E1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor
/
Young Life
Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph
MEET THE ‘YOUNGEST’ CHANGEMAKERS IN FORBES 2017 LIST OF 30 UNDER 30
Scan this icon to view the PDF
(Part 2) MAJORITY of them may not be at the legal drinking age yet but they have already achieved much compared with those older than them. The future of the world is bright with these young folks around. Get to know the second half of Forbes 2017 list of changemakers and innovators—the youngest in their respective categories—and how they made it to the coveted list.
‘CORON IS NOT ‘CORON BIKINI BOTTOM’
Kai Kloepfer, 19 His work in his company Biofire Technologies that develops a gun that can only be fired upon reading its owner’s fingerprints gained this Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student a spot in Consumer Technology category.
By Bernadette Lunas
I
GREW up watching the first animated series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles, and laughed at every funny episode of SpongeBob SquarePants SquarePants—until today, in fact. But I believe the entertainment I got from those shows would never trump the joy and pride I get from seeing the natural wonders of the Philippines. On Jan. 9, Nickelodeon announced its plan to build a 100-hectare underseathemed attraction and resort as part of Coral World Park’s (CWP) 400-hectare master-planned development in Coron, Palawan. The global kids brand of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) said in a statement that it will partner with underwater resort developer Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc. to put up the “first undersea attraction and Nickelodeon’s first resort in Southeast Asia” located amid a cluster of 16 white sand islands of the CWP. It was like a slime in our faces, only it didn’t mean honor as in Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, when we found out that the said development would cover 70 hectares for resort’s accommodations and 30 hectares for themed attraction of our country’s last ecological frontier. In addition, there’s a plan to build underwater lounges and restaurants,
about 20-feet below sea level of the province’s diverse marine ecosystem, as stated in the press release. When completed in 2020, Nickelodeon said, CWP “will be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia.” But environmentalists are not buying. In a statement released following the announcement, Save Philippine Seas (SPS) co-founder and executive director Anna Oposa refuted the firm’s claims of advocating ocean protection, because the underwater theme park, she said, will do the exact opposite. “By building artificial structures, you will undeniably damage and disrupt Palawan’s marine ecosystems,” said Oposa. SPS and other environmental activists call on the local government of Palawan, Nickelodeon and CWP to junk their plan which could destroy the area’s world-famous pristine coastlines, rich forests and diverse marine ecosystem.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Gina Lopez has already made it clear that she would not allow the building of an underwater theme park in Palawan. “I will never allow the corals to be harmed. You can’t kill the corals for a theme park, no way,” stressed Lopez. Concerned netizens were also quick to express their outrage through the hashtag #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom, which quickly reached the top of Twitter Philippines trends by midday on Jan. 11. SPS launched an online petition on www.bataris.org.ph, which quickly gained traction in a short period. Amid online uproar, local officials of Palawan denied receiving any application from the developer to put up a theme park in the province. CWP, meanwhile, backtracked on its earlier announcement and clarified that it is not building any structure underwater. Developments, they said, would be Turn to E2
WHO LIVES IN PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA? Nickelodeon’s announcement of its plan to build an undersea-themed attraction in Coron, Palawan has alarmed environmentalists, government officials and concerned netizens due to the possibility of destruction and disruption to the marine ecosystem of the Philippines’s last ecological frontier. (Photo of Kayangan Lake by H.abanil)
SARI LAZARO TO SHOWCASE HER DESIGNS ON A FLOATING CATWALK
The rising designer will make waves on the floating runway over the River Seine in Paris, France
FILIPINA designer Sari Lazaro is set to make waves in Paris as she brings her bespoke creations to the 100-meter floating runway over the River Seine on January 26. The rising designer will represent the Philippines in Jessica Minh Anh’s J Winter Fashion Show 2017. Minh Anh is known worldwide for producing fashion shows in the world’s most extraordinary catwalks—at the Eiffel Tower, on the
sundeck of a cruise ship and over the Grand Canyon, among others— on which she struts as well. Lazaro, together with other innovative designers from Europe, Asia and America were chosen by Minh Anh to showcase their creations on the Seine’s giant glass boat—while the ship is cruising. With the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre as her backdrop, the Instituto Marangoni-educated Pinay
designer is set to stir up romance with sophistication through her gowns and dresses that flatter the female silhouette. Using delicate lace, luxurious fabrics and shimmering details, her set is envisioned to look like a royal wedding in an enchanted garden. Filipinos will certainly be proud of this feat. James Younghusband, Lazaro’s boyfriend, sure does.
Maddie Marlow, 21 and Taylor Dye, 21 Joining the list of honorees for Music is the American female country music duo better known as Maddie & Tae, whose first single “Girl In A Country Song” broke stereotypes and reached the top of the genre’s airplay charts in 2014. Ann Makosinski, 19 This young inventor who created a flashlight that runs off the heat of the human hand and a mug that converts heat into an electric current to charge mobile phones made it to the list under Energy.
Maanasa Mendu, 14 The youngest honoree in Energy category and in the entire Forbes 2017 list invented a piezoelectric “solar leaves” device that can pick up energy from precipitation, wind and sun and transforms it into usable energy. Gabriel Mesa, 15 His biodegradable motion powered Carbon Battery and piezopowered diabetic neuropathy treatment named Stimuped, have helped him notch a spot in Energy John Meyer, 21 This New York University drop out champions transparency through his Fresco News that empowers regular people to be reporters. He’s named an honoree in Media category. Turn to E2