WWF-Philippines and Hamilo Coast: A Partnership for Sustainable Development

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International Coastal Clean-up Day in Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday, September 19, 2015, Here's in Mangrove (https://instagram.com/msmyrnz/)

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines and Hamilo Coast Hamilo Coast, the premier seaside leisure development of the SM Group marked the 30th International Coastal Clean-up Day in Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday, September 19, 2015, with simultaneous clean-up activities on the shore, at a mangrove area, and underwater. A team of 200 WWF and Hamilo Coast staff, Philippine Army representatives, and members of the media collected a total of 1057.5 kilograms of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable marine debris from the three clean-up activities. Plastics and food wrappers consisted the bulk of the trash collected.

L-R: Hamilo Coast Senior Assistant Vice-president and Head for Property Management Star Tuason, WWF Project Manager Ruel Bate, WWF Vice-president for Sustainable Production Ria Apostol-Lambino, Pico Sands Hotel and Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club General Manager Maggie Garcia, and WWF National Ambassador Marc Nelson (Photo by Myrna Roman)

According to WWF, It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean each year. That's roughly 17.6 billion pounds of plastic waste that pollute our seas and harm marine life!

The International Coastal Clean-up Day is an annual movement started by US-based Ocean Conservancy in 1986. 

Hamilo Coast, the premier seaside leisure development of the SM Group in Nasugbu, Batangas, is now practically at the doorstep of Manila with the opening of the Ternate-Nasugbu Road.

Now just a 90-minute drive out of the Cavite Expressway,  what used to be a three- to four-hour journey through Sta. Rosa and Tagaytay, the property’s master planners have long anticipated this groundbreaking road access, so it designed its first community - Pico de Loro Cove - not simply as a vacation destination, but a bonafide beach resort residential community where homeowners can choose to live in their beach homes full-time.

With proximity and full-time living comes a greater footprint on the environment. To minimize the impact of tourism and property development on Hamilo Coast, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines has worked closely with the property’s developers since 2007 to uphold the pillars of sustainable development.

Hamilo Coast has worked with WWF-Philippines on environmental programs aimed at preserving the quality of its natural surroundings. Among the initiatives that have been born out of the partnership are the declaration of selected coves of Hamilo Coast as marine-protected areas, the deployment of Bantay Dagat units to protect the area from illegal fishing, and the cultivation of true giant clams in Hamilo Coast’s Santelmo Cove.

WWF’s ridge-to-reef management project helps protect the corals in Hamilo Coast from sedimentation and siltation, and includes the continuous monitoring of flora and fauna to identify and mitigate any such threats.

(Photo by Myrna Roman)

The deputization of the Bantay Dagat unit at Barangay Papaya helps guard against illegal attempts to fish in marine-protected areas. One of the guards, a Nasugbu local known in the community as “Mang Pete”, once served as a spotter for blast-fishers. Mang Pete has since chosen to protect the coasts of his native Batangas.

WWF has also initiated renewable energy projects at Hamilo Coast. Around eighteen of the street lamps along the main road of the residential community are powered by solar panels, and solar power-assisted air conditioners have been installed in the chapel. 

Waste management activities of employees and residents are closely monitored, with guidelines set to ensure compliance with the waste-management standards of global eco-tourism certification bodies.

For more information on the sustainable tourism projects of WWF-Philippines, visit www.wwf.org.ph. 

To know more about options for full-time living at Hamilo Coast, call (+63 2) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com.

Great Taste White Choose Great, Win Great Raffle Promo now on its Final Regional Draw

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Join Great Taste White as it draws the winners of its Great Taste White: Choose Great, Win Great Raffle Promo on September 26. The raffle promo will have simultaneous draws at Ayala Fairview Terraces (GMA), SM City Baguio (North Luzon), Robinsons Place Lipa (South Luzon), Ayala Center Cebu (Visayas) and Abreeza Mall (Mindanao).

Taken during the third regional draw in Dagupan City, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Powdered Beverages Category Sales Manager Jacob Pajarito draws the entry for the P200,000 cash prize.

For its fourth regional raffle draw, two winners will receive a MacBook Air, 4 winnerswill get a white iPhone 6, 6 winners will take home a white iPad Mini, one winner will receive P100,000 cash (tax-free)and one winner will getP200,000 cash (tax-free).

Aside from the drawing of entries, mall goers can delight in games, goodie bags, Great Taste White coffee booth, photo booth,and performances by celebrity guests.

Taken during the third regional draw in Visayas,mall goers at Shops at Amigo, Iloilo City experience an afternoon of fun games, goodie bags, coffee and photo booths, and special performances from guest celebrities.

On October 4, the Great Taste White: Choose Great, Win Great will culminate with its Grand Draw where eight winners will have the chance to own a white Toyota Vios 1.3 E M/T; and one lucky winner will take home P3 million cash and an exclusive Pinoy Big Brother: 737 experience.

“The Great Taste White: Choose Great, Win Great nationwide raffle promo lets consumers savor great wins,” says Julius Flores, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Marketing Manager for Powdered Beverages. “This is Great Taste White’s way of giving back to its consumers for making it the leading brand in the white coffee segment, and for making Great Taste one of the most patronized brands in the Philippines.”

Get the latest updates about the promo by visiting the official Great Taste White Facebook page (Great Taste White 3in1), Twitter Page (@GreatTaste3in1) and website (www.choosegreatwingreat.ph).

SM execs meet U.S. State Official to discuss PWD rights advocacy

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In a short visit to the Philippines this week, U.S. Special Advisor on Disability Rights Judith Heumann met with executives of SM Supermalls to discuss the company’s programs on the social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWD). SM, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, has been strongly promoting a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment for everybody for many years now.

Vice President for Operations and Program Director for SM Cares Committee on Disability Affairs Bien Mateo presented to Special Advisor Heumann some of SM Cares’ initiatives like the Angels Walk for Autism, the Happy Walk for Down Syndrome, the special screening of movies for the deaf and the blind, earthquake preparedness conference for PWDS, and the special voters’ registration for PWDs and senior citizens. He also showcased the PWD assistance training that they require to all of their front liners.

(Seated, L-R): Manuel Agcaoili, President, Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD); Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights from the US Department of State; Annie S. Garcia, President, SM Supermalls.

(Standing, L-R): Former Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, Consultant, SM Cares; Arch. Jaime Silva, United Architects of the Philippines; Grace Magno, VP for Advertising, SM Supermalls; Bien Mateo, VP Operations and Program Director for SM Cares Committee on Disability Affairs; Rachael Parrish, Political Officer, US Embassy; Allison Colburn, DRL Assistant, Office of SADR Judith Heumann, Department of State; Jennifer Schuett, DRL Public Diplomacy, ‎Office of SADR Judith Heumann, Department of State.

SA Heumann expressed appreciation for all the projects presented, most especially for the satellite voters’ registration being held at SM malls nationwide. According to her, making the registration more accessible to PWDs foster a more inclusive election process.

SA Heumann notes, “In many countries, I have noticed that while facilities are improving, inaccessibility is growing as well. I am very happy to learn about this unique model that SM is implementing where the principles of PWD inclusion are integrated with work. I really want to commend SM for the great job they are doing here and for being a leader in PWD advocacies.

During SA Heumann’s visit, SM Cares also arranged a roundtable discussion with the different PWD rights groups including former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Philippine Institute for the Deaf Principal Maricris Ibayan, UP SPED Area Cluster Coordinator Prof. Myra Trinidad-Tantengco, DLSU-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies Prof. Maria Veronica Templo-Perez, Autism Society of the Philippines President Mona Magno-Veluz, Philippine National School for the Blind Dr. Rosalie Condes, Metropolitan Museum of Manila representative Johan Araro, St. Joseph’s College SPED consultant Dr. Elvira Rocal, Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Differently-abled President Noli Agcaoili, United Architects of the Philippines Ar. Jaime Silva, Tahanang Walang Hagdan Chief Operating Officer Joy Cevallos-Garcia, and Paralympian Weightlifter Adeline Dumapong. The roundtable session provided an avenue for the advocates to discuss their concerns and challenges with the Special Advisor.

SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia shares, “We are dedicated to helping people as much as they expect us and as much as how we think we can do. Our more than 10 years of partnership with these advocacy groups is a testament to that. From all fronts, you can trust that SM will continue to promote awareness, acceptance, and commitment to upholding PWD rights.”

For more than a decade now, SM has been living up to its commitment of being “a mall where no one gets left behind.” This recent engagement with the U.S. State Government’s Special Advisor on Disability Rights further affirms SM’s position as the most PWD-friendly mall in the country.

