Olivia Culpo (Miss USA) Wins Miss Universe 2012

Olivia Culpo, the 20-year-old Miss USA brought the Miss Universe crown back to the United States for the first time in more than a decade.

Olivia Culpo beat out 89 other beauty queens from six continents at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip to take the title from outgoing champion Leila Lopes of Angola.

The first runner-up was Janine Tugonon of Philippines and second runner-up, Irene Esser of Venezuela.

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Pope Posts His First Tweet; Gets Over 1 Million Followers

Pope Benedict XVI posted his first tweet on social networking site Twitter today (Dec. 12) under his confirmed handle @Pontifex, as he hit the 1 million Twitter follower mark.

The 85-year-old inaugural tweet read: Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.

The Vatican had opened eight Twitter accounts in the pope's name, in eight languages: English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Italian, French and Arabic.

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‘Yahoo! She’ Launched in Philippines on International Women’s Day

Yahoo! celebrates International Women’s Day in the Philippines by launching “Yahoo! She” (http://ph.she.yahoo.com), which is one-stop online destination that offers “Real Women, Real Answers.”

Yahoo! She aims to empower women, inspire ideologies and contribute towards building a nurturing environment for Filipino women.

Yahoo! She takes on topics that Filipinos are reluctant or hesitant to talk about openly, meanwhile delivering the information with taste and engaging its readers to partake in the discourse. The lifestyle property for 18–34 year olds is modeled after Yahoo! Shine — the leading site for women in the US, with more than 38 million unique visitors per month.

Yahoo! She offers a combination of original and syndicated content from some of the top lifestyle publications such as Cosmopolitan, Lovefood, Grazia, Juice, Investopedia and Forbes; independent bloggers and expert columns by Dr. Diana Sarmiento (for Health & Wellness), Oliva Yao (for Parenting & Relationships), Erica Paredes (for Fashion & Beauty), Chinggay Labrador (for Home & Organizing), Angel Rivero (for Health); polls and surveys; advertiser sponsored content and promos on topics ranging from beauty, skincare, healthy eating, exercise and diets, maintaining work-life balance and getting organized.

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ADB $350 Million Loan to Improve Power Distribution in India

The Manila-headquartered Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered a $350 million loan to improve the power distribution system in Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012.

ADB signed three agreements with the Indian government and the respective state governments to provide the loan which has a maturity period of up to 25 years with a grace period of five years.

The ADB will provide $200 million in loans to support the "provision of reliable, 24-hour electricity to rural households in Madhya Pradesh," the finance ministry said in a statement.

"ADB's loan funds will establish separate power feeders for households and agricultural use, install high-voltage distribution systems, provide new power connections and improve the financial sustainability of the distribution companies," it said.

In a separate agreement, the ADB has offered a $100 million loan to develop a transmission system that will distribute 500 megawatts of solar power from the Charanka Solar Park in Gujarat.

The regional development bank has also offered a $50 million loan to support electricity transmission and distribution capacity in Assam.

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Philippines: AirAsia to Launch 4 Domestic, 6 International Routes Soon

Philippines low-cost carrier AirAsia is ready to launch four domestic and six regional destinations this year.

AirAsia is 40 percent owned by Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, considered the world’s most successful low-cost carrier, while the rest is owned in equal shares by Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, port operator Michael Romero and former broadcast journalist Marianne Hontiveros.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier granted AirAsia Philippines its airline operating certificate (AOC) that would allow it to fly commercially out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga.

AirAsia also plans to mount flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Aside from the three international destinations, the carrier plans to fly to Kalibo in Aklan province, Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, Incheon in South Korea, and Bangkok in Thailand.

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Philippines to Launch 40bn Peso Retail Bond Sale on Feb. 21

The Philippines will launch its first retail bond offering this year on Feb. 21, 2012 with a minimum issue size of 40 billion pesos ($938 million), Deputy National Treasurer Eduardo Mendiola said.

After the auction, there will be a public offer period that will run until Feb. 28 when the government hopes to sell more of the bonds to refinance similar bonds falling due during the month.

Mendiola said the retail bonds will have maturities of 15 and 20 years.

Nine banks were hired to handle the issue. They are First Metro Investment Corp, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co , BDO Capital, BPI Capital and Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, China Banking Corp and Deutsche Bank.

The government has said it plans to regularly sell retail T-bonds twice in a year.

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Philippine: National Triathlon Event in Subic on Feb. 5

The Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) will be opening its National Age Group Triathlon on Feb. 5, 2012. The event is expected to yield fresh talent for TRAP.

More than 250 participants have signed up for the race that will be held in Subic, at the northern Philippine province of Zambales.

The event will feature sprint distance (750-meter swim-20K bike-5K run) for the 16–19 age group and the mini-sprint (350m swim-16 K bike-2.5 K run) for the 13–15 category.

Participants can also compete in the SuperTriKids Aquathlon with distances of 200m swim–400m run for the 9–10 age group and the 350m swim–1.5K run for 11–12-year-old age group.

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Bryan Adams Manila Concert Cancelled

Canadian pop-rock artist Bryan Adams has cancelled an upcoming concert in Manila, Philippines. He was supposed to perform at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila on Feb. 18, 2012 from 8 pm.

A message on the singer's official website (www.bryanadams.com) reads, "Bryan show February 18th in Manila has been canceled. Refunds can be requested at point of purchase."

The reason for the cancellation of the concert was not given in the website.

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Philippines: Entrepreneurial Workshop in Davao on Feb. 11, 18, 25

An interactive three-session entrepreneurial workshop named as “Your Own Business” has been organized in Davao City, Philippines. The workshops will be held at clubhouse of the Rotary Club Davao in Camus St., in front of the 7th Day Adventist Church.

“Your Own Business,” will be held on February 11, 18 and 25 from 9 am to 5 pm. The workshop is a hands-on course on entrepreneurship designed for all entrepreneurs who want to start their own business.

Participants need to pay P6,000 for the three sessions, payable in three times before the session starts. A discount of P1,000 is given for full payment at the first day of the course.

The workshop covers topics that will be explained with emphasis on avoiding pitfalls. These include entrepreneurial skills, idea development, organizational aspects and accounting aspects.

The workshop will also discuss the funding needs of new businesses and the possibilities to get support from foreign financial institutions and the special programs they have for startups in the Philippines.

During the sessions, the participants will work on their own business plan. Entrepreneurial expert Raf Vlummens, a former banker and professor at Syntra, School of Entrepreneurship in Brussels (Belgium), will conduct the sessions.

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance and digital copy the book "Becoming an Entrepreneur," including a business plan worksheet. Snacks and lunches will also be served during every session.

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Philippines' Cebu Pacific to Launch Direct Flights to Cambodia in April

Philippines' national flag carrier Cebu Pacific Air will launch regular direct flights between the Philippines' Manila to Cambodia's Siem Reap province from April 2012. There would be four direct flights a week between the two destinations by using an Airbus 319.

Cambodia has been connected through direct flights with eight Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, except Indonesia.

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Philippines: Youth Fest for Sendong Victims From Jan. 27-28

The National Youth Commission (NYC) will host a festival to inspire the youth who were displaced by Tropical Storm Sendong and encourage them to rebuild their lives after the devastating storm.

The fest, dubbed as “Kabatan-onan Paglaum Festival,” will be held on January 27, 2012 at Liceo de Cagayan University, in Cagayan de Oro City, and on January 28 at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City, Philippines.

Psycho-social interventions and activities like peer counseling, photography class, acting/theater workshop, and health information sessions will be provided to the displaced youth during the two-day festival.

The festival is a joint undertaking of the NYC, Pilipinas Natin and EDSA People Power Commission.

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Longganisa Festival of Vigan City Attracts 100,000 Visitors

“Longganisa Festival” proved to be one of the biggest crowd-drawing occasions in Northern Luzon as around 100,000 tourists attended the daylong festivities on Jan. 22, 2012 at Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

Local and foreign tourists joined local residents as they frolicked in the streets and watched the street dancing showdown participated in by12 contingents.

The dancing groups were divided into two categories: Category A, for group members age of 16 and below; and Category B for group members with ages 17 and above.

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Australia to Hold Trade Expo in Philippines in March

Australia is preparing to host a Trade and Tourism Expo in Negros Occidental, Philippines in March.

The expo is expected to bring tour operators from Australia to the Philippines and serve as an avenue for the hiring of Negrense skilled workers and the promotion of study-migrate, and tourism and retirement programs.

Australia is outsourcing about 4.8 million skilled workforce from various countries, including the Philippines.

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Philippines: Free Information Technology Seminar in Cebu on Jan. 27

A FREE seminar on information technology (IT) skill advancement for human resource development will be conducted on Jan. 27, 2012 at the Parklane International Hotel, corner Archbishop Reyes Ave. and Escario St., Cebu City, Philippines.

The activity, which will start at noon until 4 pm, was intended to implement the IT Skills Standards (ITSS) in the Philippines.

Registration to the seminar will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Portal to online registration can be requested from Rozza Jayme of PhilNITS at philnits.cebu@yahoo.com or call 254-0577.

For inquiries, one may contact Karl Soriano of PhilNITS at karlo_philnits@yahoo.com or Bebeth Chuidian of JODC at jodcmnlcorrespondent@gmail.com.

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Philippines: ICT Negros Offers Free Call Center Training

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Association in Negros Oriental and member-companies of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) are inviting individuals who aspire to become call center agents to avail of the scholarship programs under the information technology-business process outsourcing industry-based training for work scholarship program.

ICT Dumaguete president Randy Bandiola said 900 slots for scholarship are offered by three Tesda accredited schools.

Metro Dumagute College is accepting 400 scholars, while the remaining 500 slots are divided between the Philippine Call Center Institute (PCCI) and Science Technology Institute (STI).

The training does not only include voice or call center training, but also important segments of non-voice BPO such as legal, health, care information management, publishing, animation, game development and software development.

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10th Third Eye Asian Film Fest in Mumbai, Pune From Dec. 22–29

The 10th edition of the Third Eye Asian Film Festival will be held in Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur from Dec. 22–29, 2011.

The main venue for the film festival will be Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai, where more than 156 films from Asia and other parts of the world will be screened.

The festival will open with the Chinese film 11 Flowers (directed by Xiashuai Wang) and close with Ketan Mehta’s controversial Rang Rasiya. It will pay a tribute to Ashok Kumar, with a screening of BR Chopra’s Gumrah.

Over 400 entries have been received from different Asian Countries including Iran, China, Japan, Israel, Philippines and Indonesia.

Films will be screened under the sections — Spectrum Asia, First/Second Film Competition, Short Film Competition, Focus on one Asian country and Retrospective.

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Third Eye Asian Film Fest in Mumbai from Dec. 22–29

The PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy has joined hands with Asian Film Foundation to host the 10th Third Eye Asian Film Festival in Mumbai from December 22–29, 2011.

The Festival will open with the premiere of celebrated Chinese filmmaker Xiaoshuai Wang's 11 Flowers. The centerpiece of the festival will be Asghar Farahadi's A Separation while the closing film would be director Ketan Mehta's latest film Ranga Rasiya.

Over 400 entries have been received from different Asian Countries including Iran, China, Japan, Israel, Philippines and Indonesia. Out of these, 100 feature films and 50 short films will be shown during the week-long festival.

While Ravindra Natya Mandir at Prabhadevi will be the main venue for the festival, selected films would also be shown in Thane.

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Picasso’s Rare Art Collection on Display in Manila

World famous artist Pablo Picasso’s 100 prints of copper etchings were unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011.

The collection of this Spanish artist, known in art history as Suite Vollard, will be on public display starting Thursday, November 10, 2011, up to January 7, 2012.

The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday except first Mondays of the month and holidays. Museum entrance fee is P100, which includes access to the Suite Vollard exhibit.

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Cinemanila International Film Fest Concludes in Manila

Cinemanila International Film Festival is the longest running festival in Philippines, which started on Nov. 11, 2011 in Manila. Kevin Macdonald and Ridley Scott’s Life in a Day concludes the fest on Nov. 17, 2011.

Superstar Nora Aunor receives the Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award on November 11 during the festival's opening night.

The Cinemanila International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Manila, the Philippines. Held annually since 1989, Cinemanila is an international juried film festival that celebrates and promotes Filipino and Southeast Asian Cinema.

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Illinois: Free Philippine Parol-Making Workshop on Nov. 20

Celebrated Filipino-American artist offers parol-making (Philippine Christmas lantern) workshop during the 6th Annual Parol Festival on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 12 to 4 pm at St. Brebeuf Church's Activity Center, 8307 N. Harlem in Niles, Illinois, United States.

The fun-filled workshop aims to promote one of the Philippines' cultural traditions during the Christmas season. The display of parol tradition goes back to early 1600s after the arrival of the Spaniards to spread Christianity. The workshop includes presentation of the history and significance of parol in Philippines' culture.

Registration is required via web site – http://fdeasis.com/parol . A confirmation will be sent via email. The workshop is open to public at no charge.

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