2 Philippine startups recognized as Asia’s best innovators

2 Philippine startups recognized as Asia’s best innovators

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
Inquirer.net
14 December 2024

Philippine startups continue to show what they can do to bring innovation to people’s lives—and their hard work is not left unnoticed.

At the latest Asia Technology Entrepreneurship Conference’s (ATEC) Startup Competition in Hong Kong this month, two Filipino enterprises were recognized as the region’s best innovators in their respective categories.

InvestEd, a financing platform that lends to students who need aid in paying tuition, won in the artificial intelligence and digital solutions category. The company employing a proprietary credit scoring algorithm extends loans to unbanked students, making financing accessible. It gets the students who are part of the socio-economic classes C, D, and E.

E-commerce enabler Packworks, meanwhile, emerged as the winner in the smart commerce and logistics category.

Packworks provides digital solutions to over 300,000 sari-sari stores so they can make their operations more efficient. Its suite of products include tools for pricing, inventory management, and sales tracking.

ATEC is the biggest alumni-led technology conference in Asia. The annual startup competition celebrates the excellence of enterprises that develop new and cutting-edge products.

In this year’s competition, the 40-member selection committee screened 106 applications, through which 32 semi-finalists were shortlisted.

A startup can join the competition after getting nomination from an alumni organization that is part of ATEC.

In this case, both InvestEd and Packworks were backed by the Harvard Club of the Philippines Global.

Last year, homegrown Mayani won the Emerging Market Solutions Impact Award. A social enterprise linking over 139,000 smallholder farmers to retail and commercial consumers, this startup has helped a lot of indigenous farmers in Zambales.

According to a study by local market research firm Uniquecorn Strategies, majority or 75 percent of the Philippine startups were keen on achieving profitability over growth to reduce dependency on investor funding.

More than half or 55 percent of the founders surveyed expect to become profitable within the next one to two years.

Next on the list of their priorities are customer experience and product development at 55 percent each.

Filipino music talents conquering the world

Filipino talents who came before Sofronio Vasquez in international talent shows

Story by Jerry Donato
Philstar Global
14 December 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Before the advent and emergence of reality TV singing and talent show formats from abroad, the Pinoy talent in this creative field and competition was witnessed in singing contests abroad.

Now Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icons such as Dulce and Ivy Violan (winning the grand prize at the 1988 Asia Pacific Singing Contest) and Regine Velasquez (also securing the top award at the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest) represented the country.

Ivy also went on to perform at the Golden Kite World Song Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1989 and won the grand prize at the International Midnight Sun Song Festival in Finland in 1991.

Kuh Ledesma sang Till I Met in the 1989 Salem Music Awards show in London. According to a former entertainment writer, she was the first Filipino recipient of such an award.

All this partly contributed to the Filipinos’ reputation as a force to reckon with when it comes to singing competitions.

Around a bit more than two decades ago, most people around the globe got acquainted with talent programs like “Got Talent,” “Idol (‘Pop Idol’ and ‘American Idol’),” and “The X Factor.” They have watched and followed them ever since.

These shows have also been remade and produced in other nations and territories.

With Pinoys’ diaspora and migration worldwide, Filipinos, either full-blooded or of mixed race, would take a chance in joining any of these shows and showcase their innate knack for carrying a tune and conveying the song story.

As they commence their contest journeys, they get the support of Pinoys in their specific country and also back home.

Even if they’ve fully immersed in their new country, they are still tethered back home and represent what Pinoy is, resilient, hardworking, loving and talented, just to name a few traits.

Days ago, Sofronio Vasquez, a Pinoy now living in Utica, New York, did make Pinoys proud as the winner of “The Voice” USA Season 26.

His accomplishment is historic as the first Asian and Filipino to top such an American and international singing tilt. It’s also perhaps a proper time to crown a winner from the Philippines following a good number of contestants of Filipino lineage who had tried their luck in the previous editions of “The Voice” USA or in other similar competitions.

The win of Sofronio has made one recall contestants of Filipino ancestry that either came close to winning or were named a champion.

The list for this piece is, not in any way, comprehensive. The names of artists easily came to mind when this article was written.

The list was also based on available data and information online and virtually.

