Santa Rosa City Laguna Philippines -
attracting investors from all over Asia and the world.
Click on the above graphic to see the video of President Obama's 2012 State Of The Union Address on this page or click here to watch it on YouTube.
Support the stand of Wikipedia, US President Obama, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Boing Boing, Reddit, Flickr, Cheezburger network, and others against the draconian bid by computer-illiterate American lawmakers to destroy the international freedom of the internet. Voting on the offensive proposed bills has now been postponed pending further consultation, but to combat the continuous lobbying and bribing of congressmen and senators by lawless corporations we will need to maintain our global pressure. To find out more and to stay updated on this issue just click anywhere on the above graphic. See also Angel Tugado's comments on our Opinion page.
If you are an American citizen, even if you are traveling outside the country on business or vacation and even if you are currently living overseas, you can help immediately by signing Google's petition to the US Congress. Please note the great urgency. Time is of the essence, because voting starts January 24, 2012.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO
THE PHILIPPINES FROM
AROUND THE WORLD!
LONDON'S MAGNIFICENTLY SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY along the historic River Thames didn't make London Bridge fall down again, but brought out thousands of people of all nationalities into the cold winter weather, at least 50% of whom would have tied for the beauty title of My Fair Lady 2012. After all the dramas of 2011, it was a display designed to boost morale and raise the spirits not only of Londoners but of all people everywhere - including us - for the New Year.
Turn up your volume because the accompanying soundtrack is also good. Among other things you'll hear the chimes of Big Ben, Queen's "We Will Rock You", the Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and an original recording of the famous World War 2 news signal "London Calling", which was the only voice of freedom left in Europe after German troops had occupied one country after another in Hitler's bid to conquer and oppress the world under his ruthless dictatorship.
It was the UK and its then dominions Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and other smaller nations, later reinforced by the welcome powerful entry of the USA, and with immense help from brave resistance fighters in all the occupied countries, that fought Hitler's Nazis to the end and finally defeated them. The world would be very different now if we were all enslaved under a heartlessly cruel Nazi dic-tatorship, tortured and exterminated if we ever dared to express a word of dissent.
Obviously London is now calling for visitors to this year's London Olympics, and it wins our vote for the best New Year 2012 Fireworks Display. Our vote is shared by millions of people around the world who have made this by far their most popular New Year's Eve download on YouTube. It was made by the BBC along with 5 others, each by a different but equally talented production crew, and all of which can be freely viewed on YouTube. Thanks London, thanks BBC, and thanks YouTube. Happy New Year to you all too!
Other New Year Displays that stood out from the crowd included Sydney - always one of the best in the world but spread around the city over such a wide area that it could only be fully appreciated if viewed from a helicopter, and Hong Kong - also perennially popular but suffering from being reminiscent of the display that's staged every night for tourists.
So our vote for second place (first runner-up) goes to Dubai, with its exceptionally clever and elegant display that was beautiful to watch but lacked the drama, emotion, and excitement of London's.
And our surprise vote for third place (second runner-up) is to Kuala Lumpur. Although its display did not match the originality of London's or Dubai's, what won us over was the joyful exuberance and excitement of the crowds of onlookers. They were wonderful! - Angel Tugado
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Join
IBM's search for the innovators and drivers of a better economy and a
better world at: facebook.com/midmarketibm.
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See
our Home Page to find out
how the new "I Am Involved" SM Eco Bag helps to conserve Philippine
forests
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TAKE A TIP FROM THE EXPERT:
SUPER WATER MAN AQUABUZZ
AQUABUZZ (AQUABEST'S SUPER WATER MAN) IS FAMOUS FOR WISDOM, ACTION, AND HIS LOVE OF OUR PLANET AND ITS PEOPLE. "Water is one of the most versatile substances known to man with more than a hundred uses," he says. "Among other things we we drink it, cook with it, wash with it, play with it, create art with it, and use it to produce innumerable substances of benefit to people. In fact it is so vital to humans in its own right that everyone, without exception, needs it."
He continues: "However, Aquabest has managed not only to provide the best quality water it has also managed to improve on it by developing structured water."
"Using an advanced process known as Grander Technology from Austria (where the hills are alive with the sound of music because Austrians are so happy with their good health), the water molecules are restructured by Aquabest to produce structured water."
"To get an idea of how Grander technology works picture this. Imagine your cells are doors with the water molecules as people trying to get inside. With ordinary water, these people are disorganized making entry slow laborious and inefficient. With structured water, picture these people lining up in neat lines causing entry to be faster and more efficient. This allows structured water to offer superior hydration by penetrating each cell to its core. Being more efficient than ordinary water in hydrating the body, structured water is perfect for athletes who are looking for quick hydration on the go."
According to Aquabest's mascot Aquabuzz, the super water man, structured water is more than just for drinking. It can not only do what normal water can, but can do it better. Also It can be used for other purposes. Among the many uses of Aquabest structured water are:
1) Food preparation: Due to its modified molecular structure, structured water brings out the full flavor of food and drinks by bringing out the subtle tastes and textures of food. The effects of structured water are particularly pronounced in food items that require good water quality like coffee and tea.
