In a formal press release sent to PinoyWorld.org, the National Youth Commission is formally opening the application for the 9th National Youth Parliament.

Themed “Revolutionizing Youth Development”. the 9th NYP aims to:

formulate policy recommendations to address youth issues in the country. These recommendations are then lobbied to government leaders to be considered as proposed bills and administrative policies. It is important to note that during the event, participants also get to share ideas and gain valuable insights and networks to aid them in their youth development efforts.

National Youth Parliament 9 National Organizing Committee head NYC Commissioner Gio Tingson expects that this event becomes a platform for all Filipino youth to be proactive.

Interested applicants to the 9th NYP should be:

• Filipino citizen, aged 15 – 30 years old as of February 29, 2012
• Residing at the place of representation for at least six (6) months at the time of submission
• Must be a member of an organization
• Of good moral character
• Can contribute to the objectives of the 9th National Youth Parliament

Started in 1996, this years NYP is aimed to gather 200 youth representing different sectors. 9th NYP is slated to be held on the 1st week of May 2012. The venue of the said event will be announced in a future press release.

NYP is Youth in Nation Building

ACCORDING TO THE 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION, the state “recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-building.”

In accordance with the Constitution, Republic Act 8044, otherwise known as the “Youth in Nation Building Act” was enacted to provide for the establishment of a National Youth Commission (NYC) and a “National Comprehensive and Coordinated Program in the Development of Youth in Nation Building.” The NYC, as the sole policy making and coordinating body of all youth-related policies and programs of the government, is mandated to initiate and undertake a consultative mechanism through the institutionalization of a National Youth Parliament, conferring upon the Commission the function of choosing the delegates to the said forum.

The Youth Parliament shall be a venue for young men and women to participate in the national decision-making processes of the -government. The proceedings, declarations and resolutions of the parliament will guide the Commission in its undertakings and will be incorporated in the government’s Medium Term Youth Development Program (MTYDP) to be formulated by the Commission. The Parliament will be convened every two years with a regular session for two to three days every time that it is convened. It may form task forces which may meet during the period between the convening thereof (Sec. 13, R.A. 8044).

Deadline of sending of application: February 29, 2012

For more details about NYP9 visit the nearest NYC office, or check the NYC website (www.nyc.gov.ph). You can also e-mail nyp9@nyc.gov.ph or call (02) 416-2833, 416-3415, 413-5503 or 416-3570.

Looking for food trip destination this Sinulog season?

Harolds Hotel invites you to “Ay Caramba!”. Experience their Lunch and Dinner Buffet and be entertained by Brazilian Samba Dancers on January 1 (Saturday) and January 15 (Sunday).

LUNCH BUFFET (January 14-15, 2012 Only)

If you are into “Sugba-Sugba”, Lunch Buffet at H’Cafe is a must try. With a diversed and plentiful selection of Cebuano’s best, “Sugba-sugba” will highlight the best grilled food Cebu is known for at Php 588 net.

DINNER BUFFET

Starting January 11 (Wednesday) until January 15 (Sunday), guests and visitors will be treated to a festiv favorites. Plus, guests will have a chance to view “BRAZILIAN SAMBA DANCERS” live at H’ Cafe.

LOCATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

HAROLDS HOTEL, is the newest premier business hotel in Cebu,located at Gorordo Avenue corner Rosal Street, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines

For more information, you can also contact

HAROLDS HOTEL
Tel No. +63 32 505 777
Fax No. +63 32 268 6822
Website www.haroldshotel.com
Email info@haroldshotel.com

Paintings and sculptures of contemporary Cebuano artists were featured in the art exhibit, dubbed Contemporary Cebu, which opened last Jan. 4 at the Cebu City Museum.

The exhibit, which is curated by JV Castro, is designed to bring national attention to contemporary Cebuano artists and their works. It is open to the public until Jan. 31.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, during the opening ceremonies, lauded the initiative undertaken to make the exhibit possible, saying it is a way to recognize Cebuano talents in visual arts as well as to promote the Cebu City Museum.

The Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), and The Grove by Rockwell, partnered together to launch this annual exhibit. The first exhibit was held in June 2011 in Manila at the Ateneo de Manila University and Picasso Boutique Hotel.

This year’s Contemporary Cebu art exhibit features the works of Palmy Pe-Tudtud, Marvin Natural, Kidlat of the Junks Collective, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, Ritchie Quijano, and Tito Cuevas. Russ Ligtas will give Butoh performances on Jan. 12 and 13.

“It is an exhibition that features some of the finest artists we have in Cebu. All the works in the exhibit are done by Cebuano artists who specialize in contemporary works, meaning the portrayal of subjects are different. In a way, we want to promote Cebu in a different light,” Castro said.

