German court bars condom maker’s multiple orgasm claim

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

BERLIN — A German court Thursday barred a condom manufacturer from advertising its product with the promise that a pack of seven contraceptives “equals up to 21 orgasms,” calling the claim misleading.

The slogan could give consumers the wrong impression that condoms should be used more than once, ruled the court in the western city of Duesseldorf, upholding an injunction against condom maker Einhorn (Unicorn).

The company had argued the slogan was obviously light-hearted as it stood alongside advice about “calories burnt in 30 minutes of sex” and a small-print warning that the product “may contain traces of fairy dust.”

But the court was not amused, noting that among youths especially, “there is a continuing strong need for clarity on the correct use of condoms and a high risk of misleading them with ambiguous statements.”

Because the package also contained serious information, such as about half of proceeds going to charity, consumers may not realize the comment on the “sensitive issue of multiple orgasms” is humorous, the court ruled. — AFP

Fighting climate change with ‘poop power’

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

WASHINGTON — The stench of clogged toilets fills the air at the US capital’s wastewater treatment facility. And for good reason — it’s one of the world’s largest projects to transform human waste into electricity.

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Citizens must take part in fight against fake medicines

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

Medicine Cabinet
Reiner W. Gloor

VARIOUS PHILIPPINE health, medical, and pharmaceutical groups, both in the public and private sectors, are working together to safeguard the country’s supply of medicines against the actual and potential threats of counterfeits.

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Come again to Cam Norte

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

THE PROVINCE of Camarines Norte is rolling out a low-key grassroots campaign to lure travelers back next year, in keeping with the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) Visit Philippines Again program for 2016.

The province offers culture, adventure and nature, which makes it a complete experience, said Governor Edgar Tallado.

Beaches, waterfalls

and caves

The province’s tourism gem is Calaguas Islands which was named the top Tourism Gem in an online poll of Isla Lipana & Co. The heart of the Calaguas archipelago is Tinaga Island which is known for its mile-long powdery sand beach and crystalline water.

But one need not take a long boat ride to find a fine beach — the province’s Pacific seaboard is a string of these, from San Jose Beach at Talisay town, to Pulang Daga in Paracale, Cayucyucan in Mercedes, Mangcamagong in Basud, and Calalanay in Panganiban.

Just off the shore of Mercedes town are the Siete Pecados (Seven Sins) consisting of the islands of Quinapaguian, Canton, Canimog, Apuao Grande, Apuao Pequeña, Caringo and Malasugui, each with a distinct feature. The agile can paddle around the islands aboard a kayak, while at the town’s Baybay Beach, they can use the kayak to ride the waves.

Bagasbas Beach in Daet is a top destination for surfing greenhorns because of its sandy bottom and consistent waves the whole-year round. It is in the world’s surfing circuit and the first in the country to be included in the same. One can also go kiteboarding, which combines surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and wakeboarding with flying a kite. Bagasbas has become a haven of international kiteboarders due to the Pacific wind.

The province is gifted with waterfalls — the 70-foot tall Colasi waterfalls in Mercedes, the Nacali Falls in San Lorenzo Ruiz, and the San Felipe Twin Falls in Basud. In Labo, three waterfalls stand out — Malatap, Binuang and Maligaya Falls. Mananap Falls in San Vicente is ideal because one just has to make a short hike before enjoying the refreshing sights and cool waters.

Tucked in the bosom of Mt. Cadig in Labo town, Cadig Cave is a showpiece for those who want to be initiated to spelunking. Composed of several dark compartments filled with stalactites and stalagmites, this cave offers moderate difficulty in trekking and exploration.

Also in Labo are the Mambuaya and Pintong Gubat caves which are rich in speleological properties.

History

A must-see historic spot is the First Rizal Monument in Daet, a white stone obelisk which was built in 1898 which was the first monument to be constructed in the honor of Rizal, antedating the one at the Luneta by 13 years.

Across the park is the Daet Heritage Center, the former municipal hall, which serves as the town’s museum and sociocivic center. The Bulawan Museum at the Provincial Capitol Complex showcases the province’s heroes, archaeological finds, and a portrait by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Meanwhile, Bicol’s 400-year-old religious heritage is best represented by the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Church in Paracale, founded by Franciscan missionaries in 1581, which became a parish in 1611. Other historic churches are St. John the Baptist in Daet, the St. Peter the Apostle in Vinzons, and Capalonga Church, home of the Black Nazarene.