2) Grooming and personal care: Ordinary tap water often contains minerals and other residues that may affect your skin. Structured water on the other hand contains no impurities that can harm your skin. Also it penetrates deep down your pores to hydrate and maintain the youth of your skin.
3) Pet care: Your pets are very sensitive creatures can be adversely affected by poor water quality structured water will not only hydrate them it would also keep them healthy. This is particularly true for fishes that are highly dependent on water quality for their very survival.
4) Gardening: Plants are very sensitive with regards to water, more than just watering the plants the water used to water them is also very important. Structured water allows plants to better absorb nutrients into their system allowing them to thrive. Sprinkle structured water to your houseplants and watch them bloom.
Tips from AQUABUZZ, Aquabest’s Super Water Man, are brought to you by Almira Antiporda. LIKE Aquabest on Facebook and visit the Aquabest website.
Aquabest's
4th Annual Tree Planting Activity in partnership with
Haribon
and WQAP took
place in Nuvali this October 15, 2011. (More...)
-
Almira Antiporda (Graphic and photo courtesy of Aquabest)
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"Let us end the culture of negativism; let us uplift our fellow
Filipinos at every opportunity. Why are there people who enjoy finding
fault in our country, who find it so hard - as though it were a sin -
to say something nice? Can we even remember the last time we praised a
fellow Filipino?"
"Let us stop pulling our fellow man down. Let us put an end to our crab
mentality. Let us make the effort to recognize the good that is being
done."
"If you see something right, do not think twice - praise it. If you see
a policeman directing traffic, coatless beneath the rain - go to him
and say, "Thank you.""
"If you fall sick, and you see your nurse caring for you, when she
could easily be treating foreigners for a higher salary - say, "Thank
you.""
"Before you leave school for home, approach your teacher who chose to
invest in your future - say, "Thank you.""
"If you chance upon your local leader on a road that was once riddled
with holes, but is now smooth and sturdy - go to him and say, "Thank
you, for the change you have brought.""
THANK
YOU P'NOY FOR WINNING AGAINST ROBBER POLITICIANS AND GIVING OUR NATION
BACK TO ITS LAWFUL OWNERS: THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
"Do
you want the corrupt held accountable? So do I. Do you want to see the
end of wang-wang, both on the streets and in the sense of entitlement
that has led to the abuse that we have lived with for so long? So do I.
Do you want to give everyone a fair chance to improve their lot in
life? So do I."
"I
say to those who would lead us astray: if you will further disadvantage
the poor, do not even think about it. If all you would do is to fill
your own pockets, do not even think about it. If it is not for the
benefit of the Filipino people, do not even think about it."
"If
we ignore the crimes of the past, they will continue to haunt us. And
if we do not hold people accountable, then they will do it again and
again."
"To
those of you who would turn back the tide of reform: you will not
succeed."
MANILA MAYOR JOINS SIGNING
OF LUSOG DUNONG YEAR 2
PROJECT LAUNCH
(L-R):
Rafael C. Lopa, PBSP Executive Director; Hon. Alfredo S. Lim, Manila
Mayor; Christian R. Gonzales, ICTSI Foundation Director.
MANILA
CITY MAYOR ALFREDO S. LIM joined the Project Launch and MOA Signing of Lusog
Dunong Year 2 at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School (RAES) in Tondo,
Manila. This is a philanthropy partnership between International
Container Terminal Services, Inc. - Foundation Inc.
(ICTSI-FI) and Philippine
Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
It will
provide a six-month supplementary feeding program that aims not only to
help address malnutrition but also to enhance the academic performance
of school children. Beneficiaries are 1,933 students of RAES and ten
(10) of Parola, plus all the Isla Puting Bato day care centers under
the Manila
Department of Social Welfare.
The project
also includes capability building for parents of the feeding
beneficiaries on matters concerning nutrition, maternal and child care,
parent effectiveness, and basic household financial management.
Lopa, in
his speech during the launch of Lusog Dunong 2, acknowledged the
significant contribution of the City of Manila through its District
Social Welfare Office and City Health Office; the National Anti-Poverty
Commission (NAPC); and the local government of Barangay 20, Tondo,
Manila.
PBSP Executive Director Rafael Lopa talks about the importance of
nutrition in education through ICTSI-PBSP Lusog Dunong 2.
Malnutrition among children is an alarming health
problem which poses an opportunity for private and non-profit
organizations to provide immediate help and keep that help in the ring
sustainable. This is why the Philippine Business for Social Progress
(PBSP), International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), and
ICTSI Foundation held a partnership to launch the Lusog Dunong
Supplemental Feeding Project Year 2.
"As we all
know, the most important asset of every nation is its people, so with
this effort, we can hope for a brighter future," Lopa said.
Last March,
the round one of the project profited 800 pupils which resulted into
the increase in weight of more than 740 beneficiaries, 243 of them were
underweight when the feeding program began. Better results were also
seen in the improved attendance and academic performance of the pupils.
Parents of
the beneficiary children were given training on basic health and
nutrition, financial literacy, and household management to ensure that
positive results are sustained.
Since 1991,
ICTSI is one of most active member companies of PBSP in practicing
corporate citizenship. It has granted as much as PhP 20 million for
social development initiatives that focus on health and education.
