Yes Philippines News Magazine UK September 2021

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Th e TRUE LOCA L

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Fi l i pi no Communi ty New spaper COV ER to COV ER UK & IRELAND EDITION

UK & IRELAND EDITION

PH I LI PPI NES

NEWSM A GA Z I NE

F R EEE E C OC P YO PY FR

SEPTEM BER ISSUE 20215

Bri tai n's Got Tal ent 2008 Semi -Fi nal i st

CHA RLI E

GREEN

...RA RI NG TO GET BA CK ON CENTRE STA GE!

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Let t er Fr om Th e Pu blish er ept em ber is h er e an d it ?s t im e t o say f ar ew ell t o su m m er .

This ninth month of the year signals the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. It is the end of the year ?s harvest. It is also when children go back to school after the summer break.

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by M ARY SOL PIM ENTEL

'In our cover story, we feature a young man who made a name for himself as a ten-year old over a decade ago in a TV talent show.

He's now all grown-up and active as ever in his singing career.'

The Romans associated the month of September with Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. And speaking of fire, it was in September 1666 when the Great Fire of London occurred. It destroyed one-third of the city and made tens of thousands of its residents homeless.

In 1752, eleven days were dropped from September when the British Empire made the switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.

More than two hundred fifty years since, we still recite a poem from the sixteenth century that goes, ?Thirty days hath September? ? to remind us

of the correct number of days for this month.

In your favourite newsmagazine?s September edition, there is an essay by a well-known Filipino writer who discusses our national dish, the adobo.

You?re in for a surprise as to its origin.

We?ve got some community news from two organisations that are both currently making waves through their professional and cultural activities, respectively.

For our cover story, we feature a young man who made a name for himself as a ten-year-old over a decade ago in a TV talent show. He?s now all grown-up and active as ever in his singing career.

All these articles plus our regular features make for an interesting read, if we may say so ourselves. So enjoy every page and take in all the news, entertainment and information that we have gathered just for you.

Happy reading!

This Edition is distributed all over the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland) & Republic of Ireland.

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PHILIPPINE HISTORY CORNER

PHI LI PPI NE HI STORY I N

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ept em ber 3, 1898 - La In depen den cia cam e ou t w it h it s f ir st issu e on Sept em ber 3, 1898, La Independencia, the periodical organ of the Philippine Revolution against Spain, came out with its first issue. It was edited and founded

by General Antonio Luna, Supreme Chief of the Army under Emilio Aguinaldo.

On t h is sam e day in 1899, La Independencia first published the Spanish lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem titled "Filipinas" written by Jose Palma.

The La Independencia came out with its last issue on November 11, 1900.

Sept em ber 10, 1763 , Gabriela Silang fought valiantly against the Spaniards On Sept em ber 10, 1763, Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang also known as Gabriela Silang, fought valiantly against the Spaniards in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Gabriela took over the battle of her husband, Diego Silang, leader of the Filipino rebels in the Ilocos, who was betrayed by a close friend and was assassinated on May 28, 1763 by order of royal and church authorities in Manila.

Sou r ce: Th e Kah im yan g Pr oject

others but were later arrested and summarily hanged on September 29, 1763 at Vigan's plaza, with her being the last to die.

Sept em ber 18, 1891 - Dr. Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo was published in Ghent, Belgium On Sept em ber 18, 1891, the second novel of Dr. Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo (Reign of Greed), written in Spanish and a sequel to Noli Me Tangere, was published in Ghent, Belgium.

Rizal, who began writing El Filibusterismo in October 1887 in Calamba, Laguna, revised some chapters while he was in London and completed the book on March 29, 1891.

Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo in dedication to the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, expressing conviction that their treatment and deaths at the hands of the Spanish authorities was unjust.

Sept em ber 21, 1972 - President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law On Sept em ber 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law, suspending the civil rights and imposing military authority. Congress was also abolished.

Marcos explained that martial law was intended to suppress civil strife and the threat of communist takeover following the series of bombings in Manila.

The attempt on the life of then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile gave Marcos a window to declare Martial Law (Enrile would later reveal that the assassination attempt on his life was staged).

Initially, the imposition of martial law was supported by majority of Filipinos. It was viewed as a change that solved the massive corruption in the country.

Gradually, however, martial law became unpopular due to human rights abuses and excesses by the military, not to mention the incarceration of opposition leaders critical of the martial law. Journalists, student leaders and labour activists critical of the Marcos administration were also detained.

Sept em ber 23, 1762 the British flotilla landed in Manila

Jose Palm a, He w r ot e t h e f ir st pu blish ed Span ish lyr ics of t h e Ph ilippin e Nat ion al An t h em t it led " Filipin as"

After her husband's death, Gabriela fled on horseback to the mountains of Abra to establish her headquarters and reassemble her troops.

For four months, she led the Filipino rebels and marched with her followers to take Vigan on September 10, 1763, but the Spanish stronghold there was expecting them and her army was ambushed. Thus many of them were killed.She escaped with her uncle Nicolas and seven

On t h e even in g of Sept em ber 23, 1762, the British flotilla landed in Manila Bay, which marked the beginning of the British invasion of the Philippines. The English fleet entered the Manila Bay in the form of a half circle stretching from Cavite to the middle of the Bay, 13 ships in all.

The English operations came as a result of the Seven Years' War, which starting as a purely European issue, became almost worldwide in its scope.

About a thousand Filipino fighters, who were convinced by their Spanish parish priests that the British were

Gen er al An t on io Lu n a, Su pr em e Ch ief of t h e Ar m y u n der Em ilio Agu in aldo an d edit ed an d f ou n ded La In depen den cia invading demons, staged surprise attacks against the invaders, although they were subsequently repelled.

The British occupation of the Philippines was short-lived as the Seven Years?War ended in Europe on February 10, 1763.

Sept em ber 29, 1637 - Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino Saint, was hung to death in Nagasaki, Japan In 1636, while working as a clerk for Binondo Church, Lorenzo Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. He sought asylum on board a ship.

His boat landed at Okinawa at the time when the Tokugawa shogunate was persecuting Christians. The missionaries were arrested and thrown into prison, and later transferred to Nagasaki to face trial by torture.

Despite the torture inflicted on him, Ruiz did not renounce his Christian faith. His body was cremated and the ashes were thrown into the sea.

On Febr u ar y 18, 1981, Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified by Pope John Paul II during his Papal visit to Manila. He was elevated to sainthood and canonized in the Vatican on October 18, 1987, making him the first Filipino saint and the first Filipino martyr.

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PINOY FEATURE

M UCH A DO OV ER A DOBO

By AM BETH OCAM PO

on g bef or e t h e Nat ion al M appin g an d Resou r ce In f or m at ion Au t h or it y cam e u p w it h t h e pr esen t cou n t of 7,641 islan ds t h at com pr ise t h e Ph ilippin es, alm ost all Filipin os k n ew t h e n u m ber t o be 7,107 or 7,100. That count must have resonated with Ferdinand Marcos, who had a fetish for the number 7 and always made important decisions or timed significant events to fall on dates with 7 or multiples of 7. The proclamation of Martial Law was dated Sept. 21, 1972 (21 being three times seven) and Imelda?s custom car plate was IRM 777. If we become a Chinese province, feng shui may dictate a revision in the number of Philippine islands to read 8888.

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We have always left nation-branding with the Department of Tourism (DOT). Its most memorable campaigns were ?Wow! Philippines? and ?It?s more fun in the Philippines.? While DOT lures tourists in with the promise of sun, sand, and smiling people, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wants to do its share by promoting Philippine food to global diners. To do that, it has to first define Philippine cuisine, but people are resisting this as an attempt to ?standardize? one of our most basic dishes? adobo.

Just like our flag and currency, our food is like the calling card of the country. It expresses who we are, how we want to be seen, and perhaps even who we want to be. Some countries have a

unique or particular dish: burgers for the US, sushi for Japan, curry for India, paella for Spain, tom yum for Thailand, pho for Vietnam. Singapore has appropriated Hainanese Chicken rice for its own. If you are to believe Wikipedia, there is a debate on the Chinese national dish, whether it is dim sum (Southern China) or Peking duck (Northern China).

Wikipedia also once listed lechon as the Philippines?national dish. Today, lechon is off this list, which now mentions adobo, sinigang, sisig, pancit, and halo-halo. Pioneering food historian Doreen Fernandez once challenged partisans of adobo with an essay proposing sinigang as the national dish, but some people objected, saying the sour soup is not available in some regions, unlike adobo which seems to be everywhere.

Contrary to popular belief, adobo was in the Philippines before the Spanish conquest.

Unfortunately, adobo?s native name was not recorded, leaving us with a dish described with the Spanish verb adobar: ?to marinate, pickle, or cure with vinegar.? Adobo is technically not the name of a dish; it is a process, a way of cooking.

Adobo is a Philippine dish, not a Spanish one.

Adobo is one of the pre-Spanish ways of cooking developed as humans in this country evolved from primitive to civilized state, from indio to Filipino. Primitive people ate things raw. Cooking came about when they discovered and tamed fire. The first cooking method was roasting over an open fire. The next step in civilization was boiling, which required fire and a cooking vessel. People cooked to eat and also to preserve food, in the age before refrigeration and dehydration. Adobo preserved food by having it pickled in vinegar, or keeping the meat fresh and safe from vermin under a layer of lard.

Traces of ancient food preservation can be seen in the typical Filipino breakfast: Salt dried and preserved fish into tuyo (dry) and daing; smoking gave us tinapa; drying gave us tapa; and curing gave us tocino and longanisa.

The DTI clarified that it is not out to ?standardize? our cuisine. Rather, it wants to define it by breaking it down to its elements. This is where the problem lies. When you talk food, you are dealing with tastes that are legion and subjective.

"Just like our flag and currency, our food is like the calling card of the country. It expresses who we are, how we want to be seen, and perhaps even who we want to be."

You have to deal not only with history and process but also with nostalgia. You can?t out-argue someone who claims ?my adobo is better than yours? or ?my lola?s adobo is better than everyone else?s.? Charles de Gaulle once remarked about France: ?How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?? De Gaulle would be overwhelmed by the Philippines, with at least 21.8 million adobo recipes and variants based on the estimated number of households in the Philippines today.

Our Asean neighbours have defined and promoted their cuisine abroad, leaving us biting the dust. Defining adobo is easy, but promoting it abroad may be harder. Asian cuisines are presented well, the pinnacle being the Japanese bento box. Adobo is brown, not photogenic.

Healthy eaters won?t find green leafy vegetables in it but pork and chicken swimming in an oily sauce pungent from vinegar and garlic. The better question should be: Do we want to be represented by adobo on the global table?

(Edit or ?s n ot e: Th is ar t icle f ir st appear ed in t h e Ph ilippin e Daily In qu ir er an d is r epr in t ed w it h per m ission f r om t h e au t h or .)

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FRONTLINERS

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h er e did you st u dy n u r sin g? Please st at e t h e n am e of t h e college or u n iver sit y.

University of Batangas, Philippines.

Wh y did you ch oose n u r sin g as a car eer ?

To be honest, it was my parents who persuaded me to take up nursing before because it was a ?trend? back then and they have always wanted to have a nurse in our family. Now looking back, it was the best decision that I have made. I was hesitant at first but it slowly grew on me and I wouldn?t change it for the world.

Wh er e did you w or k bef or e com in g t o t h e UK? I worked at Saint Patrick?s Hospital Medical Center for 8 years in my hometown in Batangas.

How lon g h ave you been w or k in g h er e?

I have been working here in the UK for 27 months.

Wh at ar e you r r espon sibilit ies at w or k ?

My main duty as a nurse is to provide all of the nursing care needed, like checking observations, administering medications, and all of the bedside care. Also, to

collaborate with the multidisciplinary team in order to provide high quality care for our patients.

Please descr ibe you r t ypical day at w or k .

An average work day for me includes seeing all of my patients, giving their due medications and keeping them comfortable. We are usually loaded with tasks to do in our department but we are also very efficient. I also spend some time updating my family to ease their anxiety.

Wh at do you lik e m ost abou t livin g in t h e UK?

Do you in t en d t o st ay in t h e UK f or good?

Wh y/ Wh y n ot ?

As of now, I am not definite yet if I will settle here for good. However, our plan is to stay here in the next 4 years and then decide on the next step. I am not closing any doors for any opportunities that may arrive. 10.

What are your career plans and other future goals? I am currently at the stage of finding which area I should do for the rest of my career. There are a lot of interesting fields of nursing that I haven?t yet been introduced to and I look forward to learning and upgrading my nursing competencies.

It will always be the people. I always find living in a multicultural city like London so amusing. It is nice to see people from different backgrounds respect and appreciate each other.

Wh at do you do in you r f r ee t im e?

I always spend my days off with my family, my husband and I love to take our daughter out. She absolutely adores the parks and the playgrounds here.

CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL

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I M M I GRA TI ON CORNER

Becomi ng Bri ti sh & Dual Ci ti zensh i p BY: Atty. LIRASIMON-CABATBAT

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n like m ost ot h er cou n t r ies, t h e Un it ed Kin gdom allow s it s cit izen s t o h old du al n at ion alit y.

A person with dual citizenship is a citizen of two countries at the same time. This article explores the process for someone who is Filipino considering to be British but wish to retain his/her Philippine nationality.

We will also look at British citizens who may be entitled to apply for Philippine citizenships.

citizenship. This was true until 2003, but the good news is that this is no longer the case.

The Republic Act 9225: The main change came about in 2003 with the introduction of the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act. ?RA 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, declares that natural born Filipinos who were naturalized in other countries could reacquire or retain their Philippine citizenship after undergoing the procedure provided for under the law.

Filipino national applying for British Citizenship Once granted settlement status (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK you may wish to consider applying for British citizenship.

This is done through a process called ?naturalisation?. The conditions are generally: * be over 18 * prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years* before the day the Home Office receives your application * prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic * have passed the life in the UK test * intend to continue living in the UK * be of good character (* there are different time requirements if you are married to a British citizen and there are additional conditions regarding absences from the UK) The final step in the process is taking your oath of allegiance. Once naturalised, you are British, and you may then apply for a British passport.

For Filipinos a very common concern is whether they lose their Philippine citizenship upon acquisition of British

RA 9225 took effect on September 17, 2003 and is also commonly referred to as the Dual Citizenship Act. Philippine citizenship is reacquired by taking the Philippine oath of allegiance before a duly authorized Philippine official. This does not require one to renounce his allegiance to any other country.? ?Natural-born Filipinos who have acquired the citizenship of another country through naturalization may retain or re-acquire their Philippine citizenship, making them dual citizens of both the Philippines and the country where they were naturalized.?

The above means that a Filipino citizen who is regarded ?natural born? and who has successfully applied for naturalisation as a British citizen may

retain or reacquire their Philippine citizenship.

Who is regarded a ?natural born?

Filipino?

Someone, born to at least one Filipino parent, regardless of where he was born, is considered to be a ?natural born? Filipino. Many Filipinos in the UK are likely to satisfy this requirement and will therefore be considered ?natural born? Filipino.

Process for reacquiring or retaining your Philippine citizenship in the UKThe same process applies regardless of whether you are applying to reacquire (pre-2003) or retain your Philippine citizenship. You must submit your petition (application) to the Philippine Embassy along with documents such as your Philippine Birth Certificate (if born in the Philippines) or Report of Birth (if born abroad). Similar to a British naturalisation application, you will be required by the Embassy to undertake the Oath of Allegiance. Once you complete the process you may then take the next and final step ? obtain a Philippine passport.

Do I need to inform the Philippine before you apply for British citizenship?

No, in fact the process of retaining your

?Natural-born Filipinos who have acquired the citizenship of another country through naturalization may retain or re-acquire their Philippine citizenship, making them dual citizens of both the Philippines and the country where they were naturalized.?

Philippine citizenship can only happen after you have become British.

Do I need a new Philippine passport after retaining your Philippine citizenship? es, you do because your Philippine passport is no longer valid once you become a naturalised British Citizen. It does not matter if your ?old passport? has not yet expired.

Can children born in the UK to a Filipino parent apply for dual citizenship? A child born to a parent with Philippine citizenship is regarded a natural born Filipino. This means you can also apply for dual citizenship for your child, who already holds British citizenship, provided you can prove that you had Philippine citizenship when he was born. It follows that he will also be entitled to a Philippine passport .

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COM M UNITY NEWS

A Ni gh t of Cel ebrati ng Tri umph and of Break i ng th e

Bamboo Cei l i ng!

By M AYA AQUINO-GUERRERO

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n igh t t o r em em ber in deed, com m en ced by a video t r ibu t e t o pay h om age t o ou r f allen h er oes, ou r k ababayan , du r in g t h is dr eaded pan dem ic. Aptly followed by solemn prayer led by one of the RD Rose Gargarita.

?Amidst a global pandemic, we were called, and we said YES! Built by network of Nurses, in support for Nurses? the prelude to the Association?s vision and mission.

FNA-UK is an independent, non-profit, family-orientated association.

The platform aims to convene the Filipino nursing community for collective action to support, protect and promote development of its members in collaboration with other societies, agencies and organizations.

To date, as we celebrate our first-year anniversary, has more than 1500 official members since its conception. The aim is to capture most, if not all, of the more than 30 thousand Filipino Nurses in the UK and promote a supportive and inclusive community. ?Unprecedented circumstances called for unprecedented measures?

FNA-UK was recently awarded the Community Initiative of the year (2021) by the National BAME Health and Care Awards, for its work during COVID in support of not just the Filipino Nurses Community but across the NHS. A team of leaders were assembled, plotted, planned and made an idea become a reality and just a year on, have done so much as detailed on the presidential report presented by the current President and 2021-BAME Nurse of the Year at the National BAME Health and Care Awardee, Ariel Lanada.

One year ago, the association was conceived by its Founding Director,

Francis Michael Fernando, believing that, ?United and together we achieved more and will continue to do more? ?

It was tough but we were collectively committed and determined!

Eight months ago, these leaders took their oath, albeit virtually, with the Philippine Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Antonio Lagdameo accompanied by his elegant wife Mrs. Linda Lagdameo who again, has graciously attended the much-awaited celebration held at Jury?s Inn Hotel in Oxford on Saturday, 6th August 2021.

Ambassador Lagdameo conveyed a heart-warming talk of pride to her fellow Filipinos.

The event was officially opened by an inspiring video-message by the Chief Nursing Officer of England, Ruth May. Followed by a truly moving story by the Founding Director Francis Fernando as he chronicled the evolution & growth of the association, since he planted that seed into the officers?hearts, which also won him the award as Compassionate and Inclusive Leader ? Initiative at the National BAME Health and Care Awards 2021.

Amongst the distinguished guests who also graced the occasion were, Ms. Amuerfina Reyes-Labour Attaché from the Philippine Embassy and Edmund Tabay-the newly appointed Director of Nursing at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, first nurse from the Philippines to achieve the highest level so far, Very Senior Manager (VSM) position in the NHS. Also, as special guests who generously sponsored this affair were Megaworld International?s VP Ms. Ethel Lim and MD and Owner of Kabayan Remit, Mr. Simon and Mrs. Analiza Roberts.

The event was significant to mark the association?s first year anniversary. To make it most newsworthy, the officers made sure it was to the

highest calibre. Celebrating with style, in their Filipiniana-themed party.

Hosted by the equally glamorous masters of ceremonies, Susie Lagrata and Louie Horne took the show into a level, almost at par of BAFTA. One highlight of the event was a truly inspirational story by one of the London?s RD Edwin Dela Cruz about his experience suffering from COVID. It was indeed an event, full of pride and camaraderie!

It isn?t a Filipino affair, unless there?s some entertainment, of course. Everyone was entertained by a tradition Igorot Dance number led by RD Evangeline Martinez and Co. Their gracefulness and charm put almost everyone on their feet and danced along with them with great fun.

The photo gallery will clearly will demonstrated the success of this night to remember !

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COVER STORY

You 've com e a l on g w ay ,

CHA RLI E!

BY: MARIAELLIS

Ph ot o Cou r t esy of Br i t ai n 's Got Tal en t

m agin e bein g a pr ecociou s 3-year -old an d h appily sin gin g t h e Fr an k Sin at r a classic, ?New Yor k , New Yor k ?t o an appr eciat ive au dien ce on a cr u ise sh ip.

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That was exactly what the young Charlie Green managed to pull off some twenty years ago. A boy his age would have been running around the place playing hide-and-seek, oblivious to the people on board, but not little Charlie. He wanted to entertain his fellow passengers.

When asked if he has memories of this extraordinary moment, Charlie replied, ?Being so young, I struggle to remember everything, but I do vividly remember being given a copper tin to walk around the audience after my performance as the passengers wanted to give me money for entertaining them?

I think this was the moment I knew I wanted to be a performer!? If only all toddlers would have a career plan so early in life.

Singing at sea, so to speak, was Charlie?s introduction to the world of entertainment. Several years later, aged 10, he caught the attention of the British public when he sang on the well-known TV show ?Britain?s Got Talent?. He became so popular that he had over ten million hits on YouTube.

Was it his idea to try his luck on BGT? Charlie recalls, ?I remember seeing the first series and thinking... I can do that, so I asked my parents to apply for me. I was so nervous and unwell on the day I almost didn?t make the audition? imagine how different my life would have been if I hadn?t have made it and auditioned!?

Charlie?s musical repertoire includes jazz, pop, swing and adult contemporary songs, which is as varied as it is atypical. You would expect a young man like him to belt out his generation?s

kinds of rhythm. But when you?re a person of a certain age and you listen to Charlie sing, it?s like being back in the 1960s or even earlier. One suspects that his parents have had a sway on his choice of music, and indeed they have as Charlie says, ?They had a big influence on my musical journey, especially my Dad. He was a great singer, so as well as listening to him sing, I would listen to the music he played to me, the great singers like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams and many others. Even though I listen to and love lots of styles, I always come back to the classics as they?re timeless music.?

As if being able to sing, and doing it amazingly well, was not enough, Charlie also plays four musical instruments ? the piano, trumpet, coronet and bass guitar. What an abundance of talents in one person! It doesn?t seem fair.

Watching Charlie?s video on YouTube where he does a cover of the legendary Nat King Cole?s original ditty ?L-O-V-E?, one couldn?t help but compare his cool voice

and relaxed style to that of the more contemporary singer, Michael Bublé. Charlie, one opines, is a younger version of the Canadian crooner. Does he agree with this

?Being so young, I struggle to remember everything, but I do vividly remember being given a copper tin to walk around the audience after my performance as the passengers wanted to give me money for entertaining them? appraisal? ?I?m a big fan of Michael Bublé. I think he?s a brilliant artist, so I guess that his style is embedded in me. Having said that, I don?t try and consciously copy him when I sing and perform as I feel it?s so important to be yourself at all times.?

Con t in u ed t o Next Page

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Cou r tesy: divin efu m ar.bl ogspot

CHA RLI E GREEN Canada. He had also performed on TV in China, Japan and Italy. Although he appreciates all his different audiences, he has a soft spot for his kababayans, and undoubtedly so.

Charlie?s father, Roger, is English and his mother Cecilia comes from Cebu.

When asked if his mum is a typical Filipino nanay who has instilled good values in him, can be over-protective and sometimes embarrassing, Charlie replies, ?Good values? yes. Over protective? not so much.

Embarrassing? absolutely!? This would sound very familiar to those of us who have brought up our children the Pinoy way.

What about growing up as someone of dual heritage?

Charlie muses, ?Sometimes it was difficult growing up feeling like I was from two places and not one. But as I grew older I came to realise how amazing it is to have the best of both cultures and I can say I?m very proud to be both English and Filipino.? Having stayed in the

Philippines for a period of time due to his recording contract and subsequent performances, Charlie managed to learn Tagalog. He recalls, ?I did learn quite a lot of Tagalog when I was in the

Philippines but as it?s been so long since I?ve been back, unfortunately, I?ve forgotten quite a lot of it now. I know when I go back to the Philippines I will pick it up again. I do have a message for my Pinoy fans?

Salamat po sa inyong suporta!?

Through the years, Charlie had gone on tour in the UK, America and

He says, ?The audiences

?Sometimes it was difficult growing up feeling like I was from two places and not one. But as I grew older I came to realise how amazing it is to have the best of both cultures and I can say I?m very proud to be both English and Filipino.? are very similar everywhere, especially if they are fans of your music. Having said that, I do have a special connection with the Filipino audiences. Being a Filipino, we have a unique bond, especially when it comes to music, and I think that shows at concerts by the way Pinoys respond to what I do. Filipino audiences have always been great to me? so, Salamat!?

Another high point for Charlie was his collaboration with Filipino singer-actress Sarah Geronimo. He says of her, ?I was asked to guest on two tours with her, one was ?The Next One?tour and the other, ?Record Breaker?. We performed together at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila and we spent a couple of months in the USA touring. She is one of the most gracious and kind people in the business, as well as being such an incredible talent. I would love to perform with her again someday.?

Surprisingly, Charlie has recorded two gospel albums, the first one in 2014 and the second, four years later. He says they are a reflection of his faith. ?I respect everybody?s beliefs and un-beliefs but I grew up in a Christian family and have a strong faith in God, so I think that reflects in the music I sing and the way I sing.?

This multi-talented 24-year-old from Worcestershire has already accomplished much, but a dream performance is still on his wish list. ?I?ve been extremely blessed to have done a lot of the things I?ve always wanted to do, including various tours all over the world and recording some of my favourite songs. At the moment, my current dream performance is my own solo concert in Manila with my Big Band, with my family attending? hopefully one day this can happen again!?

One of the highlights of Charlie?s career was working with the American musical family, the Osmonds. ?Working with the Osmonds, particularly Jimmy, was a blast. Jimmy was my manager for some time so we have a very good relationship.

The future looks quite promising for Charlie. He gives us a glimpse of things to come as he tells us, ?I?ve got some really exciting things coming up, including a new recording project, a tour in the United States and most exciting for me, a trip back to The Philippines!?

Of course they are human beings like everyone else, but I can confirm that they are absolutely as wholesome as their image projects.? Charlie could well say that about himself. He is the quintessential boy next door albeit without the dullness associated with such an image. Simply just pleasant, polite and unassuming.

The little boy who charmed his way into people?s hearts with his incredible singing talent is all grown-up and raring to get back on centre stage to do what he does best. It has been a long journey from that memorable day on a cruise ship, and Charlie Green sails on smoothly to more musical adventures along the way.

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KATHLEENGAPAY AGE: 19 BASEDINTHEUK: OXFORD EDUCATION: LLB LAW (HONS) HOBBIES: GYM, GOINGOUTIWTHFRIENDS, SPENDINGTIMEWITHTHEFAMILY, SHOPPING, FOOD TRIPS, WATCHINGCRIMEDOUCEMENTARIESAND SERIES. CURRENTLYDOING: LAW SCHOOL(2NDYEAR) AMBITION: TOBECOMEASUCCESSFULLAWYERAND BUILDALAW FIRM. ALSO, TOBEABLETOBUILD CHARITIESAROUNDTHEPHILIPPINESANDHELP CREATEA BETTERSCHOOLWORKINGENVIRONMENT FORYOUNGSTUDENTSINTHEPHILIPPINES. MOTHER: MYRNA OBIARGAPAY FATHER: VICTORSANTOS GAPAY

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PINOY TRAVEL CORNER UK

M am Tor and Wi nnats Pass Peak Di stri ct sh ort h i k e

By EDGAR DUAY

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n t h is issu e, I w ill t ak e you on a sim ple h ik e t o t w o of t h e m ost scen ic view s of t h e Peak Dist r ict .

If Lancashire has a Lake District, the Midlands have the most scenic hill and mountains, a true haven for hikers and walkers of all ages. If you wish to get into sports like rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, even paragliding, the Peak District is the best place to go.

The Peak District covers the county of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. A 555 square miles of natural beauty, historical sites and well preserved landscape protected by the National Trust.

Mam Tor and Winnats Pass are by far the most famous destinations for walkers and nature lovers. They sit between Sheffield and Manchester. It is an area known for its mining heritage, limestone valley, underground boat trips and for spearheading the UK industrial revolution. This simple trip is so easy even a seven-year-old can make it without breaking a sweat.

Let?s begin the journey and discover the Peak District?s breath-taking scenery. Start your travel by using the closest postcode to the area, which is the Blue John Cavern Cross St, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WH. But when you reach the corner of old Mam Tor road and Sparrowpit Buxton A623 road, turn left and park on the lay-by road or in the car park near the arrow. See the Map above for reference. (or on your mobile map apps, just type in Mam Tor).

Once you are ready, cross the road into the field via a small farm gate (see picture above). Be mindful of the animals and don?t leave the gate open for their safety. Walk uphill towards your left into another gate and with a sign Mam Tor then continue ascending for 5 to 10 minutes.

Depending on how many stops and selfies you do, you can reach the peak in no time.

Represented by a beacon, you will be grace by a 360-degree view of the Peak District national park. With Black Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill at the far distance, it is around 3 hours beginners walk from the beacon.

TRIVIA: The beacons on every hill and mountain across the UK not only signified the peak of their height, but during the medieval ages, were also used to warn other counties that an enemy was coming. So when you saw the beacon was lit, it meant that the enemy was coming from that direction.

When you reach the top, turn to the direction where you parked your car and start descending to your left towards Winnats Pass. It?s a slow descent but not such a deep slope. Be careful as it can be slippery when the weather is wet. There will be ups and down and you will end up at the foot of Winnats Pass at the Speedwell Cavern car park. You can also use this site to start your journey as an alternative and still, by following the map above, you will not be disappointed with the view especially if you start your trip before sunrise.

Winnats Pass and Mam Tor are only about 5-min drive from each other. This place is fabulous during sunset and sunrise due to its greeneries and limestone colours that complement the contrast and saturation on your photos. During an hour after sunrise or before sunset, an inversion drift may occur giving you the feeling of being higher than the clouds or the overwhelming feeling that you are in heaven, so check your weather forecast. Inversion drift happens when dust particles meet the misty air and water droplets are low and trapped in the air and the temperature is cool.

Speedwell Cavern is an underground mine and they offer boat tours that will educate you on how mining was being done using the simplest tools some 300 years ago. Book your ticket in advance

and check the government?s guidelines on visiting this enclosed site.

Crossing the car park and up to the left side of Winnats Pass, continue heading back to Sparrowpit Buxton A623 where you parked your car. If you still have some energy and wish for more visits, Hope Valley and Castleton are nearby.

Lady Bower Reservoir, Sneak Pass, and Derwent Dam also nearby are famous for being the practice ground of RAFs 617 squadron low flying training during the 1940s, which is highlighted in the 1953 movie Dam Buster. If you are an experienced walker, Mam Tor to Win Hill via Edale will take you two hours at the most.

See you again next time mga ?Layas!?and remember, ?Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but memories.?

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COM SPORTS M UNITY NEWS NEWS

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SEPTEM BER 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Wh y We R eal l y N eed TO COUN T OUR BL ESSI N GS

By ROBERT LABAYEN

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h is m or n in g af t er t h e daw n m ass, t h e pr iest blessed u s. Wh en I f elt t h e Holy Wat er on m y f ace, t h r ee w or ds cam e t o m y m in d. ?Sh ow er of blessin gs!?

I immediately thanked God for the fact that I was living with my family. We know how many parents are in countries away from home to make a living.

Some of them wait two years before the short home leave.

I thanked God for the air I was breathing. This morning, I had a stuffy nose because of a cold but I was aware that millions of people are attached to an oxygen tank. My own father had emphysema. He would be short of breath after walking a few steps.

I felt grateful that I have limbs on a healthy body.

I remembered motivational speaker Nick Vujicic.

Born without arms and legs, he lamented he wouldn?t be able to embrace the woman he will love.

I felt thankful for my salary. It doesn?t make me as rich as my boss but I have more than enough income that?s guaranteed to come every fifteen days.

