Protect the THRESHER SHARKS! ! #PHsayYES #WORLDsayYES

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Sharks matter. A critical part of marine ecosystems, Sharks in general are a fascinating and beautiful species. Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years.

Now, marine wildlife and habitats are severely imperiled. Congested with pollution ranging from plastics to derelict fishing gear, the oceans have become a veritable minefield for marine species.

The Philippines is the only country that can boast to having an established pelagic thresher shark dive industry.

Thresher sharks are farmed in some areas for their value as both a recreational sport fish and for commercial products derived from their flesh. 

The presence of thresher sharks has turned Malapascua Island into a major dive tourist attraction, helping the local residents to recover after the devastation that tropical typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) brought to many parts of the country in 2013.

In the province of Cebu, sharks are considered valuable for both their ecological and economic value that the province issued a Resolution protecting all sharks and rays in all its municipalities and established the Philippines’ first shark and ray sanctuary in Daanbantayan. 

Unfortunately, it is not enough as thresher sharks could still be fished, hunted, and traded legally elsewhere. 

However, there is an opportunity coming up that could ensure protection of thresher sharks through the regulation of its international trade. This happens on 24 September to 5 October 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa when all three species of thresher sharks are being proposed to be listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at their Conference of Parties (CoP) 17. 

The Philippines is in a unique position to push for the protection of the thresher sharks as we are the only country that values these sharks for more than just their fins. 

Not supporting the proposal means failing to safeguard Daanbantayan's tourism industry, now contributing to 80% of its economy, that visitors and locals are benefiting from.

The Philippine delegation and other governments attending the 17th CoP of CITES has the option to vote YES or NO to the listing of thresher sharks. 

I believe that we need to let the delegates know that we want our thresher sharks to be protected under CITES, which will automatically protect them in Philippine waters.

If this proposal passes, all trade in thresher sharks would be required to be sustainable – a policy that would go a long way in ensuring their survival for generations to come.

Being part of taking action to save sharks, we have to make sure they are being treated with respect!

We need to save sharks before it is too late. Being a responsible makes a difference to our world. We should make sure marine wildlife not disturbed nor harmed.

You can help make this happen by doing the following:

Sign the petition and vote YES: https://www.change.org/p/philippines-vote-yes-for-threshers

We can make a difference in our country. We can help to save our Earth Sharing our thresher shark posts on social media while using :

 #SaveThresherTala #StoptheThresherHunt  

#PHsayYES #WORLDsayYES

Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus as coaches at The Voice when it returns to Starworld on September 20

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Singing a new tune as it returns exclusively to StarWorld this September 20, The Voice will be featuring two new judges for its 11th season. Joining singers Adam Levine and Blake Shelton as judges on The Voice Season 11 are R&B diva Alicia Keys and pop superstar Miley Cyrus, making this season the first ever with two female judges on the panel. 

Host Carson Daly also returns to present this exciting reality competition for the 11th year straight.

Alicia and Miley are set to inject the The Voice with fresh enthusiasm, with both performers bringing years of experience in the entertainment business as well as having distinct personalities that will complement that of Levine and Shelton well. Although Miley’s wild-child persona initially seems at odds with Alicia’s sophisticated cool, the two artists both have the skills and professionalism to offer contestants solid advice when it comes to performing and developing their vocal talents. Alicia and Miley are replacing Pharrell Williams and Christina Aguilera on the coaching panel for this season, packing the panel with a feminine power that will appeal to a wide audience and inspire more female singers to come to the fore.

Both Alicia and Miley are familiar to fans of The Voice because they appeared on the show on previous seasons: Alicia served as an advisor for Team Pharrell in the Battle rehearsals in Season 7, while Miley was chosen to be key advisor for the Knockout rehearsals in Season 10. Their increased role in the show puts them in a position to not only determine the best young singers in the US but to also groom them for potentially successful careers in entertainment, lending their expertise and giving them tips for navigating the highly competitive global music industry. Helping the judges develop the talents of their teams as mentors for the Battle Rounds are revered musical artists, including veteran singer Bette Midler for Team Blake, rock legend Sammy Hagar for Team Adam, YouTube success story Charlie Puth for Team Alicia, and rock goddess Joan Jett for Team Miley.

“Season 11 of The Voice promises to be a bigger and more exciting series with the addition of Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, two very talented and globally respected performers who are perfect examples of strong women who’ve changed the world of entertainment with their distinct styles. StarWorld is proud to be exclusively delivering this reality series to its solid fan base in the country and holding the banner high for female empowerment,”  said Charo Espedido, Head of Marketing and Programming at FOX Networks Group Philippines.

The Voice Season 11 premieres on September 20 live via satellite at 1 PM, with two primetime encores at 6 PM and 8 PM. Catch episodes every Tuesday and Wednesday live at 1 PM with primetime encores at 6 PM and 8 PM, exclusively on StarWorld!

Epson Philippines introduced advanced technologies built for printing applications in Davao leg of Print & Label 2016

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With over 150 guests from various industries and organizations including the Philippine Center for Print Excellence Foundation, Packaging Institute of the Philippines and Philippine Plastic Industry Association, Epson Philippines has recently reached out to its regional customers through the Davao leg of Print & Label 2016.

Last 9 September to 11 September, business owners and technology enthusiasts were able to gain a one-of-a-kind experience on how the latest innovations in printing can help businesses excel further with Epson’s durable products and technologies. Held in the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City, existing partners and potential users came by the Epson booth to see state-of-the-art printing applications up close that were used with Epson’s high-performance printers.

For Print & Label Davao 2016, Epson made use of football-inspired booth elements that were produced using Epson printers. These elements include a mini football field and a stadium background which made the Epson booth stand out during the event.

To maximize the football-inspired booth, the Commercial and Industrial Printers team organized an engaging product presentation and demo session for event attendees to witness Epson’s latest printers. Among the products that were showcased are the SureColorTM S-Series printers, Epson’s latest high-performance roll-to-roll eco-solvent signage printers with new technological advancements.

This line’s features include the high-performance PrecisionCoreTM TFP printhead that produces output quality at high speed, a new Print Mode that improves image quality by reducing visible banding, and an auto media adjustment system for significantly faster speeds. Among the SureColorTM S-Series line is the Epson SureColor SC-S60670. The SC-S60670 incorporates the latest Epson printing technologies that allow high-volume printing with minimal downtime.

The Epson SureColorTM SC-F6270 was also highlighted at the Print & Label Davao 2016 and proved to be a crowd favourite among textile business owners. The SureColorTM SC-F6270 is designed for sheet production, ideal for short-volume dye-sublimation transfer printing of custom clothing, soft signage, merchandise and even hard surface work.

And lastly, photographers who want to make an income out of their prints were interested with the SureLab SL-D700. The SL-D700 can print high-quality photos of up to one metre in length. Also, the SL-D700 is Epson's first 6-colour compact photo production printer with inkjet technology. It utilises Epson’s Micro Piezo printhead and image processing technology which all make for the vivid quality on photos, cards, art reproductions and other quality print products.

As part of the event, Epson also presented the SureColor-P7000 Large Format Printer’s state-of-the-art features and its advanced colour printing technologies through a live demo session. Along with its advanced features and capabilities, the SureColor-P7000 is also equipped with industry-leading software solutions which make it the perfect business equipment for large format output.

Lastly, to further showcase the technologies in printing applications, the SureColor™ SC-P407 was commended by event attendees that are currently in the professional photo printing industry. Its professional-quality output can be attributed to the SureColor™ SC-P407’s advanced pigment ink set, the UltraChrome™ Hi-Gloss 2 that delivers an ultra-wide range of colours.

“We are truly honoured to elevate printing by bringing the latest technologies and innovations to our dear customers here in Davao City through Print & Label 2016,” shared Pamela Albar, head of Epson Philippines Corporation’s Commercial & Industrial Printers business. “Epson Philippines is continuously seeking avenues where we can further strengthen our relationships with industry leaders who continue to make Epson their partner in advancing their businesses”, she added.

The Print & Label Davao 2016 is a major event where companies showcased advanced equipment, technologies, and services that trade buyers and industry leaders can use for their business.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 67,000 employees in 90 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

http://global.epson.com/

About Epson Southeast Asia

Since 1982, Epson has developed a strong presence across major markets in Southeast Asia. Led by the regional headquarters, Epson Singapore Pte Ltd., Epson Southeast Asia spans an extensive network of 10 countries, and is responsible for delivering and supporting Epson’s cutting-edge consumer and business digital imaging products to the customers of these markets through its comprehensive infrastructure of over 360 service outlets, 10 Epson solution centres and 8 manufacturing facilities. http://www.epson.com.sg

About Epson Philippines

Epson’s corporate presence in the Philippines commenced in 1998. It grew rapidly into a billion peso company in a span of a few years from its establishment due to its client-oriented approach in its business management style by its dedicated and innovative staff members and officers. Epson Philippines has an extensive network of 77 Authorized Service Centers nationwide with more than 200 dealers and more than 800 shops across the Country. 

For more details, please visit our website (www.epson.com.ph) or our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/EpsonPhilippines).

For product inquiries and technical support, please contact Epson Customer Care at: Metro Manila: (02) 441-9030; Toll Free: 1-800-1069-37766 (PLDT), 1-800-3-0037766 (DIGITEL) or visit the Epson Customer Care website: http://customercare.epson.com.ph

Boho in a Solo : An exhibit featuring hippie chic as art

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Ginny with the center piece of her art exhibit- the biggest one, done in Acrylic on a 36 x 36 canvas.

BOHO CHIC : A One -Woman Show 

Ginny Guanco presents a series of paintings expressed in a fusion of human anatomy style and fashion illustration.

Ginny Guanco’s figures for her painting exhibit at the Galerie Y in SM Megamall are what can be described as a Bohemian’s rhapsody. The art show, which features all-female subjects, opens on September 15. Of the 32 colorful paintings of women, 26 of these are clad in classic boho chic designs in a bow to the artist’s roots as a full-bloomed flower child in the 70s.

Even in her growing up years, Ginny’s inclination to art was already very evident. In school, she participated in art contests. It was no surprise that after graduating high school from the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola, Fine Arts was the course she chose at the University of Sto. Tomas. As an artist immersed in her era, she believed in the message of peace, love, joy, and happiness against a backdrop of rock music and hippie art. 

“I was also really into bohemian fashion then as much as I am now. I did not outgrow my fashion taste, because I feel that it fits my personality and represents who I really am.”

Her 26 muses are clad in similar fashion, in flowy and flowery creations and are labeled, alphabetically, after hippie names that derive inspiration from the elements. Among the collection, exhibit guests would meet Aura, Freedom, Lilac, Seagull, Meadow, and Ocean, all hand-drawn in acrylic, in a style which Ginny describes as a fusion of fashion and art illustration. This effect is a direct result of her training as an artist both in the UST and in the Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C., along with fashion illustration lessons from no less than the doyenne of Slim’s Fashion and Arts School, the late Salvacion “Slim” Lim Higgins. “I would describe my drawings as a mix of the two drawing disciplines where one features elongated figures for fashion and the other shows a more sinewy effect as in the fine arts,” she describes.

This artwork, done in 2012, marks the beginning of Ginny's return to art after a hiatus of 15 years 

OCEAN

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24 x 30

BLAZE

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24 x 30

Paintings number 27 to 32 is her homage to the strong women in the comicverse, featuring pop culture heroines from Marvel and DC franchises – Black Widow, Elektra, and the two main incarnations of Wonder Woman. “I have always been attracted to strong female characters, as I was also very much into women’s rights in the 70s. I have always believed that women should be empowered, that regardless whether you are a career woman, a CEO, a homemaker, you should know how you are as a person, knowing your worth, a human being to be respected and not looked down upon. And one who is secure in who she is.” 

