Needless to say: AVOID driving within this area at all cost during that weekend! It’s better that you will roam the vicinity of Bangkal, Makati City walking rather than bringing your car with you. I tell you, even the side streets will be closed during these days.

The 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is scheduled from the 9th to 12th February 2012 at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines. For the past three (03) years in-a-row, my family and I became part of this annual event. Let me just share with you my very own version of a Newbies Guide to the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta to ensure that you will be able to maximize enjoyment visiting the event.

Going to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga (around 85 kms from Manila). The public activity and viewing area is actually around the two (02) Philippine Air Force maintenance hangars (starred in the aerial view below), which are located at the far end of DMIA’s left side runway.

TRIVIA: Did you know that when Clark Freeport Zone was still a United States Air Force Base, it was designated as one of the alternate landing runways for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program? That is how long its runways are!

You may opt to bring your own vehicle and drive all the way from Metro Manila to Pampanga as early as 0300H to catch the hot air balloons preparation and eventual lift off, which normally starts at 0500H. Expect MODERATE to HEAVY TRAFFIC along the hi-way leading to the entrance of the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta – most especially during the weekend of the event. The vast land along Manuel A. Roxas Hi-way in the aerial shot above is turned into a parking area during the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Be prepared to walk for almost a kilometer during the Saturday & Sunday run of the event, as hundreds if not thousands of vehicles will be parked towards the entrance of the venue.

Last year, we opted to leave the family car at home and took the public transport to Clark Freeport Zone. Victory Liner in Pasay City dispatches their first bus off to Dau, Pampanga (route is to Dagupan, actually) as early as 0320H and every 40 minutes thereafter. Fare is just less than PHP300 per pax. If you can catch the first bus trip, the better as you will be arriving at Dau some 90 minutes after.

From the Dau Bus Terminal, you may take a jeepney or a tricycle ride to the entrance of the Clark Freeport Zone (SM City Clark will be the landmark). I suggest that you take the jeepney ride, as some tricycle drivers charges quadruple the normal trip faire during the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta days (last year, a tricycle driver was asking for PHP500 to bring us up to the gate of the Clark Freeport from the Dau Bus Terminal; jeepney ride is something like PHP10 per pax only). You will then have to transfer to another jeepney, the one that shuttles to/from the Clark Freeport Gate up to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta grounds.

Another option is for you to get there the afternoon before the morning when you intend to go inside the Hot Air Balloon grounds. There are a lot of inns, motels, and hotels around the Angeles, Pampanga area – which is basically just outside of the Clark Freeport Zone. Two (02) years ago, this is what we did – we stayed at a nearby inn then checked-out at around 0430H.

Where to Get the Tickets?

Entrance Ticket to the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is normally pegged at PHP150 per head. It can be purchased ahead of time at the Air Ads Office (hangar) along Andrews Avenue (near the Domestic Airport), Ticketnet, or during the event day itself at the gate.

For the past two (02) years, I was lucky enough (with a few connections) to secure an All Access Pass (or sometimes called as Photographer’s Pass) to the event. So what is an All Access Pass? The pictures (of my son and his nanny) below will somewhat explain the difference between a Regular Ticket (pass) and an All Access Pass:

Having an All Access Pass will give you the chance to be up-close and personal with the Hot Air Balloons, the crew, and the pilots. You may actually go beyond the cordoned off area. And since I had an All Access Pass and my son is just a kid (3 years old then), I was able to snatch him in beyond the cordoned area. Last year, the All Access Pass I got was courtesy of the Digital Photographer Philippines team (though I had to shell out PHP1,000 per ID). Still no word on how to get an All Access Pass as of post time (will update this blog post as soon as I have more info). This was how the All Access (Photographer’s Pass) looked like last year:

Mind you, these passes are color-coded and can only be used during the specified day.

What to Do Inside the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Grounds?

