HEALTH: FREE Medicine distributed by DOH due to continuous rain. Public schools in Quezon City, San Juan and Pateros have already been given doxycycline and assorted medicines during dengue and leptospirosis awareness campaign. Health personnel in evacuation centers are also providing doxycycline capsules to evacuees as [a form of] protection from leptospirosis. Regional epidemiology surveillance unit has reported that 133 leptospirosis cases were admitted from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10 this year. “The figure is 63 percent lower than the 357 cases reported for the same period last year. The ages of those affected ranged from 11 months to 82 years. Majority (81 percent) were male. Most of the cases (22 percent) were from the City of Manila. Ten deaths were recorded. DOH-NCR health emergency staff and regional health representatives conducted a rapid health assessment (RHA) in selected evacuation centers in Marikina, Quezon City and Pateros. An RHA is also being done in selected and accessible evacuation centers in Pasay City by the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan health teams.

DOH starts distribution of meds vs leptospirosis | Inquirer News: "Besides the doxycycline capsules being given to affected individuals, doses of vitamin A were also being administered to children in evacuation areas....I advise everyone who will wade in floodwaters to wear protective gear in order not to be affected by leptospirosis,” Eduardo Janairo, the DOH-NCR regional director sain in an interview. He said the DOH was coordinating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Flood Control Information Center and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center on assistance to be given to the afflicted." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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GLOBAL PINOY: Australian Parents learned basic Filipino language with their adopted Filipino children in an event organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney to celebrate the Philippine’s Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (Month of National Language). The Philippine Embassy in Australia gathered together adopted Filipino children aged three to 13 along with their Australian parents for an interactive Filipino language lesson aimed at teaching them Filipino words they can use at home and in an outdoor setting. According to the Filipino community news site The Filipino Australian, the parents and their children were taught salutation phrases like “Kumusta po (How are you)?”, “Anong pangalan mo (What’s your name)?” “Ako si… (I am…)” and Filipino words for colors, food, and other common objects.

Australian parents taught Filipino words while bonding with their Pinoy kids | Pinoy Abroad | GMA News Online: "Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis lauded the success of the event, which was the second presentation prepared by the Philippine Embassy for the Australian parents and their adopted Filipino children.

“We are very happy that the Australian parents of the children are very supportive and they take extra efforts to nurture an awareness of Filipino culture and heritage in their adopted children,” she said."

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SPORTS: PHL won 2 Gold & 3 Silver Medals in ASIAN YOUTH GAMES 10-day competition among 45 countries and their best athletes in the age bracket of 14-17 years. Padilla, who mastered the rapid air pistol event, said for the second AYG they were able to assemble a good set of athletes from 13 sports disciplines. They produced the results in golf, taekwondo and tennis with promise shown in athletics, badminton, 3-on-3 basketball, fencing, judo, rugby, shooting, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting. Winning the gold were Mia Legaspi and Pauline Louise Lopez while providing the silver were Princess Superal, Francis Aaron Agojo and Jurence Mendoza.

AYG underscores need for sound youth program | Sports, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "The performance of the Filipino athletes in Nanjing surpassed the country’s one-silver, one-bronze effort in the inaugural AYG in Singapore in 2009.

“There should be continuity. Once you identify the talents you must push through with their development,” said Padilla, a five-time gold medalist in the SEA Games.

Padilla knows how it is being a youth athlete because when he was 12 he won the gold medal in the 1976 World Junior Shooting Championships in Mexico." CLICK LINK TO SEE FULL ARTICLE

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TRADE & INDUSTRY UPDATE: Development goals and needs of three Philippine industries – manufacturing, chemicals, and copper – were discussed during the Trade and Industry Development Updates forum on August 13, 2013. The three industries were the first batch of over 30 industries for which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has drum up medium- and long-term plans to guide in policy-making, especially in reviewing Executive Order 61 on import duties. Agribusiness, tourism, and manufacturing, have top government priorities. Manufacturing is the heart of industry growth, with its huge supply chain and economic impact, including the development of the copper and chemical industries. Three development phases have been drawn up for manufacturing until 2025. The first phase (2014 to 2017) will rebuild the capacity of existing industries and strengthen emerging ones. The second phase (2018 to 2021) will shift manufacturing to high value-added activities and integrate with micro, small, and medium enterprises to enhance inclusiveness. The third phase (2022 to 2025) will make manufacturing the hub in Southeast Asia for automotive, electronics, garments, and food. The chemicals industry has a three-phase development plan: By 2016, it will establish the Chemical Industry Council, integrate petrochemicals and target $5 billion in exports. By 2022, it will diversify and expand into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), improve domestic feedstock, and expect $10 billion in exports. By 2030, local chemicals will be the third-largest export, with $30 billion in revenue. The copper sector will strengthen ties with global copper organizations by 2014. It will be included in the 2014 Investment Priorities Plan to provide direction on open pit mining and on mining economic zones. BOI reported that manufacturing grew by 20.4% in the first quarter of 2013 and drew R3.4 billion worth of investments. It is preparing for ASEAN Economic Integration by 2015.