PBSP
Executive Director Rafael Lopa receives grant from ICTSI Foundation
Director Christian Gonzalez for the project implementation.
Last
June, ICTSI and PBSP turned over a computer laboratory to help an
Ondoy-devastated school in Zambales. A refresher course on
computer-based teaching was also provided.
Another
turnover of equipment was held at Juan Nolasco and Tondo high schools
under the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Program. Likewise,
the teachers were also given refresher training on TLE course
management.
Meanwhile,
ICTSI-PBSP’s fifth year of scholarship program was launched last month
benefiting more than 100 students from Tondo and Raja Sulayman high
schools.
Interested
companies that would like to integrate corporate citizenship into their
operations can approach PBSP. This non-profit organization is looking
forward to more partnerships with different stakeholders to create a
greater impact in reducing poverty that is obviously appalling in the
marginalized sector.
UnionBank-CPSR
TURNS OVER WHEELS TO PBSP DEMO FARM
UNIONBANK'S
CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
has
donated a service vehicle for the technology demonstration farm
operated by the Center
for Rural Technology Development. CRTD was established by
Philippine Business for Social Progress as the laboratory for
developing, validating, and disseminating proper agricultural
technologies to help farmers become self-reliant. UnionBank of the
Philippines has been a member company of the non-profit
organization since 1972. The Deed of Donation was recently signed
between PBSP and CPSR-UnionBank officials at the UnionBank Plaza,
Ortigas Center. The photo above left shows PBSP Chief Executive Advisor
Nicolaas Oreel receiving the key from UnionBank Chairman and CEO Justo
Ortiz. The photo above right shows (L-R): Vicky Co, PBSP membership
unit manager; Maria Gonzalez Goolsby, CPSR-UnionBank executive
director; Nicolaas Oreel; Robert Ramos, VP for Trust &
Investment Services; Michael Garcia, FVP for Trust & Investment
Services; Fe Chua, PBSP finance director; and Butch Cuevas, CPSR senior
officer.
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reports by Grace Muncada (photos courtesy of PBSP)
The
legacy of an earlier PBSP education project, ELSA in Mindanao, was
recently celebrated in the remarkable thankyou address by 12-year-old
Jannie Corpus-Sampani, pictured above giving her confident,
heartwarming and inspirational first-ever speech to parents, teachers,
local officials and visiting dignitaries. (See report and more photos
on our special
PBSP feature pages.)
Closer
to Santa Rosa, Epson Philippines President Osamu Koshiishi is pictured
here with kids from Pangao Elementary School, one of 11 public schools
in Lipa, Batangas, to receive Learning Resource Centers in Epson's
C.A.R.E.S. Project with assistance from PBSP.
(See report and more photos on our special PBSP
feature pages.)
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Just
a few minutes away from Santa Rosa, the San Lazaro Leisure &
Business Park at Carmona, Cavite, is well worth getting to know.
There are regular horse racing events organized by the Manila Jockey Club,
a casino, bars, entertainment, restaurant, banquet rooms, and the
magnificent Canyon
Ranch residential development which offers the above
spectacular grandstand view of the racetrack.
Read more in our special
San Lazaro feature.
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THE UNITED KINGDOM BACKS THE
PHILIPPINES
ENGLAND IS THE HOME
OF MODERN FOOTBALL (AKA SOCCER), AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR
STEPHEN LILLIE, speaking from the Embassy of the
United Kingdom in Manila, gives a strong thumbs up to doing
business in the Philippines.
English people everywhere, including Mr Bean, are
enthusiastic about the developing popularity of Filipino football and
the inspiring progress of the Philippine
Askals. Football is England's national sport (second only to
being confused about who the English are) and they look forward to
seeing the Askals qualify for the 2014
World Cup in Brazil. They also hope that before then, many
Filipino sports fans will join them in visiting the 2012 Olympics in
London. But when you get there, don't be surprised if they ask you
where London is.
In explanation to
avoid confusion: England is part of Britain which is part of Great
Britain which is part of the United Kingdom which is part of the
European Union. Are you as confused as they are? I am too, but don't
worry. Just think how bad it is for the English people themselves, who
are all totally bewildered by it and are compelled to live with this
confusion permanently. Some have even written books asking who they
really are. This is true! So it's no coincidence that Charlie Chaplin
and Mr Bean are both English. Nor that England is the only country on
planet earth without a national anthem. Why don't they have a national
anthem? Because none of them would know who they'd be singing about.
Instead they sing about the Royal Family, and even this doesn't
exclusively belong to them!
Therefore
with reference to the 2011
Royal Wedding, Prince William and Princess Catherine are now
second in line to be King and Queen of the United Kingdom - but not of
the European Union, although millions of Europeans have publicly
expressed the opinion that 'Will & Kate' also belong to them,
as Will's ancestors came to Britain from from Germany and they have
branches all over Europe. More surpising is that the most numerous and
most avid viewers of the Royal Wedding on live TV were the Americans -
who rebelled against and renounced allegiance to the English monarchy
in 1776 to gain their independence as the USA. How confusing is that?
