ADB hikes Philippine growth forecast, cuts rest of Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has upgraded its growth forecast for the Philippines this year, a marked contrast from the projected slowdown in other developing economies in Asia.

In its latest Asian Development Outlook 2012, the Manila-based financial institution raised the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.5 percent in 2012, from the original 4.8 percent projection last April.

The ADB said the upgrade took into account the higher-than-expected growth in the first half and more moderate growth seen in the second half.

With increased government spending and investments spurring economic activities in the second quarter, the country’s GDP sustained its growth track as it expanded by a better-than-expected 6.1 percent in the first semester.

The government is targeting a 5-6 percent GDP growth for the whole of 2012.

“Robust private consumption and a rebound in government spending drove economic growth higher than expected in the first half of 2012, prompting an upward revision of the forecast for the full year,” the ADB report said.

However, the ADB said it is sticking to its five percent GDP growth target for 2013.

“The impact of the 2012 rebound in government spending will fade in 2013 (though capital spending will increase) and net exports will likely weigh on

GDP growth, as growth in imports is projected to outpace that for exports,” the report said.

The ADB also noted that upgrades in indicators of competitiveness and sovereign ratings show improvements in the investment environment in the Philippines.

But the ADB warned the uncertainty in the global economy may hurt the Philippines’ economic forecasts.

“Weaker-than-expected growth in industrial countries and the PRC (China) would hurt prospects for exports, investment, and remittances. Further delays affecting public–private partnership projects would dent investor sentiments,” it said.

“Increased business confidence bodes well for investment and future jobs. But the Philippines must guard against weaknesses outside its own economy that could have a knock-on effect,” ADB chief economist Changyong Rhee said in a statement.

“The key challenge is to link economic growth to poverty reduction. Despite solid economic growth, job generation remains inadequate, reflected in rates of unemployment and underemployment. The incidence of poverty remains high at 26.5 percent in 2009, compared to 26.4 percent in 2006 and 24.9 percent in 2003,” said Neeraj Jain, ADB country director for the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the ADB cut most of its 2012 and 2013 growth estimates for developing Asia as a slump in global demand weighs on the region’s powerhouses China and India and on its other export-dependent economies.

The ADB cut its GDP growth estimate for China by nearly one percentage point to 7.7 percent from the previous 8.5 percent, warning that risks to the world’s second-largest economy were likely to intensify in the short run given bleak global demand and the uncertain outlook for its largest trading partners.

But it believed China would still be able to avoid a hard economic landing, given that policymakers in Beijing have considerable scope for further stimulus measures.

“The global slump in demand, especially from Europe, will remain a serious drag on growth in the near term,” it said.

The euro zone’s unresolved sovereign debt crisis and the United States’ looming fiscal cliff were the biggest risks to the regional growth outlook, with Asia’s most open economies particularly vulnerable to spillover effects, the ADB warned.

The risk of rapid reversals in capital flows to developing Asia also remained a concern, although the region’s capital markets have not shown excessive volatility, it added.

Developing Asia – comprised of 45 countries in Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia and the Pacific – is now forecast to grow 6.1 percent this year and 6.7 percent in 2013.

The figures are substantially slower than April estimates of 6.9 percent and 7.3 percent respectively, and last year’s 7.2 percent expansion.

East Asia will remain the region’s fastest-growing area, although it will not be immune to the overall deceleration in the region, the ADB said.

The bank kept its 2012 growth forecast of 5.2 percent for Southeast Asia, lifted in part by recovery efforts in Thailand from last year’s flooding, and higher state spending in Malaysia and the Philippines.

The ADB urged Asian economies to diversify their growth drivers and capitalize on its booming service industries, as seen in India and the Philippines, to sustain domestic growth during times of prolonged weakness in external demand.

(Story courtesy of Ted P. Torres of the Philippine Star)

Alcala siblings win Badminton crowns in Switzerland

Siblings Malvinne Ann Venice and Mark Alcala ruled their age-group at the recently concluded Swiss International Junior Badminton Championships.

