percent) will prefer someone ugly but rich. About half or 51 percent of class E will choose someone good-looking but poor. The respondents were also asked to describe their love life in the following terms: “no love life,” “could be happier,” or “very happy.” More Filipinos are happy with their love life in 2010 (55 percent) than when SWS last asked the question in 2004 (46 percent). The question was first asked in 2002, with 58 percent professing happiness in their love life. On the other hand, those who say their love life “could be happier” declined to 34 percent in 2010, from 44 percent in 2004. In 2002, 32 percent said their love life “could be happier.” The number of those who say they have “no love life” hardly changed at 11 percent. Marriage a plus Married people have a happier love life, with 64 percent saying they are “very happy” as compared to 43 percent among those with a live-in partner, and 33 percent among those single. More than half of those with live-in partners (55 percent) say their love life “could be happier” as compared to 36 percent among those married, and 21 percent among those single. Curiously, more than four in 10 single persons (45 percent) say they have “no love life.” There are more single females (53 percent) than single males (38 percent) who say they have “no love life.” By age, only two of five (44 percent) of the youth (aged 18 to 24) are “very happy” with their love life, lower compared than most of the older people who claim to be “very happy” with their love life: 53 percent among those 25 to 34, 60 percent among those 35 to 44, 52 percent among those 45 to 54 and 59 percent among those 55 and above. Among the youth, one of four (26 percent) say they have no love life, higher than the older age groups. By area, about seven in 10 of those from Mindanao (71 percent) and Visayas (67 percent) say their love life is “very happy,” as compared to 57 percent in Metro Manila and 40 percent in the balance of Luzon. Nearly five in 10, or 48 percent, of those in the balance of Luzon say their love life “could be happier,” as compared to 29 percent in Metro Manila, 22 percent in the Visayas and 21 percent in Mindanao. Noncommissioned items The survey used face-to-face interviews, and has an error margin of plus-minus 3 percentage points for national percentages. The survey questions on happiness with love life and preference for lifetime partners are noncommissioned items, the SWS said. Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

My kind of town … or province

By Conrado Banal III Philippine Daily Inquirer JUST WHAT exactly makes a place tick? For Baguio, perhaps, it is the cool climate; and for Metro Manila and Cebu City, probably trade and commerce. Only a few localities in this country are lucky enough to have both. And one of them is Bukidnon. One time, on an out-of-town assignment cum golf trip to Bukidnon with former Press Secretary Horacio Paredes, who now writes a column for Malaya newspaper, I somehow fancied myself retiring in the province, preferably near the 80-something-year-old golf course owned by multinational food company Del Monte. Golf as a personal obsession aside, I found Bukidnon interesting. From what I gathered, at least based on findings of the National Statistical Coordination Board, the province has been making headway in its fight against poverty. For 2003, the NSCB listed Bukidnon as among the provinces with the highest increase in poverty incidence. Today it is the other way around: Bukidnon is one of the provinces with the highest decline in poverty incidence. What makes the place tick? Well, its natural assets—such as good weather and fertile soil in the highlands— should be on top of the list of answers. Still, I have been thinking that those same natural assets have been there for the longest time. Its turnaround must have been the result of some other factors. I put governance on top of them. The province had just one governor since 2003, none other than former Congressman Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., who is the father of Sen. Miguel Zubiri who, in turn, has been rather quiet lately perhaps because of his closeness to the former cute administration. Anyway, Joe Zubiri has transformed Bukidnon from a sixth-class province into a first-class province. It was, in a way, a miracle jump. Some economists perhaps ought to study the program of Joe Zubiri for the province for duplication elsewhere. As a matter of fact, the program of Joe Zubiri already caught the attention of other LGUs here. Governors and mayors already trooped to the province to take a look at the miracle. There were even visiting LGU officials from Cambodia. I thought somebody should document Bukidnon’s story, using scientific methods and all that. Personally, I am interested in the health program of the Bukidnon provincial government. Recently, my cousin in Tarlac needed to undergo surgery, but he did not have the money for it. In cases like his, does our government expect us just to die? Thus, I admire the health program of the government of Bukidnon because Joe Zubiri made it a priority. Of course, the province did not have enough money to put up dozens of hospitals all over the highlands. Joe Zubiri thus built provincial health stations in areas all over the provinces, choosing mainly poor areas. The provincial government implemented a program for 100-percent free health care for the indigents. OK, it got help from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., which was not a bad thing instituted by the former cute administration of Gloriaettta. To support the free health care program, Joe Zubiri invested heavily in new hospitals—three in all, or one in each congressional district of the province—to which the health stations referred the more serious cases. And then there is the livelihood program in the province that has so far lent money to at least 40,000 individuals and 20 big farm cooperatives. The province is now ranked the second-largest producer of corn in the country, hitting total production of almost half a million metric tons every year. Distributed to farmers were large tracks of cornfields, rice paddies and sugar plantation. It has proven that Bukidnon could be good in food production. Del Monte located its pineapple plantation there in the 1920s, even exporting its production. Bukidnon had an outstanding track record in food production. Joe Zubiri simply used it. According to official statements of the provincial government, Bukidnon received numerous awards, including the Rafael M. Salas Award for Population and Development, the highest award given to LGUs for public services. Bukidnon has been consistent in getting nutrition and health program awards that it is now elevated to the hall of fame. And that is why I thought to myself that Bukidnon should be a nice place for retirement and it is not just because of its fine weather for golfing. It is a progressive area.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Aquino stops new mining applications in Palawan

