IKEA Philippines donates P1.2M soft toy sales to Better World Smokey Mountain

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IKEA Philippines recently donated over P1.2M to Better World Smokey Mountain (BWSM), a community center managed by San Miguel Foundation, to benefit more than 1,500 families and children in Tondo, Manila.

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Proceeds will help more than 1,500 families and children in Smokey Mountain, Tondo

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The proceeds of the donation drive were from the Swedish home furnishing brand’s Better World, Better Toys campaign wherein P50 from every purchase of any soft toy will be donated to Better World Smokey Mountain. Customers chose from wide variety of irresistible cuddly companions, ranging from the KRAMIG panda bear to aquatic mammals of the BLAVINGAD collection, and space creatures and aliens from the AFTONSPARV collection.

More than 24,000 IKEA soft toys were sold in the duration of the drive from November 13 to December 16, 2023.

“We are extremely grateful for the continuous generosity of IKEA Philippines. From the ideation phase of BWSM to now furthering the cause of our centers, IKEA has been there with us not only in terms of financial support but in other aspects as well,” said Mark Rebucan, Program Associate, San Miguel Foundation

The funds shall be utilized in the implementation of additional extra-curricular activities that will allow members of all ages to hone their creative skills including dance, music, and arts. Additionally, the funds will help procure other materials needed for the establishment of another playground that will cater to babies and toddlers. Income-generating projects for its members such as livelihood programs of nanay leaders will also benefit from the donation.

In September 2023, IKEA Philippines provided and assembled home furnishings for the classrooms and library of Better World Smokey Mountain community center that serves as a learning and skills development center for 2,500 families or roughly 12,500 individuals from the historically underserved communities in Tondo.

Creating partnerships for positive impact in social communities is one of IKEA Philippines’ sustainability commitments. Currently, IKEA is also working with R2R (Rags2Riches) as their sewing service provider in IKEA Pasay City.

Find out more about the IKEA mission of building a better everyday life for the many people. Visit IKEA Pasay City or www.IKEA.ph/FY23SustainabilityReport for more details.

Zone V Camera Club, PLDT Home bring digital learning to underprivileged students

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Zone V Camera Club and PLDT Home executives with ERDA-SaBaNa beneficiaries

A premier club of photographers, Zone V Camera Club and PLDT Home continue with their mission of building online learning hubs for underprivileged youth with students of ERDA SaBaNa (Educational Research and Development Assistance, Samahan ng mga Batang Nananambakan) in Tondo, Manila as the latest beneficiary.

To empower the students to do better in school and in life, Zone V Camera Club donated computers while PLDT Home provided a 400 Mbps broadband connection for the next two years. Jointly, Zone V Camera Club and PLDT Home have refurbished ERDA’s computer room to make it more conducive for learning, while the walls and tables have also been repainted. A mural on one wall was painted to depict the modern-day life of the students in Tondo, Manila, and how they cope with digital learning.

(L-R) Ms. Dolora Cardeno, ERDA Executive Director,  Ms. Angela Panlilio, Vice President Zone V Camera Club, Fr. Aristotle Dy, SJ, ERDA President, Ms. Bern Wong, Zone V Camera Club President, Mr. Ruben Castor Ranin, Zone V Camera Club Special Projects Head and Mr. John Henri Yanez, First Vice President, PLDT Home Marketing at the ERDA Foundation Inc. SaBaNa Learning Hub Turnover Ceremony

Beneficiary ERDA SaBaNa Foundation in Tondo has been providing educational assistance including school supplies, bags and uniforms, tutorials and workshops, and leadership and life skills training for disadvantaged children to experience holistic education. ERDA has so far assisted more than 800,000 children in their school and real-life education since 1974.

These kids belong to the generation of digital natives, but they don’t have access to computers at home or the physical space to concentrate on researching for their class assignments. PLDT Home’s connections mean they now have a wealth of information at their fingertips to aid them in their school education, so that they may satisfy their curious minds and their thirst for knowledge about the world around them. This will also give them access to educational videos without lag and download or upload faster.

Last year, Zone V Camera Club chose Assumption Development Foundation (ADF) in Sapang Palay, Bulacan as the first beneficiary of their flagship project, Images of H.O.P.E (Helping Others Prosper and Excel). Zone V sells printed photos taken by its members to raise funds and build more online learning hubs for underprivileged Filipino students while PLDT Home provides the broadband connection.

