12 Refugee Facts in the Philippines

1. A refugee is a person escaping his or her country because of the forced effects of persecution, war, or natural disaster. 
2. The year 2000 was the year that the United Nations declared 20 June at the celebration for World Refugee Day.
3. The first wave of refugees that came to the Philippines was the so-called "White Russians" of which 800 was a part of a fleet of almost 8,000 refugees that fled the persecution from the "Red Russians" or those who supported the 1917 Socialist Revolution. 250 worked in abaca plantations which were then a booming industry in Mindanao.
4. The second wave of refugees were the 1,200 European Jews that escaped the World War II Nazi persecution. These refugees were accepted by former President Manuel L. Quezon by issuing the Proclamation No. 173 on 21 August 1937 which later became the basis of Commonwealth Act 613 now known as Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. By this act, a Filipino can see Quezon monument in Tel Aviv, Israel, inscribed with his words of welcome for refugees, that: “the people of the Philippines will have in the future every reason to be glad that when the time of need came, their country was willing to extend a hand of welcome.”
5. The third wave of refugees to the Philippines was the Spanish Republicans who fled the Falange Española of General Francisco Franco from 1936 to 1939. It was due to the absolute neutrality being implemented by President Quezon during those time of the Spanish Civil War that these refugees were accepted in the Philippines.
6. The fourth wave of refugees was the Chinese immigrants that came because of the Chinese Civil War. It was in 1940 that the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 was enacted and 30,000 Kuomintang Chinese group were welcomed. It was also the time the Philippines became a sovereign country and the foreigners were allowed to become naturalized Filipinos as stated in the Philippine Constitution.
7. The fifth wave of refugees was the second wave of White Russians, 6,000 of which were welcomed by former President Elpidio Quirino in 1948. These Russians left their community in Shanghai, China due to the impending communist forces and only the Philippines replied to their request for refugee status. This was also the time that the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 was amended.
8. The sixth wave of refugees to the Philippines came during the years of 1975 to 1992 wherein 2,700 Vietnamese "boat people" escaped the fallen South Vietnam Government and was allowed to stay in the country.
9. The seventh wave of refugees that arrived in the Philippines were Iranian refugees in the latter part of the 1970s during the Iranian Revolution.
10. The eighth wave of refugees came in 1980 to the Philippines which were made up of Indo-Chinese refugees including citizens from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It was during this time that the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Morong, Bataan was opened to accommodate and facilitate around 400,000 refugees from 1980 to 1994. 
11. The ninth wave of refugees was East Timorese during the time that the Timor was struggling for independence from Indonesia in 2000. Former President Joseph Estrada supported this action and was able to raise local funds to support these refugees.
12. In November 2016, due to the crisis in Syria, President Duterte announced that he is welcoming Syrian refugees to the Philippines.

References:

https://youtu.be/6BApCeQUBCg
https://borgenproject.org/refugees-in-the-philippines/
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/11/04/1755813/unhcr-praises-philippines-support-refugees
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/duterte-offers-refugees-home-philippines-161117073606596.html
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/96929-timeline-philippine-law-policies-refugees

12 Things About Abdul Sattar Edhi

1. Abdul Sattar Edhi founded the world's largest volunteer ambulance network in Pakistan, the Edhi Foundation.
2. Unlike wealthy individuals that fund charities in their names, Edhi dedicated his life to the poor from the age of 20, when he himself was penniless in Karachi.
3. Edhi was born before partition in Bantva, Gujarat, India on February 28, 1928.
4. He is also well-known for the aphorism: “People have become educated... but have yet to become human.”
5. Edhi was born into Islam but never allowed faith to interfere in his humanitarian endeavors. Once asked why he helped non-Muslims, he answered simply: “Because my ambulance is more Muslim than you.”
6. In light of the new US President’s “Muslim travel ban”, it is worth remembering another of Edhi’s remarks, after being detained and interrogated by immigration officials at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport in January 2008 under Bush administration terror laws. Questioned by reporters as to the reason for his detention, the philanthropist wryly offered: “The only explanation I can think of is my beard and my dress.”
7. Abdul Sattar Edhi died of kidney failure, leaving behind his wife of 52 years, Bilquis, a former nurse, and four offspring. By the time of his death on July 8th 2016,  Edhi was registered as a parent or guardian of nearly 20,000 children.
8. The Edhi Foundation's slogan is: "Live and help live".
9. With more than 1,800 ambulances stationed across Pakistan, the Edhi Foundation is Pakistan's largest welfare organization. 
10. In 1997, the foundation entered the Guinness World Records as the "largest volunteer ambulance organization" (operating 1,500 vehicles) and Edhi ambulances are welcomed as friendly neighbors throughout Pakistan. If you call 115 in the South Asian nation, the Edhi Foundation will answer.
11. After the nominations in 2014, the hashtag  #NobelPrizeforEdhi was created; many said he should have been recognized instead of Malala Yousafzai, who is also from Pakistan. In an interview with the Express Tribune newspaper, Edhi said: "I don't care about it. The Nobel Prize doesn't mean anything to me. I want these people, I want humanity." 
12. It was announced that the State Bank of Pakistan would issue a commemorative coin of 50 rupees (38p) in memory of Edhi as a small token of appreciation for his selfless services for the country.

References:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/02/abdul-sattar-edhi-google-honours-angel-mercy-170227140720826.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/02/28/abdul-sattar-edhi-89-birthday-pakistan-angel-of-mercy-father-teresa/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/abdul-sattar-edhi-google-doodle-pakistan-philanthropist-volunteer-medical-care-network-ambulances-a7603221.html

Top 12 Wins of Team Philippines at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games

1. Mary Joy tabal giving the Philippines its first gold medal in the 2017 SEA Games even though she had some previous conflicts prior to joining the Philippine Team.
2. Eumir Marcial and John Marvin winning boxing with the former having an injured left hand and the latter winning on the fastest win in boxing which was winning in 21 seconds.
3. Filipino triathletes, Niko Huelgas and John Chicano taking home the gold medal and the silver medal which also happened in the distaff or the women's division, Kim Mangrobang winning the gold medal and Claire Adorna taking home the silver medal.
4. Mariya Takahashi, a 16-year old teenager upsetting Surattana Thongsri of Thailand who was the undefeated champion in the women's division under -70 kilogram category. Mariya Takahashi ended the reign of Surattana Thongsri by taking home the gold medal from winning by ippon in 48 seconds.
5. The Mighty Ducks is the name of the Philippine Ice Hockey Team and they won in their SEA Games debut since this was the first time that ice hockey was included in the Southeast Asian Games. They scored 5-4 against Thailand winning the first place and they were just formed two years ago to become the pioneer ice hockey team for the Philippines.
6. Trenton Beram contributing not just one but TWO gold medals for Team Philippines making him the only double-gold medal winner in Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games. He won his first medal when he finished the 200-metre dash in the men's division in 20.84 seconds. He was assigned on a strange lane, lane number 7 which was a difficult lane, assignment the following day after he won and struggled with cramps and still won the men's division of the the 400-metre race and finished in 46.39 seconds.
7. Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit, female players for the billiards, winning the gold medal and silver medal in the 9-ball billiards championship match.
8. Kaitlin De Guzman, a 17-year old female gymnast, winning the gold medal in the same event where her mother won in the 1995 Chiang Mai Games. She brought home the gold medal in the uneven bars event and also won a silver medal in the floor exercise and a bronze medal in the balance beam event.
9. Gilas Pilipinas proving their basketball expertise by winning the 18th gold medal for the Philippines with a score of 94-55 against Team Indonesia.
10. John Colin Syquia, an unknown 46-year old equestrian rider, winning the gold medal in the individual showjumping competition at the 3Q Equestrian Center in Rawang, Malaysia. He won together with his mount named "Adventure E" surviving a 36-hour travel from Florida to New York to Amsterdam to Baku giving the Philippines its 23rd gold medal which was also the first gold medal in equestrian event since the 2011 Palembang Biennial. It was his first time to compete in the Southeast Asian Games.
11. Eric Cray, a Fil-Am track and field athlete, giving the Philippines its 8th gold medal by winning the gold medal in the 400-metre hurdles event of the men's division with a time of 50.03 seconds and also winning the silver medal with a time of 10.43 seconds in the 100-metre finals of the men's division an hour after his gold medal win.
12. The trio of Taekwondo jins, Dustin Mella, Rafael Mella, and Rodolfo Reyes, Jr. winning the men's division of the team poomsae event in the Taekwondo competition held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. They won with a score of 8.40 and their victory was the third victory in the same event for the Taekwondo Team Philippines since winning in the 2013 SEA Games. It was also the trio's second straight win and the third win for the Mella brothers.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPegS0XicUQ
http://sports.tv5.com.ph/summitseagames/article/the-top-10-moments-for-team-philippines-at-the-2017-southeast-asian-games

Donate to Marawi via These 12 Groups

1. Phililippine Red Cross (PRC)
1. Donations in Cash
• Account Name: PHILIPPINE RED CROSS
• Type of Account: SAVINGS
• BANCO DE ORO
• Branch: Port Area, Manila
• Peso: 00453-0018647
• Dollar: 10-453-0039482
• Swift Code: BNOR PH MM
• PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK
• Branch: Port Area, Manila
• Peso: 3752-8350-0034
• Dollar: 3752-8350-0034
• Swift Code: PNB MPH MM
• METROBANK
• Branch: Port Area, Manila
• Peso: 151-3-04163122-8
• Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2
• Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
• BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
• Branch: Port Area, Manila
• Peso: 4991-0036-52
• Dollar: 4994-0103-15
• Swift Code: BOPI PH MM
• UNIONBANK
• Branch: Taguig
• Peso: 1015-400-002-01
• Dollar: 1315-400-000-90
• Swift Code: UB MPH MM
2. Donations in kind
• National Headquarters located at 37 EDSA cor. Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City.
2. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
1. Donations for families of soldiers who have died in battle
• Landbank Account Name: AFP Marawi Casualty
• Account Number 00000552107128
2. Donations for evacuees from Marawi City
• Landbank Account Name: Marawi IDP 
• Account Number: 00000552107136.
3. Teach Peace Build Peace Movement Inc. (TPBPM)
1. Account Name: Teach Peace Build Peace Movement Inc.
• Bank: BDO
• Account Number: 000040837270
• Branch: SM Makati
4. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
1. DSWD Dollar Saving Account for Foreign Donation 
• Account Name: DSWD FOREIGN DONATION
• Account Number: 3124-0055-81 
• Swift Code: TLBPPHMMXXX 
• Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
2. Peso Current Account
• Account Name: DSWD DONATION 
• Account Number: 3122-1011-84 
• Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City
5. Tulong Kabataan
1. College Editors Guild of the Philippines
• Philippine Postal Savings Bank 
• Account Number 0001-003036-211.
6. Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership
1. For cash donations
• BPI
• Account Name: KN MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP INC.
• Account Number: 3081 1163 84
7. Student Council Alliance of the Philippines
1. Send email to SCAP at scap.neb@gmail.com
2. Contact Persons: 
• Francis (09322284155) 
• Isaac (09083151257).
8. Ateneo de Naga University
1. AdNU-SSG Office, 2nd Floor of Xavier Hall. 
2. Contact Persons:
• Bianca Melanie Medenilla Montero - 0977 200 2536 
• Adnu-Ssg Kasurog - 0927 517 3369
9. Chevening Alumni Foundation of the Philippines
1. Account Name: CHEVENING ALUMNI FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
• Account Number : 3351-01126-6 
• Bank: Philippine National Bank (PNB) 
• Branch: Makati C. Palanca Branch
10. Save The Children
1. Visit savemarawichildren page or this direct link: http://donate.savethechildren.org.ph/marawi
11. Caritas Philippines
1. Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands 
• Branch: Intramuros, Manila 
• Account Name: CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION, INC. NASSA
• Account Number: 4951-0071-08
12. World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF)
1. Account Name: World Vision Development Foundation, Inc.
• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI): 4251-0024-15
• Banco de Oro (BDO): 000-2700-4341-1
• Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank): 038-332-000-138
• Metrobank: 0607060-518641