By Redempto Anda
Inquirer Southern Luzon

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The government will stop entertaining new applications for mining in metals-rich Palawan and will heed the demand of a group that recently launched a campaign to gather at least 10 million signatures to put a stop to mining in the province.

In a statement following a visit to the world famous Underground River, north of Puerto Princesa City on Wednesday, President Aquino said the government will no longer process more than 300 applications for mining claims pending at the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr. Aquino added the government will not approve new applications if the communities do not endorse these projects.
“We will support whatever is the position of the communities. While they stand to economically benefit from mining projects, they are also the ones to suffer if anything goes wrong,” the President said in Filipino.

Aquino also said that the more than 300 applications for concessions pending at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, that cover potential mining areas virtually in the entire Palawan mainland, will no longer be processed.

“There are about 350 applications in Palawan that we are sifting through and I think they will no longer go (sic) through,” he said.

“I will listen to you. If you don’t like it, let’s not do it,” he added.
He promised to always consult with the people who would directly be affected, citing other opportunities for investments such as in tourism that will rev up economy and trade.

The President was reacting to the initiative launched by civil society groups in Palawan following the recent murder of environmental activist and radio broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega.

The groups launched a campaign to solicit 10 million signatures nationwide to pressure the government to exempt Palawan from mining activities.

Environmentalists have pointed to Palawan’s rich biodiversity and abundant forests as the main reasons to exempt it from mining.

The province, on the other hand, has been attracting mining investments because of its expansive reserves of metal ores, particularly nickel and chromite, which lay underneath old growth forests.

The President also took a swipe at mining companies involved in stock market speculations, stating that “of around 2,800 applications, only 28 are actually in mining while the rest are in mining stock markets.”

“They don’t operate, they speculate,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Why Establishing Values is Important

You must establish values because they can affect the different aspects of your life, become your driving force and guide, influence how other people perceive you, and help make you into a conscious and purposeful being.

Values are psychological and intangible in nature. Our value system may be taught to us by our parents or people who matter to us. Our values may be the results of past experiences, education and knowledge or conceived from a religious conviction. Although values are not physical objects that we can easily see or touch, they can be manifested in many other ways. Our personal valuesare reflected in the way we behave, in our priorities, in how we go about our activities in daily life, in the decisions we make and in how we respond to and solve issues that come our way. Here are some reasons why establishing strong values is important.

