Teddy's Choice

DOT Launches Philippine Experience Program in the CordillerasDiscover the Soul of the Highlands Step into the vibrant life of the Filipino highlander and marvel at the natural and cultural treasures of the Mountain Province. The Department of Tourism (DOT) brought the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) into the spotlight through its Philippine Experience Program (PEP) — a tourism initiative designed to showcase the region’s heritage, arts, and traditions. DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the three-day caravan that celebrated the Cordilleras’ unique identity. Delegates immersed themselves in indigenous rituals, tasted local delicacies, and explored scenic gardens in Benguet while enjoying the crisp mountain air. One highlight was the farm immersion in Bauko, Mountain Province, where Secretary Frasco and participants joined farmers in harvesting fresh produce. The experience emphasized agri-tourism and sustainable farming—key strengths of the region. Through this cultural journey, the PEP offered travelers an authentic connection to the Cordilleras, blending tradition, nature, and community in one unforgettable experience.

Discover the Soul of the Highlands

Step into the vibrant life of the Filipino highlander and marvel at the natural and cultural treasures of the Mountain Province. The Department of Tourism (DOT) brought the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) into the spotlight through its Philippine Experience Program (PEP) — a tourism initiative designed to showcase the region’s heritage, arts, and traditions.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the three-day caravan that celebrated the Cordilleras’ unique identity. Delegates immersed themselves in indigenous rituals, tasted local delicacies, and explored scenic gardens in Benguet while enjoying the crisp mountain air.

One highlight was the farm immersion in Bauko, Mountain Province, where Secretary Frasco and participants joined farmers in harvesting fresh produce. The experience emphasized agri-tourism and sustainable farming—key strengths of the region.

Through this cultural journey, the PEP offered travelers an authentic connection to the Cordilleras, blending tradition, nature, and community in one unforgettable experience.

CORDILLERA FESTIVAL OF FESTIVAL9S

DOT Secretary Frasco led the opening of the Cordillera Festival of the Festivals with a gong. Photo: Teddy Pelaez, 2025.

CORDILLERA FESTIVALS OF FESTIVALS

A farm at Bauko, Benguet, Mountain Province. Photo: Teddy Pelaez, 2025.

Secretary Frasco and guests joined local farmers in Bauko, Mountain Province, for a hands-on vegetable harvest highlighting the region’s role in agri-tourism and sustainable farming.

BAGUIO PLAZA

Baguio Public Plaza

MT.CAMISONG GLASS WALK
ITOGON, BENGUET

MT CAMISONG FOREST PARK AND EVENTS, ITOGON, BENGUET

Baguio Public Market

Northern Blossom Flower Farm in Sayangan, Atok, Benguet Province

Dance Through Wonderland

✨ Step into Wonderland with Ballet Philippines! ✨

This Christmas, Ballet Philippines brings Lewis Carroll’s classic to life like never before in Alice in Wonderland, part of the company’s 56th Season. Choreographed by Artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk, the ballet blends breathtaking dance, playful comedy, and magical storytelling for an unforgettable holiday experience.

Follow Alice as she tumbles after the White Rabbit into a world of enchanted gardens, talking flowers, quirky tea parties, and the unpredictable Queen of Hearts. Every twist and turn bursts with color, movement, and imagination, making this a show the whole family will love.

With technically stunning choreography, whimsical pantomime, and immersive stagecraft, Martynyuk’s Alice in Wonderland is a feast for the eyes and the heart—a ballet where dreams dance and imagination knows no limits.

📅 Performances: December 5–7, 2025 at the Theatre at Solaire

🎟️ Get your tickets now at TicketWorld and don’t miss this magical holiday journey!

Tags: Ballet Philippines’ 56th Season Christmas Full-Length Ballet

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk shares his vision of Alice in a ballet performance. Photo: Teddy Pelaez, 2025

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

. 💚 Miss Earth 2025 Crown Goes Czech!

The 25th Miss Earth pageant culminated in a glittering coronation night at Okada Manila, Parañaque, marking a milestone year for the global competition dedicated to environmental advocacy. This year’s edition, themed “The Silver Lining,” celebrated 25 years of beauty with purpose and a continued mission to protect Mother Earth.

Czech Republic’s Natálie Puškinová was crowned Miss Earth 2025, succeeding Australia’s Jessica Lane. Completing the elemental court were Trinh My Anh of Vietnam as Miss Earth–Water, Waree Ngamkham of Thailand as Miss Earth–Fire, and Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir of Iceland as Miss Earth–Air.

Hosted by James Deakin, the event gathered 82 delegates from around the world, including the Philippines’ Joy Barcoma, and paid tribute to former titleholders and eco-warriors who have advanced the Miss Earth legacy over the past quarter century.

DOH, Japan Launch High-Tech Drive Against Tuberculosis

To boost early detection of tuberculosis (TB) in underserved areas, the Department of Health (DOH) rolled out the “Enhancing Tuberculosis Screening in Remote Areas” project with support from the Japanese government and the Stop TB Partnership/UNOPS. The initiative introduced 20 ultra-portable X-ray units equipped with AI-CAD technology to serve isolated communities in 19 provinces, aiming to expand access to diagnostics and move closer to universal health coverage.

