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ThrowbackSeries: Call him Doc Dekong

He’s been known as a brilliant man – doing well in philosophical writings and teaching. Not resting on his laurels, he further studied The Research Process at the University of Manchester.

This is one subject that is very “personal” to me. He is not only a friend but someone whom I respect and look up to. Our solid connection perhaps is becoming both a product of a college campus paper called The Catalyst, the official student publications of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Up to this day, I treasure a copy of The Catalyst Journal of Ideas, wherein he analyzed the subject of “The Writer and His Conscience.” Says he: “Every thinker or writer must take a distinctively principled and firm position whenever he writes and/or theorizes his craft or his literature.”

I’ve known him to be a brilliant man – doing well in philosophical writings and teaching. Not resting on his laurels, he further studied The Research Process at the University of Manchester. When he decided to run for the presidency of PUP, I was delighted and prayed for his victory.

After the late Doc Prudente, this is my second time to be featuring another (former) president of PUP, Dr. Emmanuel C. De Guzman, or Doc Dekong to his friends and associates.  It is my honor to be sharing this piece with all the readers of Ruby’s Precious Moments:

What was your profession before becoming the president of PUP?

I was taken in by the Department of Sociology right after graduation. So I started teaching right away in 1991 but I had other jobs like writing scripts for television for Business and Leisure in Sunshine TV. I also worked as an NGO writer. That’s basically my thing – writing and teaching.

How did you cope up with the changes since 1991?

It’s not entirely different because I’ve been working in the same environment in PUP but the lifestyle has already changed since I wouldn’t go out of the house without bodyguards. You know being the president, I have to go out with security.

Do you have a militant student population?

Yes, the school is known for that. In fact, when I was a student, I took part in activism in PUP but not the more radical type.

What are the obstacles or challenges that you encounter now that you are the new president of PUP?

Working with my bosses as president. Formerly, I was the Director of Research in the university and now I have to adjust to the way I address them and the way that they address me. The challenge actually is to coordinate the university to follow my league towards my vision for the university.

What kind of lifestyle does the university president live?

Actually, I’m a sports fan. I’m not good at sports but I love watching and collecting data and following some teams in basketball. But I do play table tennis and basketball as well.

Among the PBA teams, which one is your favorite?

The team of James Yap, BMEG, I only watch PBA nowadays when it is already the championship.

What is your daily schedule?

Basically, I’m preparing myself for work, traveling to school with my bodyguards, the convoy of vehicles. They have to be with me 24/7 even when I go out in the mall with my family.

Do the students asking for lower tuition fee rates have something to do with the need for security?

We cannot anymore lower the tuition fee rates because they are already too low. It is already Php12.00 per unit. No, there had been incidents in PUP that already took the lives of some officials like the ambush of the Vice President for Administration, and even before that, there were other incidents that every time the leadership changes, some of these things happened and I think that it is not only in PUP where these forms of violence happened but in other state universities as well.

How do you balance time for family, friends, and social activities outside your job?

It is very difficult to balance my time because I lost a lot of reading time since I became president. I cannot read as much as I want and my time with my family is mixed with work. My wife for instance would wait for me in the mall when I go out of the office to buy something so definitely my time with my family has been diminished drastically.

How many kids do you have?

I have three kids, one is done with college. I got kids early.

Do you have any favorite books or authors?

I’m a sociologist so I used to read academic books, sociology, theories for instance, but I also read novels. My favorite book is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. He is a novelist and a social commentator.

Who has been your greatest inspiration behind all of your achievements to date?

There is no single person but if you are really asking me, well I think it is Doc  Prudente, the former president of PUP. I was a student when he was the president and he was the one who took me to PUP to work as a member of the academe.

Are there other school presidents who serve as inspiration?

No one in particular.

What advice can you give to the students? To those who will be given scholarships, what important factors do they need to go through?

As a sociologist, I always tell my students to not just be limited within the school or I mean classroom. There are other things to learn from outside the school and they could participate in other activities like discussing issues out there, even joining rallies. But they should not forget when they should not abandon or neglect their studies.

What changes have you implemented or want to implement?

The first major change that I want to institute is the organization or classification of the colleges. We have 16 colleges in the university and I want to merge some to lessen the number of colleges and to rationalize the discipline within the colleges.

What is PUP most known for academically?

Accountancy is the academic niche that we have and Engineering is coming in as another area of excellence so I think we could do well in these professions.

How many campuses do you have?

