What: Filipino Award-Winning Photographer
When: April 2, 2016
Where: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
For our UFO ((U)AE and around the World's (F)inest (O)verseas Filipino) Sighting for today, April 2, 2016 is a Filipino photographer based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His name is Mario Cardenas.
He bagged numerous awards now exceeding 70. The number is increasing. He is truly grateful for the abundance of blessings he received. In 2013, he bagged Top of Form two major awards – 2nd place winner for Tourism Fundamental Theme and 3rd place winner for Marine Environment Theme – for Shots from Al Gharbia Photography Competition. His photo entries numbering about 8 had been included in the exhibition held last June 5-8, 2013 at Madinat Zayed Hall and the same had been published in Al Gharbia Book 2013.
He took the IDocumentary Awards and Performance Award for UNESCO and CFPA-Humanity Photo Awards 2013 in China, Gold Award and four Silver Awards for Photograph of the Year 2013 in Australia, three Bronze Awards for EPSON Pano Awards 2013 in Australia, and two Gold Awards for Trierenberg Super Circuit in Austria. He was 1st place winner for Sheikh Zayed Humanitarian Photography Competition.
Thumbs up to Mario Cardenas!!!!
What: Filipino Teacher
When: June 17, 2013
Where: New York, USA
For our UFO ((U)AE and around the World's (F)inest (O)verseas Filipino) Sighting for today, June 17, 2013 is a Filipina teacher in New York, USA.
A Filipina teacher is among the 11 recipients of the first-ever city-wide "Big Apple Awards", which recognizes the top teachers in public schools across New York City.
Marietta Geraldino is a 10th and 11th grade geometry teacher at the Frederick Douglas Academy II in Harlem, Manhattan.
In a press release by the NYC Department of Education, Geraldino is described as a teacher who provides her students with the opportunity and expectation that they will master content in order to learn about the world around them and develop the confidence necessary to succeed in life.
Geraldino has been teaching for 24 years, 9 years in New York and 15 years in the Philippines.
"I was a high school teacher for eight years in a Catholic University and then I went to teach in college at the same university. I graduated school and I became an executive, a Research Planning Director and Vice President for Academic Affairs. After that I became a Program Director. Then, I came to New York, and became a teacher again as an International Teacher," Geraldino wrote on her profile posted on the school's website.
Geraldino has two master's degrees--one in Math and the other in Educational Measurement and Evaluation. She then went for a fellowship in Australia at Queensland University of Technology and received a certificate in Teacher Education. She got her my doctorate degree in Educational Management.
The mother of four confessed that teaching for her is never boring.
"I cannot picture myself doing something else. You have to be good at what you’re doing and you must love what you’re doing and love the children for you to be able to teach in New York successfully. It takes a lot of heart," she further wrote on her profile.
Last week, Geraldino and 10 other teachers were honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott in a ceremony held at Gracie Mansion.
"Great teachers are a school's most valuable asset, and we must recognize their skills and the impact they have on our students - even beyond the classroom," said Mayor Bloomberg.
The program recognizes the city's best teachers and support a system-wide conversation about excellence in the classroom. All award recipients receive a $3,500 classroom grant to deepen their work with students.
"The Big Apple Awards celebrate the unsung heroes who go above and beyond every day on behalf of our 1.1 million students. This group of awardees is a shining example of the wonderful diversity of teachers throughout New York City's public schools," said Walcott.
The program received more than 2,000 nominations from students, families, teachers, school staff, administrators and other community members.
by Maria Aleta Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBNnews.com
What: Filipino Fighter
When: June 14, 2013
Where: London, UK
Our featured UFO Sighting for today, June 14, 2013, is a Filipino FMA fighter in London, UK.
A Filipino fighter is in this month's edition of a popular martial arts magazine in the United Kingdom.
Ermar "Alex" Alexander, 36, features in a four-page spread in Martial Arts Illustrated, which is dubbed as "UK's Number One magazine" for the fighting arts.
Interviewed by former Great Britain stick fighting coach John Harvey, Alexander shares how he discovered the art, his experience competing across the international circuit, representing the British team, and his life as an instructor.
Alexander, who began training in arnis, eskrima and kali at the age of 21, has amassed a hoard of achievements.
Considered one of the top exponents of sport stick fighting in the UK, he holds 39 gold medals, 8 silvers and 4 bronzes across a range of national and international competitions spanning from 2000-2013.
The 5th degree black belt is a 4-time world champion, 2-time European champion and 37-time British champion, who has competed in full contact stick contests, knife fights and only recently MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), or cage fights.
But before all of that, Alexander had no idea the Philippines even had its own indigenous combat system.
Born in Cebu, Alexander moved to the UK when he was nine years old. His interest in martial arts began aged 14 where he trained in the Korean art of Tang Soo Do.
He then tried his hand at other styles including Praying Mantis kung-fu, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, and Bruce Lee's own creation Jeet Kune Do.
It wasn't until the age of 21 when he found out about Filipino martial arts through an English friend. That is when Alexander decided to join the Doce Pares club, which is the oldest FMA institution in the Philippines.
"The main reason I think is because of the background of the art. It's from my homeland," he explained.
"I grew up not knowing I had a system when I was young. And also, at that age I didn't really know who I was. I didn't even understand I was a Filipino. When I did the Filipino martial art I kind of went back to my roots and I loved it," he added.
Since 2010, the eskrimador has been running his own school in Harlesden, north west London, where he teaches weapons and empty hand techniques, also known as mano-mano, as well as Yaw-Yan, a form of Filipino kickboxing.
"I've got a very good mix of students here. All from different backgrounds. A lot of Caucasians as well. Filipinos, I'd probably say [they make up] 25% of the students that I have here," he told ABS-CBN Europe.
Aside from its practicality, Alexander feels many students are attracted to FMA because they are introduced to weapons like rattan sticks, knives and swords from the very beginning, which is unlike other traditional martial arts where weapons training comes afterwards.
Alexander has mentored around 70 pupils since 2007, four of which have gone on to win world titles, while 22 are British champions.
Alexander, who regularly holds FMA demonstrations at Filipino community events, is pleased to be in this month's Martial Arts Illustrated.
This is the second time he has appeared in a mainstream UK publication after featuring in Men's Health magazine in 2008.
While he admits FMA is gaining public awareness, Alexander believes the art requires a lot more promotion.
"I'm very happy that they [Martial Arts Illustrated] did this kind of thing. There's not a lot of people that know about it and it needs that kind of promotion, whether it's in a martial arts magazine or any type of media," he said.
"I think FMA needs to be done because it has been used in a lot of films. This is the big thing in film now, using FMA, and a lot of people don't know what it is. They think oh it's just another Chinese martial art, but it isn't," Alexander added.
FMA techniques have been used in Hollywood movies like "Mission Impossible", "Kick-Ass", as well as the "Bourne" series.
By Edward Lao, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
