Dr. Rhoel Dinglasan, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has developed a new kind of transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV), which works by preventing mosquitoes from spreading the disease.

In a newscast by GMA’s 24 Oras, Dinglasan, a faculty of the school’s molecular microbiology and immunology department, explained that the vaccine prevents the development of the malaria parasite in mosquitoes, thereby also preventing its transmission to humans.

An article on the website of Time magazine said that Dinglasan has developed the antigen AnAPN1 which stimulates the creation of antibodies in humans to prevent the transmission of malaria by mosquitoes.

The vaccine works, the article further stated, when a mosquito bites an inoculated person and picks up the antibodies, locking up the disease in the mosquito gut.

“For the next two years, we are going to be developing the pre-clinical aspects of this vaccine to determine whether or not we could actually make enough vaccines for clinical trials,” Dinglasan said in the newscast.

He added that it may take five to ten years for the vaccine to be fully developed and distributed.

Previous TBVs developed against malaria have proven unsuccessful, with some causing side effects like skin disorders when tested on humans. The AnAPN1 vaccine, according to the Time article, has only been tested in human blood in the laboratory and it has yet to be determined if it causes any negative reactions in people.

The Time article, nevertheless, describes Dinglasan’s TBV as “robust” as it has been proven effective against major types of malaria and all species of mosquitoes tested.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease common in tropical and sub-tropical regions, including regions in the Americas, Asia and Africa.

According to the World Health Organization, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. In 2006, there were 247 million cases of malaria, causing nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.

In the Philippines, malaria remains a serious public health problem in thickly forested provinces such as Palawan.

After the tandem of former double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Marlon Manalo dropped the first match of the day, 3-6, in the 8-ball Scotch doubles, the Filipinos struck hard and dominated the next four matches with Alcano icing the sweet victory with a 7-1 thumping of Ruslan Chinahov in the 10-ball play.

“Parang panggising yung talo namin ni Marlon sa 8-ball Scotch Doubles,” the Calamba, Laguna native Alcano said. “Hindi ka talaga pwedeng maging over confident sa ganito kalaking event. Kahit sino pwede kang talunin.”

With the victory, the Philippines is now assured of $50,000 (P2.3 million) and will next face powerhouse Great Britain, which booted out Greece, 4-2, in the other semifinal pairing. The champion team gets the top purse of $100,000.

The British team is bannered by former 9-ball champion Daryl Peach and former world 10-ball champion Darren Appleton.

After yielding the first match, the Filipinos went on a roll with the pair of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco and former world No.1 Dennis Orcollo levelling the count at 1-all by pulling off a 6-4 win in the second 8-ball match.

That win was followed by consecutive wins by Lee Vann Corteza, who dumped Roman Pruchai, 8-4, and Antonio Lining, who trounced Egor Plishkin by the same score, in the 9-ball play, before Alcano capped the win with his triumph against Chinahov.

The final match of the day – a 10 ball play – pitting Orcollo and Konstantin Stepanov was called off since the Philippines has already chalked up four wins in the race to four battle.

On the way to the finals, the undefeated Filipinos blanked Great Britain II, 4-0, in the opener, downed Czech Republic, 4-1, thumped Norway 4-2 and clobbered Poland, 4-2 before humbling Russia.

The Japanese Embassy and the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) have recently signed a grant contract to facilitate livelihood and capacity building programs for women and their Japanese-Filipino children.

Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and DAWN Executive Director Carmelita Nuqui signed the grant contract for “The Project for Building Capacities of Women and their Japanese-Filipino Children” at the Embassy of Japan on Feb. 5.

According to the Japanese Embassy, the project amounting to $78,795 (P3.6 million) is funded through the Embassy of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

“With the aim of reaching out to more women and children, DAWN sought assistance from the Embassy of Japan to expand the training programs and seminars,” the Japanese Embassy explained in an article posted on its Web site.

According to the article, the growing concern over distressed migrant women and their children, particularly those returned from Japan, resulted in the establishment of DAWN in 1996.

In support of the project, the Embassy is providing various sewing and handloom weaving machines. It is also supporting the production and dissemination of a book that contains typical situations and experiences of Japanese-Filipino children in the Philippines to promote society’s understanding.

Some expenses necessary for the trainings and seminars are also shouldered by the grant assistance.

GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities.

As of December 2009, more than 400 grassroots projects funded by GGP have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations, according to the Embassy.

The total grant for these projects to date amounts to US$17,418,724.

Engr. Vitaliano Mamawal III, TMP vice president for customer service operations, made it clear that Toyota cars in the Philippines are either locally manufactured or sourced from Indonesia, Japan, or Thailand.

“So iba ang specfications namin (So our cars have different specifications compared to those in the US),” Mamawal said in an interview at radio dzMM’s “Tambalang Failon at Sanchez” on Friday.

Still, he advised customers to talk to their dealers if they have questions or concerns about cars that they have recently purchased. At present, TMP has 28 dealers nationwide.

“The numbers of the dealers are in the warranty booklets. I’ll assure you that they’ll attend to your concerns immediately,” Mamawal said.

It has been a standard practice in the global automotive industry for carmakers to replace vehicles and parts that have defects in workmanship for free, provided that these are still within the company’s warranty period.

As for TMP, Mamawal said their cars have a 3-year warranty and a mileage warranty of 100,000 kilometers.

But even if the car goes beyond the said warranties, he said TMP will still make an effort to check its condition and find ways to serve the customer better.

“We would still attend to them, but of course I hope they’ll understand that we have to go through some steps so we can serve them better,” he explained.

A number of Filipinos have expressed concern over the massive safety recalls of Toyota and Honda cars in some parts of the globe through the Internet. (Read: US recall worries Toyota, Honda owners in Philippines)

This came despite TMP’s assurance that their cars do not have any defects and will still be sold in the country. (Read: Toyota cars in the Philippines not affected by safety recall) – via abs-cbnNEWS.com

Jay Sario, 31, is the first Philippine-born designer to ever make it to the show. Sario said representing Filipinos was his goal when he auditioned for Season 7 of the popular reality show.

“I’m proud to be able to represent and be part of history. I am history!” Sario said.

Sario was born and raised in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. He and his family moved to the US when he was 17.

He developed his design skills at the Honolulu Community College and the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.

Sario said when he found out he made it to Project Runway, he was more than ready.

“The very first time I saw all 15 other designers I said to myself, ‘This is it! Bring it on!’” he said.

On the second episode, Sario won over other contestants when he created a little black dress out of burlap — a fabric used as potato sacks.

“They’re just amazed about the fact that I made burlap look like feathers and that kind of sold it,” he said.

Sario gives his impression of Project Runway’s host, supermodel Heidi Klum.

“She’s just gorgeous. She doesn’t have to do so much to look good,” he said.

As for the contestants’ mentor, fashion consultant Tim Gunn, Sario said, “I adore him. I respect his feedback.”

He likewise revealed his favorite judges in the show. “I have to say I’m torn between Nina [Garcia] and Michael Kors.”

Sario added the show pushed him to acquire new skills.

“To be able to see myself grow from the day I tried out for the show, and now…it’s insane,” said the Pinoy designer.

Whether he wins the coveted Project Runway title or not, Sario says he knows he will make it big as a designer.

“I need to find ways to accomplish this dream of mine. This is what I want to do. This is my calling,” said Sario, who plans to launch his own line both in the US and the Philippines.

Following its inclusion in the “25 Best New Travel Destinations in the World” in National Geographic magazine, the Philippines was again featured in 3 other publications, namely: Selling Long Haul Magazine, TIME Asia, and CNNgo.com.

“The wave of publicity helps usher in a good year for tourism. The optimism of the foreign media reinforces our image as a desirable destination,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, in a statement released by the Department of Tourism.

“Fascinating”

The January issue of Selling Long Haul magazine, a trade publication for the travel industry in Britain and Ireland, features the Philippines alongside popular destinations like Bali, New Zealand and Bermuda.

In a 3-page article, the magazine recommends the Philippines for its “fascinating mix of Asian and western culture, pristine powdery beaches and stunning landscapes.”

It lists a number of attractions that may appeal to travelers, including the cosmopolitan lifestyles of Manila and Cebu, the colonialism of Vigan, the adventures of Palawan, and the beauty of Taal, Mayon, and Chocolate Hills.

The monthly magazine also highlights the Philippines as one of the best destinations for bird watching and diving.

“Beguiling”

Manila is described as “beguiling and reinvigorating for even the most world-weary” in the January issue of TIME Asia, one of the most respected publications in the world.

The 3-page feature also lists a number of attractions in the capital city, including the historic district of Intramuros, cultural museums, local delicacies, music venues, and souvenir shops.

It also recommends an out-of-town trip to the beaches and farms of El Nido in the island of Palawan.

A must experience

The Philippines is included twice in the list of ‘52 Best Weekends of 2010’, created by CNNgo.com as a travel guide for every weekend of the year.

The travel website, part of the CNN group, recommends the Philippines for the Boracay International Funboard Cup in January, and the nationwide Christmas celebrations in December.

It highlights the Boracay event as one of the biggest windsurfing competitions in the world, attracting travelers and enthusiasts to the island, besides the beaches, culture, and water sports on offer.

It also considers the Philippine Yuletide season as the world’s longest Christmas celebration, an experience not to be missed. It focuses on the Filipino spirit that creates a positive atmosphere, particularly at this time, as demonstrated by jolly carolers, elaborate festive decorations, social gatherings and special events, as well as through warm and friendly hospitality.

The compilation includes other interesting events in destinations like Australia, Japan, Nepal, Canada and Hong Kong.

Good Publicity

The Department of Tourism expects more travelers to visit the Philippines following the renewed interest it has received from the media. They hope to build from the good publicity and continue to promote the country through advertising, special offers, trade shows, and cultural programs.

They also believe that the country is ready to cater for more travelers, and are encouraging all Filipinos to help in raising its profile around the globe.

Secretary Durano explains: “The entire industry is more than ready to accommodate the influx of guests. We urge all Filipinos, not just the media, to commit themselves to uplifting the country’s identity to the international community.”

Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, Armed Forces civil relations service chief, said the the amendment of the height requirement was approved by the Department of National Defense during the last quarter of 2009.

The minimum height requirement was previously 5′4″ for males and 5′2″ for females, it said.

“The lowering of height requirement for both genders does not mean that the AFP is also lowering its standards in general. For one, Filipino’s average height is shorter than the Western countries,” he said.

He added: “Height is no longer a strategic requirement for the military as there could be many ’shorter’ Filipinos with the same amount of commitment, patriotism, raw courage and steely resolve as that of any soldier.”

Cruz said the military is recruiting about 6,000 men yearly due to natural attrition. Of that number, 5%-6% are officers while the rest are enlisted personnel.

He said all trainees will be subjected to the same training and fundamentals of military rules, etiquette and traditions.

“We want to widen the choices. If many will apply, your pool of choices will be widened. Also, we are seeing that the fight now is no longer muscle power, not brute force. What is used now is brain force, not brute force,” he said.

Cruz also pointed out that soldiers do not need to be tall to become sharpshooters. “You can also be sharpshooter even if you are only 5 feet,” he said.

He said the only downside that he is seeing in smaller soldiers is when they carry heavy objects. “However, the smaller ones are more agile, are faster. In basketball, you can see that the smaller players are agile,” said Cruz. – via abs-cbnNEWS.com

“As I had correctly suspected, the harassment by the DOJ upon the order of Malacañang will never stop. That’s exactly the reason why I left the country… For now, my concern is my own personal safety and security… I am not guilty but I cannot risk putting my life and security at the mercy of that evil conspiracy,” Lacson said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Lacson, a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration, has been charged for double murder for the killings of veteran publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito on Nov. 24, 2000.

Lacson did not disclose his location, but Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan earlier in the day said the senator flew to Hong Kong last January 5, 2010.

Lacson, who has repeatedly denied involvement in the Dacer-Corbito case, said he was just a “victim of the conspiracy” between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and “her stooge” in the Department of Justice.

Political vendetta

The senator likewise said he would not give the Arroyo administration “the pleasure of seeing my life miserable and in danger.” He added that the political vendetta against him stemmed from his exposés against President Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo.

“From the Jose Pidal scandal, jueteng payola, Hello Garci election cheating controversy, to the ZTE and fertilizer scam, and many more abuses committed by Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo against the Filipino people, where I played the leading role in exposing, are mostly the reasons why I am being harassed no end,” Lacson said.

The Jose Pidal scandal referred to the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Mr. Arroyo hidden under the account of “Jose Pidal, while the ZTE controversy referred to the $329-million allegedly overpriced broadband deal the government entered into with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. where the First Gentleman allegedly received commissions in the deal.

The fertilizer scam, meanwhile, was the P728-million fund allotted for poor farmers but were purportedly diverted by former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante to the campaign kitty of President Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections.

Palace, DOJ brush accusations aside

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar laughed off Lacson’s accusations, saying the senator’s conspiracy claims are just “unsubstantiated allegations.”

“There is no substantiation on his charges of conspiracy. If there were indeed instances of harassment, then he should bring these charges to the proper forum,” he told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

Olivar likewise challenged Lacson to reveal the real reason for his trip to Hong Kong.”If he is indeed fleeing to Hong Kong, he must explain himself. He must explain himself to the public,” he said.

For her part, Justice Sec. Agnes Devanadera denied harassing Lacson over the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, arguing that the filing of charges against Lacson went through due process.

“All I know is that a preliminary investigation was done and due process was accorded to Senator Lacson. He even gave his counter-affidavit,” Devanadera told GMANews.TV in a separate phone interview.

She added that Lacson should show proof that the DOJ had committed violations in giving Lacson due process.

“Kaya ba namin (DOJ) mang-harass ng senador (Can the DOJ harass a senator)?” Devanadera asked.

The 24.7-meter-long balangay, christened “Masawa hong Butuan,” was finally cut loose from its moorings around noon Sunday, and was greeted by a riot of cheers and applause from the crowd of well-wishers and tourists who witnessed the event.

It took three hours of hard work and two backhoes to lift the wooden boat from the muddy grounds of Luna compound and place it into the churning waters of Agusan River. The seven-ton boat was then towed by a tugboat up north towards the Masawa delta.

“Masawa hong Butuan” will join the newly-repaired “Diwata ng Lahi” when it leaves this city for the second phase of its voyage on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the coastal waters of Barangay Masawa.

A third boat, LEPA, will also join in the later part of the expedition, which will start with several stops in Mindanao before proceeding to an Asian tour.

“We are showing the whole world now that we Filipinos can do the impossible because we by nature are born natural seafarers,” said expedition leader Art Valdez of Kaya Ng Pinoy Foundation.

According to the expedition’s one-page itinerary of the Mindanao voyage, the first stop will be the seaside resort Jurassic Park in Carmen, Agusan del Norte and then Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.

From Gingoog City, the boats will dock in the smaller ports of Balingoan town in Misamis Oriental, Benoni town in Camiguin Island, and the Cagayan de Oro City pier. From Cagayan they will pass Initao town port in Iligan City, and the cities of Ozamis and Oroquieta in Misamis Occidental.

In Zamboanga del Norte, the all-Filipino crew will pay homage and respect to the Jose Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City. From there, they will pass and dock in towns of Manukan, Sindangan, Labason, Siocon, and Sibuco all in Zamboanga del Norte before proceeding to Zamboanga City pier. The last port of call for the around Mindanao trip is Sibuto in Tawi-Tawi.

Once the Mindanao adventure is completed in March, the next phase of the voyage – one that will take the fleet to many island stops throughout Southeast Asia – will begin, according to Valdez.

The construction of the wind-driven boat worth P1.6 million was shouldered by the Butuan Global Forum Inc., an association of Butuanons based locally and abroad; the Kaya Ng Pinoy Foundation; and the Butuan Historical and Cultural Foundation Inc.

Butuan folk consider the vessel meaningful after remnants of around eight ancient balangay boats were excavated around the province in 1978.

The oldest boat that was dug was carbon-dated at 320 AD.

Celebrity connections

It may be recalled that when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo capitalized on her resemblance to Superstar Nora Aunor when she was running for vice president in 1998. She already had political pedigree but it was, arguably, the Nora Aunor connection that made the masses gravitate towards her.

These days, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has considerable advantage since his sister is TV host-actress Kris Aquino, whom the entertainment industry has crowned as “The Queen of All Media.” The presidentiable’s trendsetting sibling has even rallied her showbiz friends – Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Boy Abunda, Ai-Ai Delas Alas, and Vilma Santos – to support her brother’s candidacy.

In fact, Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos pointed out that the endorsement of “showbiz heavyweights” is an advantage for Aquino’s campaign and advised that Villar get celebrity endorsers as well to jazz up his campaign.