We have 22 campuses including the main campus in Sta. Mesa all over Luzon. We don’t have one in Visayas and Mindanao.

Are there any plans of opening new PUP campuses?

I was planning to when I was running for the position but I just found out now that there was a memorandum on building new campuses from CHED. The Commission on Higher Education doesn’t want to create any more local satellites.

Why should one choose PUP?

Because we are in the Top 3 state universities in the country and we are the cheapest, Php12.00 per unit, you can get a quality education for such a small fee. The regular load of a student per semester only costs around Php800 to Php1,000 pesos. Three units per subject so that is around Php36.00 pesos per subject and we have two semesters per year. Summer classes are not mandatory. They are for those with deficiencies and regular summer enrollment.

For admissions or applications, are they available online or should they go to campus?

We have computerized enrollment, even computerized in giving out of grades, so they can enroll online, pay in the bank. We are all computerized now in PUP.

For transferees or new students who want to enroll in PUP, what procedures do they have to go through?

They should go to the Admission Office personally because you are a transferee but once you get into the system, you can avail the computerized system that we have. But we have a very strict standard in accepting transferees. The transferee must have a 2.0 average and no failing grade.

On sports, do you have plans for PUP to join university games? 

We are a member of SCUAA and this is composed of state colleges and universities in Metro Manila but I wish that we can join UAAP.

What is there to look forward to in PUP?

I have been meeting the faculty of the different colleges and doing consultations with the students and leaders of the studentry.  I think the change is that we are veering more towards improving research in the university not just the “instructional”  but more on producing the materials that we teach – research and production of ideas.

By Ruby Asoy-Lebajo

Photos by Jowi Morales

(Based on the exclusive published article in the Style RPA, and excerpts of the interview from one of the episodes of Style RPA TV)

#EmmanuelDeGuzman #Dekong #FormerPUPPresident #PUP #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

                                 

 

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ThrowbackSeries: Ramon Magsaysay Jr.

The late President Magsaysay’s commitment to the Filipinos didn’t die with him. With Jun Magsaysay, he left behind a son to carry on the legacy.

Former Senator Ramon Banzon Magsaysay, Jr., is a self-made businessman, hardworking, God-fearing, compassionate, and, in every way, the son of the late Philippine President Ramon del Fiero Magsaysay and Luz Banzon-Magsaysay. He is the man of the masses and for the masses.

He was born in Manila in 1938. His father’s rise to the presidency taught Jun and his two sisters, Milagros and Teresita, the virtues of integrity and honesty and to have a strong passion for the welfare of the common man. Inside Malacanang, the Magsaysay’s lived humbly, untouched by selfish ambitions and unmarred by the lust for power.

With President Magsaysay’s sudden death in 1957, the 19-year-old Jun inherited greater responsibilities that enabled him to recognize the value of perseverance and hard work. He had to step out of his father’s protective shadow and assume the role of man of the house.

He spent most of his academic years at the De La Salle College, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He pursued his academic studies at the Harvard School of Business Administration in Boston, Massachusetts, and in New York’s University Graduate School of Business Administration. He returned to the country armed with skills and knowledge that would later become a powerful tool in shaping and developing a major industry in the country.

Magsaysay Jr. pioneered the country’s cable television business.  Today, with over 550 cable operators nationwide, cable television has turned into a billion-a-year industry.

During his years in the Senate, he worked for laws to improve the living conditions of the majority of the Filipino people. His programs and policies for the development of cooperatives and small enterprises are geared toward encouraging ordinary Filipinos to make use of their individual capabilities as they strive to attain their socio-economic goals.

Indeed, the late President Magsaysay’s commitment to the Filipinos didn’t die with him. With Jun Magsaysay, he left behind a son to carry on the legacy.

I asked him during a past interview: Is the state of Philippine politics maturing?

“I think so. The birth of people power in our country, which we shared with other nations everywhere, saw the emancipation of our country from politics of patronage to a system of governance where the voice of the people is no longer ignored. My mission is to further accelerate the country’s economic development and ensure that the masses of the people shall be the principal beneficiaries of growth,” shared the former senator, now 83 years old.

