My Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Experience!

Copyright @ 2014 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.

We discovered the Middle Earth and personally saw some exact sites where the battles were fought and where the Hobbiton was filmed!  

Ethnography 101: Homeland in the Eyes of a Foreigner

I would always ask my college and graduate students in Anthropology, aside from learning anthropological concepts and theories inside the classroom, to explore places, experience cultural or social happenings, and write ethnographic accounts using the participation-observation method.

Photo courtesy of Google

 

I am posting in my blog with the writer's consent selected ethnography penned creatively by my students to contribute to the emerging sub-discipline of anthropology called 'Virtual Ethnography'. 

Basically, virtual ethnography is also referred to as Webnography. We cannot deny the fact that with increasing use of technology and the Internet, there is now a demand for online spaces on ethnographies.

By Regina Gonzalez

My time in Beijing for the days of May 11-15, 2012 have all been mostly spent in the old hutong area of Nanluoguxiang. This area has been known to be a part of those which had been renovated in time for the Beijing Olympics. Our trip had the sole mission of picking up my sister or spending time with her in Beijing while she was on her study or immersion tour.

            Our times in Chinaland beforehand, had been with the company with my father and brother. The last one before the trip of 2012 had been blessed with the presence of a dear high school friend who had been studying in Beijing for an entire year, hence, there being no problems in communication. He was so kind to do the job for us.

            Now that my mother and I were left with each other, to take advantage of my father’s need for certain luxuries and try out living in a traditional hutong. The traditional hutong architecture of Beijjing is located at the area near the Houhai Lake and Lam Temple. This became the area where we stayed as my mother felt more secure linearly navigating through Nanluoguxiang. Nanluoguxiang is also called South Luo Gu lane.

            Our placed was just right off the famous “commercial” lane at the end of one of the seven streets perpendicularly intersecting with Nanluoguxiang. It was called Purple Courtyard. A family-run business we had the chance of discovering through Trip Advisor in the Internet. Our arrival to Beijing had been arranged and hands-on accommodated by Lee. He picked us up from the airport, and brought us to the twisting busy streets of the hutong area.

            Our days were characterized by meals as we didn’t particularly intend to go sight-seeing. Hence, our first evening there had been spent in a nearby café which catered to foreign backpackers – as suggested by its name, Backpacker’s café. My mother didn’t want to take chances just yet as it was evening, and she wasn’t sure that my mandarin was still fluent enough to get us anywhere in which the restaurant servers wouldn’t understand a few English words at all. I told her I had the trusty Berlitz phrasebook, a pen and a notepad, it will be fine.

            And so it was! Roaming the streets that night and remembering the memories made the past time we were there as I gazed at the closed up shops were entering in. Chinese pop songs were playing faintly in the background, as if carried to the window we were seated next to by the wind. The evening wasn’t as cold as what we thought it would be and but was chilly enough to suit the warm curry I ordered. 

             Evening along Nanluoguxiang were always relaxing, until came the days my feet suffered from the flats I was using. But otherwise, it was lovely seeing Beijingers and tourists rushing to wherever, shopping and enjoying the food available from the stalls that lined the streets. It was interesting to find that during the evening of the next day, a lot of cars started passing through the narrow lane and started parking close to the intersections to the residential areas. 

              These were people selling random products such as jewelry, slippers, and the like which were similar to those sold in the stalls lined along the lane during the open hours. Perhaps there was a rule of what time these stores were required to close, and here they were selling again? But the sudden influx of men and women in corporate attire made me wonder if these cars belonged to the people who were stuck in cubicles the whole day but were racket people at night.

            Purple courtyard seemed to be our home base from the succeeding days of eating, walking the entire stretch of 468 meters from north to south side of the lane, and shopping. I could not recall the last time I had spent my days simply eating and shopping. Days on the streets left very much time to observe the people and the culture of the area.

            Mornings in the area was a little bit tricky as cafes or restaurants which served breakfast were limited. But navigating our way through the construction work going around the streets, people on bikes (those sometimes holding on to their phones and talking while biking, others with their respective pets in their bike baskets), and the rest of other random passers-by, we found ourselves a favorite breakfast café. The one thing unique about this one is the barely noticed trace of its alcoholic late-night history and the variety of fresh flowers in pots and vases on its front display. It was a beautiful sight, seeing the flowers, the open windows, the steps leading to the entrance all framed underneath the façade of a traditional hutong.

            The harmony seen in such a vision was likely to be seen in most of the hutongs-restaurants or hutongs-shops. Renovated areas for the store-fronts included the interior and the front area beneath the rafters and rest of the roof assembly of the hutongs. The place felt like a neighborhood, as one may spot residents getting their mail, sweeping the streets or the steps which lead to the entrances of their red residential doors or clear glass store-fronts.

            Mornings also meant seeing bits of major construction or repair work for the electrical lines above the lines of the windows of the hutongs or houses. Construction and renovation was on-going almost everywhere single block. This made me regret not bringing my sun-shades along.

            I knew very “standard” Chinese; well, that was how the family that ran the courtyard we were staying in put it. This mandarin of mine got us around well enough, and even still opened the opportunity of going to shops and food places where there was no English translator in sight. During the unexpectedly very warm noon time, I would be disappointed by the lack of cold beverages the area seemed to have. Iced water, and iced drinks weren’t particularly trendy in Beijing. Drinking hot tea was the norm, and perhaps this was what had to do with the frequent sight of a thin Chinese women clad in what I found to be ill-matched clothing. 

           Seeing one with whose appearance and outfit I would be impressed by was a rarity. I did not understand the sense of aesthetics of the Chinese folk; and such a statement made me wonder how on earth did they create then structures which I would find appealing and in some ways mesmerizing to look at. The residential area had about four public toilets scattered throughout the length of the lane, with appropriate street signs, trash cans. The lady whom I would see everyday collecting bottles and placing them in her basket-stroller would talk to those passing by and specifically ask for their bottles at hand.

            Finding out favorite restaurants and cafes, and talking to the local Beijing folk with my limited Chinese showed them my inclination in respecting their culture and their language. They would mention about the “trouble” between the Philippines and China, but all the hostility our newspapers back at home seemed to speak of was non-existent in Nanluoguxiang. Familiar faces were the waitresses, construction workers, poodle-owners and café-owners. Kindness was something I experienced there everyday whether in the form of one patiently repeating my phrases to teach me proper pronunciation or in the form of restaurant owners giving me free dessert. 

