23Jan, 2017

Bhutan’s King and Queen

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema are the fifth king and queen of Bhutan. They are more known as the Dragon King and Dragon Queen and are also referred to as “William and Kate of the Himalayas”. They were married on October 13, 2011, born out of love rather than an arranged marriage which is a tradition in the country. Their five-hour fairytale-like wedding ceremony was televised and shown to the public. After the ceremony, the King and Queen sealed a kiss in front of a huge crowd who were very cheerful for them. Instead of spending time for honeymoon, the royal couple had a walking tour in Bhutan to meet the people. Although Bhutan allows polygamous relationships, the young King said he will remain monogamous despite the tradition.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan’s Fourth King)

Jigme Singe Wangchuk, the Dragon King’s father, enacted many reforms in Bhutan. He introduced democracy to the country. King Jigme ascended the throne after his father in 2006, at the age of 26. Through the current king’s modern ways and worldwide appeal, he is doing state visits particularly in Thailand, Japan, England and India to raise the international profile of his country.

The Himalayan monarch and Queen Jetsun announced the birth of their son on February 19, 2015. As tradition, their son’s name was not revealed at first. He had only been known as “Royal Highness The Gyalsey” – a Buddhist word for prince. In April 2015, a colourful ceremony was held at Punakha palace in the Himalayan Kingdom. The name of the prince is Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. Jigme means “fearless”.

The king and queen are beloved of Bhutan citizens because of their youthful spirit and sweet romantic union. The couple lives a simple life and often greet the public with a cup of tea which prove their humility.

22Jan, 2017

3 Simple ways to help the environment

3 Simple Ways to Help the Environment

We all have read articles about ways to help the environment. Most of them suggest that you plant more trees, take on conservation practices, reducing, reusing and recycling, but every day, there is a calling that we try harder and exert more effort, do more to live more, and everyone is expected to really cooperate and take environmental issues seriously. Just because we are not experiencing its effects firsthand, doesn’t mean we can take things for granted. For all we know, it might hit us in the face someday.

“WHAT SIMPLE WAYS CAN I TAKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO BRINGING EFFECTIVE CHANGE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?”

If you haven’t asked this question to yourself, then you clearly don’t care about what’s going to happen to you, to your loved ones, and to everyone around you once Mother Earth heats up and collapses.

Remarkably, there are numerous ways to be of beneficial change that we can do every day, some are even activities we actually do but don’t appreciate the effects that they carry.

Take E-Waste as an example, everyone is using smartphones and other different gadgets. The problem on E-Waste comes in once a new model comes out, people tend to just dispose what they currently have and opt for the latest model, well because, it’s the LATEST, they can afford to buy anyway.So where does that old model go? Mostly, they go into waste since these products are already not in the trend and you can’t boast of it, some are usually phase out, people wouldn’t avail of an old model.

LIVE simply. If your phone, doesn’t require you to purchase a new one, then don’t purchase a new one. Of course, you wait until it gets defective and not just drop it on the floor and say “Oops, I need a new one.” Use your money in more charitable ways. Don’t change gadgets as often as you change your underwear.

Transportation is part of our lives, may it be to work, to school, to the mall, to your house, to the cemetery, or to just wherever Dora the Explorer would bring you, it’s is as essential as breathing nowadays.

For those driving every day, select days in a week (other than the Coding days) to use the public transportation vehicles. You may even avail of the services of carpooling, where you get to ride with other people towards the same destination. Not only will you save gasoline and contribute to controlling air pollution, you will also gain friends along the way, who knows, you may even meet your special someone in that bus ride.

Avail of those tumblers or mugs sold by your favorite coffee shops. This is crucial to those people who basically live in those coffee shops. If you’re part of the upper class people, then purchasing those pricey tumblers and mugs is just like throwing a coin in a wishing fountain. Or if you’re a bit tight on budget, then just save up a little enough to get one. If most of you are unaware, using said mugs or tumblers will entitle you to a discounted price (P5.00 off for Starbucks). You saved money, you even saved Mother Earth by not using plastic. Win-win situation.

21Jan, 2017

Bhutan Tourism

When Gross National Happiness was developed by Bhutan’s former king, Jigme Singe Wangchuk, tourism was introduced also in 1974. Before, Bhutan had no currency, no phones and no tourists but the modern world opens the beautiful Himalayan kingdom to the world where it maintains its culture and environment along with its modernization.