(Excerpts from a feature article published on Ahead magazine by the same author)

Featured photo courtesy of Ramon Magsaysay Jr. FB community page

#SenatorRamonMagsaysay #profile #throwbackseries #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

 

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Golden Feat: Hidilyn Diaz feels grateful for making her triumph “possible”

As the first Gold Medalist in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Hidilyn Diaz still couldn’t believe that she did it, and conceded that she couldn’t do it on her own, but her faith in the divine providence made everything possible. She posted and shared this message on her Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/hidilyndiaz/

“Di ako makapaniwala na nandito ako ngayon sa Olympics .
Di ako makapaniwala na matutuloy ang Olympics .
Di ako makapaniwala na nandito ang TeamHD.
Di ako makapaniwala na 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 ako sa Olympics .

Kung ako lang ito, di ko ito magagawa parang impossible. Salamat God sa pagdala ng mga tao, government support, private support, pamilya, kaibigan at prayer warriors para magawa ko ito at maging possible.
⠀
Jesus looked at them and said, “with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible,” Matthew 19:26.”

Team HD. Photo courtesy of hidilyndiaz on Instagram


Diaz continues to hog the headlines after she won the gold medal for the Weightlifting 55 kg category in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. With her mighty strength, focus, and determination, she bested two opponents from China (Q.Y. Liao) and Kazakhstan (Z. Chinshanlo). She cleared 127kg in her final lift in clean and jerk and finished with a total of 224kg lifted – both Olympic records.

Hidilyn Diaz was ecstatic after winning the gold medal for weightlifting at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Photo courtesy of Reuters / Edgard Garrido

Diaz is set to receive Php10 million from the government for bagging the historic first gold medal for the Philippines after nearly 100 years of Olympic gold dry spell. Meanwhile, a silver is worth Php5 million, while a bronze Php2 million, but additional pledges from various individuals have reached the total prize of Php35 million+ (to date, as per a recent report).

The Zamboanga City pride is now the most consummate Philippine Olympian. She’s not just a gold medalist, but a multi-medal winner from various competitions, such as the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2018 Asian Games, 2019 World Championships, and 2019 SEA Games.

Hidilyn Diaz has now 232k followers on her Instagram account.

Featured photo courtesy of @hidilyndiaz on Instagram

#OlympicWeightlifting #TokyoOlympics2020 #HidilynDiaz #goldmedalist #pinaypower #Philippines #pinaypride #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Conversation with a former Beauty Queen

“Joining a beauty pageant is also a good vehicle for empowering women. I know that we have so much to express, we are talented, and we are as capable (as men) to perform complicated roles in our society.”

Former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Nina Ricci Alagao’s most unforgettable moment was when she won the most prestigious local contest in 2000.

Joining a beauty pageant, she found out, was not as easy as she thought it was. It takes a lot of discipline, grace, intelligence, and inner strength to be able to make it. “It is also a good vehicle for empowering women,” shared Nina, who is also a TV personality, make-up artist, model, visual artist, mom, and wife, rolled into one. “I feel so strongly for women. I know that we have so much to express, we are talented, and we are as capable (as men) to perform complicated roles in our society.”

She exudes the epitome of a beauty queen – independent, intelligent, aside from being beautiful. That she wasn’t aware of.  “I probably had it in me, but I didn’t see it right away because I was very boyish when I was young and my goal was directed towards another thing which is the arts,” she shared. “I remember when I was young, around six years old, there was this girl who was five years older than me, and she called me ‘Miss Universe’ for some reason. I just said, ‘Sana magdilang anghel siya.’ I had no idea why she called me that because I was thin, dark, and ugly then.”

It was her friends who convinced her to join the local pageant at that time. They were prodding her for four years and so she finally agreed.

Photo courtesy: Ruby Asoy personal file/@ninaalagao IG account

Among the beauty queens, she looks up to former Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz because “she’s very sincere” and made a strong impact during the question-and-answer portion of that beauty contest.

Of course, she also maintains a beauty regimen. “I wash my face with soap and water after every event or engagement,” she shared. “Then I cleanse it with astringent and I put moisturizer to make it look fresh the next day even If I don’t have enough sleep that night.”

An artist at heart

A painter on the side, she uses mostly acrylic and oil; she also loves doing watercolor on paper. She has learned how to paint from her dad, Tomas, who is a frustrated artist. That’s why after finishing high school at the Philippine High School for the Arts in Mount Makiling (Laguna) she enrolled at the UP College of Fine Arts, where she majored in Visual Communications.

As an artist, she likes women as her subject. “I’m really fascinated with the female body – especially the curves they’re very sensual. And I’ve been trying to master the female anatomy.” Her favorite artists are impressionist Cesar Legaspi “because he makes things appear as close to the real thing as possible,”; and Anita Magsaysay-Ho “because she’s a woman and she’s very expressive.”

