Global Humanitarian Group in NY Picks Filipino Ambassador, Helps Typhoon Victims

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Metro World Child is a global faith-based, humanitarian organization serving nearly 100,000 children each week with after school programs, Sunday School services, child sponsorship, special programs and personal home visits.

In 2001, Metro World Child began a work in Manila, Philippines. The goal was to reach children and families who were living in situations that were in most cases, beyond their control. Metro World Child went to some of the most needy areas such as Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Navotas, and other impoverished locations throughout the Philippines. Over a decade later, we now reach 20,000 children and their families on a weekly basis here in the Philippines alone. Metro World Child has grown to include other nations such as South Africa, Kenya, Romania, and India, and combined, now reach over 100,000 children around the world.

Top-ranked speaker and master trainer, Boris Joaquin was recently appointed the Philippine Ambassador for the Private Sector by the Metro World Child Foundation based in Brooklyn New York, USA.

Joaquin is delighted by this new appointed following his stints with World Vision and involvements with HOPE Foundation, Scholars for Jesus, World Teach and Bible League, his role to help connect Metro World Child’s programs for the street children with right partners and corporate donors. 

“This is timely…” Joaquin quips, “ ..After Typhoon Yolanda, children lost their families, families grieved for their children. Despite this, however, we still believe that there is something that even the strongest storm cannot take away from them.” 

With only a few days before the holiday season, you can assure these children and families that the Christmas spirit will not be lost. A small gift of love from you can make a big difference in their lives this year. It is in times like this that we are called to give what we can, and we believe that our gifts can serve as the light they very much need in their lives today. We can hope that these presents will bring the love they need from God in these trying times, given through us.

Boris continues, “We are working right now putting together shipping containers filled with desperately needed relief supplies. They are being prepared as we speak. Metro World Child reaches close to 20,000 children a week in the Philippines. We are determined to do “whatever it takes” to get this aid as well as the Gospel to those who need it most. Please help us.” 

Metro World Child has program called Operation Holiday Hope, which gives Noche Buena grocery packs and Christmas gifts to these affected children. With the private sectors help this Christmas, Metro World Child can reach over 20,000 children in the Manila area. For P1000, you can provide one child and their family with a Noche Buena, Christmas dinner. Or for just P500, you can provide a child with a Christmas gift. 

To be part of Operation Holiday Hope, please contact 846 0083 or 0915 709 3386.

You can also email us at friends@metroworldchild.org.

For online donations, go to www.metroworldchild.org.ph and on the 

upper right corner, click “GIVE” button.

Click “Donate Now!” button then select campaign 

Operation Holiday Hope: Christmas Basket / Toy

Majestic sleep with the Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress

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The majestic premium Kensington mattress collection from Uratex has been launched last Thursday November 14, 2013 held at Our Home in SM Megamall.

The event was hosted by Ms. Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and Anthony Pangilinan and attended by celebrity guests, Victor Basa, Christine Babao, Julius Babao, Ricardo Cepeda, Marina Benipayo and other guests of the society. 

The new majestic collection, three different models - the Kensington® Classic, Kensington® Luxe and Kensington® Opulent, Uratex Premium Mattress, allows anyone to sleep on its royal and majestic elegance and magnificent comfort that will suit everyone’s varied needs and tastes in comfortable style.

Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress is expected to capture the attention of Filipino modern mattress lovers. This time, Uratex partners with leading lifestyle furniture store chain Our|Home in order to provide better sleep solutions to Filipinos and further set the standard in wellness, elegance, comfort, durability and functionality in today’s modern beds.

Made from a combination of classic bonnel spring, an hour-glass shape and knotted end rings at the top and the bottom with a round helical wire that connects the spring together, and further made relaxing and restful with Uratex Nuovoluxe foam, Kensington® Classic provides a comfortable balance of softness on the surface and firmness deep down. With knitted fabric to cover the mattress, everyone is assured of a good night’s sleep every time.

Kensington® Luxe, on the other hand, is made from high quality visco-elastic foam on top of a pocket spring material that will cradle the body to ease up pressure and provide utmost comfort to the whole body. With its soft comfort feel, anyone who sleeps on a Kensington Luxe mattress is assured of an all-over feeling of relaxation and comfortable sleep with less of the discomforting tossing and turning.

And finally, Kensington® Opulent is specially designed with the combination of five-zone pocketed springs, visco-elastic foam and natural latex foam topper to ensure optimum support with its firm built and superior comfort to provide everyone a good night’s sleep.

To complete the royal sleeping experience everyone needs night in and night out, the Kensington collection also includes the Kensington® Pillow. It's a super soft pillow that will definitely lull anyone to sleep by providing excellent back support, perfect relaxation and an exceptional level of coziness and contentment.

Anyone with a Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress will definitely enjoy its royal beauty and comfort for a very long time since Uratex Premium Mattress and Our Home guarantees superb quality and durability as each of the mattresses from the Kensington® Collection has a warranty— Kensington® Classic with 7 years and Kensington® Luxe and Opulent with 15 years—that protects the mattresses from inherent manufacturing defects and damage, or wear and tear under normal usage.

Aside from the warranties and other snug features, all items under the Kensington® Collection is treated with Sanitized®, which prevents and controls the growth of allergens to provide long-lasting, safe and effective protection against bacteria, fungi, dust mites, mold, mildew and unpleasant odors.

Get to know more about the Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress, and find out how you can have a majestic sleep experience any time, every time. Exclusively available in Our Home stores nationwide. Visit www.uratex.com.ph for more details.

Mostly appreciated the heart of Uratex for giving donations of 4,000 sets of mattresses, P2 million worth of shirts and blankets, and P2 milllion cash donation to help rebuild classrooms in Tacloban and for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

Here are some of the pictures during the Kensington mattress collection launch. (Photo by Joan Meg Roman.)

For more details and updates visit www.uratex.com.ph 

 URATEX PHILIPPINES  facebook 

Follow @uratexfoam  on twitter 

and @OURHOME_PH on Instagram 

Visa Requirements Dictating Two-thirds of Filipino’s Travel Choices

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A survey conducted by Skyscanner, a leading global travel search site, reveals that the logistics of securing visas are having a huge effect on the holiday destination choices made by Filipinos. 

Currently, Philippine passport holders can only visit 25 countries without a visa. These countries include neighboring Southeast Asian countries and some Latin America destinations such as Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Costa Rica.

According to the survey, 73% of the 1000 Filipino respondents consider visa issues before choosing their holiday destination. Only 26% of the respondents have been to two or more destinations that required a visa. When the respondents were asked to rank their top destinations are if visas were no option, they ranked America on top of the list followed by Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.

“Right now, ASEAN passengers can just hop on and off a plane within the region without the hassle of planning months before to meet visa requirements,” Janet Ranola, Philippine Marketing Manager for Skyscanner. “There have been a lot of Filipinos traveling within the ASEAN region in the past few years because of the increased number of flights within the region offered by budget airlines and the convenience of the no-visa travel agreement in the region.” 

89% of the respondents support a single visa system across ASEAN countries to ease travel across the region. “19% of our Filipino respondents have had their visa applications rejected. With a single visa system across ASEAN countries, non-ASEAN nationals are able to travel around the region without the need to obtain a visa for each country,” Ranola added. “This would definitely boost tourism within the region.”

About Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a leading global travel search site offering a truly comprehensive, free flight search service as well as instant online comparisons for hotels and car hire. Founded in 2003, Skyscanner receives over 25 million unique visitors each month.Skyscanner is optimised worldwide and is available in 30 languages.

Skyscanner’s highly-rated free mobile apps are available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Windows 8 devices and have been downloaded over 25 million times.

The privately-owned company employs over 250 staff and has its global headquarters in Edinburgh with regional hubs in Singapore, Beijing, Barcelona and Miami.

For more information, visit the press office or company blog. 

Follow Skyscanner on Twitter @SkyscannerPH

Like Skyscanner on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SkyscannerPhilippines

Visit Skyscanner website at www.skyscanner.com.ph

Singaporean Airlines Increases Baggage Allowance In All Classes

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Singapore Airlines (SIA) customers will enjoy more free checked-in baggage allowance from November 15, 2013 for all SIA and SilkAir flights. 

Checked-in baggage allowances will increase by 10kg for all classes of travel. Customers will be entitled to free baggage allowances of 50kg in Suites and First Class, 40kg in Business Class and 30kg in Economy Class.

For flights to and from the United States, where a per-piece allowance applies, customers travelling in Suites, First Class and Business Class will be entitled to check in two pieces of luggage of up to 32kg each, up from 23kg previously.

“Increasing baggage allowances across all classes of travel is in response to feedback from our customers and reaffirms our commitment to constantly enhancing customer service.” said SIA Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing, Mr. Chin Yau Seng.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold members will continue to enjoy an additional 20kg of baggage allowance across all travel classes, or one extra piece of checked-in baggage when travelling to or from the United States and Brazil.

Priority Passenger Service (PPS) Club members will also continue to be entitled to double the checked-in baggage allowance in their respective class of travel.

