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Monday, April 11, 2016

Trabaho Lang - April 11, 2016

Screenshots from Trabaho Lang - April 11, 2016

Friday, January 29, 2016

Recipient of a Bayanihan sa Daan Certificate of Recognition at Malacañan Palace

More than the recognition, it was awesome to be in the company of amazing people who do great things, despite the odds, to protect nature and achieve a healthy urban environment.

The certificate reads:

Certificate of Recognition for Bayanihan sa Daan (Share the Road) is hereby given to Ms. Cherie Mercado, Broadcast Journalist, TV5.
For your steadfast support and catalytic interventions to publicize the objectives of Road Sharing Movement.  On behalf of grateful Filipinos and our inspirational partners, Maraming Salamat at Mabuhay po Kayo!  Given this 29th day of January 2016 at the Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace.








Living hero Atty.Tony Oposa reminded us that the rice terraces is the only man made wonder of the world not done with slavery --emphasizing the unique Bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos that is key in solving crises like horrible road congestion and environmental degradation.
With Atty Oposa and fellow recipients Mara Juliano and Mellany Carlos-Hay of Ayala Southvale

Fellow recipients Patrick Joson of Yabang Pinoy and Filcon Rivera who biked from Aparri to Davao in 90 days
Most of these people have worked (and are still working) towards creating safe sidewalks and bike lanes, appealing to LGUs for car-less sundays, lessen pollution, and make public transport a more appealing option.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Puerto Galera Mayor Hubbert Dolor guesting on Trabaho Lang - January 20, 2016

Puerto Galera Mayor Hubbert Dolor guesting on Trabaho Lang with Cherie Mercado Radyo5 (January 20, 2016)







Monday, November 2, 2015

Catch Trabaho Lang with Cherie Mercado

Starting November 2, 2015 from 7pm - 9pm (Philippine time) every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, catch Trabaho Lang with Cherie Mercado.
How to tune in to Trabaho Lang?
  • FM Radio 92.3 Radyo Singko 
  • Simulcast on Aksyon TV 41
  • Livestream via news5.com.ph
  • Tune in app
Here are the many ways to get in touch and connected with Trabaho Lang:

  1. Send messages through Trabaho Lang with Cherie Mercado on Facebook
  2. (Don't forget to Like the Facebook page first).
  3. Follow and tweet to @trabaholang on Twitter
  4. Textline 2929. Register first. Key in  <RADYO5> SPACE<REG>SPACE <NAME/AGE/ADDRESS> send to 2929. Once registered type <RAD5>SPACE <message> and send to 2929.
  5. Call Radyo5 hotline 633-0072
Trabaho Lang can be heard LIVE on FM Radio 92.3 Radyo Singko every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

An Escape to the South of France - A Dream Fulfilled

AIX EN PROVENCE
Author arriving at Aix en Provence Train station from Paris
I can't remember how far back my dream of seeing Provence was, but the moment my husband and I boarded the fastest possible train from Paris to Aix, I was giddy with excitement, like a little girl about to get her gift from Santa and knowing very well that she’s getting exactly what she's been wishing for for several Christmases past.

It was the last week of May. Perfect time to visit Aix.  Spring is ending, summer is just about to begin.  The days are long. An eight pm dinner has the sun still up. Temperature ranges from a sweet 12 degrees to a comfortable 25.  No summer crowd yet and hotel rates are not yet at their peak. In a few more days, lavender would bloom.

We could not have gotten a more perfect hotel. It’s a charming farmhouse estate three kilometers from the city center. 

Facade of Le Mas d’ Entremont
It may not be right smack at the Cours Mirabeau where most of the action is in Aix but Le Mas d’ Entremont was a beauty in itself, it could very well be your destination.

Our rooms were beautifully large and comfortable.  We had our own patio with lounging chairs. Inside was a king bed, a big bathroom with a separate tub, shower and toilet area, a small kitchen and a surprise extra room upstairs with two single beds!
 

 

The whole property sits on 3.7 acres with six suites, two apartments and 12 rooms.  All with a private terrace.  Almost half the place is green space with an ornamental lake, pond, cypresses, old trees and sprawling vegetation.

The sun hits open space dramatically on this part of the world. It excites me just to think I’m strolling around where Cezanne was born and lived most of his life.


