French TV series spotlights Palawan

Unknown to many Filipinos, the pristine beauty of Palawan was all the rage in France (and some parts of Belgium) last year when at least nine million people were glued to their seats for 11 weeks to watch the seventh season of "Koh Lanta."

Hosted by Denis Brogniart, "Koh Lanta" is the French franchise of the popular reality American TV show "Survivor."

Season 7 was shot entirely in El Nido in Palawan, and there could not be any better location, as attested by the host, the 16 contestants, 70 production and crew people, plus about 100 local people who worked together for 40 days to bring to French televiewers the excitement and adventure that are typically "Survivor."

"It's just incredible! The rich images, the amazing sea side, the rich formations, the limestones, the clean and transparent waters. Everything about Palawan is amazing," gushed Brogniart , an avid diver himself who is also wildly famous in France for hosting the Formula 1 race series.

Brogniart certainly knows what he is talking about as he has been hosting Koh Lanta for eight years now, taking the show to different exotic locations that are deliberated upon by the production people with much thought and consideration for aspects such as the logistics available, security, sanitary, the locals, etc.

In the past, the show has taken survivors to the islands of Koh Lanta in Thailand (thus the show title), Costa Rica, Panama, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. But for Brogniart, Palawan and New Caledonia are the best.

Koh Lanta in Palawan is also by far the most successful of the series, garnering an average of 40 percent market share with at least 10 million viewers eagerly watching the finale.

The producers of Koh Lanta were also delighted with the topography of Palawan, offering the show the versatility it needed for the tough weekly challenges, most of them physical, while providing the viewers a telegenic feast for the eyes.

"In as much as it is isolated, Palawan also has the needed infrastructure that we required, and the facilities that we require in every place, such as access for medical personnel and facilities, etc," explained producer Thierry Graff. He added that it did not take them more than three inspections to confirm that Palawan was it for the show's Season 7.

Safe, definitely

It did not come as a surprise thus for the Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) that Palawan would attract so much positive interest from the French tourist market.

Marie Venus Q. Tan, tourism attache and DoT director for Western, Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized the enormity of the media mileage that the country got out of the show.

"We would even get calls from people who are asking what the regulations are if they want to retire in Palawan! That is so flattering," remarked Tan.

The experience exhilarated Brogniart so much that long after the Palawan season was over, and they are very well on their way to the eighth season, the French TV icon still could not stop talking about Palawan.

"I too get a lot of questions. From people on the street, from emails, from letters, from my colleagues and friends, asking about Palawan, and I would always say 'go, and if you can , spend two weeks.' The scenic waters, the people, the best diving sites, they are all worth it," Brogniart said.

He also underscored how safe the country is.

"I think it is more dangerous to cross the streets of Paris than stay in the Philippines. The only danger I faced when I was there was when I was jogging on the three-kilometer beach and a big dog kept following me. After that, I had a treadmill flown in," the amiable host laughed.

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RP jins capture 12 golds in Vietnam

The Philippines bagged 12 gold medals, including four in the senior division, in the recent 8th ASEAN Taekwondo Federation Championships held in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Bantamweights Jeffrey Figueroa and Esther Marie Singson, lightweight Brix Darmo Ramos and welterweight Ernesto Juan Mendoza III led the winners in the two-day tournament.

The Smart/Petron team also won 9 silvers and 17 bronzes.

James Martin Luzuriaga and Christine Rose Virtudazon won the junior poomse silver and bronze medals, respectively, and then combined to take the bronze in pair poomse.

The other gold medalists:

Juniors — Sydney Darryl Crispino, fin; Jyra Marie Lizardo, fly; James Martin Luzuriaga, fly; Karla Jane Alava, feather; Gerry del Rosario, welter; Dennis Resaba, light middle; Kirstie Elaine Alora, middle; and Christine Rose Virtudazo, light heavy.

The silver medalists:

Seniors — Billy Joel Corral, fin; Carlos V, fly; Manuel Rivero Jr., light; Marlon Avenido, welter; Igon Ducay, middle; and Ma. Criselda Roxas, middle.

Juniors — Gyie Michael Genoso, bantam; Mark Reynald Dizon, light; and Ronald Golding Jr., welter.

The bronze winners:

Seniors — Gerrielyn Aranzanso, fin; Loraine Lorelie Catalan, fly; Emmanuel Alivio, bantam; Veronica Domingo, welter; Katherine Ann Bunyi, heavy; and Michael Alejandrino, heavy.

Juniors — Kirn Aldrin Ammay, fly; R-jay del Rosario, bantam; Mira Taculog, bantam; Kathleen Estrabo, bantam; Marigold Taculog, feather; Nicole Mapilisan, feather; Allen Roy Unson, light; Mary Joannina Langit, welter; Marifi Violeta Gadit, welter; Alexander Alivio, light middle; and Emron Mae Golding, light middle.

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Filipino firm wins Global Award

Manila Water Company, the leading private water service company in the Philippines, received IFC's Client Leadership Award, the first Philippine company to receive this global award.

"IFC has been a valuable partner in helping us prove that business objectives and sustainability initiatives are perfectly aligned, which is the core of our business strategy. We are honored to receive this award and proud of our long-standing partnership with IFC. We hope to continue this valuable relationship with IFC as we continue to grow our business," said Manila Water President Antonino Aquino.

The Client Leadership Award aims to recognize a highly successful corporate client that, in line with IFC's mission, has demonstrated management commitment to environmental and social sustainability and corporate governance while achieving commercial success. It is given annually after a rigorous selection process among IFC's clients globally.

Announcing the award, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO Lars Thunell, said, "Manila Water's innovative programs to bring water to poor people and its success in supplying the city's eastern zone are just some of the ways that the company embodies IFC's ideals in social sustainability and corporate governance."

In 1997, Manila Water Company won a 25-year concession contract to service the East Zone of Metro Manila. At that time, only 26 percent of the 5 million population in the East Zone had 24-hour access to clean, reliable and affordable piped-in water.

In a little over a decade after taking over the concession, Manila Water has increased its customer base from only 3 million in 1997, to more than 5 million customers, 98 per cent of whom enjoy 24-hour water supply. It has brought down its system losses (losses due to leaks and illegal connections) to 25 percent from 63 percent initially.

Manila Water continues to meet business objectives and has also shown a significant improvement in financial performance in the past six years. In 2005, it raised a total of US0 million from its initial public offering, which was largely used to invest in water and wastewater infrastructure services. In less than 3 years since its IPO, it has grown from a small-cap company, with a market cap of less than US0 million, to an US0 million company. Since 2003, IFC has provided Manila Water with a total of US million in loan facilities, and US million in pre-IPO equity infusion.

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Microsoft opens first-ever RP Public University

A growing and more demanding business environment requires not only tools that will deliver business success, but also professionals with the expertise in maximizing the use of these business solutions.

On October 22-27 at AMA Makati, Microsoft opened its first-ever Public University to all those interested, from students, Information Technology (IT) professionals to business owners. The Microsoft Dynamics Public University offers courses on the full range of Microsoft Dynamics business solutions, including financial management, customer relationship management, retail management and supply chain management.

"We are undertaking the Microsoft Dynamics Public University project to provide businesses and individuals a more affordable way to hone their skills in Enterprise Resource Planning. We are constantly finding ways to bring tools and opportunities that will help people make an impact on the success of a company," said Lyn Reyes, Business Lead for Microsoft Business Solutions, Microsoft Philippines.

The six-day certification training on financial management using Microsoft Dynamics GP is in cooperation with Infosoft International Solutions, Inc., a Microsoft Dynamics Certified Partner. This training will be the first of the three-part series with the other two programs focusing on Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a complete and scalable business management solution that provides growing and midsize organizations robust financial and operational functionality such as business intelligence, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. Microsoft Dynamics GP maximizes productivity in the entire organization, and enables individuals to make informed business decisions.

The six modules include the Foundation Module, which will focus on the basics of using the Microsoft Dynamics GP series; the General Ledger Module, which will help in effectively utilizing the General Ledger's features; the Payables Management Module, which will train participants to make quick and smart decisions about a company's payables; the Receivables Management Module, wherein efficient receivables processes will be tackled; the Bank Reconciliation Module, which will allow participants to make an effective comparison of a company's checkbook and bank statements to reveal possible discrepancies and the Fixed Assets Module on the last day, which will help participants to become confident in managing a company's fixed assets.

Other than the in-depth training on Microsoft Dynamics GP, the fee of P35,000 also includes a certification exam, which participants are required to complete before October 31, 2007. This certification will give participants an opportunity to be part of the select-few group of Microsoft Dynamics consultants, whose services are highly demanded by the business community.

Joris Spanhoff, Chief Executive Officer, Infosoft International Solutions, Inc. sees great potential in this initiative. "The Microsoft Dynamics Public University is another way to increase the number of Microsoft Dynamics consultants in the country. This increase will benefit not only local businesses but also the Filipino IT industry, by producing a ready pool of skilled and competent consultants."

The University's top five students will also be offered an on-the-job training with Microsoft Dynamics partners. This will enable them to apply the concepts and best practices they learned in financial management using the Microsoft Dynamics GP series.

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TIME honors Filipino environmentalist

Von Hernandez as TIME Magazine's “Heroes of the Environment”, is on the same list as Al Gore, Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev.

A former literature professor, now an activist, environmentalist, and Greenpeace campaign director for Southeast Asia, Hernandez is one of Asia's leading activists against waste incineration.

He advocates the effective, polluatant-free technology that is recyling and recomposting of the mountains of trash across the Philippines.

Hernandez' work and passion caught the eye of TIME Magazine and awarded him as one of 45 people who are “Heroes of the Environment”. In 2003, Hernandez was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, the Nobel Prize equivalent for grass-roots environmentalists.

In a special article written by Hannah Beech for Time Magazine, he spoke about his aspirations to protect his country's environment. The link to Time and the text from the magazine can be found here.

The West likes to outsource to Asia: countless low-cost factories and call centers have been relocated to the world's most populous continent. But Von Hernandez, a former literature professor from the Philippines, drew the line at another lucrative export from the developed world: mountains of trash. Across Asia, waste incinerators pump out clouds of dioxin and other harmful chemicals that come from processing imported garbage. It's a highly profitable business for waste companies, but the onslaught of pollutants can wreak havoc on local health.

With no one else speaking up, Hernandez took it upon himself to protect his homeland. In 1999 his relentless campaigning succeeded in making the Philippines the first nation in the world to ban waste incineration. The 40-year-old activist has since broadened his mission, taking it regionwide. "In the Philippines, public opinion is on our side, and we've gotten leaders to realize this is an issue that voters care about," says Hernandez. "But we still have to promote that same message across Southeast Asia."

Hernandez became aware of the Philippines' garbage problem in 1995, when he started working for Greenpeace. Every day the capital, Manila, creates 6,000 tons of trash, much of which festers in massive dumps where street children make a living picking through the ooze. In 2000, a giant landfill collapsed during a downpour, killing at least 200 people. Some government authorities called for waste incinerators to be built to eradicate the trash eyesores; as a side benefit, the Philippines could profit from burning imported trash from the industrialized world. But Hernandez's campaign quashed such plans. Even slum dwellers now know that dioxin from waste incineration can cause birth defects, while the toxic matter can poison future generations if it makes its way into the groundwater. Instead, Hernandez preaches the virtues of composting and recycling as a healthier way of tackling trash.

"These are not high-tech solutions," he says. "But they work."

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RP improves Press Freedom Index ranking

The Philippines inched its way up the 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index of the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing 128th from 142nd place last year, which it shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Explaining the country's improved standing, which the press freedom watchdog classified among "unexpected improvements," RSF said there were "fewer murders" of journalists this year than in previous years and that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's "associates brought fewer defamation [libel] actions against journalists and news media."

Statistics compiled by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) show five media practitioners killed this year, the lowest tally since 2002, when three journalists were murdered, and the first time in the last four years that media killings have returned to single digit counts.

The NUJP counted 13 media killings in 2004, 10 in 2005, and 12 last year, earning the country the label of second most murderous for journalists next to war-torn Iraq. A total of 54 journalists have been murdered since Arroyo came to power in 2001, the highest death toll under any sitting chief executive, including the 14-year Marcos dictatorship.

In May this year, the President's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, dropped the multiple libel suits he had filed against more than 40 journalists after he underwent a delicate heart operation.

The Philippines' standing in this year's RSF press freedom index is also better than 2005's 139th place but remained well behind its 111th ranking in 2004, 118th in 2003 and 89th in 2002, when the press freedom watchdog first began rating the level of press freedom in 169 countries.

"Of the 20 countries at the bottom of the index, seven are Asian [Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, China, Burma, and North Korea], five are African [Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Somalia and Eritrea], four are in the Middle East [Syria, Iraq, Palestinian Territories and Iran], three are former Soviet republics [Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan] and one is in the Americas (Cuba)," it added.

It also lamented that "China [163th] stagnates near the bottom of the index. With less than a year to go to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the reforms and the releases of imprisoned journalists so often promised by the authorities seem to be a vain hope."

The group said military coups and war were responsible for many countries' slide in ratings but also noted that "government repression no longer ignores bloggers" with the Internet "occupying more and more space in the breakdown of press freedom violations."

"We are concerned about the increase in cases of online censorship," RSF said.

"More and more governments have realized that the Internet can play a key role in the fight for democracy and they are establishing new methods of censoring it," it said. "The governments of repressive countries are now targeting bloggers and online journalists as forcefully as journalists in the traditional media."

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8,000 dancing Pinoys breaks Guinness record

In an attempt to break a Guinness Book record, over 8,000 people gathered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City to smash Ireland's record for the largest dance gathering in the world.

A total of 8,072 men and women – young and old alike – were actually registered for the dance to beat Ireland's record of 7,644 dancers in 2005.

The event was for the launching of the Anlene Movement to promote awareness and prevention of the bone disease, osteoporosis.

Popular actress Dina Bonnevie, endorser of the high-calcium milk Anlene and also spokesperson for the movement, said “one out of two Filipinos is at risk of osteoporosis,” based on statistics.

Bonnevie and another Anlene model Rosita Gomez, who at 61 became a ballet dancer, along with dance diva Becky Garcia led the gathering for the most number of people dancing in a single venue.

Ming Arroyo, marketing manager for Anlene, said one out of two Filipinos turned out to be at risk for osteoporosis after bone scanning and density tests on 302,000 men and women in the country were conducted.

Arroyo said the advocacy of Anlene has always been to promote awareness of osteoporosis and the ways to prevent it.

Both Bonnevie and Gomez said in separate interviews before the attempt to break Ireland's record that it was important to maintain a healthy lifestyle – proper diet, exercise and lead an active life.

Gomez, a pastor and a businesswoman, added it would be good to build one's “spiritual and not just physical muscle” to be whole. She also stressed there was no need to slow down with age.

The event coincided with World Osteoporosis Day. The disease is also known as brittle bones, a disorder that makes women vulnerable to fractures that can cause permanent disability, even death.

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Chess wiz & women's cagebelles milestones

Filipino International Master Wesley So finished 20th in the 2007 World Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the T. Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Philippines-Cebuana Lhuillier's women's basketball team took second place in the Southeast Asia Basketball (Seaba) Championships at the Saphan Hin gym in Phuket, Thailand.

In their best finish ever in an international tournament the Filipino cagebelles almost captured the championship but lost to the Thailand women's team in the finals 66-49. But on their way to the finals, they were undefeated with four straight wins beating the Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans.

“We fought very, very hard till the end,” said national coach Fritz Gaston. “We offer the silver cup to the Filipino people. We'll try to get back in the SEAG.”

So, the 14-year-old campaigner from Bacoor, Cavite, scored 7.5 points after 13 rounds, good for a share of 17th to 25th places. After the tie break points was applied, So finished 20th among 80 players in the Boy's 20 and under.

He also managed to earn his second Grandmaster result.

In the distaff side, Filipino Woman National Master Aices Salvador nipped Woman FIDE Master Shohreh Bayat of Iran to tally 6.5 points and settle for a share of 27th to 34th places in the 58-player Girl's 20 and under class. The 17-year-old student taking up Management at De La Salle University finished 30th after the tie break.

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Yahoo! Travel gives RP top reviews

By Tina de Leon-Funtanilla

Singapore...Australia... Malaysia...these countries may be the more popular travel destinations on Yahoo Travel Guide, but the Philippines gets the top user ratings and reviews!

Try searching the Philippines on Yahoo Travel User Ratings and Reviews and you will surely be overwhelmed by all the praises and commendations.

The Philippines got a majority of 4 and 5 stars from the hundred or so users who submitted their ratings and reviews on our country.

Not surprisingly, a lot have expressed sadness on how underrated the Philippines was and on how media has wrongfully pictured the state of the country. One contributor from Malaysia plainly says...”Don't rely on the news, just visit the Philippines!” Another from Illinois, U.S.A. wrote “There's nothing like this in America!” While another New Yorker banners “The Best Asian City!”

Some of the characteristics highlighted by these travelers were the great beaches, fantastic shopping malls and bargains, impressive skylines, great nightlife and friendly English speaking people.

Most of the reviewers were unexpected tourists mostly from the U.S., Canada and Europe( but I did see a few coming from Cuba, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan Kuala Lumpur and the likes). These tourists didn't plan to visit the Philippines but somehow ended up in our country and as they say...had a fabulous welcome surprise, One traveler writes, “The Philippines has so many intriguing sights, and you will certainly meet people who will make a lasting impression upon you. Certainly, one of the best places in the world!”

Visit yahoo travel to read user the Philippines user reviews and ratings on this link.

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Filipina one of the world's most powerful

One and only one Filipina made it to Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in the World.

In the 50 most powerful women in the world, one Filipina has again landed on the list, Mrs. Teresita Sy Coson, is no. 41 in the list of 50.

Sy-Coson is listed as the 56-year-old vice chair of SM Investments, the Sy family's holding company that is deep into the mall business, real estate, and of late banking. Tessie Sy Coson is credited with brokering one of the largest banking deals in recent history (that's of course Banco de Oro). She is also largely credited with the holding company's skyrocketing sales year, hitting an increase of 68 percent for this period. Sales for 2006 hit a record high of $1.7 billion, enough to merit Ms. Sy-Coson a berth in the prestigious global list of the world's most powerful women.

Incidentally, Tessie also landed in the list last year, the only Filipina to have done so. Going through the list again this year, it seems Tessie still holds on to the distinction of still being the only one from the Philippines to make the list.

Even the legendary Oprah Winfrey, the first Afro-American to land in the billionaires' list, did not make it to the global list। She instead made it to the top 50 Most Powerful Women in the United States, landing no. 8, as the chairman and CEO of Harpo Production, which of course is top-billed by her own daily syndicated show, and her magazine which carries her name. Did you know that in all the years that the Oprah Magazine has hit the stands, she has had no other woman grace the cover of her magazine except herself? Talk about constant re-inventing of one's self, and the creativity of the magazine staff, to be able to carry this off week after week, and still sell profitably. In fact, last year, ad sales even went up by 14 percent. Or maybe, it's just the magic that is in the name of Oprah. They do not need any body else's glitz and glamor, and perfect beauty, to sell the magazine.

Browsing through the global list is an affirmation of the dizzying heights that women power has managed to scale in an erstwhile male dominion. Topping the list is the CEO of Anglo American, the world's biggest mining company. Cynthia Carroll, only 50 years of age, has managed to edge out all the aspiring men in her mining company, traditionally a man's world. The second most powerful woman in business, Anne Lauvergeon, only 48, is the executive chairperson of AREVA, a nuclear company, that she has helped steer to highly profitable margins. Marjorie Pearson, at 60 the oldest in the list, is the CEO of Pearson (Financial Times, among others in its portfolio). No. 4 is the CEO of Alcatel, a leader in the telecom industry, Patricia Russo, 55 and rounding off the top five in the list is Linda Cook, at 49 the executive director for Gas and Power of the second largest energy company in the world, the Royal Dutch Shell. She is the highest ranking woman in the company, a company once male-dominated like most of the other energy leaders in the world.

In the US list, the CEOs of PepsiCo (of Indian descent), Xerox, Ebay, Wellpoint (a health care company), Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, Harpo Production, Avon Products and Sara Lee top bill the short list. All of these companies are very familiar to us, most of them maintaining a high profile presence in the country like Procter and Gamble, Pepsi Cola, Kraft and Xerox, although the latter has had a waning presence here. Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox, is credited with turning the company around to register profitably, so maybe we can expect a stronger, renewed presence here of Xerox as well. The other interesting member of the list is Meg Whitman, CEO and president of EBay, now a $6-billion company. Filipinos now enjoy hunting for bargains in the EBay, and it is fast becoming popular locally.

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World's biggest plane lands in RP Oct 11

The world's largest aircraft with a height of 79 feet, which is equivalent to an eight-storey building, and a wingspan of nearly 262 feet, which is almost the size of a football field, the Airbus A380 will land in the Philippines on October 11.

The double-deck Airbus A380 can accommodate 800 passengers arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Oct. 11 and will proceed to DMIA the next day.

On Oct. 12, the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here will welcome the "route-proving flight" of Airbus A380 MSN009 test aircraft, and for four hours will be serviced by personnel of the airport which is being developed to become the future premier international gateway of the Philippines.
Airbus A380

DMIA, which has two 3.2-kilometer parallel runways, had earlier accommodated several large aircraft in the world such as the US' C-17 Starlifter and the Russian-made Antonov "Condor" 124.

The A380 test flight will leave the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France for a journey that will take it to Dubai, United Arab Emirate; Melbourne, Australia; and Manila.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said the A380 test flight will arrive at 11:40 in the morning at DMIA and will park at the airport's Bay 9 in front of the CIAC corporate headquarters.

Luciano said the 41 French crew members onboard will be welcomed by CIAC executives and a few visitors will have the chance to take a closer view of the aircraft's interior for one hour.
Airbus A380

The public may view the A380 for free at a designated area.

The arrival of the A380 will prove the viability of DMIA as a future premier gateway of the Philippines, Luciano said.

The A380 will conduct the trans-Pacific flight as if it were a commercial flight, and while at airports in Dubai. Melbourne, Manila, and Clark will conduct test on airfield maneuvering, docking, ground handling services, and fueling to determine its compatibility with the various airports in the world.

"This is important to CIAC and DMIA because it has proposed the Clark airport as a viable alternative airport and eventually the future premier gateway of the Philippines," said Luciano.

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RP one of Asia's most optimistic

A new international survey of satisfaction with life reveals the Philippines is one of the most optimistic in the region.

The AXA Asia Life survey, the first such outlook Index by the global insurance group, found that three developing economies--India, the Philippines, and China--are significantly more optimistic than their peers in the more developed economies of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

India ranks as the most upbeat, with a score of 87.2 on a scale of 100, followed by Philippines' 85 and China's 75.1. The most pessimistic, at 59.2, was Singapore.

The survey drew its conclusions from interviews with 2,400 mass affluent residents between the ages of 25 and 50 in these eight markets in Asia, canvassing their views about life over the next five years.

The more ebullient mood of the mass affluent in the three most optimistic countries does not derive from their having a higher level of financial safeguards in place--as might well have been the case for their forebears--however.

The three most optimistic countries are also found to be less prudent in preparing for the future. AXA says 82% of the mass affluent in India, 69% in China and 78% in the Philippines declare they have not started making plans for retirement. That compares with the more retirement-conscious Hong Kong, at 47%, Singapore, at 41% and Malaysia, at 36%. Singapore's mass affluent begin retirement planning as early as the age of 34, ahead of Hong Kong's 35 and Malaysia's 37, in contrast with the regional average of 39.

"The study also revealed that while strong optimism obviously reflects a positive view of life, it appears in several markets to co-exist with a lack of awareness about life planning and could lead to a false sense of security about the future."

India and the Philippines are also the region's laggards in health planning, with only 7% in India and 21% in the Philippines having self-purchased health insurance.

Of the four issues at the center of Asian life planning--family, career, health and retirement--the region is unanimous in ranking retirement as the area it is least optimistic about, in spite the universal aspiration to retire at an earlier age.

AXA's survey ended on a high note itself, anticipating that the increasingly affluent populations in countries such as China and India will become more sophisticated and will prepare more diligently for the future as their societies advance. With growing need for financial planning and more elevated expectations for investment performance to secure their gains, there should be increased business for wealth management services across the region.

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Pacquiao brings pride yet again to Pinoys

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao dominated Marco Antonio Barrera in a unanimous decision victory at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

There were no knockdowns in the fight, although Pacquiao's campaign was solidified when Barrera was deducted a point off him in the penultimate round for hitting Pacquiao after the break. The blow wobbled Pacquiao, and in a round that he clearly won, should have received a 10-8 score in that round.

Barrera, could not seem to meet Pacquiao in the power department, and although he used a brilliant lateral movement all throughout, was not as equally brilliant in the delivery of his shots.

Judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge saw the fight 118-109, while the third judge, Tom Schreck penned it 115-112 all for the iconic Filipino boxing hero. This writer scored it 118-109 for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao threw a total of 694 punches, with 256 of them connecting for a 37-percent accuracy rate. Barrera, on the other hand, threw only 578 punches where 120 landed for a 21-percent accuracy rate.

Pacquiao also outjabbed Barrera all throughout the fight, throwing 369 jabs and connecting 80 of them, for a 22-percent accuracy, while Barrera only threw 338 and landed 39 of them for a measly 12-percent accuracy.

Pacquiao also edged out Barrera in the power-punches department, throwing 325 and landing 176 for a 54 percent accuracy rate.

Barrera, looking tired near the end, threw only 240 power punches and connected 81 of them for a measly 34 percent rate.

The win improved the 28-year-old Pacquiao's sterling ring record to 45 wins, three losses, two draws with 35 knockouts, while Barrera, 33, who will most likely hang up his gloves after this loss, dipped to 63 wins, six losses, 42 KOs.

Meanwhile, Filipino Michael Farenas proved too much for Mexican Arturo Valenzuela in the second round on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center here.

Farenas, a native of Gubat, Sorsogon, used big lefts in dominating the Mexican fighter, and proved too strong for an impressive stoppage win.

Valenzuela was downed in the first round after a big left, and the Filipino rained blows in the second to prompt referee Russell Mora to stop the bout. Official time is 58 seconds of the second round.

Managed by WBO champ Gerry Penalosa and Japanese Kosuke Washio, Farenas is slated to next vie for the RP featherweight title.

Fil-Am Ana Julaton, originally slated to face in a four-rounder, did not see action after opponent Hondi Hernandez failed to make weight.

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Filipino Playwright honored in New York

Renowned Filipino writer Alberto Florentino will be honored on September 26 at the Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall on Fifth Avenue, New York City.

The special affair organized by the Philippine Consulate General will feature a reading presentation of Florentino's poignant Christmas ONE-ACT OR ONE-SCENE), "Oli Impan," under the direction of Miguel Barganza II.

The Consulate General will present to Mr. Florentino the Presidential Merit Award and the Philippine Consulate General's own Dakilang Pilipino Award.

Alberto Florentino, a contemporary of Nick Joaquin, Jose Garcia Villa and NVM Gonzalez, is considered a top Filipino playwright.

His first play, 'The World is an Apple,' won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature (ONE-ACT PLAY) in English) in 1954 when Florentino was only 21 years old. The play was also voted the most popular/most performed play in the Philippines and is known to be among the Philippines' top 10 plays and top 5 literary works.

Mr. Florentino was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1960, along with Benigno Aquino, Jr. and 8 others. In six decades Mr. Florentino also earned acclaim as a playwright for the stage, a script supervisor for 10 Filipino TV drama, specially for "Balintataw" which ran for 5 years (from 1967 to 1972)

Mr. Florentino was active as a publisher and editor of the Peso Books which published the works of 6 major Filipino writers who became National Artist for Literature. He was also a professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines, a columnist for Ermita, several national magazines, a scriptwriters for 7 movies, and anthologist. His plays speak of social issues, poverty and resilience – and how innocent and beautiful thoughts can survive in an impoverished world.

"Oli Impan" ("Holy Infant"), is a short short play (lasting 15 minutes on stage and 6 pages in a book, won a special award in the Arena Theater of Dr. Severino Montano (Philippine Normal College) together with another Florentino's play, Cavort with Angels). The short play is set in Binondo, Manila, which became a notorious slums area since the end of World War II. "Oli Impan" is the poignant story of two children caught in the violent eviction by the city mayor (Antonio Villegas) who forcibly relocated thefamilies to a distant site five days before Christmas of 1958. The play's director is Miguel Braganza director, the head and moving spirit of IN'ARTES Musical Theater Workshop.

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RP bags 13 nominations in Asian TV Awards

ABS-CBN and GMA-7 bagged a total of 13 nominations in the 12th Asian Television Awards, which will be held on November 29 at the Suntec Convention Hall in Singapore. GMA-7 has nine nominations while ABS-CBN has four.

GMA-7's 24 Oras will be competing against two ABS-CBN news programs, Bandila and TV Patrol World, for Best News Program. 24 Oras was nominated for its coverage of "Super Typhoon Milenyo," while Bandila ang TV Patrol World were recognized for the "Subic Rape Case Promulgation" and "Taguig Hostage Drama," respectively.

Bandila's coverage of the "Subic Case Rape" was also nominated in the 28th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards held last September 24.

Other GMA News and Public Affairs programs also figured prominently in other catgories.

Philippine Agenda's "Education" (an election-primer special) and Emergency's "Mga Batang Magsusunog" were included as nominees for Best Social Awareness Program.

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Sojo was nominated for Best Infotainment Program, and Reporter's Notebook for Best Current Affairs Program. Reporter's Notebook anchor hosts Maki Pulido and Jiggy Manicad are also nominated for Best Current Affairs Presenter.

Close friends Ogie Alcasid and Michael V will compete for Best Comedy Performance by an Actor for GMA-7's longest-running gag show Bubble Gang; Michael V. has won three times for this category.

Veteran actress Gina Pareño is once again nominated for Best Drama Performance by an Actress in the "Rehas" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the long-running drama anthology of ABS-CBN.

Meanwhile ABS-CBN's noontime game show Pilipinas Game KNB? will vie for Best Game Show or Quiz Program.

The Asian Television Awards is an award-giving body that recognizes and rewards programming and production excellence in the Asian television industry. It receives about 1,400 entries each year from a wide range of broadcasters, including free-TV stations and pay-TV platforms. It also accepts nominations from independent production houses in Asia.

Last year, 33 categories were presented during the 11th Asian Television awards. However, according to www.asiantvawards.com, they reduced it to 29 categories this year to ensure better representation of the production.

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Singapore Art Exhibit showcases RP's top young artists

For the first time ever in Singapore, three of Asia's most vibrant art centres showcase the paintings and sculptures of their top young and energetic artists in one Art Exhibition entitled Beyond Borders at the Art Space of Royal Plaza on Scotts.

Art Sentral Asia and Beaux-Artz are collaborating for this first-ever three-nation international group exhibit from September 27 (Thursday) to October 7 (Sunday) 2007.

The group exhibition features 9 talented young established contemporary artists from Indonesia, India and the Philippines.

Representing Indonesia are up and coming young visual artists Augung Yuwono and I Ketut Marra.

India will showcase the art works of Chandrahas Y.J. Shiv Verma. Kurmi Ranjit Singh.

The Philippines will exhibit the artworks of multi-awarded artists Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, Jose Santos III and Sculptor Sajid Imao.

Some of these artists have been featured in the leading international auction houses including Christies, Sotheby's and Larasati Auctioneers.

They have exhibited in various galleries and museums in cities around the world including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Amsterdam.

BEYOND BORDERS is no ordinary art exhibit. It's an exhibition of artworks that will reach out, educate, and inform guests and art collectors within the region the meaning and inherent value of Indonesian, Indian and Philippine art. By doing so, it aims to reach out and promote cultural and educational interaction and understanding within a diverse community.

The main objective of this event is to promote, the best of the current crop Indonesian, Indian and Filipino contemporary young artists on the global art stage.

The exhibit is being supported by the Lee Foundation, Royal Plaza on Scotts, PSA International, GoodNewsPilipinas.com, Tiger Airways, Unilever Asia and the Philippine National Bank.

For more information on the Filipino artworks, please contact Maria Carmen Syquia-Hizon of www.ArtSentralAsia.com at M: (65) 97344839 or E: artsentralasia@yahoo.com

For more information on the Indonesian and Indian artworks please contact Frankie Lee of www.Beaux-Artz.com at E: admin@beaux-artz.com & M: (65) 96915078.

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Lea Salonga to star in Cinderella Asian Tour

Rogers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" is coming soon to Asia with no less than Broadway and West End star Lea Salonga in the title role.

Producer Marc Routh said "Cinderella" will cost about US$ 2 million to produce.

Some Filipino talents — musicians — will be hired to join the band which accompanies "Cinderella" in its Asian tour.

"Cinderella" will be shown at the CCP for several weeks. It is produced by Broadway Asia Entertainment, with Marc Routh as Chief Operating Officer.

And "Cinderella" will be directed by our very own Bobby Garcia! He is the winner of two Aliw Awards. For his credits, Bobby has worked in film, television, stage and live concert entertainment. Among the stage productions he was involved with are " Avenue Q," "The King & I" (Broadway Asia Tour), "Beauty & The Beast," "Dreamgirls," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Rent." Concerts and TV Specials include Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert, Night of the Champions, Lea Salonga: Songs From Home, The Prince of Pop & The Comedy Concert Queen, and Lea Salonga: Home For Christmas.

Lea Salonga, the star of "Cinderella," won the Tony Award for her lead role in "Miss Saigon."

Lea has always been a best-seller in all of her performances, grossing as much as over one million dollars in ticket sales in Los Angeles, and she also drew in audiences to the full capacity of Carnegie Hall on Nov. 7, 2006 in an all-new show directed by Richard JayAlexander.

No other Filipina talent has so far reached her stature as an artist — and truly international. In fact, Lea Salonga is being credited for having opened the recognition of Filipino talents abroad.

Marc Routh, is to his credit, a long, long list of successful stage productions. He is an Adjunct Professor of the Graduate Department of Theatre Studies at Brooklyn College where he has taught "Business Management for the Performing Arts" for the last 12 years. He has lectured at Columbia University, Youngstown University, New York University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the recipient of the Robert Whitehead Award as Outstanding Commercial Theater Producer, and president of The League of OffBroadway Theaters and Producers for 1999 to 2007.

The producer, Broadway Asia Entertainment with offices in New York and Shanghai, is the largest producer of Broadway musicals in Asia, and its founders are the most active commercial producers in the world as well as the largest touring operation throughout the Asia Pacific Region.

BAE co-producers on their Asian touring productions include The Really Useful Group, Nickelodeon Theatricals, Troika Entertainment, Network Productions and Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center.

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Filipino receives Harvard's top award

Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala was conferred the Harvard Business School's highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, by the school's dean Jay Light in a special ceremony before some 900 MBA students.

Zobel de Ayala the first Filipino to receive the award was cited for “his innovative, entrepreneurial style of management (that) has benefited both Ayala and an island nation that faces significant social and economic challenges.”

The award, given to “outstanding graduates whose lives and careers epitomize the School's mission to ‘educate leaders who make a difference in the world',” was also given to Donna Dubinsky, who helped introduce the first successful personal digital assistant (PDA) and who is now developing a computer memory system modeled after the human brain; A. Malachi Mixon of Invacare, the world's leading manufacturer of home healthcare products; Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP Group, one of the world's largest advertising and marketing organizations; and Hansjorg Wyss of Synthes, a global medical device company whose surgical instruments and implants have revolutionized trauma treatment and whose personal foundation works to preserve the world's mountains and landscapes.

The Alumni Achievement Awards has been an annual HBS tradition since 1968. “These awards recognize an extraordinary group of graduates who embody the highest standards of accomplishment and integrity,” Dean Light said in his introductory remarks at the ceremony in Boston last Thursday. “The recipients have all contributed immeasurably to their profession, their industry, and their community. They personify what this School stands for. They inspire all those who aspire to have an impact on both business and society.”

Zobel de Ayala received his MBA from HBS in 1987, after obtaining an economics degree (cum laude) from Harvard in 1981. He joined the family-owned Ayala Corp. in 1981 on what he intended to be a short-term position. That stint, however, led to a series of line positions in various companies within the group, and in 1995, at the age of 37, he took the helm of the company as president. He assumed the chairmanship of the 174-year-old company last year when his father retired.

Together with his brother Fernando, who is president and COO, Zobel de Ayala is credited with aggressively pursuing the company's investments in telecommunications, water distribution, financial services, real estate development, and business process outsourcing, as well as a host of innovative social development programs, particularly in education.

Previous recipients of HBS' Alumni Achievement Award include former US Secretary of Defense and former World Bank president Robert McNamara; Johnson & Johnson chairman James Burke; Ratan Tata, chairman of India's Tata group; Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis; Minoru Makihara, former chairman of Mitsubishi Corp.; and Phillip Yeo, chairman of Singapore's Agency of Science, Technology and research.

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"Desperate Housewives" Producers Apologize

ABC Studios and the producers of American comedy series Desperate Housewives have issued an apology for a racist slur on Filipino medical personnel during the broadcast of the controversial September 30 episode.

Calls from angry viewers, and over 30,000 names on an online petition truly got the attention of ABC, and they responded to the growing clamor by issuing a public apology.

The statement reads, "The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.

"As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs."

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Co., added that it is considering editing the controversial episode on future airings and DVDs.

An excerpt from the online petition declared: "A statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field."

In one scene of the said Desperate Housewives episode, a doctor confronts Susan Mayer (played by actress Teri Hatcher) with the news about Susan experiencing menopause. During the doctor's explanation, the uptight Susan cuts him short with an apparent racist slur against Filipino medical schools.

Dr. Mayfair: "I know for a lot of women, the word 'menopause' has negative connotations. The heart ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire...."

Susan Mayer: "Before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? 'Coz I would just like to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."

The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios have become aware about the incident as it continues to draw attention in Philippine news shows and newspapers.

Even Filipino officials expressed their displeasure. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told GMANews.tv that he would write to the producers of the show to seek an apology and note the country's "vehement protest."

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