ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Since 1996, through the RAFI Triennial Awards, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has recognized--and will continue to recognize--the efforts of individuals and institutions in enhancing the quality of life of various groups and communities.  The RAFI Triennial Awards honors men, women and organizations who, through their efforts to bring about change and better the lives of the less-privileged, reflect the philanthropic, humanitarian and holistic ideals and values of the RAFI founders, Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz. Help us seek and honor these unsung heroes in the Visayas and Mindanao by nominating them to the RAFI Triennial Awards!  5th RAFI Triennial Awards last March 2012 at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO MAY 31, 2014!  Below is an infographic on how you can nominate.  Nominate now! Self-nomination is discouraged.  Nominate online: www.rafi.org.ph/event/nomination-form  Download nomination form: www.rafi.org

PHOTO from AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The Light of Peace In The Philippines held in Savannah City, Oton Iloilo lit 56,680 candles to break the Guinness record for the largest flaming image in the world using candles. Previous record holder is Pakistan which lit 35,478 candles simultaneously lit on December 10, 2009 . Photo from IMT NEWSBREAK Photo from JED PATRICK MABILOG FACEBOOK Here's more from GMA NEWS . The Philippines on Monday set another new world record, this time for the largest flaming image, pulling off the feat in Iloilo province. PHOTO by  Fabienne Paderes Photo from  HELICAM PHILIPPINES Not even rainy weather stopped residents from lighting nearly 57,000 torches to form the image, while 100,000 torches were readied for the event, 56,680 were actually lit, the report said. Photo from HELICAM PHILIPPINES An aerial camera showed the image of the Philippine map formed by the lighted candles, the report added. After the success of breaking

Hon. Mayor Dennis S. Superficial with staff of Under Secretary of Agriculture Sec. Puyat in the person of Ms. Joey Faustino, Larry P. Nacionales-Regional Director, Mr. Victor Nabor, Dr. Hector Peñaranda of DA RFU VI, Municipal Agriculture Office Staff headed Ms. Waling Waling Terania visited the Strawberry Farm located at Sitio Bantayan, Cadagmayan Norte, Santa Barbara.  The farm is owned by Mr. Carlos Solinap and the area planted is 200 sq meters. Municipal Agricultural Technologist Allan Sulleza said that the seedlings of these strawberries came from Baguio City which they brought home after the Educational Tour of Palaycheck Training of Trainers last June to October 2012. After a year of taking good care of the strawberry plants, it adapted to the warm environment and are now bearing fruits.  Text and Photos courtesy of SANTA BARBARA UGYON FACEBOOK PAGE

In photo (L-R) are Harold Geronimo , Head of Communications, Megaworld; Jericho P. Go , First Vice President, Megaworld; and Andy Rangel , Vice President for Operations, Startek, the first business process outsourcing (BPO) company to set up operations in Iloilo Business Park. “Iloilo Business Park is positioned to be Western Visayas’ biggest cyberpark and a major hub for IT-BPO outside of Metro Manila. More and more BPO companies have already expressed strong interest to set up operations in Iloilo Business Park. Most of them are first-time locators,” says Jericho P. Go, first vice president, Megaworld. Megaworld allocates P5-B to build 10 office towers in Iloilo Business Park by 2021. The property giant seen to generate around 30,000 jobs in the IT-BPO sector in five to seven years In a press conference with the Iloilo Media, Megaworld, the country’s leading property developer and no. 1 office developer and landlord, will build 10 office towers in the 72-hectare Iloi