DepEd: All systems go for Palaro 2015

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has completed the preparations for the 58th Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The national sporting event’s original kick off date was moved to May 4, to support our boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Floyd Mayweather Junior this coming Sunday.

DepEd Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said that all necessary arrangements have been secured. “Every year, we aim to make the Palarong Pambansa a special event highlighting what the Filipino youth can showcase to the world in the field of sports,” Luistro said. 

Luistro also added that this year’s Palarong Pambansa will continue to be clean, green and high-tech. “More than the equipment we set up to showcase a high-tech Palaro, the sporting event will display Filipino core values such as honesty and fair play and will put equal emphasis on environmental concern.”

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario assured DepEd that the province is ready to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, and implemented a gun ban in the province for the duration of the games. “We were able to secure the PNP’s order for a gun ban in the province from April 20 to May 10, 2015.”

All delegations from 17 regions have arrived and are now settled in their respective billeting quarters.

The Palarong Pambansa is DepEd’s way of promoting physical education and sports as an integral part of the Basic Education Curriculum and as an affirmation to its commitment to develop the potentials of the youth to become responsible and globally competitive citizens.

Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Tonisito Umali, assisted by the Task Force on School Sports (TFSS), shall spearhead the event. The TFSS shall provide technical management, secretariat/staff and operational services.

The following activities are lined up for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa: 

May 3 –Governor’s Night at DavNor Sports & Tourism Complex (DNSTC); 

May 4 – Thanksgiving Mass with Gov. Del Rosario and Sec. Luistro at the RDR Gym & Cultural Center and the Opening Ceremonies to start in Government Center, Capitol Grounds to DNSTC; 

May 5 – Media Night at DNSTC Clubhouse; 

May 3-8 – Sports competition; 

May 6 – DepEd Night at DNSTC Clubhouse; and 

May 9 will be the closing ceremonies

Lyceum of the Philippines Culinary Institute Braves the 2015 HKICC with Fresh and Raw Talents

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Lyceum of the Philippines Culinary Institute (LPUCI) sends off fresh and young talents to compete in one of Asia's toughest culinary competition, the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic. The esteemed culinary battle will be part of the 16th International Exhibition of Food & Drink, Hotel, Restaurant & Foodservice Equipment, and Supplies & Services known as HOFEX 2015. 

This year, LPUCI aims to bring home honor and a sense of pride to a new batch of LPUCI and LPU students. Chef Dan Basilio, the Culinary Director of LPUCI believes that the program they offer at LPUCI can mold students to be capable to challenge other culinary practitioners not only in Asia, but of the world. LPUCI integrate within their programs not only the latest information and techniques but also with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

"Students at LPUCI are able to master the use of equipment used and facilitated worldwide," shared Chef Dan. "We believe by allowing the students to be exposed to these type of kitchen set-up where they can practice their techniques learned through lectures and seminars boosts their self-esteem in the process."

LPUCI will send Angelique Chua, Emareene Francisco, Ban Vill Villaruel, Janemar Gyle Gicana, Jolina Dela Cruz, and Paul Lyndon Fornoles bannered by Chef Winnie Wong, Chef Kazzie Sy and Chef Clyden San Pedro from the faculty pool to the 2015 HKICC with much confidence and regard. These students, however, do not take the competition very lightly. They had weeks and weeks of preparation and practice being supervised by a pool of LPUCI's well-regarded faculty of chefs. But most importantly, the representatives are given final briefing on how to take on tasks and be able to face even the most difficult challenges they may encounter in Hong Kong.

"We have to note the fact that these students are first-timers when it comes to culinary competitions abroad," Chef Dan admitted. "And their being 'fresh' is what makes them motivated and driven to win." It is in fact a tradition of LPUCI to send raw talents to culinary competitions such as the HKICC. This is to provide opportunities to as many students that show extraordinary talents, skills and performances.

But LPUCI along with Lyceum of the Philippines (LPU) as a team is not a fresh face to enter the competition though. In fact, back in 2013, four of the representatives sent off to compete were able to bring home awards and distinctions. These admired individuals were Bernard Mayo (Bronze; Hot Cooking U25 Apprentices: Beef Short Ribs), Redentor Agustin (Bronze; Display-Finger Food), and Carlo Licher Reyes (Silver; Professional Sous vide Cook - Chicken).

Today's food and hospitality industry has never been tougher. 

Aside from bachelor degree holders, culinary diploma holders are increasingly growing as the numbers of culinary schools are multiplying not only locally but internationally. Having a degree alone is not enough to compete with the increasing competitors, and most companies today are becoming more meticulous in hiring kitchen extraordinaire. Lyceum of the Philippines Culinary Institute (LPUCI) has been aware of this reality and as one of the leading culinary schools in the country, they are determined to develop internationally-competent chefs through their five pillars. 

LPUCI's Ingredients are varied, top-of-the-line and of topmost quality. A chef's supremacy is through their palates. Students of LPUCI are prepared and accustomed to use and be exposed to excellent ingredients which allows them to enjoy and master each taste and texture of each food up to the minute details.

LPUCI's Chef Instructors belong to a pool of distinguished and highly experienced culinary masters from highly-regarded restaurants, hotels and bakeshops. The instructors primary objective is to impart the knowledge, skills, techniques and ethics of working in one of the most sought-after kitchens of the country

LPUCI's Management, from its directors to its staff are all food-savvy and passionate about the world of culinary arts. The same attitude is what the institute shares to its students, to make food not only a career, but a lifestyle just like the members of the managements who themselves are practitioners and food-related business owners.

LPUCI's Facilities include state-of-the-art equipment which are used in top kitchens in the world. The students are able to hone their skills as they master the use of modern facilities. The mere knowledge and familiarization already provide the students with confidence and boost their self-esteem to compete in the international scene.

With LPUCI's five pillars, hospitality and culinary degree holders do not only get to land a job. They are also being developed to rise up a career ladderfrom chef to head chef. 

To learn more about LPUCI, you may visit their website at www.lpuculinary.edu.ph or visit their office and campus at Victoria corner Muralla Streets, Intramuros, Manila. For inquiries, contact +632 318 4000 or email info@lpuculinary.edu.ph or marketing@lpuculinary.edu.ph.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/+MyrnzRoman/albums/6143577894009895665 (May 1, 2015)

10 Years of Customization with Havaianas - #MYOH2015

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Hello Summer!!! Summer is still the Filipinos’ most awaited season despite the intense heat we experience every year. It’s the perfect time to go outdoors – while away your day at the beach, climb a mountain, take a walk at the park – whatever you want, your imagination is your limit.

The same goes for customization – another favorite of ours as a people. We always feel the need to communicate our individuality at every turn. Good for us, with summer comes the much-loved annual tradition where we get to personalize our very own flip-flops! Yes, it’s that time of the year again for Make Your Own Havaianas!

Express yourself through your flip-flops as we bring Make Your Own Havaianas from May 7 to 10 to the Glorietta Activity Center and select AFF branches and pop-up stores nationwide! 

Flaunt your artistic side as you mix and match everything, from the color of the soles and straps to our choices of limited edition pins. Dare to be different and create something that shows your unique and amazing personality! 

Expect a bigger and more festive Make Your Own Havaianas as we celebrate its 10th anniversary in a Hawaii-inspired theme for this year! “Havaianas means Hawaiians in Portuguese after all. And this becomes our way of continuously sharing the rich heritage of the brand to our customers,” according to Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director for Marketing of Havaianas Philippines. Hawaii has inspired the Brazilian brand since 1962. 

To make your own Havaianas, check out the following All Flip-Flops branches in Metro Manila: AFF Bonifacio High Street, AFF SM Manila, AFF SM Megamall, AFF SM Mall of Asia, AFF TriNoma. In the provinces you can visit: AFF Abreeza Davao, AFF SM Bacolod, AFF SM Bacoor, AFF SM Cagayan de Oro, AFF SM Iloilo, AFF SM Lipa, AFF SM Pampanga, AFF SM Tarlac, and the MYOH pop-up stores in Robinson's Ilocos Norte and SM City Cebu (from May 7 to 17).

For more details, follow Havaianas Philippines on Facebook and @Havaianasphils on Instagram and Twitter. You can register online and try out the many ways you can personalize your flip-flops through http://myoh.havaianasphilippines.com/. 

Feel free to share your Make Your Own Havaianas experiences with #MYOH2015!

DOH Encourages Public to Keep Vaccinations Complete and Up-to-date

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Myths and misconceptions identified as threats to national health

Vaccinations save millions of lives worldwide on a yearly basis. Despite the progress of immunization efforts in the country, however, several factors remain to challenge the total success of such programs.

Based on the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey, six of ten children 12‐23 months (62 percent) were fully immunized; that is, they received the seven basic vaccinations before their first birthday. More than 90 percent of the children received first doses each of vaccines - DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetnaus), polio and Hepa‐B. However, same children will not complete the succeeding second and third doses required for the full protection and only 78% finishes the measles vaccination at 9 months old. . .. Rather than problems on resources and reach, challenge of completion of such programs is being stunted by the myths and speculations surrounding immunization.

Dr. Beaver Tamesis, Rosa Maria Nancho MD, Angel Jacob, DOH Secretary Janette Garin and Benjamin Co

 “The emerging adversary of vaccination is not effectiveness—it is speculation,” said Dr. Benjamin Co, a Clinical Pharmacologist and Associate Member of the Pediatric Infectious Disease of the Philippines and Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS).

Dr. Co was a keynote speaker in a forum titled Usapang Bakuna held at Museum Café in Makati. He discussed vaccine myths and misconceptions alongside DOH Secretary Janette Garin and Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines (SAMP) Adviser Dr. Rosa Maria Nancho.

The forum tackled vaccination myths and misconceptions as a nod to World Immunization Week, which runs from April 24 to 30. 

“Understandably, vaccine safety receives more attention than effectiveness,” said Dr. Co. “But vaccines have an excellent safety record. As a matter of fact, you could argue that they are as safe, if not or safer than therapeutic medicines.”

He continued: “Misguided concerns (which are not grounded on science and research) distract the general public from pressing preventable health threats. This is proving to be a major obstacle in creating a healthier nation.”

No link between measles vaccine and autism

A now-retracted study linking MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) to autism has been discouraging the vaccine’s uptake. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) described the 1998 study as an ‘elaborate fraud’ that altered the medical histories of all 12 patients that formed its basis.

According to Dr. Co, “Wakefield’s study has done long-lasting damage to health. But we need to remain focused on why vaccines were discovered and balance the benefits and risks of the disease, especially among children and the vulnerable community. As stated by the Measles Rubella Initiative, Measles is a leading cause of death among children around the world, with 400 dying every day.”

Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no scientific evidence to support claims that measles vaccination may be a risk factor for autism. Additionally, studies have shown that immunization does not lead to permanent neurological problems. 

Disproving the HPV stigma

HPV (Human Papillomavirus), a family of viruses, has two strains that are linked to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases. While there are two HPV vaccines (bivalent and quadrivalent) available in the market, their uptake is affected by existing stigma.

“Since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, some parents do not consider vaccination as a necessity for their kids,” said Dr. Nancho. “But these vaccinations are recommended at a certain age (9 years old) because that is when they’re most effective.”

She added, “Pre-exposure vaccination (which means vaccination before the child is exposed) is a corner stone of successful immunization programs against the world’s cluster of preventable diseases.”

Other ‘Untruths’

Mercury content has also been raised as a safety concern in vaccines, since some of them are formulated with the mercury-containing preservative thiomersal. However, DOH Secretary Garin was quick to point out that there is no evidence to suggest that the amount of thiomersal used in vaccines poses any health risks.

It is likewise a mistake to assume that vaccines are no longer necessary, as vaccinable diseases have disappeared in recent decades. According to Garin, the spike of measles cases in the country quickly refutes this claim.

