Makati City News May 2016

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The Seal of Makati City
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Mission, Vission of Makati inscribed on a plaque
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Makati City Hall

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Makati City Ninoy Aquino Monument.jpg
Monument of Ninoy Aquino

DTI, JICA signs technical project on analysis of PH auto industry

(DTI)

Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. announced a joint study with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the Philippine automotive industry and how the country can position itself in global value chains (GVC).

“As a strong driver for economic growth and job creation, the automotive industry has substantial multiplier effects on knowledge transfer and linkages creation within the domestic economy. Our goal is to deepen our participation in GVCs to spur foreign and domestic investments and generate more employment,” said DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development and BOI Managing Head Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo.

The study titled “Elaboration of Industrial Promotion Plans Using Value Chain Analysis”, a two-year technical cooperation project, was signed between the DTI and JICA Philippine Office Chief Representative Susumo Ito. The study, which shall be incorporated in the Manufacturing Industry Roadmap, shall recommend Industrial Promotion Plans including action plans for automotive, auto-parts and auto-electronics.

“The DTI-JICA project complements the country’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. Through CARS, we intend to become a full participant in the value chain of automotive manufacturing in the region,” Rodolfo added.

Signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino under Executive Order No. 182, in May last year, the CARS Program provides fiscal support for investments in the manufacture of whole body large plastic parts, other strategic parts that are not currently produced locally, and provides variable incentives to induce both volume production and logistics efficiency. The CARS program targets to generate 200,000 new jobs, bring in fresh investments worth US$1.2 billion, stimulate local demand by increasing vehicle sales to US$9.2 billion, and effectively implement industry regulations that will revitalize the Philippine automotive industry. The program is anchored on the resurgence of the automotive manufacturing industry and in priming the country as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.

Eton Properties breaks ground on new Makati project

(PNA), RMA/PR

MANILA, May 30 (PNA) -- Lucio-Tan led Eton Properties Philippines, Inc. (EPPI) broke ground on its one-hectare mixed use project in West Makati, Eton WestEnd Square, as it begins to expand its footprint in more locations across the country.

Located at the corner of Malugay and Yakal streets in Makati, the development will be comprised of eWestPod, a business process outsourcing (BPO) building; eWestMall, a boutique mall; and Blakes Tower, a high-rise residential condominium that will join the already existing Belton Place.

Blakes Tower will be a 46-storey residential condominium that offers amenities complementing and enhancing city living.

eWestPod will be made up of four floors intended for office spaces and BPO companies.

eWestMall will have two levels of retail spaces to serve the community of residents, office workers, professionals, students, and healthcare workers in the bustling neighborhood of West Makati.

“Eton WestEnd Square is a fitting reference to a location west of the traditional Makati CBD that is now undergoing gentrification driven by the growth of the business district and the demand for living spaces that’s a short walk away from workplaces,” said Josefino C. Lucas, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Eton Properties.

(Art and Culture) ArtistSpace presents 'Surviving the Burning Fields' by Tristram Miravalles

By Lily O. Ramos [(PNA), SCS/LOR]

MANILA, May 29 (PNA) -- ArtistsSpace and Ysobel Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Rotary Club Makati West (RCMW) and Pedro Brewcrafters, present “Surviving the Burning Fields,” the solo exhibition of Tristram Miravalles.

The exhibition will be from June 3 to 15 at the Ayala Museum Gallery, Makati Ave., Makati City, where the artist paints a strange, dissonant and corrupt world and impresses on the idea of futility.

Admission is free to the public. For inquiries: Call Isobel Gallery: 09285071117/09332227952/5764758 or ArtitstsSpace email: hello@ayalamuseum.org.

Big-hearted Miravalles, aside from expressing creativity, also serves as a fundraiser, with a percentage of the exhibition’s proceeds going to the Art Beat project of the Rotary Club Makati West (RCMW).

Art Beat is under the Alay Sining fundraising initiative of the club which raises funds in conjunction with the Gift of Life (GOL) offering free medical attention to children suffering congenital heart disease (CHD).

Miravelles unconsciously summons the idea of the absurd where the pursuit for the meaning of life and the uncertainty of finding an answer is expressed in how his characters pine and struggle for a place and meaning in an irrational world.

The exhibition constructs a world that is in a perpetual melee and surveys themes of life and death, human conditions, and limitations, freedoms, and volitions, as well as subjectivities, and agencies.

It sets itself in a dyspeptic environment full of transgressions and malevolent activities fixating on substance abuse as witnessed by the artist.

The exhibition locates itself in the immediate reality basking in the peculiarities of experiences operating on personal and social contradictions.

It is a registry of Miravalles’ observations of the chaos that besiege him and his trepidations regarding his position in all of these.

Miravalles hails from Bacolod City, the City of Smiles. He took Fine Arts and studied Painting at the La Consolacion College, Bacolod City.

Since completing his degree in 2008, he has joined various group exhibitions and mounted a number of solo shows locally and abroad.

Locally, he has been represented by established art institutions such as the Negros Museum (Bacolod), Boston Gallery, Blanc, and Ysobel Art Gallery in Manila, to name a few.

Overseas, he has brought his works to Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia through collective exhibitions.

He has also been a recipient of several art grants from the following organizations: IILM School of Design (Delhi, India in 2015), HOM Art Trans (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2014) and SAGE Residency (Jogjakarta, Indonesia in 2013.

DTI bags excellence, merit awards in 2015 Philippine Quill Awards

(DTI/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY (PIA)--The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) won three top recognitions in the 2015 Philippine Quill Awards, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines’ annual awards program for excellent corporate communications, held last 17 May at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Newport City, Pasay City.

The DTI racked up two awards in the Communication Management division. For the Employee Engagement category, the Department received an Award of Excellence for the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS). SPMS is a mechanism aligning employee and organizational performances to enhance the performance orientation of the compensation system. The DTI was also given an Award of Merit in the Government Communication Programs category for its Prosperity Plan 2016 entry, which details how the Department maximized its resources to promote its overall vision of a “More Prosperous Philippines by 2016”.

The DTI also triumphed in the Special Events category of the Communication Skills division for its System on Performance Rewards and Incentives (SPRInts) program.

The three entries described the strategies executed by the DTI to convey the core messages of its programs and projects to its key audiences. Various services, programs, and quad-media channels were utilized for effective communication.

DTI-Industry Promotion Group (IPG) Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado, DTI-Management Services Group (MSG) Assistant Secretary Ireneo V. Vizmonte, Human Resource and Administrative Service (HRAS) Director Joel R. Cruz, and Corporate Planning Service (CorPlan) Director Mary Jean T. Pacheco accepted the citations in behalf of the Department.

By winning three “Quills”, the DTI achieves the highest global standard for business communication practices and strategies,” Terrado added.

Last year, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia recognized the Department as one of the first Islands of Good Governance (IGG) alongside 11 other public sector agencies for its dedication to make public service delivery more efficient.

DTI also earned the Gold Governance Trailblazing Seal for all four stages of the Performance Governance System which attests to the Department’s commitment to exact accountability in public service by aligning its organizational performance with the individual performance of its employees under its SPMS.

The Quill and ISA awards recognize the Department’s efforts to professionalize its services and run side by side with the best in the private sector. Notably, the DTI programs that Quill and ISA evaluated were the same, each validating the agency accomplishment in the field of public service communication.

“Our three awards give pride to our staff, at the same time humbling our spirits that good public service can only be done by strong and unwavering commitment to do good and be felt so that we can make a difference,” Terrado said.

MMDA to launch 2nd MMShakeDrill website on Monday

(PNA) SCS/CLTC/Tresha R. Finianos/Hygeian R. Español (OJTs)

MANILA, May 27 (PNA) -- To raise public awareness about the upcoming second Metro Manila Shake Drill scheduled next month, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will launch a website, //www: mmshakedrill.ph. as well as the #mmshakedrill for social media, on Monday (May 30).

MMDA officials, led by Chairman Emerson Carlos, will spearhead the launching at around 10 a.m. at the MMDA Auditorium in Makati City.

The event is organized with the help of several partners, including local and regional disaster risk reduction management officers, public information officers in Metro Manila, and different media organizations, such as online news website Rappler.

