Jessica Could Go Home on "American Idol"

On Wednesday's night's American Idol (in the Philippines last night!) the finalists perormed three songs each, fighting for their spot in the final two.

Joshua Ledet, 20, was the first performer, and he got all three judges up on their feet following his strong rendition of Etta James' "I'd Rather be Blind".

Though the evening seemed like ti was Ledet's, Phillip Phillips' final performance gave Ledet a run for his money.

Jessica Sanchez, 16, was by no means lost in the crowd. Sad to say! She made herself prominent by boldly performing Aero Smith's "I don't want to miss a thing". Steven Tyler gave her a standing ovation, though he was the only one of the judges to do so.

Her other songs were both powerful and memorable.

But, who goes home? And who made the difference? We will see tonight.

Sulu As a Tourist Spot?

 

I was really surprised, when I received the press release through "MindaNews"...

Sula as a tourist spot?

Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said has approved the formulation of a Provincial Tourism Plan to establish a clear direction and provide the necessary information and strategies to develop a viable tourism industry in the province.

In this press statement, Tan said Sulu's natural beauty, unique environment structure and refined white sand beach fronts are a come-on to local and foreign travellers.

A tourism multi-stakeholders forum was held several days ago at the provincial capitol to gather insights into the development and identification of potential tourist destinations in the province.

"The people of Sulu are losing so much for years of neglect of these untapped resources. The development of tourism in Sulu can be the biggest source of income and revenue for the province and its people," Tan stressed.

But in his interviews with the Zamboanga media, Tan would usually say, he doesn't want to talk about the security situation. I guess, that's the main problem and biggest of all questions.

Of course, one could enjoy wonderful places, such as the one-kilometer long white sand Maubo Beach in Patikul, the town next to Jolo, the capital of the province, or the 33,200 hectare Tubbataha Reef... .

Sulu, still one of my dream destinations... .

 

SMART Gains International Recognition for Green Initiatives

SMART Telecommunications Philippines recently received two prestigious awards in 2011 for programs that support the preservation of the environment - one from the Asia Communication Awards and other from the World Communications Awards.

The Asia Communications Awards bestowed upon SMART the Green Technology Award while the World Communications Awards gave the Philippine company the Green Award, both for its "Alternative Power for Cell Sites" program. This brings to five, SMART's awards for the said program which enforces the use of renewable engery to power cell-sites in off-grid areas nationwide.

SMART's mangroves continue to flourish along the shoreline of Cagsao in Camarines Sur (see photo above).

"We are proud and fulfilled that our environmental initiatives are being recognized as one of the world's best practices when it comes to protecting the environment", said Darwin Flores, SMART Public Affairs' Senior Manager for Community Partnerships.

I strongly agree with you, Sir. Kudos!

Two More Classical Music Masters: Respighi and Rachmaninoff

Here is more about them:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com 

Or tune in to my Sunday's radio program "Classics with Klaus Doring" from 2 to 4 PM (Philippine Standard Time) on 104.3 FM "The Edge Radio Davao" or via live stream:

www.livestream.com/theedgeradiodavao

More From a Blessed Davao City's Fashion Designer: Silverio Anglacer

Gown for Dr. Vina Lim

(Photos taken by Cookie Tan Photography)

"If you design like this and you come to Pakistan - everyone will treat you like a real king in our fashion industry." (Joverea Batool)

"That's I call a piquantly zestful whiff of an English meadow in spring time!" (Mae Madelette Chua).

Silverio Anglacer - a really blessed fashion designer from Davao City... .

Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Ban in Davao City

It took so long. Finally it's done!

Starting June, Davao City joins over a quarter of the world's countries that ban the use of non-biodegradable plastics or polythene bags used for grocery and shopping, including materials made of polystyrene foam.

The ban of the use of plastics and Styrofoam takes effect on June 28, 2012 - two years after the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance was approved in June 2010.

Acting City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief Jospeh Dominic Felizarta said CENRO's advocacy team has been doing the rounds of business establishments, including the big malls, informing and educating owners on the implementation of the law. 

Davao City is not focusing on sanctions against violators but wants to install discipline in following the law, which in the case of the ban on plastics is indeed a big help in preserving and protecting the environment.

There are about 29,000 business establishments in Davao City based on the number of Solid Waste Management Certificates issued by CENRO after underdoing a mandated seminar. 

