Wellness in Government: President Aquino certifies as urgent new sin tax bill on tobacco and alcohol

Aquino certifies as urgent new sin tax bill - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) yesterday lauded Aquino for certifying the sin tax reform bill as urgent. “We are happy that the President recognizes the need to reform the currently flawed taxation system in tobacco and alcohol and has acted upon this by making the sin tax reform bill of Abaya as an urgent measure to be passed in Congress,” said FCAP executive director Maricar Limpin.

Limpin said that while the “amended Abaya bill may not be ideal, as the original bill, we believe that this is still in the right direction.”

Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) had pushed for higher taxes for tobacco in the Philippines as the country’s cigarettes were among the “cheapest in Asia.”"

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Wellness in Environment: Swimming Contest in Cebu Advocates for Clean Marine Environment

PIA | Philippine Information Agency | Swimming contest in Cebu advocates for clean marine environment: "The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA), is inviting all professional swimmers and swimming enthusiasts to the fifth Olango Challenge on May 19 at Tambuli Beach Resort, Buyong Maribago, Lapu-lapu City in Cebu. The open-water swim competition is an annual raising event set to benefit the people of Olango Island in Cebu. It also serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and to raise awareness about the high incidence of drowning in the Philippines. Past proceeds of the competition went to the construction and refurbishment of classrooms, the promotion and practice of organic verniculture and reforestation of Olango Island. "

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Wellness in Arts: Surigao Norte gov unveils Surigaonon Arts and Culture Center

PIA | Philippine Information Agency | Surigao Norte gov unveils Surigaonon Arts and Culture Center: "Governor Sol Matugas along with other local officials led the unveiling of Surigaonon Arts and Culture Center Tuesday at the provincial sports complex here.The center showcases the heritage portraits and memorabilia depicting the richness of the Surigaonon culture. The event coincided with the 111th Founding Anniversary of Surigao on May 15. The province of Surigao was once a premier political jurisdiction in Mindanao when the American colonizers established a civil government, in May 15, 1901, by virtue of the Philippine Commission Act 127 enacted by the US government. Surigao was the capital with Prudencio Garcia as its first elected governor. On June 19, 1960, Republic Act 2786 was passed by Congress which brought the subdivision of the once proud Province of Surigao into what is known today as the Province of Surigao del Norte and the Province of Surigao del Sur. (FEA/ Jun Parada/Prov’l Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)"

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Peace Update: Local Politics In The Sulu Archipelago And The Peace Process

Philippines: Local Politics In The Sulu Archipelago And The Peace Process: "The Aquino government’s peace strategy brings three components together: reform of the dysfunctional government of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which includes the three island provinces plus Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in Central Mindanao; a review of the 1996 peace agreement with another Muslim insurgent group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF); and a peace agreement with the MILF.

The last component is what unsettles the governors of the archipelagic provinces. They and the clan-based networks that support them benefit from the status quo: a political system historically rooted in Manila’s patronage of Muslim elite. They fear that a peace agreement would overhaul governance in Muslim areas, disrupt their access to money and power, and boost the Central Mindanao-based MILF, whom they distrust, at the expense of the islands. Their scepticism towards the peace process undermines its objective: to grant the Muslims of the south, known as the Bangsamoro, true autonomy once and for all."

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Rotary Update: G.P. Vanier Rotary Interact Club hosted Collection Drive to Acquire Running Shoes for Young Athletes in Smoky Mountain

Vanier Interact is a shoe-in for Phillipine project: ""We decided to focus on collecting runners, soccer shoes and other sports footwear to add to Jared's collection of sports equipment for the town. Jared is so passionate about this cause, so we really wanted to help him out," says Sandra MacGregor, president of the Vanier Interact Club. "We're hoping that our small contribution can make the lives of kids a world away a whole lot better." Vanier Interact students partnered with Jared, collecting boxes of runners from their school to send with the hundreds of pieces of equipment that Jared collected. "Often we need time to mull over fundraising project ideas but we all got right on board with Jared's project and had a plan of action before he left the room," dxplains MacGregor.

Jared Hendry reports that all the sports items, including those from the Vanier students, were shipped from Victoria on March 15th, and it will arrive Manila on May 3rd"

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Filipinos Worldwide: In Belgium, Filipinos Prayed Holy Rosary for World Peace

Pinoys in Belgium offer rosary for world peace | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere: ""The campaign, which centers on the praying of a Holy Rosary with specific intentions dedicated to every country/nation, is a project launched worldwide by the Family Crusade of the Philippines in celebration of its 60th anniversary this year. It is strongly endorsed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)," the DFA said.

It added that the participants hope to "bring all the people of all nations of the world to Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit, through Mary our Blessed Mother, to bring peace, love, joy and tranquillity to every people and nation."

The Philippine Embassy partnered with the Philippine Chaplaincy in Brussels in celebrating the Holy Mass as well as the recitation of the rosary.

The Mass presiders included Filipino priests Raymund Gaspar and Lyndon Balubar.

Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Victoria Bataclan led the Embassy's participation in the event.

She urged Filipinos to foster the virtues of love, compassion, courage and peace."

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Wellness in Business: Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) shows Philippines as 4th Most Optimistic behind Peru, Brazil, United Arab Emirates and Georgia

PH 4th most optimistic: "Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said local business leaders and the business community in general remain optimistic about the country because they could understand and see what the Aquino government has been doing particularly in removing red tape and in improving services.

“I think the business leaders and the business community get it—what the Philippine government is doing; what we have committed to do. We are going to level the playing field. We are going to also enhance the facilitation of registration that means cutting the bureaucratic red tape and we have done so and we will continue to improve our services. It’s something that we intend to achieve to make sure that there is clearly a level playing field for the business community,” Lacierda said.

He also welcomed that the recent row between the Executive and the Judiciary had no impact on the business community citing that there is continued investment interest in the country."

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