Ayala Museum Offers Family Membership Deal

The Ayala Museum

Membership card entitles you to unlimited free admission for you, your spouse and kids below 18 years old to all exhibitions, invitations to members-only sale held every June and October, invitation to two museum exhibit openings, 10 percent cash discount at the Museum Shop, 20 to 50 percent on all programs, lectures, workshops, symposia and other activities, and 10 percent cash discount or 5 percent credit card discount at the M Cafe.

Ayala Museum is the art and history museum located at the corner of Makati Avenue and De la Rosa Street in Makati City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is considered one of the most important private institutions of Philippine art and culture.

Envisioned in the 1950s by Filipino abstract painter Fernando Zobel, the Ayala Museum was established in 1967 under the auspices of Ayala Foundation, Inc. It began as a museum of Philippine history and iconography, and transformed itself into a museum of fine arts and history as the 20th century drew to a close.

It also has the M Café, a gathering spot for souls passionate about art and culture, as well as sophisticated fusion food that features modern interpretations of traditional Asian food.

Buy the Family Membership voucher through A-Deals.com

Sources: A-Deals.com | Wikipedia

Photo by treetop_apple_juice at Flickr.com

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Malacañang Palace Goes Tumblr

Whoa! Tumblr.com? Actually, it’s a nice, simple browse along memory lane as the microblogging site depicts the history of Malacañang Palace and the Philippine Presidents that came and went.

Source: tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph

Image from tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph

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TESDA to Launch 7 New Programs This 2012

TESDA classroom

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently announced its plan to launch seven new programs this year intended to increase employability, provide more livelihood and spark the entrepreneurial skills of Filipinos. Dubbed REAL DEAL TESD (Reach the grassroots, Empower the reached. Assure quality training and Lifelong education Development. Enable, and Actively-engage Labor force members in job opportunities thru employability and livelihood skills), this initiative is a response to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s call for “Landas na Matuwid.”

The seven programs are:

1. IT-BPO Talent Investment Program that will train 65,000 scholars to qualify for jobs in the business process outsourcing industry;
2. TESDA-SEIPI (Semi-conductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines) Partnership for the Semi-Conductor Electronics Industry that will train more than 9,000 new and existing workers to keep them geared up for the demands of the semi-conductor and electronics industry;
3. Partnership with PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.) for the training of 1,300 technicians;
4. TESDA-Holcim Partnership to train some 2,200 out-of-school-youths in construction trades such as masonry, carpentry and blueprint reading certification;
5. Partnership with LTRFB (Land Transportation Regulation and Franchising Bureau) in PUV (Public Utility Vehicle) driver’s certification;
6. TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Programs that brings together stakeholders to serve the multifarious service requirements of households and small communities; and
7. Updates on TESDA-Coke National Convergence Program on Empowering Women Retailers.

Source: News Desk, president.gov.ph

Photo by netstreamph at Flickr.com

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There’s a Filipino Park in Vancouver, BC

The Filipino Plaza public park in Vancouver, BC

Somewhere in Vanness Avenue, west of Sky Train’s Nanaimo Station, Vancouver, BC, sits a park Filipino-Canadians call the Filipino Plaza. The open park, sometimes referred to as a linear park, located underneath the Sky Train Expo Line, was one of the dozens of open parks built in 1986 as part of BC Transit’s Parkway Program showcasing different cultural parks on the 26-kilometre path that parallels the Sky Train.

Fronting this park is the colorful Sarimanok logo and a 2,000-red brick wall donated by the Filipino-Canadians who started the endeavor in the park. Construction of the park was made possible with the bayanihan spirit of Filipino-Canadian members of the “Filipino Plaza Committee of 1985.”

This year, the Filipino Plaza will be the official site of the Flag Raising ceremony to kick off the various Philippine independence celebrations in the lower mainland of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo from Wikipedia

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Branding Yourself for 2012 is a Must

Randell Tiongson, Director of the Registered Financial Planner Institute Philippines, columnist of renowned broadsheets, 2011 Outstanding Alumni of the University of Santo Tomas, and a host of other distinctions, is conducting a half-day seminar entitled “Personal Branding for Finance Practitioners.” He writes in his blog:

“This interactive, engaging and practical seminar will help you understand, create and send out the unique brand that is YOU. Today’s business world is fast paced and so are the decisions and judgments we are making. There are more than a lot of business men and women, financial advisors, entrepreneurs both young and experienced bringing the same products, skills and services to your field in the industry. But why do some people still stand out above the rest? Best bet is that these people, consciously or not, have their own unique personal brand.”

I have attended a few of Randell’s seminars and have always been both entertained and educated by the simplicity of his presentations in a topic that normally generates, in Randell’s words, “nosebleed!”

Take a ganter into his upcoming seminar. It’s guaranteed to make a difference in you.

Source: Randell Tionson’s Blog

Image from Randell Tiongson’s Blog

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Free Money Talk Seminar for Filipinos in Macau

The Philippine Consulate Office in Macau, with Every Nation Macau, has invited Randell Tiongson to a talk on personal finance on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Image from RandellTiongson.com

Source: RandellTiongson.com

Image from RandellTiongson.com

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Preserving a Culture of Life in the Philippines

Freedom to Love Conference poster by CBCP for Life

A short documentary film entitled “The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life” was recently aired on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in the USA and Canada. Produced by Human Life International (HLI), this film has been aired several times at EWTN in the Philippines.

The film is a pro-life documentary that highlights the fight for life in the Philippines. It features pro-life advocates who are leading the fight against the RH Bill, the likes of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Congressman Golez, HLI Director Bullecer, and former pro-abortion Department of Health manager Dr. Ligaya Acosta.

HLI is presently working with other pro-life organizations in the Philippines to promote the new documentary, groups such as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Filipinos for Life, a volunteer group whose mission is to speak the truth about the dignity and sanctity of human life in all its stages, from natural conception to natural death.

HLI is also hosting a contest on Facebook where pro-lifers are invited to leave a brief prayer for the Philippines or a note of encouragement for a chance to win a free DVD copy of the documentary.

Read more at LifeNews.com

Photo by CBCP For Life at their Facebook Page

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11-city Smithsonian Exhibit Depicts Filipino Struggle Against American Colonialism

The original Smithsonian Institution building, popularly known as the Castle. It now houses administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center.

Photo by ralph-toyama at Flickr.com

The Smithsonian Institution chose Charlotte as a stop for a traveling exhibit that tells the story of Filipinos who struggled against American colonialism and ultimately became U.S. citizens. “Singgalot: The Ties That Bind,” is coming to Charlotte Museum of History from Saturday through Oct. 16, 2011.

The 11-city exhibition made its first stop in Los Angeles last month. It will land in Kansas City, Seattle, Chicago and Philadelphia before a final stop in November in Santa Rosa, California.

The exhibit is intended to help the nation’s 2.5 million Filipino citizens trace their history and contributions in the United States through about 30 photo panels and images.

Read more at Charlotte Observer

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Candidates Sought for North San Diego County Filipino Beauty Pageant

Photo by Pidz111 at Flickr.com

The Fil-Am Cultural Association of North San Diego County is looking for girls of Filipino descent ages 13-16 for Miss Teen Fil-Am and ages 17-24 for the Miss Fil-Am Scholarship Pageant to be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 13, 2011 at Camp Pendleton.

Judging includes personality, poise, beauty, Filipina dress, talent and an impromptu question onstage. Each contestant will receive training in poise, walking, confidence, speaking ability, selection of clothing and on-stage questions. Winners will receive cash scholarships and numerous prizes.

The queens and princesses will preside at various functions sponsored by the Fil-Am Cultural Association of North San Diego County. For applications, call 760-434-3397 or 760-207-5358.

Source: North County Times

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Learn Financial Peace While It’s Not Too Late

I’ve attended a few seminars of Randell Tiongson, including one or two that presented Paulo Tibig and Francis Kong as speakers. I even wrote a piece in my blog How Can You Possess “Financial Freedom?” after attending Randell’s short seminar on financial planning, espousing the benefits of financial freedom.

I encourage you to spend some time and a little of your cash to educate yourself on financial planning, fnancial freedom and, this time, financial peace. Attend this one-day seminar for a “wake-upper” on how you spend (and save) your money.

Poster courtesy of RandellTiongson.com

Poster courtesy of RandellTiongson.com

Long Beach honors October as Filipino-American History Month

Photo by ozfan22 at Flickr.com

Long Beach’s Filipino-American population will now be honored in October, as City Council unanimously voted to officially designate October as Filipino-American History Month last Tuesday evening.

First District Councilman Robert Garcia, the primary author of the council resolution, said approximately 20,000 Filipino-Americans live in the Long Beach area, and that number is likely to increase once 2010 U.S. Census data is tallied.

According to City Council documents, the United States Congress currently is considering legislation (H.R. 155) to grant official status to Filipino American History Month.

The Long Beach City Council declared the boundaries of the city’s Filipino Neighborhood in 1992, which are Santa Fe Avenue from 20th Street to Spring Street.

Read more at Gazettes.com

President Manuel L. Quezon is Israeli Hero, Too

In 1945, at the end of World War II, Hitler and his Nazi had killed more than 6 million Jews in Europe. But in 1939, when the Jews and their families were fleeing Europe at a time when several countries refused to open their doors to them, the Philippines did the highly risky and the unlikely. Through President Manuel L. Quezon, the Philippines opened its doors and nation’s heart to the fleeing and persecuted Jews. Quezon offered to absorb 10,000 European Jewish refugees but only 1,200 Jews and their families made it to Manila.

Last 21 June 2010, or 70 years later, the first ever monument honoring Quezon and the Filipino nation for this “open door policy” was inaugurated on Israeli soil, at the 65-hectare Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon LeZion, Israel.

Source: Alex Lacson through e-mail of Jun Benito

Purdue University Students Talk About Filipino Experiences

Photo by The Udall Legacy Bus Tour: Views from the Road at Flickr.com

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A panel of Purdue students and scholars on July 8 will discuss the challenges and rewards of bridging cultural differences and building on similarities between the U.S. and the Philippines on Purdue’s campus. This session, sponsored by the Diversity Resource Office, is free and open to the public. The event is part of the “One Campus, Many Voices” series, which seeks to bridge cultural diversity at Purdue, Indiana.

Read more at Purdue Today

La Salle Schools Offer Relief Distribution Help for Ondoy Victims

Ads-link: Moving Company Los Angeles

Filipino Kids in Brunei Get Free Language and Culture Course

A Sense of Asean identity will be among the subjects touched during the nine-day cultural enrichment programme for children offered by the Philippine Embassy during the school holidays starting on Monday. Twenty-two Filipino children from six to 14 registered yesterday for the free Filipino language and culture programme to be conducted by volunteer teachers at the Philippine Embassy Chancery from Monday, Sept 14. The programme aims to teach children born and raised overseas the culture, history, customs and traditions of the Philippines and its Asean neighbours, and how these are embodied in today’s global Filipino, said Filipino cultural enrichment class programme head Rowena E Hautea.

More at: BruDirect.com, Brunei’s No. 1 News Website.

Filipino Stores in US Meet Big Chain Competition

Even Filipino stores in the United States meet competition of growing “big chain” stores specializing in Asian products. In California, there two big Asian supermarkets that are adding more branches — 99 Ranch and Seafood City. Of course, it’s a great welcome for the Asian community where these chains exist but it spells trouble for the smaller groceries such as Concord’s (California) Oriental Food Market, owned by Sherrie Gaerlan and her husband for some eight years already.

Source: Contra Costa Times.

Pearl of the Orient Dance at Sacramento, CA

St. Francis High School of Sacramento, CA is hosting a dinner dance themed “The Pearl of the Orient.” This even will be from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 in the gymnasium at St. Francis, 5900 Elvas Ave., Sacramento. This is hosted by Filipino parents and showcases Filipino culture through music, folk dance and food. Tickets are $30 general, $15 students, $10 ages 3 to 10, free for ages 2 and under. Call Rose Avila at (916) 834-7294.

Source: The Sacramento Bee.

Kadayawan sa Davao Festival

The 24th Kadayawan sa Davao, an annual thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvests centered on the importance of “communion with the Earth.” The festival has two main components: the Lumadnong Kasaulogan (Indigenous Peoples Festival), which is the core of the Kadayawan Festival showcasing the indigenous peoples’ culture and arts and the Subay sa Lumadnong Kagikan (Contemporary Indigenous-motivated celebrations) that showcases the impact of the indigenous culture and traditions to contemporary artists and communities. The Kadayawan sa Davao is celebrated from August 17 to 23.

Source: CBCP News

Where in Queens are the Pinoys?

There are 75,352 Filipinos in the city of New York (2005-2007 survey) of which 60% reside in the borough of Queens. Wow! This makes the migrant Filipinos the fourth largest group of Asians in the entire city. For “Filipino businesses,” you can find many congregated along Roosevelt Avenue at Woodside, Queens.

Read the article in Nomadic Pinoy and see the pictures for yourself.

Asia Journalism Internships

The Asia New Zealand Foundation (www.asianz.org.nz) is offering three journalism internships at Asia-based news media organisations. Applications are now open for the two or three month long internships which are to be undertaken in 2010. The three host media organisations are the Philippine Star in Manila, CNBC Asia in Singapore and the International Herald Tribune in Hong Kong. Note that the internships are unpaid. The Asia New Zealand Foundation will provide $NZ5000 to cover return flights with the balance to go to accommodation and other expenses. Participants will be generally responsible for their own travel, insurance, accommodation and living expenses during the internships.

For more information, click here to read the New Zealand site Scoop.

Filipino Language Classes in California High School

Otay Ranch High School in Filipino-populated Chula Vista has a lot of Filipino classes available, in addition to offering Japanese. It is becoming useful as a diaspora language. The prevalence of the Filipino language classes may be because of the naval base in San Diego which gave birth to a lot of Filipinos working there and becoming immigrants and citizens of the United States.

Click here to read Jeff’s article.

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Social Networking Site

MabuhayCity.com is a social networking and forum community for the Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW. This site is owned and operated by Philippine actress and celebrity, Klaudia Koronel (really!) From Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Africa, members share experience about visa and immigration, working and living abroad, job opportunities, nursing education, investment and entrepreneurship, pictures, music and videos, etc. You can even hook up with Facebook and Twitter inside this community.

Click here to go to MabuhayCity.com.

More Filipino-Americans Moving to Chino Hills

Filipino-Americans are consistently moving to the relatively new and affluent community of Chino Hills, establishing a large number of members at the local Catholic church and driving the city to become an economic boom for the region. The city is now home to 10,000 Filipino-Americans.

According ContraCostaTimes.com, most Filipino-Americans in the region belong to the middle-class demographics where many Chino Hills residents are economically well-off. Many who began life in cities where the population of Filipino-Americans is high, cities like Filipino Town in Los Angeles, have now begun their exodus outward to cities like Chino Hills. It attracts Fil-Ams because of the reasonable home prices, which results in affordability of a better place to live, plus various cultural services directed towards this demographics. Just take the Philippine independence celebration in the city where more than 3,000 Filipino-Americans graced the festivities at its community park. Much of its Fil-Am residents are second and third generation Filipinos. There are a little less than 5 million Filipino-Americans in the United States, the second largest Asian-American group after Chinese-Americans, with a purchasing power of about $20 billion and a median annual income of $50,000 (early decade census).

Philippine Diaspora Diplomacy and Filipino American Faith in Action

At his lecture this July 13 at the De La Salle University in the Philippines, Dr. Jay Gonzalez will excerpt from Filipino American Faith in Action: Religion, Immigration, and Civic Engagement and Diaspora Diplomacy: Philippine Migration and its Soft Power Influences. These are two new books out of New York University Press, one of America’s most prestigious academic publishers.

Contra Nye and neoliberalism, Dr. Gonzalez will talk about the remarkable and untapped soft power that international migrants possess and how various actors—from governments, NGOs, business, the church, and international organizations—could tap this valuable resource to enhance global cooperation, development, and understanding. With detailed and intimate illustrations from the experiences of the Philippine diaspora in San Francisco, London, Dubai, Dhaka, and Singapore, Dr. Gonzalez will discuss how this widespread community uses “charm diplomacy” to facilitate the transnational connection of old and new homelands and home bases through the universality of the Christian faiths they practice, the globalized work they perform, and the engaging civic and social networks they establish.

Dr. Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III is Associate Professor of Politics and Director of the Maria Elena Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program at the University of San Francisco. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was appointed San Francisco Commisser for Immigrant Rights and Mayor George Christopher Chair in Public Administration at Golden Gate University. In 2005, Professor Gonzalez was awarded a “Special United States Congressional Recognition” by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for his exemplary work on human rights and immigrant concerns.

July 13th 11:20-12:50 PM | De La Salle University | Andrew 903 | 2401 Taft Avenue | Manila, Philippines | Sponsored by the La Salle Institute on Governance | RSVP: ManaGov@dlsu.edu.ph

Filipino Librarian lectures at US Library of Congress

Noted Filipino librarian Von Totanes will have a speaking engagement today at the Asian Division reading room foyer of the Library of Congress at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 9. He will discuss the existence of two imprints of the Philippines’ first book (Doctrina Christiana of 1593) and their significance in Philippine publishing. The Library of Congress is the repository of the only copy of “Doctrina Christiana” which was published on rice paper in Manila on 1593. Totanes will argue that the importance of the imprints lies in the fact that they are physical reminders of the plurality of the nature and culture of the Filipino and the Philippines, and that Filipino culture is what it is today because of contact with the Chinese, the Spanish and the Americans.