However, wrappers of candy, snack foods, and other such items will be treated by CENRO as residual wasters that are disposed at the city's sanitary landfill.

As we all know: discarded plastic shopping bags are the most common items that clog the drainage system and contribute to flooding.

More Support for the Ifugao Rice Terraces

As one could learn from news reports from the Philippine News Agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed 5 million PHP for the restoration of the world-renowned Rice Terraces of the Philippines in Ifugao province. 

DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said that the amount was included in a Memorandum of Agreement signed among the DENR, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization  (UNESCO), National Commission of the Philippines (NatCom) represented by its Secretary General Dr. Virgina Miralao; and the provincial government of Ifugao, represented by its Governor Eugene Balitang.

Paje said the DENR's commitment was to provide assistance to the local government of Ifugao in rehabilitating the terraces, especially in Batad which has been assessed by experts as the "most damaged".

The DENR appreciates the natural and cultural heritage that the rice terraces bear, and the Filipino people are one with the provincial government in recognizing the need to reserve the deterioration of this heritage site, especially those areas that were damaged by typhoons.

Davao Music Nation Launches Website

To celebrate Davao's widely music culture and showcase the inherent talent of its home grown musicians, the Davao music community is launching a a website to increase awarness and support for Davao music culture and Davao musicians.

Davao Music Nation (DMN) is an internet magazine created bu the Davao Music community for the fans and for anyone looking for good music.

"We have all this talent in Davao City and most of us who live here aren't even aware that they exist," says entrepreneur and website co-founder, Jessica Madrazo."There  is actually more to Davao than just show bands and ethnic music. We have reggae, hip hop, metal, folk, acoustic, jazz and many more. We have tons of great original music just waiting for an audience. And we have lots of great music places that could rival any bar or club in the country!"

In addition to being an online resource for Davao music talents, Jessica Madrazo sees the website as a means to a bigger goal. 

Jessica says: "By showing fellow Filipinos and the world how great Davao music is, we're giving them more reasons to come and stay in Davao. We see this website as the first big step in strengthening the Davao music community so it can eventually a mark in the local and music market. DMN is simply the avenue to help musicians make their music more accessible to the public without changing their identity."

I really wish to support this great idea too.

Check out more here: http://www.DavaoMusicNation.com

The Durian Legend

A long time ago there lived an ugly, old but powerful king named Barom-Mai in Calinan near Davao City. He married the young and beautiful Madayaw-Bayho, a daughter of Tageb, king of the sea pirates who ruled the islands of Ligid, Talicud and Samal. But Madayaw-Bayho did not love the king: so she often ran away from his kingdom. But her father always returned her to the king. One day, she ran away, and vowed never to return to the king. Because of this King Barom-Mai told his advisers, headed by Matigam, to find a way to make his wife love him.

When the king met the hermit, the hermit said to him to get three things: the egg of the black tabon, twelve ladies of white carabao's milk, and the nectar from the flower of the tree-of-make believe, because the egg would soften the heart of the princess, the milk would make her kind and the nectar would make her see the king as young and handsome. 

Pawikan, king of the sea turtles, helped him secure the tabon's egg. The king also easily got the milk. He procured the flower with the help of Hangin-Bai, a wood nymph. He gave the three things to the hermit who mixed the nectar, the milk and the egg together and told him to plant it. It grew into a durian tree!

He brought the fruit to his wife who ate it. After eating, she fell in love with the king who looked young and handsome. They returned to their kingdom and feasted. they forgot to invite the hermit who said angrily that the delicious fruit with offensive odor be covered with thorns. Since then the durian fruit is thorny but delicious.

Davao first to Receive Fishery Patrol Boats

Among the regions in Mindanao, the Davao Region is the first to receive their share of patrol boats given by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic (BFAR) to municipal governments.

BFAR Regional Director Fatma Idris gladly notes that Region XI is one of the five regions nationwide, and the only one in Mindanao given such facility to strengthen community-based coastal resources management.

Region XI gets six of such patrol boats which cost 1.2 million PHP each. These are given to the municipalities of Tarragona and Lupon in Davao Oriental, Maco and Pantukan in Compostela Valley, Tagum City in Davao del Norte, and in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

Each patrol boat has -not only - a boat cradle through which it can be tugged inland and be kept in a safehouse. It is also equipped with global positioning system, telescope, compass, life jackets, enabling Bantay-Dagat volunteers to go after illegal marine resource poachers.