What's On Expat Philippines News Paper

BITS & PIECES

Compiled by Jacqueline L. Ong
Illustrations by Carlo Cabrera

Tourism Bit

            Palawan On High-end List
    Palawan has recently landed as one of the destination offerings of Mountain Travel Sobek and Wilderness Travel, two leading international tour operators that cater to discriminating, high-end adventure seekers. Kayaking and snorkeling in the Calamian Archipelago and equally stunning vistas in neighboring islands now stand alongside African safaris, Mt. Everest treks and other highly specialized tours to exotic destinations.
    “The islands of Palawan have always been a favorite among diving enthusiasts and those looking for the perfect island getaway. Being on the list of these tour operators means that the industry can meet the expectations of more discerning travelers. We have what it takes to be in the map of top quality adventure destinations,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano in a statement.
   Mountain Travel Sobek and Wilderness Travel are considered pioneers in offering adventure travel packages anywhere around the world, which range from hiking and camping expeditions to photography sessions in wildlife areas. Both operators are in the top five of Travel & Leisure Magazine’s best adventure tour companies of 2007.
   In its web page on the Calamian kayaking trip, Mountain Travel Sobek invites potential tourists to “discover spectacular tropical wilderness scenery, wild primary rainforest, secluded sandy coves, and golden, empty beaches, all while experiencing perfect paddling conditions in crystal-clear turquoise waters and unparalleled snorkeling in coral gardens.” The excursion takes 11 days and costs around USD4,500 per person.
   Wilderness Travel includes snorkeling in Palawan under its WT Exploratory Expeditions for 2008. Destinations in this particular offering are considered the favorite places of the company’s expert trip leaders who designed the itineraries with the adventurous soul in mind.

Education Bit

                 A Career in a Year
   “Give us a year, we’ll give you a career.” This is the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) as it offers students an intensive, hands-on education that would allow them to compete in the global market after a year of specialized education and mentorship at IAFT. The school boasts of a specialized curriculum that combines theory with practical application, under the mentorship of leading industry professionals from Hollywood and other film capitals of the world.
   Through its parent company, production powerhouse Bigfoot Entertainment and its subsidiaries Fashion TV Asia, New Cebu Films and Bigfoot Productions, the IAFT presents selected students with a unique internship opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills to actual feature films and television productions.
   Programs include intensive courses in: Directing, Producing, Editing, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound Recording and Design, Art Direction, 2D and 3D Animation, Media Law, CGI, Documentary Film Production, Guerilla Video Production and Underwater Videography, among others.
   IAFT also conducts various short-term workshops and independent study courses on topics ranging from animation, editing and underwater cinematography to even acting and modeling.
For more information, visit http://www.filmschool.ph or email norman.misa@filmschool.ph.

Technology Bit

Calling All Nokia Users
   It’s never too late
to check for one’s safety.
   Nokia recently
issued an advisory recalling one of its parts. A batch of BL-5C batteries manufactured by Matsushita Battery
Industrial Co. Ltd. Of Japan between December 2005 and November 2005 has been identified with isolated cases of overheating, initiated by
a short circuit

while charging.
   According to the report, Nokia has several suppliers for BL-5C batteries and only 46 million of the 300 million total are in the said potentially damaged batch. So far, 100 cases
worldwide has been reported, although no serious injuries or property damage have been reported.
   To check if your battery is part of the batch and would therefore need replacement, visit http://batteryreplace
ment.nokia.com/
batteryreplacement/
en/and type in the serial number found at the back of your battery.

Cultural Bit

    Old and New at the Italian Film Fest
    It’s a choice between embracing a new life or returning back to the old. In this month’s installment to the Italian Film Festival, actress Licia Maglietta is Rosalba, a busy housewife who set out for a holiday in Venice, not knowing that the journey has brought her closer to self-discovery. Catch Pane E Tulipani at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City this September 11, 4 and 7pm, Admission is free. For details, call the PIA Secretariat at (02)815-1310.

Entertainment Bits

Le Cabaret Dinner Show at Sofitel
   MMQ Theatre and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila present Le Cabaret, a burlesque comedy dinner show for mature audiences only on September 12, Wednesday, at the Luzon Ballroom. Cocktails are served at 7pm and show starts at 8pm. Tickets are at PhP2500 and includes an authentic French dinner and unlimited champagne. Fabulous prizes await guests who come in their best cabaret wear. Proceeds from the event will be donated to All for Charity and Operation Smile Philippines. For more information, call (0918)507-9004 or email mmqtheatre@gmail.com.

