Flood Prone LGU Builds Bahangka Flood Boats

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To address frequent flooding in Barangay Sta. Ana in San Mateo, Rizal, the local government unit (LGU) tapped an amateur boat builders organization called the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC) to provide assistance in building four flood boats called the Bahangka. These boats will be used by the LGU to facilitate its relief efforts in evacuating residents and delivering relief goods in times of flooding.

The Bahangka was originally developed in 2009 in the wake of typhoon Ondoy which left much of the areas around Metro Manila and surrounding provinces inundated by flood waters for several weeks. The Bahangka is a simple and easy to build boat made from plywood and lumber bonded and protected with epoxy. According to Felix Bautista of PHBYC, the designer of the Bahangka: “This boat is designed with minimal wastage of materials and can be built in less than two days by someone with limited carpentry experience, and because it is a rigid boat made of marine plywood, is not prone to punctures the way that rubber boats can be.” Mr. Bautista said.

Plans for the Bahangka are readily available from PHYC’s website www.pinoyboats.org.

Support from boatbuilding suppliers was solicited by PHBYC to maximize beneficial effect the project. Marine plywood was provided by Zamboply, Epoxy Adhesive and Paint was provided by Republic Chemicals and epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth were provided by Polymer Products. Materials cost to build one boat is around P12,000. Marine plywood is a very durable material, sanded on both sides with high water resistance, states on the Cut My Plastic website.

The Barangay Captain of Sta. Ana, San Mateo, Henry “Butchoy” Cruz was pleased with the outcome of the project and said that the boats will greatly help in times of flooding allowing them to respond immediately and not relying on boats provided by the municipality, "it’s amazing that the four boats were built in two days” Captain Cruz said.

Historic First Batch of 21st Century Classrooms Finds Home in Lipa City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) joined other government agencies in unveiling the first batch of the 21^st Century Learning Environment Model (CLEM) Classrooms at Inosloban-Maraoay National High School (INHS) in Lipa City last August 13, 2018.

Present during the event are DOST-SEI Deputy Director Albert Mariño, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, Department of Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Usec. Eliseo Rio, Chairman of the National Electrification Administration Board of Administrators Armando Cusi, Senator Ralph Recto, and Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto.

INHS is one of the five public schools in Lipa City now equipped with a 21^st CLEM, a classroom setup strategically equipped with facilities designed for mobility and connectivity.

DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo lauded the efforts of the collaborating institutions that made the 21^st CLEM classrooms a reality in the country.

“This is the kind of history we’d like to keep repeating. We have various agencies from the DOST – the DOST-CALABARZON, DOST-PCIEERD, and DOST-SEI; the DepEd; and the Provincial Government of Batangas all working together to create a modern learning environment for Filipino students,” she said.

The modern classrooms promote collaborative teaching and learning to support student-centered learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) – the track DOST-SEI promotes to fulfill its mandate of producing a critical mass of scientists and engineers.

Local government units and organizations interested in providing 21^st Century interior designs for group, team, and individual learning may email arisedost@gmail.com. 

The Music Museum Celebrates Simple but Meaningful 30th Year Milestone

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Music Museum, the unique theater concept that chanteuse Kuh Ledesma introduced to the entertainment scene on August 8, 1988, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday, August 8, literally on the Music Museum stage.

Staff led by Music Museum Group president Precy M. Florentino celebrated the milestone with Mass and a company lunch with employees, some of whom have been with the company since its very early days. Celebrities like Mitch Valdes, Nanette Inventor, Carlo Orosa, Zsazsa Padilla, Ryan Cayabyab, John Nite and Kuh Ledesma sent in video messages.

The original purpose of the longtime concert place in Greenhills San Juan was to provide performing artists with a readily accessible venue that would showcase their talents, unhampered by stiff requirements dictated by hotels, the performance venues at the time. Performers of various genre welcomed its arrival in 1988, warmly and enthusiastically. Through the years a wealth of Filipino talent in music and the performing arts performed on the Music Museum stage.

Lani Misalucha, Side A, Jose Mari Chan, Sarah Geronimo, Agot Isidro, Keno, the Neocolors, Julie Ann San Jose, Glaiza De Castro, Loisa Andalio, Maja Salvador, Baihana, KZ Tandingan, Mateo Guidicelli and Michael Pangilinan, Enchong Dee all had their debut concerts and first big concerts at the Music Museum.

The Music Museum experience was and still is unique because it is like being in a cozy home where artists entertain guests in a big living room. It’s the only theater in town where guests can order food and drinks during a performance so they can dine, drink and feel right at home while being entertained. In 1989 Kuh sold the Music Museum to her friend Precy Florentino.

Music Museum celebrations of its milestones were often marked by concerts that would last till dawn. When it turned 10 in 1998, a 10-band concert rocked the Greenhills Car Park, while artists like the APO, Nanette Inventor, Kuh Ledesma, Ogie Alcasid, Geneva Cruz, Randy Santiago, Lani Misalucha, Nina, Dessa and Leah Navarro performed on the Music Museum stage.

When it turned 20 in 2008, the Music Museum looked forward by recognizing young talents -- Charice Pempengco (now Jake Zyrus), then 16, and Charlie Green, the Britain’s Got Talent winner, then 11 – as future stars. It partnered with The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab to discover musically talented kids via musical tilts Musmusikwela and MusiKabataan that awarded them musical scholarships.

The 20th year was marked by a grand concert at the Araneta Coliseum called Divas 4 Divas, featuring four of the country’s best female singers -- Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez and Regine Velasquez.

When it turned 25, the Music Museum celebrated with an all-music-genres private concert, supported various artistic endeavors and launched its commemorative coffee table book.

On its 30th year, Precy Florentino said the prevailing spirit is gratitude. “The Music Museum looks back at the past 30 years with a celebratory attitude, Thank you to the fans and concert goers who have inspired us through the years and continue to inspire us to come out with the very best entertainment. To the artists who performed at one time or another at the Music Museum, you are its life and soul. You fill us with so much gratitude,” said Ms. Florentino.

The Music Museum is now a dining, shopping and entertainment complex called the Music Museum Group and includes Shoppesville Plus (a hobbyist’s and aficionado’s haven),Theater Mall (a hive of cinemas, shops, dining and coffee places), The Promenade (a level-up shopping place with lifestyle services, more dining places, and the most modern cinemas) and Teatrino (a favorite events place for launches, parties, and cozy performances).