Craft changemakers reveal crucial links between craft and forest in a webinar

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Craft changemakers and speakers from the Philippines and UK present stories and findings in a Woven Networks Sharing Sessions, an online webinar on August 30 to September 2 highlighting the crucial links between craft and forest. 

The four-day webinar is free but registration is required via the British Council Philippines’ webpage. It will be via Zoom from 4.00–5.30 p.m. (PH) / 9.00–10.30 a.m. (UK).  Woven Networks is a research grant programme aiming to grow forest resources and livelihood by strengthening the role of artisans in sustainable development.

“Through Woven Networks, we wanted to highlight the importance of craft in responding to global challenges, such as climate change and social inclusion. The interdependence between livelihood, forests and culture is not always understood,” Malaya del Rosario, Head of Arts at the British Council said.

Del Rosario bared that this webinar is in partnership with the Forest Foundation.  The British Council awarded grants to trusted intermediaries like designers, academics and development experts. “We were able to map fifteen craft communities in the Philippines, from weaving cooperatives in Isabela to the indigenous Higaonon weavers in Bukidnon,” she added.

The grantees also involved artisans, foresters and UK-based counterparts in their projects.  As cited in a 2019 British Council report, international exchange and cross-sectoral collaboration are key in solving complex problems, she shared.

According to the United Nations, there are around 60 million indigenous people who rely on the forest for their livelihood.  In the Philippines, many of them are women artisans and weavers who greatly depend on non-timber forest products like rattan, abaca, raffia, or pandan, turning them into clothing, baskets and other objects.

However, mass production of craft products has led to overexploitation of forest resources, unsustainable practices, and increased vulnerability to climate change. The British Council said that despite policies that support community-based forest management in the Philippines, there are still complex factors preventing indigenous peoples, particularly the women, from participating more in forest conservation.

They often face extreme marginalization and discrimination. The location of their homes, usually in remote areas, makes it difficult for them to be represented or access opportunities, it said.

Woven Networks - Craft changemakers conserving forests is a one-year partnership between the Forest Foundation and the British Council through its Crafting Futures global programme, in collaboration with the National Museum of the Philippines.

It aims to spark exciting collaborative research and development of the weaving sector in the Philippines. It supports projects that champion indigenous knowledge systems towards sustainable resource management and improved livelihood of craft communities.

A notable finding by grantee, Carmen Roceli Lopez, is that in Samar and Leyte, only four per cent of mat weavers are aged 15-24 while 50 per cent are 65-74 years old. The small number of young, culture bearers is alarming for a disaster-prone region that is highly dependent on traditional mat weaving for their livelihood.

Lopez’s research cites recommendations on what can be done. Representatives from Panublix Social Enterprise, University of Santo Tomas and the Royal College of Art in London, among many others are also speaking at the event.

“The results of the research grants are just eye-opening. You need to attend the sharing sessions to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge that has been gathered,” del Rosario said.

The webinar will culminate on September 2 with the launch of the virtual exhibition, from land to loom, from fibre to form: Woven Networks research projects, curated by Tessa Maria Guazon.  It will celebrate programme highlights and feature objects from the National Museum of Anthropology collection.

The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. (Photos: British Council/Google Images)

 

 

Cebu Maternity Hospital, 100-year legacy of prominent women in Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc., (CPCMHI) more commonly known as Cebu Maternity Hospital turns 100 year old on September 28 this year, a century of legacy of the prominent and civic-minded women in Cebu that voluntarily came together and founded the first Cebu Woman’s Club (CWC) in 1918.

Founded by Filicisima Najarro-Jerez, Carmen Rallos and Maria Rallos, the goal of CWC then was to share and serve the underprivileged women and children in Cebu and the neighboring islands by setting up puericulture centers in Parian, San Nicolas, Pardo and Mabolo.

According to Teresita Manguerra, a CPCMHI board of trustee that she and most of the members of the board are here because of their grandparents or parents that handed over to the next generations the legacy of running this institution.

Board of trustee Florencia Streegan narrated that in 1920 the patients at the puericulture centers increased so much that prompted the club to build a maternity house that was first established in Fort San Pedro which offered pre and post-natal and assisting normal deliveries.

Dr. Ma. Cristina Senerpeda, CPCMHI president said, the Cebu maternity Hospital is the only non-profit institution in Cebu that actively promotes women’s rights to education and quality healthcare as well as promoting newborn health.

“The hospital has been consistently providing educational and healthcare services for women and neonates in the Visayas region. We have provided subsidized and free healthcare and delivery services to probably more than 500,000 women and children since 1922,” Senerpeda said.

