Manila—Birdwatchers, conservationists and eco-tourism promoters from all over Asia and elsewhere have their eyes on the Philippines, which is hosting Asia’s first-ever region-wide bird festival.

The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines said the First Asian Bird Fair will be held in Davao City from 24 to 26 September 2010, in tandem with the 6th Philippine Bird Festival, the country’s premier avian conservation and eco-tourism event. The milestone event is co-hosted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Davao City local government.

The First Asian Bird Fair — themed “Nurture Nature, Save our Future” — is a common initiative of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, the Wild Bird Society of Taipei, the Malaysian Nature Society and the Nature Society (Singapore).

The Asian Bird Fair, which highlights the respective bird festivals of the participating countries, seeks to enrich eco-tourism through birdwatching and promote the natural and cultural heritage of host cities.

The Asian Bird Fair and 6th Philippine Bird Festival will be held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on 24-25 September, in time for the autumn migration of birds from Japan, China and parts of Siberia. Entrance to the Asian Bird Fair exhibit area is free of charge, according to organizers.

Highlights of the fair include the Bird Conservation Forum and turn-over ceremony to representatives of the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, host of next year’s Asian Bird Fair in Tainan City. International and Philippine delegates will also tour the Philippine Eagle Center and Eden Garden Resorts while in Davao.

WBCP president Michael Lu said the fair will include photo exhibits, presentations and fun activities for the young “and young at heart.” Children can also look forward to a guided tour at low tide of the tidal flats fronting the Waterfront Insular Hotel, where children can have a close look at marine species like fiddler crabs and mudskippers as well as spectacular views of herons, egrets and shorebirds.

Lu expects the event to draw birdwatchers, conservationists, eco-tourism promoters, sustainable development providers, and nature lovers from around the country, Asia and Europe.

Alice Villa-Real, chair of the committee organizing the 1st Asian Bird Festival and 6th Philippine Bird Festival, said the latest initiative is a significant move to draw attention to pressing conservation issues.

“We can make a significant difference to protect the rich bird life and habitats of our islands, whilst promoting responsible enjoyment of nature and encouraging related sustainable businesses in the local communities,” Villa-Real pointed out.

International groups participating in the Asian Bird Festival are Chinese Wild Bird Federation, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Malaysian Nature Society, Nature Society of Singapore, Wild Bird Society of Taipei, the Shanghai Wild Bird Society, Fujian Birdwatching Society, Kaoshiung Wild Bird Society, Wild Bird Society of Tainan, Hong Kong Birdwatching Society, Eco-education and Resources Center, Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network, Borneo Bird Club, Hornbill Research Foundation, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, Bird Conservation Nepal and the Oriental Bird Club confirmed participation in the event.

Local organizations joining are Conservation International, Fauna and Flora International, Katala Foundation, WWF-Philippines, Birding Adventure Philippines, Kaakbay, Malagos Garden Resort, Monfort Bat Cave & Conservation Foundation, Philippine Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, Philippine Wild Bird Photographers, My Zoo Foundation, City of Alaminos (Pangasinan), City of Balanga (Bataan) and the Municipality of Candaba (Pampanga).

Event sponsors include the Philippine Eagle Foundation, the City Government of Davao, Team Energy Foundation, Primer Group, Aboitiz Power, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Tanduay Distillers, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Fauna & Flora International, Philippine Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, C. K. Lu Enterprises, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Grand Men Seng Hotel and NCCC Mall.

Dabawenyo.biz is for Davao companies and individuals engaged in business. It’s divided into two main sections: the business directory, and the classified ads section. In the first, companies are invited to post a business listing that can contain their logo, address & contact information, description, even their website address. It’s one great way for businesses to get themselves more searchable on the Web.

The classified ads section is for anyone in the Davao Region to post for-sale items, vehicles or equipment for rent, real estate for lease, and services for hire.

Dabawenyo.biz is not a forum. It’s a straightforward directory and listing service for businesses, and it’s very user-friendly. And free! All you need to do is to create a user account and you’re good to go. Click here to create your account now!

Since it’s a very new site, there’s going to be room for improvement. I welcome suggestions to help improve the site, so please feel free to contact me.

Apart from the free online service provided by Dabawenyo.biz, there are advertising opportunities as well. For businesses that would like to have their products and/or services promoted more widely, I accept ad placements on my network of sites. If you’re interested, do drop me a line soon.