To know more about SM Cares and its program on Disability Affairs, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph orwww.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares.

“I will give my life for children”—Luistro

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Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC 

“I can say with all sincerity: I will give my life for children.”

This is what Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said when he was asked if the Department of Education (DepEd) can protect the students from armed conflicts during the deliberation of the 2016 proposed budget for the Department of Education at the House of Representatives.

Luistro said, “Without any second thoughts, a teacher's first move is to protect children.” The education chief reiterated that all schools are zones of peace, adding that education and children should not be casualties in any conflict nor be subjected to any form of violence.

With the continued investment of the government in basic education, DepEd continues to strengthen education reforms to ensure a safer and learner-centered education for Filipino children.

In line with this, DepEd has adopted a comprehensive Child Protection Policy that enshrines the universal rights of the child and condemns any form of threat against children in schools. In 2014, DepEd trained over 1,100 national trainers in child protection policy. Guidelines and procedures on the management of Children-At-Risk and Children in Conflict with the Law was also released by the department this year.

Providing more access to hard-to-reach learners through the Abot-Alam Program, Special Education, and Indigenous Peoples’ Education (IPed) is among the agency’s last mile efforts.

As of the first quarter of 2015, among those who enrolled are 30% of the 2.67 million out-of-school youth (OSY) mapped. To date, there are 1.2 million IP learners and 470,276 Alternative Learning

Empowering schools and education leaders for continued reforms

Luistro said that there has been a 110% increase in the education budget from 2009 to 2015—from P174.5 billion to P367.1 billion. He said, “We will always endeavor to make sure that every cent is spent for the rightful purpose.”

DepEd sustains the foundations of reforms by empowering not only the learners but also DepEd teachers and personnel, and public schools nationwide through various programs that aim to improve learning, curriculum delivery and processes.

DepEd has achieved a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:36 for elementary public schools and 1:27 in secondary schools in 2015. It has also proposed the creation of over 60,000 teacher items for 2016.

Education leadership and management is strengthened through the Superintendents’ Leadership Program (SLP) having trained 218 Superintendents and other school officials deployed in 174 Division Offices across all 17 Regions.

DepEd is also enhancing its curriculum delivery and organizational processes in response to continuous engagement from learners and key stakeholders through the implementation of the Continuous Improvement Program (CIP).

Coco Martin to immortalize FPJ as "Ang Probinsyano", to premiere on ABS-CBN soon

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The King of Primetime TV Coco Martin immortalize Fernando Poe Jr as Ang Probinsyano on televison series, a TV adaptation based on the 1997 Fernando Poe, Jr. film of the same title, courtesy of FPJ Productions. Directed by Malu Sevilla and Avel Sumpongco.

Together with Albert Martinez, Agot Isidro, Angeline Quinto, Arjo Atayde, Bela Padilla, Jaime Fabregas and Susan Roses, Coco wil do FPJ's character in this project that pays tribute to FPJ by ABS-CBN whereas they showed his iconic movies on air on Channel 2.

Ang Probinyano was a 1997 film that stars, written and directed by FPJ. In this year's  adaptation, Coco will give life to the role of the characters once portrayed by FPJ, Ador and Cardo, twin brothers who were separated by fate, but were united by their dream to serve the country as policemen.

The story focused on Kardo taking the place of Ador, his twin brother that was killed in a drug bust operation because of the betrayal of his fellow police. Kardo was also a police in the province and because they are identical, he was asked to take the place of his brother in order to capture the drug syndicate and the corrupt policemen responsible for his death.

"It is a huge honor for me to be given the opportunity to pay tribute to "Da King" Fernando Poe Jr. through ABS-CBN's TV adaptation of one of the movie icon's masterpieces, "Ang Probinsyano," said Coco.

"Even as a kid, only FPJ comes to my mind when I hear people talk about action movies. He is my superhero. I do not only see him as an artist, but also a real hero." 

"I know I can never surpass or even be as good as FPJ. For me, just having the chance to do one of his movies or masterpieces is lready a huge honor for me. I promise to do my best as a big tribute to him," he added.

Let us all reminisce FPJ, 'Da King,' and reawaken our trust at the good men in the police force. 

Watch out for the grand tribute to 'Da King,' "Ang Probinsyano" series, will premiere on ABS-CBN worldwide on The Filipino Channel on September 28, 2015.

For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/DreamscapePH and follow @DreamscapePH on Twitter and Instagram.