From left: Hans Sy, Vice President Jejomar Binay, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr.; and Annie Garcia lead the unveiling of a clock prototype that displays the Philippine Standard Time at the Mall of Asia.

MANILA, Philippines -- An interesting event happened recently at SM Mall of Asia’s Music Hall, with no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay as special guest. It was the launch of the Department of Science and Technology’s project “Juan Time.”

To sync all time pieces in the country’s more than 7,100 islands, the Department of Science and Technology with several partners unveiled at 7 p.m. last Sept. 30 a clock prototype that displays the Philippine Standard Time. Dubbed “Juan Time,” DOST’s campaign aims to promote the nationwide use of the PST.

“Time is a resource that is very important but often overlooked,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo.

Established decades ago, the PST is set by DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8.

PST is available online at the DOST-PAGASA website (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph).

DOST partnered with following for the event: Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), SM Supermalls, Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center, Timex, Petron, Chevrolet, Sagitarrius Mining Corp., Team Manila, Lamoiyan Corp., PICAR, AMA Universities and Discovery Channel, Businessworld and PTNI.

Apart from keynote speaker VP Binay and Secretary Montejo, other guests are PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma, Bam Aquino, Tony Meloto, and Albert Gamboa. Exhibits, film showing, and performances will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the venue.

Musician-educator Jim Paredes was host of the event. (With report from Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)

‘Ramp Diva Filipina’ being prepared

Fashion designer John Ablaza is back in town after a five-year sojourn in the US and Canada. He is now at the helm of a coffee table book called “Ramp Diva Filipina,” which will feature models from the late ’60s to the early 2000.

In the book are former models and what they’ve become.

The book will also showcase their works via a photo collage captured by Ash Reginald Evasco, Dokkie Dukay, Bethoven Filomeno, Arvin Cruz and Wig Tysman.

According to John, the coffee table book (to be launched in October and made vailable to the public in December) will be published by Sydney-based couple Ogie and Tey Dolina.

‘Dirty Money’ starts airing Thursday night

The new Discovery Channel series “Dirty Money” which premieres Thursday night at 9 will bring to life the adage that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. The show encores every Friday at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Find out what happens when passion becomes a lifestyle when brothers, John and Jimmy DiResta live by the mantra “Find it. Fix it. Sell it!”

They set out to scour the Big Apple – from the dumpsters of the Lower East Side to the flea markets.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Thursday, Oct. 13, go to Tito Sy, California Examiner publisher Oscar Jornacion, Katrina E. Panlilio, Letty Ruiz, Inday Rosales, Carina Dacer, Dr. Charing M. Santos, Vangie Jacinto, Marlette Pineda, Elizabeth Hammond, Rene Perez, Eriel Cortez, Cherrie Balictar, Arby Laraño, Annette Africano, Pinky Masigla, Irma S. Gumalay, Leah Llanes and entertainment writer Rose Garcia… Belated b-day greetings to Jenny Ramos Mahinay (Oct. 12)...