The GNP Team

Globe promotes reducing carbon footprint through bike commuting

 News
Aug 062017
 
Globe promotes reducing carbon footprint through bike commuting

Globe Telecom is advocating bike commuting among its employees to help reduce carbon foot print. Globe employees join Bike2Globe launch [via Globe] Called Bike2Globe, the program encourages Globe employees to use bicycles as alternative transportation to cars to help reduce fossil fuel emissions in the environment and combat climate change. “It is Globe Telecom’s advocacy to reduce our impact to the environment and support a low carbon future to address climate change.  We want to extend that to our stakeholders, primarily our employees, and one of the easiest and most effective ways to do it is by promoting the use of bikes,” said Raymond Martin S. Aguilar, Globe Head for Operational Risk Management and Business Protection in a media release. Bike2Globe also supports the UN SDG 11 on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable through access to affordable and sustainable transport. Globe employees without their own bikes can avail of the company-provided e-bikes for work-related errands around the Globe offices. The e-bikes use electric motor but can be pedaled manually when the battery runs out. A launch event and motorcade for Bike2Globe was held in Bonifacio Global City to help bring up public awareness on the benefits of riding the bike. The same event had the National Bike Organization discussed bike and road safety in a forum.   The post Globe promotes reducing carbon footprint through bike commuting appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: SM commits to go beyond the hour in Earth Hour Public schools receive Read More …

Bana’s Cafe of Sagada wins critics recognition in Paris

 News
Aug 022017
 
Bana’s Cafe of Sagada wins critics recognition in Paris

Sagada-based Bana’s Cafe has won international critics’ recognition by bagging the Médaille Gourmet from the 3rd International Contest of Coffees Roasted in their Countries of Origin organized by the Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA), a Paris-based non-profit organization. SGD Coffee [via Facebook] Bana’s Café entered the AVPA 2017 competition using “quality-focused heirloom coffees that the Coffee Heritage Project helped plant and grow” in Goad Sibayan’s 100% Arabica coffee farm in Sagada, according to SGD Coffee. Consul Rapunzel Acop from the Philippine Embassy in Paris received the Médaille Gourmet (“Gourmet Award”) in July for Bana’s Coffee on behalf of Goad Sibayan, Butch Acop, and Rich Watanabe – the team behind the effort in presenting Bana's Coffee to AVPA, revealed the Department of Foreign Affairs media release. “We hope that with this recognition, we are able to highlight Philippines Coffee and the great work of Filipino coffee farmers like Goad, growing one of the finest coffees in the world to be the true artisans of the Philippines' coffee industry." Watanabe said in a media report. Sixty coffee entries from 21 countries received various awards from AVPA 2017 jury which comprised of French-speaking Sensorial Analysis Experts, Coffee Sector Representatives, and Gastronomy and Taste Connoisseurs. The Philippines joined coffee producers from Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, the United States and Vietnam.   The post Bana’s Cafe of Sagada wins critics recognition in Paris appeared first on Good Read More …

DLSU Green Archers sweep Taiwan’s BLIA Cup

 News
Aug 022017
 
DLSU Green Archers sweep Taiwan’s BLIA Cup

De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila’s Green Archers won the championship of the 2017 Buddha Light International Association Cup (BLIA Cup) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. De La Salle Green Archers [via Facebook] The DLSU men’s basketball team became the new champions of the BLIA Cup after battling against France's Universite de Lyon in the finals game that resulted in a score of 93-74. The Philippine team’s Ben Mbala was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Ricci Rivero was part of the Mythical Five selection. The Green Archers was coached by Aldin Ayo. The BLIA Cup is an annual sport cultural exchange organized by the Fo Guang Shan Monastery (FGSM). The Green Archers, champions of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79, dominated the 2017 BLIA Cup by beating teams from America, China, Taiwan and France.   The post DLSU Green Archers sweep Taiwan’s BLIA Cup appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: DLSU win World Universities Debating Championships DLSU Eco Car Team wins Asian Drivers Title DLSU Eco Team qualifies for World Driving Title DLSU-D lone PHL school in global sustainable network

Lilia de Lima, PETA group are Asia’s Nobel Prize awardees

 News
Aug 022017
 
Lilia de Lima, PETA group are Asia’s Nobel Prize awardees

Former Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) Director-General Lilia B. de Lima and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) have been given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for transformative leadership in Asia. De Lima was cited by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation for “Harnessing sustained, non-stop and credible public service.” The first PEZA chief who led the agency for 21 years – from 1995 until her retirement in 2016 – is credited for turning the organization into “a showcase of successful regulatory reform, a model institution of honest and committed public service, and a key contributor to the nation’s economic growth.” The Director-General was charged with promoting and regulating foreign investments in the country’s economic zones. During her term, PEZA’s accomplishments include: the number of PEZA ecozones increased by 2,000%, from the initial 16 she inherited to 343 by 2016; the number of registered enterprises rose from 331 to 3,756; investments reached PhP 3 trillion; and ecozone exports totaled US$ 629 billion. In electing Lilia B. de Lima to receive the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes “her unstinting, sustained leadership in building a credible and efficient PEZA, proving that the honest, competent and dedicated work of public servants can, indeed, redound to real economic benefits to millions of Filipinos.” Reflecting on her career, she says: “I cannot solve the problems of the world but if in my own little area I can make a difference, then I must make that difference.” Words that according to RMAF, should be, “For all workers Read More …