             Of all the little details to fall in love with, or the architecture to gaze at or be wow-ed by, this was one thing that I found surprisingly endearing. In the hustle and bustle of the evolving streets of a small hutong area, and despite the international dispute looming, the Chinese people treated me respectfully and warmly. I believed that’s what makes a foreign culture close to one’s heart more than anything else.

Ethnography 101: My Manila Zoo

I would always ask my college and graduate students in Anthropology, aside from learning anthropological concepts and theories inside the classroom, to explore places, experience cultural or social happenings, and write ethnographic accounts using the participation-observation method. 

I am posting in my blog with the writer's consent selected ethnography penned creatively by my students to contribute to the emerging sub-discipline of anthropology called 'Virtual Ethnography'. 

Photo from theparadoxicleyline.blogspot.com

Basically, virtual ethnography is also referred to as Webnography. We cannot deny the fact that with increasing use of technology and the Internet, there is now a demand for online spaces on ethnographies.

By Elisha Ponio

Pre-Ethnography

           

Before all else, I must say that although I love animals, I dislike the concept of zoos and ocean parks. I’m not trying to be dramatic or anything—it’s just discouraging to consider how something alive and breathing can be reduced to a mere display. More often than not, these displays are coated with dual purposes, such as a zoo which also serves as a rehabilitation area for animals. After all, perhaps there is a noble motive behind this ‘tactic’ in order to put animal activists at ease, and that is to contribute to the welfare of other creatures.

            For this ethnography, I had to try as much as possible to strip myself of my bias against zoos. I had to keep myself open-minded to the possibility that the animals are better off within their cages. It was time to search for proof.

During the Ethnography (in present tense)

            I arrive with some family members at Manila Zoo around 4.45 in the afternoon (the traffic was unbelievable!) on April 25, 2014. It’s a Friday. After we park, we pay the entrance fee (Php100 for adults and Php60 for children below 4 feet). The first thing I notice are the vendors selling green mangoes, popsicles, and other things at the entrance. I step on bubblegum (eew…) when I notice the payphone. I wonder why there’s a payphone here. Heck, I wasn’t even sure payphones still existed in the Philippines, but for some reason it’s a welcoming sight, even more welcoming than the elephant statue nearby.

            The first visitors I see are around 5 children with a couple who is most likely their parents. Then, I notice the big dome-shaped cage filled with birds of different species. First observation? Too many birds, too little space. Though I don’t linger for long since that is supposed to be the last part of the suggested trail.

            We walk to the Asian elephant area. I read the description. Part of it says that only males have tusks. Does that mean poachers kill only male elephants for their tusks? It makes me imagine how many female elephants have been widowed when their husband elephants get killed.

            Maali, the only elephant, is now 40 years old. Has she been trapped her entire life? I don’t know, so I try to approach the man in orange. His name is Kuya Noel, Maali’s keeper for 10 years (wow!). I find out from him that Maali is the only elephant in the Philippines so it’s a privilege for him to work with her. I wonder if she’s aware of the fact that she’s all alone as she chews her grass, the only green against the greyness of her area. There’s elephant dung in three or four spots within her cage. I move on.

            We enter the reptile area. I see the reticulated pythons. The complex, geometric patterns of their bodies (that’s how the sign describes them) amaze me. They are completely still (you’d think they weren’t alive) until I see one of them blink. I step on bubblegum again. A man ahead of me growls at the snakes. A boy beside me growls at them, too. It’s probably because humans, who are usually so afraid of them, now have the liberty to scare these snakes in return, but the snakes remain unmoved.

            Then, I see the turtles. Like the birds, they are so many in such a tiny pond. I peer closely at one of the turtles on the ground and realise she’s burying her egg. It’s a bittersweet sight to see.

            My Dad tells me to check out the hippo. I wonder if I’m dreaming because all I see is a gigantic longganisa. But no, it’s not a longganisa, it’s the hippo. A father nearby says it might be pregnant. I can’t even tell if it’s male or female. Whether it’s a boy or girl, it’s totally cute.

            At the sides, I approach the crocodiles. First observation? Like the snakes, they are completely still. I wonder if they think they’re still alive. Next observation? Their pond is littered with a few plastic bottles and a slipper. My sister claims she saw a Yakult bottle, too. My reaction? Annoyance. I hope their pits and ponds get cleaned soon before they ingest a bottle. Plastic bottles should not be part of a crocodile’s diet.

            The deer aren’t better off either. They don’t have that much trash in their area, but their legs are swarmed with flies; they’re really stinky. There are black pellets all over the ground, and I am appalled at how thin their fur is. Maybe it’s the heat?

            Then there’s a grassier area in the middle. My jaw drops upon seeing this weird hybrid of a brown horse and a zebra. It’s really creepy at first until it stands beside a more normal-looking zebra. They actually look like a couple. Nearby, some sheep stand in the middle, looking lost. They look filthy, not white at all. I can only imagine how hard it must be for the sheep to carry the weight of their dirty wool in this heat. I start crying because I feel bad for the sheep.

            I try to stop crying when we approach the tiger. My Dad thinks it’s pregnant, which is possible because it’s caged and separated from all the other tigers in the zoo that are in a more forest-like area. At first, the tiger is still. It just looks at us, but my Dad (being the crazy person that he is) starts using his baby voice and talks to the tiger. The rest of us laugh at him, but the tiger tries to run after him when he starts to leave. My cousins and I call back my Dad to get the attention of the tiger and we spend thirty minutes just cooing at the tiger and observing its wild antics as it walks on the ledge of its pool, chasing after its huge purple ball. When it jumps, we scream. When it pounces, we scream again. It is just like my pet cats.

            We waste so much energy on the tiger that the lion doesn’t rouse us as much anymore even if it also has a purple (less ragged than the tiger’s) ball. It is as active as the tiger, and it is just as cute. At first, I say it’s a lioness, but my sister points out its mane which has been cut. Too bad it doesn’t look like the real thing anymore because of its lack of a bushy mane. Some metres away, a sign that reads “SMOKING AREA” hangs overhead. I frown. (Why would there be a smoking zone here?)

            Next, I spare a couple of minutes staring at a monkey with red nipples (or was it a baboon?) and another baboon (?) eating a bright yellow mango. They are funny creatures. As for the actual monkeys, I spend more time observing them, trying to see if they act like humans. First observation? They love to hold things. Next observation? The ground has a couple of candy wrappers mixed with branches and stones at the bottom of their pit. I try not to roll my eyes at the litter and instead focus on the monkeys again. They climb the trees and the monkey bars (LOL, monkey bars!) so effortlessly that I wish I could imitate them. Before I move on, I catch a glimpse of a little ‘toddler’ monkey. It is sooooo cute.