If you will be there early and on time for the hot air balloon launch, you will see how the chase crew prepares …

Such an awesome sight to see the hot air balloons rising against the sunrise from the horizon …

Photo-ops with vintage and current fleets of the Philippine Air Force …

This is my favorite part: watch aerobatics demonstration after the hot air balloons had landed. The name to watch out for: Capt. Meynard Halili – idol!

Inside the hangars, there are displays and activities you and your family will surely enjoy – bonding moments …

Also, get a chance to see airborne jumpers up-close and personal …

Do not forget to take your pics in front of the planes in display … yes, you may actually touch them and if you’re lucky enough, the pilots or even the ground crew will let you sit inside the aircrafts … and be sure to bring home that miniature hot air balloon souvenir!

What to Bring to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta?

Remember that it is almost summer already during the period of the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in February, so better make sure that you will bring/wear with you:

• Lots and lots of fluids – water! Last year, I experimented in bringing Gatorade instead of bottled water, and indeed it worked! Avoid sodas (softdrinks) and any drink that has caffeine – it will dry your system out.
• Be there in your summer outfit. Wear a hat/cap if you can to avoid being a victim of heatstroke.
• Bring at least a set of extra clothes.
• Bring your best digital camera with extra batteries! It is such an awesome sight to see colorful balloons being prepped and eventually flying.

Regular Holidays

• 01 Jan 2012 – New Year’s Day
• 05 Apr 2012 – Maundy Thursday
• 06 Apr 2012 – Good Friday
• 09 Apr 2012 – Araw ng Kagitingan
• 01 May 2012 – Labor Day
• 12 Jun 2012 – Independence Day
• 27 Aug 2012 – National Heroes Day
• 30 Nov 2012 – Bonifacio Day
• 25 Dec 2012 – Christmas Day
• 30 Dec 2012 – Rizal Day

Special Non-working Days

• 23 Jan 2012 – Chinese New Year
• 21 Aug 2012 – Ninoy Aquino Day
• 01 Nov 2012 – All Saints Day
• 02 Nov 2012 – All Souls Day (additional special non-working day)
• 31 Dec 2012 – Last Day of the Year

Special Holiday (for all schools)

• 25 Feb 2012 – EDSA Revolution Anniversary

The Proclamation did not state the exact dates when Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha will be observed, as both are movable holidays that are dependent on the Muslim calendar.

Proclamation No. 295 (37)

Each week, blog posts will examine topics relevant to visa applicants.  Readers are welcome to post comments and questions about applying for U.S. visas. The blog is also a venue for visa applicants to provide feedback and share their experiences when they have applied for a U.S. visa.  

The blog will be moderated by a team of visa experts from the U.S. Embassy’s Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa units, and inquirers can expect a quick response to their visa questions. 

With the launch of VISAtisfied Voyager, US Embassy Manila hopes to start a dialogue with applicants and provide them with up-to-date news and information. Please note, however, that U.S. Embassy Manila will not be able to respond to queries about individual visa applications on VISAtisfied Voyager. Questions about individual nonimmigrant visa applications should be directed to consmanilaniv@state.gov. Questions about individual immigrant visa applications should be directed to ivmanilareplies@state.gov.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently noted that the Internet has become the public space of the 21^st century, and as the percentage of Filipino internet users increases, we want to be available to them in all forms of media. The launching of the VISAtisfied Voyager visa blog is part of the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to providing excellent customer service to the thousands of Filipinos who will apply for visas to travel to the United States. 

We invite you to visit VISAtisfied Voyager at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines

Prior to this announcement, Monday 29 August 2011 was also declared a non-working holiday to commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan (National Day of Valor).

Thus, we have a long weekend during this last week of August 2011.

0915.888.8181

0999.901.8181

NCRPO Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima said, “We want to make sure that the public can reach us anytime of the day and night, and that they can expect a quick police response from all units of the NCRPO within 24 hours.” Purisima warned that police officers who fail to respond to the complaints and reports of a crime would be charged administratively for neglect of duty, which is punishable with suspension and forfeiture of pay.