Luckily for us,
Stephen Lillie is a diplomat with a great sense of humor, which is
unusual for diplomats - even English ones, and he's a brilliant public
speaker. He loves the Philippines, speaks tagalog, and gets as excited
as any Filipino when Pacman wins another fight or the Askals win
another football match.
In the
above video, Lillie states that the Philippine population of 92 million
makes us the 3rd English-speaking country of the world. He goes on to
praise the international success of Philippine
call-centers, whose clients include British blue-chip
companies such as Shell,
HKBC,
and the Financial
Times. He says the Aquino administration is winning the
battle against corruption, and the presence of more than 200 major
British companies here signifies clearly that now is an excellent time
for British and other European companies to invest in the Philippines. -
Story by Angel Tugado (Video courtesy of the UK Foreign Office)
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WORLD BANK APPLAUDS STEADY
PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC GROWTH
THE LATEST QUARTERLY UPDATE ISSUED BY
THE WORLD BANK refers to this country's recent credit
upgrades and praises its steady economic growth which is expected to be
maintained at the annual rate of around 5 percent this year.
Mention is
given to improvements resulting from the government's programme of
reforms, and it states that growth will continue to be led by
manufacturing, outsourcing, mining, construction and tourism. Eric Le
Borgne, senior World
Bank economist, anticipated further gains for the Philippines
after reconstruction of Japan's economy following its recent earthquake
and tsumami disasters. And Bert Hofman, World
Bank country director, said that Philippine growth was now
robust and steady after the world financial crisis.
Special
praise went to President Benigno Aquino for reducing corruption,
upgrading infrastructure, and opening up aviation to foreign
competition. In response, the President's office issued a statement
that the World Bank's update confirmed the Philippine economic
improvements and the soundness of the President's policies.
Welcome
to Santa
Rosa Magazine - the accessible
open e-magazine of Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines. No payment, no registration, no
login required.
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Forget the negative attitudes of stick-in-the-mud critics and do a Google search to see the creativity of Filipinos who have posted on the internet their own versions of DOT's inspiring
new tourism slogan. Who cares what the Swiss did in 1951? They didn't invent the English
language and they didn't coin the "it's more fun" phrase. Positive-thinking Filipinos like the
new slogan and are having lots of fun proving the truth in it. DOT deserves congratulations!
(See Angel Tugado's comments on our Opinion page.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO GWENDOLINE RUAIS FROM MUNTINLUPA!
Her second place at the Miss World beauty pageant in London has only ever been achieved
once before by a Filipina. Read the story
and see more photos on our Opinion
page.
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WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
WHAT DOES A BILL LIKE PIPA/SOPA MEAN TO OUR SHAREABLE WORLD?Clay Shirky delivers a proper manifesto -- a call to defend our freedom to create, discuss, link and share, rather than passively consume. He believes that new technologies enabling loose collaboration and taking advantage of "spare" brainpower - will change the way society works.
Shirky's work focuses on the rising usefulness of decentralized technologies such as peer-to-peer, wireless networks, social software and open-source development. New technologies are enabling new kinds of cooperative structures to flourish as a way of getting things done in business, science, the arts and elsewhere, as an alternative to centralized and institutional structures, which he sees as self-limiting.
In his writings and speeches he has argued that "a group is its own worst enemy". His clients have included Nokia, the Library of Congress and the BBC. Shirky is an adjunct professor in New York University's graduate Interactive Telecommunications Program, where he teaches a course named "Social Weather".
He's the author of "Here Comes Everybody", about the power of crowds, and "Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age". WIRED magazine said about him: "Shirky is one of the handful of people with justifiable claim to the digerati moniker. He's become a consistently prescient voice on networks, social software, and technology's effects on society."
(Video and write-up courtesy ofTED.)
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About Us
Santa
Rosa Magazine is the magazine of Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines
since 2007.
Has anyone ever asked you what living in the Philippines is like? Well,
this is what we're about. SRM (Santa Rosa Magazine) is the online
magazine of the people, by the people and for the people who live,
work, study and play in Santa Rosa, Laguna - and for those who want to
and are planning to.
This doesn't mean we're exclusively about what's happening in our city.
The official Santa
Rosa City Government website is a great source of information
and news about local activities, and we highly recommend that you visit
it frequently. It has enabled and empowered us to take a wider national
and global approach to Santa Rosa Magazine's content, reflecting our
readership both among the city's rapidly expanding cosmopolitan
population and among many many thousands of OFWs and foreign investors
around the world.
Whether you live in Santa Rosa or somewhere else in the Philippines, or
anywhere else in the world, Santa Rosa Magazine enables you to read
online about the good life here. We include stories from other parts of
the Philippines and from overseas, because we do not live in isolation.
We are part of our nation and of our planet, and this is why we have
recently begun to include content which might by some readers be
considered controversial but which we feel is important to a vibrant
maturing city as it continues to grow ever bigger and ever more
cosmopolitan.
For example we strongly feature the international education revolution
that is enabling the poorest people in the world to study free online.
We also strongly feature the international revolution to save our
planet from destruction by commercial products and human behavior
hostile to the environment. We have also recently introduced an opinion
column by respected Filipino writer Angel Tugado whose opinions are
personal, not ours, but we do not censor them in any way because the
points made are important ones, and we firmly believe that a mature
society needs to consider and discuss them.