            I stop walking when I see and hear two tigers fighting in one of the tiger pits. Their roars are definitely scary but unforgettable. I move along after they stop fighting to check out the hippo again. It’s now submerged in its murky, leaf-covered water. It makes me want to take a bath, too.

            As dusk starts to settle, I find myself back in the bird area. I take my time looking at the different species of eagles, marvelling at how pretty they are. The stench of something like fish hits my nostrils and it makes me ask myself if birds and fishes smell the same. It starts to get noisier by the minute and I wonder what the birds are trying to tell each other. I approach the different owls, taking note of how they perch together with heads bowed low as if they were praying. I try to talk to an eagle owl and it opens an eye at me for a minute before it goes back to ignoring me.

            I’ve reached the end, which is also the beginning. I walk to the merienda area which resembles a cafeteria. A mahogany tree stands nearby, but it’s no ordinary tree. Its sign says, “TREE FOR LIFE” along with the date it was planted here (April 15, 2000) which also happens to be the same day as my sister’s birthday. I continue looking around the merienda area and notice a Nativity scene, a wishing pond, and a statue of some saint. They’re not animals but I guess they’re on display, too.

            Before we leave, I notice the sign at the entrance that says “MANILA ZOO IS A NO SMOKING ZONE” and I suddenly remember seeing a smoking area near the lion’s cage earlier. I wonder if the staff people are aware of how ironic that situation is. I see a suggestion box but it doesn’t enter my mind to tell that to them.

            It’s time to leave now.

Post-Ethnography

           

-          Overall impression: Not clean enough.

-          Are the animals better off in this zoo than in the wild? No.

-          But did I enjoy seeing the animals up close? Half and half. I felt pity mixed with eagerness.

-          Was it worth Php100 after all? Yes, but they’ll have to improve the maintenance.

-          Will I go back? I’ll never know till then.

APPENDIX: FIELD NOTES TAKEN DURING VISIT

(Please don’t mind how fragmented my notes are.)

4.50PM

Entrance fee 100Php, someone selling green mangoes and popsicles. I stepped on bubblegum. A man is playing a flute. There is a payphone. A big elephant statue greets my eyes. There’s a family, a crying child.

4.53PM

Dome-shaped cage. Birds. We were walking at the wrong start. So we walk.

4.55PM

Elephants. females (Asian elephants). Don’t have tusks. So does that mean they kill males only for tusks? Maali is 40. Kuya Noel has been her keeper for 10 years. Dating tauhan ni Kim Atienza. Only elephant in the Phils.

5.01PM

Lots of snake poop. Reticulated python. Complex, geometric pattern. Like a handbag. Orange bug. Everything is still until one of them breathes. No blinking. They are alive, too. Kumpol-kumpol sila. I’m getting the shivers all over. I stepped on bubblegum again. Parang mag-asawa sila, sabi ng Ate sa tabi. Why are they standing? Some guy roars at the snake. Some child roars at the snake.

5.10PM

Painted turtle. They’re so many in such a small place. Laying an egg. Eating. They’re like snakes. Hippo looks like a longganisa from afar. Isa lang yan, wala na? Sabi ng Tatay sa tabi, buntis daw si Hippo. So cute. Still getting shivers. I smell animals.

Anong nandito? Oh shucks, it’s a crocodile!!

There’s cotton on the place, like UP. Still like statues. Are they holding their breaths, too?

Deer hair looks so thin. Deer stood and looked at me. Maraming langaw. Lots of black pellets on the ground. Empty chairs. What is this mangrove? What the hell is that horse? Phil eagle. Horse and zebra. Pregnant zebra? Two sheep. Dirty sheep. I started crying. Little white horse. Tiger is so cute. but small and caged. Pag alis ni kuya tumayo siya. Ball (ragged). The tiger loves my dad. It attacked!!!

Some boy roars at the tiger. When I said bye, it said bye (by meowing??).

5.39PM

Weird poop. Lion. No mane, but it has balls. Don’t bite your cage!!! Ball niya mas ayos kaysa sa tiger.

Manong Guard Jaime is from Bicol. He has a child studying in UP Diliman. Eating mango monkey. WHY IS THERE A SMOKING AREA??!!

5.48PM

Tiger in a much bigger cage. Alone and sleepy. Another tiger: scratchy. Fish: catfish. Sweet and sour, sabi ng Ate sa tabi. Another tiger with tiger. Candy wrappers and litter on the floor of the monkey cage. Monkey bars. They like holding things. Ang daming kalat. What’s that rattling noise? Some monkeys on the tree. One fat monkey with bald patches. There’s a baby monkey!!! Smelly. Fighting tigers!!! Cute hippo in the water.

6.01PM

Boat to the peacock. Pretty birds, eagles? Sea eagle. They run nicely. The birds are so noisy. Wala sa cage? Brahminy Kite bird, so pretty. White droppings everywhere. Smells like fish. Owls are sleeping. Some signs describing the owls are incorrect. They sleep together in the dark with their heads bowed like they’re praying. Some birds aren’t caged. They’re flying overhead. Eagle owl, so fat. It opened an eye and closed it. Such warm brown eyes. It opens from above? The upper eyelid is still.

6.11PM

Different species of birds in one cage. The end is the beginning. Merienda area. Tree for life. Nativity. Souvenirs. Some saint. Posters of missing people.

6.21PM

We are in the car, it’s still traffic, and it feels like I’m caged, too.

Visita Iglesia (Holy Week 2014)

Copyright @ 2014 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.

Chinese boats harvest giant clams, corals

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer

5:31 am | Friday, March 7th, 2014

BAJO DE MASINLOC, Zambales—In this uninhabited shoal, you see the most beautiful hues of green and blue in the waters of the West Philippine Sea. Glistening clear water defines the base of the rocks and reefs. At low tide, fishermen actually walk on them.

At first look, Bajo de Masinloc could be a tourist attraction. Except that it is in the middle of nowhere.
Those who go there see Bajo de Masinloc (internationally known as Scarborough Shoal and locally called Panatag Shoal) as an opportunity for trade and an important territorial marker.

On Thursday, fishing vessels allegedly from China were harvesting giant clams and corals enough to fill their black-and-red mother ship. Chalky smoke rise in the air as the small vessels pulled their catch with ropes.
Nearby were three Chinese Coast Guard ships with bow numbers 3210, 3062 and 3383.

Not far away, Filipino fishing boats milled around, as did what appeared to be two Vietnamese fishing vessels.

“Those are our corals and giant clams,” our pilot said over his headset as he pointed to the haul on the Chinese fishing vessel.

His copilot noted that the men in the smaller vessels were wearing wet suits. “They must have been diving for the harvest,” he said.

Identifying vessels
 
Inquirer photographer Niño Jesus Orbeta was told how to distinguish the vessels from one another: the Philippine-owned boats had “katig” (outriggers); the Vietnamese were slightly rounded; the Chinese were guarded by the Chinese Coast Guard.

A white ship was cruising toward a Filipino fishing vessel when our plane arrived, but stopped when we flew lower.

Our pilot said the foreign vessel did not look like it was going to drive the Filipino vessel away. “The Chinese Coast Guard had already passed the other Filipino vessels and did nothing,” he said.

The scene observed by the Inquirer appeared benign, compared to the standoff between Philippine and Chinese surveillance vessels here in 2012, and to an incident last January, in which  the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannon at Filipino fishermen to drive them away from the shoal.

But the harmful effects of harvesting corals and giant clams, and the slow destruction of the shoal, on the ecosystem are far-reaching.

Also, the steady presence of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels, which number from three to five at any given time, indicates how the Chinese have effectively seized the shoal.

Naval surveillance
 
There was no Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the area. But the Naval Forces Northern Luzon regularly monitors the shoal.

One way of surveillance is through the Naval Air Group under the Philippine fleet of the Philippine Navy.
The Naval Air Group’s maritime surveillance takes place amid questions about who is guarding Philippine territory against China’s incursions and protecting Filipino fishermen.

“The Navy never left Bajo de Masinloc. The Navy aircraft flies there regularly,” Col. Ariel Caculitan, Naval Air Group commander, told the Inquirer in an interview.

Caculitan said the military had not abandoned Bajo de Masinloc, contrary to criticism following the Philippine government’s recalling its ships to ease tension during the 2012 standoff with the Chinese Coast Guard.
The Naval Air Group is one of the military units used by the Armed Forces in guarding the West Philippine Sea.

“We feel good whenever we fly over Bajo de Masinloc. We feel we are doing the honorable thing for the country. There is always a patriot in us,” Caculitan said. “Without singling out any country, our point is, we are protecting what is ours.”

Bajo de Masinloc is a rich fishing ground 220 kilometers off Zambales province. A ship from Zambales traveling at 12 knots would take 10 hours to reach Bajo de Masinloc. At 18 knots, it would take nearly seven hours.

Going to the shoal
 
The Inquirer took a small fixed-wing aircraft for the aerial observation of Bajo de Masinloc that took us nearly four hours, including the 35-minute survey over the disputed shoal.

With nothing to see but clouds in the sky and the sea below, it was easy to doze off. But the static chatter of a man and a woman speaking in what sounded like Chinese, which we heard on our headphones, kept us awake.

The conversation lasted a few minutes then stopped. “They could be fishermen,” our pilot said.

As we neared it, Bajo de Masinloc looked breathtakingly beautiful. And it was quiet on the headphones.
Our first task was to look for the Chinese vessels. They were not hard to spot. The Chinese Coast Guard ships proudly flew their red flags.

The sight of the harvested giant clams and corals only made us gasp.

From Spratlys
 
The huge Chinese fishing vessel reportedly had come from Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), another disputed territory in the Spratly archipelago further south.

The Inquirer learned that two weeks ago, this vessel was spotted in Bajo de Masinloc still without the harvest.

We circled over Bajo de Masinloc three times, once low enough for us to clearly see the fishermen looking up at us.

Each small vessel looked like a house in disarray, with laundry hanging outside and styro boxes stacked all over inside.

Fishermen, we learned, stay in Bajo de Masinloc for weeks, even months, to make the most of the long travel and the rich fishing ground.

“Chinese incursions are actually forms of psychological warfare to confuse us, or simply put, to confuse the enemy. It’s a simple yet sophisticated operational tactic using the art of war, which is employed by our giant neighbor,” Chester Cabalza told the Inquirer when sought for comment last week on the Jan. 27 water cannon incident. 

Cabalza, a professor at the University of the Philippines and the National Defense College of the Philippines, specializes in China affairs. 

Cabalza said the Chinese Coast Guard “didn’t arrest our fishermen because [Bajo de Masinloc] is within the West Philippine Sea.” 

He cited Administrative Order No. 29, Section 1, issued by President Aquino, which defines the extent of the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago and calls the waters there West Philippine Sea.

Messy situation
 
“The West Philippine Sea only refers to the part of the South China Sea within the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and the Bajo de Masinloc. It represents a portion of the South China Sea that the Philippines claims as part of its maritime territory,” Cabalza said. 

For security analyst Jose Antonio Custodio, the Chinese arresting Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc “can lead to a messy situation such as possible loss of life as more lethal weapons may be used to quell the resistance of the Filipino crew.”

“The use of water cannon is considered by the Chinese a more convenient way to drive away the fishermen who are in smaller boats. All the Chinese need to do is to disrupt any fishing operation by the Filipinos, which is easy for them as typical Philippine fishing boats are flimsy and small, compared to the large trawlers of other countries,” Custodio said.

For him, the Philippine government has not placed any deterrence in Bajo de Masinloc “since it is for all intents and purposes being occupied by the Chinese.”
  
Cabalza said the “only way we can place enough deterrence in Panatag Shoal and Ayungin Shoal is through legal means.” 

“Diplomacy and the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos) should prevail. Secondary deterrence would only be the deployment of our Navy and Coast Guard ships to monitor and patrol our maritime territories in Panatag and Ayungin shoals,” he said.

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/99921/chinese-boats-harvest-giant-clams-corals#ixzz2uK0yHT6l

Pinoy Top Thinkers Today (2013)

Copyright @ 2013 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.

This year is one of the defining moments in Philippine history as we survived the wrath of Mother Nature when we were hit by the biggest tropical storm (Yolanda / Haiyan) in the world. The undefined storm surge that nearly wiped out people and properties in Central Visayas was awful yet the indomitable human spirit of Filipinos remains forever resilient that is strongly etched to the minds of all citizens around the world. We are also thankful to every individual, that in moments like this, we see helping hands of people from all walks of life extended by the international community to come and unite together and instill to all of us the core values of humanity – that is to help and support people regardless of citizen or color, in times of dire need.  

This cycle also saw terrifying earthquakes devouring and annihilating iconic centuries-old colonial churches, persistent catastrophic cyclones and floods, unresolved secessionist sieges based on historical claims, continuous tug-of-war in maritime territories with a big brother neighbor, and a disappointing massive systemic corruption in the legislative and executive branches of the government courtesy of the pork barrel until the judiciary ruled that pork barrels are unconstitutional. 

What a year we all had! But we remained strong and steadfast! 

But as they always say, at the end of the tunnel there is always light. This hope laid in the successive triumphs and laurels of honor brought home by world-class Filipino sportsmen – notably basketball players and boxers. Also the consecutive wins of Pinay beauty queens spur boisterous cheers among our kababayans. Other reality contestant, artists, broadcast journalists, and independent filmmakers excelled in their own fields and made our country proud, thus, their achievements may be counted as blessings and inspiration in a beleaguered country. With all these international achievements – the Philippines can now be called as home of beautiful women and beastly men for their beauty and brains and Herculean might! 

Industrialists also shine as they continuously contribute much in pouring investments to our emerging economy, few dedicated bureaucrats embrace public service conscientiously, and true academics clearly analyze the mid-term election this year topped by a neophyte politician hoping that she might bring credence to the graft-tainted image of our congress. 

But the real big winner this year is represented by myriad of voices of awakened Filipino middle class taxpayers and netizens who call for transparency and honesty on how our taxes are adversely spent and thoughtlessly wasted by greedy politicians with their dishonest cohorts. And to Filipino survivors of all kinds of natural disasters who braved storm surge, super typhoons, and earthquakes. They taught us to remain strong and alert. Despite trauma and sadness, Filipino survivors know how to smile to show their inner strength and indomitable spirit.   

This is my sixth year of celebrating and admiring living global Filipino intellectuals and talents. The tradition of recognizing Filipino thinkers and sages here and abroad is a living testament that this country still overflows with bright people, colorful leaders, and gifted talents honed by experience, dedication, and big hearts. Although, not all of them may be blessed with genius minds, some of them learned from big mistakes, and are now spreading inspiration and transformation. But most of them walk the talk of excellence and honor – affirming the incessant intellectual tradition of our global Filipino community.   

     

Below is my roster of Filipino top thinkers today with their surnames in alphabetical order:

Arsenio Balisacan (NEDA director general) – he’s a top-notch economist and formerly dean of the UP School of Economics. As current director general of the National Economic and Development Authority and concurrently socio-economic planning secretary of the country, he is optimistic that the emerging economy status of the Philippines will beat the target growth this fruitful year. A Magna cum laude from the Mariano Marcos State University with BS Agriculture, armed with MS Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, and a PhD in Economics degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, this seasoned academic helped the country turn-around economically, stating that with strong macroeconomic fundamentals, PH has the means to manage risks that may arise with volatilities, including those of the stock market and our currency. Dr Balisacan worked before with World Bank in Washington DC, taught at Australian National University as adjunct professor, reached the rank of full professor at UP Diliman, became the president of the Philippine Economic Society, elected as Academician to the National Academy of Science and Technology, and the incumbent president of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists.  

Kenneth Cobonpue (architect, industrial designer) – his love for the country was highlighted when he rendered his pro bono service to overhaul the country’s oldest gateway – the NAIA Terminal One. I remember writing an article in my blog about his patriotic service at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/06/off-record-smile-naia.html. In his website, he identified himself as a multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer from Cebu. He graduated in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in New York with highest honors and subsequently worked in Italy and Germany. In one TV show interview, he admitted that he flunked the UP Fine Arts entrance exam. But Conbonpue morphed to become a genius and his brand has become one of the very few Filipino brands known around the world, as he described in his website, for its unique designs and roster of clientele would include Hollywood celebrities including Brad Pitt and members of royalty. He is also teaching industrial design at the University of the Philippines in Cebu. As a kid, he liked inventing his own toys and he foresees future inventions and innovations on local cars. He received countless accolades and awards in Japan, Singapore, HongKong, USA, UK, and France. He appeared in European TV shows for his designs, oftentimes invited for interviews among respected magazine in the world. TIME Magazine described him “rattans first virtuoso” in 2007. For me, his outstanding creativity and gifted mind is indeed overwhelmingly admirable. 

Nicole Curato (political sociologist) – the beauty and brains assistant professor of sociology lightened up cable and television networks in the recently concluded midterm election. She earned a PhD in Political Sociology at the University of Birmingham, a master’s in Sociology with distinction from the University of Manchester in United Kingdom, and currently teaches qualitative research methods and classical sociological theory at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, penned about her in a blog called PinoyScientists. In a UP sa Halalan 2013 website, it was written that before joining UP, she was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the Australian National University. In her article posted at Rappler last May and updated in August, she succinctly deemed that, “at a time when good governance and transparency have become popular discourses, it has been common to associate intelligent votes with reform-oriented votes. It can be observed from past elections that there has been an increasing emphasis on voting based on track record, platform and integrity.” I hope she continues educating Filipino voters to become smart in choosing our leaders. Definitely, she will trek a long path and colorful career as a respected academic. 

Ernesto Domingo (Ramon Magsaysay awardee) – the national scientist and medical doctor says that medicine is about caring and not just curing illness. His empathy and personal feeling to his patients became legendary when he was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award on medical science. He also claimed that medicine is a social science because doctors have to deal with real people afflicted with different illnesses and confide with their family members and loved ones. Dr Domingo was honored by the RM board of trustees “for his exemplary embrace of the social mission, his steadfast leadership in pursuing ‘health for all’ as a shared moral responsibility of all sectors, and his ground-breaking successful advocacy for neonatal hepatitis vaccination, thereby saving millions of lives in the Philippines.” The citation was inscribed in his honor for designing and implementing the Philippine General Hospital Specialty Fellowship Program, by establishing the Clinical Epidemiology Unit, and in organizing the Liver Study Group in doing research on viral hepatitis for which the findings have been adopted by the Department of Health in developing the policy on hepatitis B immunization in the country. The professor emeritus of the UP College of Medicine also served as UP Manila’s chancellor, faculty regent, and one of the distinguished academics in the university who lectured for UP Centennial Lecture Series.    

