Brit-Fil band chosen to sing World Youth Day 2013 Anthem

British Filipino pop band Ooberfuse have been chosen to sing and record in English the official youth anthem of World Youth Day 2013. Over 3 million people are expected at the largest gathering of youth from around world in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this year.

Hope of the Dawn was launched today at the World Youth Day’s official website:http://www.rio2013.com/pt/multimidia/videos/1727/WYD-Rio2013-English-Anthem

Hope of the Dawn is the official English version of the World Youth Day anthem for 2013, Esperanca do Amanhecer. The organisers of World Youth Day asked Ooberfuse to translate the song from Portuguese to English and also give their own interpretation of the anthem.

British Filipina Cherrie, front-woman of the band says : “It’s a great privilege to sing the official World Youth Day English anthem. Translating the song from Portuguese to English was a daunting task as we are not fluent in Portuguese. In the first verse, the imagery of Christ, arms outstretched, embracing the world and filling it with his love from the hill-top of Rio’s high-point Corcovado, is breathtaking. Living in London where most people are reticent to loudly proclaim their Christian faith and landmarks testify to worldly achievements it is reassuring to know that in other countries like Brazil they are not shy to express their Christian convictions. I can’t wait to stand in the shadow cast by the enormous figure of Christ on the top of Corcovado!”

Hal, the band’s keyboardist, says : “we have been reflecting on Matthew 28 since the Holy Father announced at the close of the Madrid World Youth Day in 2011 that the theme of RioWYD13 would be ‘Go make disciples of all nations.’ According to Matthew these are the very last words that Jesus spoke to his followers and disciples. Their utterance is prefigured by cosmic events : following his crucifixion the earth quaked as Jesus, in his post-resurrection glorified body, reappears to announce his commission…we must awaken from our slumbers to go out into the world to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to set captives free, to give sight to the blind. In short to realise the anthropological dream implanted in the hearts of all of us so that, through our combined efforts, we become who we were created to be. It is one thing to allow our faith to infiltrate our songs; it is altogether a different proposition to take Jesus’ final words and to reflect in musical melody the weightiness of their meaning.”

Nico, guitarist for the band adds : “It’s as much a tribute to a trans-Atlantic spirit of collaboration as it is to the power of the internet and modern media : after multiple Twitter and e-mail messages recommending improvements and refinements, and numerous large music-data file downloads and uploads in Rio and London, Hope of the Dawn eventually was born. We hope that listeners will like it, especially all the English speaking pilgrims!”

Phil Ross, the London-based national coordinator for the UK World Youth Day pilgrims, say: “Ooberfuse worked closely with the World Youth Day organisers to produce the English anthem – whilst it remains loyal to the Portuguese original it still reflects the style and ambience of the Group.”

Father Leandro Lenin, Executive Director of World Youth Day Rio 2013, and International Relations Officer Thiago Lopes say ‘Congratulations on the great job… We think it’s awesome.

You’re really praising the Lord with your voices and efforts!’ You can watch the video here:http://youtu.be/p6HzhQIkXQ8

Global food aid foundation names Pacquiao goodwill envoy

The Global Village Champions Foundation (GVCF), a world-leader in the humanitarian delivery of meals to starving people in disaster hit areas around the globe, has chosen Filipino boxing champion and Saranggani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao as its goodwill ambassador for Asia.

Founded in 1993 by former musician and professional sports manager Yank Barry and boxing champion Muhammad Ali, GVCF is the philanthropic arm of Vita Pro, a company founded in Montreal, Canada by Barry. Vita Pro distributes soy-based meat protein replacement products.

Barry said GVCF that has already delivered 900 million free meals to starving people worldwide, aims to deliver a total of one billion free meals by December 31 this year. The free meals come in the form of Vita Pro soybean food products.

In 2011, GVCF delivered disaster relief in the form of meals to Haiti, The Philippines, Japan, Thailand and the southern United States. In addition to Vita Pro meals, GVCF also delivered rice and beans, water, medical supplies and other basic needs.

Barry said the GVCF is now preparing to send two million meals to provinces in Mindanao that were hit by storm Pablo, particularly Saranggani and the Compostela Valley. For the past 15 years, Barry said his foundation was able to send 60 million meals to the Philippines.

Recently, GVCF’s global ambassador, boxer Evander Holyfield visited areas in Mindanao that were hit by Pablo.

Storm Pablo (international name Bopha) struck Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in Mindanao last December 3 and brought devastation to the provinces for almost a week. More than 170,000 people were displaced by Pablo.