Marlisa Punzalan

Marlisa Punzalan is “The X Factor” Australia winner in 2014 and her audition song was Yesterday of The Beatles. Ronan Keating, an Irish singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of Boyzone, was Marlisa’s mentor.

Her Filipino parents from Bataan went to Australia and raised Marlisa in Sydney.

Cyrus Villanueva

Cyrus Villanueva, on the other hand, is the winner of “The X Factor” Australia in 2015. His dad is Filipino from Cotabato City, Philippines. The Villanuevas are from Wollongong, New South Wales.

In an interview with this paper back in 2016, Cyrus shared about his three unforgettable performances in the talent show, “I think one of my favorite memories is the song Dancing On My Own. That was the song I sang at the boot camp. I was on the piano... Jealous, I love piano ballad. I love just the piano, I love just the voice. I love how raw a simple song like that is, how vulnerable you are. You know it’s just a best opportunity to tell the story. It’s just the piano and the voice. That was in the grand finals that I sang that.”

“I remember when (judge-mentor) Chris (Isaak) told me that was the song he chose for me, I was so happy. It was the most important time of the competition because I didn’t want to choose a terrible song. He chose an amazing song for me. It allowed me to kinda showcase what I love about performing — just the piano and just my voice,” added he. “Stone, the very first single I have ever released. It’s such a great song… To know that that was the first song that I heard myself on the radio, the first time I heard my voice on the radio was on that song, it was strange. It was weird.”

With Marlisa and Cyrus’ wins, the Pinoy talent had a back-to-back win in “The X Factor” Australia.

From Down Under, the singing talent of Filipinos was also showcased in “The X Factor” Asia and Europe.

Rose Fostanes

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Rose Fostanes was named the winner of “The X Factor” Israel first edition. She performed If I Ain’t Got You, Sweet Dreams and My Way during the finals. Her rendition of the Shirley Bassey song, This is My Life, earned her to enter the audition phase. It helped her cruise the boot camps, quarter-finals, semifinals and finals.

She worked as a caregiver in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Bella Santiago

The professional singer in Malaysia, Bella Santiago, did a strong start in “The X Factor” Romania with a Jessie J cover (Bang Bang), and showed her performing skills, encompassing singing and dancing.

For the grand finals, she performed a mash-up of Beyoncé songs and claimed the top prize and title of “The X Factor” Romania winner.

The success of Pinoy talents continued in that part of the world with the championship wins of Justine Afante and Fil-Austrian Lukas Janisch in “The Voice Kids” UK (2020) and “The Voice Kids” Germany (2016), respectively. Her winning song was Listen of Beyoncé, while his were If I Ain’t Got You of Alicia Keys and When We Were Young of Adele.

Justine Afante, winner, The Voice Kids (UK) 2020

Lukas Janisch, winner, The Voice Kids (Germany) 2016

In “The American Idol,” Jasmine Trias and Jessica Sanchez were among the contestants who represented Pinoys. Jasmine from Hawaii reached the “The American Idol” Top 3 in its third season, while Jessica Sanchez of California was in the Top 2/runner-up for “The American Idol” 11th season.

Jasmine Trias, American Idol Top 3 (season 3 | 2004)

“The American Idol” journey of Jessica was extra unforgettable for her and fans when judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler decided to use their one “save” for the season. Thus, she was able to continue and reach the finale.

Jessica Sanchez, American Idol Top 2 (Season 11 |  2012)

Jessica took on Change Nothing, I Have Nothing, The Prayer in the final showdown. Jasmine, for the final round, performed All By Myself, Mr. Melody and Saving All My Love for You.

The Philippines was also well-represented in “Asia’s Got Talent” (with season one winner the shadow play dance group El Gamma Penumbra and grand finalists Gerphil Flores, DM-X Comvaleñoz, Neil Rey Garcia and Power Duo, to name some Pinoy talents).

With Sofronio’s win in “The Voice” USA season 26, Pinoy voices and talents continue to soar and be showcased in programs abroad.

Kudos also to Filipinos who have reached the audition and succeeding rounds of any talent competition and have proudly represented the country.

PH wins Miss International Tourism 2024

Mutya ng Pilipinas posts PH’s 6th Miss Tourism International win

Armin P. Adina
Inquirer.net
14 December 2024

Mutya ng Pilipinas Liana Barrido was crowned Miss Tourism International 2024 in a competition held in Malaysia on Friday night, Dec. 13, making her the Philippines’ sixth winner in the global tilt.

