Manila F.A.M.E. International 2010 Unfolds New Beginning

Re-inventing and transforming, Manila Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers Exchange (Manila F.A.M.E.) International begins a new chapter in its 27-year history, as it evolves into Asia’s Boutique Show on April 22-25, 2010 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

More than just an exhibition for home and fashion lifestyle products, Manila F.A.M.E. provides its visitors and buyers a unique experience with more than the usual product selections.

This bi-annual trade show, organized by Center For International Trade Expositions And Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, expands into 4 co-located shows featuring Home Living for design-driven furniture and houseware; FashioNation for fashion forward collections of inspired fashion complements, garments, and textile; BIO-Search, a promotion of health and wellness that offers natural personal care and spa products; and ART:MNL, a sampling of Filipino contemporary paintings and sculptures.

Sticking to the show’s tradition of excellence, Manila F.A.M.E. boasts of top-notch craftsmanship with premium quality and design innovations unique to the country. As Asia’s Boutique Show, buyers are given further personalized customer service that is an extension of the world-renowned Filipino warmth and hospitality where both buyers and exhibitors are provided a venue to conduct business and build lasting relationships

In the Philippines, Manila F.A.M.E. International raises the bar for international exhibitions by being the only trade fair accredited by Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), a Paris-based association of trade fair organizers. And, as one of the longest-running trade shows for home lifestyle products in the Asia Pacific, it is a favorite sourcing destination of well-known brands such as Neiman Marcus, Jonathan Adler, Armani Casa, Ralph Lauren, Harrods, and Gucci among others.

“Through the years, Manila F.A.M.E. has never failed to give our buyers only the best that the Philippines can offer as we continuously seek new ways, new styles, and new approaches for a seamless buying experience. As we welcome our guests this April, we hope to inspire them with our expanded product offerings under 4 co-located shows: Home Living, FashioNation, BIO-Search, and ART:MNL, as I personally extend this invitation to our buyers and exhibitors alike. Be part of the evolution. See you this April,” said CITEM Deputy Executive Director and Manila F.A.M.E. Over-all Project Director, Thelma Dumpit-Murillo.

In its October 2009 edition, close to 2,000 buyers from Japan, Germany, Australia, France, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States, visited the show where 439 world-class companies exhibited.

“We keep visiting Manila whenever Manila F.A.M.E. International is there because we like the originality; the designs are nice, there are new concepts and the standard is high. We come here for Christmas items and pottery. It is extraordinary all the time here,” enthused a buyer from Belgium.

A first time visitor from India says, “…The handicraft [in the show] is good. The quality and design are nice.”

Likewise, a buyer from Australia had good words for the show saying, “We import from all over the world and the products you have here seem to be of better quality than all the other products we have seen. We are quite impressed with it.”

This April 2010, visitors can likewise look forward to new show components such as Switch, which highlights designers’ crossing over design disciplines to show versatility, Icons, which features forerunners of Philippine design who have made it big internationally as well as daily fashion shows and design competitions.

For more information about the event, contact the Manila F.A.M.E. International Secretariat at (632) 833-1258, 831-2201 Local 240/243 (Home Lifestyle), 831.1265, 8312201 Local 203 / 226 (Fashion Lifestyle) e-mail manilafame@citem.com.ph or visit the event website at http://www.manilafame.com

Tarlac to Host Palarong Pambansa 2010

The provincial government of Tarlac will host the 53rd edition of the Palarong Pambansa to be held on April 11-17, 2010 at the Tarlac Recreational Park (TRP) in San Jose, Tarlac.

Prior to the event, a launching was held last February 18, 2010 simultaneously in four other towns -- Bamban, Concepcion, Camiling and San Manuel-- as a signal for the start of the Palaro 2010 countdown.

Tarlac province has started the counting from the 53rd day before the event as this is the 53rd Palarong Pambansa. The theme for this year is “Play for the Region, Win for the Nation”. The activity kicked off at 6:30 a.m. with all the 17 municipalities and one city in the province held a firecracker launch, simultaneous with the ringing of all church bells. This was followed by a province-wide cycling and motorcade.

The launching also introduced “Palaro” this year’s mascot. “As first time host, we mark this event with this mascot. We named “Palaro”, -- a multi-faceted yet roundly unified ball to symbolize the energy, the discipline and the verve that go with every jump, every kick and every bounce made during the games.” Gov. Yap said.

