First SME and Direct Selling Expo Set this November

Small and medium enterprises (SME) as well as direct selling companies will come together to offer business opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs at the Asenso sa Negosyo 2009: 1st SME and Direct Selling Expo slated on November 6 – 8, 2009 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Organized by Trade Advertising Exhibitions And Conventions International, Inc. (TRADECON Inc.), the event was conceptualized to upbeat the global financial crisis. The three day expo will provide opportunities especially for those looking for business and want to be an entrepreneur.

SMEs play a vital role in economic development. They offer the most economical use of capital in relation to job creation and provide the strongest growth channel for regional development. They are also recognized as the vehicle for growth in today’s regionally and globally interdependent and competitive economy.

Aside from SMEs, the event will feature numerous companies involved in direct selling, franchising, corporate giveaways, events management, marketing, hotel and travel destination, banking and finance, information and communications technology (ICT), garments and textile, food technology, and more.

Asenso sa Negosyo 2009: 1st SME and Direct Selling Expo is sponsored by Living Water Systems, Inc., Pearl of the Pacific Boracay and supported by Rotary Club of Manila and Media Blitz PR Consultancy . The event is in partnership with Sigma Identity Systems and Mindgate Systems, Inc. http://isp.mindgate.net/, and TechSupport.ph as Technology Partner. Media partners are China Business Philippines, 88DB Service Portal, BizLINQ.net, Super Ads, Philstar.com, Business World, HerWord.com, Filbars International Subscription System, Inc., Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, and Trabaho.com.

The event is for the benefit of BayanNiJuan and ABS-CBN Foundation.

Register online at www.asensonegosyo.com. For more information about the event, contact TRADECON Inc., at (632) 440-9208, 440-3118, 437-4063 local 100 - 107 or e-mail tradecon.inc@gmail.com, asensonegosyo@gmail.com

DOLE Urged Employers to Assist Ondoy Victims

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Marianito Roque urged employers in the country to help their employees in coping with the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (international codename: Typhoon Ketsana)

Sec. Roque requested private companies to allow their employees who were affected by the typhoon to avail of pertinent emergency leaves, or be granted leave with pay. Also, the Labor secretary asked employers to let their employees avail of financial loans from the company or give them financial assistance. Specifically, he suggested that, if possible, companies release their employees thirteenth month pay early. The affected families can use their thirteenth month pay to rehabilitate their homes and start all over again.

These actions will, in turn, complement the ongoing humanitarian efforts of the government.

Typhoon Ondoy made landfall last September 26, 2009, causing massive flooding and brownout in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The most affected areas were Rizal, Marikina City, and Pasig City.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the said weather disturbance dumped more rainfall than Hurricane Katrina brought in 2005. Ondoy dropped a total of 455 millimeters of rain in Quezon City alone in 24 hours. In Tanay, Rizal, rainfall was measured at 312 millimeters.

To donate to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy, visit http://donatetoondoyvictims.blogspot.com/.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:

DOLE Information and Publication Service. DOLE urges employers to assist calamity-stricken workers; activates communication teams to bridge up OFWs and their families at home. (Posted September 29, 2009) Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002373

Clavio, Arnold, Unang Hirit Segment (Posted at GMANews.tv) DOLE Sec. Marianito Roque on early release of 13th month pay. (Aired September 30, 2009) Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/48478/dole-sec-marianito-roque-on-early-release-of-13th-month-pay

Dizon, Nikko, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ondoy dumped more rains than Katrina. (Posted September 27, 2009) Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20090927-227186/Ondoy-dumped-more-rains-than-Katrina

Ubalde, Joseph Holandes, GMANews.TV. Storm 'Ondoy' makes landfall, causes widespread flooding (Posted September 26, 2009) Retrieved October 2, 2009 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173215/storm-ondoy-makes-landfall-causes-widespread-flooding