(I was tempted to thank God for my good looks.

But I have to check again if vanity is a serious sin.)

I thanked God for my job and meaningful work, for the people who encourage me, for my Couples for Christ community, for the talents I?ve been gifted with, for my useful sense of humour, for my friends, my guardian angel, my books, my gadgets, Google, Facebook, etc.

Some of us may not have a family, or healthy lungs and limbs or a steady job. But all of us have many other things, more than what we can name within a whole day.

How come many people still have a feeling of lack?

In the book Hardwiring Happiness, psychologist Rick Hanson revealed that most humans focus on the negative rather than the positive. He cited a 2001 study by Roy Baumeister which found that people pay more attention to angry faces than to happy faces.

I am sure you can agree that even though we are showered with praises, one bad remark about us will be enough to ruin our day. or whole week.

Hanson added that some people have a ?happy amygdala.? The amygdala is the part of the brain in charge of emotional responses. People with a happy amygdala are more optimistic and are focused on the opportunities instead of the difficulties. Unfortunately, there are more people who have a ?sad amygdala.? The sad amygdala releases more cortisol and adrenaline to make us anxious and edgy.

Why is that so?

In the book ?Positivity?, psychology professor Barbara L. Fredrickson revealed that by biological design, negative feelings are more intense than the positive ones. That?s because early man needed to feel deep worry, fear and anger in order to stay alert and save himself from man-eating dinosaurs and beasts. He must fight or flee.

We don?t have wild beasts in the cities anymore but our instincts are still with us. If we give in to the negativity, we will fall into a depression. It?s a

state when our brain stops producing happy hormones. We will no longer be capable of experiencing pleasure.

To overcome the instinct for sadness, Ms. Fredrickson advised that we must have a positivity ratio of 3:1. That means three doses of positive emotions for every dose of a negative one.

Som e of us m a y not ha ve a fa m i ly, or hea lt hy lungs a nd li m bs or a st ea dy job.

But a ll of us ha ve m a ny ot her t hi ngs, m or e t ha n wha t we ca n na m e wi t hi n a whole da y.

If we really count our blessings, we can achieve a ratio of 300 positive emotions versus 1 negative!

Maybe more.

I always think that our Father is a God of Abundance. Actually, a God of Overflow.

He has already given you so much. Just look around you. As of now, he is packing a big box of blessings for you in the coming year.

Our mind is a powerful magnet. What we think of a lot, we attract. Just never doubt. ?Test me in this,? says the Lord Almighty, ?and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ? ( Malachi 3:10)

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Filipin o Com m u n it y in Yor k

Juan Eu K onek gets new Nati onal Lottery Grant t an even t h ost ed by M egaw or ld In t er n at ion al on t h e 8t h of Sept em ber at Bin t an g r est au r an t in Cam den , digit al pr ogr am m e an d n on -pr of it or gan isat ion Ju an Eu Kon ek an n ou n ced t h at t h ey h ave r eceived a secon d r ou n d of f u n din g f r om Th e Nat ion al Lot t er y Com m u n it y Fu n d t o su ppor t it s w or k in pr ovidin g in f or m at ion , edu cat ion , in spir at ion , an d t o bet t er con n ect w it h t h e Filipin o com m u n it ies in t h e UK an d beyon d as t h ey con t in u e t o bat t le t h e Covid-19 pan dem ic.

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The new grant will allow them to continue to deliver their signature public service project Kontra Corona for the next eighteen months. The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK (funding projects in communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people?s lives.

At the event, Juan Eu Konek heads and

core presenters Rose Eclarinal, Gene Alcantara, Crystal Dias and Jay Montelibano-McLeod also received their individual MEGA (Megaworld Exemplary Global Achievers) awards in recognition of their outstanding service to overseas Filipinos from Ethel Lim, Megaworld?s First Vice president of Sales for Europe 2. Megaworld International, which recently celebrated 21 years of enriching the lives of Filipinos around the world, have been recognising individuals, who have illustrated excellence, significant impact and outstanding service in various fields through their yearly MEGA awards.

It was attended by London-based British-Filipino media, bloggers and vloggers and representatives from Philippine Embassy United Kingdom; Consul General Arlene Gonzales Macaisa, Vice-Consul Stacy Alcantara Garcia and Labor Attaché Amy Reyes from Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). ?Juan Eu Konek, you bring the Filipino community together in the UK, with the information you bring to everyone.

Thank you, mabuhay,? said Macaisa. ?Thank you, Juan Eu Konek for being a partner in bringing out the best amongst us Filipinos, and for continuously helping each other,? said

Reyes. ?With the second round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, we are excited for this new chapter in our journey to continue to tell the stories of our kababayans in England and Europe,? said Rose Eclarinal, executive producer of Juan Eu Konek.

Juan Eu Konek, which will commence with a new project dubbed as Kontra Corona Unlockdown, will be announcing further details of their project in the coming months. Their digital content is available via Facebook and YouTube @JuanEuKonek.

#NationalLottery #JuanEuKonek #Megaworld (For m or e in f or m at ion con t act Jay M on t eliban o-M cLeod: jaym m cleod@yah oo.com or 07760963667

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COM M UNITY NEWS

FDDC A T THE M RS PHI LI PPI NES EURO

A SI A 2021

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h is is a st or y of a gr ou p of in t r epid people, m em ber s of t h e FILIPINO DERBY & DERBYSHIRE COM M UNITY.

A few months back, FDDC got a missive from the MRS PHILIPPINES EURO ASIA 2021, an invitation to perform a couple of cultural Filipino dances and to assist in some of the presentations of awards to some of the category and overall winners.

Well...you know us Filipinos, we do love a challenge and showcasing our talents [or not], be it singing or dancing on the big stage in an event as glittering as the Mrs Philippines Euro Asia 2021....WHO WOULDN?T? SAKUTING was chosen by Mary June [MJ], our choreographer for this number.

Sakuting is the ethnic regional dance from the north of the island of Luzon in the Ilocos region. It depicts the rivalries and battles between the Ilocano Christians and non-Christians during the Spanish colonial era.

It celebrates the cultural heritage and national artistic pride by portraying Philippine Fighting Art as a ritual dance. Holding pride for FDDC were.... [L-R] ?

HYACINTH-ANALYN-MJ-JOPIE-RICKY-LUELA. TINIKLING was our second number. Performed by

our loveable teens, BRILLE and JOSH. This dance number doesn?t need any introduction, As it is considered the national dance, which is known

worldwide. PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE...

