Victoria Court's Evolution

Bedroom of the Oval Office theme

Motels here in the Philippines have a negative image unlike in the U.S. One of the well-known motels operating here is Victoria Court. A friend back in college was writing a thesis about hotel and motel operations, what she didn’t expect to see that Victoria Court is not just a place for couple to have a short time, but also an ideal party venue for friends. She was led to one of the suites with a sports theme. It has a billiard table and lots of indoor sports games ideal for a group of guys.

I was able to join a tour for media in the Pasig branch of Victoria Court. I also found out that travel writer Mr. Lito Cinco now works at Victoria Court for its marketing and promotions. I first met Mr. Cinco when we are touring Camarines Norte during the first leg of its quadricentennial celebration of their churches.

Mr. Cinco said that “Victoria Court is still a motel. It only depends what is the purpose of the guests when they avail of the rooms. There was a time when an employee can’t tell his/her family that he/she is working for Victoria Court instead telling them that he/she is employed to King’s Court which is also true since Victoria Court is operated by King’s Court.” Mr. Cinco shares.

Just about the same time when my friend was working on her thesis, it was only during the nineties that Victoria Court accepting guests for group party venues. Mr. Cinco shares, “Before it was only guys who go to Victoria Court for a short time or for bachelor parties. Since the nineties, they had more women patrons for shower parties than bachelor parties because the women are curious about motels and it was the first time the women entering motels without going with any man.

Mr. Cinco told me many true stories that are really funny.  There was one time a guest asks if Victoria Court accepts children but answered, ‘No, we only accept cash.’ What the patron was really asking if they are allowing children entering. Most motels don’t accept accommodating children for the right reasons because it is not really a place for them. Victoria Court accepts families for accommodation.

Victoria Court is not only a venue for parties, but also for photo ops. During the tour, I came across a set for a pictorial for a magazine. There are many publications doing on-the-set photo ops done in one of Victoria Courts thematic suites. Two of my friends made a short video for an online contest hosted by Victoria Court. There are many unique suites that can satisfy any fantasy depending on the branch. I’ll continue my post about Victoria Court’s thematic rooms in my next post.

I Voted For BLOG-PH.COM for the Blogger's Choice Awards

There are many bloggers but only few who influenced the most readers. One of them is a fellow blogger named Jay-L Aquino. He has gathered 40000 views in a month for one year. His site has been voted 37 times for Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011. In addition to this, he is well-respected in the blogging community and his blog post are always updated.


I vote for BLOG-PH.com for this year’s Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers’ Choice.

Nov 26: Social Media Users' Day of Action Against Child Abuse!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We know it happens. We know we can stop it. We are not powerless.

As a FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE PLUS User, you can HELP. Join the SOCIAL MEDIA USERS' DAY OF ACTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE.

Show your solidarity with victims and survivors of child abuse and exploitation. Show your support of NGOs, government agencies, people's organizations, baranggay volunteers, police officers and others working to prevent and address incidences of abuse.

Join the first ever Social Media Users’ Day of Action on 26 Nov. 2011 and be a voice for the millions of Filipino children suffering abuse in silence. Show your condemnation of child abuse by doing any, or even all, of the following:

(1) CHANGE YOUR PROFILE PIC OR PROFILE COVER

Choose an image below and use it as your profile photo or profile cover starting on November 26, Saturday:

Dislike CHILD ABUSE: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEAbuse
Dislike CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEChildPorn
Dislike CHILD TRAFFICKING: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEChildTrafficking
Dislike CHILD LABOR: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEChildLabor
Dislike BULLYING: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEBullying
Dislike CHILD EXPLOITATION: http://on.fb.me/DISLIKEChildExploitation

(2) LIKE AND SHARE LINKS ON YOUR WALL

LIKE and SHARE http://facebook.com/parasamgabatangpinoy to get news, information and other articles about children. SHARE OUR VIDEOS TOO!!!

On November 26, tell the world you are gravely concerned about children's protection. Show everyone that social media is a powerful tool to disseminate important information to prevent child abuse. SHARE articles, hotline numbers and helpful links on your WALL.

(3) JOIN THE ONLINE FORUM ON NOVEMBER 26

You can join the ONLINE FORUM which will be facilitated on November 26 at this site: http://facebook.com/parasamgabatangpinoy

It will feature the LIVE BROADCAST via live stream and live blogging of the activity: Para Sa Mga Bata: Social Media vs. Child Abuse. An Online and Real Space Forum happening at Astoria Plaza on the same day from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

TOPICS:
• Social Media and Citizens' Participation
• Child Rights
• Children's Participation in Media
• Child Abuse, Child Pornography, Child Labor and Child Trafficking
• Positive Discipline, Bullying and Children in Conflict with the Law

(4) TWEET ABOUT US

--- MAKE A STATEMENT and USE THE HASHTAG #parasamgabata
--- SHARE the link: http://facebook.com/parasamgabatangpinoy for updated information on children's welfare.
--- SHARE the website www.parasamgabata.org, a site designed to promote online awareness on child abuse. Launch is on November 26, 8am.

(5) BLOG ABOUT US

--- Write and post a short entry and share our www.parasamgabata.org and www.facebook.com/parasamgabatangpinoy links on your blogs.
--- Use any of the banners available on our site on your blog and help us spread the word.

BGC Run Registration extended until today.

First ever ‘Family Congress’ to be held next year

How is the Filipino faring in the 21st century? How are media, the Internet and social networking sites affecting today’s children? These are some of the issues to be discussed in “Family Congress 2012” to be held on Feb. 18, 2012 at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City. The Congress has as theme “BFF: Building the Filipino Family.” The event is jointly organized by the Love Institute, Galileo Enrichment Learning Program and FID Events Services.