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhe3ZyHiEpY
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/170756-groups-call-donations-relief-operations-marawi
http://primer.com.ph/blog/2017/06/02/prayformarawi-marawi-city-needs-our-help/
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/06/19/1711526/afp-opens-2-bank-accounts-marawi-donations
http://www.ovp.gov.ph/index.php/media-realeases/press-release/19-government/1658-stand-with-marawi-call-for-donations-and-volunteers
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/171634-how-help-marawi-evacuees-dswd
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/170756-groups-call-donations-relief-operations-marawi

National Heroes Day 28 August 2017

Do you know these national heroes?

1. Trinidad Tecson
2. Rajah Buisan
3. Mariano Trias
4. Gliceria Marella-Villavicencio
5. Gen. Simeon Ola y Arboleda
6. Gen. Jose Ignacio Paua
7. Cpt. Jose Cabalfin Calugas
8. Lt. Cesar Fernando Basa
9. Isabelo del Rosario
10. Lt. Delfin Rosales
11. Capt. Delfin Velilla
12. Teodoro Salanga Jr.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyoHjjOa-sY

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/172680-unsung-filipino-heroes-philippine-independence

http://www.filipiknow.net/forgotten-philippine-heroes/

http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/v2/06/11/15/survey-says-top-10-most-mentioned-genuine-filipino-heroes

http://www.filipiknow.net/young-philippine-heroes/

12 Trivia Facts About Gary Valenciano

1. Gary Valenciano was born on 6 August 1964 in Santa Mesa, Manila as Edgardo Jose "Gary" Santiago Valenciano.
2. Gary Valenciano is the sixth of seven children of Vicente Calacas Valenciano, a Bicolano from Camalig, Albay and Grimilda Santiago y Olmo, a Puerto Rican from Arecibo.
3. Gary Valenciano is also known as Gary V. and Mr. Pure Energy.
4. Gary Valenciano has released 39 albums, and won the Awit Awards (Song Awards) for "Best Male Performer" twelve times. 
5. Gary Valenciano is married to María Anna Elizabeth "Angeli" Pangilinan, with whom he has three children: Paolo Valenciano (vocalist of the band Salamin, and is married to Samantha Godinez) with a grandchild Nataleia Martine, José Angelo Gabriel Valenciano (singer, keyboardist, dancer, and is married to Tricia Centenera) and Kristiana María Mikaela (model-turned-singer).
6. Gary Valenciano is a diabetic, just like his mother Grimilda who is also diabetic.
7. He first appeared as a solo artist in 1982 in the television programme, The Pilita and Jackie Show, and later in Germspesyal and Penthouse Live.
8. He had his first solo concert in April 1984 at the Araneta Coliseum, followed by a number of albums.
9. Gary Valenciano is personally managed by his wife Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano and sister Gina Valenciano-Martinez of Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management, Inc.
10. In 1978, at 14 years old, Valenciano made his first television appearance in an advertisement for local soft-drink, (defunct) Fress Gusto.
11. First artist in the world to have a Sennheiser Special Edition microphone named after him - Sennheiser Evolution Series 2001.
12. First & current UNICEF National Ambassador of Goodwill in the Philippines from 1998–present.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjvDbiE8MGg

http://garyv.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Valenciano

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1347688/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_trv_sm#trivia

12 Trivia Facts About Brillante Mendoza

1. Brillante "Dante" Mendoza was born on 30 July 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga.
2. He took advertising arts of the then College of Architecture and fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
3. He has directed sixteen films since 2005. 
4. He won the award for Best Director for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.
5. His 2009 film Lola won the award for Best Film at the 6th Dubai International Film Festival.
6. His 2012 film Captive was shown in competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012.
7. His 2012 film Thy Womb competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival.
8. His film Taklub has been selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
9. At the Cinema One Originals 2009, he received the Special Honorary Award.
10. Head of the jury at the 26th Singapore International Film Festival in 2015.
11. Member of the 'Filmmakers of the Present' jury at the 62nd Locarno International Film Festival in 2009.
12. Mendoza directed Duterte's first SONA last 25 July 2016, which can be remembered for using low angle shots and dimmer lighting which was a break from the traditional coverage of the event. He again directed President Duterte's second SONA last 24 July 2017.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v68y6csuDjY
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1137289/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_trv_sm#trivia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brillante_Mendoza
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/617846/brillante-mendoza-back-as-director-of-duterte-s-2nd-sona-andanar/story/?tag=sona2017
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/content/619520/brillante-mendoza-accepts-criticisms-on-directing-duterte-s-sona/story/?tag=sona2017
http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/176687-brillante-mendoza-direction-duterte-sona-2017-philippines