He asked the public to send in their complete name and address before their complaints, which would be processed at the Regional Tactical Operations and Intelligence Center (RTOIC) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

All complaints, Purisima said, would be forwarded to the police office concerned in the metropolis.

~ This news item was taken from here.

How far would you go to save 500 women?

For the dedicated cyclists of the upcoming “Tour of Hope 2011- 00: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer,” it will take 500 kilometers in 5 days. They will undertake the challenging 5-day journey from Manila to Laoag in order to help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention vaccination drives and seminars.

“What makes this year’s Tour of Hope different is that we are going to vaccinate a total of 500 women during the tour,” explains Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, Bravehearts president. “We wanted the tour to be more than just a way to spread awareness about cervical cancer prevention. We hope this will inspire more women to take action against this deadly but preventable disease.”

Recently, the exciting details of the biggest anti-cervical cancer were revealed at the official launch of this year’s Tour of Hope, which was organized by Bravehearts in partnership with Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline. The event was held at R.O.X., the biggest outdoor sports and recreation hub in Southeast Asia and hosted by celebrity athlete Tricia Chiongbian-Concepcion, who will also be cycling to help save women from cervical cancer in the Tour of Hope.

In a country where cervical cancer claims the lives of 12 women everyday[1], the need to fight this disease has only become more urgent over the years.

“I would like to encourage women to be screened for cervical cancer regularly,” said Dr. Cecilia Llave, Program Director of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP). “The disease is treatable through early detection. In fact, not only is it treatable, it can also be avoided by living a healthy lifestyle and getting vaccinated.”

Since The Tour of Hope started in 2008, it has generated approximately PHP2,000,000.00 through sponsorships and pledges. These were then used for cervical cancer screening programs and lectures with the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP).

However, if you think that The Tour of Hope is all about the bikers, think again. Over the past two years, the event organizers have formed partnerships with local government units such as those of Tarlac, Dagupan, Pampanga, La Union, and Baguio in order to conduct lectures during each stopover of the tour to local communities with marginalized groups who display poor health-seeking behavior.

What’s in Store for The Tour of Hope 2011

Aside from the challenging journey, The Tour of Hope has always been known for bringing its participants to scenic locations such as Vigan, Zambales, and Camarines Sur. This year is no exception. The Tour of Hope 2011 – 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer will kick off at the TriNoma Mall in Quezon City on May 28, 2011.

The first stop will be at Tarlac City, Tarlac. It is the home of President Noynoy Aquino’s ancestral house and Mount Pinatubo, where adventure-seeking 4×4 wheel drivers try their skills, and hikers visit the crater. The tour will then continue to San Fernando, La Union, where the renowned La Union Botanical Gardens is located. Afterwards, the bikers will head to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, where historical churches and ancestral homes that reflect the beauty of old world architecture can be found. The fourth stop will be Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, where tourists often visit the Juan Luna Shrine. There, visitors can get a glimpse of the award-winning Spolarium painter’s life through vintage photographs and household artifacts. The final stop for this year’s Tour of Hope is Paoay, where bikers will get to see the unique blend of Spanish, Chinese, and architecture represented by Paoay Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The last leg of the tour will feature celebrity bikers such as Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, Marvin Kiefer, Rovilson Fernandez, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Will Devaughn, Richie Hardin, Richard Herrera, Janna Victoria, Gem Padilla, Anthony Pangilinan, and David Charlton. They will be lending their star power to draw attention to a good cause. In addition, Tessa Prieto-Valdes is currently working on a special project that will also help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention.

As part of the preparations for the upcoming Tour of Hope, there will also be a Mini Tour of Hope that will be held on May 7 at Filinvest, Alabang. This is a great way for biking enthusiasts to show their support for the anti-cervical cancer advocacy, and everyone is invited to join.

“On behalf of Bravehearts, I’d like to encourage everyone to join the fight against cervical cancer,” Abbygale Arenas-de Leon said. “For all the women, do it for your families and loved ones. And for all the men, I encourage you to support the cervical cancer prevention advocacy for your mothers, sisters, and daughters. With your help, thousands of lives can be saved.”

