To continue their efforts for all things running, adidas is back with its annual King of The Road (KOTR), one of the most anticipated races across Southeast Asia. This year, adidas is pushing the limits for KOTR to be even bigger than before as it opens a new category exclusively for students 25 years old and under.

The 10K Relay for Students is set specifically to encourage the youth to get into a healthy, active lifestyle and to give them a chance to represent their alma mater. Students need to team up in pairs – one male and one female – with each running 5K to complete the total 10K distance. Winners don’t just get individual cash prizes; they will also win prizes for their schools.

“adidas has always been an advocate of health and wellness through sports. The King of the Road is a testament to that fact,” said Jason Gervasio, Brand Communications and Sports Marketing Manager of adidas Philippines.

“The new School Championship category aims not only to promote fitness, but also to inspire teamwork and pride as students are given the chance to be ambassadors of their respective campuses.”

The adidas KOTR 2013 will be held on July 7, 2013 at Bonifacio Global City. Apart from the School Championship category, the race will include distances of 10K for the general public and 16.8K with Open and Closed categories. The Closed category is strictly for Filipinos while the Open category is for all nationalities.

The top male and female winners from the 16.8K Closed category will be hailed as the Philippines’ King and Queen of the Road and will represent the Philippines in the KOTR Southeast Asia Championship in Malaysia.

How to Join KOTR 2013

There are two ways to sign up for this year’s adidas King of the Road Philippines:

1. Visit http://adidaskingoftheroad.com/ph and register online by filling up all the required fields (not available for 10KM Relay for Students). Online registration is open from May 2 to June 23, 2013.

2. Visit any of the seven (7) adidas KOTR 2013 registration sites in the following stores —adidas Greenbelt 3, adidas SM Mall of Asia, adidas SM Megamall, adidas Powerplant, adidas Trinoma, adidas Two Parkade (Bonifacio Global City), or Runnr at Bonifacio High Street. Onsite registration is open from May 2 to June 30, 2013.

Race fees are as follows: P1,300 for the 16.8K race; P1,100 for for the 10K regular race; and P800 for for the 10K students’ race. Runners signing up for the 10K students’ race will have to present vaild student IDs (must be valid until July 7, 2013) at the registration sites.

There is also a discount for runners that sign up in large groups. Participants who register with their friends and family at the same time at the registration site get the following discounts:

Group of 10 runners = Php100 off each
Group of 15 runners = Php150 off each
Group of 20 runners = Php200 off each

Supporting this year’s race are the sponsors Summit Water, 100 Plus, Sennheiser, EO Optical, adidas Bodycare, L Timestudio, and Century Tuna.

For more news, updates, and promos on adidas KOTR 2013, visit www.facebook.com/adidas or follow the conversation with #kotrph2013.

“[Sa K-12] tinitiyak nating sapat at kapaki-pakinabang ang kasanayang naibabahagi sa ating mga mag-aaral,” said the President. ([With K-12] we are making sure that adequate and useful skills are being imparted to our students.) The additional two years after fourth year high school are intended to further hone the skills and talents of students for their chosen career path in arts and sports, technical vocational, entrepreneurship or tertiary education.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC, for his part, expressed gratitude to all sectors that helped shepherd the bill into law. “We are particularly grateful to the members of Congress, government agencies, the working groups, and other individuals who share with us the vision of a relevant, responsive and truly 21st century education.”

DepEd is currently preparing for the full implementation of K to 12 in 2016. In school year 2012-2013, the curriculum for Grades 1 and 7 was rolled out. By June of this year (school year 2013-2014), the curriculum for Grades 2 and 8 will be introduced.

[DEPED News Release]

Editor’s Note:  We’ve been waiting for this, finally the fruit of our labor.

If there is one song on almost everyone’s lips this election season, it’s the powerful anthem DAPAT TAMA — composed and performed by rapper Gloc 9 with singer Denise Barbacena. Created by Gloc 9 for GMA Network’s Eleksyon 2013 advocacy campaign, the DAPAT TAMA song reminds voters that their choices on election day will impact the entire country for many years.

GMA has come out with several versions of the DAPAT TAMA music video – even one including its news personalities led by Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio, Vicky Morales and Howie Severino who share their insights on what DAPAT TAMA means to them.

GMA network has also just released an updated version of the novelty song BILOG (Na Hugis Itlog) to inform voters about the automated election system, in a fun and easy manner. In BILOG, GMA comedians Love Anover and Betong Sumaya dance on the streets — along with a cast of hundreds — while showing the audience how to properly fill up the ballots so their votes get counted.

Meanwhile, a four-part series of DAPAT TAMA voter education ads that tackle corruption, cronyism, vote buying and manipulation is currently on the air on GMA and its news channel GMA News TV, brought to life by indie film and theater actors who play the roles of a corrupt Mayor and his ill-fated townsfolk.

Using music, comedy, drama and hard news to reach as wide a viewer base as possible, GMA Network through its News and Public Affairs Group goes all out for its 2013 DAPAT TAMA voter education campaign, with the objective of providing serbisyong totoo or substantial public service this election season.

[GMA News Release]

The Department of Education has increased by 24% the number of slots for Grade 7 students availing of tuition fee subsidy in private schools under the education service contracting scheme (ESC).

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro said that from 250,896 slots in school year 2012-2013, the ESC slots for Grade 7 students has been increased to 310,709 slots for school year 2013-2014.

ESC is a scheme under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) wherein the government subsidizes the tuition fee of students who enroll in private schools because public secondary schools cannot accommodate them anymore. It is jointly implemented by DepEd and the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE).

The subsidy is P6,500 per student in participating schools outside the National Capital Region and P10,000 per student in private schools in the NCR.

“The decision to accommodate more students under the ESC is part of our continuing thrust to democratize access to quality education across the country,” added Luistro.

DepEd and FAPE determined the distribution of Grade 7 slots under the ESC based on public school shortage in the regions, schools division and municipalities. “We also put weight in the participating schools’ compliance to performance-based standards.

Based on DepEd Memo No. 65 series of 2013, the total number of Grade 7 slots comprises the actual number of grantees in the previous school year, which are fixed, plus additional slots in areas where there are serious overcrowding.

Another basis for the allocation of additional slots is the certification/accreditation ratings given to compliant schools as of March 18, 2013.

Well this is good news alright, it also made me excited for the passing of DepEd’s K to 12 program into Law, coming very very soon!

Mr. Ogie Mendoza the brainchild of Asia’s tango impresario, is bringing Tango Blitz … a blazing trail of magic and seduction around the region – Singapore, Manila, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, Ho Chi Minh, Penang, Miri, and Koh Samui – for the last 8 years.

Coming to Manila on May 13-19, 2013, these five couples have dominated the Asian Tango scene in the last 3 years with their excellent style of dancing and quality teaching.

Top billed by award-winning Milena Plebs, director and choreographer of Milena Tango Company, also referred to as the Eternal Tango Diva. She has taken part in films and documentaries including Assassination Tango starring Robert Duvall. A versatile dancer and artist, she has been working extensively with partner David Alejandro Palo, a rising star in the world of Argentine tango, teaching, performing and travelling across Asia and Europe, in festivals, workshops and master classes. They will be joined by  3 tango couples Laila Rezk and Leandro Oliver whose dedication and pleasant disposition have endeared them to their countless students and followers all these years; masters of the stage  Analia Carreno and Luis Ramirez; and Noelia Colleti and Pablo Giorgini whose partnership dates back to when they were young lovers. Now married with twins, they have since metamorphosed into very fine and dedicated tango artists,. The last pair is considered the youngest partnership in the group, but Tamara Bisceglia & Federico Paleo have displayed immense prowess and ability, both in teaching and performing. They have managed to show what hard-work and dedication can do to survive in this highly competitive world of Argentine Tango.

For schedule and venue details on the different activities (workshops, competition, milonga-themed nights, and gala night) for the entire week of the Manila Tango Festival, please call Estudio Amapola at 8954576, 5199626 or 09164489868. You may also email manilatangoclub@gmail.com for more information; or visit www.manilatangofestival.com for a sneak preview of these couples’ performances. Enjoy considerable discounts when you avail of packages offered.

Championship Points as of April 27, 2013, 13nn

Partial and Unofficial

NCR still leads the medal tally as well as the Championship Points. Meantime you can check out the matrix below on how to compute for the Palarong Pambansa point system.

The ETF will ensure that teachers are provided with adequate information as well as technical and legal assistance in their role as members of the BEIs. The same protection is extended to principals, supervisors, schools division/city superintendents and other DepEd employees who will serve in the May 13, 2013 automated national and local elections.
“Our DedEd personnel deserve all the support they need to enable them to better perform this noble duty of overseeing the conduct of an honest and free elections,” said Luistro.

The 2013 ETF Operation Center will be established at the DepEd Bulwagan ng Karunungan starting at 1:00 pm of May 12 until 12:00 noon of May 14.

Also, Luistro reminded all DepEd personnel to remain non-partisan and not to intervene directly or indirectly in any election campaign or engage in any partisan political activity except to vote.
The ETF will also serve as DepEd’s link to volunteer organizations, partner agencies and individuals involved in the May polls.