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Asenso Sa Negosyo: 1st SME & Direct Selling Expo by Tradecon, Inc. WHEN:November 6-8, 2009 WHERE:World Trade Center, Metro Manila

JOB ADS Primestate Ventures Inc. - Head Architect - Operations Manager - Sales & Marketing Head - Financial Analyst - Electrical Engine - Mechanical Engineer - Environmental & Sanitary Engineer - Property Analysis/ Land Acquisition Engineer - Construction Project Manager/ Engineer - Human Resource Administrator - Finance Manager Celine Marketing Corporation - Architect - Brand Associate - Accounting Supervisor - Accounting Staff/ Audit Staff - Graphic Artist - MIS Staff - Area Supervisor/ Area Manager - Store Operations Manager/ Area Supervisor - Store Supervisor/ Store Manager Bigbest Employment & Manpower Services Company - Sr. Web Designer - Sr. Lotus Notes Developer - Sr. Team Lead/Architect - Service Engineer - Sales Consultant - Barista - Cashier - Store Crew - Brand Spokesperson/Push Girl - Driver - Hr Staff - Pharmacist - Design/Project Engineer - Q & TA Engineer - QA Analyst & Inspector - Q & TA Technical Assistant - Q & TA Lab Analyst - Cafe Operations Manager - Accounting Manager - Accounting Staff - Hr Officer - Product Manager - Merchandising Manager - Graphic Artist - Computer Technician - Secretary - Promodisers - Waiter/Waitress AKATEK Group Co. Ltd. - Technical Operations Managers - Account Manager - Sales & Support Executive/Engineers (Network) - Sales & Support Executive/Engineers (Telecom) - Sales & Support Executive/Engineer (Power) - Cadet Engineers - Secretary/Admin Cybertegic,Inc. - Google And Yahoo PPC Marketing Analyst NCH Philippines - Account Consultant / Technical Support - Call Center Specialist The Empire East Elite - Real Estate Associate - Real Estate Consultant - Real Estate Sales Manager Magellan Solutions Outsourcing, Inc. - Call Center Agents - Quality Assurance Specialist - Outbound - Transcriptionists For General Voicemail Account The Philippine-Canada Cooperation Office -Local Economist Asian College of Science & Technology - AVP For Academic Affairs - Business Development Officer - Accounting Supervisor - Com. Science/I.T. Instructor - Department Head, HRM - Healthcare Instructor - Dean / Program Directors/Dept. Head - Marketing Officers / Staff - Call Center Trainer / Medical Transcriptionist - Trainers

Law Students Participated at ALSP National Convention

Hundreds of Law students from colleges and universities from all over the Philippines took part in the Association of Law Students of the Philippines, Inc., (ALSP) 20th National Convention held last May 28 – June 2, 2009 at the Xavier University College of Law in Cagayan de Oro City.

The theme for this year's national convention is “ALSP@20: Responding to Legal Challenges”. During the event, numerous panel discussions and seminars were spearheaded by law practitioners in the Philippines. Also, ALSP members elected its new set of officers for 2009-2010. The newly elected officers are:

• President – Mr. Patrick Borbon (Medina College of Law)
• Vice-President for Northern Luzon – Mr. Sherween Saquing (St. Mary's University) 
• Vice-President for Southern Luzon – Mr. Giancarlo Capco (Far Eastern University)
• Vice-President for NCR - Ms. Calai Alcala (San Beda College) 
• Vice-President for Visayas – Ms. Manilyn Mier (University of San Carlos), 
• Vice-President for Mindanao - Ethelbert Deguit (Xavier University) 
• Secretary General – Ms. Ethel Aurelio (Notre Dame University)
  
• Treasurer – Mr. Sherwin Pulayan (University of Santo Tomas)
• Public Relations Officer – Mr. Ryan Flores (Far Eastern University), 
• Auditor - Mr. Francis Blanca (Philippine Christian University)
  

The convention concluded with the delegates heading out to the Cagayan de Oro River to experience the city's famous white water rafting.