Kammerchor Manila bags grand prizes at Italy and Spain

 News
Jul 292017
 
Kammerchor Manila bags grand prizes at Italy and Spain

Kammerchor Manila has brought home 3 grand prizes from international choral competitions in Europe. Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco, competition jury member Nancy Roman of the Philippines, and members of the Kammerchor Manila at the 8th Musica Eterna Roma held from 05 to 09 July 2017 at the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome, Italy. [via DFA] The church-based choral group won 1 st Prize at the 63rd Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain. The Filipino choir was also awarded the Grand Prix at the 1st Leonardo Da Vinci Choral Festival held in Florence, Italy. The group of 35 young professionals also received Gold Diplomas during the 8th edition of the Musica Eterna Roma International Choir and Festival Competition in the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome, Italy. Kammerchor Manila received the awards during their 4th European tour held from June-July 2017 where they performed in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. In Torrevieja, Kammerchor Manila won: 1 st prize in Habanera, prize money of 12,000 euros 2nd prize in Polyphony with the prize money of 4,000 euros They performed "Marinero" and "Niña Mersé" for Habaneras. Their pieces for Polyphony were "Kaisa isa niyan" and "Gloria" in Polyphony. In their Italian leg which brought them to Florence, Kammerchor Manila won various categories and bagged the overall grand prize: CATEGORY WINNER: Mixed Choir Category – Gold Diploma Level 3 (96.25 points) Modern Contemporary Category – Gold Diploma Level 3 (97.81 points) Folk Gospel Pop Category Read More …

Pinoy lumpia certified food craze in Wichita, Kansas

 News
Jul 292017
 
Pinoy lumpia certified food craze in Wichita, Kansas

The Filipino favorite lumpia is now a certified food craze in Wichita, Kansas – thanks to the enterprising couple of Parsnipity Café. LumpiaPalooza [via Facebook] The fried spring roll that is present on every Philippine fiesta table and just about any Filipino gathering has been making the rounds of Kansas via the LumpiaPalooza food truck – in high demand and booked solid until October in events just 3 months since it started operations. The LumpiaPalooza food truck just wrapped up its appearance as the first food truck at the Sedgwick County Fair, and is now on its way to be set up in music festivals, business openings, fairs and breweries, reports Kansas’ Wichita Eagle. Writer Denise Neil in her article affirms the local craving for the Pinoy lumpia and describes how the fried roll went from a featured dish at the Parsnipity Café inside the Epic Center at 301 N. Main, to a dish of 40 variants rolled to events on a food truck. The Parsnipity Café signature item, the “long and skinny fried spring roll stuffed with ground beef, carrots, onions, celery, salt and pepper and served with a side of homemade sweet and sour sauce” has become a designer item stuffed with ingredients such as mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookie dough, blueberry lemon, taco-flavored, vegan, pepperoni pizza, and a whole lot more. Neil says the lumpia is in such an unexpected high demand that owners Chef Cynthia Wilson and General Manager Craig Bjork have solicited help from Read More …

Josef Borja-Erece, youngest solicitor in Queensland, Australia

 News
Jul 292017
 
Josef Borja-Erece, youngest solicitor in Queensland, Australia

Josef Borja-Erece [via USQ] Josef Borja-Erece, credited as the youngest solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland and youngest law graduate from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), is a Filipino-Kiwi. Erece, born to Filipino migrants in New Zealand, graduated with a law degree from USQ at the age of 18 years old after entering university at the age of 15. After graduation, he joined the Supreme Court as the youngest practicing solicitor in Queensland. Erece is also the founder of Starlight Legacies, a collaborative movement which provides a royalty-sharing platform to promote global unity amid diversity by “immortalizing and archiving as many souls as we can through recording respective though recording respective thoughts and stories.” Erece is also a literary writer for World XCV and has published books. The Fil-Kiwi’s entry in the USQ’s featured 50/25 describes Erece’s career pathing: “While he considers Law to be the social force which quintessentially binds us together and keeps the peace, Jozef is currently following an unexpected career path and precipitating positive change globally as the founder of Starlight Legacies – an interactive social phenomenon and collaborative movement which aims to promote global unity and respect, as well as the celebration of diversity in all forms.” Erece recently started graduate studies at the Australian National University in Canberra which he says in his recent Facebook post is “signifying my official return to the public scene.” After completing his LLM he intends to pursue a PhD towards an academic career in areas of Read More …

