The Bureau of immigration (BI) has installed 125 passport reader machines at 7 primary airports. Bureau of Immigration Commisioner Marcelo Libanan said that out of 125 passport reader machines, a total of 76 were installed at the immigration arrival and departure counters of Terminal 1 and 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The remaining 49 machimes were distributed among other airports of the country such as Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo and Laoag. Out of the 125 machines, 91 were purchased by the bureau and the rest were donated by the Australian Government, under a border management improvement project jointly undertaken by Manila and Canberra.

While upgrades are being undertaken the Bureau of Immigration at the same time eased the requirements on foreign tourists who overstay in the country. They issued an order allowing foreigners who overstayed for not more than 3 days to pay extension fees at the airports. It amended a rule that extensions should be paid on BI main and field offices and not at the airports. These steps are being implemented to make a more favorable stay for foreign tourists and travelers. A small step change that would really make it easier for foreign travelers.

Wow Naman ! Philippines

We are just glad to announce the initial launch of our sister website Wow Naman ! Philippines. Unlike Paraiso Philippines which is more oriented and primarily aimed at introducing and promoting our country to travelers, Wow Naman ! Philippines covers a variety and a more broader topic worldwide but of course and still mostly about the Philippines with a touch of English and Tagalog language with top topic coverages that are really Wow from a readers perspective. The website covers extensive topics from Arts to Business, Recreation to Shopping News to Education and many more and brings unique content because of articles that are written in both Tagalog and English or Taglish and sometimes on occasions our editors would publish it in a native language or idiom after a proper translation. With these kind of article publication we would achieve our primary purpose of making Wow Naman ! Philippines a major force in bringing viewers from all parts of the globe who wishes to view a different kind or form of blogging.

Wow Naman ! Philippines explains its purpose on its About Page with its Resources Page built to provide the highest quality references. The Links Page would provide the highest quality website links that we deem important for our end users and of course if there are anything you would wish to comment or feedback on any topic, post, contribute an article its Contact Page is available. Advertisers are also very welcome that would indeed help us out on many of our prospective projects that includes promotions, monthly maintenance which includes our charity programs contributions from time to time.

To our sister website in its initial launch, More Power To You.

An island in the Western Visayas region located between the island of Panay and Negros and once a sub province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22,1992. The island of Guimaras has only 5 municipalities made up of Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag but have an extensive rich coverage of white sand beaches, corrals and adventure treks. It is widely known for its crop of sweet mangoes and reportedly being consumed in the White House and the Buckingham Palace. Dialects spoken are Ilonggo, Hiligaynon, Kinaraya, Tagalog and English.

In August 2006 a major oil spill disaster swept the island and affected much the livelihood of coastal residents and triggered a slump in tourism. Last year, to help transform the Island of Guimaras to be an alternate tourism haven for travelers, the Department of Tourism launched a program that would benefit the economy of Guimaras and at the same time the residents of the island. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) designed a tourism package for Guimaras that would transform the island into an alternate tourism haven.

The transformation of Guimaras Island to a favorite tourism destination includes the promotion of the island by the Deprtment of Tourism with the support from international tourism groups and travel agencies by promoting packaged airfares and stay. These promotions includes the restoration of the famous 18th century lighthouse built by the Spanish colonial government in 1896 known as Faro de Punta Luzaran and support for its eco-tourism like the Guisi Discovery Quest, the whale and shark watching in Donsol and mountain biking to Tagsing Cave or rappeling with the local government support on businesses for scuba diving equipment rentals and snorkeling.

With all these projects, it will also serve as a community model for environment and preservation of community life on how a turn around can occur when disaster strikes like an oil spill. While tourism declined on that year, a turn around has been seen and an increase of visitors frequented the place. It also gave way to the improvement of the economy and life of the inhabitants as the island drew more attention from travelers around the world.

What are you waiting for Visit Guimaras and enjoy its natural scenic beauty.

This an amazing find and news. For the very first time Filipino Movie Entertainment have come up with an animated film of our very own. Children really do love to watch animation and that is a fact, because I do remember myself watching a lot and kids really sit down for hours watching animated TV series and sci-fi pics. Doing a film like this would not just be an animation film alone but would surely be an educational influence and at the same time a historical reference of the Philippines. The producers of this film have come up with a good idea and it is by far the best in animation on local productions. The very first Urduja film was released in 1942 and stars Fernando Poe Sr. and Luningning. It was also re-released in the late 70’s through LVN Pictures and stars Amalia Fuentes. Though the film was patterned after Disney’s Pocahantas and Mulan, it depicts the Filipinos talent on creating animation and putting it to work. This isn’t bad at all as it will be a start of a more creative filming’s in the movie industry and more educational local animation from the Philippines. Urduja is a legendary warrior princess and a recognized popular heroine from Pangasinan. Much of her story are included on Philippine textbooks, archived as one of the greatest heroines and she also have a statue at the Hundred islands National Park with the capitol building in Lingayen named after her as Urduja Palace.

The new Urduja animated film will soon be released in local cinemas and with fine local actors and actresses representing the voices of the characters in the film. Produced by Antonio Tuviera of APT Entertainment, who originally planned to release the animated film in 1977 as a TV series but backed out due to high production cost then moved it 3 decades later as a full length movie. Watch the animated film’s movie teaser below with the cast listed who performed the voice.

• Regine Velazquez as Urduja
• Cezar Montano as Lim Hang
• Eddie Garcia as Lakanpati
• Jay Manalo as Simakwel
• Michael V. as Kukut
• Johnny Delgado as Wang
• Jeffrey Quizon as Daisuke
• Ruby Rodriguez as Mayumi
• Allan K. as Tarsir
  

Remember one of our baby song ? Used to be but very scarcely taught by parents and in kindergarten nowadays. Still everyone could recite and sing it since it is part of our heritage. It would be very awkward for a Filipino not to know Bahay Kubo as it depicts one of our very own lullabies and sign of our native culture. Bahay Kubo is considered our native domicile even before the Spanish arrived in 1521. Constructed out of bamboo or kawayan and banded together by tree strings with dried tree leaves, coconut leaves, nipa, sasa or dried grass. Below is a modern example of a bahay-kubo.

Seeing a modern bahay kubo we could now start to sing and at the same time view what’s in store with the song itself.

Bahay kubo kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari
Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani, sitaw, bataw at patani
Kundol, patola, upo at kalabasa at saka mayroon pa labanos, mustasa,
Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya at sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga.

Now lets do it with pictures to view it clearly.Bahay kubo kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari
Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani, sitaw, bataw at patani
Kundol, patola, upo at kalabasa at saka mayroon pa labanos , mustasa ,
Sibuyas , kamatis , bawang at luya at sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga .We would now translate the local vegetable terms from Filipino to English.

singkamas - native turnip
talong - eggplant
sigarilyas - winged seguidillas beans
mani - peanut
sitaw - string beans
bataw - hyacinth bean
patani - lima beans, kidney beans
kondol - wax gourd
patola - sponge gourd
upo - white squash
kalabasa - pumpkin, squash
labanos - radish
mustasa - mustard
sibuyas - onions
kamatis - tomatoes
bawang - garlic
luya - ginger
linga - sesame seeds