Prospero de Vera III (public administration professor) – he is an internationally recognized political analyst and opinion maker whose views have been extensively quoted by the foreign and local print and broadcast media, according to a write-up in UP sa Halalan 2013. Definitely, his incisive and critical comments on Philippine elections in quad-media are sources of news and information. He used to work under different senators before carving a niche in the academe. Dr Popoy de Vera currently sits as the Vice President for Public Affairs of the University of the Philippines, a full professor of public administration, and an expert on campaign platforms and strategy, finance, political dynasties, local elections, social media and elections, and partylist. He was a Fulbright-Hays visiting scholar to the University of Southern California and California State University. Still in the UP website, it was written that Prof de Vera was the first Filipino recipient of a California State Assembly Resolution commending his work at the California Legislature in 1992. Dr de Vera became Senior Fulbright Visiting Professor and Fellow at the John Hopkins University. He was also sent as either member or adviser to various Philippine delegations to the 1994 UN International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, Egypt; the 1995 UN World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen; the 1996 UN World Food Summit in Rome; and the 2002 UN Special Session on Children in New York. 

Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada (mayor, former Philippine president) – this Atenean alumnus and engineering drop-out from Mapua Institute of Technology destined to become a popular and influential actor, one of the longest-serving politicians, former president of the country, and is now back in the mainstream as the city mayor of topsy-turvy Manila – Philippines’ capital city. Standing as a formidable patriarch of the Estrada/Ejercito clan, his colorful life added with a continuing saga to shock his detractors and help Filipino masses has never faltered. His strong presence and charisma in Philippine politics cannot be underestimated. He was the first president of the republic almost impeached by the senate, undergone house arrest for graft cases, pardoned by a former and another thief president currently undergoing a hospital arrest, served the shortest presidency since the post-Marcos regime, first actor turned president, longest serving mayor, and he also served a senator, congressman, and vice president of the country. He has been criticized for his immorality and decadence as a politician before, but this transformed president-mayor is beginning to redeem himself as he tries to clean up and bring back the past glory of Manila City. He pushed radical changes and walk the talk of his policies on traffic rules in his jurisdiction which earned positive feedback among Manilans. His vision and the discipline he is trying to imbibe to Manila are favorable and hopefully he will successfully revive the vibrancy, identity, history, and beauty of Manila. But is there something fishy when Erap recently visited his presidential successor at her lair?

Voltaire Gazmin (national defense secretary) – he is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines for his primary and secondary schooling. A Vanguard and chose Chemistry for two years in UP before entering the Philippine Military Academy in 1964. He finished his Command and General Course at the US Army Command and General Staff College in 1985 and graduated cum laude after completing his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Manuel L Quezon University in 1990. He became the 35^th secretary of national defense after a six-year retirement from public service. Retired Lieutenant General Gazmin served the Philippine Army for almost 32 years of his career until he became the 40^th commander of the said military service. But he first gained national prominence in 1986 as a disciplinarian Commander of the Presidential Security Group of then President Corazon Aquino. This stint gave him the chance to work with Cory’s son, now President Benigno Aquino III, for his loyalty to the Aquino family.  Formerly appointed as Ambassador to Cambodia from 2002-2004. Perhaps his exposures for his diplomatic acumen and outstanding public service helped him contentiously in his current career as national defense secretary particularly on how he defended national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines against a giant neighboring country and local secessionist groups. His straightforward opinions and serious façade in dealing with national security issues are curiously followed by the local and international media. His stance and revived policy of mandatory requirement for the military officers seeking promotion to be a one-star general to take the rigorous Master in National Security Administration course turned controversial yet fruitful for the country’s armed forces. Certainly, this will legitimize his legacy in his effort to continuously educate and professionalize future generals of the armed forces.  

Kim Jacinto-Henares (internal revenue commissioner) – she’s the lifeblood of the tax revenue office. Her reformist and tough policies may have caused frictions with our national fist Pacman or top celebrities including Judy Ann Santos, Regine Velasquez, and Richard Gomez, or other big time tax evaders. But never mess with the topnotcher in the qualifying exam for accountancy in DLSU, an honor student in the law school at ADMU, and an alumna of Georgetown University for her Master of Laws (LLM). Her conservative training at home, love for debates and numbers, paved her path as commissioner of the controversial Bureau of Internal Revenue. This former senior private sector development specialist of World Bank loves what men like including shooting, carpentry, and plumbing according to an interview done by Bianca Gonzalez. For ones, we see some reforms in one of the most corrupt agencies in the government, and we hope that her leadership would become a precedence for better management of our taxes as this lifeblood of the economy translate into better services for Filipinos.   

Filipino Survivors of Natural Disasters (true survivors) – second lives, second chances. They are the true survivors in real life. The power to hope and survive amidst raging super typhoon and unpredictable earthquake is a miracle and a gift. One needs alertness and presence of mind added with strong prayers and faith to live again. Many of them feared death as they have become victims of mother nature’s wrath. They may have wept so heavily during the darkest hours of their lives, but by learning one or more of their family members, friends, and relatives have died or missing after the natural disasters, is more traumatic. That is more painful that surviving the catastrophe. With the deadly quake in touristic places devouring and destroying infamous and centuries-old landmark churches, and the biggest tropical storm to hit the world this year wiping out an entire city and nearby towns and provinces – the world have seen the indomitable strength and spirit of Filipino people. The smile, humor, resiliency, and will to survive of Filipinos showed that despite catastrophes we will survive! We are also thankful to all countries around the world for all the relief goods, donations, moral support, help in kind, and showing the core of humanity in a country raked by series of natural disasters, yet its people remain steadfast and survivors! 

Nur Misuari (MNLF founder) – where is Misuari? The founder of the MNLF may be missing again but this year he made boisterous news when his followers initiated a standoff in Zamboanga (read my blog about the Zamboanga siege at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/09/zamboanga-siege.html). Nuruladji Misuari, popularly known as Nur Misuari, was born from Sulu of ethnic Yakan-Tausug descent. He became an exceptional leader in his pursuit of establishing an independent and sovereign Islamic state in Mindanao. He represented the ideological leaning of the Bangsa Moro movement. His enlightenment of the Moro struggle began as a scholar and student activist under the Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison in the University of the Philippines. There he preached his provocative thoughts on secessionism and Moro liberation as a passionate youth. He remained steadfast in his calling as a Moro social reformer and attracted young Muslim militants in his efforts to organize political and armed units in all the Muslim inhabited regions. Misuari ably concocted the Bangsamoro by proliferating it as an academic discourse at the height when the government heavily battled protracted guerilla warfare with communists. It can therefore be deemed that his founded organization was influenced by the social and political contexts of his time.  He also taught in UP, thus, Professor Misuari’s persuasion to arm struggle tentatively ended by virtue of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, an international binding contract signed by President Marcos, as MNLF espoused to the recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Philippines in exchange for the establishment of an autonomous government in Southern Philippines.