For a living, she has been working as a model for print and TV, a make-up artist, and a TV personality. Being a model has taught her how to be more confident. “You can easily face people without intimidation. You learn more about yourself in the sense that you know your best angle and what looks good on you.”

She wants to be remembered as the embodiment of a woman — talented, smart, confident, has a sense of humor and good disposition in life.

#ninaalagao #beautyqueen #artist #model #profile #throwbackseries #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

Featured photo courtesy: @ninaalagao IG account

 

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Julius and Christine Babao: Perfect for Each Other

After 17 years of wedded bliss, the couple’s love for each other grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.

 

Televiewers may still remember how veteran broadcast journalist Julius Babao and TV host Christine “Tintin” Bersola’s romance blossomed on the set of Alas Singko Y Medya, the former morning show of ABS-CBN.

The good-looking couple had proceeded cautiously before they made a serious long-term commitment.

“Tinutukso-tukso kami hanggang sa ma-develop,” admitted Tintin during the past exclusive interview for a cover photoshoot.

Needless to say, they shared to have the same wavelength, and complement each other.

Said Julius:  “I’ve had a crush on Tintin since 1993 . . . I like her because she’s the first person I see in the morning. She’s a very natural person, very bubbly and she balances my personality.”

Said Tintin:  “Julius is the right man for me. He’s responsible, has a sense of humor, knows how to handle money, is very generous, and intelligent.”

For Julius, love knows no boundaries. His idea of a good relationship is something that allows a certain amount of “freedom” for both individuals.

For Tintin, it’s being there for each other through thick and thin, with or without money, in a good or bad mood.”

To this day, the couple has been blessed with a happy and fulfilling family life.

The couple has celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary last year. “To 17 years of love & marriage and beyond! Happy anniversary babe @christinebbabao! Love you!” was Julius’s message to her beautiful wife in his IG account @juliusbabao.

Courtesy: @juliusbabao IG account

Julius and Tintin have proven the old saying that “Marriage is like a fine wine, if tended properly, it just gets better with age.”

(Based on the cover story published in the now-defunct Mirror Weekly magazine with the same author)

#JuliusandTintinBabao #lovestory #exclusiveinterview #throwbackseries #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

Photo by Mandy Navasero/file photo

 

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Lalaine Edson-Forgham’s ‘Gift for Mom’

Her mom didn’t live to see her beautiful Filipino-British mestiza daughter win the crown in the past Binibining Pilipinas beauty competition.

 “I wish my mom could see me now,” relates former Binibining Pilipinas-World 1999 Lalaine Edson-Forgham from a previous exclusive interview with the author. Her late mom, Gloria (a Filipina from Pampanga) urged her to join the contest. It was her dream to see her only daughter become a beauty queen.

In the question and answer portion during the 1999 Binibining Pilipinas coronation night: “What do you think is the most beautiful thing in the world today? And what would you do to preserve it?”

“It’s not a thing but a human being — it’s the birth of a child. To preserve it, nurture her with love because she’s our future and she will bring our future to us,” was Lalaine’s reply to the question with much confidence.

She cherishes the experience. “We were all old friends,” she says. “The 39 girls were all friends. We were treated all equally.”

The Binibining Pilipinas was her second contest, the first time was in London in 1995 where she bagged the Miss Philippines UK title. After that, she stopped school and came back to the Philippines to be beside her ailing mom. At present, the Filipino-British mestiza is a photographer and filmmaker based in London.

Lalaine’s favorite beauty queens are Abbygale Arenas and Patti Betita. “They’re beautiful and they walk gracefully,” she shares. “Abby is so kind, she gave me all the points that I should know about in joining a beauty pageant. She gave pointers on how to carry myself, how to walk, and look good. She also taught me how to achieve that winning attitude.”

Being the only child in the family is not at all lonely according to Lalaine. She says she has a lot of cousins to keep her company in times of sadness and happiness.

“I was brought up with my cousins around. So they’re like my brothers and sisters already. My mom raised me with Filipino values,” she shares. “When I was growing up many would say that I got the semblance from my dad, but now I’m more of my mom. The shape of my face, my eyes, and lips are from my mom; the color (hazel gray) of my eyes and eyebrows are from my dad. My nose is half of my dad and mom. And my sense of humor is from my dad.”

Lalaine was born in England. At the age of 10, she stayed in the Philippines for four and a half years. Then she returned to England and stayed until the age of 19. She came back in 1996 and worked in showbiz as a ramp and commercial model. And the rest is history.

