Lito Genilo Wins Two Accolades of Excellence in the WPPI 2009

Lito Genilo of Smart Shot Studio has once again proven his mastery with the lens as he received two Accolades of Excellence in the 2009 Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Awards of Excellence 16x20 Print Competition held last February 14 – 15, 2009 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Mr. Genilo’s entry, “Couple in the Shadow”, received an Accolade of Excellence in the Bride and Groom Together category while “Getting Ready” received an Accolade of Excellence in the Bridal party category. Mr. Genilo competed against an international field of photographers to win such honor.

“Getting Ready” received an Accolade of Excellence in the Bridal party category. Photo courtesy of Smart Shot Studio

“Couple in the Shadow” received an Accolade of Excellence in the Bride and Groom Together category. Photo courtesy of Smart Shot Studio

The Awards of Excellence 16x20 Print Competition awards are presented each year at the WPPI Convention, the largest trade show, educational platform and convention in the United States for professional photographers. The 2009 competition included 2,717 prints in 19 different categories

submitted by photographers from all over the world.

In an interview with Kasal.com, Mr. Genilo shared that this year’s competition was more challenging than last year as the judges raised the bar higher to extract the best from all participants. “What judges would like to see more is the emotional and physical connection between the bride and the groom”, he adds. For the upcoming WPPI competition due in the second half of 2009, Mr. Genilo aims to further improve his techniques and capture photographs that will stir both the visual and emotional side of the spectators and judges.

Kasal.com Supports Earth Hour 2009

On March 28, 2009, over 1,000 cities and towns across 80 countries will participate in what is referred to as the ‘first global election’. People of all ages, nationalities, race, and background will vote between two competing candidates – planet earth and global warming – to determine the future of the human race.

There will be no ballot boxes; no voter’s ID needed. All those in favor of earth will only need to do one thing: turn off their lights for one hour. And those who are in favor of global warming will let their lights on during the given ‘voting’ period.

From the Chatham Islands to the Arctic Sea, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour to cast their vote for action on climate change. Join them and be part of this historical event.

By simply turning off your light, you can say, “We care about Earth”. Your participation, along with millions of people from all over the world, can send out a strong message to the leaders of our country that we want a better, safer, and more-environment friendly Philippines in the future.

For Earth to win, the World Wildlife Fund aims to gather 1 billion votes. This means 1 billion families across seven continents will have to turn off their lights for one hour. This means trillions of light bulbs will not be used for one hour. Each vote is crucial. Each switch turned off is important.

Let’s help Earth win! Spread the word to your family, friends, neighbors, relatives, and your social network. Email or text your friends about the first global election and convince them to vote for earth. Post a blog about how can you help join the crusade to fight climate change. Add Vote Earth web banners or online badges to your social network account. Let the world know that Filipinos are in one with the world in the call to save earth.

For more information about Earth Hour 2009, visit http://www.earthhour.org/ or http://www.voteearth2009.org/

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Web Phil Info.com, together with Kasal.com and Trabaho.com joins the world in celebration of Earth Hour 2009 and its call to inform the world about global warming and act to save our planet for future generations.

Swept Away: Nurse Proposed to Flight Attendant at NAIA

Armed with a bouquet of calla lily and yellow roses, five members of the Angono National Symphonic Band, and a diamond engagement ring, Filipino nurse Eugene Padua popped the question to his long-time girlfriend Marian Ocampo, a flight attendant, at her workplace - Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The proposal was romantically arranged two days before Valentine’s Day. According to the interview of Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) with Connie Bungag, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) media affairs officer after, Ms. Ocampo arrived aboard Flight OZ-701 from Seoul, South Korea of Asiana Airlines. She was escorted by airport policeman, Lt. Joselito Mutya, to the curbside where Mr. Padua was waiting for her.

As soon as he saw her, Mr. Padua went down on one knee and popped the question while the Symphony Band played “Swept Away” by Christopher Cross, the couple’s theme song. Nearby, friends of the couple unfurled a tarpaulin with the words “Will you marry me?” and a photo montage of the two. With such a romantic gesture form her beloved, who could resist saying yes?

Some of the bystanders were teary-eyed as the events unfold, according to Ms. Bungag. The crowd insinuated the soon to wed couples to kiss.

In the same interview of PDI, Mr. Tirso Serrano, MIAA assistant general manager for corporate development and public affairs, said that this is not the first time someone proposed at the airport. Mr. Serrano shared that a nephew of a former governor proposed to his girlfriend who was arriving at the NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 last September 2008. MIAA General Manager Alfonso Cusi extends his well wishes to the soon to wed couple.

The groom-to-be told reporters after his proposal that they plan to get married next year. Best wishes!

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

Aning, Jerome, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Early Valentine’s Day drama at NAIA. (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090213-189060/Early-Valentines-Day-drama-at-NAIA
Re-posted at Asia Journal (Vol. 19 No. 99) February 14 – 17, 2009 issue. (in .PDF format)
http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2009_LA/2009_02_14/2009_LA_02_14_A%201.pdf
http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2009_LA/2009_02_14/2009_LA_02_14_A%204.pdf

Santos, Rudy, The Philippine Star. Nurse proposes marriage to stewardess at NAIA (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439884&publicationSubCategoryId=65

Dacanay, Barbara Mae, GulfNews.com Bureau Chief.Marriage proposal with a difference (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10285398.html

Mercene, Recto, Business Mirror. Sweet, bitter takes on Valentine’s Posted February 12, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10285398.html

RP Foreign Visitors at High for 2008

Based on the latest data from the Department of Tourism (DOT), a total of 3.14 million foreign tourists visited the Philippines last year.

The increase is attributed to the increase of tourist arrivals from European countries such as Russia, which rose up to 34%, France by 19%, and United Kingdom by 10%. On the other hand, visitors from United Arab Emirates and Vietnam also increased by 28%.

South Koreans are still the most frequent visitors of the country, with 611,629 arrivals in 2008. Next in line are USA (578,246 arrivals), and Japan (359,205 arrivals).

Chinese and Taiwanese tourist arrival in 2008 expanded to 163, 689 and 118,782, respectively. The DOT worked with Chinese travel agents and airlines to mount new charter flights between Shanghai and Nanning to Cebu, Guangzhou to Clark, and Nanning and Kunming to Manila. In addition, the department worked closely with Mandarin Airlines to increase chartered flights between Taipei to Kalibo, Taipei to Cebu, and Kaoshiung to Cebu.

Other countries that posted significant increase in tourist arrivals are Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and Indonesia.

Earnings of other tourist-based industries improved with the growth of tourist arrivals. The English as secondary language (ESL) program generated PhP. 180.8 million, with Baguio and Bacolod City garnering the highest profit. Dive shop operators in Cebu and Bohol generated PhP. 8.8 million in gross receipts. The medical tourism industry also had it share of good revenue. DOT-accredited medical tourism facilities in Manila earned PhP. 108.8 million from 1, 071 foreign patient-tourists who sought medical services here in the country last year.

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

Department of Tourism. Philippine Tourism: Stable Amidst a Global Tourism Downturn (in PDF format) Retrieved February 6, 2009 from
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/dot/2008YrEnd.pdf

ABS-CBN News. RP tourism growth takes a hit from global crisis (Posted February 4, 2009) Retrieved February 6, 2009 from
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/02/04/09/growth-foreign-tourist-arrivals-down-15-2008

Inquirer.net (Newswire from Agence France-Presse) Tourist arrivals hit 3.14M in 2008 (Posted February 4, 2009) Retrieved February 6, 2009 from
http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090204-187393/Tourist-arrivals-hit-314M-in-2008

GMA News.tv RP foreign tourist arrivals barely improve in 2008 (Posted February 4, 2009) Retrieved February 6, 2009 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147336/RP-foreign-tourist-arrivals-barely-improve-in-2008

Alave, Kristine L.,Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tourism up; 3.14 million visitors in ’08 (Posted February 5, 2009) Retrieved February 6, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090205-187504/Tourism-up-314-million-visitors-in-08