He also said that “much like Tarlac, dubbed as the melting pot of Central Luzon where diverse cultures meet and mix, mascot ‘Palaro” also represents convergence and oneness.”

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Tarlac government also conducted a press briefing at the TRP where mechanics, security, fraud, accommodation of athletes, transportation, traffic and other matters about the competition were tackled.

Governor Victor Yap said that he was excited with the staging of the Palarong Pambansa in the province. He said that although there are some facilities that have not yet been completed, he assured that it will be done before the event. The DepEd, for its part, said that accommodations, mechanics, safety measures and other concerns were already been set.

Gov. Yap also emphasized that Palaro is a dream come true to all Tarlaquenos. “This is our chance to showcase our warm hospitality, our ability to handle the big sports event and to show not only to our countrymen but to the whole world as well the beauty of our province,” he said.

The Palarong Pambansa 2010 hopes to boost the province’s economy, especially the tourism industry. Some 25,000 guests from the country’s 17 regions are expected to attend the annual sporting event.

The 53rd Palarong Pambansa is in cooperation with the DepEd Task Force on School Sports and sponsored by Smart Communications, Inc., and SM.

For more information about the event, contact the Palarong Pambansa - Tarlac Secretariat at (6345) 6114148, (63910) 387-3956, email palaro2010@gmail.com or visit the Palarong Pambansa 2010 blog at http://palarongpambansa2010satarlac.blogspot.com/ or Tarlac Government website at http://www.tarlac.gov.ph/

CHED to Hold First Academic and Cultural Festival

To encourage students in promoting academic excellence, culture and arts in the country, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chair Dr. Emmanuel Angeles said the commission will hold its first ever Academic and Cultural Festival to be held from March 1 to 5, 2010 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Dr. Angeles said if the event will be successful, he plans to take it to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Education Council and make it an annual event for promoting culture and arts in the region.

“We will gather all the best performing students in each country that will represent their schools in the competition. It will be a chance for different educational institutions to market themselves as well as promote academic excellence in their country,” he said.

“We want to hone the students’ talents and competencies in a healthy, physically and intellectually-stimulating environment and developing the students’ discipline, hard work, and love for the country and his fellowmen," he added.

The first-time festival is an endeavor of CHED and the National Association of Higher Education Institutions (NAHEI), an umbrella organization of the Regional Association of Higher Education Institutions (RAHEI).

Dr. Angeles pointed that the would-be annual festival will provide public and private college students a chance to compete in various events in the areas of academics and culture.

For academic competitions, students will battle with their minds in the impromptu speech, oration, poetry interpretation, story telling, debate, science, math and computer quizzes.

On the other hand, cultural competitions will include awit saya (vocal solo and vocal duet), sayawitan (choir), tipa at tugtugan (solo instrument), likhawit (song writing), sayaw Pinoy (Philippine creative folk and ethnic dance), and ginoo at binibining pamantasan (pageant).

The CHED chairman said 17 regions in the country will participate in the event. Around 819 student representatives will compete for the cultural category while some 221 will compete for the academic events.

“We believe that this kind of competition brings out the best in every contestant. That is why we will strictly monitor the qualification of each contestant, including the grades. No one with failing grades would be allowed to join the competition even if they have the talent and skills,” he said.

For more information about the event, contact the Commission on Higher Education at (632) 687-13-17, 637-35-71, email info@ched.gov.ph or visit their website at http://www.ched.gov.ph/.

JFM Stages 2010 Nihongo Fiesta at Mall of Asia

Immerse yourself into the fascinating world of Japanese culture on February 27, 2010, as the Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) and SM Mall of Asia, hold the 2010 Nihongo Fiesta at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema and Main Mall Atrium.

The annual festival, which promotes international cultural and arts exchange between Japan and the Philippines, will include a highly-anticipated Nihongo speech contest, a fun and hip Japanese and Filipino Street Fashion Exhibit and Contest, and an exciting J-Rock (Japanese rock) Concert.

Filipino students and professionals who want to show off their linguistic skills in Nihongo are invited to join the 37th Nihongo Speech Contest and get a chance to win an all-expense paid week-long study tour in Japan. In line with JFM’s objective of promoting cultural exchange through Japanese Language Education, participants are required to deliver their own original compositions on a subject of their choice. High School Nihongo beginners, on the other hand, can participate in the 2nd Nihongo Quiz Bee for High School Students to showcase their knowledge in Japanese language and culture. Both contests will be held in Cinema 2 of Mall of Asia; from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Aside from showcasing the Japanese language, the Nihongo Fiesta will also put on display the stylish and edgy characters that descend the streets of Tokyo in the Japanese and Filipino Street Fashion Exhibit and Contest. The trendy Tokyoites are captured in a photo exhibition along with Manila’s very own interpretation of street fashion through the watchful eyes of Filipino fashion designer and style blogger Cecile Zamora Van Straten, and curated by Team Manila. Guests are invited to express their individuality, dress up in their street style best, and turn the hallways of Mall of Asia into urban center catwalks on February 27. Roving “style scouts” will choose the best dressed and the winner will take home a cash prize and Japanese fashion products. The Japanese and Filipino Street Fashion Exhibit and Contest will run from February 22 to 28 in the Main Mall Atrium of SM Mall of Asia.

Finally, cap off the Nihongo Fiesta festivities in the evening with fantastic music and dancing at the J-Rock Concert featuring the influential Japanese punk-pop-rock band Shonen Knife. Fresh from their US tour, the all-female group, which has gained a worldwide cult following, will rock out with the country’s all-male dunk (dance and punk) band, Pedicab in a one-night only free concert at Mall of Asia’s San Miguel by the Bay from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

The 2010 Nihongo Fiesta is supported by the following media partners: Manila Bulletin, NU 107 and ClicktheCity.com.

Admission is free to all 2010 Nihongo Fiesta events. For inquiries, contact the JFM at (632) 811-6155 or email email@jfmo.org.ph or visit their website at www.jfmo.org.ph.

Manila Studies Association holds Conference at NCCA

With the assistance of National Commission for Culture and the Arts committee on historical research, the Manila Studies Association Inc., held its 18th Annual Manila Studies Conference last Aug. 25 and 26, at the Tanghalan Leandro V. Locsin, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) at 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. The registration fee was P2,000 for the two-day conference. 

The conference will presented papers on various topics covering Manila’s history and culture. They included the following: 

“Archaeological Excavation at Iglesia de San Ignacio Site, Intramuros, Manila” (Angel Bautista, National Museum); “The Reconstruction of the Second Monastery of San Agustin, Intramuros” (Demetrio C. Alcaraz, Jr., University of Santo Tomas); “A Reified View of the Original Site of the University of the Philippines”(Celia Bonilla, University of the Philippines Manila); “Far Eastern University and Its Urban Advocacy” (Annabelle Verdote, Far Eastern University); “The British Consulate in Manila, 1844-1903” (Ruel V. Pagunsan, University of the Philippines Diliman); “Tundo, 1946-2000: Sosyo-ekonomikong Sulyap sa Isang Makasaysayang Distrito” (Gil G. Gotiangco, Jr. II, University of the Philippines Diliman); “Remembering Ladislao Bonus (1854-1908) the Father of the Filipino Opera” (Fernando A. Santiago, Jr., De La Salle University Manila); “Sandugong Panaguinip: The First Tagalog Opera” (Genesis C. Rivera, University of the Philippines Diliman); “‘Sources Said…’ - The Philippine Press Act of 1946 and the Media’s Right to Protect News Sources (A Historical Perspective)” (Jose Victor Z. Torres, De La Salle University Manila); “Figuring the Social Condition: Benedicto Cabrera’s Sabel and Other Allegories in Philippine Painting” (Patrick D. Flores, University of the Philippines Diliman); and Film Documentary – Unsurrendered 100 Voices (Peter Parsons and Lucky Guillermo).

The Manila Studies Association Inc. (MSA), formally established in June 1989, is a non-profit professional organization devoted to the study and research of all aspects of Manila studies. The MSA also aims, through the dissemination of relevant historical literature, to preserve and conserve Manila’s historical and cultural landmarks.

For information, call or SMS Lorelei D.C. de Viana at 0917-855-0060, e-mail deviana_ph@yahoo.com, or call Bernardita R. Churchill at 921-4575, SMS 0918-444-4510, or e-mail nitachurchill@hotmail.com.