Thursday, April 24, 2008 Utzurrum: French and Spanish connections By Chinggay V. Utzurrum: The Scene
WHEN popular Spanish journalist and editor Carlos Juan Juan jetted in last March, it was to launch Filipinas Ahora Mismo in Cebu, which is the only cultural magazine on Filipino culture, produced by Filipinos and for Filipinos.
Broadcast in Spanish over Philippine airwaves, this is an upbeat radio program with regular segments on movies (De Pelicula); literature (Vamos a Leer); Phil-Hispanic history (Ventana al Pasado and Camino de Cadiz); geography (De Isla en Isla); cuisine (El Fogon de Maria); health (Su Salud); women issues (Mundo Mujer); Spanish language (Aprenda Espanol; sports (Deportes); trivia (Sabes que?); and folk wisdom (Dichos Refranes), sprinkled with the best current and timeless Spanish music.
The Radio Manila Project is a joint undertaking of the Asociacion De La Prensa De Cadiz of Spain and the bureau of broadcast services of the Philippines with the support and participation of the Junta De Andalucia, Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional, Diputacion De Cadiz, Instituto Cervantes and Fundacion Santiago.
The cornestone of the Radio Manila project is the Filipinas Ahora Mismo, Monday to Friday radio program, designed to foster better understanding between Filipinos and Spaniards, and promote the use of the Spanish language particularly among media practitioners and masscom students in the Philippines
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We are simply steeped in Hispanic culture and cuisine. Members of the Amigos De Espana meet monthly at the Casino Espanol. Rule of thumb is to communicate in Spanish during the entire meeting, or at least, do your best.
But at last month’s meeting, everyone was accused as the group had glamorous airline ladies from Qatar Airways as guests. Welcome Mary Rose Macapagal, district sales manager and supervisor Heights Uy.
Among latest airline news: Qatar has the most convenient schedule to Madrid, then to other Spanish destinations. And that’s direct from Cebu!
As a brief backgrounder, the airline is the national air transport of the state of Qatar (its capital is Doha). Since its relaunch in 1997, it has achieved staggering growth, from four aircraft on 1997 to 40 in 1995.
Awards-wise, Qatar is rated five-star for excellence, service and high standards, being only one of four airlines in the world, and the only Middle East carrier, to earn such an accolade from Skytrax, the independent aviation quality-monitoring agency.
Fasten your seatbelts then, senoras y senoritas!
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Here’s a message from Marget Villarica of Personal Awareness and Leadership seminar (Pals) for Teens: reminding all those adolescents out there to make this summer fruitful.
Pals-Teens will be held on April 25, 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Parklane Hotel on Escario St. Please call Leny at Destination Specialists at tel. no. 231-2461 for more details.
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Les Amis de la France, launched during Bastille Day last year, is now pretty excited about its summer project: French lessons through the French cultural Institute and Language Center.
It’s new, it’s trendy, it's fun!
Classes are grouped by age. Les Chatons – five to seven years old, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Les P’tits Monstres, eight to 10 years old, Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Les Ados, 11 to 13 years old, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hurry, these fun lessons are designed to tailor-make your kids to speak like a native, and for just five weeks from April to May.
Classes will be conducted at the QC Pavilion on Gorordo Ave, across BDO.
Please call the center at tel. no. 232-1311 or fax same number. Look for Loveth Abad.