Values can affect the different aspects of life

Values can significantly affect the different aspects of your life. Your value system may influence how you make decisions from trivial choices to life-changing ones. When your decisions are consistent with your value system, you feel satisfied and content. On the other hand, when you do something that is contrary to what you believe in, you tend to become restless and uneasy.

Values become our driving force and guide

A person’s values reveal what is important. They become an essential driving force in a person’s life and may serve as a guide for him as he goes through with his daily activities. For instance, a man who values his family and his responsibilities to his blood relations will make decisions that benefit the members of his household. His life’s direction and his goals will be in line with his concern for his family. It is also the same in the case of organizations. A company’s value system serves as a guide for management and for employees to base decisions they make and their approach to work.

Values influence how other people perceive you

The deeper rooted one’s values become, the more obvious they are manifested in the different ways you behave, interact and make decisions. Other people will tend to make impressions of you based on your values. The impression of your families, friends, co-workers and neighbors will be influenced on whether our values are good or bad.

Values help make you into a conscious and purposeful being

Without values we will all function like robots, unfeeling and insensitive to other things beyond our own basic needs. We will not value truths or hold anything meaningful in life, nor will we strive to put purpose and meaning to our existence. Your values define you as a human being and give color and meaning to your life. They make you different from non-living things. Values also give you a sense of purpose and teach you to be responsible for your decisions and to effectively deal with other people.

Although values are intangible, they are actually a very important part of a person’s life. This is the reason why there are many people who are willing to sacrifice or devote their lives to the values that they hold dear
.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Charice, other young Pinoys still reaping acclaim abroad

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA

February 25, 2011, 3:33pm

Charice won the Best New Artist Award at the J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Awards held last Feb. 24. (Photo courtesy of barks.jp)

MANILA, Philippines - International recognition continues for Pinoys, with Charice Pempengco once again leading the pack.

The now-internationally acclaimed singer adds another feather to her cap, winning the Best New Artist nod at the J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Awards on Feb. 24. Charice, who personally received the award, bested Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Bruno Mars and Orianthi for the plum.

The news broke out on Twitter last night courtesy of user Harry Clark (@twistinharry), who identifies himself as a “songwriter, producer, project consultant.”

Clark posted, “FLASH : #Charice IS the winner for J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Award 2011 in best new artist ;-) Congratulations Cha!! Good work Chasters! ;-)”

According to the Tokyo-based Clark, the young diva also performed “Pyramid” during the ceremony.

In a separate blog post on his website, also on Thursday, Clark gave a detailed report on the announcement of Charice’s win.

“There were snippets from each promo clips by each nominees playin[g] on a huge wide screen on stage, while Chris Peppler, host of the ceremony & Tokio Hot 100, reading a list of the name of nominated artists in best new artist..and then, the clips were cutt [sic] off, light off to black, and here came the total & absolute silence all over the hall...until Chris gently goes ‘And the winner is’.

“And total silence again...like forever....silence...in a darkness...... and.....Chris suddenly and wildly opened his mouth and went with its first letters ‘..Cha---‘! Then lights all up, Cha[r]ice's face is now on the huge wide screen.”

Charice's self-titled album had reached Platinum status in Japan after it was launched there in July last year.

According to her Twitter account, Charice was also in Nagoya for a concert last Monday.

J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Awards, said to be one of the biggest award-giving bodies for music in Japan, is an annual event by Tokyo FM radio station J-Wave 81.3. “Tokio Hot 100” is J-Wave’s airplay chart.

In other news, it turns out that Thia Megia is not the only Fil-Am that wowed the judges of “American Idol” (AI) Season 10. Following the tough Hollywood week, Clint Jun Gamboa makes it to the competition’s Top 24; Megia likewise followed him into the magic 24 shortly on Friday morning, Manila time.

Gamboa hails from Long Beach, California and works as a music host in a karaoke bar. He auditioned in the San Francisco leg of “AI” and sang Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire.” For the competition’s “Hollywood Week,” he sang a rendition of Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind.”

Meanwhile, Fil-Canadian Youtube hit Maria Aragon appeared on US show “Good Morning America” (GMA) on Feb. 24, Thursday (New York time). This came just days after her stints on The Ellen Degeneres Show and on Winnipeg radio station Hot 103.

On a Feb. 24 report by CBC News Canada, Aragon’s performance of “Born This Way” on the show was broadcast simultaneously on NY Times Square.

“GMA” host George Stephanopoulos can’t help but express his admiration for the young performer.

“I have to tell you, they were playing that out over Times Square. And while you were playing I think the traffic stopped all over Times Square this morning. That was so fantastic,” he was quoted. The show likewise gave Aragon a gift certificate for six months of piano lessons. According to the young musical stalwart, she hadn't had any formal music lessons before.

Aragon shot to stardom when her cover of Lady Gaga’s latest single “Born This Way” caught the attention of the award-winning performer herself. On Feb. 17, Lady Gaga tweeted Aragon’s video to her 8,412,153 followers, tagging Maria, “the future.”

Aragon is also slated to sing at Lady Gaga’s Toronto concert on Mar. 3, with the latter personally inviting her to a duet when they got the chance to talk over the phone at a radio guesting.

“I really can't believe what's happening this past few days, my goodness! I'm really overwhelmed!,” the 10-year old tweeted last Wednesday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Cashing in on hedonism

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA ARCHBISHOP Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales faulted Hollywood for promoting a hedonistic culture. He is right, but only to a certain extent. (“Cardinal hits Hollywood hedonism,” Inquirer, 1/23/11)

It is the economic system, whereby giant corporations control the human and natural resources of the world, that creates the individualistic and consumerist culture—to protect and advance their business interests.

A consumerist mindset seeks to buy and own the most visible products in the market. Media package these products as “needs,” although most can pass on as desires. An individualistic culture makes a person concerned only with the self, unmindful of what happens to society, people and the environment. This is good for business for it encourages material accumulation and discourages the sense of collectivity and belonging to one another.

One of the biggest conglomerates, General Electric (GE), holds substantial interests in NBC Universal and Telemundo, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, several television stations in the United States and cable networks. Aside from its interest in the culture industry, GE’s business ranges from appliances and lighting to finance services, to the manufacture of military equipment (F-16 Fighter jet, Abrams tank, Apache helicopter, U2 Bomber, and numerous others).

Owners of media networks in the Philippines also have interlocking business interests in the country. Thus their economic superiority extends to politics, easily making them political kingpins or kingmakers.

Culture is the creation not only of the present, it is also the remnant of the past. For example, during the Spanish colonial period, the priests destroyed our native anitos and replaced them with religious images with white Caucasian features. Perhaps, this has something to do with the popularity of skin whitening creams and nose-lift jobs? The other point here is that, while the good bishop declares that “man was created in order to image the goodness and love of God,” it is also true that the image of God was created by man.

The most positive aspect of Archbishop Rosales’ statement is that it is a recognition of the power of arts and media in molding culture. It is hoped that the P-Noy administration hears this, and builds up a program that would promote a pro-people and pro-environment culture with a nationalist and anti-imperialist thrust.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

—JULIE L. PO,
Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino,
jlp704@yahoo.com

All quiet on the beachfront

By DENNIS LADAW

The gardens at the Montemar Beach Club in Bagac, Bataan stretch from the gate entrance on up to the beachfront. (Photo by MICHAEL APOSTOL)

 The forecast for Valentine’s Day is heavy traffic on streets leading to hotels, motels, malls, and restaurants.  Limited space to move about is also expected as couples squirm their way into musical concerts and other trendy dating venues.

