Ballet Manila sets sail on a pirate adventure with 'Le Corsaire'

By: Anjie Ureta, ABS CBN

The Pasha and his Odalisques are among the many colorful characters in 'Le Corsaire.' Handout

MANILA -- For its 23rd performance season, Ballet Manila brings back one of the world’s most breathtaking ballet productions, "Le Corsaire," which goes onstage for one weekend only – at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, and at 3 p.m. on October 21 at the Aliw Theater.

“Amongst ourselves, we often joke about 'Le Corsaire' being a ‘full-length pirate adventure on pointes’ simply because that is exactly what it is — the thrilling escapade of a dashing pirate whose romance with a beautiful harem girl unfolds amidst a backdrop of sword fights and shipwrecks, abduction and conspiracy, passion and betrayal -- all highlighted by an impressive array of some the most dazzling choreographic centerpieces ever assembled in a full-length production,” BM artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde says.

Macuja-Elizalde reveals that it has been five years since Ballet Manila last staged "Le Corsaire" because of its highly challenging production and artistic demands. 

But they also found it to be the perfect ballet to showcase two prize-winning jewels in the BM crown: Katherine Barkman, who recently won back-to-back silver medals from two of the world’s most prestigious international ballet competitions, the USA IBC in Jackson and the Varna IBC in Bulgaria; and Nicole Barroso, who made it to the finals of the USA IBC and came home with a Jury Encouragement Award.

Katherine Barkman debuts as Medora partnered by Joseph Phillips as the pirate Conrad. Handout

The opening gala of "Le Corsaire" will also serve as the farewell performance Barkman, who has recently signed up with The Washington Ballet, following a personal invitation from the company’s artistic director, Julie Kent. 

The 21-year-old American ballerina moved to the Philippines in 2015 to join Ballet Manila as the company’s youngest principal dancer. Under the guidance of Macuja-Elizalde herself, Barkman has since performed every major female role in the classical ballet repertoire, closing the loop with her upcoming debut as Medora.

“We will miss her terribly but we know that she has made the right decision, moving forward and opening herself to new adventures that can only enrich and embolden her as a dancer and as a person. We are happy to have been part of her artistic journey and would like to send her off with our very best wishes. We are extremely proud of her. She will always be part of the BM family,”
Macuja-Elizalde says.

For the Saturday gala, Barkman will be dancing with guest principal Joseph Phillips as Conrad. Newly promoted soloist Barroso makes her debut as Gulnara, joining the all-star cast that includes BM principals Gerard Francisco as Ali, Elpidio Magat as Lankadem, and Romeo Peralta as Birbanto.

Gerardo Franciso reprises his award-winning role as Ali. Handout

Meanwhile, an equally stellar line-up awaits Sunday matinee audiences, led by principals Abigail Oliveiro (Medora) and Rudy de Dios (Lankadem), with soloists Mark Sumaylo (Conrad), Pia Dames (Gulnara), and Rudolph Capongcol (Ali), and company artists Godwin Merano (Birbanto) and John de Dios (Ali).

“One unique attribute of 'Le Corsaire' is that allows many more dancers to shine and to familiarize themselves with this incredibly difficult, yet exhilarating two-hour spectacle,” explains Macuja-Elizalde. 

“While the storyline is pretty straightforward, it is actually a highly demanding ballet where the principal characters are challenged to display pyrotechnics at every turn. They share the limelight in several grand pas de deux, pas de trois, and extremely demanding solo variations. Moreover, it’s one of the few male-centered ballets that provide danseurs ample opportunity to show off their technique and strength in fierce choreographic duels onstage!”

Power of a nap

If ever there is a chance, I take a nap. Five minutes, maybe ten. Without it, I would be giddy, grumpy, or both.

Spencer, a neuro-scientist focusing on sleep at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, wanted to investigate the science behind this anecdotal experience. “The observation of a lot of people is that a napless kid is emotionally dysregulated,” she says. “So that spurred us to ask this question of, ‘Do naps actually do something to process emotions?’”

Research has already shown that, in general, sleep helps us make sense of emotions. Sleep plays a key role in encoding information based on experiences from the day, making sleep critical for preserving memories. And emotional memories are unique because of the way they activate the amygdala, the brain’s emotional core.

“Amygdala activation is what allows your wedding day and the funeral of your parents to be a day better remembered, more than just any other day of work,” Spencer says.

The amygdala tags these memories as significant, so that during sleep they’re processed for longer and reiterated more than more trivial memories. The upshot is that the memories of emotional significance become easier to retrieve in the future.

As we could learn from a BBC-report researchers are learning that even a nap can improve how we process emotional experiences. At sleep labs like this one, researchers are learning that even a nap can improve how we process emotional experiences.

Ultimately, the best prescription for a broken heart or a clouded mind may be having a kip. Five minutes "nalang" ...

LTFRB approves 10 Pesos minimum jeepney fare

ByL (philstar.com) - October 17, 2018 - 5:14pm

MANILA, Philippines — The minimum fare for jeepneys will be P10 starting in November, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The LTFRB has approved the petition by transport groups for an increase of fare for public untility jeepneys in the National Capital Region, as well as in Central Luzon and in the Southern Tagalog.

The decision issued by the LTFRB granted the fare increase "to make permanent the provisional increase of ONE PESO granted on 06 July 2018 and an additional ONE PESO for the first four kilometers or a minimum fare of TEN PESOS from the original fare of EIGHT PESOS."

In July, the LTFRB granted the P1 provisional fare increase for jeepneys in Metro Manila and adjoining regions, making the minimum fare for jeepneys P9.

Transport groups have been asking for a P2 hike in the base fare of jeepneys.

The LTFRB, however, denied the groups' request for a P1 increase for every succeeding kilometer after the first four kilometers due to lack of factual and reasonable basis.

The approval of the fare hike came after a September petition filed by the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Asso. Nationwide, Inc.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and board member Ronaldo Corpus signed the decision while board member Aileen Lourdes Lizada dissented. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

Global competitiveness report: Philippines ranks 56th!

157SHARES1111

By: Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines ranked 56th out of 140 countries in the latest Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum.

WEF’s Global Competitiveness Index 2018 released by partner institute Makati Business Club (MBC) to the media yesterday showed the Philippines as the fifth most competitive economy in Southeast Asia.

Within the region, the Philippines was behind neighbors Singapore (second), Malaysia (25th), Thailand (38th) and Indonesia (45th), but ahead of Brunei Darussalam (62nd), Vietnam (77th), Cambodia (110th) and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (112th).

The US topped this year’s WEF Global Competitiveness Report. Singapore was in second place, with Germany in third spot. Chad, meanwhile, was the bottom-dweller, at 140th spot. 

For the rankings, the report looked at 12 pillars: institutions, infrastructure, information and communication technology adoption, macroeconomic stability, health, education and skills, product market, labor market, financial system, market size, business dynamism and innovation capability.

Of the 12 pillars, the Philippines was strong in market size (32nd), labor market (36th), financial system (39th) and business dynamism (39th).

Business dynamism includes the time to start a business as well as the cost of starting a business and insolvency rates.

“While the time and cost of starting a business remain as problematic factors for the business community, it is worthy to note that the Philippines ranks high in e-participation or the use of online platforms to link government information to citizens,” MBC chairman Edgar Chua said.

“With the recently passed Ease of Doing Business Act, we remain optimistic that the government will be able to sustain these gains and address the concerns of efficiency in doing business,” he added.

Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act, which was signed into law by President Duterte in May, provides a required number of days for processing government transactions to address bureaucratic red tape.

Meanwhile, the country was weak in institutions (101st), health (101st) and infrastructure (92nd).

Under the institutions pillar, critical indicators where the Philippines ranked poorly include terrorism incidence, homicide rate, organized crime and reliability of police services.

In infrastructure, the Philippines had low rankings in road connectivity, exposure to unsafe drinking water, efficiency of train services and electrification rate.

“While we continuously build on our strong pillars, it is equally important to address our weak spots. The business community remains committed to work with the government to address these gaps, especially in our weakest links in ease of doing business, corruption incidence and infrastructure, particularly in road connectivity,” Chua said.

As the WEF transitioned to a new index for this year’s report, the rankings are not comparable with previous reports.

This year’s report focused on what a country should prioritize, whether a country is making progress over time and what a country can learn from high-performers.