Zone V Camera Club was founded in 1978 through the help of the late professional photographer Vic Valenciano. Club members are composed of professional photographers and enthusiasts who won in various local and international photography competitions.

New GROHE Dual Tech Training Facility opens in the Philippines; Opening and blessings at Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo Manila

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GROHE Dual Tech offers a high-quality training programme as GROHE Dual Tech aid project has now been launched in Tondo, Manila in the Philippines, where a new training facility was opened on 24 October. 

Grohe Showroom

Skills training enables young people to earn their own livelihoods. Since 2009, water fittings manufacturer GROHE has cooperated with Don Bosco Mondo e.V. with a view to helping young people better their lives. To date some 780 young people in Mumbai, India, have been given the opportunity to start a new life as a result of this collaboration.

A proven concept rolled out to a new location

GROHE Management Board member Michael Mager shared this on the occasion of the inauguration.  

“Today is an important day for all of us. In the six years that have passed since we launched our partnership with Don Bosco Mondo e.V. in India, we have achieved a lot and learned a lot. Our work has borne fruit and demand for our trained and skilled plumbers is huge. We now want to continue this strategy in the Philippines and offer apprenticeships to the young people of Manila-Tondo to give them a genuine chance to earn a living from skilled work. At the same time, our local partners will benefit from the availability of professionally trained plumbers.” 

Father Gaudencio Carandang,Jr. (Rector/TVET Director, Don Bosco) Michael Mager (Executive Board, Grohe AG), Alpha Ang (General Manager, LWT/Grohe Philippines), Thomas Ossowski (German Ambassador to the Philippines), Father Anthony Paul Bicomong, Provincial Superior - Don Bosco

The inauguration ceremony, during which the building was blessed and a ribbon cut, was organised jointly by the Salesians of Don Bosco and GROHE together with apprentices from other disciplines of the Don Bosco Youth Center in Manila-Tondo. Besides the new Plumber Training Programme, the Center already offers apprenticeships in other fields, from mechanical and electrical engineering to accounting, home economics and hospitality, as well as milling, turning and welding.

The ceremony was attended by guests from the local business and academic communities as well as the German Ambassador, Thomas Ossowski, and representatives of the German Chamber of Foreign Trade. 

The way to independence

The project aims to enhance the professionalism of the local plumbing trade. To achieve this, GROHE Dual Tech offers a high-quality training programme leading up to NC II qualification. The programme not only supports the apprentices but also addresses the lack of skilled labour while at the same time helping to advance the industry. Direct cooperation with local companies helps young people find employment right after finishing their training, making their future more secure.

Thomas Ossowski (German Ambassador to the Philippines), Father Anthony Paul Bicomong (Provincial Superior - Don Bosco), Michael Mager (Executive Board, Grohe AG), Father Gaudencio Carandang,Jr. (Rector/TVET Director, Don Bosco), Suzanne Franke (Manager, Corporate Cooperation, Don Bosco Mondo)

Says Christian Osterhaus, Managing Director of Don Bosco Mondo:

“We are happy to offer these new training programmes in Manila-Tondo, a place that is known throughout the world for poverty and adverse living conditions. We give young people the chance to train and enhance their skills in order to compete successfully in the local labour market, to earn their living and to become active members of society.”

Kerwin Tan (Account Manager, Projects), Alpha Ang (General Manager), Manfred Kuhn, Michael Mager, Alen Alban, Carlo Malantic, Joralyn Ong, Heide Lopez (Account Manager, Projects), Valerie Suspine (Account Manager, Projects), Mary Ann Rabonza (Specifications Manager)

The programmes of GROHE Dual Tech in the Philippines are targeted at socially disadvantaged people aged 17 to 25 who are unable to obtain vocational training otherwise. Courses start twice a year with some 30 participants each and comprise a 12-month apprenticeship at the Training Center including a 6-week internship at a GROHE partner company. Thanks to their widely recognised graduation certificates, the young plumbers are not confined to the partner companies after finishing their training but can apply for a job with any other firm.

