Batad Rice Terraces: Saving a Living Heritage

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Philippine Daily Inquirer 

10:21 pm | Thursday, March 15th, 2012

BAGUIO CITY—Civic groups, tourists and government workers continue to pitch in as Ifugao farmers begin preparing for the restoration of the Batad rice terraces in Ifugao, Gov. Eugene Balitang said here on Wednesday.

The Batad terraces in the tourist town of Banaue belong to the cluster of rice terraces declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as World Heritage Site in 1995. Unusually heavy rains over the years had eroded sections of the terraces in Batad and in other parts of Ifugao.

On Monday, the Banaue government began clearing and stockpiling rocks for stonewalls. It also started field demonstration exercises every Thursday for people who volunteer to rebuild the terraces, reports from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) rice program office showed.

The reports said the Department of Budget Management has set aside P20 million as initial repair funds for the terraces.

Balitang said the Ifugao government will also tap funds from the Unesco National Commission of the Philippines (Unacom) to repair the terraces.

He said tourists and civic groups have helped in the work as a result of a bachang (appeal for help) that was called by communities there.

The Catholic organization Couples for Christ sent a delegation last week, while the Philippine Army promised to send soldiers to help, reports from Balitang’s office said.

The Ifugao government has prepared new maps and geographical data to guide farmers and engineers in their work on the terraces.

The terraces are unique as they were the result of ancient engineering practices that prevent the mountain from eroding.

Ifugao is a rainforest so the paddies act as soil and runoff water trap, while layers of forest cover in the mountains serve as watersheds, the Ifugao Cultural Heritage Office said.

On March 10, Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on cultural communities, inspected the damaged terraces.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., chair of the House committee on cultural communities, has sponsored a bill that provides a stable source of funds for restoring and maintaining the rice terraces. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Palarong Pambansa Pangasinan 2012 Goes Clean and Green

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"Expect a clean and green 2012 Palarong Pambansa!" This is the pronouncement ofEducation Secretary Br. Armin Luistro, FSC during the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the department and this year’s host the provincial government of Pangasinan represented by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Luistro said the department will seriously pursue the campaign to make the Palaro an environment-friendly event by requiring food caterers to dispense with plastic and styrofor in the preparation of meals. “We started this in Dipolog, Zamboanga last year, we will do it better this year,” said Luistro.

On another clean aspect, Luistro announced that the DepEd will ensure that athlete screening and games officiating will be clean and fair to all in keeping with the true spirit of the sporting event.

“The Palaro is a venue for values formation among our youth, this is where positive Filipino values should apply,” he explained.

Luistro added that the Palaro should not be made a once-a- year event but a continuing activity to really develop the athletic prowess and sportsmanship of the young. Likewise, the games venue should not be so constructed as to last for just a year. “It should be made to last for years so that many athletes can use it for a continuous sports program."

The 2012 Palarong Pambansa is set from May 6 to 12, 2012 to be participated in by elementary and secondary students from public and private schools.

As stipulated in DepEd Memo No. 22 series of 2012, this year’s host of the annual national sporting event is the provincial government of Pangasinan and DepEd Regional Office 1 assisted by the schools division office of Pangasinan and the city schools division offices of San Carlos City and Dagupan City.

Luistro describes the Palaro as an important component of the basic education curriculum because it promotes physical education and sports which are part of the full development of the youth’s potential. “When we say total human development, we mean to develop persons who are physically fit, socially responsible and globally competitive,” he said.

DepEd has allocated some P136.5 million for this year’s Palaro. Most of the events will be played at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center in Lingayen while the rest will be in the cities of San Carlos and Dagupan and the towns of Bugallon and Binmaley. Some 10,000 athletes, coaches and sports officials from the country’s 17 regions are expected to participate in the country’s biggest sports spectacle.

Student –athletes who stand out from the Palaro serve as feeder to the National Sports Associations for further training for international competitions. “In a way, the results of the Palaro provide a database for a more sound and relevant school development program,” added Luistro.

The sporting events are athletics, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics (women’s artistic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastic and rhythmic gymnastics), sipa takraw, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.

For the differently-abled, there is goalball, aquatics, bocce, long jump, shot put and 100, 200 and 400 meter dash.

“Inside Malacanang” by National Geographic Channel

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The National Geographic Channel (NGC) will soon broadcast the documentary about the Presidential Palace, “Inside Malacañang.”

Directed by filmmaker Marnie Manicad, the documentary gives viewers a peek into the country’s most tightly guarded address – the official residence and workplace of President Benigno Aquino III.

Manicad didn’t go into the project blindly; she was fully aware of the challenges. Securing all the necessary permits and gaining the insiders’ trust were only the beginning.

“We got access to the most secluded parts of the Palace,” Manicad recounted. “We also had to convince the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that we needed to film their training sessions and operations.”

 Manicad and her team had to justify their every move, especially if it involved the four people who are closest to the President – the group commander of the PSG, the personal security aide, the food tester and the presidential photographer.

She was stunned to discover that there actually was a person assigned to taste the President’s meals beforehand. She admitted, “I thought the food tester was an urban legend.”

Making the docu yielded other discoveries as well. “I learned more about the history and evolution of the place. It provided us with a deeper insight on the Palace – not just the physical structure, but its meaning to us, as Filipinos.”

In making “Inside Malacañang,” Manicad said, she was inspired by the NGC docus “Inside the Vatican,” “Inside: The Obama White House,” “Air Force One” and “Restrepo: Outpost Afghanistan.”

                         

These “nontraditional” stories encouraged Manicad to “push the limits” of local docu-making. “It’s difficult to make docus, especially if it’s about a heavy topic,” she admitted. “In doing narrative feature films, you can adjust on the set. But with docus, you need complete grasp of the subject, because you can’t make excuses once you start shooting.”

Things are made more arduous by the very high journalistic and filmmaking standards set by NGC, whose editors went over every line of the script with a fine-toothed comb. “For this docu, I had a 16-page voiceover script,” Manicad related. “But with the added research annotations and references, it reached over 84 pages. NGC is that strict when it comes to facts and details.”

NGC doesn’t accept popular online sources such as Wikipedia for the kind of information she needed. “You should only rely on books, actual reports and first-hand interviews,” the filmmaker said. “The script had to be cleared by NGC Singapore, Hong Kong and Washington DC before we could record the final narration, done by veteran actor Joonee Gamboa.”


It’s a landmark docu. It will not just give viewers an unprecedented, all-access pass to the Palace; it will also be shown on National Geographic channels all over the globe in the first quarter of this year.
“It’s unbelievable. I only used to dream about making docus. Now, not only did I finish one; as a bonus, it will be aired on NGC,” Manicad said.

It was once dubbed as a “foremost home” by Spanish governor generals. The Americans made it a social hub for the country’s elite while the Japanese transformed it into a garrison.

Yet after all these changes, Malacañan Palace still stands proudly by the Pasig River today. One would wonder what is now inside the cordoned-off areas of the palace.

On March 18, at 9pm catch the premiere of the original documentary Inside Malacañang as National Geographic Channel (NGC) takes you to an exclusive guided tour inside the official residence of the country’s chief executive.

This exclusive feature, which took one and a half years to produce, delves into chambers of the palace that were previously off-limits to the media and the public.
Inside Malacañang also examines and breaks long-held myths and beliefs about the President’s entourage. Get to know the everyday routines of the Presidential Security Group commander, the close-in security aide of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the presidential photographer, and even the presidential food tester.

                           

“NGC has been aiming to feature more relevant programs to the Filipino audience. With Inside Malacañang we hope more Filipinos would appreciate the office of the President and the people who help run it everyday,” said Jude Turcuato, Fox International Channels vice president and territory head for Philippines.

“Through this documentary that was proudly made by a Filipino production team, Marnie Manicad Productions International, in the hallmark standards of the NGC, we also wanted to show the world-class talent of Filipinos in producing long-form documentaries.”

The Inside Malacañang production team is composed of director, producer and head writer Marnie Manicad, writer Cris Lim and narrator Joonee Gamboa.

                               Film Trailer of "Inside Malacañang" by National Geographic Channel

(Stories courtesy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and press release)

"Wrath of the Titans" on March 29

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A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld.

Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son, Ares, switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans' strength grows stronger as Zeus' remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda, Poseidon's demigod son, Argenor, and fallen god Hephaestus, Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, the movie stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike.

Wrath of the Titans which will be shown in Philippine theaters in 3D and IMAX 3D on March 29.

Azkals celebrate a goal against Tajikistan

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         MAKING HISTORY The Philippine Azkals celebrate in front of supporters
         at Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.The Azkals defeated Tajikistan,
         2-1, to make history by claiming the country’s first semifinal appearance in
         the AFC Challenge Cup. GOALNEPAL.COM

Azkals celebrate a goal over former champion Tajikistan, 2-1, to claim one of the four semifinals berths in the AFC Challenge Cup, the biggest and the most prestigious football tournament in Asia that will also serve as a basis who should go to the World Cup representing Asia. With the victory, the Philippines finished second to defending champion North Korea in Group B. In Group A, Turkmenistan finished first and Palestine claimed the second spot. The Azkals will battle Turkeministan on March 16 at 14:30 p.m. at Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal for a finals seat. North Korea will face Palestine on the same day at 18:30 p.m. at the same stadium.

Read and enjoy the story of Cedelf P. Tupas of Philippine Daily Inquirer reproduced below.  A quick schedule table and game results are pasted thereafter.

       

Amazing Azkals make history

By Cedelf P. Tupas

Philippine Daily Inquirer 11:37 pm | Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 

 KATHMANDU—The journey of Mt. Everest-like proportions continues for the Philippine Azkals here. Along the way, a squad growing in strength with every game is making history.

Displaying the resiliency and fighting heart that the team has been known for, the Azkals came back from a goal down to nip Tajikistan, 2-1, Tuesday and reach the semifinals of the AFC Challenge Cup for the first time at the Halchowk Stadium.

Strikers Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado struck in a sensational second half as the Azkals, hounded by a sexual harassment controversy back home, responded resoundingly from a halftime deficit to eliminate one of the fancied sides in the tournament.

As the final whistle was blown, the Azkals formed themselves into a circle at the touchline and celebrated their biggest accomplishment yet since reaching the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup in Vietnam in December 2010.

The ecstatic players hugged each other, while captain Chieffy Caligdong raised the Philippine flag in front of a group of Filipinos who braved the chill to support the team.

The Filipino fans later sang the national anthem as the players whooped it up with a celebratory dive on the field with a rainbow serving as a fitting backdrop to one of the Philippines’ greatest moments in the sport.

Azkals manager Dan Palami, soaking wet from all the celebration, was at a loss for words.

“It’s unbelievable,” Palami said.

Nothing short of spectacular

The Azkals’ run has been nothing short of spectacular. They needed to go through prequalifying, winning over Mongolia in a two-leg affair, before hurdling the qualifying round in Myanmar last year.

Before they left Manila, Guirado and Lexton Moy were accused of sexual harassment for their conduct during a match with Malaysia last Feb. 29 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The odds were certainly stacked against the Azkals as they were also grouped with former champions North Korea and India. But the Azkals rose above adversity, even after going into halftime a goal down.

“I’m proud of this team,” said the Azkals’ German coach Michael Weiss. “This is not only fantastic, but a victory most deserved.”

The Azkals created the clear-chances in the first half, but the Tajiks took the lead through defender Negmatov Alexey’s header off a corner in the first minute of first-half injury time.

Caligdong looked to have cleared the ball from going past the line and Japanese referee Ryuji Sato had to discuss the play with the linesman before awarding the goal to the Tajiks.

Tajikistan was on the front foot in the early stages in the second half, but it was the Azkals who made the most out of their chance in the 54th minute.

Guirado did well to keep the attack going and sent a low cross for Younghusband. With Tajik keeper Alisher Tuychiev already beaten, Younghusband slotted it into an empty net for the equalizer.

Looming penalty shootout

Guirado earlier came close with a header that went over in the first half. And just when it looked like a penalty shootout was looming, the Filipino-Spanish forward rose above his defender and found the bottom corner to make it 2-1, 10 minutes from time.

Phil and James Younghusband and Paul Mulders came close to adding to the tally late in the match as the Azkals finished with a flourish.

Picking up from where they left off in the 2-nil win over former champion India, the Azkals started lively with Phil Younghusband coming close in the eighth minute with a shot from a tight angle that was saved.

Tajikistan enjoyed a good stretch of possession in the first half, but couldn’t craft a clear-cut chance as Carli de Murga, Ray Jonsson, Jason Sabio, Rob Gier and Juani Guirado proved more than equal to the challenge.

Neil Etheridge was called into action with an early clearance, but apart from that he was hardly troubled and was a commanding presence.

“You have to hand it to the guys, they played like there was no tomorrow and the results just came,” said Palami. “There’s talent here but they played with their hearts out.”