Here are 5 facts about Bhutan as a tourist destination:

IACE’s Director Aries Balanay in Bhutan’s Immigration

Travellers are required to get visa and book their trips through official Bhutanese tour operators. Adventure starts as travellers need to fly to India, Nepal or Thailand for flight directly to Paro, Bhutan’s only international airport.

IACE’s Director Aries Balanay pictures in one of Bhutan’s Heritage site Takstang (Tiger’s Nest, Paro)

The country is mostly forest and mountains. Indeed, a refreshing place because of a whole lot of nature. There is fresh air to breathe. Hiking in the Himalayans is going to be a good idea for additional adventure.

IACE’s Director Aries Balanay in Paro Airport, Bhutan

Usual trip in Bhutan – as a Buddhist country, there are monasteries where monks stay, pilgrimage sites and ancient Tibetan-style temples to visit. Visitors can join the celebration of monthly religious festivals. One is called “Tshechu” where participants witness religious mask dances and receive blessings.

IACE’s Director Aries Balanay wearing “Gho (Bhutan’s National Costume) in the heart of Thimpu

In Thimpu, there is colorful market lined with local delicacies to antique prayer wheels. Truly, Bhutan is a paradise-like view with its miles-high mountains. The fully paint wood-beamed houses decorated with fanciful designs adds more sense to this special place.

View on top, summit of Mt Everest

Of the many good things in Bhutan, traveling or even a peek on pictures might convince you. Not only can you view the natural beauty of Himalayas, but also a view of the majestic Mount Everest.

Traveling to Bhutan is one of the world’s most expensive trips. However, you can be pretty sure this is going to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

20Jan, 2017

Benefits of Drinking Tea

There are many health benefits attributed to drinking tea, from calming one’s self and being a medicinal source for curing diseases (cancer-prevention due to tea’s anti-oxidant properties and) to weight loss.

ANYTHING has its own positive and/or negative effects. But this article will mostly discuss about the benefits of tea and of its content.

Caffeine Source

It is common to hear people say “Tea has much more caffeine than coffee”, this is in need of significant qualification. If you need caffeine in your system, then you may have tea.

There is also a way to reduce the caffeine level of any tea if you are sensitive to it. A Chinese method of tea-making known as Gong Fu Cha (Tea With Great Skill) uses small teapots and multiplevery short and abrupt brews to intensify the flavour of tea and reduce caffeine levels. It washes away much of the caffeine which is highly soluble in water.

Tea as Chinese Medicine

The following are the benefits of different kinds of tea common in Chinese medicine.

Black Tea – Reduces fat, protein and low-density cholesterol, protects lungs from damage, promotes dental health and strong bones, reduces fatigue and the possibility of stroke, stimulates the central nervous system, and enhances blood vessel elasticity and strength
Green Tea– Tea catechins have anti-bacterial and anti-virus properties in the mouth and intestines, regulates cholesterol and high blood pressure, lower blood sugar and improve blood flow, reduces risk of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
White Tea– reduces inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, controls insulin secretion, high source of Vitamin A, prevents dry eyes and night blindness, reduces radiation levels and repair DNA damage, it has also been believed to have the most potent anti-cancer properties than processed teas.
Oolong Tea– prevents tooth decay, high source of Vitamin C, good for the skin, thus, reduces skin irritations, improves the performance of enzymes that break down fat and increases fat metabolism, lowers cholesterol and regulates body temperature.
Pu-Erh Tea – Aids digestion and fat break down, also used in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, colds, bleeding and hepatitis, source of High level of Vitamin C.

Herbal Teas

Chamomile Tea – prevent diabetes complications like vision loss, nerve and kidney damage

Hibiscus – lowers blood pressure

Rooibos (red tea) – has cancer-fighting properties

19Jan, 2017

Bhutanese Foods to Try

Traditional Bhutanese food has been influenced by its neighboring countries, China, India and Tibet. The difference is that it’s less oily than Chinese and Indian foods while spicier than Tibetan food.

CHILI

Spiciness is truly popular. They put chili. Not one, but many chilies in their foods. Chilies are not considered to be a seasoning, rather, a valuable vegetable in Bhutan. And that just totally make every dish produce a burning feeling in the mouth for non-spicy eaters.

RED RICE

Rice, just like in the Philippines, is the staple food in Bhutan. It is served with most Bhutanese dishes. Their red rice is more coarse but tasty and more fibrous than normal rice Filipinos eat.

DAIRY

Also, Bhutanese people like eggs and cheese. Once you get to travel to Bhutan, your first chance is to taste their Bhutanese national dish called “EmaDatsi” which means chillies (ema) cooked in cheese (datsi). It’s made with green, yellow or red chilies, cow or yak’s milk, cheese, onions and tomatoes. The chilies are enough to make someone really sweat. It is also served with red rice washed down with Bhutan’s only brewed beer, Red Panda, a light drink to lessen spiciness.

“JashaMaroo or Maru”

The “JashaMaroo or Maru” which means spicy chicken mixed with chilies, tomato, garlic, onion, ginger and coriander leaves. This is a fantastic dish to refuel after a day of hiking.

“PhakshaPaa”

Boneless pork simmered until tender with daikon radish, ginger, bok choy and chili powder topped with green chili strips is called “PhakshaPaa”.

“Momos”

Dumpling or “Momos” are steamed buns filled with minced pork or beef, cabbage, fresh cheese, garlic, ginger and coriander.

“Puta”

A unique dish made from buckwheat noodles served with curd found in the area of Bumthang is called “Puta”.

REFRESHMENTS

For refreshments, Bhutan offers a variety of drinks including green or black tea, wine and beer. In the local, brewed “Ara” is served, which a fermented drink is made from rice or wheat. During morning and evening, “Po cha”, a butter tea made with fresh yak butter, is a must try.

There is a tip taught that when you’re offered food, you can say “meshumeshu”, covering your mouth with hands which means refusal according to Bhutanese manners, and then give in on second or third offer.

18Jan, 2017

Filipino – Bhutanese Friendship: How compatible are they?

The Philippines, located in South East Asia, is considered to be the 3^rd Happiest Country in Asia according to survey. The country boasts of its people as generally happy and friendly. Filipinos are ones who you can easily talk to. Any topic under the sun, they will listen to you and try to converse with you always with a smile. In fact, they smile even if they are already suffering. Foreigners are often fond of Filipinos as they are full of bright ideas and are accommodating, they are mostly optimistic and they look forward to a better event after an unfortunate one, this is why they were hailed to be “Resilient and flexible like a bamboo”.

Bhutan, The Happiest country in Asia, also located in South East Asia, is a home to, yes, very happy people. They are satisfied and contented with their lives and they do not seek for more material things. They live simply and are genuinely happy with it. The Bhutanese people are really nice people and are really friendly. Any visitor of this beautiful country shall gain a lot of friends after his/her trip.

IACE’s Director Aries Balanay and Regie Boquio together with NPPF Friends

So what do the stars have to say with these happy countries in relation to a possible friendship? It will most likely bloom since both people are the types who strive to connect with their friends no matter where they are. They value and remember the people they meet in their lives. You can never regret and go wrong once you befriend a Filipino or a Bhutanese. So you can just imagine the beautiful relationship that might be formed between a Filipino and a Bhutanese. It will be lasting and true.

17Jan, 2017

What Makes Bhutanese Happy?

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What Makes Bhutanese Happy?

Bhutan, the last standing Buddhist Kingdom in the Himalayan Mountains between India and China is the “Happiest Country” in Asia.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan’s Fourth King)

It is the only country in the world that measures happiness called “Gross National Happiness” which started when it opened up to globalization and developed by Bhutan’s fourth king, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Generally, there are three major aspects that contribute to a person’s happiness; health, education, and contentedness.

contentedness

Contentedness– What makes them really happy people, first and foremost, is they are the type of people who are satisfied and contented with their lives in Bhutan, less materialistic and living in a simple life away from complicated things. They are contented with their earning, although they could potentially earn much more than that as long as they are closer to their families. However small it may be, they are very happy already.

Bhutan citizens also balance their material and spiritual happiness. They don’t care if they have or don’t have the latest gadgets. They’re happy to be alive. A living proof that money can’t buy happiness.

health

Health – They don’t exert much of their energy in facing gadgets and being in the social media world. They don’t sleep late just wasting their time in the internet. Instead, most of them sleep at least eight hours every night. Being well- rested results to their happiness, productivity and overall health. Living in mountains is more preferable. It means less pollution. Imagine living in a peaceful place and having a wonderful view of the nature. It is not only enjoyable and soothing to the hearts and minds of Bhutan people.

education

Education – Another thing is, they truly care for their environment. Forests and animals were protected. Livings in harmony with good surroundings also make them happy. Bhutan people, as Buddhists, practice to live well and are inspired to do good deeds to be closer to reincarnation as they will become better beings when reborn.

16Jan, 2017

Stress Management

Stress is defined to be “simply a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical or mental equilibrium.” Some positivists claim that stress is just formed in the mind and that we wouldn’t be stressed if we do not give into the idea of it. It might actually work, see, if you begin convincing yourself that you can do something and not waste energy stressing over it, then you’re doing yourself a favor. Mindset.

