Sabado, Abril 26, 2014

Yolanda Project.. A Liter of Light with Iliac Diaz

Artists the World over Band Together for Liter of Light’s Yolanda Project
By: Teddy Cho and German Ojeras
 

                    Iliac Diaz with wife. A liter of light.. (Original Photo by: Teddy Cho)
                           A Liter of Light.. by Iliac Diaz
 
Haiyan International Fundraising Art Exhibition is conceptualized by Filipino artist Florence Cinco and Singapore artist Goh Beng Kwan, features the art works of 18 Filipino artists and over 40 international artists.

Proceeds from the art works sold during this exhibition, which runs through April 26, will benefit the Liter of Light's disaster relief efforts in the Visayas region.

Haiyan International Fundraising Art Exhibition 2014 runs from April 6 - 26, 2014, at Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring Street, Pasay. For more information, please call tel. 8319990 or telefax 8339815 and look for Thess Ponce or Mark Arvin Patiag. (VerGarciaBlogs)

HAPPINESS FILLED MY HEART BY THE COLORS OF THE DAWNING SUNSPHERE

He Does It On His Way
By: Michael Vallejos Zacarias


When i awake
My morning filled with emptiness.
The morning star gleamed no more,
The multicolored life became bitter;
As before the wind that comforted me,
It no longer revealed as i exulted
With the melody of life when it through.
 

                      Here Comes The Sun
 
The seed of summer fell on the ground,
Never came into bud when spring began;
Mellifluous caress have gone away
When I drive every mile i took.

Sounds of profound music
Never been recalled;
Its thoughts and melodies delighted no more,
Waiting for the rhythm
Someday it will turn again.

 

The sun's ray never been grazed the ocean,
And never been bequeath dusk
Behind the trees i rest;
Now it shift and becomes stern
Like the surf of ocean that pushes me down.

I continually wanted existence so dazzling;
While anticipated someone to unseal the colors that fade
away.


All bittersweet nostalgia I've been recalled,
Like the seeds that start to swell with leaves;
Delighted as rain falling with chilly drops,
All was a test to cross,
But, when he does it on his way
My life becomes happy ever after.

(VerGarciaBlogs with Teddy Cho)

PASAY PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL IN A HUDDLE WITH CITY SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Pasay Police Mounts Drive vs. Batang Hamog
By: Teddy Cho and Ver Garcia
            Scheduled visits of  USA Pres. Barack Obama is on April 28, 2014 in the Philippines. With advance party landed an aircraft at the Cultural Center of the Phils. Will the US Pres. Barack Obama pay a courtesy call at the Pasay City Mayors office?

The Pasay Police has renewed its drive against so-called “batang hamog” who pose a threat to motorists and are allegedly involved in bukas-kotse and robbery incidents in the city.

Pasay Mayor Antonino Calixto said that the intensified campaign of the Pasay PNP is very timely as the City gears up for the 23rd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia this coming May 21 to 23 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex in Pasay.


“We are not only focusing our efforts on beautification projects that will visually enhance our City but we are also concerned with the safety of our guests, tourists, motorists, and commuters,” Calixto said.


The groups’ modus operandi consist of looking for unlocked cars that are caught in the traffic while locked cars are shaken prompting the driver to step out and these children proceeds to loot whatever is inside the vehicle.

Pasay Chief of Police Sr. Supt. Florencio Ortilla said that they are conducting series of round up operation for minors like “batang hamog," who are known to attack vehicles stuck in traffic. Most of these children are aged 7- 16.

Ortilla, during the recent Peace and Order Council Meeting, said that those rounded up were turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development because there were minors.

“Gusto ko pong ibalita sa inyo na malaki ang nabawas sa mga batang hamog dito sa lungsod ng Pasay lalo na sa CCP area dahil hinuhuli po natin. Ang meron na lang ay sa lungsod ng Maynila,” Ortilla said without giving the exact number of children that they rounded up.