Photo: SIA

#YolandaPH Update: Operation Blessing Begins Relief Missions in Leyte, Iloilo, Samar and Coron

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DESPITE the difficulties and perils, the disaster response teams of Operation Blessing Philippines, the humanitarian arm of CBN Asia, have already entered and have set bases in the four provinces worst hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

The Operation Blessing team confirmed television footages and newspaper acounts on the massive devastation caused by Yolanda, describing the damage to life, property, infrastructure and livelihood as unprecented.

“The extent of super typhoon Yolanda’s damage is nothing that the Philippines has ever experienced,” said Dr. Kim Pascual, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Operation Blessing Philippines.

She adds that while Philippines has experienced countless natural disasters in the past, nothing has prepared the country for the catastrophic effects of this super typhoon.

Latest death toll reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is now at is now at 2,275 with more than 3,500 wounded and hundreds more still missing.

Reports estimate the economic impact of the super typhoon as somewhere between $12 to $14 billion with major public infrastructures such as roads, schools and government buildings almost wiped out.

As of yesterday, Operation Blessing has already set up base in the critical areas of Tacloban, Leyte; Guiuan, Samar ; Iloilo and Coron, Palawan.

“These are four of the areas hardest hit by the multiple landfalls of Yolanda. Despite the insurmountable logistical challenges that we face, we need to act and go where we are needed so we can be a blessing to those who have lost so much,” Dr. Kim adds.

According to the report of the Operation Blessing team in Tacloban, the situation remains chaotic as many non-government organizations (NGOs) are being held at the town hall because of security threats. New People’s Army (NPA) troops are reportedly hijacking vehicles loaded with relief goods. This threat and the torrential rains, notwithstanding, the Operation Blessing team is now on ground with 3,000 packs of relief goods donated by Operation Blessing partners in Davao City and 1,200 packs of relief goods donated by Korean nationals. Part of the relief goods will be distributed to other towns in Leyte which are equally badly hit by the typhoon but have not received aid from the government and other NGOs.

The Operation Blessing team brings with them two days worth of medicines for the planned medical mission. Another Operation Blessing team will be travelling tomorrow to distribute relief goods in Ormoc and other towns.

Operation Blessing also reached Guiuan, Samar, the first town to experience Yolanda’s fury, last night after a grueling 36-hour land trip. Guiuan residents were overjoyed in seeing the Operation Blessing teamwhich was the first humanitarian group that has entered their town after the devastation brought by Yolanda.

“Almost 90% of the infrastructures, including the town hall and hospitals, were destroyed. There is no electricity, no food and no water. The closest place where residents could get food is an another town 5-hours away. The good thing here is that there is no flood and the peace and order situation is under control,” Dr. Kim said.

The Operation Blessing team has already distributed relief goods to 75 families in Barangay Poblacion and has established a tent and a vehicle van as the local base camp. SATPHONE has been transported as communication lines are still down.

In Iloilo, the Operation Blessing team has set up a base camp in the towns of Sara and Estancia and coordination with local partners has been underway to launch relief efforts in the province as soon as the aid arrives.

“The first batch of the team came four days ago and has been visiting northern towns to come up with situational assessment reports. Another batch came today to help out and look for more areas to be served outside of Iloilo to include the provinces of Roxas, Aklan and Antique,” explains Dr. Kim.

Boxes of medicines are already on the way to be used by local volunteer doctors in the medical mission that will be launched as soon as possible.

Yesterday, the Operation Blessing team arrived and set base in Coron, Palawan with relief goods transported via a private plane offered for free. The team immediately coordinated with the local government and churches for an efficient and systematic distribution of the relief goods.

The Operation Blessing is also preparing to move in to northern parts of the province, including Daanbantayan town and Bantayan Island, where Yolanda’s toppling winds made relief efforts a challenge. Medical mission will be held on Tuesday in Bantayan Island.

“Our teams report the extent of damage not just on life and property but more importantly on the spirits of our countrymen. Images of desperation, hopelessness, and despair are what our teams encounter each day. These images all the more motivate us to reach out and do more,” Dr. Kim said.

Dr. Kim expressed appreciation to the generous donors and partners of Operation Blessing as she appealed for more help and support to be able to serve more people who are now in desperate conditions.

To know more about Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, visit www.obphil.com or this page http://obphil.com/v2/page/p/visayas-needs-your-help.

More updates of the relief mission are found in www.obphil.com/yolanda, www.facebook.com/obphil and www.twitter.com/obphil.

http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/11/yolandaph-update-operation-blessing-begins-relief-missions-in-leyte-iloilo-samar-and-coron/