Dennis “Sio” Montera, one of the participating artists shared the inspiration and stories behind his paintings.

“My art is more on expression of the things that have been relevant in my life—happiness, sadness, loss of loved one, any life experience. For me, the best way I can communicate or deal with my emotions is to paint. It is more likely the reflection of a current situation of my life. It’s like a diary, mirroring what is happening around me,” he said.

Alternative Contemporary Art Studio and RAFI have been partners since Contemporary Cebu’s inception in 2011. This year, they took in The Grove by Rockwell as a major partner. The other sponsors of the exhibit are the Cebu City Government, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission of Cebu City, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Blue Shield Risk Management, Gothong Southern, Michelangelo Pizzeria, and Hola España.

“Contemporary Cebu is a good opportunity for introducing the Cebuano audience to contemporary arts and for them to be familiar who the Cebuano contemporary visual artists are,” said Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of Culture and Heritage of RAFI. (Hannah Reoma/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. intern)

BOTTOMLINE of ABS-CBN, and hosted by one of the Philippines trusted Talk Show Host Boy Abunda, bagged the “Best Talk Show” award in the recently concluded 2011 Asian Television Awards held yesterday (December 8, 2011) 6:30 PM at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.

NEWS FROM FACEBOOK

The first social media report of the award came in with a Facebook Status from BottomLine regular Socio-Communicator Mike Lopez.

In his Facebook Status, Mr. Lopez said:

WE WON! The Bottomline just won “Best Talk Show” in the recently concluded Asian Television Awards (the Emmys of Asia) here in Singapore, edging out CNN’s Talk Asia which took the second place honors! And I was there!

Woohoo! It feels so great to be a part of the best talk show in all of Asia! Did I say we’re officially the best talk show in all of Asia? Oh yeah, I did say we’re the best talk show in all of Asia!

Congratulations to Boy once again, to our dynamic and hardworking production team led by Apples Braga, to ABS-CBN (still and will always be the Philippines’ largest network), my fellow bottomliners, all our guests and guest bottomliners, to our fellow Filipinos, thank you so very much and congratulations to all of us!

To all my friends who’ve sat on the show as guest bottomliners, Baudric Casey, Orly J. Cajegas, Marie Sol Delantar-Gonzalvo, Michelle Varron, Elaine Bathan, Marcley Augustus D. Natu-el, Niña Terol-Zialcita, and the so many more who’ve become my friends because they sat on the show, you now have the distinction of having been seen and heard in the best talk show in all of Asia – and that’s The Bottomline!

BOTTOMLINE

As described and explained in BOTTOMLINE’s official page:

“Bottomline” is a reality-talk show which involves not only Tito Boy, but also a group of opinionated people with different stances on a subject. They are called the ‘bottomliners’, Bottomline’s executive producer Apples Dela Vega disclosed. “We have a pool of bottomliners. Nagpapalit yu’n depending on the guest. We get six to eight bottomliners from the pool for every episode and through Tito Boy’s interview with the guest, their questions and other issues are answered.”

The show also gives the viewers the privilege to see the whole process of the story development– from conceptualization, to brainstorming, to actual execution of the interview and ending with a post-mortem or assessment of the interview. Boy acts as the moderator of the whole discussion. The bottomliners share what they want to know about the guest. Tito Boy throws in the questions gathered from the brainstorming through no-holds barred interview with the invited guest. Through a monitor, the bottomliners are able to witness the interview. After the session, Boy and the bottomliners assess the whole activity.

The Visayas Blogging Summit or VBS 2011 promises to bring the best of “Blogging and Beyond” as bloggers from provinces in the Visayas flock to SM City Cebu on November 26, 2011 for biggest social media gathering of the year.

“It will be an experience of leveling up in terms of skills and perspectives designed to make the Visayas blogging community perform a vital role in community-building online and offline,” said Ruben Licera, Chairman of the VBS 2011 Organizing Committee.

“To achieve this, we invited speakers who are not only reputable bloggers but have also made significant contributions in their own fields with the help of social media,” he said.

The summit proper, Licera said, will begin with three speakers on helping personal bloggers improve not only their skills but also in finding their niche online, and achieving excellence:

• Vernon Joseph Go, former president of the Cebu Bloggers Society and CAMMA Awardee for Personal Blogging. Mr. Go will share his experiences and give a few tips on “Personal Blogging.”
•  The founder of Cebu Blog Camp and an active member of the CBSi, Evanjohn Mendoza, will talk on finding one’s niche in the Blogosphere.
• Recent Philippine blog award winner Max Limpag will focus on “Blogging and Excellence”. Max Limpag is also the current Business Editor for Sun Star Cebu.

From personal blogging, virtual CEO and founder of Live2Sell Group of Companies Chris Ducker, the keynote speaker, will raise the ante as he focuses on blogging as a profession.

