WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Smallest of giant flowers ‘accidentally’ discovered in the Philippines

Luzon Island in the Phillipines, a team of scientists have discovered the smallest of these giant flowers.

When fully expanded, this newly discovered flower has an average diameter of 9.73 cm, making it a “dwarf” among all known Rafflesia species, researchers write in a new study published in the journal PhytoKeys. And unlike its larger cousins, this small flower smells like coconut, the New York Times reports.

The discovery was serendipitous, researchers say. Lead researcher Prof Perry S. Ong’s colleague was walking in a forest on Luzon Island when he accidentally tripped over a pile of forest litter, exposing a small decaying flower. This flower, the researchers found, belonged to a new Rafflesia species.

Ong, and his team, have named the new species Rafflesia consueloae in honor of Consuelo ‘Connie’ Rufino Lopez, lifelong partner of Filipino industrialist Oscar M. Lopez.

Rafflesia consueloae may have set a new world record, but this dwarf is on the verge of extinction, researchers say.

Only two populations of R. consueloae are known from two mountain sites, Mt Balukbok and Mt Pantaburon. These mountain are about two kilometers (1.24 miles) apart, and occur within the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed. Severely threatened by deforestation, these mountain sites now have only remnants of tropical lowland evergreen rainforests, the authors write.

“Following the IUCN Categories and Criteria, we regard this species as Critically Endangered,” they add. “Continued protection of the R. consueloae populations and other biodiversity in the area needs to be ensured as some local people still hunt wildlife there and forest fires are likely in the dry season.”

R. consueloae is the sixth species of Rafflesia to be discovered from Luzon Island, and the thirteenth from the entire Philippine archipelago. Like its giant cousins,R. consueloae has no distinct roots, stems or leaves of its own, and is a parasite. It depends on its host plants for water and nutrients.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/02/smallest-of-giant-flowers-accidentally-discovered-in-the-philippines

WELLNESS IN ARTS: Photo series on Philippine politics at international photo competition

Lawrence Sumulong, a Filipino-American photographer based in New York City and Manila, is shortlisted for the "Professional Conceptual" category of one of the world’s biggest photography competition, the Sony World Photography Awards. Sumulong's shortlisted series "Trapo," an ongoing project focusing on politics in the Philippines, was selected from 230,103 images from 186 countries. This year has the highest number of entries in the awards’ nine-year history, with 33 percent increase from 2015. has received great recognition for his original photographic projects challenging the medium. Talking about his success, he adds: "I am extremely grateful to be shortlisted at this prestigious competition considering my project’s obscure subject matter and approach."

Speaking about all the photographers who have been shortlisted this year, Scott Gray, CEO of the World Photography Organisation and organiser of the awards said: "We are extremely pleased with our jurors’ choices this year. Despite the increase in the number of photographers, and the amount of imagery that required judging, this year above all others we have witnessed a wealth of powerful imagery in the traditionally strong social documentary categories as well as the art and conceptual work. It is wonderful for the medium that it can offer such rich diversity."

Source: http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/2016/02/24/1556358/photo-series-philippine-politics-international-photo-competition

WELLNESS IN BUSINESS: APEC economies’ push for globalization of MSMEs, support for climate change mitigation and more trade agreements in the region

Leaders pose for a group family photo at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila, Philippines, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. Pictured from top left, Hong Kong's Chief Executive is Leung Chun-ying, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , South Korea President Park Geun-hye, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. front row from left, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, Peru's President Ollanta Humala, Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang, U.S. President Barack Obama, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Taiwan envoy Vincent Siew. AP/Bullit Marquez

 Major business groups in the country were specifically pleased with the APEC economies’ push for the globalization of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as support for climate change mitigation and more trade agreements in the region. “We applaud most of all the successful hosting of the Philippines of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting, the APEC CEO Summit, the APEC MSME Summit as well as the fourth meeting for 2015 of the APEC Business Advisory Council,” Makati Business Club (MBC) executive director Peter Angelo Perfecto said. “APEC was well planned and interesting especially topics on innovation, trade relations, women empowerment, SMEs and inclusive growth,” Management Association of the Philippines president Francisco Del Rosario Jr. added. Perfecto said both public and private representatives from the 21 APEC member-economies have expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ successful hosting of this year’s summit.
http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/11/21/1524095/apec-summit-gets-mixed-grades-business

WELLNESS IN ENVIRONMENT: Global Climate March: Prayer-march for the environment Nov. 29 before U.N. climate change conference in Paris, expected to gather more than 1 million people in more than 2,000 cities worldwide

Anti-coal and climate justice groups and residents of communities affected by coal mines in the Philippines began a five-day caravan on Nov. 24 to highlight the impact of coal in their communities. "The people are now demanding to stop coal in all forms," said Gerry Arances, national coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice. The caravan, which started on Semirara Island in the central Philippine province of Antique, is also a response to calls by church leaders to be part of a prayer-march for the environment on Nov. 29. The Global Climate March, which will start the day before the U.N. climate change conference in Paris, is expected to gather more than 1 million people in more than 2,000 cities around the world.Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila has urged Filipinos to participate in the march to tell world leaders that "climate change is real, and we care." The global movement, which is being organized by Catholic communities around the world, is expected to submit a petition with more than 20 million signatures to world leaders calling for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

In the southern city of Cagayan de Oro, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma appealed to Catholics to join the global march.
"Let us be united and help restore our common home," the archbishop said. The Philippine Catholic bishops earlier called on Filipinos to do their part to combat global warming by planting trees, not using plastic, segregating waste, and promoting renewable energy, among others things.
Environmental activist Gina Lopez said the peace caravan of coal-affected communities symbolizes "the growing clamor against dirty and harmful energy." Lopez said the people's caravan "proves to the government that the people are resisting coal projects." In the past five years, the Philippine government has approved the building of 59 coal-fired power plants, in addition to 19 existing ones, that will be operational by 2020.  A total of 188 coal-mining permits have also been issued by the government.
Coal-mining sites on Semirara produce more than 90 percent of domestic coal resources. The industry has also adversely affected the island's seaweed sector, which produces US$8.5 million worth of seaweed annually. http://www.ucanews.com/news/philippine-activists-faith-groups-march-for-climate-justice/74667

WELLNESS IN ARTS: Filipino designers Oskar Atendido and Sophia Manimbo placed the Philippine filigree craft and indigenous fabrics under spotlight

...during the 1st ASEAN International Bazaar of the ASEAN Women’s Circle of Los Angeles (AWCLA).
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs statement, jewelry designer Atendido gave a lecture about Philippine filigree craft, which has always been among his interest. Filigree, an ornamental work of fine wire formed into delicate tracery, found its way to the Philippines through schools with Belgian missionaries. Atendido considers the craft worth saving as it is slowly disappearing in Philippine culture.
On the other hand, Sophia Manimbo, daughter of Cora Manimbo, who is known in the Philippines for her dresses made from various Philippine fabrics, talked about Philippine indigenous fabrics such as abel iloco, piña, t’nalak and tapis. Manimbo described each fabric, including where they were sourced in the Philippines. Fine handcrafted filigree jewelry made of silver, copper and gold; traditional ternos and blouses made with indigenous Philippines fabric were also put in display on the bazaar.
The event held at the Starview Room of the Sheraton Universal Hotel showcased artifacts from ASEAN countries, cultural performances and many more.
http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/2015/11/23/1525083/philippine-filigree-indigenous-fabrics-featured-international

WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Global Filipino School Program: To adopt the use of mobile devices in enhancing formal education

"The move would also substantially reduce public spending in education and infrastructure and enhance competitiveness of the country’s learning institutions amid global shift towards digitization. In line with efforts to integrate ICT tools into formal education, Globe Telecom has been implementing the Global Filipino School program for over three years now. The program is a long-term educational initiative that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of so-called “ICT excellence” and provide new high-tech teaching methods. The program aims to create a center for ICT excellence in schools that exemplify commitment to ICT-integrated education and also create teacher training hubs to increase understanding and effective usage of ICT in the classroom. In partnership with the Filipino Department of Education and selected public schools, the program involves providing schools with “superior online connectivity,” a Globe Mobile Laboratory package, and 21st Century Teaching Methods using ICT in the classroom.
Selected public schools are utilized as a teacher training hub on ICT excellence in the classroom, for the entire division where the school is located." Read full article from the source: Telecom Firm Invests in ICT Education in the Philippines November 17, 2015 by Mike Hower
http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/ict_big_data/mike_hower/telecom_firm_invests_ict_education_philippines

Our Lady of Lourdes, heal us: Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title

of the Blessed Virgin
Mary venerated in honor of the Marian apparitions said to have occurred
on numerous occasions in 1858 in the vicinity of Lourdes, France

In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous's reported a vision of Our Lady of Lourdes. Soubirous claimed she saw a miraculous Lady in white, with a golden
rosary and blue belt fastened around her waist, and two golden roses at
her feet on a hill who asked her to request that the local priests build
a chapel at the site of the vision. After church investigations confirmed her visions, a large church was built at the site, Our Lady of Lourdes in France.


A simple, 14-year old peasant girl of no significant educational
experience, reported that in her vision a woman in white spoke to her, Que soy la Immaculada concepcion, I am the Immaculate Conception,
and asked that a church be built there. At first ridiculed, questioned,
and belittled by Church officials and other contemporaries, Bernadette
insisted on her vision. Eventually the Church believed her and she was
canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933. Lourdes is now a major Marian pilgrimage site: within France, only Paris has more hotels than Lourdes.

Our Lady of Lourdes, heal us: Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title of t...: In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous 's reported a vision of Our Lady of Lourdes. Soubirous claimed she saw a miraculous Lady in white, with...