Lakbayin ang Magandang Pilipinas- Buhay Pinoy

  Watch this intro video to "Buhay Pinoy" in the weekly show "Lakbayin ang Magandang Pilipinas," featuring NCCA's (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) very own Chairman Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., and Exec. Dir. Emelita Almosara.

 

LAKBAYIN ANG MAGANDANG PILIPINAS is a weekly program which airs every Saturdays, 8am - 9am, over PTV 4. Originally, this pioneering television program proudly showcases various local government units' advocacies and their exemplary practices in promoting effective local governance. It was recognized by the Anak TV Awards as it continues to strive up to display the positive side, innovations, challenges, and exemplary practices of local government with their dynamic leaders and supportive constituents. It also features stories on Filipino culture and traditions.

To date, Lakbayin ang Magandang Pilipinas has four segments. Out of the 4, one segment titled "Buhay Pinoy" of about 10-15 minutes features NCCA programs. It will show activities of the commission like projects emanating from the committees and other institutional programs, both from Manila and the regions.

For details, please contact RENE NAPEÑAS, Head of the NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) at cellphone number 0927-5582656 / 09285081057 or at tel. nos. 527-5529. You can also call us at 527-2192 (loc. 612-615) or email us at ncca.paio@gmail.com.

Slater Young Named PBB Unlimited Big Winner

Slater Young, the young civil engineer from Cebu emerged as PBB Unlimited's big winner! And the crowd that greeted him Saturday night (March 31) when he finally came out was equally ecstatic to see him!

The official PBB web site shares these basic info on Slater Young:

• Real Name:Jan Slater Young
• Origin:Cebu City
• Age:25
• Birthdate:1987-12-19
• Nationality:Filipino
• Occupation:civil engineer
• Civil Status:
• Religion:
• Hobbies:board games, hanging out, going to the gym, competitive shooting
• Favorite Color:white, blue, purple

My unsolicited advice for Slater Young? Develop his acting skills, groom himself to be the next Sam Milby, team up with Toni Gonzaga, and probably score an album or two. Do this for 5 years, then become a Senator (I think you have more skills in that area). Then, who knows? The Presidency should not be too far a goal to aim for.

What's wrong with these? Butanding Interactions Such as These , NOT Right!

Tsk. Tsk. These photos of people interacting this super close with a whale shark (supposedly in Oslob, Cebu) or "butanding" have circulated fast in facebook and twitter. I know it could be a sure lure for people but the more experienced traveler knows that whale sharks should not be touched or even stepped on like this. Horrors, right?!?

It turns out that it was a stranded whale shark in Boljoon town, a municipality next to Oslob in Cebu.

My own whale shark encounter in 2011 in Donsol, Sorsogon taught me the basic rules prior to seeing one.

"Swimmers should be 3 meters from the head and body of the butanding; 4 meters from the tail. No touching riding or restricting the movement of the butanding. A maximum of 30 boats at sea at any point in time. One one boat per whale shark, with a maximum of 6 swimmers per whale shark. Maximum of 10-minute swim with one whale shark. Flash photography is not allowed."

Poor stranded whale shark.

I love Alice Feiring's Wines! :)

It felt like I toured the famous vineyards from France, to Italy, Spain and tasted all the Barolos, Riojas, Domaine de la Romanée-Contis, among other wines! Thanks to my weekend reading: Alice Feiring's book "The Battle for Wine and Love: or How I Saved the World from Parkerization." It's a very very enlightening introductory piece on wines for someone like myself who only differentiates between red and white. :) I super love this book!

I really wish I could get to experience the vineyard visits Feiring did in this book! 

Reading the book also made me interested in the kind of wines that gets into films or films that have them in some scenes. Check this link: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-movies-with-wine.php

 

What is Tom Hardy's Fight in "Warrior?"

Ok. Ok. There you got me. Who would have thought I'd be crying my eyes out towards the end of the sports drama film "Warrior" by director Gavin O'Connor. Tom Hardy as Tommy Riordan charging with a broken shoulder at his brother Brendan Conlon (played by Joel Edgerton) just about did it for me. WTF, UFC with a story to boot! :)

For all the high testosterone running in the film, the film surprisingly sets you up for an honest-to-goodness tearjerking moments towards the end. And it is unabashedly unapologetic for it. And one is definitely won over because of it. One's initial reaction to it would be, oh no, not another Rocky film. But no, this is definitely richer in story. If you are going to be conscious about crying openly watching it, it is best advised to watch this alone. 
Mark Isham's scoring for this hits the mark. And director O'Connor has definitely made this film, despite its drama, an ode to joy.

Joyce Penas Pilarsky's Hot Cocktail Dresses in Fashionweek Spring/Summer 2011

Last October, I watched the Ready-To-Wear fashion show during the Philippine Fashionweek Spring/Summer 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.

The show highlighted the works of twelve designers namely Emi Alexander Englis, Harley Ruedas, Jian Lasala, John Guarnes, Louis Claparols, Mike Lavarez, Nixon Marquez, Reian Mata, Ricky Abad, Simon Ariel Vasquez, Ziggy Savella, and Joyce Penas Pilarsky.

Very summer-ready and eye-catching are the 10-piece collection presented by Germany-based Filipina artist/fashion designer Joyce Penas Pilarsky. On seeing the cut-out patterns on the colorful taffetta and matte-silk cocktail dresses, I was at once reminded of Bulacan's famous pastillas wrappers. And my hunches were proven right when Joyce Pilarsky confirmed this herself after the show, saying that she has drawn inspiration from the said wrappers and its intricate designs, among others.

Joyce Pilarsky also volunteered that she used laser to cut the design patterns into the cloths. I would say that Pilarsky's adaptation of the idea of the colorful pastillas wrappers as something that one can, in fact, wear for the summer/spring, is noteworthy, ingenuously tweaking "delicateness" and "intricateness" as something one can actually slip into, adding freshness and choice to an otherwise drab wardrobe. The collection also tastefully put "pride of place" as the message of the inspiration behind the dresses, without being preachy about it. Interestingly, Pilarsky also designs her own accessories, and these accessories wonderfully accentuated each collection, with the models emerging onto the catwalk as summer/spring goddesses of sorts.

At the finale of the 12-designer RTW show, Pilarksy came out wearing a version from her collection: a cocktail dress in radiant fuchsia and lemon yellow hue. 

Email Joyce Pilarsky at jpilarsky@yahoo.com

See photos below:

Joyce Penas Pilarsky at the end of the show

In Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

This long weekend (Aug. 29 being a National Heroes Day holiday and Aug. 30, Eid ul Fitr), I had the chance to hie off to Laiya in San Juan, Batangas for a white beach experience in that area. And yes, to bond as well with my cousin Meilani and nephews.

The Rizal statue in front of the municipal building in San Juan, Batangas,
and the landmark right before you turn for the Laiya beaches.

Acuatico Beach Resort was fully booked when we got there, and so we had to find a night's accommodation at the nearby White Cove.

We had a fill of the waves by the beachfront of White Cove.

The next day, we went back to Acuatico Beach Resort (http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/  ) where my cousin and nephews stayed for two more nights while I headed back to Manila with my sisters.

I'd recommend Acuatico Beach Resort to anyone wanting a kind of a Boracay experience (though a quieter one) in  Batangas, that is without crossing the sea to get to an island. The travel to San Juan takes all of 3 hours, good traffic allowing.

For details on getting there and other stuff such as rates and rooms, check the Acuatico Beach Resort web site: http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/