Visitors of the website, //www: mmshakedrill.ph, will get basic but very vital survival tips and list of evacuation centers in the event of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake as it will contain Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The website will also detail the Oplan Metro Yakal Plus, MMDA’s disaster contingency plan drawn up for the regional disaster response.

To ensure maximum public participation, the website will feature instructions on how to sign up as participants, whether by individual or by group, in the 2nd Metro Manila ShakeDrill.

Under the Metro Yakal Plus, the MMDA is responsible for command and control and search and rescue operations if the Big One jolts Metro Manila.

MMDA officials, along with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, have already been sitting down with various government agencies and different sectors of society for the review of the 1st Metro Manila ShakeDrill held on July 30 last year.

During the series of coordination meetings, MMDA executives also encourage participants to simulate a more realistic and new scenarios to challenge the disaster preparedness and response of every group.

The 2nd Metro Manila ShakeDrill will be held at the same time as the national government’s Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on June 22 at around 9 a.m.

As with last year’s shake drill, Metro Manila will be divided in four quadrants – East, West, North and South — where both government personnel and rescue volunteers will be setting up command and control centers.

Meanwhile, MMDA has urged local government units to identify evacuation areas in their localities.

Edward Gonzales, MMDA Rescue and Emergency Group head, said many Metro Manila residents are clueless where they can go should a strong earthquake hit the metropolis.

“We are calling on LGUs to look for open spaces in their areas to be designated as evacuation centers where families can seek refuge,” said Gonzales.

As part of its preparations, the MMDA will be permanently placing 20-foot container vans in the four quadrants in Metro Manila where command and control centers will be set up to facilitate the deployment of resources and rescue personnel.

Currently, the East Quadrant command center is located at LRT-2 train depot in Santolan, Pasig City; the North Quadrant at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; the South Quadrant at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City; and the West Quadrant at the Intramuros Golf Course in Manila.

The vans, which will be guarded 24/7 by MMDA personnel, contain medicines, extrication equipment, tents and other materials needed for rescue and emergency response.

The Shake Drill is organized to help people prepare for the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that could kill at least 33,500 people and injure at least 113,600 along with the movement in the west valley fault.

DTI-NCR conducts Diskwento Caravan Balik-Eskwela Edition

(DTI/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, May 26 (PIA)--In preparation of the incoming school year, the Department of Trade and Industry – National Capital Regional Office (DTI-NCRO) in partnership with the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) has started a Diskwento Caravan Balik-Eskwela Edition at the OTOP Showroom at the Trade and Industry Building in Makati City which will run from May 2 until May 27.

The Diskwento Caravan Balik-Eskwela Edition is one of the regular projects of DTI where participating manufacturers sell their products at an affordable and discounted price. Products are sold at 10-70% lower than the suggested retail price (SRP).

The Diskwento Caravan Balik-Eskwela Edition aims to provide and bring basic and prime commodities closer to the general consuming public who are holding office at the business district of Makati. Products displayed during the Balik-Eskwela Editions are food items, school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and other school related merchandise.

The Diskwento Caravan Balik-Eskwela Edition is also in partnership with the local manufacturers of school related items who are willing to sell at a lower price.

'Light in the Darkness' painting by Arriola/Lichauco at Yuchengco Museum until June 18

(PNA), SCS/LOR/EDS

MANILA (PNA) -- The sprawling and cutting edge Yuchengco Museum at Ayala Ave. in Makati City has started showing "Light in the Darkness" and will go on for public viewing until June 18.

"Light in the Darkness" features paintings and drawings by Danilo Arriola from the collection of the artist and his first collector and patron, Architect Dan A. Lichauco. The exhibit also includes a reconstruction of Arriola's studio with curio cabinets of objects he uses in his artworks.

Both hailing from the University of Santo Tomas, artist and architect share a love for the classical and somber, simplified subject matters that speak with symbolic meaning.

Painter Danilo Angeles Arriola Jr. lives a life full of creative zest, despite a debilitating illness that confines him to a wheelchair and renders him color-blind.

He paints from life and explores the time-tested techniques of classical European painters such as Caravaggio, Chardin, and Bouguereau.

Meanwhile, art collector Dan A. Lichauco is the Principal Partner of Archion Architects.

Like Arriola, Lichauco pursued architecture at UST and has a love for classical images. Lichauco has collected Arriola’s work since the artist was a student at the Florence Academy of Art.

For further information, go for live showing at the Museum from 10 a.m. daily and enjoy the different scenes and topics pictured by the pair in modern setting with noveau art and culture.

(News Feature) Wow Taiwan Selects makes its first stop in Manila

By Filane Mikee Cervantes [(PNA), RMA/FMC]

MANILA, May 24 (PNA) -- The "Wow! Taiwan Selects Pop-up Store" has officially kicked off in the Philippines in a bid to promote Made-in-Taiwan (MIT) products while giving Filipinos a fresh impression of Taiwan.

Authorized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI) launched the week-long exhibition from May 23 until May 29 at the Glorietta Mall in Makati City to showcase MIT products that appealed primarily to younger consumers.

Nick Ni, Director of the Economic Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, said the pop-up store--a trend of opening up a sale space within a limited period of time--is an innovative way to support Taiwanese manufacturers and boost exports.

Ni said that the pop-up store features products ranging from beauty, lifestyle to food and beverage, which will certainly pique the interests of the young generation in the Philippines, particularly those in their early 20's.

"We are very optimistic that our products can penetrate through this market because it fits the interests of the young people here," Ni told reporters during the media launch on Tuesday.

In fact, a study has been conducted to determine the shopping preferences and local characteristics of Filipinos.

"We've studied the Philippine market for years, and have seen that the youth made up most of the population," said Josh Kang, Director of the Department of Global Marketing & Consulting Division of Marketing Research, Wow! Taiwan Selects.

"We were convinced about the strong market potential of the country, and that's why we decided on a store theme that grabs the attention of young Filipinos," he added.

Under the theme "Let's Home Party!", the pop-up store featured delicacies, cosmetics, fashion, technology, and modern household goods catering to a younger market.

The store was designed to exude a party-like vibe, while the use of bright, energetic colors such as blue, yellow, and orange created an atmosphere modern Filipino families would enjoy.

For the Philippines, 15 popular Taiwanese brands were introduced, with freebies and demos so participants would get a glimpse of Taiwan's best.

Featured beauty and skincare brands included Dr. Morita, well-known facial mask brand that has sold 30 million pieces worldwide; Naruko, which specializes on natural skincare products; TS6, a globally famous probiotic brand for women's health; Hydron, the top Taiwanese contact lens brand; Dr. Formula, a body and beauty care line; and City Color, a brand known for its affordable fashion cosmetic products.

As for lifestyle, the pop-up store introduced Filipino consumers to Sakura, one of the best brands in integrated kitchenware; KTV-Brio, the smart mobile product manufacturer; O'Ringo, a well-known handmade leather shoe brand; and Kimo Footwear, which adopts German design to Asian needs for comfortable shoes.

Lastly, guests can indulge in delectable treats and beverages fresh from Taiwan, including Seven Seven, a chocolate brand that has sold 6.7 billion chocolate treats worldwide; Taiwan beer, an authentic Taiwanese beer in classic and fruit flavors; Sweet Mountain, which offers updated versions of traditional cookies and jelly treats; Royal Family, famous for its Japanese-style rice cake; and Yon-ho, a spy milk brand that is internationally popular.

The Philippines is only the store's first stop in the Southeast Asian region this 2016.

The "Wow! Taiwan Selects Pop-up Store" will be making its next stops in Jakarta, Indonesia and in Hanoi, Vietnam.

FDG Cup set

(Tempo)

The country’s leading players and rising stars gear up for another four-day battle of skills and wits when the FDG Cup Badminton Championships, one of the country’s premier events, is held June 9-12 at Power Smash Badminton Center in Makati and Robinsons Place Manila.

The tournament has grown in stature and prestige over the years with its high-powered cast and big prizes with the organizers guaranteeing another blockbuster staging on its 13th year of providing top-notch badminton action featuring members of the national team, a slew of upcoming stars and foreign participants.

