by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 9, 2020 | Events
The U.S. space agency National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are inviting coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists to participate in a virtual hackathon on May 30-31 dedicated to putting open data to work in developing solutions to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the global Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge, participants from around the world will create virtual teams that – during a 48-hour period – will use Earth observation data to propose solutions to COVID-19-related challenges ranging from studying the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and its spread to the impact the disease is having on the Earth system. Registration for this challenge opens in mid-May.
“There’s a tremendous need for our collective ingenuity right now,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “I can’t imagine a more worthy focus than COVID-19 on which to direct the energy and enthusiasm from around the world with the Space Apps Challenge that always generates such amazing solutions.”
The unique capabilities of NASA and its partner space agencies in the areas of science and technology enable them to lend a hand during this global crisis. Since the start of the global outbreak, Earth science specialists from each agency have been exploring ways to use unique Earth observation data to aid understanding of the interplay of the Earth system – on global to local scales – with aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak, including, potentially, our ability to combat it. The hackathon will also examine the human and economic response to the virus.
ESA will contribute data from the Sentinel missions (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-5P) in the context of the European Copernicus program, led by the European Commission, along with data from Third Party contributing Missions, with a focus on assessing the impact on climate change and greenhouse gases, as well as impacts on the economic sector. ESA also is contributing Earth observation experts for the selection of the competition winners and the artificial-intelligence-powered EuroDataCube.
“EuroDatacube will enable the best ideas to be scaled up to a global level,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA. “The pandemic crisis has a worldwide impact, therefore international cooperation and sharing of data and expertise with partners like NASA and JAXA seem the most suitable approach.”
JAXA is making Earth-observing data available from its satellite missions, including ALOS-2, GOSAT, GOSAT-2, GCOM-C, GCOM-W, and GPM/DPR.
“JAXA welcomes the opportunity to be part of the hackathon,” said JAXA Vice President Terada Koji. “I believe the trilateral cooperation among ESA, NASA, and JAXA is important to demonstrate how Earth observation can support global efforts in combating this unprecedented challenge.”
Space Apps is an international hackathon that takes place in cities around the world. Since 2012, teams have engaged with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. The COVID-19 Challenge will be the program’s first global virtual hackathon. Space Apps 2019 included more than 29,000 participants at 225 events in 71 countries, developing more than 2,000 hackathon solutions over the course of one weekend.
Pinoy developers used NASA’s free and open data to solve real-world problems on Earth and space.

Many Filipinos participated in this annual hackathon since 2016. Recently, a dengue mapping forecasting system was developed by data scientists from CirroLytix using satellite and climate data with the goal of addressing the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
This web application, called Project AEDES won globally for the best use of data. “Earth observation data has the potential to be used in fighting epidemics and outbreaks threatening humanity nowadays, as well as to analyze its socio-economic impact,” according to software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas, who led the Philippine hackathon in collaboration with De La Salle University, PLDT, Department of Science and Technology, United Nations Development Programme, and the U.S. embassy. The very first Philippine winner used citizen science and environmental data to develop a smartphone application informing fishermen the right time to catch fish. ISDApp is currently being incubated at Animo Labs.
Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized globally in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse. The next annual Space Apps Challenge is scheduled for October 2-4.
Registration opens on May 12. https://covid19.spaceappschallenge.org/
#SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 24, 2020 | Events
Let your little Home Foodie master chefs enjoy a hands-on Facebook cooking & baking session. Resident Home Foodie chefs will do a live learning session of 5 scrumptious, kid-friendly recipes.
Home Foodie will post a collage of all participants who joined, so don’t forget to take a selfie while cooking!
Click going in the Home Foodie FB event page to confirm your attendance and be updated on this online event on April 28, 2:00 PM (GMT+8): bit.ly/HFKKC!
Don’t forget to read the guidelines, the waiver, and the recipes! #homefoodieph
Before the live session:
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- Read the recipes and the tools/equipment list in advance.
- Prepare the purchase list and buy ingredients ahead of time.
- An adult should help in the preparation.
- Prepare the needed ingredients and materials before the session. Make use of the time as a pre-bonding session with the kids participating.
- Make sure the tools and equipment are working and clean.
- Arrange needed tools by recipe unless it is a common tool.
- Pre-measure the ingredients in advance.
- Some notes on the ingredients that need to be pre-measured:
- A bar of Magnolia Cream Cheese is considered as 1 cup so for a 1/2 cup requirement, just cut the product in half.
- Use measuring spoons, solid measuring cups for dry ingredients (marshmallows, breadcrumbs, Magnolia All-Purpose Flour, sugar), and a liquid measuring cup or glass for liquid ingredients (Pure Oil, Cookbest, Golden Fry, corn syrup, water).
- Use a spatula to level when measuring solid ingredients. For liquid ingredients, place measuring cup or glass on a flat surface and read at eye level … you will see two lines, use the lower line as the basis for the amount.
- A coarse or fine grater for Magnolia Quickmelt Cheese is okay to use.
- The size of the Magnolia brown egg should be medium or large.
- The needed pasta should be cooked in advance. Follow package instructions.
- Slicing/cutting of ingredients will be done live so that everyone understands how it should be done.
- Have pot holders/cooking mitts and aprons ready for protection.
- Have a first aid kit ready in case unforeseen cuts or burns happen.
- Read the Waiver and Release of Liability Clause below. Home Foodie assumes the authorized guardian/parent has agreed with the waiver and release of liability if the participant joins the activity.
- For questions and clarification, please leave a comment at bit.ly/HFKKC.
During the live session:
- An adult should be around to supervise.
- For cutting/slicing, either the adults will do this part or have the kids use a plastic knife.
- Kids must wear aprons and long hair should be tied.
- Kids must wash their hands well with soap and water before, during, and after food preparation.
- Kids whose height is at least waist-level above the stovetop/burner can be allowed to do the cooking, subject to adult consent and supervision.
- Separate tools used for raw and cooked items.
- When frying, gently put in the food item to be fried. Do not throw in the pan with the hot oil to prevent burns and fires from happening.
- Cooked items should never come in contact with raw items. Keep these separate.
- Cooked food, if not cooled and stored immediately, should be consumed within four hours.
- Store leftover cooked items and no-bake dessert in covered containers in the chiller. Cookies must be kept in tight containers.
- Cooked items must be consumed in three days.
- Participants with finger cut/injury should have their wounds covered in a bandage and use disposable gloves during the session to prevent potential food safety issues.
- We will try to answer questions as much as we can during the live session given the number of participants. To save time, it is best to read the recipes and materials needed and review the guidelines in advance.
Waiver and Release of Liability
Please read this waiver and release of liability
In connection with my and my child’s participation in the Kids Kitchen Camp Home Foodie Live Series (the “Activity”), I hereby waive, hold harmless, release and discharge San Miguel Foods, Inc., its affiliates and personnel, from any and all liability for our death, disability, personal injury, property damage, or incident of any kind that may occur to us as a result of our acts or omissions during the Activity.
I recognize that various photographs, video recordings, and other media, will be taken during the Activity. I agree to grant San Miguel Foods, Inc. and its affiliates full permission to use our photographs, video recordings, or other media of the Activity that contain our likeness for any legitimate purpose.
I agree to assume sole liability for any damage we may suffer or incur as a result of our participation in the Activity as above provided.
I hereby declare that I have read and fully understood this Waiver and Release of Liability Form in its entirety and that, by participating in the Activity, I agree to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.
Recipes for the kids and parents to do during the event
Here are the recipes that will be executed in the event. Don’t forget to review them ahead of time and make sure you have all the ingredients.

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 29, 2020 | Events
The Philippine art scene has just elevated itself a notch with the third run of the award-winning Ortigas Art Festival, which has expanded Filipinos’ art consciousness and masterfully brought art within the grasp of more people.
Recognized and awarded in the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and International Business Awards 2019 for their continuous and innovative effort in making art more accessible to ordinary people, this year’s art festival, which is again held at Estancia at the Commons, promises guests even more to enjoy this year.
For one, international artists have joined the exhibit, which was specially curated by the highly talented and multi-awarded Renato Habulan, resident curator of Eskinita Gallery.
As an added plus, the festival is featuring bocetos through Papelismo Boceto for the first time, not only to highlight the artists’ creative process but also to allow more art enthusiasts the opportunity to own the works of renowned artists at more affordable rates. Over 300 bocetos from over 100 artists will be showcased at the exhibit.
Among the artists whose works are on exhibit are independent artists:
- Amel Borja
- Richard Buxani
- Allison David
- Sam Penaso
Joining them are:
- Amel Agawin
- Julio Austria
- Jeho Bitancor
- Gala Caki
- Justo Cascante III
- Michelle Dawson
- Reynold de la Cruz
- Feliciano Gallardo
- Processo Gelladuga II
- Katrinn Hamann
- Sahid Kazi
- Leonor RS Lim
- Alfonso Medilfo
- Dengcoy Miel
- Rey Padernilla
- Made Palguna
- Manuel Rubio
- Joel Soliven
- Art Zamora
- Jose Zulueta
Also on exhibit are works from three galleries, among them, Eskinita Art Gallery, Kaida Contemporary Gallery, and vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery.