UNICEF, SM encourage parents reading to children

 News
Jul 292017
 
UNICEF, SM encourage parents reading to children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and SM Prime Holdings are encouraging parents to read to their children to address the declining reading habits of Filipinos. UNICEF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Martin Porter spoke at the National Children’s Book Reading Day event at the SM Mall of Asia, emphasizing the role of parents in developing healthy reading habits in children. “My parents used to read to me when I was a little kid and it helped develop in me the habit of reading,” the UNICEF officer shared. SM Cares Director of the Program on Children and Youth, Mr. Royston Cabunag affirmed the love of reading is developed early on and parents play a key role in its development. “Research has shown that children whose parents read to them and who themselves read regularly develop the love of reading. This is the reason why parents should make time to be with their children, read to them so that it becomes habit-forming,” the SM Cares director pointed out. According to the National Book Development Board (NBDB) Readership Survey of 2012, 88% or a Total of 49.2 million Filipino adults read though it is declining: 94% in 2003, 92% in 2007 and 88% in 2012. The NBDB 2012 Readership Survey also shows that more and more Filipinos are beginning to read NSB at a much younger age, starting as early as 0 to 6 years old, with the majority of adult readers saying they started reading NSB between the ages of 7 Read More …

Acapellago Grand Prize winners at Vokal Total 2017 Austria

 News
Jul 252017
 
Acapellago Grand Prize winners at Vokal Total 2017 Austria

Filipino contemporary pop a capella group Acapellago has again carried out a successful campaign overseas, this time winning 3 major prizes at the Vokal Total 2017 International A Cappella Competition in Graz, Austria. Acapellago [via LIONHEARTV] The internet sensation group received 3 top prizes from the 2017 Vokal Total: Ward Swingle as Overall Champion Gold Award in the Pop Category Audience Award The group of 5 Filipino artists from Bulacan namely, Michelle Pascual (Soprano), Almond Bolante (Counter-Tenor), Joshua Cadeliña (Tenor), Ronnel Allen Laderas (Bass) and Ricky Gavin Laderas (Beatbox), received the top honors and bested groups from Italy, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Taiwan, Georgia, Romania, USA, France, Singapore. The group has been winning awards locally and worldwide like the AKA VIII A Capella Asia Pacific Championship League (APACCL) in Singapore in 2016. Acapellago’s mission according to their bio is to continue “to create, arrange and perform new music, to inspire many young artist in contemporary a cappella singing and contribute to the Philippine’s music and performing arts heritage.” Acapellago won the nod of judges and the audience in Austria with their performances of Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man, Gloria Estefan’s Conga, Safe And Sound by Taylor Swift with Capital Cities, and Whitney Houston’s Queen of The Night.   The post Acapellago Grand Prize winners at Vokal Total 2017 Austria appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Acapellago triumphs at A Capella Asia Pacific Championship UP Madz win Choral Grand Prize in Italy Pinopela wins International A Capella Competition Dennis Trillo receives Asian Read More …

Washington Post praises Filipino food at Matthew’s Grill

 News
Jul 252017
 
Washington Post praises Filipino food at Matthew’s Grill

Washington Post has published a review that praises Filipino food offered by Matthew’s Grill in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Matthew’s Grill, a Filipino Asian Fusion restaurant specializing in Pampagueño dishes, earned the nod of food writer Tim Carman in his article “This legit Filipino eatery is hiding behind an unassuming name.” Carman revealed how the eatery is named after the Jersey-based 12-year- old son of co-owner and head chef Reymond Domingo. The 20$ Diner-food writer declared his love for the unique flavors of the Filipino dishes, offering to be the little boy’s Uncle Tim. “If I’m making a donation to Matthew’s college fund with every order of dinuguan (the moody pork belly stew’s minerality has no bottom), every plate of kare-kare (the peanut sauce brings order to this stew of beef rib and oxtail) or every serving of stuffed milkfish (whose semi-oily flesh assumes a more acidic persona with its dipping sauce), then you might as well call me Uncle Tim. I’ll be a regular contributor.” The Post review actually started off recounting the writer’s unique experience sampling the all-time Pinoy favorite dare-to- eat dish of “balut” or hard boiled duck egg with embryo. Matthew’s Grill has put a twist on the preparation of the “balut” dish and presents it fried in butter and garlic to mask the squirm-challenge of the exotic dish. Carman says he admires the restaurant for patiently providing a guide to “non- natives through the dense tangle of international influences that have shaped Filipino food, a cuisine almost Read More …

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