Hunger

My column in BusinessWeek Mindanao

Global hunger relief back-tracking, especially in war zones.

World efforts to lower hunger to zero by 2030 are being negated by warfare and climate change, warn nutritionists. Their latest global index categorizes 51 nations, mainly in Asia and Africa, where hunger is alarming.

It's hard for me and my family to believe and understand  that millions of people worldwide are dying because of hunger. What a crazy world.

    

Germany's Welthungerhilfe (World Hunger Relief) aid organization published the Global Hunger Index (GHI) in Berlin Thursday, warning that gains made since 2000 have gone into reverse, with 821 million people, many of them children, undernourished.

Zero hunger by 2030 is one of 17 UN-agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Data from 119 countries, including child stunting, was used to calculate the placing of each nation on the GHI scale.

"Without political solutions the battle [against hunger] will not be won," Welthungerhilfe President Bärbel Dieckmann said, adding that the African Union, the UN and the EU were primarily responsible, not non-governmental organizations.

One of the most known reasons of hunger: land losses threaten indigenous communities. Data on undernourishment, child wasting, stunting and mortality, which last decade showed average improvements, began receding early last year.

Warfare as well climate change are the key factors.

"And this is mainly due to war zones: where there are armed conflicts and some areas that are suffering massively from the consequences of climate change.

Yes, it's painful to accept reality, but hunger double in war zones.

Hunger was twice as prevalent in war-torn countries. Drought in eastern Africa, once at 10-yearly intervals, now struck every two years. Corruption and poor governance were also factors.

Worst-placed on the GHI hunger severity index was as we could learn in today's news (October 12, 2018) the Central African Republic - where inter-militia conflict lingers despite a French-led UN intervention - followed by Madagascar, Chad, Zambia and war-torn Yemen.

Sixteen nations exhibiting no improvements and even regressive trends were identified in the data sets from 2016 and 2017 analyzed by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the Irish entity Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, which is based in Bonn alongside numerous UN agencies including its climate secretariat.

Strong improvements in tackling hunger were, however, recorded in Angola, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Myanmar, said the authors of the GHI report.

Child mortality and undernourishment due to insufficient calorific intake prevailed in Africa south of the Sahara. South Asia exhibited stunting and wasting among children under five, in part due to  lack of essential vitamins and minerals, the report concluded. 

Gerd Müller, federal development aid minister and Bavarian conservative in Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet, the resurgence in world hunger was a "scandal because our planet has the potential to feed all people." Yes, the German minister is very much right. I strongly agree. It's indeed a scandal.

The Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Davao opens

By

 Kennet Irvin Ong

 -EDGEDAVAO-

Suddenly, Durianburg is closer to the world with the establishment of the Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Davao in a simple reception last October 12 at the function room of Verdon Parc.

The third Honorary Consulate of Hungary of the Philippines after the establishment of Honorary Consulates in Angeles and Cebu, the new office provides a live local connection between Hungary and the Mindanao region of the Philippines. The establishment of the new Honorary Consulate is part of  The Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines thrust to be closer to the Filipino. Reopened in March 2017, The Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines is bridging a gap of more than 21 years since the closing of the Embassy back in 1995.

Appointed as the new Honorary Consul of Hungary is businesswoman, advocate, mentor, and tourism advocate Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor.  Well known in local circles, Baby holds several managing director positions in hospitality and tourism industry, supports local and regional arts and crafts, mentors indigenous initiatives and eagerly participates in the bustling business and tourism activities of Davao.

Officiating the ceremony was Ambassador to of Hungary to the Philippines H.E. Ambassador Dr. József Bencze, who previously served as Ambassador of Hungary to Skopje, Macedonia between 2011-2016 and was Hungary’s National Chief of Police between 2007-2010. Ambassador Bencze presented his credentials to President Rodrigo Duterte on 6 December 2016.

In attendance were members of the diplomatic corps including Hon. Li Lin of China, Hon. Endah Yuliarti Farry of Indonesia, Hon. Maria Lourdes Monteverde of Mexico, Hon. Guilbert Go of the Czech Republic, Hon. Klaus Doring of Germany, Hon. Joji Ilagan-Bian of Bangladesh, Hon. Vicente Lao of New Zealand, and Mr. Ariel Decena representing the honorary consul of South Korea; business leaders; friends from the tourism industry; as well as members of the local government unit with Assistant City Administrator Atty. Tristan Dwight Domingo representing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

A toast to warmer Hungary-Philippine relationships and congratulations!

Mary Ann Montemayor: Honorary Consul of Hungary in Mindanao

Philippines wins seat in UN Human Rights Council

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Oct 13 2018 01:16 AM | Updated as of Oct 13 2018 06:22 AM

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The Philippine Delegation to the United Nations led by Permanent Representative Teodoro T. Locsin Jr. with Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the UN General Assembly, after the Philippines won its bid for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council during elections in New York on Friday. Handout

MANILA (UPDATED) The Philippines on Friday won a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council despite strong opposition from an international human rights group, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The Philippines garnered 165 votes of 192 votes cast by member-states, the DFA said in a statement.

With the victory, the Philippines will get to serve another three-year term in the 47-member Council based in Geneva from 2019 to 2021.

“Our election to another term in the Human Rights Council would not have been possible without the support of other UN Member-States who clearly understood where we are coming from,” DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said, after he was informed of the election results by Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Teddy Locsin, Jr.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch earlier said the Philippines, along with Eritrea, should not be given seats at the council because of its "egregious human rights records."

“Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s abusive ‘war on drugs’ has been a killing frenzy that has left thousands dead. In Eritrea, the authorities persecute and jail government critics and force citizens into indefinite national service," the group said in a statement.

At least 4,854 drug suspects have been killed in police anti-drug operations, but human rights groups and government critics said the figure is understated.

• Drug war death toll breaches 4,000 mark: PNP

The Philippine government has several times denied involvement in summary killings, saying drug suspects slain in police anti-drug operations had put up violent resistance.

Malacañang, meanwhile, has defended the Duterte administration’s human rights track record.

• Group says PH should be kept off UN council; Palace defends rights record

“Our successful bid to keep our seat in the Council is proof that many in the international community remain convinced the Philippines respects and protects human rights and have seen through the efforts of some to politicize and weaponize the issue,” Cayetano said in a statement. 

He described it as "a vindication of President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs".

Aside from the Philippines, the other Member-States elected by the General Assembly were Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Fiji, India, Italy, Somalia, Togo, and Uruguay.

The Philippines is serving a fresh three-year term in the Council after its election in 2015. It is serving as Vice President representing the Asia-Pacific Group, according to the DFA. The Philippines first served in the Council from 2007 to 2009 and then from 2012 to 2014.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Teddy Locsin, Jr. and Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the UN General Assembly. DFA handout​

Hours before the vote, Cayetano lashed out at HRW and other non-government organizations.

He accused human rights groups of criticizing the human rights record of the Philippines "in order to solicit more funds from donors", according to the DFA statement.

“Why moral bankruptcy? Katulad ngayon, budget season sa Europe. Kaya sila maingay, kasi gusto lang kumuha ng additional budget,” he said. “If you want to talk human rights, we’re here. Upuan natin. But [if] you just want to criticize us from afar and don’t want to give solutions, and just keep saying kayo tama kami mali, it’s helping no one except you and your finances." 

Cayetano, who is leaving the DFA to run as congressman of Taguig in the 2019 elections, also took a swipe at Iceland, which has criticized the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

“Even yung pinakamaingay sa atin na Iceland. Alam mo ang number one problema ng Iceland sa human rights? It’s domestic violence,” Cayetano claimed. “Ang ingay-ingay nila sa atin. Samantalang ang sa kanila the kind of violence is at home, which is the worst kind of violence kasi your home is supposed to be your castle.” 

Locsin is set to replace Cayetano as DFA secretary.

• 'I said yes': Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. is next DFA secretary

The Philippines' seat was virtually assured in Asia Pacific regional group, because there were only five countries vying for the five seats

Shabu floods Metro Manila streets and prices drop

By:
Romina Cabrera (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — While prices of basic commodities have been rising, the cost of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu has dropped by more than a third as a ton of the drug that slipped into the country through magnetic lifters has “flooded” the streets of Metro Manila, according to the head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino, in an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s OneNews, said shabu prices are now at their lowest at P1,600 to P2,000 per gram in the National Capital Region.