                              The Batang Hamog Dance Group

Earlier, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations expressed support to the operation of the local police against batang hamog that are allegedly involved in a series of thievery in jeepney terminals in Pasay. Some of those rounded-up were also solvent addicts. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Sabado, Abril 19, 2014

MANILA FOODS AND BEVERAGES EXPO JUNE 11-13, 2014

                                          Mr. Joseph Ang- WSI Founding Chairman

The Manila Foods and Beverages Expo is the yummiest get together of the pillars and amateurs of the food trade. All moved by the love of food, the show highlights current demands of food service and hospitality industry from over 500 booths and 300 companies.

Held every month of June in a total exhibit area of 25,000sqm inclusive of more than 5 internet zones, more than 50, 000 visitors, international pavilions from Europe United States of America, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and Korea, MAFBEX, sure is the leading foods and beverage expo in the country.

MAFBEX offers more than just a taste of the finest flavors in the land and of its neighboring countries, it also coats big and small time players of the food and beverage business with its recipe of good trading opportunities from a plethora of buyers and traders present in the show, the availability of WSI’s business matching services and free viable seminars from the industry’s pros and experts makes MAFBEX even sweeter.

Cooking demonstrations by incomparable chefs, ethnic delicacies and ingredients from all over the world plus flair cup and interschool and professional contests are mixed evenly to spice up every MAFBEX serving.

Bound for another complete mix of advanced trends in food service and technology, MAFBEX remains treating the industry with greater avenues for business, knowledge and exposure as it combines passion and excellence into one full serving. 

Chefs of the World Cooking Demo showcase the kitchen expertise and excellence of international and locally renowned chefs from different countries. 

BOOTH RATES:
LOCAL
INSIDE BOOTH: Php 36,000
CORNER BOOTH:  Php 48,000
PRIME BOOTH:  Php 56,000
*The rates above are VAT inclusive
FOREIGN
Standard rate for all booths: USD 1,800

BOOTH INCLUSION
  • 3m x 3m booth system 
  • Two (2) 40w flourescent lamps
  • 0.35 m wide fascia board with company name (20 letters maximum)
  • One (1) 220v convenience outlet (excluding electrical consumption)
  • One (1) utility table
  • Two (2) utility chairs
  • Carpet

To maximize the efforts in reaching your target market – globally, you may download the Sponsorship Packages  or contact Ms. France Baracena at france.baracena@worldbex.com.

BOOTH RATES:
LOCAL
INSIDE BOOTH: Php 36,000
CORNER BOOTH:  Php 48,000
PRIME BOOTH:  Php 56,000
*The rates above are VAT inclusive
FOREIGN
Standard rate for all booths: USD 1,800

BOOTH INCLUSION
  • 3m x 3m booth system 
  • Two (2) 40w flourescent lamps
  • 0.35 m wide fascia board with company name (20 letters maximum)
  • One (1) 220v convenience outlet (excluding electrical consumption)
  • One (1) utility table
  • Two (2) utility chairs
  • Carpet

To maximize the efforts in reaching your target market – globally, you may download the Sponsorship Packages  or contact Ms. France Baracena at france.baracena@worldbex.com.




The 1st Sports, Lifestyle and Fashion Festival at SMX April 25-27


SPORTS, LIFESTYLE AND FASHION FESTIVAL
By Arniel O. Gutierrez

The 1st Sports, Lifestyle and Fashion Festival comes to you this summer at the Hall 4 of the SMX Convention Center from April 25-27,  2014.

Sports, Lifestyle and Fashion Festival  will gather under one roof various sports, lifestyle and fashion products and services and will be complemented by various sports exhibitions, competitions and  fashion shows featuring the latest trends in the sports, lifestyle and fashion industry.

The event will also showcase Philippine handicrafts as our way of showing our support for our small and medium enterprises and our way of helping promote Philippine-made products from footwear, textiles, furnishings, furniture to food & beverages, gadgets and computers. No doubt,  exhibitions has been a very effective venue in helping promote Filipino-made product and it hasgreatly influenced the Filipino’s lifestyle and fashion choices.  Nowadays,  Filipino products and brands are not only patronized by us but by our  Asian neighbors,  the Europeans and Americans as well.  