12 Trivia Facts About Ruben Rustia

1. Ruben Matias Cayari is the full name of Ruben Rustia.
2. Ruben Rustia was born on 25 July 1923 in Manila, Philippines.
3. Ruben Rustia became a propsman in the movie Vampire Hookers  (1978).
4. Ruben Rustia appeared on 312 movies.
5. Ruben Rustia was a writer for 38 movies.
6. Ruben Rustia was a second unit director or assistant director for 6 films.
7. Ruben Rustia directed two movies, Captain Barbell kontra Captain Bakal (1965) and Magda Sales  (1964).
8. Ruben Rustia was nominated for a FAMAS Best Supporting Actor award for six times -- 1962 Alaala kita (1961), 1963 Kapag buhay ang inutang (1962), 1971 Psycho Sex Killer (1970), 1973 Kill the Pushers (1972), 1974 Tanikalang dugo (1973), and 1975 Fe, Esperanza, Caridad (1974).
9. Ruben Rustia was nominated for a FAMAS Best Actor Award for the movie Haring tulisan (1956). 
10. Ruben Rustia was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award at the Gawad Urian Awards in 1992 for the movie Pepeng Shotgun (1981). 
11. Ruben Rustia won the 1955 FAMAS Best Supporting Actor award for the movie Pedro Penduko (1954). 
12. Ruben Rustia died on 7 April 1994 in Manila  at the age of 70  due to diabetes.

References:

http://www.bornglorious.com/person/?pi=/m/0bwb6b3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54rCaako7fE
http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/ruben-rustia-57505897/
http://patheticfacts.com/filipino-actors-died-in-diabetes-mellitus.html
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Ruben_Rustia
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751834/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

12 Trivia Facts About Anacleto Del Rosario

1. Anacleto del Rosario was born on 13 July 1860 at Santa Cruz, Manila.
2. He died on 2 May 1895 at the age of 34 years old due to Tuberculosis.
3. His father was Eugenio del Rosario and his mother was Casimira Sales.
4. His spouse was Valeriana Valdexco to whom he had a son, Jose Luis Rossessed
5. He obtained his pharmacy degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 1882.
6. He was regarded as the "Father of Philippine Science and Laboratory"
7. He was a leading pharmacist and chemist during the Spanish period. 
8. He founded the Botica San Fernando in Binondo and the College of Pharmacists. 
9. On 6 August 1881, he was appointed by the government to the Commission with the task of studying mineral waters of the Philippines.
10. On 10 March 1885, he was named Municipal Pharmacist for the North District of Binondo.
11. He invented the formula for producing a pure kind of alcohol from tuba in a nipa palm which won for him the first prize during the World Fair in Paris, France in 1881. 
12. Del Rosario extracted castor oil from the palma christi, literally the "palm of Christ" (castor bean) which is a native plant in the Philippines.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ud5WGCQ0yI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacleto_del_Rosario
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/ulatfilipino/491858/bakit-tanyag-si-anacleto-del-rosario-noong-sakop-ng-mga-kastila-ang-pilipinas/story/
https://firstfilipino.blogspot.com/2007/07/anacleto-del-rosario.html
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/704738/did-you-know-433
http://philippinefathers.blogspot.com/2007/07/anacleto-del-rosario.html
https://www.geni.com/people/Anacleto-Del-Rosario/6000000011619843682

12 Trivia Facts About Bo Sanchez

1. Bo Sanchez' full name is Eugenio Isabelo Tomas Reyes Sanchez Jr. 
2. Bo Sanchez was born on 11 July 1966 in Caloocan City.
3. Bo Sanchez' parents are Eugenio and Pilar Sanchez.
4. Bo Sanchez was awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in 2006.
5. Bo Sanchez also received the Serviam Award which is the highest award a lay Catholic may receive, from the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2007.
6. Bo Sanchez was the founder of one of the religious communities in the Philippines, the Light of Jesus Family (LOJ).
7. Bo Sanchez also founded other organizations, such as Anawim which is a special home for the abandoned elderly, and Shepherd’s Voice which is a media group that publishes the widest read inspirational literature in the country. 
8. Bo Sanchez also founded two gatherings which are the annual inspirational convention Kerygma Conference (which was founded on 2006) and the weekly fellowship and worship called the "The Feast".
9. Bo Sanchez is known as the "Preacher in Blue Jeans".
10. Bo Sanchez has a mantra and this is “everybody deserves to be rich".
11. Bo Sanchez authored 29 bestselling books and published eight periodicals.
12. Bo Sanchez is the founder of Truly Rich Club.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6thgJf1B0XI
http://www.imoney.ph/articles/bo-sanchez-becoming-truly-rich/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Sanchez
https://www.amazon.com/Bo-Sanchez/e/B009NN4WN6
http://trulyrichclub.com.ph/bo-sanchez-top-5-books/
http://bosanchez.ph/