Her beauty secret

Lalaine’s beauty secret is never to sleep with her makeup on and after pictorials, she automatically takes off her makeup. Then she washes with soap followed by a moisturizer. Before she goes to sleep, she applies an under-eye cream to lessen the eyebags.

“While we’re still young, we have to look after our skin,” she advises. “When I go out I don’t really put heavy makeup. I just put blush on and lipstick on. The real beauty comes from within. You have to be happy all the time. Smile. So you have a good aura,” she ends.

By: Ruby Asoy-Lebajo

Featured photo: Jun De Leon / file photo

Based on an original article of the author in Mirror Weekly Magazine, 1999

#throwbackseries #lalaineedson #formerbeautyqueen #photographer #filmmaker #makeupartist #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

 

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Jun and Abbygale De Leon’s Love Story

Jun and Abbygale have found each other and both feel right for each other. They have proven time and again that love knows no age. When you find true love, you will not care about the age difference anymore, all you will care about is spending life longer with each other. Nothing matters. It’s love.

Says he:  “It never occurred to me that I would offer marriage to anybody, after 20 years of working with beautiful women . . . Then I met Abby.”

Says she:  “Our love grows every day.”

Celebrity photographer Jun De Leon and former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe-turned-entrepreneur Abbygale Arenas have their own unique love story to tell.

Abby and Jun returned to the place where they fell in love two years before – Dubai. They sealed their relationship with marriage vows on August 29, 1998. It was a very quiet and intimate ceremony in an old church. They took off again for a grand honeymoon tour of U.S. cities — New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. It wasn’t really a “secret” wedding. The sweethearts had told their families of their plan. Still, Abbygale described it as the happiest day of her life. She choked on her lines. “Tears kept flowing from my eyes and it was only Jun whom I could see,” she recalled. Jun was equally emotional. It was a second try at marriage for Jun. This time, he explained, he wanted to keep the ceremonies simple then give his new wife a really grand honeymoon.

Jun and Abbygale as newlyweds. Image: personal file

First meeting

Abbygale first met Jun when she was only 18. Then, a young model that just got back from New York. She reported for a pictorial at then Jun’s studio at Traders Hotel (now Hotel Jen). Their second meeting was in Dubai in 1996 for the Mayflower Boutique pictorial project. Abbygale was the model and Jun was the photographer. “After we returned from Dubai, almost every night he would always visit my place in Mandaluyong,” said Abbygale.

Courtship

The courting stage was short revealed, Abbygale. “Dubai pa lang magka-holding hands na kami,” she giggled. When they returned to Manila, they were in a dating stage already. After two months, Jun told her that he wanted to go to Pampanga to meet her family.  “When he went there, he was with his children. Sabin ng mama ko, ‘sino kaya sa mga ito ang boyfriend ng anak ko.’”

On her relationship with Jun, Abbygale said that her mom was more open-minded than her dad, who was apprehensive at first of the situation. “But he changed when he saw that we were heading for marriage,” said Abbygale.

Abbygale has learned a mouthful of wisdom from Jun, “perhaps because of his experiences. He is my best supporter.” Image: google.com

The right time

Jun said, Abbygale, came at the right time in his life. “For me, marriage is not needing, but two people wanting to share. I used to live alone. Then suddenly, I felt I have something to share. That’s when I met Abby.”

The age gap was not at all a problem for them. “With us, it was never a problem,” said Jun. “Marriage should give you wings, not a chain. One nice thing about us, we both want to be together after a day’s work. Knowing where I am at this point in my life, I will not waste my time. I’ll give as much as I can.”

Thinking of the age gap, Abbygale said that “it adds ups to the good relationship we have at the moment. I treasure every moment we’re together.”

What Jun has learned from Abbygale is that “I could love again.” “That I can have a family of my own, that I can share my life with somebody else, that I can occupy my space with somebody, which before I couldn’t because I considered my room as my private domain – only my children could get inside. She opened the door. You know it’s difficult to recover again after a failed marriage.”

Abbygale, on her part, learned a mouthful of wisdom from Jun, “perhaps because of his experiences. He is my best supporter. What’s important in a relationship is to have love, trust, and respect. Show your partner that you love him. Don’t be influenced by others when it comes to your decision.”