She concluded, “The biggest problem here is that decisions on health are being made based on perceived risks, not supported by evidence. We have a responsibility to rid ourselves of all these misconceptions, especially when we are making decisions for our children.”

First Rule of Virtual Reality - VR : Don’t Break the Presence!

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Sasa Marinkovic, head of software marketing for the computing and graphics group at AMD

I’m standing on the roof of a tall building, looking down at the street hundreds of feet below as I catch my breath. The flag on the roof of the building next door is snapping in the strong wind, and I pull my toes away from the edge, before I lose my balance and fall to the street. I can hear my pursuers pounding up the stairwell to the roof, but a quick look around reveals no place to hide. The only option is to jump — to the rooftop next door. I quickly turn back to have one final look, and… pixel-lag artifacts smudge my world. The magic is gone. 

Virtual Reality — VR — one of the most hyped technologies over the past year, is poised to fundamentally transform personal entertainment as we know it, potentially delivering a long-term impact that may exceed today’s most “disruptive” new technologies. Strapping on a VR headset will catapult the user into a new realm of lifelike entertainment experiences that will seem believable — and very real, within seconds of putting them on. 

Traditional movie entertainment turns the viewer into an observer of the story, but today’s gaming technology make users active participants. VR technology takes everything a giant step further, creating the sense of the virtual world being just as real as the physical. But to achieve this, technology must become invisible, unnoticeable and undetectable. The moment that technology reveals itself by way of a difficult interface or unrealistic experience, the magic spell is broken — and the unconscious world of VR “presence” dissolves. 

Achieving a truly lifelike user experience with VR technology is now possible because of tremendous advancements in computer processing power, graphics, video, and display technologies. However, the magic ingredient is not only achieving but also maintaining the reality of the virtual reality presence. We call this rule: “Don’t break the presence.”

Understanding presence

Let’s back up a moment. “Don’t break the presence” requires knowing precisely what it is that we want to avoid breaking — and understanding the elements vital to achieving presence within a virtual environment.

VR presence is commonly equated with the concept of “immersion,” the perception of being physically present in a nonphysical world, or a state of consciousness where the VR user experiences a simulated experience that appears real, and thus feels real. Presence can be measured as the degree to which the virtual environment faithfully evokes a sense of reality that causes the user to suspend disbelief. The greater the suspension of disbelief, the greater the degree of presence achieved.

Researchers exploring virtual reality divide VR presence into three main subcategories: personal, social, and environmental. Personal presence refers to the user perceiving that they physically exist within a virtual world, social presence involves interactivity with other simulated or real entities within the virtual world, and environmental presence occurs when the virtual world seems aware of the VR user and reacts accordingly. 

VR developers describe achieving presence through implementing a broad array of technology advances and innovations, including adding a broad range of sensory inputs and user-controlled or manipulated elements within the virtual environment, and enhancing the speed and fluidity with which the virtual environment responds to those user controls or manipulations.

The role of technology: create and sustain the VR, but then stay away

Designing realistic virtual-reality environment requires tremendous computing power to render the virtual world with the best possible performance parameters. Yet, the technologies used must create and sustain the virtual environment to enable virtual presence — and then stay out of the way and be entirely inconsequential to the actual experience. 

VR technology requires faster graphics processing, high image resolutions, low latencies, and great visual quality, all while eliminating processing lag-times, graphics frame-dropping, or slow response to events or stimuli within the virtual world. The ultimate goal of VR technology is to maintain the all-important magic spell of immersive enchantment, the essential “presence” that is the core of a virtual reality experience. 

The VR user on the other hand requires only one thing to maximize their experience: make the technology disappears. The fastest personal computers of today are nearly up to the task. Those just around the corner will serve as a foundation to further perfect the art.

The only option is to jump — to the rooftop next door. I quickly turn back to have one final look, and… leap. It feels like I’m flying and then soft roll onto the rooftop. 

The pursuers are still coming. Ahead is a stairwell, and I run like the wind.