Many couples  may escape to the hills (read: Tagaytay City). For bed-and breakfast trysts, Tagaytay is the place to go. Yet even this cool, picturesque city isn’t exempt from traffic gridlocks. Couples are doomed to spend more time on the road then on water beds adorned with countless red roses scattered on red silk sheets.  So if you want to run away from the madding crowd, choose a place where there actually isn’t a crowd.

The quiet town of Bagac in Bataan province isn’t the next best thing to Tagaytay. For this writer at least, it’s the only game in town.  The drive to Bagac just takes two hours on immaculate roads that offer spectacular vistas. To get there you only need to traverse the NLEX and then the SCTEX. Take the national road at the SCTEX Dinalupihan exit and you drive on well-paved highways that gently wind through such scenic hills, where Bagac is situated. Traffic is non-existent. The population isn’t dense and the countryside remains rustic.

Back in the Seventies, Bagac was the place to go to. Several businessmen started building mansions in an affluent neighborhood located on the hilly outskirts of Bagac.  Many of these houses overlooked the South China Sea. Adjacent to this enclave is a plush resort club called the Montemar Beach Club. Montemar was best described as Bataan’s version of Cavite’s Puerto Azul. It’s an apt description: both were luxurious country clubs and they seem to be situated on the opposite sides of the mouth of Manila Bay.

But Puerto Azul has been put on mothballs. Montemar is still kicking and it’s looking as good as new. We still remember the first time we visited the place almost a decade earlier.  The resort looked well-preserved and the rooms and the clubhouse still featured the original architecture. It terms of appearance and design, it was very Seventies. The ceilings were low, the windows tiny. If privacy was your priority, then the guestrooms were perfect.  The rooms were comfortable though they felt gloomy.  Varnished wood was the dominant accent. This was a reflection of the era  when the rooms were designed.

Last year, the resort had two structures housing several guestrooms refurbished. The new look is pristine, with the style following current trends in architecture and interiors: clean and minimalist with earth colors accentuating the lighter, modern environment. Higher ceilings make the place feel more airy and relaxing. Sliding glass doors that open to a veranda help bring in natural light.  They also offer a panoramic view of the expansive gardens in the property. The suites do follow the current trend in architecture, which is to bring the outdoors indoors.

Guests will also enjoy the outdoors. Montemar is virtually a garden spot with a lot of grand old trees and other foliage. The greenery stretches from the main entrance and on to the beach. One of the old acacia trees is large enough to hold a wooden tree house.  It’s an ideal venue for children to frolic or for couples to bond. The place has all the sports amenities a beach club ought to have. It’s also equipped to host weddings, corporate events, and team-building activities.

The best thing about this place is the privacy it offers. As you relax in the serenity of any of the several well-appointed guestrooms, you feel you’ve put one over everyone else stuck in traffic in Metro Manila, or Tagaytay
.

Go Ahead, Travel!

By Irene V. Fernando

The rush of travellers is expected again as the 18th Travel Tour Expo 2011 opens on 18 to 20 February 2011 at Halls 1 to 4 of the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

MANILA, Philippines – There was a time when one has to pay an arm and a  leg to enjoy a decent vacation. Thanks to the boost in the international and domestic tourism industry, travel destinations have become more accessible to tourists. Competition has also played a role in giving travelers great choices in booking their trips.  Indeed, nowadays going on a trip is no longer a luxury but a way of life.

Travel enthusiasts are sure to have a great start of the year as Travel Tour Expo (TTE) 2011 gives us an array of the best deals in the market this February 18 to 20, 2011 at the SMX Convention Hall. Now on its 18th year, the TTE is an annual event in the Philippine travel and tourism industry organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) and serves as a one-stop-shop for all domestic and international travel needs such as tickets, land arrangements, hotel accommodation, tours, and other travel packages.

