More than just an area where students gather to hold classes, a school environment plays a vital role in learners’ cognitive development. Research has shown that with an environment conducive to learning, students increase their attention and focus, and they are more motivated to practice higher-level critical thinking skills.

Adamant to provide students with venues where they can fully hone their skills and knowledge, SM Foundation (SMFI)—the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group—cemented its partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) in 2002 through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program.

Through this, SMFI builds SM school buildings in grassroot communities, complete with basic furniture and equipment. More so, SMFI integrates specialized features to each SM school building to address the unique needs of their school recipients—some received rooms dedicated as a guidance office, a clinic, a mini-library, and some even got a water tank and a handwashing facility.

SM school building in Sorsogon City

To date, SMFI has turned over more than 100 SM school buildings nationwide with the help of its partners, which share the same aspirations for the Filipino learners and teachers. One of which is the SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) - one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. Since the project’s inception, over 90 SM school buildings out of the more than 100 were built through the social good collaboration with SM Prime.

Infrastructure for calamity prone areas
SMFI and SMPH ensure that the SM school buildings incorporate a disaster resilient design to guarantee the safety of the students, teachers, and other school personnel. Emergency lights at both staircases, and fire and earthquake alarm bells are also installed.

Principal Joji Buelvo, school principal of Basud Elementary School (BES) in Sorsogon City, shared the state of their school community before they accepted the fully furnished SM school building from SMFI and SM Prime in 2021: “Ang aming paaralan ay saksi sa maraming kalamidad. Kaya karamihan ng mga classrooms ay may kalumaan na, ang mga kisame ay malapit na bumagsak—talagang hindi na conducive for learning.”

“But through your [SMFI and SM Prime] donation, our BES learners now have a haven where we can nurture their young minds to be academically-ready and well-rounded members of the community,” Buelvo further expressed.

Pursuing its objective of driving Philippine social development by fostering the youth and the culture of excellence through education, the Henry Sy Foundation, Inc. (HSFI) recently inked a partnership with the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Research and Endowment Foundation to construct a building that elevates health education in the country.

  Named in honor of the late SM Founder, the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall of UST will rise on the main campus in Manila to respond to the needs of digital medical education.  

The Hall will feature technologically advanced facilities and equipment that complement UST’s teaching, learning, and research practices. Focused on interdisciplinary collaboration in medical studies, it will also house the simulation and research facility of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (UST-FMS).   

Paragons with passion  

Fr. Richard Gaw Ang, OP, Rector of UST, thanked the Sy family as they work together to provide the best education to future physicians and increase UST’s research productivity to fill the gaps where communities are disadvantaged.

“Your family consists of industry leaders who have visions for the Filipino community. Your choice to support this endeavor of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is a significant stamp of approval to the work and tradition of this medical institution,” Fr. Ang said in a letter to the Sy family.  

Heralded as a game-changer that aims to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote cultural exchanges, ASEAN-India Music Festival 2022 delivered an astounding comeback that not only presented resilience during the time of the pandemic, but also championed shared histories and traditions among the participating partner-nations.

The three-day festival, which was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and Seher—India’s premier cultural organization that works closely with the Indian government, showcased an exquisite merging of artistic heritage and cutting-edge modernity as headliners brought a slice of their culture on stage through music.

The second edition of the music festival featured an eclectic lineup from 11 countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. The event took place in Purana Qila, one of the most prominent and oldest forts in Delhi, India from November 20 to 22, and promoted rich musical traditions that connected the present and the past to a crowd of thousands.

Some of the most notable performances include Singapore’s Linying Band, whose compelling songwriting style and folk-pop sensibilities proved to be a hit during the festival run. The acclaimed hitmaker, who takes pride in being the first Southeast Asian act to get signed under Canadian Record Company Nettwerk Music Group in 2016, considers the experience of performing in India and representing Singapore a career milestone.

“It feels great,” says the Good Behaviour songstress. “And I think I didn't expect for this venue to be so breathtaking and so amazing. And I think that's something that's so unique. It’s cherry on top already, such an interesting opportunity to play, [this city is] already one of my favorites.”

The Philippines’ very own Bayang Barrios at Ang Nilayagan also brought the house down with anthems that tackle socio-political issues in the Philippines, particularly the vast destruction of the forests in the countryside due to ongoing urban developments. Singing soulful but powerful hymns against a backdrop of tribal-infused beats and ethnic instrumentation and delivering spiels in both English and Filipino, the eclectic singer-songwriter drew loud cheers from the audience who seemed captivated by her undeniable charisma and talent.

“Music is universal,” Barrios reiterates. “Despite the difference in language, people will always be connected in rhythm and pulse. What matters is that you are able to communicate your message through distinct but universal expressions—be it body movements or a smile.”

Host country India proved that they’re a powerhouse in terms of global music influence with artists such as Jonita Gandhi and Sukhbir elevating the art of performing in a uniquely compelling way. The latter in particular, performed with a percussion ensemble that masterfully blended Bhangra and Bollywood influences with modern pop, dance, and hip-hop music.

During his backstage interview with select Southeast Asian lifestyle and music press, Seher Founder/Director Sanjeev Bhargava emphasized that the success of ASEAN-India Music Festival lies on strengthening cultural ties among participating countries and fostering a global community that transcends beyond boundaries.

“Let’s bring the people of the world closer together,” Bhargava said. “And over here, my mandate is very clear. People in India have always been drawn towards the West. They want us to go to university in London or Canada or the U.S. Nobody tells us to go to Vietnam. Nobody tells me that there’s a beautiful culture in Cambodia.”

ASEAN-India Music Festival 2022 celebrates 30 years of India and Southeast Asia’s diplomatic relations. With its utmost goal of increasing awareness of the ASEAN identity amongst creative intellectuals and the public at large, the cultural festival has also done showcases in Shillong Meghalaya in Northeast India, as part of its plan to bolster its ‘Act East’ policy.

For more information about the ASEAN India Music Festival, visit the official website.

 

Kwento Ni Toto readers!!!! Here's another fun things to do at SM Supermalls this yuletide season! 

 

Exciting and enticing! For someone who's a frequent visitor of its establishments, we do look forward to enjoying a happy and fun visit at SM Supermalls. It seems that its yearly extravagance are always expected. So, SM Supermalls brings back the excitement in every visit, joy in every sight, and a magical connection in every experience that will make every Filipino’s Christmas happier and brighter.

Ode to outer space: An out-of-this-world celebration starts at SM Megamall
SM officially ushered the holiday season with an out-of-this-world celebration at the Mega & Bright: Christmas in Space 2022 at the SM Megamall on October 20.

The mall’s mega Christmas Tree decked in stars and lights was lit, signaling the start of SM’s nationwide Happy Christmas campaign. And starting October 20 until December, SM shoppers can have a glimpse of the universe through SM Megamall’s Mega Space Odyssey. The 3D LED tunnel transports individuals into space and allows them to view it immersively.

If you missed the SM Megamall Christmas event, there are still more ways to celebrate the joys of the holidays. SM Supermalls has lined up exciting and festive activities just for you and your loved ones! Check out the details below:

More Christmas Tree lighting activities in your favorite SM mall!
Apart from SM Megamall, other premier SM malls will light up their massive 50-foot Christmas trees to share hope, joy, and love with every SM shopper. Check out the dates below so you can drop by your favorite SM mall and watch the lighting of its dazzling trees full of lights, stars, and colorful ornaments.

Santa-approved Christmas Playpark
Witness as your favorite SM mall opens a new world of Christmas with towering centerpieces, functional spaces, and sprawling activities at the Christmas Playpark. Explore the Christmas markets and play areas, and watch out for Santa appearances, character meet and greets, and other surprises! Plus, you also get to have a multisensory experience at the playpark’s light and sound shows, festive eats and holiday treats, and a whole lot more scents and feels that will embrace you in holiday warmth and ambiance.

Sparkling lights to brighten up your holidays
Christmas won’t be festive without lights. Be in awe as you pass by hallways decked with twinkling lights, illuminated tunnels, beaming driveways, and lit parking spaces as they glow at their best.

Dining out al fresco style at the Super Spots decked with lights
SM Supermalls has also created outdoor attractions for that picture-perfect, memorable shopping, dining, and leisure activities for the whole family. At The Podium, shoppers are in for Joie De Vivre with its Holiday Night Cap on October 21-23 and 28-30 at the ADB Al Fresco, and the Food Lab on October 24-30 at the Atrium East Level 2 so everyone can discover new food specials this Christmas. You can also enjoy special treats, promos, and exclusive deals from your favorite restaurants and food merchants at the SM mall near you!

Turn Christmas AReality at SM
Don’t miss out on a phygital Christmas experience as SM incorporates the festive season with Augmented Reality. In SM Megamall, four AR filters have been made available, including Santa Claus, Reindeer, Snowman, and Sparkle. You just need to scan the QR code at the SM mall near you and see the Christmas centerpiece and magical spots come alive!

Check out the Happiness Stations
SM installed various happiness stations where you can create lasting memories with family and friends. Spot the giant bears with lights at Bears of Joy corner, the happiness photo wall, the Christmas tree decors with your family photos, or the huge TV screen where you can watch your recently filmed Tiktok or IG video at your favorite mall.

Make your furbabies feel the happiness and love
Christmas is for the whole family including furbabies! Make them happy and feel loved by joining the Holiday Paw Play Dates and Costume PAWty. You can also flex them at the Christmas photo challenge and win amazing prizes, or shop for them at the Christmas markets. Also, SM Supermalls will be partnering again with organizations for a pet adoption drive so you can help the little ones find a home in time for the holiday.

Unlock a bigger, better, and brighter virtual Christmas Village
SM will reopen its virtual Christmas Village to bring an exciting, engaging, and rewarding holiday experience to Filipinos. Check out https://gosm.link/ChristmasVillage2022 as it goes live from October 28 to January 5 for an awesome augmented reality shopping, dining, and leisure experience. Create your own avatar, e-meet fellow shoppers and SM ambassadors, and enjoy bonding time with your family and friends while playing fun games at the immersive virtual Christmas zones made for you.

Create circles of happiness by buying products for cause-oriented programs
Since it’s the season of giving, you can support cause-oriented advocacies of individuals and organizations by purchasing products that provide opportunities and livelihood to marginalized sectors. For this year’s 100 Days campaign, SM partnered with bag designer Zarah Juan, Spark PH, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), the Association of Foot and Mouth Artists of the Philippines, and the Quezon City LGU for its Vote to Tote initiative.

As our way of saying thank you for the years of reading, watching, and following Kwento Ni Toto, we're having a small mystery box raffle. Like our teaser show, we have three (3) boxes to be raffled off, and it will be until the year ends. Prizes are small but let us have fun and do the activities.

During the whole duration of the Mystery Box Raffle, we will post instructions on what to do to join the raffle. So better watch out and find out where we'll post the instructions for each box. Whether on our blog, Youtube channel, or other social media accounts. Just remember to follow Kwento Ni Toto! Always remember the yellow logo with me in it!

So, better subscribe, follow and like and social media accounts @kwentonitoto because we're counting down. Few more days 'till we launch!!!!

 

This is going to be one action sports to watch. For all sports enthusiasts out there the World Cup fever is upon us, and SKY is bringing all the action from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar live on SKY Pay-Per-View via WCTV.

With 32 nations worldwide vying for the coveted cup trophy, only one will prevail and take all the glory to their motherland.

Before jumping into the exciting action and drama on the pitch, here are some of the teams that can win it all and to watch out for in the latest edition of the World Cup:

1) The defending champions France

Undoubtedly, France re-enters the World Cup scene as one of the favorites to win it all and go for a rare back-to-back feat in the quadrennial tournament, headlined by 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema and next-generation superstar Kylian Mbappe.

The challenge now for France in their hopes for the title is the slew of injuries to their core players, heading in without the key players instrumental to their previous championship run, including N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Presnel Kimpembe.

2) The stacked Brazilian squad

Never count out the winningest nation in World Cup history, Brazil. Now hungrier than ever, their squad features an array of world-class players currently in tip-top form.

Arguably one of the best line-ups they've showcased in the grandest stage of the sport, the team comprises all-star names, from vicious attackers up front in Neymar Jr., Vinicius Jr., Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus; seasoned veterans Thiago Silva, Casemiro, Allison Becker, and Dani Alves; to promising talents Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli.

3) South America winners, Argentina

Argentina, the two-time World Cup-winning nation, continues to be favored to make a deep run in the competition—especially coming in as the Copa America champions and previously beating Euro 2020 victors Italy in their Finalissima match-up.

Still led by one of the greatest to ever grace the sport, Lionel Messi, he has his sights fixed anew on the elusive World Cup to add to his stacked trophy cabinet throughout his illustrious career. Helping him along the way to capture the gold are Angel Di Maria, Lisandro Martinez, Emi Martinez, Paulo Dybala, and Lautaro Martinez.

4) 2018 runners-up Croatia

From doubters to believers, many fans are still astounded by Croatia's historic run in the 2018 World Cup, with odds stacked against their favor to win the coveted gold. But with Luka Modric's string of world-class performances, which won him the tournament's best player distinction and the 2018 Ballon d'Or, Croatia managed to book a ticket to their first-ever finals appearance. Although they ended up short against France, they won the hearts of football fans worldwide for their heroics on the grand stage.

They may enter as one of the tournament's eyed underdogs this year, but the spirits are high for Croatia, headlined by Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and co., as they continue to convince the world of their capabilities as a unit.

5) World's number two Belgium

With more nations also favored to win the cup, including England, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, another European heavyweight stands out as a top title contender—the second-world-ranked Belgium squad.

Despite their high FIFA ranking, the concern for the Belgians as of late is their inconsistent form, previously losing two-consecutive times against a resilient Dutch squad during the international break. But with their world-class depth, led by their midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne with goal-seekers Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, plus Europe's top goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, they may turn the odds to win it all.

Which of these squads can make a run for the gold? It's up to the world to find out, as SKYcable subscribers can catch all the action in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 via WCTV, available on SKY Pay-Per-View.

Watch all the games live, plus more special content from November 20 to December 19, with its All Access Pass priced at P1,999. To avail, visit mysky.com.ph/worldcup.

Follow SKY on Facebook (fb.com/myskyupdates), Twitter (@myskyupdates), and Instagram (@myskyupdates) for further news and promotional updates.

 

Aside from the usual mall to visit, here's one where you can enjoy your weekends this months of yuletide season.

Be entertained by performers under the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ Company of Artists at the Estancia Christmas Symphony located at the G/F East Wing on November 20 & 27, 2022 and December 11 & 23, 2022 at 6 PM, and catch the Varlez Piano Recital Culminating Activity at the 3/F East Wing on December 18, 2022 at 11 AM.

Meet & Greet with Santa Claus every Sunday starting November 20, 2022 from 3 to 5 PM at the Greenhills G/F VMall, Tiendesitas Level 1, Building B, and Estancia G/F East Wing.

Bring the whole family to enjoy the Fireworks Displays at the Greenhills Connecticut Arcade Roofdeck and Estancia at Capitol Commons on December 3, 10, 17, 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023 at 7 PM, and at Central Ave., Ortigas East on December 10, 17, 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023 at 7 PM.

Visit the Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, and Estancia at Capitol Commons Facebook pages for more details!

#EnjoyEveryday #OrtigasMalls

HONOR, a leading global provider of smart devices, offers best and exclusive deals this coming 11.11 Sale both on Lazada and Shopee.

Honor fans can snag selected Honor products at its retail price and get exclusive deals such as free shipping, free shop voucher, and JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker worth PHP 6,999 for FREE during Lazada’s Biggest Sale and Shopee’s Mega Pamasko Sale!

Check out Honor’s deals from Lazada and Shopee:

Lazada 11.11 Biggest Sale

For every purchase of Honor 70 5G, you will be getting a free JBL 5 Bluetooth Speaker (squash color) worth PHP 6,990 and free shipping voucher. Also, for every purchase of Honor Magic4 Pro, one can avail a FREE HONOR Watch GS3 worth PHP 11,990. With Honor X8, you can get a FREE HONOR Band 6 worth PHP 1,990 and free shipping nationwide.

 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 11, 2022 - With Christmas quickly approaching, Filipinos turned to Shopee for irresistible deals and exciting rewards during this year’s 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale. Local sellers and brands were eager to give shoppers much to look forward to as they offered over 150 million deals on the platform.

Local shopping trends early into the 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale:

● Filipinos jumped at exclusive mas mura deals for their favorite Mobile Gadgets, Home & Living, and Health & Personal essentials just in time for the holiday season.
● In the first two hours, local sellers found success during the highly-anticipated sale with 15x uplift in items sold as compared to a regular day with one local seller completing almost 40,000 orders of face masks.
● Residents from Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan were especially eager to take advantage of the best deals this 11.11.

Filipinos can look forward to even more exciting deals with the best value-for-money all throughout the 11.11 Mega Pamasko sale until November 13. For more details on the sale, visit Shopee’s Mega Pamasko Sale.

 

The struggle is real when it comes to adulting. Managing one’s finances is more challenging when you know how hard it is to make money yourself. As you learn how to budget your expenses, treating yourself every once in a while wouldn't hurt.

Considering your commitment to the daily grind, you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Here are some adulting purchases you can make without going broke:

1.A laptop. While you can Netflix and Chill using your home desktop, it’s more convenient to have your own laptop so you can take your work or lifestyle interests with you wherever you go. You can work while sunbathing at the beach or shop online in the comfort of your bed.

 

2.Smartphone upgrade. If you’ve been using the same smartphone for a few years, you should treat yourself to a new unit. There are plenty of mid-range smartphone options that won’t put a dent in your wallet. They’re packed with excellent features that can make your life more convenient. Plus, you can store more photos, videos, and emails with a smartphone with a huge memory.

 

3.Electric scooter. If your workplace is less than an hour away, you can benefit tremendously from buying an electric scooter. Not only is it good for the environment, but it also makes traveling within the city so much easier. In addition, you get to save a lot because you wouldn’t have to commute or book a car so often.

 

4.A good quality mattress. Your sleep quality affects your energy levels, and where you snooze can impact how well your slumber is. If you’ve been sleeping on the same mattress since you were a teenager, you should consider upgrading to one that can give you great support and ease your back problems. It can even improve your posture over time.

5.A powerful vacuum cleaner. At the end of the day, you’d want to relax, but cleaning up your room or apartment can take so much of your time. You can save a lot of time and energy by investing in a high-powered vacuum cleaner that does the job efficiently for you. This adulting purchase is a total game-changer that’ll make your space look spick and span effortlessly.

These purchases are awesome investment pieces that can make your life so much easier. However, these are items you can’t just buy on a whim. Fortunately, GGives allows GCash users to make these purchases without hurting their wallets.

A convenient way to shop

With GGives, you can buy now and pay later for items worth up to PHP125,000 from GCash-partnered merchants, where you can also enjoy flexible installment payments with low-interest rates.

This installment option allows you to Pay Lighter with payment terms of 3,6,9 to 12 months or through 24 gives over 12 months. This means you can pay for purchases slowly every payday. You can use GGives when you pay for items in your go-to store via Scan to Pay QR code or through your favorite brand's online payment options.

“We understand how tough adulting can be, and with GCash, more Filipinos can make wise investments that can transform their lives,” says GCash Chief Customer Officer Winsley Bangit. “You don’t need to go broke to buy the things you need with GGives and our other lending products.”

Find out your GScore

To know how much you can buy using GGives, you need to verify your GScore. This score reflects your active use of GCash’s products, such as maintaining an active wallet balance, paying your bills, and using GSave, GInvest, and GInsure. Your GScore increases the more you use your GCash account, which allows you to enjoy a bigger amount you can use when paying for your desired purchases using GCash.

To find out what your GScore is, simply tap your profile, tap GScore, and a screen will pop up and display what it is.

For more information on GGives, you can explore this installment option on your GCash app or the official GCash website. GCash is available to all Philippine mobile networks and can be used wherever you are in the world as long as you have a Philippine network sim. Through GGives and GCash, more Filipinos can afford to live the lives they deserve without getting into too much debt.

For inquiries on GCash, visit www.gcash.com.

 

So, this coming year Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) introduces Filipino-British actress and Queen of the Dance Floor Yassi Pressman as its 2023 Calendar Girl in an event attended by friends from media, social media celebrities, GSMI dealers, and other brand ambassadors.

 

During Christmas season, dispatching different goods and commodities from all over the world on time for a port is always important. At the end of last year, port congestion caused severe disruptions in global supply chains, and most stores were out of stock during the Black Friday and Christmas, the peak selling season. To experience less dilemma like this, the innovation case from Tianjin Port might help.

Tianjin Port is one of the world’s largest ports. It has a 300000-ton-class wharf with a channel depth of -22 meters. It has 192 berths of various types and 128 berths above the 10,000-ton-class.

By the end of 2021, the port’s cargo throughput reached 435 million tons, ranking ninth in the world, while the container throughput exceeded 18.35 million TEUs, ranking the eighth port in the world. The cost of manual operations at this scale is exuberant, both in terms of money and efficiency.

A typical port usually deals with vessel arrivals and departures, shoreside operations, horizontal transport, yard operations, manual tractor trailer transport, and gate operations.

One of the key steps in port digitalization is automating horizontal transport, that is, handling cargo within the port.

Like his father before him, John Dizon, Jr. and his family have been long-time stewards of protected trees in their community in Tuba, Benguet. When the time came for him to take up the mantle, he did so willingly to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father passed away in 2012. It was then that we found out that the area he is managing in collaboration with the government was part of a community-based forest management program,” said Mr. Dizon.

A year later, Mr. Dizon, who now heads Benguet-based environmental conservation group, Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), started working closely with the SM Foundation for an inaugural tree-planting campaign back in 2013 to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.

With the impact of climate change more felt in recent years, Mr. Dizon shared the importance of planting more trees in communities to thin out air pollutants in keeping the air fresh and people healthier. The trees which his father planted also helped prevent soil erosion and landslides caused by earthquakes.

He nurtures a dream that some of his children will take after him to help protect the environment. Getting closer to that dream, one of his sons is eyeing a career in forestry, a nod to his father’s chosen field.

To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon supports the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan through the Grow Trees Community campaign.

The project aims to plant and grow forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra and Coffee trees to also help create livelihood opportunities for the community by working closely with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA in Tuba, Benguet.