Veronica Pedrosa (journalist) – from BBC to CNN to Al Jazeera – she’s a top Filipino news anchor in various international news organizations. She may have acquired that unique accent but she’s a real Pinay by heart. In her interview with http://www.interaksyon.com, she admits that what defines a Filipino is what binds us and what dreams unite us. She was born in the Philippines by a diplomat father and a biographer mother, grew up in London, but proudly carries a Filipino passport until now despite having been married to a foreigner. In the same interview, she confessed that she learned to pray in Tagalog and sing nationalist hymns of God and country. She was enchanted by the possibility that she could really belong with Fellow Pinoys in Europe, who worked so hard and missed their families so much. She graduated from Cambridge University with an MA (Hons) in English. In one of the blogs http://www.illustradolife.com, she is described as, she whose typical day at work includes interviewing the world’s movers and shakers — Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta and President Xanana Gusmao, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and Philippine Presidents Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — as well as covering events that shape the world’s socio-political landscape, from the Bali bombings and the infamous SARS to the Beijing Olympics and Barack Obama’s celebrated win. But Veronica discloses that at one point, she considered the thought of becoming a social worker. And though her mother, print journalist Carmen Navarro-Pedrosa, did inspire her about “the power of telling a story,” it was only when she came back to the Philippines that she began writing her own story as a broadcast journalist.

Grace Poe (senator) – she is a senatorial topnotcher in the recently concluded midterm election. Her regal and royal ancestry comes from the country’s show business with whom she was adopted and raised conscientiously by the King and Queen of Philippine movies. She is a new breed in the topsy-turvy senate with high expectations from the masses who voted for her. Now that pork barrel in congress has been abolished, we expect that public service-oriented senators will truly lead the country. Her balanced heart and mind will surely win her into higher office in the future if she fulfills her true mandate to the people. As debater in school, she’s persuasive in articulating her thoughts about social issues. As a former MTRCB chair, she has gained respect and showed proper authority in handling one of the most controversial government agencies and delivered good results during her brief stint. She reformed the classification system for movies and television, provided institutional support to independent film makers, and brought together government agencies and media organizations in order to protect the interests of children. All these accomplishments she achieved without calling attention to herself. In her own website http://www.gracepoe.ph/biography, she shares her father’s (Fernando Poe Jr) passion to serve and desire to help the poor. Like her father, she understands that poverty can break the Filipino family and bring great harm to our children. Grace Poe sees the need to focus poverty alleviation efforts on the family as a basic social institution. She wants government to take a more active role in helping children of poor families. She believes that the future of our nation depends on the kind of citizens these children will become. She studied Political Science from Boston College in the US and finished two years of Development Studies in UP Manila. 

Enrique Razon (industrialist) – he’s one of the most engaging Filipino billionaires today. Ports tycoon Enrique Razon, also know in the business world as “EKR” runs the newest glitzy casino hotel Solaire in the reclaimed Entertainment City. After bringing his port terminal operations to other parts of the globe, this middle-aged business magnate is scouting for local and overseas expansion opportunities for his gaming-hotel. Imagine the local and international employment it will generate for his growing and expanding conglomerates. According to http://business.inquirer.net, based on Forbes magazine’s listing of richest people in the country, the 52-year-old Razon was this year’s biggest gainer as his wealth surged by $2 billion to $3.6 billion with his investment in Bloomberry. He took over the International Container Terminal Services, Incorporated (ICTSI), the Philippine port-handling giant, at age 27, has built significant port terminal operations in Asia before expanding into Europe, North America, and the Middle East. He divested from the newspaper business after acquiring the shares of the Yuchengco family and Soriano group ten years ago to become the head of the Kamahalan Publishing Corporation and Kagitingan Printing Press, Inc. Lastly, he has a soft heart for players from the De La Salle University Green Archers and for which he offers scholarship grant named as “Enrique Razon Athletic Scholarship Endowment Fund.” 

Chot Reyes (Gilas national coach) - don't mess with Chot Reyes! His new book 11 Days in August recently called attention when it was launched at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to walk us through from first hand information about the hardship, success,  and inspiring journey of our country's best cagers Gilas Pilipinas - the country's premiere national basketball team. I knew Reyes has a big heart as I wrote in my blog (http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/pinoy-top-thinkers-today-2011.html) when the classic game of David and Goliath in the hardcourt inspired millions of Pinoy hoops fans around the world as we won in the die or never game in FIBA Asia. The electrifying sea wave of basketball devotees cheered to their last breath in the intensifying game ever by Team Philippines against giant South Korea. This win made Gilas Pilipinas a true champ, a household name, and an inspiration to a country known as the basketball capital in the world in social media . Reyes, a proud alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University also pursued Masters in Business Administration at the Edinburgh Business School in Scotland, United Kingdom, is a key factor in leading the team Gilas Pilipinas to our long-lost desire to bring back the golden years of Philippine National Basketball Team. Please, bring more honor and glory to the country as you prepare your way to Spain! Big hearts can indeed move mountains. 

Erik Spoelstra (NBA winning coach) – he’s like the Pinoy rockstar in the National Basketball Association. He is a strategist in the basketball court, a real kingpin in the hard court for leading the successful win of his team in his first five seasons as head coach. He has guided Miami Heat to five consecutive playoff appearances including trips from 2011 to 2013 NBA Finals and winning back to back the Championship in 2012 and 2013, consecutively. He studied at a Jesuit high school in Oregon, received basketball scholarships when he reached college, and eventually attended University of Portland. His soft heart for the Philippines manifested when super typhoon Haiyan wrecked Visayas region and he organized friendly games to raise funds for the survivors of the disaster. His making big at NBA proves that mixed Filipino descent can excel in one of the biggest sports in the world and think big as a winning coach of basketball. Recently, Nat Geo featured a series of documentary about Filipinos’ love for the basketball game. We Pinoys have a soft heart for sports especially basketball. We bet, we revel, we cry, and we idolize our sports icons and we love the best games they strongly play. Sports is the unifying element in our complex Filipino society since it bridges any political and social divide.