STROLLING AROUND COURS MIRABEAU

The time we had to pull ourselves out of this charming villa, we strolled around the area of Cours Mirabeau, the famous tree-lined boulevard with cafes, quaint shops and beautiful fountains and has been dubbed by some as Europe’s most enchanting boulevard.

If you google images of Cours Mirabeau, you'll see enchanting photos of a wide boulevard with just-as-wide cobblestone sidewalks covered by a canopy of trees with one massive dramatic fountain and smaller ones at regular intervals.

In this boulevard very few cars tread. It’s mostly foot traffic with tourists and locals leisurely going about their businesses for the day.
The Fountain at Cours Mirabeau (photo credit: en.wikipedia.org)
Cours Mirabeau, the famous tree-lined boulevard in Aix en Provence (photo credit: bonvoyagekate.wordpress.com)
The trees were bare during the time of our visit.  It may have lessened the romance but not the enchantment, as the sky was stunningly blue, the energy vibrant but sedate, and the small stylish cafés and shops that rested on each side of the boulevard were charmingly inviting.
Author with husband in Cours Mirabeau
Facade of Pierre Reboul resto
SAMPLING A MICHELIN RESTAURANT

Coming in hungry with not many meals to have in this part of France, we opted for a Michelin star restaurant. Pierre Reboul was just off the main boulevard. But there's also the petit Pierre bistro that we missed right beside the main dining area.  
The degustation menu was a feast for the eyes.  The texture and combination of flavours were enjoyable. But for the price, I couldn't help thinking the more casual bistro would have been a better choice.




Degustacion food photos
photo of author in the resto
It was in Cours Mirabeau that we first tried Amorino Italian gelato and fell in love with it. We had lots of it in this trip. Up until we reached Barcelona to make sure we won't miss it when we return to Manila.
We were having a grand time until we found out that most shops were going to be closed the next day being a Sunday. This broke my heart as we were leaving on Monday and had a full day of nothing to do the next day.

The Blue Peugeot that luck sent our way
But of course there's no such thing as nothing to do while in Aix! We searched for a car -- which was more difficult than we expected as all of the three car rentals in the place had run out of cars to rent out! 

Good thing luck was on our side. Just as we were leaving the last car rental in the area with hunched shoulders and long faces, a blue Peugeot pulled up with a couple returning it! The branch was closed already. The attendant just accommodated the returning car and as we looked on like doggies anticipating their treats, the attendant couldn't resist but put in a few minutes overtime to process its rental for us. Dirt and all, we accepted it with open arms.  So what if we can't fulfill our dreams of driving in a convertible in the south of France with my hair blowing in my face, we had a car!!!

Where we were going, We didn't know.

The next day, Nicolas, the hotel owner who humbly calls himself the front desk receptionist, had the answer…
Author and husband with Nicolas, the front desk and owner of Le Mas d’Entremont 
Lourmarin and Rousillon are not more than two hours away and are rated as two of the top five best villages in France….

(Part 2 to be continued….)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Collegio Filippino in Rome

It was 10 degrees outside and drizzling, but once we entered the simple structure past a clean but well kept facade, we felt right at home. We were at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome.

It’s a two hectare property about four kilometers away from the Vatican. Along the prime strip of Via Aurelia.

It was March 14 2013, a day after cardinals elected the Catholic church’s 266th’s pope.

Argentinian Cardinal Jose Bergoglio, first Latin American pope, a humble inspiring spiritual leader who is seen to shake up some of the rigid walls of the catholic beliefs.


I was there with three other team members assigned to cover the conclave. A few days before his selection, the possibility of an Asian pope — maybe even a Filipino pope was being discussed.

So we decided to give a Collegio a visit. Ask our Filipino priests stationed there how they feel about the new Pope.

We chanced upon Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who was just on his way to the kitchen when I introduced myself. He was gracious enough to grant us an interview that was more like an easy relaxing chat.

We also got to speak with the Collegio Rector Fr. Gregory Gaston. But more than talking about the new pope, we discovered more about the Collegio.

We were given a tour by Fr. Greg. We were briefed of its amazing history and showed photo albums from several decades past including Saint Pope John XXIII inauguration of the structure in 1961.

Not many Filipino Catholics know that the Philippine archdiocese maintains this seminary residence in Rome. The Pontificio Collegio Filippino is the "Home in Rome" of Filipino secular diocesan priests, carefully chosen and formally sent by their respective bishops to pursue further studies in the different ecclesiastical centers in Rome.

The 70-room building is one of the largest Philippine socio-cultural-religious entities abroad. It is a landmark for pilgrims from the Philippines, Europe and America. It also provides a spiritual and physical presence for the Philippine Church in Rome.

They even allow lay people visiting Rome to stay in their rooms for a fraction of the cost of Italian hotels, depending on availability.

More than its practical and cultural significance, the Collegio serves an important role for a Philippine Church that is in constant need of new priests.

The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world next only to Brazil and Mexico. With over 75 million Catholics in the country today, the Church needs more priests in order to effectively reach out and serve every member of the Faithful. The need for new priests also necessitates that seminaries must be ready and equipped to properly guide seminarians along their spiritual journey.

Ideally, seminaries should have at least two priests who have attained their Licentiate or Doctoral degrees in Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law or in other Ecclesiastical fields. To achieve this, Philippine archdioceses send priests to Rome to pursue further studies in well-renowned Pontifical Universities in Italy. The Collegio houses these priests as they complete their education in Rome, providing them with a family-like atmosphere while away from home.

In the course of over 50 years, the Collegio has seen many of its priests return to their local dioceses as either seminary formators, professors, members of the Diocesan Curia, or in other specialized ministries such as the mass media or school systems. Some 50 alumni have been named bishops, including all four Filipino Papal Nuncios who serve as the Holy Father's Ambassadors worldwide.

According to the Collegio, the Philippines has a ratio of one priest for every 9,500 Catholics. It is not only in the Philippines where the Catholic church feels the need for more priests but all over the world.

The Pontificio Collegio Filippino has kept its doors open for the ecclesiastical formation of the clergy, and would like to do so for years to come.

But it is currently facing financial challenges that threaten its operations. These are mainly due to: Decreasing Scholarship funding from Germany and Italy, Dwindling Donations from European benefactors and the Urgent need to renovate and make conditions liveable and safe once again.

This is an excerpt from the Collegio’s brochure as sent by Fr. Greg to be via email.

"Since its inauguration in 1959, years have taken a toll on the institution that is now in a deteriorating state. According to Fr. Gaston, facilities such as pipelines and heating system need upgrading, and dilapidated walls and cracked floors also need renovation. He added that the high construction cost in Europe is a major concern. For the most part, Collegio gets its subsidy from lodging fees of the residents and donation of guests, only sufficient for its daily operations.

A home, not only to Filipino priests but, to every Catholic Filipino, the institution is in need of love and support. "

Thinking of this homey simple structure housing our friendly scholarly priests in a state of disrepair urged me to write this article. If you ever are in Rome, do look up the Collegio. I urge you to visit it. To meet our friendly priests and the Filipino staff. I remember how happy we were after we had tocino, sunny side up egg and fried rice after days and days of wine and Italian food.

Contributions can be made through the branches and online banking facilities of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Banco de Oro, and Metropolitan Bank &amp; Trust Company (Metrobank).

Mobile subscribers can also contribute through their mobile devices. Smart and Sun subscribers can type PCF AMOUNT and send to 4483 to remit a maximum of P1,000 per donation. Globe and TM subscribers can dial *143#, choose GCash, select “More” in the menu, choose “Donate” and select Pontificio Collegio Filippino Foundation.

Donations through MasterCard and Visa credit cards are also available online. For more information on the Collegio and on details on how you can send your support, please visit the Collegio website at www.pcfroma.org.

Isang Tugon is supported by BPI, BDO, Metrobank, Metrobank Card, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, GMA Network Group, Robinsons Movieworld, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Malaya Business Insight, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Investor Relations Global, ADsystems International, and First Metro Investment Corporation.

For inquiries, please contact:
MARIE TUPRIO
c/o First Metro Investment Corporation
Tel: +63.2.8587951
http://asianjournalusa.com/the-pontificio-p3670-144.htm






Thursday, July 31, 2014

Tips: Gadgets at Charger na Nabili, Paano Maiiwasang Sumabog?



Gadgets at Charger na nabili, Paano maiiwasang sumabog?