Sef Cadayona Celebrates Birthday with Dumagat Tribe

Having celebrity status has it's pros and cons but it all boils down to what you do with the fame, the fortune and the opportunities presented to you. Just a few weeks ago, it was Sef Cadayona's birthday. He's been in the business for quite a while now and he's been doing good in several shows like Juan Tamad and Bubble Gang, plus produced and directed a couple of shows too. He's been awarded by different bodies and lauded by his peers - he's an excellent comedian bar none. On this day, he wanted to give back so he chose a tribe in Luzon called the Dumagats. They hail from the same negrito lineage as with the aeta's (earliest inhabitants of the Philippines) but reside elsewhere, particularly in Bulacan - Quezon. They are nomadic in nature so they usually stay in one place and leave when they need to. They're a community but they're not really that well off, and Sef wanted to give a little of what he can.

Sef joined in on activities. They played several games and then proceeded to give gifts courtesy of Sef and his sponsors. He was also helped by NGOs Pink Women on Fire, the SPIN Project and assisted by Brother Martin of the Dumagat tribe. It was really easy, no fuss and they all wanted to be entertained that afternoon. Little did they know that Sef also had a secret up his sleeve. Sef wanted to give a special gift to the Dumagat tribe which is a real deal water filtration system. It has the capacity to convert existing deep-well water (which the community has as their only source of water) and make it clean and potable. After the short presentation, they gave a live demonstration on how it works. They taught several elders of the Dumagat tribe. This water filtration system project was produced and executed with the help of SPIN Project. They're an NGO who's goal is to provide clean and potable drinking water to remote communities like these. These water filtration systems are also solar powered and may get them up to 2400 glasses of drinking water. It's also kept with minimal maintenance which would be easy for the tribe. The SPIN Project’s founder Frederick Epistola was also present, happy to have seen the Dumagat tribe use it as well.

It was a great way to spend his birthday, and his happiness stemmed from the instance that he was able to help in his own little way. It will improve the lives of the Dumagat Tribe in this community and he wishes he would be able to help more people in the coming years, putting what he has to good use.

Happy birthday Sef! Wanted to see you on this day but I guess it was a little hard because of the location. Congratulations and hope you do more real soon!

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5 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Martial Arts Training

I usually spend summer either just going out of town or reading books so I could prepare for what comes after. We spend a couple of months preparing that perfect summer physique but never really realize our goal because buffet restaurants abound and our will is weak - so we might as well enjoy the season and eat. Summer is just around the corner for some of us (in other parts of the world) and sometimes, you need that summer body fast. So you make a decision and tell yourself that you must lose X amount of pounds so you can fit into those favorite pair of jeans that's been sitting in your wardrobe for the past year. The thing is, you subconsciously hate the norm of the gym and running doesn't really get you excited either. Have you ever considered trying a form of martial arts? Perhaps you don't know much about it yet or never really been properly introduced to this niche of sport. I was able to actually practice elementary Wushu and it did wonders for me when I was a bit younger. Of course fitness plays a huge part in this training, but there are a lot more other benefits that can also improve your health and well-being. It’s incredibly easy to start and there are so many different arts to choose from, you’d be crazy not to at least try and see how it feels. You can see all the different fight styles at Martial Tribes but for now, let me explain 5 reasons why everyone should practice this particular sport.

Flexibility

I didn't have super powers and it took me quite a number of weeks to at least do a decent split of which I thought was nearly impossible when I started. After a few lessons you will start to feel more stretched and limber as martial arts will get you actively punching and kicking moving all limbs and muscles. Practicing martial arts will increase your flexibility and it will enhance your reach. Your kicks will become higher, your dodges more sharp which gives you overall advantage when you're fighting. The better your flexibility the better your posture will become resulting to less pains in the body as you age. Up until now, I could still do it with ease and never complained if back problems like those in my batch. It really has improved a lot and the stretching capability still impresses people my age. That's just one of the perks!

