Celebrating beauty with empowerment at Miss Aura PHL 2023

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Mar 29, 2023 09:55 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• And, it is here where a one-of-a-kind pageant generates that renewed sense of confidence, compassion, service, dedication, and spirit among its

• contenders as it transcends the common notions of what beauty contests are all about. One that combines beauty and brains with what these females can do to create that big difference in much more holistic, inspiring ways as interactive role models. Enter Miss Aura Philippines 2023, a joint production with Charmed Entertainment Productions.

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Rowee Lucero

It is said that to every woman, behind her good looks and vivacious spirit lies that special character that generates from the inside and permeates out: that special thing that is called aura.

It is that very same aura that develops her innermost strengths that will radiate into something more productive, more transforming, and more inspiring to the rest of humankind.

And, it is here where a one-of-a-kind pageant generates that renewed sense of confidence, compassion, service, dedication, and spirit among its
contenders as it transcends the common notions of what beauty contests are all about. One that combines beauty and brains with what these females can do to create that big difference in much more holistic, inspiring ways as interactive role models. Enter Miss Aura Philippines 2023, a joint production with Charmed Entertainment Productions.

Founded with the aim of empowering young women, breaking stereotypes, and promoting self-confidence, Miss Aura Philippines welcomes females between the ages of 18-28 who are passionate about making a positive difference in their communities. The pageant will showcase the contestants' skills and abilities, including talent, poise, social graces, current events/current issues proficiency, mettle, and public speaking, among others.

In addition to celebrating the beauty and intelligence of young women, Ms Aura will also promote various humanitarian causes, whereas contestants will be required to participate in community service projects. This pageant will not only provide a platform for young women to showcase their abilities, but it will also be an opportunity to make a transformative and uplifting impact in their communities.

“We are excited to grace the second National Search for candidates who will represent the country to show the world our empowered Filipina, with intellect, beauty, grace, devotion, and compassion. The Miss Aura International competition ushered in a new modern woman who possesses beauty, body, brains, and behavior, tempered with ‘Interactive Compassion’ that will make a big difference in transforming and uplifting lives. This is indeed a whole new level of criteria never seen in beauty pageants Worldwide," stressed Rowee Lucero, a visionary entrepreneur, model, and beauty queen, and the pageant’s President and National Director.

Kathniss Griffiths, Ms. Aura Philippines’ founder, and CEO is excited about the potential impact this beauty pageant will have on young women's lives and the communities in which they live. "We believe that every young woman has the potential to make a positive difference in her community, and Ms. Aura Philippines’ will provide a platform for them to showcase their talents, skills, and abilities. We are excited about the opportunity to empower and inspire young women from all walks of life."

For more information about the Ms Aura Philippines, please visit Miss Aura Philippines’ Facebook and Instagram pages, or you may email
hello@charmedep.com Ms. Aura Philippines was founded in 2020 with Katniss Griffiths as the CEO, and now with the current team of Ms. Rowee Lucero as the President and National Director and Jino Wilfredo Esteban as the Vice President. Miss Aura Philippines will have its grand coronation night on May 27.

March 28 is Duterte Day in Davao City

DAVAO CITY: The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City approved on Tuesday, March 28, a resolution declaring March 28 of every year as a day of celebration for former president Rodrigo Duterte's continuing contribution to the city and the country.

The resolution, which is authored by Second District Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr., acknowledges the former president as a "living hero of the Republic" for his contribution to the development of the nation and for uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

The passage of the resolution is in time for the former leader's birthday on March 28.

Duterte served Davao City as vice mayor, mayor, and member of the House of Representatives.

"Honorable Rodrigo Duterte was voted upon by the people as the 16th President of the Philippines and served the people from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2022," the resolution read.

The copies of said resolution were furnished to the Office of the City Mayor, Office of City Administrator, all departments in the city, and all national government agencies here for their information, guidance, and appropriate action.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod will also provide a copy to the former president himself.

Careful with the world

By Fr. Roy Cimagala, Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

“YOU belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.” (Jn 8,23) Words of Christ addressed to those who did not believe him. With these words Christ is telling us that if we do not believe in him, we would be stuck in the world instead of heading for where he is, which is what heaven is all about.

We need to understand the true nature and purpose of the world. As a creation of God, the world is, of course, a good thing. But it only has a transitory purpose insofar as we are concerned. The world is made for us to be tested whether what God wants us to be—that is, to be his image and likeness, children of his, sharers of his life and nature—is also what we want ourselves to be also.

We have to be wary when we get swallowed up by our earthly and temporal affairs, making them the main objective in our life rather than a mere occasion and means for us to achieve our real goal as defined for us by our Creator. The world is supposed to be only a pathway to heaven where we truly belong.

The proper attitude we should have toward the world is to love it without becoming worldly. And the secret is to see to it that our mind and heart are always with God. We should not allow ourselves to be fully taken by the charms and deceiving allurements of the world. We have to be completely detached from it, which does not mean that we should hate it. On the contrary, we have to be immersed in it as much as possible and yet love it but in the way God loves it.

That is the challenge! So the question to ask is: How does God love it so we can also love it the way he does? We just cannot rely on our ideas and ways of loving the world, because without God, that loving would be suspicious at best. 

We can enumerate a few relevant points. First of all, God loves the world because he created it and endowed it with all the qualities, both actual and potential, in order to serve us. That is the purpose of the world. We in our turn should use the world the way God wants us to use it. And this ultimately is to give glory to God. 

Let’s remember that as Creator, God has given everything in the world its proper nature and laws whose purpose is nothing other than to give glory to himself. We on our part can only use and develop the world properly when we respect the God-given nature and laws of everything that is in it. More than that, we should try to discern how each thing in the world becomes a living part of the abiding providence of God over all of us.

We have to be wary of our tendency to ignore the designs of God in the world and to simply pursue our own personal interests, leading us to fall into self-indulgence. Rather, what we should try to do is act as a Christian leaven that infuses the Christian spirit in all our worldly and temporal affairs.

This duty to be a leaven for the world is actually very doable, because what is needed first of all is the intention to do so. We may not be doing something with big public significance or some external manifestation, but with the little ordinary things that we do everyday and done with faith and love for God and for others, we can already effectively leaven the world.

Hotter days ahead – Pagasa

A scientist at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Quezon City checks and logs the current temperature and relative humidity in Metro Manila on Friday, March 24, 2023. The heat index in the metropolis was recorded at 39°C due to the high pressure area (HPA) and easterlies that resulted in the high temperature.

PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

By Arlie O. Calalo

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday urged the public to take all precautions as temperatures continue to climb.

Weather specialist Samuel Duran said the growing heat could lead to health problems.

"As much as possible, limit going outdoors but if it cannot be avoided, make sure to not stay long under the sun especially at noontime and early afternoon when the heat is most intense," he said.

"Stay hydrated and wear light colored clothes to help minimize the effect of the heat index and avoid heat exhaustion and heat cramps," Duran added.

The weather agency projected the following temperatures in these areas: Metro Manila, 24 to 34 degrees Celsius; Tagaytay City, 22 to 32 degrees Celsius; Baguio City, 16 to 26 degrees Celsius; Laoag City, 24 to 32 degrees Celsius; Legazpi City, 24 to 32 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao City, 24 to 35 degrees Celsius; Puerto Princesa City, 26 to 33 degrees Celsius in Luzon.

In Visayas: Cebu, 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; Tacloban, 24 to 31 degrees Celsius; and Iloilo, 27 to 32 degrees Celsius. In Mindanao, Zamboanga City is expected to have 25 to 35 degrees Celsius; Cagayan de Oro, 25 to 31 degrees Celsius and Davao City, 25 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Is it true that Filipino soap operas are popular among Pacific Islanders?

 

Roland Vargas

Teleseryes, or Filipino soap operas, have become more popular overseas as well as in the Philippines. There have been rumors that Pacific Islanders in particular enjoy Filipino soap operas. This assertion has sparked arguments and discussions on the factors contributing to the regional appeal of various soap operas.

Others claim that the reason why Pacific Islanders enjoy Filipino soap operas so much is because these people have comparable cultural norms and values. These soap operas frequently feature family, love, and tenacity themes, which are prevalent in the traditions of Pacific Island nations. Some contend that the high production values and superior storyline are to blame for the success of these soap operas.

Nonetheless, some people contest the notion that Pacific Islanders watch Filipino soap operas. Some contend that the evidence for this assertion is insufficient and that Hollywood films and other media, including as K-dramas, are equally well-liked in this region.

There are a number of reasons why Pacific Islanders may like Filipino soap operas. First off, there is a sizable Filipino diaspora in several Pacific Island nations, which has facilitated the spread of Filipino media and culture. Second, to make them more accessible to non-Filipino speakers, Filipino soap operas are frequently dubbed or subtitled in regional languages. Finally, many individuals in the Pacific Island area may identify with the topics and plotlines presented in these soap operas.

