Pages

November 21, 2015

TALLEST SG50 BABY SPOTTED IN SINGAPORE ZOO : First giraffe calf in 28 years officially debuts at Wild Africa zone


SINGAPORE, November 2015 — Singapore Zoo proudly welcomed its first giraffe calf in 28 years on 31 August this year. At a statuesque 1.9 metres, he is the tallest SG50 baby, and is a symbol of Singapore soaring to new heights in the years following its Jubilee celebration. 

The calf is the first offspring of both mom Roni and dad Growie, which arrived in Singapore Zoo in 2005, from Israel and the Netherlands respectively. The unnamed calf has since grown 40cm, and now stands at 2.3 metres.

During the calf’s first month, he was separated from the rest of the giraffe herd to allow mother and baby to bond, and to ensure the calf was nursing properly. The exhibit was also baby-proofed as a safety precaution before allowing the calf to explore its new surroundings. Existing barriers had to be modified to ensure the baby can explore the exhibit safely.

Gradually, mother and baby were reintroduced to the other two giraffes in the herd—Growie, the father, and Lucy, an unrelated female, which arrived in Singapore together with Roni. The conditioning process took close to three weeks, to ensure the herd would accept the calf. All four are now comfortably sharing the exhibit and can regularly be seen grooming each other to strengthen their bonds.

Aside from the mother’s milk, the calf can now be seen nibbling on leaves and chopped vegetables such as carrots. He now spends his days exploring and running around in the exhibit at the Zoo’s Wild Africa zone. While he’s starting to get used to passing trams and visitors, he will still race back to the safety of mom’s towering presence when faced with something unfamiliar.

“Animal babies are always a cause for celebration as they are a good indication that the animals under our care feel comfortable and secure enough to breed in the environment that we’ve created for them. We hope the calf will tug at visitors’ heartstrings and inspire them to find out more about giraffes, and other animals that thrive in the same environment as these majestic creatures,” said Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Chief Life Sciences Officer, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Although listed as least concern on the IUCN* Red List of Threatened Species, habitat destruction and fragmentation are threats to giraffe populations. To a lesser degree, they are hunted for their meat, coat and tails. The tail is prized for good luck bracelets, fly whisks and string for sewing beads, while the coat is used for shield coverings.

There are plans to conduct a naming contest to find a suitable name for the little one in coming months.

Those visiting Singapore Zoo are encouraged to take photos of the new addition and upload them with the hashtag#sg50babygiraffe. 

Visitors can follow updates on the baby giraffe’s development at www.zoo.com.sg/sg50babygiraffe.


*IUCN: International Union for the Conservation of Nature

November 20, 2015

LG V10—Versatile and Visionary: LG Electronics unravels the wraps on the new LG V10, pioneering multimedia features never before seen on a smartphone

LG Mobile wows with its new powerful phablet featuring Dual Front Cameras, Multi-View Window, and Video Manual Mode all encased in a durable silicon back cover with stainless steel sides.
A few months after LG Electronics unveiled their flagship for 2015, there had been news spreading around of a powerful iteration of the LG G4—the LG G4 Pro. However, LG slams the rumours shut when they introduced the first of its V-Series phones—the LG V10.

“The LG V10 is LG’s newest phablet that is designed to provide the user with a rich multimedia experience,” says LG Philippines Vice President for Mobile, Jay Won. “The V10 surpasses most multimedia features that today’s smartphones possess and are enhanced for optimal performance, maximizing the creativity of today’s social media and tech-savvy consumers.”

Consumers can look forward to V10’s distinctive new features such its Second Screen, Dual Front Cameras, and its Manual Video mode—another first for the mobile tech giant.

The V10 will be the first LG smartphone to feature a Second Screen, an inset display set above the V10’s main 5.7 QHD IPS Quantum Display. The Second Screen works independently from the main screen and has the “always on” option. Apart from displaying weather, time, date, and battery icon, the Second Screen can also function as a dedicated display for shortcuts of your favourite apps for easy access.

This year LG surprised the world with the impressive camera feature of their 2015 flagship LG G4 by unveiling its 16-megapixel rear shooter with F1.8 aperture lens and OIS 2.0 paired with Manual Photo Mode where users can manually adjust the settings much like with a professional SLR camera. This remains the same with the V10 but it will also adapt the ingenuity of Manual Mode to video where user can adjust white balance, ISO levels, as well as audio reception.