Malvinne, 16, ruled the 19-under division while Mark, only 13, topped the 17-under division.

Malvinne whipped England’s Nathalie Chan-Lam, 21-7, 21-17, in the semis and stopped Belgium’s Marie Demy, 21-5 (retired) in the finals. Mark stunned Sean Vendy of England, 3-21, 21-8, 21-12, for the title.

Mark was the underdog against the 17-year-old Vendy who stood over six feet. But the 5-foot-3 Filipino was all over the court to score the come-from-behind victory.

Last May, the PBA tapped the services of 1996 Olympics gold medalist Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia as head coach of the Philippine team, and there has been a tremendous turnaround in just five months.

Other Filipino men’s team players making great strides in the rankings are Ariel Magnaye and Joper Escueta, who jumped to 108th in the world from the high 200s just before Mainaky came in.

Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas have also moved to 232nd from no ranking at all. They are set to compete in the main draw of the Indonesian GP following stints in Super Series tournaments in Indonesia and Japan.

The national players are getting busy because this month they will see action in the Badminton Asia Youth in Dongguan, China on Oct. 10-14, Irish Future Series in Ireland Oct. 11-14, Swiss International Oct 18-21, France Super Series Oct. 23-28, and World Junior Championships in Chiba, Japan Oct. 25-Nov. 3.

Facebook and Twitter more tempting than sex: study

SAN FRANCISCO - A study arousing interest online Friday found that checking Facebook or Twitter is more alluring than sex for those immersed in Internet Age lifestyles.

The week-long poll conducted in Germany by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business classified checking social network tweets, pictures, comments and other posts as stronger than sex and cigarettes in terms of temptation.

"Desires for media may be comparatively harder to resist because of their high availability and also because it feels like it does not cost much to engage in these activities, even though one wants to resist," Wilhelm Hofmann, the study's lead author, told the Los Angeles Times.

People ranging in age from 18 to 85 took part in the poll by using smartphones to regularly update researchers regarding their cravings to check in with online communities.

Study participants were also asked to track hankerings for sex, alcohol, cigarettes, or other gratification.

Yearnings for fixes of Facebook, Twitter or other social networks were ranked as the hardest desires to resist, according to reports about the findings.

The study also revealed that work was a fierce addiction.

People able to stave off urges for sex, shopping sprees, or other temptations tended to cave when it came to working, the study showed.

© 1994-2012 Agence France-Presse

Solito’s Busong tops NatGeo Film fest in Washington DC

Filipino filmmaker Auraeus Solito’s “Busong” won the grand prize at the 8th All Roads Film Festival in Washington DC this week.

The prize, called Merata Mita Award, serves to “honor a legacy of outstanding storytelling,” according to Solito.

He wrote in his Facebook page: “Success is good when you don’t expect it at all… I’m proud to be [from] Palawan.”

According to its site, the fest “features stories and talents from vibrant and diverse cultures.” With this fest, National Geographic aims to “provide a platform for indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture storytellers… to showcase their works to promote knowledge, dialogue and understanding with a broader, global audience.”
The Merata Mita Award, the festival’s grand prize, is “named after the late New Zealand filmmaker who championed the Maori film industry.”

“Busong” was among the 24 films and documentaries from the US, Mexico, UK, Bangladesh, India, Canada, Israel, China, Tibet, Iran, Russia, Italy, and Lebanon being screened at the festival, which kicked off on Sept. 27 and will run until this Sunday.

According to a post on the National Geographic’s official website, the All Roads Film Festival showcases “compelling stories from indigenous and minority cultures around the world.”

After this, “Busong” will make its way to the Atlanta Asian Film Festival (Oct. 5-20) in Georgia; and the International Festival of Films on Tribal Art and Culture in Bhopal, India (Oct. 10-14).

DOH chief 1st Pinoy to get US college of surgeons top award

Health Secretary Enrique Ona is set to receive this week the Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the highest honor the institution can confer to any surgeon.

Ona will be awarded the honor during ACS’ 98th Clinical Congress to be held in Chicago, Illinois starting Monday (Manila time).

