Learning Systems for Poverty Takes Center Stage at Education@theMargins

Learning Systems for Poverty Takes Center Stage at Education@theMargins

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

How do you tailor education to serve those who need it the most? To tackle this pressing global issue, multinational partnership Education@theMargins (E@TM): A Global Alliance invites aspiring and current educators, policymakers, and representatives of like-minded organizations to come together for a two-hour discussion on learning systems for poverty on October 28, 6 p.m., Philippine time.

In its second year, this year’s conference, “Serving the Underserved: Learning Systems for Poverty,” seeks to discuss what makes teaching students in circumstances of poverty different, and what pedagogical shifts can be taken to serve their learning needs.

“We believe that education experts and industry stakeholders must come together to discuss hard questions and encourage others to take part in creating solutions,” said PHINMA Education Chief of Corporate Affairs, Buen L. Bontigao.

The conference, spearheaded by PHINMA Education, will feature panelists from around the world. These resource persons include Dr. Nene Guevara, President of Synergeia Foundation (Philippines); Sujatha Muthayya, Vice-President of Policy and Partnerships-Asia of Bridge International Academies (Kenya); Jessica Rees-Jones, Founder of AfricaX Academy; and Dr. Charles Prince, Chief Higher Education Officer of Global Education Executives, Inc.

“When we launched E@TM in 2021, we envisioned a world where underserved youth are given access to quality education at prices they can afford, using the resources they have access to,” Bontigao explained. He noted that the world is still very far from reducing learning poverty, and by 2030, 43% of children will be learning-poor. The E@TM: Global Alliance hopes to drastically change that.

“We’ve already forged meaningful partnerships which show that many organizations across the world share our advocacy,” he added. Last year's conference featured Christopher Bernido and the late Ma. Victoria Bernido of Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF), Rafael Oliveira de Ávila of Ânima Educação (Brazil), Amanda Kelleher of Luminus Education (Jordan), Sandeep Aneja of Kaizenvest (India), Edna Novak of Teach for All, and Aape Pohjavirta of mobile learning app Funzi.

“We believe that country experts, global thought leaders, and technology pioneers together can positively impact more youth across the world, towards a future that is sustainable for all. That is why we hope to welcome more people to our Global Alliance,” Bontigao concluded.

Want to attend E@TM: A Global Alliance? Register for FREE at tinyurl.com/EATM2022 or visit the website https://www.educationatthemargins.org/.

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Planting dreams with ‘Grow Trees Community’ in Benguet

Planting dreams with ‘Grow Trees Community’ in Benguet

Like his father before him, John Dizon, Jr. and his family have been long-time stewards of protected trees in their community in Tuba, Benguet. When the time came for him to take up the mantle, he did so willingly to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father passed away in 2012. It was then that we found out that the area he is managing in collaboration with the government was part of a community-based forest management program,” said Mr. Dizon.

A year later, Mr. Dizon, who now heads Benguet-based environmental conservation group, Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), started working closely with the SM Foundation for an inaugural tree-planting campaign back in 2013 to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.

With the impact of climate change more felt in recent years, Mr. Dizon shared the importance of planting more trees in communities to thin out air pollutants in keeping the air fresh and people healthier. The trees which his father planted also helped prevent soil erosion and landslides caused by earthquakes.

He nurtures a dream that some of his children will take after him to help protect the environment. Getting closer to that dream, one of his sons is eyeing a career in forestry, a nod to his father’s chosen field.

To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon supports the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan through the Grow Trees Community campaign.

The project aims to plant and grow forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra and Coffee trees to also help create livelihood opportunities for the community by working closely with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA in Tuba, Benguet.

The proponents teamed up with SM Supermalls and government partners such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police, Philippine Information Agency and the local government of Tuba.

Grow Trees Community was previously launched in Nasugbu, Batangas and Macabebe, Pampanga. Across the three locations, the project aims to plant over 200,000 seedlings and propagules.

It is in support of the SM Green Movement that seeks to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

FR Foundation focuses on promoting research designed to help make the world a better place, spurring technological development, nurturing human resources, and supporting socially vulnerable individuals or groups.

It is part of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., the leading Japanese retail company that owns well-loved casual wear brand, Uniqlo.

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SM Prime builds better, greener offices

SM Prime builds better, greener offices

E-com Centers at the Mall of Asia Complex

Many people have become more aware of the importance of sustainability in everyday living during the two years that the world faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental awareness has caught on through practices such as shifting to paperless, reducing plastic use and planting more trees. For property developers, taking part in this movement means transitioning into green buildings and developments.

Such is the case for SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a publicly listed subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) that is committed to building innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities. SM Prime is future-proofing its developments to be more responsive and adaptive to community needs and the effects of climate change in line with comprehensive sustainability goals ranging from energy to ecology.

Over the years, SM Prime has continued to elevate its approach to building and development of community spaces. All these green initiatives have been recognized by reputable and well-known organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which awarded Conrad Hotel Manila and SM Aura Premier the Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

“When we build, we build with the community in mind. This is why it is important to integrate sustainability in our developments and operations. We remain committed as an environmentally-conscious and responsible integrated property developer ready to serve the ever-changing needs and aspirations of our communities and stakeholders,” said SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim.

Building green office spaces

SM’s Commercial Property Group is renowned for balancing green design features with operational and practical considerations, enabling more companies and locators to enjoy environmentally sound commercial developments.

The CPG’s flagship properties are its five E-com Centers – all future-forward buildings catering mainly to technological, business process outsourcing, and Fortune 500 companies. All five E-com Centers are located in the MOA Complex. Each building has a proportionate amount of green open spaces and communal areas where workers can socialize and decompress from work.

CPG further promotes sustainable practices with its LEED gold-certified office buildings, solidifying its foothold and commitment to building green offices and commercial developments. These certifications are a testament to SM Prime’s dedication to reducing its contribution to global climate change—all while enhancing the quality of life within its communities.

The ThreeE-com Center boasts architectural wonders and green features that eventually earned its LEED Gold certification. These include water recycling for landscape and non-potable use. The building is fitted with glass windows that minimizes heat from entering the building, allowing tenants to use less air conditioning. This 15-storey, semi-circular twin-tower office building features function and aesthetic complemented with state-of-the-art facilities. While it was the first office building in the Mall of Asia Complex to receive such an honor, the new FourE-com Center also recently achieved the same certification—designed with its tenants’ needs in mind, improving work-life balance and office culture accordingly.

Both designed by globally renowned firm, Arquitectonica, the Three and Four E-coms are unique amongst business centers. “We designed the E-coms to functionally meet the BPO industry’s need for large, continuous floorplates, but also sculpted them in interesting ways so as to allow views and airflows between the buildings, while also, of course, giving them interesting architectural identities. At the same time, their landscaped podium decks create attractive communal green spaces for the tenants; they are envisaged to be interconnected via landscaped skybridges in the future. The combination of all these factors, architectural design and green spaces, have made the E-coms highly attractive to multinational companies and brands,” said David Zaballero, Arquitectonica Director.

SM Mega Tower

Meanwhile, SM Prime’s tallest skyscraper located along EDSA will also join the company’s growing roster of LEED-certified green buildings. Called Mega Tower, the 50-story office building is future-ready as it provides spaces that respect both its tenants and nature itself.

Strategically located in the busy Ortigas Centre, the 50-storey LEED registered skyscraper is flexibly designed to meet the requirements of both corporate and BPO tenants. Though its design is highly sculptural, each floorplate remains efficiently planned – combining functionality and iconic identity.

“Incorporating sustainability in property development means having the whole life cycle of a building in mind. We invest a tenth of our capital expenditure to ensure that sustainability is integrated into our properties as we carefully plan our developments for our communities, the environment, and future generations ,” SM Prime’s Mr. Lim said.

In close collaboration with the SM Group’s other business units, the CPG’s multi-segment or mixed-use approach maximizes the socio-economic potential of its buildings and developments. As a result, SM’s commercial developments are connected to our malls, residences, and parks and civic spaces. Notably, they are all easily accessible to transport hubs to ensure mobility for pedestrians and the commuting public. This interconnectivity, alongside each property’s green and safety features, reduces the company’s carbon footprint, attracts more tenants and locators, and encourages greater productivity among its workforce.

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SM Prime Holdings hold 2022 International Coastal Cleanup together with SM Cares, SM By the Bay

SM Prime Holdings hold 2022 International Coastal Cleanup together with SM Cares, SM By the Bay

SM Prime Holdings, together with SM Cares and SM By the Bay once again took part in the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), bringing together thousands of volunteers into an event that underscored the importance of protecting the world's seas, oceans, and other bodies of water. The event was held last September 17 at the SM By the Bay Central Park, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

A total of 2,438 volunteers joined this year's ICC, composed of students, professionals, and others from different private and public organizations. At the end of the activity, an estimated 12,158 kgs of trash, equivalent to a total of 1,613 trash bags filled, was successfully collected.

Among those who graced the event were Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Sec. Robert Borje, Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan, DENR-NCR Regional Executive Director for Technical Services Engr. Ignacio R. Almira, DENR-NCR Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group Head Chris Villarin, DENR-NCR Communication Development Officer II Ariz Abad, SM Investments President and CEO and 2GO Group President and CEO Frederic DyBuncio, SM Prime Holdings Inc. SVP Glenn Ang, SM Supermalls SAVP for Operations Perkin So, SM By the BAY Mall Manager Marie Charlene Claire K. Canoy-Narvasa and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines’ Markets and Assurance Executive Director Allan Cao.

The ICC is a yearly global event that encourages individuals to be part of the movement for cleaner seas and oceans. Every year, thousands of Filipino volunteers from various sectors and communities join the efforts to help ensure the cleanliness of the shorelines and waterways in the country.

“The International Coastal Clean Up is part of the overall SM Green Movement. As a proven responsible property developer and community partner, SM Prime’s various Sustainability programs across its malls, residences, hotels and leisure properties promote resource conservation & environmental protection for an improved quality of life in the communities it serves,” said SM Supermalls SAVP for Operations Perkin So.

This year's event was made possible by SM Offices, 2GO, PwC, Maynilad, and International Coastal Clean Up Philippines. DENR-NCR, the Climate Change Commission, and the Philippine Coast Guard were also present to provide their support.

Aside from the annual observance of ICC, other sustainability projects of SM Cares include the Trash-To-Cash Recycling Market where individuals can drop off their recyclable waste in exchange for cash; the Plastic Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Programs which promotes responsible plastic and electronic waste management affecting our seas, just to name a few.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more about these, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

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UNDRR, SM Prime laud women leaders in disaster resilience

UNDRR, SM Prime laud women leaders in disaster resilience

SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) recently announced its support for the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience.

For the second consecutive year, SMPHI is sponsoring the Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans, and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”

“We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.

The WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime has 15 finalists shortlisted from 420 nominations received from across 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific. The winner will be announced at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane on 21 September 2022. US$10,000 will be awarded to an individual woman who has achieved exceptional professional success in DRR.

The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health, and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

The Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”

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More metaverse innovations to be expected at Web3 Hackathon – UBX

More metaverse innovations to be expected at Web3 Hackathon – UBX

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

 UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has collaborated with globally renowned Filipino-led web3 companies in the world, Yield Guild Games (YGG) and Xave Finance, to organize the Web3 Hackathon, an official side event of the first ever Philippine Web3 Festival, to be held on November 12 to 13, 2022 in Makati City. 

The Philippine Web3 Festival is a week-long premier event, which will showcase everything that the Philippines has to offer in the metaverse. Powered by the biggest players in the metaverse, the festival will bring the brightest minds and most renowned thought leaders in the industry together. Co-presenters of the Hackathon are GCash, Globe, and MetaverseGo, it’s also supported by Archipelago Labs and BreederDAO. 

Web3 Hackathon is set to be the premier platform to drive Web3 concepts and innovations further, and to engage the builders of the Web3 community. As the popularity of the metaverse steadily escalates, UBX and YGG have teamed up to engage the community to encourage them to build web or mobile apps for the new Web3 frontier. 

Over 200 developers are expected to band together in various teams to come up with the next groundbreaking platform for CryptoGames and virtual worlds, NFT marketplaces, crypto wallets, Decentralized Finance (DeFi)-based payments and neobanking instruments, and identity and reputation systems. 

The hackathon will also challenge participants to find new ways to create, publish, and earn from self-created content on the metaverse, as well as educational projects that will help new users navigate the metaverse. 

“UBX has always been at the forefront of driving innovation in the world of finance. Web3 Hackathon is an ideal way of getting people involved in the metaverse and as a strong advocate of financial inclusion, our partnership with YGG and Xave Finance is a good opportunity to strengthen the sense of community among the players in the industry,” UBX Chief Technology Officer Scott Darrow said. 

YGG is the largest play-to-earn guild in the world, bringing players together to earn real money from playing NFT games and other blockchain-based economies. It is the architect behind community experiences which have created and built the web3 community in the Philippines and in over 20 countries.

“YGG, UBX and Xave Finance are three of the most solid and strongest drivers in the Web3 community in the country. It is an honor to be working with two other big players in the league committed to making innovations in finance, which makes us all the more excited to introduce our work through Web3 Hackathon this coming November,” said YGG Country Manager Luis Buenaventura.

On the other hand, Xave Finance enables fintechs to leverage DeFi for real time remittance transfers, and higher interest consumer savings, spanning different countries in Asia.

“Bringing together all these powerhouse players, Web3 Hackathon is expected to open doors for many groups in the community. We couldn’t have asked for better partners, as UBX and YGG both have the requisite expertise and drive to make this event possible,” Xave Finance CEO and Founder Chris Verceles said.

Interested participants may register at https://bit.ly/Web3Hckthn until October 27, 2022. 

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Allianz PNB Life reveals brand-new RideSafe Mural, upholds commitment to sustainable transport and health protection

Allianz PNB Life reveals brand-new RideSafe Mural, upholds commitment to sustainable transport and health protection

Allianz PNB Life upholds its commitment to sustainable transport and health protection through the recent reveal of the brand-new Allianz Ride Safe Mural. The mural can be found at the Apartment Ridge Underpass in Ayala, Makati.

Prominent Allianz PNB Life executives like President and CEO Alexander Grenz and Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability Gino Riola were present at the unveiling, as were Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Makati Business Club Chairman Edgar Chua, AyalaLand Marketing Head Chrissy Roa, and LT Group Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Lucio Tan III. Other guests include Economic Counsellor of the German Embassy David Klebs, Cong. Jose Francisco Benitez from the Third District of Negros Occidental, Head of Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA) Engr. Getty Granada, and star athletes and Allianz PNB Life brand ambassadors EJ Obiena and Alyssa Valdez. Glendford Lumbao, the rising Filipino artist commissioned by the organization for the creation of the mural, was also in attendance.

“It’s a beautiful piece of art that really captures the depth of Ride Safe’s sustainability message,” said Riola. “Cycling is not just a lifestyle change that vastly improves people’s health. It also contributes greatly to the reduction of carbon emissions and vehicular pollution, and it encourages a sense of belonging in a community that shares in your advocacy. Seeing the mural, it’s a concrete reminder of all these things.”

Allianz PNB Life’s Ride Safe Mural project was done in partnership with AyalaLand, the Makati Business Club, and MACEA. The mural shows the organizations’ dedication to supporting initiatives that make a difference, as well as uplifting the work of local artists and their advocacies.

“I am so honored to be part of Allianz PNB Life’s sustainability advocacy, it is something I deeply care about and believe in, too,” said Lumbao. “The point of the mural is to make people, especially bikers and pedestrians, stop, look, and appreciate the beauty of the world they live in. Ride Safe is all about promoting sustainability through biking, so hopefully, the mural touches people enough that they start making little changes in their lives that will impact the planet in a good way.”

The Allianz Ride Safe Mural is not the first time Allianz PNB Life has shown its support, both for local art and sustainability. In 2021, Allianz PNB Life partnered with the City of Manila to install bike racks that were creatively designed to reflect the rich history and culture of locations like Rajah Sulayman Park, Kartilya ng Katipunan, and Intramuros.

Additionally, Ride Safe has birthed other sustainable projects, such as a solar-powered pit stop and Ride Safe Bike Lanes along Ortigas Avenue in partnership with the City of San Juan, and The BikeYard, a dedicated hangout place with bike repair facilities for cyclists in Bonifacio Global City.

Allianz PNB Life has also expressed plans to expand Ride Safe further to include skills improvement and livelihood opportunities through bike mechanic training.

“I am very thankful to Glendford for sharing his talent with us by creating such a striking mural,” said Grenz. “Likewise, big thank you as well to AyalaLand, Makati Business Club, the City of Makati and MACEA for coming together with us to make this project possible.”

“Art is a wonderful medium that we have used in the past to communicate the importance of prioritizing one’s health and taking care of the environment, first with the bike racks, and now through this mural,” Grenz added. “It is a creative and effective way of inspiring Filipinos to think about the state of the planet today, and encourage them to do what they can to secure the future, both on a personal level and on a large scale. I hope it touches many people and sparks a need for positive change.”

For more information on Allianz PNB Life’s Ride Safe campaign, as well as its other products and services, please visit www.allianzpnblife.ph.

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Leah Halili teams up with The Ransom Collective girls on breezy pop track “Clear To Me”

Leah Halili teams up with The Ransom Collective girls on breezy pop track “Clear To Me”

 

Filipina singer-songwriter Leah Halili teams up with her fellow The Ransom Collective bandmates Lily and Muriel Gonzales on “Clear To Me,” a dreamy pop tune inspired by her relationship with now-husband, Nikee Banares. 

Produced by Carlos Castano, Halili’s new single captures the feeling of romantic affection and how it blooms into something more divine over time. Buoyed by breezy chords and delicate melodies, “Clear To Me” is a beguiling piece of work that was written from the four corners of her bedroom—about the same time her debut single “Fourth of July” was made.

“I pitched this song to my bandmates Lily and Muriel because I knew that I wanted a warm and bright instrumental to add to the song,” says the Fourth of July indie pop artist. “With Lily in Indonesia and Muriel in France at the time, it was tricky trying to find the time to record but I’m so grateful to them for effortlessly adding layers of beautiful harmonies to the song. It was enjoyable working with my bandmates again because there’s a level of comfort that I wouldn’t have gotten from anyone else.”

With this particular track, Halili wanted a song that makes listeners feel like they’re in a coming-of-age romantic film, finding light in quiet contentment and earnest love. According to the folk-pop newcomer, “Clear To Me” uplifted her during those times when she missed home the most.

“It was the type of song that each verse and chorus came to me progressively as I was experiencing a totally different life from my life pre-pandemic,” the Halili shares. “Changing jobs, moving from place to place, trying to find myself in a completely different county, there were so many things I needed to adapt to but all the changes made me discover why I fell in-love with music in the first place. It was my safe place. It gave me the freedom to write what I felt and use the melodies in my head to express and relieve me from things around me I had no control over.”

Leah Halili is slated to release a series of volumes soon. She adds, “I want the audience to remember that I’m coming back for more meaningful, beautifully written songs that I hope everyone can relate to somehow.”

“Clear To Me” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.

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Power Mac Center revives midnight event for iPhone 14 launch in PH

Power Mac Center revives midnight event for iPhone 14 launch in PH

The country’s pioneer Apple Premium Reseller Power Mac Center holds a midnight launch for the new iPhone 14 family in its flagship store in Greenbelt 3 on October 14. Fans eagerly await the hottest tech drop of the year, with amazing freebies and massive deals for early bird shoppers. Top celebrities and OPM artists also join the celebration. The new iPhone 14 is now available in all Power Mac Center and The Loop stores nationwide.

Filipino Apple fans and loyal Power Mac Center customers once again got to enjoy the thrill and adrenaline of its iconic midnight launch as the Apple Premium Reseller welcomed the iPhone 14 family with huge deals and freebies for early bird shoppers.

The main party happened before midnight of October 14 at PMC Greenbelt 3, but branches in Robinsons Magnolia, Eastwood, SM Aura Premier, and The Loop UP Town Center also opened at 12:01 AM on the launch day to make buying the iPhone 14 more accessible to more customers. Some customers got to take home up to P28,000 worth of premium accessories from partner brands including Adam Elements, Anker, Belkin, PanzerGlass, Ventev, Aukey, Cygnett, Itskins, Laut, OtterBox, Before Anything Else, Catalyst, JTLegend, QDos, STM, and UAG.

“These midnight launches allow us to create a memorable shopping experience for Filipino Apple fans. We prepared a lot of surprises for this comeback year to truly make watching the clock together a uniquely Power Mac Center experience,” said Joey Alvarez, PMC Director of Product Management and Marketing.

An upgrade to iPhone is always a worthy investment for work, play, and everything else. For those who are planning to buy, you’d be happy to know that PMC has partnered with major banks and credit card providers as well as emerging fintech players, to be able to offer the widest payment options for you to choose from. Cash and straight payment are available with exclusive offers, as well as easy installment terms of up to 24 months.

Customers who will purchase any of the iPhone 14 models at Power Mac Center and The Loop stores nationwide from October 14 to 16, 2022 can enjoy up to 50% off on AirPods, 10% off on Apple-branded iPhone cases, and 15% off on all Beats by Dr. Dre products. Select non-Apple accessories from premium brands are also discounted up to 25% off. If you like shopping online, these offers are also available on Power Mac Center’s Web Store via <iPhone14.powermaccenter.com> with free shipping.

Members of PMC’s loyalty program 1 Infinite Access also stand a chance to be one of 14 lucky winners of 2,800 points (1 point = P1) if they use their existing points to purchase any iPhone 14 model at PMC and The Loop stores from October 14 to 16, 2022. Membership for 1 Infinite Access is free via https://bit.ly/3Mt1wHZ.

A launch celebration is also happening at The Loop by Power Mac Center on Shopee until October 16, 2022. Every single checkout of a participating iPhone 14 model entitles a customer to up to P3,000 worth of free premium accessories from Power Mac Center’s partner brands, as well as up to 25% off on participating Apple and non-Apple accessories. iPhone 14 orders are also available for free shipping from October 14 to 16, 2022.

Meanwhile, The Loop by Power Mac Center on Lazada also gives a premium freebie for every iPhone 14 purchase, as well as up to 25% off on participating Apple and non-Apple accessories, plus free shipping on iPhone 14 orders from October 14 to 16, 2022. Terms and conditions apply.

Power Mac Center is offering up to P51,000 in savings for customers who will UpTrade their iPhone 13 to any of the iPhone 14 family. iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 trade-ins will get P1,000 off on top of the trade-in value for the iPhone 14 models. For the complete details, visit <https://bit.ly/PMCiPhone14>.

Top celebrities headline the countdown

This year’s Power Mac Center midnight launch was a star-studded affair once more as the country’s top celebrities and performers surprised the customers in line. No less than the Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo joined the countdown, with rising OPM stars Zack Tabudlo and Paolo Sandejas. Celebrities Vanessa and Daniel Matsunaga, athletes Jeron Teng and Kim Kianna Dy, drag queens Precious Paula Nicole and Pura Luka Vega, and content creators Marj Maroket and Katt Valdez also graced the event, welcoming customers as they got in the store after midnight. The event was hosted by TV personalities Ai dela Cruz and Sam YG, and the happenings over at Greenbelt 3 were livestreamed at an LED screen in the other open stores.

The new iPhone 14 family is now available in all Power Mac Center and The Loop stores nationwide, with a starting price of P61,990. For more details and to be updated on news and promotions, follow Power Mac Center’s official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube accounts.

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#BatangMatatag Movement addresses issues in children’s health and nutrition

#BatangMatatag Movement addresses issues in children’s health and nutrition

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

In 2021, 2.9 million Filipino children aged 0-10 years were estimated to have experienced hunger. Prolonged hunger in children results in malnutrition, often leading to stunting or being too small for their age. This issue is often linked to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene, resulting in children developing various illnesses, with diarrhea being one of the most prominent. The alarming number and the need to do something now birthed the #BatangMatatag, a movement that aims to extend health, nutrition, sanitation, and education access to conflict-affected areas in the country.

With the vision of building resilient children and communities, the #BatangMatatag movement was started by Save the Children Philippines and Erceflora Kiddie - focusing efforts on providing access to clean and nutritious food to communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) via the Life Changer for Children initiative of Save the Children where community facilities will be provided to ensure access to hygiene, sanitation, and education.

To bring light to the movement, Dr. Joselyn Eusebio, Specialist for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Carol Ann Stewart, Batang Matatag Ambassador, and Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines came together to initiate critical discussions on the state of child healthcare in the country, the situation in BARMM, and how the bigger Filipino community can be part of the solution through the Batang Matatag Movement. Renowned journalist Karen Davila served as the facilitator of the discussion.

“The lack of proper education, nutrition, and sanitation could lead to repeated cases of illnesses like diarrhea. Making people aware and getting them involved allows us to prevent the worst-case scenario from happening,” said Stewart.

#BatangMatatag Movement: Taking Action

To explain the campaign more deeply, Stewart shared Batang Matatag’s purpose, goals, and key initiatives to build resilience among Filipino children. Stewart also reiterated the importance of forming partnerships to live out their purpose as an organization and how it relates to its self-care mission.

She highlighted that the key to the campaign is realigning people’s focus on preventative measures and building kids' resilience through implementing and maintaining sustainable facilities in conflict-affected areas in BARMM.

“We hope that everyone realizes that they are part of a bigger movement, one that could potentially improve the country’s health and nutrition status,” Stewart said. “We hope this would be a stepping stone for Filipinos everywhere to continue spreading awareness and maintaining good practices in proper food preparation and sanitation,” she added.

Stunting and Wasting: A danger to child growth and development

To expand the conversation of what Batang Matatag is trying to address, Dr. Eusebio provided insights on how stunting, wasting, and illnesses like diarrhea affect children’s growth and development and the industry’s ongoing efforts and plans addressing the issue.

“Illnesses like diarrhea is a preventable diseases; our communities need proper awareness and education on easy and accessible ways to prevent it. We hope to address the lack of information on the disease and encourage people to take proactive measures at home and in the community,” Dr. Eusebio said.

BARMM: A community in need

Following the conversation on children’s nutrition and illnesses like diarrhea, Atty. Muyot of Save the Children Philippines provided context on the situation in BARMM, what the organization does to help conflict-affected communities, and how the #BatangMatatag Movement comes into play.

“BARMM is one of the most underserved areas in the country, but it also has a lot of potentials to thrive and prosper with its rich culture and history; can create positive lasting change in the lives of children and communities in BARMM if we collaborate, support, and journey with them, especially children, in realizing their rights,” he said.

Atty. Muyot then explained that as a children’s rights organization, Save the Children Philippines hopes for a future where all #BatangMatatag children live healthily, have access to inclusive and quality education, are protected from all forms of harm, and can participate in matters that are important, and which affect them.

Davila concluded the discussion by emphasizing the importance of “bayanihan”, especially parents, in making this movement successful.

The #BatangMatatag Movement helps the public to understand the severity of issues like diarrhea and child nutrition, especially in areas like BARMM. Through this, Batang Matatag is working towards building healthier communities where children will survive and thrive, have access to quality education, and be protected from preventable diseases.

Batang Matatag is a movement that has the potential to lead BARMM and the country one step closer to improving the health and nutrition of Filipino children, and everyone can play a part in it. For every purchase of Erceflora Kiddie, a portion goes to help improve the lives of children in BARMM.

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