12 Awards and Honors of Miriam Defensor Santiago

• Magsaysay Award for Government Service, 1988, Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, Magsaysay Awards Foundation
• TOYM Award for Law, 1985 (The Outstanding Young Men) Opened to Women 1984, Philippine Jaycees
• TOWNS Award for Law, 1986 (The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service), Philippine Lions
• Philippine Judges' Hall of Fame, 2015, Philippine Judges Association
• Most Outstanding Alumna in Law, University of the Philippines, 1988
• Gold Vision Triangle Award for government service, 1988, YMCA Philippines
• Republic Anniversary Award for law enforcement, 1988, Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines
• Golden Jubilee Achievement Award for public service, 1990, Girl Scouts of the Philippines
• Celebrity Mother Award, 1991, Gintong Ina Awards Foundation
• Spain – Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (30 November 2007)
• Distinguished Icon of Legal Excellence and Public Service Award (2 September 2016)
• PUP Online Personality of the Year 2016

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0x4GNEkK3k

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Defensor_Santiago

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/29/16/the-life-and-legacy-of-miriam-defensor-santiago

http://says.com/ph/news/xx-laws-authored-by-miriam-santiago-that-shaped-the-philippines

12 Trivia Facts About Jennylyn Mercado

1. Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado was born on 15 May 1987 and grew up in Parañaque City.
2. Jennylyn Mercado was the First female winner of Starstruck Season 1 (2003) of GMA network.
3. She is the niece of television reporter, Abner Mercado. Her cousins are Cherie Mercado (news and radio anchor for News5), Charee Pineda, and Eliza Pineda who both work for the ABS-CBN channel.
4. Mercado's life story was featured in the weekly drama anthology Magpakailanman on October 14, 2004. She is now the official spokesperson of the Bata Foundation (Christian Mission Services), a non-government organization.
5. In 2008, at age 21, Mercado announced that she was pregnant. Her ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia distanced himself upon learning of her pregnancy, was announced as the father of her child. On August 16, 2008, she gave birth to her child, a son, via Caesarian section.
6. She works with the Philippine women's organization GABRIELA.
7. She is also an aspiring triathlete for engaging in sporting activities. She took jujitsu and Muay Thai lessons in her free time. "They built up my muscles. I looked heavy onscreen," Jennylyn recounted. "I realized that I needed cardio exercises to slim down." She discovered running and biking, which soon led her to join duothlon competitions in Alabang and Laguna. She is also a diver to inspire people to be environment friendly.
8. Mercado started as a recording artist with Alpha Records in 1999 through the recommendation of her voice coach, Susanna Pichay. She was in Nonoy Tan's singing group, G4. Unfortunately the group never released an album because two of the four members dropped out.
9. She released her first album, Living the Dream, containing original compositions by Vehnee Saturno, and a carrier single titled "Kahit Sandali". In May 2006, Mercado released her second album Letting Go which included the single "Sa Aking Panaginip" by Vehnee Saturno. Her first major concert was held on May 15, 2006, at the Music Museum in Greenhills. In January 2010, under VIVA Records, she released her third album, Love Is... Jennylyn Mercado. Due to her popularity, she held a birthday concert at the Music Museum, titled I Am Woman in May 2009. The concert was sold-out.
10. Her first films included So Happy Together and the teen-flick Let the Love Begin but her most acclaimed film performance was a Filipino period piece, Rosario.
11. In 2015, after Mercado's box office hit English Only, Please with actor Derek Ramsay in 2014, she was awarded as the MMFF 2014 Best Actress for the recently concluded film festival.
12. A few months later Mercado finally grabbed her first win for the controversial FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest Woman after beating Andrea Torres and Ellen Adarna, after Marian Rivera (which excluded on the list along with Rookies Tricia Santos and China Roces) vactates the title. Before she leaves Philippines for New York for PreNup film with Sam Milby, publisher Aeus Reyes and Allan Altera with GMA News reporter Nelson Canlas surpries Mercado and give a plaque. And finally on July 11, Mercado ramps for the two part FHM 100 Sexiest party at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOP6UnMv8Zs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennylyn_Mercado
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1717582/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_trv_sm#trivia