More study might be done to acquire additional information and understanding of the appeal of Filipino soap operas among Pacific Islanders. To learn more about Pacific Islanders' media tastes and consumption patterns, surveys or interviews with them may be conducted. Collaboration between the media industries of the Philippines and the Pacific Islands might also assist to advance intercultural dialogue and expand the region's access to these soap operas.

The popularity of Mexican telenovelas in Latin American nations can be likened to the popularity of Filipino soap operas among Pacific Islanders. Mexican telenovelas frequently feature family, love, and drama-related themes that appeal to Latin American viewers, much like Filipino soap operas do with Pacific Islanders.

'Mega-strike' disrupts travel in Germany

BY AGENCE-FRANCE-PRESSE

Mar 27, 2023 11:58 PM

  

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BERLIN, Germany - A major strike brought much of Germany's air traffic, rail service and commuter lines to a halt on Monday as workers demand wage hikes in the face of brisk inflation.

Workers at airports, ports, railways, buses and metro lines throughout much of Europe's top economy heeded a call by the Verdi and EVG unions for the 24-hour walkout.

The EVG union hailed the mass walkouts as a success.

"We assume that the employers will have understood this clear signal and will now finally present negotiable offers," said EVG's deputy chairwoman Cosima Ingenschay.

Berlin's usually bustling central train station was mostly quiet, after the national railway cancelled long-distance and regional links across the country.

Arrival and departure boards at Frankfurt airport, the nation's biggest, and Munich airport showed rows of cancelled flights.

Freddie Schwarze, who was on strike at Munich airport, said: "We are ready for more strikes in any case. We have started and we won't stop. That's for sure."

Georg Bachmaier, who works at the Federal Waterways and Shipping Office, said he had joined the walkout because "we can no longer afford our lives".

"When we go shopping, we have to think do we buy this or not, we need the money to finance our lives and that's why we're here."

As the industrial action was largely publicised, many commuters had switched to other modes of transport.

Cashier Steffi Wisser, 46, voiced understanding for the strike.

"People must be made aware of the enormous work done by strikers," she said. 

For retiree Gloria Bierwald, 73, "the strike goes too far".

"What the strikers are asking for is relatively exaggerated. I am of the opinion that people should be satisfied when they have a job."

- Ill-tempered dispute -

To prevent supply gaps, Transport Minister Volker Wissing had ordered states to lift restrictions on truck deliveries on Sunday, while asking airports to allow late-night takeoffs and landings "so stranded passengers can reach their destinations".

Verdi represents around 2.5 million public sector employees, while EVG represents 230,000 workers on the railways and at bus companies.

The rare joint strike marks an escalation of an increasingly ill-tempered dispute over a pay packet to blunt the impact of surging inflation.

Employers, mostly the state and public sector companies, have so far refused the demands, instead offering a rise of five percent with two one-off payments of 1,000 ($1,100) and 1,500 euros, this year and next.

Verdi is demanding a rise of 10.5 percent in monthly salaries, while EVG is seeking a 12-percent increase for those it represents.

- 'Massive impact' -

Martin Seiler, head of human resources at state-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB), has described the nationwide strike as "groundless and unnecessary" and urged the unions to return to the negotiating table "immediately".

The German airport association, which estimated about 380,000 air travellers would be affected, said the walkout "went beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure".

Employers have accused labour representatives of contributing to a wage-price spiral that will only feed inflation, while unions say their members have been asked to bear the burden of the soaring cost of living.

As in many other countries, people in Germany are struggling with high inflation -- it hit 8.7 percent in February -- after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent food and energy costs soaring.

Similar strikes have taken place in Britain, where public and private sector workers have taken industrial action as inflation remains stubbornly above 10 percent.

Germany's "mega-strike", as local media have dubbed it, follows industrial action in recent months in several sectors, from the postal service to airports and local transport.

A third round of salary negotiations for public sector workers began on Monday.

Earlier in March, airports in Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg and Hanover cancelled more than 350 flights after security staff walked out. Bus and metro staff in Frankfurt also staged a strike.

Some unions have succeeded in winning big pay increases.

Postal workers obtained average monthly increases of 11.5 percent earlier in March, and in November IG Metall, Germany's biggest union, won hikes totalling 8.5 percent for almost four million employees that it represents.

NCCA announces student competitions for National Literature Month 2023

Here’s how to join

BY JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

Mar 28, 2023 00:50 AM

  

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In an effort to promote the Philippine literature and highlights its role in promoting unity and nation building, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and National Book Development Board (NBDB) spearhead the celebration of National Literature Month (NLM) with the theme “Kultura ng Pagkakaisa: Pagsisiyasat ng Pagkakaisa sa Pamamagitan ng Panitikan.” 

NLM 2023 celebration aims to explore the unity in every Filipino that guides nation building. It also hopes to pave a way to find out how literature can spread unity and the role of artists and their works in forging unity in the era where fake news is rampant. 

As part of the celebration there will also be an online competition series that aims to revive and promote Philippine literary tradition in the form of folk songs originated and performed in different parts of the country such as Timpalak Florentino H. Hornedo: Ang Paglikha at Pag-awit ng Laji, Timpalak Komposo: Komposo Festival: Sambuwa Sa Pagsulat Kag Pagkanta Sang Komposo, Timpalak Leleng, and Ligligan Poesyang Makuyad. 

Timpalak Florentino H. Hornedo is an online competition exclusive in Batanes, that encourages writing and singing of the traditional Ivatan literary art form, Laji. This is open to elementary students for the singing category and high school students for the singing and writing category.

Timpalak Komposo is a contest and workshop that aims to revive, promote, and revitalize the komposo. The komposo is a narrative song, a Hiligaynon ballad that is unique to Western Visayas. It has a particular form that identifies it as a komposo. It usually recounts historical events, significant happenings in a locality, and human-interest stories. It can be in the form of commentaries on prevailing issues or events, as political or ideological propaganda, and as catalog based on geography, taxonomy, and human occupations. It is traditionally accompanied by a guitar, but for the competition, innovations on the melody, arrangement, and accompaniment are welcome.  The competition aims to encourage the manugkomposo to sustain the tradition and for young people to appreciate and learn the art of composing and performing a komposo.   

Timpalak Leleng is a two-day workshop and a competition on the traditional folk song Leleng. It is open to high school students in Region 9 (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Sur) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM - Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi).

Ligligan Poesyang Makuyad is a two-day workshop on children’s story and poetry writing and a literary contest exclusive for Proverbsville high school students. This is designed to develop the literary writing ability of the participants using the Kapampangan language.

For more information, clickhere. 

BLACKPINK thrills Pinoys at world’s biggest indoor theater in PH: ‘The loudest crowd’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Mar 28, 2023 00:40 AM

  

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K-pop group BLACKPINK came, they saw and they conquered the hearts of Filipino fans in a two-day concert at the world’s largest indoor arena. 

BLACKPINK held their “Born Pink” world tour in the country on March 25 and 26 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, certified by the Guinness World Records as “largest mixed-use indoor theater.” 

BLACKPINK at their "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK at their "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK at their "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK at their "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

With this, they became the first female group and K-pop girl group to hold a solo concert at the venue. BLACKPINK also became the first artist to hold a concert at the Philippine Arena for two days. 

BLACKPINK held the two shows before a massive sea of fans wielding their pink-colored lightsticks, and screaming and cheering for the girls. 

Opening the show with “How You Like That,” BLACKPINK enthralled the audience with their songs. 

They performed “Whistle,” “Pretty Savage,” “Lovesick Girls,” “Don’t Know What to Do,” “Kill This Love,” “Crazy Over You,” “Playing With Fire,” “Tally” and “Pink Venom.” 

BLACKPINK came back to perform after more than four years since their “In Your Area” world tour in Manila held on Feb. 2, 2019 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

This time, they upsized the venue and the number of days of the concert. Seeing the “pink ocean” in the arena, BLACKPINK members were overwhelmed by the scale of their own concert in the Philippines. 

“I didn’t know they had the seats up so high,” Jennie observed as she scanned the arena while Rosé likened the sea of lights to a sparkling wall. 

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

“It’s been four years,” said Rosé. They got goosebumps by the loud cheers of the audience, prompting Rosé to say that Manila “is the loudest crowd.” 

After performing “Crazy Over You” and “Playing with Fire,” they got to talk again and Lisa was overwhelmed by the cheers. 

“I can’t hear myself right now because you guys are so loud,” she said. 

BLACKPINK continued to captivate the crowd with their solo performances. Jisoo sang “Liar” while Jennie had “You & Me.” 

Rosé performed “Hard to Love” and “On The Ground” and Lisa showcased “Lalisa” and “Money.” 

On the second day, BLACKPINK members and the crowd greeted Lisa a “Happy Birthday” and presented her with a cake on stage. 

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" concert at the Philippine Arena (YG Entertainment/Live Nation Philippines)

After the solo spots, the girls performed “Shut Down,” “Typa Girl,” “Ddu-du ddu-du” and “Forever Young.”

“I must say you guys are really getting us excited,” said Rosé. 

One person in the crowd was noticed by BLACKPINK as he was holding a ring light instead of a light stick. 

“One thing I’m really loving about Manila is that I’m actually seeing people really jump, dance and sing to our songs,” said Jennie. 

“Exactly guys. Thank you so much,” Lisa agreed. 

Jennie added, “It makes us very happy so keep going with whatever you are doing.” 

For the encore, BLACKPINK performed “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” “Stay” and “As If It’s Your Last.” 

“We had such a great time here. You guys are the best, remember guys, for a very long time,” said Rosé. 

“I just wanna say ‘salamat po’ [thank  you] one more time and we will see you again,” said Jennie. 

BLACKPINK’s “Born Pink” world tour in Manila/Bulacan was presented by Live Nation Philippines. 

5 highland farms you can visit to escape the summer heat

 To escape the hot dry season heat, many people flock to beaches and highlands, but there are also farms to try visiting this season.

BY RALPH LAUREN ABAINZA

Mar 27, 2023 11:45 AM

  

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Last March 21, 2023, the state weather bureau just declared the start of the hot dry season, popularly known as summer, in the Philippines. The season typically spans from March to May and is characterized by generally hot and humid weather across large portions of the country.

To escape the hot dry season heat, many people flock to beaches and highlands, but there are also farms to try visiting this season:

Fresca Farm

Front view of Samgyup sa Farm restaurant. (Nico Buenaventura)

Less than two hours away from Manila, this farm near Tagaytay City offers quick relief from the busy urban life through an immersive farm and dining experience. Visitors can enjoy the greenery amidst the cool weather of Alfonso, Cavite, while having tasty samgyupsal meals. The unique setup of integrating a formerly lettuce farm with samgyup is itself a sustainable innovation to deal with the former's oversupply problem.

Vaikuntha Forest Farm

Vaikuntha Forest Farm is nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, just a breath away from the Tanay, Rizal, and Quezon Province border. (Vaikuntha Forest Farm)

Named after the celestial abode of Vishnu, the Hindu god responsible for protecting and maintaining life on earth, this remote farm located in the Sierra Madre mountains can be a great go-to site to immerse themselves in nature. The Vaikuntha Forest Farm in Tanay, Rizal, offers visitors naturally-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables, which they can enjoy while being off grid in the farm's lodges. It is also a good retreat venue where visitors can try learning other activities, such as yoga and first aid training.

Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm

Rose Mary and Datu Makadingding during Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm’s reopening day. (ATI Region X)

This farm located in the cool highlands of Bukidnon is an integrated farm and restaurant offering guests a holistic farming experience. The Umanika Eco-Cultural Farm in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, is an 8,200-square-meter organic farm where visitors can experience hands-on learning experience on organic agriculture, try different recreational activities, and lastly, indulge in a variety of delicious cuisines. Aside from growing crops, the farm also sells plant-based products, such as organic herbs, banana chips, and peanuts.

Dubria Farm

A coffee tree showing plentiful cherries. It is a Catimor Arabica, a variety known for its resistance to pests and diseases. (Daniel Maches)

In the foothills of Mount Apo in Mindanao, a thriving coffee farming community continues producing world-renowned coffee varieties. Though their area in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, is often known as a jumpoff point for a Mount Apo trek, it is also home to several hectares of coffee farms under the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA), one of which is Dubria Farm. Visitors can have first-hand learning on coffee production in the highlands located around 1,500 meters above sea level. Aside from learning, they can also 

Haight Farm

Blue potatoes from Haight Farm. (Haight Farm)

This century-old farm located in the cold highlands of Atok, Benguet, is a great destination to learn both agriculture and history. Aside from its renowned blue potatoes, the Haight Farm offers highland vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and more. Visitors can experience harvesting the crops on their own. Aside from crops, the farm also has a Sakura Park, a flower farm where around thirty sakura (Prunus serrulata) trees grow.

The generally good weather during the hot dry season is a perfect opportunity to pack up and immerse in the beauty of farming while escaping the heat in the urban jungle. In highland farms, let the eyes indulge in the natural colorful sceneries, the skin feel relief from the heat, and feed the stomach with sumptuous healthy cuisines.