Executive Judge Oscar P. Noel Jr., is the volunteer Presiding Judge of the Sarangani Province’s Justice on Wheels. In order to speed up determination of cases, the mobile court carries with it the court staffs during its conduct of hearings in the municipalities of Sarangani

Malacañan Palace, January 30, 2012 — Galing Pook Foundation has announced the winners of its national search for the ten best local governance programs. LGUs are recognized by the awards body for innovative programs that have gained measurable positive results, empowered its people, and enhanced service delivery.

This year’s winners are Albay; an Inter-local Health Zone (ILHZ) composed of the municipalities of Real, Gen. Nakar, Infanta and Panukulan in Quezon Province; Limasawa, Southern Leyte; Alimodian, Iloilo; Bohol and one of its municipalities, Maribojoc; Sarangani Province, Misamis Oriental, Upi in Maguindanao, and Zamboanga del Norte.

The Galing Pook awarding ceremony for these notable local governance programs was held today in Malacañan Palace with President Benigno S. Aquino III handing the awards to this year’s winners.

The Galing Pook award recipients have winning entries ranging from justice enhancement program, empowerment of indigenous people, to mental health management.

A total of 137 entries were submitted this year: 55 from Luzon, 33 from Visayas and 49 from Mindanao. Of this year’s 10 awardees, seven are past honorees (Sarangani, Misamis Oriental, Upi in Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Infanta in Quezon, Bohol and Albay).

Upi residents enjoying the services provided by the Upi Community e-Center.

Albay Province: Health strategy for MDG attainment

With a policy declaring the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as top priority in 2007, Albay is now either close to achieving or has achieved the major indicators under MDG4 (reduce child mortality), MDG5 (improve maternal health care), MDG6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases), MDG1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and MDG7 (ensure environmental sustainability). The province has also been certified by Philhealth as having come close to universal health coverage.

Real, Gen. Nakar, Infanta and Panukulan in Quezon Province: Community-based mental health management

Mental distress afflicted a number of flash flood survivors that claimed hundreds of lives during the November 2004 typhoons that hit Infanta and Gen. Nakar in Quezon. The event gave rise to the community-based mental health program to support victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological problems. The program pools together resources from various sectors to address and fill in gaps in mental health care and the shortage of mental health professionals in the ReINaPan area, an Inter-local Health Zone (ILHZ). The psychiatric consultations, coupled with administration of medicines, proved to be successful with 110 new cases in 2006 to only 28 new cases in 2010.

Limasawa, Southern Leyte: Poor municipality can eliminate malnutrition

Limasawa’s LGU developed an innovative nutrition plan which reduced the prevalence of malnutrition among pre-school and school children and promote healthy living among adults. With effective program components in place, the residents of the municipality are now healthier with the rate of malnutrition among pre-school children down from a high of 8.8% in 2004 to 2.61% in 2009 and from 6% to 2.17% among school children. Limasawa showed that even a poor, 6th class island-municipality can eliminate malnutrition through ingenious strategies.

Alimodian, Iloilo: Bringing high schools closer to home

In 2005, the municipality of Alimodian used to have only 2 secondary schools catering to 51 barangays. The congested classrooms forced teachers to hold classes in hallways and even under trees. The collective effort of the LGU, the Department of Education and the Parent-Teacher Association led to the construction of four new campuses in the municipality. The establishment of high schools closer to the communities allowed the families to reduce their school expenses and has improved the academic performance of the students.

Bohol Province: Rabies prevention and elimination

In March 2007, the provincial local government unit of Bohol developed its Rabies Prevention and Elimination Program (BRPEP) to help eliminate rabies cases in the province. The BRPEP initially involved 124 government employees and spearheaded a massive information drive. The results were dramatic with rabies-related deaths decreasing by 50% in 2008 and there have been no reports of death by rabies since October 8, 2008. Bohol has since become one of the provinces in the country to integrate lessons on rabies and responsible pet ownership in the curriculum of all its elementary schools.