“I consider this award a recognition of the contributions of Filipino surgeons to the ACS and to the international surgical community,” the Cabinet official said in a statement Sunday.

Ona becomes the first Filipino and the first Southeast Asian to receive this recognition since its conception in 1913.

The ACS’ Honorary Fellowship is awarded to “individuals who possess an international reputation in the field of surgery or medicine” and those who “have rendered distinguished humanitarian services, especially in the field of medical science,” according to the institution’s website.

Ona specializes in vascular surgery and organ transplantation. He performed the first liver and pancreas transplant in the Philippines in 1979.

He is recognized as one of the top surgeons in the field of vascular surgery and organ transplantation in the Philippines, having trained in the US and the United Kingdom.

He is certified by both the Philippine Board of Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

Upon his return to the Philippines, Ona established the first training program in vascular and organ transplant surgery in the country.

This earned him the distinction of being one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in medicine in 1979.

Also, Ona performed the first liver and pancreas transplant in the country and the first multiple-organ transplant (liver/kidney, kidney/pancreas) in Asia.

The ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

It has about 78,000 members in 103 chapters around the world, including a chapter in the Philippines.

“Since its establishment, the ACS has awarded Honorary Fellowships to individuals who possess an international reputation in the field of surgery or medicine, or to those who have rendered distinguished humanitarian services, especially in the field of medical science,” the DOH said.

The DOH said Honorary Fellows include Dr. William Stewart Halsted (United States, 1917), who introduced radical mastectomy for treating breast cancer and started the first formal surgical residency training program in the United States.

Before being appointed Secretary of Health in 2010, Ona served as as the Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) from 1998 to 2010.

“Under his leadership, the NKTI became a world-class medical institution in kidney transplantation and the first ISO certified government hospital in the Philippines. At present, the NKTI is now performing the second largest transplant program as a single institution in the world,” the DOH said.

(Courtesy of Andreo Calonzo, GMA News)

Tubbataha Reefs Law wins Int’l Award at the UN

The law protecting the world-famous Tubbataha Reefs National Park has been cited as one of the world’s best practices in marine environment conservation.

Republic Act 10067, or the Tubbataha Reefs National Park Act of 2009 (TRNP Act), was awarded one of two silver awards at the 2012 Future Policy Awards (FPA), the World Future Council (WFC) announced Wednesday, September 26, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The law was cited by the WFC as an “example of successful coral reef conservation and a model for action on other coral reefs.”

Approved in 2009 and enacted April 2010, the Act ensured proper management of the Unesco World Heritage Site, located in Cagayancillo, Palawan, by “strengthening the legislative mandate of its managing bodies.”

It is also a key step in enacting national-level policies, the WFC said, like the 1992 National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.

“The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act demonstrates the critical need for national level policy to support local level action, giving permanence and power to local level institutions to confront regional threats such as illegal fishing, poaching and destructive fishing practices undertaken by foreign vessels,” the citation read.

“Tubbataha has shown that with carefully planned management, local communities need not bear the burden of closed protected areas, but can be their primary beneficiaries: as a nursery ground for fish, the reefs are supporting local artisanal fisheries,” it added.

Similar legislation is now being enacted in the neighboring Apo Reef.

Angelique Songco, Protected Area Superintendent and head of the Tubbataha Management Office, says they’re proud of the law that was crafted for Tubbataha, since it recognizes the role of the local community in preserving a heritage site.

Funds for the preservation of Tubbataha are managed by the 19-person board of Tubbataha, she says, which is composed of local leaders led by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development which is headed by Gov Abraham Mitra. “It’s a novelty,” she told Rappler.

For one, the military — as guardians of the sea through the Navy and Marines — is part of the board, she added.

Before the law’s enactment in 2010 (it was crafted in 2009), the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was established in 1988. The Park will be celebrating its silver anniversary next year, and thus the silver award came at a good time, Songco said.

Palau top prize; Namibia also gets silver

Sharing the silver award with the TRNP Act is Namibia’s Marine Resources Act of 2000, which has successfully helped the African nation manage its marine resources through eco-friendly and economically sustainable ways.

The Namibian law “established strict monitoring and control systems and regulations addressing the key drivers of degradation of marine capture fisheries: bycatch, illegal fishing, overcapacity from subsidies and harmful fishing gear,” the WFC said.

The top award, meanwhile, went to Palau for its Shark Haven Act of 20098 and its Protected Areas Network (PAN) Act of 2003.

Palau’s PAN Act was cited for having “all the elements of successful management for people and environment.”

“The Act involves local communities by enabling them to undertake a scientific and social assessment of their local environment and supports traditional systems of natural resource management, which have a long history in Palau,” the group said in its citation.

So far, the law has caused the designation of 35 protected areas, as it aims to have at least 30% of the island-nation’s near-shore marine environment and 20% of its land environment included by 2020.

Meanwhile, the Shark Haven Act ensured the protection of more than 100 species of deepwater and reef sharks. The law is now a model for shark conservation in countries such as the Honduras, the Bahamas, and the Maldives.

‘Interests of future generations’

The 4 policies bested 27 others from 19 countries, nominated by various international organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The awardees were chosen by a jury consisting of sustainability experts from around the world.

The Future Policy Awards has been handed out since 2009 by the WFC, a group of experts that focus on issues concerning the “interests of future generations,” aiming to address challenges the world faces in the future.

Aside from the WFC, the award is sponsored by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Global Environment Facility, and the Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea.

This year’s FPA focused on the marine and coastal conservation. In the past, winning policies include the Food Security Program of Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2009, first award); the Costa Rica Biodiversity Law of 1998 (2010); and Rwanda’s National Forest Policy (2011).

“The 2012 Future Policy Award highlights the challenges faced by the world’s oceans as well as exemplary solutions to protect them,” the FPA said.

The awards will be formally handed out at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, India, on Oct 16, 2012.

(Story courtesy of KD Suarez of Rappler.com)

Pinoy indie film 'Busong' bags grand prize at National Geographic filmfest

Filipino independent film “Busong” (“Palawan Fate”) won the grand prize in the National Geographic Society’s All Roads Film Festival (ARFF) in Washington, D.C.
 

"Busong," a  film about the vanishing Palawan tribe in the Philippines, bested 25 other indigenous film entries from around the world to win the Merata Mita Award named in honor of a noted Maoiri filmmaker, a news release of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

“It is an honor to receive the Merata Mita Award which I dedicate to my mother and to my tribe, the Palawanon,” said Filipino director Aureus Solito after receiving the award from All Roads Film Festival director Francine Blythe.

Solito also mentioned that it was based on stories told to him by his mother when he was young where Palawanon’s search for a healer and meet people along the way.
 
After the awarding ceremonies, “Busong” which was co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy was screened at the National Geographic headquarters on September 27.

Chosen from over 300 film entries for the ARFF, “Busong” stars Filipina actress Alessandra de Rossi.

The movie tells the tale of two siblings Angkadang (Rodrigo Santikan) and Punay (de Rossi) and their journey in Palawan, the film’s official website said. 

“Busong” first premiered last year in the Cannes International Film Festival's Directors Fortnight section.
 
It won Best Director, Best Sound Design, and Best Musical Score at Cinemalaya 2011′s Directors Showcase category.

Aside from this, it also received the following awards:

• International Federation of Film Critics International Critics Prize Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the

• International Competition Tomorrow's Cinema Award at the 38th Brussels International Independent Film Festival in Belgium.

- VVP, GMA News

Top 12 ways to maximize your time

Maximizing your time is about focusing on the right things. Don’t just make yourself busy, but be busy doing the things that matter. Too many of us use our time to complete unimportant tasks rather than doing the things that really need sorting out.

1. Identify how you spend your time

Spending a short while working out what you normally do with your time will help you in the long-run. Identifying those areas where time is being wasted and where it is being well spent will help you to prioritize. What counts is not the amount of time that you put in overall, but the amount of time that you spend working on important, worthwhile tasks.

2. Set goals

It’s all well and good being efficient with your time, but to what end if you really don’t know how you want to spend it? Many people spend precious time and energy trying to be more efficient without setting goals — in other words, they don’t focus on the things that are most important to them. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you will know exactly where to concentrate your efforts. Having set goals can also be a good motivator.

3. Keep a ‘to do’ list

You can keep a list in your head of things that need doing, but it’s far better to free your mind of this by writing or typing a list, which you can then refer to throughout the day. Your list could be written on a piece of paper, typed and saved on your computer, or held in a Filofax system — it’s really up to you. Ticking off jobs as you do them can give a real sense of satisfaction and spur you on to complete the rest — plus, of course, using the list will reduce the amount of time you take up thinking about what you need to do.

4. Prioritize

It’s no good compiling a list if you put everything in the wrong order! There’s always a temptation to do the things that you want to do first, rather than the things that you need to do. Sort out your priorities and deal with the important things first. Whatever is left incomplete at the end of the day probably didn’t need doing immediately anyway, and can be dealt with on another occasion.

5. Do it right first time

If you try to complete a task half-heartedly when you’re not really in the mood for it, then it’s likely that you’re not going to complete it properly. Make sure you take the time to do things "right" or to the best of your ability on the first occasion, so that the fewer mistakes you make, the less time you will waste going back and having to do it all over again. Doing the important things first — when you’re most "switched on" and alert — means you’ll be more likely to do them correctly.

6. Stop putting things off

Most people have a tendency to procrastinate and look for ways out of doing what they should actually be doing. It’s especially easy to do this if you’re surrounded by lots of distractions that give you an excuse to put something off. So, try controlling your environment by removing most of those distractions. It is often best to do the thing you’d least like to do first, as all your avoidance tactics will often be aimed at putting off this one task. Just thinking of the reasons why that task should be done should be enough to make you do it.

7. Get organized!

Being disorganized only wastes time. Think about the time you spend each day trying to locate something in the workplace or at home. You may need to declutter your living and working environment in order to operate more efficiently. Put things that you don’t need well out of the way — or get rid of them! — and give things that you frequently use a regular home, so you will know where to find them in the future.

8. Delegate

It seems obvious, but you can free more time up for yourself by getting others to do jobs for you! The idea is to hand over any tasks that someone else can do — particularly if they can do them faster or just as well as you. This can be applied in both your work and home environments. Why not hand over the washing up to the kids in return for the lift you’re going to give them later? In the workplace, consider delegating to a colleague: you never know, they may even welcome being given that particular task — especially if they are good at it!

9. Multi-task

It is possible to do a few things at the same time to get the most out of the time available. We’re not talking about a massive overload — just combining your tasks well. For example, while you are out on a run you could listen to that "learn a foreign language" tape that you've always wanted to listen to. Or if you’re travelling on the train, you might be able to catch up on a good book, or even do a bit of work on your laptop. Planning to do a "fun" activity alongside a routine task will allow you to make the most of whatever it is that you’re doing.

10. Learn to say ‘no’

Learning not to put all the pressure on yourself by saying "no" can be one of the best things to do to free up some time. If someone asks you to do something, ask yourself questions such as "Is it my responsibility?" or "Am I the best person for the job?" If the answer is "no," then don’t take on that particular task. We’re not suggesting that you look for reasons to get out of everything, of course, and you shouldn’t always say "no" when asked to help out — but not being the dumping ground for everyone else’s problems can definitely help to maximize the time you have available.

11. Keep concentrating

Keeping your focus on the job in hand can help to get it done in next to no time. The only way you can keep your focus is to avoid distractions — whether these are from people or other external influences. Being properly organized helps you to initially focus, but only by avoiding disruptions will you be able to maintain that focus throughout your tasks and activities. If you really need to get on with something, lock yourself away and switch off your phone until you’ve completed a particular task. You’ll have plenty of time later to reply to any messages or missed calls!

12. Look after yourself

Nobody can be on the go all the time — if you were, you’d soon suffer from burnout! Taking time out and looking after yourself is important, because you will then be able to reach your peak physical and mental levels when necessary. Maintaining a healthy balance in your life should ensure that you respond in the right way and in an efficient manner to problems and tasks — so that whatever needs doing doesn’t take any longer than it should do! Read more on www.realbuzz.com.

The Problem with Wealth

I have always been an advocate of proper money management and financial planning. I’ve written hundreds of articles & blogs about it and have spoken in hundreds of seminars reminding people to manage their money properly and achieve financial freedom. In fact, sometimes I find myself like a ‘sirang-plaka’ because I say the same things over and over again. The financial education of many Filipinos though improving is still far from ideal and many of our brothers are misguided with regards to handling money.

But that’s not what I am writing about this time. While they are definitely a small minority in this nation, some have gone the opposite route when it comes to money and have amassed a sizable fortune in their lifetime. There are quite a number of people who have embraced money as if it is the answer to all their questions in life and that money is the end goal. Money being a source of true joy is wishful thinking as wealth is insatiable – many will not achieve satisfaction until they are consumed by the quest for wealth. My friend Jayson Lo often says that “the best financial principle is contentment” and I say amen!

Money is important, there is no denying that – in fact Zig Ziglar once said that “Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the ‘gotta have it’ scale.” Money is a tool that allows one to get the best in life and it is a powerful tool in being a blessing to others. In a TV appearance at ANC’s On The Money, I told Edric Mendoza (the host) that ‘money is just money’ – it’s what you do with money that really counts. While financial responsibility is definitely a given and we need to save and invest to secure our future, we need to be mindful that ‘money is just money’ and not the end goal. It is sad to see a lot of wealthy people who become so attached to their wealth that they are forgetting to be generous; the ability to be a blessing is a privilege that the Lord has bestowed upon us. I now realize that the ability to create wealth and wealth in itself is something that comes from the Lord himself and while I believe God wants to bless us, He also has a purpose for the wealth He allows us to have.

During a recent discussion at a small group with one of my mentors, Atty. Banjo Navarro – he cautioned us that money is a very powerful idol that can keep us away from establishing a real relationship with God. He said that it is very hard to call yourself a real believer of Christ if you have issues of parting with your wealth. A believer who religiously goes to church and even one who tithes can be so enamoured with his money that he can’t help others even if he was given an opportunity to do so – and totally forgetting the teachings of Jesus himself.

A good reminder to all of us can be found in the book of life (as always):

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12:16-21, NLT

Like anything in life, it’s all about the balance. Don’t take money for granted but don’t make money your everything.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Luke 12:34, NIV

Randell Tiongson is an advocate of Life & Personal Finance. He is a Director of the Registered Financial Planner Institute (Phils.) and has over 20 years experience in the financial services industry. For speaking engagements, financial planning, training and consultancy, send an e-mail to randell@randelltiongson.com. To read his personal finance blogs, visit www.randelltiongson.com.

After “The Kitchen Musical,” Kapamilya singer-host Karylle will appear in another international television series.

The “It’s Showtime” host landed a guest role in the Singaporean action-drama series “Point of Entry,” according to a report of the entertainment website Push.

Launched in 2010, “Point of Entry” is said to a top-rating series in Singapore.

According to the official website of MediaCorp, the network that airs the series, “Point of Entry” is a 1-hour action drama about an elite team of ICA special agents, and their fight to keep Singapore’s borders safe from smuggling and illegal immigration by land, sea and air.

The show stars Singaporean stars Carl Ng, Fadhila Samsudin and Bernard Tan.

For her guest appearance in the series, Karylle will reportedly film scenes in Singapore for nine days, and in the Philippines for four days.

The singer-host’s stint in “Point of Entry” is her second high-profile involvement in an international series, the first being the award-winning “The Kitchen Musical.”

For her role as Maddie in the series, Karylle was nominated for Best Actress for in the 52nd Monte Carlo TV Festival. “The Kitchen Musical” also won a bronze medal for best performance for the entire cast at the 2012 New York Festival.

(Story courtesy of ABS-CBN News)