Right now the eyes of the world are on us. Not only because of our most
recent calamitous natural disasters, but also because the Philippine
nation shines out like a beacon in the present global financial crisis.
Our economy and currency are among the strongest on the planet, and our
potential to lead the world rapidly out of its crisis with
inspirational new development and growth is second to none. The
Philippine Peso has made enormous gains against the American Dollar,
the European Euro and the British Pound. Our nation and our city can be
proud of our economic performance.
In terms of normal life and social conditions here, until now the eyes
of the world have seen only bad news of Philippine corruption and
murder on their televisions or in their newspapers. Another aspect of
our mission at
Santa Rosa Magazine is to show them that there is another side to the
coin by bringing them good news about life in our very fortunate city.
Whilst working to improve whatever gives rise to bad news, we focus on
highlighting the good news that is too often internationally
overlooked.
Santa Rosa is a growing community of Filipinos and foreigners,
perfectly located within commuting distance of Manila, with the best
selection of modern, international standard, residential subdivisions
in the whole country. And this can be a wonderful country to live in.
We generally enjoy a tropical climate envied by many millions of people
around the world, and opportunities are now increasing for us all to
lead happy, successful, rewarding lives.
The best news is that we are the friendliest and most talented people
in the universe. The millions of OFWs are already demonstrating this
from Australia to Japan, the Arabian Gulf, Europe, the USA and other
countries. So let's give them our appreciative support from home
wherever they are. Don't hold back. Express yourself. Tell everyone
about it!
This country deserves world recognition for what is good here, and with
God's help the bad will be transformed step by step by the increasing
strength and influence of People Power as it brings education, health,
peace, prosperity and happiness to every Pinoy and Pinay, however poor
they are at present and however remote their home is from the capital
city.
The way to help all our people is to make lasting reforms wherever
things have gone wrong in the past and rebuild this nation steadily and
securely to its rightful greatness in the world. Already individual
Filipinos and Filipinas are leading the way, led by President Benigno
Aquino, and we rejoice in featuring so many of them in Santa Rosa
Magazine. We'd love to see more, and more, and more!
Verifiable stories and photos of relevance to Santa Rosa City are
always welcomed, whether official press releases or from local
residents (see The Other
Side Of Santa Rosa), and we are particularly keen to hear
from OFWs wherever they are located.
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Did you know?
Santa
Rosa City is named after St. Rose of Lima, the Patron of:
Americas, Central America, Peru, Phillippines, South America, India,
New World, florists, gardeners, and people ridiculed for their piety.
St. Rose was born in Lima, Peru, on April 20, 1586, and died there on
April 30, 1617. She had great reverence and pronounced love for all
things relating to God, and had an intense devotion to the Infant Jesus
and His Blessed Mother.
Her life was given up to prayer, mortification and penances in
expiation for offences against His Divine Majesty, for the conversion
of sinners, and for the souls in Purgatory.
Her days were filled with acts of charity and industry, her exquisite
lace and embroidery helping to support her home. In her twentieth year
she received the habit of St. Dominic.
Many miracles followed her death, and in 1667 she was beatified by
Clement IX.
St. Rose was canonized by Clement X in 1671, the first American to be
so honored. Her feast is celebrated August 30.
Feast Day Prayer
St. Rose of Lima I pray on your feastday, and more so because our city
is named and dedicated to you. I honor you as the first American saint,
and saint of all peoples and races. I admire your total commitment and
love of Jesus. In your trials, temptations and illness you continued to
praise God and receive all these afflictions with grace and charm. I
pray that with your intercession I can be like you. I pray for peoples
of the world who are from Asia, Africa and Latin America where there is
much poverty and illness. May Christ bring consolation, relief and
upliftment to them. I pray for all children who are born with
afflictions. Free them from their torment and all developmental delays.
Give them the gifts of speech, learning and living skills. This I ask
in Jesus name. Amen.
Patron Saint source: The Catholic
Encyclopedia, Robert Appleton Company, New York.
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Did you also know?
The
English Language
- just like Tagalog under Spanish occupation - was suppressed under
the
occupation of England first by the Romans (43 BC), then by the Vikings
(793 AD) and then by the Normans (1066 AD)?
Centuries after these occupations 3 other forces, first of Spain under
King Philip (1588
AD), second of France under Emperor Napoleon (1812 AD) and third of
Germany under
Führer Hitler (1940 AD), all tried and failed to invade the small
island shared by England, Wales and
Scotland which together with Northern Ireland became the UK (United
Kingdom) and later joined the EU
(European Union). The total UK population today is only approx 65%
of the Philippines.
Did you know that the English language - just like Filipino, as Tagalog
is now referred to globally - made a powerful comeback after occupation
because the native population had protected it, nurtured
it and eventually revitalized it?
Did you know that even the most nationalistic Europeans (notably
Austrian, Belgian, Czechoslovakian, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian,
Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swiss) and Scandinavians
(notably Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish) choose English as
their business language so that they may understand one another.
Did you know that for the same reason (so that people from different
regions speaking different languages may understand each other) there
are more than 2000 English-language newspapers in India alone?