In a press conference on August 23 at the Laguna Garden Café with the CPCMHI board of directors/trustees, women power was palpable as the younger generations of the prominent names in Cebu such as the Jerezes, Sottos, Villalons, Osmenas, Renners, Escanos, and others hugged the history of the institution and the many stories that capture a century of maternal and child care.

Streegan said that in 1926 another milestone was celebrated when the School of Midwifery was founded under the guidance of principal Felicidad Ybanez with 14 pioneering graduates from the school. The Hospital and the School were closed during the war.

Ma. Lourdes Jereza said that they hope to reestablish the School of Midwifery which was reopened in 1955 but closed again during the pandemic.  “Drawing plans and discussions are now ongoing for the re-establishment of the school with new and updated curriculum,” she added.

Today, the CPCMHI continues to be the venue for prioritizing women and children through healthcare and education specifically promoting women’s reproductive health, newborn health and women’s education.

 Its services include nursing service, Labor/delivery/operating rooms; special care unit, out-patient/laboratory departments, pharmacy and ambulance service. 

For its 100^th anniversary, a host of activities are lined up for September including pre-natal check up for pregnant women, women with gynecological concerns, pap smear and screening for cervical cancer and other problems.

Senerpeda added that there are other events to highlight the hospitals' 100th year and the presentation of its new logo that symbolizes maternal and child health care.

DOT7 showcases prime dive sites in Central Visayas at PHIDEX 2022

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Central Visayas showcased its DIVE7 premier dive site destinations in the region at the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) 2022 on August 19-21 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila having the highest participation rate among clustered areas.

PHIDEX is a consolidated all-in-one trade show that features the B2B travel exchange TRAVEX designed for local and international dive operators, conferences and seminars and familiarization tours to the country’s dive destinations. 

According to DOT7, the show is the country’s largest platform for the promotion of the dive industry demonstrating the country’s capability for accommodating dive tourists from all over the world. It brought together dive industry suppliers and experts, underwater photographers, marine conservationists and researchers, travel trade operators, entrepreneurs and government representatives.

PHIDEX 2022 also has seminars that discussed market trends, dive safety, marine conservation and the changes that the seas have gone through in the recent years, among a host of topics.

DIVE7, together with cooperating stakeholders, staged well-explored and newly-discovered diving sites in a 45-square meter booth, the biggest at the event. Exhibiting with DIVE7 were Bohol Beach Club, Amigos Dive Center and Devocean Divers of Moalboal and Malapascua, Daanbantayan, Cebu, Atmosphere Resorts and Spa and Thalatta Resort of Dauin and Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

Cebu-based industry players Sea Explorers, Pacifica Dive and Aquaventure Whitetip Dive Supply were housed in their own respective exhibition spaces. All the DIVE7 co-exhibitors participated in the business-to-business (B2B) travel exchange together with Cebu’s Philippines Aggressor Adventures, Dauin’s Silver Reef Dive Resort, Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards and Bongo Bongo Divers and Kasai Village Dive Resort of Moalboal.

DIVE7 co-exhibitors reported positive impressions from visitors. They have also received leads for bookings through participation in the three-day show.

The event was PHIDEX 3^rd outing with this year’s theme “Back into the Blue: One with the Sea,” that enables the tourism industry’s unending narrative of conservation, community and convergence within the dive sector. (Photos: Glenice Do/DOT7)

 

 

 

Frasco files bill to establish a Heart Center in the Visayas

CEBU CITY – Cebu 5^th District  and Deputy House Speaker Vincent Franco Frasco filed House Bill No. 3879 on August 22, proposing to establish a Heart Center of the Philippines-Visayas to be located in Liloan, Cebu Province.

Frasco said this is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos’ pronouncement during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that specialty hospitals like the Heart Center should not only be available in the National Capital Region, but also in other areas of the country.

The Deputy Speaker cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as compiled from the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), government and private hospitals, and other healthcare facilities all over the country which indicated that ischemic heart diseases were the leading causes of death from January to October 2021 with 110,332 cases or 18.3 percent of the total deaths in the country. This was a 28 percent increase from the 86,164 deaths or 16.9 percent of the total deaths in the country during the same period in 2020.

“It is evident that there is a need to put up Heart Centers in the provinces to decentralize the services in the National Capital Region. With the increasing number of heart disease cases in the country, medical services should be made accessible and affordable to Filipinos nationwide, especially those living in the remote areas,” Frasco said.

 He explained why the Heart Center is located in Liloan. The town is the gateway to the North of Cebu and a convenient access to the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu and to the cities and towns from the West and South of Cebu.

“At present, there is an increasing number of residents in the Visayas diagnosed with heart illnesses. It is thus imperative that specialized medical services should be provided for those with heart and other allied diseases in the Visayas area, especially the poor and less fortunate in life, without regard to race, creed, color or political belief,” he said.

Frasco added that the establishment and maintenance of the Heart Center of the Philippines – Visayas will give true meaning to the Constitutional policy of providing efficient and effective health care system that is responsive to the health needs and problems of the people. 

Calls to differ barangay, SK polls tackled in Senate committee hearing

CEBU CITY— Calls to differ Barangay and SK polls are now being tackled at the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, joint with the Committees on Local Government and Finance which hearing is presided over by Senator Imee  Marcos on August 23 to resolve the proposed postponement of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on December 5, 2022. 

Marcos, as chair of the committee said, she received various position papers from the Liga ng mga Barangays, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) manifesting their support for the postponement. However, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) and other non-government orgnizations are against the deferment. 

 

“I will admit that in my personal opinion, we should not postpone, having made a promise to Sen. (Franklin) Drilon in the 18th Congress that this will be the last postponement. However, like the Comelec, I am here at your disposal and better judgment,” she explained.

Negros Oriental brands dive sites, eco-farm for tourism recovery

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Province of Negros Oriental is very optimistic of its tourism recovery prospects this year after its successful hosting of the DIVE7 Festival with underwater photo contest on July 28-31 with 40 participants both local and foreign divers and the DIVE7 Trade and Media Familiarization Tour in Negros Oriental from July 31 to August 3 to promote the dive sites and eco-farm tourism as its brands for the province’s tourism industry, both events were initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT7)-Central Visayas.

DOT-DIVE7 Project Director Glenice Do bared that the events included various activities like underwater photo competitions, mermaid-swimming activity, full face mask activity, coastal clean-up and a ‘Visit Negros Oriental’ media familiarization tour promoting the dive sites and eco-farm tourism as brands for sustainable tourism.

According to Do, DIVE7 Festival was launched in 2021 that generated high interest from various dive communities in Central Visayas that were affected by restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic.  “It has since attracted both beginners and experienced divers from all over the country,” she added.

This year’s DIVE7 Festival kicked off in Negros Oriental along the Zamboanguita coastline and closed in Dauin town.  These towns are famous diving spots because of its wide expanse of live corals and their proximity to Apo Island, a prime international diving destination.

DOT7 Chief Tourism Operations Officer Judy Gabato said, the festival is part of the agency’s programs to promote and develop premier tourist destinations in the region and also based on the directive of the new Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco to collaborate with local government units (LGUs) in carrying out tourism-related activities.

 Local officials and tourism stakeholders’ reactions

Zamboanguita Mayor Jonah Pat Aviles and Dauin Vice mayor Rodrigo Alejano welcomed the DOT7 programs because these provided the LGUs to showcase their readiness to accommodate and welcome back the tourists to their towns.

“We are opening our tourism sites following the pandemic. Zamboanguita has a lot of dive sites for foreign and local tourists. Second, our tourist attractions are not just limited to diving. We also have Jumao-as hot spring and Waterfalls and Najandig Park as other tourism spots,” Aviles bared.

Aviles said they are expecting increase in tourism activities in Dauin and in the first district due to the plan to construct a new international airport in Bacong town. 

According to Erlyn Villaflores-Baldoza, Zamboanguita Diving and Leisure Resorts Association (ZDLRA) President and Allura Resort Dive and Spa Operations Manager that the DOT7-DIVE7 Festival and Visit NegOr media tour was a good way to encourage divers and diving enthusiast to recognize Zamboanguita as a diving and tourist destination not just in Negros Oriental but also in the Philippines and the international arena.

 Baldoza said that tourism in the town has been slowly going back to normal as resorts are now operating at 50 to 70 percent capacity. Most resorts offer a 20 percent discounts to direct clients to help the industry rise up from the ill-effects of the pandemic.

Erwin Macias, Tourism Consultant to the province wants scuba diving as the avenue to promote the province, its eco-farm tourism and its environment protection initiatives.  He called on the DOT7 not to forget to promote Negros Oriental as part of Central Visayas.

“We have more participants in this year’s DIVE7 Festival and I thanked the participants for coming and making the events a success.  Hopefully, you will come back next year for another round of DIVE7 and we will have more guests and participants.  We make it a point to make sure that you have a pleasant stay and experience here in Negros Oriental,” Macias said.  

Macias hoped that DOT7 and the Province of Negros Oriental can collaborate more to promote programs and diving sites in the province in the future and the challenge is to make the next DIVE7 a much more enjoyable and fun-filled event.

Dauin Councilor and Chairperson on the Committee on Tourism Alvin Truita also believed that through this event, local and foreign tourists will have a memorable experience in the province. (Photos: mbcnewman)