Saturday, April 23, 2022

SM Supermalls and MPL-PH Partnership Brings the Season 9 Playoffs Watch Party

12:00:00 PM

 

Big News for all mobile gamers, enthusiasts, and fans!

SM Supermalls has partnered with none other than Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and is the official venue for the Season 9 Playoffs watch party happening on April 28 to May 1, 2022.

In partnership with SM Cinema, SM Cyberzone, and Smart Communications, Inc., enjoy an immersive viewing experience as you cheer for your favorite teams while watching the matches on the big screen! Select SM Supermalls would include SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa and SM City Bicutan who will be having their viewing parties on April 28-29, and SM City Taytay, SM City Masinag, SM City Manila, SM City BF Paranaque and SM City Sucat on April 30-May 1, or until the Grand Finals. Tickets are sold at only Php170, inclusive of a tub of popcorn and exclusive freebies from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Fans may purchase tickets from SM Cinema's official website, SM Cinema ticket booths, or via the SM Cinema app.

The MLBB Professional League Watch Party is part of SM Supermalls’ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 Campaign –your ultimate hub for aweSM new experiences dedicated for the avid online gamer, music lover, sports enthusiast, and certified social media techie!

HAMILO COAST OF SM PRIME SAFEGUARDS A 20-HECTARE MANGROVE FOREST

11:28:00 AM

 


A quick share of the story about SM Prime's environmental protection advocay. 

Hamilo Coast through its developer, SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. safeguards a 20-hectare mangrove forest, the largest of its kind in Nasugbu, Batangas. Together with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), Hamilo Coast continues to preserve over 50,000 mangrove trees to date as it remains committed to its advocacy for environmental and social sustainability.

Sunday, April 10, 2022

The Philippine Style Tech-voc Encourages not only Local but Foreign Students to Enroll in the Philippines.

8:37:00 AM

 


Education is always the driving factor of an individual, for individuals who want to be skilled, Tech-Voc education is the answer. That is why in the Philippines, Technical-vocational education is encouraged by private TVET institutions to have it professionally accredited and issue a proper licensing. A call to action to review the trifocal system of education in the country. More importantly, the need for tech-voc instructors with expertise are the ones qualified to train our future skilled professionals making way for the Philippines to be recognized as a globally competitive tech-voc school in Asia.

If our technical-vocational institutes (TVI) are managed and monitored well, they will be able to produce world-class and skilled graduates who can compete strongly against our neighboring countries. Tech-voc graduates fill an important role in different industries in the country and overseas. And if our tech-voc graduates become job-ready and globally competitive, they could contribute a lot to the national income and economy. One industry that is in dire need of skills and various technical knowhow is the service industry, and we are talking worldwide here, what a big void to fill!

Highly-industrialized countries like Japan, Singapore, and Korea have made necessary advancements in their educational system, focusing on academic excellence and technology innovation. These progressive countries teach their citizens to become productive, income-generating and contribute to the national coffers. They put emphasis on the quality of products and service and really invested in technical training. These countries believe in the strength of their manpower and their role in the national economy.

Tony Galvez an expert in the technical and vocational education and training industry in the country once said: “Philippine TVET ang pag-asa para sa kinabukasan ng mamamayan at ng bayan, kung maayos at maganda ang programa.” Noted for his strong advocacy of technical vocational professionalism for global competitiveness in the Philippines, Galvez also said: “Magagawa nating umangat at umasenso ang pamumuhay ng ating mahihirap na kababayan kung mabibigyan natin sila ng kahalagahan at maiaayos ang posisyon ng technical vocational education and training ng bansa. Hindi lang ang hangarin ay upang maging isang simpleng manggagawa. Kung hindi, tulungan natin silang linangin bilang mga tunay na eksperto sa iba’t-ibang larangan ng industriya upang ang lahat ay maging kapaki-pakinabang at mapabilang sa pandaigdigang kompetisyon na makapagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya.”
v It is therefore time to put an end in the fairy tale that a four-year course is the only avenue to attaining a decent lifestyle. The technical field is very, very wide, uncharted and not yet competitive, which is a far cry from the competitive, dog-eat-dog corporate world.


 
A Need for Framework Revision

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, CEO of Ayala Corporation, one of the country’s top corporations and a staunch advocate for the importance of technical skills in our society, once expressed that a vocational or technical degree should be given a prominent position in our country’s educational framework. The curriculum should be wider and the accreditation status should be improved significantly so that it will produce young graduates with specific skills that match the market needs.

In the Philippines, the two main agencies tasked in providing basic education in the country are DepEd or Department of Education for the academics and TESDA which stands for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, which is mandated to provide direction, policies, programs and standards towards quality technical education and skills development. The two bodies should complement each other so that there will be no overlapping of roles that could create conflicts in the implementation of their programs. However, it seems that the curriculum from these two bodies have created some challenges for both of them. Eversince K-12 curriculum has been implemented, DepEd has gotten some resources from TESDA because the tech-voc curriculum should be handled by experts in the technical field and not by a regular teacher. So this phenomena, which was unseen as the would-be effect of the K-12, needs to be resolved.

During the recent Sonshine Media Network International [SMNI] News presidential debates, University of the Philippines professor, Clarita Carlos remarked: “Education is so pivotal to the life of the nation. Why in heaven’s name did we divide our education system into DepEd, K-12 and ChEd? At kung bobo ka diyan ka na lang sa tech voc. There’s something so brainless about those divisions.”

Even Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu appealed to DepEd and TESDA to focus on their respective mandates. She stated that the Department of Education should focus on basic education and in the students’ academic performances and TESDA can take care of the technical skills.

Give TESDA Free Rein 

TESDA should be given complete responsibility by the government for technical and vocational training, a separate agency from DOLE, DTI and DepEd. However, TESDA needs to go beyond providing instructions and training. Skills assessment should be thorough and must meet globally-competitive criteria. And lastly, granting professional license to successful graduates would give them the recognition that would elevate their status from merely a tech-voc graduate into a professional practitioner of their chosen skill. Possessing a license gives graduates a sense of pride and achievement. Licensing should be the goal that each tech-voc graduate must aim for because acquiring a license would give them a right to demand a higher salary and compensation for their services. And most of all, they can be at par with the technical graduates of progressive countries. The licensure tests “is the final ‘quality control’ check before tech-voc graduates are allowed to practice a profession which depends on the lives of people or safety of buildings like carpenters, cosmetology and culinary graduates among many other serviceoriented fields

Licensure examination is but one wheel in the big cog of Philippine Qualifications Framework. The said framework supposedly sets multiple criteria that measures quality assurance principles and standards of the Filipino professional, technician and craftsman.

Performing this mandate would mean for TESDA to do a much needed review of their services and offers. What could TESDA offer to their future enrollees to attract more of them in the future and in order for TESDA to be an effective arm of the government for manpower development?

Reshaping Tech-Voc 

It is proposed that the tech-voc curriculum be two tracks: meaning the courses offered will be either service oriented or product oriented. These two classifications will serve different purposes and will be monitored differently as well.



Product-oriented tracks are designed in order to alleviate poverty and provide incomegenerating projects to barangay folks like stay-at-home moms, out-of-school youths, drug dependents, seniors/retirees, jobless folks, and surrenderees. Some of these productoriented tracks are called cottage industries and can be done in the backyard or in a factory for SME. Some of these are:

 
The training package for this track must include:

Salesmanship/Entrepreneurship, managerial, marketing and bookkeeping. These livelihood trainings are best for barangays and provincial training through Barangay Kasanayan para sa kabuhayan at kapayapaan (BKKK) set by TESDA. TESDA will also provide for the necessary tools and materials as well as equipment for this skill training.

The Service Oriented Sector/Industry are the following:


The above mentioned are all professional tracks and require a high school diploma as a basic requirement. Tech-voc service-oriented profession is not just a simple trade and all service-oriented tracks will be identified by specific specialization based on the industry qualification.

President Rodrigo expressed in one of his speeches, “Kaya ang Build, Build, Build, medyo atrasado ng konti. Walang trabahante. We are lacking in experts like in carpentry, in welding and other technical skills. We have a lot of jobless because they are not qualified even in vocational, especially construction.”

As of now, joblessness and lack of experts in vocational and technical skills is really a big concern, but if TESDA will be given free rein, TESDA can perform its main mandate faster and more efficiently.

In the COVID-19 recovery phase, there are opportunities for smart investment in tech-voc education and training to “build back better” programs and systems. Tech-voc may be able to cater to students who dropped out during school closures and reskilling or upskilling those who have become unemployed. Tech-voc can also facilitate the development of skills necessary for the adjustment to structural changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued focus on ensuring acquisition and development of foundational cognitive and socioemotional skills, such as empathy and resilience, which have become increasingly valued in the current circumstances, will improve employability and other human development outcomes for tech-voc students. Moreover, investment in learning technology and digital skills of tech-voc instructors and students can ensure lifelong access to learning opportunities and future workforce adaptability.

To conclude, if our TVETs follow global standards and are just competitive with that of our Asian neighbors, there will be fewer OFWs because TVET graduates can establish their own businesses and can get better paying jobs locally.

TESDA should be independent from other government agencies in terms of providing technical-vocational training and education. However, other agencies can complement because agencies like DepEd, help in the basic education of children, while DOLE and DTI give assistance in the employment and livelihood programs respectively.

Good, high-paying jobs await qualified tech-voc grads. If only they’re given proper incentives, multisectoral support and a supportive policy environment, the tech-voc track can also be a viable alternative for young Filipinos who wish to lead productive lives.

We may still have a long way toward strengthening our tech-voc ecosystem in the country, but with a little help and support from the government, industry and academe, we are making crucial inroads that lay the foundation for the future. As we promote techvoc to the youth to undergo tech-voc training, we hope that tech-voc professionalism and licensing will soon be implemented as well.

And hopefully in the coming years and decades, the state of tech-voc education in the Philippines would further be improved so that when we ask Filipino children what they want to be when they grow up, we hope many of them will also answer that they would want to take the tech-voc path and become a carpenter, a forklift driver or a farming technician. And by then, these children would no longer be laughed at nor looked down with the career choices they’ve made.

A&Q Entertainment Level Up and Ventures Into Streaming Through a Filipino-Korean Partnership

7:42:00 AM


 

Great news for the entertainment industry, A&Q, a neophyte in the Philippine Entertainment industry has leveled up. Here's the story. 

Philippines’ A&Q Entertainment and Prime Stream, Inc. has announced a groundbreaking link with South Korea's Sun Mobile Commerce (SBT) as the two companies signed an agreement on April 6 at their newly opened headquarters in Quezon City.

Atty. Aldwin F. Alegre, CEO and President of A&Q Entertainment and Prime Stream, met with Seo Byung-yul, head of the Philippine corporation of SBT, along with key personalities, to seal the deal of launching a new OTT (Over-the-Top) media service called AQ Prime.

 

This marks another step forward for A&Q as it aims to be the most recognized brand in handling Filipino entertainment, not just in the Philippines, but also around the world. A&Q Films Production is the company behind the successful 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry ‘Nelia,’ top-billed by Winwyn Marquez and Raymond Bagatsing.


For its latest venture into the online world, ‘AQ Prime’ is more than geared to operate the entertainment and media streaming platform and online distribution of movies, live events, as well as series, news, sports, and online entertainment shows through free-to-watch titles apart from its premium contents under affordable subscriptions.


 
“The newly launched OTT service in the Philippines is AQ Prime, which competes with world￾class OTT services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, and Apple TV, and plans to provide unique services by organizing movies and TV programs that are unique to the Philippines,” wrote News Korea, an online news publication in Korea.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Filipino actors, film directors, and broadcasting officials.

AQ Prime has completed principal photography for four full-length feature films: 'Huling Lamay,' a horror film directed by Joven Tan, starring Marlo Mortel, Buboy Villar, and Lou Veloso; 'Z Love' a horror-romance-drama helmed by Jojo Nadela, and led by Devon Seron, Kristof Garcia, Marcus Madrigal, and Rob Sy; as well as the Boys' Love (BL)-themed films ''Sosyal Medya,' with Brenda Mage, DJ Onse, Kristof Garcia, and Mark Aaron Hernandez, under director Greg Colasito; and 'Bingwit,' featuring Krista Miller, Drei Arias, Conan King, and directed by Neal "Buboy" Tan.

Other titles will be revealed on the grand launch of AQ Prime on June 4, 2022. For this investment, SBT targets on investing $2 million in the future along with the initial investment as it continually discovers contents to air on AQ Prime.



“Through SBT’s OTT investment in the Philippines, we want to create a synergistic effect that can be linked to Philippine culture. And our goal is to help make it easier to use OTT services,” said SBT CEO Lee Kwang-rok, who will join the rest of the team on the upcoming launch. This statement is seconded by Atty. Alegre as he believes in the power of OTT. “We want to bring Korean culture in the Philippines' wide landscape of entertainment industry. Moreover, our mission is to also put the Filipino entertainment in everyone’s media.”

For AQ Prime's Chief Operating Officer, Atty. Melanie Honey Quiño, AQ Prime has gained collaborative advantage in order to become more competitive in the business of online streaming. “This partnership is more than just an investment partnership,” Atty. Quiño explained. “It is a collaborative relationship—an agreement to get together and explore streams of opportunities. Our companies shared common goals and visions and we wanted to provide people here and abroad a broad range of entertainment and informative shows.”


The soon-to-be-launched app is expected to be released initially in the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, United Arab Emirates, and in the United States. For collaborations and further inquiries, they can be reached via email at support@aqprimestream.com.

Follow their social media accounts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aqprimestream, Twitter at www.twitter.com/aqprimestream, Instagram at www.instagram.com/aqprimestream, and Tiktok account at www.tiktok.com/@aqprimestream.


 
About A&Q Entertainment and Prime Stream Inc.

AQ Prime is a streaming company that offers legacy and upcoming movies to Filipino audience in and out of the Philippines. The company will be operating into a paid subscriber basis focusing to target the whole of Philippines and Filipinos living overseas – as an initial target and eventually focusing on other subscribers to expand its subscriber base. The production of original content is one of the major thrusts of the company. This will not be restricted to movies, but also open to other contents that will add value to the product offering including pay-per-view live shows, such as concerts, pageants, sport events, plays, and more.

Thursday, March 31, 2022

A New Place of Desire on Vivamax

9:50:00 PM

 

Vivamax welcomes you to a new place, an island that comes with so much mystery. Once you’re in, there’s no going back. This summer, a new slice of paradise is about to be explored. Let’s run to the Island of Desire, streaming on Vivamax this April.

Adding to the list of Vivamax Original Movies for 2022, Island of Desire is a sexy drama starring Vivamax’s rising stars, Christine Bermas, Sean de Guzman, Jela Cuenca and Rash Flores.

A young woman named Martha (Christine Bermas) is assigned to work remotely on an island called “Isla Bato.” She becomes a nurse at its Regional Health office, and she also befriends some of the residents, Tess (Jela Cuenca), a midwife on the island, and Leloy (Sean de Guzman), a Habal rider. Being a constant companion, Leloy becomes closer to Martha, and they end up falling for each other.

As she stays longer on the island, she begins to discover the strange things about the place and its secrets, including a cult with fanatic followers and an abusive leader. Here is where she also reunites with her long-lost sister, who warns her and tells her to escape the place while she can.

Witness how the mysteries of this enchanting island filled with passion, lust, and love unfold before Martha’s eyes.

Fresh from the success of her other Vivamax Original Movies - Siklo and Moonlight Butterfly, Christine Bermas will once again leave the viewers in awe in Island of Desire. It also stars Vivamax’s most in-demand actor, Sean de Guzman, who caught the crowd’s attention from his Vivamax Originals - Nerisa, Taya, Bekis on the Run, Mahjong Night, and Hugas.

Joining them is Vivamax’s crush, Jela Cuenca, who starred in Silip sa Apoy, Palitan, and Boy Bastos. The star of Palitan, Rash Flores, plays a very crucial role in this film.

Island of Desire is by the multi-awarded and highly regarded director in the Philippines, Joel Lamangan.

From Viva films, be enchanted by its beauty and find yourselves lost in the Island of Desire, streaming on Vivamax starting April 1, 2022. .

For you to watch this desiring film, all you need to do is subscribe to Vivamax for only P149 per month or P399 for three months.

Visit web.vivamax.net or download the app and subscribe via Google Play Store, Huawei App Gallery and App Store.

For payments via website, you may choose EC Pay, 7 Eleven, All Day, All Day, Pay Mongo, GrabPay, GCash, or PayMaya. For payment thru app, you can have Globe, Smart, GCash, Paypal, Visa, or Mastercard as options. For payment thru Ecommerce, you may choose from Lazada, Shopee, Comworks, Clickstore, or Paymaya. For payment thru authorized outlets, choose from Load Manna, Comworks, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express, and Load Central. VivaMax’s cable partners are SkyCable, Cable Link, Wesfardell Connect, Fiber, BCTVI, Cebu Cable, Zenergy HD, Cotabato Cable Television Network Corporation, and Concepcion Pay TV Network, Inc.

Island of Desire can also be streamed on Vivamax Middle East. For kababayans in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, watch all you can for only AED35/month. Vivamax can also be streamed in Europe for only 8 GBP/month.

Vivamax is also available in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, Macao, Vietnam, Maldives, Australia, New Zealand, and now also in Canada and the United States of America. Vivamax, atin ‘to.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Donny and Belle Up for a New Highs and Lows of Young Love in "HE’S INTO HER SEASON 2”

4:35:00 PM

 

After the success of Season 1, here comes the continuation of the story of Max and Deib together with the Bearkadas. This is iWantTFC’s most-watched show in 2021 and will start its new season on Apr 22

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano’s romantic series is finally making its highly-anticipated premiere this summer to bring more ‘kilig’ and lessons on family and friendship in “He’s Into Her Season 2,” following the record-breaking first season that topped all shows on iWantTFC.

The series will premiere first on iWantTFC on April 20 for iWantTFC premium users outside of the Philippines and all iWantTFC users in the Philippines and Indonesia can watch it for free on April 22.

“He’s Into Her” was the recipient of three awards at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards for Best Direction (Fiction), Best Original Program by a Streamer/OTT, and Best Theme Song or Title for “He’s Into Her” (BGYO). The series was also the lone Philippine nominee in the Cross Platform Programming category at the 2021 Venice TV Awards.

In “He’s Into Her Season 2,” former-enemies-turned lovers Deib (Donny) and Max (Belle) are officially the newest power couple in Benison International school. Their relationship seems to be smooth sailing until problems from their past begin to haunt them and unanswered questions start to resurface.

Deib and Max will face the highs and lows of a young couple as they endure real problems that come with a more mature relationship.

The hit romance series also gets exciting as the ‘barkada,’ consisting of Lee, Naih, Michiko, Ysay, Lorde, and Migz (Joao Constancia, Criza Taa, Kaori Oinuma, Vivoree Esclito, Gello Marquez, and Limer Veloso), gets entangled in more teen drama, including an unexpected love triangle, another chance to rekindle a romance, and a heartbreaking realization when one suddenly gets ghosted.

Will Deib and Max still get their happy ending? How will Deib and Max’s friends resolve the issues within their ‘barkada’?

The “He’s Into Her” gang also adds more fun and good vibes with the addition of new characters played by JC Alcantara, Reich Alim, Zach Castañeda, Shanaia Gomez, River Joseph, CJ Salonga, Rajo Serrano, and BINI member Mikha.


As fans await the premiere of “He’s Into Her Season 2,” they can first enjoy a special primer of the series, which will be available for free worldwide on April 17. Fans can also binge-watch complete episodes of “He’s Into Her” season one, “He’s Into Her: The Journey,” and “The Benison Ball,” which are all available for streaming on iWantTFC. All of these are also available to premium subscribers outside of the Philippines.

“He’s Into Her Season 2” is directed by Chad V. Vidanes, with Vanessa Valdez as its head writer, and produced by ABS-CBN Entertainment, Star Cinema, and iWantTFC.

iWantTFC users in the Philippines can be the first ones to watch how Deib and Max’s love story will unfold by watching advanced episodes on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and website (iwanttfc.com) beginning April 22, with a new episode dropping every Wednesday for iWantTFC premium users outside the Philippines and every Friday for iWantTFC users in the Philippines and Indonesia. The series will make its broadcast premiere on April 24 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z, with a new episode dropping every Sunday.

Viewers can get easy access to iWantTFC's content library with its "watch now, register later" feature. Watch iWantTFC on a larger screen with select devices, including VEWD, ROKU, and Amazon Fire streaming devices, Android TV, select Samsung Smart TV models, Telstra TV (in Australia), and VIDAA in select countries. Additionally, iWantTFC is available via Chromecast and Airplay. Visit https://iwanttfc.com/help#tfc-on-smart-tv for a complete list of compatible devices, sign-in instructions, and account activation.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Celebrate Lazada’s 10th Birthday with up to 57% off on your favorite OPPO Gadgets!

9:34:00 PM

 

Lazada’s Epic 10th Birthday Sale is just around the corner--this means exciting deals and incredible treats await OPPO shoppers in this once-in-a-year event. And yes, this time, you will get first dibs on the best deals as OPPO offers up to 57% off on selected OPPO gadgets, such as Reno7 5G, A16 (3GB), and A94.

Starting this March 27, you can also enjoy and take advantage of many exciting vouchers. For instance, you can get Php 200 off for every minimum purchase of Php 9,999, a Php 400 discount for a Php 14,999 minimum spend, a Php 1,000 off for each Reno7 Series purchase, or a free shipping voucher for every minimum spend of Php 500.

OPPO has more treats in store for you for this big birthday sale because you get a chance to have free G25 Bluetooth earphones for all mobile phone purchases for a limited time on March 27, from 12 AM to 2 AM and 8 PM to 11:59 PM.




In addition, amazing freebies await all Reno6 and Reno7 Series orders. For every Reno6 Series purchase, you can have free wireless G25 earphones. Meanwhile, free Q11 Smartwatch and G25 Bluetooth earphones are also available for all Reno7 Series orders. 

From March 22 onwards, you can get a free 32GB memory card for all your A16 (3GB) orders. 

So, hurry up and save the dates! Add to cart now, and don’t miss the chance to check out the OPPO gadgets you’ve been eyeing and enjoy these exciting deals in the Lazada’s Epic 10th Birthday Sale!

For more updates and detailed promotion mechanics about the sale, visit OPPO’s official website at www.oppo.com/ph or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines. You can also check OPPO’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada.

#Connect2Earth this Year's Earth Hour

8:36:00 PM

 


It's another year where we will all spend an hour or more to give the planet a little break. A hault from using electricity or any from of energy and a stop from producing pollution that harms planet Earth.  Kwento Ni Toto is in one with the call of WWF in saving the world and the environment as we participate and support the Earth Hour activity this coming March 26, Saturday. 


In this way of sharing the Earth Hour event, this is our little way of helping the cause. From the year it started, the number of people and countries participating is growing every year and today let us grow more to continuously save the planet. An hour of saving energy can help a lot! Let us all #Connect2Earth.



Monday, March 21, 2022

Sun Life Bolsters Initiatives to Fight Diabetes

10:20:00 PM

 

As the Filipino’s partner in health, Sun Life Philippines (Sun Life) is ramping up its fight against diabetes with the launch of initiatives that promote diabetes awareness and prevention through a healthier lifestyle.

The efforts kick off with the launch of the Sun Life Diabetes Corner. These will be integrated in the recently established Sun Life Barangay Health Stations (SLBHS), an initiative of the Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), and will be piloted in Barangay Pansol, Taal, Batangas.

The Diabetes Corner will integrate a diabetes program in the SLBHS to promote awareness and prevention. Basic medical services such as blood sugar screening will be provided for pre-diabetic patients, while informative dissemination will be done through fliers and educational videos. Healthy diet options will also be shared to diabetic patients to help them better manage their condition.

“Diabetes prevention is a global advocacy for Sun Life. We remain optimistic that with proper education and access to basic medical services, patients will triumph over this debilitating illness,” says Benedict Sison, Country Head and CEO of Sun Life. “We are grateful for this chance to help our countrymen live healthier and brighter lives.”

To reach even more Filipinos, Sun Life will also activate the “Sun Life Wellness on Wheels,” a mobile diabetes clinic that will go on a caravan to partner communities to conduct blood sugar screening, offer free consultation, and share relevant information. This will be done in the next phase of the program.

Moreover, Sun Life, in cooperation with Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, will also launch the SUNPIOLOGY Family Challenge to make health and wellness a shared goal among families as they fight diabetes. Everyone is encouraged to follow Sun Life’s social media pages, @sunlifeph on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for details to be shared soon.

All these align with Sun Life’s current campaign dubbed “Partner in Health,” which aims to encourage more Filipinos to live healthier lives for a brighter future.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Sustainable living for everyone

12:36:00 PM


Today, living an eco-friendlier life has become much more manageable. With many simple yet effective ways to make our everyday lives more sustainable, and with many groups ready to help us take that first step toward a greener future, there is every reason to start today. Living a personal sustainable lifestyle can be impactful only if we do it together to preserve our planet for generations to come.

  One of the best things to live sustainably is to reduce your carbon footprint. Many seemingly harmless daily activities can contribute to a higher carbon footprint or other greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, leading to dramatic climate changes. An increased carbon footprint includes high electric consumption, driving our cars over short distances, and the excessive use of aerosols and air conditioners, to name a few. Try to identify and minimize these activities if you can, or look for more eco-friendly alternatives, if available.  

You can also lower your carbon footprint by using energy efficiently. Use energy-efficient appliances, replace your old lighting fixtures with LED lights, and turn off energy-consuming items when not in use. Doing these eliminates energy waste in your home and helps you save more on utility expenses.  

The 2020 Climate Transparency Report disclosed that the Philippines generated 1.18 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita in 2017. The country will need to reduce its emissions to below 132 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and below -198 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. It is to meet the 1.5°C-compliant climate change mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement, of which the country is a signatory.   

Together with the Plastic Credit Exchange, SM Cares helps gather empty, clean, and dry plastic waste at select SM Supermalls nationwide. Plastic waste may be dropped off every day from 10AM to 5PM.  

Another way to make your lifestyle more sustainable is to correctly manage and segregate your garbage. Sort and separate your waste by type (e.g., paper/carton, plastic, glass, metal, electronics, etc.). It helps to find out more about your community's waste collection and management policies. You can even make extra cash if you dispose of your non-organic waste through the proper channels.  

You can also minimize the waste you generate at home. There are many simple ways to do this. It includes reusing plastic bags, opting for eco-bags when shopping, and avoiding single-use items. By being mindful of our food consumption, we can also significantly reduce food waste and packaging. 

The 2020 Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment report that the Philippines ranked third among the world contributors to plastic pollution, with 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year.  

SM's Trash to Cash recycling market happens every first Friday and Saturday of the month from 10 AM to 2 PM across all SM Malls and select SDMC Malls nationwide.  

As a responsible member of the community, SM has consistently implemented programs to inspire Filipinos to be more sustainable, educating them on the importance of sustainability and how to help protect the environment. It includes the long-running Green Film Festival, which features the free screening of environmental documentaries for students and other program partnerships that promote alternative options to plastic.   

SM also has projects that directly engage its mall-goers, focusing on solid waste management. These are the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market and the collection of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), the Electronic Waste Collection program, and the Plastic Waste Collection program held in partnership with the Plastic Credit Exchange. To date, SM Supermalls have collected more than 11,600 kg. of plastic waste, 2,000 kg. of electronic waste and 908,000 kg. of assorted recyclable waste.
 
Customers can drop off their electronic waste at bins in the Cyberzone and selected locations of SM Supermalls nationwide.  

In addition, SM has been exploring renewable alternatives as its malls' energy source. For instance, in 2020, the company generated 9,620 MWh of energy from solar roof panels installed in ten different malls nationwide. The company has also completed solar panel retrofits in other malls. SM hopes to achieve its goal of having 50% of the energy it consumes being sourced from renewable sources by the end of this year.  

"We have always been an advocate of sustainable living. Proof of this is the numerous environmental initiatives that the company has implemented. We build our malls with the environment and community in mind, and we make sure that our developments contribute to environmental protection," said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls' Corporate Compliance Head. "More importantly, we know that personal sustainability is key to achieving the green future that we want. We will continue to implement programs that encourage positive change within our community partners."  

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its CSR advocacies include the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the Bike-Friendly SM Program.   

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

SM Shoppers and Certified Shopaholics Guess the Price and Win a Prize!

12:09:00 PM

 


For all SM Shoppers and certified shopaholics. Here's your chance to win some shopping treats from SM.   

Guess the Price and WIN P5K GCs!

Click the link to try this simple and fun quiz https://gosm.link/ShoppingQuizFB  Who knows, you might be one of the 3 lucky winners of P5K SM Gift Certificates!!! You have the whole Women's Month to play. Make sure to join every day for more chances of winning!

Queens, share your results on social media and use the hashtag #WomensWorldAtSMQuiz20200

Celebrities, families say yes to the #MangInasalPorkBBQChallenge

10:34:00 AM

 

After trending on Twitter for several days, Mang Inasal has an awesome surprise for food lovers everywhere as it launched another craze, and this time it's an experience that dares netizens and their families to take on the #MangInasalPorkBBQChallenge.

Even celebrities like Dimples Romana and Kim Atienza have jumped on the trend! They were not able to resist the tender and juicy goodness of Mang Inasal’s Pork BBQ that is paired with flavorful java rice and made even better with its newest addition, the peanut sauce.

Interested to take on the #MangInasalPorkBBQChallenge too? All you have to do is to dine-in at your favorite Mang Inasal stores, take a photo while enjoying the NEW Pork BBQ with Peanut Sauce and Java Rice, and share it on social media for a chance to be one of the three winners of Php 1,000 worth of Mang Inasal gift certificates.

For more details, visit Mang Inasal's social media pages.

SM Prime, Building Strong Foundations of Responsible Development

10:05:00 AM

 

The topic of sustainability in property development has surged since the world experienced Covid-19. Having to redefine the use of spaces, people soon realized how instrumental real estate is in the journey towards a more sustainable way of life. With the threat of climate change looming in the horizon and a growing population to sustain, the need to build more sustainable and resilient cities only continue to rise.

SM Prime traces its journey on sustainable design and development way before the concept has gone main stream. At the heart of SM is its commitment to serve its customers – designing its malls to bring better comfort and an enjoyable experience in every visit to SM Supermalls.

Sustainable Comfort

Built through several phases of development, SM Megamall, among SM’s 78 malls across the country, has grown into the complex it is today with 800 shops including 250 dining outlets and 16 anchor tenants. Customers explore the expanse of the 10-hectare development from its convenient parking grounds, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful façade. Behind this is sophisticated engineering anchored on sustainable design and technology.

  • SM Megamall is energy and water efficient. The building is enveloped with EIFS or Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems board which helps boosts wall insulation, making it more resistant to heat. It only uses LED lighting system allowing a 50% energy saving. The mall also tracks a lighting operating schedule following the supply requirement of our mall activity and does not contribute to environmental lighting pollution so as not disturb nocturnal animals. It also uses sensor activated escalators that contribute to about 30% energy savings. It’s air handling system uses high-efficiency air-conditioning system that has greater environmental stewardship. Lastly, it uses efficient water fixture for water savings and recycles water.

  • SM Megamall works with the natural environment. The mall utilizes green walls, skylights and clerestory or a high section wall that contains windows above eye level to increase the flow of natural light. It is surrounded with plants of local varieties and selection of trees and shrubs.

  • SM Megamall promotes mobility. Situated in the middle of EDSA, SM Megamall brings 550 buses into one integrated system to promote easier mobility. Green hybrid transports provide options for the more environmentally conscious passengers. All public transports are required to meet mandated emission levels in support of the Clean Air Act. The mall is pedestrian-friendly with about 1,595 square meters of covered walk ways. Throughout the mall, designated bike lanes and parking spaces are provided. Lastly, parking sensors not only make parking easier but has also reduced emissions in the parking areas.

  • SM Megamall practices responsible materials management. The mall uses Echostop ceiling finish for noise absorption which is made from gypsum and paper liner made from 100% reclaimed and recycled paper. The Mega Tower uses insulated glass units which keeps heat out during summer months and Low E-glass to minimize the amount of ultraviolet light that comes through the windows, with both features maximizing energy savings. It also has a Material Recovery Facility dividing recyclables, biodegradable waste, residual waste and hazardous waste.

Environmental Strategy

All these initiatives are aligned with SM Prime's environmental strategy of developing, designing, and building integrated lifestyle cities with sustainability and resiliency considerations in mind. Echoing these efforts, SM Prime continues on its transition to clean energy. Aside from investing in energy efficient programs, the company is broadening its renewable energy investments. SM Prime targets to increase its demand for electricity sourced from renewables by more than 50% across all of its business segments by end of 2022 in support of the Department of Energy's goal of moving the country's renewable energy supply component up to 35% by the end of the decade.

Moreover, as part of a growing movement of responsible and sustainability-centered enterprises, SM Prime has joined the 2,500 organizations worldwide in supporting the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its goal of creating a more resilient financial system through better climate risk disclosures. Through this, it hopes to continue to drive its business to adopt more sustainability initiatives related to climate change.

At Hamilo Coast, SM property in Nasugbu, Batangas, it continues to uphold its commitment to sustainability and conservation as it planted 50,000 more mangroves which covers 100,000 square meters of the estate. This is also touted as one of the largest mangrove areas in Nasugbu. Hamilo Coast continues to protect its mangrove ecosystem together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines—a partnership it has nurtured since 2007.

Hamilo Coast also undertook the initiative to declare three of its coves, namely Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo as Marine Protected Areas in 2009. SM is regreening the country sides through its tree planting program led by SM City Baguio. This is in partnership with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), Baguio Water District, the local government of Baguio City and 25 media organizations in Baguio. As of January 2022, over 600,000 trees have already been planted in Baguio City and neighboring towns in Benguet.

SM further promotes sustainable practices through water recycling and the adoption of technologies that promote smart water use. In 2020, it was able to recycle 28.9 million cubic meters of water.

In terms of solid waste management, SM Prime has intensified its campaign by requiring all contractors to implement proper waste management procedures during construction. A long-running program through SM Cares, the monthly Trash to Cash (TTC) provides an avenue for the community, including properties’ tenants, to participate in solid waste management. This initiative ran for nine months in 74 malls and five SM Development Corporation properties in 2020, saving 134,067 seven-year-old trees to date.

It also undertakes paper recycling in partnership with the Trust International Paper Corporation and the responsible transport, treatment, storage and disposal or processing of the properties’ generated hazardous waste, compliant to the government’s implementing rules and regulations.

Resiliency as a Necessity

While SM serves millions of customers every day, its impact goes beyond its businesses – touching the lives of millions more in the communities wherever it is present. For a country like the Philippines, the impact of climate change can already be felt with typhoons getting stronger and more frequent.

Hans T. Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime has served in leadership roles in both national and international organizations focused on disaster resiliency and its impact to business and society. Leading by example, SM integrates disaster resiliency in its business strategy as well as its city and mall designs and developments. This, not only allows SM businesses to operate during calamities, instead, also helps communities become more resilient to typhoons.

“I believe in an age-old adage; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. SM Prime has taken deliberate steps to reinforce resiliency across its properties and provide a focused approach on sustainability in order to preserve communities and save lives,” said Mr. Sy.

Such is the impact created by SM Masinag.

Vermont Park Phase 1 is located near SM Masinag. For years, it would undergo flooding during typhoons. However, the story has changed. Since SM Masinag opened to serve the community, it has been equipped with a water catchment facility that can detain 17,681 cubic meters of water, which is equivalent to 7 Olympic size swimming pools. This helped control the flooding of nearby villages during typhoons.

Meanwhile, SM Marikina, which is also in a high-flood rate zone, is able to serve as first responder and a safe haven to affected families during times of calamities. This is because it is standing on 246 stilts with an elevation higher than the highest recorded water level rise in Marikina City.

Sustainability and Resiliency as Strong Foundations for Responsible Development

SM Prime anchors its development on both sustainability and disaster resiliency. For SM, both serve as strong foundations for responsible development – to address the increasing demand for urban areas and to address the threat of climate change.

From the onset of concept design, SM Prime allocates around 10% of capital expenditure to incorporate sustainability features and disaster resilience when building malls, offices and even integrated lifestyle cities.

"The safety of the communities, employees, customers, and the facility structure remains top priorities in all SM Prime developments. As I tell my design teams ever so frequently, ensuring safety is the only way I can sleep well,” Mr Sy said.”

For SM, this means the hard infrastructure capacities as well as how spaces are designed to facilitate mobility, green transport options, greener buildings and even green technology such as being powered by solar energy. As such, wherever SM operates, SM Prime makes every effort to help create the spaces and cities we need in order to sustain ourselves into the future.

SMDC Air Residence Brings A Premium Lifestyle, Luxury within your reach

1:03:00 AM


Luxury and a premium lifestyle only come from one of the best who offers life at its best.  

When you reach a certain level of success in life, many expect for it to reflect in one’s lifestyle — from the clothes and accessories, you wear to the car you drive, and ultimately, to the address that you live in.

For many, Makati City is still the premium address of choice because of the allure of city living, and easy access to fancy restaurants and luxury retail establishments.

Amidst the tall buildings off Ayala Avenue is Air Residences, a modern residential high-rise developed by SM Development Corporation (SMDC), that offers opulent comfort with signature amenities that bring you to the doorstep of success.

A world-class development like no other

Air Residences was awarded the Best High-end Condo Interior Design at the 7th Philippine Property Awards last year and the Best High-rise Condo Interior Design (Philippines) at the 2019 Asia Property Awards.

The accolades truly show as soon as you enter its doors. The grand lobby’s high ceiling, dark-colored tiled floors, mood lighting fixtures, and extravagant furnishings all come together to remind you of luxury hotels around the world.

Nothing wraps up this hotel-like experience more than the cordial welcome of the doorman and the hospitality of the receptionist. The elegant furnishings and lounges are perfect not just for receiving guests or for waiting for a ride to your next meeting, but for locking in a lasting first impression on those who matter.

A lifestyle that propels your dreams

Find work-life balance and retreat to the comfort of the two-level amenity deck that’s only a few steps away from your doorstep — from sophisticated pavilions and terraces where you can simply relax, to lush gardens and inviting swimming pools where you can host celebrations with family and friends.

Push your limits and reach your maximum capacity in the many fitness amenities, where much-deserved workout sessions await you. There’s also a jogging trail, as well, surrounded by beautiful landscaping, where you can go for energizing runs whenever you need one. For days that you need to find peace, there is a yoga lawn to allow you to immerse yourself into focused and quiet workouts. However, if you feel like letting loose, there’s a game alley that provides unlimited bonding opportunities over table tennis, billiards, and more.

Each unit is designed for the wants and needs of an urban professional. Air Residences has 59 floors offering various types of units to fit both the space and budget that’s right for you — from studio units to one and two-bedroom units, all with spectacular views of the city and intricate details that spell elegance and sophistication.

No better time to invest than now

First-class amenities paired with a distinct location, and its proximity to Makati’s future subway system are what makes this property a sound investment. Whether you plan to make it your home, or to lease it out for extra income, great capital appreciation awaits you, either way, considering the Philippine property market steadily improving this year.

A recent Colliers Philippines report said there is foreseen growth in the housing sector in 2022. “We see the economic expansion supporting demand in the residential sector.” The report said the rental market is also seen to recover in the next 12 months, with the steady influx of foreign professionals, and with more companies welcoming back their employees.

This year sees the completion of various government infrastructure projects, which give property developments like Air Residences, strategically located close to the planned Makati subway, not just added convenience, but added investment benefits for its residents.

For those who might want to lease out their units, SMDC has made it easier for interested buyers through a worry-free leasing experience with SMDC Prime Key Leasing.

The best part is that these are all within your reach — right here, right now. Air Residences is a ready-for-occupancy (RFO) property, which means you can move in as soon as the paperwork is settled. With SMDC’s Early Occupancy Program (EOP), one can start enjoying the benefits of living at Air Residences with simply a 5% downpayment.

For more information about SMDC’s Air Residences, visit their official website at https://smdc.com/properties/air-residences/.



About Me

About me
Hi!, This is Marco a.k.a. Toto Blogger and Publisher. I created this blog to provide stories, personal experiences, entertainment, and insights on products I like. I'm here to share and inform you (readers) on things about music, movie, food, travel, and events.

You can also meet my wife on her blog www.mommysmaglife.com.


For project collaborations, product reviews, event invitations, or hotel and resort experience reviews, kindly email me at marcopolojdemo@yahoo.com.



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