Only in the Philippines!

Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), the Philippines’ largest domestic airline is now offering all-inclusive fares for all of its 527 domestic flights connections. Passengers can save up to 10% on airfare and are offered the convenience of checking-through to their final local destination.

This new service is now available from most of CEB’s domestic destinations and is available starting today.

A passenger, for instance, can now fly from Bacolod to Surigao, with Cebu as a transit point for as low as P1,388 all-in. Passengers can likewise fly from Manila to Siargao via Cebu for P2,188. Travelers from Davao can also go to Boracay (Caticlan) via Manila or Cebu for P3,188.

For flight schedules and bookings, passengers can visit www.cebu pacificair.com, or call its call center at (70-20-888) or its ticketing offices and accredited travel agencies.

Now on its 13th year, CEB has the youngest aircraft fleet in the country. It flies to 15 international cities and 27, soon to be 32 domestic destinations with the addition of Siargao, Catarman, Calbayog, Cauayan (Isabela), and Virac (Cantanduanes) in the coming months. Read more On "Cebu Pacific Air offers all-inclusive domestic flight connections!"!

Spanish language will be reintroduced to government-run high schools next year.

“Special Program in Foreign Language,” to be implemented in the school year starting in June, Spanish will be taught at key high schools to prepare the students for meaningful interaction in a linguistically diverse global workplace.

The language will only be taught to students in a special class where students have already mastered the English language and are interested in learning another foreign language.

In 1987 the Philippines, a former colony of Spain, abolished Spanish as one of its official languages as well as a requirement that college students had to learn it.

I just hope that they can still find competent teachers to teach Spanish language since it ismore than a decade now that Spanish was taught in schools. Read more On "Spanish to be taught in High School again!"!

ASIAN Geographic is looking for special photographs from talented amateur and professional photographers that capture a striking image of Asia’s land, people, architecture or wildlife. One winner and runner-up will be selected from each category. A grand prize will be awarded to the best overall picture as judged by our panel of editors. The top photographs will be exhibited as part of an Asia Without Borders Photography Exhibition.

Win a brand new 1 x CanonEOS 5D MK II. deadline of entries is still on September 2009. 

OPEN CATEGORIES

“A Face Tells A Thousand Stories”

TOPICS

1. FACES OF THE EARTH The mountains, jungles, forests and seas of Asia are unique in the world. Images that capture Asia’s physical beauty and sense of place.

2. FACES OF ASIA From ancient tribes to modern city dwellers, intimate and evocative portraits of people at work and play.

3. FACES OF THE WILD Whether deep on a reef wall or deep in a rainforest, portraits of the planet’s creatures, big and small.

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER'S CATEGORIES

FACES OF FREEDOM Abstract images of animals, people and places of Asia. From the Lomo to the Ixus, let your imagination and creativity loose! Limited to individuals 21-years-old and below as of 30 September, 2009.

•  Entries must be saved in RGB jpeg format at a size of 14” (about 35cm) in the longest dimension (regardless of whether it is a portrait or landscape image) with at least 300dpi in resolution.

•  Save each category separately on a CD/DVD, making sure to write or label your name and email address on the disc itself (not the cover!).

•  Labelling Your Images - Name each jpg file according to the following template:

1. Category_LastName_FirstName_Entry#.jpg
2. Example: The Land_Smith_John_01.jpg

 Photograph manipulation is limited to:

1. Tonal corrections and colour corrections (no dodging/burning allowed);
2. Moderate sharpening (no blurring of backgrounds or adjustment of saturation allowed);
3. Removing or repairing dirt and lint from scanned negatives or noise and faulty pixel and damage from digital images;
4. Cropping, but only 10% of the original image. (Contestants will be bound by the honour system.) Submissions which have obviously been heavily cropped will be disqualified.
5. No post-production filters allowed. This includes infra red, gauze, mosaic, vivid, etc.
6. Failure to comply with rules on photograph manipulation may result in disqualification of entry.

Download Entry form attach the entry form with your CD/DVDs and submit to:

Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd
[Asia Without Borders 2009 Photo Competition]
No.1 Syed Alwi Road #06-01,
Song Lin Building Singapore 207628.

View complete contest mechanics here!

Winners will be selected on or about 1 October, 2009 and notified by email by 30 October, 2009. Read more On "Asia Without Borders Photo Competiton 2009!"!

