WELLNESS IN ARTS: As the country’s main agency for the arts and culture, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), headed by its chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr., leads in celebrating National Arts Month with the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) in February. Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts, PAF comprises mainly the flagship projects of the seven committees of the sub-commission — architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater and the visual arts. It aims to highlight the artistic talent and brilliance of the Filipinos. PAF activities will be held all over the country. For 2014, PAF has taken the theme “Art on the Edge: Arts for Healing, Arts for All,” highlighting the advancements achieved in different art forms, the innovations, the modern evolution of art and the artistic creations in the peripheries. - NCCA set to open Philippine Arts Festival 2014 for National Arts Month | Arts and Culture, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

CLICK LINK TO READ MORE> NCCA set to open Philippine Arts Festival 2014 for National Arts Month | Arts and Culture, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "For details, contact PAF media director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head, Rene Sanchez Napeñas at 527-2192 or 0928-5081057, visit www.ncca.gov.ph or e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com."

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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Hydroelectric power remains the most attractive renewable energy investment in the Philippines as eight new mini hydro projects gain approval for construction this year. Hydrotec Renewables, the developer of the eight projects, which champions the use of low-impact hydropower construction said this week the company is investing US$53 million to US$62 million on the combined 25-30-MW projects, eyed for completion by 2016. The projects are located in nearby provinces outside Metro Manila, with three in Rodriguez City (Sitio Wawa, San Isidro and San Jose), one in San Mateo, two in Marikina City (Tumana and Nangka 4) and two in Antipolo City (Hinulugang Taktak and Nangka 1).- Hydro, wind power booms in Philippines in 2014 | News | Eco-Business | Asia Pacific

CLINK LINK TO READ > Hydro, wind power booms in Philippines in 2014 | News | Eco-Business | Asia Pacific: "The company applies a ‘sustainable small hydro approach’, where it incorporates data gathered from hydrological, topological and metrological research in the construction process, including project site attributes to avoid the need to cut trees and inflict environmental disruption to the flora and fauna and existing communities, its website said."

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WELLNESS IN ARTS: A FILIPINA BREAKS THE STEREOTYPE! Competing in Israel's X-Factor, Rose Fostanes, 47, swept the judges off their feet with a tear-jerking rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" on Tuesday night's live final. Her victory came as a surprise in Israel, where about 20,000 Filipinos work mostly as caregivers and cleaners. In the run-up to the final, Fostanes said she hoped her popularity on the show would shine a spotlight on Israel's low-paid foreign workers. "I didn't expect that I will win," Fostanes told reporters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, speaking in English. "Because I'm not Israeli and I don't have residence here and I'm only a worker," she said. For many Israelis, the word "Filipino" has become synonymous with caregiver, and Fostanes' appearance and success on X-Factor could help break the stereotype. - Filipina caregiver wins Israel's X-Factor song contest - Yahoo News Philippines

Filipina caregiver wins Israel's X-Factor song contest - Yahoo News Philippines: "Fostanes, who came to Israel several years ago, has been working for about 20 years across the Middle East, and currently cares for an ailing woman in Tel Aviv. She has been compared to the Scottish singer Susan Boyle, 52, who shot to fame in 2009 after appearing on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent" and performing "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables". Boyle's rise from unknown to multi-million-selling recording artist has been made into a musical."

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WELLNESS IN CULTURE: National Day of Prayer declared in typhoon-hit areas. Jan 20 National Day of Prayer and Solidarity with the theme ‘One Nation in Prayer’ will be held as the Filipino people’s way of recognizing the power of the Almighty God who guides us in our journey towards a brighter future,” Coloma told radio dzRB yesterday. “President Aquino will lead the nation in prayer in a simple program to be held in Malacañang,” he said. Coloma said the declaration serves as a call for all sectors to pray for the country, which was battered by successive calamities last year. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In his toast during the vin d’honneur held last Friday, Aquino said the Filipinos’ constant faith in God enabled them to weather the disasters that confronted them.- | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

"“Some of you have marveled at the resilience of our nation, a people whose faith, though challenged, remains constant and only deepened. Our unbreakable spirit and ability to recover find root in our firm belief in a benevolent God who has the perfect plan for all of us,” he said.  “These tragedies tell us that despite all our efforts, we are indeed powerless without God,” he added." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE: National Day of Prayer declared in typhoon-hit areas | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com:

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PEACE UPDATE: Norway Hopes For Peace Talk Resumption Between Philippine Government, Rebels. Visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said he hopes the Philippine government and leftist rebel group Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will resume peace talks in the coming months. Norway is mediator in peace negotiations between the Philippine government and leftist rebels, Xinhua news agency reported. "We're committed to continue as facilitator in (peace talks) as long as this is the interest of the Philippine government," Brende told reporters in an interview. Brende said he will be discussing opportunities to resume the stalled negotiations during his meeting with Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III later in the day. "I think the presidency of Aquino is here for several years and we are looking into the opportunity to resume talks in the future," he said. Talks between the government and the CPP's negotiating arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, has been suspended since 2011 over the leftist rebels' demand for the release of a number of their detained commanders. The CPP has been waging war against the Philippine government for more than four decades.- BERNAMA

CLICK LINK TO READ MORE BERNAMA - Norway Hopes For Peace Talk Resumption Between Philippine Government, Rebels:

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WOMEN'S CAUSES: UN adopts PHL-sponsored reso on violence vs. women migrant workers. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a Philippine-sponsored resolution giving protection to female migrant workers against abuse and exploitation. In a statement, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said the UN General Assembly adopted four resolutions under the Advancement of Women report, one of which is “Violence Against Women Migrant Workers,” during the international body's 68th plenary assembly last December 18. The resolution urged member-states to ratify conventions from the International Labour Organization (ILO) protecting domestic workers, the families of all migrant workers, and smuggled persons. The resolution also calls for the abolishment of sponsorship systems, and for humane and gender-sensitive treatment of all migrant workers and their families “regardless of their immigration status.” | Pinoy Abroad | GMA News Online

"Indonesia presented the bill to the assembly on behalf of the Philippines and seven other countries on the 24th of October. PCW, in their statement, said governments around the world must ensure the safety of migrant women against exploitation, discrimination, and all forms of sexual abuse. The commission urged private institutions to provide gender-sensitive procedures at their workplaces, and encouraged both private and public sectors to realize the contributions of these women to the economy, regardless of their immigration status." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE UN adopts PHL-sponsored reso on violence vs. women migrant workers | Pinoy Abroad | GMA News Online:

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CHILDREN'S CAUSES: Philippines gives measles vaccine to 13 million kids. The Philippines will launch a nationwide campaign on measles prevention among children, after measles outbreaks took place in several areas in Metro Manila, a senior government official said Wednesday. In the campaign, planned in September this year, roughly 13 million children aged up to 5 years old will be given measles vaccination, Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona said. "The supplemental immunization activity is aimed at the children who missed their routine vaccine doses since 2011," he said.- Xinhua | English.news.cn

"In recent weeks, health centers in Metro Manila have been giving first dose of measles vaccines to children aged 9 to 11 months, while children aged 12 to 23 months have been inoculated with their second dose.This is part of the DOH's heightened campaign, in coordination with local government units (LGUs), to prevent the spread of measles in the National Capital Region, Ona said." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE Philippines gives measles vaccine to 13 million kids - Xinhua | English.news.cn:

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WELLNESS IN BUSINESS: BSP expects strong inflows from BPO, tourism. The sustained growth in the BPO and tourism sectors will support the Philippines’ balance of payments position, which indicates a country’s transactions with the rest of the world. The BOP position includes exports, imports, foreign direct and portfolio investments, and remittances, among others. BPO and tourism receipts are recorded under services, placed under the BOP’s current accounts. The central bank expects a BOP surplus of $3 billion this year. This will help the country boost its gross international reserves to as much as $88 billion in 2014. | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

 "“For the BPOs, we’re expecting a 15- percent growth (in export revenues) for 2013 and also a 15-percent growth for 2014,” Rosabel Guerrero, director at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Departmanet of Economic Statistics, said in a briefing. Guerrero noted that the growth rate will be from an $11.6-billion revenue figure recorded in 2012 by the BPO industry. Zeno Abenoja, director for BSP’s Department of Economic Research, noted that the sustained growth of the industry will be on the back of government’s continued support for the industry and sustained demand for firms abroad. “The projections were done in consultations with the industry... The projections took into account continued strong government support to the industry in terms of favorable tax treatment for capital equipment, and tax incentives (among others),” Abenoja said." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE BSP expects strong inflows from BPO, tourism | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com:

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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: GMA Network joins water pollution reduction program. GMA Network recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with Sagip Ilog Pilipinas Movement (SIPM), Philippine Biochar Association (PBiA) and Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) to undertake a water pollution reduction and livelihood program dubbed the Clean River Zone Biochar Community Project. Through its Kapuso ng Kalikasan, an environment-focused CSR platform, GMA is set to support the program by organizing community engagement activities with its corps of employee volunteers, the GMA GIVES. The Clean River Zone Biochar Community Project involves the use of Bokashi balls to reduce the pollution of the estero in Block 5, Daang Tubo, Diliman, Quezon City and create an alternative livelihood for the residents in the said community. The collaboration was formalized in a simple signing ceremony at GMA Network’s Quezon City headquarters with (seated, L-R) PMSEA President Engr. Luis R. Sarmiento, GMA Network AVP for Corporate Affairs Teresa L. Pacis, PBiA CEO Philip G. Camara, and SIPM Chairperson Severino M. Galindo, (standing, L-R) PMSEA volunteer Gia Veloso, GMA Network Manager for Corporate Relations Unis M. Loleng, PBiA CSR Consultant Christine G. Cenal and SIPM Executive Director Myrna J. H. Jimenez. | Community Bulletin Board | GMA News Online

GMA Network joins water pollution reduction program | Community Bulletin Board | GMA News Online: CLICK LINK TO READ

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WELLNESS IN TRADE & INDUSTRY: "Bali Package," could benefit the Philippines' small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly exporters, through the Trade Facilitation (TF) agreement. The TF agreement, one of the three pillars of the "Bali Package," has all member states agreeing to implement reforms to promote transparency and efficiency in customs operations. Heading the Philippine delegation to the biannual conference of ministers, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo said, "The "Bali Package," which includes the agreement on trade facilitation, complements the government's initiatives to improve customs operations and will greatly benefit our country's small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that participate in trade."

Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic o : “Bali Package” advantageous for Philippine exporters: "Together with strong special and differential treatment provisions, the TF agreement will complement the Philippines' initiatives to institute domestic customs administration reforms towards a more efficient and streamlined mechanism for traders, while respecting its implementation capacities. Transparent and streamlined customs procedures, on the other hand, will encourage new and innovative SMEs to enter the mainstream of trade.

DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. emphasized the advantage of the TF agreement in expanding the Philippines export markets."

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WELLNESS IN ARTS & CULTURE: Classical music became an effective agent for social change... Not all of the kids became professional musicians, but they all became productive members of society.’ MANILA, Philippines - Music, Madonna famously sang, makes the people come together. Harnessing this transformative power is Sistema for the Filipino Youth (SFY), an after-school music education program that was inspired by El Sistema, a program in Venezuela that provides social uplift through classical music. SFY offers underprivileged children the opportunity to achieve their full musical potential through classical music, with the ultimate hope of creating a positive impact on their communities. As its initial undertaking, SFY established the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, a 40-piece ensemble comprised of young musicians, between nine and 19 years old, from underprivileged families in Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Quezon City, Malabon, Cainta, Angono, Antipolo, Morong, Taytay, Bulacan, Cardona, Cavite, Batangas and provinces such as Aurora and Cebu.

Bittersweet symphony | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "“We saw how classical music became an effective agent for social change in Venezuela, how El Sistema was able to save the youth from illiteracy, violence and other negative effects of war and poverty. Not all of the kids became professional musicians, but they all became productive members of society,” said Tinky Cruz, OFY managing director. “Here in the Philippines, our goal is to help alleviate poverty through music education, while creating career paths in classical music and strengthening our arts and culture scene.”" CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Bishops oppose Manila Bay project out of concern for poor, environment › The Catholic Free Press. Bishops in dioceses that front Manila Bay have asked the government to scrap plans for a 94,000-acre reclamation project. “For us bishops, worried about the poor who are affected severely by floods, we see that stopping the reclamation is seriously needed,” Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez of Manila told Catholic News Service. Cardinal Luis Tagle, the country’s military bishop and bishops of 12 dioceses based in the Manila metropolitan area wrote President Benigno Aquino III, asking him to scrap the project and use the money to fund initiatives to alleviate poverty and protect the environment. Bishop Cortez said that, as of Christmas day, he had not received any response to the letter. “Advent is a very busy time of the year for priests and bishops with Misa de Gallo (Mass of the rooster, the dawn novena Mass), so we have not been informed of any progress, but in the first week of January, Cardinal will call us together to update us on the progress of our letter on land reclamation, if any,” Cortez told CNS. Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from oceans, riverbeds or lakes by transporting soil from an area to a body of water to create new land. In 1954, a presidential proclamation designated Manila Bay as a national park for the people. In 1992, Manila Bay was included in the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, even though some portions of the bay had already been reclaimed. Other local regulations and resolutions also mandated the protection and preservation of the appearance of the bay. However in 1992, a group called the Manila Goldcoast Development Corp., lobbied for approval to reclaim the Manila Bay waterfront along Roxas Boulevard, between the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the U.S. Embassy. The area was to be developed into an entertainment hub called Solar City and feature a commercial, residential and tourism center, including a man-made beach. Plans call for a cruise ship terminal expected to draw at least 2,500 tourists a week, said Edmundo Lim, corporate vice chairman. He said the project would boost tourist businesses in surrounding areas, create 100,000 jobs for construction workers and another 500,000 jobs once establishments and the site are operating. In late 2013, Cardinal Tagle called the bishops together and, in consultation with Kelvin Rodolfo, retired University of Illinois professor of earth and environmental sciences, and Fernando Siringan, a marine scientist, the bishops concluded that reclamation in Manila Bay is “a very bad idea.” In their Nov. 19 letter to Aquino, the bishops said they are ministering to people in provinces and cities that will endure the “far-reaching consequences” of the reclamation project. Even without reclamation, continuing rapid and accelerating sinking of the coastal lands bordering the bay is worsening both floods and high-tide invasions, and the combination of surges and storm waves driven against Manila’s coasts by passing typhoons, the bishops wrote. But the greatest hazard is liquefaction during earthquakes, which destroys buildings in coastal areas, whether they are on natural deposits or artificial reclamations, the church leaders added.

Bishops oppose Manila Bay project out of concern for poor, environment › The Catholic Free Press: "They mentioned the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that shook central Philippines provinces in October and the devastation of November’s Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda as it was known locally, as a warning of what could happen in the area of Manila Bay.
“Shall we allow more devastation and deaths to happen like what happened due to Typhoon Yolanda?” the bishops asked Aquino, also reminding him of the various laws protecting the intended reclamation areas.
“The scientific, legal and moral basis of our opposition for the reclamation of Manila Bay echoes God’s message,” bishops wrote."

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