Jessica Soho (broadcast journalist) – a phenomenal comedian maliciously attacked her in one concert via character assassination, but Jessica Soho is bigger than life. She gained more sympathy from the public and the comedian later on delivered a public apology after he was condemned for his actuations. But she said that hopefully his apology was done in good faith. She is a well-respected and multi-awarded broadcast journalist, a Peabody awardee, and media executive of the Kapuso station. Her State of the Nation flagship news program in GMA News TV is her triumph and defining moment this year as it opened more intelligent and participative delivery of news, views, opinion, and information. Her incisive analysis on exclusive coverage and comprehensive news of the day are presented with credibility. She is idolized by the youth as a consistent awardee of Anak TV and loved by Philippine media. Soho is a proud alumna of the University of the Philippines and a distinguished Pinay for her massive contributions to broadcast journalism and society as a whole. She is the first Filipina to win the British Fleet Journalism Award. In 2011, I included her in my list as one of Pinoy top thinkers, stating that she is probably the most-trusted female Filipino broadcast-journalist today. Filipinos from all walks of life listen to her stories and her insurmountable credibility cannot be stained by her counterparts (read part of my citation about her at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/pinoy-top-thinkers-today-2011.htm).

Filipino Taxpayers (genuine reformers) – the million people marchers have spoken! Last August, as I documented in my blog about the so called ‘The Grand Eyeball’ at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-grand-eyeball-filipino-middle-class.html, a spontaneous anti-corruption movement led by Filipino middle class converged through the power of the social media against greedy politicians who are misusing public funds are gaining waves of support as vigilant taxpayers outburst their sentiments in celebration of the National Heroes’ Day. Peoples from different walks of life or supposedly President Aquinos's bosses are disgusted by the rampant corruption and malversation of public funds by public officials. Because of this, PDAF has been decided unconstitutional by the judiciary and the Congress scraped the pork barrel! Truly, the Voice of the People is the Voice of God! In another entry in my blog about ‘Abolishing the Pork Barrel’ at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/abolish-pork-barrel.html, I insinuated that as a Filipino taxpayer, I am enraged by this perennial corrupt practice of our politicians. Filipinos for sure are also very angry. Politicians identified in the recent pork barrel scam were the forefront personalities who disrobed a corrupt and ousted chief justice. Where is ethics and morals of public service? Thanks to social media for empowering every Juan dela Cruz who has access to the Internet and to the media ninjas (read my article about media ninjas at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/08/media-ninja-are-you-one-of-them.html), for their courage showed by myriads Filipino netizens of today who have the power to enter the realm of cyberspace! We have become more critical to social commentaries of national, regional, and global importance. Certainly, these potentials of empowerment will definitely aid us to converge together and present real stories in the information superhighway. It is our mission to foster citizen journalism in our deterritorialized world.

Amando Tetangco Jr (BSP governor) – there’s a reason to celebrate why the Philippines sits on top of the ASEAN economy today. One of the men behind this success is the incumbent governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. He is the first BSP governor to have served two administrations. From a career central banker to a top honcho of the BSP, Tetangco graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with AB Economics cum laude and MA in Public Policy and Administration from University of Wisconsin in Madison, USA. He has been named Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia by the financial magazine Emerging Markets in 2012 and Central Banker of the Year for Asia-Pacific in 2013 by the Banker of The Financial Times Ltd. He wanted to become a doctor and then lawyer but he turned out to become a successful banker. This manifestation of accomplishments is a living testament that the international community affirms and recognizes his skills in conducting monetary policy and bank regulation. In a report by http://business.inquirer.net, the BSP under his leadership has issued several bank regulatory reforms, such as on risk management, capitalization increases, and asset quality, among others. On monetary-policy side, it has continued enhancing its modeling and strategies for managing inflation.

 

Jonathan Allen Yabut (Apprentice Asia winner) - he credited his success in the stressful yet awesome reality show of Apprentice Asia to his Filipino style of doing things – diskarte. It’s true that when he further elaborated this ambiguous concept there’s no exact translation of it. This is a uniquely Filipino attitude or philosophy to survive and solve any given situation or problem. In the show, Jonathan’s eloquent tongue in English language and uncompromising confidence in managing various challenges exuded his positive outlook and high intellect. Although, there are times in some episodes where his weaknesses apparently shown obvious, still he can refute intellectually his gaffes and stand up confident all throughout. Jonathan Yabut, an economics graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman, made our country proud as the first Asian apprentice! (Read my blog about his winning streak at http://cbclawmatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/philippines-in-apprentice-asia.html). As part of his prize, he now works as one of the managers of Malaysia’s tycoon Mr Fernandes’ Air Asia.  

Meagan Young (Miss World 2013) – when the Philippines rules the world! Indeed, the Philippines is now the center of gravity as the land of beautiful and smart women with beastly and strong Filipino men reaping success as best boxers in the world! Meagan carved history as the first Filipina to win the elusive crown of Miss World. Her sincerity and kindness buoyed her up to where she is now. This year affirmed that Filipina beauties and wit are world class and has a league of its own by topping and placing runners-up in this year’s biggest and prestigious beauty pageants. According to Yahoo! News 2013 Year in Review – three stunning Pinay beauty queens dominated spectacular titles. Leading the list is Meagan Young who won the Miss World in Indonesia, Mutya Johanna Datul who went home with the Miss Supranational crown in Belarus, and Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International in Japan. Ariella Arida placed Miss Universe fourth runner up in Russia, Joanna Cindy Miranda made it to the top ten of Miss Tourism Queen International in China, and Annalie Forbest finished fourth in the Miss Grand International in Thailand (read news at http://ph.news.yahoo.com/photos/year-in-review-2013-filipinos-in-int-l-pageants.html). It seems that Philippine candidate Angelee Claudett delos Reyes of Miss Earth organized in the country did not win the title but she was among in the top eight. And as we welcome the new year, the Philippines adds another beauty queen title holder when Angeli Dione Gomez crowned as Miss Tourism International in Malaysia succeeding a Pinay beauty and brains who won in the previous year. Going back to Meagan, as the reigning Miss World, she promised to become the best Miss World ever, and it seems her promise is paying off as she continuously promotes her mission to spread with sincerity the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’. She made several charity works for victims of a typhoon in her home province in Subic and organized fund raising for Haiyan survivors in London.