The Association of Law Students of the Philippines, Inc, 20th National Convention is sponsored by Business Mirror, Pepsi, Tanduay, Dunkin Donuts, United Nations Development Programme, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philtown Hotel, Dela Serna and Associates Law Office, San Jose Law Office, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, Atty. Dale Bryan Mordeno and Senator Manny Villar.

For more information about the ALSP 20th National Convention, contact the Association of Law Students of the Philippines, Inc, at (0917) 423-67501 (0923) 280-2317, email alsponline@yahoo.com or visit their website, www.aslp.co.nr

NSO Released Latest Labor Force Survey

The National Statistics Office (NSO) released last September 15, 2009 its latest Labor Force Survey (LFS).

According to the July 2009 LFS, the country’s employment rate is at 92.4 percent, lower than 0.2 percent from July 2008. The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest employment rate at 87.9 percent. Aside from NCR, the CALABARZON provinces, comprised of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, had employment rate lower than the national employment rate recorded at 88.9%.

Furthermore, the survey states that of the estimated 59.5 million Filipinos age 15 years and over, about 38.4 million persons were reported to be in the labor force. This translates to a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 64.6 percent as compared to last year’s LFPR of 64.3 percent. Among the regions, Northern Mindanao registered the highest LFPR at 71.2 percent and lowest in ARMM at 59.1 percent.

Of the estimated 35.5 million employed persons in July of this year, more than half (51.5%) worked in the services sector. Those employed in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods sub-sector comprising the largest sub-sector (18.9% of the total employed). Workers in the agriculture sector accounted for 33.6 percent of the total employed. Only 14.8 percent of the total employed were in the industry sector.

Among the various occupation groups, laborers and unskilled workers comprised the largest proportion (33.0%) of the total employed population. Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen were the second largest group, accounting for 16.2 percent of the total employed population.

Meanwhile, underemployment rate fell from 21 percent to 19.8 percent. NSO considers an employed person underemployed if he expresses the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working.

On the other hand, the unemployment rate posted at 7.6 percent, translating to 2.9 million Filipinos. The number is higher by 200,000 during the same period last year. According to the NSO, the current unemployment rate of 7.6 percent is not significantly different from the July 2008 rate, which was 7.4 percent.

Department of Labor and Employment http://www.dole.gov.ph Secretary Marianito Roque said that the increase was expected due to the influx of fresh graduates. Based on the survey, high school graduates comprised more than one-third (33.0%) of the unemployed students. On the other hand, college undergraduates comprised about one-fifth (21.5%), while the college graduates, 19.7 percent.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:

National Statistics Office. Unemployment Rate Posted At 7.6 Percent In July 2009 % (Posted September 15, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2009/lf0903tx.html

Associated Press (Published by The Philippine Star) Unemployment rate rises to 7.6 percent (Posted September 19, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=506630&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Jaymalin, Mayen, The Philippine Star. Working conditions improve despite rise in unemployment. (Posted September 16, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=505732&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Agence France-Press (Published by Inquirer.net) RP jobless rate rises to 7.6% in July (Posted September 16, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090916-225388/RP_jobless_rate_rises_to_7.6%25_in_July

DOLE Information and Publication Service. Quality of employment continues to improve – DOLE (Posted September 16, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002363

Philstar.com RP unemployment rate rises to 7.6% (Posted September 15, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=505504&publicationSubCategoryId=200

Arcibal, Cheryl M., GMANews.TV. Number of jobless Pinoys rises in July, govt says. (Posted September 15, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/172335/number-of-jobless-pinoys-rises-in-july-govt-says

ABS-CBN News (with reports from Agence France-Press) Jobless rate rises to 7.6% in July. (Posted September 15, 2009) Retrieved September 23, 2009 from
http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/15/09/jobless-rate-rises-76-july