Bolstering Philippine Trade and Investment | Tempo - News in a Flash: "The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Officers and Employees, congratulate the Philippine Government, headed by H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Board of Investments Managing Head Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., and Philippine Institute for Development Studies President Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto, in their collective efforts to identify interventions, policies, and strategies for trade and investment that will improve the global competitiveness of industries in the Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY."

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PEACE UPDATE: Peaceful & Clean Rally at Luneta: 75,000 attended anti-pork protest, say Manila police - Yahoo! News Philippines

75,000 attended anti-pork protest, say Manila police - Yahoo! News Philippines: "Coronel likewise assessed the event as "generally peaceful." "They [The protesters] were true to their word that the rally will be peaceful," the police officer said.
Tens of thousand of Filipino taxpayers staged the social media-driven rally on Monday—the biggest protest action under President Benigno Aquino's watch—to demand the total scrapping of the pork barrel funds and the prosecution of lawmakers involved in the allegedly anomalous release of these funds. '100,000 to 150,000' Vince Lazatin of the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), one of the groups that organized the event, said he was "satisfied" with the turnout of the event. He pegged the number of attendees from 100,000 to 150,000."

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TODAY, LET'S PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL CITIZEN ASSEMBLY IN LUNETA, MM PHILIPPINES. SOME CALL IT RALLY, I PREFER TO CALL IT THAT WAY :-) DO NOT FORGET TO BE POLITE, WE ARE PEACE PROMOTERS AND NOT HATE CAMPAIGNERS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FILIPINOS WHO KNOW THAT ARE SPEECH, WORDS AND ACTIONS CAN INFLUENCE THE YOUTH AND THE CHILDREN. BE CAREFUL AND TAKE CARE WHERE EVER YOU ARE! PEACE AND LOVE ALWAYS! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AmbassadorZara Jane Juan: "TODAY, LET'S PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL CITIZEN ASSEMBLY IN LUNETA, MM PHILIPPINES. SOME CALL IT RALLY, I PREFER TO CALL IT THAT WAY :-) DO NOT FORGET TO BE POLITE, WE ARE PEACE PROMOTERS AND NOT HATE CAMPAIGNERS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FILIPINOS WHO KNOW THAT ARE SPEECH, WORDS AND ACTIONS CAN INFLUENCE THE YOUTH AND THE CHILDREN. BE CAREFUL AND TAKE CARE WHERE EVER YOU ARE! PEACE AND LOVE ALWAYS! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201313104181387&set=vb.1586313473&type=2&theater
My Wish for You Today and Everyday :-)
Hope you like it and share it!
"

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BAYANIHAN SPIRIT: A boy carries his dog whilst wading in floodwaters brought by the monsoon rain, intensified by tropical storm Trami, in Paranaque city | Pinoy bayanihan spirit still alive - Yahoo! News Philippines

Photo By ROMEO RANOCO/REUTERS

A boy carries his dog whilst wading in floodwaters brought by the monsoon rain, intensified by tropical storm Trami, in Paranaque city | Pinoy bayanihan spirit still alive - Yahoo! News Philippines: "A boy carries his dog whilst wading in floodwaters brought by the monsoon rain, intensified by tropical storm Trami, in Paranaque city, metro Manila August 20, 2013. Heavy rains continue to batter the Philippine capital and nearby provinces, causing government offices, schools and some businesses to suspend work, and sending residents to flee their homes. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY DISASTER)"

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WELLNESS IN ARTS: Young Filipino artists join Asean Youth Camp. Four young artists, all from different fields, will represent the Philippines in the 2013 Association of South East Asian Nation (Asean) Youth Camp in Singapore Aug. 26-Sept. 1. Following the theme, “In Celebration: Asean Youths Unite,” the delegation aims to promote awareness and understanding of each other’s culture through interactive culture and arts activities, and to build friendship among the young delegates. The youth camp is a biennial event that started in 1998 with the Philippines as host. The delegates are: Lester Babiera for photography/photojournalism, Joseph Martin Gabriel for painting, Rolinda Gilbaliga for traditional music, and Michael Barry Que for traditional dance. Niño Selibio is guide of the delegation.