The Batangueña lass asserted the country’s dominance in the Malaysia-based international competition during the finale show held at the Sunway Resort Hotel, Bandar Sunway, in Selangor, Malaysia, that ended past midnight on Dec. 14.

Barrido, who inherited the Miss Tourism International crown from last year’s winner Tia Li Taveepanichpan of Thailand, received loud cheers for her answer in the competition’s final round of questioning after she elaborated on the topic “motivation.”

Asked how she defines success and what motivates her to achieve it, she responded: “As someone who finds her purpose through her weakness, I define success as overcoming the limitation. I used to be just a silent girl, but [as it turns] out, this limitation [made me] an empowered woman who has a purpose. Success is not the destination, it is the journey we take, the growth we experience, and the positive impact we leave [in this] world.”

Barrido bested 39 other aspirants from around the world for the Miss Tourism International title. She also received the “Miss Vitality” award during the final competition show.

Before Barrido, the Miss Tourism International crown also went to her fellow Mutya ng Pilipinas queens Peachy Manzano in 2000, the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez in 2012, Angeli Dione Gomez in 2013, Jannie Alipo-on in 2017, and Cyrille Payumo in 2019.

The Philippines remains the most successful country in the Miss Tourism International pageant, further widening its lead over Thailand’s three crown haul.

Barrido’s Miss Tourism International victory came just a week after her fellow Mutya ng Pilipinas queen Alyssa Redondo finished third in the 2024 Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt.

Three new Philippine Parks added to ASEAN list

Three Philippine Parks Make It on the ASEAN Heritage List

Leana Vibal
Spot.ph
12 December 2024

Good news! In 2024, three Philippine parks were officially recognized as part of the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks, a.k.a. areas of  "outstanding wilderness and biodiversity values."

Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, and Apo Reef Natural Park join 11 other Philippine parks on the ASEAN Heritage Park list. This makes the Philippines the country with the most entries on the list, comprising over 22% of the 64 parks recognized. 

What is an ASEAN Heritage Park?

ASEAN Heritage Parks are "protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region."

Simply put, these parks are the best examples of the high-impact ecological zones in the region. More importantly, they have established significant sustainable efforts in protected area management and conservation. 

The list started in 1984 with only 11 areas included. It has since grown into 62 zones across Southeast Asia. 

Aside from the prestige of recognition and the validation that you're doing right by the environment, being on the ASEAN Heritage Park list does have its perks, especially for the park administrators and rangers who manage these spots. 

Areas included in the list become part of a network encouraging them to share best practices and experiences on protected area management and participate in capacity-building opportunities. Additionally, they increase their chances of partnering with international conservation partners and get assistance in enhancing their operations. 

Here are the three new ASEAN Heritage Parks from the Philippines:

Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary

The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) is a group of islands in the Sulu Archipelago. This key marine biodiversity area is the first trans-frontier protected area for marine turtles in the world, covering waters in both Malaysia and the Philippines. 

Its claim to fame is that it is one of the few remaining major nesting areas for Green Sea Turtles in Southeast Asia. In the worldwide turtle nesting context, it's currently ranked 11. Yearly, especially during peak egg-laying season, over 80 to 100 Green Sea Turtles make their nests and release their eggs along the shores of its beaches. Many Hawksbill Turtles also lay their eggs in this area, albeit their numbers are smaller than the Green Sea Turtles. 

Aside from turtles, the area is known to be home to over 200 species of plants, including 10 mangrove species and 19 species of ferns. This rich foliage has resulted in at least 34 species of birds also calling TIWS their home. There are also a number of bat speceis, 12 reptiles, and about 281 terrestrial plant species have been reported.

Apo Reef Natural Park

Apo Reef Natural Park covers three islands in Occidental Mindoro with the Apo Reef being the largest of the tree.

Apo Reef is the biggest coral reef in the Philippines and ranks as the world’s second-largest connected reef system after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It covers an area of over 34 square kilometers and has two main reefs separated by a 30-meter-deep channel. The area is known to be home to at least 285 marine species, including the angelfish, butterflyfish, dolphins, and sea turtles. 

