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.