Best of the regions vie for Aliwan Festival Queen

 Entertainment
Apr 202014
 
Best of the regions vie for Aliwan Festival Queen

MANILA, Philippines – Eighteen lovely young ladies representing folkloric festivals throughout the country will vie for the title of Festival Queen when the annual cultural showcase billed as Aliwan Fiesta — presented by Manila Broadcasting Company, Star City and the Cultural Center of the Philippines — gets underway from April 24 to 26. Selected by their respective regional tourism offices with support from their local government units, the candidates will serve as tourism ambassadors for their individual localities, highlighting the myriad attractions of our island nation. Host cities Pasay and Manila lead off with their entries — Earlen Janine Descalzo for the Dayang-Dayang Festival of Pasay, and Angelica Padilla for the Dalaksagaw Festival of Tondo.  Baguio is fielding Sarah Jane Abdul, while Lulette Ramilo will represent Isabela’s Bambanti Festival. Bulacan is sending Jechele Mae Paano for Guiguinto’s Halamanan Festival, alongwith Shaira Lenn Roberto for the Singkaban Festival.   Mabalacat has entered the name of Jinky Serrano.  Antipolo City is sending Bernadette Salinel. From the Visayas, it will be another battle of dark-skinned lasses against mestiza bets.  Michelle Marie Monte represents Iloilo Dinagyang, while Ahriana Lovely Huyaban will carry the colors of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta. Hazel Mae Trasmonte will do the honors for Kabankalan, while Trixia Marana will carry the pride of Dumaguete’s Sandurot festival. Cebu, whose track record in the Aliwan Fiesta not only includes the Hall of Fame for three straight wins by Lumad Basakanon but also five straight Reyna ng Aliwan titles, will field three candidates this year: Read More …

Communicating the promise of heaven

 Economy
Apr 202014
 
Communicating the promise of heaven

How sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will heaven be when our journey is ended?—George Whitefield The pearly gates of heaven — that is, if we believe in heaven — reopen every Easter, the feast of the resurrected Christ. It is always a happy event. As the story was told and continues to be told, the entrance was closed to mankind from the time Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden for flagrantly disobeying God. And Jesus had to become man and act in perfect obedience to the will of the Father to make up for the first couple’s sin to once again open the door to eternal life. No one has really come out to describe with conviction and definitiveness what heaven really looks like. Of late, though, we have a number of accounts sharing what it is. We have heard of near-death experiences detailing heaven as a place where angels play sweet harp music, where dead relatives and friends reunite with a possible new entrant, and where everything is white and bright. And we have also come across children’s books and pieces of poetry portraying it as nirvana — rainbows exuding vibrant colors, exotic animals roaming around in perfect harmony, peaceful towns, bluish surroundings and people playing and laughing. Everyone has a verbal and visual image of heaven. Most religions do, too, and they should all be respected. Colton Burpo is a four-year-old boy who seemingly died and whose soul made a short Read More …

The MTRCB in cowboy country

 Entertainment
Apr 202014
 
The MTRCB in cowboy country

At the rodeo, a lady rider attempts to lasso a bull. Red-eye flights on successive days can be a killer. Had to have my two fave masseuses come on two successive nights after I got back two Saturdays ago from overnighting in Masbate, where the MTRCB conducted its monthly regional forum. This has been part of an activist program of reaching out beyond imperial Manila to engage cityfolk in the regions in discussions that result in stronger awareness of MTRCB’s new thrusts. These thrusts certainly turned manifold under the leadership of former chair Grace Poe Llamanzares, now Senator of the Republic. And now it must be said that her successor, Atty. Eugenio “Toto” Villareal, has even upped the ante — with the over-all policy theme of “Matalinong Panonood ng Pamilya nina Juan at Juana.” Each month now, a set of MTRCB “BMs” or board members sign up for participation in these countryside forays. Last year it still wasn’t that regular, albeit regional forums were successfully conducted in Vigan, Tagbilaran, Davao City, Baybay City in Leyte, and Puerto Princesa. Various schools in Metro Manila were also visited by teams of BMs, who would conduct entertaining exercises to show young students how a preview committee would determine the proper classification after factoring in certain themes and actual scenes in television shows and movies. Some of these forums continue to be held in the MTRCB Building on Timog Avenue, with several schools invited to send in delegations of students and teachers. When it’s Read More …

‘Fundamentals: Drawings from Modernist and Contemporary Masters’ at Galerie Stephanie

 Entertainment
Apr 202014
 
‘Fundamentals: Drawings from Modernist and Contemporary Masters’ at Galerie Stephanie

