VIA Times – August 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
Philippine hotels and resorts in key island destinations are ready to compete in the global Marketplace, according to the initial findings of a team of international Accommodation Assessors (IAAs) who joined the Department of Tourism (DOT) in conducting a national review of accommodation standards last month. The team of IAAs composed of ten experts from different countries said Philippine hotels and resorts including the small players have ‘very high standards’ in keeping the unique Filipino hospitality, one of the country’s competitive advantages. “The warmth of welcome for guests in all types of accommodation is almost unique among international destinations. There is a real potential for the Philippine tourism industry. Some hotels and resorts need to invest to improve, but the new rating system can help identify where to focus that investment,” the initial report noted. New standards under the Hotel and Resorts Quality Assurance and Accreditation System aim to assist visitors un term of the quality, service and comfort provided by accommodation businesses of all sizes and types in the Philippines. The system which was launched last year reviewed 144 hotels and resorts in the country’s main island destinations such as Cebu, Bohol, Davao and Palawan. The DOT tapped international assessors to ensure that the review is based on accepted international standards. The review itself is part of a technical assistance funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aimed at improving competitiveness in the tourism sector, in time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration. ASEAN member countries include the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei. Undersecretary Maria Victor V. Jasmin, Chairperson of the DOT Project Steering Committee, said the technical assistance is crucial in helping the department to implement Improving Competitiveness in Tourism, a roadmap designed to increase foreign tourist arrivals to ten million by 2016. “Data will be carefully analyzed in order to further strengthen and develop the accommodation standards system and enable us to compete at the highest international levels in the future,” said Undersecretary Jasmin. Undersecretary Jasmin added, “these new standards will help guide Philippines hotels and resorts on where they could invest to further improve their businesses. They are shown to be equally effective in identifying excellence, enabling the finest properties and managers to show the way for others. The standards clearly identify examples of best practice for use by all types and levels of accommodations.” Hotel owners and senior managers in all the properties visited welcomed the new set of standards as they see it as a significant improvement on the old standards introduced in 1992. “Owners and managers welcomed the introduction of the internationally understood one to five star grading approach. They understood that not everyone can be, or should be, five stars and that some of the most successful hotels and brands internationally hold two or three stars,” Undersecretary Jasmin said. Final results of the assessment will be released in September 2014.
GMA NETWORK NOW OFFERS DAILY NEWS UPDATES TO FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN US VIA MOBILE PHONE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Filipino Community in the United States will now be able to listen to daily news updates from GMA Network, one of the largest broadcasters in the Philippines, as part of a public diplomacy initiative being undertaken by the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with AudioNow, the world’s leading call-to-listen platform. The Embassy announced that as part of its efforts to better serve the diaspora, it was able to convince GMA’s premier radio station, DZBB, to offer US-based Filipinos daily five-minute news headlines on any phone through a simple telephone call. In a statement, the Embassy said GMA Network joins other industry leaders, such as Veritas 846 AM, the Catholic Media Network, and the People’s Television Network, as a part of a public diplomacy initiative to serve the Philippine diaspora in the US with greater access to media. The pioneering initiative also features Radyo Tambuli, a virtual radio station created by the Embassy exclusively for the Filipino Community that broadcasts news, interviews, folk music and opinion polls. “We applaud GMA’s initiative to join in our efforts with other leading Filipino broadcasters to serve the diaspora. This is another great step towards a digital public diplomacy for the Embassy,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. GMA’s flagship AM radio station DZBB, established in 1950 in a small office space in Manila, has become one of the most awarded radio stations in the Philippines by the Association of Broadcasters in the Philippines (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas), and serves the entire Manila region as well as millions of Filipinos living abroad. Radio veteran Mike Enriquez hosts popular morning news program Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide and Saksi sa Dobol B, which features segments such as Bara-Bara and Sports Saksi. For the first time ever, digests from Enriquez’s daily headlines will be aired to Filipinos in the United States through a simple telephone call from any phone. To listen, simply call 712.432.9777 from any phone. Calls use mobile minutes and incur no extra charges. “We are excited to partner with the Embassy of the Philippines on this project, and to use AudioNow’s call-to-listen service as a new alternative to better serve our listeners,” said Enriquez, who is also GMA consultant for radio operations, and Saksi sa Dobol B show host. This arrangement was made possible through GMA International, which manages the operations and distribution of the Network’s international channels, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International. “It is our goal to bring Filipinos abroad closer to home by providing them with accurate, relevant and reliable news and information. And we hope that through this project, we are able to do so in a faster and more convenient manner,” said GMA Vice President and Head of International Operations, Joseph T. Francia. At a time when data costs continue to rise and the price for voice minute plans plummet, using voice minutes to listen to radio has become one of the most affordable and open ways to access news. “We welcome the GMA Network to our platform,” said AudioNow® CEO and Chairman Elan Blutinger. “We look forward to connecting DZBB to the Filipino diaspora and stand ready to be of service to any other Filipino broadcaster that wants to extend their reach.”
CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES IN CHICAGO TO LAUNCH “BUGTONG BUGTONG 2014” IN ITS OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE
The Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago is pleased to announce that due to the overwhelming positive response to “Bugtong Bugtong” last year, it will launch once again “Bugtong Bugtong” (Filipino Riddles) for 2014 in its official Facebook page. The riddles will be launched on 01 August as part of the celebration of “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” (National Language Month). Filipino riddles are statements intended to be brain teasers and are composed of stanzas that have certain measure and rhyme. These riddles are cloaked in ambiguous phrases to stimulate a person to think. The answer to a “bugtong” is usually a common object, animal or plant. One riddle will be uploaded per day for the month of August and weekly prizes courtesy of the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Chicago will be raffled off to those who correctly guess the answers. Full contest mechanics will be uploaded in the Official Facebook Page of the Consulate General on 31 July. The Consulate General’s official Facebook page can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/chicagopcg .
Piyesta Pinoy at Festivals in Evanston, Bolingbrook & Lisle
Chicago, Il. – Piyesta Pinoy performers continue to bring the Pinoy arts, music and culture from the first ever Philippine Fest in Bolingbrook to several summer festivals in the Greater Chicago area. On Saturday July 19, the PACF was invited to perform for the first time at the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival at Centennial Park by the lake just south of the Northwestern University campus. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation Performing Arts and Hataw Pinoy couple Alpha and Emil Nicloasin performed a sample of native cultural dances, Transfiuration Dance Troupe choreographer Doris Jankowiak performed a beautiful solo rendition of Binasuan and the twins Nicole and Riley Javate entertained the crowd with a lively and cute version of Itik-Itik. On Sunday, July 27, the PACF Performing Arts went back to the Bolingbrook Performing Arts in celebration of Arts Around the World. It was the first time for the Philippines to have been invited to participate at this annual event featuring music and dance performances of different cultures around the world. The Piyesta Pinoy committee led by Ruben Salazar, PACF president Adeline Fajardo, FAASD president Barb Dizon. Piyesta Pinoy members Rudy Agustin, Romy and Tita Balcita presented the certificates of appreciation and a Piyesta Pinoy collage picture frame to Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar and Facilities Coordinator Dale McClannahan to thank them for their support of the first Piyesta Pinoy (Philippine Fest) in Bolingbrook. Last but not the least, the Philippines also got invited to participate at the first ever Destination Asia Summer Festival held at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle featuring the diverse culture of Asia through live music, authentic dance performances, Asian-inspired fare, and much more!. The BIBAK Breaths of Heritage group performed Saturday, August 2 at noon doing traditional Philippine dance and music from the northern Cordilleras. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation and BIBAK Breaths of Heritage also participated in displays and exhibits of discovering Philippine culture through storytelling, arts and crafts, the game of “trumpo”, traditional costumes and more. The Healing Hearts For Haiyan Community Art Project, started by Artist Lea M. Rivera at Piyesta Pinoy in Bolingbrook, also joined “Destination Asia Summer Festival” at the Morton Arboretum. The project aims to bring awareness of the Typhoon Haiyan rebuilding efforts in the Philippines. Event participants were asked to write and design encouraging, positive & loving messages on multicolored hearts for those who have been devastated by the super storms. Adults and children of different nationalities alike, spent time to reflect and educate themselves on the effects of Haiyan and later typhoons. With heartfelt conviction, they signed their hearts with words of love from the Chicagoland to the Motherland. The project has collected 220 heart messages and counting, with the new option of offering to the public, a way to send their messages online. The goal of this project is not only to bring encouragement and awareness to the sufferings of our Filipino countrymen, but also to collect these hearts and create a 3d art piece set for exhibition on October 19, 2014 at the University of Chicago. This exhibition is organized by the Filipino American National Historical Society, Midwest Chapter, in commemoration of those who lost their lives from the infamous typhoon. To learn more about this project or to send a healing heart message online, please visit the official website at http://healingheartsforhumanity.wordpress.com/, where you can also connect via Facebook, Twitter, and view short videos on the project’s Youtube channel to see the construction of the art piece.