Young Filipino artists join Asean Youth Camp | Inquirer Lifestyle: "The Asean Youth Camp will have delegates from the 10 members of the Asean—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Countries such as South Korea, China and Japan have also been invited.
This year’s delegates were chosen based on their portfolios, talent presentations and interviews.
The selection committee was composed of Julius Flores of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Lilian Barco of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Brenda Fajardo of the University of the Philippines (UP), and 2003 Asean Youth Camp alumnus José Claudio Guerrero." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Hospitals, Healing Patients & Healing Environment: • The zero-waste practice at Maria Reyna-Xavier University Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City; • Safe practices to prevent radiation exposure in General Santos Doctors Hospitals; • Use of safer alternatives for hospital cleaning at St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City; • Sustainable energy production through a biodigester at Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City; • Wastewater treatment at Our Lady of Peace in Las Piñas and Philippine Heart Center; and • Mercury-free dental service at San Lazaro Hospital.

How environment experts envision a ‘green hospital’ | Inquirer Business: "During the launch, Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, chief technical adviser for the UNDP-GEF project, encouraged other hospitals present at the launch to follow the good examples of the featured hospitals. He also urged hospitals who are already members of the GGHH Network to continue to be part of the network in the long run. Six of the seven hospitals featured are already members of the network. Ferrer said: “Everything is interconnected, and we believe that we are now at a point when the health system is going beyond their oath of ‘first do no harm.’ Health systems are now healing, and they are healing not just their patients but the environment too.”" CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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ROTARY PROJECT: Dengue-Free Philippines Movement mobilizes 300T volunteers in CV larvicide drive. "The massive anti-dengue drive is a project of Rotary International District 3860 under District Gov. Ed Chiongbian. Briones started the larvicide anti-dengue campaign in 2010 when thousands of people, mostly children, suffered from dengue, resulting in more than 100 deaths. In Cebu City alone, more than 15,000 suffered from dengue in 2010 that at least three children share a bed at the city government-run Cebu City Medical Center. After a sustained a sustained larvicide campaign, the dengue cases in the city hover at more than 1,000."

Dengue-Free Philippines Movement mobilizes 300T volunteers in CV larvicide drive - InterAksyon.com: "The massive anti-dengue drive is a project of Rotary International District 3860 under District Gov. Ed Chiongbian.
Briones started the larvicide anti-dengue campaign in 2010 when thousands of people, mostly children, suffered from dengue, resulting in more than 100 deaths. In Cebu City alone, more than 15,000 suffered from dengue in 2010 that at least three children share a bed at the city government-run Cebu City Medical Center. After a sustained a sustained larvicide campaign, the dengue cases in the city hover at more than 1,000." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE
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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Ilocos Fisherman, New! WWF Hero of the Environment. For saving a dolphin trapped in a fishing net, a 63-year-old fisherman from Ilocos Norte has been named the latest “Hero of the Environment” by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines. Francisco Vergara, who alerted authorities after he discovered an adult rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) enmeshed in a fishing net in Badoc town, was recognized by WWF-Philippines for “coming to the aid of a distressed and dying animal.” Setting out at sea on his tiny boat in the wee hours of June 18, the fisherman came across the animal struggling for life in waters between the villages of Pagsanaan Sur and Pagsanaan Norte, the environmentalist group said in a news release. “The senior citizen wasted no time alerting authorities which quickly pooled resources to release the animal by 9:45 a.m.,” WWF-Philippines said. The dolphin appeared healthy and strong by the time of its release, according to the statement. In a simple ceremony on July 25, Vergara was recognized as the latest environmental hero by Badoc Mayor Arlene Torralba, Vice Mayor Tom Torralba, and WWF-Philippines conservation programs vice president Joel Palma. “Despite being a senior citizen, Vergara not only made his country proud—he saved a life. We hope that others can follow his example,” Palma said. WWF’s Heroes of the Environment program was launched in 2009 to reward individuals that show “decisive environmental action.” “Counting Vergara, WWF has awarded a total of 16 people, ranging from a shy 8-year-old that helped save a wounded risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) in Mindoro to highly-acclaimed dolphin and peace mural artist AG Saño, who painted over 30,000 dolphins to protest both the annual killing of dolphins in Japan and the keeping of dolphins in captivity,” Palma said. “To date, Vergara is our oldest awardee,” Palma said.