Thus, Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., tapped Pinoy “Comedy King” Dolphy, to put in a good word for him. Comedians Willie Revillame and Michael V., as well as boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, are also rooting for Villar.

Perhaps using the same logic, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., in a surprise move, picked TV host-actor Edu Manzano to be his vice presidential bet.

Then, of course, there’s former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada – who, for a time, was one of the most popular onscreen anti-heroes in Philippine cinema – making a political comeback much like he’d make a sequel to one of his past films. Asked if he’s baffled why his fellow actor and good friend Dolphy chose to endorse Villar, Estrada merely said, “Nagtatrabaho lamang s’ya (He’s just working).”

Well, if the comedian is indeed campaigning for Villar for a fee, just how much does he stand to earn?

Public relations specialist Reli German, who’s been credited for using the memorable Erap jokes in the past to work to his then-client’s advantage, said, “If the celebrity is truly supportive of the candidate, the talent fee could be as little as a [‘Thank You’] to P100,000.”

However, the price soars to P2 to P3 million, depending on the celebrity’s status, if the politician is bent on purchasing star power.

Real support from reel people

It remains to be seen, however, if all celebrities collecting talent fees for their campaign duties. Just like Oprah Winfrey who supported US President Barack Obama’s campaign, there are those who are simply “donating” their services for politicians they believe in.

Take for instance matinee idol Dingdong Dantes, an Aquino supporter. “I believe in (Noynoy Aquino’s) desire to help the Filipino youth,” he explained.

Music greats and siblings Joey Ayala and Cynthia Alexander have chosen to back environmentalist Nicanor Perlas in his bid for the presidency. “Si Nick lamang ang nakakaintindi ng tunay na pakikipag-ugnay sa kalikasan at tunay na pagbabago (Nick is the only one who understands true interrelatedness with nature and genuine change),” Ayala said.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said of his namesake, “Nakikita ko na malaki ang magagawa ni Manny kung mauupo siya [bilang presidente] (I can see that Manny can do a lot if he becomes president,” he said.

People should be convinced that the celebrity will actually vote for the candidate. It can be effective, if the endorser has been identified by the viewer as supportive. If the viewer cannot identify the endorser as sincere, then it is likely that they also won’t support the candidates being endorsed.

Malou Tiquia – founder of Publicus Ltd., a political consultancy firm that provides campaign services to senatorial and local candidates – writes in “Don’t Do Ads Now,” writes: “Celebrities with high trust ratings will translate to a high preference in terms of voting.”

German does not discount that the right endorsement will have a positive effect, however it can be erratic.

In terms of quality and quantity, German said that the presence of many endorsers in a single ad will have a huge initial impact. [But] it wears off after a while. “[When] you have 10, 15, [to] 20 celebrities pushing for a candidate, viewers think, ‘Grabe, so many people want this candidate to win,’” said German.

However, German said one-on-one endorsement comes off as more sincere. He pointed out: “When there’s just one (endorser), there’s time to really say something about the candidate.”

Changing tactics

Meanwhile, candidates who cannot afford a celebrity endorsement are not necessarily disadvantaged. “It really all depends on personal appeal and awareness of the candidate. If the candidate is relatively unknown, a celebrity endorsement helps a lot. If he is already known, especially if the people are aware of the track record, there’s no need,” said German.

In an interview with GMANews.TV, Tiquia explained that celebrity endorsers increase awareness about a candidate initially. She cited the case of Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, who was endorsed by actress Judy Anne Santos in 2004.

Arguably, Santos’ popularity encouraged more people to get to know Jamby and, ultimately, vote for her. But now that she’s running for president, Madrigal has decided to chuck the glitter.

Upon filing her certificate of candidacy last year, Madrigal said she will run as an independent candidate in 2010 without a running mate and senatorial slate to prove that she is not a traditional presidential aspirant but “a candidate of the people.”

Madrigal further stated that she would not be relying on any celebrity support because she knows the voters are intelligent and will not be swept up by such gimmicks.

Tiquia theorizes that there’s more to a campaign than endorsers anyway. “Ads must be placed strategically,” she said. Since the Fair Election Act limits airtime, the ads must be strategically positioned to achieve maximum impact.

In May, we’ll find out if Jamby’s solo zero-celebrity tactic works better than the veritable galaxy of celebrities employed by some of the other presidentiables.