Based on statistics from the DoT Bicol regional office, the province drew 211,013 tourists in 2014.

Your weekend guide (December 4, 2015)

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

EVENTS

Outbreak Manila, the country’s longest-running zombie-infested theme run, will be held on Dec. 5, 3 to 8 p.m., at Arca South, Taguig City. Registration is ongoing at www.outbreakmanila.com or one can visit Breakout Paragon at Paragon Plaza EDSA corner Reliance St., Mandaluyong City, and Breakout Katipunan at 315 Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Visit www.outbreakmanila.com and www.facebook.com/outbreakmanila for more details.

Learn the Japanese art of gift wrapping with cloth at the Yuchengco Museum’s “Fun Furoshiki” Workshop on Dec. 5. The two-hour hands-on workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. The workshop will introduce six styles of wrapping. The workshop fee is P1,000 for adults and P1,200 for adults with a child in tandem. A wrap workshop kit, which includes the two wraps, sample shapes and workshop notes, will be given. Registration and advanced payment is required. For details and registration, contact Yuchengco Museum at 889-1234 or e-mail info@yuchengcomuseum.org. Yuchengco Museum is located at RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Aves., Makati City.

The Bayanihan Collectors Club, in cooperation with the Ortigas Foundation Library, will hold a Christmas Auction on Dec. 6 at the Ortigas Foundation Library, 2^nd floor of the Ortigas Bldg., Ortigas cor. Meralco Aves., Pasig City, Viewing of the items starts at 10 a.m. while the auction itself will be at 1 p.m. Among the items to be auctioned off are banknotes, medals, tokens and pins, stamps and covers, coins, commemoratives, coin sets and errors, photocraphs, postcards, and stereoviews, books and publications, maps, plans and prints, ephermera, tickets, labels, and antiques, among many other items.

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) literally wraps up the development in holiday cheer with larger than life gift bows to mark the season. At the heart of all of this are a series of activities and events geared towards the community. The festivities kick off on Dec. 5 with programs and activities such as BGC Impromptu, BGC Art Mart, Chalk the Walk, and Small Screen Goes Big (screening features holiday episodes of popular TV shows). The Christmas Box Spectacular will be performed at the main stage every night, while the Wandering Minstrels sing familiar holiday tunes. There will be performances by the Metro Manila Orchestra on Dec. 6; A Christmas Symphony at Bonifacio High Street on Dec. 19; and performances by employees from Globe, Deutsche Bank, St. Luke’s Medical Center, the NET Group and The Mind Museum to name a few. Grab a Santa Hat by presenting receipts worth P2,500 from Bonifacio High Street establishments. Each hat will allow the wearer access to selected holiday activities such as Meet and Greet Santa, Santa’s Mail Station and Christmas Carriage Rides. Alternatively, a donation of P500 can get you a Santa hat as well. BGCitizens, however, need only present any proof of residence or employment to get one free Santa hat. For the full holiday schedule of activities, e-mail info@bgc.com.ph or visit www.bgc.com.ph and www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph.

EXHIBITS

On view at 1335Mabini are two exhibits: Marina Cruz’ Loose Threads, featuring oil on canvas paintings of embroidery; and Clemens Hollerer’s Counting bodies, a dynamic site specific sculptural situation in the gallery inspired by the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. The exhibits are on view until Dec. 11 at 1335MABINI, 1335 Mabini St., Ermita, Manila.

The Yuchengco Museum presents Painted Memories: The Works of Lai You Sun and Yueh Faye Lai, an exhibit of 36 Chinese brush paintings and calligraphy rendered by two generations of Chinese artists: father Lai You Sun and daughter Yueh Faye Lai. The exhibit is held in commemoration of the 110^th birth anniversary of Lai You Sun. It is on view until Jan. 16, at the 3/F Bridgeway Gallery and Foyer of the museum, which is at the RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Senator Gil J. Puyat Aves., Makati City.

Sketches of the Spirit: Art and Healing by CAAI is a fund-raising exhibit that features the works of more than 20 artists. The exhibit is ongoing until Dec. 5 at the Dragon Gallery at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza. The featured artists are: National Artists Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Arturo Luz, and J. Elizalde Navarro, plus Nunelucio Alvarado, Renz Baluyot, Hans Brumann, Benjie Cabangis, Alfredo Esquillo, Alee Garibay, Manny Garibay, Vivian Go, Pete Jimenez, Lei Lopez, Richard Montero, Jonathan Olazo, Grace Olores, Evangeline Pascual, Edu Perreras, Jemina Reyes, Frederick Sausa, Alan SyCip, Edwin Wilwayco, and Armi Yam. Proceeds will fund the upcoming projects of the Ruben M. Tanseco — Center for Family Ministries and the CeFaM Alumni Association, Inc. For gallery information, e-mail dragongallery@yuchengcomuseum.org.

Kulay Diwa Gallery of Philippine Contemporary Art presents Aaron Bautista’s one-man show, Abstracting Angono’s Rustic Scenes. The exhibit opens on Dec. 7, 7 p.m., and runs until Jan. 7. For details call (632) 624-4344 or e-mail bobbit@kulay-diwa.com.

The Artinformal gallery has several exhibit which are ongoing until Dec. 28. These are idyls by Salvador Alonday at the Main Gallery, an installation of recent works in stoneware; Rebuilding Blocks by José Santos III at The Big Room, in which he transforms and presents individual rocks into objects that show the material in all its rawness; and Mythamporphosis by Raena Abella at The Inner Room, a meditation on mythology, nostalgia, and transformation. The gallery is located at 277 Connecticut St., San Juan City.

Samsung Electronics Philippines and the Yuchengco Museum present a tribute exhibition to National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera who is marking 50 years as an artist. The interactive exhibit, dubbed BenCab in Two Movements, is on view at the museum until Jan. 16. Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avess., Makati City. For details e-mail info@yuchengcomuseum.org or visit http://yuchengcomuseum.org.

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila takes its turn in celebrating the 50 creative years of National Artist BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera) with a retrospective exhibition that will run until Feb. 27. The museum is located at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Manila. For details, e-mail info@metmuseum.ph.

Galleria Duemila in partnership Greenbelt presents New Life, a public sculpture exhibition by Impy Pilapil. The exhibit runs until Feb. 28, 2016 at Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For details, call 831-9990, e-mail gduemila@gmail.com, or visit www.galleriaduemila.com.

PERFORMANCE

Tatlong Ipe: Isang Konsiyerto will be held on Dec. 4, 6 p.m., at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. The concert will feature the works of National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon, NCCA Chairman Felipe Mendoza de Leon and Diwa Felipe S. De Leon.

Robinsons Malls nationwide will celebrate the holidays with a slew of musical performances plus entertaining shows and activities for kids. For the children, there is the Jungle Book Jive, a live show from Australia featuring Mowgli and his friends, which will have performances at Robinsons Otis, Robinsons Place Dasmariñas, and Butuan on Dec. 5; Robinsons Starmills, Robinsons Place Palawan, and Robinsons Place Dumaguete on Dec. 6; Robinsons Place Imus, Robinsons Angeles, and Robinsons Place Iloilo on Dec. 12; Robinsons Place Antipolo, Pangasinan, and Roxas on Dec. 13; Robinsons Sta. Rosa and Robinsons Place Bacolod on Dec. 19; Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Place Malolos, and Robinsons Fuente on Dec. 20; and Robinsons Magnolia and Novaliches on Dec. 21. Robinsons Place Lipa will host the Jungle Book Playland. Meanwhile, the Jungle Book Jive Photoland lets kids take souvenir photos of this experience at Robinsons Place Las Piñas, Robinsons Place Imus, and Robinsons Sta. Rosa. Animated mechanical displays bring children to the Winter Park and the Winter Wonderland, while the whimsical doll Lalaloopsy is set to weave some Christmas magic during meet-and-greets at Robinsons Place Manila on Dec. 4, Robinsons Galleria on Dec. 5, and Robinsons Magnolia on Dec. 6 at 3 and 5 p.m.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls has officially begun the “Season of Sharing.” There will be musical performances by: Erik Santos on Dec. 6 at the Eastwood Central Plaza; The Voice Kids on Dec. 11, Jed Madela on Dec. 19 and X-Factor Australia Grand Winner Marlisa Punzalan on Dec. 27 at Lucky Chinatown. Over at Lucky Chinatown Walk, the stars of the upcoming movie Walang Forever, Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales, will have a mall show followed by live performances by the finalists of Starstruck on Dec. 13. Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill will host the Otaku Cosplay Event on Dec. 5, and performances by The Voice Kids finalists on Dec. 12 and Marlisa Punzalan on Dec. 26. At Eastwood City, meet Santa and the Minions every weekend beginning Dec. 5. There will be children’s theater production from Trumpets’ Playshop, Once Upon a Christmas at Fairy Tale Ville, on Dec. 13 at the Eastwood Mall Atrium. At Lucky Chinatown, children can also watch Alice in Wonderland: A Children’s Musical by Kids Acts Philippines on Dec. 6 at the mall atrium. On Dec. 19, children’s play Jack and the Beanstalk and a meet-and-greet with Dibo the Gift Dragon, will be held on Dec. 12 and 27 the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill. Grand fireworks displays will be held every weekend at 8 p.m. in Eastwood City and Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill, and 7 p.m. at Lucky Chinatown. For details call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-9888, 709-0888, 0917-838-0111 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com.

Repertory Philippines presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a staging of Michael Valenti and Elsa Rael’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Directed by Joy Virata. The play is being staged until Dec. 10 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Ticket prices range from P400 to P600. For details, call 843-3570, TicketWorld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group presents the first international production of the Tony Award winning musical The Bridges of Madison County until Dec. 6, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. Directed by Bobby Garcia, it stars star Joanna Ampil and MiG Ayesa. Tickets range in price from P940 to P3,135 at TicketWorld (891-9999, ticketworld.com.ph).

Artistang Artlets, the official theater guild of the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the University of Santo Tomas, will be staging an original production in celebration of its 35^th anniversary. Panacea, adapted from Danielle Joyce Factora’s PWD: Puso with Disabilities, is set to run on Dec. 3, 4 and 5, 3 and 8 p.m., at the Girl Scout of the Philippines Auditorium, 901 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila.

Ballet Philippines brings Edna Vida Froilan’s Peter Pan to the stage from Dec. 4 to 13 at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. For tickets and reservations, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704, or TicketWorld at 891-9999.

What to see this week

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

5 films to see on the week of Dec. 4-Dec. 11, 2015:

Angela Markado
Carlo J. Caparas directs the remake of the Lino Brocka classic drama about a woman who seeks revenge on the men who raped her and left her for dead. The screenplay of the original film, by Jose F. Lacaba, was based on Caparas’ novel. Andi Eigenmann reprises the role created by Hilda Coronel. The remake also stars Epi Quizon and Bret Jackson.

MTRCB Rating: R-13

In The Heart Of The Sea

Based on the real-time maritime disaster that inspired Herman Melvile to write his classic on obsession, Moby Dick. In The Heart Of The Sea is set in 1820, when a whaling ship is stranded in the middle of the sea after an encounter with a massive whale. Directed by Ron Howard, it stars Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Ben Whishaw.

MTRCB Rating: PG

Krampus

A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home, and they all find themselves fighting for their lives. Directed by Michael Dougherty, it stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and David Koechner.

MTRCB Rating: R-13

The Little Prince

Kung-fu Panda director Mark Osborne helms this animated version of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved novella about a pilot (voiced by Jeff Bridges) who crash lands in the Sahara desert and encounters a mysterious voyager. The film also features the voices of Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Giamatti, Mackenzie Foy, Albert Brooks, Ricky Gervais, and Bud Cort. “Adds all manner of narrative bells and whistles to the author’s slender, lyrical story of friendship between a pilot and a mysterious extraterrestrial voyager, but stays true to its timeless depiction of childhood wonderment,” writes Scott Foundas of Variety.

MTRCB Rating: G

Point Break

An undercover cop infiltrates a gang of extreme sports enthusiasts who double as thieves in this remake of Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break. Directed by Ericson Core, it stars Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, and Ray Winstone.