Maribojoc, Bohol: LGU-led cadastral survey

In 2008, Maribojoc became the first LGU-led participant to DENR’s Land Administration and Management Project 2 (LAMP2). Land valuation has since appreciated and there has been an increase in Real Property Tax (RPT) collection. The tenurial status of title holders have been secured at a minimal cost and land grabbing has been reduced. Boundary disputes that were resolved led to improved relations between neighbors.

Sarangani Province: Justice on Wheels

The LGU in Sarangani designed the Justice Enhancement and Empowerment Program (JEEP) to hasten the disposition of cases involving indigent litigants whose family member remained a detainee in jail because of the slow pace of litigation. JEEP involved the provision of a mobile court dubbed “Justice on Wheels” (JOWs), a bus that has been configured into a court room so that hearings can be conducted inside it when the bus is deployed to the municipalities. This program started in 2006 and has since halved provincial jail inmates from 600 to 286.

Misamis Oriental: Turning red to green

Sitio Lantad’s transformation from a war zone in the 80’s to a Special Agrarian Reform Community in 2007 is a prime example of how peace and development efforts should be pursued – not by might, but through sincere and concrete efforts to reach out and make a difference in people’s lives. The Misamis Oriental LGU’s painstaking efforts to build roads and open up the community for trade and commerce helped them gain the trust of the Higaonons, indigenous people of Sitio Lantad. The eventual peace-building program demonstrates the paradigm shift from reactive to a proactive council advancing social equity, people empowerment and access to the best possible social services.

Upi, Maguindanao: Rural community e-center

In 2004, Upi’s LGU realized that better access to information could substantially improve their situation, which led them to establish their Community e-Center (CeC). This encouraged other government agencies to pursue their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects in the municipality. Like most privately-run businesses, the CeC offers a host of ICT services, but what sets it apart is that it ventured into broadcast media to expand its reach. There are more than 750 CeCs in the country, but Upi CeC remains the only fully-operational center in Maguindanao Province.

Zamboanga del Norte: Empowering the Subanen people

After suffering from countless indignities, discrimination and ridicule for several decades, the marginalized Subanen people were brought into the mainstream of government processes through the Provincial Indigenous People Coordinating Unit (PIPCU). Its primary task is to promote the welfare of the Subanen people and to empower them economically, socially and politically. The creation of the PIPCU encouraged the Subanen people to participate in community development and government processes.

Best local governance programs get Galing Pook : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

The flooding has affected more than 63,000 families or 338,000 individuals half of them children in some 260 barangays (villages). UNICEF has dispatched supplies to the affected areas including: water kits, water treatment, to ensure safe, clean water; hygiene kits containing soap, toothbrushes and personal hygiene items.

UNICEF is also preparing to send tents and tarpaulins for temporary shelter; vitamin A for mothers and infants; breastfeeding education materials to reduce the risk of infant mortality; and recreation kits so children can play and begin to have a sense of normalcy.

Donate now through UNICEF Philippines. Log on to www.unicef.ph or https://donate.unicef.ph. You may also call (632) 758-1000 or (632) 758-1442. Check out UNICEF Philippines’ social media accounts: Facebook (Facebook.com/unicefphilippines) and Twitter (Twitter.com/unicefphils).

For local wire transfers, you may deposit your donation to UNICEF Philippines’ Metrobank account: UNICEF C/A No: 066-7-06631209-3 and for international wire transfers: UNICEF C/A no: 066-7-00141392-5 with Swift Code: MBTCPHMM.

UNICEF Philippines has Fundraisers on the ground in partner malls. For corporate donations, contact Ms. George Belardo at gbelardo@unicef.org and mobile number +639178844982.

Donate through UNICEF Philippines and help children and families in Mindanao affected by Sendong : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

From Manny Baldemor’s Sabrosa Series; oil on canvas; unframed: 12in x 16in; framed: 21.5in x 25.5in. UNICEF Philippines and eBay Philippines launches its second online fundraising campaign from December 5 to 11, 2011 on www.ebay.ph/unicef.

UNICEF Philippines and eBay Philippines launches its second online fundraising campaign through UNICEF Auction for Action: The Manny Baldemor Sabrosa Series from December 5 to 11, 2011 on www.ebay.ph/unicef.

As one of the featured artists in the first UNICEF Auction for Action last May, UNICEF visual artist Manny Baldemor once again shares his generous talent for the benefit of UNICEF programs for children in the Philippines and worldwide. “I have received so many blessings that it’s only right to share and give back. Children’s welfare has always been close to my heart and that’s why I work with UNICEF Philippines because they help children in the poorest and most disadvantaged areas,” shares Baldemor.

The Sabrosa series was conceived during Baldemor’s art residency in Sabrosa, Portugal earlier this year. Located in the northern part of Portugal, the municipality of Sabrosa is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is also the birthplace of Ferdinand Magellan, the first European navigator who reached Philippine shores in 1521.

The series of landscapes was inspired when Baldemor took a boat ride down the great river Duoro, “I took a glance upwards as we passed a steep incline and saw vineyards of different levels that would make our own famous Rice Terraces look like anthills. It was awesome. I’ve never seen layers and layers of vines in a gigantic mountain that almost touches the sky… I wondered if the vineyards were already there 500 years ago when Ferdinand Magellan trekked from this mountain of vines, down to the River Duoro to the Atlantic and finally to the Pacific Ocean,” he said.

UNICEF Country Representative Vanessa Tobin shares, “UNICEF thanks Manny Baldemor for being a staunch supporter having lent his iconic designs to UNICEF cards and products and holding exhibitions of paintings for the benefit our programs for children. Proceeds from the online auction of the Sabrosa series will go towards our work for street children programs.”

Auction for Action: The Manny Baldemor Sabrosa Series on www.ebay.ph/unicef goes live on December 5, 2011 and will run for 7 days until December 11 at 8pm. Watch out for this exclusive auction and help make a difference for children.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

In the Philippines for over sixty years, UNICEF works through partners to reach disadvantaged children and communities to ensure children are healthy, educated and protected from harm. UNICEF is quick to respond in emergencies to ensure affected communities are reached and provided with services from local governments and other service providers.

UNICEF to launch Auction for Action: The Manny Baldemor Sabrosa Series : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

“Jollibee’s acquisition of a majority stake in the BK Titan’s Inc., will enable to have it in the premium price segment of the hamburger category of Philippine fast food market,” Jollibee said (so the bee talks?). Burger King’s sandwiches are priced 30% higher.

Among  Jollibee Foods Corporation popular food chains are Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon and Manong Pepe’s. The addition of  Burger King will prove to be very profitable with yearly revenue of 800 million pesos. 

In 2010, BK reported it had more than 12,200 outlets in 73 countries. The manner in which the company licenses its franchisees varies depending on the region with some regional franchises known as master franchises, responsible for selling franchise sub-licenses on the company’s behalf. BK’s relationship with it franchises has not always been harmonious.

Jollibee owns Burger King : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

The much-awaited Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY rolls out nationwide on Friday, September 30 with a one-day store promo. Reservations are being accepted at Sony Ericsson Concept Shops and at the Sony Ericsson Philippines Facebook community (www.facebook.com/sonyericssonph), where buyers can indicate their names and the shops closest to them. The Xperia™ PLAY launches in Sony Ericsson shops in SM Cyberzones nationwide.

For registered buyers, the Xperia™ PLAY will be available on that day with a P2,000 discount off its regular price of P19,990. Buyers can avail of this Xperia smartphone at P17,990 only on September 30, and get freebies like a Sony Ericsson car charger, leather case and screen protector with their purchase. All units come with a one-year product warranty.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY will be locally released pre-loaded with six game titles, namely: Bruce Lee, Crash Bandicoot, FIFA 2010, Madden NFL 11, Star Battalion, and The SIMS 3. Content partners include Sony Computer Entertainment, Digital Chocolate, Digital Legends, Electronic Arts, Fishlabs, Gamehouse, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handy Games, Namco Bandai Networks, Polarbit, PopCap, Trendy Entertainment and Unity Technologies.

Currently, gamers can find over 400 Xperia™ PLAY games either from Android Market or the websites of the game publishers. Users will find these games optimized specifically for the Xperia™ PLAY’s unique keypad controls. More games are expected to be available in the coming months.

“The Xperia™ PLAY is first and foremost a smartphone, that has features and attributes from the Xperia™ portfolio and in addition, its superior and multi-player gaming capabilities will deliver a whole new experience to consumers,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson General Manager.

In portrait mode, the Xperia™ PLAY offers all the benefits of the XperiaTM range of smartphones. It has a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus, geo-tagging, image stabilizer and photo light and video light. Video recording, video blogging and still images can be enjoyed over a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen. Great social networking features like Twitter and Facebook, plus other features like stereo speakers, Google Services, Sony Ericsson Music Player, and Track ID music recognition software add to its appeal.

The Xperia™ PLAY has a slide-out game pad that reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver smooth 60fps playback 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia™ PLAY users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

“XperiaTM PLAY brings a whole host of HD games, traditionally only available to consoles, to the mobile space. There is a board range of genres including action, racing, social, first person shooter, that address all consumer segments from the casual to the enthusiastic gamer. We expect the XperiaTM PLAY to be one of our top selling smartphones this holiday season,” Mr. Manzano predicts.

To register for the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY and find shop listings, join the Sony Ericsson PH community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sonyericssonph).

World’s first Playstation-certified Android smartphone officially arrives in PH -The Xperia PLAY! : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

Robertson turned a lot of Christian viewers head when he said on Tuesday’s 700 Club program: I hate Alzheimer’s. It’s one of the most awful things because, here is a loved one, this is the woman or man that you have loved for 20, 30, 40 years, and suddenly, that person is gone. They’re gone. They are gone.

The comment stemmed from a caller who narrated about a friend who started dating other women while his wife lies seriously ill with Alzheimer’s disease. The caller’s friend justifies the act saying that, “his wife as he knows her is gone.”

Robertson approves it, saying: What he says basically is correct. I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start it all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her.

The co-host asked Robertson if his advise violates marriage vows. Robertson replied that the disease “is a kind of death, I certainly wouldn’t put a guilt trip on you.”

Russell D. Moore, a dean of the school for theology in at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote a response to Robertson’s sentiments at the Baptist Press News: This is more than an embarrassment. This is more than cruelty. This is a repudiation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joel Hunter, a pastor in Northland Church in Orlando told ABC News: I just don’t know how anyone who is  reading Scripture or is even familiar with the traditional wedding vows can come out with a statement like that.

Hunter said it best with: Obviously we can all rationalize the legitimacy for our own comfort that would somehow make it OK to divorce our spouse if circumstances become very different or inconvenient. That’s almost universal. But there’s no way you can get out of what Jesus says about marriage.

Robertson has yet to respond to an interview request from the Times submitted to the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Pat Robertson approves divorce for Alzheimer reasons : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

Standing at 5 ft and 7 in, she is not only dashing on the outside but her brains are attractive as well. She topped the 2010 Architecture Licensure Exam after graduating magna cum laude at the University Of The Philippines. What makes you think she’s still available? Yes, she isn’t.

At an interview in Bandila, host Julius Babao had to ask the question for those men who still would like to get in line.

“Yes,” Supsup said. It was a firm reply boys. “Hindi ako showbiz eh. I want to be honest. I want people to know about it,” she continued.

The next question probably on your mind is, is he a Christian?

That was asked earlier in Umagang Kay Ganda to which she replied, “At first (he was not a Christian).” She admitted that her partner used to be Catholic and now he shares her faith.

Fox’s question was easy to answer. Supsup reveals her mother had taught her well when having a relationship with the opposite sex.

“My mom is really strict. She always tells me na dapat iyong magiging boyfriend  or asawa ko should be a Christian first, and that our relationship will be centered with God.”

I think the boys would like to throw a final question Miss Supsup:

Where do you attend church services?

Shamcey Supsup’s loved one loves God too : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

Shamcey Supsup was awarded third runner up in the pageant, placing behind Miss Angola, and Miss Ukraine. While Leah Salonga’s question was directed to Miss Angola, judge number 2 was American actress and television producer Vivica Fox (does Copperhead of Kill Bill movie ring a bell?) who threw the question to Miss Philippines.

“Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you loved? Why, or why not?” Fox asked.

“If I had to change my religious beliefs I would not marry the person that I love. Because the first person that I love is God, who created me. And I have my faith, and my principles and this is what makes me who I am and if that person loves me, he should love my God too.” Supsup answered.

Supsup isn’t only beautiful. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines. She’s a licensed architect and she topped the Architecture Licensure Exam in July 2010.

Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup Q&A portion : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine, the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil, third runner-up was Shamcey Supsup of Philippines and fourth was awarded to Miss China.

Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes was born in Benguela, Angola in February 1986. She studied business management in Great Britain, and in 2010, won Miss Angola UK. She took part against 21 other contestants in Angola’s national beauty pageant last December.

In the  Q&A portion of Miss Universe, the 25-year old was asked about what physical trait she would change if she could.

“Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing,” she replied. “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

Congratulations to the winner of the 2011 Miss Universe pageant.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Mabuhay!

Miss Angola crowned Miss Universe : quality content from The Daily Inquirer

In the Philippines, there is an estimated 1.7 million children in 570,000 Metro Manila households who live in informal settlements, lacking food, health, potable water, sanitation, education, family planning, decent housing, information, and participation.

Manila 23 August 2011 – Children in urban settings are subject to grave risks to their development and well-being throughout their young lives, and the level of risk increases when they are poor, experts said at the Second Forum on Children in the Urban Environment. The forum, spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government with support from UNICEF, gathered national and local governments, civil society, peoples’ organizations, private sector and children themselves to develop concrete strategies, policies and programs that will address the vulnerabilities of children in the urban poor communities.

The world is undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in history. For the first time, more than half of the world’s people – and half the world’s children – are living in towns and cities. This urban proportion of the global population will continue to grow over the coming decades, meaning that, from now on, most of the world’s children will be located in towns and cities.

“While cities generate wealth, jobs and development opportunities, the disparities between those urban children who are in comfortable circumstances and those who live in poverty are vast. The swelling numbers of these ‘hidden’ poor children, often excluded from the opportunities enjoyed by wealthier city-dwellers and overlooked by authorities because of the informal status of their settlements, or because they are unregistered, are one of the greatest challenges to fulfilling the rights of children in this rapidly urbanizing world,” Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF Philippines country representative, said.

In the Philippines, there is an estimated 1.7 million children in 570,000 Metro Manila households who live in informal settlements, with counterparts in Cebu, Davao, and other large and medium-sized cities. Already the Philippines is an urban society with over half the population living in cities. Thousands lack food, health, potable water, sanitation, education, family planning, decent housing, information, and participation.

During the second Urban Forum, participants willl be studying effective urban strategies and good practices in education, health, child protection and other issues in local governance. Young people will also be consulted to encourage urban children’s participation in matters that affect them.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo keynotes the second Urban Forum and emphasizes listening to the voices of urban children.

“A writer once said that children could lead us into more perfect cities if we but listen to them. You see, a child-friendly city works best for everyone. It’s high time we give young people a voice,” Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said in his keynote speech.

The forum will conclude with a commitment building from partners and the League of Cities of the Philippines, and the launching of “Safe and Friendly Cities for All,” a joint project of UNICEF, UN Women and UN Habitat.

UNICEF is now planning of its new country programme for the next six years with focus on reaching the poorest and most disadvantaged children, taking into account the vulnerabilities of children in conflict, disasters and urban slums.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
In the Philippines for over sixty years, UNICEF works through partners to reach disadvantaged children and communities to ensure children are healthy, educated and protected from harm. UNICEF is quick to respond in emergencies to ensure affected communities are reached and provided with services from local governments and other service providers.

Visit www.unicef.ph

http://facebook.com/unicefphilippines

http://twitter.com/unicefphils

For more information, please contact:
Marge Francia, mfrancia@unicef.org, Tel. +632 901.0173, Mobile +63 917.858.9447
Angela Travis, atravis@unicef.org, Tel. +632 901.0177 Mobile +63 917.867.8366

Children in urban poor communities among the most disadvantaged : quality content from The Daily Inquirer