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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