An underwater robot crafted by Filipino engineers won the top award in the annual Aquatic Technology Competition and Marketplace (ATCOM) sponsored by a government research council.

A research titled “Cream of Tilapia” placed second, while another on a vaccine that could protect tilapia from bacterial attack was third.

The researchers of the new award-winning technologies recently received cash prizes and plaques during a program marking the observance of the 20th anniversary of the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD).

ATCOM, according to PCAMRD executive director Rafael Guerrero III, is an annual activity of the council during which outstanding technologies are cited for their significant contributions to the country’s aquatic and marine industry and to the national economy as a whole.

With Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro as its guest speaker, the anniversary celebration had for its theme “Innovative Strategies for Technology Commercialization.”

Named Angel One ROV or Angel I Mk. 2, the remotely operated underwater robot was manufactured by Roboteknik, a start-up company formed by former students of the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) and Indiana Aerospace University.

It was the robot’s first generation that won the ATCOM first prize, which carried a cash prize of P150,000 and a plaque of recognition. Michael Poblete of Poblete Inc. in Kawit, Cavite received the award.

Perlita Tiburcia of the Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya received the award (P100,000 and a plaque) for the second prize (Cream of Tilapia).

Third placer was the research project titled “Autogenous Multivalent Vaccine against Fish Bacterial Pathogens such as Aeromoenas hydrophila and Streptococcus Inise” by the researchers of the Central Luzon State University-Freshwater Aquaculture Center (CLSU-FAC) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Apolinario Yambot received the P30,000 cash prize and plaque.

The underwater robot was the result of years of extensive testing and engineering.

The operator or pilot who controls the robot remains safely on the ship or boat while the ROV transmits live video footage.

The vehicle can extensively monitor coral reefs with convenience and ease and its operation is much less expensive than that of human divers.

Moreover, it can spot possible areas that may leak and thus prevent oil spills. It can also scan pipelines and detect sources of leaks, and those that need repair.

Further, the robot can more extensively inspect offshore and inland structures (reservoirs, dams, potable water tanks, dikes, and canals) than human divers, thus better protecting the structures from failure through early detection of possible failure points.

via philstar.

Internationally-acclaimed South Forbes Golf City, the 500-hectare flagship all-themed golf resort community development of Cathay Land, Inc. at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay growth corridor, has recently revealed its plans to launch at least 10 projects this year.

South Forbes’ themed Residential Cluster will comprise the bulk of the developments this year:

Escape to Serenity. Every opportunity to relax and enjoy the leisure afforded by a community dedicated to an appreciation of life’s pleasures and the ultimate tropical island experience is found at the Thai-inspired Phuket Estates, the second phase to the fast-selling Phuket Mansions — now with mostly prime ridge lots that overlook a flowing brook or a verdant forest.

Ciao Italia. As all roads lead to Rome, so it does to the Italian villa-styled Castel Romana. Four model villas — Navona, Trevi, Spada and Borghese — spell luxury, elegance, and comfort in the modern age with a touch of old world charm. Set on a higher elevation, the cool Tagaytay-like weather sets the mood for picnics on the open field or relishing a sumptuous pasta dish or aromatic espresso at the village ristorante.

Asian Wonders. The modern Singaporean-inspired Sentosa Heights is like an island village surrounded by the golf course, while the chic Hong Kong-Chinese style in Victoria Peak will have both forest locations as much as fairway lots. The spacious Stamford and Raffles model units will surely fascinate residents and their guests with its intrepid architecture enhanced by the impressive views. Fairway lots ranging from 500-1400 square meters will initially sell at P19,000 per square meter.

Condo Living. Following the five-building Golf View Terraces and the twin-tower Scandia Suites, two more condominium cluster projects, namely the Asian modern Fullerton with office units on the lower levels and the Art Deco Miami Delano located beside the Ayala Westgrove Retail Plaza and St. Scholastica’s College, will be launched. Both offer a different mix of unit types and sizes in each building to accommodate a wider market.

As many exciting projects are soon to launch this year, South Forbes is now a thriving community with a lot of buyers constructing their homes and moving in. So move in right here, right now. Call 635-7777 or 631-8855 for a free city tour and a complimentary round of golf.

via philstar.

Sweet sorghum, now touted as a potential source of ethanol for biofuels production, can thrive in the Bicol Region.

This is attested by results of a study titled “Sweet sorghum technology evaluation and commercialization program in Bicol Region.”