“We have always believed that art should be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and the best way to promote art appreciation is by bringing art exhibits right where people converge, which are malls. Over the past three years that we’ve had the art festival at Estancia, we were -surprised to see the great and growing interest in art among Filipinos, both young and old. This is why we have continued with the art festival and added features which we think will be of added interest to more people,” said Arch. Renee Bacani, VP of Ortigas Malts.
Complementing the exhibit are workshops by local and international artists for those who are eager to develop their skills. Seven workshops have been lined up for learners of all skill levels.
- On Feb 29, there will be a Mixed Media demonstration by international artists Gala Caki, Sahid Kazi, and Katrinn Haman.
- On March 1, learn Multimedia from Michelle Dawson, Made Palguna, and Rey de la Cruz.
Get inspired by the sheer artistry and talent on show at the exhibit, which runs until March 8. ADMISSION IS FREE! And don’t forget to participate in the comment board by the entrance of the exhibit!
For more information on Estancia’s Ortigas Art Festival, visit their social media pages at https://www.facebook.com/EstanciaPH/ and www.instagram.com/estanciaph, and subscribe to their newsletter at www.ortigasmalls.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 24, 2020 | Events
Ballet Manila, the Philippines’ most solidly trained classical ballet company, held a special preview of its upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty at the Ballet Manila studios in Pasay City. The production is part of the company’s 24th performance season and is the conclusion of Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Princess Trilogy.
Featuring original choreography by the prima ballerina herself, Ballet Manila’s Sleeping Beauty will feature new storylines and characters, exciting crossovers, and unexpected twists. It will be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila on January 18 at 6:00 PM and January 19 at 3:00 PM.
Shown on photo during the preview are (L-R) Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso, CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, principal dancers Jasmine Pia Dames and Romeo Peralta.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2020 | Events
The Philippine Center for Gift Education (PCGE), Inc. in partnership with PROMIL® FOUR spearheaded the annual National Week for the Gifted Conference, a 2-day seminar held at the Hive Hotel and Convention Place in Quezon City. With the aim of promoting discussion and learnings on giftedness, the seminar’s focal point was revisiting multiple intelligences, as discussed by experts and keynote speakers.
In the photo are the following, from left to right: PCGE advisory board members Dr. Liezel Angeles, Dr. Elizabeth Vivien Magbata, Dr. Melanie Donkor and Prof. Mauricia Borromeo, Mikaela Samson, PCGE president Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, Ryan Tumbocon, and PCGE advisory board members Dr. Perry Esguerra, Prof. Hercules Calanta and Annabelle Sangalan.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 5, 2019 | Events
The biggest celebration that aims to nurture the gift of every child happened in this year’s National Gifted Week spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. (PCGE) in partnership with PROMIL® FOUR and support from the Kite Association of the Philippines.
From November 24 to 30, the National Gifted Week featured a whole-day kite flying event and a two-day conference to be attended by giftedness experts.

Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho
“This event aims to celebrate the gift that every child possesses. It is a great way for parents to encourage the creativity of their children, have fun and spend some time together. We will also be gathering the most notable experts who will discuss and share their knowledge on how to nurture a child’s gift,” said Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, president of PCGE.
On November 24, the celebration kicked off with the biggest kite making and flying event in Manila. Children and their parents created colorful kites and watched them rise in the air during the activity held at Burnham Green Park across Luneta from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Arts director of Masterpiece Movement, Kara Escay, facilitated the said activity. Attendees enjoyed exciting games, entertainment, a parade, and other surprises.
To promote discussion and share learnings on giftedness, the PCGE also held a gathering of experts for a two-day conference on November 29-30 at Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. The conference focused on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences.
Sharing their expertise are experts that included Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Ms. Shaira Luna, Ms. Kara David, Ms. Roselle Ambubuyog, Dr. Carlos Arcilla, Mr. Ryan Tumbocon, and Mr. Kim Atienza. They discussed how to nurture a child’s gift based on their dominant intelligence which can be among Musical-Rhythmic, Visual/Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, or Body-Kinesthetic.
For more information, visit https://www.promilnurturethegift.com.ph/promil-four-nutrissentials or https://www.facebook.com/promilfour/.
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