A game of bowling with Best Buddies

Tweet

For regular shoppers, it may have been just an ordinary afternoon at the mall, but for Vico, 28, it was a special day to spend a few hours enjoying a game of bowling with his friends from Best Buddies Philippines. The group of friends were at the mall, with other pairs of best friends, for a friendly bowling tournament organized by Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement for one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies’ Vico Cham (2nd from right) with (from left) Akio Kawachi, Ralen Tupaz, Ian Borleo, Ryan Poblete, Sachin Mohnani, Nyssa Uy Kua, Gian Mendoza,April Paligsa and his mother Cathy Cham who joined Best Buddies Bowling Game event at SM Megamall Bowling Center.

Photo by Kayla Paligsa

The activity is one of the many initiatives organized by Best Buddies, in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. During the event, individuals with IDD like Vico, had a fun afternoon hanging out with their Peer Buddies volunteers who committed to spend time, have fun activities, communicate on a regular basis and enrich their lives through friendships with individuals like Vico. 

Catherine Cham, mother of Vico, said that events like the Best Buddies Bowling Game give her son an avenue to socialize and feel he is a regular part of a group. She is very thankful for Best Buddies which she said helped her find a best buddy for Vico.

“His peer buddy is Buboy Palomares. They’ve been friends for 4 years. They used to jog regularly twice a month or watch a movie. They also engage in group activities. With Buboy, Vico was able to find a friend whom he would text regularly. It is really important for parents because it’s really not easy to entrust your child to somebody.” 

“We are very thankful for the support that we have received from our volunteers and sponsors,” exclaims Michelle Aventajado, executive director of Best Buddies Philippines. “Events like these strengthen the friendship between volunteers and individuals with IDD. It’s a great opportunity to promote inclusion, have fun, and enrich the lives of everyone involved in the Best Buddies program.” 

For SM Cares, the event is another opportunity to support and give back to the community. “At SM, we believe that establishing good relations can positively affect and inspire those with special needs. We strive to make every SM Mall, a mall for all, and by supporting activities such as this, everyone can enjoy the same fun and leisure in SM, as anyone would do,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, program director of SM Cares Program on PWDs. 

Best Buddies Philippines is looking into partnering with private entities like SM who can support them in their advocacy and their other programs. It also aims to widen its scope in the next 5 years by establishing Friendship Chapters in more schools nationwide.

To know more about Best Buddies Philippines you may visit www.bestbuddiesphilippines.com, https://www.facebook.com/BestBuddiesPhilippines/, or send an e-mail to bestbuddiesmanila@gmail.com.

To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares, or send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.

FWD Life Philippines launches Community Care partnership with Special Olympics Philippines

Tweet

FWD and Special Olympics Philippines celebrated the beginning of the partnership with a bowling friendship match participated by athletes from both organizations as well as members of the media, held on April 23, 2018 at The Palms Country Club in Muntinlupa City.

With its vision to empower people to live fulfilled lives, FWD's Community Care program supports the Athlete Leadership and Unified Schools programs of Special Olympics, the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

FWD Life Insurance

Through the partnership, FWD is embracing the power of sports to let people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities.

FWD Group is donating US$1.25 million across the Asian markets where it operates: Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Pan-Asian insurer FWD Life Insurance believes there is a champion in all of us and that anybody can make a difference no matter the challenges they face. In line with this belief, the most exciting insurance brand in the country today launched its global partnership with the Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

“Through this partnership, FWD aims to champion the dreams of young people with intellectual disabilities by creating an inclusive environment that provide equal opportunities,” said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes. “FWD supports the vision of Special Olympics: using the power of sports to let people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities. Through this partnership, we are excited to bring to life our Community Care vision—to empower people to live fulfilled lives.”

Asia-based FWD Group, which launched their region-wide support to Special Olympics in Hong Kong in February, is donating US$ 1.25 million across the markets where it operates: Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan.

 

Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a non-profit charitable organization that provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic- type sports for children and adults with intellectual disability. Aside from sporting activities it is the world’s largest provider of healthcare to people with intellectual disability.

- Young Athletes program for children with intellectual disabilities aged 2-7 years - Family support network encouraging family engagement - Athlete Leadership Program to promote self-advocacy - Youth Activation committee to create advocacy opportunities

- Healthy Athletes to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities through health screening, follow up care and health education for athletes and their families. 

15% of the world lives with a disability1. Of these, more than 200 million2 have an intellectual disability making them one of the world’s biggest disability groups and one of the most underserved populations. People with intellectual disability face enormous attitudinal, structural, and logistical barriers to obtaining healthcare and getting a job. These compounding factors mean that many struggle with poverty and have significantly shorter lifespans than the general population.

Encouraging inclusion through sports

“FWD Life Philippines has always been keen about addressing the needs of people across different lifestyles by teaching them and equipping them to live life to the fullest," FWD Life Philippines Head of Marketing and Community Care Lead Roche Vandenberghe noted. "Through the partnership with the Special Olympics, FWD hopes to change how society perceives people with intellectual disabilities, that despite their condition, they can make valuable contributions to society and should be given opportunities to do so," she added.

Roche Vandenberghe,  FWD Life Philippines Head of Marketing and Community Care 

Kaye Samson, Special Olympics Philippines National Director, said, “We are delighted to welcome FWD to the Special Olympics family. This new partnership with FWD in the Philippines will make a difference to the lives of our athletes and young people. Together, we will collaborate to create a unified generation—people with and without intellectual disabilities working together for an inclusive society, where respect, tolerance, and human equality prevail.”

FWD to support Special Olympics’ Unified Schools and Athlete Leadership programs

To fulfill their dream of an inclusive environment with equal opportunities for people with disabilities, FWD, through its Community Care program, will support two (2) Special Olympics programs—the Unified Schools and Athlete Leadership programs.

For the Unified Schools program, FWD will partner with Special Olympics in engaging thousands of young people in workshops and unified activities to educate them about people with intellectual disabilities and train them to develop ways to create social change. FWD also plans to invite schools and communities to various sports and non-sports activities involving Special Olympics athletes, to celebrate acceptance and inclusion.

On the other hand, for the Athlete Leadership program, hundreds of athletes with intellectual disabilities will undergo training to be empowered, develop leadership skills, utilize their abilities to undertake leadership roles in the Special Olympics movement, and create inclusive communities all over the world. These activities will be done under the umbrella of FWD’s 2020 Community Care program whose goal is to improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities in Asia by promoting inclusion through rehabilitation and vocational training and generate positive change for the disabled, their families, and their communities.

“Stop the ridicule, choose to include.”

During the FWD-Special Olympics Philippines partnership launch, FWD Life Philippines also launched its support for the campaign to end "the R-Word." During the event, guests and participants of the bowling match pledged to stop using the R-Word, which is short for the word "retarded," considered exclusive, offensive, and derogatory. The said R-Word aims to drive people to stop saying the R-word and other similar words as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for a more inclusive society. 

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance. 

For more information please visit fwd.com.ph.

Special Olympics Philippines is an accredited Program under Special Olympics, Inc. It was founded in August 1979, and provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to over 6,000 people with intellectual disabilities (also known as “athletes” in Special Olympics) in 13 official sports, delivered by over 200 trained volunteer coaches.

For more information on Special Olympics Philippines

Email: specialolympicsph@gmail.com Facebook and Instagram: Special Olympics Philippines Twitter: @SOPhils

SM Bowling Celebrates 25th Anniversary with SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup

Tweet

In celebration of the SM Bowling’s 25th year anniversary, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. launches the first ever SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup. This biggest tournament gives biggest prizes ever with Php 2M plus car!

Here's former World Cup champ CJ Suarez and Ms. Nicole Deato AVP and Business Unit Head for Educational and Leisure Centers SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. during the SM Bowling Millionaire's Cup press conference last July 31, held at SM Bowling Center in SM Megamall Fashion Hall.

SM Bowling is the ideal place for bonding not only for families but also for friends, colleagues and schoolmates all year round. Whether you’re a top-class bowler, a newbie at the lanes, a billiards enthusiast, or a hardcore gamer, SM Bowling Center will strike up the fun for you.

World Cup champion CJ Suarez

SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., the company that carries you major brands such as SM Cinema, IMAX, Mall of Asia Arena, e-PLUS, and SM Skating Rink, brings you the SM Bowling and Leisure Center’s biggest and most competitive bowling tournament.

World Cup Champion CJ Suarez, Mr. Ronnel Mendoza and Ms Nicole Deato 

This year, SM will be giving away over Php 5 Million in prizes, including P2 million and a car for the grand prize winner – The biggest prize in Philippine Bowling History! 

To encourage the players of the preliminary rounds:

the winner of the center finals will receive an initial P 100,000

1st runner up will receive                  P 50,000

2nd and 3rd runner up will take home P 25,000

During the championship, the top victor of the grandslam finals will receive a whopping 

P 2,000,000 and a car.

For the subsequent winners :

1st runner up will pocket P 500,000

2nd runner up will take home P 250,000

3rd runner up will earn P 150,000

5th to 16th place finisher will still receive P 25,000 each. 

SM Bowling and Leisure Center is a one-stop entertainment hub that offers not only the best in bowling, but in billiards, games, and even KTV.

Currently, the SM Bowling and Leisure Center has also launched the “Match Your Bowling Games with Free Food” promo, wherein bowlers will be given complimentary snacks in line with availing at least two games at the bowling and leisure center.

Currently, SM Bowling has branches in SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, SM Valenzuela, SM Mega Mall, SM South Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Cebu and SM Lanang Davao.

SM Lifestyle Entertainment Incorporated or SMLEI is the lifestyle and entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that offers the best in movies, events, leisure and technology. Starting with SM Cinema, the largest cinema exhibitor in the country, as its sole marque, the company grew into 12 major brands. Currently tucked under its belt are brands such as SM Cinema, Director’s Club Cinema, IMAX Theatre, WM Cinemas, SM Skating Rink, SM Bowling and Leisure Center, Exploreum, Snack Time, e-PLUS Tap to Pay, e-PLUS Digital, and SM Tickets.

SMLEI aims to promote bonding activities among Filipino families and friends, through entertainment and leisure facilities, while advocating the ease of use and personalized service created to complement the Filipino lifestyle.

To find out further details on the biggest bowling competition, the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup, you may visit www.smbowling.com or contact the SM Bowling and Leisure Center at 862-7609 / 0917-8602850.

SM Bowling Center Offers Full Entertainment in the South

Tweet

I love and enjoy the wonderful world of bowling. I have been doing bowling in SM North EDSA.  There are bowling centers that provide a fun and entertaining bowling experience for all ages and abilities. Family, friends, work teams bowling seems like a perfect way to treat everyone, to have fun. 

SM Bowling Center opens yet another branch at SM Southmall in Las Pinas City that boasts of fully-automated and state-of-the-art bowling facilities and gaming areas, aiming to provide people in the south with more options for quality entertainment. 

The new Bowling Center offers 14 fully-automated and synthetic bowling lanes, 12 billiard tables, 20 PS3 Gaming stations, Kinect Consoles, 10 Arcade machines, and Videoke rooms. 

SM Southmall Bowling Center is a one-stop-entertainment hub that offers total recreation and fun experience to family and friends. It is onveniently located across the basement carpark.

Bonifacio M. Solis, Senior Operations Manager of SM Bowling Center, said that it’s the ideal place for bonding all year round. And that is whether you’re a top-class bowler, a newbie at the lanes, a billiards enthusiast, or a hardcore gamer.

SM Bowling Center operates five branches in key cities of the Metro: SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall, SM City Fairview, SM Center Valenzuela, and two in the prime cities of the south—SM City Cebu and SM Lanang.