Philippine Women Skin

By Pepper Teehankee

How well do women really know their skin? L'Oreal Paris dedicated seven years of research to give women the product to achieve younger and more radiant looking skin.

With the aim to promote youthful looking skin, Glowie Ramiro-Robillo, L'Oreal Paris marketing manager, gave a talk at The Spa at Bonifacio High Street about how L'Oreal Paris continuously brings out the beauty every woman deserves.

Junior product manager for L'Oreal Paris Dermo and Body Expertise Sep Cimafranca revealed Derma Genesis, explaining the two key complementary ingredients of this anti-ageing skincare range — namely Pro-Xylane, a patented anti-aging molecule which is biodegradable, non-bioaccumable and non-ecotoxic and naturally derived to create the optimal cellular environment for the creation of new cells; and Hyaluronic Acid, a powerful natural moisturizer and replumper known by dermatologists.

Together, these two ingredients help create new cells (upper layers of the epidermis) for visibly young skin. Guest speaker and dermatologist Flordeliz Abad-Casintahan enlightened the guests about the skin and how aging takes place as early as in the 20s due to stress, sun exposure and other factors. She furthered on the importance of Pro-Xylane and Hyaluronic Acid as vital components of the skin.

The Penelope Award was given to Alyanna Martinez who exuded confidence with her youthful, smooth and radiant skin. Guests also enjoyed cocktails prepared by Cav and got pampered with spa treatments from The Spa. Everyone got to bring home a L'Oreal Paris shoulder bag filled with Derma Genesis products as well.

Mandarin Oriental, Manila: Makati's Capital for Chinese New Year

Mandarin Oriental, Manila has become Makati's capital for the Chinese New Year festivities and was again at the forefront with a celebration "to welcome the moon" on the eve of the Autumn Moon Festival.

The event was held at the Mandarin Oriental Ballroom, where revelers dressed in elegant Chinoiserie were treated to a celebration hosted by Max Tiu, who also serenaded the diners with Chinese love songs. A traditional paai shan and lantern ceremony was led by geomancer Joseph Chau as he blessed the audience and their lucky objects with good "chi" to drive away bad luck or misfortune.

The luck of the raffle prize winners had begun that night, as they took home various hotel gift certificates presented by Mandarin Oriental executive assistant manager Florian Kittler and Chau. Grand prize winner Jose Marcelo Lim walked home with a trip for two to Macau courtesy of Philippine Airlines plus a two-night stay at a Club Resort View room at the Mandarin Oriental, Macau.

Guests were treated to a buffet prepared by the restaurant's resident Chinese chef Hann Furn Chen. Others who welcomed the Autumn moon were Philippine Airlines' passenger sales executives Cesar Enciso and Orty Liscano, Star columnist Wilson Lee Flores, Yvette Tan, Anson Yu, Sharlene Tan, Linda and Vincent Chau, Pauline Lim, Lolita Ching, Elizabeth Yap, Virgina Cheng and Louie Cruz.

Young Designers Guild (YDG)

By Luis Espiritu Jr.

"The future is with the Youth" is a saying so often said of every generation of tomorrow. It maybe quite tiring to hear it at times but it speaks of greater truths that mold the future. All flourishing industries are brimming with young creative and artistic minds ready to take their first step into the real world. In the local fashion industry, one of the pioneering design groups that cultivate and develop emerging talents is the Young Designers Guild (YDG). The guild, which has been in existence for more than a decade, boasts of impressive alumni and has produced some of the countries most brilliant designers namely Jojie Lloren (former president of the Fashion and Design Council Of the Philippines), Dennis Lustico, Dong Omaga Diaz (current FDCP president), Avel Bacudio, the late Mel Vergel de Dios, Robbie Lolin, Ivarluski Aseron and Joey Samson. Its current members are Patty Eustaquio (president), Mitzi Quilendrino, Louis Claparols, Reian Mata, Brian Leyva, Ciara Marasigan-Serumgard, Jon Herrera and Ferdie Abuel.

 This year, YDG welcomes a new breed of promising design talents who will hopefully make their mark in the local landscape. Their distinct aesthetics and individualistic approach to fashion is definitely worthy of style attention. Adding color to the design community are designers Eric de los Santos, Veejay Floresca, Jerome Lorico, Regine Dulay and Aris Lagat. Inventive, creative, experimental, irreverent and adventurous, these aspiring artists to watch out for are definitely the best of the young and the restless. - The Philippine Star

Change the Philippine Constitution? Again?

Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera Friday said he admires Rep. Adam Relson Jala of Bohol 's third congressional district for his move to ask the Supreme Court to decide on one of the most controversial issues in the country today.

Jala on Thursday petitioned the Supreme Court to allow both Houses of Congress to vote as one in a constituent assembly to change the Philippine Constitution.

In a 35-page petition for certiorari, Jala asked the High Court to declare as unconstitutional Rule 20, Section 40 of the rules of the House of Representatives, which states that congressional chambers in a constituent assembly must vote separately to amend the Constitution.

"He made the right move to put the issue in the proper perspective," declared Herrera in a phone interview.

The vice-governor said that with his petition, Jala made sure that the issue is decided on its merit in the proper forum.

More importantly however, the vice-governor said the petition made sure the issue will be debated openly and people will know where they will stand.

"There are useless debates and there are debates which will accomplish something concrete. This one belongs to the second group," he added.

The vice-governor said the issue has long been talked about but Jala made sure it will go someplace definite.

"With the petition, the Supreme Court will decide either in favor of it or against it," he pointed out.

Herrera, a lawyer, said that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the petition, it will set the stage for the next move of those who want Congress to vote as a constituent assembly. - Bohol Sunday Post

Real Estate Opportunity in Cebu City

Two more major developers have informed Cebu City officials of their plan to present an offer to buy lots at the South Road Properties (SRP), but they will have to wait until the first sale to Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) is finalized.

But Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena said the city has to close a deal with the FLI first or any other developer that will match its offer, before they entertain other buyers.

FLI has submitted to Osmena an unsolicited proposal to buy 10 hectares of SRP worth P2 billion and to develop in a joint venture with the city government another 40 hectares of SRP.

Osmena on Wednesday filed a one-month leave of absence to travel to the United States to seek a second opinion on the reportedly cancerous mass the size of a small chicken egg found in his urinary bladder.

Acting Mayor Michael Rama, the City Council and the Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC) for the SRP will go ahead with the sale to FLI even without Osmena.

Cebu City Administrator Francisco Fernandez, chairman of the JV-SC, said that no one has expressed interest to challenge the unsolicited proposal of FLI yet, which intends to buy 10 hectares of land and develop 40 hectares under a joint venture with the city.

"There are no interested challengers for the Filinvest offer so far, but there are two other developers who have already sent feelers and want to know if they send their proposals, will these be acceptable to the city," he said.

The interested parties want to buy other portions of the 302-hectare SRP but have not specified the areas and the lot sizes. - PNA

Life Imprisonment for Drug Manufacturers in Davao City

By Ben Arche, Manila Bulletin

Two men and a woman were each sentenced to life imprisonment for manufacturing prohibited drugs and delivery of various drug apparatus and other paraphernalia.

RTC Branch 9 Presiding Judge Romeo C. Albarracin convicted Jed Pilapil Sy, Jong Pilapil and Carlos Sy after the prosecution proved their guilt on the charges filed against them.

The convicted shabu producers were among those arrested following the death of several Oriental-looking men inside a drug laboratory in Barangay Dumoy, this city, on Dec. 26, 2004.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 11 arrested the shabu makers during the raid of a clandestine laboratory for dangerous drugs in the city.

The court also ordered the accused to pay P500,000 each for the delivery of apparatus and another P5 million each for manufacturing of illegal drugs.

Out-of-School-Youth (OSY) at Youth with Disabilities (YWD)

Pinasalamatan ng labinlimang (15) out-of-school-youth (OSY) at Youth with Disabilities (YWD) mula sa siyam na bayan ng lalawigan ng South Cotabato at Koronadal City ang Information Technology Literacy Program ng pamahalaan na ipinatutupad ng South Cotabato Provincial Government, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Engineers without Borders (EWB) of Canada at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan at NGOs.

Ang proyekto na pinanganlang Sharing Computer Access Locally and Abroad (SCALA) ay naglalayong matulungan ang mga 15-24 taong-gulang na kabataang mahihirap at interesado na magkaroon ng kaalaman sa Computer at information technology. Ang pagsasanay ay isinasagawa sa SCALA Office sa provincial Capitol Compound sa loob ng anim na buwan sa pamamagitan ng tulong pinansiyal mula sa South Cotabato provincial government at PSWDO.

Inihayag ni SCALA center in-charge Ma. Corazon M. Obenieta sa Philippine Information Agency na ang proyekto na sinimulan noong July 2007 ay nakapagpatapos na ng tatlong batch ng grupo ng 15 recipients. Ayon kay Obenieta malaking tulong ang proyektong SCALA sa mga OSY at YWD ng lalawigan upang sila ay maging produktibo at mabuting mamamayan ng lipunan.

