Barrio Fiesta Sa London 2009

Update June 2010: Details for the 2010 Barrio Fiesta can be found at this page.

Wondering when the next London Barrio Fiesta will be held? The Philippine Centre, organisers of the event, announced that it’s set for Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July 2009. As usual, it will be held in Lampton Park, Hounslow, TW3 4DN.

Let’s hope we don’t have a repeat of last year’s confusions after Hounslow council temporarily shut it down.

Update 16 July 2009: We’re starting to hear conflicting information about whether or not the event will go ahead. Some people are saying that Hounslow council have once again refused the health and safety permit; others are saying that it’s pushing through. We can’t verify what’s true at the moment because no-one at the London Borough of Hounslow could confirm this information when we called. They gave the number for John Laing Integrated Services, the contractor who’s responsible for park maintenance, but there was no answer.

We strongly suggest finding out for yourself before heading off the the Barrio Fiesta this weekend. Contact numbers below.

John Laing Integrated Services: 0845 456 2796 or 020 7901 3200
Philippine Centre: 0845 838 7880 or 020 7096 1246 (ask for Gen Ashley)
London Borough of Hounslow: 020 8583 2000

Update 18 July 2009: It looks like everything is set up and ready to go (see comment from Martin below). For those of you who’ll be there, have a great time and let us know how it goes.


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Re-opening of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

A Phil-UK reader, Pow Belgado, asked me to let you guys know about the re-opening of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. As usual, posting these messages doesn’t mean that we endorse any particular viewpoint. Do your own research to keep informed about the issues.

A Call to Filipinos Around the World – Tell the Philippine Congress “No to Nukes”

The re-opening of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is a hotly debated topic in the Philippines. House Bill 6300, which is currently in the House of Representatives, seeks PHP 100 million pesos of our tax money for a feasibility study. Several studies over the past decades have already said that this is a dangerous plant to operate, and in one study that already cost millions of dollars they found 40,000 defects in this plant! Later on our Congressmen are going to ask for $1 billion dollars to refurbish the power plant. The BNPP’s tainted history is already a hard lesson on how the pursuit of nuclear power has been a gargantuan and unjust burden on Filipinos. Even now, with moves for its revival heralding what appears to be aggressive plans for a national nuclear program, nuclear power may become the altar upon which this country will bankrupt itself.

Nuclear power is the most dangerous, and most expensive source of electricity. It won’t help our country achieve energy security because it won’t lower the costs of power, and it won’t reduce our dependence on imported fuel. Nuclear power will also not solve problems like climate change.

One key solution to genuine energy security and climate change is Renewable Energy. Renewable energy is clean, safe and cheap. And the best thing about it is, we already have a Renewable Energy Law—so we don’t need to revive outdated technology like the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant to achieve our quest for energy solutions.

We must tell the congress we don’t want nuclear power!

If you want to tell Congress that you don’t want nuclear power sign in and we’ll make sure your message is delivered.

Your voice and those of your family, friends and colleagues will count!
Sign the petition TODAY! http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/no-nukes/

Marketing company wants your views on telecoms services for the Filipino community

A market research firm asked us to post this message:

Want to give your views on an issue that affects the Filipino community in the UK?

Want to make £25 in an hour?

Analysys Mason is currently recruiting volunteers to give their views of telecommunications services for the Filipino community in the UK.

Who qualifies?

Any first or second generation Filipino who has lived in the UK for more than 6 months and owns a mobile phone.

When is it?

We will be holding two sessions in central London, the first will be on Thursday 21st May at 7pm. If you can’t make that date get in touch and we will arrange a mutually convenient date.

What will happen?

There will be around 10 volunteers at each session, we will discuss (over light refreshments) the various methods used to contact friends and relatives in the Philippines.

Sounds great, how do I sign up?

Just send an email to [email protected] with the following details:

  • Name
  • Contact phone number
  • Occupation
  • Are you first or second generation Filipino?
  • Length of stay in the UK

Please note: Phil-UK isn’t affiliated with Analysys Mason in any way. I’m just posting this in case any of you would like to earn some money in exchange for giving them your views.

CERUMENTRIC nominated for Best Dance Act-Solo

Erick A. Fabian of CERUMENTRIC wanted to let you all know that he was nominated for Best Dance Act-Solo in the recently concluded Asia Voice Independent Music Awards (AVIMA). He didn’t win but was featured in their website at:

http://voize.my/wpv2/music/cerumentric

You an check out his MySpace page and listen to sample music at: http://myspace.com/cerumentric

Erick even gave us an exclusive pre release teaser, but unfortunately we can’t stream from this site at the moment. The rest of you will just have to wait until it’s released to the general public 🙂

A Play in 2 Days – Yellow Earth Theatre

Yellow Earth, a London based British East Asian touring theatre company, is running a project for young people aged between 8 to 18 years old. See below and drop them a note if you’re interested.

A PLAY IN 2 DAYS

Using a story from the East mixed with voice, text, movement and loads of
fun, participants will have a chance to create their very own play in 2
days.

Open to all young people aged 8-18. This is a taster for a brand new youth
Theatre that will be launched by Yellow Earth Theatre and the Central
school of Speech and Drama in Autumn 2009.

