Paying It Forward to the Youth, for the Youth and by the Youth

Paying It Forward to the Youth, for the Youth and by the Youth

A civic space can only be great when there is truly a public place to make meaningful and collaborative exchanges. While this could be another motherhood statement, allow me to talk from memory, from experience, from the heart.

I’m writing this to maybe, somehow encourage and inspire all those who think that they are doing a thankless job in the humanitarian and development sector. The altruistic feeling of being able to help cannot be exchanged with money, the exact experience when you were present in the very moment of being able to help can never be lost and the pure happiness that it brings you are the things that you will forever be your positive guiding light as you go along with life.

I’m now 37 although I still feel 19, the time when I started being part of the Commission on Population’s (POPCOM) Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (AHYDP) focusing on promotion of good health and well-being specifically, the youth who are more vulnerable and most often feel invincible. I have pledged to myself that I will always help my fellow youth in all that I can with the technical and adaptive expertise that I’ve learned through the years. Right after my own training by CSOs and youth organizations when I myself was a teenager, I decided to help the youth organizations around the world, registered or not, other CSOs, and co-founded a youth organization called “Artistikong Kabataan Philippines, Inc.” (AKP)  a non-profit, non-governmental organization, whose principal activities primarily consist of creativity, connections, charity, and cross cultural communications based in Manila. Our members are youth volunteers who also help in providing civic spaces for their fellow youth. Yes, there’s a ripple effect to this. All those youth that we’ve trained, shown goodness somehow paid it forward like we did. Youth participation is very crucial since their fellow peers will only listen to them. We succeeded because the youth wants to be involved; the youth wants to step up, to lead and be heard. We succeeded because the youth saw our love for them. No drama, only genuine concern.

The best part that I’m most proud of is that those whom I have trained and mentored under the AHYDP have grown to be better citizens, young professionals who still help the next generation of youth organizations starting their own CSOs if not joining the government.

There is no framework. It’s all about having a good heart. It’s all about believing in the advocacy of keeping the civic space open and free for those who want to extend help and support as well.

As for now, I have started my own CSO in my province, and yes, I have started paying it forward.

How about you?

 

Another First in Iloilo: scoreH1GH! English Proficiency Centre: Top Performing IELTS Test Preparation Center in the Philippines

WACKY. Team ScoreHigh poses after receiving the two distinctions as Top Performing IELTS Test Preparation (Review) Center in the Region and in the Philippines

A few of ScoreHigh! Topnotchers representing various schools

by Rhea B. Peñaflor

This year is different from all previous years for ScoreHigh! English Proficiency Center. This 2015, ScoreHigh! not only garnered the distinction of being consistently Top Performing International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Preparation Center in the whole region; it is now distinguished as Top Performing and Most Preferred IELTS Test Preparation Center in the Philippines.

This award is conferred by the country’s leading IELTS Test Administrator: IDP Education Pty. Ltd.  This is indeed, another first for Iloilo—another worthy of commendation.

IELTS is an English proficiency test required of everyone who wants to study, work or live in English-speaking countries like the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, USA, and Australia. Constantly adjudged as Top Performing IELTS Test Agent in Western Visayas since 2010, ScoreHigh! English Proficiency Centre’s secret is not novel.

ScoreHigh! and its battery of expert faculty is academically directed by Grace Tan-Novilla, who valued excellence ever since her college days when she served her university then as its Student Council Chairman and as Student Regent.  She is also the first Bachelor of Arts majoring in English at West Visayas State University (WVSU) to graduate summa cum laude. She was, at the same time, named as Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines (JRMSP 2001), Ayala Young Leader (AYLC 2000) awardee, Outstanding Alumna of the 21^st century at the Iloilo National High School (INHS), a consistent UP Presidential Scholar and an Outstanding UP Iskolar ng Bayan awardee.

