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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