American pop punk band Fall Out Boy returns to the Philippines for another concert on February 13, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum.

FOB has just released their fourth album titled Folie A Deux released under MCA Music, featuring the singles I Don’t Care and America’s Suitehearts.

Tickets to the Fall Out Boy concert are now available at Ticketnet (02) 911-5555.

Ticket Prices:

P4,725 for Patron
P3,675 for Lower Box
P2,625 for Upper Box A
P1,050 for Upper Box B
P525 for General Patronage Read more On "Fall Out Boy-Live in Manila 2009!"!

Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional examinations (paper-and-pencil test):

•  March 29,
• July 26, and 
• November 15; and 

 Local Scholarship Program-Master’s Degree Course (LSP-MDC) is on

• May 10.

 The Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional examinations are open to applicants who are at least 18 years old regardless of their educational attainment, and who have not yet met the limitation on the frequency of taking the career service exams, which shall be once in three months and up to four times only. Applicants who have failed the same level of exam for four times already can apply for the same level of exam only after two years from the date of the fourth failed examination taken.

Passing the career service exams would result in the conferment of either Professional or Sub-professional eligibility appropriate for appointment to corresponding positions in the government.

Filing of applications is now open for the first schedule of the career service exams on March 29.

Application requirements:

• properly accomplished application form (CS Form No. 100, Revised 2008), 
• four pieces of 1.5" x 2" I.D.
• pictures with handheld full name tag, and 
• original and pho-tocopy of any valid I.D. card. 

Filing of applications will be until February 11, 2009.

The schedule of career service exams via the computer-assisted test (CAT) in the CSC Central Office shall be announced later and posted in the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.

the LSP-MDC grants a one-year scholarship opportunity to qualified government employees to pursue master’s or postgraduate studies.

Applications may be filed at any CSC Regional or Field Office. The CSC Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City does not accept applications for written exams. For details on application requirements and procedure, interested applicants may log on to the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph Read more On "Civil Service Commision Examination Schedules!"!

Mothers now have a chance to win a one-year supply of Nido Fortified and be featured on the next Nido Fortified music video!

The contest is open to all non-pregnant mothers with children ages three (3) years old and above at the time of registration for the promo.

To join the promo, moms should sign in and register to the Nido Fortified Multiply site.

They must upload a video or photo montage of her and her kid/kids to the site. The entry must feature the "You're my #1"song and display a can or box of Nido Fortified.

Multiply users would then vote for their favorite entry uploaded on the Nido group site.

The top 10 entries with the most number of votes will win a one-year supply of Nido Fortified and get the chance to be featured on the next Nido Fortified music video.

The promo runs until March 31, 2009. Deadline of entries is on March 15, 2009. End of voting period is on March 31, 2009. Determination of winners is on April 14, 2009.

Please visit nidofortified.multiply.com to know more about the promo. Read more On "Wantnted MOMs to be a part of MTV for NIDO!"!

The search for Binibining Pilipinas 2009 is on!

The most prestigious beauty pageant in the Philippines is now searching for the next representative of our country in the Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World 2009.

Apllicants requirements:

• single ladies
• ages 17 to 24
• Filipino Citizens
• minimum height of 5’5”
• at least a High School Graduate
• with physically fit, with pleasing personality and of good moral character

Where and how to apply:

1. Or apply in person at
   
• BPCI Secretariat, Telephone numbers 9113101 loc. 8325/8321. Araneta Coliseum - South Gate, Araneta Center, Quezon City
2. Prospective candidates are requested to submit the following requirements with their application form:
   
   
   
   • Original birth certificate or copies authenticated by NSO
   • Certified true copy of high school or college diploma
   • Philippine passport if any
   • Close-up and full body photos in color
   • Written consent from parents (if 17 years of age)
   • Medical Certificate
3. For more information and details visit Bb. Pilipnas website
   

 Deadline for submission is on January 31, 2009 Read more On "The search is on for Bb. Pilipinas 2009!"!

Want to win a free trip to Las Vegas? All you have to do is  join in Mr. Choco Lovah Photo Contest by Axe Dark Temptation. Take a photo showing how choco-irresistible you are with Axe Dark Temptation and get a chance to go to Las Vegas USA.



 Filipino residing in the Philippines within the legal age of 18 years and above are eligible to join!

Contest Mechanics:

1. Register at www.axe.com.ph
2. Upload your own photo/s showing how irresistible you are with the galls made possible by Axe Dark Temptation
3. Photos should be under 2MB
4. Enter up to 3 photos in the contest
5. Top 10 entries with most number of votes will qualify for the list of finalists
6. Axe Brand Team will judge from the list of finalist with this criteria

•  Creativity - 25%
• Link to Theme - 50%
• Originality - 25%

7. View complete contest mechanics

Contest Period: January 5 - March 31, 2009 (11:59 pm)

Contest Prize:

• Grand Prize: Live the Axe dream with a friend in Las Vegas, USA (airfare, accommodation & allowance)

o NOTE: Grand Prize winner must have a US Visa & Passport (Prize is convertible to CASH)

• Other Finalists: Axe Dark Temptation Gift Pack

Read more On "Axe-Mr ChocoLovah Photo Contest!"!

Philippine STAR and Swatch commemorate the Swatch Year of the Ox Special — Bulls on Parade by welcoming the New Year with its annual competition that has a top prize of P100,000.

This year’s topic is “My Bullish Art.”

The contest is open to all forms of art — painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, drawing, arts and crafts — anything goes! What's the theme? Why Bullish art of course! Furthermore, the topic’s interpretation is completely up to you. There are no requirements. There are no limits. There is just your imagination, creativity and talent.

Promo Period: Dec. 27, 2008 to Feb. 18, 2009

MECHANICS:

The contest is open to all.

To best inspire everyone’s creativity, the contest is open to all mediums of art - painting, photography, sculpture, graphic design, arts and crafts, including but not limited to paper mache, pottery, paper tole, etc.

The theme of the art competition is “My Bullish Art.”

Entry forms are available daily in The Philippine STAR during the duration of the promo.

All entries must be submitted starting December 27, 2008 and must be accompanied with a completed entry form, contest guidelines acceptance form (available at any Swatch Store or Kiosk). Gift Gate, Inc. must receive all entries by 8 p.m. of February 18, 2009.

Entries may be brought personally to any Swatch store or kiosk and will be received by the store OIC for proper documentation and storage. These entries will be sent to the Home Office (17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109, Quezon City) everyday for safekeeping.

All entries will automatically become the exclusive property of Gift Gate, Inc. and may be used, copied, reproduced and/or reprinted by Gift Gate, Inc. into any size or medium for exhibition, advertising, promotion or whatever purpose. Contest participant further allows Gift Gate, Inc. to use his/her name and/or image/picture/likeness without limit in conjunction with his winning entry.

Gift Gate, Inc. reserves and maintains all intellectual property rights over its name and logo and all names, likeness and logos of its represented brands including but not limited to Swatch. Contest participants may only use the above in conjunction with his entry into this contest and for no other purpose.

Final judging will be on Feb. 28, 2009, 2 p.m., at Gift Gate Home Office, 17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109 Quezon City.

Participants are eligible to win any of the prizes. However, a participant can only win once, and the higher prize prevails.

Criteria for judging are:

Originality: 25 percent — freshness, novelty and inventiveness

Creativity: 50 percent — new forms, imaginative interpretation

Composition: 25 percent — arrangement of combination of elements to form a pleasing and attractive whole

Total: 100 percent

Prizes are as follows:

1st prize – P100,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

2nd prize – P50,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

3rd prize – P30,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

4th prize – P20,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

10 honorable mentions – Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

All winners will be notified by registered mail.

Winners will also be announced in The Philippine STAR Pet Life Special on March 7, 2009.

Awarding of prizes will be at The Gallery, Greenbelt 5 on March 7, 2009. All prizes not claimed after 60 days from receipt of notification letter will be forfeited with prior approval from DTI.

Prizes not claimed at the awarding, may be claimed at Swatch Store SM Mega Mall B during store hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Winners must present all of the following proof of identification to claim their prize:

a. Valid original ID (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license or SSS ID)

b. Claim stub

c. Notification letter

The 20 percent tax for all prizes exceeding P10,000 will be paid by the winner.

All prizes are non-transferable and non-cash prizes are non-convertible to cash.

The decision of the board of judges of the art contest is final and cannot be appealed with the concurrence of the DTI.

All employees of Gift Gate, Inc., The Philippine STAR, the judging committee and their relatives up to the 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity are not allowed to join this promotion. Read more On "Swatch:My Bullish Art Contest!"!