Design Center of the Philippines celebrates the power of design in October

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The Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), welcomes October with exciting design celebrations - Design Week Philippines, International Design Conference, Europe & Latin America for Culture (EULAT FOR CULTURE) as part of its continuous commitment to promoting a culture that thrives on creativity, value creation, and innovation. During these volatile, uncertain, and complex times, these design conference and festival play a crucial role in enlightening various industries in the country on the importance of a design innovation ecosystem with a clear vision of impact-driven design solutions that are not only technically sound but also help solve the world’s modern problems.  

L-R: HUB: Make Lab’s Jodinand Aguillon and Eliz Ting; Design Center of the Philippines’ Executive Director Rhea Matute; TAO Inc. Founder Marian Pastor Roces; Design Center of the Philippines’ Head of Marketing, Policy & Research Kenneth Biunas

With the success of its previous Design Week celebrations, Design Center of the Philippines continues the momentum as it holds on its 11th year of Design Week Philippines from 14 -22 October, 2022 at UP BGC, Taguig, the First United Building in Escolta, Binondo, and online.  This year, the festival goes back to its roots with “Design For All”, bringing design to the people by rethinking and reexploring what “for all” means.

The nine-day festival will hold a series of programs and events including design workshops, design tours, design experiences, as well as design talks by industry experts tackling various topics such as “The State of Philippine Design”, “Design for the People: The Design Center Brief” and “Design in the World:  Designing Livability in Cities”.

Meanwhile, the annual International Design Conference, which was first launched in 2017, will once again bring together leading designers, global thought leaders in the creative and business sectors to this hybrid event happening on 14 October 2022, also under the Design Week calendar.

Themed “Future for All”, this year’s conference aims to spark and lead the conversation on the power of design and designers in addressing the major challenges of our time, shaping the society of now, and building a future where everyone can live and thrive.  

“This year’s themes share a common denominator and that is to give power and freedom back to the people in the spectrum of design. Through these festivals, we hope to be able to show that when designers and design skills are used, they can contribute significantly to the wealth of the nation, greater productivity and more innovation.,” shared Rhea Matute, Executive Director of Design Center of the Philippines.

Design Week Philippines 2022 is presented by the Department of Trade and Industry – Design Center of the Philippines and co-presented by Tourism Promotions Board, First United Building and HUB: Make Lab and would not be possible without the help of Canva as its Design Partner, Adobo Magazine, Kanto Magazine and GMA Network, Inc. as Media Partner, and Kumu as Livestream Partner.

Meanwhile,  in Intramuros, Instituto Cervantes will be the venue of   “EULAT for Culture Philippines: Filipino Design Links with Europe, the Americas, and Asia” which  gathers groundbreaking architects, textile/fashion designers, digital/multimedia experts, and gastronomy specialists around presentations, workshops, and conversations that take place throughout Design Week Philippines 2022, from October 15 to 22.

The events series is organized by the EUNIC cluster in Manila and RIDCULT, together with the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines. The Embassy of Spain Manila initiated the project, thinking to build on its appreciation of the Philippines as located uniquely amidst cross-cultural flows past and present.

On the other hand, Design Center Executive Director Rhea Matute, builds on the enthusiasm for progressive design ideas and explorations that have been gaining momentum in the Philippines over decades.  “The Embassies of Spain, Austria, Chile, and Mexico, together with Instituto Cervantes, the Alliance Française de Manille, the Philippine Italian Association, and the Goethe Institut selected and facilitated the participation of important personalities in the design field from their countries. The designers join their Filipino peers during the event series—peers who represent pivotal turns in the local scene.”

In his appreciation of the cosmopolitan design culture the Philippines has shaped in its historical and contemporary relations with global capitals, Dr. Javier Galván, Director of Instituto Cervantes, explains: “The Philippines is correctly the location of this EULAT project because of Filipino talent at reshaping what comes from outside the country.”

Independent curator and critic Marian Pastor Roces was engaged by Design Center to conceptualize the event series and serve as Conference Director. Roces emphasizes that the strong cooperation and enthusiasm of the European and Latin American embassies and cultural institutes in the case of this project does indeed foster respect across cultures and productive dialogue.  “EULAT for Culture” comes together around design concepts that address the world's challenging complications today.

Cutting-edge design thinking is variously embodied in the practices of esteemed Spanish Architect Salvador Perez Arroyo, German-based green fashion/textile Italian designer Arianna Nicoletti, Austrian multi-media artist Horst Hortner, Daniela Gil Sevilla, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Mexico and artisan Camelia Ramos, the sustainable development-driven practice of Italian Architect Romulo Nati, and the textile design and sommelier combination of the French Filipina team of Kévin and Adrienne Charuel.  Filipino scholar Fernandez N. Zialcita, Ph.D., and chef Margarita Fores, respectively, speak on behalf of Mexico and Italy, as well as the Philippines, in their presentations. Other speakers include veteran urban planner Architect Nathaniel Von Einsiedel, food scholar and anthropologist Corazon S. Alvina, graphic designer Jowee Alviar, Architects Deo Alam and the Architectural Partners Sudarshan Khadka Jr and Alex Furunes, social entrepreneur Reese Fernandez, textile innovator Ana Lagon and food scholar Datu Sharif Pendatun.

“EULAT for Culture: Filipino Design links with Asia, the Americas, and Europe” enjoys exceptional support from the Spanish Government in the context of AECID’s presidency of EUNIC; from the Design Center, and its curator, Marian Pastor Roces. EUNIC - European Union National Institutes for Culture — is Europe’s network of national cultural institutes and organizations, with 36 members from all EU member states and associated countries. RIDCULT is the Ibero-American Network for Cultural Diplomacy.

This project is made possible with the collaboration of the Embassies of Austria, Chile, and Mexico, as well as the Alliance Française de Manille, the Philippine Italian Association, and the Goethe Institut.

The Design Center of the Philippines is an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) committed to developing a creative research and development program on product design and development.

 

About the Design Center of the Philippines

The Design Center of the Philippines is the country’s only national agency for design, committed to cultivating a culture that thrives on creativity, value creation, and innovation. Design Center’s efforts go beyond promoting the value of good design and onto inspiring creative industries to create human-centered products, services, and spaces that make an impact in the Philippines and in the world. From enhancing human experiences to enabling inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the Design Center ensures that design plays its role as a creative, strategic, and innovative tool for positive development.

Website: https://designcenter.ph/ 

Email: info@designcenter.gov.ph 

Tel. No.: 8 8323650

Teleperformance Philippines signs Cleanergy deal with AboitizPower

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Teleperformance Philippines and AboitizPower seal renewable energy partnership. From AboitizPower: Sandro Aboitiz, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, and Gina Camacho-David, Assistant Vice President of Market Strategy. From Teleperformance: Francisco Lara, Chief Executive Officer, Jose Luis Marquez, Chief Operations Officer, Jeffrey Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management, and Eduardo Punzalan, Vice President for Facilities and Administration

Teleperformance, a global leader in outsourced customer and citizen experience management provider, continues its strong commitment to environmental sustainability through sourcing renewable energy from AboitizPower (AP) retailer Adventenergy, Inc. Teleperformance will utilize 100% Cleanergy, AboitizPower’s brand for renewable energy, to operate their Bacolod and Sucat offices, and has set their sights on switching more offices to Cleanergy in the coming years.

With over 57,000 employees operating in 23 business sites all over the country, Teleperformance is one of the biggest Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies contributing to the growth of the Philippine economy. With their switch to Cleanergy, Teleperformance will leave a mark in the country as one of the first BPOs to utilize Renewable Energy in their operations. BPOs consume energy around-the-clock which makes this switch a significant contributor in decarbonizing the country. The company hopes to prompt other BPOs in the country to make the environmentally conscious choice of switching to renewable energy.

Teleperformance Philippines Chief Executive Officer Francisco Lara explained how BPOs can take a step further in creating a lasting difference for the country. “As BPOs, we have already made a positive impact in the Philippine community through providing thousands of jobs to career-seekers. We have the resources to take it a step further and shift the focus on climate security given the alarming damages in our communities brought about by climate change. The transition to Renewable Energy is one of the easiest steps we can take so long as we have a reliable partner such as AboitizPower to guide us through the process”, said Lara.

Sandro Aboitiz, Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations at AboitizPower, highlights the importance of empowering businesses to choose renewable sources: “We are happy to help boost the Department of Energy Green Energy Option Program to promote the utilization and development of renewable energy in the country. Through this program, we are able to rally various industries under one goal of achieving environmental sustainability and energy security through the use of Cleanergy. This partnership with Teleperformance affirms our efforts to emphasize the direct impact that retail customers have in preserving the environment through the kind of energy they choose to run their facilities,” said Aboitiz.

Aboitiz further sheds light on the critical role of using Cleanergy in addressing energy security challenges in the country. “We have allotted significant resources to expand our Renewable Energy portfolio to 4,600 MW by 2030. This will enable us to address the growing demands of the market and contribute to managing climate-related risks. The government’s Green Energy Option Program is an effective catalyst to accomplish this objective,” said Aboitiz.

Teleperformance Philippines and AboitizPower partnership. (L-R) From AboitizPower: Sandro Aboitiz, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, and Gina Camacho-David, Assistant Vice President of Market Strategy. From Teleperformance: Jeffrey Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management, Jose Luis Marquez, Chief Operations Officer, Francisco Lara, Chief Executive Officer, and Eduardo Punzalan, Vice President for Facilities and Administration

Samsung’s best value 5G smartphones are finally here! Experience awesome 5G within reach with the new Galaxy A13 5G and A23 5G

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Today’s go-getters are focused on maximizing every opportunity in the pursuit of their dreams. With countless experiences waiting for them in the modern world, it’s essential to have a tech companion that can keep up with their hectic, fast-paced lifestyles, ensuring reliability and speed be it for work or play.

With this in mind, Samsung launched its latest Galaxy A Series smartphones: the Galaxy A13 5G and A23 5G which are ideal for students and young professionals. As the latest upgrade to the Galaxy A13 and Galaxy A23 released earlier this year, these new smartphones now provide hyper-fast 5G connectivity for optimal productivity and performance. These smartphones also have huge RAM—up to 6GB for the A13 5G and up to 8GB for the A23 5G— so users won't have to worry about being weighed down by the sluggish performance. Both the A13 5G's 90 Hz and the A23 5G's 120 Hz refresh rates guarantee that users won't miss a beat when watching movies or playing games on their phones. Thanks to these features, today's youth may put in productive hours whenever and wherever they like, unhindered by slow displays, and unreliable connections.

Keep all files within easy reach. Both the Galaxy A13 5G and A23 5G include 128GB of built-in storage plus 1TB of additional space, so users need not worry about losing any important files, photos, or videos.

It’s not only the inside that matters with these phones. Flashing both style and comfort, these phones come with soft colorways and refined curves, making it easier to hold and less hassle for go-getters to carry so they can do more effortlessly.  With their sophisticated exterior, the Galaxy A13 5G and A23 5G definitely do not compromise style despite the affordable price.

Lastly, the Galaxy A23 5G's Multi-lens Camera is powered by its 50MP OIS main camera and supported by Macro, Ultra Wide, and Depth cameras, so it can easily take on users' photography and videography demands. Even the Galaxy A13 5G, which also has a 50MP main camera bundled with a 2MP Depth camera and 2MP Macro camera, is definitely not left out. Plus, both smartphones have massive 5000mAh batteries that can last throughout the day for maximum productivity and fun.

Get the newest Galaxy A Series smartphones at flexible payment plans

Catch these awesome phones at affordable prices with the Galaxy A13 5G starting at ₱13,990 for the 4GB/128GB, and P14,990 for the 6GB/128GB model.  Meanwhile, the Galaxy A23 5G starts at ₱17,990.00 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB model and ₱18,990 for the 8GB/128GB model.  Both phones are available in three colors, Awesome Blue, Awesome Black, and Awesome Orange

From September 12 to October 22, 2022, the Galaxy A23 5G will also come with a FREE 10,000mAh 25W Battery Pack and a 1-year Samsung Care+ coverage with every purchase.

The Galaxy A13 5G and A23 5G are also available with flexible payment plans. These smartphones can be purchased at 0% interest installment via major credit cards for as low as ₱1,165.80 per month for 12 months, and via Home Credit for as low as ₱561 per month for 18 months with 30% down payment. Customers can also opt to get these smartphones via Samsung’s trade-in program to get instant savings up to 40% off.

Discover how to get awesome 5G speed at an unbeatable value at samsung.com/ph .

Adventure back in time with The Mind Museum’s Dino Play at Estancia Mall

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Adventure back in time with The Mind Museum’s Dino Play at Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City on the G/F East Wing from October 14-27, 2022! Entrance is FREE daily, and slots are limited per hour starting 11AM to 6:30PM.

For easier entry, download the Ortigas Malls app and register for the Ortigas Community Card through this link: https://linktr.ee/enjoyeveryday.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Visit the Estancia at Capitol Commons Facebook page for more details!

 

#EnjoyEveryday #OrtigasMalls

 

How to set up an urban farm with limited home spaces

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City dwellers are often removed from the agricultural process that brings food to their tables. But thanks to technology, there's a growing trend of urban farming that is making it possible for people to grow their own food right in their own backyards or balconies.

Professor Vernie Compas signs a copy of his book

Recently, Professor Vern Compas, with support from Bank of China Manila, launched his book entitled “Crafting an Innovative Urban Garden” at the Ascott in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The book looks at how city dwellers can now realize small-scale home-based farming technology to produce vegetables right in their own home and small yards.

Known as “Mr. Organic” among his partner farmers and organic farming advocates, Compas has been advocating organic and urban farming, healthy food, food security, and the environment including population and development for already a decade.

Deng Jun, Country Head of Bank of China Manila, and Professor Vernie Compas advocate for urban farming and sustainable development in the Philippines.

As an advocate of development, Compas envisions raising the interest of Filipinos living in an urban setting to become self-sufficient and generate healthy food and income through urban farming technology.

In his book, Compas gives out the following tips for those who want to set up their own urban garden even with limited spaces:

1.     Choose an indoor or outdoor space. For the outdoor garden, choose areas where the morning sunlight can reach your plants. If not, a net can be used to provide shade to minimize heat and moisture. For an indoor garden, it is best to support it with full light spectrum grow lights. These grow lights contain colors that help indoor plants produce chlorophyll and support their germination and growth development.

 

2.     Choose the type of urban farming setup. There are different kinds of urban farming setups based on the available spaces and resources. A hydroponics setup using the Kratky method or Nutrient Film Technique can support planting lettuce in a vertical design. There is also container gardening using recycled bottles, containers, and jars. No matter the gardening model or the plants to be produced, it can all be done with the right technology and skills, available resources, and the commitment of the urban farmer.

 

3.     Proper Watering System. Now, every plant needs water to grow and produce the right yield or harvest. In the case of urban farming, whether soil-based farming or water-system farming, the amount of water should be based on the needs of the plants. In the case of lettuce production through a hydroponics system, much water is required based on the method and technique used. But in soil-based lettuce urban farming production, the drip system makes sure that the soil has enough moisture. There are also available soil-testers, moisture- testers, and water-testers in the market for use in determining the level of moisture, acidity, and alkalinity of the desired growing medium.

 

4.     Proper Fertilization System. Each plant needs fertilization to ensure better growth development, color, and higher yield. However, the use of synthetic fertilizers or synthetic nutrient solutions is not recommended. The author recommends that the urban farmer use an organic nutrient solution as they are also available in the market. Compas highly recommends that the urban farmer learn how to produce their own concoctions from their kitchen waste. The urban farmer can produce Fish Amino Acids (FAA) from fish intestines or bones, Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), or Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) right from their kitchen waste.

 

5.     Effective Pest Management System. As described in the fertilization section, the use of organic nutrients solution has an ingredient that protects the plants from insects, fungus, and diseases. Compas warns against the use of chemical-based pesticides or insecticides as they can contaminate the plant, soil, water, and the air. They can also be harmful to the gardener and the community as a whole.

For Bank of China, supporting Compas is part of its larger mission of embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives into its activities. According to Deng Jun, Country Head at Bank of China Manila, this is because sustainability is a core long-term strategy at Bank of China. “The Group continues to integrate sustainable development into its overall business development strategy and daily business operations, promoting sustainable development through various innovative transformation and digitalization, green operation initiatives, sustainable finance, and green financial products and services,” he said.

“This book should not be an end in itself,” shared Compas. “The hope is that more people integrate urban farming within their local communities. Together, we can build greener communities and help address the issue of food scarcity.”

“I am very thankful to Bank of China for supporting this advocacy,” said Compas. “I hope that this book inspires others to integrate urban farming within their local communities so that we can create greener communities in the cities of the Philippines.”

 

____________________

About Bank of China

Founded in 1912, Bank of China is China’s most international and diversified bank with operations in over 60 countries and regions around the world where it provides a comprehensive range of financial services to customers. In the Philippines since 2002, Bank of China continues to pursue its mission of bridging Chinese and Philippine trade and investments through corporate banking, personal banking, and financial markets services, facilitating more Chinese investments in key sectors of the fast-growing Philippine economy, and investing in a Renminbi (RMB) transfer system to encourage the settlement of payments in RMB.

Bank of China Manila is the official RMB Clearing Bank in the Philippines.