WWF hails Ilocos fisher as ‘environment hero’ | Inquirer News: "Twenty-eight—a third of all known cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) species—have been recorded in Philippine waters as of 2013, the group said.
Cetaceans plying Philippine waters include the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the killer whale (Orcinus orca), and the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest creature on earth reaching lengths of 100 feet.
Though all cetacean species are protected under Philippine Republic Act No. 9147, their incidental capture or bycatch remains a serious and pervasive threat, according to WWF-Philippines.
The group has been collaborating with leading Filipino marine mammal experts and conservationists to reduce fisheries bycatch and conduct marine mammal training programs with local governments, coastal communities and private sector allies since 1997." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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GLOBAL UPDATE: 29th Philippine Cultural Arts Festival held in Balboa Park, on the corner of Park Boulevard and Presidents Way. An annual production of Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts & Education Center, the festival with FREE admission opened to business entrepreneurs. The two day family-oriented, alcohol free cultural event showed well-designed stage, traditional folk dances of the Philippines, folk songs, Rondalla String Ensemble and Kulintang music of Southern Philippines

29th Annual Philippine Cultural Arts Festival: August 10-11, 2013 | KPBS.org: "The second half of both days featured mainstream entertainment by youthful Filipino-Americans, including singing talent show, hip-hop, jazz dances, and other variety numbers by Asian and Pacific Islander guest artists. Featured in booths are photo exhibit, Philippine crafts, T-shirt with unique designs and costume jewelry.

Delicious Filipino food prepared in local restaurants, including adobo, lumpia, pancit and refreshments such as Halo-halo are made available in food booths.

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WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Students attends DOLE’s Project Jobs Fit, key employment generators in the Philippine labor market until year 2020. The Jobs Fit also provided data on the in-demand and hard-to-fill occupations. Through Project Jobs Fit, the government hopes that the problem on jobs and skills mismatch that contributes to unemployment could be properly addressed. DOLE’s efforts in addressing jobs and skills mismatch is in line with President Benigno Aquino III’s 22-point labor and employment agenda, whose overarching goal is to invest in the country’s human resource to make them more competitive and employable. TESDA meanwhile presented to the students its different programs while also emphasizing on the potential of technical-vocational courses as employment drivers of the country’s economy. Schools that were reached by the week-long career advocacy included: St. John Learning Center, Siloam ABC Tutorial and Learning Center, Notre Dame of Tacurong College-High School Department, Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong, Rajah Muda National High School. AS Bernardo Memorial National High School, Tacurong National High School, and San Emmanuel National High School, VMC City College-High School Deparment, and Quezon Colleges of Southern Philippines-High School Department. Tacurong National High School, with over 2,000 students, had the largest number of participants reached by the career advocacy.

PIA | Philippine Information Agency | 4,500 Tacurong students reached in career advocacy activities: "Mandated by Department Order No. 25, series of 2013 issued by Department of Education, the conduct of Career Guidance Week is in line with the goals of the K-12 Basic Education Program to produce graduates who are ready for higher education, middle level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. "

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Health Update: Philippine National Health Research System Celebrates! PNHRS Week celebration provides a platform for the various sectors in health research and development (R&D) to interact and learn from each other; share information, experiences, and best practices; voice out and discuss concerns; and contribute research-based solutions to health problems. Around 500 participants from the 17 regional health research organizations are expected to attend the event. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Health (DOH), established the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 17, 2003. The PNHRS aims to promote cooperation and integration of all health research efforts in the country to ensure that research contributes to health policies and actions. In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) joined as core agencies of the PNHRS.