Aside from the underwater beauty of the Apo Reef Natural Park, there's also a lot to be proud of on land. The two other islands the marine park, Binangaan and Cayos del Bajo, are both known for their limestone structures and coralline formations. There are also a number of known bird species in the area.

Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park

Nestled within the Mount Talinis range in Negros Oriental, this 8,016-hectare is includes the crater lakes Balinsasayao and Danao, which are widely believed to have been formed by ancient volcanic activity.

The park ranks second only to Palawan in biodiversity, sheltering 427 critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species of plants and animals in its dense forests.

Beyond being highly biodiverse, the park is also a place for leisurely hikes, including treks to visit waterfalls and ponds within the reserve.

Aside from these three, two other ASEAN parks were added to the list. These are the Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area and Nam Poui National Protected Area, both in Lao PDR (Laos). Together, these five newly designated areas contribute a collective 11.6 million hectares of legally gazetted protected areas representing terrestrial, marine, and wetland ecosystems.

Other parks in the Philippines named in the ASEAN Heritage Parks list are Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mts. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, Pasonanca Natural Park, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, and Mt. Apo Natural Park.

Sofronio Vasquez wins The Voice USA 2024

Sofronio Vasquez named ‘The Voice’ Season 26 winner

Anne Pasajol
INQUIRER.net 
11 December 2024

Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez emerged as “The Voice” United States Season 26 winner, becoming the first-ever winner to have won the competition.

Vasquez bested the remaining four finalist at the two-night finale held on Dec. 9 and 10 (Dec. 10 and 11 in the Philippines).

During the first part of the final round, Vasquez, who is under Team Michael Bublé, sang Sia’s “Unstoppable” and “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Vasquez then shared the stage with his coach Bublé for the second part, performing a duet of “Who’s Lovin’ You” by The Jackson 5.

Shye, another contestant from Team Bublé, came second to Vasquez, while Sydney Sterlace from Team Gwen Stefani placed third. Danny Joseph from Team Reba McEntire took the fourth place, while Jeremy Beloate from Team Snoop Dogg earned the fifth place.

Prior to the finals, Vasquez sang his heart out to Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” during the “The Voice” United States live show. He also performed a duet with Beloate, singing “Every Breath You Take” with the songwriter himself, Sting, playing the bass.

Vasquez, who is an alum of the local singing competition “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” was also a four-chair turner during the competition’s blind auditions.

PH advances in nuclear infrastructure development

IAEA: PH advances in nuclear infrastructure development

Power Philippines News
December 9, 2024

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded its review mission on the country’s nuclear power program, saying that the Philippines has already advanced a comprehensive nuclear law.

“The Philippines expanded the composition of its Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) to 24 organizations, and all sub-committees of NEPIO are actively engaged to implement relevant activities. This indicates the level of commitment of the Philippines to proceed with their nuclear power programme,” said IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section Technical Lead mission team leader Mehmet Ceyhan.

To support the Philippines’ infrastructure development, the mission team reviewed the country’s progress in implementing recommendations from the initial 2018 INIR mission. 

Using the Phase 1 criteria of the IAEA Milestones Approach, the assessment focused on determining the country’s preparedness to make an informed decision on pursuing a nuclear power program.

The mission acknowledged the Philippines’ progress in advancing its nuclear energy program, including the drafting of a comprehensive nuclear law, assessments in key areas such as human resources, regulatory frameworks, radiation protection, and waste management, as well as the development of related policies and strategies.

Despite these advancements, the team emphasized the importance of finalizing the country’s nuclear power strategy and conducting additional studies on the electrical grid, industrial participation, and national legislation to pave the way for future initiatives.

The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Missions are guided by the IAEA Milestones Approach, addressing 19 key infrastructure issues across three phases: consider, prepare, and construct, with milestones set at decide, contract, and commission/operate. 

These missions provide a platform for IAEA Member States to engage with international experts, fostering knowledge exchange and sharing best practices from global nuclear programs.

PH ranked 2nd most attractive developing economy for RE investment

PH ranked 2nd most attractive developing economy for RE investment

By Anna Leah Gonzales
Philippines News Agency
December 9, 2024

MANILA – The Philippines is the second most attractive developing economy for renewable energy investment, the 2024 Climatescope report by BloombergNEF (BNEF) said.

The Climatescope report evaluates clean energy progress and market attractiveness across 110 developing countries using 100 indicators.

Dagohoy Solar Power Farm in Bohol province. (Screenshot from Bohol-PIO video)

These nations account for nearly two-thirds of global clean energy output and 82 percent of the world’s population.

The country's latest ranking was an improvement from fourth place in 2023.

BNEF's report said the Philippines has a power score of 2.65, surpassing the Asia-Pacific regional average of 1.94.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said the improvement in ranking "reflects the growing confidence of the global community in our country’s commitment to clean energy transition and sustainable growth."

"This achievement underscores the effectiveness of the Philippines’ comprehensive renewable energy policies, which include auctions, net metering schemes, tax incentives, and an aggressive clean energy target of 35% renewable energy in the power mix by 2030," the DOE said.

"As the only emerging market in the Asia-Pacific region with all these mechanisms in place, we are paving the way for a more sustainable energy future, not only for our nation but as a model for the region," it added.

However, the DOE said there is a need to further accelerate renewable energy development to address the needs of the country.

"Significantly, while most of the renewable energy investment is domestic, we look forward to realizing the potential of increased foreign participation through recent reforms that allow 100 percent foreign equity in renewable energy projects," it said.

The DOE said the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to driving renewable energy development, fostering innovation and creating an enabling environment for both local and international investors.

It added that the government will continue to harness the potential of the country’s natural resources.

"This recognition inspires the DOE to further intensify its efforts in achieving our renewable energy goals, ensuring that our nation remains a global beacon of progress in the energy transition," the DOE said. (PNA)

Philippine clinched Miss Intercontinental 2024 second runner-up

PH's Alyssa Marie Redondo is Miss Intercontinental 2024 2nd runner-up; Puerto Rico bags crown

By GMA Integrated News
December 8, 2024

Philippine bet Alyssa Marie Redondo is Miss Intercontinental 2024 second runner-up!

The Filipina beauty queen also bagged special awards including Best in Swimsuit and the Power of Beauty Special award, which gave her a spot in the final Top 7 during the pageant's coronation night held in Egypt on December 7.

On Instagram, Alyssa said she has nothing but a grateful heart for her pageantry journey. 

"It has been an incredible experience!" she said. "Beyond the crowns, I’m leaving with priceless friendships from around the world. All the hard work has truly paid off and I’m excited to see what the future holds."

According to the Filipina, finishing as the second runner-up is an "incredible achievement," as it was her first international competition.

Alyssa also thanked her pageant sisters for the memories they created together.

"I am so proud of all that we've accomplished together. I'm honored to have stood beside such inspiring, beautiful, and talented women," she wrote. "I'll cherish this experience forever!" 

Ending her post, she expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her in her journey.

"I'm beyond grateful for the support I've received throughout this journey. Each and every person on my team and all of my supporters are the reason I've come this far," Alyssa said.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico's Maria Cepero was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2024.

In the pageant's 52 years, there have been two Filipina winners so far: Karen Gallman in 2019 and Cinderella Faye Obeñita in 2021.

San Fernando makes it to CNN's list of best Christmas destination

Philippines only Southeast Asian destination in list of best places for Christmas

Hoang Vu   
VN Express International
December 8, 2024 

San Fernando in the Philippines was the only Southeast Asian destination to make it onto CNN's list of 15 best places to visit for Christmas this year.

"If Asia were to have a Christmas capital, San Fernando in the heavily Roman Catholic Philippines would be a top nomination," CNN wrote.

Located northwest of Manila, San Fernando, with a population of 350,000, is known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines" and is famous for its annual giant lantern festival each December, where large parol (star lanterns) are displayed.

These lanterns, which come in various colors and sizes, symbolize light and hope for Filipinos.

Thousands of locals and tourists flock to the town during the Christmas season to witness the grandeur and intricacy of the giant lanterns.

"The highlight of a visit to San Fernando is the parol, a colorful, electric Christmas lantern that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem," CNN described.

Other destinations on the list included Rovaniemi in Finland, Barcelona in Spain, Nairobi in Kenya, Nuremberg in Germany, San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, and Strasbourg in France.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on Dec. 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world.