Pinoy farmer finalist in International Cocoa Awards

Filipino farmer makes it to the finals of 2019 International Cocoa Awards


Antonio Colina
Manila Bulletin
18 August 2019


DAVAO CITY – Jose Saguban, a farmer from Kialaw, Malabog in Paquibato District, Davao City, will compete with 49 other farmers from all over the world for the prestigious 2019 International Cocoa Awards (ICA) during the Salon Du Chocolat in Paris, France on October 30 after his beans were selected as one of the top 50 cocoa beans out of the 223 samples from 55 countries.



Saguban’s entry was the only one to make the cut out of the five bean samples from the Philippines. The farmer supplies beans to Auro Chocolate, maker of fine dark chocolates.

Auro Chocolate said it has been helping Saguban and other members of the Paquibato Tree Developers Cooperative with new farm techniques to achieve better quality, mentoring them on the fermentation protocols. The company prepared and sponsored Saguban to join the competition.

“We’d like to thank all of our farming partners for working tirelessly to improve the quality, and not just put the Philippines on the map for cacao beans but for showing the world that we can make gold,” the company said.

Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI) executive director Valente Turtur said five samples — two from Compostela Valley, two from Calinan District, and one from Paquibato District — were sent to Paris at six kilos per entry last February.

All the bean samples were subjected to physical quality and sensory evaluation from February until June, and flavor sensory evaluation of coca liquor by the Cocoa of Excellence (CoEx) technical committee from July to August.

The entries from the Philippines were all winners of the Philippine National Cacao Industry Council’s National Cacao Award System, which was established to select the best cacao beans that will represent the country in the international competition, Turtur said.

According to CoEx, the ICA, a global competition recognizing the work of cocoa farmers and celebrating the diversity of cocoa flavors, and spearheaded by Bioversity International and Event International, recognizes “quality, flavor, and diversity of cocoas according to their origin.”

The best 50 samples, which will be processed into chocolate, will undergo another stage of flavor sensory evaluation by the CoEx technical committee and a broader panel of professionals. Out of 50 finalists, the CoEx will select 15 to 20 winners.

The winners, including the finalists, will be showcased at the Salon Du Chocolat, which will gather 500 participants from 60 countries, including over 200 renowned chefs and pastry chefs.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country’s cocoa beans production level reached only 7,983 MT in 2018, 81% of which came from the Davao region.

From 2008 to 2018, the production only grew by 2,834 MT or 55.04% of the Philippines’ cacao production which is insignificant compared to one million MT a year from Ivory Coast, 800,000 MT from Ghana, and 400,000 MT from Indonesia, Turtur said.

Roro: Made in PH

First Pinoy-made RoRo ship launched


Michael Joe Delizo
ABS-CBN News
19 August 2019

MANILA — The first Filipino-made roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel was launched Saturday at North Harbor in the capital, providing a potential boost to the local ship-building industry. 

The 468-seater M/V Isla Simara passenger ship with a 12-meter long vehicle ramp is the brainchild of Shogun Ships Corp. Inc. and Josefa Slipways Inc.

It is the first RoRo ship in the Philippines with a modern Automation and Control System that can be monitored real-time in the company’s head office. 

M/V Isla Simara is also the first local RoRo ship with a Marine Evacuation System, a lifesaving device that is similar to an airplane’s evacuation chute through which passengers can slide directly to a lifeboat without getting wet. 

The ship is expected to sail on its maiden commercial trip next week from Matnog to Allen towns in Northern Samar.

“This will boost the local ship-building industry in the Philippines,” said Thadedeus Jovelanos, president of Philippine Register of Shipping. 

“It shows that we can build better, better, and better because we continuously learn,” he added. 

M/V Isla Simara is part of the Shogun Ships' initiative to improve the quality of locally built ships, said the company's president Vicente Cordero. 

“We hope that with this project, [we] can inspire other ship owners and ship builders to do this kind of ship in the future,” he said. 

Philippines is on Space Age

Philippines breaks new ground with own space agency


Japan Times | Kyodo
17 August 2019

MANILA – The Philippines is entering a new phase in science and technology under a new law creating a space agency, a move officials say will have positive effects on national security and public welfare.

The Philippine Space Act was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 8. It will govern the country’s space development and utilization policy.