Ang SCALA ay tumutulong din sa pagbibigay sa mga kabataan ng access para sa mga scholarship grants, TESDA examination, Job Searching at counseling, Medical, Financial at Food Assistance at Livelihood opportunities. - PIA

Group of Friends on Myanmar: ASEAN-led Humanitarian Operations

Pinapurihan ng UN Secretary General at ng "Group of Friends on Myanmar" ang ASEAN-led Humanitarian Operations na matagumpay na nanguna sa pag-abot ng tulong sa mga biktima ng Cyclone Nargis sa Myanmar.

Sa pagpupulong ng "Group of Friends on Myanmar" na pinangunahan ni UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, taos puso nitong pinasalamatan si ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan sa maayos na pangangasiwa at pagbibigay suporta nito sa Tripartite Core Group sa Yangon na nakikipagtulungan sa isinasagawang humanitarian operations.

Pinapurihan din ni Mr. Javier Solan, High Representative ng European Union (EU) ang ASEAN-led Humanitarian Operations kung saan sa pamamagitan nito nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang international community na makipagtulungan sa ASEAN at Myanmar.

Malugod namang pinasalamatan ni Dr. Surin ang UN Secretary General sa suporta nito sa isinagawang humanitarian operations sa Myanmar kasabay ng pag-asang patuloy na susuportahan ng UN ang isasagawang humanitarian operations sa hinaharap. - PIA

Bacolor Rehabilitation Council (BRC)

Nilagdaan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang isang batas na nagtatatag ng Bacolor Rehabilitation Council (BRC) na may layuning tapusin at kompletuhin ang rehabilitasyon ng bayan ng Bacolor, Pampanga na natabunan ng lahar, volcanic ash at debris sa pagputok ng Mt. Pinatubo noong 1991.

Kabilang sa mga isasagawa ng BRC ay ang pagbuo ng comprehensibong plano para sa pagsasaayos ng nabanggit na bayan na isusumite kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo para sa approval at ang masusing pagmomonitor para sa pag-unlad at implementasyon ng ginawang rehabilitation plan.

Ang Senate version ng nabanggit na batas ay inaprubahan sa ikatlo at final reading nito noong ika-8 ng Setyembre taong kasalukuyan na orihinal na isinumite ni Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, chairman ng Senate committee on local government.

Sa ilalim ng batas, mahigit P1.5 bilyon na special funds nito ay kukunin sa 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) para sa rehabilitasyon at pagsasaayos ng mga lugar na naapektuhan ng lahar. - PIA

BBC News Insults the Filipino Nation

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez voiced willingness Tuesday to join groups protesting a "racist" portrayal of a Filipino domestic worker by British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).

Gonzalez told a radio interview that he is willing to sign a petition protesting the supposedly racist and humiliating portrayal of a Filipino helper in the show "Harry and Paul."

"If I am going to be asked, I will join that. I don't like our fellow Filipinos to be insulted," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

But Gonzalez also said some groups in the country may be partly to blame for the slur, saying their criticisms of each other in public "encouraged" foreigners to make fun of Filipinos.

"Kaya lang kung minsan tayo rin ang nagpapahiya sa atin. Araw-araw binabanatan natin ang sarili natin. Wala tayong hinahanap kundi ang masama sa Pilipinas kaya lumalabas sa ibang bansa, ganoon (We are the ones shaming ourselves. We criticize each other in public so frequently that foreigners take it as an encouragement to insult us too)," he said.

"Siguro sabihin nila, sila mismo nagbabanatan eh (Foreigners may be thinking, what's wrong with insulting Filipinos if they insult each other all the time)," he added.

Earlier reports said the Philippine Embassy has sent letters of complaint to various United Kingdom government offices, including the UK regulatory industry, the Mayor of London, and the BBC itself.

The controversial skit aired in the September 26 episode of "Harry and Paul" showed comedian Harry Enfield telling a postman that he is ordering his Filipino maid to mate with his friend Paul Whitehouse.

Akbayan Representative Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel said the supposed young Filipina, who was wearing a gray uniform and an apron, was shown "gyrating and dancing lasciviously."

"He (Enfield) kept ordering the girl to gyrate and dance in front of Paul and even instructed her to hump him," Hontiveros said in a statement.

She said the humiliating portrayal of Filipina workers "promotes negative stereotypes that cultivate impunity among those who abuse Filipina workers abroad." - GMANews.TV