We bring you the top stories of the week in sports and entertainment in our very first live streaming of Trending Klipps.
We bring you the top stories of the week in sports and entertainment. So catch us every Saturday, at 3:30 P.M.
Aside from the magnificent display of horses and riders, the two-day event also included an entry parade of different horses around Clark, and activities such as obstacle course, barrel racing, harness or Tilbury racing, quadrille exhibition, assorted mounted games, and many more.
There were also the exhibition of “iron horses and ponies” which were big motorcycles and mopeds or motorbikes. This aimed to promote the motorcycle event called the MadDog Poker Run.
El Kabayo With A Cause
According to El Kabayo owner, Sheriff Gabby La O that aside from the display of horses and the promotion of motorbikes, the event also aims to raise awareness on the welfare of the animals.
“Taking care of horses is a full time activity, we have to care for them, maintain (them), (there are) ups and downs… We’re always learning, and that’s something that people should know when it comes to taking care of animals.” said La O.
La O also said that the Horsefest has always been dedicated to their advocacy of helping kids with special needs, through the so called “Hippo Therapy.
The “Hippo Therapy” is a physical, occupational, or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement, which literally means “treatment with the help of a horse.”
The said event was attended by students under special education of Angeles Elementary School.
According to Ms. Melodia P. Defin of Angeles Elementary School-SPED Center, they also take the event as an opportunity to showcase the products of their students who are dealing with autism, blindness, and those who are intellectually disabled and deaf.
“We bring them here (because) we find it very effective for them, interacting with the horses and playing with nature.” said Defin.
Riders from Aurora, Masbate, Baguio City and Australia have also joined the event.
This week was a bustling one, as leaders from 21 countries arrived in the Philippines for the 31st ASEAN Summit on November 13 to 14, 2017.
Some of the ASEAN delegates managed to steal the limelight, like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stopped at a popular Filipino fast food chain to dine and mingle with people. Later, Trudeau spoke openly in support of environmental protection.
On the other hand, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull watched a war game at the Camp Aguinaldo, where fighters from the Philippine and Australian army showcased prowess in urban warfare.
The much anticipated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits formally came to an end on November 14, 2017 through a press conference at the Summit Halls Delegation Building at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Manila.
Here are the highlights of what went down during the 31st ASEAN Summits:
On Saturday and Sunday, November 11 to 12, twelve ASEAN world leaders arrived at the Clark International Airport (see.ASEAN World Leaders Arrive at the Philippines: A Live Account). Two Heads of State were the early birds stepping on the Philippine soil on Saturday:
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who is said to be a close ally of the Chinese Government. Sen recently said that he admires President Rodrigo Duterte due to the latter’s efforts of moving away from Western assistance particularly when it comes to domestic affairs.
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi was the second world leader to land in Pampanga despite being severely criticized for the on- going Rohingya refugee crisis— the migration of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh also known as the “Boat People”.
China’s Premiere Li Keqiang arrived in the Philippines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 3:19 p.m. The 20th ASEAN-China Summit also took place at the PICC delegation building. In which, bilateral meetings were said to be mostly about China’s aggressive “One Belt, One Road” initiative, a foreign policy and economic strategy that seeks to interconnect Eurasia, Africa and Oceania with East Asia through two routes— one land based, and one maritime based.
It is also apparent that Philippines, that the Chinese investments (mostly state and government) loans will likely be the icing of the cake during bilateral talks.
When it comes to the South China Sea disputes, it is assumed that Beijing does not really want it tackled or mentioned in multilateral meetings. It is foreseen that delegates will be at their best efforts to refrain if not set aside the topic of the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines. Nevertheless, it should be noted that if the issue is tackled, China will likely minimize its importance and protest the presence of the United States’ warships in the region under the disguise of the Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS).
The South Korean President Moon Jae In on the other hand also arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday noon. Although South Korea is a dialogue partner for ASEAN in ASEAN+3, it historically placed less emphasis on the ASEAN bloc unlike China and Japan.
At this year’s ASEAN Summit, President Moon Jae In would have unveiled his ASEAN policy to be on the same level as other regional powers.
The 19th ASEAN- Republic of Korea Summit’s closed door meetings assumed to have tackled the “New Southern Policy” which aims to boost ties and economic cooperation with ASEAN countries. Other concerns such as economic sanctions, naval exercises and diplomatic measures were also dealt behind closed doors.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set foot at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport also on Sunday noon. Japan has been well known for sending significant economic assistance (e.g loans that have far lower interest rate than China) to promising economies in the Southeast Asian region like Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Aside from trade and economic cooperation, Japan would have likely brought up defense and security coordination-cooperation with ASEAN countries, especially in regards to both the South China Sea disputes and North Korea crisis.
Prime Minister Abe is apparently more geared up towards holding joint maritime exercises with the likes of Vietnam and Philippines, that would provide financial grant to the said countries to acquire Japanese warships and/or coastal vessels to defend their territories.
It is also reported that one of the salient points of the ASEAN Summits was the countries’ take on Climate Change.
On Saturday, November 11, 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrived at the Clark International Airport. All are known as strong advocates of Climate Change.
Trudeau, who is criticized for his “hypocrisy” on climate change, went on to discuss how Canada is “taking significant steps” to phase out coal while also moving beyond investing in renewable energy.
He said on November 14 that reducing coal consumption remains the “greatest challenge” in addressing climate change.
“Let me be very blunt about this: Coal represents perhaps the greatest challenge to the world not meeting its climate change targets,” Trudeau said on the sidelines of the summit.
The meetings between the ASEAN world leaders on the topic of Climate Change would is said to be interesting for the fact that United States Donald Trump has withdrawn from the “Paris Climate Accord”. An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on November 13, 2017 clarified at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in World Trade Center(see.Du30’s meets Trump in ‘bilat’ talks, seals US-PH relationship) that issues on humanitarian concerns like alleged extra judicial killings in the Philippines and the refugee crises in Myanmar and Australia were not discussed.
He also said that the apparent sour ties between the Philippines and the United States have only started when former U.S President Barrack Obama criticized President Rodrigo Duterte on his policies on drug prevention when the latter assumed the presidential position.
Roque also reiterated that the U.S and the Philippines will continue to close allies, especially after Trump and Duterte’s confidential ‘bilat’ talks.
Meanwhile, National Youth Commissioner Aiza Seguerra announced the ASEAN Adoption of the Youth Development Index Report(see.Young people needs ‘uplift’ in employment). An unprecedented comprehensive document on the youth sector, in which she said that the literacy rate in Southeast Asian Region has had observed remarkable changes in statistics.
She also stressed that, the only room for improvement should be in the youth employment sector and the inculcation of unique Southeast Asian values.
On the evening of November 14, 2017, moments before the official closing ceremony of the Summit here in the Philippines, the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers was signed.
The healthcare and basic rights protection of migrants were the apparent key points in the discussion, despite the on-going refugee crises in Myanmar and Australia together with Trump’s ideology during his early Presidential campaign of “taking back” America from immigrants.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s press conference was the final stop of November 14’s activities.
Minutes after the ASEAN Summits President Rodrigo Duterte have engaged in a press conference at the PICC(see.Duterte hits back on critics, refuses to answer human rights queries). The Philippine President apparently lashed out at the United Nations for the organization’s’ stance on extra- judicial killings and Trudeau’s support for human rights.
Duterte who was cordial during the summits returned to his blunt nature while answering the questions of the press.
Duterte, who said that he is deprived from proper sleep, stated that he is satisfied that everything was in order, based on comments received from government personnel.
All ASEAN world leaders will leave the country on November 15, 2017. President Donald Trump however, has officially put an abrupt end to his marathon 5-nation Asia tour. It was reported that he have left the country on November 14, 2017, a few hours later than planned.
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, PAMPANGA — Twenty-one world leaders are now here in the Philippines for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit from November 11 to 14.
The leaders from ASEAN member states and dialogue partners — New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam received arrival honors from both local and national government officials on November 11 and 12. They were also greeted by hundreds of dancing students clad in colorful costumes from different schools in Bulacan and Pampanga.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the United Nations and world leaders from Brunei, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea, China and the United States have set foot at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), on Sunday, November 12, 2017.
Get to know them here in a live account of the arrival of the world leaders:
Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia
The first ASEAN Head of State to arrive here in the Philippines, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen landed at the Clark International Airport at 1:39 p.m, Saturday, November 11, 2017
The Prime Minister is welcomed by Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana, Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda
Hun Sen has been in power in various coalitions since 1985 making him the longest serving Prime Minister of Cambodia. He was re-appointed by the Cambodian parliament in September 2013 for a further five-year term.
The Prime Minister reportedly sent an invitation to Actress Marian Rivera to meet him on Saturday at Representative Arroyo’s Welcome Dinner. Rivera’s soap operas “Dyesebel”, and “Marimar” were shown in Cambodia.
Hun Sen reportedly admired President Rodrigo Duterte for publicly rejecting Western Influence in Domestic Affairs.
State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar
Myanmar’s de facto leader landed on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Clark International Airport at 2:06 p.m.
The State counselor of Myanmar led the National League for Democracy (NLD) to a majority win in Myanmar’s first openly contested elections in 25 years in November 2015.
The 70 year old spent much of her time between 1989 and 2010 in some form of detention because of her efforts to bring democracy to the military-ruled Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) — a fact that made her an international symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.
In 1991, the leader mostly known as “The Lady” was awarded the Nobel Peace prize and was regarded as “an outstanding example of the power of the powerless.”
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos
He is the third Head of State to arrive in the Philippines for the 31st ASEAN Summit. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith arrived at the Clark International Airport Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 11:00 a.m and was greeted by Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
He will represent Laos President Bounnhang Vorachith, the previous chair of the ASEAN. Sisoulith was elected Prime Minister since 2016.
President Joko Widodo, Indonesia
President Joko Widodo arrived at the Clark International Airport together with Indonesian First Lady Iriana Widodo on Sunday noon, at exact 11:57 a.m and was greeted by Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.
President Widodo was elected as Indonesia’s President in July 2014, in a win that marked a sea change in Indonesia’s politics.
Also known as Jokowi, he is a former entrepreneur and governor of Jakarta, he comes from a humble background and stood sharp in contrast to the country’s previous political leaders who usually hailed from political and military elites.
He was elected on a wave of support, particularly from the youth, for his promise of change and reputation as a clean politician.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak aboard 1Malaysia aircraft touched down at the Clark International Airport with his wife Rosmah Mansor on Sunday noon, at 12:39 p.m.
Prime Minister Razak is regarded by many as a political blue blood. He is the eldest son of Abdul Razak, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister who was credited with playing a part in securing Malaysian independence from Britain in 1957.
The 62-year-old Malaysian leader led the ruling coalition in the May 2013 elections where his coalition won by securing a simple majority.
Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong, Singapore
The Singaporean Prime Minister was the 6th Head of State to arrive at the Clark International Airport, at around 1 p.m.
He is the third Prime Minister of Singapore since 2004. The Prime Minister is the Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP). He led PAP to three consecutive victories in the Singapore General Elections in 2006, 2011, and 2015.
He was the first elected member of the Singaporean Parliament in 1984 and has been re-elected seven times.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern aboard Royal New Zealand Air Force Plane landed at the Clark International Airport at around 1:30 p.m.
Ardern, the 37 year old leader rose to power on a tide of “Jacindamania”. She is the new youngest female leader in the world and New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister in 150 years.
She grew up in a Mormon family but left the faith due to its opposition to same-sex marriage. She promises “empathetic” government, with ambitious plans to tackle climate change and eradicate child poverty.
New Zealand is among the dialogue partners of the Southeast Asian bloc.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada
The Canadian Prime Minister arrived at the Clark International Airport at 1:50 p.m. Sunday afternoon. He was welcomed by Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña.
Trudeau has been a Prime Minister of Canada since November 2015. He assumed the role at the age of 43, becoming the second youngest person ever to hold Canada’s top job.
He favors tax cuts for the middle class- saying he would be open to deficit spending recoup the difference and action climate change.
He also supports the decriminalization of marijuana, saying that he has been smoking as recent as 2010. Trudeau also made headlines for being supportive of the LGBT+ rights, and making appearances during LGBT+ parades and festivities.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Thailand
Thailand’s Prime Minister General set foot at the Clark International Airport at around 2:15 in the afternoon on Sunday, November 12, 2017.
The Thai Junta Chief aboard Royal Thai Air force plane was the 9th Head of State to arrive in the Philippines. He was due to retire in September 2014 but since the dramatic coup in May 2014, he has been in effective control of Thailand as head of the Junta that has replaced the civilian government.
General Prayut began his military career in the prestigious Queen’s guard unit, which has nurtured other top army bosses.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australia
Australia’s former Minister for Communications and now Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull came to power after successfully challenging the leadership of former Australian PM Tony Abott.
Known as a competent minister and confident communicator, Turnbull is well-liked across the political divide in Australia.
Coming from the conservative Liberal Party, the Australian Prime Minister is known for his progressive views, notably his support for climate change action and gay marriage.
Turnbull landed at the Clark International Airport on Sunday noon at around 4:30 p.m.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnam
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was elected by the Vietnamese Parliament on April 2016. He was chosen to replace Nguyen Tan Dung, who relieved from the duty on the same year.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister was a member of the 10th (2006) and the 11th Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee (CPVCC) as well as the 12th member of the CPVCC.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phuc, was aboard Vietnam Airlines at the Clark International Airport at 4:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump, United States of America
Serving as his final stop in his five- country tour in Asia, U.S President Donald Trump arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Sunday evening.
Trump who came from Da Nang, Vietnam for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation where he came face to face for the first time with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Known as one of the famous and colorful billionaires in America, his presidential candidacy was once considered as a long shot but his controversial celebrity past did not stop him to become the US President.
Trump made history as the first US President to never have held any government or military position. He is expected to leave the Philippines on November 14, 2017.
Premier Li Keqiang, China
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday afternoon at 3:19 p.m.
Li Keqiang has had a colorful career rising from being a manual labourer to becoming Prime Minister of the world’s most populous nation.
The Chinese Premier is widely known as a man who cares by caring for the less fortunate in the society perhaps as a result of his humble roots.
Sour ties between Philippines and China have reached its peak when the Philippines won its United Nations-backed tribunal case on July 2016 against China’s sweeping claims over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
But President Rodrigo Duterte seemingly had a change of heart by making a policy turnaround, seeking warmer ties with Asian powerhouse in exchange of Chinese investments while moving away from Western assistance particularly berating the United States, Philippines’ longstanding ally.
President Moon Jae In, South Korea
Welcomed by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, the South Korean President Moon Jae In arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Sunday afternoon at around 2:25 p.m.
South Korea has offered a $1.7-billion credit facility, and other non-lending programs to the Philippines to help roll out the President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority programs in the transport and energy sectors.
Once imprisoned for protesting against the father of his predecessor, Park Geun Hye, Moon Jae In was elected as the 19th president of South Korea with a sweeping victory over his conservative and centrist rivals by a wide margin.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Russia
The aircraft carrying the Russian leader landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 3:38 p.m. He was welcomed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello.
This was Medvedev’s second visit in the Philippines for the past two years. He also became Russia’s President in 2007, the only Russian leader with no known links to either the Russian Communist Party or secret services.
Russia and Philippines shares diplomatic ties that span 70 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India
Arrived at the Philippines to attend the 15th ASEAN India and East Asia Summits, the Indian Prime Minister arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 4:25 p.m, Sunday afternoon.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader took over as Prime Minister in May 2014 after leading his party to a spectacular general win.
The Indian Prime Minister have unveiled a Make India Campaign promising to cut red tapes and aims to make India a global manufacturing hub.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan
This is the fourth time that President Rodrigo Duterte meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Welcomed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Prime Minister Abe landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m for ASEAN-related meetings.
The Japanese Prime Minister previously held the role from 2006 to 2007 before resigning unexpectedly. Hailing from a politically connected family, Abe started his political career in the lower house parliament and steadily climbed the ranks since. He then regained his ministership at the year 2012 and started to employ series of economic policies dubbed as “abenomics” which pumped billion dollars into Japan’s economy for kick-start growth.
Recently this year, Japan was declared as Philippines’ top provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans. In the first half of 2017, Philippines took out Japanese ODA loans totaling 10.979 billion dollars.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam
Last October, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Sultan Bolkiah for the 50th anniversary of his accession to the Sultanate.
Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the world’s longest reigning monarchs. He became Sultan in October 1967 and was crowned in August 1968.
In September 2004, he reopened Brunei’s Parliament after being suspended for over 20 years. Others say that it was a tentative step towards giving political power to Brunei’s citizens.
The plane carrying Bolkiah arrived at the Ninoy International Airport, Sunday afternoon at around 2:58 p.m.
Twelve world leaders have stepped on the Philippine soil on Saturday and Sunday, November 11 to 12 for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi were the early birds, landing consecutively at the Clark International Airport on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
While the majority of the ASEAN world leaders and dialogue partners all arrived on Sunday, November 12, 2017, the list of the Heads of States who arrived that day goes as follows:
The said ASEAN Heads of State were honored upon arrival by both local and national government officials. They were also greeted by dancing students clad in colorful costumes from different schools in Bulacan and Pampanga.
The latest episode of Trending Klipps talks about the the Housing Program for the families of killed soldiers in Marawi, Jack Ma receiving an honorary degree in De La Salle University, and Cybersecurity for Banks to be strengthened.
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, PAMPANGA – WIDUS International Leisure (WILI), owner of Widus Hotel and Casino with Renaissance Hotels International Corp. Ltd., the company behind the successful chain of Marriott Hotels, celebrated the momentous topping off ceremony of the first international five- star hotel in the whole Region 3, on October 26, 2017.
Aimed to cater to its tag line, “home away from home”, the hotel rises on a 6,000-square-meter land beside Widus. The new Marriott in Clark will consist of 260 Pampanga- inspired room interiors in a 16-story tower, sophisticatedly designed to serve the millennial and high-end market.
Staged to be an epitome of opulence, General Manager of Widus Hotel and Casino, Tarek Aouini said that Marriott Clark will represent the latest and the most innovative hotel within the Widus complex, a final cap to its vision of being preferred to as a one stop leisure destination.
To compliment the words of Aouini, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Board of Director Edwin Rodriguez said that Widus have become a game changer in the Clark free zone.
“Today’s topping ceremony and Marriott’s eventual opening (also) changes the dynamics of doing business with a world- class vision. We have continuously and consistently raised the bar for international standards, particularly in the areas of tourism, leisure and recreation…” said Rodriguez.
This is the third Marriott- branded hotel in the Philippines aside from Marriott hotel in Manila and Cebu.
The $70-million property will feature the usual Marriott facilities, such as Goji kitchen and bar, great room, pool bar, executive lounge, ballroom and meeting places. The prestigious project is expected to be completed by the first or second quarter of 2018.
BCDA exec: Clark becomes the future highlight of Philippine development
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — Clark is poised to be the highlight of Philippines’ future, with billions of pesos in investments and construction projects being developed in the freeport zone, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon said to reporters at the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) 11th Defence Ministers’ Meeting … Continue reading Marriott Hotel in Clark Holds Topping Off Ceremony
Ariel Arcebido - November 3, 2017
Ein Prosit! Ein Prosit! Der Gemütlichkeit (a toast, a toast to cheer and good times!) Words that resonated from the famous Oktoberfest song, the anthem that took guests and gourmands in exhilarating spirits, in the celebration of the much awaited 79th German Oktoberfest.
The evening full of fun and excitement, filled with Traditional Bavarian customs and delicacies took place at the exceptional Harbor Garden Tent of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila last October 6 and 7 2017. Get a glimpse of what happened during the gastronomic and electrifying two part event here, www.klipp.tv/oktoberfest/videos
The latest episode of Trending Klipps talk about the strengthening EU-PH relations, the Philippines initiating ASEAN disaster programs and DMB’s proposal for 100% military and police pay.