The event which is organized by Asian Televison Content Philippines Corporation and Aktivate Promotions recognizes the small and medium enterprises’ contribution to the lifestyle and fashion industry. Hence, we offer our support in further promoting the Bridal Designer Group Philippines/ NAASCU/ The Net.Com, Electronic Sports through a partnership with IBC 13.     We know that with our concerted effort,  your company will both benefit from this endeavor. 


Our Sports, Lifestyle & Fashion Festival aims to promote Filipino products to a particular sector of our society like the sports enthusiasts, athletes, the yuppies and the buying public from various walks of life.  We hope your members will take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their products while helping us promote sports in the country. 

Martes, Abril 15, 2014

Minsan Sa Buhay Natin.. May Isang Ala-Ala Di Malimutan.. Pagbabalik Tanaw

PAG-USAPAN NATIN - JUVY DE GUZMAN



Bishop Harry Samaniego and Broadcaster Juvy De Guzman at the Kakampi Online Broadcast (Pugad Lawin). Every Tuesday 11am up to 12noon. (JLAC San Juan Chapter and JLAC Lancaster Hotel from 11am up to 12noon, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.

Thank GOD for another day, BLESS us all the way !!!
FIRST TIME KONG UMIYAK HABANG NANONOOD NG TELEBISYON......
Grabe ang mga ganitong pangyayari sa telebisyon na aking napanood.
Sa News-TV at natunghayan ko ang "SANA'Y MULI KANG MAKAPILING".....
na kung saan, ay naiyak ako sa isang Inang 5 taon ng nawawala ang kanyang anak na si BRYAN, na kung saan ay napunta pala sa Boys Town Marikina.....


After 5 years ay tinupad ng GMA News TV ... ang kanyang hiling na makita niyang muli ang kanyang anak.....na di niya alam kung saan hahanapin......Na noong nawala ito, ay sumama sa kalaro at nawala. Nakita siya ng isang Good Samaritan na namamalimos kung kaya't nadala siya sa Boys Town, na ikinabuti naman ng bata......


Kadalasan kasi, ang mga batang gala ay napupunta sa sindikato o prostitusyon na siya namang nakakalungkot at ang iba sa kanila ay nagiging kriminal sa murang edad.
Sana, dumami pa ang ganitong Network na nagbibigay saya at aral sa buhay-Filipino......
Sa panahong ito, napakahirap talagang mawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Lalo na ang mahal mong anak na ni minsan ay di mo pinamigay o pinabayaan.Dangan nga lamang, sa murang edad, sila'y nagdedesisyon ng taliwas sa tamang kaugalian.


Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang mga anak ng yumao kong kapatid, na pinabayaan ng kanilang sariling INA na nagpapanggap na may pagmamahal daw siya, na nalaman ko 'nung sila'y may mga asawa na. Sa murang edad, bagama't mahigpit ko silang binantayan at ginabayan @ the age of 2, tinuring ko silang tunay na anak at pilit na inubos ang panahon ko na sila ay mapagtapos.....Eto ang napala ko, puro kasinungalingan pa rin ang turo ng kanilang Ina, na ni katiting na panahon at pinansiyal ay walang naiambag para sa kanyang mga anak, na noon ay inakala kong suporta lang ang sa amin. Pero, lubusan silang pinabayaan at inako ko lahat ang hirap kasama ng aking Ina at Anak na di naging maramot sa aking kahilingan.


Pero, anuman ang nagawa ko sa kanila ay di ko naman pinagsisisihan. Nalungkot lang po ako, kasi wala na sila sa piling ko at inakala kong makakasama ko sila sa aking pagtanda........sa pagtanda ng kanilang Lola.....na siyang nagsilbing Ina habang ako ay nasa ibang bansa, na nagsikap, para mapalaki silang mag-isa.....


