SM Cares celebrates World Cerebral Palsy Day
In celebration of World Cerebral Palsy Day, SM Cares, together with SM City Rosario and the Cerebral Palsy Epilepsy Family Awareness Support Group.PH Inc (CPEFAS PH), raised awareness for the need for Accessible and Alternative Assistive Technology for children with Cerebral Palsy in a medical mission and forum held last October 29.
Around 140 beneficiaries and their families attended the event to receive free assessments and casting for assistive devices through volunteers from the Philippine Association of Prosthesis and Orthosis and the Physicians for Peace. Attendees also learned tips on the right nutrition, food preparation and available financial support from PhilHealth, while bonding over parent inspirational talks and sharing of talents.
MPIF empowers Aeta community
Metro Pacific Investments Foundation Inc. (MPIF) distributed 50 bicycles to members of the Aeta Community in Sapang Uwak, Porac, Pampanga.
Through a beneficiary partnership with Neo Zigma Cycle Corp. and Interval Gear Events Management (IGEM), MPIF mobilized the fifth leg of its Puhunang Pangkabuhayan program for alternative livelihood, with the help of the Pinatubo Eco-Adventure and Cultural Enclave Katutubong Anak ng Mount Pinatubo (PEACE KAMP) and Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc.
“We are extremely grateful that cycling events similarly organized by Neo Zigma, are able to elevate social consciousness specially for indigenous communities who have been part of our beneficiaries,” said MPIF president Melody del Rosario. “We look forward to more meaningful collaborations which will expand our reach and augment our livelihood programs through MPIF’s Puhunang Pangkabuhayan.”
MPIF developed Puhunang Pangkabuhayan to become a sustainable alternative livelihood program to benefit vulnerable sectors by providing the necessary tools to get them back on their feet.
Puhunang Pangkabuhayan in Sapang Uwak was made possible by MPIF’s beneficiary partnership with Neo Zigma Cycle and IGEM, the organizers of the 1st Philippine Cycling Festival. The donation was equivalent to 20 percent of the generated cash sponsorship, registration fees, and ticket fees from the expo. Beyond bolstering the positive cycling culture i
As of June last year, Puhunang Pangkabuhayan has provided over 110 alternative livelihood tools such as bicycles, sewing and edging machines, pocket Wi-Fi units, and load retailer kits to areas in Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Surigao del Norte, and Pangasinan.
Globe, NABU partnership
Globe has partnered with NABU, a reading app and mother tongue publishing platform that makes literacy accessible to children globally. Based in New York, NABU is a nonprofit organization focused on eradicating poverty through increased literacy.
The partnership is in line with Globe’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including UN SDG No. 4 on the provision of quality education, and UN SDG No. 17, which highlights the value of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals.
“Globe is always looking for ways to empower Filipinos. We believe that literacy is a fundamental right that should be accessible to everyone. This partnership with NABU will help us make reading more accessible to Filipinos, so they can learn, appreciate local culture, and reach their full potential,” said Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and corporate Communications Officer of the Globe Group.
Through this partnership, Globe will serve as a distribution unit for NABU’s e-books throughout the Philippines to complement students’ learning. Anyone can access the Nabu.org mobile app for free.
PH digital pivot
A robust pool of IT professionals is key to propelling the Philippines’ digitization plans, according to PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Speaking during the recent media launch for the Philippine Digital Convention 2022 (PH Digicon), Pangilinan identified three basic ingredients that would power the country’s digital shift.
“The basic prerequisite is connectivity and infrastructure, which is why we have invested about $10 billion over the past ten years in the networks of PLDT and Smart,” Pangilinan said. “Above that is the layer of solutions and applications, so that persons and companies can be more efficient.”
On top of these, Pangilinan also emphasized the importance of having trained professionals, as well as the availability of teachers to produce tech graduates, such as software engineers and programmers.
“I think the private sector can sponsor scholarships to help universities produce the talent our country needs,” said Pangilinan, adding that the country also needs professors who would teach students who would become the professionals that the country needs in the future.
“Those are three basic ingredients that could provide an impetus to the digital pivot that we all want this country to take,” he said.
As part of the Group’s overall thrust to be at the forefront of the country’s digital transformation, PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise, recently staged PH Digicon 2022, one of the most sought-after thought leadership events in the Asia-Pacific Region, both virtually and in-person at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
Converge wins big
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has once again brought honor to the country, as it won big in the World Communication Awards (WCA), the most revered mark of achievement in the telecom industry, bagging the Best Operator in an Emerging Market Award.
Converge president and co-founder Maria Grace Uy has won the Woman in Telecoms Award, besting four other women leaders from global companies like US-based Verizon Business Group and UK multinational Colt Technology Services. She is also the first Filipina to bring home this international telco award.
In its citation, WCA said Converge was seen as “inspirational, highlighting strong customer focus and innovation.”
PHILCONSTRUCT Manila mounts biggest hybrid trade show of the year
The biggest and most anticipated construction trade show series in the country has ended the year adopting the hybrid format to reach out to more consumers and stakeholders on-site and online.
PHILCONSTRUCT Manila 2022 Hybrid Edition last November 3 to 6, simultaneously at two locations –the SMX Convention Center Manila in the SM Mall of Asia complex and the World Trade Center Manila. Virtually, it can be accessed through the VX Events platform.
PHILCONSTRUCT has completed this year’s three regional rounds prior to its Manila leg.
PHILCONSTRUCT Luzon was staged in Clark, Pampanga last June; PHILCONSTRUCT Visayas in Cebu last July; and PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao in Davao last September–all in hybrid editions for the first time.
Keeping up to its tradition, the PHILCONSTRUCT Manila 2022 Hybrid Edition showcased the biggest assembly of brands and products on display at both its physical venues. The widest showcase of products includes construction materials, air conditioning systems, heavy equipment and software, home appliances and kitchenware, refrigerants, powertools, water pumps, and electric wirings, among many others.
Estilo De Vida, the annual inter-school interior design competition, also staged at PHILCONSTRUCT Manila. The competition has grown into an industry staple, gathering the most promising student designers into a show of creativity, passion and ingenuity.
The PHILCONSTRUCT Manila 2022 Hybrid Edition partners include the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Airconditioning, and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) and the Association of Carriers & Equipment Lessors (ACEL).
Quezon City bags awards from national gov’t agencies
The Quezon City government received accolades from various national government agencies, including the 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), one of five Metro Manila cities to receive the said honor, along with Muntinlupa, Caloocan, Mandaluyong and Navotas. Quezon City also won the award in 2019.
Established by virtue of Republic Act 11292, the Seal of Good Local Governance is an award, incentive and recognition-based program for all local government units (LGUs) to continually progress and improve their performance in the key areas of LGU governance.
The city government also received several awards from the Department of the Interior and Local Government-NCR during the 2022 Urban Governance Exemplar Awards.
Vice Mayor Gian Sotto received the following awards on behalf of the city government: Local Council for the Protection of Children Ideal level of functionality, Functional Peace and Order Council, High Functional Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children Ideal Level of functionality, MBCRPP LWM Cluster Top Performer, MBCRPP ISF Cluster Top Performer and MBCRPP Moderate Compliance.
The QC government also obtained plaques of recognition under the Liquid Waste Management Cluster and under the Informal Settler Families Cluster in 2019 and 2021, and likewise recognized for being moderately compliant to the 2022 assessment of LGUs compliance with Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program, and for getting a functionality rating in the 2022 Local Peace and Order Council Performance Audit covering 2019 and 2021, and an ideal rating in the 2022 Local Council for the Protection of Children Functionality Audit.
Earlier, the LGU topped in terms of local revenue generation for the fourth straight year, and obtained a Hall of Fame award from the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance (DOF-BLGF).
I am M.A.D. convention
Nonprofit organization and volunteer-powered I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) successfully convened its biggest ‘MAD (Making A Difference) Talks’ event.
Held recently at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City, the community convention dubbed “MAD Talks presents: Sa Ngayon, Padayon. (Kwentuhan. Kantahan. Kabayanihan.)” and themed in collaboration with digital creator and witty shirts brand Linya-Linya put the spotlight on volunteerism and mental health.
Co-presented by the Rotary Club of Makati Uptown, Rotary District 3830, and H.E.L.P. Pilipinas, the gathering saw some 250 participants consisting of its volunteers and delegates from various organizations and networks, students, youth leaders, educators, and young professionals to mark the World Mental Health Day in October.
