Manila Construction Show “ManilaCon 2010” at SMX this September

Be at the MANILACON on September 2-5, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center. With registered visitors around 23,000 in 2009, MANILACON is fast becoming the popular meeting point for industry players & people for whom sustainability matter most.

Gain insights to this expanding new market. For suppliers, position your brands for your long-term success as Sponsors/Exhibitors. For trade professionals, be there to view the product showcase; meet new suppliers; learn from industry experts on sustainability; network with other industry players.

Source: ManilaCon

Image from ManilaCon

Miss Philippines Tops Online Votes in Miss Universe 2010

Preliminary judges have already selected the Top 15 candidates for the 2010 Miss Universe beauty contest now being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The 83 contestants were ranked based on evening gown and swimsuit, during a two-hour presentation at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Early favorites who got the loudest cheers from the audience were the candidates from Philippines, Haiti, Canada, Australia, USA, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj tops the online votes.

Go to AllVoices to read more.

Photo from annalyn at Flickr

More Filipinos Support Local Tourism

8.4 million domestic passengers flew the Philippine friendly skies during the first half of 2010, ten percent higher than the same period last year. Cebu Pacific had 48% of the traffic while PAL garnered 34%. The rest fell on Air Philippines, Zest Air and Seair, respectively.

Read more at ABS-CBN News

Photo by kuuan at Flickr

Chess Legend Bobby Fischer Not Father of Filipino Girl

Nine-year-old Jinky Young, whose Filipino mother claims is Fischer’s daughter, is not the late chess legend’s daughter based on DNA tests of tissue samples taken from Fischer’s remains in Iceland.

The Reykjavik court allowed the DNA testing in June to settle the paternity case and Fischer’s body was exhumed from his burial site in the town of Selfoss in July so tissue samples could be taken.

Read more at All Headline News

Photo by averycnesbitt at Flickr

Biggest Tourist Arrivals in Philippines This Year

The Philippines could hit a record in the history of tourist arrivals this year, expected to be above the 3 million mark. Alberto Lim, Tourism Secretary, says their 6-year targets include 6 million arrivals, generate P18.7 billion in tourism revenue and create 3 million additional jobs in the tourism sector.

Last year, tourism arrivals declined. The numbers include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) which number about five percent of total arrivals.

Optimism in the Philippines as today’s major tourist desination lays in its election of a new president and a new tourism law, the latter of which reorganizes and creates new resources and developments that directly promote tourism.

Read more at Business Mirror

Photo by richardhabi at Flickr.com

“Pinoy PhilHealth Day” Benefits 4.7 Million Poor Families

Image from PhilHealth

4.7 million Filipino families are set to benefit from the “Pnoy PhilHealth day” that aims to provide health insurance coverage to “true” indigents in the country after they were evaluated and identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “The truly poor will be sponsored by the government,” Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Enrique T. Ona said in a press briefing at the DoH compound in Manila on Tuesday.

The monthly contribution for PhilHealth amounts to 100 Pesos. For the indigents, 50 Pesos will be provided by the national government and the remaining 50 Pesos will be paid for by the local government. “In keeping with President Aquino’s promise to give each and every Filipino access to quality healthcare in three years time,” Ona said.

Source: Yahoo! News

What’s In Your Bag?

“What’s in Your Bag?” is a fashion and design photo exhibit to be held on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM with the encore official Manila Design Week party right after, at the Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk – Philippines.

It reads: “We asked 25 icons this question, and asked some of the best photographers and graphic designers to make their answers look damn good.”

Source: Manila Fashion Week 2010