Shabu prices in Metro Manila peaked at P6,800 per gram at the height of the government’s war against illegal drugs, but prices have gone down as the P6.8-shabu shipment that made its way to a warehouse in Cavite is now circulating on the streets.

“It just shows (that) there is too much supply. Prices have gone down since the discovery of the magnetic lifters. The shabu is now on the streets, being used,” Aquino said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Aquino said there are indications that the shabu shipment was downloaded only in Metro Manila as shabu prices in adjacent regions, Central Luzon (Region 3) and Calabarzon (Region 4-A), remain high.


The PDEA chief earlier said they were able to track down the shipment but operatives were only able to recover a kilogram of shabu, as well as plastic, aluminum foil and other wrappings used to hide the drug.

Aquino said the P6.8-billion shabu shipment should not be denied by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), whose leadership claimed that the empty magnetic lifters did not contain drugs as these allegedly tested negative during a swab test.

Aquino also hit BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña’s for not ordering a full-blown investigation on the shipment.

“Never did I hear the commissioner (warn) that he will sack his employees (or) he will conduct a full-blown investigation on (who facilitated entry of) these particular magnetic lifters, which got out of customs. I never heard that,” Aquino added.

Aquino said he has talked to President Duterte and cleared up their contradicting statements when the Chief Executive said the presence of shabu in the empty magnetic lifters was “pure speculation.”

The National Bureau of Investigation is probing three individuals who figured in the controversial shipment, namely former PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Fajardo, BOC intelligence officer Jimmy Guban and dismissed Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto.

Aquino said they are waiting for the committee report of Congress before charges are filed against the suspects.

A most down-to-earth book

When tragedy strikes, it's easy to harden our hearts and cry out, "God, why did you let this happen?" Maybe then, we started praying. Before, when everything goes smooth, we would not even think a minute about praying... .

"To be a Christian without prayer, "said Martin Luther, "is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." Prayer is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be. This is the reason, why Jesus spent many hours in praying.

Unquestionable, our needs bring us to a place of prayer. Confronted with danger or tragedies, as I mentioned earlier, we look for God's help. Difficult times always cause the hearts of men to turn to God into prayer. 

Let me ask you: How long has it been since your're brought your burdens to God? Since you asked His forgiveness for your shortcomings? 

In his very interesting book "People in Prayer", Dr. John White reminds us that prayer is a divine-human interaction and it is always God who takes the initiative. White write: "God speaks and we respond. God is always speaking. To hear his voice is not usually a mystical experience. It consists merely of a willingness to pay heed to God who lays a claim to our lives."

Yes, God always speaks. It is up to us whether we will listen and respond to Him. Many think we are the ones who initiate prayer. But prayers begin and end with God. 

There was a time, I wasn't in the mood to pray any more. It seemed that God didn't listen my prayer any more. I didn't get what I prayed for. Of course, not... ! That's not the meaning of praying to God. All my wishes will be granted? Heaven forbid!

Sometimes, after we have prayed, God's answers may puzzle us. But as time times goes by and as events unfold we see God's purpose in his answers. We might get a larger vision, what HE likes. Not what WE like... .

Think about it for a moment" How does the idea that prayer begins and ends with God affect me now? Do I have the habit of listening to god? How do I respond to Him? How do I usually pray?

I confess that long time ago I have been trying to persuade God to change other people in my surroundings or circumstances. Nothing changed. Of course not, what a fatal attraction? I got confused because God never granted my requests. Meanwhile I got God's answers to my prayers. Maybe very simple: I was willing to let God change me... .This is how each one of us should start. Happy endings. Because I prayed according to His will... .

Talking about prayer, we also have to mention the probably most down-earth book in the bible which is  Proverbs. Its education prepares you for the street and the marketplace, not the schoolroom The book offers the warm advice you get by growing up in a good family. It covers small questions as well as large: talking too much, visiting neighbors to often, being unbearable cheerful to early in the morning. Proverbs simply tells how life works most of the time. 

I always love to quote proverbs, which express truth about life in an elegant, witty kernel. You should not hunt through it for proverbs you might like. You should study the whole book to get its overall point of view. This takes time, for Proverbs covers dozens of subjects in the subtle detail.