We celebrate the 7th Philippine National Health Research System Week | Tempo - News in a Flash: "The celebration of PNHRS Week every second week of August is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1309 in 2007. This year’s theme is “People at the Center of Health and Health Research.” We congratulate the Philippine National Health Research System led by Department of Science and Technology Secretary Dr. Mario G. Montejo, Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, Commission of Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan; and University of the Philippines Manila Chancellor Dr. Manuel B. Agulto, on the occasion of the 7th Philippine National Health Research System Week. We wish them the all the best and success in all their endeavors. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!" CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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WELLNESS IN ARTS: Ballet Philippines, Southeast Asia’s longest-running professional dance company inspires through the arts."Kids that are exposed to art in whatever form, they become more intelligent, they read more, they have more interest in studying because their horizons are wider," Ballet Philippines President Margie Moran.said

Ballet Philippines illuminates 44th season with 'Giselle' | Arts and Culture, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "One of ballet’s greatest romantic tragedies, Giselle is the story of a girl who falls for the wrong man. It will run from August 16-18 at the CCP Main Theater with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performing live music on August 16, 8PM and August 17, 6PM. The following month will be Rock Supremo, which essays the life of Andres Bonifacio as a young man who went for his dreams of justice and democracy during a time of political repression. A collaboration with Rock Ed and supported by the National Historic Commission of the Philippines, the production is unique in that it will feature original music from Filipino bands and artists including Gloc 9, Ebe Dancel, Pedicab, Peryodiko, Peso Movement, Sandwich, Radioactive Sago Project, Dong Abay, Diego Mapa, Kai Honasan, and Rico Blanco." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Philippine “Bikes for Education” Program Reduces Dropout Rates. High school students in the Philippines are receiving free bicycles from their Department of Education (DepEd). DepEd has partnered with Bikes for the Philippines Foundation Inc. (BPFI) to deliver bicycles to needy high school students in remote, rural areas. As of now, 100 bicycles have been distributed to students of Baclayon National High School in Bohol. The DepEd is currently in the process of identifying the deserving student-beneficiaries for the second delivery of bicycles from the United States.

Philippine “Bikes for Education” Program Reduces Dropout Rates | Open Equal Free: "This “Bikes for Education” Program, under the umbrella program “Adopt a School”, is combatting dropout rates by providing students that live in distant rural areas with transportation to attend school regularly. Often, the lack of transportation in rural areas of great poverty is the reason that Filipino students have difficulty regularly attending schools. This results in high dropout rates in school. Uichico explains that “students may need to walk over three kilometres one way on rough back roads with no access to or ability to pay for public transportation. Some walk greater distances.” Additionally, many Filipino children are required by their families to complete chores before and after the 8-5 p.m. school day, leaving less times for homework and studying. The bicycles offer a way for children to have more time for school." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: MVP Group of Companies led by businessman Manuel Pangilinan signed an agreement with several partners for the fifth year of the “Shore It Up: Rescue, Restore, Revive” campaign, the country’s longest running corporate-backed environment program. Shore It Up has so far attracted more than 13,000 volunteers and 43 event partners. “We are happy to be invited by Metro Pacific Investment Foundation. Their projects are very worthwhile and very important, especially nowadays that we have to be more conscious about the environment,” said Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte. “It’s our response to everybody’s concern about the environment. Its focus is the waters of the Philippines and the shores,” Pangilinan said. The STAR is the official media partner for Shore It Up, which is now on its fifth year of making a difference in various coastal locations.

MVP, partners shore it up for environment | News Feature, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "An underwater cleanup will be held in Puerto Galera on July 20 and 21, giant clam rearrangement in Hundred Islands in Pangasinan on Aug. 17, coastal cleanup in Subic on Sept. 21 and a marathon in Siargao in October.

Shore It Up was launched in 2009 following the devastation of Tropical Storm Ondoy. Metro Pacific Investment Foundation and volunteer divers from the MVP Group of Companies spearheaded the program.

The first underwater and coastal cleanup was held in the famed dive spot in Anilao, the nearest diving haven to the metropolis.

“With this endeavor, we will not only bring a positive environmental impact but also economic and socio-cultural components for a sustainable tourism program in the area,” said Metro Pacific Investment Corp. vice-president for communications Melody del Rosario.

Shore It Up has been accorded the Anvil Award of Merit for sustained environmental program in 2011 and 2012. It was also given the Best CSR in the Corporate Governance Asia Award and the Silver Award of Excellence in the 5th Global CSR Award, both in 2012."  CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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