12 Trivia Facts About David Nepomuceno

Photo from Rainier Virginio

1. David Nepomuceno was born on 9 May 1900.
2. David Nepomuceno was dominant in an era when the metric system was replacing the old imperial yard system and he ranked among the top 10 in the world in the 1920s including his fellow, the first great Filipino sprinter, Fortunato Catalon, dominating the 100 yards (91 metres) and 220 yards (201.1 metres) and 1925 100 metres.
3. David Nepomuceno was the first Filipino to compete in the Olympics and the lone representative of the Philippines at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
4. Together with his coach Regino Ylanan, the founder of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines, Nepomuceno carried our flag proudly during the opening ceremonies in the 45,000-seat Stade Olympique de Colombes - the same venue of the 1938 World Cup final.
5. David Nepomuceno ran the 100 meters in 1925 in only two-tenths of a second short of the then-world record.
6. The reason behind the entry of the Philippines in the Olympics is not clear but it is likely that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) or the American colonial officials decided to admit the Philippines in order to expand the Asian presence in the quadrennial event. 
7. The Men's 100 Meters was Nepomuceno's first event where he was slated to run in the fifth heat with the likes of Henricus Broos of the Netherlands, George Dunston of South Africa, Antonin Svoboda of Czechoslovakia, Poul Schiang of Denmark and Jose-Maria Larrabeti of Spain. Unfortunately, he finished dead last and both Broos and Dunston qualified to the next round. In the end, it was British Harold Abrahams who won gold at an Olympic record time of 10.6 seconds followed by American Jackson Scholz for silver at 10.7 seconds and Kiwi Arthur Porritt for bronze at 10.8. Interestingly, that race was depicted in the Academy Award-winning 1981 British historical drama "Chariots of Fire."
8. David Nepomuceno was then slated to run against home town favorite Maurice Degrelle and Dutchman Marinus van den Berge in Heat 15 of the Men's 200 Meters but he was not able to progress as Degrelle topped the race at 22.6 seconds. In what was expected to be a highly-anticipated rematch between American Scholz and British Abrahams in the final became an anticlimactic finish as Scholz ran away with the gold medal at an Olympic record time of 21.6 seconds followed by compatriot Charles Paddock for the silver at 21.7 seconds and British Eric Lidell for the bronze at 21.9 seconds. Abrahams finished dead last at 22.3 seconds.
9. David Nepomuceno went on to the 1925 Manila Far Eastern Games winning the Gold in the 200-meter dash and the Silver in the 100-meter dash. 
10. David Nepomuceno managed to win the Men's 100 Meter gold in the 1927 Games in Shanghai but failed to defend his Men's 200 Meters Straight gold as he slid to bronze as rising sprint star Anselmo Gonzaga took the gold and Japanese Takayoshi Yoshioka settled for the silver.
11. David Nepomuceno served in the Philippine Scouts and the United States Navy.
12. David Nepomuceno died on 27 September 1939.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nepomuceno
https://www.olympic.org/david-nepomuceno
http://pinoyathletics.info/2014/07/david-nepomuceno-first-filipino-to-compete-in-olympics/
http://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2016/08/07/flashback-first-pinoy-olympians-bemedalled-14095
http://www.istoryadista.net/2016/08/finding-david-first-filipino-olympian.html
https://www.philathletics.org/athletics-history
https://youtu.be/CSav51fVlKU

Lapu-Lapu Day 2017

1. Proclamation No 200 declared April 27 "Lapu-Lapu Day." Duterte signed the proclamation on Wednesday, April 26.
2. The date was chosen because it was on this day, in 1521, when the Battle of Mactan erupted. In that battle, Lapu-Lapu, a local chieftain, confronted Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
3. Duterte described Lapu-Lapu as "the first of our forefathers to have fought against foreign domination."
4. Lapu-Lapu is regarded, retroactively, as the first Filipino hero. Lapu-Lapu (fl. 1521) was a ruler of Mactan in Visayas. Modern Philippine society regards him as the first Filipino hero because he was the first native to resist Spanish colonization.
5. "It is but fitting and proper that Lapu-Lapu be given the highest honor and that his legacy be remembered by all Filipinos through appropriate ceremonies," said President Duterte.
6. Duterte, who refers to himself as a Bisaya because his father is from Cebu, spoke during campaign sorties in Visayas about the need for Lapu-Lapu to be recognized as a hero at par with heroes from Luzon like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.
7. He even complained about how Lapu-Lapu is honored only by the use of his name to refer to a fish eaten by Filipinos.
8. To elevate Lapu-Lapu's status, Duterte signed an Executive Order creating the Order of Lapu-Lapu. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of the Order of Lapu-Lapu through Executive Order 17 signed by the President through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea April 7, 2017. The Order of Lapu-Lapu will be awarded to awarded to officials and personnel of the government, and private individuals in recognition of their invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
9. This Order is to be awarded to officials, government personnel, and private citizens "in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President." 
10. The order will have three medals: the Lapu-Lapu Medal awarded to officials and personnel of the government, and private individuals who significantly contributed to the success of an activity pursuant to the President’s campaign or advocacy.
11. The Kalasag Medal, to be awarded to officials and personnel of the government, and private individuals who lost their lives and/or property as result of direct participation in activity pursuant to the President’s campaign or advocacy.
12. The Kampilan Medal, for individual seriously injured or wounded as result of direct participation in activity pursuant to the President’s campaign or advocacy.

References:

http://www.rappler.com/nation/168168-duterte-april-27-lapu-lapu-day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapu-Lapu http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/04/17/1691158/duterte-creates-order-lapu-lapu-honor-service-his-campaigns http://www.update.ph/2017/04/duterte-creates-order-of-lapu-lapu-for-individuals-supporting-his-campaign-advocacy/16862

12 Trivia Facts About James Parkinson

1. James Parkinson was born on 11 April 1755 in Shoreditch, London, England.
2. He was the son of John Parkinson, an apothecary and surgeon practising in Hoxton Square in London.
3. He was the oldest of three siblings, which included his brother William and his sister Mary Sedgewood.
4. On 21 May 1783, he married Mary Dale, with whom he subsequently had eight children; two did not survive past childhood. Soon after he was married, Parkinson succeeded his father in his practice in 1 Hoxton Square.
5. In 1784 Parkinson was approved by the City of London Corporation as a surgeon.
6. In 1812 Parkinson assisted his son with the first described case of appendicitis in English, and the first instance in which perforation was shown to be the cause of death.
7. Parkinson was the first person to systematically describe six individuals with symptoms of the disease that bears his name. Jean-Martin Charcot coined the term "Parkinson's disease" some 60 years later.
8. Parkinson belonged to a school of thought, Catastrophism, that concerned itself with the belief that the Earth's geology and biosphere were shaped by recent large-scale cataclysms.
9. He died on 21 December 1824 after a stroke that interfered with his speech, bequeathing his houses in Langthorne to his sons and wife and his apothecary's shop to his son, John.
10. His collection of organic remains was given to his wife and much of it went on to be sold in 1827, a catalogue of the sale has never been found.
11. He was buried at St. Leonard's Church, Shoreditch and Parkinson's life is commemorated with a stone tablet inside the church of St Leonard's, Shoreditch, where he was a member of the congregation; the exact site of his grave is not known and his body may lie in the crypt or in the churchyard.
12. There is no known portrait of him: a photograph, sometimes published and identified as of him, is of a dentist of the same name, but this James Parkinson died before photography was invented.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Parkinson
https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2017/04/11/world-parkinsons-day-bial-launches-me-at-my-best-awareness-campaign/
http://www.pdaids.com/april-11-world-parkinsons-day/
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/world-parkinsons-day-10-facts-about-neurological-disease-affecting-6-million-people-worldwide-1495833
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Parkinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyHonblYuhU

Czech War Volunteers from Bataan

1. ASTER Karel (sometimes as Astor, Karl or Charles) - Bata Shoe Company
2. BŽOCH Jan (engineer John or Jan V. Bzoch)
3. DANČÁK Karel - Bata Shoe Company
4. Dr. FUCHS Pavel (Paul Fuchs)
5. HERMANN Leo
6. HERMAN Bedřich (Fred Hermann) - Bata Shoe Company
7. HIRSCH Otto
8. HRDINA Jaroslav - Director of Bata Shoe in Manila
9. LENK Hans
10. LENK Fred
11. MORÁVEK Arnošt (Ernest Moravek) - businessman and Czech community leader in Manila
12. SCHMELKES Norbert - deputy Consul of Czechoslovakia in Manila
13. VAŘÁK Josef - Bata Shoe technician
14. VOLNÝ Antonín - (Anthony G., or Tony Volny or Volney) - Czech diplomat, worked 9 years at the Czechoslovak Embassy in Tokyo
15. GERBEC Ludvík, CEO of the Manila branch of Bata Shoe Company

References:

http://manilastandard.net/news/metro/160177/czechs-in-death-march-too.html
http://www.mzv.cz/manila/en/bilateral_relations/czech_veterans_from_bataan/czech_war_volunteers_from_bataan.html

Maya Angelou 12 Famous Quotes

1. "I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory."
2. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
3. "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
4. "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
5. "The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind."
6. "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."
7. "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back."
8. "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
9. "You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."
10. "One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest."
11. "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."
12. "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou

http://mayaangelou.com/

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/maya-angelou

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/maya-angelou

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/must-see-video-clips-of-dr-maya-angelou?utm_term=.jpW9D68p95#.kcr7Ag8V71

http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/world/2017/apr/04/on-the-88th-birth-anniversary-of-maya-angelou-heres-all-that-the-caged-bird-sang-100361.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/28/maya-angelou-quotes/9663257/

Happy 72nd Birthday President Duterte

1. President Rodrigo Duterte was born on 14 March 1945, in Maasin, Leyte.
2. His maternal grandfather was a Chinese immigrant from Xiamen, Fujian. 
3. His father was Vicente G. Duterte (1911–1968), a Cebuano lawyer; and his mother Soledad Duterte (née Roa) (1916–2012), was a school teacher from Cabadbaran, Agusan and a civic leader of Maranao descent.
4. Duterte went to Laboon Elementary School in Maasin, for a year and spent his remaining elementary days at the Santa Ana Elementary School in Davao City, where he graduated in 1956.
5. He finished his secondary education in the High School Department of the then Holy Cross College of Digos (now Cor Jesu College) in today's city of Digos in the now defunct Davao province, after being expelled twice from previous schools, including one in Ateneo de Davao University High School due to misconduct.
6. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila.
7. He obtained a law degree from San Beda College of Law in 1972 passing the bar exam in the same year.
8. Duterte has said that he was sexually abused by a priest when he was a minor. After he was challenged by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and AdDU officials to name the priest and file a case against him, Duterte then revealed the priest's name as Fr. Mark Falvey, SJ (d. 1975). The Jesuits of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines confirmed that according to press reports in the United States, in May 2007, the Society of Jesus agreed to a tentative payout of USD16 million to settle claims that Falvey sexually abused at least nine children in Los Angeles from 1959 to 1975. 
9. On 30 May 2016, the 16th Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Duterte as the 16th President-elect of the Philippines after he topped the official count by the Congress of the Philippines for the 2016 presidential election with 16,601,997 votes.
10. At the age of 71, Duterte became the oldest person ever elected to the presidency, after former President Sergio Osmeña. 
11. Duterte is also the first local chief executive to get elected straight to the Office of the President
12. On 7 August 2016, Duterte approved the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes' Cemetery in Taguig saying that Marcos is qualified for the burial at the cemetery due to him being a "former president and a soldier".

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Duterte
https://successstory.com/people/rodrigo-roa-duterte
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/793138/profile-rodrigo-duterte
http://pcoo.gov.ph/profile/
http://www.filipiknow.net/rodrigo-duterte/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBnpO2x8zNM

12 Trivia Facts About Natalia Poklonskaya

1. Natalia Poklonskaya was born 18 March 1980 in the village of Mikhailovka, Voroshilovgrad Oblast (today Luhansk Oblast); later in 1990, her family moved to Yevpatoria in Crimea.
2. Poklonskaya graduated from the University of Internal Affairs in Yevpatoria in 2002.
3. Poklonskaya has a daughter, Anastasia, from her first marriage. 
4. Both of her parents live in Crimea where they moved from the Lugansk Region in 1990, when Natalia was 10-years old, and both her grandfathers died during the Second World War, with only her grandmother surviving the German occupation.
5. Natalia Poklonskaya became the chief prosecutor of the annexed region of Crimea on 25 March 2014, after the Republic of Crimea seceded from Ukraine and joined the Russian Federation in 2014. 
6. Poklonskaya immediately became an icon for many Japanese cartoonist and animators who were struck by her beauty and Russian anime fans nicknamed Poklonskaya "nyasha" (a cute, adorable person). Within one week of her appointment as prosecutor, many fan illustrations of Poklonskaya had been submitted to both Pixiv and DeviantArt, a sample is shown below. 



Source: Daily Express website

7. Despite her popularity on the Internet, the Crimean Prosecutor said she'd "rather be appreciated for [her] work" than her good-looks. A subsequent interview, taken by НТВ Channel on March 24 2014 regarding Natalia’s opinion on her unusual Internet-fame and her nickname she replied: “I am the prosecutor here and therefore won’t tollerate any nyashas-myashas!”.
8. After Poklonskaya returned to Crimea she harshly criticized the Euromaidain protests and the new coup-installed Ukrainian government, which resulted in a criminal case against her in Ukraine and she was stripped of the rank of Counsellor of Justice.
9. Poklonskaya is fond of sports and likes to keep active whenever she can. "Prosecutors should be fit and in good shape — she's an officer," Poklonskaya said after passing the all-Russian physical culture training program, abbreviated as GTO ("Ready for Labour and Defense").
10. She is dubbed as the “Iron Princess of Crimea” and in 2015 Poklonskaya announced that she would be running as an MP in the State Duma for the United Russia party; Poklonskaya was elected during the 2016 Russian legislative election. 
11. Poklonskaya resigned as Prosecutor General on 27 September 2016 due to her election as MP in the State Duma during the 2016 Russian legislative election. 
12. Prior to her resignation she was the youngest female general in Russia, at age 36.

Sources:

https://sputniknews.com/art_living/201603181036535793-natalia-poklonskaya-birthday-crimea/

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/704431/Natalia-Poklonskaya-Crimea-Chief-Prosecutor-Vladimir-Putin-anime

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalia_Poklonskaya

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/people/natalia-poklonskaya

National Muay Thai Day

1. March 17th is better known as Muay Thai day to commemorate the extraordinary accomplishment of Nai Khanom Tom, the Thai Martial Arts Festival and Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony is staged annually on March 17. 
2. Muay Thai is the National sport of Thailand but this celebration is not just about Muay Thai but a celebration of the accomplishment of Nai Khanom Tom and celebrated as Boxer's Day, National Muay Boran Day. Muay Thai Day, or National Muay Thai Day”
3. Muay boran, and therefore Muay Thai, was originally called by more generic names such as Toi muay or simply muay. 
4. There are several old styles that were developed in various regions of Thailand that are now lumped into the term Muay Boran (literally "Ancient Boxing"), such as "Muay Chaiya," "Muay Thasao," "Muay Lopburi," and "Muay Korat." But regardless on which regional variant it was, both have been driven to near-extinction due to the popularity of the stand up only ring sport we now know as "Muay Thai" (or, "Thai Boxing").
5. At the time of the fall of the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya in 1767, the invading Burmese troops rounded up a group of Thais and took them as prisoners. Among them were a large number of Thai boxers, including Nai Khanom Tom.
6. At one point, in 1774, King Hsinbyushin wanted to see how Muay Boran would compare to Burmese Lethwei, or Burmese Boxing. 
7. Nai Khanom Tom, a famous fighter at the time, was selected to fight against a Burmese champion and while in the ring, Nai Khanom Tom did a traditional Wai Kru pre-fight dance, to pay his respects to his teachers and ancestors, as well as the spectators, dancing around his opponent.
8. After the ritual of the Wai Kru (the Burmese thought that was some sort of Thai black magic) Nai Khanom Tom fought the Burmese boxing champion and won by Knock Out but the referee claimed the win to be invalid because he was distracted by the music and might be some kind of sorcery. The king then sent other 9 fighters, one by one without time breaks between fights. They were all put on the ground by the hands (and knees and elbows) of Nai Khanom Tom.
9. Impressed by these abilities, King Mangra said: “Every part of the Siamese is blessed with venom. Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. But his Lord was incompetent and lost the country to the enemy. If he had been any good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen“. Then he granted freedom to Nai Khanom Tom and all Siamese (Thais).
10. King Mangra granted Nai Khanomtom freedom along with either riches or two beautiful Burmese wives. Nai Khanomtom chose the wives as he said that money was easier to find. He then departed with his wives for Siam. Other variations of this story had him also winning the release of his fellow Thai prisoners. 
11. Muay Thai is referred to as the "Art of Eight Limbs" or the "Science of Eight Limbs", because it makes use of punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes, thus using eight "points of contact", as opposed to "two points" (fists) in boxing and "four points" (hands and feet) used in other more regulated combat sports, such as kickboxing and savate. 



Nai Khanom Tom

12. A practitioner of muay Thai is known as a nak muay. Western practitioners are sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning "foreign boxer."

Sources:

http://www.training-ground.com/2011/03/march-17-world-muay-thai-day/

http://www.krabi.uk/thailand-celebrates-national-muay-thai-day/

http://www.martialartsthailand.com/nai-khanom-tom-father-of-muay-thai/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_boran

http://www.thaizer.com/festivals/national-muay-thai-day/

http://www.thaifestivalblogs.com/national-muay-thai-day-on-17-march/

http://www.tigermuaythai.com/national-muay-thai-day