Pre-Fab Modular Homes can be stylish, energy-efficient and income-earning too

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Do you know “pre-fab homes”?

Pre-fab homes today are practically custom-built, beautifully designed, sturdy, long-lasting, energy-efficient, and ready to meet the challenges posed by the elements. Although built in quick time, no compromise has been made on its quality or integrity.

Some says "pre-fab" thought of soldiers’ barracks, temporary shelters or low-cost houses that the government put up for mass housing in the 60s and 70s. But prefabricated homes have come a long way. Whether its purpose is to be a family home, a vacation getaway, or a home that one can use for business, one can now find a trendy modular home to cherish and be proud of because it looks good and performs superbly as a dwelling unit too.

New homes that use this fast and flexible building technique have also been hailed for using sustainable, recycled, low-energy materials and fixtures that result in functional, space-efficient, eco-friendly design.

Aluform PreFab Construction and Consultancy, makers of office buildings and technoparks, has brought stylish modular housing to the Philippines to meet the needs of young families, investment-seekers and upwardly mobile professionals on the lookout for homes that are ready for occupancy within a shorter waiting time. The modular dwellings are convenient to construct, flexible in terms of space usage and cost much less than a conventionally built home.

Classy looking and stylish, Aluform Pre-Fabricated Homes come in two designs: Country and Zen. Both are airy, with their respective charm and appeal, are spacious and energy efficient, and make good use of available light and ventilation to lower energy bills by as much as 20%. The energy savings of up to 20% is due to good insulating roof and wall materials, plus sufficient air ventilation that keeps the stylish home in a comfortable 28 degrees Celsius zone at high noon!

The façade is made of wood-like planks of finished materials, while the actual panels are reinforced with pre-cast concrete filled with insulation materials for total thermal, moisture and acoustic protection. These give the homes their energy-saving properties.

Designed for both luxury and function, strategically placed windows and doors allow natural light to enter the home. The windows use a certified double-glazed system that insulates the house from external noise and other kinds of pollution. Louver features below the roof keep the ceiling well ventilated at all times.

The houses have a floor area of 135 square meters and have a multi-purpose Lanai, which is one of the best features of Aluform Pre-Fabricated Homes. The generous space opens up the home investment to many possibilities. The lanai area can be used to make a bigger dining room, if desired, an entertainment area, a bigger garage. Or even to open up a business space like a home office, a mini grocery, barber shop, parlor, snack shop, kitchenette, or other enterprise that can make the home earn additional income for its owners. 

Built to withstand the elements, Aluform Pre-Fabricated Homes are easier to put up than conventional on-site constructions. One can have a home built in 60 days or less that is immediately livable because furnishings are already in place within that period. Highly versatile, they are also good for export and are transferrable to other locations in the future, if desired.

“Aluform Pre-Fab Homes are highly desirable during these times when more and more families and individuals lead an active lifestyle and are discovering their entrepreneurial spirit. They can be lived in as simple residences, but can also make good home offices or the site of income generating ventures. Enterprising owners can make them places where they can “live and earn”. There are infinite possibilities,” says Ritchie Catalan, Marketing Officer of Aluform Industries, Inc.

Aluform Industries, Inc. supplies the materials for the homes but would-be owners can engage their own contractors if preferred. They can also avail of Aluform’s services for the house construction.

For more information and dealership inquiries, call (0917) 828-8189 and (0917) 891-1088. Or email modular.creation@gmail.com.

Edsa Shrine: Filipino legacy, faith continue to live on for 25 years

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Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue or popularly known as Edsa is a famous landmark that left an indelible mark in the Philippine history as a bastion of power that emanated from the people to oust an oppressive dictatorship.

At the heart of this cradle of heroism is a shrine that was consecrated and dedicated on December 15, 1989 to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, who miraculously interceded to bring down a tyrannical leadership and restore the country's democracy through the peaceful and bloodless People Power Revolution in 1986.

The Edsa Shrine that came into being since then has become a living monument of praise and pride for every Juan. 

"And that has developed from a small, thriving community into a full-grown, practically huge one that is not only serving the Church, but serving the people who come here to fulfill their spiritual needs," said Rev. Fr. Nilo Mangussad, rector of Edsa Shrine.

While others think of it as a parish, the priest reiterated that it's merely a "quasi-parish" welcoming individuals and families of faithful, forming 23 ministries and serving multitudes of people from different sectors. 

Simply, its vision and on-going mission is to become a vibrant community of Christian servant-leaders that advocates love, peace, truth and unity, inspired by Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Edsa.

"So, it is indeed a conglomeration of a lot of different people from different dioceses," Fr. Nilo said. "Historically coming from then Cardinal Sin and Archbishop Socrates Villegas, it is trying to become a community that will show that unity is possible; prayer to love problems is possible; a community that loves, understands, forgives is possible; and that truth, freedom is possible not by powerful means or force, but by prayer."

Although the Shrine has constantly grown as a community for the last 25 years, he conceded that still it has been faced with a lot of challenges and yet "the essence of the spirit is continuing up to now that the community growing with that spirit is not only keeping to themselves, but going upwards to let the people experience it at the way we experience it here inside."

"The Shrine is growing bigger and bigger that the space is no longer enough to contain the organizations, the ministries, and the various groups that want to come here to experience it. And we are now exponentially going out," he stressed.

As the Edsa Shrine turns silver this year, it is but apt to relive its glory with a big bang revolving around its theme,"EDSA Shrine @ 25: Truly Alive!"

