Saturday, April 30, 2011

Pilot in Pope’s first visit sets the record straight


Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:48:00 04/17/2011

Filed Under: history, Air Transport, Churches (organisations),Newspaper & Magazines
IN AN article on Pope John Paul II’s first visit to the Philippines (Inquirer, 2/20/11), Rolando Luna claimed that he piloted the papal plane to various parts of our country. Several pilots, mostly retired, have asked me to say publicly that Luna’s claim is inaccurate. Records show I was the “aircraft commander” of the papal plane.

It was on Feb. 18, 1981 that the PAL vice president for flight operations designated me as such. I was given the flight information folder which named the cockpit crew and cabin crew, together with the back-up aircraft with its own cockpit and cabin crew. Listed were the VIP passengers on board. I was provided the complete route of the flight, weather forecast and temperature.

At no time did Luna ever serve as pilot of the papal plane. I did, from start to finish. My co-pilot was First Officer Virgilio Ochan.

Inside the plane, before takeoff, Philippine Airlines chair and president Roman Cruz introduced me to the Pope as pilot of the papal plane for the entire visit. I, in turn, introduced my crew members. When I was about to go to the cockpit, the Pope called me and whispered, “I am now totally in your hands.” I assured him, saying, “Your Holiness is in safe hands.”

When the historic papal visit ended in Subic, his holiness kindly gave us a memento: a picture-taking with every crew member. To this day, all of us treasure these photos with the Pope.

Print and broadcast media interviewed me when Pope John Paul II revisited the Philippines in 1995, and when he died. They came all the way to my residence in Toledo City, asking me to share with them my personal impressions of the Pope at close range.

—TERESO B. LEBUMFACIL,
retired Philippine Airlines pilot

Literatus: Underestimating the future of psoriasis



Breakthroughs
Tuesday, April 12, 2011


I USED to know someone working in the Cebu City Postal Office who had psoriasis in the forearms and elbows.
The person responded very well to an aloe vera-based skin gel in a matter of three weeks, if my memory serves me well. But since there are many types of psoriasis, I can only assume it was a case of plaque psoriasis, the most common form of the menace.
Plaque psoriasis appears as red and white scaly patches on the skin. Rapid accumulation gives it a silvery-white appearance. It is usually graded as mild (affecting less than three percent of the body), moderate (affecting three to 10 percent of the body), or severe (affecting more than 10 percent of the body).
Although its cause is yet to be fully understood, many believe that the so-called Koebner response partly triggers it. Koebner response is an irritation resulting from exposure to agents such as molluscum contagiosum (a skin viral infection), warts and toxicodendron dermatitis (an irritation caused by the poison ivy), and injury through self-scratching. Obesity is also a risk factor in the development of psoriasis.
A latest update indicates that in 14 studies from 1994 to 2009, psoriasis shows a serum profile that includes elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and/or triglycerides. In addition, six studies show that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (good cholesterol) decreases.
This may explain why the presence of psoriasis is associated with the traditional risk factors foor cardiovascular disease (CVD)—increased body mass index, elevated blood lipid (hyperlipidemia), hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cigarette smoking. About 23 studies implicated it myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary artery disease and stroke.
Common treatments, such as retinoids (topical) and cyclosporine (systemic), can initiate hyperlipidemia, which can develop into CVD in the future. The same is true with methotrexate, another systemic agent.
Moreover, arterial stiffness (an indicator of dysfunction in arterial tissues) increases in the thigh and head-neck arteries in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, at least as seen in two studies.
Because of its superficial location, psoriasis can be underestimated. It looks like a skin irritation gone badly. Its long-term threats cannot be ignored. So a quick response toward its treatment can make a critical difference.
Would you agree on what Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis Imperator Christian Bernard said about treatment? He said: “The prime goal is to alleviate suffering, and not to prolong life. And if your treatment does not alleviate suffering, but only prolongs life, that treatment must be stopped.”
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 12, 2011.

Friday, April 29, 2011

The benefits of exercise



By Dr. Gary S. Sy
April 12, 2011, 10:20pm
MANILA, Philippines – People who exercise are stronger and have greater endurance than people who do not. Exercise has a lot of benefits. Research has shown that exercise protects against coronary heart disease. Part of this protection comes from improvement in the heart's pumping action; a person who is physically fit pumps more blood with each heartbeat and is able to sustain demanding physical exertion at a lower heart rate than someone who is out of shape.
Regular, moderate exercise improves your capacity for endurance, meaning you will be able to walk (or swim or bike) farther as you continue to work out. Exercise lowers the blood pressure - a clear benefit since high blood pressure is associated with both heart disease and stroke. Exercise also burns up fat, controls weight, lowers your harmful cholesterol level, and raises your good cholesterol level.
Research has also shown that people who are physically active are less susceptible to the type of diabetes that develops in adulthood (type II diabetes).
Anyone who has been confined to bed for more than a few days knows that his or her muscles and bones become weak. This occurs because the kidneys in large quantities excrete the minerals in the bones during long periods of immobility. Exercise, however, builds up the strength of bones by stimulating bone-building cells to create new bone.
Research has shown that an exercise at all ages improves bone strength. This is especially important for women after they reach menopause, when a lack of the hormone estrogen may lead to osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bone). Exercise will help build up the bones to help protect against fractures in the future. Finally, exercise makes people feel good. People who exercise regularly feel healthy and are less likely to become depressed.
Joints:
Joints that are exercised regularly stay flexible and healthy. Regular exercise will benefit the muscles that work the joints and the ligaments that support the joints. Brisk walking, and swimming are good exercises to help keep your joints moving smoothly.
Heart, lungs, and arteries:
Regular, moderate exercise will make your heart and lungs stronger and more resilient. Although exercise may not decrease the amount of fat deposits laid down in arteries, it may increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol), widen the arteries, and make complete blockage, such as that from a clot, less likely.
Muscles:
Because the muscles that move the legs are among the largest muscles in the body, activities that exercise your legs, such as brisk walking, bicycling, and aerobic dancing, is excellent ways to place healthy demands on your heart and lungs and help improve fitness.
Sports:
Gymnastics combines strength, endurance, and flexibility, resulting in high level of physical fitness. Other sports such as running require simply endurance.
Choosing a good exercise program:
The best exercise is exercise that you will enjoy and will do regularly. These recommendations are based on guidelines that apply to most people.
1. Exercise throughout the day for a total of 30 minutes, at least 5 days every week. You do not need to do the exercise in one session. Exercise moderately. If you begin to get dizzy or nauseated, or if you feel any pain, stop what you are doing. These are signs that you are overdoing it. Always do warm-up, stretching exercises before the main exercise session and cooling down, stretching exercise at the end.
2. Choose types of exercise that you enjoy and that you can fit into schedule. Consider brisk walking, bicycling, or swimming. Many people find that bicycling or brisk walking to and from work, or walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator, fits nicely into their everyday routines. The goal is to develop a habit of integrating physical activity into your life, so that you look forward to your chosen activity.
3. Do not attempt to get into shape too rapidly. Start slowly, exercising just hard enough to become aware that you feel mild strain, and increase your efforts gradually over the first 4 weeks. If you are out of condition, avoid vigorous exercise that can demand unhealthy sudden burst of strength and energy. Carefully choose your activities in terms of your capacity.
Before you exercise:
Healthy people of any age can generally increase their routine physical activity with very little risk. An increase in an activity you normally do such as walking, does not require a medical examination. If you belong to one of the following groups, however, it may be wise to call your physician for advice before you begin an exercise program:
* People over 50 years of age, or those over 40 who have had little or no exercise since early adulthood.
* Heavy smokers (those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day).
* People who are overweight.
* People under medical treatment or supervision for a long-term health problem such as high blood pressure, heart, lung, kidney disease or diabetes.
Warm-up:
It is important to warm up for at least 10 minutes immediately before exercising. Slowly stretching your muscles helps increase blood flow and can help prevent injury to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Try to stretch all the major muscle groups (your chest, abdomen, shoulders, arms, and legs) before starting your exercise. Begin your warm-up gradually, stretching slowly and carefully. Notice how your body feels, being careful not to overstretch. Never bounce or jerk your body while warming up. If your activity is walking, start slowly and gradually accelerate to your preferred pace. Work on some stretching after you have been walking for several minutes. Stretching will improve your flexibility. After exercising, be sure to cool down.
Cooling down:
Cooling down is just as important as warming up because it helps prevent muscle cramps and muscle injury, and it helps blood return to the heart. Always stop exercising slowly and gradually; never stop exercising suddenly. After a long run, for example, gradually slow down to a walk, continue walking for several minutes. Massaging your muscles after cooling down will help your blood circulate well.
When to stop exercising:
No matter how physically fit you are, or how long you may have been playing a particular sport, never ignore certain warning symptoms of over-exercise.
The following warning symptoms are potentially serious, and might mean you are having a heart attack or a medical emergency. If you injure yourself, stop what you are doing. Do not continue with the exercise. You won't "work through" the pain; you can make the damage worse. If you feel that the injury might be serious, do not take chances, consult your physician for advice.
Stop exercising right away if you have any of these symptoms:
* Chest pain or chest pressure.
* Pain in your neck, jaw or running down your left arm.
* Heart palpitations.
* Dizziness or light-headedness.
* Nausea.
* Blurred vision.
* Severe breathlessness.
* Feeling of faint or fainting.
Consult your physician immediately.



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

Source: Manila Bulletin

Vatican embarrassed by error-filled catechism book



April 14, 2011, 11:40am
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, during his Angelus prayer, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 10, 2011. (AP)
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, during his Angelus prayer, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 10, 2011. (AP)
VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican has again been embarrassed by a botched translation of its teachings, with the launch Wednesday of an error-plagued book that implies the Holy See approves of contraception and euthanasia.
The errors came to light during a Vatican press conference launching "Youcat: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church," a youth-focused compilation of the thick volume of core church teachings. The book, a project of the Austrian, German and Swiss bishops' conferences, is to be given to young people attending this year's World Youth Day in Madrid.
The launch, though, focused heavily on translation and interpretation problems. The errors were so serious the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, immediately announced it was creating a working group to compile the errors and fix them.
The Vatican's problems began on the eve of the launch, when officials confirmed that Nuova Citta, the Italian-language publisher of "YouCat," had pulled Italian copies to fix an error concerning whether married couples could plan the size of their families.
Editions handed out Wednesday crossed out the erroneous passage and included a paper insert with the correct translation. But at the news conference, another problem in the Italian edition was highlighted in a section on euthanasia. Officials also admitted that French editions had been delayed because of errors in the translation from German about how Catholics should view other religions.
"As you can see, the German language isn't so easy for everyone," Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi conceded at the end of the press conference.
It was the second time in just a few months that a much-hyped book had mistranslated key church teachings. In November, the Vatican's publishing house misconstrued the pope's comments about condoms and AIDS, implying that condom use for prostitutes was justified in some cases.
The mistake, made in Italian editions from the original German, made international headlines since it indicated the church had softened its firm opposition to artificial contraception. The Vatican insisted Pope Benedict XVI was doing no such thing.
Lombardi referred to the condom "misunderstandings" Wednesday, saying "let's go ahead with the understanding that the new editions will, shall we say, be improved, and that it's important that they arrive in time for World Youth Day."
The Vatican opposes artificial contraception, holding that life begins at conception. The church does, however, approve of natural family planning, in which married couples chart the changes in a woman's menstrual cycle to determine when she might, or might not, conceive.
"YouCat" makes clear that the Catholic Church opposes condoms, the pill and other forms of artificial contraception.
The book is set out as a series of questions and answers with commentary. In the original German, one question concerns whether married couples can "regulate conception."
The answer reads: "Yes, a Christian married couple may and should be responsible in using the gift and privilege of transmitting life." References to natural family planning follow in the commentary.
In the Italian version, however, the original question was mistranslated to read rather whether married couples can "use contraceptive methods." The answer remained the same, an affirmative yes, implying that the Church was sanctioning contraception.
Another problem brought to the attention of organizers Wednesday concerned the offering of assistance to the dying.
The book distinguishes between "active euthanasia" and "passive euthanasia," explaining that "active euthanasia" isn't condoned by the church because it violates the commandment against killing others.
"In so-called passive euthanasia someone helps another person in the dying process and thereby obeys the commandment 'Love your neighbor,'" it says.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna who spearheaded the book effort, said the original German book did not use the term "euthanasia," but rather the less loaded word "Sterbehilfe," which can either refer to medically assisted suicide or hospice-type care for someone on their deathbed.
"Perhaps the word 'euthanasia' introduces an erroneous interpretation, but these are things that the Italians must study. In German the text is clear," he said.
Monsignor Rino Fisichella, an Italian who heads the Vatican's evangelization office, seemed genuinely aghast that the euthanasia terminology was used, saying such terms were no longer in use and shouldn't be because they create such misunderstandings.
"It's best to be most precise so as to not run into useless misunderstandings on such an important and delicate issue," he said.
Asked how such mistakes could have been included, Schoenborn noted that each translation had a high-ranking churchman designated to vouch for the accuracy of the contents.
While blaming translators for the errors, he named Venice patriarch Cardinal Angelo Scola as being responsible for the Italian translation — a remarkable public shaming of a fellow high-ranking cardinal.
"YouCat" was prepared in an initial 17 languages, but upwards of 30 languages are planned, including Chinese. About 50 young people, alongside a team of theologians and other experts, helped compile the book which is designed to distill the official catechism into a more easily understandable read for young people.
Benedict wrote a preface to the book and on the back cover he is quoted as exhorting: "Study this catechism! This is my heartfelt desire."


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

An address situated between two coves



By MICHAEL APOSTOL
April 13, 2011, 11:14am
La Puerta Al Paraizo is situated between two coves in a secluded section of the town of Nueva Valencia in Guimaras.
La Puerta Al Paraizo is situated between two coves in a secluded section of the town of Nueva Valencia in Guimaras.
GUIMARAS, Philippines -- When Helen Clarke, a Filipina entrepreneur who does business in New Zealand decided to build her own resort in Guimaras, she christened it “La Puerta Al Paraizo.”  In English, the name means “The Gateway to Paradise.” It’s an apt name for a place located in a tranquil setting. Situated along a clean, secluded white beach with crystal clear waters, Clarke’s place is one of the more prestigious resorts in Nueva Valencia in Guimaras. She admits to never having any background in hotel management but she has always loved creating dwellings that are stylish and relaxing to be in. It was Clarke herself who supervised the construction and landscaping of La Puerta.
“Putting up a resort business here is not easy,” she says. “We did encounter some problems along the way but what kept us going was the enormous potential of the location. And today, it’s the smiles from the satisfied guests that keep us going.”
The guests keep coming in, thanks in part to Clarke’s business partner who makes sure a steady stream of foreign visitors stay at the resort. The place is very inviting. After all, La Puerta is ensconced between two coves, as opposed to the single coves of most other resorts in the country.  
Clarke built several cottages within the property. Some of them come with thatched roofs while others have huge, panoramic picture windows that offer an expansive view of Guimaras Sea. The tropical theme is dominant throughout the resort. It also follows the Asian minimalist look though certain accents and touches are unmistakably Filipino.  Both the cottages as well as the main villa could very well be today’s take on the native bahay kubo. Its Filipino heritage is obvious but it comes with that clean and uncluttered look.

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

The island province of Guimaras is celebrating its mango festival this week. For details, call La Puerta al Paraizo at 0926.4135970  or 0927.5079024. Or email:lapuertaalparaizo@rocketmail.com

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Charice welcomes ‘duet’ with ‘American Idol’ finalist



By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
April 13, 2011, 6:16pm
Divas face-off in the making? Charice and Pia Toscano. (Pia’s photo from her Twitter)
Divas face-off in the making? Charice and Pia Toscano. (Pia’s photo from her Twitter)
MANILA, Philippines – International singer Charice feels flattered by the recent declaration of “American Idol” Season 10 finalist Pia Toscano that she wants to perform with the Filipina sensation.
The 18-year-old star of the hit US TV series “Glee” expressed her appreciation to Pia via Twitter on April 12, saying, “would love to perform with you too. :) you're so sweet.”
The prospect of the two divas sharing the same stage apparently excited their supporters.
“@PToscanoAI10 wants to have a duet w/ @OfficialCharice OMG what a news from www.hollywoodlife.com #piatoscano #charice fans OMG!!!!” Charice re-tweeted from user @arlene19ferriol.
In an article posted on HollywoodLife.com on Tuesday, Pia—who many believed to be the season's front runner but was unexpectedly voted out from the show last April 7—enthused that she’s “such a huge fan” of the petite chanteuse and that she “absolutely wants to perform with her” in the “AI” finale in May.
“She’s the most amazing singer ever… she’s insane,” said Pia.
The 22-year-old New Yorker even took inspiration from Charice’s past performances for her own numbers on “Idol.”
“When I was covering all of my Celine Dion songs, I would watch her videos. She’s just out-of-this-world amazing…” Pia recalled.
For now, though, fans would have to wait for the dream duet to materialize since both young ladies are currently busy with their respective projects. Charice is shooting for her second Hollywood film “Here Comes The Boom” with Salma Hayek and is reportedly appearing on the 17th episode of “Glee” on April 19; PIa, on the other hand, will join her “Idol” mates on their summer tour.
Meanwhile, Pia’s fellow “Idol” finalist and Charice’s “kababayan” Thia Megia aired a message for her Filipino fans via an interview with ABS-CBN, which was aired on “TV Patrol” last April 12.
“Hello, my fans from the Philippines. I want to thank you so much for all the support you’ve given me. I can honestly tell you that the support you have given me has given me the means to accomplish much more,” she said.
Thia, 15, was eliminated  from the competition last March 31 along with Naima Adedapo. Pia met the same fate one week later, and while clearly one of the judges' favorites, they could not overturn the voters' decision, having used up their only 'save' for Casey Abrams on week three of the finals.

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

Source: Manila Bulletin

Drinking 100-percent fruit juice may help fight diseases: study



April 12, 2011, 12:08pm
LOS ANGELES (PNA/Xinhua) — Drinking 100-percent fruit juice may offer disease-fighting benefits, a new study suggests.
Fruit juice is linked with reduced risk of cancer, improved markers of heart health and cognitive decline, and increased antioxidant activity, according to the study published on Monday by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
These protective health benefits are similar to those of whole fruits, said the study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis.
The researchers came to the conclusion after summarizing recent research data on the potential benefits of fruit juice. The review included a range of study types, from in vitro to clinical trials (60 papers total), all published in 2005 or later.
Among the fruit juices included in the review, consumption of apple, citrus, cranberry, grape, and pomegranate juices all showed beneficial effects. Markers of improved health ranged from reductions in urinary tract infections (cranberry) to improvements in age-related cognitive decline (grape and apple) to reduced risk of prostate (pomegranate) and respiratory and digestive (orange, grapefruit) cancers. Additionally, intake of all juices was linked to heightened antioxidant activity.
"While it is universally accepted that fruit and vegetable intake is protective, there is not a clear consensus about the benefits of consuming the juices that are extracted from them," said study lead author Dianne Hyson, PhD.
"An analysis of the scientific evidence suggests that 100 percent fruit juices retain important bioactive components that may promote good health and aid in disease prevention."

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A paradise in Guimaras



By MICHAEL APOSTOL
April 13, 2011, 11:28am
Garden enthusiast Neptune Pittman with her husband Charles at the front entrance of their Guimaras place called Neptune Pittman's Garden Resort.
Garden enthusiast Neptune Pittman with her husband Charles at the front entrance of their Guimaras place called Neptune Pittman's Garden Resort.
GUIMARAS, Philippines -- The small island province of Guimaras is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the  Philippines.  The island’s beautiful beaches, verdant forests, and picturesque landscape are just among the highlights of Guimaras. Also, its friendly people have made tourists want to revisit the place. Among the more prominent residents of the island is Mrs. Neptune Pittman, who lives in a colorful house surrounded by an equally colorful garden. The property, which covers roughly 1.2 hectares  of  land, is home to a fabulous collection of exotic and organic plants.
Neptune Pittman is a retired microbiologist who worked as a medical technologist in Saudi Arabia. In 2003, she and her Australian husband Charles, a retired pilot, decided to turn their home in Buenavista into a garden paradise filled with blooming flowers and willowy trees. In 2006, they became hoteliers when they transformed their home into a botanical garden resort called Neptune Pittman’s Garden Resort. Today, she’s among the island’s biggest champions. She now serves as Chairperson of the Guimaras Tourism Council.
Mrs. Pittman has long been a garden enthusiast, so it was natural for her to have a beautiful garden in the house. “It started as a hobby, I love collecting and taking care of plants. Then people started visiting the place and marveled at my exotic plants. And more and more people wanted to see them so, I thought of turning the place into a garden resort.” she said.
The garden is a repository of many rare plant species. Guests who might have a green thumb are always welcome to have a chat with Mrs. Pittman who loves to share interesting information about the plants. She also gives advice on how to maintain their own gardens.  Among the plants that can be seen in the garden is  the Jadevine. Mrs. Pittman describes the plant as the “Pride of the Philippines.” It’s said to thrive in the deep jungles of Quezon province. Also in the garden is the Zarraca, dubbed as the king of the flowering trees. And there is the Brownia, which Pittman says is the Zarraca’s female counterpart. And believe it or not, Pittman has a Japanese maple and fig tree in her garden! Also, there are several varieties of Gumamelas, and flowering vines and varieties of Macopa trees.
The main house and the guest rooms in the Pittman resort are also sights to behold. The place can accommodate up to 60 guests. It has a conference hall,  a Spa Cottage, and an outdoor tennis court.
There are three guest rooms in the Pittman house, all of which were decorated by Pittman herself.  In designing the interiors, she went for the eclectic by mixing Meditterranean, Indian, Asian, and Australian styles.  The walls and ceilings of the  lobby and lounge areas feature hand-painted flowers that make the indoors feel and look as serene as the outdoors.
Apart from the main house is a wooden guest cottage adorned with ornaments from the various countries the Pittmans have visited. The staircase uses recycled wood and it’s said to have been sourced from a centuries-old sunken Spanish galleon. The cottage can accommodate up to 15 people.
The garden furniture she designed are made of recycled materials. The tables and chairs, for instance, are made of motorcycle tires. The benches are made of cart wheels and tree logs.
Mrs. Pittman has managed to infuse her own charming, generous personality into her own home. Any guest who enjoys the charm of the resort in turn, also gets to learn more about the lady who owns and built it.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
For more information about Neptune Pittman's Garden Resort, call 0916-2352791 or (033) 580-2286. E-mail woodpit@yahoo.com.

Don’t dumb down viewers, TV urged




Actress, solon seek quality programs
By Volt Contreras
Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—Even the theater star who brought “The Vagina Monologues” to the Philippine stage is aghast.

The list of Willie Revillame’s critics now includes acclaimed actress-director Monique Wilson, who called on local artists to band together, overcome fears of crossing potential employers, and help put the pressure on TV networks that “dumb down” the Filipino audience.

“We keep saying Filipino artists are world-class. Well, let’s prove it now,” Wilson wrote on her blog as she weighed in on the latest controversy hounding the game show host.

“The debate is no longer whether it was child abuse or not,” Wilson said, referring to the widely criticized episode of Revillame’s “Willing Willie” show on TV5 that had a 6-year-old boy gyrating like a macho dancer while breaking into tears for a P10,000 cash prize.

“The facts are plain to see. No one with a sense of respect for another human being can dispute that,” Wilson said.

“The discourse now is how we, as Filipinos, as artists involved in the same industry that created Willie Revillame and shows like his, could have allowed this to go on for as long as it has.”

Acclaimed locally and internationally, Wilson has dozens of productions to her name as actress, director and producer, most famously her lead performance alternating with Lea Salonga in the original West End production of “Miss Saigon” in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The theater company she founded has mounted, among others, the Philippine production of the provocative “Vagina Monologues,” a play about women empowerment (or its loss) as told through stories relating to female sexual experiences or the genitalia itself.


Why not quiz shows?

In a statement, Bagong Henerasyon Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy flicked in a few jabs of her own.
Dy said top ad spenders should sponsor more quiz shows rather than song-and-dance programs that lure in millions of viewers with hefty cash prizes.

Dy said the child abuse controversy could have been avoided had the boy performer, Jan-Jan, been made to compete in a show based on intelligence rather than “macho dancing.”

“I believe Jan-Jan and his parents would have been prouder to have the 6-year-old minor train and join an academic quiz contest had there been one airing on television,” Dy said.


MTRCB inquiry

A YouTube clip of the March 12 show has earned Revillame and his network a lashing from scandalized viewers, government officials, Church leaders and even fellow entertainers.

The outrage has also revived calls for a drastic review of the local TV fare, especially game shows which critics say offer no educational or positive values, at worst promoting mendicancy and exploiting the poor and uneducated.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has launched an inquiry to determine possible sanctions. TV5 itself said it had appointed an internal ombudsman to investigate the incident.
Revillame has apologized and said he only wanted to help the poor but threatened to sue fellow show biz personalities who had attacked the show.

He has also said that the “Willing Willie” will be off the air for two weeks, starting today.


Senseless categories

One of the roots of the problem, Wilson said, was that “all our TV networks dumb down audiences in one way or the other.”

“I am not saying, of course, that all shows fall beneath our standards of human decency. There are some TV shows that go against the grain, break the boundaries and give us quality. But they are so few,” she said.

Wilson expressed dismay at “how the networks create the demarcation lines—A and B for middle and upper classes, C and D for lower classes.”

“What kind of senseless segregating is that?” she asked. “It’s like saying that depending on what ‘class’ you belong to, you cannot ‘appreciate’ certain kinds of shows. This insults me, as it should insult everybody.”

Even news reports on TV, she noted, are now “horrifyingly biased and sensationalist,” while noontime variety shows “exploit women and insult our intelligence” and talk shows have become “intrusive, subjective and tasteless.”


Protest actions

Addressing fellow artists on TV and in film and theater, Wilson said: “We can all rant and rave, but unless we do something concrete about our rage, we will just be passive bystanders.”

She suggested a number of protest actions, from boycotting the sponsors of questionable shows to making use of congressional hearings to “let them know this is unacceptable to us.”
Boycotts, for example, can be particularly effective, she said.

“They hit where it has a tangible economic effect. That is how apartheid South Africa crumbled. That is what is supporting the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.”


Do not fear

Wary of the potential backlash on the artists’ careers, Wilson stressed: “Don’t sit on the fence because you fear you won’t be given work.”

“It is this fear that networks also rely on to keep their machinery in place—machinery that lacks not only some very basic human values but also aesthetics.”

TV being a cultural form, she said, “should be used to educate, empower, inspire and awaken.”

“But shows like ‘Willing Willie’ and many others do the opposite. They dumb down audiences. They disempower them by creating a mendicant society with game shows that promise ‘quick money.’”

“They keep them dependent on handouts, instead of creating opportunities for them to build skills. There is nothing inspiring about this.”


‘Battle of the Brains’

Dy said the networks should create more shows in the mould of the defunct Battle of the Brains, IQ 7 and Spelling Bee to inspire the youth to concentrate on their studies.

“It is lamentable that there is a dearth of corporate sponsors whenever talented Filipino students join international quiz competitions,” she said.

Dy also said: “Advertisers of ‘Willing Willie’ demonstrated concern for the welfare of children when they swiftly withdrew advertising support for the program. Can they be as quick to pick our challenge for them to back the revival of academic competition programs on TV?”

The advertisers who pulled out their ads from the show were Jollibee Foods Corp. which said it was “holding off” ad placements of its newly acquired Mang Inasal restaurant chain; Procter & Gamble Philippines; Unilever Philippines; Del Monte Pacific Ltd.; CDO Foodsphere; and Cebuana Lhuiller Pawnshop.

Leonard de Vera, a lawyer for Revillame, claimed the videos of the show uploaded on YouTube and Facebook were “spliced in an attempt to portray child abuse and to shed a bad light” on Revillame and his show.

Earlier, De Vera called for the expansion of the MTRCB inquiry “to cover all TV programs with children and minors, whether as performers or game show contestants.”

De Vera argued that the videos were edited to make it appear that Jan-Jan cried throughout his performance, as if he was forced to perform and that Revillame humiliated the boy.
Viewing the entire segment would “easily dispel” that notion, he claimed.

“There was also nothing obscene in Jan-Jan’s performance because the dance type that (he) emulated was part of a dance form called ‘body wave.’ Jan-Jan’s dance was not suggestive and did not excite lustful thoughts. In fact, the said dance had become part of Filipino culture. In many Filipino homes, children dance this way during family gatherings to impress their parents and relatives,” De Vera contended.

He added that there was also “nothing wrong” with Revillame’s commentary during Jan-Jan’s performance, saying it was Revillame’s “artistic way” of hosting. With reports from Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. and Jerome Aning

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


Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Welcome to Banana Beach


Welcome to Banana Beach

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO
April 26, 2011, 10:11am
Infinity pool with sunken bar (Photo by MICHAEL PATRON)
Infinity pool with sunken bar (Photo by MICHAEL PATRON)
MANILA, Philippines -- Banana Beach, as its name implies, is the world’s only beach resort inside a banana plantation. It is located in Barangay Madaum in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, or about an hour away from Davao City.
Davao del Norte Vice Governor Victorio R. Suaybaguio, Jr., Regional Tourism Director Arturo Boncato, and Rosanna Tuason-Fores recently led in the inauguration of Banana Beach’s infinity  pool with a resounding strike at the gong signifying good business, and hopefully, more tourist arrivals.
 What is extra amazing about the infinity pool are the seats built below the water near the sunken bar. So, it means, you can swim, sit down for a while, have a drink, and go back to swimming again.
Tuason-Fores, chair and president of  Twin Leisure Group, Inc. and concurrently vice-chair and chief executive officer of the Hijo Resources Corporation, said her company that built Banana Beach “nurtures nature today to benefit the generations of tomorrow.”
Banana Beach is one living example of such vision.  It is the world’s only beach inside a banana plantation with a 4.5-kilometer coastline, where you can do skimboarding, ultimate Frisbee throwing, beach volleyball, or build sand castles.
For fine dining and fishing, you can drop by at The Spot (named as such because you have to find your own “spot” to do your fishing).  Bangus, kitang, and lapu-lapu are some of the fish you can catch in the pond.
But that’s not all.  You can also walk under the coconut trees or read thought-provoking books or listen to your favorite songs under the shade of the trees.  You can also do biking and horseback riding, if you want.
Clustered around tropical gardens a few steps from the beach are charming tropical-inspired cottages, two of which can accommodate up to 25 persons each.  There are also seven small huts which can house 10 persons each.
But the most romantic is the casita (which resembles a native bahay kubo but very open like a cabana).  One or two mattresses are provided along with a mosquito net for protection.
If you have only a day and just want to tour around the place, you can avail of the Banana Beach day tour at P350 per person (inclusive of guided tour and snack).  Select from any of the two types: forest tour or banana plantation tour.
The forest tour is not far from the beach.  Actually, it is a 60-hectare second-growth forest.  It is home to herons, egrets and other birds.  Monkeys and wild pigs also abound.  One way of enjoying the forest is through its Twilight Safari, which starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.   Guests stay at the edge of the forest and wait for the animals to come out and forage.
Its newest forest attraction is the elevated walk or e-walk.  Actually, it is a series of several hanging bridges. Each hanging bridge is about 22-25 meters.  From the ground, the elevation is about 18 feet.  While walking on the e-walk, you can see various forms of organisms and plants.  If you’re lucky, you can see various species of birds.
If you prefer the Banana Plantation tour, you will have an opportunity of learning a bit of history and science as you go through Hijo Plantation, the first plantation in the country to export bananas to Japan.

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

Camotes tour will appeal to big-city folks, says consul



By Risel S. Adlawan

Sunday, April 10, 2011

BLESSED with fine weather, around 140 participants arrived in the island of Camotes yesterday and were impressed by its natural beauty.
For their first stop, the visitors went to Poro town, where dancers in colorful attires welcomed the delegation led by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. Several pump boats, with flags in different colors, surrounded the fast craft as it docked at Poro wharf, to welcome the participants.
Blue umbrellas marked “Poro, your gateway to Camotes” were given to the participants to protect themselves from the heat. Visors, bottled water and T-shirts were also given to all delegates as part of their kit for the “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo,” a local tourism program of the Provincial Government.




As part of the visit, the governor and Acting Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and guests like Ambassador Francisco Benedicto and Consul Samuel Chioson signed a climate change adaptation pledge of commitment and planted trees.
Pilar town in Camotes has set a target of two million trees planted by 2015.
Several tourist spots in the island were shown off, like the Bukilat Cave in Barangay MacArthur, Tudela, one of the eight natural caves in Camotes, said Mayor Erwin Yu.
Delegates were told a ritual should be performed before any visitor can enter the
cave.
Valentina Lanuza, 85, first started to do the ritual when she was 10 years old. Part of it is making sure a fresh egg can stand on its own, without being held, before visitors are allowed into the cave. At the bottom of the cave is a pool that mixes fresh and seawater.
Visitors were also asked to pass by the “palina” or to walk through smoke from a small wooden fire, believed to drive away evil spirits.
Linda Ouano, wife of Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, said she did not expect to see such a beautiful cave and was surprised that it exists in Cebu. The last time she saw a beautiful cave was in China, she said.
“It’s amazing. We can find it here in the Philippines,” she said.
In Tudela, visitors tried a special dish called “inutok,” made with coconut, crab meat and ginger.
Because Camotes is a known tourist destination, it already has some well-run resorts that include the Buho Rock Resort of Poro, and Santiago Bay Garden and Resort and Mangodlong Resort, both in San Francisco.
The participants had lunch, which featured sea cucumber and other seafood, at Buho Rock.
In San Francisco, delegates enjoyed fishing in the Lake Danao Park and most visitors bought dried tilapia fish at P200 per 200 grams.
An official of the Chinese Consulate said the program is a good way for their tourists to explore Cebu Province.
Consul General to Cebu He Shi Jing, who was among the participants in the two-day “Enchanting Camotes” tour, said he was very happy to visit the island.
He said it was the first time for him and his wife to join the visit, which they found exciting. He also said it will give Chinese tourists who come from big cities like Shanghai and Beijing a chance to explore the natural beauty of the province.
He said the governor can promote the program in China.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 10, 2011.