Miss Saigon’s Filipino actors dominate London stage awards

The Filipino actors of the West End revival of Miss Saigon led the record haul of awards at the 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards.

The Cameron Mackintosh production was the night’s big winner at the audience-votes only major theatre awards with lead Eva Noblezada winning the Best Actress in a Musical, Jon Jon Briones for Best Actor in a Musical, and Rachelle Ann Go for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Miss Saigon also won four other individual awards for Kwang-Ho-Hong, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Best Direction for Laurence Connor, Best Choreography for Bob Ayian and Geoffrey Garratt, and Best Set Design for Totite Driver and Matt Kinley.

The Miss Saigon dominance of the awards night was clinched by the Best Musical Revival and Best West End Show awards, giving the production a total of 9 WOS trophies.

The show at the Prince Edward Theatre led every category in the nominations process.

Mackintosh, who produced the original stage production at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in 1989 said of the show’s big win, “”I’ve always known that the public knows best so I am delighted that the new Miss Saigon has swept the board with a record breaking nine awards including Best Musical Revival and Best West End Show and I’m thrilled for all our other winners as well, especially the extraordinary achievement of our four leading Asian performers winning the top acting awards.”

Miss Saigon is the story of an American marine and an orphaned Saigon lass-turned-prostitute who find comfort in each other during the Vietnam war.

The West End revival of the show marked its 25th anniversary since Lea Salonga first enthralled the theatre world as Kim.

Noblezada, picked by Mackintosh straight out of high school in North Carolina, took over the lead role of the Vietnamese teenager’s tragic character.

Manila-born actor Briones was with Salonga in the original 1989 West End production of Miss Saigon, returning to play the lead role of the engineer in the revival.

Filipino singer Rachelle Ann Go left a successful Philippine career to join the West End production.

Mackintosh said Miss Saigon’s exploration of cross-cultural relationships and misunderstandings remained more pertinent than ever.

“I always knew that this show would speak to this audience and it’s marvellous it has drawn in such a diverse audience,” said Mackintosh.

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/miss-saigons-filipino-actors-dominate-london-stage-awards/#sthash.SmrQLKR9.dpuf

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ARKO mobile app triumphs in Abu Dhabi summit

A Philippine-made mobile application for tracking weather was adjudged as one of the world’s best mobile producers at the recent World Summit Award Mobile (WSA-mobile) in Abu Dhabi.

The ARKO mobile application, developed by Project NOAH of the Philippine

government’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in collaboration with Filipino IT company Pointwest Technologies, was a winner in the m-Inclusion & Empowerment category.

The Filipino innovation is one of the 40 winners recognized at the 3rd WSA-mobile Global Congress. Over 500 mobile applications from 30 United Nations member states from North and South America, Western Europe, Africa, Russia, Middle East, South and East Asia vied for the recognition.

The finalist recognition is the first time in 10 years that the Philippines reached the top 40 list.

The official WSA-mobile announcement on the ARKO win presented the unique value and relevance of the app for the Philippines which experiences an average of 20 typhoons yearly.

The app hopes to address the need for more information during major rains and flooding, giving the user access to extensive Project NOAH and DOST databases through the ARKO mobile app and the Project NOAH website.

With ARKO, the user can receive minute-by-minute updates on rainfall warnings and other weather conditions such as flooding. The app provides floor hazard maps and safe locations for evacuation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro presented the ARKO app before the Filipino community. Liboro said that with the Internet and technology, overseas Filipinos can provide information to alert their families in the Philippines.

Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, Executive Director of Project NOAH, noted the value of the information provided by the ARKO app, “Awareness is the first step towards disaster preparedness.”

The Pointwest Technologies delegation was led by its President Ma. Cristina Coronel and Executive Director Ma. Josefina Reyes.

The World Summit Award Mobile (WSA-mobile) is a global initiative to select and promote the world’s best in mobile content and innovative applications within the framework of, and in cooperation with, the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003-2015, mandated by the WSIS Plan of Action and executed in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (UN GAID).