Considering the events that rocked the country’s tourism sector last year, travel authorities say 2010 was still a good year for the industry. At present, composing the bulk of the traveling public are students, businessmen and group travelers. “I’ve seen a really big demand for groups which are composed of students and those who are on incentive tours,” shares PTTA president and TTE chairman Paz “Pat” Alberto. According to her, companies give away domestic and international travel packages to their employees as incentives. “Like a year ago, the incentive tours were (from) companies sponsoring their employees such as the salespeople, as a reward for a good performance at work. For students, of course those taking tourism-related courses.”

With the theme “Around the World in Three Days,” the event offers cheaper ways of going to any part of the world. Visitors of the three-day event can expect travel fares and packages that are said to be “better” than what consumers can find “online or anywhere else.” 

“All the agencies will be able to service you and give you the best offer available in the market,” Alberto says. The TTE organizers have also solicited support from tour operators abroad to give them very special rates. “And just to let you know, Disney Land will be giving Disney items to anybody who buys a package to Hong Kong and stays overnight in Disney hotel or for a day during the event.” Local destinations are worth checking out as well. “But of course we have to think also that there are so many beautiful spots in the Philippines. And we have so many new boutique resorts. Both domestic and international (agencies) will be offering something different and something new.”

Last year’s top destinations for Filipinos included Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. This year, Alberto believes that it will still be the same because of the shorter and cheaper flights. “Of course people will also be interested in going back to Thailand now as it is very much into heavy promotion.”

Inbound, over-all data showed that we were still able to reach the desired target for foreign visitors despite the Quirino Grandstand hostage taking and the travel advisories.  As early as the third quarter of 2010, Alberto disclosed that were already “3.2 million visitors from other countries.”

At the same time, more Filipinos are traveling within the country. “Domestic tourism in the Philippines is very good. Tourism (industry) is increasing and increasing every year,” she says. The promos that airlines are giving have been playing a big part. “Filipinos make advanced planning now because of the promo fares.”

Last year’s show brought in about 80,000 visitors, featured 416 booths with 230 participants and had the theme “Ready, Jet-set, Go!” which presented offers that would allow visitors to travel by air, water, rail or road within or outside the Philippines.

The Travel Tour Expo 2011 will be on February 18-20, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. Entrance fee is only P50 (P20 for senior citizens). For more information, call Fairs & More at (2) 845-1324/759-6680 or the PTAA Secretariat at (2) 552-0026 to 29
.

Source: Manila Bulletin

New studies boost heart benefit from moderate drinking

 

Agence France-Presse

PARIS—Two medical investigations published on Tuesday have strengthened arguments that modest daily consumption of alcohol is good for the heart and the blood system.

People who drink alcohol in moderate amounts – equivalent to about one drink a day or less – are between 14 and 25 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than counterparts who drink no alcohol at all, they said.

The two papers, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), cast their net over scores of previous studies to give what the authors say is the widest view ever of this issue.

The research, led by William Ghali, a professor at the University of Calgary in Canada, says moderate drinking increases levels of "good" cholesterol in the body, which has a protective effect against heart disease.

Work published in November among middle-aged men in three French cities and Northern Ireland found that binge drinking, long known as a cause of liver damage, is also linked to heart disease.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

PCPR against a peaceful solution to insurgency

Philippine Daily Inquirer

THIS IS a reaction to the letter (“True root causes of the insurgency,” Inquirer, 2/1/11) of Nardy Sabino, general secretary of the Promotion of Church People’s Response. Sabino and his group doubt and abhor Oplan Bayanihan.
We cannot please everybody, especially Sabino and the organization he belongs to. We cannot even blame them for having doubts about Oplan Bayanihan as everyone is always resistant to change. However, it is disheartening to know that Sabino has such a negative perception of Oplan Bayanihan when the project is the product of a series of consultations and intensive workshops with representatives from civil society groups, academe, civilian and government agencies and other stakeholders, particularly the Church.

Sabino is saying that “Oplan Bayanihan will just militarize the services that civilian authorities must deliver as a matter of responsibility to the public. It will not solve the root causes of the people’s resistance, it will instead exacerbate the people’s suffering.” How can he doubt the military’s efforts to deliver basic services and other “deliverables” other government agencies can’t do because of fear that they might be made NPA targets or because they can’t pass through danger areas? If Sabino thinks Oplan Bayanihan will exacerbate the people’s suffering, what does he recommend we do then?

The problem with Sabino and others like him is that they criticize the AFP and its projects without presenting a better solution. I challenge all those who claim to know the “true root causes of the insurgency” to present to the Filipino people their brilliant solutions. Who knows, they might yet really solve this decades-old insurgency?

The military has remained the bridge between the communities and our government. We took it upon ourselves to act as the catalyst for change because some government agencies are hesitant to attend to the needs of our hinterland communities threatened by the NPA. Our soldiers are gaining the higher ground in the communities with their development projects. It is only the CPP/NPA which fears that the government might “control the communities” through the Oplan Bayanihan, and the reason is clear: Oplan Bayanihan may eventually succeed in diminishing its power bases in the guerrilla zones.

The campaign to win the peace, rather than simply defeating the enemy, starts here and now, with Oplan Bayanihan. It is up to Sabino if he’s going to support or join this undertaking or remain where he is, closed to all possibilities of ending this insurgency. We have had enough violence. Let us try other peaceful means to solve the problem. Sabino claims he belongs to an organization for the promotion of church people’s response. Ironically he doesn’t see peaceful ways as a legitimate approach to ending insurgency. Is he representing a god-less ideology?

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

—COL. ANTONIO G PARLADE JR.,
Army spokesman/chief, Public Affairs,
Office of the Army Chief, Philippine Army

Cure for cancer

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—“Mabait naman ako, doc. Bakit ako nagka-cancer?”

It is difficult to hear this oft-repeated question. It equates cancer with punishment. It is an attempt by a person fighting for his life to understand what is going on with his body. It is also a bargaining chip when one pleads his case to a Superior Being. I’ve been good; spare me from this.

Cancer patients may feel that they are being punished and it takes hefty counseling to convince them otherwise. It is simple logic though. If lung cancer was punishment for a life spent smoking, then why don’t all smokers develop cancer? Some smokers develop other diseases like emphysema and bronchiectasis. If one developed cancer because of drinking alcohol, then why don’t all drinkers develop cancer? Why do some drinkers develop liver cirrhosis?

Don’t get me wrong. Smoking and alcohol are really associated with the development of certain kinds of cancers but it is unfortunately not as simple as that. How many cancer patients never smoked or never drank?

The point is that the cancer question still does not have a satisfactory answer. Cancer has many causes. Modern science still does not know all those causes. Is it bad habits? Is it just bad habits? Is it a cancer gene? Is it exposure to a poison? Is it an environmental problem? Could it have been prevented? Is it a combination of everything? All anyone can do is live as healthy a life as possible and hope that whatever triggers cancer is kept dormant forever.

The good news is that there are now many ways to treat and cure cancer. Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence.

In the Philippines, the medical profession boasts of some of the best cancer surgeons, the best medical oncologists (those who treat cancer with chemotherapy) and the best radiation oncologists (those who treat cancer with radiotherapy). Many of our hospitals have world-class cancer centers, although these admittedly are in the major cities.

Another piece of good news is that all forms of cancer treatment are available in the Philippines. Other than privacy, there is very little reason to seek cancer treatment abroad. The important thing is to have multidisciplinary treatment—that is, a cancer patient’s surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist should be coordinating with each other regarding the best plan of management. For it does not take a genius to figure out that no two patients are exactly the same.

From Feb. 22 to 26, radiotherapy specialists from the Philippines (Philippine Radiation Oncology Society) and Southeast Asia (Southeast Asian Radiation Oncology Group) will be meeting with experts from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (Astro) and the International Atomic Energy Agency to discuss treatment strategies for the most common cancers in Southeast Asia. This is another effort to improve the state-of-the-art treatment and help cancer patients have a good figh,

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer