First International Skyrunning Race Set in the Philippines

Training climb at Mt. Ugo

The Pilipinas Akyathlon (Philippine Skyrunning), the country’s first ever international mountain trail high altitude race, is all set on February 18 at Mt. Ugo in Itogon, Benguet. The race will be a 32.88 km race going up the 2,150 meters above sea level summit of Mt. Ugo and back to the barangay hall of Tinongdan, Itogon.

The Philippine Skyrunning Association (PSA), a non-stock, non-profit organization that started in January 2009, says this is the first of its kind in Asia to be accredited by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF). It is also part of the eco-tourism thrust of the PSA to advocate carry zero-waste and the use of recyclable and reusable materials in the said event. Thus, they have partnered with local environmentalist group, Cordillera Conservation Thrust (CCT).

Mt. Ugo is known for its annual summer climb which won last year in the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines’ (ATOP) Search for Best Tourism Event in the Philippines under the Sports, Adventure and Wellness Category – Municipal Level.

Source: Philippine Information Agency

Photo by clariza at Flickr.com

_

28 Percent of US Immigrants Come from Asia

In operation until 1954, the immigration station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers.

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reports that 28 percent of all immigrants in the United States – about 11 million – hail from Asia. Asians are the second largest immigrant group after Latinos, with nearly half coming from the Philippines, India and China and residing in California, New York and Texas.

Asian immigrants are perceived as “model minorities” who work hard, do well, and don’t complain. In the American imagination, they do not seem to share the challenges faced by other immigrant groups.

Nearly half of Asian immigrant adults have a college degree or higher. Among all immigrants, Asians are more concentrated in management, information technology, and science and engineering. A majority of immigrant doctors and nurses are from Asia.

MPI estimates that Asian immigrants accounted for 11 percent of all unauthorized immigrants in 2010. The Department of Homeland Security counts among the undocumented 280,000 Filipinos, 200,000 Indians, 170,000 Koreans and 130,000 Chinese.

Read more at WNYX New York Public Radio

Photo by wallyg at Flickr.com

_

1World Cash in Hong Kong Targets Filipinos

One World Ventures, Inc., the provider of prepaid cards and 1World Cash, announced the establishment of 1World Cash Hong Kong. “Our new services are dedicated to the Filipino community at the present time,” CEO Steve Prior said. This is the first step in One World Ventures strategy to use the 1World Card and 1World Cash branded services to focus on its desire to serve the underbanked and underserved in locations like the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, Mexico, United States and elsewhere.

From 1WorldCash.net

One World Ventures, Inc. is a holding company with management resourced in Asia and the United States that invests in technologies, communities and systems that facilitate trade, finance, communication and travel across international boundaries, cultures and languages.

Read more at MarketWatch.com

Philippines to Participate in Brunei Trade Expo and Ministerial Meeting

Nearly 50 delegates from the Philippines, led by Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, are participating in the Trade Expo 2009 and Ministerial Meeting in Brunei. The Philippines has five booths showcasing handicraft products, fashion accessories, bags, bottled sardines and small and medium industries products at the Trade Expo held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

Old Manila Walks

The website introduces itself like this: “We’re a bunch of passionate, obsessive and saucy ‘street walkers’(!) determined to walk and talk about one thing: the history, the culture and the heritage plus everything over, under, outside, inside this city of our affections – Manila.”

Old Manila Walks operates on a simple principle: to have you experience the best of historic Manila – one step at a time.

Click here to go to Old Manila Walks.

Don’t Price Ourselves Out of the Global Outsourcing Market

This was the cry of Philippine Senator Mar Roxas, considered to be the father of the Philippine BPO industry because of his aggressive policies during his trade secretary days. The average salaries of call center agents have been increasing 10% every year. What used to be a monthly gross salary of about P10,000 per new hire is now P15,000. It is now becoming more expensive to outsource to the Philippines in comparison to other countries around the world. Besides the manpower cost increases, the Philippine is incurring too many holidays, thus driving labor costs higher as call center companies have to pay for extra pay besides night shift differentials. The call center or contact center segment of the BPO industry accounts for 70% of the industry’s revenue and employment and generated P5 billion in revenue this year.

Source of information came from NewsBreak.com.ph.

What is Advergaming?

“Advergaming” is a new advertising channel that most traditional ad agencies and companies still do not know how to utilize. Many company bigshots do not understand the video gaming industry, much to say how to market their brands through this new media channel. Ignatius Javellana defines “advergaming” as using video games to advertise a product, message, viewpoint, etc. that’s usually done in a manner that will not interrupt someone’s gameplay

Click here to read the entire CNet Asia article.

Mining Prospects in the Philippines

Here’s an interesting Op-ed article about the prospects of “mining” in the Philippines, written by  Reynard Loki, a New York-based writer, artist and environmental activist who runs the blog 13.7 Billion Years (http://www.13point7billion.org). For starters, Reynard says “The Philippine mining industry is running rough-shod on indigenous people and the environment. For President Macapagal-Arroyo, it presents a great opportunity.”

Click here to read the entire article.

Charice Pempenco’s first solo concert

The newest darling of Philippine entertainment that has won North America’s love for the songstress will be staging her first solo concert on June 27, 2009, at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia (MOA).

$300 million investment in Pagcor Complex

SM Group, Genting Group of Malaysia and Aruze Corp. of Japan are the major investors in the 100-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex along Manila Bay in Pasay City, and intend to pursue plans to develop the property into the country’s premier entertainment complex. nitial investments for the project are expected to reach US$6 billion. The first phase of the three-phased development is expected to be completed in two to three years. It will include hotels, sports arena, museum, world class theme park, and an oceanarium.

Go to TradingMarkets.com for the full story.

Metro Pacific add $4.2 million in Davao hospital

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation recently invested $4.2 million (or P200 million) in additional money for its new acquisition, Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City, Philippines. This is in addition to the other P200 million that MPIC gave to the hospital last year after acquiring 34% of total shares amount to P500 million. MPIC is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Holdings Ltd. which acquired a major stake in PLDT. MPIC also owns the Makati Medical Center and is eyeing another hospital in Cebu City.

Taklong Island Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

The Taklong Island Marine Reserve (TINMAR) in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras is one of the marine protected sites in the Philippines that was established to secure marine biodiversity in this part of the country.

Click here to read the photo-blog from ExploreIloilo.com.

AyosDito.ph – a new Philippine online marketplace

According to an article in BlogForNoob.com:

AyosDito.Ph is the next big online marketplace in the Philippines, It is similar to other online classified websites.This was developed for pinoys for better experience about online selling and buying by Pinoys at 701 Search, Inc. They are funded through a joint venture between Singapore Press Holdings and Schibsted ASA.

AyosDito.Ph is a very big thing that happens in the Filipino marketplace. As its website is exposed through the entire Philippine nation and thorugh its exposure most of the filipinos are given the chance to know the producets on sale and the services available.

San Miguel Corp. mogul to build new hotel in Makati

Ramon S. Ang, current head-honcho of San Miguel Corporation, is looking to build a new hotel in Makati as one of his personal investments. Ang is (already) a majority shareholder of Manila Diamond Hotel at Roxas Boulevard which is being managed by his daughter. Ang did not elaborate on the details of the new Makati City hotel investment during a lunch meeting he shared with several journalists.

Replica of a historical wooden boat to circumnavigate the world

A Philstar.com story posts the construction of a wooden boat, developed without the use of nails that mimics that of the old Malay ships, and will attempt to circumnavigate the world. The boat will be transferred to Manila Bay on June 12 (Philippine independence day) but will set sail by June 24. “Voyage Balanghay” will travel to the southern tip of the Philippines before it retraces the southeast Asian route in 2010 and wander through the Pacific Ocean by 2011, Atlantic Ocean by 2012 before it returns back to the Philippine in 2013. The first group of Filipinos who attempted the trek to Mount Everest will comprise this group of seafarers to circumnavigate the world using this ancient Balanghai Boat.

Click here for the Philstar.com story.

Philippine Marketing Crisis Summit

The Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) is holding its 40th National Marketing Conference on June 16 and 17, 2009 at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Called the “Philippine Marketing Crisis Summit”, on-the-day registration costs P15,000.00; discounts are given to early birds.

For reservations, you can call (2) 895-9527 or 890-9651, fax through (2) 895-8058, or text-message through +63 (917) 325-7870. You can also register online through http://www.ariva.com.ph.

Pacquiao to Build World-class Hotel in General Santos

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, recently included in Time’s 100 most influential people in the world, is planning to build a world-class hotel in General Santos City worth millions Pesos in value, this besides his other intent of developing an economic zone valued at millions of dollars in more than 300 hectares of personal property in the same city. Pacquiao is also eyeing another congressional run in the upcoming 2010 elections after losing the previous elections in his own district.

Pre-paid Car Maintenance Plan in the Philippines – First Ever!

From Life Plans to Pre-Need Plans and Memorial Plans now comes something for your cherished vehicle – a Car Maintenance Plan. The tagline goes “Take the worry out of maintaining your car today.” JAC Service Center has been serving the automotive industry since 1974 and has branches in Alabang, Makati and Cagayan de Oro.They accept all kinds of brands and models.

The “Regular Plan” costs P4,500.00 per year and you get unlimited labor for one whole year at JAC’S well-equipped, well-staffed centers, 5% discount on parts, accessories and other services, free pick-up and delivery within services areas of Las Pinas, Paranaque, Alabang and Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasay and Mandaluyong, free carwash with wax and vacuum service every month, LTO Registration and Insurance assistance, free check-up and estimations; students get a discount of P 500.00 (pay only P 4,000.00 per year).

The “VIP Plan” costs P10,000.00 per year and you get unlimited labor for one whole year, 10% discount on parts, accessories and other services, priority queuing – always be the first in line, free pick-up and delivery within Metro Manila, free 24 hour towing service within Metro Manila, free car wash with wax and vacuum service every month, LTO Registration and Insurance assistance, free check-up and estimations.

8,000 Filipinos to Work in South Korea Yearly

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was recently signed between the governments of the Philippines and South Korea that guarantees hiring 8,000 Filipinos every year for the next three years in the manufacturing sector of South Korea. The agreement was signed by DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque and Korea’s Minister of Labor Lee Young-Hee.

Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children

The Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) is holding a contest in search for the “Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children,” which the bank started in 2007. Applicants for the contest must be children of expatriate Filipinos with existing contracts in another country, ages 15 to 21 years old, currently enrolled in school and must be in the top 10 percent of their class. Also, their parents must be current depositors of the bank. The nomination form can be downloaded from www.bpiexpressonline.com.ph or www.bpidirect.com.ph under Promo Page-Remittance.

AIM Business Asia Week 2009, Makati City Philippines

A “LinkedIn” network acquaintance recently posted this business event:

Marcus Downey, Program Manager at “Asian Institute of Management” (AIM), Philippines, writes:

I am organizing the AIM Business Asia Week 2009 on LinkedIn Events and thought you might be interested in attending.

http://events.linkedin.com/AIM-Business-Asia-Week-2009/pub/76492

AIM Business Asia Week 2009
Mon, Jul 20 to Thu, Jul 23
AIM Conference Center, Makati, PHILIPPINES, PH

Business Asia Week is being organized by the Asian Institute of Management as a forum to present the Philippine economy and the Asia Pacific region as a strong arena for business and talent management opportunities, despite the current global economic slowdown.

http://events.linkedin.com/AIM-Business-Asia-Week-2009/pub/76492

For more details, go here .

Lessons from the Puerto Galera Tragedy

A picture of Mon Eugenio's two kids

My good friend and schoolmate Ramon “Mon” Eugenio lost his mother and his two very young sons in this tragedy. I’d like to re-post the article written by Cathy S. Babao-Guballa for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, first posted on 05/26/2009 at Inquirer.net. Click here to go to the source article.

---

MANILA, Philippines – Franco Eugenio, 3, and Anton Eugenio Cruz, 2, slept soundly, cradled in the arms of their yaya (nanny) Tessie and yaya Bambi respectively, as the Commando 6 ploughed its way through choppy waters.

It seemed like a perfect day for everyone on board the vessel. Many of the passengers were families, like the Eugenios who were looking forward to spending time together as they ventured on their first outing as a clan.

Ramon, Franco’s father, sat beside his parents, Franklin and Daisy, while Ramon’s wife Monique sat beside him, and beside her were the children and their yayas. Near the front of the boat sat Ramon’s younger brother, Carl, his wife, and their two children.

From the beginning of the trip, Monique said she had felt antsy about the trip. “I was counting the passengers as they got on board, checked for the safety of the boat. I kept looking around and asked the barker if the waters were going to be calm that day.”

Monique counted 40 passengers that sat across her, in a boat that the Coast Guard would ascertain later in an Inquirer news report was only allowed to carry 42 passengers and five crew members.

“There was just something unsettling about the trip…” Monique adds, “and the ferry’s engine would shut off every time big waves would hit it.”

And then, after about 45 minutes, approximately 20 minutes away from their destination, the passengers heard a loud crack, and the boat keeled over and flipped.

Worst nightmare

“It was your worst nightmare,” Monique relates. “The bags and the children… everyone just started to slip and then the boat just filled up with water”. Franco’s yaya had tried to hold on to him for dear life as they both sank but the waters were rushing like mad. Still she managed to grab onto a portion of his shirt, until the sheer weight of the water and her need for oxygen forced her to let go of his shirt.

Monique, on the other hand, was able to pull out Anton from the sinking boat, but it seemed like it was too late for the one-and-half-year-old toddler. Meanwhile, someone else had managed to fish Franco’s older brother, Paolo, 9, out of the waters and placed him on top of the boat.

The unidentified man, also a passenger of the boat, kept Paolo company until his mother and father could get to him. On the other side of the boat, Ramon had been trying to save his mother, Daisy, but to no avail.

Agonizing

The rescue boats came after 40 agonizing minutes. Franco’s yaya told this writer that if the rescue boats had come a few minutes later, they would all have been goners.

“The boat had already begun to sink by the time they arrived,” Monique says. Worse, as Ramon narrated in an Inquirer story recently, two boats had passed them by, he had taken off his shirt and waved frantically at them, but the boats did not bother to stop.

What have we come to as a people? Have we become so callous that we don’t help fellow human beings in need? How could those two boats have gone on their journey, having seen the sinking boat and knowing that so many lives were at stake?

And the people on those two boats even had the temerity to take photos and videos of the sinking ferry. I wonder what those people on the boat must be feeling now, knowing they have the blood of three innocent children and nine adults on their hands?

Questions

Many questions beg to be answered. Why have we not learned from the countless tragedies in the past of overloaded vessels, of the total disregard for life and safety? Who regulates the maintenance of the ferries that leave the Batangas port? What safety measures have been implemented after these sea mishaps? How many more lives do we need to lose before we learn our lessons?

Last night, at the wake, a pall of gloom and sadness filled the church as a grandmother and her two grandsons lay in state, one on each side of her. Daisy, a wonderful and caring wife, mother and grandmother, lay in eternal slumber. Franco and Anton, with their favorite toys—bright-colored cars—in their tiny, chubby fingers, looked like they were only sleeping, with smiles on their faces.

One must find consolation and strength in knowing that the boys were not able to feel any pain as they fell into the water, that the Father had safely picked them up and brought them to the shores of heaven, where they now live for all eternity.

Today, as the Eugenios bury, not one, but three family members, we who are left behind mourn their loss, and can only pray that in the wake of this tragedy, a greater meaning to their loss will be found, and that measures to prevent future tragedies from happening will finally be implemented.

First Millennium School at Camarines Sur

The province of Camarines Sur achieved another first with the choice of Nato High School of Sagñay as the site of the first ever global millennium school of the country. The millennium school is a product of the Global Millennium School Design Competition initiated by the Be Better Build Better Program advocates whose main objective is to devise a school structural design that utilizes indigenous materials like bamboo that could withstand typhoons and rough monsoon weather.

The ground-breaking event last May 15 was attended by various stakeholders including the officials and members from United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), the Private Sector Disaster Management Network (PSDMN), Petron Foundation, and ABS CBN Bayan Foundation, Department of Education (DepEd), the provincial government and local government of Sagnay.

Preventing accidental injury to children 14 years old & below

While searching travel tips and ideas for kids (or making it safe for kids to travel), I stumbled upon this site from a Universtiy of Kentucky News article. What’s amazing is that they have a Philippine affiliate site. Safe Kids Worldwide is the first and only international nonprofit organization dedicated solely to preventing unintentional childhood injury. Safe Kids Worldwide depends on the support of grass roots networks in its 17 member countries to implement safety programs and hands-on training throughout the world (where the Philippines is a member country).

Safe Kids Philippines (SKP) initially began in 1993 from the academic research on child unintentional injury by Dr. Ramon Arcadio. SKP was formally organized in 2004 but has existed in the Philippines since 2003 as a project of the Community Oriented Medical Education (COME) Unit of the University of the Philippines in Manila . This first venture into injury prevention was conducted by the Barangay Health Workers of Pasay City.

Click on the picture above to go to the main Safe Kids Worldwide site or this link to go to Safe Kids Philippines site.

2009 Philippine Travel Mart Expo

The Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) is the flagship program of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), which is the single largest association of registered tour operators in the Philippines that exclusively promotes in-bound and domestic tourism. It will be holding its 20th Philippine Travel Mart event on September 4-6, 2009 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall. For inquiries, contact the PTM secretariat at+63 (2) 812-4513.