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/arko-mobile-app-triumphs-in-abu-dhabi-summit/#sthash.APcjHSeb.dpuf

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PH emerges as ideal market for growing life science sector

Source: yahoo.com

Philippines is now emerging as an ideal market for the growing life science sector, which involves business venture in both local and worldwide health care industry.

“Aging populations, chronic and lifestyle diseases, emerging-market expansion, and treatment and technology advances are expected to spur life sciences sector growth in 2015,” an international professional service firm said.

In a research done by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, it was mentioned that major life sciences companies in the world are expected to continue expanding their presence in emerging markets through acquisitions and joint ventures.

Leading organizations have also began looking beyond the traditional emerging markets of Brazil, China, India and Russia for opportunities to establish or increase their presence in next emerging markets, which includes the Philippines.

“Innovation is becoming the spearhead for life sciences companies looking to enter, grow and thrive in today’s market,” said Mohit Grover, Life Sciences and Health Care Leader for Deloitte Southeast Asia.

In the past, Southeast Asia was generally viewed by life sciences companies as secondary to traditional mainstay markets due to lower purchasing power and overall health care system maturity.

Just this month, a United States medical trade mission arrived in the Philippines, bringing with it some eight US companies in the healthcare industry that met with potential distributors and visited local hospitals and healthcare facilities to learn about their operations.

“Considering that we have more than 100,000 people graduating annually in medical fields, our healthcare professionals are well-regarded for their excellent bedside manner, and the country is becoming increasingly popular as a retirement and medical tourism destination, the local healthcare sector is in a very good position to make significant expansions in terms of market and service offerings,” said Deloitte Philippines chief executive officer Greg Navarro.

This year, infrastructure improvements and foreign investment are also expected to jump-start local innovation in the sector in numerous forms, including locally based clinical trials to improve market access, shorten licensing approval periods, or produce a genuine pioneering product.

Moving forward, Deloitte emphasized that life sciences companies will need to demonstrate that they have active and comprehensive compliance programs across their business and clinical operations, including commercial, research and development, and supply chain.

Deloitte is a UK private company that provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, tax and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries.

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La Sallians engineer world-class foldable bicycles

Faculty members of the De La Salle University Gokongwei College of Engineering in Manila have designed, engineered and are fabricating by hand world-class quality foldable bicycles that showcase Filipino innovation.

The idea for the invention came about when to Engr. Isidro Marfori III went to Engr. Carl Mamawal for a suitable foldable bike he can use for his 3-kilomenter commute to DLSU, since the ones available in the market did not fit him.

The resulting NYFTI bikes actually won the 2nd IdeaSpace Startup Competition with its handmade full-size geometrty bicycle with the smallest fold volume.

The three-fold design transforms the bike into the fold, park, and cart modes. The design allows the bike to fit into spaces suitable for bi-modal travel for city dwellers and have since been brought aboard Manila’s MRT, buses and even airplanes.

The NYFTI, which was launched in the 1st Philippine Bike Expo at the World Trade Center, is built with tough and light chromoly alloy steel, and weighs approximately 10 kilograms. The handmade bike has 8-speed gears and 16-inch wheels.

NYFTI Chief Executive Officer Mamawal was recently recognized as one of the Top 10 Business Leaders to Watch Out for in 2015.

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/la-sallians-engineer-world-class-foldable-bicycles/#sthash.LCljEQtn.dpuf

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Pinoy solar bottle bulb wins international light award

A Filipino social enterprise distributing do-it-yourself house lamps, lanterns, and streetlights to impoverished communities has won the prestigious 7th Zayed Future Energy Prize 2015.

MyShelter Foundation’s A Liter of Light project won the world’s biggest award for renewable energy and sustainability in the Non-Profit Organization category for its ingenious solar bottle bulb which reuses empty plastic soda one-liter bottles, turning them into solar-powered light bulbs.

Founder and Executive Director Illac Diaz of the A Liter of Light project leads his team in teaching communities how to manufacture and install the solar light bulbs, in the process collaborating with local governments to install 12,000 solar bottle bulbs, providing light for 10,000 homes in Manila and surrounding Philippine provinces.

The technology is simple enough, developed by Diaz after coming across the original bottle light technology while studying alternative architecture and urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The repurposed plastic bottle is filled with bleached water, installed on the roof, and as sunlight is refracted through the water and coursed into the room, a solar-powered 55-watt bulb is lighted up.

The night lights version uses a small solar panel, four LED lights, a simple circuit, a battery, some plastic tubing, and the plastic soda bottle. The resulting three-watt bulbs provide enough light to a 15 square meter area. The circuits are designed to automatically switch on and off when detecting the presence or absence of daylight. A 10-ft PVC pipe can transform the bulbs to street lights.

The project was launched in 2011, and a YouTube video showing the simple DIY installation of solar bottle bulb has gone viral. The project has since gone global with 53 country chapters reaching Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Italy, Paris, and the United States making possible the installation of 350,000 day lights and about 15,000 night lights worldwide.

“Ours is a story about the power of harnessing open source technologies and sharing them with young people around the world who are keen to solve energy poverty in their own communities,” said Diaz of the project’s success. “Sometimes the solutions that work best come from developing countries, from the bottom up, since they have to manage the greatest impact with the least resources.”

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/pinoy-solar-bottle-bulb-wins-international-light-award/#sthash.c7XBxdPK.dpuf

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DreamWorks opens 1st global indoor theme park in Manila

Dreamworks Animation is set to open its first indoor theme park outside Hollywood this March.

The theme park is designed exclusively for the City of Dreams entertainment centre in Roxas Boulevard, Manila and introduces “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” a new approach to learning and family entertainment with its interactive activities inspired by an educational play centre.

The interactive entertainment concept “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” employs hands on activities featuring characters from their movies.

The theme park promises to be the perfect place for fans of DreamWorks movies and families looking to unwind and have fun with their favourite characters from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and many more.

Fans who wish to learn How to Train Your Dragon can become a dragon rider, learn Kung Fu from Master Shifu himself, bake cookies with Gingy the gingerbread man and hang out with the Penguins of Madagascar as their favourite characters come to life with the theme park’s various DreamPlay attractions.

Activities include 4D theatres, cooking, toy building, games and wall climbing. Parents, kids and adults who wish to relax after hours of play can eat at the DreamWorks Café. Dim sum, pizza, ice cream and other family favourites are on the menu

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/dreamworks-opens-1st-global-indoor-theme-park-in-manila/#sthash.NdmU64NE.dpuf

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Amin Hataman invents biodegradable plastic from nata de coco

A Filipino teen from Mindanao has invented biodegradable plastic from nata de coco, an edible derivative of the coconut.

Amin Hataman’s invention won the grand prize at the 8th International Young Inventors Project Olympiad (IYIPO) in Georgia, USA.

IYIPO promotes scientific research and scholarly experience to young scientist-students in the field of Biology, Chemistry, Computer, Physics and Mathematics.

Haman’s entry bested over 40 official entries from dozens of elementary and high school students from around the globe who joined the international inventors’ competition.

Nata de coco is a translucent, jelly-like, chewy edible product resulting from the fermentation of coconut water, which forms into a gel through the production of Acetobacter Xylinum, a microbial cellulose.

Nata de coco is a Filipino native delicacy, most commonly sweetened as a candy or dessert.

Hataman is a student of the Fountain International School, a Cambridge School which serves multicultural and multinational communities in Metro Manila.

Hataman is the oldest son of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman and Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman.

Governor Hataman has reportedly directed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-ARMM to conduct a study on the invention for its potentially good impact to the environment.

The younger Hataman’s biodegradable multi-purpose plastic invention developed out of edible coconut dissolves three weeks after being exposed to the elements.

- See more at: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/amin-hataman-invents-biodegradable-plastic-nata-de-coco/#sthash.w4sBGU3I.dpuf

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