“This piece of legislation will bear fruits that generations to come will be enjoying,” Fortunato dela Pena, the Filipino science and technology secretary, told a news briefing Wednesday, acknowledging that the data collected from space technology will have multiple significant applications on the ground.

In an earlier interview, Rogel Mari Sese, a Filipino astrophysicist who helped craft the law, said it was a long time coming.

“Space is no longer a luxury when it comes to national development and security. It’s a necessity,” Sese said.

Sese said the creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is in the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, and in its National Security Policy.

Based on the law signed by Duterte, the space policy will focus on six areas — national security and development, hazard management and climate studies, space research and development, space industry capacity building, space education and awareness, and international cooperation.

A Philippine Space Council, to be chaired by the president and composed of other key members of the Cabinet, was also created to act as the principal advisory body.

“Now we can have an agency that can move on its own, without depending on other agencies, to implement whatever plans (and) policies (that) will be crafted coming from the Philippine Space Council,” dela Pena explained.

PhilSA will be situated in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, and dela Pena hopes the facility will be ready before the Duterte administration ends in 2022.

“We have to be pragmatic in the beginning. We probably start off continuing what we’re doing and have momentum (in) building these small satellites,” said Joel Marciano of the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute when asked about expectations for PhilSA’s first years in operation.

While the Philippines has been tapping space technology for more than a century already, it was not until the advent of the new millennium that it began engaging more actively in space-related endeavors.

In 2014, the country adopted a micro-satellite program that honed local engineers to produce Diwata 1, Diwata 2 and Maya 1, which were all subsequently launched into space via foreign facilities.

After investments and preparations made over several decades, dela Pena declared in January that the Philippines was ready to have its own national space agency. He said his department has invested around 7.5 billion pesos (almost $143 million) since 2010 in space research and development, and already has more than a thousand experts in space science.

There are also 25 space-related facilities operating nationwide, 15 programs and projects being implemented by different agencies and universities, and eight international institutional collaborations for space research and development.

The academic sector has also been responding to the growth of the space industry, with some universities offering space-related courses.

Enrico Paringit of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development spelled out the practical benefits key sectors in the country stand to receive from space technology.

“We can monitor vessels out there in the sea. … This can also support our fisher folk, not just to monitor where they are but also where to efficiently fish. … We can also monitor our agricultural productivity. … We can monitor real-time, with these capabilities in place, where deforestation and degradations are taking place. … We can monitor situations in disaster-stricken areas,” Paringit said.

In the global community, dela Pena said, the Philippines can contribute more knowledge, “since we will be accumulating a lot of information and data.”

“If our data scientists will work on the data and information that we are able to collect, there will be new knowledge that can be generated, and there will be models that can be presented,” he said.

The country will also be better poised to air any concerns on space issues in international gatherings, such as those in the United Nations.

Marciano of the DOST expects that the establishment of the PhilSA will encourage Filipino space scientists abroad to return home, as well as inspire young Filipinos to seek careers or professions related to space.

“We’re not precluding the possibility of it later on — that a Filipino would be in space,” he said.

“If we’re to send somebody in space … we want it to contribute something meaningful, maybe do an experiment in the space station, an experiment that is born out of local research,” he added.

But the prospects of the Philippines having its own rocket launcher remain remote “because it costs a lot of money,” Marciano said.

According to the law, an initial operating fund of 1 billion pesos has been appropriated for PhilSA, with a 10 billion peso Philippine Space Development Fund created exclusively for capital outlays. The agency is also permitted to generate income from its specialized products, services and royalties, as well as accept grants and donations and secure loans.

Lawmaker Carlos Zarate of the progressive sectoral group Bayan Muna (People First) views the establishment of PhilSA as another case of the government’s wrong prioritization in terms of fund allocation.

“There’s nothing wrong in being ambitious. … But that 10 billion pesos can go a long way if we improve our agriculture sector. We even have a problem in our health sector, which is also being deprived of funds. Our social services are facing big problems,” Zarate said in an interview before the law was passed.

But Sese, the astrophysicist, said that based on a study his group conducted, the average return for every peso invested in space technology or a space program is 2.5 pesos, which, he said, is a “very conservative estimate,” citing the global rate of “$4 for every $1.”