ScoreHigh!’s Academic and Operations Director Grace-Tan Novilla also shares, “At ScoreHigh!, we don’t allow you to self-review. This is best done outside of the review center. When you are in our premises, we make sure we guide you through each of the tasks and process them for you and with you. We understand why you’re here. You need help.”

Lectures are conducted daily to ensure retention of the principles that the student needs on test day. An experienced and IELTS-trained coach is with the student each day for his consultation needs. Individualized and small-group coaching sessions are regularly conducted to boost the speaking and writing skills of the reviewee.

Novilla adds, “A reviewee needs expert advice from experienced and IELTS-trained coaches. We have 6 because you can only learn so much from just 1 or 2.”

Indeed, IELTS Success Stories happen only at ScoreHigh!

Featured each week is a test topnotcher in its Facebook page (IELTS ScoreHigh English Proficiency Centre). Every week, ScoreHigh also features its alumni who already are living their dreams in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada and the UK.

Truly, these results speak louder than words. Res ipsa loquitor.

To Ilonggos, ScoreHigh! is yet another first to be proud of!

 

2015 LEX Regular Bar Review Schedule in Iloilo CIty

PHILIPPINE JUSTICE FOUNDATION (PJF)
Formerly LEX REVIEWS AND SEMINARS, INC.
2015 REGULAR BAR REVIEW SCHEDULE IN ILOILO
ENROLLMENT GOING ON
Start of class: May 1, 2015

MAY 2015
May 1-2 LEGAL ETHICS
May 1 Friday 9 AM-5PM
May 2 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
May 8-10 Civil Law (Atty. Rhett Serfino)  Bar topnotcher
May 8 Friday 5-7 PM
May 9 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
May 10 Sunday 8-12; 1:30-4 PM
May 15-17 General Principles of Taxation, and Local Taxation (Atty. Carmencita Dabu)
May 15 Friday, 5PM-8 PM
May 16 Saturday 8-12; 1-6 PM
May 17 Sunday 8-12; 1-5 PM
May 21-23- Political Law and Consti Atty. Noel Tiampong
May 21 Thursday 10 AM-7 PM
May 22 Friday 8-12; 2-6 PM
May 23 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM

JUNE 2015
June 5-7- Pedro T. Dabu- Criminal Law (Book 1)
June 5 Friday 5-8 PM
June 6 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
June 7 Sunday 8-12; 1-3 PM

June 10-11, 2015-Atty. Christian “Kit” Villasis-Remedial Law (Civil Pro and Crim Pro) 9 AM-12; 1-6PM
June 12-14, 2014-Crim Procedure -Makati Judge Carlito Calpatura
June 12 Friday 9 AM-12; 1-7 PM
June 13 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
June 14 Sunday 8-12; 1-3 PM
June 20-21- Criminal Law 2 (Judge Globert Justalero) whole day

9 AM-12; 1-5 PM Saturday

9 AM-12; 1-5 PM Sunday

June 26-28 Dean Lope Feble (Evidence)
June 26 Friday 5-8PM
June 27 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
June 28 Sunday 8-12; 1-3 PM

JULY 2015
July 3-5 Negotiable Instruments Law and Credit Transactions, Insurance, other special commercial laws (Atty. Raul Vasquez)
July 3 Friday 5-8 PM
July 4 Saturday 8-12; 2-6 PM
July 5 Sunday 8-12; 1-3 PM
July 10-12 Corporation Code and Banking laws, commercial laws (Dean Nilo Divina)
July 10 Friday 5PM-7 PM
July 11 Saturday 8 AM-7 PM
July 12 Sunday 8AM-5PM
July 17-19 Labor Standards and Latest Jurisprudence

July 17 Friday 9AM-7 PM
July 18 Saturday 8 AM-7 PM
July 19 Sunday 8AM-7PM
July 24-26 Commercial laws (Atty. Edgar Claudio Sumido)
July 24 Friday 9AM-7 PM
July 25 Saturday 8 AM-7 PM
July 26 Sunday 8AM-7PM
July 31-Aug.2 NIRC, VAT and Remedies with Latest Jurisprudence