“Mr. Ducker has made it big in the professional blogging industry. We thought that inviting him over would greatly benefit bloggers and would-be bloggers who are looking into making a career out of blogging,” shared Mr. Licera.

With social media and blogging becoming indispensable for business, the next batch of speakers will talk about the importance of blogging as a social media tool as well as the responsibility that goes with it.

Joanne Apat of Gwion Limited Hong Kong will speak about the ABC’s of using the social media as a tool for business.

The next speaker works for a big name in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Coy Caballes of Globe Telecom will be dishing out useful tips for successful social media campaigns.

Another popular name in the blogosphere is Mr. Bradley Geiser, the co-founder of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications. This multi-awarded figure in social media marketing and online public relations will share his expertise on “Online Content Warfare—the next wave of digital PR”.

“Blogging is not only about making money. Over the years, it has become an effective tool for social change—good or bad. This is why we have invited a few key persons who will talk about the responsibility behind the power of the social media tools,” Licera said.

Philippine Internet Marketing Queen and the Mother of the E-Commerce Law, Miss Janette Toral, will discuss blogging as a tool for social change. Miss Toral is a published author of books such as Blogging from Home and Digital Filipino: An E-Commerce Guide for the e-Filipino.

Kabataan Party List House Representative Raymond Palatino, an activist, legislator and regional editor for Southeast Asia of Global Voices, shall delve on the “Role of the Social Media for Change”.

With the help of blogging, a lot of community projects have also pushed through. Sharing her experiences on the topic, “Community Projects that need Social Media Assistance” is the Communications Officer for Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Haidee Emmie Palapar.

A respected name synonymous to extending help to the less fortunate Filipinos, Gina Lopez who is the Managing Director of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., will talk about blogging for a social cause.

With this slew of world-class speakers pooling all their ideas and expertise, the 2nd Visayas Blogging Summit is sure to go beyond expectations.

Now this is something to blog about.

The worlds first doughnuts and coffee store since 1937 is finally opening its first store in Cebu.

In a very special invitation to Pinoyworld.org, “the much-loved, international brand goes nationwide as it opens its first store int eh Queen City of the South on October 22, “ according to the attached image.

More information about the opening will be bared to you soon in this blog.

In observance of Breast Awareness Month in October, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold the 8th annual “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” on Oct. 12.

Moonwalk is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear pink shirts.

Moonwalk, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

It is also a campaign of RAFI to get more people to be aware on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. At the same time, it is a tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.

From 1993 to 2007, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.

The assembly area for this year’s Moonwalk will be at the Cebu Business Park near Pag-Ibig Fund Tower at 4 p.m. Participants will walk to The Walk in Asiatown I.T. Park where they will form a human pink ribbon. A short program and Pink Rock Concert will follow.
“With the growing awareness on breast cancer, we are expecting more participants this year—around 3,000 from 1,500 last year. Most of the participants are cancer patients, women from the barangays, and the youth. We encourage everyone, from all walks of life, to join us in this year’s Moonwalk,” Ronald delos Reyes, EJACC program coordinator, said.

Moonwalk is organized in collaboration with The Walk and in coordination with Ayala Center Cebu and I CAN SERVE. It is supported by the Cebu City Government, Department of Health Region 7, Asiatown I.T. Park, Cebu Business Park, Allied Banking Corporation, Phillipine National Bank, Cebu Praedia Development Corporation, Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, and Destiny Medical Fund, Inc.
Moonwalk is an initiative under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life.

For more details about the Moonwalk, or to register, please call 254-6351 or 256-3287 and look for Gina Mariquit.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

HAIDEE EMMIE K. PALAPAR
Communications Officer
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
tel. no. (63 32) 418-7234 local 504
email: Haidee.Emmie.Palapar@rafi.org.ph

RONALD M. DELOS REYES
Program Coordinator
Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
Tel. no. 254-6351 / 256-3287
email: ronald.delos.reyes@rafi.org.ph

touching people, shaping the future
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT | MICRO-FINANCE & ENTREPRENEURSHIP | CULTURE & HERITAGE | LEADERSHIP & CITIZENSHIP | EDUCATION

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. 35 Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City 6000 Philippines
tel: (63 32) 418 7234 fax: (63 32) 418 7234 loc.516 www.rafi.org.ph

CEBU CITY, Cebu—As the whole country commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) urged the public to engage in early detection and prevention measures to fight breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry of EJACC.

From 1993 to 2007, EJACC recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. Breast cancer, which is characterized by an abnormal growth of breast cells, is most common in women ages 30 to 59.

EJACC initiated its own efforts to raise public awareness on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. One of these is Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, which aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

Moonwalk also aims to popularize the importance of early detection practices, including breast self-examination, regular clinical breast examination, and annual mammography screening.