Sana, noon pa ako nagkaroon ng pamilya, kung naisip ko ang sarili kong kapakanan....Naalala ko rin si TITA Elizabeth RAMSEY, na kung saan ay pinuntahan ako at gusto sanang ampunin at dalhin sa Amerika, pero di pumayag ang aking Mahal na INA, na siya namang dapat bilang magulang......Salamat sa mga alaalang naipagkaloob sa akin ng tadhana, na mahirap kalimutan, habang ako ay nabubuhay.
Anyway, that's LIFE....at least, 'yung tangi kong anak sa pagkadalaga, ang inakala kong di ko makakasama ngayon, ay siya pang narito at kasama ko sa buhay......Ang buhay na siya lang, ang tangi kong mahal na anak na nagpasaya sa buhay ko, ngayon at magpakailanman.........Salamat sa Ina kong di nasilaw sa karangyaan noong araw......Dahil kahit biyuda na, aba patuloy na nagpalaki sa amin na may dangal.


Mabuhay ang mga Pilipinong, magpa-hanggang sa ngayon ay yakap ang tradisyon at ugaling Filipino. Di nagbabago at patuloy na may pagmamahal sa Inang - bayan, may ugaling maipagmamalaki saan mang dako ng mundo naroroon. (VerGarciaBlogs)


Lunes, Abril 14, 2014

PELPSPI DEMANDS MORE INFRA PROJECTS IN AGRI AND MANUFACTURING
BY: TED CHO AND GERMAN OJERAS


The Philippine Employers- Labor Social Partners, Inc. (PELSPI), an organization of workers, employers and the academe is urging the goverment to adopt an agro-industrial policy as a solution tp create more and better jobs and enhance industry, productivity and competitiveness.


There's still time to do it and put it in place the structural foundations that the next government can build on, says the group at the Saturday forum at Annabels Restaurant in Timog, Quezon City.


What we have is the usual jobless growth were the economy is posting rising growth rates with the ranks of those who don't have jobs or who can't find jobs equally growing, says Rene Magtubo an officer of PELSPI and President of the militant Partido ng Mangagawa (Workers Party). 


Latest statistic has put unemployment rate at 12% and underemployment at 26% comprising more than 20 Million Filipinos without regular jobs.


Meneleo Carlos, (PELSPI Vice-President for employers group) and  a renowned industrialist, said that an economy that can not absorb the ranks of the unemployed is not sustainable. Mr. Carlos said that the factors that create a sustainable economy are a vibrant manufacturing sector, a modernize agro-industry, a highly trained, globally competitive and discipline work force, and an export-led not import dependent economy.
        The Philippines Former Supreme Court Justice Reynato S. Puno


PELSPI will hold a National Summit for a Just and Sustainable Philippines: Jobs and Agro-Industrial Development For All on April 23, 2014 at the Century Park Hotel in Pasay City with former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno as keynote speaker. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Biyernes, Abril 11, 2014

My Journey of Life After College.. The Real World

By:Amy Smith 

College has become the conditioner for the drone mentality. 
Not everyone has the time, attention span or energy to sit through 4 years of college to get a business degree and then take the time to gain the necessary "experience" in order to know what you are doing in your field, how the real world operations are to implementing the subtle nuances of your field of study and how to navigate office politics. Interns have the advantage in the industry of business. 
I had to learn through experience, which means bad judgement, failure, defeat, adversity and misplaced faith and trust, teaching me what not to do. Here is a bit about me and my journey to having business sense.
Let me start this article by telling you that I admit to being a "late bloomer".
 photo fa4fcd0b-d780-4734-87cd-01dac5b4b249_zpscdb18192.png
I went into the working world at the age of 16 and I was blithely socially inept. I had a very
controlled home environment by parents that were blind to the realities of the world and consequences of their choices. I had a rocky and unstable foundation growing up fraught with trauma and loss. So I am no middle-class regular gal. I know what it is to be hungry, to miss holidays, to wear shabby ill-fitting clothing to school, to never have my parents supporting my efforts and to be humiliated. I never got to play intramural sports, because that takes your parents paying a fee to join and we were nearly always broke and my parents saw extra-curricular activities as a waste of time. I know, messed up.