WHEN
Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th April from 10am – 4pm

WHERE
Central School of Speech and Drama
Embassy Theatre
Eton Avenue
London NW3 3HY
(Tube: Swiss Cottage-Jubilee Line or Finchley Road – Jubilee/Metropolitan
Line)

COST
£30

Sign up now at http://yellowearth.org/youththeatre using the downloadable booking
form. For enquiries email [email protected] or call 020 7734
5988.

Passionate For Dance Fundraiser

Passionate For Dance Press release:

Combining a Passion for Dance with a Heart for Saving Lives

Anna Gough, a London based Photographer, is hosting a fund-raiser to benefit the Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women, an organisation that serves young girls who are being sexually exploited in Southeast Asia.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Café Rez in Vauxhall, London. There is a £12 admission fee (£10 online) and the fund-raiser runs from 7.00 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. There will be five different dance styles which will be beautifully demonstrated with a taster-lesson directly afterwards. There will also be some great prizes to be won in a raffle and plenty of food to nibble on.

Gough is organizing Passion For Dance to raise funds for the cause, before setting off to Southeast Asia herself, where she will be doing direct field-work to help the organization document and publish the dire situation they face there.

“There are girls out there as young as 6 years who have been sold into the sex industry. I am honoured to be given the opportunity to help combat this problem in a small way. It will be a drop in the ocean, but maybe, just maybe it will have a ripple effect and change more lives for the better.”

For more information please call Anna Gough on +44 (0)7930 354 820

Tickets and Donations: http://www.passionatefordance.com/

More about our beneficiaries visit: http://www.tw-mae-w.org/twmaew/

Filipino martial art events in London

DG Doce Pares are holding some Filipino martial art events in and around London. For more information, please visit: http://www.dgdocepares.co.uk/

March

15 (Sun) Sport Stickfighting Refereeing and Judging Workshop 4.30-6.30pm
29 (Sun) Doce Pares British Championship and Invitational Championship,
Kent

May

02 (Sat) KOMBATA Limited Armour
02 (Sat) MANNY PACQUIAO vs. RICKY HATTON (evening)

July

03-05 (Fri-Sun) Doce Pares European Championships, London

September

06 (Sun) Doce Pares Summer Camp, Colchester

November

15 (Sun) Doce Pares “Quest for the Best 2” Championships, London

Help stop Clause 152 – your personal info shared across the public sector

This post is off topic for Phil-UK but still relevant to those of us based in the UK.

Earlier this year, the UK’s justice secretary, Jack Straw, unveiled the Coroners and justice bill 2009. It’s purpose is apparently to create ‘more effective, transparent and responsive justice and coroner services’. However, one part in particular sent civil liberties advocates’ alarm bells ringing: Clause 152.

In short, this will allow any information about you to be shared throughout the public sector without your permission. What kind of information? Anything can be accessed, whether it was gathered by a public body, such as your school or local council, or a private company like your bank or telephone company.

This may not sound too bad on its own but together with the government’s plans for a National Identity Register and increased surveillance powers, it helps enable serious intrusions on our liberty and freedom. Remember, we won’t know who will get hold of the data or why they want it.

What you can do about it

If the idea of your personal life being shared without your consent worries you, make sure you let the government know. Write to your MP using the WriteToThem website. Encourage him or her to vote to have Clause 152 completely removed from the Coroners and Justice Bill.

It only takes a few minutes. To make things easier for you, here’s some sample text:

I refuse to consent to the arbitrary sharing of information under any ‘Information Sharing Order’. Please vote to have Clause 152 completely removed from the Coroners and Justice Bill.

(Make sure you change the text as the site blocks anything that’s registered as copy-and-pasted text.)

Do your research

If you’re not convinced about the dangers of this clause, I encourage you to do some research and learn about the issues. Here’s a starting point:

FireFallDown – Band Promotion

I’m passing on a message from Markus C., from Filipino Students in The UK, about a band called Firefalldown. You can visit the band’s website at http://www.firefalldown.com


Hey Fellow Filipinos,

I just want to flag a London-based band called FireFallDown for they have kindly asked me to message you all to promote their band and their upcoming London show. Two of the members of the band are actually pinoys (from Makati and Cabanatuan). So let’s show our warm support for them!

I was browsing through their site and their music is just incredible. You should visit:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FIREFALLDOWN/8414624973

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FIREFALLDOWN/8414624973

Website:
www.firefalldown.com

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/firefalldownmusic

They will also be doing a show (their last London show for the period!) on the 4th March at the Trinity Bar in Harrow (378-380 Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2DE).

It would be great if you can come along to this event – and possibly bring your friends with you!

Spread the word, alrighty? 😀

Regards,
Markus.

If you’re a student on Facebook, join the Filipino Students in The UK Group.

Channel 4 documentary looking for nurses to share their experiences

Des Daniels from Lion TV asked us to pass on this message:

We are currently producing a programme for Channel 4 about hospital nursing and midwifery. We would like to hear about experiences from both nurses and patients. We are interested to find out about specific situations or events during your stay or work in hospital with the view of potentially doing an interview on camera. For example as a patient did the nurses make you feel safe and looked after or did something go wrong. If you are a nurse or midwife how do you find the day to day working life? What works well and what could be improved?

Whatever you tell us, we’ll treat the information confidentially and anonymously where necessary. Our aim is to make an fair and balanced programme about experiences in NHS hospitals today.

If you have a story to tell or if you would like to know more please feel free to get in touch by emailing me at [email protected] or you can call us on 0208 846 2175.

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