CALM YOURSELF. FIND THAT INNER PEACE. Panicking over the initial impact of stress would not solve anything. Before you begin stressing over something, ask yourself “Have I adequately prepared for it?” If yes, then what are you stressing about? If you answered no, ask yourself next, “Can I do something about it?” If yes, then why are you stressing about it? If no, then you better get moving.

BE FLEXIBLE WITH CHANGES AND SURPRISES.They are inevitable. You cannot run away with changes in the plans or in what you have prepared for. You have to be always in your a-game and eager to adapt.

PRIORITIES. Sometimes, you get overwhelmed with work and you want to prove yourself. In return, you fail to give your fullest and best work with the task at hand AND you get stressed if you can’t accomplish everything. You get stressed with the queued activities. Learn to say “no”. Negotiate priorities. Take Superman, he can’t be Superman and Clark Kent at the same time, Batman cannot be Batman and Bruce at the same time.

Prevention is the best cure.There are a lot of ways to deal with stress management, take classes, divert your energy into other things, workout, socialize, and a lot of other things. You wouldn’t be stressed if you don’t expose yourself to potential stress inducers. But once you get face to face with stress, deal with it, overcome it, survive it, and win against it.

13Jan, 2017

5 Essential Benefits of Travelling

To travel is to be in a journey. It is when you immerse yourself into a culture that is different from yours or the culture you were used to. You get to talk to locals, eat different food, buy items that originate from the locality, and make new friends. Here are some traits of people who experienced travelling abroad.

Confident

Going away from home increases self-confidence. Getting out of your comfort zone teaches you how you can always learn not only about yourself, but also from everyone and everything around you.

Knowledgeable

Since travelling requires you to talk to other nationalities, people who travelled are able to converse on a variety of topics. They are good listeners and will give you feedback and contribute based on their own experiences.

Resourceful

Living in a other country without you knowing anyone will make you resourceful, since you don’t know other people you are all by yourself. Traveller tends to discover things without the help of others.

Flexible

Being mindful to other culture is one the most important traits of Traveler. People who already travelled outside their comfort zone are very cautious so they tend to be flexible in anything.

Loyal

Travelling makes you realize that your relationships with people are your most treasured possessions and find yourself feeling overwhelming gratitude for the support system in your life.

Now ask yourself this, if given the chance to travel, would you have declined the offer? The opportunity to travel is not easy to get, there could be a lot of reasons that would hinder you from traveling to begin with, so practically speaking, the answer would be in the affirmative. You will learn. A lot. What more if the reason you’re going out of the country were for education? Most schools that offer programs for international students usually have everything prepared for you like helping you budget by giving you a fixed amount to spend, providing for your board and lodging, anditinerary. Additionally, there are a lot of agencies that offer promos and discounts for your travel plans.

So, hop on a plane, visit a new place, and get in an adventure, there is nothing for you to lose.

11Jan, 2017

Bhutan: The Happiest country in Asia

In terms of actual happiness, Bhutan is the happiest country in Asia and ranks eighth in the world, despite widespread poverty and illiteracy. Public education in Bhutan is free and the language of instruction is English.

Bhutan, renowned world-wide for pioneering the concept of “Gross National Happiness” as an alternative to the internationally used concept“Gross National Product”, is a country Located in the Eastern Himalayas, bordered by China in the north and India in the south.

IACE’s Management Team (From L-R) Director Aries B. Balanay, CEO Susana Balanay and Account Manager Regie Boquio, pictures taken in the welcome arch entering Thimpu City.

Known as “The Last Shangri-La”, “Last place on the Roof of the World” and the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”, Bhutan residents preserve their country’s immaculate culture and natural environment by exercising a guarded and restrictive policy on tourism wherein they carefully guide and introduce their ways of living to their visitors.

IACE’s team together with IACE’s alumnus Mr. Tsheten Wangchuk of National Statistics Bureau, Royal Government of Bhutan.

The people are required to wear their national costume – Men wear the Gho, a knee-length robe somewhat resembling a kimono that is tied at the waist by a traditional belt known as Kera, whilst Women wear the Kira, a long, ankle-length dress accompanied by a light outer jacket known as a Tego with an inner layer known as a Wonju.

Typical Sunday activities to Bhutanese men gathering in their stadium to play archery

During daylight hours and while playing their national sport, which is a form of archery wherein rival teams face each other across a field, and fire sharp arrows at one another, while each team waves its arms to distract their opponents

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