The first time I tried out for anything I was 14 and it was cheerleading. The camp was $400. I believed that I could raise the money working with my youthgroup to fill sandbags and do fundraisers. When the day of the tryouts arrived I threw my tryout. All I could think of was that my parents were never going to enable me to live in that world...and I still could not to a cartwheel.
Intramural sports are key to a child and young person's development. I grew up believing I was worthless and never worth anyone's time or attention because I was poor. I gained my self-worth  
from my studies in school and my jobs as I began working. I was my job and I liked the respect that money on hand afforded from my peers.
My world was shaken when I went into the US Air Force. I had nobody there with me and I felt terribly unloved alone in west Texas at Goodfellow Air Force Base(AFB). What social status I had achieved at home in Colorado Springs, CO did me no good there. I had no idea what I was doing and no idea how to deal with so many different people. I finally snapped when 9/11 happened and I began smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, choosing risky behavior and promiscuity. I got the attention and affection that I so desperately craved through interactions with males. I did not like clingy and fell for someone who was not interested in me.
My health suffered from the stress of post 9/11 fall out and my bronchi suffered from smoking. 
I was medically discharged with an Honorable status. I came back to the Springs to find my world altered and I was adrift. I began job, after job, after job to find that I missed the Air Force core values and that people and companies sucked. I found solace in partying with my Fire Dogs from Good fellow who happened to be stationed at Peterson AFB.


The best job I ever had was working in Mortgage Home Equity Sales with Wells Fargo as a contracted temporary employee with an employment agency. I lacked career direction, was lonely and unsatisfied because I lacked purpose.
Right before my 22nd birthday I was physically assaulted and could not go to work. I lost my job there. I was too humiliated to tell the best boss ever what had happened. I believed that vulnerability was a weakness that the strong preyed upon.
The next few years would have been great for me to go to school and learn about the world and business, but I had no mentors. I had no faith in myself and I did not trust anyone. I was very self-centered in my pain, confusion and loathing of my circumstances. Adversity only leaves us once it has taught us what we need to learn, that much I can tell you is true.
I did finally start courses and went to school after I had my son, because I had a living, breathing reason to. I tried 4 times with 4 different schools. My main challenges? Lack of support, lack of stable income, lack of childcare and being horribly alone in my journey.

Thankfully after the age of 25 the logic center of the human brain begins to mature and for me the puzzle pieces began to come together, but nothing really clicked until age 30 for me. That is when the world began to make sense. That is when I moved to be near my oldest friend and when I began to engage in the messiness that is the world of business. I put the control in my hands and learned the extent of my abilities. I learned what I am capable of and what I am not, what I am strong at and my areas of opportunity, what my body and psyche can and cannot handle, what revs me up and what slows me down. I learned how to say, "Hell no, stop that noise, that is not for me, that is wrong, this person is toxic, that doesn't work, I am not giving up and I need help." out of necessity. 

No one ever took my by the hand and taught me the life lessons that a lot of people now instinctively know. The whole tribal knowledge of how to function in society was never passed down. I am an intellectual and my mother was an intellectual and her parents are intellectuals...and they have social developmental disabilities. Thank God for my foster parents! I would never have found the joy in communicating with other people and the value in reaching out to make friends! Also, thank God that we are composite individuals and that we can adapt what traits we admire in others into our own personality!
So, my point in all of this is that if a recovered socially inept, now experienced single mom with
health issues and a tiny support system can pick herself up by her bootstraps time after time and keep going, so can you. It doesn't matter how many times that you get knocked down, it matters that you do not stay down. You get back up again. And if you cannot get back up again you get help. God and the living organism of energy that we live in called the Universe will send you the help that you need. I only hope to be able to be an instrument and give others the help that I needed.

My journey has taught me that compassion and vulnerability are good to practice. Our strength comes from standing for what is right. I know that can be hard. I know what it means to be ostracized for making choices that were right for me. I know what it means to not have a voice and then finding it!
                                   Maghintay Ka Lamang..By:Ted Ito

So, in saying all of this, I want you to know that I relish the opportunity to become your business partner, your mentor and your friend. I look forward to helping you on your journey to success, freedom in your financial life and direction in attaining your purpose.

YOLANDA VICTIMS IN CONFLICT WITH LAND DEVELOPERS



Yolanda-displaced communities now forced to occupy forests due to gov’t neglect, continuing harassment by land developers
By:Mary Ann Manahan 
                                                                             
Inline image 1
PHOTO CAPTION: A portion of the 282-hectare forest land in Brgy. Buaya (Sicogon Island) has been declared as a "peoples' resettlement site" by more than 300 families affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Photo courtesy of Progreso Panay.

More than five months after being left homeless by Typhoon Yolanda, residents of Sicogon Island are still fighting for a decent place to rebuild their lives and their homes.

On April 12, members of the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (FESIFFA), along with the Save Agrarian Reform Alliance (SARA), sounded the alarm on the dire state of over 6,000 residents of Brgys. Buaya, San Fernando, and Alipata in Sicogon Island, Iloilo, whose homes, livelihoods and fishing craft have been devastated since the onset of Typhoon Yolanda last November.

According to the groups, not only has no single government agency assisted the residents of Sicogon Islands in reconstructing their homes and rebuilding their lives— continuing harassments and other rights violations by the Sicogon Development Corporation (SIDECO), have prevented them from returning to their long-held lands.

“It has been already five months and one day after Yolanda struck, but the government has completely failed to protect the land rights of Sicogon’s residents from land-grabbers like SIDECO,” said Raul Ramos, FESIFFA president. “Up to today, we are still being forcibly prevented by SIDECO’s private security guards from rebuilding houses that we, our families and other agrarian reform beneficiaries have been living in for decades.This is not helped at all by the no-dwelling zone policy of the government, which practically rendered more than 1,000 families homeless.”

“With no options left to rebuild our communities, we are being forced by the government and by SIDECO to occupy public forest lands as a resettlement site, even without support and approval from official authorities. Because government agencies have systematically failed to protect our rights in the face of SIDECO’s post-Yolanda land-grabbing efforts, we have nowhere else left to go,” Ramos added.

Ramos was referring to the recent initiative of more than 200 Sicogon families to settle in a portion of a 282-hectare public forest land area in Brgy. Buaya, Sicogon.

Since March 28, FESIFFA members have sought to establish a residential camp, having been displaced by Yolanda last November 2013, followed by a mass eviction orchestrated by SIDECO.

Earlier, claimed FESIFFA in a statement, SIDECO had prohibited the island’s residents “to reconstruct or even simply repair their houses. Instead, the corporation offered the residents two options: a) PHP 150,000 for each family who will voluntarily vacate the islands; and b) a relocation site in Barangay Jolog, Estancia Iloilo.”

Most of the families who have opted for either of these options, according to FESIFFA, are now attempting to return to the island, both due to the substandard quality of relocation homes offered and the lack of available resettlement areas in the Yolanda-stricken region.

At present, both SIDECO and its allied officials in the local DENR are threatening to file cases against FESIFFA farmers for their occupation of the public forest lands.

“SARA condemns the government’s continuing neglect of the welfare of Sicogon Island’s residents, most especially its consistent failure to protect their right to land,” said Trinidad Domingo, SARA spokesperson. “The residents affected by SIDECO’s plans for a tourism resort have ample legal documents to prove that they are agrarian reform beneficiaries. This is a clear incident of land-grabbing facilitated by both natural disasters and government’s lack of political will.”

“We, from the various federation-members of SARA, demand a stronger political commitment from the government to protect the right to land of small farmers and rural communities like those from Sicogon Island. Stopping land-grabbing by developers like SIDECO and ensuring the effective implementation of the agrarian reform program will be the best venue to start demonstrating this stronger commitment,” Domingo asserted.

According to various sources and documents secured by SARA, SIDECO has entered into a joint venture partnership with Ayala Land to undertake a claimed “Sicogon Island Redevelopment Project.”

In a recent media report last April 9, Ayala Land director Antonino Aquino stated that “We’re looking around for properties in Sicogon. We’re interested in expanding our tourism portfolio.” (VerGarciaBlogs)