GT Capital wins awards
Receiving the awards during the publication’s 13th Asian Excellence Awards at JW Marriot Hotel in Hong Kong last June 26 from Aldrin Monsod (left), Corporate Governance Asia publisher, were GT Capital executives Crisol, Jr. (middle) senior vice president and head of investor relations, strategic planning, and corporate communication and Suarez, Jr. (right), executive vice president and chief finance officer.
GT Capital Holdings Inc. garnered five awards, namely Asia’s Best CEO for Investor Relations (Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista), Asia’s Best CFO for Investor Relations (Francisco H. Suarez, Jr.), Best Investor Relations Professional (Jose B. Crisol, Jr.), Asia’s Best CSR, and Best Investor Relations Company from Hong Kong based business publication, Corporate Governance Asia.
The publication is one of the region’s authoritative journals on corporate governance, providing news and analyses on corporate governance issues, boardroom practices, and shareholder concerns.
GT Capital is a major listed Philippine conglomerate with interests in market-leading businesses across banking, automotive assembly, importation, dealership, and financing, property development, life and general insurance, and infrastructure.
Livestock PH set July 5-7
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended its full support to Livestock Philippines 2023 scheduled from July 5 to 7, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City.
Updates on the livestock and poultry industries will be the highlight of the event.
DA assistant secretary for operations Arnel de Mesa and Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco, director of the National Livestock Program led other DA officials in gracing a recent press conference in Quezon City announcing the event.
At the press conference, Rungphech “Rose” Chitanuwat, regional portfolio director— Asean of Informa Markets shared the show’s newest endeavors this year.
In recognition of the valuable contribution of the local aquaculture sector to the country’s economy, Livestock Philippines 2023 will also hold the Aquaculture Philippines. Industry professionals and experts will lead various seminars, industry updates, and other important discussions on aquaculture on July 6.
Now on its sixth edition, Livestock Philippines–previously a bi-annual show–has become the main venue for state-of-the-art technologies, knowledge exchange, and innovative solutions for the livestock, aquaculture, and poultry industries.
As the show coincides with the country’s celebration of nutrition month in July, Chitanuwat will emphasize the importance of food safety and security with the initiatives of the DA and its affiliated participating agencies.
To further underscore the health and well-being of consumers, the Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative (BEPCO) will have its Eggcellent Corner and Egg Forum wherein they invited the National Nutritional Council, SUN Business Network, and other poultry practitioners.
Livestock Philippines will also recognize individuals for their exemplary work in their respective livestock, aquaculture, and poultry industries through Livestock Philippines Recognition 2023.
A special business arrangement will also be conducted during the Match & Meet where suppliers and buyers will meet directly and discuss trade opportunities.
Livestock Philippines is the international trade fair for innovative production and processing for poultry and livestock that brings together local and foreign exhibitors, as well as trade visitors including industry professionals, key stakeholders, owners, and integrators, farmers, feed millers, pre-mixers, meat processors, slaughterhouses, veterinarians, distributors, retailers, and others.
Quezon City launches landmark initiative for LGBTQIA+ couples’ rights
The Quezon City Government has launched the Right to Care Card that will empower resident queer couples to make medical decisions for their partners.
The Right to Care Card will be made operational through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) and will recognize the decision of the cardholders to agree, refuse, or withdraw consent of any type of medical care for their partners including treatment, procedures, tests, and prescriptions.
Mayor Joy Belmonte, a vocal ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and equality champion, expresses the importance of this initiative in recognizing the life-long commitment and right to care of LGBTQIA+ members to their partners.
“We want all of our residents, regardless of sexual orientation, to be with their partners in critical moments, and we are taking this important step to assure the rainbow community that they are cared for, recognized and valued in Quezon City,” Mayor Belmonte said.
Currently, hospitals and medical facilities nationwide only recognize decisions from legal spouses or next of kin, further excluding same-sex couples from making important medical decisions for their respective partners.
The Quezon City Government will implement the Right to Care program initially at city government hospitals such as the Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital. Soon after, the city government will conduct orientations and seal partnerships with public or private Quezon City-based hospitals.
The card includes a QR code that will direct the user to an actual and notarized digital version of the SPA document. The provisions of the SPA will indicate the privileges authorized by the cardholders for their respective partners such as choosing a particular physician or health care provider, including admission or discharge from any hospital, nursing home, or residential care facility; receive, process, and/or disclose their partner’s personal information including medical records; allow or deny medical treatments, procedures, or any other medical concerns related to their partner’s medical condition; as well as take any other action pertaining to the authority granted by the Right to Care Card such as processing documents and waivers, and pursuing dispute resolution processes.
This initiative was conceived by the creative communications agency MullenLowe TREYNA.
Build-a-Biz Competition
Enstack is giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to turn their business dreams into reality and win P1 million.
The SME superapp announced that its Build-a-Biz competition, which offers the cash grand prize to the business running on the Enstack platform that posts the highest grossing sales, begins July 1.
To kick off the competition, Enstack hosted an exclusive launch party at a mano in BGC that brought together prominent personalities and successful small business owners, and government representatives who share Enstack’s mission to promote entrepreneurship.
Macy Castillo, Enstack’s co-founder and CEO, said the competition whose theme is “Dream It, Build It, Enstack It,” was created to encourage Filipinos with an entrepreneurial spirit to finally start building their dream businesses.
The competition runs from July 1 to December 31.
Throughout the competition, participants will be provided dedicated support via a series of exclusive webinars and events hosted by industry experts and successful online retailers.
GCash highlights successful LGBTQIA+ MSMEs
GCash celebrated Pride Month with ‘GTalks: Werk with Pride’ at Clubhouse Manila, by featuring success stories of LGBTQIA+ MSMEs to inspire more people to pursue their goals and achieve financial independence.
This is in line with GCash’s core purpose to make “Finance for All” a reality.
CJ Alegre, sustainability head of GCash, said “by ensuring that every Filipino has access to financial services, we not only uplift individuals and communities, but also foster economic resilience and social cohesion. Inclusion empowers individuals to become agents of change, contributing to a sustainable future for all.”
The panel discussion featured LGBTQIA+ MSME owners who shared their entrepreneurial journeys.
Beyond Pride Month, GCash remains dedicated to fostering inclusivity 365 days a year. By offering GInsure, GCash enables policyholders to designate their same-sex partners as beneficiaries, aligning with the Insurance Commission’s mandate for equal access to insurance products for all couples. Moreover, GCash provides lending products such as GGives, GLoans, and GCredit, which all have non-discriminatory application processes that assess eligibility based on in-app behavior rather than personal attributes.
Heart health advocates fight for Trans Fat-free PH
The Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2021-0039 which took effect last June 19, aims to abolish industrially-produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) in the country.
Enacted two years ago, AO 2021-0039 mandated food manufacturers to eliminate iTFA from their pre-packaged and processed products.
The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) remains proactive in the on-going fight for a Trans Fat-free nation, raising awareness on the cardiovascular threat during its monthly Usapang Puso sa Puso webinar on June 28, hosted by PHA director III and Advocacy Committee chair Dr. Luigi Segundo.
Dr. Louella Santos, a cardiologist and lipidologist, president of the Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society, said that “Triglycerides come from sugar, flour, white rice, bread, and desserts to name a few. HDL is good cholesterol, LDL is bad cholesterol or Lechon de Leche, which we avoid because it clogs our arteries and could lead to either a heart attack or stroke.”
Citing it as the scariest type of fat, Trans Fats are produced by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils in order to extend the shelf life of products, thus the terms “hydrogenated oils” and “partially hydrogenated oils” seen in the ingredients of some products indicate the presence of TF.
Santos further stressed that food with mono or poly unsaturated fats are what increase HDL levels, and that it is imperative to get a lipid profile early on because high cholesterol is asymptomatic, manifesting in potentially fatal blockages.
Segundo, who echoed the value of undergoing risk factor screening, said even without feeling anything out of the ordinary, getting checked is crucial for preventive care.
He added that the PHA’s Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy, 52100 (five servings of fruits & vegetables, not more than 2 grams of sodium, an hour of exercise, zero smoking, and zero sugary drinks, daily) is a viable means of keeping the risk factors at bay.
The Power of Purple: Why more farmers should grow this purple corn
The growing awareness of the importance of a healthy diet presents a substantial market opportunity for unique, tasty, and nutritious crops like East-West Seed’s hybrid Morado F1 purple sweet waxy corn.
With its vibrant color, anthocyanin content, sweetness, and potential to increase income, Morado presents an enticing opportunity for Filipino farmers.
Morado can provide farmers with a consistent income opportunity throughout the year as it is suitable to be planted all year round. It is also an early-maturing corn variety — farmers can harvest within 60 to 62 days after planting, enabling them to sell their produce to the market sooner.
Morado stands out not only for its vibrant purple hue but also for its ear quality. The kernels are soft, tender, and stay sweet even two days after harvest.
Another remarkable attribute of Morado is its high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are the natural compounds responsible for the purple color of Morado, making it an appealing choice for health-conscious consumers.
The uniqueness and versatility of Morado also opens up various marketing avenues for farmers.
Moreover, because of its unique purple color, farms planted with Morado have the potential to attract tourists, offering an additional income opportunity for farmers.
“At East-West Seed, we aim to improve the lives of our farmers by offering them innovative and high-yielding vegetable seed varieties that are suitable to the local growing conditions and needs of the local market,” said Jay Lopez, general manager of East-West Seed Philippines.
“Morado purple corn combines visual appeal, health benefits, and a significant potential to increase income, making it a favorable choice for entrepreneurial farmers,” Lopez added.
