SAVING AFRICA’S GIANTS WITH YAO MING PREMIERES NOVEMBER 21 ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL; NARRATED BY EDWARD NORTON

- World-famous basketball star Yao Ming, WildAid and Discovery Channel expose the African poaching epidemic, which fuels a multi-billion-dollar global black market -

In partnership with basketball superstar Yao Ming and WildAid, Discovery Channel announces the premiere of SAVING AFRICA’S GIANTS WITH YAO MING, which looks at the worldwide crisis of elephant and rhino poaching. The one-hour feature documentary – narrated by award-winning actor Edward Norton – premieres on Friday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m., exclusively on Discovery Channel.

 

Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel

Background on the crisis and the demand that fuels it

Each year, the death toll rises with 25,000 African elephants murdered last year alone, and 4.5 million killed in the last 60 years. These magnificent creatures are victims of ivory poaching, perpetrated by one of the most organized, widespread wildlife trafficking networks in history. The growing demand in China and Southeast Asia is driving sharp increases[1] in poaching. In China, ivory is prized as a status symbol by the nation’s growing affluent and middle classes, and the country’s legal market perpetuates demand and provides a laundering mechanism for illegal, poached ivory from Africa. Rhino horn is highly sought after for purported health benefits. In Vietnam, rhino horn has a reputation as a cancer treatment and a hangover cure regardless of the fact that the horn is composed of keratin – the same substance as human hair and fingernails.

Fortunately, Africa's giants have their defenders. Basketball legend and wildlife advocate Yao Ming travels to Africa in SAVING AFRICA'S GIANTS WITH YAO MING to uncover the brutal secrets of this multi-million-dollar underground trade, and spotlights Yao's mission to educate and inspire his countrymen and the world alike, in the effort to stop the killings and save these innocent creatures from the very real possibility of extinction. Yao’s combination of strength, vision and voice serves as a megaphone to help spread awareness about the cruelty of poaching.

 "Yao Ming represents the next generation of conservationists. Having him as an ambassador is probably the best thing that could happen to wildlife," says Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, the world's only organization focused on reducing the demand for poached products. On his journey, Yao sees for himself the evidence of a losing battle, where Africa's giants are senselessly slain every day for their tusks. Yao, who is a cultural icon in both his native China and across the globe, quickly realizes the real war is not in Africa but in the marketplace.

In the program, Yao travels to Kenya, home to the ancient Samburu people and a natural habitat of African elephants. Elephants are part of the Samburu heritage and are critical to their livelihood. Poaching not only destroys the wild species but also the tribal villagers who depend on them. Yao meets with Sir Iain Douglas-Hamilton, renowned elephant expert who echoes WildAid's dire conservation message, which he urges Yao to bring home and disseminate globally: it is a race against time for these elephants – when the buying stops, the killing will too.

"The huge price motivates poachers to persist," says Yao. "And if we buy ivory, it makes all of us killers as well."

Unfortunately, elephants are not the only victims to poaching. Rhinos are poached for their horns at a record rate as two rhinos a day are slain in South Africa alone. Yao travels to the Kariega Game Reserve, located at South Africa's East Cape, to experience the struggle and pain of orphaned rhinos, whose parents have been killed.  

"When our message is spread by those who see this documentary, people can join us and hopefully wipe out this black market," says Yao.

To play a part in saving elephants and rhinos from possible extinction, make a donation or sign the pledge against purchasing or consuming products made from endangered species at www.DiscoveryChannelAsia.com.

SAVING AFRICA’S GIANTS WITH YAO MING encores on Saturday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, November 23 at 10:00 p.m. and Monday, November 24 at 2:00 p.m.

---

[1] WildAid | Yao Ming Urges China to ‘Say No To Ivory and Rhino Horn’ With New Film. 2014. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.wildaid.org/news/yao-ming-urges-china-%E2%80%98say-no-ivory-and-rhino-horn%E2%80%99-new-film. [Accessed 24 October 2014].

The Galleon Launch and Groundbreaking Ceremony

SM Lifestyle and Entertainment is offering more than just a mall experience. After the Exploreum, another educational and entertaining facility is going to make a huge waves in the future. The Galleon is a museum which add more options for educational field trips.

The Galleon will soon rise at a former parking lot near IMAX theater at Mall Of Asia. It will also has the same specs(65x65m) like a real galleon during the old trade route( Manila-Acapulco). During the launch, We were also honored by the company of Sen. Edgardo Angara. He regaled us with the stories of history from his native town of Baler. 

According to the senator, Baler was the last stronghold of the Spaniards before they realized that the Spain has turned the Philippines over to the Americans. Another fact the senator mentioned that because of the Galleon, some Filipinos were already OFWs transported to Mexico.

According to the curator, Cavite is known for shipbuilders during that time. The Manila Galleon was responsible for transporting the Lady of Antipolo which is originally from Mexico which is why we have pilgrimages from Mexico. The Galleon was able to bring 33 countries across the three continents more closer. The Galleon was a medium of commerce, trade, banking, diplomacy,etc. Just like my favorite sci-fi series, the Galleon was already doing "Trek" in fairer seas.

The Galleon museum will bring people to be interested in history. It will also proved something that we don't know yet. There are most historical facts that our high school or elementary textbooks haven't written yet. The Galleon will search new findings that time forgot.