The project is a collaborative undertaking of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and DA-Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (BIARC).

It is an expansion of the program on sweet sorghum varietal testing of BAR and MMSU, a multi-campus university in Ilocos Norte.

The project at MMSU was started two years ago with the support (particularly seeds) provided by the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) headed by former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar.

Initial results showed that five sweet sorghum varieties (SPV-422, NTJ-2, ICSV-93034, ICSV-700, and ICSV-93-46) have been found to suit Philippine conditions, as found at MMSU, and are thus ready for commercialization and varietal testing in other regions.

BIARC, headed by Dr. Elena de los Santos, was the fist to do the varietal testing among the other regions.

Preliminary results showed that stalks production, grain yield, and sugar content were highest in SPV-422 as compared to the other varieties.

Aside from ethanol, products that can be derived from sweet sorghum are wine, vinegar, jaggery (brown sugar), syrup, cookies, pops, flour, livestock feed, and organic fertilizer.

via philstar.

The Philippines is now the fourth largest shipbuilding country in the world, President Arroyo said Thursday during the courtesy call of Basil Ph Papachristidis, chairman of the Greek shipping company Hellespont.

Mrs. Arroyo said three shipbuilding companies have since set up shop in the Philippines, the first with a $700-million investment, followed by Hanjin with $6 billion, and the latest locator with $1.9 billion in investments, and which just signed a lease agreement for a piece of land in Mindanao, a Palace statement said.

Papachristidis paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Arroyo to propose the creation of a Philippine shipping company in cooperation with the Aboitizes.

The shipping executive was accompanied to the Palace by Endika Aboitiz, who said Hellespont wants to set up shop in the Philippines because the company prefers Filipino seamen.

The Philippines has become the “largest seafaring nation in the world,” with some 250,000 Filipino seamen making up 22 percent of the total ship crew worldwide, Aboitiz added.

Aboitiz said the shipping industry would like to seek the help of Mrs. Arroyo in getting Filipino youth to become seamen.

The Aboitiz Group of Companies celebrated its hundredth year in business yesterday.

Starting in 1907 with one ship dubbed “Picket” that transported hemp for trading across the Philippines, the Aboitiz family business has since “developed into a total transport solutions enterprise” moving passengers and cargo.

In 1975, Aboitiz pioneered containerization in the Philippines, offering door-to-door services.

By 1981, Aboitiz Air became the first all-cargo airline in the country, and later added its Superferry line in 1990.

via philstar.

Every year, there are about three million tourists whose desire to travel is fuelled by the natural attractions of the Philippines.

The country is home to the famed beaches of Boracay, the majestic slope of Mayon Volcano as well as the remarkable rice terraces of Banaue; and with the addition of the Philippines’ first integrated coastal enclave, the country is poised to introduce a new buzzword in Philippine tourism: Hamilo Coast.

Envisioned to become the new eco-tourism hotspot, Hamilo Coast strives to combine the ease of urban living with the leisurely ideals of a coastal destination. The pioneer eco-tourism project of SM Investments Corporation is set apart not only by its adherence to global standards in urban planning and design, but the attention it places on environmental preservation.

The property is easily accessible via a scenic two and half hour drive from Manila or 90-minute ferry boat ride from SM Bay City. As the development strives to combine commercial convenience and residential comfort, residents and tourists can expect the beauty of nature to shine amid the ease of living within a vibrant coastal community. The natural wonders of Hamilo Coast is apparent in the soothing waters that surround the property, the miles of white sand that hug the shore and the 13 natural coves set against the panoramic views of the sprawling coast.

Hamilo Coast is an Eco-Tourism Project of SM Investments Corporation that enlivens a vision of Tourism-Real Estate; a truly-world class development that all Filipinos can be proud of and enjoy for generations to come. For more information, visit www.hamilocoast.com or email info@hamilocoast.com.

What he only wished and prayed for was a seamless performance. What he got was the grand prize in the Asia-Pacific Bartending Championships in Beijing, China last month.

What Matthew Burgos showed in the annual regional bartending meet was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Bartending, Matthew agrees, is more than just spinning and tossing bottles in the air.

“I mix and concoct drinks basically,” describes the Hotel, Restaurant and Institute Management graduate of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde of his job. “I do flair routine to entertain guests and make them stay. Bartending is like a come-on to entice people to dine in. But what I like and enjoy about it is, I meet a lot of people and get to know them.”

Matthew’s people skills helped him win first the yearly T.G.I.Friday’s inter-store bartending competition here participated by representatives from seven branches of the restaurant chain before joining the Asia-Pacific championships. Prior to his more than a year stint as bartender at T.G.I.F.-Robinsons Galleria, Matthew was a fixture in national and inter-universities bartending contests representing his school. It’s not surprising to those close to Matthew that he would most likely take this career path and win in bigger competitions.

Matthew looks forward to quenching his customers’ thirst and aweing them with his routine night after night. This makes Matthew the perfect Philippine representative, not only to China, but also to Las Vegas for the World Bartending Championships set in March next year. Eric Martinez, Matthew’s trainer, is the current winner of the World Bartending Championships.

In the two-day Asia-Pacific competition, Matthew beat nine other bartenders and went through two elimination rounds: Compulsory and freestyle.

Compulsory, where Matthew ranked fourth, saw participants taking a series of written examinations. It tested their technical knowledge, skills and accuracy on bartending. The delegates even asked to study and mix drinks unfamiliar to them.

Freestyle, on the other hand, dealt with flair bartending/routine skills. Participants mixed cocktails and flipped bottles. Matthew ranked first in this round. A big percentage of the participants’ total scores came from freestyle. Matthew says his closest rival in the bartending meet was the representative from Taiwan.

With his recent win in China, Matthew has the chance to represent Asia in the World Bartending Championships and competing with contestants from Europe and the Americas.

Matthew attributes his win to his smooth performance, six times a week training and prayers.

To get the judges’ nod, Matthew had to treat them like guests who deserve 100-percent attention in their dining needs. His background music of tribal and house added pizzazz to his presentation, adds Matthew.

Will T.G.I.F.-Philippines bring home the World Bartending Championships title for the second time?

Eric’s winning style will hopefully rub off on Matthew next year in Vegas.

Despite the swirling controversy over the government’s broadband network deal with a Chinese firm, the United States considers the Philippines a “great place to do business,” owing to the dedication and energy of Filipino workers.

Kenney, however, refused to comment on the controversial ZTE broadband deal which has been the subject of a Senate inquiry following information that a number of government officials received kickbacks and even offered bribes.

Reports have it that US-firm Arescom and the Filipino-firm Amsterdam Holdings Inc. had submitted lower bids for a broadband network service, but the Department of Transportation and Communications chose ZTE’s $329-million offer. The deal turned out to be riddled with controversy.

When asked if Arescom will still participate in the bidding in case the ZTE deal is scrapped, Kenney answered, “I honestly don’t know that… I can’t answer that.”

Earlier reports indicated that the US government had expressed concern, manifested through a letter by Kenney urging then economic planning chief Romulo Neri not to rush the project and “carefully consider and review” the interest expressed by other parties, including American firms.

Kenney attributed the enthusiasm of the American investors to put their money in the Philippines to the improving peace and order situation, crediting the PNP under Director General Oscar Calderon for this.

Kenney also expressed optimism on the appointment of Calderon’s successor, Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr.

Kenney also refused to react to the alleged rivalry between the US and China raised by Sen. Miriam Santiago during the first Senate hearing on the ZTE deal.

Source of news.

At least 800,000 hectares planted to hybrid rice (HR) can make the Philippines self-sufficient in this cereal.

This was asserted by Henry Lim Bon Liong, chairman chief executive officer of SL Agritech Corp., the country’s top hybrid rice producer.

ST Agritech maintains a 40-ha research and demonstration (R&D) farm at Barangay Ogong in this capital town situated about 100 kilometers southeast of Manila. It also has 700-ha production area in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Lim stressed hybrid rice’s potential in making the country self-sufficient in this crop to officers of the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ) who visited SL Agritech’s R&D farm here recently.

At present, according to government statistics, average yield from inbred (ordinary) rice varieties is only 2.8 tons per hects. Average yield of a hybrid rice variety is 6.5 t/ha.

Of the country’s 4.2-ha farmlands devoted to rice, only about 300,000 ha are planted to hybrid varieties.

The country is expected to produce 17.3 million metric tons of palay (11.2 million mt milled rice) this year but the requirement is 12.1 million mt.

Lim told the agriculture journalists that those planting the three percent — 8M hybrid rice variety bred by his corporation have been averaged 8-10 t/ha. But there are exceptional farmers who have been harvesting much more.

One is Adelaida Badong of Baao, Camarines Sur, who reaped 344 cav/ha in 2005. Another, Fernando Gabuyo of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, produced 355 cav/ha.

Once, Lim told the journalists, a team of SL Agritech, while on to Cagayan Valley, spotted a tricycle bearing a small streamer on which were emblazoned the words “Katas ng SL — 8M”. When interviewed, the driver said he had earned from planting the hybrid rice variety enough to buy two tricycles and to purchase two more hectares of ricefields to add up to his original two ha.

But a few others have become millionaires because of HR. Example is a young farmer who netted P115,000/ha in his 18-ha farm.

In the latest cropping season, some farmers in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, who planted HR also average 10 /tha.

Lim asked the government, with media’s support, to intensify its information program to increase farmers’ awareness on the potentials of hybrid rice.

As it is, he said, more than 90 percent of the country’s farmers have not chosen to plant HR for one reason or another.

Moreover, there are those who continue to criticize the HR program.

Lim did not elaborate, but from this corner’s observations, the disparaging words came from the usual government critics and from farmers themselves who tried the technology but failed because they did not meticulously follow the recommendations in growing hybrid rice.

Once, a Southeast Asian group accused the government of implementing the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program “even in the absence of proofs that it does increase farmers’ yields.”

A daily newspaper (not The STAR) also had headlined a news report branding hybrid rice as “fit only for animals.”

But the “swivel-chair critics” conveniently glossed over success stories.

“Hybrid rice production is not a lazy man’s job,” outstanding San Mateo (Isabela)) HR farmer Honorato Maningas stressed when interviewed by researchers Imelda Olvida, Charisma Love Gado, and Salembai Abdullah of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).

“Some of them (other farmers) are lazy, stubborn, and impatient,” he said.

San Mateo farmer Flor Ramento also volunteered: “My highest yield in inbred rice was only 120 cav/ha. With hybrid, my highest yield was 180 cav/ha. From my profit, I was able to buy farm machines. More important, my children finished schooling (accounting and nursing) through my earnings from hybrid rice.”

Down south, Renerio Guevarra of Digos City, Davao del Sur, told PhilRice: “As long as I use hybrid rice, I get a yield of at least 13 t/ha.

Badong also advised: “Mas maganda siguro kung subukan muna nilang (critics) magtanim ng hybrid rice para ma-experience din nila. Kaya siguro nila nasasabi yung mga negatibong bagay na yan kasi hindi pa nila nasusubukan. Nakikinig lamang sila siguro sa sabi-sabi.” [source of good news]

After the Japanese and the Korean “invasion” this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking forward to a Chinese invasion in 2008.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said with the DOT’s successful marketing missions this year, more tourists and retired nationals from China are expected to visit the country in 2008.

“We anticipate a surge of arrivals from China in 2008 as a result of the successful endeavor during the recently held China International Travel Mart (CITM),” Durano said.

The Philippines’ promotional efforts during the CITM even won the “Best Participation,” Durano said, as he expressed confidence that the event would set the momentum for a higher number of arrivals from China.

According to Durano, CITM is one of the largest travel events in Asia, staged alternately between the cities of Kunming and Shanghai. [source of good news]

ATM operator BancNet has two new bank members bringing the total to 33 banking institutions. The new members are Allied Savings Bank and Producers Bank.

Allied Savings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allied Bank and has 18 branches mostly located in Southern Luzon. Producers Bank, on the other hand, is a rural bank with a network of 39 branches located in Northern and Central Luzon and in the Bicol region.

The ATM cardholders of these banks and cooperatives will be able to get cash and know their account balances wherever there are BancNet, ExpressNet and MegaLink ATM.

There are over 7,400 ATMs and 21 million ATM cards nationwide.

However, they can pay their bills and purchases using their ATM card only in BancNet ATMs and payment terminals, BancNet said in a statement.

BancNet being a multi-channel network, these cardholders can also transact through www.bancnetonline.com and BancNet mobile banking.

On the other hand, the ATMs of these banks represent additional cash access points for over 16 million cardholders of the three ATM consortia when they are in remote areas of the country.

BancNet chairman Angelito M. Villanueva said that these alliances are in line with the consortium’s thrust to bring electronic banking to the countryside.

As of the end of 2007, BancNet had 5.5 million cardholders and 2,621 ATMs.

Meanwhile, the Social Security System (SSS) opened an Internet-based payment system for individual members using BancNet’s online facility. Only individual members who are BancNet ATM cardholders of participating banks can pay their contributions through BancNet Online without enrolling. Under the online facility, payments will be remitted to SSS through electronic transfer. [source of good news]