Coordination

I always have enormous amount of energy and was even dubbed as an energizer bunny by my professors because I didn't really stop moving around when I was a bit younger. This was a really great place to put it in and learn self defense. Learning to jab, punch and kick for multiple times and switching up the order will test your memory and coordination. This is also a great way exercise so you could improve your focus and balance which can then be carried over into other activities of life. The more you train, your coordination will also increase your alertness and speed. You'll easily win sparring matches and impress those who are not into it yet. You can start to inspire people!

Self Defense

I was bullied a lot when I was a kid and not many other sports can give you protection like martial arts. Knowing how to defend yourself and others around you will give you a sense of relief that if ever in a sticky scenario, you would know what to do. The ability to defend oneself greatly improves self-confidence and self esteem.

Wing Chun teaches you how to fight an opponent that is bigger and stronger than you, yet at the same time teaches you to be humble about your actions. It is practically self defense, so you can protect yourself and your loved ones if the need arises.


Stress Relief

If you're like me who's always stressed when at work, then this is definitely a good stress reliever. The practice of martial arts can lower your tension levels greatly. Martial arts has been known to have several stress reducing effects including released endorphins (hormones that make you happy!) to elevate mood and remove waste that clutter up your body and mind. When practicing martial arts, you generally develop greater focus and calmness of mind while training. The more you practice it, you'll develop positive attitude and better outlook on life.

Mental Focus

Martial arts can help with mental alertness and concentration. These of which can then be transferred to work and everyday living. You will experience greater energy levels and boost yourself so you would be able to “go that extra mile” when you need it.

You will find that with these 5 effects when practicing martial arts are only going to do you good. A fair warning would be that this will become addictive. The hardest part of your training is the beginning but after that, you will soon be craving it. While you may not notice it immediately, you will start feeling better, stronger and faster. Over time, you should begin feeling all of the above benefits and get that summer body in no time!

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Julie Anne San Jose's Birthday at DREAMPLAY

It was just a few days ago when we watched her danced the hell out of KIA Theater during the IN CONTROL concert. Julie Ann San Jose wished to spend a day with kids from Virlanie Foundation, who caters to street kids from Manila. DREAMPLAY in City of Dreams Manila has been so nice to actually sponsor these kids so that they would be able experience the place. They wanted these kids to see for themselves how great Dreamworks has made this haven, mostly sought for those who can afford. It was really nice there and Julie Anne made sure she was able to play with them as well.

I interviewed Julie Anne San Jose before they went down the play area. I also asked her about how I enjoyed her repertoir during the IN CONTROL concert. Here's what happened during her birthday party!

Happy happy birthday Julie Anne! You're definitely going places!

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TV5 Praised with "Bilang Pilipino" Election Coverage

I know I did, and a bunch of countless Filipinos I know. TV5's coverage is bar none the winner in the recent election coverage. They might have been one of the smallest news crews around but they've planned it well and used technologies so they can stream easily anywhere even with a phone. Aside from that, they heavily used graphics so ordinary people would be able to easily understand what the counts mean, that includes data from previous Presidential elections, and what the transparency server meant for each and everyone who wanted clean elections.

This is the work and synergy of the MVP Group of Companies. TV5 achieved its fast, accurate election results and updates because of them with the backing of the biggest network in the country Smart Communications and PLDT. It became apparent that the use of these technologies and proper planning was the reason why they did great in broadcast, digital, mobile and social media channels. TV5 President and CEO Emmanuel Lorenzana said "This in-depth election coverage was a product of a right goal, team work, intensive planning and preparation. We wanted the coverage to provide intensive information made available across all media. We had appreciation from viewers and netizens because of how fast information including election results was made available both online and via television."

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility even lauded them saying it is the clear winner in terms of news and production value. They complemented the ones I appreciated earlier like the voter demographics, voter preference, step-by- step procedures in the election process, exit survey figures and other data-driven pieces which was available most of the time in their channel's display. Mind you they did this in an uninterrupted 48 hour coverage so that really shows dedication. They'll be continuing to provide the best their network could provide. With the powers that be of PLDT, Smart, Voyager, Talas, News5, News5Everywhere, Interaksyon, The Philippine Star and Business World, you'll get the information fast and effective until June 30 when President Digong comes in.

Stay tuned for TV5's Bilang Pilipino coverage, as I will too!

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