The Andalucia. A Spanish Galleon ship.

Who knows what new historical discoveries The Galleon will uncover. Probably, it may require rewriting our textbook curriculum. For more updates on The Galleon, follow this blog or like the L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Ballet Philippines' Cinderella on November 28 at CCP

As part of their Sapphire Season, the longest running dance company Ballet Philippines presents Alice Reyes' Cinderella starting November 28 at CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. Earlier this year, Ms. Reyes was named National Artist For Dance.

Ms. Alice stressed that despite the title given to her, she is still the same person. She started dancing since 4 years old. She showcases her range of choreography in neo-classical and original classical forms. 

Why should anyone watch this production? Not only that it showcases Ms. Alice's choreography but it also features two guest artist: Ms. Isabel Garacion and Ballet Phils. president Ms. Margie Moran alternates for the the role of the wicked stepmother. Taking note of the word wicked not ugly which is the description of the stepsisters, says Ms. Margie.

Artistic Director of BP Mr. Paul Alexander Morales plays the role of the King. Performing for the major roles are Denise Parungao and Monica Gana alternates for the title role. Richardson Yadao and Jean Marc Cordero alternates for the role of the Prince. Ms. Parungao just won in the recent Ballet Competition.

The production set also costs half a million and there are some special effects applied especially on transformation of Cinderella's dress which will make you ask, how did she do that? After Cinderella, the next production will be Manhid, the Pinoy Superhero musicale. For more updates, follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Coca Cola Sari-Sari Happiness For Christmas

Going to communities and establishing their development is what I do during my younger years as a volunteer. For the Coca-Cola's campaign of Sari-Sari Happiness, it was similar to what I used to do. This campaign empowers women from these selected communities to start their own sari-sari store business.

Coca Cola did not just gave it simultaneously. They selected the right candidates for their capability to handle a sari-sari store. Also, they undergo several months of training from TESDA before they are awarded with certificates and their own sari-sari store.

Just before Christmas, these empowered women are finished with their training and are ready to open for business. But this didn't happen in the Taguig which I covered, but also simultaneously in Batangas, Pampanga, Davao, Bacolod especially in calamity-ravaged Tacloban. More than 100,000 stores are awarded and are called Christmas Hubs.

Truly this is an ideal Christmas gift especially in Tacloban so they can start anew. I can understand that this campaign also needs the cooperation of the local government office. For more updates on the social campaigns of Coca Cola, follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Share Photos The Way You Want With Photo Chat

We Filipinos like to have our photos taken. With the innovation of digital camera phones, social media and wifi connections, the Philippines is now the selfie capital of the world. But in order to share photos, you need a stable connection to a wifi hub or a mobile subscriptions but most can't afford it.

Photo Chat is a new mobile that let's you share your photos even without wifi connection. You can also choose who to share your photos with if you are concerned with privacy or security. Photo Chat partnered with Globe to provide services of P1/day of unlimited use of Photo Chat.

Just like any mobile app, it is also fun. You also get stickers. Even if you are not a Globe subscriber, you can still use Photo Chat via wifi. To download Photo Chat via Google Play, search Paloma Photo Chat. 

Photo Chat was launched exclusively for bloggers last November 10 in Ortigas. For more techie updates, follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Do visit the L.E.N.S. blog booth at Glorietta Activity Area this November 23. L.E.N.S. blog is the official media partner of this year's Kiddo-Preneur Xmas Bazaar.

It's A Yo-Ho-Ho Xmas at SM Sucat

The Christmas Season is the longest holiday celebrated in the Philippines. When the last quarter starts, everyone in who celebrates the Nativity in the country is beginning to prepare for the Advent. Public establishments are already preparing for the decorations and SM Malls is no exceptions.

Ever since I can recall, each SM Mall have different theme display for Christmas. It makes us want to bring our families go all over the Metro wherever we can to see the displays they prepared. Most of these displays are sometimes licensed characters like Hello Kitty in SM The Block last year.

In one of the SM Mall Xmas Display launch at SM Sucat, the theme that was revealed is Pirate theme. You can see Santa is manning the helm of a sailing ship than a sled wearing the pirate hat and an eye patch instead of the usual red one we are familiar with.

During the launch, the choir that looks like a merry band of pirates sang some Yuletide tunes to start spreading the Holiday cheer among the passing mall patrons. The display also includes a towering ice mountain standing approximately two floors high beside Santa's ship. The ship display can only accommodate two people at the time including Santa so people should take turns taking photos taken one at a time.

In addition of the celebration, SM highlights their campaign to sell stuffed bears for two hundred a pair. One bear will be donated to less fortunate child and the other will be kept by the buyer as part of the advocacy program of SMCares. You can find these bears in Toy Kingdom or SM department stores.

Watch out for the activities SM Sucat in store for you this season. The Santa Meet-and-Greet started during the launch and will appear on the next dates: Nov, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20, 21, at the Christmas display at Atrium B.

There will be fireworks display outside the mall on Dec. 6, 13, 20, 21 at Open Parking D starting at 7PM and a Christmas musicale on December 8, 14 and 27 also at Atrium B starting at 5PM. It will surely making our mall visit festive as we do our Christmas rush.

Feel free to get more holiday updates by following this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.