In the News: Proudly Pinoy

[Animo]

By Joanne Zapanta-Andrada

If you have recently watched episodes of the famous TV show Lipstick Jungle, you may have spotted actress Victory Ford holding a handwoven minaudiere clutch and co-star Wendy Healy sporting an Ikat clutch both by the now internationally famous brand Celestina. The creator of Celestina, as all of us already know, is none other than Tina Maristela-Ocampo. Lately, Tina has more than business in her mind. Conversations with this model-turned-fashion accessory creator has lately been about getting the Philippines noticed on the world’s fashion map.

Tina shares, “Part of Celestina’s promotional concept is to be able to present a clear idea of how an international luxury brand is created with the use of indigenous materials from the Philippines. We believe that local artisans should be part of the design process so that the brand can speak of its culture, traditions and beliefs. Celestina so far has incorporated the handwoven fabrics from the north in its capelets and the linings of our crocodile handbags. We’ve also engaged local artisans to weave sterling silver for my minaudieres. We collaborate with Bulacan jewelry makers to produce the designs we come up every season for its fine jewelry capsule collections. We deal with a lot of exporters from Cebu to lay various shells and other indigenous materials into our moulds.”

As much as possible, Tina and her team source their materials from all around the Philippines and let local manufacturers produce all their line categories. This way, they are able to create products that bear the soul of our land and its people. “With this as well,” Tina continues, “I am able to fulfill my mission of helping our people be more productive, earn money, learn new skills and more importantly revive a dying art. I work with old men and women (in their sixties and some in their seventies) — very creative people who are masters of their art but their hands are tired. Their eyes are slowly failing them. Their wish is that they could pass on their craft to their children and their grandchildren. Their wish has become my driving force.”

Tina brings out a brochure containing photographs of her latest collection. The pages are filled with powerful images of women wearing the Filipino-Spanish tambourine, young ladies adorned with necklaces of corals and shells. There are clutches molded from silver and sashes of blended wood and tassles.

“Our country has so much to offer the world,” Tina continues. “I firmly believe that artistically, we stand head and shoulders among the best. As far as natural resources are concerned, we are at a clear advantage. All we need is to be focused enough to marry resources, skill and creativity with marketing and simple business sense. Every Celestina item has a tag that proclaims its origins as being from the Philippines. I am proud of our country and proud of being a Filipina. Celestina is my way of making the world pay attention to our brilliance as a people. And I do believe the world is listening!”

[icarusrising]

The jewelry of Celia Molano: Treasures across time


By Rita Ledesma
Sunday, October 12, 2008




As early as the first Millennium B.C., the Philippines had a rich tradition of personal adornment. It enjoyed a lively trade of glass beads and semi-precious stones with India and China. Its pre-colonial era was dominated by princesses and women warriors who adorned themselves wi th the finest gold woven as sashes, or designed as intricate earrings and elaborate necklaces. Even then, exquisite jewelry was integral to being Filipina.

From this heritage emerges jewelry artist Celia Molano, who keeps the tradition vibrant and reveals her own ease with elegance. She spent her childhood in the aristocratic south playing with her grandmother’s heirloom pieces as though they were favorite toys. This background reflects the lifestyle of generations before her, and elucidates her refined feel for jewelry that comes naturally, like mists of beautiful memories. Steeped in artistic history and tradition, Celia Molano creates timeless treasures for the sophisticated woman. She executes designs of superb quality and refreshing innovation, threading together excavated beads, tambourines, fresh water pearls, gold, silver, and semi-precious stones in a delightful mix beyond imagining. She has no boundaries in thought and expression. And this inner excitement she successfully conveys through her art.

The exhibition at the Kampa Museum in Prague is a tribute to the history of Philippine jewelry while being magnificently modern. It displays dramatic, oversized necklaces of original pre-Hispanic beads and reproductions of gold finials once worn by sultans and powerful women. They exude an air of majesty while remaining authentically primitive.

Then there are the delicate ornaments: necklaces of exquisite granulated flowerettes alongside tambourines, cameos, and ribbons of the finest pearls overlapping like waves at sea. There are flirtatious gold earrings that dance and dangle with supreme subtlety, evoking fantasies of lace and ephemeral splendor reminiscent of the Spanish era when femininity was unrivaled.

But the era of glamor never wanes. Celia Molano’s extensive travels in India and Indonesia inspire lavish combinations of excavated beads in every size, shape and color: round, oval, clay, glass, faience, multicolored, striped. With stunning creativity, these beads are accented by an ancient mamuli pendant, or interspersed with finely carved gold and silver “balls” that echo every unique design. The effect is matchless.

So is the artist’s imagination. Baroque pearls are replicated in gold or silver, and then combined to make fabulous necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings. Bronze pearls are mixed with matte gold filigree. Carved aquamarine butterflies serve as whimsical pendants. Pearl, coral, gold, silver “sticks” are freely strung to fashion ornaments that subtly shift with the movement of the wearer. A magical world is created.

Celebrated in her own country, Celia Molano has captured the imagination of collectors all over the world: in Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United States among others. Her works have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines. An internationally renowned jewelry artist, she expresses the grandeur of Philippine design and the rich nuances of Eastern elegance.

An exhibit of Celia Molano’s jewelry opens at the White Cube Gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila on Oct. 14. It is her first exhibit in ten years. The author is former president and trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

[icarusrising]

Brutus wins NETPAC award in Hawaii film fest

Article posted October 16, 2008 - 02:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Tara Illenberger's Brutus, a movie about a rebel leader starring Yul Servo, has won the NETPAC Award in the 28th Louis Vuitton Hawaii Film Festival held at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

The film fest showcases 154 films from 36 countries this year.

Other winners, as contained in its Website were The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai'i which won the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Best Documentary, Cape No. 7 which won the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for best narrative, Coffee and Allah got the Honolulu Magazine Award for Best Short Film while Texas Girl got Honorable Mention.

The NETPAC Award was won by Brutus: The Adventure with The Little Heart getting honorable mention.

The Viewers Choice Award was won by The Hollow while the Film in Hawai'i Award was wong by Joan Lander and Puhipau (No Maka o ka 'Aina).

The Achievement in Acting was handed to Woo-sung JUNG while the Maverick Award was given to Ji-Woon KIM.

The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian film throughout the world.

The Louis Vuitton Hawaii IFF is the only film festival in North America given permission to present the NETPAC award.

In Cinemalaya 2008, Brutus won the Special Jury prize in the Full Length Feature category while Yul bagged the Best Supporting Actor award.

Illenberger, however, was not able to attend the festival due to a death in the family.

Aside from Brutus, another Filipino movie that was screened for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii Film Festival was Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil's Boses. - GMANews.TV

[-TC-]

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/ind...d=24:companies

McDo slides to Number 3

Written by Margaret Jao-Grey
Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:45

Of course, everybody knows who’s the Number 1 fast-food chain in the country. Now, as for Number 2, well, it seems Chowking has now surpassed McDonald’s in terms of sales and market share.

Interestingly, the two guys who’ve built up Chowking into a P10-billion brand are no longer with the company. Former president Raffy dela Rosa now heads Jollibee Food Corp.’s experiment in carinderia food while marketing manager Jojo Ajero is putting up his own marketing consultancy business.

Current Chowking president is former P&G man, Erwin Eliechicon, while the newly appointed marketing manager is the company’s media manager, Wendy Quashigah.

[icarusrising]

Puerto Princesa bags green award
Nation
Friday, 17 October 2008 01:18
Puerto Princesa City continues to reap dividends on its environmental protection, conservation and sustainable development programs as it added another feather to its cap after bagging the prestigious Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Environmentally Sustainable Cities Award in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This is the first time that Asean gave out such an award which was received by Councilor Miguel Cuaderno IV. Puerto Princesa City was nominated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau in recognition of its role as the country’s foremost champion of sustainable development.

Surin Pitsuwan, Asean secretary-general, explained that the award is an initiative of the Asean environment ministers which aims “to give recognition to cities in the region that have taken exemplary measures to keep their cities clean, green and liveable even as they continue to grow as centers of economic and industrial activity.”

Pitsuwan stressed that the award is significant because “each awardee-city tells a compelling story of how it has placed environment and nature at the core of city planning, the challenges it faced, and its resolve to ensure the city remain environmentally sustainable as it develops and modernizes. Their ability to successfully focus on the sustainability of their environment provides an experiential model that other cities can emulate.”

In response to the Asean award, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn said, “We are happy and proud and grateful to have represented the Philippines in this very prestigious Asean search for the region’s most environmentally sustainable cities. This is a very meaningful award because it recognizes and validates the correctness of our long-avowed policy of sustainable development in lieu of the destructive boom-and-bust cycles of environmental exploitation characterized by the wanton abuse and destruction of land, air and water resources—the very sources of life—as if there were infinite.”

[higen]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

When I saw his website I immedaitely emailed it to my entire office and with in minutes I got dozens of replies from my officemates...I captioned my email "Filipino Artist"...comments are overwhelmingly, outrageously positive...comments like "no way dude, this has got to be edited..hahaha...unbelievable!", "WHOAH! Do you know this guy?", "Filipinos rock!" and these are all coming from foreigners some of whom never even bother to read about the Phils...

I am simply amazed at how he can copy the actual face in detail...his copy of Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp's face are simply creepy, in a jaw dropping way...Freaking awesome!!!

I'm curious though, wonder what the celebs think of him copying and selling their faces...hmmmm...

Originally Posted by -TC-

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/...ls-up-Angelina

Pinoy artist dolls up ‘Angelina'
By Rowena C. Burgos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines - For over seven years now, Noel Cruz has been creating portraiture of Hollywood celebrities on dolls. An American magazine recently reported his Angelina Jolie doll could have been purchased by the actress and partner Brad Pitt on eBay, an online auction and shopping website.

The doll has been featured in magazines in the United States and United Kingdom.

One eBay bidder reportedly bought one Jolie doll for $3,350. The doll came with two wigs and hand-painted, sculpturally enhanced breasts and without tattoos, which can be added by Cruz for $15-$35 each depending on the tattoo. Another bidder reportedly purchased another Jolie doll for £2,000.

.

Angelina Jolie


Kirsten Dunst


Nicole Kidman


Check out this website for more samples of his work. --> www.ncruz.com

[icarusrising]

SBMA chief gets USMMA awar
Shipping
Written by Henry Empeño / Correspondent
WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2008 18:31
SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—For ushering in the establishment of maritime-related industries in this free port, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano Salonga has received a second award from his alma mater, the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), in Kings Point, New York.

The award, which recognizes outstanding personal achievements by academy graduates, was bestowed for “exemplifying the finest tradition of the merchant marine corps ‘Acta Non Verba’—or ’deeds, not words,’” according to the USMMA Alumni Foundation.

Salonga entered the USMMA in 1949 as a scholar under the US government’s Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946, and graduated in 1953. He is, so far, the first Filipino in the USMMA Class of ’53 to receive the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award twice.

In a statement, Salonga said he considers the recognition from USMMA “as an affirmation of what I have kept close to my heart — the academy’s tradition of ‘Acta Non Verba’.”

“This is what drives me to perform well, to pitch in my modest share in building a better future for the young generation of Filipinos,” said the SBMA official, who is also a commodore in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Salonga, who was appointed by President Arroyo as SBMA chairman in 2005, is largely credited for the paradigm shift in the Subic Bay Free Port that ushered in several big-ticket maritime-related investments.

These include the $1.6-billion shipyard project of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., and the ship-repair venture by Subic Dockyard Corp., which operates two dry docks formerly owned by the US Navy.

[stanleymalls]

WAH! THIS IS NEWS! IT'S THE PHILIPPINES' TIME TO SHINE ACROSS THE WORLD!

[icarusrising]

Davide gets 'Spirit of the UN' award

Article posted October 24, 2008 - 01:43 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine representative to the United Nations Hilario Davide Jr received this week the "Spirit of the UN" Award for his work on promoting spirituality and values.

An article on the website of the Philippine Mission to the UN Friday said Davide received the award at the Dag Hammarksjold Auditorium at the UN Headquarters last Monday.

Davide is the second recipient of the award conferred by the UN-based NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC).

The first recipient in 2007 was Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh for his life-long dedication to peace, human rights and justice.

The CSVGC presented the award after it had evaluated the "many inspiring comments, recommendations and support" that Davide received as a nominee.

"For his exemplary work on promoting spirituality and values at the UN," the award said.

CSVGC is a committee of the Conference of NGOs in consultative status with the United Nations. It honored Davide this year as an outstanding person who best exemplifies the aspects of spirituality and values in his work and daily life.

The CSVGC's vision is a commitment to a global culture of peace based on justice, solidarity, inclusiveness, shared responsibility, harmony, cooperation, compassion, love, goodwill, wisdom and reverence for the sacredness of life through active peaceful engagement.

Davide said he accepted the award not only for himself but also for the Philippines, the Philippine Mission to the UN, and many others who have focused attention to global concerns.

He said he considered the award as specially significant as it also symbolized the sacredness of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the 60th anniversary of which will be celebrated later this year, "whose heart is spirituality and the universal values of human rights, freedom, justice, truth, love and peace."

"Spirituality is a communion and an abiding relationship with Almighty God Who, according to the Book of Wisdom, made all things by His word and established man to govern the world in holiness and justice and render judgment in integrity of heart," he said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo faxed on the same day his congratulatory message and congratulated Davide for this milestone achievement that has made the country and the people proud.

Romulo added that the award represented a concrete manifestation of his peers' esteem and confidence in his able leadership.

He assured Davide of his continued support for his efforts in promoting deeper cooperation between the Philippines and the United Nations. - GMANews.TV
All Rights Reserved. 2006 © GMA Network Inc.

[amigo32]

Davide for President! Puede!

[icarusrising]

SM wins ‘Retail Asia’ Best of the Best award
Top News
Friday, 24 October 2008 04:12


The SM Retail Group was a recipient of the Best of the Best award during the 2008 Retail Asia-Pacific Top 500 awards held recently at the Venetian Hotel-Resort in Macau, making it one of the region’s premier retailers. During the same event, it also won the Gold award as the Philippines’ top retailer for the fifth year in a row.

Spearheaded by Retail Asia, the prestigious Singapore-based magazine five years ago, the Top 500 ranks retailers in 14 Asia-Pacific economies on sales turnover and sales productivity. The ranking continues to highlight companies that have become the movers and shakers in the region’s retail sector.

Drawing from Euromonitor International’s research and analysis of the retail industry around the world, analysts in the 14 Asia-Pacific economies featured did research for the 2008 edition. The latter included Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The top three retailers from each of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze awards during the event; and the Best of the Best were selected from the Gold awardees. Other Best of the Best awardees included Matahari of Indonesia, GCH Retail in Malaysia, and NTUC Fairprice of Singapore. Local retailers cited included Mercury Drug and Rustan’s, which won the Silver and Bronze awards, respectively, for the Philippines.

In a “year that was subjected to an enormous repertoire of ups and downs . . . Asian economies soared
to a fifth-straight year of growth in 2007,” says Steven HL Goh, executive chairman of Retail Asia. “And Asia’s retail industry prospered and grew.”

“The clear inference is the tremendous resilience, tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit of Asia-Pacific’s top retailers in coping with market fluctuations,” he adds. “It is also a clear testimony to their strategic and tactical capability in successful retailing – forging the compelling value proposition for their customers and delivering the best possible customer experience at all times.”

“We are happy to celebrate our 50th year as a retailer this year,” says Tessie Sy-Coson, president of SM’s Retail Group. “Our group continues to innovate and reinvent ourselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We are still excited about our prospects in the dynamic retail industry.”

Through the opening of new stores, renovations of major stores, and the introduction of new merchandising concepts, SM continues to make shopping at its department store chain an exciting lifestyle experience.

New innovations in store design have been evident at the newly renovated stores at the SM supermalls in North-EDSA, Bacoor, and Megamall. The design at the new Megamall store allows customers to scan merchandise easily and make easy selections, leading to a more rewarding shopping experience. Another major store, SM Cubao, is currently undergoing a major renovation to enhance the shopping experience, and there are similar plans for minor renovations in stores in SM City Fairview and SM City Manila.


IN PHOTO -- SM’S SVP for Controllership Ricky Lim receives Retail Asia’s Best of the Best Award from Anson Bailey of KPMG International of Hong Kong.

[icarusrising]

Filipinos star in Asian Youth Orchestra



goodnewspilipinas.com
First Posted 13:44:00 10/25/2008


SIX YOUNG talented Filipino musicians made the country proud representing the Philippines in this year’s batch of the Asian Youth Orchestra.

The youngsters chosen from more than 1,000 hopefuls who auditioned across Asia are Jose Carlo Tuazon who plays the violin, on viola is David Tagala, Giancarlo Gonzales is on the celli, Vincent de la Cruz on Double Bass, Mahler Villanueva on the French Horn, and Gilbert Asuque on Percussion.

In July this year, all of them hit six Asian cities on a concert tour including China, Hong Kong and Japan, doing their respective duties for the 100 strong Asian Youth Orchestra.

The experience was both exhilarating and terrifying, Mahler Villanueva recounts. But Gilbert Asuque said this experience cannot be replaced by anything else in the world.

The Asian Youth Orchestra was founded in 1990 by famous American-born violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin & artistic director and conductor Richard Pontzious, with their inaugural concerts in August 1990.

The 100 members of the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) are among the finest young musicians in China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Chosen through highly competitive auditions held throughout the region, they are together for six weeks each summer, initially for a three week Rehearsal Camp, then to perform on tour for three weeks with international solo artists and conductors.

In 17 years, they have performed with cellists Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, violinists Gidon Kremer, Gil Shaham, Leila Josefowicz, Young Uck Kim, Akiko Suwanai and Cho-Liang Lin, soprano Elly Ameling, pianists Alicia de Larrocha, Cecile Licad, Leon Fleisher and Jon Nakamatsu, the Beaux Arts Trio and trumpeter Hakan Hardenberger. Among those who have conducted AYO are Sergiu Comissiona, Alexander Schneider, Eri Klas, Tan Dun, Okko Kamu and the orchestra’s co-founders, Yehudi Menuhin and Richard Pontzious.

Since its debut concerts in 1990, the Asian Youth Orchestra has performed in New York’s Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, at the White House, at the United Nations, and at the Hollywood Bowl. On two European tours the Orchestra has appeared in Amsterdam’s historic Concertgebouw and opened the fall concert season in Berlin’s Konzerthaus.

In 1996, AYO was the first international orchestra in more than 50 years to perform in Hanoi, Vietnam. The orchestra returned four years later for two concerts in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City before continuing on to Australia for debut concerts in the famed Sydney Opera House for the 2000 Olympic Arts Festival.

In 1997, AYO was in Hong Kong and Beijing with cellist Yo-Yo Ma for the world premiere performances of Tan Dun’s Symphony 1997. That tour, the longest ever undertaken in China by an international orchestra, also marked AYO’s unparalleled third appearance in Beijing’s 10,000-seat Great Hall of the People.

Since 1990, the Asian Youth Orchestra has played 261 concerts in 167 cities to more than one million people. Millions more around the world have seen and heard the orchestra on CNN, CNBC Asia, NHK Television, Radio and Television Hong Kong, and Star TV.

Some 1,000 to 1,500 musicians in 12 Asian countries and territories audition each year for AYO. The youngest is 15, the oldest 25. When selected, they study with an exceptional artist-faculty from the Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, National, San Francisco and Pittsburgh symphony orchestras, Boston Musica Viva, the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras and Monnaie Opera.

A tuition-free summer program, the Asian Youth Orchestra is designed to ignite a pride for what can be achieved by Asian musicians in Asia, while affecting a positive influence on the brain and talent drain that continues to frustrate all Asian nations. It is the orchestra’s intention to expose Asia’s brightest young musicians to rich and varied artistic experiences that include rare opportunities for exchange, study and performance.

A formation committee of Hong Kong business men and women created the organizational structure for the Asian Youth Orchestra in 1987 and established it as a non-profit charitable trust qualified under Section 88 of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance as a tax-exempt institution.

[raffy_east]

Hi Everyone,

I know this is not about proudly pinoy thing but we will be proudly pinoy if we succeed and putting our kababayan to the number 1 spot. I think our represetative deserve the spot and I think she is a great person. I just need your support and IP address.

Please vote for Miss Philippines for next International Image Award winner. The voting will run through from Oct 22nd- Nov 1st. A top 15 finalist will be announced on Nov 2nd and the previous votes will be empty the 15 finalists will then re-enter the competition on equal ground for the final round of voting.

International Image Award is independently produced by CHARMPRESS

Rule: You may only cast one vote per one IP address

Please click : http://www.geocities.jp/intlbeautypageant/vote.html

I already voted for Miss Philippines.

Thanks

[IslandSon.PH]

RP students win 39 medals in Thai world math contest

By JONATHAN M. HICAP

The Philippine delegation to the 2008 International Mathematics Competition held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from Oct. 25 to 30, garnered 39 medals, including two golds, in individual and group categories, to finish fourth among 25 countries participated in the annual event.

Thailand Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Thailand Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri opened the math competition, underscoring the importance of the contest, which drew 25 countries including math powerhouse China.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines and head of the delegation, said Filipino students, including three from Muntinlupa schools, received two gold medals, 15 silvers and 22 bronze medals.

The Philippines placed fourth among 25 countries with math powerhouse China topping the contest with 51 medals followed by host Thailand with 49 and Indonesia, 41. Trailing the Philippines are Taiwan, 37; Bulgaria, 25; Hong Kong, 23; Singapore, 16; Malaysia, 10, and South Korea, 10.

Aside from the Philippines, other countries that participated in the contest are Australia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Canada, Laos, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Germany, Iran, Rwanda, South Africa, and Cyprus.

The first gold was won by Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, who was the lone gold medalist from the country in the elementary individual competition.

The other gold medal was won by Philippine Team A composed of Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

Last year, the Philippines won 14 medals in the same contest held in Hong Kong.

"Our contestants rose above the challenge and proved that they can compete with other students from other countries. We at the Mathematics Trainers Guild Philippines are very happy with their outstanding performance," Dr. Chua said.

Philippine Team A bagged a silver medal in the elementary team competition. The team was composed of Austin Edrich Chua, Ma. Czarina Angela Lao, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Jude Catholic School and Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Xavier School.

Philippine Teams E and A bagged bronze medals in the group category.

The silver medalists from the Philippines in the elementary individual contest are Dielle Tio of St. Stephen’s High School, Hubert Yao of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Sean Timothy Cheng of Grace Christian High School, Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Xavier School, Sterling Alvin Tiu of St. Stephen’s High School, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Jennifer Cu of UNO High School, and Joelle Sophia Pena of Saint Pedro Poveda College.

In the secondary division, the individual silver medalists are Carlo Francisco Adajar of PAREF Southridge in Alabang, Vance Eldric Go of St. Jude Catholic School, Ricci Ryan Rojo of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, John Russell Virata of Gideon Academy and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

The bronze medalists in the individual contest in the IMC are Philip Lizarda of San Beda College Alabang, Austin Edrich Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Andrew Joelle Caguntas of Bangkal Elementary School, Jakov Ivan Dumbrique of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Martin Lewis Koa of St. Jude Catholic School, Richard Milante of Legazpi Hope Christian School, Jason Allan Tan of Jubilee Christian Academy, Arnold Lindros Lau of Xavier School, Mary Kryslette Bunyi of San Beda College Alabang, Regina Paz Onglao of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Evan Niccolo Lao of Xavier School, Alvin Uy Lim of Quezon City Science High School, Ervin Fredrick Dy of Chiang Kai Shek College, Elvis Jeremy Ayroso of Philippine Science High School, Arielle Elise Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School, Charles Rainier Belga of Taguig Science High School, Joel Edward Cardinal of Makati Science High School, and Sarah Jane Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, the youngest contestant in the Philippine Team in the high school division.

The Philippine delegation arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday night.

The trainers and coaches of the students are Dr. Eduardo Dela Cruz, dean of the School of Education and Normal of Arellano University; Priscilla De Sagun, assistant division superintendent of Makati; Levita Portugal of the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology; Roberto Degolacion, Joseph Wee, Manuel Kotah, Emmanuel Pena, Jonathan Glorial, all team and deputy team leaders.

[IslandSon.PH]

Donaire stops Mthalane, keeps IBF flyweight title

11/03/2008

LAS VEGAS � Nonito Donaire of the Philippines retained his International Boxing Federation flyweight world title Saturday with a sixth-round technical knockout of South African Moruti Mthalane.

Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight at 1:31 of the sixth after Donaire had opened a cut on the inside of Mthalane�s left eyelid.

Donaire improved to 21-1 with 13 victories inside the distance, while Mthalane fell to 22-3, with 15 knockouts.

Donaire showed himself the more skillful fighter, controling the contest from the start.

In the sixth, the ringside doctor stopped the action to examine the bleeding Mthalane, and determined the fight should be halted. The South African was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mthalane had won nine straight fights before he was stopped for the second time in his career.

It was the second title defense for Donaire, who has stopped each of his last four opponents.

The 25-year-old claimed the belt with a fifth-round technical knockout of Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007.

On the undercard Jorge Arce stopped Isidro Garcia in the fourth round in a super flyweight belt.

Arce knocked down Garcia with a body shot early in the fourth. He rose, but Arce didn�t let up, and referee Tony Weeks called a halt to the contest at 48 seconds of the fourth.

Arce improved to 51-4-1, with 38 wins inside the distance. Garcia, who has lost three of his last four fights, fell to 25-6-2. AFP

[-TC-]

Congrats to SJCS!!!

Originally Posted by IslandSon.PH

RP students win 39 medals in Thai world math contest

By JONATHAN M. HICAP

The Philippine delegation to the 2008 International Mathematics Competition held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from Oct. 25 to 30, garnered 39 medals, including two golds, in individual and group categories, to finish fourth among 25 countries participated in the annual event.

Thailand Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Thailand Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri opened the math competition, underscoring the importance of the contest, which drew 25 countries including math powerhouse China.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines and head of the delegation, said Filipino students, including three from Muntinlupa schools, received two gold medals, 15 silvers and 22 bronze medals.

The Philippines placed fourth among 25 countries with math powerhouse China topping the contest with 51 medals followed by host Thailand with 49 and Indonesia, 41. Trailing the Philippines are Taiwan, 37; Bulgaria, 25; Hong Kong, 23; Singapore, 16; Malaysia, 10, and South Korea, 10.

Aside from the Philippines, other countries that participated in the contest are Australia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Canada, Laos, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Germany, Iran, Rwanda, South Africa, and Cyprus.

The first gold was won by Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, who was the lone gold medalist from the country in the elementary individual competition.

The other gold medal was won by Philippine Team A composed of Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

Last year, the Philippines won 14 medals in the same contest held in Hong Kong.

"Our contestants rose above the challenge and proved that they can compete with other students from other countries. We at the Mathematics Trainers Guild Philippines are very happy with their outstanding performance," Dr. Chua said.

Philippine Team A bagged a silver medal in the elementary team competition. The team was composed of Austin Edrich Chua, Ma. Czarina Angela Lao, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Jude Catholic School and Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Xavier School.

Philippine Teams E and A bagged bronze medals in the group category.

The silver medalists from the Philippines in the elementary individual contest are Dielle Tio of St. Stephen’s High School, Hubert Yao of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Sean Timothy Cheng of Grace Christian High School, Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Xavier School, Sterling Alvin Tiu of St. Stephen’s High School, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Jennifer Cu of UNO High School, and Joelle Sophia Pena of Saint Pedro Poveda College.

In the secondary division, the individual silver medalists are Carlo Francisco Adajar of PAREF Southridge in Alabang, Vance Eldric Go of St. Jude Catholic School, Ricci Ryan Rojo of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, John Russell Virata of Gideon Academy and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

The bronze medalists in the individual contest in the IMC are Philip Lizarda of San Beda College Alabang, Austin Edrich Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Andrew Joelle Caguntas of Bangkal Elementary School, Jakov Ivan Dumbrique of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Martin Lewis Koa of St. Jude Catholic School, Richard Milante of Legazpi Hope Christian School, Jason Allan Tan of Jubilee Christian Academy, Arnold Lindros Lau of Xavier School, Mary Kryslette Bunyi of San Beda College Alabang, Regina Paz Onglao of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Evan Niccolo Lao of Xavier School, Alvin Uy Lim of Quezon City Science High School, Ervin Fredrick Dy of Chiang Kai Shek College, Elvis Jeremy Ayroso of Philippine Science High School, Arielle Elise Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School, Charles Rainier Belga of Taguig Science High School, Joel Edward Cardinal of Makati Science High School, and Sarah Jane Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, the youngest contestant in the Philippine Team in the high school division.

The Philippine delegation arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday night.

The trainers and coaches of the students are Dr. Eduardo Dela Cruz, dean of the School of Education and Normal of Arellano University; Priscilla De Sagun, assistant division superintendent of Makati; Levita Portugal of the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology; Roberto Degolacion, Joseph Wee, Manuel Kotah, Emmanuel Pena, Jonathan Glorial, all team and deputy team leaders.

[JulZ]

congrats Donaire!! ang galing talaga ng Pinoy! first tym ko sa thread n to...na goosebumps ako.. ang galing talaga ng Pinoy! sabi nga nila, we are the best people there is.

Sana suporthan ng govt yung mga inventors natin kasi baka ibenta lang ng mga inventors natin ung mga gawa nila abroad..at sana naman patuloy ang suporta nila sa mga kabataang gus2 ring magimbento..Isama na rin nila yung mga athletes at mga retirees..Please lang!!!

[JulZ]

Pinay in USAF: Sky’s the limit
By Jose Katigbak, STAR Washington Bureau
Tuesday, November 4, 2008

WASHINGTON – For Filipina top gun Capt. Monessa Catuncan, flying is more than just a job, it’s an obsession sparked by the 1998 film “Armageddon” starring Bruce Willis.

“I think I want to be an astronaut,” her father Ramon recalled her saying after she saw “Armageddon” while a sophomore at the Mesquite High School.

“I told her it would require a lot of hard work to realize her ambition but she told me that would not deter her,” he said.

After graduating at the top of her high school class in Dallas County, Texas, Monessa enrolled at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and majored in aeronautical engineering.

She was commissioned as a USAF second lieutenant in 2004 and after training as an F-16 jet pilot was sent to Iraq with the 34th Fighter Squadron to support US ground troops in close air support missions.

Early this year she was promoted to captain and assigned at Hill Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia describes the F-16 as the first fighter aircraft deliberately built to sustain 9-G turns. It has enough power to climb and accelerate vertically if needed.

Ramon Catuncan, originally from Pasay City, emigrated to the US in 1973 where he met his wife Teodosia Pineda of Olongapo, a registered nurse. They married in Texas in 1977 and have two daughters, Jennifer, 30, an optometrist, and Monessa, who turns 27 on Dec. 19.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think my youngest would become the first Pinay F-16 fighter pilot,” Catuncan told The STAR.

“Of course she’s an American, having been born here, but as far as we’re concerned she is Pinay – atin yan” (she’s ours),“ her mom chimed in during a three-way telephone interview.

She said her daughter’s favorite foods are adobo, afritada and kare-kare.

Monessa declined to be interviewed for this article, saying she did not want to unnecessarily draw attention to herself while still in the Air Force. But she did tell The STAR she still entertained thoughts of becoming an astronaut.

Catuncan said that while his daughter was still in high school she caught the attention of the Coast Guard, who invited her in 1999 to Connecticut to interest her in becoming a Coast Guard helicopter pilot.

“She went to Connecticut for about two weeks to check out the Coast Guard but in the end she said she was not interested in flying helicopters. She wanted to be a fixed wing pilot,” he said.

The young Catuncan is but one of a number of Filipinos who have made or are making their mark in the US military.

Attesting to the historic military ties between Filipinos and Americans, one fourth of all foreign-born members of the US armed forces are from the Philippines, many senior leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are graduates of US service institutions and Filipino-Americans are well represented in the upper echelons of the US military.

Lt. Gen. Edwardo Soriano before his retirement in 2004 was the highest ranking Filipino-American in the US Army while Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba was probably the most famous, thrust to fame for his investigations into the prison scandal at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.

“Monessa, through her perseverance and hard work, has earned not only the (right to) fly the F-16, but also the pride and honor of defending the United States, as well as making the Filipinos proud,” said the Las Vegas based Asian Journal, a Filipino-American community newspaper.

[Wind Shear]

Originally Posted by amigo32

Davide for President! Puede!

Hehehe...

I remember in one news long time ago that he said that he will rather go farming at Argao, Cebu than running for president.

[IslandSon.PH]

RP restaurant ranks 10th in Asia's 'top 20'

Philippines - A Philippine restaurant in Tagaytay City in Cavite province ranked 10th in a newly created "Top 20" list of restaurants in Asia.

Tagaytay-based Antonio's Fine Dining was lauded in The Miele Guide, which bills itself as Asia's first truly independent and most authoritative regional restaurant guide.

"Standing for over five years now, Antonio's menu has proven to be as spoon-worthy as its ambience is swoon-worthy. It has consistently been considered among the top five restaurants in the Philippines and a favorite for proposals and intimate weddings," the group described the restaurant in its website.

It said chef Antonio Escalante's commitment to fine cuisine remains strong, adding a la carte ordering is simple enough although the pre fixe menu may prove "a little tricky."

"Don't skip the salads as Tagaytay offers the best greens in and around Metro Manila. Duck has also been known to steal the show, especially the duck confit in Grand Marnier beurre blanc or the roasted duck breast served with foie gras. The service here at Antonio's is excellent. The wait is never long and within minutes you are seated, handed a menu and offered the restaurant's signature dalandan juice," it said.

The Miele Guide 2008/2009 edition evaluates restaurants in 16 Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

It ranks and profiles restaurants across the region's major cities, categorized by country, city and cuisine.

"Unlike most guides, there are no arbitrary, secretive selection procedures, and the public's vote plays a big part. A shortlist was drawn from the region's top food critics and thousands of food lovers responded to the chance to shape culinary history by voting for their favorite restaurants," it said.