MTRCB Rating: PG

Skip Room Service: Singapore wants business trippers to have fun

December 4, 2015 | 12:01 am

THE lone business traveler has a typically sad routine: finish with meetings, head back to the hotel, fire up the laptop, and work while ordering room service. The tourism chief of Lonely Planet’s number one destination says the challenge is getting them out to spend more.

“How do we entice them to think about some kind of program after the work is done, restaurants to go to, or places of attraction to visit,” said Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Tourism Board. “We have to see what the touch points are.”

That effort is getting some help: Singapore will become the first Southeast Asian city to get its own Michelin guide in 2016. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay this year opened a restaurant at Marina Bay Sands, which houses a casino, hotel and a convention center. The island nation has been seeking international events, and will in February bring back the Singapore Airshow, which attracted more than 146,000 visitors from 125 countries and regions in 2014.

As tepid global economic growth prompts more companies to tighten their travel budgets, Singapore is looking for new ways to boost arrivals and spending. The number of visitors peaked in 2013, following several years of growth spurred by the opening of two casino-resorts in 2010, and the city-state trimmed its 2015 growth forecast last month.

Spending by travelers in Singapore probably won’t match the S$23.6 billion ($16.7 billion) in 2014 because of lower spending from business visitors and gaming receipts at the island’s two casinos, Yeo said in a Nov. 27 interview. The number of arrivals to the island city this year will remain flat at 15 million, he said.

Gloomy World

Singapore’s tourism receipts fell 12% from a year earlier to S$10.5 billion in the first half, as the average occupancy rate at luxury hotels slipped almost 4%, government data showed. The government in March cut its target of 17 million visitors and S$30 billion in tourism receipts for 2015, citing competition from rival destinations.

“When the world isn’t growing as fast, when incomes aren’t growing as fast or the outlook for the world becomes a little bit more gloomy, the headwinds for tourist spending will always be there,” said Wai Ho Leong, an economist at Barclays Plc. “You can offset it with promotions but you should expect some loss of ground.”

Still, business travel spending in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow four times as fast as in North America and more than double the rate in Europe between 2014 and 2018, according to a McKinsey & Co. report in October commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board. The region’s business visitor spend hit $459 billion in 2014, the biggest share globally at 39%, according to the Global Business Travel Association.

Incentive Travel

The Southeast Asian nation is promoting itself as a destination for corporate incentive travel, with companies such as Los Angeles-based nutrition company Herbalife Ltd. bringing about 20,000 of its sales agents to Singapore next year, said Yeo, a career government official who’s been with the elite administrative service since 1996.

Corporate travelers in Singapore and those in town for conferences and exhibitions tend to spend twice as much as holidaymakers, and on average they represent about a third of tourist spending, according to the city-state’s tourism authority, which Yeo has led since 2012.

The government is also seeking new sporting events and concerts it could host in venues such as the National Stadium, completed in June 2014 with a maximum capacity of 55,000. Singapore is hosting the two-day Rugby Sevens tournament in April.

Casino-Spurred Growth

While the city-state has given exclusive licenses to Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Genting Singapore Plc to operate casinos until 2017, the government is keeping all options on the table, Yeo said without elaborating.

Singapore could potentially permit a third casino or more to be built, or allow the existing resorts to be expanded.

The island’s economy surged by a record 15% in 2010, the year it opened the doors to two multi-billion-dollar casino resorts, which spurred a 20% jump in visitor arrivals. Las Vegas Sands’s Marina Bay Sands houses the country’s biggest hotel and convention center, while Genting’s Resorts World Sentosa operates Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park.

Asian casino operators have seen their takings hurt amid economic weakness in the region, while China’s anti-corruption campaign prompted high-rollers from the country to lay low. In Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa’s gaming revenue fell 5% in the three months ended September, partially offset by a 10% rise in non-gaming contributions, while sales at Marina Bay Sands rose 2%.

“Gaming revenues in the short term may have come down a little bit from their initial years but I would say they are still at good levels,” said Yeo, referring to the two Singapore casino resorts. “What’s encouraging is that their non-gaming revenues continue to grow quite well.” — Bloomberg