Married bliss

Abbygale said she’s grateful to be part of Jun’s home. “This is not a regular marriage. Like, I don’t have to cook for two. He already has a home, isinali nya ako.” She had no problems with Jun’s children as well. “We get along well. I’m a friend to them. They call me Abby and I never consider myself their stepmom.” (Jun has seven children, namely: Christine, Timmy, Oliver, Patricia, Katrina, Nico, and Isabela).

Picture perfect: Jun and Abbygale with their children Irijah and Eli. Courtesy of Jun De Leon.

Jun returned the appreciation: “I thought I had everything until I met her. I had a family, a stable career, the professional respect I worked for. It never occurred to me that I would offer marriage to anybody, after 20 years of working with beautiful women.”

He added, “I see her inner beauty in so many ways – a good daughter, a sister, and a good friend. She has accepted me for what I am. It was like a big reward, a big bonus for me.”

Jun and Abbygale both feel that they deserve each other. Their union has been blessed with two beautiful children – Irijah, 18, who is taking up Filmmaking in Columbia Chicago; and Eli, 4. They are keeping the love alive after 23 years of married bliss.

#abbygalearenas #jundeleon #coupleinlove #lovemonth #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

(Based on the article published by the same author at the now-defunct Mirror Weekly magazine)

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Kobe Bryant: Death of an Icon

“Don’t look at what I did, but how I did it. That’s ‘mamba mentality,’” said Kobe from his past interview. He added: “When you find that thing you love, then life makes sense. For me, it’s basketball.”

The sports world mourns the untimely death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California. He was 41. What’s more heartbreaking is the fact that his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also died in the accident and other seven passengers. No one survived the crash. The news came as a shock to everyone.

The 18-time National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star had five championships during his illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He enjoyed one of the greatest careers in NBA history and became the face of the Lakers. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion and earned 15 All-NBA selections.

According to reports, the helicopter, owned by Kobe, took off at 9:06 a.m. local time from Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. It crashed at 9:47 a.m. in Calabasas. Foggy weather conditions in the area at the time are believed to have caused the crash.

Father and daughter were on their way to his Mamba Sports Academy for a basketball game when their helicopter crashed. Gianna was supposed to participate in the game, with her father serving as her coach.

Upon learning of the tragic accident, fans of Kobe rushed to the site of the crash to give tribute to the well-loved NBA legend.

The outpouring of sympathy was also felt during the 62nd Annual Grammy Award held at the Staples Center on the same day of the accident. A special tribute was held at the arena in memory of Kobe.

The Grammys opening was dedicated to Kobe, with American singer-songwriter Lizzo remarking “Tonight is for you, Kobe” as she sang the ballad “Cuz I Love You” and “Truth Hurts.” Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men also dedicated their a capella performance of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”

Indeed, it’s so hard to say goodbye to a man who became a role model and inspiration to a lot of youngsters and basketball players around the world.

#kobebryant #NBA #icon #legend #sports #death #planecrash #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

Image: businessinsider.com
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Karen Davila’s Mission

“I want to influence people in a positive way,” said the multi-awarded broadcast journalist. “Be ready to work hard. If you invest in hard work, people will respect you.”

Few encouraging words from a teacher went a long way for Karen. As a young student at the University of the Philippines, she contemplated a career in fashion design. Then one of her teachers noticed her good enunciation and said she had potential as a newscaster.

“I believe that a Tagalog show can reach more people. I have this thing about change-your-life-TV. It’s like viewers have to get something from you. They shouldn’t be just entertained by your presence. Time has to come that you have to give them something,” shared Karen. Image: politics.com.ph

“That was the first time anybody ever said that I was good at that,” she said, looking back. That’s when she decided to seriously pursue broadcast journalism. She graduated in 1993 from UP’s College of Mass Communications, and after a series of auditions, got her first job on the Business Today, a former morning show on GMA-7 with then Mon Isberto and Rico Hizon as anchorpersons. Before she knew it she was also doing the hourly news breaks.

In 1994, she joined Brigada Siete with the late broadcast journalist Louie Beltran, where she honed up on investigative reporting. A bigger break came in October 1995 when she was tapped as the news anchor for Saksi, GMA’s primetime Tagalog newscast. At this time, too, Karen became a contributing reporter of GMA News to CNN World Report. In 1996, she was given the opportunity to train for a month-and-a-half at CNN headquarters in Atlanta where she met CNN founder Ted Turner. In 1997, Karen was a finalist for the Best Environmental Report for CNN World Report.

