Antique’s ‘Rainbow River’ Also Has World’s Largest Flowers

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Peru is famous for its Rainbow Mountain, a mountain sporting hues of gold, green and vermillion.

The Philippines might now has its own version, but with a wet twist. Instead of a Rainbow Mountain, it has a Rainbow River.

At the foothills of the Sibalom Natural Park in western Panay lies the Mau-It River. Known to generations of locals as an occasional source of semi-precious gems, it’s probably the most colorful river in the Philippines. Stones of every hue, texture and shape have been washed down from the mountains and eroded over time.

There are striped, speckled and spotted stones. Smooth and rough stones. Stones which resemble petrified wood, some that spark when struck and some that crumble at a touch.

“The Mau-It River’s colorful stones are a product of ancient volcanic and tectonic movement,” explains geology enthusiast and Park Management Board Member Jonathan De Gracia. “The area is rich in minerals. However, as Sibalom is a protected area, picking of even small stones is not allowed.”

Locals however, legally pick quality stones which have been naturally washed beyond the protected area’s confines. Hewn into beautiful gem trees made of wire and putty, they’ve become popular souvenirs, offered for as low as PHP300 (USD6) per piece.

The Rainbow River is just one reason to visit the Sibalom Natural Park, a 6,778.44-hectare natural park in Antique, a scenic, four-hour drive from the ivory sands and lapping waves of Boracay.

“Park guests can get a chance to see some of our ‘Big Five’ – the Visayan Spotted Deer and Warty Pig, Walden’s and Tarictic hornbills, plus of course the giant Rafflesia, the largest flower on Earth,” promises Sibalom Park Superintendent Anthony Evangelio. Rafflesia speciosa is known to occur solely on the island of Panay and was discovered in the mountains of the Sibalom Natural Park in 2002.

Tourism numbers have bounced back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas the Sibalom Park hosted just 6,296 visitors in 2020, annual visits almost doubled to 11,080 in 2022.

Guests staying at the jumpoff town of San Jose Buenavista might also be treated to a unique spectacle. Tens of thousands of migrating Barn Swallows are currently roosting near the town center at a spot dubbed ‘Swallow City.’ The birds are attracted by droves of insects that in turn, are attracted by the town’s bright lights.

“Western Visayan natural parks and protected areas have so much to offer,” adds Krisma Rodriguez, Department of Tourism Regional Director for Western Visayas. “This summer, we invite everyone to visit not just the Sibalom Natural Park, but our other tourist sites in our region.”

Since last year, tourists have been returning to the country’s Protected Areas. Philippine parks recorded 2,176,659 visits in 2022, almost thrice the 731,518 visits posted in 2020. Top draws were the Mabini Protected Land and Seascape in Davao and the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan, each hosting over 300,000 visitors.

“We’re happy to see eco-tourists returning to our Protected Areas,” says DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau Director In concurrent capacity as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Marcial Amaro, Jr. “Ecotourism helps promote biodiversity conservation in our national parks. It generates and sustains funds for the upkeep of our Protected Areas. We’re honored to host responsible tourists who might enhance their love for the environment by enjoying the natural beauty of our country and by supporting programs and activities inside our Protected Areas.”

Launched in May of 2022, the Year of the Protected Areas or YOPA is a yearlong campaign not just to educate people on the need to conserve Philippine protected areas, but to encourage them to visit the sites themselves. Ending this June 2023, YOPA hopes to generate funds from tourism to ensure continued management for areas hard-hit by the lack of visitors during the two-year COVID pandemic.

“We hope that a fresh generation of visitors can help us better manage and protect our rainbow rivers, lush forests and beautiful coasts,” concludes DENR-UNDP BIOFIN Project Manager Anabelle Plantilla. See videos and images of the Rainbow River HERE. 

Captioned Images:

Rainbow River. Pinoy explorer Gregg Yan blends right into the multicolored boulders of the Mau-it River in Antique, an easy four-hour drive from the Philippines’ most famous beach, Boracay. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)

 
Semi-precious Stones. From top left to bottom right are chalcedony, jasper, quartzite and hematite. Quartz, jade, carnelian, onyx and jasper are also present in the river. “As the Sibalom Natural Park is a protected area, picking stones such as these is not allowed,” warns Jonathan De Gracia, a member of the park’s management board. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)

 
World’s Largest Flower. The Sibalom Natural Park features the Corpse Flower (Rafflesia speciosa), one of 13 Rafflesia species discovered in the Philippines. Park rangers can regularly find and mark hidden flower buds, though the buds only bloom for a few days a year. The flowers span up to 22 inches in diameter – not as big as other Rafflesia species, but still a sight to behold. (Anthony Ian Endencio / DENR)

 
Gem Tree. A few locals legally collect colorful stones which have been naturally washed outside the protected area. The stones are carefully knapped and shaped into leaves, before being attached to a wire armature coated in putty and painted. Each piece is unique and retails from around PHP300 (USD6) to PHP5000 (USD100). (Gregg Yan)

Swallow City. Tens of thousands of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) have been roosting in the town of San Jose, the jumpoff point for the Rainbow River and Sibalom Natural Park, since October of 2022. Migratory birds, they are attracted by the town’s insects, which in turn are attracted by the area’s bright lights. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)

 
Forest Mountain. The lushly-vegetated shoulder of Mt. Porras. At 1378 feet or 420 meters, it is the highest point in the Sibalom Natural Park. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)

All Shapes and Sizes. This gorgeously-textured stone melted and cooled millions of years ago. The Sibalom River features stones and minerals geology enthusiasts will find interesting. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)

Fruity Pebbles. A visitor enjoys the fresh air and unique landscape of the country’s ‘Rainbow River’, just a few hours away from the beaches of Boracay. (Gregg Yan / UNDP-BIOFIN)  

Ascend to Greater Possibilities with UP CAP’s Career Fair 2023

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


The UP Career Assistance Program (UP CAP) is UP Diliman’s premier career assistance organization, and serves as every undergraduate student’s career development partner, with a focus on business and economics related opportunities. UP CAP serves as a bridge between students and professional institutions, promoting a high standard of competence among students by providing holistic and meaningful development initiatives rooted in service and excellence.

On its 35th year, UP CAP shifts to the hybrid setup as it hosts its annual flagship event—Career Fair 2023: Ascending to Greater Possibilities, a nationwide internship and employment fair where you can network with company representatives, turn in their resumes, and pursue jobs that they’ve been eyeing on.

This week-long recruitment event is the first of its kind as it consists of both online and on-ground executions. On March 13 and 14, you can tune in to a series of online webinars hosted by reputable Human Resources managers and gain insight into what career programs and opportunities various companies have to offer for undergraduate students and fresh graduates. Then, you will be given the opportunity to form connections with HR representatives face-to-face and avail of numerous government services by visiting our onsite company booths from March 15 to 17. On top of that, take the chance to win exciting prizes and giveaways. Learn more about the Career Fair 2023 here!

Ascend to greater possibilities with UP Career Assistance Program in Career Fair 2023 from from March 13 to 17, 2023 online and at the GT Toyota Centre, UP Diliman. We look forward to seeing you all there!

As one of the most awaited career fairs in the country, UP CAP’s Career Fair prides itself in the highest form of career assistance to its stakeholders—the companies and the students. This week-long recruitment event promises to deliver one-of-a-kind career opportunities for participating companies and students, which no one would want to miss out on.

To learn more about UP Career Assistance Program and stay up-to-date with all of our events, visit upcap.ph and follow us on our official social media networks (Facebook: UP Career Assistance Program | Instagram: upcap_ph).


For partnerships, inquiries, or other concerns, you can reach out to our Facebook page or send us an email at upcap.externals@gmail.com.

New spring summer 2023 collection spotlights how nothing feels better than moving with ASICS

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



ASICS Asia has officially introduced its Spring Summer 2023 collection, during its exclusive press preview held last February 16 in Vietnam. Across Southeast Asia, media, partners and brand ambassadors were invited for a full-day experience to uncover how “Nothing Feels Better than moving with ASICS” – the brand’s new manifesto for 2023. From its latest technologies to the line-up of exciting new products in the coming months, guests were treated to a sneak peek of what’s to come this exciting new season.

The preview took place at one of Ho Chi Minh’s most contemporary art spaces which was conceptualized as a ‘Movement Factory’, to highlight each product feature through stimulating experiences and setups. The event also invited guests to engage with the brand across various activities, including the Mind Games live experiment, DIY Zone for guests to customize their own plant pot, a Polaroid Booth to capture moments from the event, and a Sustainability Corner to dive deeper into ASICS’ ongoing sustainability efforts.

The event was graced by brand ambassadors, advocates and athletes across the region including Hoàng Quốc Trung, Nguyen Anh Tri, Nguyen Thi Phuong Trinh from Vietnam, Nawasch Phupantachsee, Sarun Naraprasertkul, Jaray Jeanarai from Thailand, Hariz Hamdan from Malaysia as well as Tyler Ten, Zhu Ze Liang, and Natalie Dau from Singapore.

ASICS Spring Summer 2023 Collection

The new Spring Summer 2023 collection features highlights across all product categories – including performance running, Sportstyle and apparel.

Spotlighting the most comfortable running shoe*, ASICS curated an immersive experience for guests to trial the GEL-NIMBUS™ 25 and experience the softest landings made possible with its new PureGEL™ technology. Following its recent launch, the AWAKE x GEL-NYC was also featured for a closer look of its archival designs and latest technology – the GEL-CUMULUS 16 shoe’s tooling system, for additional comfort.

An array of never-seen-before product lines was also unveiled to guests – including an updated Women’s cross-category collection, new apparel instalments for ACTIBREEZE™ - the brand’s advanced performance apparel technology, as well as fresh kicks for SPORTSTYLE. More information on these launches will be later announced at the end of this month.



Regional Launch for ‘Mind Games – The Experiment’

Early this year, ASICS premiered its new feature-length documentary, titled ‘Mind Games – The Experiment’, which captured four subjects as part of a unique study to determine if regular exercise has the power to improve cognitive function with mental performance.

As part of the press preview, Professor Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London - who developed and led the experiment - was in attendance to share more about the research and engaged guests with a live experiment, comprising both physical and cognitive challenges. The participants started the morning with the Cooper test - a 12-minute workout - followed by the ‘Tower of Hanoi’ challenge at the main event later in the afternoon.

Speaking on the regional launch, Professor Stubbs said, “The findings that exercise improves cognitive function regardless of fitness level are signficant and demonstrate the transformative impact that exercise can have on our lives. This is an important message for everyone and it was great to be able share it in person with the local audiences in Asia. This marks the beginning of exciting plans to come as well, as we continue to work closely with the ASICS team explore new opportunities to help everyone experience the uplifting power of movement.”

Mind Games – The Experiment is now available to stream in Malaysia and Vietnam on Amazon Prime. To find out more, please visit (https://www.asics.com/ph/en-ph/mk/sound-mind-sound-body-impact-mind-games).



Nothing Feels Better than Moving with ASICS

To inspire more people to move with ASICS, the brand is adopting a new manifesto in 2023 – ‘Nothing Feels Better than Moving with ASICS’ – articulating the uplifting feeling that moving with ASICS brings. This was deeply rooted across all aspects of the exclusive event as an expression of how ‘Nothing Feels Better’ from product to product and across categories. Throughout the year, the manifesto will also be conveyed through various activations and drumbeat launches.

Mr. Gabriel Yap, Regional Marketing Director of ASICS Asia said, “Moving with ASICS uplifts the mind, and this has always been our founding purpose and mission. This year, starting with the launch of our Spring Summer 2023 collection, we continue to embark on the journey with our consumers to achieve a Sound Mind, Sound Body, by helping them uncover the positive power of movement.”

Consumers are invited to express their uplift by sharing their experiences with ASICS on social media using the hashtag – #NothingFeelsBetter.

For more information on new and upcoming products from ASICS, consumers can visit the online website at http://asics.com.ph/.