“I would like to thank Evander Holyfield and Yank Barry for personally coming to the Philippines, especially to my province to help me feed the typhoon victims and the needy,” said Pacquiao in a video message played during the press conference at the InterContinental Hotel.

Barry said sending food to the starving victims of storm Pablo in Mindanao is but a small step towards recovery.

“I don’t think your country understands the devastation brought by the typhoon. It would take between eight and 10 years to rebuild,” he said.

Barry said GVCF is steadily receiving cash donations from famous professional athletes, musicians, models and movie stars to fund its meal delivery operations around the world. Among the foundation’s sponsors are Celine Dion, Michael Jordan, actress Bo Derek, actor Jon Voight and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

(Story courtesy of the Philippine Star’s Mike Frialde)

US store chain set to expand BPO operations in PHL

One of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States is keen on expanding its operations in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry said.

Top executives of Safeway Inc. hoped to take advantage of the opportunities in the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

It said the US company is looking at BPO activities that can add significant value to their global operations.
This February, top executives of Safeway visited the country to conduct due diligence on its plan to expand its business operations in the country.

“A Fortune 100 company, Safeway Inc.’s operating strategy is to provide outstanding value to customers by offering a unique shopping experience with a wide selection of high-quality products at low prices in the US,” the DTI said.

To support its stores, Safeway maintains an extensive network of distribution, manufacturing, and food processing facilities.

It also has business interests in the online Internet grocer, prepaid gift cards and financial services.
The company entered the Philippine market in 2003 through an affiliate, the Safeway Philtech Inc., which serves as its captive technology center.

The affiliate provides services such as application support and maintenance, application development and enhancements, technology and infrastructure support.

According to the DTI, the local affiliate has partnered with the Board of Investments and leaders of the BPO sector in organizing the visit of the top company executives to the Philippines.

(Story courtesy of Nina Calleja of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Pinoy Choir in Dubai wins first UAE Choral Competition

The Filipino-led Dubai Vocal Ensemble (DVE) was proclaimed the winner of the recently concluded 1st Annual Choir of the Year competition in February hosted by UAE’s The Score.

The DVE beat 7 other choirs from the whole of UAE which includes Blue Fever from Abu Dhabi, Nassim Al Saba Choir of the American University of Sharjah and other various choral groups from the country.

The competition was judged by the Grammy Award Winning a cappella group The Swingle Singers at the Dubai College.

The different groups performed a variety of songs from Arabic to Jazz. DVE performed Ralph Manuel’s Alleluia, the Visayan folk song Rosas Pandan and the ethnic song Kruhay.

A member of the winning 22-member Dubai Vocal Ensemble said: “For us, it was not about the prize. In fact, we didn’t expect to win as the other choirs were so good. We were the last to go on stage, but what an enjoyable evening it was. What more could we have asked with the Grammy-winning Swingle Singers sharing their valuable tips with us.”

Mohammad N. Murad, a Palestinian member of the Nassim Al Saba choir of the American University Sharjah, said his choir was happy to have got the second place because the standard of singing in the contest was high.

The choirs were rated for their technical ability, covering tuning, diction, balance, ensemble, dynamics and overall sound. Musical expression, including communication, phrasing, passion, energy, commitment and overall delivery was also considered.

The judges were overwhelmed by the performance of the Dubai Vocal Ensemble and described it electrifying and emotional. Here’s the winning performance of the Filipino group.http://dubaivocalensemble.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/the-dubai-vocal-ensemble-bags-choir-of-the-year-title/

Guinness World Records honors Nepomuceno for 3rd time

The Guinness World Records has updated Filipino sports legend Paeng Nepomuceno’s third record, boosting his career titles to 124 from the previously published 118.

Among the titles that were added to Nepomucenio’s achievements are the 2008 South Pacific Classic in Melbourne, the 2010 Bowling World Cup National Finals and the 2011 Philippine International Open.

Nepomuceno, who beat current world champion two-handed bowler Jason Belmonte in the South Pacific Classic finals, is the only foreign athlete to win the prestigious event twice.Paeng also holds a unique record of being the youngest Philippine International Masters champion at 17 in 1974 and at 54 in 2011. He has been consistently winning titles since 1972. Paeng’s three Guinness World Records are also all unbroken.

“It’s truly a big honor for me and the country to be listed for the third time in the Guinness World Records,” said Nepomuceno.

His other two World Guinness Records are for being the youngest world bowling champion at 19 when he won the Bowling World Cup in Teheran, Iran in 1976 and the second for bagging the world titles in three different decades.

Paeng won the BWC in 1976, 1980 (in Indonesia) and 1992 (Le Mans, France) and a fourth BWC crown in 1996 in Northern Ireland. Todate, he has six world titles.

