KAAMULAN FESTIVAL 2013 - BUKIDNON

Kaamulan Festival is an ethnic cultural festival held annually in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon from the second half of February to March 10, the anniversary date of the foundation of Bukidnon as a province in 1917. It is held to celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic tribal groups—Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon—that originally inhabit the province. It is the only ethnic festival in the Philippines.

Kaamulan comes from the Binukid word “amul” meaning to gather. Kaamulan is gathering for a purpose—a datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving festival during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these together.

Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974, during the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of Malaybalay. A town official thought of inviting some indigenous people to town and made them perform a few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta celebration. The celebration however proved very popular and together with national coverage the Kaamulan festival has become the regional festival of Northern Mindanao, as declared by the Regional Development Council of Region 10 on September 16, 1977. Kaamulan was formerly held on the first week of September but in 1996, it was transferred to the present date to synchronize it with the foundation celebration of the province.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaamulan]

Its my first time to visit Bukidnon and experience Kaamulan's Street dancing. Thanks to my fellow PWDs Persons With Disabilities for the invite.

APPLE DRIVE @ PPHC

"AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!!"

Meet my friend RJ Garcia who is one of the founder of BAG943 together with Josh Mahinay. Aside from the Bag of Dreams Project, RJ also went to different rural areas to give apples. As the saying goes, an apple a day keep the doctors away. Yes, RJ believes that instead of giving candies and chocolates, why not give them apples. Some kids eat apples only during christmas and some also havent tried to eat atleast one.

It was March 9, who happened to be the birthday also of RJ when he visited Padre Pios Home for Children (PPHC) for his apple drive. Aside from apples, school supplies and two BAG943 backpacks were also given. Children gave a presentation by playing banduria to RJ singing a happy birthday song and a few more folk songs. It was RJs 1st visit to the said orphanage and here are some of the captured moments of RJs Apple Drive and Birthday Celebration!

BAG of DREAMS PROJECT by BAG943

BAG943, BAG which stands for “Be A Giver” sells good quality backpacks and for every purchase made, the company gives another bag to a school kid in need - BUY ONE, GIVE ONE. The company does not only sell good quality backpacks, its mission to empower poor school kids get and pursue education through their projects and programs is the selling part.

Since it launched, BAG943 had given over 400 school bags to Four (4) adopted schools across the country, a remarkable accomplishment for a company that is young and new. Every quarter, the company adopts at least one school to benefit from “BAG OF DREAMS Project”, a bag drive made possible because of the customers’ purchases. The number of sales the company makes equals the number of school bags that they give away to poor school kids.

Together with JCI Makati and JCI Duwaling, another 50 students of Don Francisco S. Dizon Elem School  Davao city were given school bags last March 8, 2013. 

 

Bag of Dreams Project was founded by two young and generous men, Rj Garcia and Josh Mahinay. It was July last year when best friends Josh and RJ resigned from their jobs and decided to make helping poor school kids their full time Job. “ To succeed is one thing but to go back where you came from and be able to empower, inspire and encourage underprivileged kids with your own story is to me happiness and real service”, Josh said in an interview. 

Let’s welcome BAG943 to 2013 with our festive flutes and wish them success in the coming years! There are not a lot of companies in the Philippines that were founded with social responsibility in mind and this is something that definitely should multiply in numbers. So folks, the next time you plan to buy your next backpack, you might want to consider skipping the big brands and make BAG943 your new backpack pick!

Here's mine!!!

Like BAG943 on Facebook www.facebook.com/BAG943 and follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/BAG943. For your online purchases, visit www.bag943.com or send other inquiries to info@bag943.com or sms to +639228575060.

BAG943 is also now available in countries like USA, EUROPE, Singapore, Japan and ships to most countries around the world.

Globe Prepaid GoSakto Launching

Introducing Globe Prepaid GoSakto, the first and only service in the country that allows prepaid subscriber to create and customize a prepaid promo that fits their needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Last Feb. 18, 2013 @ Marco Polo Davao, Globe has finally launch and introduced to the media their newest industry-shaking innovation - the GoSakto promo. GoSakto empowers prepaid subscriber to design their own promo according to what they need, recognizing the fact that customers have different call, text, and surfing needs. 

To enjoy their GoSakto promo, subscribers first choose what type of promo to avail: call/ text/surf, call and text, and call and surf, text and surf, or a combination of all.

Once subscribers have chosen their promo, GoSakto further personalizes the experience by letting them select the type and number of calls and texts they need. It can be within the Globe/TM network or across all networks. You can also choose the surfing services between bulk or unlimited.

Prepaid subscriber get to pick also the validity of the calls, texts, and surfing services they availed, from 1 day, 7days or 30days. With that, you can enjoy exploring the best GoSakto promo combo for you. 

Here are some snapshots during the said launching with media folks and Globe prepaid team.

Grabbed this photo from Arjay Legere

Grabbed this photo from Tere

3 easy ways to register GoSakto: via mobile phone via *143#, via Globe website at www.globe.com.ph/gosakto, or via facebook application just type in apps.facebook/gosakto and boom!!! you can start your registration now.

Pilipinos With Disabilities (PWD) partylist on May Election

Finally, for the very first time, a group of Persons With Disabilities will be running in the party-list system this coming May Election in the Philippines. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the application to participate in this year’s elections. Its representatives are visually-impaired Michael Barredo, orthopedically-impaired Manuel Agcaoili, Adeline Ancheta, Octavio Gonzales and Luis Arrelano – all of whom are persons with disabilities and have worked with and for  PWD sector in the community.

"They are represented by Filipinos, all of them are disabled. Right now we don't have a representation of the disabled," Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Wednesday in explaining their decision regarding PWD application.

“’Yung nominess nila, talaga namang disabled. Pangalawa, may track record sila of working with and for persons with disabilities,” added commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who heads the special voters’ registration for PWDs.

Pilipinos With Disabilities partylist is dedicated to advocate for the rights and promote the interests of persons with disabities. To take actions and be part of the development in the society.

gmanews.com

Love and Fortune at SM Lanang Premier with the Crooner - Richard Poon

The Crooner - Richard Poon sings all for Love and Fortune at SM Lanang Premier, Davao city. Last Feb 2, 2013, SM Lanang Premier had a great 3 day sale and as part of it, they invited the country's one and only crooner - Richard Poon. This Filipino-Chinese singer is part of Sessionista with other acoustic singers like Aiza, Sitti, Juris, and Princess. They performed evey sunday at today's number one musical variety show - ASAP on ABS-CBN. 

Mr Poon was a former member of U Turn band, and he started his singer career in a restobar. When he entered showbiz, he was known as the Michael Bubble of the Philippines. Most of his songs are Bubble style or should i name it as Jazz. "I'll take care of you", "Kumot at Unan", and his cover of "Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok ko" were just among his famous hits. 

He admitted that most of his fans are mommies, daddies, and lolas. But during this mini concert in SM Lanang Atrium, it was from all ages and all walks of life. It was his first time to perform in SM Lanang and he said during the presscon that hes excited and honor to sing for dabawenyos. He sang one of his favorite song You and I which happens to be a memorable song for him and his girlfriend Maricar Reyes. Reyes was the girl of this music video and it was their first meet up then eventually became a couple.

Richard Poon will soon be releasing a new album and this time he will try some pop songs like songs of Michael Jackson and even Madonna songs. He's excited and would love to sing all these songs again in SM Lanang Premier. Watch out for his series of Valentine show here and abroad.

3 Day Sale at SM Lanang Premier

The Great 3 Day Sale at SM Lanang Premier. Happening on