Furthermore, did you know that Indian publications have been widely
commended as producing a higher standard of English than publications
in England?
Did you know that in 2010 there are more people in China currently
learning English than the combined populations of all primary - in
other words their main not second language - English-speaking nations
(UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many smaller
countries scattered around the globe)?
English Language source: The
Biography Of A
Language, Hodder and Stoughton, London.
We mention the above for two reasons:
1) It’s why Santa Rosa Magazine is produced in English. In recent years
Santa Rosa City has become a cosmopolitan hub, with people from many
different countries located here due to world-acclaimed industrial
zones such as Laguna Technopark, and due to world-acclaimed commercial
and residential developments such as South Forbes Golf City, Eton City,
Greenfield City and Nuvali. Our readership is global and consists not
only of foreign residents, but also of OFWs around the world and of
local Filipinos who wish to see Santa Rosa City grow into a place that
they can be proud of. The latter and foreign investors are our
editorial
“raison d’être” and signify our open
approach to everyone who seeks the best possible future for our city,
wherever they originally come from in the Philippines or in the world.
2) We wish at the same time to congratulate and support all Filipinos
for continuously protecting and revitalizing Filipino following the
lead of of our Republic's second President, the acknowledged "Father
of our National Language" Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944). Based
on Tagalog, which survived despite more than 400 years of foreign
occupation, Filipino has become the heart and soul of the Philippine
nation. When SRM was launched, it was planned to produce tandem
versions in Filipino and English. However, our international readership
makes English essential, and news of local events in Filipino can be
found on the official Santa
Rosa City Government website. Take a look at the video below,
courtesy of TED.
CAN
LEARNING ENGLISH CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR WORLD? You bet it can! American inventor and entrepreneur
Jay Walker calls
it the latest world mania. To illustrate it he shows video clips of
Chinese students learning English, and he quotes the amazing facts that
by law Chinese kids must start learning English in the third grade, and
that China will this year become the world's largest English-speaking
country. He concludes: "So is English mania good or bad? Is English a
tsunami, washing away other languages? Not likely. English is the
world's second language. Your native language is your life. But with
English you can become part of a wider conversation. A global
conversation about global problems. Like climate change or poverty. Or
hunger or disease. The world has other universal languages. Mathematics
is the language of science. Music is the language of emotions. And now
English is becoming the language of problem solving. Not because
America is pushing it. But because the world is pulling it. So English
mania is a turning point. Like the harnessing of electricity in our
cities, or the fall of the Berlin Wall, English represents hope for a
better future. A future where the world has a common language to solve
its common problems."
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Vision and Mission
A "sine qua non" foundation of our vision is that we will never demand
a financial subscription from our readers. All that we will ever ask is
that you support our city's unique potential, and utilize your own
unique individual experience to help guide its future development for
the ultimate benefit of every Santa Rosa City resident - especially the
children, and even more especially those children whose parents'
poverty gives them at present so little hope for the future.
Our combined vision and mission is to help make Santa Rosa a safe,
healthy, happy, successful and prosperous city for all its residents,
which includes helping to bring about a situation in which there is no
poverty and every child will have nutritious food, hygienic housing,
medical care, a good education and unlimited career opportunities.
The key to making all of this possible, and more, is to attract foreign
investment. Whilst we applaud enthusiastically existing external
successes such as Laguna Technopark and the newest premier residential
subdivisions, we would also like to see similar successes outside the
special economic zones and premier subdivisions to improve the
infrastructure and development of Santa Rosa's city proper. Foreign
business investment would give this a tremendous boost.
Verifiable stories and photos of relevance to Santa Rosa are always
welcomed, whether official press releases or from local residents (see A Breath Of Fresh Air),
and we are particularly keen to hear from OFWs around the world.
Left
to right: Klaas Oreel, PBSP Chief Executive Advisor; Rafael Lopa, PBSP
Executive Director;
Jose Ma. Lim, MPIC President and CEO; and Melody Del Rosario, MPIC Vice
President
for Media and Corporate Communications.
MPIC
STEPS UP WITH PBSP TO REDUCE URBAN POVERTY.
The Philippine Business for
Social Progress> and Metro Pacific Investments
Corporation recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement for
the ManPower Infrastructure Cooperative Development Project. This
enterprise project will benefit at least 15 poor urban households in
PBSP’s STEP-UP communities in Ana Maria, Quezon City.
STEP-UP
stands for Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty
Reduction Program which aims to improve the quality of life of poor
neighborhoods in Metro Manila.
MPIC will
donate a grant of PhP435,600.00 to PBSP for the implementation and
management of the project. The assisted community will then be
organized into a homeowner association that would soon be an
enterprising group.
MPIC
Development Project includes capability building, community investment,
employee volunteerism, and livelihood opportunities.
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UNDERSERVED
SCHOOLS IN LIPA GIVEN LEARNING RESOURCE CENTERS
Turnover
Ceremony at Pangao Elementary School.
IN
JAPANESE CULTURE, A CRANE ORIGAMI MEANS HOPE FOR HAPPINESS AND GOOD
LUCK. These
wishes seem to have immediately come true for the students and teachers
of two public schools in Lipa, Batangas.