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival by Cinemanila International Film Festival WHEN: October 15-25, 2009 WHERE: Bonifacio Global City,Taguig, Philippines Asenso Sa Negosyo: 1st SME & Direct Selling Expo by Tradecon, Inc. WHEN:November 6-8, 2009 WHERE:World Trade Center, Metro Manila

JOB ADS Primestate Ventures Inc. - Head Architect - Operations Manager - Sales & Marketing Head - Financial Analyst - Electrical Engine - Mechanical Engineer - Environmental & Sanitary Engineer - Property Analysis/ Land Acquisition Engineer - Construction Project Manager/ Engineer - Human Resource Administrator - Finance Manager Celine Marketing Corporation - Architect - Brand Associate - Accounting Supervisor - Accounting Staff/ Audit Staff - Graphic Artist - MIS Staff - Area Supervisor/ Area Manager - Store Operations Manager/ Area Supervisor - Store Supervisor/ Store Manager Bigbest Employment & Manpower Services Company - Sr. Web Designer - Sr. Lotus Notes Developer - Sr. Team Lead/Architect - Service Engineer - Sales Consultant - Barista - Cashier - Store Crew - Brand Spokesperson/Push Girl - Driver - Hr Staff - Pharmacist - Design/Project Engineer - Q &Amp; Ta Engineer - Qa Analyst &Amp; Inspector - Q &Amp; Ta Technical Assistant - Q &Amp; Ta Lab Analyst - Cafe Operations Manager - Accounting Manager - Accounting Staff - Hr Officer - Product Manager - Merchandising Manager - Graphic Artist - Computer Technician - Secretary - Promodisers - Waiter/Waitress JustFlowers.com -VB/SQL/.NET Developer -Customer Service Trabaho Client 245 -Sales Engineer NCH Philippines - Account Consultant / Technical Support - Call Center Specialist Cybertegic,Inc. - Google And Yahoo PPC Marketing Analyst Magellan Solutions Outsourcing, Inc. - Call Center Agents - Quality Assurance Specialist - Outbound - Transcriptionists For General Voicemail Account The Philippine-Canada Cooperation Office -Local Economist Asian College of Science & Technology - AVP For Academic Affairs - Business Development Officer - Accounting Supervisor - Com. Science/I.T. Instructor - Department Head, HRM - Healthcare Instructor - Dean / Program Directors/Dept. Head - Marketing Officers / Staff - Call Center Trainer / Medical Transcriptionist - Trainers

DOLE Utilizes Workforce to Aid Ondoy Victims

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has mobilized workforce in order to aid the victims of typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) and start the rehabilitation of the severely damaged communities.

DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque directed last October 5, 2009 for the immediate deployment of nurses under its Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS). Some 40 nurses will initially be deployed to the most needy barangays particularly in San Juan, Pateros, Taguig, Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and Navotas. The nurses will be designated in evacuation centers to ensure the health and assist in the medical efforts to prevent sickness in the affected places.

Another action initiated by the Department is the creation of an emergency employment program, which intends to initially assist at least 1,450 workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). These workers will be paid minimum daily wage during the program's duration covering at least 15 days.

The said program targets to benefit 100 workers each in Marikina, Quezon City, Pasig, Pateros, and Taguig; 50 each in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela in Camanava; and 50 each in Muntinlupa, San Juan, and Mandaluyong all in the NCR.

In Central Luzon, the program aims to assist 200 affected workers in Bulacan and another 100 in Pampanga. In Calabarzon, it seeks to help 150 affected workers in Cavite and another 100 affected workers in Rizal.

He said the program will provide the beneficiaries, through the local government units, with emergency employment particularly in clearing and de-clogging operations and reconstruction efforts like the repairs of damaged infrastructure such as school buildings, daycare center, drainage, irrigation system, etc.

In an interview with GMA-7, Sec. Roque clarified that they have yet to receive a report on the number of workers affected or rendered unemployed by the storm through the help of the National Statistics Office and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:

DOLE Information and Publication Service. DOLE to activate emergency employment program for Ondoy victims (Posted October 6, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002376

DOLE Information and Publication Service. DOLE to field 40 nurses to typhoon-affected barangays in Metro Manila Posted October 8, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002377

Sun.Star Manila Assistance for typhoon-affected workers (Posted October 6, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/assistance-typhoon-affected-workers

Legaspi, Amita, GMANews.TV. DOLE to employ 1,500 'Ondoy' victims for repair, cleanup work (Posted October 6, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173919/dole-to-employ-1500-ondoy-victims-for-repair-cleanup-work

Panti, Llanesca T., Bernice Camille V. Bauzon, Jun Marcos Tadios, Jefferson Antiporda, Angelo S. Samonte And Sammy Martin, The Manila Times. Moratorium on loan payments, others extended (Posted October 7, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/3473-banner-story-moratorium-on-loan-payments-others-extended

Pazzibugan, Dona, Kristine Alave and Christine Avendaño, Philippine Daily Inquirer. DSWD, DOLE to hire victims of ‘Ondoy’. (Posted October 8, 2009) Retrieved October 9, 2009 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20091008-228959/DSWD-DOLE-to-hire-victims-of-Ondoy

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Job World Job Fair Roadshow by Neotrade Enterprises WHEN: October 15-16, 2009 WHERE: Starmall Alabang 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival by Cinemanila International Film Festival WHEN: October 15-25, 2009 WHERE: Bonifacio Global City,Taguig, Philippines

JOB ADS Primestate Ventures Inc. -HEAD ARCHITECT -OPERATIONS MANAGER -SALES & MARKETING HEAD -FINANCIAL ANALYST -ELECTRICAL ENGINE -MECHANICAL ENGINEER -ENVIRONMENTAL & SANITARY ENGINEER -PROPERTY ANALYSIS/ LAND ACQUISITION ENGINEER -CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER/ ENGINEER -HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATOR -FINANCE MANAGER Celine Marketing Corporation -ARCHITECT -BRAND ASSOCIATE -ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR -ACCOUNTING STAFF/ AUDIT STAFF -GRAPHIC ARTIST -MIS STAFF -AREA SUPERVISOR/ AREA MANAGER -STORE OPERATIONS MANAGER/ AREA SUPERVISOR -STORE SUPERVISOR/ STORE MANAGER Bigbest Employment & Manpower Services Company -SR. WEB DESIGNER -SR. LOTUS NOTES DEVELOPER -SR. TEAM LEAD/ARCHITECT -SERVICE ENGINEER -SALES CONSULTANT -BARISTA -CASHIER -STORE CREW -BRAND SPOKESPERSON/PUSH GIRL -DRIVER -HR STAFF -PHARMACIST -DESIGN/PROJECT ENGINEER -Q & TA ENGINEER -QA ANALYST & INSPECTOR -Q & TA TECHNICAL ASSISTANT -Q & TA LAB ANALYST -CAFE OPERATIONS MANAGER -ACCOUNTING MANAGER -ACCOUNTING STAFF -HR OFFICER -PRODUCT MANAGER -MERCHANDISING MANAGER -GRAPHIC ARTIST -COMPUTER TECHNICIAN -SECRETARY -PROMODISERS -WAITER/WAITRESS JustFlowers.com -VB/SQL/.NET DEVELOPER -CUSTOMER SERVICE Trabaho Client 245 -SALES ENGINEER NCH Philippines -ACCOUNT CONSULTANT / TECHNICAL SUPPORT -CALL CENTER SPECIALIST Cybertegic,Inc. -GOOGLE AND YAHOO PPC MARKETING ANALYST Magellan Solutions Outsourcing, Inc. -CALL CENTER AGENTS -QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST - OUTBOUND -TRANSCRIPTIONISTS for General Voicemail Account The Philippine-Canada Cooperation Office -LOCAL ECONOMIST Asian College of Science & Technology -AVP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS -BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER -ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR -COM. SCI/I.T. INSTRUCTOR -DEPARTMENT HEAD, HRM -HEALTHCARE INSTRUCTOR -DEAN / PROGRAM DIRECTORS/DEPT. HEAD -MARKETING OFFICERS / STAFF -CALL CENTER TRAINER / MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST -TRAINERS

11th Cinemanila International Film Festival Showcases Local and International Film Masterpieces

Local and international films enthusiasts took part in celebrating the best of Philippine and world cinema at the 11^th Cinemanila International Film Festival which began last October 15 and will run until October 25, 2009 at Bonifacio Global City and Market! Market! Cinemas in Taguig City.

Around 100 international and local films will be screened in a span of 10 days – from the current toasts of the local indie scene to the award-winners and favorites at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance, and Pusan. The festival will also feature workshops, seminars and master classes.

For its opening film, Cinemanila 2009 showcased Director Brillante Mendoza’s latest work, Lola (Grandmother). Director Mendoza’s latest work, Lola, was preceded by his film Kinatay (The Execution of P), which earned him the prestigious Best Director Award at the 62^nd Cannes Film Festival last May 2009. Lola is slated as the Philippine surprise entry in the 66^th Venice Film Festival, (Main Competition) which counts acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee as Chairman of this year’ jury.

Closing the curtain for this year’s festival is the much-anticipated Himpapawid (Manila Skies) from award-winning independent filmmaker Director Raymond Red.

For this year, Cinemanila introduced a brand new component that will give credit to Philippine Machinima or “machine-animation” or “machine-cinema. The 2009 Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival aims to unearth machinimators and machinima talents in the region and to recognize this growing film making movement. The Machinima Film Festival will be held on October 20, 2009

The 2009 Cinemanila is presented by the City of Taguig, Cinemanila International Film Festival Foundation, Bonifacio Global City, and sponsored by Business World, Manila Bulletin, Solid Video Corporation, TWBA\Santiago Mangada Puno, Chana, Microdata Systems and Mangement, Inc., ClicktheCity.com, Philippine Entertainment Portal, Web Philippines, Inc., The Philippine Star, Spot.ph, UR105.9 Underground Radio, 99.5RT, Mellow 947, and World Cinema Fund.

For more info, contact Cinemanila Secretariat at (632) 392-7935, email cinemanila@gmail.com or visit their website at www.cinemanila.org.

GSP Celebrated 69th Anniversary and 21st National Convention at Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Around 350 delegates from 95 councils of the Girl Scouts of the Philipines(GSP) participated in its 21^st National Council Convention and 69^th Anniversary Celebration held last May 25-27, 2009 at Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The theme of the GSP 21^st National Convention is “ Join in, Reach out, Change lives”, which was adopted from the theme of the World Conference of the World Association of Girl Scouts held last July 6 – 12, 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

One of the highlights of the convention is the awarding of the GSP Triennial Citation (2006-2009). The GSP Triennial Citation is given to individuals who are practicing the advocacies of the GSP. The awardees include Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus, Camarines Sur Fourth District Representative Felix Alferol, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) Director Joselito De Vera, Senator Francis Escudero, DepEd Undersecretary Vilma Labrador, Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim, Philippines Free Press President and General Manager Enrique Locsin, Makati City First District Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr., Occidental Mindoro Representative Ma. Amelita Villarosa, and Manila Bulletin Chairman Emilio Yap.