Nepomuceno was also named Bowling Athlete of the Millennium by FIQ, the world governing body, in 1999. He is the first male bowling athlete to be enshrined in the World Bowling Hall of Fame, with his life-sized image displayed at the entrance of the Hall of Fame and Museum in Arlington, Texas.

When not competing, Nepomuceno travels around the world as an international bowling ambassador. He holds a coaching course certification for the United States Bowling Congress.

The Guinness World Records has updated Filipino sports legend Paeng Nepomuceno’s third record, boosting his career titles to 124 from the previously published 118.

Among the titles that were added to Nepomucenio’s achievements are the 2008 South Pacific Classic in Melbourne, the 2010 Bowling World Cup National Finals and the 2011 Philippine International Open.

Nepomuceno, who beat current world champion two-handed bowler Jason Belmonte in the South Pacific Classic finals, is the only foreign athlete to win the prestigious event twice.Paeng also holds a unique record of being the youngest Philippine International Masters champion at 17 in 1974 and at 54 in 2011. He has been consistently winning titles since 1972. Paeng’s three Guinness World Records are also all unbroken.

“It’s truly a big honor for me and the country to be listed for the third time in the Guinness World Records,” said Nepomuceno.

His other two World Guinness Records are for being the youngest world bowling champion at 19 when he won the Bowling World Cup in Teheran, Iran in 1976 and the second for bagging the world titles in three different decades.

Paeng won the BWC in 1976, 1980 (in Indonesia) and 1992 (Le Mans, France) and a fourth BWC crown in 1996 in Northern Ireland. Todate, he has six world titles.

- See more at: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2013/03/02/914856/guinness-honors-paeng-3rd-time#sthash.De4CWQed.dpuf

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Filipinos to benefit from Social Security System launch in Qatar

Thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to benefit from the recent launching of the Social Security System (SSS) in Qatar, assuring its members of pensions and various financial help like loans against salaries.

The increasing number of Filipinos leaving the Philippines to work abroad has prompted SSS to set up offices in the Middle East. There are now more than 250,000 OFWs in Qatar compared to around 20,000 in May 1992.

To avail of the benefits, SSS president Emilio De Quiros urged Filipinos to become active members by continuously paying their monthly contributions. It now has a new office just beside the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO).

SSS members are classified as private workers, self-employed, OFW or voluntary. Thus payments also vary based on their salary or how much
would they want to contribute.

De Quiros said benefits were categorised into two: short term and long term. Short-term benefits included getting financial assistance when sick or hospitalised, on giving birth and availing of salary and emergency loans. Long-term benefits included getting retirement or disability pay. In cases of a member’s death, the family will  receive a pension.

“Contributions of members may differ based on their profession or capability to pay but in the future, it will be of big help to them,” he said. “Once a member, always a member.”

However, De Quiros  explained that being an inactive member (non-payment of loans and monthly contributions) might affect the amount of pension or might even result to a bar on  benefits in future.

He  announced that a “Reformed Agenda” proposal had been forwarded to President Benigno Aquino. With its passage as a law, De Quiros said that SSS would further improve its services to its members, especially to OFWs.

Judy Frances See, senior vice president of SSS, said members should take advantage of this opportunity which provided “safe and secured savings for the future”.

She disclosed that the agency had launched a special programme for OFWs called “Flexi Fund”.

“It is called Flexi Fund because it could be withdrawn anytime especially if the member is in dire need of money or during emergency cases,” she stressed. It is a voluntary provident fund which is exclusive for OFWs and no interest will be charged from them.

The minimum monthly contribution is P1,560 (around QR140). Members could pay more but not less than P200.

It could also be withdrawn in lumpsum, half or be included in the retirement benefits to be given as monthly pension for the beneficiaries.

Aside from this feature, “Flexi Fund” contributors earn 4% dividends every year tax free, excluding its earned interest.

See also cited some of the SSS-accredited banks and financial institutions which included IRemit, PNB and Al Dar Exchange.

 Ambassador Crescente Relacion, who led the launching, said many OFWs would now have the chance to update their contributions.

Culture attache Richard Billedo, labour attache Leopoldo De Jesus and his deputy, Violeta Illescas, and leaders of different Filipino organisations attended the event which was held at the new Philippine chancery in the Jelaiah area.

The ambassador and De Jesus  urged the participants to inform others about the importance of updating their SSS premiums and contributions.

Earlier, the Home Development Mutual Fund, popularly known as Pag-Ibig, also urged OFWs in Qatar to register and avail of housing and other loans.