Sarah Barredo and Mark Alcala seek back-to-back championships in their respective sides in the premier Open singles of the annual event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association.

As in its past staging, the ranking tournament, sponsored by Babolat Philippines, which will provide the official shuttlecocks, will be spiced up by two world-class players raring to showcase their talent and skills before local badminton fans.

BFP Makati beefs up fire safety measures

(PNA), BNB/CLTC

MANILA, May 22 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Makati continues to intensify its campaign for fire safety, following the recent completion of its inspection and testing of 239 fire hydrants in 10 barangays in the city.

In a report to Acting Mayor Kid Peña, BFP Makati deputy fire marshall Greg Elbambo said ten of the fire hydrants inspected were not functional, particularly those located in Barangays Bangkal, Palanan, Poblacion and Comembo. The rest were found to be in working condition in Pio del Pilar, La Paz, Tejeros, Valenzuela, West Rembo, and Guadalupe Nuevo.

Elbambo said his office has immediately notified the concessionaire supplying water in the said areas, urging the latter to make the necessary repairs so that the hydrants could be used in case of fire in the vicinity.

The fire chief said the bureau has also completed the inspection of 2,621 establishments in Makati as of March 31. Of these, none was recommended for correction or closure, he noted. So far, the bureau has issued 964 fire safety inspection certificate to fully compliant establishments. For establishments still lacking some requirements, BFP-Makati has taken the following actions: building plans reviewed (146), lectures conducted (181), fire drills conducted (37), and volunteer fire brigades trained (181).

Recently, the city government turned over to the bureau of fire a ladder fire truck and super tanker fire truck. The ladder fire truck can respond to fires in high rise 20-storey buildings.

Meanwhile, nine pre-school, primary and secondary schools were visited by fire personnel and BFP mascot “Berong Bombero” to increase their awareness on fire safety and preparedness. These included Havens Montessori (Guadalupe), Palanan Elementary School, Nicanor Garcia Elementary School (Olympia), Maximo Estrella Elementary School (Carmona), Comembo Elementary School, Barangay Tejeros Day Care Center, Bangkal Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, and Rizal Elementary School.

BFP Makati has also conducted refresher training courses for barangay responders, including Barangay Tanod (watchmen) and officials of Tejeros, Fire and Rescue brigades of Guadalupe Nuevo, Pitogo, South Cembo, and Bantay Bayan and staff of Pinagkaisahan, East Rembo, Palanan, and PP Southside.

Ayala Museum GuitarNights Feature LIED DUO of Schoch and Linck on June 2

By Lily O Ramos [(PNA), RMA/LOR/RSM]

MANILA (PNA) -- The Ayala Museum on June 2 will feature the German duo of Knut Schoch and Carsten Linck at 6:30 p.m. at the Ayala Museum Ground Lobby Greenbelt, Makati City.

GuitarNights is a new addition to the list of musical experiences offered by Ayala Museum and Independent Philippine Art Ventures, Inc. (IPAV), gathering some of the country's foremost and international classical guitarists, bringing the familiar and beloved instrument to a whole new light.

Reviews from differing musicians say that in the 19th century, the “golden age” of the guitar, songs with a guitar accompaniment were the most popular form of vocal music-making.

Innumerable compositions for this combination – not only in German – appeared at this time, true masterpieces in a virtually inexhaustible repertoire of songs.

It was only from the 1830s that this position on the “popularity scale” was increasingly assumed by the piano, and the guitar song was gradually pushed into the background.

To this day, the wistfulness of the guitar, its sensitivity and delicacy, still reveal a very personal and rather intimate view of the songs of love, passion and death.

The listener often finds these settings of poems dealing with romantic feelings or the descriptions of nature popular at the time to be more authentic, and especially in the quieter ranges, more subtle.

The concerts given by the LIED duo (Knut Schoch and Carsten Linck), are always received with enthusiasm by their audience on account of their freshness and intensity, demonstrate the value of reviving the treasures of the guitar song genre from this period.

Their usual repertoires include both original compositions from the 1800s and original arrangements of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and Johannes Brahms.

The duo’s captivating concert appearances, enhanced by short introductions to the works and their respective composers composers, give an unforgettable insight into rarely heard but exciting repertoires.

In addition, transcriptions such as of the song cycle Die schöne Müllerin by Franz Schubert provide an opportunity to discover new perspectives to old familiar works.

For these song recitals, Carsten Linck plays a 19th century guitar replica by Johann Georg Staufer which has a very similar sound to a fortepiano of the period.

As the guitar is played standing, the player can perform in an informal narrative style, creating a very lively performance for the audience.

Tickets are priced at Php 700 Regular, Php 560 Discounted Rate, Php 500 Senior Citizens and Php 300 for Students

Tickets available for sale at the Ayala Museum ticket counter, open during museum hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m..

For inquiries and reservations: CALL: 759 82 88 local 31 or EMAIL: concerts@ayalamuseum.org.

Makati City, Sultan Kudarat town to forge sisterhood ties

(PNA), FFC/AVE/AL M. SALUDO

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 20 (PNA) -- The city of government of Makati will soon sign a sisterhood agreement with the municipal government of Lutayan in Sultan Kudarat.

Such development was personally announced by Vice President Jejomar Binay in a visit to the municipality on Thursday.

Binay, who forged sisterhood ties with various localities in the country in his previous stint as Makati City mayor, said the proposed agreement will mainly strengthen the relations of the two areas.

He said it will usher in further exchanges between the two local governments, especially in terms of governance and socio-economic aspects.

“It will be beneficial to both as they can learn from each other’s ideas, best practices and cultures,” he told reporters.

The vice president was in the area for the Ta’Ziyah for the late Lutayan Vice Mayor Ibrahim Macasayon, who is one of his staunch supporters in the area.

An Islamic reference site noted that Ta'ziyah means “to console, comfort and give solace to someone who is suffering grief.”

Former Lutayan mayor and outgoing Sultan Kudarat first district Rep. Raden Sakaluran lauded the sisterhood initiative, citing the municipality’s residents will benefit more from it.

“It will be a big boost to Lutayan in terms of the promotion of its economic potentials,” the official said.

Sakaluran, who was elected vice governor of Sultan Kudarat in the May 9 elections, said he is hoping that the move will eventually help ease the prevailing negative perception of the town due to its past peace and order problems.

The sisterhood agreement is expected to be signed when Makati City mayor-elect and outgoing Rep. Mar-len Abigail Binay-Campos, and Lutayan mayor-elect Princess Mangudadatu-Sakaluran assume their posts next month.

Regus takes over Ascott center

(Manila Bulletin)

Global workplace provider Regus is taking over the Ascott serviced offices in Glorietta 4, Ayala Centre Makati City. They are also opening a new business center located at Taguig following the openings in Clark, Manila and Cebu last December 2015.

Joining the Philippine Stock Exchange and other major corporate office in Ayala, the Ascott Makati Business Center offers ease and convenience to all business travelers. With 2000 sqm of flexible workspace, Ascott stands in the heart of the commercial and business district of Makati City. This center represents the first of alternative venues that will be operated by Regus in the Philippines.

“As the global economy becomes more unpredictable and volatile, Filipino businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for flexible real estate solutions for their operations. Our proven model is in greater demand, allowing companies of all sizes to set up quickly without the costs and risks of managing their own infrastructure,” said Lars Wittig, Regus Philippines Country Manager.

Aside from the situational forces, the continuously growing population of millenials who are raring to join the workforce will help in transforming the business landscape rapidly.

Survey shows that millenials seek flexibility at work, with 75% of respondents who gives importance to working flexibly while staying on track for promotions and 44% shows willingness to take pay cuts to enjoy more flexibility and work-life balance. Without a flexible working option and more work-life integration, it is more difficult for organizations to retain younger staff if they fail to adopt this growing trend.

Wittig commented that both local and international companies are benefitting from the assistance, facilities, and products and networking opportunities that are offered by Regus. Being supported mainly by favorable employment conditions and wage growth, domestic consumption invariably leads to a rise in the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the nation. In turn, they need to move quickly and strategically plan their next move in order to leverage new market openings. Vital towards fostering a self-sustained Philippine economy are the supporting SMEs and local entrepreneurs.

Regus Philippines now has 24 business centers that provide workspace solutions for both local and international companies searching for office spaces and business facilities in the country. Bringing network development to the company, the Ascott and Taguig business centers will be the new centers of Regus Philippines opening this year, exceeding previous years’ record high expansion rates.

(News Feature) Vivo V3 Max smartphone: Faster, smarter

By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata [(PNA), LGI/MCCA]

MANILA, May 18 (PNA) -- Is it possible to read and reply to a text message while watching movie on your smartphone? How about taking selfies by just tapping a button at the back of your phone?

With Vivo V3 Max, these and more are possible.

Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has launched the V3 Max in the Philippines, and this will be available in the market starting May 21.

Vivo recognizes that people these days tend to multi-task. That is why, using state of the art technologies, it has equipped the V3 Max with features that would cater to the customers' needs.

"The company is always in pursuit of innovation. Vivo is providing more options for Filipino consumers with specific needs through highly competitive smartphone offerings," said Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president, during the launch held in Makati City.

Key features

Vivo boasts of the V3 Max's "faster than faster" performance and premium features such as faster finger print unlocking, faster charging, quick-launch camera, plus the smart split function.

"There is a need for speed, especially when downloading games, watching movies, etc.," noted Mark Cuevas, Vivo Philippines product manager.

With this, the V3 Max was powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 Octa-core processor, and also comes with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage expandable via Micro SD Card up to 128GB. The phone runs on Vivo's official Funtouch OS 2.5 based on Android Lollipop 5.1.

Moreover, the phone is equipped with with dual fast charging engines compatible with Qualcomm's QC 2.0 international standard, ensuring compatibility with certified fast chargers in the market.

True to its "faster than faster" tagline, the Vivo V3 Max allows users to unlock the phone in about 0.2 to 0.5 seconds. Users don't even need to memorize a code or password to unlock the phone as it is equipped with a fingerprint scanner.

Love taking photos? The phone has a quick-launch camera feature. The rear camera is 13MP while front camera is 8MP.

For users who are having a hard time taking selfies, all they need to do is tap the button at the back (also the one used to unlock the phone) to take shots.

Do you hate being interrupted while watching your favorite movie? Through V3 Max's split screen function, you can still read text messages and reply to these even if the movie is ongoing.

Users can also open multiple apps at the same time. Thus, one can multitask without having to exit an app before he/she can open several other apps.

It has a 5.5" full HD (1920X1080) display, making it suitable not just for games and photos/videos, but also for viewing documents.

Meanwhile, Bascon shared that based on the International Data Corporation's (IDC) first quarter statistics, Vivo was among the top five global phone manufacturers.

"Filipinos can look forward to more innovations in the future," she added.

The Vivo V3 Max can be availed from major retailers in Manila, Cebu and Davao at SRP Php16,990.

Barangay micro-business enterprises may now register for free at Negosyo Centers

(DTI)

MAKATI CITY, May 17 -- Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) can now register their businesses, free of charge, at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the agency’s Negosyo Centers.

“We encourage micro enterprises to register their businesses and avail of the incentives under the BMBE Law,” DTI Regional Operations Group Supervising Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said.

Maglaya said that registered BMBEs can avail of government incentives that include exemption from the payment of income tax for income arising from the operation of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions that will service the needs of BMBEs, as well as technology and marketing assistance.

Under Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, a BMBE is referred to as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million. Such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the land on which the plant and equipment are located.

The DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 16-01 last April 22, 2016 which provides guidelines on registering BMBEs at Negosyo Centers. Under DAO 16-01, DTI is the sole agency which shall issue a Certificate of Authority (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers or at DTI offices where Negosyo Centers have not been set up.

Prior to the issuance of the DAO, BMBEs register at the Office of the Treasurer of the city or municipality where the business is located.

Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs as an essential driving force for the country’s economic development. According to the law, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and augment Filipinos’ quality of life.”

“Mga Likha Ni Inay” fusion of arts, crafts, fashion to be staged in AIM Makati

(PNA), RMA/SEP/PR/EBP

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna, May 16 (PNA) -- A fusion of arts, crafts and fashion featuring the creativity and artistry of the “Mga Likha Ni Inay” (MLNI) mothers and women micro-entrepreneurs will be featured from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday (May 17) at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City.

Cleofe Figuracion, Deputy Director of the Corporate Communications Unit of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) - Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (MRI) community development group, said this would be the first arts event of the member-institution to showcase micro-entrepreneurs’ craftsmanship.

Figuracion said their first artistic venture was themed “Created from the Heart and Home, Mga Likha Ni Inay Builds a Nation and Crafts a Better World” and would feature fashion creations made from indigenous materials like T’nalak and Lumban fabrics produced by CARD MRI clients.

She said the art designs were crafted in collaboration with Anthill Fabric Gallery in a bid to promote the products of the micro-entrepreneurs to the mainstream market.

Another highlight is a photographic gallery by Jake Versoza and Jeffrey Rilles featuring CARD MRI products and the micro-entrepreneurs.

Figuracion said that social change ambassadors who serve as models of the fashion creations would be available for informal interviews during the cocktails following their mini fashion show.

The corporate communications deputy director also disclosed that MLNI is CARD-MRI’s 14th institution which aims to consolidate products of the microfinance clients, improve their products through technical assistance and assist the clients in their market linkages.

Makati schools thank ‘gamified’ online lessons for higher test scores

By Jovic Yee (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

PUBLIC schools in Makati City were able to improve their students’ performance in the recent National Achievement Test (NAT) by up to 30 percent, an accomplishment being attributed to an online platform designed to make learning more fun.

Maria Theresa Namoro, assistant schools division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Makati, said the students were able to raise their English proficiency and competency in Math and Science with the help of Quipper School, a free online learning tool that allows teachers to “streamline teaching methods and class management,” enabling students to “learn in a fun and effective way.”

Namoro said public schools in the city who availed themselves of the program last year, such as East Rembo Elementary School and Makati Science High School, were able to increase their NAT results by 20 to 30 percent.

Developed by London-based education technology firm Quipper, the online learning program now used by around 1,400 schools nationwide aims to improve the quality of education in the country by transforming the teaching and learning experience in schools. The program, according to Namoro, is equipped with lessons “based on the competencies of the K-12 program.”

As technology becomes increasingly pervasive in everyday life, teachers are ironically encountering more pupils who have difficulty focusing on their lessons, Namoro said.

Quipper country manager Yuki Naotori said the program addresses this concern as students find it more fun to study through the “gamification” of their lessons.

Jelis Mercader, the company’s head of content, said the gamified lessons and quizzes further motivate students to master new concepts or skills. “There’s instant gratification. It also gives students the opportunity to learn and relearn,” Mercader added.

With the rollout of the senior high school program next month, the company is set to employ the same technique for 1.2 million registered students in both private and public schools.

At present, the curriculum for incoming Grade 11 students includes oral communication, general mathematics, earth and life science, among others.

To date, the program is being used by 33 DepEd divisions, from Mountain Province up north to Zamboanga City in the south. It has 200,000 active monthly users, mostly from public schools.

Naotori said they are targeting around half a million active users per month in the next two years.

Ayala Museum celebrates "International Museum Day 2016 on May 20

By Lily O Ramos [(PNA), RMA/LOR/RSM]

MANILA (PNA) -- The Ayala Museum of Makati City will celebrate the "International Museum Day 2016" onMay 20 from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

The event will highlights "Roots Heritage and Cultural Heritage of Negros and Panay."

Admission is free starting with Origin Tree Art Activity and Local Food Fair.

Destileria Limtuaco, Malagos Farmhouse and KKK coffee will be around to help in the festivity.

Further information on the affair could be obtained by calling 75982-88 of the Ayala Museum org.

Osmak to hold disaster related activities from May 15-21

(PNA), RMA/CLTC

MANILA, May 13 (PNA) -- The city government of Makati, through the Ospital ng Makati Department of Emergency, Pre-hospital, Disaster and Ambulatory Care Medicine, in collaboration with Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, will host the second national Emergency Services Week celebration from May 15 to 21, 2016.

Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña expressed his gratitude to the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine for allowing Makati to host the EMS week events.

“I fully support this kind of initiative because it strengthens and sharpens the knowledge and skills of our medical and allied health care practitioners,” Peña said adding the event will be attended by doctors, emergency medical technicians and health practitioners

The theme for this year’s EMS week is “Convergence: Bridging the Gap between EMS Systems” that aims to address the gaps on the issues involving practice and standards between EMS systems, and to unify and strengthen collaboration among EMS systems of the local government and private sector.

The first day of the celebration will begin with an ambulance parade on May 15, 2016 where the north and south sectors of Metro Manila will start their respective entourage and converge at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle. This will be followed by the opening ceremony, lecture on need for ambulance standardization, and awarding of certificate of recognition.

On May 17, 2016, for the EMS Forum to be held at the 22/F Session Hall and Executive Lounge of New Makati City Hall Building, the Department of Health will lecture on 117 as National Emergency Hotline, Pre-hospital Registry, and Ambulance Standardization. The EMS Convention on May 18 to be held at University of Makati Grand Theater is a scientific congress that will discuss AHA 2015 updates (by Philippine Heart Association; Bioterrorism and Chemical Warfare and Hazards App (by Phil. Red Cross); and Mass Casualty Incident Management for Medical Responders, and Economics of EMS. The winner in the simultaneous CPR video contest will also be proclaimed on this date.

On May 20, 2016, there will be a Mass Casualty Incident competition at the UMak Track Oval, with a lecture before commencement of the drill. On May 21, 2016, a Press Conference will be held at 22/F Session Hall and Executive Lounge of New Makati City Hall Building. To be presented in this conference are the PAROS (Pan Asian Resuscitation Outcome Study) research, and the PHA (Philippine Heart Association) data on out of hospital cardiac arrest. Dinner and entertainment will ensue at the fellowship night.

Meanwhile, Osmak’s Emergency Department will hold the “Conundrums in Emergency Department: Trauma and Forensics, The High-Yield Lectures” on July 23, 2016, from 8:00am to 5:00 p.m., at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premiere.

Doctors, registered nurses, EMTs, and allied health practitioners are invited to attend this post graduate convention. Early registrations entitle the participants with discounts. For inquiries, please contact 0933-501-4113,ospitalngmakati.emergency@gmail.com, (02) 882-6316 to 36 local 457/461.

Talks on Philippine Cinema with Nick Deocampo inby Lily O Ramos

(PNA), RMA/LOR/EDS

MANILA, May 12 (PNA) -- Philippine cinema, whether digital or not, would be an explosive topic for discussionfor three successive Saturdays in June by scholar Nick Deocampo at the Ayala Museum in Greenbelt, Makati City.

Tickets has been pegged at Php 300 for Regulars, Php 270 Student/Member and AGC and Php 800 Season Pass

On June 11, 2016 Saturday, Iyakan at Sampalan: Melodrama in Philippine Cinema will be discussed by Deocampo.

Melodrama is the “queen” of Filipino movie genres. It has dominated and permeated almost all mainstream cinematic forms ever known in the country.

But a movie genre can only result from the habitual patronage by movie viewers of familiar story patterns and character types, resulting in a reciprocal relation between film artist and audience. Re-acquaint yourself with the familiar. By knowing your villains and martyrs in Filipino movies, get to know the society that breeds their reality, said Deocampo.

June 18, 2016, historical film Bayani at Kaaway: Historical Film in Philippine Cinema-- the closest to mirroring Philippine history. Heroes and traitors come alive as conflicts spark the screen and reenact moments of great social relevance to us Filipinos.

From biopics about Rizal and Bonifacio to Heneral Luna and the common indio, movies become bearers of our memories as a people. This way, too, historical movies become narratives of our nationhood.

On June 25, Mainstream vs Indie: Philippine Cinema at the Crossroads where debate will be on! Mainstream or indie? Which way forward for Philippine cinema?

Find out the relations between commercial cinema and independent filmmaking. Where do they merge, how do they differ? In the age of Digital Technology, is there a way out from this binary opposition and what other alternative filmic expressions are there for cinema to assume in the Philippines?

Deocampo studied in France as a French Government scholar. Under a Fulbright Scholarship Grant, Deocampo earned his Master of Arts degree in Cinema .

Deocampo is a multi-awarded filmmaker, writer, educator, and currently an associate professor at the U.P. Film Institute, College of Mass Communication at U.P. Diliman.

Deocampo graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Theater Arts at the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1981. He studied filmmaking in Pariss at the New York University in 1989. He has written prizewinning books on Philippine cinema.

For inquiries, call: 759 82 88 or email hello@ayalamuseum.org.

DOT turns 43; joins Snapchat

(PNA), RMA/ANP

MANILA, May 11 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday took its social-media presence to a higher level by joining image-messaging and multimedia mobile app Snapchat, in time for its 43rd anniversary.

DOT’s newly-created Snapchat username ‘tourismphl’ similar to its Twitter and Instagram usernames.

The department has already posted two snaps—one showing chefs slicing a Filipino-favorite dish, lechon (roasted pig) and another showing a vibrant rest-bar called Kanto Bar and Grill along Jupiter St., Makati.

This comes after the DOT partnered with award-winning creative technology agency Beautiful Destinations to capture destination images and videos that drive interest among its followers and inspire them to visit the country.

Beautiful Destinations is responsible for creating the largest travel and lifestyle portfolio on both Instagram and Snapchat that can reach more than 10 million followers around the world.

DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said that partnering with Beautiful Destinations is an effective way to make the Philippines’ presence in the digital space more felt by travelers who are highly reliant on social media.

He further said that the DOT would leverage this strength by utilizing social media in most of its campaigns on many occasions.

Data from the DOT showed that as of February 2016, tourist arrivals in the Philippines marked a double-digit growth of 20.42 percent to 549,725 visitors compared to the 456, 524 visitors in the same period last year.

The total number of inbound visitors recorded from January to February 2016 already reached 1,091,983, a 16.71 percent increase from the same period in 2015.

Top visitor market was still Korea with around 284,763 visitors followed by the United States with 155,796 visitors and China, with 130,916 visitors.

As for tourism receipts, the Philippines acquired Php27.49 billion earnings in February 2016, a 42.09 percent hike from Php 19.35 billion in the same period last year, DOT said.

This was attributed to the government’s efforts to raise greater awareness among the international community and unlock investments in the Philippines’ emerging economy.

Jimenez earlier said that the biggest change during the Aquino Administration is that Filipino people are now “more enthusiastic about tourism itself.”

Incumbent mayors in southern Metro Manila prevail in polls

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan [(PNA) BNB/CLTC/ Ivy C. Cuebillas/ Christian Robert M. Roxas (OJTs)]

MANILA, May 10 (PNA) -- Most incumbent mayors in southern Metro Manila are set to serve another three-year term in office, with nearly all of them winning a landslide victory based on official results of the canvassing of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In Muntinlupa City, re-electionist Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi obtained a landslide victory along with the majority of his party’s slate in the local election.

Fresnedi was proclaimed as the Muntinlupa's chief executive by Comelec Election Officer Atty. Ronald Sindo, Board of Canvassers Atty. Silverio Garing and City Prosecutor Aileen Marie Gutierrez on Tuesday in the City Council’s Session Hall.

Fresnedi garnered 125,250 votes in the official tally by Comelec, leading by 58,000 votes against rival mayoralty candidate Aldrin San Pedro.

Liberal Party bets Ruffy Biazon for the congressional race and Celso Dioko for vice-mayoralty post also won with 135,470 and 103,142 votes, respectively.

In Pasay City, incumbent mayor Antonino “Tony Calixto” of Liberal Part (LP) was a runaway winner with 113,218 votes, followed by Jose Antonio Roxas of United Nationalist Alliance, 42,441 and Jorge Del Rosario of PDP-Laban at 10,552.

For the city's vice mayor post, Noel Del Rosario (LP) has 94,362 defeated incumbent vice mayor Marlon Pesebre of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with 81,389 votes.

Calixto sister, incumbent congresswoman Emi Calixto- Rubiano retained her post with 140,141 defeated her opponent Sonny Quial who only got 30,679 votes.

In Taguig City, unopposed last termer Mayor Lani Cayetano, was proclaimed on Tuesday.

Cayetano garnered a total votes of 225,496 while Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr. was also re-elected with 222,172 votes.

Cayetano’s sister-in-law, Senator Pia Cayetano is set to serve as Taguig second district representative with 94,228 votes and incumbent District 1 Representative Arnel Cerafica with 102,954 votes won against Gloria Cabrera with 11,051 votes.

Also, Las Pinas City elected the wife of incumbent mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar, Imelda Aguilar, who garnered a sum of 183,511 votes defeating four other mayoralty candidates.

Aguilar assured city residents that she will continue to pursue the programs and projects and provide the basic services like free education, free hospitalization among others initiated by her husband.

Louie Bustamante retains his vice mayoralty post beating Louie Casimiro with 155,668 votes.

Meanwhile, Mark Villar was proclaimed on Tuesday as he was re-elected for the third time as the representative of Las Pinas.

Villar garnered 174,533 votes or 86.5 percent of the results, over two other independent candidates.

In Parañaque City, incumbent Mayor Edwin Olivarez emerged victorious in his re-election bid.

Olivarez, who is set serve his second term, vowed to continue and finish all the projects he started during his term.

He added that three years of serving the people is too short.

The partial and unofficial results for the city 's vice mayor post race shows Jose Enrico Golez garnered a total vote of 118,928 while his opponent incumbent Barangay chairman in BF, Jeremy Marquez garnered a total of 93,574 votes.

Marquez is a son of former city mayor and actor-comedian Joey Marquez.

For the city’s first district representative, Eric Olivarez had a wide margin of votes 79,351 against independent candidate Vic Celeridad with only 2,230 votes while for the Second District - incumbent Congressman Gus Tambunting garnered a total votes of 63,642 against his rival, Roilo Golez with 60,804.

In Makati City, the Binays regained the city's leadership after Vice President Jejomar Binay daughter, Congresswoman Abby Binay was proclaimed as the city’s new mayor early morning Tuesday.

Binay got a total votes of 153,487 against incumbent acting mayor Kid Peña who has 137,803 votes.

On the other hand, Binay’s running mate, Monique Lagmadeo also got the vice mayor post with 166,450 votes.

Leading the congressional race is Binay’s husband, Luis Campos with 74,205, who is set to replace his wife as the second district of Makati representative.

Abby Binay ran for the mayor post after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of her brother, former Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay in October 2015 for being charged of “grave misconduct and dishonesty” in connection to the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall parking building project.

On the other hand, the lone municipality of Pateros elected Miguel Ponce as mayor with 9,760 votes beating his rival Daisy Reyes who garnered a sum of 8,444 votes and four others. Gerald German with 12,533 votes notched the vice mayor post defeating three other vice mayoralty bets.

MPIC unit eyes revenue boost from Cavitex-C5 Link

By Daphne J. Magturo (Reporter)

THE METRO Pacific group expects up to 45,000 vehicles to pass annually through the P12-billion Cavitex -- (Manila-Cavite Expressway) C5 South Link once it starts operations by January 2019, boosting the yearly revenue of its tollway unit Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) by 15%. “We expect a volume of 40,000 to 45,000. At opening date, our expectation for the toll rate is that it will be around P60 for the entire stretch of the 7.7 kilometers,” CIC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Luigi L. Bautista said on the sidelines of the project’s groundbreaking ceremony late Friday along Coastal Road.

From 2019, traffic volume is projected to increase by 2%-3% annually, and could go up to 7% as more motorists use the six-lane expressway connecting Circumferential Road No. 5 (C5) and Cavitex, a 14-kilometer expressway along the coast of Bacoor Bay after south of Roxas Boulevard with exits to Bacoor and Kawit.

“The current revenue of Cavitex with Segment 1 and Segment 4 is about P1.1 billion a year, so maybe this will contribute an additional 15%,” Mr. Bautista said.

The Cavitex-C5 South Link will run from the end of C5 -- just before entering the South Luzon Expressway -- to the Cavitex near the Parañaque toll plaza.

The project aims to decongest traffic by linking major business districts in Makati and Taguig to the southern cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite. It will be completed in December 2018 and will be available for public use in January 2019.

“South Metro Manila is composed mostly of residential areas. Most people living here are working in Makati, Taguig and Ortigas. So during rush hour, there is a large volume of vehicles that travel daily, resulting in traffic congestion in EDSA and C5,” he added.

The new expressway will allow residents from Cavite, Las Piñas and parts of Parañaque to “avoid EDSA” and take a direct link to and from C5 to the Cavitex. It will target mainly cargo trucks, vans and buses.

Mr. Bautista said his company is “currently negotiating” with local banks for the financing of the project.

CIC said the construction, operation and maintenance of the Cavitex-C5 South Link is projected to generate at least 1,000 jobs.

“When completed, the Cavitex C5 South Link is expected to enhance property values and boost economic development in the cities of Taguig and Parañaque. When it eventually connects with Cavite-Laguna Expressway, the transport of goods and travel of people between Metro Manila and southern Luzon will become easier by the year 2020,” the company said in a statement.

CIC is a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). MPIC is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Philex Mining Corp.

Hastings Holdings, Inc. -- a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. -- maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

P2P’s Trinoma-Glorietta 5 route to implement new sched starting May 15

By Azer N. Parrocha

MANILA, May 8 (PNA) -- The Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Service route between Trinoma, Quezon City and Glorietta 5, Makati City will be implementing a new schedule starting May 15.

Bus operator Froehlich Tours said that its new timetable will include seven new direct connections from SM City North EDSA to Glorietta 5 during morning peak hours as well as well as 10 connections from Trinoma with stopover at SM City North with destination Glorietta 5.

On the connections coming from Trinoma, the buses only stop at SM City North for loading and unloading and do not have any stopover to wait for incoming passengers.

Passengers at SM City North boarding buses coming from Trinoma need to get their tickets prior to departure from the ground staff to ensure timely boarding and departure of the buses.

Connections with departure Glorietta 5 starting by 4 p.m. will drop off passengers at Trinoma (1st stop) and SM City North (2nd stop). The last departure at Glorietta 5 to Trinoma and SM City North is at 11 p.m.

Departures from Glorietta 5 to Trinoma and SM City North during afternoon/evening peak hours have been increased to 50 trips between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. with shortened intervals.

Connections between Trinoma/SM City North and Glorietta 5 (vice versa) can accommodate now up to 10,000 passengers per day with more than 150 scheduled trips.

The P2P Bus Service project is part of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) program to modernize the public utility bus (PUB) system.

At present, the P2P routes that are operational are Trinoma-Makati, offered by Froehlich Tours, and Ortigas-Makati, offered by HM Transport. 6

Wine competition heats up as Australia introduces Penfolds to the local market

By Recto Mercene

AFTER Spain, it is now Australia’s turn to seek a bigger share of the Philippine wine market, as it introduced Penfolds, one of its oldest wineries, in the country.

Penfolds Winemaking Ambassador Patrick Dowling said during its upscale launch in Makati City that they have to bring their iconic brand to the Philippines, because of a growing middle class that is fast understanding the finer points wine.

“If we are not here, someone else will,” Dowling said, while adding that Penfolds has name recognition anywhere in the world.

Penfolds, which traces back its history to 1844, is part of the more than 100 varieties of Australian wines spread over 60 regions.

Dowling said Australia is the fifth-largest wine exporters in the world of “world-class quality wines.” He said, unlike other wines, Penfolds wines are mixtures of the different wines grown across several regions.

“We have a unique house style in making wines. We have distinct rules in wine making. Others have lots of single vine years. Ours is multiregional, multivarietal. We get to pick the best fruits. We are meticulous in our process without compromising style. We do not buy. We grow our fruits,” he said.

Dowling added that Penfolds bought 500 hectares of the choicest farmland in Adelaide, which they planted with grape vines, and the wines are used as tonic in his practice to cure anemia and high blood pressure.

“We all know today the benefits of red wine. Penfolds is probably well ahead of his time,” he noted.

Premiere Wine and Spirits President JP Santamarina Penfolds distributor in the Philippines, said the country has imported some 1.2 million cases of various wines each year.

He said the outlook for wine consumption looks bright for the country, because of the rising middle class coupled with the digital age educating the public on wine varieties and the lifestyle that goes along with wine drinking.

Santamarina said California wines remain the market leader because of its basement-level pricing. He then added that Penfolds is premium brand with the cheapest price at P500 per bottle and the ultrapremium at P25,000 per bottle.

During the launch, several variety of Penfolds wines were paired with the food served during the dinner.

It started with Penfolds Koonunga Hill Autumn Reisling 2015 with its tastes of lemon, lime and a range of other blossoms. It accompanied dishes that included Ahi poke and crispy rice, tempura lobster, caper and tarragon aioli.

Next was the smoked and roasted duck breast, with foie Gras, roast pear and leek tart, paired with Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro 2013.

Then came the slow cooked spiced lamb shoulder, roast pumpkin and Zatar crisp that went well with Penfolds Bin 407 cabernet sauvignon 2013.

The last was a serving of Jack creek Wagyu beef fillet, sweet onions, roast Celerac and watercress. It was paired with Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz 2013.

ALI nets P4.7 billion in Q1

By Krista Angela M. Montealegre

PROPERTY giant Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) drew strength from the continued development within its new and existing estates across the country to post a sustained double-digit growth in net profit in the first three months of the year.

The real estate arm of Ayala Corp. told the stock exchange on Wednesday it pocketed P4.7 billion in the first quarter, an improvement of 14% from the P4.12 billion seen a year ago, fuelled by the “sustained growth of its diverse property development business nationwide.”

Consolidated revenues rose 8% year-on-year to P26.97 billion in the January to March period from P25.06 billion on the back of the steady performance of its core businesses.

“It’s in line with expectations. The growth is still solid,” Victor F. Felix, equity analyst at AB Capital Securities, Inc., said in a phone interview.

Under its 2020 Vision, Ayala Land is targeting a 20% annual growth rate to hit a net income of P40 billion.

“ALI’s first quarter earnings remain positive and reflect the steady performance of our core business units. With the strong economic fundamentals of the country, we continue to expand in existing locations and prime up our emerging and new estates,” Ayala Land President Bernard Vincent O. Dy was quoted in the statement as saying.

The company has 18 estates spanning close to 9,000 hectares with multiple projects underway in each one.

In the first quarter, the company spent P23.4 billion -- 27% of its total capital expenditure budget for the entire 2016 -- as it launched P38 billion worth of projects, according to a presentation to investors uploaded on its Web site.

Revenues from the property development inched up 2% to P17.40 billion from P17.0 billion in 2015, which included the sale of industrial and commercial lots at Arca South.

The residential business delivered a 17% uptick in revenues to P14.47 billion from P12.36 billion driven by “bookings and project completion across all residential business.”

Last quarter, Ayala Land launched sequels to banner projects under its major brands, fuelling a 6% year-on-year increase in sales take-up to P24.7 billion from P23.4 billion, translating to an average of P8.2 billion in monthly sales. Sales to overseas Filipinos accounted for a fourth of the sales.

Revenues from shopping centers jumped 15% to P3.61 billion from P3.16 billion with the opening of new malls such as Ayala Malls Legazpi, which added 29,000 square meters (sq.m.) of leasable space to its gross leasable area of 1.45 million sq.m.

“Ayala Malls Legazpi marks our entry into the Bicol region. This is in line with our plans to expand our presence in key geographic growth centers in the country, to reach and serve more Filipinos and contribute to the local economies,” Mr. Dy said.

Ayala Land generated P1.36 billion from its office leasing business, up 13% from the P1.21 billion due to higher occupancy and average rental rates of existing buildings and the positive contribution of the Alveo Financial Tower.

Revenues from the sale of office spaces grew 35% to P1.19 billion from P880.63 million a year ago. During the period, Ayala Land opened BGC Corporate Center and launched Park Triangle Corporate Plaza-South Tower -- both located in Bonifacio Global City.

The closure of InterContinental Manila weighed on the hotels and resorts segment, but this was offset by higher occupancy in Seda Nuvali. Revenues from this business slid 2% to P1.48 billion from P1.50 billion.

The company commenced the construction of the P19-billion Ayala Center mixed-use development at the corner of Ayala Avenue and EDSA -- the site of the former InterContinental Manila -- that will feature, among others, new commercial spaces and an intermodal transport facility, revitalizing the entrance to the Makati Central Business District.

Shares in Ayala Land were unchanged at P33.80 each on Wednesday.

Makati tests Sendai disaster risk reduction framework

(ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY (PIA) -- The city has been chosen by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) to pilot-test the new Sendai Framework Local/Urban Indicators aimed at disaster risk reduction under more detailed parameters.

Makati, together with Islamabad City in Pakistan and Yogyakarta City in Indonesia were specifically chosen by UNISDR for having participated in previous DRR assessments made by the international agency.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the UN World Conference on March 18, 2015. It is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, which was geared towards resilience of nations and communities to disasters.

The pilot-testing of the Sendai Framework was done through a three-day workshop dubbed “The New 10 Essentials for Making Cities Resilient – Urban Indicator Tool Workshop” held at Makati City Hall from March 31 to April 2, 2016.

The workshop outputs of the Makati DRRM Council members were reviewed by Program Officer Hang Thi Thanh Pham (UNISDR), Senior DRM Specialist Lesley Cordero (World Bank Philippines), Chief Liberti Masculino (national statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority), and Sustainability Director Dr. Thomas Tang and Senior Economist Edgar Dizon (AECOM Philippines).

Prior to the workshop, the participants attended a series of meetings and pre-workshop activities to provide answers to the indicators required by the different layers in the 10 essentials.

The Sendai Framework’s 10 essentials for making cities resilient include the three Enabling Essentials: 1) Organize for disaster resilience; 2) Identify, understand and use current and future risk scenarios; and 3) Strengthen financial capacity for resilience.

The Operational Essentials are: 4) Pursue resilient urban development and design; 5) Safeguard natural buffers to enhance the protective functions offered by natural ecosystems; 6) Strengthen institutional capacity for resilience; 7) Understand and strengthen societal capacity for resilience; and 8) Increase infrastructure resilience.

The Build Back Better Essentials are: 9) Ensure effective preparedness and disaster response; and 10) Expedite recovery and build back better.

Also present during the workshop were Lenie Duran Alegre (Office of Civil Defense), Amelia Supetran (Environment and Energy, UNDP), Agnes Palacio (UN-OCHA), and Dir. Rommel Cena (OIC) and Cluster Head John Visca (both from DILG- Makati).

During the Dissemination Forum on the last day, the city government presented the results of the Local/Urban Indicators Pilot Testing Workshop to other local governments in the National Capital Region and private sector groups.

Attendees from local governments included George Rubio and Ronalyn Ramores (Las Piñas City); Giovanni Antonius Reyes (Operations and Warning, Malabon City); OIC Analyn Mercado (DRRMO, Muntinlupa City); CDRRMO head Ramon Montalban, Anthony Japay (Research and Planning), and Ronald Bacuyot, all from Pasay City; OIC Marko Pielago (DRRMO) and Angelus Ponse (MPDC), from Pateros; OIC Cinderella Garcia (A&T), Special Operation Support Staff Franz Michael Macalintal and Mercy Joy Robles, and Edward Castillo (HHRO), all from Quezon City; and Gilbert Vincent and Juan Paulo Dupalos (both from Operations and Warning, Valenzuela City).

For his part, Makati Mayor Kid Peña expressed his gratitude to UNISDR for the opportunity to test the new framework. “The trust and confidence of a world body like UNISDR give us greater motivation to strengthen our readiness and resilience against disasters,” he said.

“As pilot site for these new instruments, Makati has had the opportunity to determine its strengths and weaknesses, which in turn has immensely helped us craft proactive and strategic plans that effectively address the gaps,” Peña added.

Makati was named the “Role Model City” and “Campaign Champion for Making Cities Resilient” by the UNISDR in 2011, and one of “East Asia’s Climate Resilient Cities” by the World Bank in 2008.

Uber expands shuttle service in Makati, BGC

By Daphne J. Magturo (Reporter)

US-BASED ONLINE ride hailing firm Uber Systems, Inc. is expanding its shuttle service in the Philippines, opening additional routes from Quezon City to Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) central business districts starting Tuesday. App-based uberHOP will pick up passengers from TriNoma in Quezon City and drop them off at Tower One, Ayala Avenue in Makati or Net Quad in 31st Street, BGC.

“These trips from TriNoma to the central business districts of Makati and BGC are intentionally scheduled during the peak traffic hours of 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., when demand for transportation is greatest,” Uber Philippines General Manager Laurence Cua said in a statement on Monday.

In January, Uber launched the shuttle service in Manila, the third city in the world after Seattle, Washington and Toronto in Canada. It said then that the Philippine capital “suffers from some of the worst congestion in the world.”

The average Filipino commuter spends 1,000 hours every year sitting in Metro Manila traffic, Uber estimates.

The new ride-sharing option allows commuters heading to the same direction to share a ride during rush hour, targeting routes that are “underserved” by mass transit.

“uberHOP has been very well received by the people of Metro Manila, with many asking for more routes,” Mr. Cua said.

The service is available in Quezon City, Makati, BGC and Ortigas district. It charges fixed fares and uses high capacity vehicles to reduce the number of cars on the road.

On Aug. 19 last year, the Philippines legalized US-based Uber, a month after accrediting its Singapore-based rival GrabCar. This developed after the government created a new transportation classification that would regulate online-based firms which it called Transportation Network Companies.

Uber operates in 60 countries in North, Central and South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific.

DSWD recognizes partners and volunteers in pushing gender and development in Kalahi-CIDSS programs

By Leilani S. Junio [(PNA), SCS/LSJ]

MANILA, May 3 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognized on Tuesday the efforts and initiatives of its partners and community volunteers and champions in pushing and integrating gender and development (GAD) in the implementation of projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

The awarding of certificates of recognition was led by DSWD Undersecretaries Mateo Montano and Florita Villar, Program Manager of Kalahi-CIDSS Director Benilda E. Redaja, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Managing Director Marivic Anonuevo and its Resident Country Director John Polk.

Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Remedios Rikken also graced the occasion.

Also present were several community volunteers wearing colorful Filipiniana attires from different regions in the country where Kalahi-CIDDS (KC) projects are being implemented.

They shared their success stories and lessons learned from the stories of other KC volunteers as they recalled how they became part of KC programs that served as empowering tool for women and communities in various barangays and municipalities in the country.

The event was held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

The awarding was held as part of the closing activities of the partnership between Kalahi-CIDSS and MCC that led to the KC-MCC formation.

KC-MCC is a project of Kalahi-CIDSS funded by the MCC, an independent foreign aid agency in the United States that introduced and influenced the strengthening of the integration of GAD in the Kalahi-CIDSS programs, systems and processes.

With such integration, more women have been empowered and encouraged to be participative in community building as they are able also to have active part in the identification and planning of well-meaningful programs that could help their communities.

Because of the strengthened GAD integration, more women have been able to participate in Kalahi-CIDSS programs.

In KC-MCC alone, 57 percent or 290,856 of the community volunteers of the programs are women. Of this number, 55 percent are leaders of the group of volunteers.

Furthermore, 3,685 women served as paid laborers during the construction of the KC sub-projects.

As a result of their exposure to trainings, the women are able to realize that they also have the power to be productive and earn wages as they learn to engage in construction for the completion of projects.

According to DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, Kalahi- CIDSS is a tool that empowers women because through the program, their voices are heard and they are also able to prove that they can also be part in contributing to the development of families and their communities.

Some of the sub-projects that are implemented and where women have participation are construction of bridges, barangay health centers, and many others.

Eco-friendly delivery service begins rolling

(Manila Times)

Filipinos might be used to seeing motorcycles when receiving their home-delivered goods but with the pilot phase of Human Nature’s “Goodness at Your Doorstep” service, bamboo bikes may soon become a regular fixture at the doorsteps of eight communities in Makati.

“Goodness at Your Doorstep” is the first bamboo bike delivery service that sends Human Nature personal care, cosmetic and home care products to homes and offices at Dasmarinas, Forbes, Urdaneta, San Lorenzo, Belair, San Antonio, La Paz, and Sta. Cruz.

The initiatives is a partnership between Human Nature and Bambike—a socio-ecological enterprise based in the Philippines that hand-makes bamboo bicycles with fair-trade labor and sustainable building practices—with service powered by Zyllem, the leading provider of same-day local deliveries in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

“Human Nature started because we wanted to find ways to reverse all the damage that’s being done to our beautiful country by harmful products and thoughtless consumption,” Human Nature president Anna Meloto-Wilk said.

She further noted that the company makes a conscious effort to close environment sustainability gaps—from manufacturing to getting products to their customers’ homes.

Human Nature is no stranger to sticking to its guns. In the past 7 years, Human Nature has rooted each business decision on its Pro-Philippines, Pro-poor and Pro-environment promise; fostering a corporate mindset that puts the needs of the poor and sustainability at the top of its agenda.

“Partnering with Bambike is another small step in the right direction. Hopefully, Goodness at Your Doorstep will inspire other businesses. We hope to see hundreds of Bambikes on the streets of the Metro being used by delivery companies. This would significantly cut down pollution,” Meloto-Wilk added.

The bamboo bikes are the latest addition to Human Nature’s delivery fleet. While Human Nature will still use motorized delivery vehicles for most of its deliveries, the company hopes that more of its branches will adopt the bike delivery system this year. The company has 31 branches across the Philippines.

Deliveries for areas covered by the pilot phase of “Goodness at Your Doorstep” will come from Human Nature’s Wilcon IT Hub branch at Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City. The delivery is free for orders over P2,000. For orders P2,000 and below, a fee of 100 for same day delivery and P50 for next day delivery will be applied.

A day for book lovers

By Rodel Alzona With report from Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

BOOK lovers came in droves to the Ayala Triangle in Makati City as Instituto Cervantes celebrated Día del Libro.

Instituto Cervantes de Manila Cultural Department Head Jose Maria Fons Guardiola said Filipinos have a very deep appreciation of books, despite having the option to do other things during a weekend that was filled with many events.

“Most of Manila cultural street events have to do with food, with gastronomy, which is wonderful. Yet, for once, the book is the main feature,” Fons said.

The event, which run for 12 hours, featured more than 4,000 books, which were made available to the public along with the opening of a pop-up library. It also had poetry readings, dance performances and a concert.

Fons said the pop-up library, built by WTA Architecture Studio, will remain in Ayala Triangle until May 7 and afterward will be transferred to Intramuros.

“The whole idea is to highlight the importance of reading and the relevance of free-access libraries. Now, with the new technologies, we tend to forget how important public libraries are,” Fons said.

He added: “You can download Noli Me Tangere on your cell phone, but have you met anyone who has read it on a smartphone? When we talk about accessibility to culture, we should not forget that it is not only about content, but also about spaces.”

Fons said there is a need for free access libraries in cities, as much as there is a need for bicycle lanes or gardens near the clusters of buildings in business districts.

“Books are, perhaps, the best tool to help generate committed citizens. I would love to see more of these pop-up libraries all over the country,” he said.

The pop-up library has a catalogue of 300 volumes, with a few of them donated by Instituto Cervantes itself along with Goethe Institut, and the National Book Development Board.

Individuals can borrow books by leaving an ID or exchange books by taking a volume and leaving another one in its place.

Book lovers—like Mark Enojo, 35—took time to buy books during the event. He grabbed a book about Pablo Picasso—a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright.

“I started going to this book fair three years ago. This time I bought this Picasso book,” said Enojo, a support consultant in SPi Global. As part of the tradition, Enojo received a free rose after his purchase.

Vibal Publishing Events Coordinator Thea Sanchez said they were able to sell more than 500 books during the event.

Sanchez said they have a good relationship with Instituto Cervantes and have been participating actively in the annual event for several years.

Among the performers during the event were the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors and the jazz group Dingdong Fiel and Friends.

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