Saturday, December 15, 2012

You can prevent, and even reverse, heart disease . . .

Let's wake up people.

You can prevent, and even reverse, heart disease . . .

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Exclusive trailer: “JURASSIC ATTACK”

Shot Entirely In Belize.
Exclusive trailer: “JURASSIC ATTACK”

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Laidback Living on Belize’s REAL Caribbean Escape


Laidback Living on Belize’s REAL Caribbean Escape
By Glynna Prentice

I arrived in Caye Caulker by water taxi from Ambergris Caye, as many people do. The trip takes half an hour, costs $7.50, and is worth the money—skimming across the Caribbean’s blue waves, you can watch the island’s white-sand shores, fringed with palms, gradually grow closer. This approach also drives home a reality of life here: On Caye Caulker, you really are away from it all.
The island is only five miles long and at most a mile wide. Only the southern half is developed; most of the north half is jungle and mangrove—and it’s separated from the south by a channel called the Split (the most popular swimming spot).
At Caye Caulker Village, where the water taxis come in, the island is at its narrowest: only three streets wide. These bear the imaginative names of Front, Middle, and Back and are simple packed sand. You’ll see no cars here and only a few golf carts—most people walk or get around by bicycle.
Belize
And no one’s in a rush. Here, life is all about the water. You can swim and snorkel right off the beach, and the barrier reef is a mile away, an easy trip by motorboat. In fact, you’ll see boats in many backyards and moored on the lagoon. Walking down Front or Middle Street, about every third weather-beaten, wood-frame house you pass seems to be a tour-guide operator offering diving trips off the barrier reef or the Blue Hole, or for snorkeling in Hol Chan, all big draws in the area.
If you’re a sucker for beach living, you may soon find yourself kicking back and falling for Caye Caulker’s seductive charm.
Within an hour of arrival I was going barefoot. I snorkeled. I swam. I got a tattoo. (Okay, truth? I didn’t get the tattoo. But I did think about it... seriously...which says something about the spell this island can cast.)
Canadian expats Cindy and Barry Beer have called Caye Caulker home since 2007. "As soon as we got here, we knew this was it," says Cindy. I chatted with the two on the deck of their simple wooden house, the Caribbean just a stone’s throw away. Like many houses here, theirs sits on stilts to put it above water surges—Caye Caulker is only eight feet above sea level. The Beers’ boat rests in the sand nearby.
The two admitted that they "don’t go out a lot." There’s not a lot to do on Caye Caulker once the sun goes down, except go out to dinner or drink in bars. The Beers, though, like Caye Caulker’s tranquility. They say that it’s easy to go to San Pedro when they want city thrills—and they find they seldom do.
N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Saturday, October 20, 2012

How Much Longer Does Kobe Have At The Elite Level

The start of the 2012 NBA Season is just around the corner, I want to reach out to my Laker Fans and say that time is of the essence for our beloved superstar Mr. Kobe Bryant. This year is important for us, it's The Finals our bust and deep down Laker Fans we all know this. Kobe is an Elite Player at the end of his journey he will be used as the focal point of the offense on some nights and other nights his team mates will carry the load.

Kobe Bryant isn't a good loser and we as Laker Fans don't want him to be. The question is how do we take the keys away from our aging superstar and still keep him happy and productive. How do we allow Kobe to be Kobe and still keep Dwight Howard the next face of the franchise smiling and ready for his closeup?



I guess that's why we play the games, if nothing else the Lakers will be good TV and at the end of the day it's all entertainment. I love the new additions that the front office made and like most NBA Insiders we want Kobe & Lebron in the finals, has anyone seen CP3. I see the Lakers winning 60 games and meeting the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Caye Caulker The Best Deal In Belize.