This year, Moonwalk will be held on Oct. 12 when participants from different sectors, including cancer patients and survivors, youths, professionals, and women from the barangays, walk from Cebu Business Park to The Walk at Asiatown I.T. Park.

“It is important to detect breast cancer at an early stage as, like many forms of cancer, breast cancer may be more easily cured with early detection,” Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator for EJACC, said.

The primary risk factors for breast cancer are sex, old age, lack of childbearing or breastfeeding, higher hormone levels (specifically estrogen), dietary iodine deficiency, high fat diets, alcohol intake, tobacco use, obesity, and hereditary factors.

There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible and lower the risk of breast cancer, such as maintaining a healthy weight, breastfeeding for lactating mothers, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and exercising regularly.
EJACC offers annual monthly breast and cervical cancer screenings and provide assistance like mammography screening for high-risk patients to detect malignancies.

EJACC is a program under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life. Its other focus areas are Micro-finance and Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, Leadership and Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about breast cancer, or to register for Moonwalk, please contact (63 32)254-6531 and look for Gina Mariquit.

The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu recently launched its Blue Tree project during an ecological mass and through an unveiling of a marker in the school campus.

The project, initiated in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), is the school’s “green” investment for the environment’s future. It is designed as a “sustainable urban tree planting and plant care initiative geared towards maintaining urban landscapes’ overall health and appearance”.

The school linked with RAFI’s Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines (GREENIN Philippines) Program. A native tree nursery is established in the school campus, which becomes a satellite nursery of the RAFI Native Trees Nursery.

RAFI will provide lectures and demonstrations to the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu community on the proper planting and caring of seeds while local government units will identify suitable locations for tree planting and growing. The student community of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu will fund the project through creative initiatives.

“The Blue Tree Project will showcase the school’s concern for the environment and hopefully catches the interest of the Jesuit community throughout the country as well as the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines member-schools,” Fr. Sigmund de Guzman, S.J., Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Campus Ministry director, said.

His office will link the school with various partners.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu President Fr. Manuel Uy, S.J.; Dr. Robert Gallardo of the Department of Education-Mandaue City Division; and GREENIN Philippines Program Coordinator Neil Papas turned over Bitanghol seedlings to the representatives of the different departments of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu community, among them Student Council President Niño Cardenas who represented the student body. The ceremony symbolized the responsibility of individuals to nurture seedlings until they grow and become forests.

For more information on the Blue Tree project, please contact Fr. Sigmund de Guzman at 345-4378. For more details on the GREENIN Philippines Program, please contact Neil Papas at 418-7234 or visit www.rafi.org.ph.

Home-grown Julies Bakeshop has embarked on a new business model that focuses on its core competency which has made it the largest community bakeshop in the country.

JFC CEO and President Joseph R. Gandionco said the company’s new direction aims to achieve its goal of providing improved quality yet affordable bread-products and to expanding its product reach.

In expanding its product reach for the benefit of more Filipinos, JFC’s vision is to provide more support to its franchisees to help them succeed.

Julie’s franchising company, Julie’s Franchise Corp. (JFC), is also looking at the company’s franchise design to make improvements for the benefit of its business partners, its existing and prospective franchisees.

A Julie’s franchise investment amounts to P1.8 million to P2 million. This includes the security deposit, P250, 000 franchise fee, start-up or business development cost, building renovation cost, ingredient, and machinery and equipment cost. Based on company studies, the average return-on-investment of its existing franchisees is only in two years.

Interested investors need only to submit a letter of intent to franchise, the certified copy of the property’s certificate of title for those who own the property where the bakeshop will be located. For those who will be leasing a property, a letter of intent to lease and the proof of ownership of the lessor and copy of the building’s tax declaration and location map are needed.

Julie’s started business in 1988. It has grown through the years with the help of its over 600 franchisees all over the country. Julie’s has received numerous awards and recognitions from various institutions for consistently exhibiting high standard of growth and development in all aspects of franchise operations.

In June 1999 Julie’s was dubbed as the “Success Story of the Year” and on October 1999 as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Outstanding Country – Side Investor” Awardee.

It was followed by another award in 2000 when the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commernce and Industry awarded a Recognition to Julies as “Outstanding Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneur and another award of the same title from PCCI.

In 2002 Julie’s garnered the “Who’s Who in the Philippines: The Best Bakeshop of the Year” by the National Consumers Excellence Award.

In 2005, Julie’s Franchise Corporation was awarded with an award from the Department of Trade and Industry, PCCI, Philippine Retailers Association and Philippine Franchise Associations – the Franchise Excellence Award. It was on the same year that Governor Gwen Garcia awarded “Garbo sa Sugbu” Award to Julies, which was followed with another recognition from Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), as the Most Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Award”.