Month: August 2022

The country’s schools have been closed since the start of the pandemic. As schools prepare to reopen soon, the country’s education system is facing a major challenge on how to manage the transition and reopen safely amid risk brought about by the continuing pandemic.

The Rotary Club of Greenfield District on its kick-off activity brings top education leaders in a virtual discussion to share their experiences and learnings of managing their schools at the height of the pandemic and their plans on how to navigate from the online education back to a “new normal” now that the schools are reopening this August.

The Rotary Club of Greenfield District adapted AHEAD Education’s Leadership Strategies for School Managers (LESSM) as one of its core services hosted the virtual discussion entitled “Educators in Action: Adapting to the new culture of education.”

The virtual discussion was led by Br. Bernard S. Oca, FSC, President of De La Salle University, Dr. Elena E. Pernia, PhD, Vice-President of Public Affairs of the University of the Philippines, Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DRPH, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Santo Tomas, Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, President of University of Asia and the Pacific, and Raphael A. Guerrero, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Science and Engineering of Ateneo de Manila University. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Rossana Llenado, President and Founder of AHEAD Education, and the Rotary Club of Greenfield District’s President.

“The entire education sector faced an unprecedented major crisis. With COVID-19 making it downright dangerous for students to go to school at the height of the pandemic now transitioning from online education back to face-to-face classes is both imminent and imperative,” said Rossana Llenado.

For more information about The Rotary Club of Greenfield District and other upcoming initiatives, visit www.facebook.com/RotaryGreenfieldDistrict.

Bikers from Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and nearby provinces pedaled along the route traversed by the country’s heroes in a fun ride for a cause dubbed, “Ride for Valor.”

The “Ride for Valor” a non-competitive 160 kilometers long bike ride raised funds to save our heroes’ historical markers so that we may remember their sacrifice. The funds will be turned over to the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME) a non-government organization that maintains the kilometer markers of the Bataan Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.

In the past, Bataan Death March markers had been destroyed, uprooted, and neglected due to drainage and other road projects. Ten (10) Death March historical markers in Mariveles, and four (4) in Limay, Bataan have to be relocated soon due to road widening and other repairs.

The Death March markers serve as a reminder of the route taken by Filipino soldiers who defended the country against Japanese forces during World War II some 80 years ago. About 10,000 brave soldiers died along the route; many of the bodies were never identified or recovered.

The ride is part of the 30th anniversary of the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB). PVB is a commercial bank owned by World War II veterans and their families. As part of its charter, PVB allocates 20% of its annual net income for the benefit of its shareholders.

Around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers and prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese military to march 69 miles from Bataan to Tarlac during World War II. Only some 54,000 persons reached the camp, and around 20,000 died due to starvation, dehydration, diseases, and the brutality of Japanese captors.

For more information, visit www.veteransbank.com.ph.

Over 700 participants mostly composed PRC-registered salespersons nationwide will convene in Cebu City for the first ever Real Estate Salespersons Congress on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The congress, initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)- registered Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES Philippines), will gather industry practitioners in the field of real estate selling to formally introduce ACRES Philippines and its Vision and Mission; recognize its interim officers nationwide; charter members and raise awareness and tackle current concerns in real estate selling. ACRES is the country’s first and largest organization of accredited real estate salespersons. Founded in 2021, it supports the endeavors of salespersons in furthering their learnings, ethical standards, protection of their rights to free and fair practice, upliftment of their well-being, and due representation and inclusion on matters of their trade and prosperity.

At present the association has already set up nationwide chapters with interim officers in Metro Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Bicol, Sorsogon, Legaspi, Pampanga, Palawan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas, Aklan, Calbayog, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Northern Cebu, Southern Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Catbalogan, Davao, General Santos, Caraga, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Surigao, Ozamis, Dipolog, Pagadian, Digos, Iligan and Gingoog. These interim officers will take oath during the congress. Cebu was picked as the host for this year’s Congress to showcase the city’s progressive real estate industry whose vibrance could only be kept and achieved by proactive industry practitioners, including real estate salespersons. According to Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), the advisory group of ACRES, the formation of ACRES came timely as the real estate sector experiences a rebound from the economic stresses brought about by Covid-19 pandemic. He said unifying all the salespersons involved in real estate will further advance the country’s real estate sector and make it one of the strongest economic pillars amid the headwinds. “Since real estate is a selling business, we also need to get the salespersons onboard and actively involved them in advancing the sector alongside the brokers,” he said.

Leuterio stressed that since real estate salespersons are significant contributors in the continued expansion of the sector, they must be well represented. “These practitioners need to have a voice too, especially when policies and laws are crafted. We need to include them so we could really a ‘Better Real Estate’,” he said. Real estate salespersons comprise the biggest number of professionals in the real estate service. Moreover, ACRES seeks to work harmoniously and collaboratively with the professionals in the real estate service, regulatory agencies, real estate organizations, property companies, policy makers and advocacy groups. Leuterio said the association is keen to work with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) so it can participate on campaigns against illegal salespersons and illegal developers. The group also wants to work with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to promote accreditation to all salespersons involved in real estate selling activities.

Huawei launched Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 last Friday (August 19). The program will bring together 120 outstanding students from 16 countries across the Asia Pacific region for a 9-day digital boot camp in Thailand, including 10 students from the Philippines. From August 19 to 27, ten Filipino delegates who are ready to demonstrate their talent and abilities will join the journey this year.

The opening ceremony was attended by both local government officials and representatives of multiple international organizations. They highlighted the important role multi-party collaboration plays in creating a solid foundation for the region’s digital talent ecosystem.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi stressed that digital talent will be the driving force in the construction of a Digital ASEAN: “The private sector can play a pioneering role in realising this vision. In this regard, I commend Huawei Asia Pacific’s initiative: Seeds for the Future Program. This project underscores the long-term commitment of Huawei to collaborate and prepare the ASEAN youth for the changing world of work and industry’s demands. I hope that such efforts could also be extended to the other ASEAN Member States.”

Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation, Dr. Ms. Yang Mee Eng said: “The growth of ASEAN Digital Economy is entirely dependent on the capability of the region’s young people to participate in it. To nurture a generation of digitally savvy and innovative problem solvers, it is pivotal for stakeholders of ASEAN to create a robust learning ecosystem that allows our youth to advance their digital skills.”

Director for the ICT Industry Development Bureau of DICT in the Philippines, Ms. Emmy Lou V. Delfin delivered her message, “Thank you to Huawei for this partnership with the DICT in developing Filipino youth to become entrepreneurs through ICT. Huawei Seeds for the Future program is so timely and relevant especially for our college students. Getting the right skills and training builds for a brighter future. Just as your tagline says – inspiring talents to shape the future.”

The participants will get immersed in technologies and cross-cultural experiences, and propose technical solutions to address social problems through Tech4Good projects. 56 of the 120 participants this year are women, making the 2022 cohort the most gender-balanced in the region since the program initiated.

Asia Pacific Seeds for the future 2022 is not only about knowledge learning but also about how to transform ideas into initiatives and projects that will provide a decent, quality, and happy life for all. Deputy Minister of Education of Thailand Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich agreed that “The Seeds for the Future program is important for students interested in ICT and digital technologies as it fills the gap between theory and practice. The Ministry of Education envisions a greater focus on morals and ethics, whereas education should also emphasize digital skills. This is regarded as the most significant development in the Thai education sector; boosting the quality of education, in all forms, to advance education to a global level.”

President of Huawei Asia Pacific Mr. Simon Lin reiterated Huawei’s own commitment to talent development: “The ‘seeds’ represent hope, passion, and future. As the corporate-level flagship CSR project with the longest history, this program has been brought to nearly 140 countries and regions, reaching over 12,000 students from 500 universities. The ‘Seeds’ have grown to a global ‘forest’.” “Digitalization is the driving force for our future. Talent is the key to digital transformation and sustainable growth. We deeply believe that the young generation will grow as the constructors of Asia Pacific when pursuing their tech-dreams.” Simon Lin added.

The opening ceremony was ended with 16 Seeds representatives performing a song “Dream it Possible” together in their own languages.

From today, they would embark on a cultural and digital journey filled with site visits including the United Nations Regional Hub in Bangkok, the Metaverse Expo, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok. At the same time, the participants will be provided training in cutting-edge technologies like 5G, AI, and cloud computing from industry-leading experts.

During the digital camp, the participants will be expected to team up and create a “Tech4Good” pitch where they will share their visions for a better digital world. The winning teams will be given a place in an accelerator camp in Singapore that will be held from August 29 to September 4. This camp will give them the opportunity to meet top-notch entrepreneurs and investors and further develop their initiatives and bring their ideas to the market.

Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program that brings together young talent from top universities around the world. Huawei Philippines launched the program in 2015 to inspire ICT talent and encourage them to tackle social challenges with digital solutions. As of the end of 2021, the program had been reaching over 200 students from over 30 universities in the country.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at http://www.huawei.com or follow:

https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiTechPH

As the nation celebrates National Aspin Day, (August 18), The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) launched Alden Richards as their newest celebrity spokesperson joining Heart Evangelista in the organization’s “I Love My Aspin” campaign.

Aspin is a contraction of two words “Aso” (dog) and “Pinoy” (informal term for Filipino). PAWS coined this term in 2007 to replace the derogatory term “askal” which is short for “Asong Kalye” or street dogs. Native dogs, having no pedigree or are not purebred, are usually seen as having no value and are often left to fend on their own on in the streets – which led to them being called “askals”.  Aside from changing the term, PAWS – the nation’s most respected animal welfare organization – has produced several campaigns through the years to uplift the image of the native dog.

The “I Love My Aspin” campaign aims to encourage Pinoy aspin owners to be proud of their native dogs and to be responsible pet parents to them.  Joining Alden for this campaign is his lovable 7-year-old aspin, Chichi, who will appear with the actor in various ads to promote aspins and aspin adoption.

Asked why he agreed to do this campaign, the actor said that he could not imagine life without his dogs. “My family has always had dogs. May purebreeds, may aspins. We love them all equally and I can say na grabe din sila magmahal unconditionally.  Pero napuna ko na merong talagang discrimination – pag may nagtatanong kung anong breed young aso nila, ang usual na sagot  “Aspin lang” or makakarinig ako minsan ng “bakit ka pa gumastos sa vet eh aspin lang naman yan?” Pag naririnig ko yun, nasasaktan ako for Chichi.

“Napakalambing ng mga aspins. Pag may lumalapit sa aking mga tao or nag pe-pretend ako na umiiyak, lumalapit agad si Chichi to check on me – ganun syang ka-protective at kalambing, So I really feel bad pag nakakarinig ako ng mga comments na minamaliit ang aspin. Lahat ng aso, dapat tinuturing na part of the family. Common pa rin kasi yung maling pag-iisip na pag native dog, pwedeng hindi na masyado alagaan kase matibay naman sila. But that is so unfair.

Alden says he has heard a lot of stories about rescued aspins from PAWS, “Marami silang naikuwento sa akin – na pag nag-adopt ka ng rescued aspins, sila talaga yung mas loyal, mas loving and mas grateful kasi nabigyan sila ng second chance sa buhay. Nakakalungkot isipin na marami tayong mga aspins na homeless or di kaya, may owner pero laging nasa kalye ang aso nila.

This is why Alden had Chichi spayed (“kapon”) because he believes it is important for every pet owner to do their part in preventing pet homelessness by spaying and neutering their pets.

“With this campaign, I want to tell everyone na I am a proud aspin parent. I think the aspins need to be talked about more – how they make great pets and that they deserve na magkaron ng pamilya na mamahalin at magmamahal sa kanila.”

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For clarifications, please contact Anna Cabrera at 09178315970 or email philpaws@paws.org.ph

A brief background on the history of the term “aspin” and the activities for the National Aspin Day celebration at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay is on the second page.

Notes on National Aspin Day:

1. In 2007, PAWS introduced the term ASPIN or Asong Pinoy to replace the derogatory term Askal (“asong kalye”) when referring to native dogs. This was also the year when the organization launched its groundbreaking “See Beauty Beyond Breed” campaign with Heart Evangelista to show that native dogs are just as cute, just as affectionate and just as intelligent as their pure breed counterparts.

• In 2021, PAWS declared August 18 as NATIONAL ASPIN DAY.

• Some highlights of this year’s NAD 2022 celebration at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay:

As a fitting tribute to the Asong Pinoy, the event will have a Filipiniana theme with the entire area decked like modern day barrio fiesta. Guests and their pet aspins can browse through the native stalls where sponsors and pet supplies tenants will have items for sale with special freebies and discounts for aspins. There will also be a mini palaro booth as well as trick-shot photo area specially designed for Aspins.

Two special bonding activities prepared for aspins and their fur parents is the Aspin Dog Dash, a fun race in a specially designed race track, and the Ginoo and Binibining Aspin Pageant, a unique costume competition where the best male and best female Aspins in Filipiniana outfits will take home a grand prize package.

The program will also feature surprise celebrity aspin owners and performers.

More than just a fun event which celebrates aspins, NAD 2022 also aims to raise funds for the PAWS Animal Shelter which has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility houses more than 300 rescued dogs and cats and is solely dependent on donations and fundraising activities such as this to keep it running.