I had already met three Malaysians on my trips to Hong Kong, at BlogFest.Asia and at the Asia-Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum. Two of them, Sean and Siew Eng, went out of their way to show me around the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The first thing on my mind was Malaysian cuisine, so Sean brought me to Jalan Alor. That place is well-known for street fare, and is populated by Chinese food outlets mostly. It’s a lively place, with plenty of foreigners and locals mixed in to form a cacophony of languages and cultures.

During my stay, Muslims around the world were celebrating Eid ul-Fitr (the Islamic celebration that marks the end of Ramadan). Sean was explaining to me that Malaysia enjoys good relations with Middle Eastern countries, that’s why there were so many Arabs in KL when I was there. Women in burqa or abaya were everywhere to be seen — that was my first time to see so many Arabs in one place, which made for a novel experience for me.

Speaking of Islam, Siew Eng brought me to Muzium Kesenian Islam (Islamic Arts Museum). The museum has a huge collection of artifacts dating to early Islamic periods. Of particular interest to me was the assembly of Arabic calligraphy. Many of the calligraphic artifacts — pottery, scrolls, Qur’an tomes — were from the period when China had a heavy influence on the art. It was a feast for the eyes! There was also a piece of ancient history that came from Mindanao: a betel-nut box cast from bronze and inlaid with silver, dating back from the middle of the 19th century.

Malaysian cuisine did not disappoint. From native Malay dishes to Chinese food, my palate has never been so satisfied! When I wrote about Taste of Malaysia, a restaurant in Davao City, I was already looking forward to the gastronomic experience in KL. The food offerings around Bukit Bintang (a.k.a. “Star Hill”) alone were enough to please any foodie, but there was more! Even the humble offerings of Wan Tan Mee Jln Sg Besi (which is something like Colasa’s in Davao) blew my mind. At that place I had wild boar curry, and a soup of vegetables stuffed with fish paste, washed down with calamansi juice that had kiamoy (plum preserves) in it. I considered the gastronomic treats my belated birthday celebration!

One other thing that made my Kuala Lumpur trip a memorable one was the people. I’ve already mentioned the two Malaysian friends who took the time to accommodate me. There were also the conference participants who made the effort to express their appreciation of my WordPress presentation. (I even got tentative offers to come back for more!)

Then there were the strangers I met — and there were quite a few. The most engaging acquaintance that I made was a half-Filipino Malaysian, with whom I had the pleasure of spending my last few hours in the city. He was on his way to his hometown in Sabah. I had an early flight, so I’d already checked out and was brought to the train/bus station by Siew Eng at midnight. I was anticipating several hours of loneliness ahead of me… but, thanks to a simple act of kindness, was able to meet Ramli, whose mother is Tausug, and who turns out to share a hobby of mine. It’s always a delight for me to meet people who have the same love of languages as I do. Ramli and I spent the next few hours talking about Bahasa Melayu, Tagalog, Dabawenyo and Tausug (the last two of which are very similar linguistically).

At the airport (the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal), I also had a brief encounter with a Malaysian who spoke passable Tagalog. As soon as he found out I was Filipino, he used all the usual Filipino greetings on me. I found Malaysians to be like that during my stay: accommodating and polite. Which makes me look forward to my next visit to this truly Asian country.

What didn’t I like about KL? The traffic? Nope — Manila’s is much worse. The prices? Hmmm… There are lots of inexpensive places for meals and shopping, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

There’s one thing, actually. Malaysia’s government, ruled by the Barisan Nasional political party since independence, does not seem to look upon freedom of expression very favorably. Coming from an advocacy that upholds just that, I felt a persistent low-intensity buzz while I was there. Not that I feared being jailed anytime during my stay, but it’s a kind of feeling you don’t have in countries where you know there’s complete freedom of expression. I was warned that there are regulations in place against “illegal assembly” (but who defines what is legal and what is illegal?) and against improper behavior (such as two unmarried people being together at night in public parks). Being warned of such things does not sit well with many people, I would imagine.

Just when I arrived back in the Philippines, one of my Malaysian friends told me about the arrests that were made among those who participated in a candlelight vigil last Sunday. The vigil was a peaceful protest to let the Malaysian government know that they were calling for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA). For more information on this and other issues brewing in Malaysia, please visit Malaysiakini.com.

