The Department of Tourism has just launched a short TVC for the International viewers on CNN earlier today. The short video was a collection of It’s more Fun in the Philippines memes that the FIlipinos have come up with. The Music was by Duck Sauce's 'Barbra Streissand' and it was rapped by one very proud pinoy, International singer apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.
Watch the video below.
Four new species of freshwater crab, bright purple in color, have been discovered in the biologically diverse Philippines, according to a scientific paper.
The tiny crustaceans were found in streams in remote areas of the Palawan island group, according to a team led by Hendrik Freitag, of Germany’s Senckenberg Museum of Zoology.
“They are semi-aquatic and hide in burrows at the stream bank, which are usually found under boulders and roots,” said his paper published in the latest edition of the National University of Singapore’s Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
Their eggs hatch directly into juvenile crabs, and the creatures emerge at night to forage under water, Freitag added.
Photographs of the adult crabs published on the website of Dresden-based Senckenberg museum showed them with a purple carapace, and with claws and legs tipped red.
Scientists began extensive investigations of similar freshwater crabs in the area in the late 1980s, with one new species being found — the Insulamon unicorn — Freitag’s paper said.
More field work in the noughties led Freitag to conclude there were four other unique species.
“Based on available new material, a total of five species are recognized… four of which are new to science,” Freitag said.
The biggest, Insulamon magnum, is just 53 millimeters by 41.8 millimeters while the smallest, Insulamon porculum, measures 33.1 by 25.1 millimeters.
The two other new species were Insulamon palawense and Insulamon johannchristiani.
The four slightly differ from the first find, and from each other, in the shapes of their body shells, legs, and sex organs.
US-based Conservation International lists the Philippines as one of 17 countries that harbors most of Earth’s plant and animal life.
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga - First District Rep. Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin has written Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company based in Burbank, California, USA, to ask him to consider Clark for their next Walt Disney park, saying that Clark's 4,400 hectare main zone and 27,600-hectare subzone will be the best place for a new Disneyland.
"Aside from the huge space it provides, the Clark Freeport Zone can be an attractive destination for Disneyland theme park because of the tax-free privileges given to locators," said Lazatin in his letter dated April 11.
Lazatin also cited Clark International Airport, world-class airport which is expected to serve at least P1.6-million passengers this year.
"The airport will be making it easier for tourists to enjoy the amenities and entertainment Disneyland is famous for without the hassles of long travels," he said.
Lazatin also told Iger that hotel accommodations will not be a problem as Clark has the best hotels in its roster where visitors can enjoy the hospitality Filipinos are known for.
The lawmaker said the Philippines is a favorite tourist destination in Southeast Asia, with an average arrival of four million foreign visitors a year and for 2012, the government is eyeing to hit the 5-million mark.
"Together with our population of more than 90 million Filipinos, a Disneyland theme park in the Philippines could be a major income generating site for your company," he said.
Disneyland theme parks are the highest-earning theme parks in the world.
In 2009, the company's theme parks hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, making Disney Parks the world's most visited theme park company, ahead of the second most visited, British rival Merlin Entertainments.
In Asia, Disneyland theme parks are located in Hong Kong, Tokyo (Japan), and Shanghai (China).
