What's On & Expat - Philippines

Foreign Affairs Bit

                      Canadian Immigration
   The Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines will hold an informative session concerning all options in migrating to Canada on Nov. 27 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Paranaque B Room of Makati Shangri-La, Makati City. Guest Speaker is David H. Davis. Davis has been an immigration lawyer for the past 18 years. He is with Davis Immigration Law Office from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Davis is currently visiting the country to discuss and share his expertise regarding the current options available and the opportunities that Canada offers to all those interested in migrating with family and for those wanting to do business to the said country.
   The presentation will focus on Provincial Nominee Programs, Federal Skilled Worker Program, Investor Program, Business Nominee Program, Work Permit Applications. A fee of PhP 700 for members and guests will be charged. Call (02) 843-6457 or (02)843-6566

Health Bit

                       Eyelash Drug Seized
   The United States seized some 12,682 applicator tubes of a discontinued cosmetics called Age Intervention Eyelash, which the Food and Drug Administration said could harm some users’ vision.
  The product—once promoted as increasing eyelash growth—had been sold and distributed by San Jose, California-based Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., which accused the FDA of unfairly singling it out.
   The FDA said it considered Age Intervention Eyelash “adulterated” and potentially dangerous, notably for users with elevated pressure inside the eye.
   The product contains bimatoprost, an active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug to treat this condition.
   For patients on the prescription drug, using Age Intervention Eyelash may boost the risk

of optic nerve damage “because the extra dose of bimatoprost may decrease the prescription drug’s effectiveness,” the FDA said.
Jan Marini, the company’s president and
chief executive, said the product at issue had been in its warehouse since September 2006, when California public health authorities “embargoed” it at FDA request.
   The company added in a statement it had offered to destroy the product, “but the FDA recently informed JMSR that it preferred to seize the product so that it could issue a press release announcing the seizure.”

Cultural Bit

    San Agustin Music International Festival
   The ninth edition of the San Agustin International Music Festival, the premiere musical and cultural event in Intramuros, unreels on November 28 to 30 at the San Agustin Church with a powerhouse assemblage of the finest musicians both here and abroad.
   Featured artists are Spanish organist Miquel Gonzalez, Filipino bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza, the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, Union Church of Manila Chancel Choir and the Manila Philharmonic Brass Ensemble.
   The world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers under choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio opens the festival as they return to the Manila music scene after a well-received US concert tour last October.
   The Madz is the only group to win the coveted European Choral Grand Prix twice, the latest of which was held in Arezzo , Italy last August.

Entertainment Bit

                      New Cable Channels
   More program choices, this is the rationale behind the introduction of new premium channels in SkyCable. “Our objective is to provide global Filipinos with more compelling content choices,” says Chris N. Lopez, head of marketing services of the Cable Channels and Print Media Group of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.
   Balls is SkyCable’s new, “well-rounded” sports channel, characterized by a younger, hippier sports programming. Sports buffs of all ages can look forward to watching popular sporting events such as the US NCAA Basketball and Football, ATP and WTA Tennis, Euro PGA and LPGA Golf, NFL, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamerican, Italian Serie A, Premiere League Dars, FIA European Drag Racing, and KOTV Boxing
   The triple x in Maxxx means triple pleasure, mayhem and entertainment. “It is all encompassing,” Lopez says. Maxxx is the first channel dedicated to men. “Bullrun”, the reality based car-racing show; “International Fight League (IFL)”, a behind-the-scenes look into the world of mixed martial arts; “Planet Rock Profiles”, and the wild and irreverent “Behind The Music That Sucks”, “Cheaters”, and “Destination Truth”; and “American Inventor”are just a few of the great new shows making their Philippine TV debut alongside the return of the edgier and grittier crew of the very successful CSI franchise, CSI New York.

Sports Bit

    Philippine National Rugby 7’s Team for                             SEAG Announced
   Last November 19, the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) has selected 13 players to represent the Philippine National Rugby 7’s Team at the 24th South East Asian Games or SEAG.
   The 24th SEAG represents the first time rugby will be an official sport in the games. This after the groundbreaking work by the PRFU in getting rugby included as a “site” sport in the 23rd SEAG here in Manila last 2005. In fact the Philippines is the defending champion of the SEAG Rugby 7’s Gold.
   The 2007 team goes to the games fully focused and committed on defending its title against some very tough opposition. The SEAG marks a significant departure from normal IRB tournaments, as only Filipino citizens are eligible to be selected to represent the Philippines in the games. The Filipino rugby players will be donning the Navy uniform of the Philippine National Team to compete from December 9 and 11 in Korat, Thailand and try take home a coveted SEAG Gold.