Bravehearts is a non-profit organization initially led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) for the Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF). It is dedicated to raising awareness on cervical cancer prevention and is supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, who is the current president of the organization, Senator Loren Legarda, Pia Magalona, Ellen Tordesillas, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Jeena Lopez, Maimai Davao, Joyette Jopson, and Suzi Entrata. For further inquiries, please email braveheartsphilippines@gmail.com. To be a part of The Tour of Hope 2011 – 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer, please email Joyette Jopson at joyette.jopson@gmail.com or contact her at 0917-8827352.

I may not be aware of the rule details about the implementation of the UVVRP (Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program), but I am just voicing out an observation that as we, ordinary citizens living in Metro Manila are abiding by this scheme, we can’t help but notice the number of government vehicles plying the main roads of the metropolis even if they are “color coding”.

The picture of the government vehicle above was taken this afternoon at around 1615H along Rodriguez Avenue in Bangkal, Makati City. The vehicle was in front of me from SLEX towards Magallanes/EDSA then headed towards this busy street in Bangkal.

I hope you can enlighten us on this the soonest. Thank you!

Bannister Academy is situated within Circulo Verde, a new residential community being developed along Calle Industria in Quezon City. It’s one of the first buildings in the area, a state-of-the-art modernist structure. The subdivision was selected as an ideal learning environment that’s both safe and convenient for students and parents

John-D Borra, the school’s Headmaster, explains that Bannister gives parents three promises. “First, we focus on practical education,” he says. “We want students to become street-smart, to be kids who can, figuratively speaking, be dropped in Divisoria and not only find their way back home but are also able to make friends with the vendors. Second, through our mentoring program, we keep pace with the kids, and we can be as crazy and fun as they need us to be. Third, we encourage parents to be involved with their child’s education, to share the responsibility and help their child explore and develop their social intelligence.”

“Social intelligence involves the ability to use your knowledge and adjust your behavior to a situation to achieve a goal,” John-D says, adding that people with social intelligence become influencers, shapers, and builders of society. They can rally people around them to achieve a goal. It’s not necessarily the smartest people who are able to do this. It’s people who have the skill to analyze situations properly, understand the problem, and come up with solutions in order for as many as possible to benefit who are able to do great things.
“If there is one thing contemporary society has illustrated very clearly to us,” John says, “it is that ‘sharing’ is a good way of making a living. Just look at Facebook.”

To illustrate the value of sharing, Bannister is giving two deserving children the chance to a unique high-school experience through its scholarship program.

Please see mechanics below:

MECHANICS:

Bannister academy is giving out a 4-year full financial scholarship to deserving high school students. One (1) boy and one (1) girl will be selected.

Who is qualified?

• Anyone who is eligible for transfer to 1^st or 2^nd year high school*;
• Demonstrates good moral character;
• Has a strong drive to excel

*It is necessary to present supporting documents of eligibility

How many entries can be nominated?

• You can nominate only one (1) entry.

What should the entry contain?

All entries should include the following:

1.    Your name and your relationship to the nominee

2.    Basic Information of the student:

- Full Name

- Address

- Date of birth (date-month-year)

3.    Contact details: Landline number, cellphone number and e-mail address

4.    A 300-word essay by the student, answering the question, “How can I change the world?”

Where should I send my entry?

• All entries should be e-mailed to changetheworld@bannisteracademy.com on or before March 9, 2011.

When will candidates be selected?

• 10 finalists will be selected, 5 girls and 5 boys. The Names of finalists will be announced on March 11, 2011. They will be contacted personally and through their registered guardians.
• All finalists have to take an entrance exam and interview on March 14. Winners will be awarded on March 19, during the Bannister Open House.

Alongside with the flagdown rate hike is the increase of meter rate from PHP2.50 every 300 meters, it will now be PHP3.50. The online article mentioned that the last increase in the flagdown rate for taxi’s was done sometime in 2004. The new rates will be in effect 15 days after publication in the major dailies.