Assured quality of training

Besides the annual programmes, GROHE Dual Tech offers short-term training courses for assistant plumbers as well as further training courses comprising customised modules for young employees of construction and plumbing companies. “Train-the-trainer” courses and other targeted measures are organised to assure the quality of these courses. Participating companies benefit from regular visits by GROHE field representatives providing face-to-face advice and support as well as GROHE materials and training aids. 

GROHE Dual Tech is a develoPPP.de project. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) fosters the involvement of the private sector at the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives intersect.

Alen Alban (Country Manager, LWT/Grohe Phils), Father Edwin Ulanday (Provincial Economer, Don Bosco)

The programme is put into practice by Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) on behalf of the BMZ. DEG promotes business initiatives in developing and emerging countries and finances sustainable investments.

Cinemalaya 2014: “Hari ng Tondo” by Carlos Siguion-Reyna

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Award-winning filmaker Director Carlos Siguion-Reyna and screenwriter Director Bibeth Orteza presents “Hari ng Tondo” as one of the official entry to the Director’s Showcase category of Cinemalaya Film Festival 2014 showing on August 2 to 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3, Trinoma and Alabang Town Center.

Hari ng Tondo is the welcome back movie of Director Carlos Siguion-Reyna after a 14-year break from feature-length filmaking. He's very grateful to have returned in film making and in this project  with a great company of production administrators, energetic and professional creative staff and talented cast  an exciting mix of people from different worlds - from film television and theater. Cinemalaya has been a learning experience, as it was his first time to shoot a film in 12 days.

Director Bibeth said that Hari ng Tondo is not an action movie, as people said when hearing "Tondo" movies. This is a drama, family oriented film and will feature what is Tondo now, not what people used to know, no longer what it used to be. 

Hari ng Tondo, performed by Robert Arevalo, Liza Lorena, Rez Cortez, Aiza Seguerra, Cris Villonco, Ciara Sotto, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Lui Manansala, Gian Magdangal, Lorenz Martinez, Menggie Cobarrubias, Carlos Canlas, Mark Tayag, Raul Montesa, Jelson Bay, Hans Eckstein, Gino Ramirez, with the special participation of Eric Quizon, Ali Sotto, and Audie Gemora.

“Hari ng Tondo” is the story of Ricardo Villana, a self-made man on the verge of bankrupctcy. Ricardo, a grandfather played by Robert Arevalo, finds out he lost his fortune the day his granddaughter (Cris Villonco) told him her wedding is not pushing through and his grandson (Rafa Siguion-Reyna) disclosed he is not graduating from college again.

A grandfather on the brink of bankruptcy, brings his grandchildren back to the community that made and shaped him, only to find out the place is no longer the same. Thinking that his grandchildren’s’ lack of direction in life is due to their sheltered upbringing, he decided to bring them to Tondo, his birthplace, as he called it "Alapaap."  A grandfather hoping the place would shape them and give them time to reflect on their own problems.

According to Director Carlos, there is much he emphatized with all the characters in the world of this film: Ricardo's singlemindedness, the grandchildren's initial skepticism, the rich parents' indiferrence to the world outside of their own, and the Tondo dwellers' pragmatic mockery of messiahs. This contradictory attitudes refrect current polar attitudes among different classes, particularly between sel-styled saviors and the dispossessed.

A presentation by Renafilms, Inc. and Central Digital Labs, Inc. Produced and written by Bibeth Orteza. Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna.

Sound Design by Albert Michael Idioma. 

Original Music Score by Myke Salomon. 

Art Direction by Rolly Carino. 

Edited by Manet Dayrit. 

Cinematography by Jay Abello.

Line Produced by Tess Fuentes, Ruth Racela. 

Executive Producers are Francisco Tiu-Laurel, Jr. and Carlos Siguion-Reyna. 

The much-awaited CineMalaya festival, a showcase of intelligent and sensible movies by Filipino filmmakers, will be on Aug 2-10 in CCP Theaters and Ayala Cinemas in Metro Manila.

Cinemalaya Film Festival features more than fifty films showing covering everything from documentaries, short films to full length narratives. This year's festival, Cinemalaya X highlights fifteen films in competition.

The films in competition are divided into two categories: 

Director’s Showcase (5 entries) and the New Breed category (10 entries).

Cinemalaya 2014 Official Screening Schedule for HARI NG TONDO: