Priyadarshni award for Loren

During the May election campaign, vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda learned that she had been chosen recipient of the Global Award of the Priyadashni Academy "for her outstanding contributions to Environment and Afforestation." She didn’t even know about the existence of the academy. Last month she went to India, upon the encouragement of Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Narvekha Sharma who gave a reception in honor of Loren upon her return to Manila.

Ambassador Sharma told a very few hand-picked guests at the reception that Loren was the first Filipino national to have been honored with the award. Other international awardees for 2004 are Carlos Magarinos, director general of UNIDO; Jorma Ollila, chairman and CEO of Nokia Corporation; Lord Navnit Dholaka, chairman, Liberal Democratic Party of Great Britain, and Hirsohi Tsutsui, president of Nissin Corporation. Past international winners included Megawati Soekarnoputri, president of Indonesia when she was a member of the House of Representatives, and Satu Hassi, former minister of environment and development cooperation of Finland.

The Priyadashni Academy, named after the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (whose middle name was Priyadashni), has been honoring outstanding Indians living in India and abroad for 20 years, and about four years ago, included non-Indian global awardees. The award ceremony takes place every year in Mumbai, India, in a glittering event attended by leading figures from national and state politics, business, cultural affairs, and cinema.

For her part, Loren, who wore an Indian sari, was appreciative of the award which was given on the basis of her efforts as an environmentalist. Cited in her award was her biggest program as a Philippine legislator – Luntiang Pilipinas, which, in partnership with other entities, has planted over two million trees across the country. For this project, Loren was elected by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to its global 500 Roll of Honour for 2001. She was the principal author/sponsor of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, and co-author of the Clean Air Act, the Philippines’ two most significant pieces of environment legislation. In 2000, she was elected by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland as one of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow. This forum chooses 100 young leaders in various fields, whose roll of awardees includes Bill Gates.

Loren may not be a part of Congress right now. But for sure, she will be doing notable projects.

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Newsmakers, Publications and Promotions is joining the league of concerned citizens who are making their contributions to the Bayanihan Fund drive. According to NPP founder Beth Sison-Tagle, the organization is holding another musical presentation, this time, "Salute! To the Nation," on Nov. 12 at the Manila Hotel. Beth says 100 per cent of the net proceeds of the project will be remitted to the fund which Speaker Jose de Venecia initiated to help relieve the government of its fiscal burden.

Musically-inclined celebrities from the government, business, media, youth and other sectors have committed themselves to the show. "This time, our project is a multi-sectoral effort. But then the same familiar, talented individuals whom we were fortunate to have worked with in the past are joining us onstage again and are enthusiastic to do it for the interest of the nation, " says Beth.

NPP sponsored last year the "Three Tenors" – former DILG Sexcretary Jose Lina, his predecessor Secretary Angie Reyes, and MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando. Proceeds of the show went to the FLAGCOPS Foundation. The second show was Salute II, with the trio still as the main cast, joined by colleagues from the Cabinet and the House of Representatives, for the benefit of ASK Foundation.

In April, Salute! From the Stars to the Fisherfolks raised funds for the Navotas fisherfolk, while media professionals and the "Three Tenors" staged last July Salute! From Media & Friends for the benefit of Bantay-Bata 163 of ABS-CBN.

You can help contribute to the Bayanihan Fund by buying tickets or tables, or a page in the program. Call PPP, tel. 9115615.

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Men are vain, too, like us women. They wear wigs and have hair transplants, facelifts and noselifts, undergo liposuction, have facials and derma treatment. Men make up a good number of clients at cosmetic surgeon clinics, says Dr. Corazon Collantes Jose, who, along with Dr. Mariano Agcaoili, will be the resource persons at today’s Bulong-Pulungan lunch forum at the Westin Philippine Plaza.

The two doctors will talk about the importance of cosmetic surgery and its positive effect on people, for example, in giving them self-confidence by enhancing their looks. Victims of accidents or burns may need to have reconstructive surgery. Women may need breast augmentation, botox enhancement (removing facial wrinkles), and removal of fats through liposuction. Sex reassignment and penile erection are also accomplished by cosmetic surgery. The medical aspects of these procedures will be discussed in full by the two surgeons.

Dr. Jose is president of three organizations – the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery; Philippine Society for Liposuction, and the Asia Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons.

The public is invited to the session, and pay a minimal fee for the buffet lunch.

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