I hope that the Malaysian government will listen more intently to these calls for more freedom and openness. Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and other places in Malaysia are truly beautiful and worth visiting — Malaysian tourism promotions abroad are among the best in the world — so, in my opinion, it would be a great boon to the country if the Malaysian people did enjoy the freedoms for which they have been clamoring.

On the whole, though, the trip to Malaysia was one of the best journeys I’ve had so far: gastronomically, socially and professionally.

“Palamantasan ng Sarap” — a witty play of words, don’t you think? The idea, according to Cheez Whiz senior brand manager, Paolo Serrano, is to make an educational campaign more fun so that kids will take to it and, thus, learn from it. If you take a look at the Palamantasan website, you’ll know what they mean by engaging kids in a way that’ll get their attention.

At the launching of Palamantasan in Davao, which was held at the Buhangin Central Elementary School, several local grade schools participated in competitions that were designed to create awareness of nutrition issues. There were the usual contests, such as the Sabayang Pagbigkas (group speech contest), cheering, and essay-writing. There was also a unique event called “Jarchitecture“, where participating pupils unleashed their creativity in crafting buildings or robots made of empty Cheez Whiz bottles and caps.

The contest that I liked, though, was the Mom & Child Sandwich-Making Contest. There were three teams that competed at Buhangin Central, and it was fun to watch the pairs (two mom-and-daughter and one mom-and-son teams) concoct fancy- and yummy-looking healthy snacks.

“These schoolchildren are at the stage of developing a sense of responsibility,” explains Serrano. “This is why we want them to realize the significance of proper nutrition themselves — through a series of fun, creative and learning activities.”

Studies by the Philippine government have shown that millions of Filipino children are malnourished. That’s why, among the poorer sectors of society, it’s not uncommon to see ten-year-old kids looking like they were barely six. This could stem from the lack of education about proper nutrition in many Filipino families. What Kraft Foods has started, therefore, is worthy of praise.

I hope that many more big corporations, especially those involved in the food industry, will take it upon themselves to help eradicate the country’s nutrition problems. Better yet, it would be great for other companies to get on board and make a pledge to theh Palamantasan initiative. It will ultimately benefit them, too, because they would be ensuring a healthy workforce for the future.

As for schools that aren’t yet part of the program, they would do well to urge their students to join Palamantasan. I remember when I was in Grade School, it was always fun to take part in those fun-filled activities that involved food. Little did we know that we were in fact learning from the experience already! As Palamantasan has reminded me, the best way to get kids interested is to get their attention through exciting and challenging activities — and with a full stomach in the mix, the Cheez Whiz Palamantasan program certainly concocted the best formula!

From a host in local TV variety show to a lead starrer in a top-rating television series, Dabawenya actress Bangs Garcia is definitely making a significant leap in Philippine showbiz. In the latest edition of M (Life and Living in Mindanao) Magazine, Bangs bares her hits and misses, her triumphs and ordeals as she continues to pursue her dreams.

Joining Bangs in the pages of M Magazine’s ninth issue are esteemed Mindanawon civic leaders, Atty. Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa Abrille and Irene “Inday” Morada Santiago; together with Sulu’s top visual artist, Rameer Amilasan Tawasil; and Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Partanawa, who shares his country’s longtime friendship with Mindanao.

Thrilled to travel around Mindanao? Get some tips on where and what’s new to explore on the island, such as wakeboarding in Mindanao’s first wakeboard park; nature-tripping in Lake Sebu; conquering the peak of Bukidnon’s Mt. Kitanglad; braving the wild waters of Cagayan de Oro; making a stopover at Tandag City; or joining the epic voyage of the Balangays.

Flip through the fashion section and be mesmerized by award-winning photographer Rhonson Ng’s underwater glam shots of Davao’s top mannequins; and Niko Villegas’ dazzling images, featuring the gem-inspired designs of Egay Ayag, Joao Tarepe, Patahian, and Argento de Salvador, as modeled by Mutya ng Dabaw 2010 Janelle Tee. What’s more, Davao’s premier houses of style, Rue Chephri and Martish, unveil their latest chic and elegant collections of designer brands in this issue.

Also in this issue are fascinating pieces on Zamboanga’s sardine canning industry, Davao del Sur’s healthy coconut products, Butuan’s AQEM theater in education, plus a spotlight on Mindanao’s entertainment and wellness enclaves, parties and festive events, contemporary lifestyle, and many more.

M Magazine, Mindanao’s first and only travel and lifestyle quarterly publication, is available in all National Bookstore, Fully Booked, Power Books, Forewords, and Christian Ventures outlets; and in more than 200 bookstores and magazine stands nationwide. In Davao City, get your copies of M Magazine at Babasahin (Victoria Plaza, SM City, NCCC Mall, Gaisano Mall), MetroLifestyle Complex (Bo’s Coffee, Krua Thai, Metro Gym), National Bookstore (Gaisano Mall, SM City), Farfalla Pasta Bar, Gaisano Mall Supermarket, Lachi’s, Basti’s Coffee, Agencia Nina Jewelry (Victoria Plaza, JP Laurel, Bankerohan, Gaisano South, Gaisano Mall), ProMark and Davao Periodicals outlets.

This is from Komikasi Enterprise, the publisher of Espresso:

What is Espresso?

Espresso is a weekly comics magazine that features one-shot comic stories, as well as an ongoing comic series, by Filipino Comic Creators. Espresso will be distributed for FREE at the stations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2.

Our Vision

We love comics. And because of that, our vision is to see the Filipino Comics Creator up there among the popular, best-selling, beloved and respected.

Our Mission

We have, therefore, taken it upon ourselves to provide a venue for new and old Filipino artists to showcase their works. Our mission is to help promote the works of Filipino Comic Creators throughout the country by printing quality comic features from different creators from all over the country, and distributing these comics for FREE!

Espresso will be launched this Saturday, 12 June 2010. It will be held at Mag:net Katipunan; cocktails will be served from 6:00pm.

How I wish such a creative publication would be available in Davao City as well…. Well, maybe once Espresso is already successful in Metro Manila, Komikasi might consider bringing it to the south.

Kudos to my cousin Ria! I hope the magazine takes off with a blast!

It is our privilege to be given an opportunity to share with you the programs of AIM, considered to be one of our country’s invaluable contributions to management development in the region.

AIM was co-founded by the Harvard Business School, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University in 1968. It has had more than forty years of experience in training managers, entrepreneurs and development leaders in both the public and private sectors. Our degree programs — Master in Business Administration, Master in Management, and the Master in Development Management — and our executive, non-degree programs are practitioner-oriented. Using the case method, our programs have a distinctly Asian focus, providing intensive exposure to management principles and best practices in Asia.

The Asian Institute of Management has a strategic role in unlocking these opportunities and to carve the destiny of our region by being an active player in regional integration. Our goal is seek to develop managers, entrepreneurs and leaders who:

• Are knowledgeable and uniquely capable of operating effectively in Asia;
• Have a good understanding of the business opportunities presented by Asian regional economic integration (i.e. from West and South Asia to Southeast and Northeast Asia); and
• Are sensitive to the diverse cultures/belief systems, business structures, as well as governance and regulatory environment

AIM is fortunate to have had a head start as the pioneer business school in Asia, with its accompanying advantages:

• AIM has one of the largest and strategically positioned alumni networks in over 75 countries, with more than 33,000 alumni;
• We have among the most extensive lists of institutional private and public sector clients in the region; and
• Our faculty has had extensive teaching experience in Asia.

On behalf of AIM we would like to invite you to our events on June 9 & 10, 2010.

The AIM Preview on June 9, 5:30pm at the Marco Polo Hotel will highlight our Master in Business Administration and Masters in Management. Learn more about how these programs can bring your career to a higher level. Know more about AIM through your fellow Davaoeños who are students and graduates of AIM.

There will be a one-day admission process on 10 June, 9:00am. To avail of this opportunity, please email enrollment.management.aim [at] gmail.com for the application form. You may take the AIM Admission Test (AIMAT) at the Marco Polo Hotel. After passing the exam, you will be interviewed by the AIM faculty roster. Please confirm attendance by emailing the above address before 8 June, 5:00pm.

Alternatively, you may download the AIM application form from here.

There are several events lined up, including a Green Mobilization and a wildlife photography workshop. Please see the schedule below for more information.

Below is the poster for GreenMob 2010, a movement that’s in line with the Foundation’s objective of saving the eagle’s natural habitat. Everyone is encouraged to join and spread the word about the importance of saving our environment — not only for the eagle but for ourselves.

This poster is for Race for Pag-Asa, Race Against Climate Change:

The Foundation and the Eagle Center are located in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. (Dabawenyos commonly refer to this place as being in Calinan.) Tel. no.: 271-2337. Fax: 301-1033. E-mail: info[at]philippineeagle.org. For snail-mail correspondence, please use the following address:

The Philippine Eagle Foundation
PO Box 81015
8000 Davao City
Philippines

Happy Eagle Week to all!

My brother took these photos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport II. These are tarpaulin streamers hung at the airport to entice visitors to visit the Philippines’ tourist attractions. Imagine the chagrin Dapiteños might feel seeing this. Yes, we do have nice beaches in Davao (specifically, on Samal Island), but Dakak Beach Resort is in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The ordinance regulating smoking in Davao City is on its 8th year already, and Dabawenyo smokers have long since become used to the rigors of the anti-smoking edict. On the whole, I am not unhappy with the situation, even though I am a smoker. I was brought up to observe courtesy, so ordinance or no, I respect the rights of non-smokers.

I also agree with that aspect of the city ordinance that shields minors from becoming exposed to this nasty habit. Basically, stores are prohibited from selling cigarettes if they are within a certain radius of any school.

Now, electronic cigarettes have come to the attention of the Davao City local government unit. The head of the Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force, Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, has come out and declared that e-cigarettes are included in the ban on smoking. She has issued a warning “not to try us by smoking [e-cigarettes] in non-smoking areas because they are still included in the prohibition.”

Wow. Prohibition indeed. This smacks of absolutism, if you ask me. Can any government official categorically define a crime without due process? Can the executive branch act upon a law without the imprimatur of the legislative body?

Villareiz has characterized the use of e-cigarettes as the same as smoking regular cigarettes because of “the same arm and hand movement and the use of nicotine.” She’s kidding, right?? I can think of several common activities that make use of the same hand and arm movements that mimic smoking but don’t involve cigarettes!

And what about nicotine patches? By virtue of Villareiz’s statement, shouldn’t nicotine patches — which doctors legally prescribe to smokers who wish to quit — be banned as well?

e-cigarettes

When e-cigarettes are used, nicotine is ingested by the user, but there is no smoke. Only vapor, which is also the case when one breathes, by the way.

The problem here is the lack of a proper definition of smoking, as well as the lack of rationale-setting. What really is the purpose of the city ordinance in question? If it’s to protect non-smokers and minors, then I totally agree with it. But the way city officials are behaving, it seems to me that they’re trying to be some sort of a Big Brother.

What will they ban next, alcohol?

How far is government mandated to meddle with our lives? The Davao City LGU has been conducting itself as if it had absolute right to determine what is and what’s not good for us. (Whatever happened to self-determinism?)

Yes, it might be proven that e-cigarettes could be just as harmful as regular cigarettes. But if it were harmful, then that would be the smoker’s choice, wouldn’t it? In society, smokers — as well as drinkers, gamblers, what have you — are not considered pariah because they are also citizens; as long as they do not inflict harm on others, nothing’s at issue. To say that e-cigarettes should be banned because they are harmful to smokers is tantamount to a dictator’s statement. They might as well prohibit the use of nicotine patches and nicotine gum while they’re at it.

And while I’m at it, I’d like to rant some more about how the city is implementing the ordinance. I am all for having segregated smoking areas, no question about it. But to disallow eating and drinking (or even sitting down!) in them is totally absurd. What purpose does that serve but to inconvenience smokers — as if that would make smokers quit at all.

E-cigarettes, as far as I’m concerned, are a way to satisfy the urge of smoking without being a pain to others who don’t smoke. It might even be a way to help smokers wean themselves from the habit, much like nicotine patches. It’s not a way for people to circumvent the anti-smoking ordinance of Davao City.

The city has gained international recognition for its anti-smoking initiatives. I hope the LGU will consider this as a position of responsibility and not as justification for overstepping its boundaries.

[For those who're interested, here's a link to The Davao City Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance: MSWord document]