At the launch in Manila, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the Philippines’ health programs, emphasizing that “early detection saves lives.” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa expressed gratitude to Japan and international partners for helping bring life-saving tools to the country’s most vulnerable areas. The AI-assisted X-ray units will help local health workers detect TB faster and more accurately, even in remote barangays.

Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Dr. Lucica Ditiu and other global health leaders praised the project as an innovation-driven response to one of the country’s oldest health threats. A grant agreement signed between Japan and UNOPS will fund equipment, training, and operations in high-burden provinces. With faster diagnosis and treatment referrals, the DOH hopes this initiative will curb TB transmission, improve recovery rates, and serve as a model for future nationwide health interventions.

PHA -CPR READY

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The PHA and the Philippine College of Cardiology, representing 2,500 cardiovascular specialists across 27 training institutions and 15 chapters, continue to serve as both scientific leaders and community advocates. Since 2020, the PHA has trained more than 111,000 Filipinos in Basic and Advanced Life Support through schools, hospitals, workplaces, and barangays nationwide.

Central to this effort is CPR-ReadyPH, a program launched in 2015 to make CPR a household skill. Its initiatives contributed to the passage of the CPR Act of 2016 (Samboy Lim Law), requiring hands-only CPR training in schools. The PHA is also pushing for the AED Bill to ensure defibrillators are placed in public spaces, further strengthening life-saving readiness across communities.

The PHA and its partners are now aligning CPR-ReadyPH with the Unified 911 system to ensure bystanders, emergency responders, and call centers act efficiently together during cardiac emergencies. Speakers from PHA, PCEM, DOH, and the Emergency 911 National Office emphasized that collaboration, training, and a shared response system are key to saving more lives.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the Philippines, making CPR education a national priority. The PHA stresses that awareness must translate into real action: implementing CPR training in schools, workplaces, and communities. As PHA leaders noted, building a CPR-Ready nation requires collective effort — “Every trained Filipino is one heartbeat saved.”

PHA President Dr. Walid Amil

PHA Council on CPR Chair Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes (left):”CPR-ReadyPH thrives on collaboration.”

DOH-Health Emergency Management Bureau Director Dr. Bernadett Velasco


	From left: Gynna Gagelonia, PHA Pres. Dr. Walid Amil, PCEM Pres. Dr. Dave Dato, Dr. Don Robispierre Reyes, DOH-HEMB Dr. Bernadett Velasco, DILG Director Francis Fajardo,	Dr. Iris Garcia, and Dr. Aurora Muriel Gamponia

Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes and Dr. Walid Amil in a huddle

PHA President Dr. Walid Amil

PHA

. PHA Joins National Drive for a CPR-Ready, 911-Ready Philippines ---

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) led the call for a CPR-Ready and 911-Ready Philippines during the Usapang Puso sa Puso media conference on November 4 in Quezon City. Joined by key partners including the Department of Health (DOH), Emergency 911 National Office, Philippine College of Emergency Medicine (PCEM), and the Philippine Red Cross, the event highlighted the shared mission to strengthen the country’s emergency response awareness and capacity. The PHA and the Philippine College of Cardiology, representing 2,500 cardiovascular specialists across 27 training institutions and 15 chapters, continue to serve as both scientific leaders and community advocates. Since 2020, the PHA has trained more than 111,000 Filipinos in Basic and Advanced Life Support through schools, hospitals, workplaces, and barangays nationwide. Central to this effort is CPR-ReadyPH, a program launched in 2015 to make CPR a household skill. Its initiatives contributed to the passage of the CPR Act of 2016 (Samboy Lim Law), requiring hands-only CPR training in schools. The PHA is also pushing for the AED Bill to ensure defibrillators are placed in public spaces, further strengthening life-saving readiness across communities. The PHA and its partners are now aligning CPR-ReadyPH with the Unified 911 system to ensure bystanders, emergency responders, and call centers act efficiently together during cardiac emergencies. Speakers from PHA, PCEM, DOH, and the Emergency 911 National Office emphasized that collaboration, training, and a shared response system are key to saving more lives. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the Philippines, making CPR education a national priority. The PHA stresses that awareness must translate into real action: implementing CPR training in schools, workplaces, and communities. As PHA leaders noted, building a CPR-Ready nation requires collective effort — “Every trained Filipino is one heartbeat saved.”

PHA President Dr. Walid Amil

DOH-Health Emergency Management Bureau Director Dr. Bernadett Velasco

Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes and Dr. Walid Amil in a huddle

PHA President Dr. Walid Amil


	From left: Gynna Gagelonia, PHA Pres. Dr. Walid Amil, PCEM Pres. Dr. Dave Dato, Dr. Don Robispierre Reyes, DOH-HEMB Dr. Bernadett Velasco, DILG Director Francis Fajardo,	Dr. Iris Garcia, and Dr. Aurora Muriel Gamponia

PHA Council on CPR Chair Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes (left):”CPR-ReadyPH thrives on collaboration.”