After more than 24 years of television and radio experience, Karen is not one to rest on her laurels. She won the much-coveted TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) Awards for Broadcasting in 2008 and TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service) Award for Broadcasting in 2013. In 2010, Karen was chosen as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, an honor given to young exceptional professionals below 40 years of age. This has allowed Karen to take exclusive leadership courses at the Harvard Kennedy School, Yale, and Lee Kwan Yew School of Government. She has moderated televised sessions for the World Economic Forum East Asia Summits in Manila and Jakarta.

Moreover, she has won numerous local awards including Rotary Club’s Journalist of the Year in 2004 and several accolades from UST, UP, and De La Salle Award giving bodies. She is a Hall of Fame Awardee with the Anak TV Awards, consistently considered as a top role model for the youth.

Fulfilling work

“The real point in life is to truly find who you are in God’s eyes, everything else is secondary,” related Karen. Image: @iamkarendavila

Karen said her work is physically exhausting and fulfilling. “There’s a big difference if you just read the news or you’re just a TV personality. But I also go out in the field, come back to make my reports then host the show. It’s really a lot of work,” she quipped. At present, she can be seen in three live daily TV and radio programs—interviewing newsmakers on Headstart, a news talk show that airs 8-9 am on the ABS-CBN News Channel or ANC; anchors TV Patrol and The World Tonight, the late-night newscast on ABS-CBN.  As a volunteer, she has involved herself with Habitat for Humanity and World Vision in the last 10 years as an advocate for women and children.

But Karen is not really complaining. “I want to influence people in a positive way,” she related. “I think television plays a major role in its viewers. That’s partly why many love Oprah because she’s so positive. The TV can be that way; you can empower the viewers. I’d want the people to be encouraged just by, let’s say, my life or just watching the shows that I’ve done. I want to give them something.”

What’s the meaning of life?

“If you’ve read the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon asks, ‘What’s the meaning of life?’ I ask that, too. I say, ‘this is it.’ Fine, you’re on TV and people know you. The real point in life is to truly find who you are in God’s eyes, everything else is secondary,” shared Karen, who is a Born Again Christian.

Throwback pictures of Karen / personal file

More than anything else, she wants to do good stories. “I want to be able to do a program that rates and is less sensational. I believe that a Tagalog show can reach more people. I have this thing about change-your-life-TV. It’s like viewers have to get something from you. They shouldn’t be just entertained by your presence. Time has to come that you have to give them something,” rationalized Karen, who also hosts and writes for a weekly news magazine TV show, called My Puhunan, an inspiring business program that features rags to riches stories on ordinary Filipinos hitting it big thru entrepreneurship.  “But the most important is to have a personal relationship with God. Why? Because you don’t know what God has in store for you.”

Her advice to aspiring broadcasters: “First, you should do your homework in all honesty,” said Karen. “You have to prepare well before the show. It’s important that you know the issues for the day; a newsperson should be ready to adlib whenever hassles occur during the live telecast.” She added: “The glamour part is the fact that you come out on TV and people recognize you. But be ready to work hard. If you invest in hard work, people will respect you.”

(Based on the article published in the old Mirror Weekly magazine by the same author)

#throwbackseries  #exclusiveinterview #karendavila #broadcastjournalist #newsanchor #TVpersonality #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

Featured photo: @iamkarendavila

 

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Distinctively bai

bai Hotel Cebu is the biggest hotel in Visayas and Mindanao to date and also a culinary destination. The hotel changed the business landscape of both the city and the province when it opened.

Cafe bai carving station

As a first-time guest in bai hotel Cebu, one can easily feel the ambiance of “modern luxury and spaciousness.” Indeed, the biggest hotel in Visayas and Mindanao to date but also a culinary destination having 8 dining options including a fine-dining restaurant. Some of these are Café bai, Marble + Grain Steakhouse, and Ume Japanese Cuisine which are all part of the top 10 restaurants in Mandaue City. The Twilight Roofdeck Lounge + Bar on the 23rd floor gives you a 360-degree view of the cities of Mandaue, Cebu, and Lapu-Lapu.

Alfred M. Reyes, General Manager and Vice President of Operations at bai Hotel Cebu.

“We are also proud to say that we have an advanced security system to ensure the safety of our guests and associates,” shared Alfred M. Reyes, General Manager and Vice President of Operations at bai Hotel Cebu.  Upon entering the hotel, guests walk through metal detectors while their baggage goes through the X-ray inspection machine. “Our glass windows are also coated with anti-blast films for additional protection. We also have a seismic accelerograph that detects early signs of an earthquake and a fire detection alarm system that is very sensitive and accurate.”

