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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