Sunset in Coron

Sunset in Coron
Coron, Palawan

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Positive Vibes from the Philippines

     I've been busy over the weekend and luckily, I've been able to acquire some information of different aspects, personalities, news developments on contemporary Philippine society. I have plenty of great news to share on the arts, travel and tourism and personalities that leave that indelible stamp of Pinoy Pride:

1.  The Philippines is hailed as the HONEYMOON DESTINATION OF THE YEAR at the China Travel and Meetings Industry Awards. The country garnered 4.2 million votes from members of the industry in a voting process that lasted 2 months (July and August 2010). The panel of judges divided the destinations per category and industry insiders were asked to vote. We edged out perennial winners Bali and Thailand. The event was organized by Travel Weekly Publications. Boracay topped the Best Short Haul Tourism Destination last year.



2.   Camotes Island in Cebu was recently recognized as the United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Awardee for Disaster Risk Reduction last May. The Town of San Francisco was visted by four government officials from Sri Lanka to observe and learn from the towns good practices. San Francisco town's Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. shared that four mayors from Sri Lanka visited the town's solid waste management system, mangrove rehabilitation area marine sanctuary and community driven program dubbed as the "Purok system". Arquillano was invited by Sri Lanka early part of July as a guest speaker for the launching of the UN's "Making Cities Resillient" Campaign.


3.   Dr. Lemuel Benedict Non, M.D. who has served faithfully for two years in Saranggani province received a full scholarship offered by the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Non bested 59,999 applicants worldwide who applied for the scholarship. Dr. Non passed the US Medical Licensure examinations last summer with a grade of 99% and was quickly whisked off to the US, all expenses paid. He was ranked 8th in the local medical board exam s when he graduated from the UP College of Medicine in 2008. His scholarship entitles him to five years of training in internal medicine and fellowship training in infectious diseases or gastroenterology. His advantage in obtaining the scholarship was his stint as a barrio doctor.


4.   Lea Salonga, child prodigy, actress, singer and total performer joins a list of Hollywood luminaries in Disney's Hall of Fame. Walt Disney Studios has decided to recognize and honor Ms. Salonga's contribution to lend her singing voice to such memorable characters as Princess Jasmine and Mulan. Her signature songs " A Whole New World" and "Reflection"  from full length animated movies Aladdin and Mulan respectively, have earned her the respect and admiration of Disney bigwigs. Her inclusion in the list puts her at par with Hollywood stars like Robin Williams and Julie Andrews. Lea elicited laughter in her acceptance speech by acknowledging actress Linda Larkin and thanking her for "not being able to sing otherwise she wouldn't have been there accepting the award."


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