July 31 Friday 5PM-7 PM
Aug.1 Saturday 8 AM-7 PM
Aug.2 Sunday 8AM-5PM

*Mock Bar on August 2015
NOTE:  ALL OUR REVIEWERS ARE REVIEWERS IN VARIOUS MANILA REVIEW CENTERS AND BAR REVIEWERS IN LAW SCHOOLS.
NO REVIEW FEE INCREASE
*Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

 

 

 

 

 

IPPO’s 1st Personal Enhancement Training and Organizational Development

IPPO’s 1^st Personal Enhancement Training and Organizational Development

By Rhea B. Peñaflor

            Philippine National Police’s Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) headed by Police Chief Inspector (PCI) Rubenie B. Grandeza of the Women and Children’s Desk recently held the 1^st Personal Enhancement Training and Organizational Development.

            This two-day seminar held at Marbuena, a private island resort in Ajuy, Iloilo has long been planned but it was just now that the IPPO has gathered its 63 women members from different municipalities and towns in Iloilo Province including not only from the Women and Children’s Desk but other women staff as well.

            Ajuy municipal mayor Juan Alvarez expressed his strong support on the police force in his message during the opening program.  He further stressed the significance of police visibility in the promotion of a peaceful municipality, city or town. 

            PCI Grandeza on the other hand, explains that the training has long been overdue because there is a need for this kind of training of women police officers because they need to know themselves first before they can help others.

            “Personal clarification is the key especially that we are handling serious and emotional cases in the Women and Children’s Desk.  This training will certainly enhance the personality of our women police force and at the same time, this will strengthen our camaraderie in the Iloilo Province,” adds Grandeza.

            The resource speakers for this training are Angie Tanongtanong, the Regional Youth Coordinator of Commission on Population (POPCOM) Region VI and Rhea Peñaflor, a trained POPCOM VI peer counselor and international scholar.

 

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 6,000 times in 2010. That’s about 14 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 9 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 37 posts. There were 3 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 7mb.

The busiest day of the year was March 29th with 95 views. The most popular post that day was LEX REVIEWS AND SEMINARS, INC now accepts enrollees for regular Bar Review Class in Iloilo City for 2010 Bar.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, mail.yahoo.com, search.conduit.com, google.com.ph, and netformule.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for lex review center, lex bar review center, lex review center philippines, binukot, and lex review center manila.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

LEX REVIEWS AND SEMINARS, INC now accepts enrollees for regular Bar Review Class in Iloilo City for 2010 Bar November 2009
19 comments

2

LEX REVIEWS 2010 REGULAR PRE-BAR REVIEW SCHED in ILOILO CITY February 2010
9 comments

3

TESDA scholarships: Big boost to education of youth November 2009
14 comments

4

11th International Youth Day (IYD), Aug. 10-12, 2010, PICC June 2010
10 comments and 1 Like on WordPress.com,

5

LEX REVIEWS 2010 REVIEWERS February 2010
8 comments

 

Unforgivable Brownouts and Inadequate Water in Iloilo City By Rhea B. Peñaflor

Unforgivable Brownouts and Inadequate Water in Iloilo City
By Rhea B. Peñaflor

Each day, it looks like PECO feels bad when there is no power outage in Iloilo City.
But what can it really do when the demand is too high for them to handle?

In the same vein, MIWD kept on billing its discontent consumers even there is nothing that comes out of their faucets.

Going back to the power problem, recall that in April 2009, Iloilo City has an estimated power demand of 76-megawatt but the then local chief executive, now Cong. Jerry P. Treñas said there is a reduced capability of NAPOCOR for PECO with 9 megawatts.
The total capability of generator Panay Power Corporation (PPC) for PECO is only 70 megawatts, assuming there is no breakdown of PPC plants. The total capability of NAPOCOR and PPC for PECO is only 79 megawatts by posting a 3-megawatt margin for reserve.
This reserve is still not enough, thus, the whole of Panay Island will continue to suffer frequent power blackouts. True enough, this is what we are experiencing now.
“Pirme na lang gabrownout, perde negosyo,” these are just some common lines one would hear from owners of small, medium and even big establishments in Iloilo City.

It is not only these establishments that suffer but even common people and even households do suffer too. Some home-based workers largely depend their jobs like online writing on electricity. There is no need to even explain the importance of electricity in this day and age.

Yes, power outage is not only true in Iloilo City, since we all know that even Manila is experiencing the same problem and it will be worse in the coming months. Increased demands for power, less supply equals blackouts. What is the next step then? Do we just complain?

Newly-elected Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog in his inaugural speech said that he wants to be known as the mayor of small business persons with a hotline service for the city, who has the energy, strength and political will to implement projects and programs for the good of the city. Then this is the best time to address and prove to his constituents when we have the Top Two problems in Iloilo City: Electricity and Water.

He can start with providing efficiently these basic needs of the people.

Also, MIWD’s politicking should already come to an end. What is paramount should be the people’s welfare, not the clash between the board of directors (BODs) of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and its management.

Kalu-luoy lang ni ang mga kunsumidor. Tsk.tsk. Amo gihapon nga istorya. Kuris-kuris.
Are we always at the mercy of PECO and MIWD?
Sabat, pumuluyo sang Iloilo.

 

11th International Youth Day (IYD), Aug. 10-12, 2010, PICC

11th International Youth Day (IYD), Aug. 10-12, 2010, PICC

Dear Peace and Human Rights Advocate,

Warm greetings of peace and human rights!

In the tradition of youth service for national and global development, the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP), through its youth arm , the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines (UNYAP), will hold the 11th International Youth Day Convention on 10-12 August 2010 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila, Philippines. The celebration of International Youth Day started after the United Nations General Assembly approved resolution 54/120 in 17 December 1999 based on the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for the Youth (LISBON, 8-12, 1998)DECLARING August 12 as international youth day in the Philippines. The celebration was institutionalized by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 229 signed on August 12 2002 by Her Excellency President Macapagal-Arroyo declaring every August 12 as Philippine International Youth Day.

With the theme Strengthening Peace and Human Rights Education for the Youth : Key to Sustainable Development, the convention aims to increase the participants’ awareness on peace and human rights education practices, issues, challenges and future directions in eth country and the world. It also helps to increase the participation of the youth sector in the fulfillment of the UN, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using peace and human rights perspective. This year’s IYD celebration is in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Executive Order 570 entitled Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education and in keeping with the World Programmed for Human Rights Education.

The three-day event consists of various activities that will cater to intellectual, cultural, social and aesthetic expectations and interests of the participants. It is mindful of the following three international commemorative events: International Day of Indigenous Peoples (August 9), International Humanitarian Law Day (August 12), and International Youth Day (August 12). The convention will equip you the necessary skills as you go back to their respective localities. Institutions and embark on dynamic programs along peace and human rights education.

In this connection we would like to invite you to participate as a delegate to the International Youth Day convention. A minimal registration fee of (P 4,000.00) shall be charged to over expenses for food, accommodation and handouts during the convention.

Should you need further information, please free to contact yours truly, Ms Anna Karina Jardin, lead convenor (youth) at telefax nos. 4042310, mobile no. 0920-938-2691 or email iyd_2010@yahoo.com.

You may also contact the Secretariat, Rhea Peñaflor at ayer428@gmail.com or iyd_2010@yahoo.com.

 

Oscar buzz – The Hurt Locker vs Avatar

Oscar buzz – The Hurt Locker vs Avatar
By Rhea Penaflor
Published at

Oscar buzz – The Hurt Locker vs Avatar

Will James Cameron be the King of the World again? Or would the biggest of Academy Awards go to a female director for the first time?
There are many ways The Hurt Locker and Avatar are pitted up against each other, but either way you look at it, both films have 9 nominations and are leading the Oscar buzz. This is how the competition breaks down:

Action/Drama vs. Animation 3D
Kathryn Bigelow vs. her ex-husband, James Cameron
Low budget film vs. Blockbuster film
9 nominations vs. 9 nominations
The Hurt Locker

A catchy title for a film (title of the film is allegedly the idea of a disgruntled 38-year-old sergeant Jeffrey Sarver in the army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team ), The Hurt Locker is a 131 minute-Action /Drama film by American Director Kathryn Bigelow who introduced a different genre in film (one will feel dizzy after watching the film as the camera keeps on moving unsteadily) set in post-invasion Iraq. The story evolves a portrait of expert trained technicians of a bomb squad disarming roadside explosives on the streets of Baghdad. The film received “universal acclaim” making Bigelow the fourth woman in history to be nominated by the Academy and only the second American woman to receive such honor. On Feb. 21, 2010 she won best director and the film Hurt Locker won best picture at the 63rd British Academy Film Awards.

The Hurt Locker was first shown at the Venice Film Festival in September 2008. The film was released in the US in June 2009. The film stars Jeremy Renner, Brian Geraghty and Anthony Mackie, with Guy Pearce, David Morse and Ralph Fiennes.

Bigelow won the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures becoming the first woman to win the award. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her direction.

The Hurt Locker has been subject to a number of controversies and criticisms including the multi-million dollar intellectual property lawsuit coming from Sarver who presented himself at the launch in Michigan. He claims that he was the model for the central character of the film, Will James. James is portrayed by Jeremy Renner who incidentally was nominated in the Best Actor category for this years’ awards.

Sarver further describes The Hurt Locker as a film that did a historic injustice where “Hollywood made billions exploiting veterans.”
Besides being the directed by a woman, the film stirs up more conversation because Bigelow is the ex-wife of James Cameron, her rival in the Best Director category. Not that it has anything to do with the directing or the film itself, but gender bias is likely to be discussed by critics. Critics are saying that if Bigelow wins as Best Director, it is because she is a lady making man’s film (The genre of war films has predominately been thought of as a man’s genre).

Even without any awards, the The Hurt Locker has made history. For the first time in Oscar history, the Academy banned an individual nominee from Oscar night. It reprimanded Nicolas Chartier, one of the The Hurt Locker’s producers and main funders, for an “ethical lapse” for circulating an email before voting ended urging Academy members to back the film and “not a $500M film” – a clear reference to Cameron’s multi-million budgeted Avatar.

Despite the politics and controversy, the film is undeniably good. The film’s 9 nominations speak for themselves. Nominations include: Jeremy Renner – Performance by an actor in a leading role, Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing, and Original screenplay.

Avatar

Genius Canadian film director James Cameron’s film is the highest grossing film of all time. Avatar is an animated sci-fi film best watched in 3D; the 161 minute film stimulates the viewers visually. Because of the fantastic visual effect, it is hard to comprehend the film not winning the award for Best Visual Effects.

The story takes place in 2154, three decades after a multinational corporation has established a mining colony in Pandora, a planet light years from Earth. A toxic environment and hostile natives (one corporate apparatchik calls the locals “blue monkeys”) forces the conglomerate to engage with Pandora by proxy. Humans dwell in oxygen-drenched cocoons but move out into mines to confront the planet’s hostile creatures in hugely fortified armor and robotics, or avatars.

Cameron and his brilliant visual effects team have created jaw-dropping 3D realism. It is a magical tale about flying dragons, magic plants and trees, little fairies, weirdly hypnotic creepy crawling creatures and untamed dogs rolled up into a rain forest with a highly advanced spiritual design.

Garnering 11 awards in the Oscars in 1998, Cameron’s phenomenal “Titanic” brought back moviegoers to watch and re-watch the film. Cameron did it again this time with Avatar having the highest number of nominations for 2010, same as The Hurt Locker with 9 nominations in categories of Art direction, Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing and Visual effects.

Avatar’s rival then in the 82nd Academy Awards will be The Hurt Locker since they are contenders in 7 of the same categories: Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing. Tune in tonight to find out who the winners will be.

 

Bernard Schlink’s “The Reader” now on film

Bernard Schlink’s “The Reader” now on film
By Rhea B. Peñaflor
Published at The News Today, 2009

Way back in college, my friends and I were talking about Bernhard Schlink’s must-read novel, “The Reader”. Over a cup of coffee at the then Cafe’ Society beside Otra Vez (when no brewed coffee was yet available at that time), we were saying that it would be great if a film could be made out of this novel. And indeed, it is an unexplainable joy to know that this will become a reality since a film was finally made based on the novel and is expected to be released in the U.S. on December 12 of this year. Due to its limited release though, it may take some time before it reaches the Philippine cinemas. I want to be optimistic that The Reader will certainly reach the Filipino audience because I strongly recommend this film.

The Reader is a novel which was brilliantly written by German author and lawyer Bernhard Schlink. This is the kind of novel which you want to read and re-read all over again, yet you continue to palpitate every time you turn the pages of the book. Schlink’s fertile imagination and creativity is beyond measure and his depth for his craft is unbelievable as he combined history and literature.

Becoming the first German novel to top the New York Times bestseller list, The Reader is now considered as an international bestseller. Oprah Winfrey also made it a selection of her book club. The novel has been translated into 37 other languages, and assigned in college-level courses on Holocaust literature.

Also, Schlink’s “Flights of Love” is a must-read book. This book has 7 unique short stories and again, Schlink has proved himself to be a master storyteller. He was not afraid to write something different. Any reader could not just stop from reading his stories. Flights of Love to me is poetry in prose. Schlink succeeded in keeping the beat and the rhythm all throughout and in each and every story. He has made his readers think every time and has reached out to them as if they are part of it through his novels and stories. That is why I would believe that all those who have read Schlink’s writings are more than excited to watch the film, The Reader. Who wouldn’t be?

Although the film got an “R” rating from Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for some scenes of sexuality and nudity, it is certainly not scandalous or obscene but it was artistically executed by the actors. Watching the theatrical trailer creates a certain stimulus especially when one has read the novel which by the way is available (as of this writing) in Booksale SM City-Iloilo. I found two copies of The Reader there. Hurry before someone gets them at a bargain price of P70 which was originally around P400 or more for a paperback copy. I have not seen any copy left in other bookstores, though.

British film director Stephen Daldry who was Academy award nominee for the film, “The Hours” is also The Reader’s director. “The Reader” stars Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Karoline Herfuth, Hannah Herzprung and David Kross.

As pointed out, The Reader as a novel is a must-read and with strong conviction, I would say that it is also a must-see film.

Simply put, The Reader is the kind of film that we should watch out for.
Email me at ayer428@yahoo.com

 

Original “Lex Review Center” Offers Regular Review in West Visayas State University Hometel Building for only P12, 500 ALL IN

Lex Reviews and Seminars, Inc., pioneer in provincial reviews IS STILL EXISTING and did not merge or change name.

NEW VENUE for Panay in Iloilo City: (Venue is not in University of Iloilo but West Visayas State University)

LEX REVIEWS & SEMINARS, INC.
West Visayas State University
2nd Floor, HOMETEL Building (Conference Room)
La Paz, Iloilo City

Telephone Numbers
Iloilo Office: (033) 3210074 Ms. Rhea Peñaflor)
WVSU Hometel: 3200-870 local 142. Those who want to stay in can inquire in this number.
Contact Person: 0920-630-6587/0915-671-1286
(Ms. Rhea Peñaflor)
Manila Office: 521-6984/526-4791
Fax Number: 521-6984

Enrollment Fee: P12, 500, includes handouts, mock bar and pre-week in Manila

Review Director
Prof. SAMSON S. ALCANTARA

(ILOILO-LEX Coordinator)
Ms. Rhea Penaflor