The hotel is mostly composed of glass walls to showcase the city and the harbor. It is the first property in Cebu that is environmentally sustainable by using low-emission glass windows that shield the interiors from about 30 percent of UV heat, thus saving electricity by lessening the use of automatic air conditioning units. With this concept, the hotel supports sustainable nature-based tourism.

bai Hotel Cebu is meant for business travelers who look forward to doing business in Cebu and leisure travelers who intend to visit Cebu and its neighboring islands. It is near the Mactan Cebu International Airport which is 25 minutes away, and the Domestic Port of Cebu which is 10 minutes away.

The hotel also has plenty of recreational facilities: a fitness center with a sauna, an infinity outdoor lap pool, and kiddie pool, and an in-house spa – The Spa at Cebu by RSpa. Serviced offices are also located on the 5th floor of the hotel catering to businesses that are looking to lease office space in a prominent location in Cebu.

More choices for travelers

Executive one bedroom

Reyes said that bai Hotel Cebu changed the business landscape of both the city and the province when it opened. “Our 668 rooms, 12 event venues, and 8 dining outlets added more choices to travelers who come either for business, leisure, or both. Because of this additional inventory, Cebu is now able to accept larger demands of tourists—Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and others—as well as large-scale meetings, conferences, and events.

Being a culinary destination, it offers guests delectable choices. At Ume Japanese Cuisine, ala carte meals are specially prepared by its Japanese Chef. The Marble + Grain Steakhouse is its very own fine-dining restaurant, where they serve prime USDA steak. For those who would love to talk, meet with friends and pick up where they left off, they have a self-serving coffee outlet—Wallstreet Coffee + Bar. The all-day dining restaurant, Café bai serves eastern to western specialties and is the #1 restaurant in Mandaue today.

Infinity lap pool (night)

Aside from sponsorships, collaborations, social media, and tri-media advertising, they have a membership program, the bai Platinum Membership. Members get exclusive perks and privileges such as huge discounts on their food and beverage outlets as well as two (2) complimentary overnight stays at bai Hotel Cebu and a cash voucher on selected outlets. Members are also entitled to exclusive promos at bai Hotel Cebu and discounts on their partner establishments they could avail of year-round.

Customer First

 Reyes’ work motto is “customer first – I always remind my associates about that,” he related. “I am very hands-on. I walk around the hotel regularly, do ocular inspections. I dine in our outlets to check the quality of our food. I talk directly to guests to ask about their stay. I do not usually stay inside my office. I just go there when I need to sign documents.”

The hardworking GM has been in the industry for more than 30 years. He graduated from the University of San Jose – Recoletos and had two certificates for finishing General Management Programs from Cornell University. He worked in various properties locally and abroad. His most remarkable achievement so far in his career is being the first Filipino to open a 668-room hotel in the Philippines.

“We strive to improve every day by monitoring all online reviews published on the internet and taking necessary actions for those that need our attention,” explained Reyes on how they stay current in terms of hotel reputation management. “We keep good comments and reviews as compliments. We practice transparency within the team by having our general assembly every month. In these events, we update our associates about the hotel’s current standing and discuss different situations as well as strategies. We are very thankful that we are gaining popularity and getting positive reviews and recommendations even though we are just in the first year of our operations.”

View from Twilight Roofdeck Lounge and Bar
Twilight (interior)

Managing a huge property while understanding the millennial workforce plus the evolution of digital platforms and the rising demand of travelers make his day exciting and challenging. Cebu is becoming the next M.I.C.E. destination in Southeast Asia. Hotels and properties are taking advantage of this. “This is an opportunity and I am very excited and positive about it. This positioning of Cebu challenges me to be more creative in finding ways to entice clients and continuously learn and improve in my job. Working in the hospitality industry with passion gives you the drive to manage a property like bai Hotel Cebu,” Reyes quipped.

bai Hotel Cebu envisions itself to be the most preferred world-class Filipino hotel. To achieve this, Reyes and his associates continuously work together on making bai Hotel Cebu the number 1 hotel in Mandaue City. In the long run, it aims to expand within Visayas and Mindanao with even bigger properties in terms of space and rooms, and more amenities and facilities than the present.

bai Hotel Cebu is distinctively one which stands by its own magnificence.

#baiexperience #baihotelcebu #cebu #hospitality #philippines #worldhotels