Local Eye

for the

Foreign Guy

Welcome to the Family
By Lex Ledesma

   The saying that “blood is thicker than water” is probably most true in the Philippines than in any other place that I know. Contrary to the Western culture that children are typically expected to move out when they reach the age of 18, here in the Philippines, many children stay and live with their parents even until they have children of their own!

   The family bond in this country is very sacred; it almost comes second to none. I have heard and read real-life stories where between family, love life and career, family was chosen above everything else.

   Filipino parents are generally very protective of their anak (Filipino term for children or offspring). They usually try to keep them as long as they can. Have you ever attended Filipino weddings and witnessed how the parents of the couple, usually the bride’s, would unsuccessfully hold back their tears and end up in hushed sobs? That is a classic case of separation anxiety from children.

   More than anywhere else in the world marrying a man or woman in this country entails marrying their respective families. For better or for worse often takes on a whole new meaning.

   There are other instances where we can concretely see parents’ unconditional love for their children. The increasing number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can be taken as a case in point. I’m positive that no one would willingly leave their family if they felt they had a choice. These Filipino parents work abroad as a sacrifice just to earn a little more for their loved ones back home; to send their children to good schools and provide them with some luxuries they may not have enjoyed when they were younger.

   In return, many young Filipinos who are part of the workforce aspire to land a job out of the country too. Their natural sense of gratitude drives them to work hard to significantly help augment the family income. Whether working abroad or in the Philippines many Filipino children feel compelled to set aside

a portion of his/her salary to give back to the parents. Sometimes, it may be in kind, by treating the family to a meal out every payday. At times, it may be through volunteering to pay for a certain utility expense like water or electricity. It is not uncommon for older siblings who are already working to put their younger family members through school.

With this inherent relationship between parents and children, it is not surprising that nursing homes for the elderly are not as popular here compared to other lands. This is where normally big Filipino families serve their purpose as siblings take turns taking care of their aging parents. This also explains why Filipino households commonly have extended families. Grandpa or Grandma or both live with their anak’s own nuclear family.

Filipinos on the average grow in this kind of environment and these qualities that spring from the strong sense of family is brought even in the other relationships that we build, like in the workplace. So while other cultures may deem it “unprofessional” Filipinos actually thrive in their endeavors when they get support from the people they treat and love like family.

Honestly I have mixed feeling about whether these Filipino traits cause more harm than good. Living with people other than your chosen partner and your kids can have their obvious problems. Furthermore, there are many cases of families not surviving through an OFW separation. It’s hard enough maintaining a healthy relationship with one person. Adding about a dozen other opinions to the mix usually creates an insane, chaotic melee. Yet that is the way it goes in this country. In Filipino lingo, the essence of getting along with one another is more beautifully translated as pakikisama. So whether raised a local or in some distant country understand that if you hope to be successful at anything in this country (be it marriage, work or whatever else) pakikisama is something you will need to do.

                                        Laugh Till You Drop!
   Heckle and Jeckle Bar and Restaurant invites everyone to a night of unstoppable laughter as it showcases talents such as
Lucy Porter of Great Britain, Tom Rhodes of the United States and Karl Spain of Ireland on September 20, Thursday, 8:30pm. Tickets are at PhP1999 per person which includes one free drink. For ticket reservations, contact Jerry Echter at (0917)853-2888, Randy Musters (0927)734-1182 or call (02) 895-1752 (Daytime) or (02) 890-6904.

Business Bit

    Let’s Train!
    Gear up for another set of business training seminars that would enhance your corporate productivity. Triple A Training and Development Center organizes Personality Development & Corporate Image Building on September 6, Business Communication Skills on September 8, Work Attitude and Values Enhancement on September 13, Business Finance for the Budding Entrepreneurs on September 15, Total Productive Maintenance also on Sept 15 and Supervising Collection Function on September 29. All seminars will be held at the Richmonde Hotel or the New Horizon Hotel. For more details, contact (02)660-1217.

What's On & Expat - Philippines