During the convention, members of the GSP elected the officers of the Central Board for Triennium 2009-2011. Newly-elected officers are:

• First National Vice President - Mrs. Maria Pureza Veloso-Chatto
• Second National Vice President – Ms. Felicidad Tabel
• Third National Vice President – Ms. Anne Mariquit Oppus
• National Secretary – Ms. Esperanza Brunidor
• Assistant National Secretary – Ms. Cecilia Autentico
• National Treasurer – Ms. Cerina Bolos
• Assitant National Treasurer – Ms. Amalia Tirol
• National Auditor - Ms. Greta Mende
• Commissioner on Administration - Ms. Norma Varquez
• Commissioner on Training - Ms. Prisciliana Montañez
• Commissioner on Program - Ms. Emma Castillo
  

The newly-elected officers will be led by Atty. Roselima C. Abapo, Council President for the Triennium 2009-2011. Atty. Abapo was elected during the Council Convention and Election, held last January 24, 2009 at the La Roca Hotel, Tagbilaran City.

The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) was chartered as a national organization on May 26, 1940, pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 542 under the administration of President Manuel L. Quezon.
The Girl Scouts of the Philippines was founded through the initiatives of Pilar Hidalgo Lim, then President of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Executive Secretary of the Federation, and other committed women leaders. In a span of six years, GSP was accepted as member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and was granted full membership status in 1948.

ASEP Gathered Engineers, Others For International Convention

Architects, building officials, civil engineers, consultants, developers, manufacturers, materials engineers, field inspectors, project engineers and managers, as well as structural engineering students attended the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc., (ASEP) 14^th International Convention held at the Grand Ballroom of Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City last May 21 – 22, 2009.

Guided by the theme, “Structural Engineering: Coping with the Global Crisis', the annual convention was filled with technical sessions that tackled a wide array of topics. These include performanced-based design; retrofitting and strengthening; structural failures; structural risk; natural hazards and disaster crisis mitigation; ISO Standards and Codes of Practice, earthquake and wind engineering; value engineering; engineering ethics; urban planning and infrastructure development; fire, impact, and blast loads; case studies on high-rise buildings and long-span bridges; and prestresses and pre-cast construction, foundation, and geotechnical issues.

Seven plenary sessions were held throughout the event. These were the following:
Philippines & Japan Contributions to Seismic Retrofitting Techniques for BridgesClimate Change & Structural Engineering

Plenary Paper	Topic
Plenary Paper No. 1
Plenary Paper No. 2
Plenary Paper No. 3	A Model to Assess Quantitative Risk in Building Structural Analysis & Design : An input to Design Development
Plenary Paper No. 4	Modeling of Shear Walls for Non Linear and Pushover Analysis of Tall Buildings
Plenary Paper No. 5	Direct Analysis Method: Valuing Engineering Efficiency and Economy in Structural Analysis and Design of Steel Structures
Plenary Paper No. 6	Nuclear Fall-out Survival Shelters
Plenary Paper No. 7	Permanent Slope Protection in Highly-Seismic and Landslide-Prone Area using Multi-Level Anchored Wall

The highlight of the convention was the election of officers for 2009 – 2010. The new set of ASEP Officers and Members of the Board of Directors are Mr. Adam Abinales, President; Mr. Anthony Vladimir Pimentel, Vice-President, Ms. Miriam Tamayo, Secretary; Mr. Virgilio Columna, Treasurer; Mr. Ronaldo Ison, Mr. Danilo Domingo, Mr. Vinci Nicolas Villasenor, Mr. Pedro Tolentino, Mr. Frederick Sison, Mr. Tony Avila, Directors, and Mr. Wilfredo Lopez, Immediate Past President and Ex-Officio Director.

The 14^th ASEP International Convention is sponsored by Millenium Erectors Corporation, Steel Centre Philippines, Inc., RS Caparros Associates and Company, VSL International Ltd., Hyder Consulting, HILTI Corporation, Romer Montoya, F. ASEP, F. PICE, and Antonio Gutierrez and Associates.

For more information on the 14^thASEP International Convention, contact the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc., at(632) 411-8606, 410-0483, (63917) 823-7739, email info@aseponline.org, aseponline@gmail.com, or visit their website, www.aseponline.org.