Affordable Islands of the Caribbean
By Glynna Prentice

I’m paddling idly in the cool waters off the Split, wondering if I should drag myself to the bar of the Lazy Lizard for a beer. I’ve spent the morning snorkeling off the Barrier Reef, viewing coral formations and brightly-colored fish. Now, with evening coming on, I’m taking a last swim in Caye Caulker’s best-known swimming spot before showering and dressing for dinner. Though here, "dressing" is pretty casual... it means I’ll probably put on flip-flops rather than going barefoot. Probably.
These days Caye Caulker, a five-mile-long island off Belize’s Caribbean coast, has the laid-back, beach-bum vibe that brought expats to nearby Ambergris Caye 20 years ago. The streets on Caye Caulker are still packed sand. Most people get around by bicycle. And for those who come here, life is all about the water.
Small-town, island beach life isn’t for everyone. But if it’s for you, it doesn’t get much better than Caye Caulker. And real estate here is still surprisingly affordable. Lots, depending on where they are, can run well under $50,000. Simple vacation cottages start at less than $100,000. And on an island this small, no place is far from the beach.
If you want to be near the action—the restaurants, bars, dive shops, and Internet cafes—look at properties in the village along the three main north-south streets. (They’re named Front, Middle, and Back.) The village is the most expensive part of the island, especially for waterfront, but you can still find bargains.
A small two-bedroom, two-bath on Middle Street, for instance, was recently for sale for $225,000. It’s not on the water—but the island at this point is only three blocks wide, so the sea is very close. Want an easy business? A large, fenced property near the village is going for $279,000. It already has four cabanas on it that are vacation rentals, with plenty of room to build more.
Most expats, though, tend to settle well south of the village area, where they can enjoy greater privacy and quiet. There are some neighborhoods here, with names like Bahía Puesta del Sol, Pelican Point, and Eden Isle. You’ll find a few homes for sale—for example, a 720-square-foot, two-bedroom home, with three extra rooms for short-term rental, is currently for sale for $178,000. But much of this area is still jungled undergrowth, and people tend to buy lots to build on. Eden Isle is still off the grid.
You get great bang for your buck on this part of the island, yet you’re only a 10- to 15-minute bicycle ride to town. A 5,400-square-foot corner lot near Caye Caulker’s southern tip, for instance, with sea views in two directions, was recently on offer for $49,000. One row back, a lot just as big was going for $34,500.
In Caye Caulker you can build homes up to three stories high. And while you can build a large, luxurious home, you don’t have to. One expat couple I met settled for a simple, one-bedroom wooden house by the sea, with an outside deck for enjoying their morning coffee. The house was built to order by workers from Belize’s industrious Mennonite community... who showed up at the lot one morning and put up the house in a flat seven days. The cost: just $10,000.
And the lifestyle: priceless.



N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Thursday, October 18, 2012

I Actor Format

http://www.sag.org/iactor/nigelmiguel


Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

The Friendliest People On The Planet!


The Friendliest People on the Planet?
By Suzan Haskins
Walk down any street or narrow village lane in tiny Belize (only about the size of the U.S. state of Rhode Island) and you’ll hear any one of a half dozen or more languages—pretty remarkable in a country that's less-populated than many U.S. cities (320,000 inhabitants).
But this little country is far more diverse than most U.S. cities. (Happier, too, I’d say, judging from the infectious smiles.) And most of its population is not just bi-lingual, but tri-lingual.
English is the official language of the country, formerly known as the colony of British Honduras. (In 1980 it won its independence from Great Britain and has appeared on maps as Belize (or Belice in the Spanish language) ever since.
Spanish is another language you’ll often hear, thanks to the country’s borders with Mexico and Guatemala. Most Belizeans speak both English and Spanish.
Some Belizeans speak Mayan. The Maya were the original inhabitants of this part of the world, and they’re still here in large numbers. If you think Belize is just a Caribbean diving and snorkeling destination, think again. The traditional Maya communities and ancient archaeological sites that have been uncovered in its dense, lush jungles should be on the "must-see" lists of any travelers here.
Many shopkeepers, especially in Belize City and Corozal are of Chinese descent (with a sprinkling of Taiwanese and Korean, too). Some are descendants of the 480 Chinese immigrants that were brought to British Honduras in 1865 as indentured laborers on the ship "The Light of the Ages". They went to work in the timber camps, but a year later, about 100 of them deserted. Another group came just before the outbreak of World War II. Controlling much of the economy, they’ve become dominant players in the grocery, restaurant, fast food, and lottery trades.
More than 10,000 conservative Prussian Mennonites live near an inland town called Spanish Lookout in the Cayo district, where farms and grazing land stretch for miles. Known for their cheese-making and carpentry skills, they speak German. You can outfit your Belizean home with furniture made by these fine craftsmen or even commission them to make a complete exquisite cabin for you out of Belizean hardwoods that virtually last forever. (A decent-sized cabin will cost less than $30,000.)
There’s one more language spoken in Belize—it’s the most common of all. While Belizean children are taught English at school, out and about, everyone speaks Kriol. It’s heavily influenced by the Garifuna people, descendants of African slaves, who escaped captivity in the Western Indies and settled in Belizean coastal villages like Dangriga and Seine Bight in the early 1830s. They have a strong, vibrant culture and language all their own.
This melting pot of cultures is what makes Belize unique in Central America…in the world, if truth be told. Nowhere else can you find such diversity, such tolerance, and yes… cheesy as it sounds… such love for people of so many different ethnic and economic backgrounds. Belizeans may be the friendliest people on the planet. And I’m guessing they got that way because they learned early on that we all have to live together and the best way to do that is happily.
What it all boils down to is this: no matter what language you speak, chances are good you’ll find someone to talk to in Belize. Even better odds are that they’ll have a great big happy smile on their face.
Editor's note: Whether you’re drawn to Corozal or the Cayo…or one of the many beach options in Belize…get everything you need in our "Ultimate Escape to Belize Kit," which makes this country so easy, you could be living the tropical dream before you know it.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

II Jam Casting & Production Celebrates 20 Years In The Business

Thomas Robinson NBA Rookie

 

Me & Michael Jordan


Me & Peter Berg



                        Prince Abdullah, Dwight Howard, Mitch Butler & Nigel Miguel
MJ Paying Me A Compliment

Monday, October 1, 2012

International Living Tips

International Living Postcards
International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Dear International Living Reader,
Everyone's at IL's Fast-Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference in Las Vegas (look for your insider reports tomorrow), including Glynna. She plans to tempt readers with stories of Mexico's turquoise beaches and colonial highlands, and the charming towns of northern Spain...as well as revealing everything you need to know about international health insurance.
She runs through the basics below. If you want to get a recording of her presentation, just sign up here.
Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards
* * *
Expat Health Insurance 101
By Glynna Prentice
Recently I was in Peru and went white-water rafting for the first time. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, but bangs, scrapes, and a dunk in the water are always a possibility. I didn’t worry, though: In the unlikely event that I sustained an injury, there was a good hospital nearby—and I have health insurance to cover it.
Health insurance—qualifying for it, paying for it, and keeping it—is one of the biggest worries we hear about from folks in the U.S. But since I moved abroad it hasn’t been a problem for me. And if you’re thinking of moving abroad, it likely doesn’t have to be a problem for you, either. As an expat, you’ll have a range of health care solutions available to you. Your choice is deciding which option (or options) makes the most sense for your situation.
My health insurance plan back in New York, for instance, wouldn’t have covered me outside the U.S. This is pretty common with U.S. health insurance. In fact, I’d have paid a healthy premium if I’d had to use medical services outside New York. Again, this isn’t unusual with U.S. plans.
That’s not the case with my health insurance in Mexico. My plan here covers me not only throughout Mexico, but abroad as well—whether I’m in Tampa, Toulouse, or Timbuktu. I travel a lot, so this is important to me.
Plus, if I pay out-of-pocket for some procedures, that’s no biggie, either. In Latin America, for instance—where I mostly travel—medical care across the board costs about a quarter to a half of what you’d pay in the States. These days I pay about $35 out-of-pocket to see a specialist in Mexico—which is possibly less than my co-pay would be if I were still in the U.S.
Even in Europe—which many people tsk-tsk as being expensive—health care costs can be affordable. Last summer I went to the doctor in Spain. He sent the bill back to my Mexican insurance company, but I saw the charge: 60 euros—about $84 at the time.
I don’t generally worry about quality of care, either. In the countries International Living covers regularly, excellent doctors and hospitals tend to be the rule, rather than the exception. Most expats find their health care abroad at least as good as what they had back home—and often more accessible.
Admittedly, if you have a rare health condition, moving abroad is not something to do on a whim. You may well be better off with your existing doctors, who know your situation.
But for most of us, the answer is simpler: Don’t let health care hold you back if you want to move abroad.
Editor's note: Health care, residency, funding your life, taxes, investment, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica and much, much more—we're covering everything you need to find your ideal retirement haven at the Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference. And you can listen in to everything...

N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Belizean Scott Charles Makes His Commerical Debut

A segment of the new Volkswagon commercial was filmed in Belize on Ambergris Caye and Scott Charles was selected to be in the spot. Congratulations to Scott and to Belize.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR_UYx4vSPs&feature=player_embedded

Nigel P. Miguel
Belize Film Commissioner.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Water Walkers International Headquarters

Water Walkers International, opened it's doors to the children of Belize City's South Side for a mentoring and Sunday school program. The 24 Albert Street structure has a long history of philanthropic works in the community.  Julie Miguel & her staff have worked tirelessly to get this community project up and running. Children on the South Side of Belize will be able to access services for a lunchtime feeding project, after school tutoring and a nutritional program that will help to combat different stages of malnutrition. This is a starter program that we plan to introduce in other parts of the country.




N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Monday, September 17, 2012

Reach Out For Thirst Quenching Waters

Reach Out Belize we have the living waters of LIFE we are so blessed here to have such a treasure at our disposal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njrIYs9Sdjo&feature=related

N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Heal The World Video (Michael Jackson)

Michael Jackson & Director Joe Pytka collaborated on this masterpiece, back in 1992.  I was fortunate enough to be a part of this wonderful project. We shot for 5 days on the back lot of Universal Studios where I watched Joe Pytka make magic happen with all these children from different Nationalities & Ethnicity's. I will never forget this event and the impact that it had on my life. Thank you M.J. & Joe for this wonderful opportunity.



N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Everyone's Enjoying Themselves In Belize 2012

 September 10th, 2012
Earlier this year Prince Harry was here in Belize enjoying himself and sucking up all the incredible culture. You may have missed Prince Harry but you too can have the time of your life down here in Belize for the month of September. Come celebrate our independence and bring in the 10th & the 21st of September, Belizean style.



Belize Film Commissioner
N.P.M.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Michael Clarke Dies At 54

It's with a sad heart that I bring this breaking news to you we have lost one of our brothers in the acting profession. With great sadness I bid this brother farewell. R.I.P.  Michael Clark Duncan

http://blacklikemoi.com/2012/09/actor-michael-clarke-duncan-dies-at-54/

N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

The Village Of Hopkins, Let's Take A Journey Back In Time.

International Living Postcards
International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Sept. 3, 2012

Dear International Living Reader,
Belize is an undiscovered tropical paradise, an English-speaking Caribbean playground with islands, beaches, sailing, diving...
Yet within Belize, there are corners of the country that are further hidden from all but the most persistent traveler...
Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards
* * *
An Overlooked Village in Caribbean Belize
By Sharon Hiebing
Many visitors to Belize head east to the Cayes (pronounced “keys”) to sail and scuba dive on the world’s second largest barrier reef. Others drive west to explore the country’s extensive Mayan ruins. Some hike in the central rainforests. But few people make it to the—still authentic—Caribbean retreats of the south.
The small fishing village of Hopkins is one such place. This Garifuna community, located in the Stann Creek District, is lapped by warm turquoise waters and home to deserted white-sand beaches sprinkled with coconuts.
There are daily scuba diving, snorkeling and island-hopping tours. You can hike up to Antelope Falls in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park and zipline through the rainforest. Or you can take a Sittee River kayak tour and discover some of the 500 species of birds that call Belize home. Along the way, you may see a manatee, crocodile, or iguana.
You’ll frequently find colorfully-clad troupes performing drum and dance routines around town, and at the Lebeha Drumming Center locals will give you lessons or a private show for only $10. Or take the 10-minute drive to the Maya Center Village and learn about the traditional life of the region’s Mayan people.
Despite its small size, you’ll eat well in Hopkins and options range from traditional local fare to the best pizza in Belize at the Driftwood Beach Bar. The local dish of stewed chicken with rice and beans is available for $5 or less at patio-style stands around town. Or you can cook your fish on a Mayan lava rock right at your candlelit table at Love on the Rocks for $15.
A popular expat hangout on the beach is Windschief Beach Bar, where you can dance the night away. You can rent cottages on the beach with WiFi, some with kitchenettes, for $10 to $15 a night.
Hopkins is easy to get around, too, either on foot or by golf cart, with rentals starting at $30 for five hours.
Editor's note: For more details on what to do in Hopkins and how to do it, see the current issue of International Living magazine.

N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Saturday, September 1, 2012

One Caribbean Weather TV

If you want to keep up with what's going on in the region for vacation or if you want to know if your production is going to get rained out, here's your 24 hour solution to all your weather related questions.

http://onecaribbeanweather.com/

N.P.M
Belize Film Commissioner

Saturday, August 18, 2012

How US Firms Are Feeding The Hungry In Africa

How US Firms Are Feeding The Hungry In Africa

 VMP is also making headway in Ethiopia, pretty soon VMP product will be available for the children of Addis and throughout this beautiful country.


Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Whatever Happened To Director Ivan Dixon

Take a look at this Blaxploitation Film  The Spook Who Sat By The Door, for some reason we never saw this film in regular rotation.






  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BynXfREPG8&feature=related

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Belizean Basketball, Past Present & Future

Belizean Basketball Legend, Gregory Brackette speaks about the state of Belizean Basketball.



Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Friday, July 27, 2012

A Man Is The Some Total Of His Expierences!














I just wanted to say thank you for offering me such a wonderful experiences. On Location in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.