MANILA, Philippines – Drawing is used to express an artist’s range and imagination. Therefore, its practice has been prominent in the history of art — often regarded as the foundation for artistic practice. In recognition of its prominence, Galerie Stephanie in Libis has arranged a special exhibition of drawings culled from its collection from some of the most important artists. The drawings, on paper and in a variety of media, including ink, acrylic, graphite, and charcoal, showcase the immense talents of their artists — which include a smattering of modernist masters alongside the leading lights in contemporary visual art. “Fundamentals: Drawings from Modernist and Contemporary Masters” will showcase drawings from masters such as Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Juvenal Sanso, National Artists BenCab and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, and renowned contemporary artists such as Ronald Ventura, and Andres Barrioquinto. Joining these artists are other Modernists such as Angelito Antonio, Raul Lebajo and Mauro “Malang” Santos, along with contemporary artists Rom Villaseran, Francis Nacion, Vincent de Pio, Aileen Lanuza, Carlo Ongchangco and more. The exhibition showcases another side of these artists through one-of-a-kind works that demonstrate their immense talent, skill and range. The exhibition opens on April 25 at Galerie Stephanie in Libis. Galerie Stephanie is located at Unit 1B, Parc Plaza Bldg, 183 E.Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Libis, Quezon City, tel. no. (632) 709-1488. For information, email info@galeriestephanie.com or www.galeriestephanie.com. Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

Pacquiao to pay courtesy call on PNoy on Monday

 News
Apr 202014
 
Pacquiao to pay courtesy call on PNoy on Monday

One week after his victory over Timothy Bradley Jr., Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao will pay a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang on Monday. State-run Philippines News Agency on Sunday cited a text message from the Palace to reporters indicating the courtesy call will be at 1 p.m. at the Palace’s Music Room. On April 13, Pacquiao regained the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title from Bradley via unanimous decision. He returned to the Philippines on Good Friday and got a hero’s welcome in General Santos City, his hometown. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News

DOH to release names of Etihad passengers yet to be tested for MERS-CoV

 News
Apr 202014
 
DOH to release names of Etihad passengers yet to be tested for MERS-CoV

The government will release the names of around 300 passengers who were on the same flight home as the overseas Filipino worker initially diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the United Arab Emirates. According to a report on “24 Oras” aired Sunday evening, although the male nurse has since tested negative for MERS-CoV, the Department of Health said he could have passed the virus on to other passengers. The nurse was first tested in the UAE, with the positive result released after he had already left for the Philippines. The test result prompted the DOH to quarantine him and his family. They have since been discharged. Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager at the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the DOH is aware that releasing the other passengers’ names could make their neighbors shun them out of fear of being infected. “Pero ang punto kasi namin dito, mas lalo silang hindi iiwasan ngayon kung mapatunayan nating wala nakuhang mikrobyo sa kanila,” he said in the report. The DOH has managed to track down around 100 people who were passengers on Etihad Airways Flight EY 0424. The rest have yet to heed the call to come in for quarantine and swab testing, prompting the department’s decision to release the names. Lee Suy said the Health department can ask the Philippine National Police to help convince the passengers to submit to swab tests, which are free. He added that passengers already in the provinces can proceed Read More …

PNoy urges Pinoys in Easter message: Continue self-sacrifice for others  

 News
Apr 192014
 
PNoy urges Pinoys in Easter message: Continue self-sacrifice for others  

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday urged Filipinos to practice self-sacrifice for others, even as he vowed to make permanent the reforms achieved under his administration. In his Easter message, Aquino also reminded Filipinos to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who he said sacrificed Himself to give mankind a chance at redemption. “Tandaan po natin, dumaan si Hesukristo sa marami at matinding kalbaryo. Sa halip na sumuko, tinanggap niya ito ng buong-buo para mabigyan tayo ng oportunidad na makamtan ang buhay na walang hanggan. Ito naman ang hamon sa atin bilang kanyang mga tagasunod. Bigyang halaga natin ang pagkakataong … maiwaksi ang kasamaan at marating ang kaharian ng Diyossa harap ng mga pagsubok, paghihirap o ginhawa, nawa’y lagi nating isabuhay ang kanyang mga dakilang aral, ang paggawa ng tama, pagmamahal at paglingap sa kapwa,” he said On the other hand, he said his administration will seek to make sure Filipinos have the opportunities to improve their lot in life even after he steps down from office in 2016. “Nais natin maipadama sa mas nakakarami narito man po tayo o nakababa na sa pwesto, mananatili at dadami pa ang mga oportunidad para sa ating mga kababayan. Lubusin natin ang mga pagkakataong ito. Nasa kamay po natin ang susi ng ganap na pag-asenso. Tiyak pong sa ating malasakit sa isa’t isa at sa patnubay ng Panginoon, mararating natin ang katuparan ng ating mga panalangin at mithiin,” he said. Aquino said that under his watch, the nation has risen from rampant graft Read More …

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