The Congress aims to reaffirm the value and relevance of the Filipino family in the face of changing times. The Love Institute has enlisted esteemed experts in their fields to talk on issues concerning children, relationships and families. Guest speakers include psychologist Dr. Honey Carandang, educator Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, inspirational speaker Francis Kong, and parenting and relationship experts Allan and Maribel Dionisio.

Workshop topics to be discussed during the Family Congress include “Bridging the Facebook Fad: How Can Parents Manage the Invasion of Media and Technology,” “Built for Forever: Preparing Singles for a Lifetime Relationship,” “Being Friends Forever in Marriage: Learning the Art of Fighting,” and “Teaching Parents to Talk to Kids and Teens about Sex and Relationship.”

The Love Institute was founded by marriage and family counselor Maribel Sison-Dionisio and corporate trainor and relationship counselor Pia Nazareno-Acevedo.

Says Nazareno-Acevedo, “Love Institute was born out of the acceptance of the fact that there is just not enough systematic knowledge available out there for all those who take their love relationships seriously.”

The company offers various classes and seminars on relationships and love in a small group setting to set the foundation of loving relationship and balanced individuals. One-on-one and couple counseling sessions are also offered, as well as individual evaluations and assessments (compatibility, self-esteem, life plan, etc) to provide the individual with their needed life skills and knowledge.

Both Sison-Dionisio and Nazareno-Acevedo took graduate studies in Family Ministries at the Ateneo de Manila University. They both have extensive experience in counseling and training, which they put to use at Love Institute.

Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is headed by Ma. Rowena J. Matti, who has had an involvement in the education industry since she was a child when her mother founded the Sacred Heart School in Malabon. Galileo offers enrichment programs to children ages three to 12 by making learning a happy experience. It offers programs in Math and English.

FID Events Services is headed by Fides M. Reyes whose expertise in PR and events organizing has been strengthened and refined by over 30 years of experience. She is passionate in the ministry of strengthening relationships within the family. She serves at the Light of Jesus Community of Bo Sanchez as pastoral head and part of the creative media team.

Participation in the Family Congress is priced at P1,500 per person, inclusive of seminar fee, congress kit and meal.

However, there is an early bird fee for those who will register before the congress. Participants who register by Dec. 15 only need to pay P1,300 per person, while those registering by Jan. 15, 2012 will only be charged P1,400.

There is a special group rate for families joining the Congress. For every six paid participants, a seventh member will be admitted for free in the Congress.

For inquiries about the Family Congress, e-mail familycongress@gmail.com. You may also call the Love Institute at 436-4143 and 0922-8944143, or Galileo Enrichment Center at 810-8506.

UNREST: 11/23/09 (Maguindanao Massacre)

UNREST | 11.23.09

A Concert to Commemorate the Second Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre
National Press Club of the Philippines | Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag | Burgos Media Center | Free Music Network | College Editors Guild of the Philippines – National Capital Region

Where is justice?

With almost two years after the Maguindanao Massacre, justice remains elusive for its 57 victims along with their awaiting families, friends and colleagues. With them, the nation is on the same way hopeful for significant and meaningful results from the bureaucracy that will ensure prosecution and punishment of its masterminds.

Also on its upcoming second anniversary, press freedom continues to face grave and serious threat as the present government keeps doing nothing to resolve this gruesome mass killing, which involved 34 members of the Philippine press. Culture of impunity endures as architects of the massacre were not yet penalized and some of the culprits were still at-large.

These occurrences further poses question of how sincere really is the State in protecting the welfare of our mass media institutions. Under the government of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, journalists all over the country continue to face threats and harassments. To date, nine members of the press were killed under the Aquino administration.

As known pillar of democracy in the country, it is only just and rightful for the government to ensure that press freedom is being protected and that safety of media practitioners were at all times guarded. It is the moral obligation of the State to uphold freedom of the press at all cost and with no compromises.

Social unrest may erupt if justice will remain not granted to the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre and as negligence and incompetence of the Aquino administration in doing it so will prevail. Clamor for justice keeps on amplifying loudly to further give strong warning to the enemies of press freedom to stop harassments and slayings.

In one voice, members of the fourth estate and the Filipinos must unite to make our calls resound:

End Impunity!
Justice for the Victims of Maguindanao Massacre Now!
Stop killing Journalists!
Uphold Press Freedom!

UNREST: 11.23.09

We will never forget!

This will be the theme of the upcoming concert on November 23, 2010 at the NPC Grounds in time of the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre. The National Press Club, Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag, Burgos Media Center, Free Music Network and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-National Capital Region will be part of the event organizers.

Dubbed as ‘UNREST: 11.23.09,’ we aim to put together and unite the most number of journalists, reporters, media practitioners and advocates of press freedom, as well as artists and other cultural groups in a common battle-cry and demand for justice to the victims of Maguindanao Massacre and for freedom of the press and expression. Aside from bands to perform, media groups and different organizations will also give their speeches.

Part of the itinerary will be as follow:

01:30 PM:
Assembly for the Motorcade at the National Press Club Grounds

02:00 PM:
Motorcade

04:30 PM:
Mass for Justice to the Victims of 11.23.09 Massacre and Media Killings

05:30 PM:
Ceremonial Unveiling of the NPC’s Commemorative 11.23.09 Marker for the Maguindanao Massacre Victims and Candle Lighting Activity

06:00 PM:
UNREST: 11.23.09 | A Concert to Commemorate the Second Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre