The Most Popular School Graduation March Song/Music In The Philippines

During school graduation rites in the Philippines, there's a particular piece of music that gets played over and over again as graduates troop to the stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas. That piece of music is none other than Triumphal March (Italian: Marcia Trionfale), a track from the opera Aida by Giuseppe Verdi. Majority of public and private schools in the country use the song/music in their commencement exercises. Most schools use the music as it was played in the opera. Others use varying versions of the track. Some schools (especially universities) sometimes use a live orchestra to perform and play the music.

Is the Triumphal March a requirement to be played by Philippine schools during graduation?
Some people have the wrong assumption that the Philippine government requires schools to use the music during graduation programs. It's not true. Even the Department of Education (DepEd) doesn't impose strict rules on what songs or music are used during graduation programs. The heads of schools are the ones responsible for choosing which music they are going to us. Triumphal March is so popular that it has become the standard music during these rites. This doesn't mean that schools are required to play it in their commencement programs.

Who is Giuseppe Verdi?
Verdi was an Italian opera composer who lived from 1813 to 1901. His most well-known works are Aida, Requiem, Otello, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and Falstaff. His work Aida which is an opera in four acts was first performed in Egypt at the Khedivial Opera House in 1871. More than a century later, the opera still remains as one of the most popular opera in the world. The opera has also been adapted into a movie in several occasions, the most popular of which is probably the Italian 1953 film starring Sophia Loren and Lois Maxwell.

Listen to Giuseppe Verdi's Triumphal March below:

Solo Parent ID in the Philippines (How to Apply, Requirements and Benefits)

If you are a single Mom or Dad in the Philippines, it's highly recommended that you get a Solo Parent ID as provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). With the ID, you are entitled to several benefits like additional days of parental leave from work, a flexible work schedule, assistance from other government agencies, and other benefits. There are very little requirements in applying for the Solo Parent ID.

But before anything else, who can avail of the Solo Parent ID? Who is qualified to apply?
1. You are a widow or a widower.
2. You are a woman who has given birth to a child as a result of sexual assault and other forms of crimes against chastity. It's irrelevant whether the offender has been convicted or not. As long as the woman keeps and raises the child, she is considered a solo parent.
3. Your spouse is currently detained serving a sentence or has been convicted to serve time for at least one year.
4. Your spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated to serve his/her duties as a parent. This has to be certified by a public medical practitioner.
5. Your marriage has been annulled or declared null by a court. Care and custody of the child/children should have been entrusted to you.
6. You have been abandoned by your spouse, leaving the children with you.
7. You have been legally separated from your spouse for at least one year. Custody of the children has been entrusted to you.
8. You are an unmarried mother or father.
9. You are someone who solely provides parental care, support, food, shelter, and clothing to a child. The child doesn't have to be your own.
10. You have taken the responsibility to take care of a child because of the death, abandonment, disappearance, or absence of the real parents of the child.

What are the benefits of a Solo Parent ID?
1.You have the right to request for a flexible work schedule from your employer. For instance, you may arrive at work or leave work at different times compared to your co-workers. However, you need to follow the core work hours in your place of employment.
2. You will not be discriminated against based on your status as a single and solo parent. You will not be subjected to terms and conditions that discriminate you because of such status.
3. You will be granted parental leave of seven days a year.

Requirements (Required documents):
1. Income tax return (ITR) or other types of document to show proof your income level as a single parent
2. Birth certificate of your child or children
3. Death certificate of your spouse
4. Certificate from your barangay showing that you have been a resident there during the last six months
5. Declaration of Nullity of Marriage
6. Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)

Steps and procedure in applying for a Solo Parent ID:
1. Visit the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in your municipality or city. Make sure to bring all the necessary documents with you.
2. The social worker will look over your documents and make sure that these are complete and valid. The social worker will then register your name and the appropriate case number in the logbook containing the Registry of Solo Parents.
3. Wait for your Solo Parent ID to be processed. It's usually issued thirty (30) days after you filed your application. The validity of the ID is one year. You can always renew it every year.

2017 GSIS National Art Competition: Mechanics, Guidelines, Rules, Entry Form, Cash Prizes

The Government Service Insurance System is once again calling on Filipino artists based in the Philippines and abroad to take part in its annual art contest. Now on its 13th edition, the 2017 GSIS National Art Competition will have an open theme which means artists have the freedom to conceptualize their works of art with very little restrictions as far as themes are concerned. Winners of the competition will receive cash prizes. The winning entries will also be exhibited at the Museo ng Sining starting in June, 2017.

Here are the three (3) categories for the 2017 art competition:
1. Representational - in any style, realistic, stylized (distorted figure) representational cubism in Horizontal/Landscape Orientation
2. Nonrepresentational (Abstract) - purely non-representational, non-recognizable figures and objects in Vertical/Portrait Orientation
3. Sculpture

Who can join?
The art competition is open to all Filipino artists who are eighteen (18) years old or above. Officer of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) and artists officially assisting in the 2017 GSIS National Art Competition are prohibited from participating in the contest. Artists can submit one entry per category. That means you have a maximum of three entries. There is no registration or participation fee.

Where to get an entry form?
There are two main ways on how you can avail of an entry form. One, just go to any GSIS office and ask for the form. If the form is not yet available in the office you went to, you can always download a copy of the form from the official website of GSIS. Just go to www.gsis.gov.ph and find the article about the contest.

What's the deadline for the submission of entries?
There's only one specific day wherein you are allowed to submit your entry to the competition. Entries for the contest will only be accepted on May 6, 2017 (Saturday) from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. You are not allowed to submit your entries the day before or the day after May 6. Furthermore, you have to personally deliver your entry at the GSIS Gymnasium at the GSIS Head Office located at the Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Here's a breakdown of the cash prizes to be awarded to the winners:
Representational:
First Prize: 300,000
Second Prize: 200,000
Third Prize: 100,000
Five Honorable Mentions: 30,000 each

Nonrepresentational:
First Prize: 300,000
Second Prize: 200,000
Third Prize: 100,000
Five Honorable Mentions: 30,000 each

Sculpture:
First Prize: 200,000
Second Prize: 150,000
Third Prize: 100,000
Five Honorable Mentions: 30,000 each

Competition Mechanics:
1. The representational entry should be 3 feet by 4 feet in horizontal/landscape orientation only (excluding frame). It must not exceed 10 kilos including the frame.

2. For the nonrepresentational entry, it should be 4 feet by 3 feet in vertical/portrait orientation only (excluding frame). It must not exceed 10 kilos (including frame).

3. The accepted medium for the representational and nonrepresentational categories: Oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas and watercolor only. Entries using collage, decoupage, assemblage or use of non-pigment based materials like paper, board, plastic metal, cloth etc. is NOT allowed. [For watercolor entries, any watercolor paper is allowed EXCEPT Illustration Board]. Mixed Media not allowed. Museum wrap or box type is allowed. Textured paint, Versatex or Gesso is acceptable primer for the entries.

4. All entries must be ready for exhibition, framed and with proper hanging system using nylon cord (tansi) only.

 5. Digitally enhanced entries using machine printed canvas, silk screen or tarpaulin are strictly prohibited. Participants who shall submit entries using these materials shall be automatically disqualified from this competition, and if found guilty shall be banned from joining the competition for the next three (3) years.

 6. Entries must be dated not earlier than 2017 and must be the original works of participating artists. Entries must not have been exhibited before, revised, and awarded a prize in previous competitions.

7. Entries MUST BE SIGNED by the artist but the signature should be covered with masking tape prior to submission to conceal the artists’ identity. They must also be properly labeled using a card tag or card caption to be placed at the back of the artworks. The card tag must contain the following information: Artist (Name, Address, and Contact Numbers), Title of the artwork, Medium, Size, Year and Price, if the artwork is for sale. Directly writing the information on the canvas is not allowed.

8. All participants must be responsible for bringing and transporting their entries to GSIS. No wet works shall be allowed.

9. Mail forwarders coming from the provinces should be advised by the participants that the entry will only be accepted on May 6, 2017 from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Further, participants who opt to submit their entries by mail forwarders (esp. those from far-flung provinces) are encouraged to group together to save on freight/shipping cost of entries. GSIS shall not be responsible for any damage to the artwork sustained during shipment.

10. All possible care shall be taken by GSIS to protect the entries submitted. However, GSIS assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage to the entries before, during and/or after the competition. Artists shall hold GSIS and/or any of its officers or staff free and harmless for any liability/claims for loss, damage or injury to the works while in exhibit or in storage.

11. Entries must be submitted to the GSIS Gymnasium located at the GSIS Main Office, Financial Center, Reclamation Area, Pasay City (CCP Complex – JW Diokno Blvd.) on May 6, 2017 (SATURDAY) FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL 5:00 PM only. Entries submitted BEFORE or AFTER the stated date and time will not be accepted.

For the complete rules and mechanics, please visit the official page for the competition at the GSIS website.

Requirements And Application For Lateral Admission In The Philippine Science High School System (Pisay)

In an effort to accommodate more deserving students, the Philippine Science High School System (PSHS or Pisay) offers what it refers to as a "lateral admission". Basically, students who were able to finish Grade 7 or Grade 8 in an educational institution outside the PSHS System are still eligible to be admitted into a PSHS campus provided that they fulfill all the requirements and criteria as put forth by the PSHS.

Who are eligible to apply for lateral admission?
1. The student should be a Filipino citizen and has no pending application to migrate to another country.
2. The student must belong to the upper 5% of his class or he must have a grade of at least 85% in all of the subjects he has taken.
3. The student must have a good moral character evaluation rating of at least Very Satisfactory or its equivalent as put forth by the school he previously attended.
4. The student must have a passing score in the qualifying examinations that will tackle the following three subjects: Science, Mathematics, and Communication Arts (given in English).

How to apply for lateral admission?
1. Download the application form then completely accomplish it. Where can you get a copy of the application form? You can download it from the official website of the PSHS or you can personally visit the PSHS campus nearest to you and ask for an application form.
2. Make sure that you duly accomplish the certification from your parents that there's no pending application for you ti migrate to a foreign country. This certification is included in the application form.
3. Also make sure to completely accomplish the certification from your previous school with regards to your academic grades and moral character rating. This certification is also included in the application form. It should be filled up by the proper authority from your school.
4. Bring with you the original copy of your school report card as well as a photocopy of it.
5. Bring with you two of your most recent 1x1 photo IDs. If possible, the background in the photos should be white.
6. Bring extra cash with you because there's a processing fee of 100 pesos. This amount is non-refundable.
7. If you have all of the above requirements, just put them all in a sturdy folder or envelope then go submit it to the PSHS campus where you want to study.
8. Your application form will be reviewed by the school. If you pass the review, you will be given a Qualifying Examination Permit from the campus registrar. You must bring this permit with you when you return for the examination.

Last day of filing of application for 2017: April 17, 2017
Date of examination: April 26, 2017

Things to remember:
1. File your application as early as possible. If you have any questions, you must visit the nearest PSHS campus for clarifications.
2. Go to your testing center early. The exam starts at 8:00 am. Don't forget to bring with you your examination permit and school ID for verification.
3. Bring with you two or three soft lead pencils, an eraser, ball pens, and snacks.

How to Apply for a Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card

If you are a Pag-IBIG Fund member, it's highly recommended that you apply for a Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card. The card costs almost nothing since you will only have to pay 100 pesos for it. Furthermore, the requirements for it are quite simple. All you need is your Pag-IBIG Fund Membership ID Number or MID. If you don't know or you have forgotten your MID Number, just go to the nearest Pag-IBIG Fund branch nearest you and inquire about your account details.

Here are the basic steps in applying for your loyalty card:
1. The very first thing you should do is visit the official website of the Pag-IBIG Fund or Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) and download the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card application form.
2. Fill up the form then go to the nearest Pag-IBIG Fund branch to submit your application form. Branches have what they call enrollment kiosks. Go directly to one of these kiosks.
3. You will be directed to the branch cashier where you will pay the card fee which is one-hundred (100) pesos.
4. Your picture will be taken. You will be asked to validate all your information. You will be asked to sign your original hand signature.
5. After completing all of the steps above, you now have to wait. Your Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card will be processed and made available between fifteen days and thirty days. Sometimes, the processing of the card can take over a month. It's advisable that you regularly check the status of your card.

This is what the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card looks like.

Loyalty Card Benefits:
1. It offers special discounts and rewards for all Pag-IBIG members when they pay for medicine, tuition, fuel, etc. For a complete list of participating partners, please visit the corporation's official website.
2. It can be used as a Pag-ibig Loyalty Card valid ID for government and private sector transactions.

How To Get A Barangay Certificate Of Indigency Or Low Income In The Philippines

A Certificate of Indigency or a Certificate of Low Income is a document that are sometimes required by the Philippine government or a private institution as proof of an individual's financial situation. The certificate is often required to avail of government services (i.e. educational scholarships, medical assistance).

How and where to get the certificate
Th very first thing you should do is go to the barangay hall where you are a registered voter and request for a Certificate of Indigency or Certificate of Low Income. It's very important that you visit the barangay hall personally because the requirements often differ from one community to another. Ask the person in charge about the documents that you need to process before you can be given a certificate. The requirements needed vary from one barangay to another but these may include any of the following:

1. Barangay Certification / Barangay Certificate of Residency
2. Certificate of No Property from Municipal Assessor's Office
3. Certificate of No Business from the Municipal Treasury Office
4. Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
5. Assessment Report from the CSWDO or MSWDO

In short, aside from visiting your barangay hall for a request, you might also need to go to offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for proper assessment. The steps are often as follows: (1) Register. (2) Submit barangay certification of residency and indigency letter. (3) Receive certificate of indigency.

Here's the mostly used format as well as a sample of a barangay Certificate of Indigency / Certificate of Low Income:

Republic of the Philippines

Province of Benguet

Municipality of La Trinidad

Barangay Buyagan

To whom it may concern:

This is to certify that Juan dela Cruz, of legal age, single, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anton and Benita dela Cruz, is a bonafide resident of barangay Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet. The said person is of good moral character, a law-abiding citizen, and an active member of the community.

Furthermore, Juan dela Cruz is also one of those who belong to a low income family. He has five siblings. The combined annual net income of his parents doesn't exceed fifty-thousand (50,000) pesos.

This certification is being issued upon the request of the above-named person for [identify here the purpose of the requester why he's getting a certificate of indigency].

Given this 3rd day of April 2017 at barangay Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Renato Reyes

Barangay Captain/Punong Barangay

DepEd Special Program For The Employment Of Students (SPES) 2017

This is a guide for students and teachers who want to know more about the Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES by the Philippine government through the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Qualifications: Who is eligible to apply?
1. Students or out of school youths (OSY) who are at least fifteen (15) years old but not more than twenty-four (24) years old.
2. Applicant must be enrolled this year meaning he/she is currently in school or he/she has plans of enrolling in the upcoming school year.
3. The combined annual net income of the applicant's parents should not exceed 143,000 pesos. That's approximately 12,000 a month for both parents. If the applicant also has a steady source of income, this will be included in computing the family's total annual income.
4. The applicant must have obtained at least an average passing grade during the last school year or school term that he/she attended.

Requirements for Applicants
1. The applicant must completely fill up the SPES application form.
2. The applicant must present a certified true copy of his/her birth certificate. This document can be obtained from the National Statistics Office (NSO) or from the applicant's place of birth.
3. The applicant must submit a photocopy of the latest and updated Income Tax Return (ITR) of his/her parents or a certificate issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) stating that the parents are exempted from paying taxes, or an Original Certificate of Indigence, or an Original Certificate of Low Income as issued by the applicant's barangay of residence.
4. For applicants who are currently studying, they should submit the following:
- Photocopy of proof of average passing grade such as (1) class card or (2) Form 138 of the previous semester or year immediately preceding the application; or
- Original copy of Certification by the School Register as to passing grade immediately preceding semester/year if grades are not yet available
5. For applicants who are out of school youth (OSY), they must submit an original copy of Certification as OSY issued by the DSWD/CSWD or the authorized barangay official where the OSY resides.

Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) 2017

Steps on How to Apply for SPES 2017
1. Get a true and certified copy of your birth certificate.
2. Get a copy of the application form and fill it up.
3. Get a photocopy of your parents's latest Income Tax Return (ITR).
4. Put your application form and other necessary documents in a sturdy brown envelope then send it to Youth Formation Division at the DepEd Central Office.
5. You can also scan your documents and send it via email using the following email address: blss.yfd@deped.gov.ph. Don't forget to use the keyword "SPES2017" in naming your zip file.

Those applicants who will pass the screening process will be employed by DepEd for a duration of forty (40) working days. They will always be supervised by the Youth Formation Division. Application will only be accepted until March 27, 2017.

The National Broadband Program Of The Philippine Government

The establishment of a National Government Portal and a National Broadband Plan in the Philippines was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte during the 13th cabinet meeting on March 6, 2017. Duterte's approval came after a thorough presentation by Rodolfo Salalima, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The program aims to deliver fast internet connections in the country including far-flung regions. Duterte's approval of the initiative was first announced by Emmanuel (Manny) Pinol, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

During a hearing at the Senate in 2016, Secretary Salalima said that creating a broadband plan for the entire country would cost between 77 billion to 199 billion pesos. Under the program, the government would build broadband infrastructure in regions that are either unserved or underserved by the country's biggest telecom companies. Telecom providers will also be allowed to use the infrastructure but they have to pay fees to the government.

The project can be completed within three years from the time Duterte issues an executive order.

Duterte's Promise During His SONA
President Duterte promised during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July of 2016 that a national broadband plan must be developed and that free Wi-Fi access must be available around the country. "Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and sea ports," Duterte said during his address. In the same address, Duterte ordered the DICT to develop a national broadband plan.

Northern Lights: A Journey To Love (A Filipino Movie Starring Piolo Pascual And Yen Santos)

Northern Lights starring Piolo Pascual.

Northern Lights: A Journey To Love is a Filipino romantic drama film starring Piolo Pascual, Yen Santos, and Raikko Mateo. Directed by Dondon Santos, Northern Lights tells the tale of two people looking for something and someone in their lives. The glue that connected them together is a young child whose mother is on the brink of dying.

Formerly titled Once In A Lifetime, Northern Lights was shot in Queenstown which is a resort town along the coast of New Zealand's South Island. New Zealand was used as a substitute for Alaska which is among the main settings in the film. The movie took its name from the famous northern lights in Alaska. This is a natural phenomenon more popularly known as the Aurora Borealis. It can be observed in North America and parts of Europe.

Northern Lights is a collaboration project by Star Cinema, Regal Films, and Spring Films which is Pascual's own film production company. In the movie, Piolo plays an OFW in Alaska named Charlie. When he moved to Alaska with his parents, Charlie left behind in the Philippines his already pregnant girlfriend. He promised to come back for her but when he did, he found out that his girlfriend met another man. Dejected, he went back to Alaska and lived a promiscuous life.

Things changed when Charlie learned that his former girlfriend is dying and that she's sending their son (Charlie Jr.) to Alaska to live with him. Charlie Jr. met another passenger on the plane named Angel (played by Yen Santos) who served as her travelling partner and guardian for the trip. The three characters convene in Alaska and embark on a journey that will change the course of their lives forever.

Also starring in Northern Lights: A Journey To Love are Tirso Cruz III, Joel Torre, Sandy Andolong, Maricar Reyes, Glydel Mercado, Jerald Napoles, Anna Vicente, K Brosas, and David Chua. The movie will be released in theaters on March 29. Prior to appearing in Northern Lights, Pascual starred in last year's Love Me Tomorrow and A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery.