Out-of-School-Youth Now a Professional Baker

A father is usually the one expected to lead his family,provide their necessities and ensure that the children get good education to protect their future. This is not an unfamiliar experience for Wilfredo Cardinal Jr. of Barangay San Julian, Janiuay, Iloilo. 

Being a son to a single mother, Wilfredo did not hesitate to carry on his shoulders the responsibility of being the head of the family and a father figure to his sister and two brothers.

At a young age of 20, he learned the bitterness of life and became familiar of ignoring both physical and emotional injuries, enduring all the pain just to lay down a platter of food to his family’s table. 

While he did not finish a formal education, everything he does selflessly while providing for his siblings’ school fees and to at least lessen his mother’s burden.

Being an exemplary citizen to their society and a good son and brother to his family, Wilfredo was elected President of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in 2007 in his town under the Unlad Kabataan Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Although laden with the responsibility to his family, Wilfredo never failed his duties as the PYAP President and even with his time divided, he still managed to have an active involvement in their youth activities such as seminars, trainings, conventions, meetings, youth encampment and conferences, setting a good model to his fellow youth in their community.

Finally in 2007, Wilfredo’s family status hinted improvement when he decided to join the Tinapay ng Bayan (People’s Bread) Livelihood Training and Hunger Mitigation Project of DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Association of Flour Millers (PAFMIL), Chamber of Flour Millers (CHAMFLOUR) and US Wheat Associates.

Wilfredo underwent trainings for professional bakers conducted by the Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation. 

His undeniable persistence and determination once again won him a title of PYAP Tinapay ng Bayan SEA – K President on September 21, 2008. For Wilfredo, nothing more is priceless than the trust and companionship he earned from the people around him.

He continued to become a good leader for three years until he was hired as a baker in Dubai on July 4, 2011. As much as it pains him, he decided to leave his family and grab the once in a lifetime opportunity to improve their economic status. There is no other better timing than this as his brothers and sister started to go to college by that time.

With his positive outlook in life coupled with his family’s support, Wilfredo became a successful baker. Since then, he provided his family’s needs like a father should. 

One by one, his siblings finished their college degrees and built their own dreams, learning from the principles their elder brother held.Indeed, for a good man like Wilfredo, best things fall in place at the right moment and perfect timing.

Luckily for Wilfredo, he finally has a family of his own – loved by a caring wife and a wonderful daughter.They are now residing in Dubai.

With the surge of a familiar feeling to lead his own family, being a good father may not be too difficult anymore, remembering the times when he had to deal with the responsibility on taking care of his siblings and leading his fellow youth. 

Perhaps, that have prepared him to be a better person, the best that he is. Perhaps, his success didn’t start when he became a baker but when he became a real father.

National Museum of the Philippines now permanently Free of Charge

Admission to the National Museum is now permanently free of charge for all visitors, Filipino or foreign, to its museums nationwide. 

A policy of free general admission has been established, effective July 1, 2016, by the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, in order to build upon significant spikes in viewership, especially among younger Filipinos, that have been observed in 2013-2015 and to date in 2016, when general admission has been made free of charge for various traditional reasons such as National Arts Month in February, National Heritage Month in May, and National Museums and Galleries Month in October.

Enhancing universal access by all Filipinos to what we proudly exhibit as our national patrimony and heritage has always been a primary concern, and with this new policy we hope to reach more people than ever before, both by encouraging visits to our museums, and by bringing the National Museum's programs and resources to communities throughout the national capital and all the regions of our archipelago.

By this measure of free admission, which is supported, in terms of the nationwide operations of the Agency, by a solid institutional budget drawn ultimately from all Filipino taxpayers through the national budget, we hope to better achieve our goals, and fulflling expectations, of serving as a true national museum institution dedicated to the benefit of the entire Filipino people and the wider world.

/ Press Release from the National Museum of the Philippines

Megaworld’s GERI spending P10-B to complete five hotels by 2019

Tourism and leisure township developer Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), a subsidiary brand of property giant Megaworld, is expected to complete five hotels in its townships in Boracay and Alfonso, Batangas near Tagaytay in the next three years. Four of these hotels are within BoracayNewcoast, a 150-hectare integrated tourism and leisure township in Boracay Island, while the other one will be in Twin Lakes, a 1,200-hectare development near Tagaytay.

The company is spending around P10-billion to build the five hotels, which will offer a total of 1,850 rooms including multi-level retail spaces.

In BoracayNewcoast, these hotels include Fairways and Bluewater, which has been completed and now fully-operational; Savoy Hotel Boracay, which will be completed by the end of this year; Belmont Hotel Boracay, to be completed in 2018; and Chancellor Hotel Boracay, to be completed in 2019. The Twin Lakes Hotel in Tagaytay, on the other hand, will be completed next year, offering unparalleled panoramic views of the Taal Lake and a real vineyard surrounding the development.

“One of GERI’s forefront roles in nation-building is to support the country’s tourism industry. We will strive to maintain our leadership in integrated tourism and leisure estates as BoracayNewcoast and Twin Lakes mature and become fully operational. With our new hotels, we hope to accommodate at least 700,000 tourists yearly in Boracay and Tagaytay,” says Monica Salomon, president, Global-Estate Resorts, Inc.

A report from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that foreign tourist arrivals this year would hit 5.5 million with an annual growth of 6.6%. This means that by 2026, foreign tourist arrivals will reach 9.19 million. This is on top of the 40 million domestic tourists who spend more on travel and leisure in the last five years. 

“In Boracay alone, we hope to capture around 20-30 percent of the tourism market when our hotels become fully operational. Our vast BoracayNewcoasttownship will set the bar of a world-class island destination that Filipinos will be proud of, as far as facilities and infrastructure are concerned,” reveals Salomon.

This year, GERI expects to maintain its 30% target of annual growth in net income as new projects are expected to be launched in BoracayNewcoast and Twin Lakes. 

Monsanto, GK complete final phase of Monsanto Village in Iloilo

As part of the shelter recovery efforts in areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda and Typhoon Ruby, Monsanto Philippines, Inc. and Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GK) officially turned over 24 more permanent shelter units in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, Iloilo.    

Monsanto Philippines and Gawad Kalinga officially turned over the remaining housing units to identified family-beneficiaries in Sara, Iloilo. Present during the turn-over were (from left to right) GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquinena, Vice Mayor of Sara Neptali Salcedo Jr.,Vice Mayor-elect Jesus Salcedo,Monsanto-GK Village President Hadjie Balome,housing beneficiary Liza Lacival,housing beneficiary Josie Grapa,land owner Ruth Tirol Jarantilla,Monsanto Philippines Country Commercial Lead Rachel Lomibao, and Monsanto Philippine Corporate Engagement Lead Charina Garrido-Ocampo

Monsanto Philippines Country Lead Rachel Lomibao, together with GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquiñena and key representatives from the Municipality of Sara led by Mayor-elect Ermelita Salcedo and Vice Mayor-elect Jesus Salcedo, led the official housing turnover to the selected beneficiaries. 

“Almost three years after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, access to safe shelter and sustainable livelihoods remain a challenge among communities that were hardest hit by the calamity. As in any other recovery effort, we see it important to ensure that these communities have the solid foundation to start anew and the resilience to withstand future shocks from the environment,” Lomibao said. 

The turnover was the second phase of the Monsanto-GK housing initiative in Iloilo. The first phase of the housing project, which comprised 30 core shelter units, was first completed last February 2015. There are now 54 completed housing units in the village, benefiting a total of 232 families.

According toGK Executive Director Luis Oquinena, each housing unit is disaster-resilient that can withstand strong winds of possible super typhoons in the future. The housing project is also a holistic approach towards development of the community’s overall well-being as it incorporates livelihood development programs and values formation training.  

Blessing and Turn-over of the Mary the Queen Chapel in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro

Beside the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro stands the Mary the Queen Chapel built to serve the spiritual needs of the residents of the village and nearby places.

On a 1,500 sqm lot, the chapel occupies around fifth of the area (326 sqm to be exact) with a perimeter fence to secure the place of worship.

As a new structure, the places exudes an aura of an immaculate house of prayer with gleaming tiled floors and shiny pews.

It also invites the surroundings in as the structure lets the natural ventilation and lightning complement the electricals.

This chapel was funded and built by the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation through the efforts of Sen. Franklin Drilon and the Iloilo City government.

The spouse of mall magnate Henry Sy, was among the guests of honor during the blessing and led the turnover of the chapel to the Archdiocese of Jaro led by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo who also celebrated the mass and blessed the altar.

Mrs. Felicidad Sy and Arch. Lagdameo (both at the center) during the turn-over ceremony

VIPs were present during the ceremony representing religious, political and business societies. Aside from Mrs Sy and Archbishop Lagdameo, also present were Mrs. Teresita Sy-Coson, Sen. Franklin M. Drilon, Congressmen Jerry Treñas (Lone district of Iloilo City) and Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd dsitrict) and Iloilo City Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III, among others.

The Iloilo River Plains Subdivision is the relocation site allotted by the Iloilo City Government for the informal settlers displaced by the various infrastructure projects in Iloilo including the Iloilo River Esplanade. It is the biggest NHA project in Iloilo that accommodate some 1000 families which enjoy these free housing.

The presence of this chapel complements the holistic community life goals the Iloilo City LGU and its partners for the residents of the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision.

Digital TV arrives in Iloilo via ABS-CBN TV Plus

 ABS-CBN TVplus, dubbed as the ‘mahiwagang black box, by broadcaster Ted Failon, has officially arrived in Iloilo! This ushers in the digital era of digital terrestrial television, yet another innovation introduced by the Philippines’ largest multimedia conglomerate. 

Through ADTEL, technology provider for telecommunications and broadcaster and IONTECH, distributor of information technology products, ILOILO is among the first areas in the Visayas to get access to digital TV  through ABS CBN TV Plus. which was launched last June 23 in a ceremonial switch on during a press conference in Iloilo City, 

ABS CBN TV Plus Switch-On Ceremony
From L-R: GLEN ENGINCO (Sales Cluster head Vis-Min), MARK AWITEN (CineMo Channel Porgramming Head), TWEENY DIVINO (Brand Communications Manager) and REGINA NAPILE (Product Marketing Head)

ABS CBN TV Plus units are available at the following outlets in Iloilo:

• SM Department Stores
• SM Hypermarket
• Octagon
• Itech
• Concept Computers
• Robinsons Appliances 
• Solid Service Center 
• Delta Merchandising

Here's how to install your Mahiwagang BlackBox

Digital signal coverage for Iloilo includes the following cities and towns:
Ajuy, Alimodian, Anilao, Badiangan, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Cabatuan, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle, Duenas, Dumangas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Iloilo City, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, leon, Maasion, Miag-ao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Passi City, Pavia, Pototan, San Joaquin, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Tigbauan, Tubungan and Zarraga.
Here are several reasons to get your own ‘mahiwagang black box’ now and see how it will transform your TV viewing experience:

1)   Crystal clear picture and sound

Having trouble watching your favorite Kapamilya shows because of poor analog signal? You don’t need to worry about that anymore because ABS-CBN TVplus promises crystal clear picture and sound that will make you feel as if you’re watching cable TV. You have to see it to believe it.

 2)   Four free exclusive channels

Free TV has never been this exciting. Aside from ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, and all the other channels broadcast on digital, ABS-CBN TVplus also offers four free exclusive channels CineMo, DZMM TeleRadyo, Knowledge Channel, and Yey! to offer viewers more choices and cater to every member of the family.

3)   Affordable ONE-time fee of PhP1,999

Want clear TV viewing with extra channels but don’t want to shell out for monthly fees? No problem. ABS-CBN TVplus is offered at an affordable one-time payment price of P2,500 only, with no additional fees. For a limited time, each box comes with an ABS-CBNmobile prepaid SIM card with P50 load that can be used to call, text, surf the Internet, or watch Kapamilya programs through the iWantv! app. 

4)   CineMo

Free digital TV’s first-ever all-day movie channel is for the household’s father and kuya who can’t get enough of action, comedy, and blockbuster movies. These movies range from those that star favorite Pinoy idols such as Fernando Poe Jr., Dolphy, and Robin Padilla, to the likes of Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, and Charles Bronson, and even Asian martial arts movies starring Jackie Chan. 

5)   DZMM TeleRadyo

The family’s news junkies can get their daily dose of news, news, information, commentary, and public service from no less than DZMM TeleRadyo, which airs the live TV broadcast of programs from the leading AM radio station DZMM Radyo Patrol Sais Trenta.

6)   Knowledge Channel

Studies show that the use of video materials in learning can make students perform better in school. Armed with this vision, Knowledge Channel brings curriculum-based programs and content that aim to teach kindergarten, primary, and secondary students to enhance their learning experience. Aside from programs that tackle basic subjects approved by DepEd, Knowledge Channel also airs alternative programs such as “Kwentong Kartero,” a series on population education, “Kwentong Pambata,” an animated series based on Adarna House storybooks, “Pamilya Masigasig,” an edutainment series on skills training and entrepreneurship, “Payong Kalusugan,” which tackles tropical diseases, and “Agri-COOL-ture,” a video series about crop production and harvest, poultry raising, and aquaculture and fisheries.

7)   Yey!

Kids definitely want have to fun. This is where Yey! comes in, with its mix of all-day wholesome action, fun, adventure, and edutainment programs for boys and girls. It airs localized versions of well-loved children’s programs such as “Spongebob Squarepants,” Princess Sarah,” “Marcelino,” Japanese anime such as “Naruto,” “Beyblade,” and “Yo-gi-oh,” live action movies, and edutainment programs in the morning such as “Dora the Explorer,” “Diego,” and “Wonder Pets.”

Ayala's BellaVita brings the "beautiful life" to Iloilo

“Owning a home is a milestone for many Filipinos and we hope BellaVita can provide the opportunity for them to achieve this basic need,” opened up BellaVita president Lyle Abadia during a media conference for the real estate developer.

An Italian phrase meaning “beautiful life or good life” BellaVita is one of the five residential brands of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) - others being Amaia, Avida, Alveo and Ayala Land Premiere. 

BellaVita is a socialized housing project that provides a convenient life with its affordable house units and complete amenities. 

Located in Brgy. San Jose in the town San Miguel, Iloilo, BellaVita will have a total of 1,772 housing units when fully completed in its 11.7-hectare site.

It targets to benefit the C&D social classes or the minimum wage earners and those from the informal business sector who can afford a monthly amortization of around P3,000.

UNITS PERSPECTIVE

BellaVita Iloilo already sold 53 percent of its 200 pre-sold units after just 5 weeks after its launch, according to its sales and marketing head Jeanette Saturnino. It targets to turn over its first 200 house units by first quarter of 2018 while the entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Each unit cost P450,000 with a floor area of 22 square meters that come with bare finishes and a lot size that totals 36 square meters. 

ENTRANCE/EXIT PERSPECTIVE

To cater to different lifestyles, the community will also have a clubhouse, basketball court, parks and a playground with about 42 percent of the total land area dedicated to open space. Other facilities  and amenities include a guarded entrance/exit, a common parking area, and pocket open spaces.

CLUBHOUSE PERSPECTIVE

BellaVita Iloilo is the company’s first project in the Visayas and the 14th in the whole country. It has 12 other projects in different areas in Luzon and one in Mindanao located in Cagayan De Oro.

In closing, Abadia said "Having a space of their own is a dream to most Filipinos. Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) wants to make that dream a reality by building a community that integrates life's conveniences with affordable house units..... Bahay Saya, Buhay Sagana sa BellaVita!"

Breadtalk soft-opening at SM City Iloilo this June

More than one year after its 1st appearance on tarps at The Shops Atria, Singapore-based Breadtalk will have its opening for its 1st branch in Panay at SM City Iloilo by the end of the month with a grand opening scheduled in July 2016.

Its best seller is the PORK FLOSS (below) which is a bun topped with rousong,
dried meat which is light and fluffy in texture.

Famous of its soft and fluffy breads that comes in so many variants, Breadtalk will surely complement Iloilo's thriving breads and bakeshops scene as it provides a new take on breads and other baked goods.

Here's a shot of its upcoming store with all the on-going construction works at the new wing of SM City Iloilo.

From its website www.breadtalk.com

Founded in 2000, the BreadTalk Group has rapidly expanded to become a distinctive household brand owner that has established its mark on the world stage with its bakery, restaurant and food atrium footprints. Today, with close to 1000 outlets in 17 locales, the BreadTalk Group produces culinary magic for everyday recipes that you savour, uniting people with good taste around the world. 

With global staff strength of 7,000 employees, the Group operates more than 850 bakeries, 26 internationally acclaimed Din Tai Fung restaurants in Singapore and Thailand, as well as 60 award-winning Food Republic food atria in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.

SM City Iloilo employees volunteer for Dream. Read. Achieve. Project

Employees of SM City Iloilo allotted a portion of their time, effort and money to donate a bookshelf and books to the students of Bolilao Elementary School. The project dubbed Dream. Read. Achieve Project is part of the Employee Volunteerism Project spearhead by the HR Department of the mall. 

The project is on top of the many community undertakings of the company and what makes it unique is the resources for this activity came straight from the employees—they even painted the bookshelf themselves in their free time. The SM Employees also previously donated chairs and table and painted the Bolilao Day Care Center.

Mynt reaches out to the unbanked via FinTech

There is an urgent call for financial inclusion among a significant portion of the population as the country builds a healthy cash flow in the communities, prompting Mynt, a wholly-owned financial services company of Globe Telecom, to step in and provide the unbanked and underserved sectors a chance to take part of the shared growth for consumers and businesses.

 “Mynt sees an opportunity to create a financially inclusive environment that will cater to every person who does not have access to formal financial facilities and services.  We already started with the Philippines and will eventually move into the ASEAN region.  Right now, there are about 1.5 billion people in the region who are unbanked and underserved and who can benefit from financial technology,” said John Rubio, Mynt President and CEO.

At present, three out of four Filipinos aged 15 years old and above do not have accounts with banks or financial entities, 95% of Filipinos do not have credit cards and 40 % of Philippine municipalities do not have access to physical banks.

“With no credit cards and no banks, many people succumb to informal lenders.  Many of them also find it costly to send money.  But with FinTech, anyone can have access to consumer loans, micro finance, various payment platforms, domestic and international remittance, and digital bills payments, among others,” Rubio said even as he pointed out that the rapid adoption of FinTech is necessary to create a digital nation which could further help the country move forward.

He added:  “Mynt is well placed to solve the problem.  By tapping into the wide customer base of Globe, we can immediately provide 57 million Filipinos with mobile money accounts.   We can transform over one million retailers and outlet network of Globe nationwide into financial community centers.  Telecommunications and Big Data, partnered with technology and platforms may also be used to harvest and create innovative credit scoring models,” he added.

Mynt is currently expanding its mobile money customer base as well as strengthening its remittance and payment value propositions via GCash, the multi-awarded mobile money service of GXchange, Inc., a company being operated by Mynt.

Through GCash, ordinary consumers can easily pay bills, buy prepaid load, as well as send and receive money for a fraction of the cost charged by traditional remittance centers, anytime and anywhere.  They can also apply for a debit beep Mastercard which can be used to shop and dine in almost 33 million establishments worldwide, shop online, and pay for MRT/LRT ride.

Mynt is also working to build and scale retail and consumer loan businesses and provide relevant FinTech solutions to organizations through scalable and portable platforms in view of high loan interest rates of up to 240% per annum and inefficient delivery collection methods under traditional channels.

For more information about Mynt, you may visit  www.mynt.xyz  or email at hello@mynt.xyz.

Celebrating Independence Day 2016 with local heroes at SM City Iloilo

SM City Iloilo celebrated the 2016 Independence Day with a paper toy installation by creatively designed and handcrafted by the PIOD Paper Crew. With 79,200 folds, 3,600 pieces, 100 kilos of recycled paper, it featured Ilonggo heroes - Gen. Martin Delgado, Teresa Magbanua, Adriano Hernandez and Graciano Lopez Jaena. 

These paper toys were made to remind us of our roots and refuel the fervor of our nationalistic spirit. The paper toys aims to take us back to a time of visionaries and brave men and women. We may not fight in wars as they did, but in today's world and in today's wars, we can be leaders, patriots, revolutionaries. Rise with pride in knowing that the blood of our heroic ancestors still run through our veins, be humbled with the greatness that we have to live up to and be inspired that like them, we too can be heroes. 

Globe offers new generation Chromecast for Php99 a month

With the promise for a connected life for the home, Globe in collaboration with Google now offers the new generation Chromecast. Broadband subscribers can now avail the new and improved Chromecast for an affordable add-on of only Php99 per month. 

Customers today are no longer just tied in using their smartphones and PC’s at home for personal consumption, they also demand better content to share and experience on a bigger screen. The new Chromecast offers the solution to “cast” content from their personal device such as movies, shows, music, games to a bigger screen TV using their HDMI connection. 

The new Chromecast is now equipped with better connectivity with the latest 802.11ac dual band Wi-Fi and three antenna structure for a more faster, stable and less buffering streaming using the latest mobile devices.  Aside from being a better hardware, the new Chromecast is also fully compatible to cast with the latest entertainment apps including Globe exclusive digital content partners such as HOOQ, NBA and Spotify.

“With our continuous partnership with Google, we stay true in providing new and meaningful innovations to fully maximize the digital lifestyle of our customers. The latest installment in this is the new Chromecast, now with better features and compatibility to our content partners such as Spotify, HOOQ, NBA to a more immersive casting experience. ” says –  Senior Vice President for Broadband Business, Martha Sazon.

Last Q1 2016, Globe Broadband achieved a significant growth of 51% in revenue and additional subscribers of 41% resulting to a total broadband revenue of Php3.5 billion as of end-March 2016. The impressive growth in revenues was driven by the increasing demand for data connectivity, as well as the positive response to various home broadband offerings bundled with entertainment-related contents such as Spotify, NBA League Pass, and HOOQ.

Globe Broadband customers with any plan can now get the new Chromecast for Php99 add-on monthly in a 24 month period. Subscribers can avail by calling 02-730-1010, browsing online at https://www.globe.com.ph/broadband#chromecast or visiting Globe Stores nationwide. Offer will be available until November 18, 2016.

SM Foundation Medical and Dental Missions in Passi and Concepcion, Iloilo

SM Foundation Inc.(SMFI) recently held medical and dental missions in Brgy. Santo Tomas Passi City and at the covered gym of Concepcion, Iloilo. Recipients were indigent families of the said areas who were also given free medicines. The Provincial Government of Iloilo through the respective local government units and the Department of Health Region 6 are the partners of the activity. 

The Efraim Santibañes National High School in Brgy. Santo Tomas in Passi City is also the area where a two-storey building was donated by SMFI while Brgy. Bacjawan Sur in Concepcion is where the 200 houses SM Cares Village is located courtesy of the SM Cares Housing Project

Celebrate your bridal shower at Spa Riviera

Having a bridal shower has been a tradition for a bride and her dearest female friends and relatives before she says “I do” to the man she loves.

Spa Riviera recognizes the importance of this event in a woman’s life and wants to provide an alternative bridal shower that focus on wellness, relaxation and pampering.

So, Spa Riviera is launching its Bridal Shower Package which includes their best-selling services that aim to provide the bride and her favourite ladies an unforgettable bonding and pampering moment.

Aimed for a group of 10, the offering has two options. Package A includes manicure, body scrub and facial while Package B includes foot scrub, facial and manicure.

The exclusive venue would be Spa Riviera’s Jaro Branch located at Desamparados Street, Jaro, Iloilo City.

They will have an open house on June 24 and 25, 2016 at the said branch wherein free services will be provided from 10am to 1pm.

Spa Riviera has been a leader in the local spa industry for 15 years. It offers body massage (Swedish, Shiatsu or combination), Ventosa, Chair Massage, Asian Foot Massage, Scalp Treatment, Mandi Susu Facial, Java Scrub, Foot Scrub, Manicure, Pedicure and Sauna.

Spa Riviera also offers signature Filipino pampering called Gayuma Pangpapukaw such as Maanyag Facial, Tahum Kutis body scrub and Tiil Kanami foot massage, among others.

Megaworld to spend P180-B for provincial townships in the next 10 years

MANILA, Philippines, June 17, 2016 – Property giant Megaworld is looking into further expanding its development portfolio in the provinces in the next ten years as opportunities for economic growth look brighter and bigger outside of Metro Manila. 

In the next 10 years, the Philippines’s largest developer of integrated urban townships and the biggest lessor of office spaces, will spend around P180-billion to develop its provincial townships alone, particularly those that have been already launched this year. These townships include Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City; The Mactan Newtown, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City; Northill Gateway in Talisay City, Negros Occidental; The Upper East in Bacolod City; The Capital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Twin Lakes in Alfonso, Batangas near Tagaytay; Southwoods City in the boundaries of Cavite and Laguna; Suntrust Ecotown in Tanza, Cavite; Sta. Barbara Heights in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island; and Maple Grove in General Trias, Cavite. 

“We have remained to be a strong real estate developer in Metro Manila during the past 27 years. Now, we are further spreading our nation-building efforts, particularly in developing idle lands into bustling business and lifestyle districts, to the key cities and towns across the country where economic opportunities abound,” says Kingson Sian, executive director, Megaworld.

*MEGAWORLD TOWNSHIPSTOTAL HECTARES: 3,061 HECTARESTOTAL HECTARES (METRO MANILA) – 254 HAS. (8.3%)TOTAL HECTARES (PROVINCES) – 2,807 HAS.  (91.7%)

To date, Megaworld has launched 21 integrated urban townships across the country covering around 3,061 hectares in land area. Twelve of them, or more than half, are in the provinces covering around 2,807 hectareswhile the remaining nine are in Metro Manila covering 254 hectares. 

Out of the twelve provincial townships, seven are already partially operational while the remaining four, namely Northill Gateway, The Upper East, The Capital and Maple Grove, are lined up for development within the next three years. 

“Those partially operational are the townships that have opened some of its components while some of theresidential, office, commercial, institutional and leisure components are still under construction. Maturity of townships usually take 10 to 15 years, depending on the size and components,” explains Sian.

Eight of the company’s ’10 biggest townships’ are in the provinces, with Alabang West and McKinley Hill as the only two Metro Manila townships in the list.*

ILOILO BUSINESS PARK. With the iconic Iloilo Convention Center flanked by two world-class hotels
Marriott Courtyard (left) and Richmonde, Megaworld supports Iloilo City's bid
to be one of the Philippines convention and exhibition destination.

Megaworld revealed that each township would have a unique character and identity that usually blend with the local culture and lifestyle. 

The company, led by tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan, secured its mark in the real estate industry by acquiring land in mostly prime areas around the Philippinesduring the past two decades. The result of Megaworld’s sound land banking is its current footprint of over 4,000 hectares throughout strategic areas in the main regions of the country.

“So far, we have utilized a little over 3,000 hectares of our land bank for our township developments. This means, we still have around 1,000 hectares of land to develop and we are excited to do that in the years to come,” says Sian.

Globe Broadband brings wonderful surprises with premiere of Disney - Pixar’s Finding Dory

Globe Broadband brings wonderful surprises to customers in line with the much-awaited movie premiere, Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory. As the official broadband service partner of Disney in the Philippines, Globe Broadband customers are in for a whole lot of fun with its latest events, ticket giveaways, and special prizes. 

Globe Head of Video Creation Gene Tamesis, Disney/ Pixar Sketch Artist Paul Abadilla, Globe Head for Video Entertainment, Chesca Ambrosio and Globe Expert for Content ntegration Jaz Castillo

Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus McLane, Finding Dory is the highly anticipated sequel of the successful 2003 movie Finding Nemo. Now the main protagonist, Dory the forgetful blue tang fish explores her childhood through flashbacks. This eventually leads her to embark on a life-changing quest to go back home and be reunited with her parents. 

“Disney’s brilliant storytelling has made most if not all, look forward to what movie they are going to premiere next. Finally after over a decade, Finding Nemo’s sequel makes its way to theatres and this gives us another opportunity to give our customers access to exciting giveaways and exclusive events. By taking that extra mile we provide our customers a more immersive experience.” shares Martha Sazon, Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business.

Headlining Finding Dory’s Philippine premiere is the homecoming tour of Pixar Studios Filipino sketch artist, Paul Abadilla. Making his way back home, Abadilla is conducting a by-invitation animation workshop and will be sharing his work on Finding Dory and his experience being part of one of the most prestigious animation studios.

Disney/Pixar Filipino sketch artist Paul Abadila talks about his experience in being a part of the animation team
of Finding Dory among aspiring animation students at a by-invitation seminar.

Globe Broadband customers in Metro Manila are also entitled to join the exclusive block screenings via free movie invites when they subscribe to a broadband plan or upgrade their current subscription until June 16, 2016. New customers are eligible to get four (4) tickets while plan upgraders get six (6) tickets. 

One lucky customer will also get a chance to hold a private block screening with 50 of his friends! To join, customers simply need to catch the Finding Dory artwork on the @enjoyglobe Twitter account and retweet with the hashtag #GlobeBroadband. Participants with at least 50 likes and retweets combined are qualified for the raffle and should stay tuned for the announcement on June 22, 2016.

With speeds of up to 1 Gbps, Globe Broadband currently offers a wide range of internet services for the home. Customers can enjoy seamless internet connectivity for the family alongside free entertainment content bundled with their plans such as Spotify, HOOQ and NBA League Pass.

Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory opens in cinemas on June 16. For more information on promos and free movie invites, visit www.globe.com.ph/broadband/promos/movie-invites. Tickets will be confirmed via the application email provided and can be claimed from Globe representatives in participating cinemas on the day of the screening.

Ayala's BellaVita to build 1,800 affordable homes in Iloilo

BellaVita Land Corporation, Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) residential subsidiary focused on socialized housing, recently launched its first project in the Visayas, aligned with its parent company’s continuous expansion in the region.

BellaVita Iloilo, located in Bgy. San Jose in the municipality of San Miguel, is an 11.7- hectare community featuring around 1,800 house and lot units. It will offer amenities such as a guarded entrance/exit, a common parking area, and pocket open spaces. It will also have a clubhouse, basketball court, parks and a playground. 

About 42 percent of the total land area will be dedicated to open space. Ayala Land’s very own construction company, Makati Development Corporation-Build Plus, will manage the construction of this new project.

“We provide quality homes for as low as P450,000 per unit, in a community where one can enjoy a complete and comfortable life. Owning a home is a milestone for many Filipinos and we hope to provide opportunities for them to achieve this basic need,” said BellaVita President, Lyle Abadia.

BellaVita is looking at a huge market of renters who will become end users with homes they can call their own. It aims to attract minimum wage earners and those from informal business sectors who can afford a monthly amortization of around P3,000. To reserve a unit costs only P3,500. 

From its house designs to the village features, BellaVita Iloilo showcases a unique socialized housing development. The houses, which come with bare finishes, have a floor area of 22 sqm and sits on an average lot size of 36 sqm. Buyers who opt for bigger spaces, may combine multiple units.

BellaVita Iloilo opens various income opportunities for the locals. Around 300 brokers and agents will make up the sales force who are expected to enjoy unlimited earnings. Job openings will be made available for office and construction personnel. Further, significant number of transactions are expected to happen with local suppliers for different requirements.

A BellaVita Sales Office located at Sacred Heart Building, Q. Abeto Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, will open in July this year. For more information regarding BellaVita Iloilo, you may get through the following contact details: 0995 991 1732 / 0949 570 6097.

You may also visit www.bellavita.ph or www.facebook.com/BellaVitaLandCorp for more information.