The V10 takes selfies to another level by installing 5-megapixel Dual Front Cameras with separate lenses for 80-degree close range selfies or 120-degree wide angle selfies to accommodate larger groups of people in the frame. The wide angle lens on the V10 makes use of intricate software algorithm that combines images from the two separate lenses, eliminating the need for monopods and selfie sticks altogether and achieving the perfect groufie in gatherings.

Another first for LG which can be found in the V10 is the Multi-view Mode which can simultaneously utilize all three of V10s cameras—dual front and rear cameras—to capture up to four different frames.

All this comes wrapped in a design that utilizes high-grade stainless steel and a durable silicone skin to make the V10 one of the rare smart phones to pass drop tests for shock conducted by an independent third party.

The LG V10 will be available in the local market very soon and will come at a retail price of Php 37,990.

To learn more about LG V10, visit www.lg.com/ph; like LG Philippines’ Facebook page; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Amplifying your Life, JBL Opens its Newest Concept Store and Celebrates the Christmas Season with Exclusive Deals


What better way to celebrate holidays than to give your loved ones the latest gadget available. Making your yuletide shopping easier is JBL, as it opens its newest concept store – JBL Digital Dreams, last November 13, 2015 at the Annex of SM North EDSA in Quezon City.

With JBL products, amplifying your life has never been this easy. Enjoy sound and music the way it should be listened to with JBL’s revolutionary audio products that continue to push sound boundaries.


In an event attended by JBL Harman executives, distributors, and select media representatives, JBL Digital Dreams opened its doors to showcase ways by which consumers can amplify their life through its high quality audio products. 




From headphones to portable speakers and home entertainment systems, the new concept store is sure to make you rediscover, first hand, true sound appreciation through its high definition and crisp audio output. 
Highlighted by the latest speakers and headphones, shoppers were also treated to an exclusive deal wherein select JBL and Harman Kardon products were offered at lower prices – as part of the store’s opening weekend.



Apart from these activities, JBL is also amplifying one’s holiday with their special deals for the Christmas season – featuring its newest line of splash proof portable speakers, coupled with discounts on a second purchase. 

Take the music wherever you go and spice up your adventures with JBL’s eye-catching mini portable speaker, the Clip +. Give justice to normal gatherings and turn them into memorable parties with JBL’s Pulse 2, Charge 2 +, and Extreme speakers. Homebodies, on the other hand, can also sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of great sounds with the JBL SB400 home entertainment unit.



For more information, visit http://ph.jbl.com and http://ph.harmankardon.com.

Visit and like Facebook: www.facebook.com/JBL-Philippines-1562785297296687

Follow  Twitter: @JBLPH

Follow Instagram: @jblph

As the leader in revolutionary sound, JBL continues to push audio boundaries through innovation and personalized sound technology. The JBL brand offers unprecedented wireless speaker performance for authentic audio experience.


About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for consumers, automakers, and enterprises worldwide, including audio, visual and infotainment systems; enterprise automation solutions; and software services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® , Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. HARMAN also is a technology and integration services leader for the Automotive, Mobile, Telecommunications and Enterprise markets. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. The Company’s software solutions power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated, personalized, adaptive and secure across all platforms, from the work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 25,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.9 billion during the last 12 months ended March 31, 2015. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Kahaya Place celebrates Pinoy fiesta during open house


It was a day to remember for all the guests who took part in the successful Kahaya Place Grand Open House in Dasmariñas City recently. 

NLI staff and guests pose for a photo at the entrance of Kahaya Place after the successful and fun fiesta-themed Grand Open House event.

Aside from hundreds of guests, sellers and staff of NorthPine Land Inc. (NLI) enjoyed playing traditional Pinoy favorite past times such as palo sebo, pukpok palayok, and pabitin.

The theme of the Pinoy fiesta-inspired event was “A Celebration in October,” which showcased the lively Filipino spirit evident especially during triumphant times like fulfilling life-long dreams of starting a family and acquiring a new home. The event coincided with the launching and blessing of Kahaya Place’s newly built guardhouse with signage and announcement of some exciting promotions.

Guests eagerly played Filipino-parlor games, like pukpok palayok, at the broad front lawn of the model units in Kahaya. One guest tries her luck in smashing the suspended clay pot while others happily coach her to win the game.

At Kahaya Place, one can enjoy priceless moments with family and loved ones. A calm haven, it is a stunning modern Asian space located at the booming city of Dasmariñas, Cavite. It is NLI’s latest townhouse project with hassle-free access to daily destinations such as schools, government offices, business districts and malls. 

Whoever said pabitin is just for kids? NLI staff and guests certainly thought otherwise as they enthusiastically seize the dangled prizes from the air.

NLI Executive Vice President Ferdinand Macabanti proudly presented to the guests the high-quality yet reasonable residential property. He enthused, “Kahaya Place is an undertaking we should all be very proud of. It is NorthPine’s first venture into townhouse development and already, its early introduction to the public is very promising. The impressive results fuel us to do more and persevere in making more dreams come to life!”

Through the years, NLI has built a solid reputation for distinction, quality, and value for money. It is now considered as one of the leading and most trusted real estate companies in the Philippines. 

“I believe these gradual, but rewarding wins, would not have been possible had we not stayed positive and loyal to our mission of innovating not just homes but communities of superior value for the kind of lifestyle every family deserves,” Macabanti added.

Developing self-contained lifestyle communities is NLI’s way of staying true to its pledge of making people’s dreams of owning a house a reality.


November 19, 2015

A Peek into the Secret Garden

Repertory Philippines opens the gates to “The Secret Garden” as its Christmas season treat for theater goers. It tells the story of a young girl, born and raised in India, who finds herself suddenly orphaned, and goes to live with her uncle in England. She discovers a garden, neglected for years and almost dead, and a young cousin bedridden and miserable. With the help of a housemaid and a friendly young gardener, she brings both the garden and her cousin to life.

Director, Anton Juan’s vision was to focus on the message of the story. 

“I wanted to articulate that finding the secret garden was to liberate oneself from the feeling of domination,” he shares. He wanted to make clear that Secret Garden “...is not just a musical about how love forgives, how healing is attained by finding and liberating the truth in us; but also an allegory of liberation of our free spirits.”

Stage productions take months to prepare with numerous songs to rehearse, choreography to be learned, scenes to perfect, a slew of costumes to be made, and elaborate sets to be built. For a period piece like The Secret Garden, the artistic staff had to do a lot of research on the context of the story and the details that would be needed to translate that era for a modern audience.

“Since the story is set in 1906 in Yorkshire, England, designing the costumes for The Secret Garden required period research,” shares costume designer Bonsai Cielo. But despite having an overview of historical information to create costumes from that time period, Bonsai said “An understanding of each of the characters and our director’s vision for the play was also required. Not to mention, we had to ensure they all blended well together and still look striking individually.”

Set designer Ohm David said this about his stage design. “As a designer, I had to read the play over and over while listening to the music. I read the play aloud and tried to involve myself as much as possible in the situations of the play.” While doing this, the designer imagined the elaborate environment of each scene. From there, he started to draw. But with the limitations of a modest stage, he had to veer away from the obvious interpretations of the story’s surroundings and instead used elements that would encourage the audience’s imaginations to visualize the entire scenarios. “For me, it is more important to highlight what the play is trying to say beneath” —a takeaway he derived from Director Juan, who is at the head of the entire production.

Daniel Drilon, one of the young actors playing Colin Craven, the bedridden boy, says “For the all Filipino cast, the added challenge was learning the diction of The Secret Garden’s period and location. We all had to learn a British accent which is kind of difficult. But we all got a hang of it after two months of practice.” The young leading cast had the support of the entire production team led by Director Juan who helped them absorb their roles. Besides Daniel, the other children who play the lead roles of Mary, the orphan girl, and Collin her cousin, are played by Ashlee Factor, Ginger Karganilla, Albert Silos and Noel Comia.



Becca Coates playing the role of Martha, the housekeeper; and Ashlee Factor and Albert Silos portraying the young Mary Lennox and Colin Craven, respectively. 




Archibald Craven played by Robbie Guevara reaches out to his son Colin; acted out by Daniel Drilon.


Mary Lennox (Ashlee Factor,) stands in the background, as Archibald Craven (Lorenz Martinez,) is recalling memories of his late wife, Lily (Myramae Meneses.)

“The music is invigorating, the sets are a departure from the traditional, and it is a moving story of love,” shares Anton. Above all, the play’s message is one that will move the hearts of those who witness it. “I hope this musical will remind us to hold what’s most essential and important; and that’s what is inside of us. Lest we forget, come to my garden.”

The Secret Garden will be staged from November 20 to December 20, 2015 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas. For more details on performance dates and times and ticket prices, call Repertory Philippines at 843-­3570. For more information about the play, log on to repertoryphilippines.phor the Repertory Philippines Facebook page. 

Tickets may also be purchased through TicketWorld at 891­9999 or visit their website at w ww.ticketworld.com.ph

Big bowls of goodness served at Nissin Souper Meal Food Trip event!

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience as Nissin-Universal Robina Corporation (NURC) launched its latest offering, Nissin Souper Meal, through its Japanese-themed noodle festival, Nissin Souper Food Trip.

“Nissin Souper Meal is meant to cater to the needs of the modern and active who, despite their busy schedule, still consider eating quality, filling and great-tasting food,” said NURC Business Unit General Manager Marcia Gokongwei.

Last Friday, November 13 at Robinson’s Place Ermita, Manila, the Nissin Souper Food Trip event featured a food alley with four noodle stalls.

Each stall showcased visual representations of Nissin Souper Meal variants with an accent of Japan’s famous cultural icons—the cherry blossom, the lantern festival, the Zen garden, and the torii.





The highlight of the event is the larger-than-life Nissin Souper Meal bowl installation that contained numerous bowls of the Nissin Souper Meal variants—Seafood, Beef Brisket, Hot & Spicy, and Garlic Pork Tonkotsu.




Mall-goers were given a chance to guess the total number of Nissin Souper Meal bowls inside the giant installation for a shot at prizes from the brand.


Nissin Souper Meal’s large serving of noodles and condiments comes in four delicious flavors -

--- Seafood (the best-selling flavor among all instant cup and bowl noodle brands)

--- Beef Brisket (rich Chinese-inspired beef broth)

--- Hot & Spicy (chicken and mushroom soup with an intense level of spiciness)

--- Garlic Pork Tonkotsu (Nissin’s first-ever pork-based variant in a light, creamy pork soup with a hint of garlic).

With Nissin being the leading instant cup noodle brand in the country, Nissin Souper Meal delivers superior convenience and ease in preparation as well.



Save the dates and don’t miss this one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience at the next Nissin Souper Meal Food Trip events on January 16 to 17, 2016 at Trinoma Mall and January 30 to 31, 2016 at Glorietta Mall.

Get your first taste of this souper sarap noodles by visiting leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.

For only P29, you can satisfy your taste buds and appetites with Nissin Souper Meal.


For more information and the latest updates on Nissin Souper Meal and the upcoming Nissin Souper Meal Food Trip events, check out Nissin Souper Meal’s official Facebook page.

November 18, 2015

“King of TV” brings the future of home entertainment, LG announces the arrival of the world’s first Curved 4K OLED TV

“LG Electronics has played a big part in developing OLED technology and we intend to keep the thrust of bringing superior technological innovations around the world. Our OLED TVs set the standard for unmatched picture quality delivering unparalleled cinematic home experience to Filipino homes everywhere." - - -  Tony An, LG Vice President for Home Entertainment division.


Consumer electronics giant LG Electronics reinvents home entertainment experience with their industry-leading Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. 

Early this year in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), LG Electronics unveiled the latest from their OLED TV line-up featuring 4K Ultra High-Dynamic Range (HDR) technology – marking yet another industry’s first.

Before the year ends, LG Electronics brings this remarkable technology to the Philippines and announces its availability in the local market.


LG’s Curved 4K OLED TV’s display technology allows deeper blacks and richer colour contrast as compared to its LED and LCD cousins offering slimmer and lighter in terms of design and build. Emitting the need for backlight panels, OLED TVs are installed with self-lighting pixels which turn on and off individually. This feature allows LG OLED TVs to achieve perfect black contrast thereby revealing an infinite spectrum of colors—a feat that only LG’s OLED line can achieve.

Equipped with 4K HDR, users can enjoy four times full HD resolution revealing details of images on screen with impeccable clarity. This works together with the elegant Art Slim design of LG’s OLED line, ensuring unparalleled perfect viewing from any angle. 

Blending art form with technology, the LG OLED TVs stands as slim as three credit cards thin, and with its near bezel-less display edges, enjoy a beautiful display piece for your homes that looks sleek and seamless whether it is turned on or off. 

Earning global recognition, LG Curved 4K OLED TV was awarded “King of TV” at the 11th Annual Value Electronics TV Shootout 2015 during CE Week. It also won the Best Product 2015-2015 in the European Home Theater TV category during the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) 2015 awards.

To learn more, visit www.lg.com/ph; like LG TV Philippines’ Facebook page; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Vivere Hotel & Resorts’ November offerings.


Spend this month of appreciation and share moments with Vivere Hotel & Resorts’ November offerings.

Celebrate heritage with family and friends as you reap the harvest together with “Pasasalamat” room accommodation bundle. Enjoy an overnight accommodation in one of Vivere Hotel & Resorts’ well appointed rooms inclusive of a sumptuous breakfast buffet at The Nest Dining in the Sky, an Aromatherapy Massage for 2 adults, free shuttle service within the vicinity of Alabang, and complimentary use of gym and Lama Pool plus a fitness workout program with a gym instructor while kids can enjoy free use of Kiddie playroom. Room package is for Php 8,800 nett.

Partake in a traditional lavish feast with loved ones at The Nest Dining in the Sky, perched on the 31st floor of Vivere Hotel & Resorts. On November 26, 2015 from 6:00PM to 10:00PM take pleasure in a sumptuous buffet full of stuffing, sides, and roasted turkey at The Nest Dining in the Sky. Be part of this feast for Php 990 per adult and Php 650 per kids below 12 years old.

Vivere Hotel & Resorts is located at 5102 Bridgeway Avenue, Filinvest Ciy, Alabang Muntinlupa City 1781 Philippines. Log on to www.viverehotel.com.ph or call 771-7777, for inquiries and reservations. Like us on Facebook/viverehotel for regular updates.

Globe GCash beep Mastercard, an "everyday all-in-one card" payment solution

G-Xchange, Inc President and CEO Xavier Marzan (left) and MasterCard Country Manager Poch Villa-Real (right) with a giant rendition of the new GCash beep MasterCard during its official media launch held at the Aracama Restaurant, Bonifacio Global City on November 16, 2015.
More than a million Filipinos riding the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) daily can finally enjoy the combined convenience of paying for their MRT and LRT fares plus engaging in cashless shopping and bills payments with the new GCash beep Mastercard.

Filipinos without credit cards can now pay for their online transactions both here and overseas, as well as pay for MRT/LRT rides with a new product from Globe.

GCash beep Mastercard is the first value-added card to be beep ready, expected to serve as an “everyday-all-in-one” card which functions as an ATM card for cash withdrawals, a prepaid card for purchases, and a beep card for daily MRT/LRT commute.

"Here in the Philippines, three out of four adults do not have bank accounts. And even within the banked population, there are hugely underserved segments with only 3% credit card penetration. We at GCash are enabling this market with financial services such as GCash beep MasterCard to give them all the convenience of cashless shopping and payment, among other benefits,” said Xavier Marzan, President and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, which operates GCash.

“We are very pleased with our collaboration with GXI on the launch of the new GCash beep MasterCard. As a valued MasterCard member, all GCash beep MasterCard users will now have access to over 40 million MasterCard merchant locations and ATMs worldwide. This card certainly provides a powerful tool to consumers in the Philippines, enhancing their daily lives given their expanding purchasing needs locally, overseas and in the digital space,” said Poch Villa-Real, MasterCard country head.

GCash beep MasterCard is the first value-added card to be beep ready. Since the start of September 2015, GCash started selling GCash beep MasterCard in parallel with the expansion of the tap payment facilities in various MRT/LRT stations. beep is the authorized reloadable electronic payment under the unified LRT/MRT ticket system which started full implementation on October this year. It is operated by AF Payments Incorporated primarily owned by Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

"Making the lives of Filipinos a lot easier and better through technology is always a priority. Thus, we made sure that the beep functionality is part of the GCash Mastercard. With it, commuters don't need to line up every time they ride the MRT or LRT which takes a long time, because with the GCash beep Mastercard they can purchase their fare like a stored value card," added Marzan


The tap, swipe and shop feature also makes it easy for customers to just tap the card to pay for their fares, swipe their card for purchases and even shop online for apps and online goods. The GCash beep Mastercard is definitely the commuter's everyday all-in-one card.

Globe GCash beep Mastercard is not only a reloadable contactless tap and go card for LRT/MRT passengers but is also accepted as a payment option in popular online shopping sites and in almost 33 million establishments worldwide which recognize the Mastercard brand.

At the same time, because it has a GCash account, it can be used to buy prepaid Globe/TM phone load, send money to any Globe/TM user for free, receive remittance, and even withdraw cash from any automated teller machine (ATM). Much more, GCash beep Mastercard allows balance and transaction monitoring to ensure that everything is properly recorded.

The GCash beep MasterCard are available at 35 selected Globe Stores nationwide and roving caravans for oly P150. It includes a free prepaid Globe SIM card and P30 in GCash load. The personalized GCash beep Mastercard can be ready in just a few minutes once a valid ID is presented.

Funds for the card may be loaded by cashing in at any of the 10,000 GCash outlets nationwide. These outlets include all Globe Stores, 7-11 convenience stores, SM Department Stores, Puregold Supermarkets and pawnshops such as Tambunting and Villarica, among others. 

In addition, GCash subscribers can also use mobile and online banking to fund their Gcash beep MasterCard.


To reload the beep account, customers just need to place the GCash beep Mastercard on top of the Stored Value Card reader of the Ticket Vending Machine at any LRT/MRT station, choose the Stored Value option on the screen, insert the corresponding amount of money on the slot provided, and wait for the transaction receipt to come out.

GCash beep Mastercard may be purchased at various caravans (see www.globe.com.ph/gcash for details) for only P150 and may retain a maximum beep stored value of P10,000 valid for 5 years. The GCash wallet, meanwhile, may accommodate as much as P100,000.

Since GCash beep MasterCard is powered by GCash, cardholders can also enjoy other features and benefits. As a cardholder with a GCash account, customers may easily buy discounted prepaid Globe/TM phone load, send money to any Globe/TM user for free, receive remittances, pay bills and even withdraw cash from any automated teller machine (ATM) worldwide. 

Furthermore, with GCash, customers can also check their GCash balance anytime and monitor all their transactions.

For more details on GCash, please visit www.globe.com.ph/gcash.

#RisingFromHaiyan: the Philippine Red Cross experience; Housing project for Yolanda survivors nearing completion

Two years after super typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) , the strongest storm to ever make landfall in world history, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has helped tens of thousands of affected families to get back their livelihoods, build safer, more disaster resilient homes and classrooms, and given people access to improved health and sanitation facilities and services. 

Red Cross Haiyan assistance restored livelihoods, shelter, community facilities and services

As of end of October, 884,228 people have benefitted from PRC’s Haiyan Recovery Program which includes services ranging from shelter, livelihood, cash relief assistance, water and sanitation, hygiene promotion, and rehabilitation of classrooms.


“The success of our Haiyan operations would not have been possible without the support of our partners in the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement and private partners who have generously contributed to help alleviate the suffering of those whose lives have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Because of the massive destruction caused by Haiyan, there was also a massive outpouring of support that came to us that helped restore people’s lives and dignity,” said PRC chairman Richard Gordon.

To date, PRC’s Haiyan Recovery program has built 66,011 homes out of the target 80,203 or 86 percent of the target number of houses to be built, amounting to around 2.2 billion pesos. The Red Cross Haiyan shelter program is spread across nine Haiyan-affected provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, and Western Samar.


During the emergency phase, the Red Cross was able to provide emergency cash relief assistance to 90,779 families, the biggest ever cash transfer programming operations in the RCRC Movement history after an emergency or disaster. A total of PhP 281,529,400 or USD 6,256,208 was disbursed to affected families in a matter of four months from December 2013 to March 2014. Unconditional cash relief given per family ranged from PhP2,000 to PhP5,000.


Provision of shelter was augmented with livelihood assistance in the form of livelihood cash grants that beneficiaries used to start a new livelihood source or restart their lost livelihood. As of date, 59,218 families out of the target 62,289 households or 95 percent of the target number of beneficiaries, have been provided with livelihood assistance through conditional cash grants. The total amount of livelihood assistance to date is P592,180,000.

Aside from housing and livelihood, PRC also focused on health, sanitation and education. Through the Haiyan recovery operations, there are now 32 schools with improved access to water and sanitation facilities and 38 health facilities that have been repaired and reconstructed, which will cater to 222,618 individuals based on the population of the area. 

The education sector was not left behind as the Red Cross also focused on restoring classrooms so students can go back to their classes. As of date, 410 classrooms have already been rehabilitated and reconstructed, of which 39,165 students have benefitted. There were also 5,083 students who have received school kits from the Red Cross.

Myrns Roman
Philippine Red Cross press conference for updates for the 2nd Year Commemoration of Haiyan held at the Philippine Red Cross Tower. Boni Mandaluyong City, November 5, 2015 with Mr. Wolde Saugeron - Communications Coordinator, ICRC; Mr. Kari Isoma - Head of Country Delegation, IFRC; Sen. Richard Gordon - Chaimran of the Philippine Red Cross and Ms. Gwendolyn Pang - Secretary General of The Philippine Red Cross


Red Cross’ housing project for Yolanda survivors nearing completion

More than 66,000 families now have safer, more disaster resilient homes in typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) affected areas, as the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has already completed 86 percent of its target number of homes to be built in its shelter project under its typhoon Haiyan recovery program. 

As of date, a total of 66,011 families were provided shelter out of the target 80,203, which is targeted to be completed until the end of 2016. This is the largest ever shelter assistance that the Red Cross has provided in any post-disaster operations locally and globally, in terms of number of houses built and amount of shelter assistance provided. 

“What we are doing is not just building shelter for the families affected. More importantly, we are giving them back their dignity, which is why families are involved from the beginning in the process of building their homes,” said Richard Gordon, chairman and CEO of the PRC.

In building shelter, the PRC involves the community in all aspects of the building process. The beneficiaries themselves were part of the consultations regarding designs and plans for the shelters that the Red Cross and its partners were to build for them. Beneficiaries are even involved in the actual building of the houses. 

Houses built trough the PRC housing project were built employing the “build back better” principle for disaster resilience and have been proven to withstand some of the strongest typhoons that came after Yolanda.

The shelter project covers the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, and Western Samar; as well as the cities of Bogo, Ormoc and Tacloban. 

“Providing shelter for families affected by Yolanda would not be possible without the support of our partners, private companies who supported our shelter program, and our partners in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement,” said Gordon. 

The housing project is supported by PRC’s partners in the International Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and several National Societies. 

RCRC National Societies involved in the Haiyan housing project include Finnish Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Hong Kong Red Cross, Taiwan Red Cross, French Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, British Red Cross, American Red Cross, Australian Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) or Indonesian Red Cross, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Swiss Red Cross, and Bahrain Red Crescent. 

PRC’s private partners that have contributed to the housing project include Air Asia, HSBC, CUBE, Citibank, and AusAID.

Red Cross staff, volunteers beat all odds to reach affected areas in the aftermath of Haiyan 

In the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) staff and volunteers 

It was a race against time as Philippine Red Cross (PRC) staff and volunteers beat the odds of logistics problems, difficulty of access, and the pressing need to reach the affected areas to be able to bring life-saving relief items and services to those who have been affected by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). 




Rising from Haiyan

Here's the Philippine Red Cross experience 

It’s been two years since super typhoon Haiyan, the strongest storm to ever make landfall in world history, struck the country on November 8, 2013. 

As early as November 6, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chapters were advised by its chairman Richard Gordon to take immediate precautionary measures, and mobilize units for the consolidation of supplies, vehicles, equipment, and manpower. 

On November 7, Chairman Gordon sent a text blast to all PRC chapters to activate response units in the respective areas, which were previously identified. 

During this time, the PRC leadership also called for an emergency meeting with Movement Partners (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Australian RC, Spanish RC, German RC, The Netherland RC, Finish RC). Together, they discussed the plans on how to address the immediate needs and life-saving measures to the vulnerable population affected by typhoon Haiyan.

Haiyan made landfall on November 8, and in less than 48 hours, PRC was on the grounds removing debris to open up main roads (more than 10,000 cubic meters of debris were collected), dispensing 68,702 hot meals and food supplies to hungry survivors, and attending to the medical needs of every citizen. While other agencies were still organizing plans and mobilizing their units, PRC was already delivering crucial services to the people. 

On November 11, the PRC organized an additional humanitarian convoy that brought relief supplies (food and non-food), rescue equipment, transport vehicles, ambulances, pay loaders, and water tankers. Part of the convoy were trained and skilled personnel of the PRC and Red Cross 143 volunteers, tasked to assist and provide immediate and life-saving support to the disaster affected population in Central Philippines.

In addition to food and water, one of the essential items that were distributed during the relief operation was the emergency shelter repair kit that helped 51,185 families to start the repair and construction of their damaged homes. 

Since line of communication was disrupted in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan, the PRC deployed its communication kit, helping survivors get in touch with their families. With the help of PRC’s partner mobile network, satellite phones were provided and the PRC was able to reconnect 35,230 families. 

While the PRC units were busy on the ground, Chairman Gordon was also coordinating help with foreign partners, and ensuring that their donations were brought to the affected areas safely and as swiftly as possible.

During the emergency phase of the operation, around 230,000 families were supported with essential household items (blankets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, water containers, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, and tarpaulins) – making it as the biggest operation in the history of the Philippine Red Cross.

November 17, 2015

#BondsWorld : Filipino celebrities live the legendary world of Bond with Heineken

HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands.

Heineken & Bond

This campaign celebrates the seventh film of the Heineken/Bond partnership, a relationship that began in 1997. Starting with ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’. Heineken was also involved in ‘The World is Not Enough’, ‘Die Another Day’, ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’ and 2012’s ‘Skyfall’.

The world of Bond may seem to be an unattainable fantasy, but there’s nothing that stops Bond aficionados from defining their own legendary world.



Legendary locations, style, technology, villains, and of course, legendary people.

Spectre : A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Spectre starring Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux and directed by Sam Mendes, written by John Logan (screenplay), Neal Purvis(screenplay).


Celebrities and James Bond fans got a chance to open Bond’s legendary world during Heineken’s exclusive movie screening of Spectre last November 6 at SM Aura.
Leading the pack who trooped to watch the latest instalment of this Heineken-James Bond partnership are no other than actress Maxene Magalona and Philippine Football National Team member Anton del Rosario. 

“As a fan of both James Bond and Heineken, I really looked forward to this event. I dressed up like James Bond and even mingled with other Bond fans. I think this is the closest thing to being a James Bond for a night!” shared Anton. 

Host and Heineken ambassador Maxene officially opened the screening night and 350 invited guests celebrated the long-time partnership of Heineken and James Bond that spans 17 years.
“It is an exciting time for Heineken here in the Philippines. I hope all the guests here continue to pursue legendary achievements in their own right,” said Mr Tulloch.
HEINEKEN executives such as David Tulloch, Country Manager for HEINEKEN Philippines, were present to witness how Filipinos have warmly welcomed the Heineken and James Bond partnership for the first time in the Philippines.

Other Bond fans present were celebrities who are defining their legendary life in different worlds, such as basketball player Terrence Romeo, celebrity blogger Camille Co, hair stylist Jing Monis, DJ Natalia Moon, actresses Karel Marquez, Jef Gaitan, and Shy Carlos, and actor Alex Castro. Each of them has, in their own ways, displayed the legendary qualities of Agent 007, which makes them stand out in their chosen niche.

Heineken is an international premium lager and was first brewed in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 1864. It has since expanded its footprint and is now enjoyed in 192 countries around the world. Heineken is available in the Philippines at leading supermarkets, convenience stores and bars.