Tempers frayed in the baking heat of the summer sun during the heatwave. Our taskmaster whipped us into shape for we only had about 4 weeks to learn the dance routine.

Analyn, our ever-hardworking Vice-Chairperson booked our accommodations and organised the day trip for the day after the pageant to help us unwind.

A few days before the trip down to LANCASTER GRAND THEATRE, we had our one and only dress rehearsal.

number was not

By RICKY AGUILAR without a hitch. The sound engineer started playing the music without our signal. Like the troupers that Brille and Josh were, they adjusted and compensated like nothing happened and performed to the delight of the crowd. So proud of our young members. Nothing fazes them. Centre stage and we all took our leave, a feeling of satisfaction going through us. We were not perfect but it was a good enough performance for us to wave the banner of the FD.

It was as good as it could be. Neighbours were hanging out the windows giving us the thumbs up and enjoying the entertainment. But deep down, in everyone's mind was, ?Is it good enough not to embarrass ourselves and let the FDDC down??

D-DAY...after a nearly 3-hour drive, we arrived at Lancaster Grand Theatre. Without your leave, we headed straight on to the stage. Got the feel for it, as this was new ground we?re on.

A few practices, and sure enough we were making errors. Was it due to the nervousness that?s seeping into our confidence? Down we went into the oppressive heat under the stage where the changing rooms were located. None were available. All were taken up by the contestants. The ladies had to make do in the comfort rooms. But we're all troupers, and can get changed anywhere. The show must go on.

First dress change was into a Filipiniana dress and Barong for me, so we could watch the pageant in our assigned seats.

An hour before 4pm we were scurrying back to change into our dancing costumes.

Standing by the side stage waiting for our turn, we were all rehearsing the sequences in our minds. We were all looking splendid in our attire. The nervousness seemed to have dissipated and was replaced by the eagerness to get on. Onto the centre stage we went, in anticipation of the music, then BOOM...WE WERE DONE. Next thing we heard was the thunderous applause from the audience. It started and ended in a flash. Like a jigsaw to a puzzle fitting into place. PHEW...everyone was breathing a sigh of relief. We were so proud of ourselves and for FDDC. It wasn?t perfect, but damn it, it was a good enough performance. Only one error, and nobody noticed it but we were all laughing about it. Brille and Josh?s

A quick change then back to our seats to enjoy the remainder of the pageant. But not for Analyn and I. We had to present some sashes and trophies to some of the category winners. Analyn also had the honour of presenting our FDDC TROPHY to a category winner. It was such a glittering affair. No expense was spared by the contestants and was well supported by their husbands. Such colourful and lavish costumes. Unfortunately, not everyone can be a winner, but in my books, everybody is a winner, especially this 63 years old contestant. MABUHAY!

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Tr avel & Tou r ism

Th ese 7 Desti nati on Beach es A w ai t Your

Return to th e Ph i l i ppi nes h e Ph i l i p p i n es i s bl essed w i t h m an y p r i st i n e beach es, i n cl u d i n g Bor acay I sl an d an d Pal aw an I sl an d . Th e beau t y of t h ese i sl an d s h as al r ead y cap t u r ed t h e w or l d .

Pal awan Isl an d was n am ed as on e of th e 30 Best Beach es in th e W or l d by Con de Nast Tr avel er in 2020. M ean wh il e, Bor acay h as been r ecogn ized by in ter n ation al tr avel m agazin e, Tr avel + Leisu r e, as th e Best Isl an d in th e W or l d in 2012 an d sever al tim es by Con de Nast Tr avel er , in cl u din g Best Isl an d in th e W or l d in 2014, Top 10 destin ation s to watch in 2016, an d W or l d?s Best Isl an d Beach es in th e 2020 Reader s?Ch oice Awar ds. ?

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Ph il ippin es Depar tm en t of Tou r ism Secr etar y Ber n adette Rom u l o-Pu yat says th e cou n tr y h as been h ar d at wor k , devel opin g tou r pack ages an d cir cu its togeth er with th e var iou s l ocal gover n m en t u n its. ?On ce in ter n ation al tr avel r esu m es, we ar e r eady to wel com e visitor s again to ou r fam ou s beach destin ation s l ik e Bor acay,an d sh owcase ou r u n discover ed gem s an d oth er im pr oved tou r ist attr action s th at ar e ju st as beau tifu l an d r el axin g.? In cl u ded in th e l ist of u n discover ed gem s ar e n ew destin ation s, su ch as th ese secl u ded beach es th at offer th e u l tim ate escape fr om th e feel in g of con fin em en t, with wide open spaces an d fr ien dl y sm il es fr om th e l ocal s. W ith m or e th an 7,000 isl an ds in a beau tifu l ar ch ipel ago, defin itel y m or e fu n awaits visitor s for th eir n ext beach escape to th ese pr istin e an d qu iet l ittl e pieces of par adise.

Ban t ay an I sl an d , Cebu Located at th e n or th er n m ost tip of Cebu , Ban tayan Isl an d boasts of stu n n in g wh ite san d beach es an d eco-tou r ism sites. Fr om th e Ban t ay an I sl an d , Cebu M actan Cebu In ter n ation al Air por t, th e isl an d is easil y accessibl e by boar din g a bu s at th e Cebu Nor th Bu s Ter m in al . Th e jou r n ey wil l tak e you on a scen ic r ide to th e n or th er n tip of Cebu in cl u din g a sh or t fer r y to th e isl an d. Activities in Ban tayan in cl u de swim m in g, cl iff divin g, isl an d-h oppin g, k ayak in g, an d even sk ydivin g.

On e can soak in th e l ocal cu l tu r e by appr oach in g l ocal s wh o en gage in fish in g an d pr odu ction of savor y dr ied fish as th eir m ain sou r ce of l ivel ih ood.

K al an ggam an I sl an d , L ey t e Th e water s su r r ou n din g th is l on g str etch of beach ar e cr ystal cl ear , with a wh ite powder y san dbar th at is per fect for a l on g sol itar y str ol l an d for tak in g l ots of ph otos.

Kal an ggam an is K al an ggam an I sl an d , L ey t e der ived fr om th e wor d ?l an ggam ,? wh ich m ean s bir d in th e l ocal dial ect, as th e two en ds of th e isl an d seem to fl ap l ik e bir d?s win gs wh en viewed fr om above.

Th er e ar e n o big r esor ts on Kal an ggam an Isl an d an d cr owds ar e k ept at bay with th e M u n icipal ity of Pal om pon pu ttin g a cap on th e n u m ber of tou r ists th at can visit per day. Th ose wh o wan t to spen d th e n igh t can stay at n ative cottages or set u p cam p al on g th e str ip of beach an d watch th e star s pu t on a sh ow again st a gor geou s vel vet sk y.

Secr et Beach , El N i d o, Pal aw an Fr am ed by tower in g cl iffs an d tu r qu oise-h u ed water s, Secr et Beach in El Nido is a h idden par adise waitin g to be discover ed Secr et Beach , El N i d o, Pal aw an by tr avel er s wh o wan t to exper ien ce th e th r il l of fin din g a tr easu r e fr om M oth er Natu r e. Th e beach is accessibl e on l y by swim m in g th r ou gh a cr evice am on g th e l im eston e r ock s th at?s ju st above th e water.

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Tr avel & Tou r ism Su gar Beach , Si p al ay , N egr os Occi d en t al Th is aptl y-n am ed beach in th e sweet pr ovin ce of Negr os Occiden tal is a destin ation th at is k n own m ostl y to l ocal s as Lan gu b Beach . Local s l ove to spen d th eir l azy su m m er after n oon s swim m in g in its azu r e water s. H er e, on e can catch a beau tifu l su n set wh il e Su gar Beach , Si p al ay , N egr os Occi d en t al l isten in g to th e waves an d r el axin g on th e war m br own san d. Am on g th e activities to tr y ar e sn or k el in g an d paddl e boar din g, or sim pl y tak in g a r efr esh in g dip in th e cool in g bl u e water s.

san dbar s. Gu yam , Dak u , an d Nak ed Isl an d ar e destin ation s for th ose wh o wan t to feel wh at it is l ik e to l ive on a tin y r em ote isl an d. Gu yam is a sm al l cir cu l ar isl an d with swayin g cocon u t tr ees an d beach h u ts, wh il e Nak ed Isl an d, as its n am e im pl ies, is a bar e beach with deep water s su ited for scu ba divin g. Dak u , wh ich m ean s ?big?in th e l ocal dial ect, is l ar ge en ou gh to be h om e to a sm al l an d fr ien dl y fish in g com m u n ity.

Gu y am , Dak u , an d N ak ed I sl an d , Su r i gao d el N or t e

M an t i gu e I sl an d , Cam i gu i n Pr ov i n ce

Cal agu as I sl an d , Cam ar i n es N or t e

A 20-m in u te scen ic boat tr ip fr om th e easter n side of th e al l u r in g Cam igu in Isl an d br in gs tr avel er s to th is gl eam in g wh ite san d isl an d fr am ed by l u sh gr een er y. M an tigu e Isl an d is a fou r -h ectar e sl ice of tr opical won der l an d fam ou s am on g diver s becau se of th e en dan ger ed h awk sbil l tu r tl e fr equ en tl y sigh ted in its cl ear water s. Th is isl an d is in deed a diver ?s dr eam becau se it is teem in g with col or fu l an d r ar e m ar in e cr eatu r es su ch as col or fu l cl own fish , n u dibr an ch s, fr og fish , sh ar k s, an d den se sch ool s of fish with a back dr op of am azin g gar den s of cor al s an d seascapes.

Th e wh ite san d an d bl u e seawater of Cal agu as Isl an d in Cam ar in es Nor te h as becom e a popu l ar destin ation am on g l ocal beach l over s wh o wan t to exper ien ce a qu ick getaway fr om u r ban l ife. Am on g th e activities avail abl e for tr avel er s aside fr om swim m in g an d catch in g u n obstr u cted su n r ise an d su n set views ar e h eadin g to th e n eigh bor in g Tin aga isl an d to tr ek on its r ol l in g h il l s.

To com pl ete you r exper ien ce, you can adm ir e th e l ocal wil dl ife of its m in i tr opical ju n gl e, fr ol ic

Cal agu as I sl an d , Cam ar i n es N or t e

Tr av el saf el y t o t h e Ph i l i p p i n e sh or es

M an t i gu e I sl an d , Cam i gu i n Pr ov i n ce

am on g th e waves, l aze on th e powder y san d, or you can gr ab a bite of th e sea u r ch in (u n i) offer ed by th e l ocal s on th e beach r igh t ou t of th e ocean ! Th er e ar e n o big cr owds on th e isl an d as it is on l y open for day tou r s an d th e n u m ber of visitor s ar e l im ited to h el p pr eser ve its n atu r al beau ty.

Gu y am , Dak u , an d N ak ed I sl an d , Su r i gao d el N or t e Siar gao is fast becom in g a favor ite su r fin g destin ation for l ocal an d for eign en th u siasts, bu t for th ose wh o wan t to exper ien ce th e m or e idyl l ic side of th e pr ovin ce, th ey can book a boat tou r th at wil l tak e th em isl an d h oppin g for a wh ol e day of en joym en t am on g sm al l secl u ded

Th e Tou r ism Depar tm en t, wh ich h as been awar ded a SafeTr avel s Stam p by th e W or l d Tr avel an d Tou r ism Cou n cil (W TTC) in r ecogn ition of its adoption of ?h eal th an d h ygien e gl obal stan dar dized pr otocol s? th at wil l en su r e safe tr avel du r in g th e COVID-19 pan dem ic, con du cts th or ou gh in spection an d assessm en t to en su r e th at on l y th ose wh o ar e accr edited ar e al l owed to open an d r eceive gu ests. To en su r e th at tr avel to th ese beau tifu l beach es wil l be a safe, th e Tou r ism Depar tm en t is en h an cin g its h eal th an d h ygien e pr otocol s, with tou r ism wor k er s u n der goin g con stan t tr ain in g an d tou r ism Ph il ippin es Depar tm en t of Tou r ism establ ish m en ts im pl em en t stan dar dized safegu ar ds in th eir pr em ises to pr otect th eir gu ests an d em pl oyees.Th e Ph il ippin e gover n m en t th r ou gh its In ter -Agen cy Task For ce for th e M an agem en t of Em er gin g In fectiou s Diseases (IATF) is con stan tl y u pdatin g its pr otocol s to safegu ar d Fil ipin os an d for eign n ation al s wh o ar e tr avel in g to th e Ph il ippin es. To k n ow th e l atest u pdates an d tr avel advisor ies abou t th e Ph il ippin es visit h ttps:/ / itsm or efu n in th eph il ippin es.co.u k an d h ttps:/ / www.ph il ippin es.tr avel / safetr ip, or down l oad th e Visit Ph il ippin es tr avel app at th e Googl e Pl ay Stor e an d Appl e App Stor e.

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ISSUE 6