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Last Sunday morning in Cebu, the sun shone brightly complementing the high energy being felt on the ground.

A little rainfall served to cool the atmosphere a bit.

As early as six in the morning spectators started to gather along the route of the parade — the main streets of Cebu and in Fuente Osmeña Circle.

And as the day progressed, more and more spectators lined up along the streets for vantage position to watch  the  performances from about 50 contingents competing, 24 floats from media organizations, different products and services, 37 puppeteers from students, companies and individuals and the 24 higante (giant) models.

It was the grand event in Cebu’s Sinulog festival celebrated every third Sunday of  January.

Sinulog is a Cebuano word that means “like water current movement;” the term describes the forward and backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound made by the accompanying band.

The highlight is the  grand parade and competition in the main streets of Cebu and in Fuente Osmeña Circle.

The main judging of each contingent took place at the Cebu City Sports Complex. For the street dance competition, judges were scattered along the path of the grand parade.  Contingents  stopped and performed their street dance routine along the way.

There were two different categories for the main Sinulog dance competition; the Sinulog-based, which is the traditional dance, and the free interpretation, which allows the participants their own interpretation of what was relevant to Sinulog.

One contingent performed a wedding- inspired number. Almost a hundred dancers swayed at each other portraying an image of provincial matrimonial ceremonies.

Another contigent danced  the Indonesian Papuan tribal war dance. They were a sight to behold and the performance breathtaking.

A teacher in Mambaling Elementary School of Mambaling, Cebu City, whose contingent participated in the free interpretation category, said that they have been rehearsing as early as November for this momentous event, and mid-December, they rehearsed from Friday until Sunday.

“We asked the students to come to the school as early as two in the morning to do one more run through of our performance and to finish their make-up, in time for the six in the morning call time of the contingents,”she said.

Their street performance was one of the most applauded as the students, grades four to six, danced in high energy, smiling widely.

The Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, who has been winning the top spot for two years in the Sinulog-based category, was back, in a prayer dance. Almost half of their dancers were first timers consisting of high school and college students.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said Cebu deserves to be called Festival Island.

The festival has come a long way since the first Sinulog parade in 1980 when David Odilao, then Regional Director of Sports and Youth Development, assembled a group of students and dressed them as moro-moro and learned the Sinulog dance with the beat of the drums.

The winners for this year’s event:

Sinulog-based category:
1st – Culturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate (P1 million)
2nd — Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City (P500,000)
3rd — Carcar City (P300,000)
4th — Sta. Catalina of Negros Oriental (P200,000)
5th — Abellana National High School (P100,000)

Free interpretation:
1st – Tribu Lingganay of Alang-alang, Leyte (P1 million)
2nd – Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate (P500,000)
3rd – Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte (P300,000)
4th – Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas (P200,000)
5th – Toledo National Vocational School (P100,000)

Best in street dance:
1st — Carcar City (P1 million)
2nd — Tribu Sinanduloy of tangub City (P500,000)
3rd — Culturang Placereño (P300,000)

Best in float:
1st — International Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2nd — M. Lhuillier
3rd — Rose Pharmacy

Puppeteer category:
1st — Angelique Mae Aranas
2nd — Giovanni Abos
3rd — University of Cebu Main Animation

Higante Category:
1st — Arnulfo Enjambre

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

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Amid chants of Viva Pit Senyor! (or Long live the Christ child!), about a hundred thousand devotees of the Holy Child joined  Saturday’s  grand foot procession in Cebu City— the eve of the Feast of the Sto. Niño.

In the island province of Cebu in southern Philippines, the most celebrated feast and patron is the Sto. Niño, an icon in the Roman Catholic faith  symbolizing the child Jesus Christ. Devotees pray to him for different petitions, and to give thanks for all the blessings they have received.

Although the Sto. Niño is not the official patron saint of Cebu, the Cebuanos still continue to celebrate the feast of the child patron with much gusto. (Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, declared Our Lady of Guadalupe as the principal patroness of Cebu in 2002.)

The Sto. Niño statue in Cebu is believed to be the oldest religious image in the Philippines, donated by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon in 1521. The statue is said to be miraculous because it survived a great fire in 1565.

On the third Saturday of January each year, people gather at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Cebu — the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country, to attend the novena in honor of the child Jesus, and the grand foot procession that follows.

The grand procession is the most awaited by the Cebuanos and Catholic devotees, next to the Sinulog Festival, which pays tribute to the Cebuano’s acceptance of Roman Catholicism and also held to honor the Sto. Niño.

According to the organizing committee, this year’s procession passed a  longer 6.8-kilometer route. The change was intended to give many people the opportunity to feel what it was like for the Sto. Nino procession to pass by their homes.

Devotees paraded along the main streets of Cebu, carrying their own Sto. Niño statues. Those without statues simply swayed their raised hands from left to right while the band played tunes that gave praise to the Holy infant.

Spectators eagerly flashed their cameras as  they lined the sidewalks of Cebu’s main streets, secured by ropes and guarded by volunteers and ROTC students.

The procession started around one in the afternoon and ended at past seven in the evening.

Manang Ella, who has been a Sto. Niño devotee since her husband passed away, said that this yearly procession is the Cebuano’s way of showing the most miraculous patron their appreciation and gratitude for the countless blessings He has given them.

For her, the sacrifice of walking from the Basilica up to the city center and then back to the church, is also her way of making up for the weekends and months she had failed to attend mass.

Manang Ella always brings her old black Sto. Niño to the yearly procession. Even if the gold-plated crown and accessories of the statue are already tarnished, she refuses to buy a new one because she had that statue in her possession for so many years, and it has given her countless blessings.

For many of the Cebuanos, it doesn’t matter how their Sto. Niños look like. Some of them only have the small ones usually seen near the wind shields of taxis and jeepneys.

They are thankful for the blessings they have received because of  their faith and  devotion to the Christ child.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

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Tomorrow, January 15, the main streets of Cebu City will reverberate to the sound of revelry as residents and visitors  dance in the grand parade of the Sinulog festival.

The Sinulog festival is the most awaited event in Southern part of the Philippines that is held annually in the city of Cebu. The celebration pays tribute to the Cebuano’s acceptance of Roman Catholicism and to honor the Santo Niño.

Sinulog comes from the Cebuano word that means, “like water current movement”, the term describes the forward and backward movement of the Sinulog dance.

The festival features a street parade with participants in attractive, colored costumes and props dancing to the eclectic beat of the Sinulog theme.

The Sinulog Festival started in 1980 organized by the government of Cebu City to attract more tourists. The first Sinulog parade was composed of students dressed as Moros accompanied by the festive street drums, dancing the “Sinulog”. Today, contingents come from different parts of the Philippines, not only to perform and compete for the top prize but also to honor and show their gratitude to the Santo Niño.

Tourists from all over the country and visiting foreigners, gather along the stretch of Fuente Osmeña, the middle of Cebu City, to witness the parade contingents dance their way to Cebu City Sports Complex where the main judging is usually held.

Sinulog festival runs from December 1 until the end of January. The best time for a tourist, or a first-timer in Cebu to visit the Queen City, is towards the third week of January, where the activities are back-to-back; from the cultural shows, processions, the Sinulog festival queen competition, fireworks, mardi gras and of course, the grand parade.

One of the festival highlights is the Sinulog Festival Queen.

Sporting her Santo Niño inspired gown, this year’s winner is Apriel D. Smith from Cebu City, she was chosen as the Sinulog festival Queen over the 13 other candidates. She also won several awards; Miss PLDT, Best Sinulog festival Costume, Best Costume and Best Costume Performer. She took home P50,000 for winning the title.

And on the third Sunday of January, the Grand Sinulog Parade will dominate the streets of Cebu. The breathtaking floats, colorful and intricate costumes will fill the crowded streets. The parade contingents will give a world-class performance in the streets and in the complex that will leave each expectator wanting for more.

And last year’s winner was Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City who won Grand Champion in the Sinulog based Category, best in Street Dancing and best in Musicality.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

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The ANC 2011 Yearend Special is a one-hour special that mixes the biggest political, business and social media developments of the year.

It summarizes the key events and how it affected the lives of Filipinos.

December 30, 2011

Host: Pinky Webb
Executive Producer: Francis Toral
Associate Producer: Patrick King Pascual
Director: Rommel Pedrealba
Writers: Acor Arceo
Rachel Hermosura
Monica Magpantay
Mimi Ong
Jekki Pascual
Segment Producers/Researchers: Biena Magbitang
Mark Patal
Coordinator: Janet Jimenez
Editing/Master Editor: Almin John Capiz
Graphics: Toffee Dimalanta
Original Score: Alfred Ongleo
Edwin Ortega
Sound Engineer: Aenid John Pajo
Cameramen: Nathan Abrio
Aris Cancino

December 30, 2011/ 7pm

ABS-CBN News Channel

December 30, 2011/ 7pm

ABS-CBN News Channel

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December 1 is World AIDS Day.

In the Philippines, World AIDS Day is commemorated with concern that the number of HIV cases and deaths from AIDS-related illnesses continues to rise although on the decline in other parts of the world.

A Global AIDS Report released recently by the UNAIDS observed there has been a 25 percent decline in HIV infections and AIDS-related illness and deaths, and that countries who have given enough funding and attention to the problem have stabilized the rise, spread and deaths caused by the virus.

Merceditas Apilado, a UNAIDS social mobilization adviser, said the Philippines is “one of the exceptions …and the number of HIV infections and AIDS cases in the country continues to rise, and not lessen.”

The UNAIDS in Manila said the Philippines has not been making any progress in controlling and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

UNAIDS noted that available programs in the country are not properly manned and fully supported by the government. They are either “underfunded or totally unfunded” and are unable to cope with the continuous rise of HIV/AIDS cases in the country.

In Metro Manila, the three available hubs for counselling and treatment of HIV patients are getting more and more saturated so that the most prominent of the three has imposed a 50-outpatient cut off every week. This forces the remaining patients who are cut off to travel even farther to the other hubs or wait another week for their check up.

In Cebu, the number of HIV positive patients doubled compared to the previous years. A government hospital, which is now a treatment hub for HIV patients, is adjusting their services to accommodate the number of patients who want to avail of the free counselling and medical attention the government is offering.

In Davao, the Reproductive Health and Welfare Center reported that there are 12 new HIV and AIDS-related screened and diagnosed cases every month. There are at least 36 HIV positive patients who seek free medical services every quarter in the said hub, showing a triple increase from the previous years.

An HIV positive patient who reaches the borderline CD4 count is advised by the doctors to start taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). After a series of counselling, the patient will start a three-month trial and will be closely monitored for possible side effects.

The antiretroviral therapy is a combination of two to three drugs, which a patient needs to take for life. The primary goal is to stay on the first-line drugs and not to progress to the second- or third-line drugs.

A physician in one of the treatment hubs said that the cost of the first-line generic drug in the commercial market is at least P9,000-up for a month’s supply while the second- and third-line drugs are even more expensive.

ARVs are provided for free by the Global Fund to the Philippine government through the Department of Health (DOH). This assistance from the Global Fund will end by 2012, hence, the free access to antiretroviral drugs will also be discontinued.

This worries patients with limited means like Jake, a 25-year-old HIV positive, whose CD4 count in a recent medical check-up was below the borderline, and has been advised that he needed to start his antiretroviral treatment.

The DOH has committed to allocate a budget for the provision of the antiretroviral therapy. Treatment hubs have already asked their patients to accomplish their PhilHealth documents, which will help them in paying for the ARVs.

This year’s theme of World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero” — that is, zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

The World AIDS Campaign focuses on “Zero AIDS Related Deaths,” signifying a push towards greater access to treatment for all and a call for governments to act now.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true”)

Published in Yahoo Philippines and VERA Files

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While countless Filipinos still believe in the American dream, the big names in local entrepreneurship have proven that dreams can come true even here at home.

“I have confidence in the countless opportunities that is available in the country,” Erramon I. Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Aboitiz Power Corp., said

Aboitiz, who was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2011, believes the Philippines is a great place for up and coming entrepreneurs.

“People ask me why not go abroad; I said what for?” he related. “We have a lot of opportunities here, if we just look hard, we can make it big in the Philippines.”

Aboitiz also won the Master Entrepreneur Award 2011, a category award that is given to the entrepreneur who best represents a great deal of management in finance, marketing, human resources and sales.

He will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monaco in 2012.

His success in transforming Aboitiz Power Corp. from a regional power distributor into a national power industry player, with generation and distribution assets throughout the country made him a run-away winner of this year’s award.

Aboitiz was chosen for embodying the entrepreneurial values of leadership, strong vision, innovation and strong financial expertise and performance.

The Entrepreneur of the Year program was founded and produced by Ernst & Young in 1986 in the United States. SGV Foundation, Inc. established it in 2003 in the Philippines.

For eight years now, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year has given awards to recognize exceptional entrepreneurs who, collectively and individually, build and lead successful, growing and dynamic businesses that drive the Philippine economy, and inspire other aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their leadership, vision, success, and achievements.

The theme for this year’s search is “Shine,” in recognition of Filipino entrepreneurs who shine and inspire other entrepreneurs with their commitment to uplift their communities, their people and eventually the country.

This year’s Social Entrepreneur Award went to Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camillie D. Meloto, president and creative director of Gandang Kalikasan, Inc., respectively, for applying practical and innovative and market-oriented approach to their business and pushing social change for the poor with livelihood projects.

Reynaldo T. Paulino, managing director of Kraftika Filipina, won the Small Business Entrepreneur Award. He best demonstrated management excellence in his business with an asset less than 100 million pesos. He hopes to make Kraftika Filipina one of the best native fashion producer.

The Woman Entrepreneur Award was given to Maria Fe P. Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. Her outstanding leadership and community development was recognized in a male-dominated industry. She’s involved in Gawad Kalinga Center for Social Innovation Program that guides upcoming social entrepreneurs.

Ferdinand Y. Marañon, president and CEO of Sagrex Corporation, bagged the Emerging Entrepreneur Award. Marañon exemplifies the start-up process and plans to make the Philippines the world’s biggest source of cardaba bananas.

Bienvenido V. Tantoco III, president of Rustan’s Supercenter, Inc., was given the Innovation Entrepreneur Award. He demonstrated an innovative approach and business solution that resulted in turning around his company, which previously had huge debts, and making it grow.

Raul Anthony D. Concepcion, president and CEO of Concepcion Durables Inc., got the Business Excellence Award for showing an exceptionally consistent and systematic application of total quality management principles.

“The quality of this year’s finalists has shone through in the work they have done and they have been deemed role models in their respective industries,” SGV Foundation Inc. Chairman  Cirilio P. Noel said.

The other finalists were: Francisco M. Bernardo III, president and founder of LET’S GO Foundation; Bernard Faustino M. Dy, school vice president of University of Perpetual Help System; Prudencio S. Garcia, president of Mekeni Food Corporation; Jaime Enrique Y. Gonzalez, CEO of IPVG Corp.; Pacita U. Juan, marketing director of Earth Life Store Supply, Inc.; Ronnel C. Rivera, president of Gensan Shipyard & Machine Works, Inc.; Genevieve Ledesma-Tan, chief executive mentor of Southville International School and Colleges; Winston S. Uy, president of Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc.; and Francis Glenn L. Yu, president and CEO of SEAOIL Philippines, Inc.

Past winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines were: Tony Tan Caktiong, president and CEO of Jollibee Foods Corporation, Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2003 & World Entrepreneur of the Year 2004; Socorro Cancio-Ramos, founder of National Bookstore, Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2004; Lance Y. Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Air Inc., Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2005; Senen C. Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera Inc., Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2006; Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation, Entrepreneur of the Year 2007; Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and president of Planters Development Bank, Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2009; and Tennyson G. Chen, president of Bounty Fresh Food Inc., Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2010.

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(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

Square Off: The CVC Law Debates
Quarter Finals:
October 14, 21, 28 & November 4

—

October 14:
University of San Carlos, Cebu vs. De La Salle University-Manila

October 21:
St. Louis University Baguio vs. University of the East-Manila

October 28:
University of the Philippines vs. FEU-La Salle

November 4:
University of Sto. Tomas vs. San Beda College Alabang

Moderated by: Maiki Oreta