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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Wellness in Environment: 1st environment-friendly 'earth chapel' made of mud and bamboo built in Bacolod

1st environment-friendly 'earth chapel' made of mud and bamboo built in Bacolod | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere: "A religious environmentalist, Jakosalem underwent training on climate change science by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore through The Climate Reality Project.
Sharing Jakosalem's environmental advocacy, visual artist Marisol Alquizar and social-realist Nunelucio Alvarado contributed their talents to the project. A transformed pen and ink version of "Kristo ni Alvarado" serves as a colorful mosaic centerpiece in the chapel, which was designed by Alquizar, who builds mud houses in Negros island. Student volunteers from the "Tsinelas of Hope" also helped build the chapel.

"We are envisioning the chapel to be the center of our ecological reflection, owing to the spiritual inspiration of our Creator; hoping to be transformed to be men and women of faith committed to protect and preserve the earth," he added.
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Zambales Connection (an introduction to part 1) by Zara Jane Juan

Luscious waves, powerful sunrise, attractive sunsets, calm community, playful birds, kids, and chickens... And on top of it all, the most awesome view of the stars along the dark and quiet shoreline as the neighborhood sleeps in harmony night after night... ... What a paradise!

Where on earth can you find that locked doors are not a requirement to live. Everyone seems to trust anybody... I was able to sleep soundly without worry in my rented humble nipa hut fronting the sea, though that was my first night, alone! I mean literally without a companion! The community respects each and everyone because every member of the community believes that no one who visits the shoreline of  Zambales is a plain stranger. They believe that each one comes back to Zambales, because they belong there... a relative... of the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, 4th degree... or, simply, just an old friend way back who traveled once and had the longing to come back again... and again...

I came here to prepare myself for my chosen peace mission in the Southern Philippines affected by recent typhoons. However due to my allergies, I need to first ready my health in order for me to survive. Doctors advised me to have a vacation in the beach for natural healing. And what a practical way to do it as fast as I can but to go back to my Grandma's hometown, San Isidro, Cabangan, Zambales. In fact, I long for this, to travel alone, live alone, incognito! Just me and the sea, my pen, my notebook and my quiet private time to pray and meditate. The only problem is, it needs to be safe! And Zambales has it, a wish come true! A very simple life away from the city!

Along the way, however, I got inspired to write about my Grandma's place, not just San Isidro, but the whole Zambales. I find it amazing, how their culture remains so simple... the simple meal... the simple celebrations... the simple smiles that enlightens the crowd... and how they manage to keep it for years with a very dry land, not too much to expect, no flares, no fuzz, nothing. I am practically amazed how they survive without, in my observation, a typical competitive spirit of the city dwellers.

So I made a decision to stay longer because my missionary peace work covers the preparation of the community to the effects of changing climate as part of my worldwide advocacy work on Climate Change Peace Building Adaptation Campaign. Zambales is a good start, I guess for my behavioral study of people living near the sea.

This is the first draft of my behavioral study, I aptly call it the Zambales Connection....

Everything seems beautiful until one night, I've learned that vote-buying is rampant in the place. It completely slips my mind that a special congressional election will take place and I happened to be there, what a vacation! I thought I can forget my work and concentrate on the goodness of life but here am I face with the conflict if I will write what I saw, heard and experience. How naive am I to know that vote buying is an organized activity where the voters have to signed their names in order for them to get their money ranging from P500 to P1,000 per voter. I refrained from knowing further and resorted to meditative prayer to compose myself, however my conscience bothers me, especially when I saw how "malicious" money can turn a peaceful community to a "mob". I need to write it especially when in the course of my investigation, I have found out that vote buying is just a new trend in the 2nd District of Zambales. I've learned that before, people vote their leader because it is their personal choice and they believe in their leader as a matter of principle. Now, with the introduction of the malice that votes can be bought, people vote out of "kahihiyan" that they already accepted some money that "bought their votes". Is there a logic in here?

It is my vocation to teach and promote good culture. And I believe, it is the responsibility of a leader or any politician to lead people to peace by introducing them the proper culture. Vote buying is a malicious intention designed to corrupt even the most innocent ones. Making it part of the people's life is prelude to poverty.

As I said to the community, you deserve more than that! You are the protectors of the sea, you are not beggars! You actually deserve to be given a dignified life through an Environmental Fund which can be allocated by your elected politician to every household living in the shoreline.

People do not know their rights and will remain silent, quiet until numb.That is how corruption works in cycle. Until someone stood up and do something, corruption of the mind will remain a trend.

When do we stop it? When we share what we know to those who don't know. Education, more orientation, and more empowerment will liberate our mind.

Good thing, I still see the kids playing, praying & hoping.... unmindful and innocent.

With this, I am still inspired to work on this further, not just as an advocacy, but as a responsibility to save what remains for the proper culture to survive in this changing climate.

So help me God.

Wellness in Science & Technology: Gov't implements technology dev't agenda

Gov't implements technology dev't agenda | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "DoST will rely heavily on research and development programs to address dengue, telehealth services, potable water, malnutrition, rice shortage, brown/fortified rice, baby food program, coral reef rehabilitation, disaster mitigation, red tide control and management, and the Fusarium Wilt infestation problem affecting our banana plantations, among others. Second, the DoST will also develop and diffuse appropriate technologies to create growth in the countryside such as world-class technology-based products, food processing technologies, and super farms. Third, DOST Sec Montejo said that the DoST will leave no stone unturned to improve industry competitiveness. “We already have the Automated Gateway Transit System, while under various stages of development and prototyping are technologies that can raise the productivity of industries spanning BPO, electronics, renewable energy (solar, wind), and mining industry (gold, copper, nickel pilot processing plant),” he said. Fourth, Montejo said they will use Science and Technology to enhance the delivery of government and social services. Initiatives along this line include the Government Broadband Network, National Telehealth Services, and the National 3D Mapping."

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Rotary Update: Cyclone Sendong: Taree helps the recovery

Cyclone Sendong: Taree helps the recovery - Local News - News - General - Manning River Times: "Barry Hicks of the Rotary Club of Taree has worked in the area where the cyclone hit for the past eight years in poverty eradication programs and providing tertiary education to the brightest of the poorest high school graduates in the community. An urgent appeal for help from Rotary Australia was made to Mr Hicks by Ariel Hernandez, the head of Balay Mindanaw, a large non government organisation. Balay Mindanaw is an official disaster relief centre, responsible for sheltering, feeding, clothing and giving medical aid to 4000 families. While hundreds of Rotary shelter boxes were delivered to Cagayan de Oro City in four days, blankets, clothing for children and adults, and walking shoes are still urgently needed as well as kitchen pots, deep bowls, camp stoves, energy fruit, muesli bars, chocolates, vitamins, soaps, tooth paste and toothbrushes. Philippine Airlines will air freight urgent supplies at no cost during the next two weeks, the rest will be packed into two containers and shipped in mid-January by Rotary Donations in Kind from the Wauchope and Sydney depots."

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Peace Update: Phil gov't & Moro National Liberation Front- good news in this season of hope. A good way to end 2011 and start 2012

gulfnews : Philippines, Moro National Liberation Front in deal for 'peaceful communities' plan: "The government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have signed several documents that aim to provide funds for the implementation of the "peaceful communities" programme. The national government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), signed on Friday a number of Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) with the Provincial Governments of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu to formalise their partnership under Pamana or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan programme (Peaceful and Resilient Communities).
"The MOA signing for Pamana projects in peace and development communities of MNLF is good news in this season of hope; it is a good way to end the year and start 2012 where implementation of the projects will start right away," Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles pointed out a speech. The agreements provide for funds that will be used for projects in Peace and Development Communities or PDCs of the MNLF in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)."

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Children's Causes Update: Central Visayas: NGOs forged partnership w/ DSWD to provide hot meals & supplementary feeding

PPP forged for supplemental feeding | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "The supplemental feeding will be in a form of hot meals for malnourished children outside the government’s day care centers in identified and adopted villages of the NGO beneficiaries. More than 1,300 children will be served by the DSWD and Akap Bata-Cebu, Rotary Club of Metro Bogo, Zenith Foods Corporation, La Consolacion College in this City, Sto. Tomas College in Danao City, and La Consolacion College in Lilo-an, Cebu. Meanwhile, the DSWD will provide 20,000 kilos of Iron-fortified rice while the NGO partners will share the other requirements needed by the program. The feeding program, to run from 120 to 200 days, will be given to malnourished children ages 2-12 years old outside day care centers in the identified barangays. Others entities in the national level partnering in the program are Jollibee Foundation, Augustinian Sisters of our Lady of Consolacion, Operation Blessing Foundation, Phils., Inc., and Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program. (Phoebe Jen Indino)"

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