Children of
San Salvador Elementary School, one of the recipients of Epson
C.A.R.E.S. Project, wrote their hopes and wishes in the colorful paper
cranes they themselves made in an origami session held during the
turnover of a library set for their new Learning Resource Center.
San Salvador ES kids raise their
crane origamis with Epson President Koshiishi
and the school's Safety and Environment Head Joyce Tan.
Epson
Precision Philippines in partnership with the non-profit organization
Philippine Business for Social Progress recently donated books,
bookshelves, tables, chairs, and other school supplies to San Salvador
and Pangao elementary schools.
Epson
C.A.R.E.S. (Contribution to the Advancement and Restoration of
Environment and Society) is an ongoing project with the implementation
assistance of PBSP. Its target is to put up 11 Learning Resource
Centers among 11 schools which would benefit 5,503 students and 94
teachers.
Epson
Philippines President Osamu Koshiishi urges students to study hard and
be good citizens.
Beneficiaries
are the elementary schools of Abundio, Sto. Toribio, Bugtong na Pulo,
Pangao, San Benito, San Salvador, Pagolingin Bata, Rizal,
Malitlit-Anangi, Malagundlong, and Teodoro M. Kalaw Memorial School.
Erlinda
Tiquio, principal of Pangao ES said, "We are so glad that Epson has a
heart to raise the academic status of our youth." Pangao ES has 665
pupils and 16 teachers while San Salvador ES has 334 pupils and 9
teachers. Monthly turnover of educational materials among public
schools in Lipa, Batangas is still ongoing.
Turnover Ceremony in San Salvador ES.
PBSP
Project Officer Maria Kristia Bueno said, "This project should really
be replicated because more underserved public schools are still in need
of such help from the business sector."
Epson
President Osamu Koshiishi reminded the students of both schools to
study hard so they can become great people in the future.
Meanwhile,
Koshiishi also shared the true story of Hachiko, the loyal dog, to
grade 4 students of Pangao ES. He considers continuing this project
since they have been seeing good results. For him, the elementary stage
is very crucial since this is where the values are formed.
Grade 4 pupils from Pangao ES before the storytelling session of
Hachiko, the loyal dog.
UPDATE: Epson completes 10 ES beneficiaries in Lipa City, Batangas.
Epson Precision Philippines has completed its precise target of 10
elementary schools in Batangas province as beneficiaries of its
corporate social responsibility (CSR) project called Contribution to
the Advancement and Restoration of Environment and Society (CARES),
where each student received a set of school supplies and their
respective schools got a treasure trove of learning resource center
materials.
The Teodoro
M. Kalaw Memorial School was the last of the final two beneficiaries,
the other being the Malitlit-Anangi Elementary School in far-flung
Brgy. Malitlit, which at 12 kilometers from the city proper is the site
of the farthest and most remote of all elementary schools here in this
city.
Osamu
Koshiishi, president of Epson Precision Phils., led the turnover of
school supplies and learning resource center materials to benefit a
total of at least 1,700 students from the two elementary schools here
on October 14.
The
Department of Education (DepEd) regional schools division in Batangas
and the Manila-based Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a
corporate-led social development foundation and pioneer in CSR and
corporate citizenship, also facilitated the turnover of educational
materials for the 1,473 elementary pupils of T.M. Kalaw and the 235
others of Malitlit-Anangi.
Roldan
Lumbera, head teacher of Malitlit-Anangi, and Divine Evangelista,
principal of T.M. Kalaw, both thanked Koshiishi as they encouraged
Epson not to lose sight of helping the less privileged and underserved
students of the province.
Ernesto
Badillo, the schools district supervisor in Brgy. Malitlit, also
expressed his gratitude to Epson for the gifts to the school and its
students.
PBSP’s Rene
Fortuno, one of the foundation’s directors, and Vicky Co, manager for
PBSP membership development, stressed the fact that the 10 schools were
lucky to have been chosen as they were either the most in need or
underserved when it came to books and other learning materials.
Mercelita
Pormentilla, officer-in-charge of the DepEd provincial schools division
superintendent in Batangas, noted that Epson had paved the way in
improving the classroom performance of the students and the yearly
transformation of teachers and pupils in their academic performances,
especially in science and mathematics.
This year,
Epson also partnered with PBSP and Motolite in the Balik Baterya
recycling program, which involves the collection of used lead-acid
batteries (ULABs) for proper recycling and production of new automotive
and industrial batteries. Epson's generated funds from the ULABs were
transformed into donation of textbooks, tables, and chairs for
beneficiary schools in Lipa.
- stories by Grace Muncada (photos
courtesy of PBSP)
(See Amy Malaluan's report of the Philippine
'Women in Business Challenge', and other news of PBSP projects on our special PBSP
feature pages.)
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Flores de Laguna flourishes in Santa
Rosa, sustaining and enriching our local culture. Read more on
our Home Page.
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Congratulations to Miss Universe 2011 above, Leila Lopes from Angola,
and to our own Shamcey Supsup, who was placed 3rd Runner Up,
one position higher than Venus Raj last year. Editorial photo courtesy of Miss
Universe Organization. (More...)
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SM
takes a giant leap forward in women's fashion. See more on our
special SM Feature Pages. (Photo courtesy of SM Supermalls.)
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THIS MONTH'S BIG 3
VIDEOS
(See our special
Video section for each month's selection of mind expanding
videos.)
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You
don't need to live in Manila to get superfast internet. Now you can apply
online in Santa Rosa.
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Globe continues to lead the way in
Sta. Rosa with its innovative customizable
broadband plans.
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Our
readers in Sta. Rosa and around the world who are parents will
immediately identify with the subject matter of this entertaining talk
on video, courtesy of TED.com.
In December 2006 Alisa Volkman and her
husband Rufus Griscom co-founded Babble, a website
for parents. As the VP of sales strategy and brand development Volkman
oversees design, influences product development, and creates and sells
custom ad programs, growing the site to attract more than 4 million
parents a month in 2010. Griscom is CEO and he was co-founder of the
pathbreaking Nerve.com in 1997 as the website’s editor and CEO. He grew
Nerve Media into a profitable website and online dating business, in
the process spinning off Spring Street Networks. He also serves as an
advisor to several New York-based internet companies. Volkman and
Griscom have three sons. At work, they try to keep their relationship
low-key. "It’s in the elevator ride up to our offices that a
transformation occurs," Griscom says. "We start the ride as a couple
and end it as business."
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Oprah Winfrey "the most influential woman in the
world"
WOMEN INSPIRING
THE WORLD
Inspirational women from all over the planet are making a big
difference to the whole world
and taking lead roles in finding ways to make it a better place for
everyone. PART
1: (Videos of Michelle Obama, Melinda
French Gates, Zainab Salbi, Sunitha Krishnan, Liza Donnelly, Lea
Salonga, Charity Tillemann-Dick, Jehane Noujaim, Jody Williams,
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Sheryl Wudunn, Kiran Bedi, Hanna Rosin,
Elizabeth Lesser, Sheryl Sandberg, Halla Tomasdottir, Johanna Blakley,
Jane McGonigal, Amber Case, Kiran Bir Sethi, Jane Chen.) PART
2: (Videos of Brene Brown, Ali
Carr-Chellman, Lesley Hazleton, Majora Carter, Jacqueline Novogratz,
Arianna Huffington, Diana Laufenberg, Deborah Rhodes, Kristina Gjerde,
Nalini Nadkarni, Dee Boersma, Emily Pilloton, Amy Smith, Kim Gorgens,
Amy Tan, Laurie Santos, Karen Armstrong, Carmen Agra Deedy, JK Rowling,
Miwa Matreyek, Tony Porter.)
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HOW SCIENCE IS
TRANSFORMING NATIONS AND PEOPLE FASTER THAN SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS
COULD EVER HAVE PREDICTED
"Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children... All our
dreams can come true
if we have the courage to pursue them... The way to get started is to
quit talking and begin
doing... It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
-
Walt Disney
"What is an airplane after all but a circling of reality, an approach
to gravity which says: Look, with my magic machine I defy you. Gravity,
be gone. Distance, stand aside. Time, stand still, or reverse, as I
finally outrace the sun around the world in, by God! look!
plane/jet/rocket--80 minutes!" - Ray Bradbury,
award-winning author of bestselling SF novels including 'Fahrenheit
451' and 'Dandelion Wine', several of which were produced as Hollywood
box office blockbuster hit movies.
We all
know that airplanes, submarines, space travel, cell phones, holograms,
transplants, cloning, foods in tablet form and many other things were
described in science fiction long before they became reality. Even
present day security cameras and television's Big Brother show were
spawned by the SF novel "1984" written by George Orwell and first
published in 1949. New ideas and discoveries are now communicated so
widely and rapidly in what is often dubbed the Information Age that
scientific developments are overtaking fiction in the current real-life
race to create a modern real-world utopian society. Click
here to read more and see the videos
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VIDEO GAMES ARE
GOOD FOR YOU (AND
FOR THE WHOLE WORLD)
"This is my daughter. She's playing a computer game. She's only two
years old, and
she's having a blast. So she's really the driving force behind the
development of graphics
processing units. As long as kids are playing computer games, graphics
is getting better
and better and better. So please go back home, tell your kids to play
more games, because
that's what I need." - Professor Anders Ynnerman, Ph.D.,
Linköping University, Sweden
Far from their earlier image of fantasies that wasted kids' time and
parents' money,
video games are now acknowledged as a powerful force for improving the
real world we live in. Here's a selection of innovative thinkers and
doers who will open your minds to amazing new possibilities. Click
here to read more and see the videos
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Watch
this amazing animated talk by Sir Ken Robinson
from RSA Animate. He argues that students with restless minds and
bodies should be cultivated for their energy and curiosity instead of
being ignored or even stigmatized as they are now. "We are educating
people out of their creativity," Robinson says. He challenges the
rigidly narrow way that we're educating our children, and he urges a
radical rethink of our school systems to cultivate creativity and
acknowledge multiple types of intelligence.
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From
Surplus Shop at SM: sand blast wash-distressed skinny jeans worn with a
white
tank top. See feature on our Premier
Subdivisions page.