PH best places

10 Best Places To Visit In The Philippines



Biphasia Bhatia
thetravel.com
17 August 2019


The southeastern country called the Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands. It's three main islands are Luzon (where the capital city is), Visayas, and Mindanao. The best places to visit in the country are mostly beaches, some tourist-friendly like Boracay, and some that a tourist would have to travel more for that slice of heaven on the white sand. If you are looking for beautiful beaches and breathtaking scenery, you will certainly find it here. But the Philippines is a favorite vacation spot of the most secretive, and richest personalities in the world. These are 10 places a tourist should try to visit when vacationing in the Philippine islands.

10 BATANES

Although Manila is the capital city, it's crowded and there's really not much to enjoy there except for history and culture and some cool landmarks. Let's dive right into the good stuff and travel to the northernmost part of the country. The topmost islands of the Philippines have beaches that are beyond amazing. 

Take Batanes for example, it's one of the islands that's not thick with tourists, even local tourists because it's not easy to get there. One of the best beaches in Batanes is the Morong Beach on Sabtang Island, and watch out for that beautiful sunrise.... and sunset! 

9 MOUNTAIN PROVINCE

The Mountain Province is a region in the northern part of Luzon Island. Hikers and backpackers are welcome here, and the locals will be sure to take care of you. Find the town of Sagada and check out the following places: Sumaguing Cave, Kankanaey Hanging Coffins (hanging off the side of a cliff!), take unlimited pictures with the clouds at the Kiltepan Peak, Bomod-Ok Falls, and the mystical Blue Soil Hills. Then travel south about 51 miles to get to the Ifugao Province to check out the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces and the UNESCO World Heritage site Hapao Rice Terraces.

8 BICOL 

From the Ifugao Province, we'll cross Manila and go south to the Bicol Region where a lot of tourist sites await. The best one is the volcano that people say has the most perfect cone shape, the Mayon Volcano. Located in the town of Albay, Mayon is the pride of the Bicolanos (locals of Bicol). For some water sports fun and hip accommodations, check out the CWC (CamSur Watersports Complex) in Camarines Sur. It's a resort and wakeboarding facility that caters to beginners and expert wakeboarders alike. Looking for beaches in Bicol, head to Caramoan (car-ra-mow-ann) and find the once-virgin Gota Beach, Matukad, and other breathtaking islands in the Caramoan peninsula.

7 AKLAN

We proudly present the revitalized Boracay Beach. Once the pride and glory of the Kalibo province of Aklan in Western Visayas, Boracay was so perfect in the early nineties up to the early 2000s, but the small island town could contend with the fast-rising tourism and the government finally had to shut down the whole beach for environmental reasons for about six months. Boracay Island is famous for its long and wide shoreline, white sand, and calm, kid-friendly waters. The beach is divided into stations, where Station 1 has the most luxurious beach resorts and Station 3 is the station of choice of budget-conscious visitors.

6 PALAWAN

If there is a province or region that could claim the highest tourist count in all of the Philippines, it would be Palawan. Palawan is that island on the right side of the country that looks like a peg leg. This province has 1,780 islands and the capital city is Puerto Princesa. Tourists visit the city for the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It's truly a marvel of nature. Speaking of nature, people also visit the Crocodile Farm, enjoy a walking tour of the facility and see other animals native to the Palawan Islands. For beach fun, go to Honda Bay and the Tubbataha Reef in Cagayancillo.

5 CEBU 

Historically, it was a toss-up between Manila and Cebu as to where the Philippines' capital city would be. This is why the local people of Cebu, the Cebuanos, speak either Bisaya (local dialect) or English, and never Tagalog (local dialect of Manila). It's also why Cebu International Airport is one of the biggest and best airports in the country. Here's a rundown of the best tourist spots in Cebu: Mactan, Magellan's Cross, Oslob Beach (go swim with whale sharks), Field of LED Roses (go here when it's dark), Malapascua Island, Sumilon Island, White Beach, Osmeña Peak and three beautiful waterfalls (Kawasan, Aguinid, Tumalog). Don't go without trying the city's famous delicacies, Cebu Lechon and sutokil.

4 BOHOL

Our last stop in the Visayas is the city of Bohol. The self-proclaimed safest city in the Philippines, the annual crime rate in this city is close to nil. The locals are peaceful, friendly and uber-accommodating. This city offers a diverse nature immersion, starting with its iconic tourist spot the Chocolate Hills. Aptly named as they look like gigantic chocolate Kisses lined up on a vast plain. Then, check out one of the smallest marsupials in the world, the tarsier. These cute, googly-eyed creatures can only be found in a few countries in Southeast Asia. Then, have a floating meal on a tour of the Loboc River, complete with live homegrown Bohol music.

3 SURIGAO DEL NORTE

Surigao del Norte is located in Mindanao, the southernmost main island of the country. This province is divided into two primary islands, Bucas Grande and Siargao. Siargao is a surfer island, all traveling surfers out there, check out the waves of Siargao Island and the natural beauty of the region. South of the island is calmer waves fit for children. For a luxurious stay in Siargao, go to Nay Palad on Dedon Island. Take a trip to Sohoton Cove National Park for close encounters with hundreds of jellyfish, Sugba Lagoon, and chill out on a cute islet called Basul Island.

2 DAVAO 

The last stop in Mindanao is Davao City. This city houses the country's highest peak, Mount Apo, located south of Davao. The towering mountain is home to an endangered species of eagle, the monkey-eating eagle or the Philippine Eagle. This majestic animal is native to Davao and can be seen, and even touched by visitors at the Philippine Eagle Center. 

Popular tourist attractions in the city are the Eden Nature Park and Resort where a guided tour is a must-do, plus a buffet meal at the end. The best beach resort in Davao is Pearl Farm, check into this world-class resort for a relaxing and pampered stay.

1 PALAWAN

The platinum islands and resorts in the Philippines are mostly located in Palawan. But in this article, we will only discuss four of them, Amanpulo, El Nido, Coron, and Busuanga. A stay on any of the islands would be worth the trip and the money as they are wondrous places; unbelievable white beaches, isolated and personalized resorts, all for your pleasure. Amanpulo is an exclusive resort in the Pamalican Islands, northeast of the Palawan main island. It's the go-to resort of famous celebrities and promises seclusion and total privacy. Busuanga and Coron are on the northernmost island of Palawan, Busuanga has a safari park with giraffes and Coron is just heavenly. The best way to experience El Nido is through El Nido Resorts.

Jollibee in Edmonton

Popular Filipino fast food chain Jollibee opens in Edmonton to huge fanfare

Slav Kornik | Global News Canada

16 August 2019

The popular Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee opened its first restaurant in Edmonton to massive fanfare on Friday morning — the excitement was so great, a record was set.

Jollibee opening in Edmonton, Canada

Hundreds of people lined up for hours and even days just off Calgary Trail and 38 Avenue in south Edmonton to get the first taste of the restaurant’s food.

The crowd cheered, sang and danced shortly before the restaurant opened.

Jordan Haworth was the first in line after arriving at the restaurant at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, meaning he waited in line for nearly three days —which set a record for the longest wait at a Jollibee opening.

Jollibee store openings have been known to draw large crowds as fans and newcomers alike line up for a chance to try the unique food.

“I’m very very excited. People have been repping it all week,” Haworth, who hadn’t tried the company’s food before, said.

“We have never seen this kind of opening at any of our locations before, probably the [previous] record we had was a 20 hour wait,” JFC North America Philippine branch president Maribeth Delacruz said.

“It was in Manhattan in New York, but somebody waiting in line for three days for the opening is just really phenomenal.”

Others drove several hours to get a taste of Jollibee’s food. The Filipino people who lined up said Jollibee is more than a fast-food restaurant, it’s a part of their native country.

“When you go to a mall with your family, you would eat at Jollibee. You would always eat there.”

The fast-food giant has been in the Philippines for 40 years, with around 1,000 restaurants world-wide.

The menu contains items that may be new to some Canadian palates: known as “the McDonald’s of the Philippines,” the restaurant has diverse offerings such as fried chicken, sweet-style spaghetti sauce and noodles, and peach mango pie.

“I just came from inside and somebody who waited for three days in line, and when she finally got to the counter she was literally crying,” Delacruz said.

The Edmonton restaurant is the fifth in Canada for the company. There are also two in Toronto and two in Winnipeg.

Those in line believe the new restaurant will be a huge hit in Alberta’s capital.

“Especially that it’s just one in Edmonton,” Angel Haddac said.

“And there’s a lot of Filipinos and other people that would like it,” Reyes added.

The company has aggressive expansion plans, with the goal of opening 100 restaurants in Canada over the next five years.