The solo exhibit took a long time in coming, as Ginny took a 15-year hiatus from painting, pursuing a career, first in the media, and later on as a public relations professional. It took the passing of her favorite ginger cat, Simba and a few art materials lying around to get her back to art. A post of her finished figure on social media garnered a lot of interest from friends to convince her to take up the brush again. A chance meeting with Galerie Y owner Rollie Yusi, who viewed her works with interest, set the exhibit in motion. Ginny’s boho-inspired pieces join the gallery’s carefully-curated works by established and emerging Filipino artists as it works toward the enrichment of contemporary Philippine art.

Ginny Guanco’s Boho Chic exhibit will be on view at Galerie Y from September 15 to 24. Opening cocktails are provided by; Chef Jojo Javier’s SWEETIELICIOUS, Chef Greggie Mercado of AGING’S FOOD DELIGHT, WINE DEPOT, NESTEA AND KITKAT, Strategic Works, Inc. and Ginny Guanco. The gallery is located at the 4th floor of the SM Megamall, Bldg A. 

For more information, contact Galerie Y, open from Mondays to Sundays, 10 AM – 10 PM, or call 634- 2704. Visit also the artist’s website, artbyginny.net or FB page Art by Ginny.

Century Tuna presents the winning moves of James Reid

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After a big reveal that showcased a body reinvented by Century Tuna, stopped EDSA traffic, and sent fans on a social media frenzy, top actor James Reid appears anew in a TV commercial that gives a glimpse on how thinking like a champion has brought him to where he is now. 

There’s no denying that James Reid is one of the hottest young actors today. He’s a social media phenomenon—with millions of followers online, not counting the various fan accounts that his devoted followers set up. The highly bankable love team JaDine, in which he is paired with his reel and real life partner Nadine Lustre, has sent their legions of fans in a frenzy, whether in mall tours, concerts, meet and greets, and even online where they are constant trending topics.

There are his chart-topping albums including Reid Alert which hit certified platinum level status last May. Then there are his box-office film successes—the 2014 romantic comedy and his launch movie Diary ng Panget; and Talk Back and You’re Dead, the teen romance flick that followed a year later. No doubt, his biggest hit to date is On the Wings of Love, the top-rating primetime series with Nadine that kept viewers glued to their TV sets until its sensational finale.

Clearly, James Reid is on a winning streak and his steady career path is one that is marked by a succession of winning moves. Recently, he joined the ranks of Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsey as endorser of Century Tuna, the country’s number one tuna.

Becoming part of the Century Tuna family has certainly paid off for the young hunk. He is presently at his fittest—sculpted abs, toned muscles, firm biceps—which can be attributed to a rigorous fitness regimen and a proper diet consisting of good protein that Century Tuna can provide. It’s no surprise then that James headlines their latest campaign, where he appears in a series of sizzling television commercials: the first, a TV spot focusing on metamorphosis that sent his fans in a frenzy and created a sensation; the second, which is presently airing, revolves around the idea of commitment and loyalty.

Century Tuna couldn’t be happier for having James in its roster of celebrity endorsers. From the very beginning, they already saw a champion in him. “His story is truly inspiring,” said Greg Banzon, Century Tuna General Manager. “It speaks of transformation, the relentless desire to improve oneself. It’s a winning formula that brings many positive lessons for everyone: perseverance, keeping the faith, while staying humble and true to yourself—qualities that make James a true role model.” 

Meanwhile, for James, it’s really all about trust. “I liken it to a championship game,” he reveals. “If you want to win, you naturally want to surround yourself with a teammate you can put your total faith into. That to me is Century Tuna, and I can’t think of any other name that I’d trust to keep my body fit.”

With bated breath, we watch as James continues to transform—from a teen heartthrob to a more mature actor with the determination, the attitude and the body to conquer and win in the challenging world of show business.