Kicking off the jubilee celebration was the unveiling of its logo last October, followed by the Bayanihan Clean-up activity by the different ministries of the EDSA Shrine last month, and a series of talks on the Art and Architecture of the EDSA Shrine. 

Leading to the inception date itself, Novena Masses to Our Lady, Queen of Peace are now ongoing until December 14, at 5:30 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 6 pm on Sundays. Different bishops and beloved priests preside, among which, no less than His Eminence, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, who will celebrate with the community on the ninth day.

The ceremonial mass of the 25th Anniversary of EDSA Shrine will be on December 15 at 5:30 pm to be officiated by His Excellency, Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and incumbent CBCP president. 

A grand celebration concert dubbed "Edsa Shrine @ 25: Truly Alive!" shall follow at Meralco Theater at 8 pm. This free concert is produced and participated in by many volunteers of the Shrine to look back at its humble beginnings and where it is headed to. Performances from the various ministries and members of the community as well as surprise guest artists are lined up.

DepEd reiterates “No Collection Policy” in public schools

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The Department of Education (DepEd) reminded all public school authorities that collection of any fees for school activities and celebrations is strictly prohibited.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that contributions in public schools should be voluntary. He added that while Parents-Teachers Association may be authorized to collect financial contributions from its members to enable it to implement programs and projects (such as Christmas parties) for the benefit of the students, the fees should be voluntary and agreed upon by the members in a general assembly.

Luistro urged the PTAs to minimize the amount of contributions for ceremonies and extra-curricular activities in consideration of the many expenses that parents incur in sending their children to school.

He said, “The payment of such contributions shall not be made a requirement. Non-payment of voluntary school contributions shall not be made as a basis for non-admission, non-promotion, or non-issuance of clearance to a student—including the withholding of school cards.”

Luistro urged all schools to keep celebrations such as Christmas parties simple yet meaningful.

New CyberPress officers to be inducted on December 19

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The Information and Communications Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines, also known as CyperPress, are set to induct the newly elected officers on December 19, Friday, to be held in Makati City. 

As in the previous years, DOST undersecretary and ICT Office executive director Louis Casambre will administer the induction ceremony.

Elected officers for the year 2015 are Timothy James Dimacali, science and technology section editor of GMA News Online (President), Alma Anonas-Carpio, technology editor of Philippines Graphic (Vice-President for Externals), Jing Garcia, Infotek section editor of InterAksyon.com (Vice-President for Internals). Jason Domantay, segment producer of Asian Food Channel and mynameisbella.com (Secretary), Verns Joven, digital editor of the Philippine Star (Treasurer).

Also elected are Marlon Magtira, editor of Newsbytes.PH and techTV.ph (Membership Committee Head) and Melvin Calimag, executive editor of Newsbytes.PH (Constitutional Amendments Head).

Appointed as sectoral representatives are Raffy Pedrajita, editor of technology blog DigitalSpidey.com (for new media) and Paolo Luis Montecillo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (for traditional media).

“For close to two decades, Cyberpress has followed the stellar -- some would say meteoric -- rise of Philippine IT, and continues to do so today even as the organization itself has seen much change over the years,” Dimacali shared with the ICT press corps.

“We look forward to 2015 with new goals and new horizons that, we hope, continue closely in step with the shifting tides of the industry we watch after,” Dimacali added.

The induction of the new Cyberpress officers, will also serve as the Christmas party of the organization.

DepEd, TESDA launch “Gulayan Cook-Off Challenge”

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To promote nutrition among Filipino children, the Department of Education (DepEd) in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Association (TESDA), initiated the “Get Your Gulay On: Grand Gulay Cook-Off Challenge”, a contest that aims to encourage innovation in making healthy snacks made of vegetables from the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program in public schools.

“Ang gusto po naming gawin ngayong umaga ay ipakalat ang pagkain ng gulay sa mga kabataan at siguraduhin na kakain sila ng mga masusustansyang pagkain. Gusto rin nating gamitin ang mga gulay na tinanim natin sa mga paaralan bilang sangkap sa mga lulutuing pagkain,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC. He emphasized the importance of proper nutrition in improving the performance of students in school.

Participants from TESDA training institutes prepared nutritious vegetable dishes for some 100 elementary students from Taguig and Pasay Cities invited as judges. Part of the criteria requires that the ingredients must not contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) – ready-made breading, soup stocks, liquid seasoning. 

TESDA Director-General Secretary Joel J. Villanueva explained that the program promotes the talents of TESDA cookery graduates, while helping develop nutritious recipes for students. “It is important that we not only provide nutritious meals to help our students Go, Grow, and Glow but also to give them the opportunity to be transformed—to transform their community, and even transform our beloved country,” he said.

Gulayan Cook-off winner Helen L. De Guzman of STI Computer College of Parañaque, Inc., coached by Rosela P. Ongkeko, garnered the most votes from the students for her “Kalalunggay Tart” recipe, with kalabasa and malunggay as the main ingredients. Their recipe will be verified by TESDA for nutritional benefits and may be included in the menu of public school canteens as snacks.

The two secretaries, pleased with the outcome of the launch, eyed a nationwide event for the coming months. “Because of the success of this pilot program, we plan to go around the country, one region per month come 2015,” said Luistro. He also shared that both DepEd and TESDA will “collect the recipes of the food made and post them on the website so that parents and teachers may be encouraged to eat more nutritious meals.”

Luistro then urged the participants to continue supporting the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program by DepEd. “Sana po maging inspirasyon itong programang ito para sa mga magulang, sa mga guro, at sa ating mga school canteen na gamitin ang mga gulay na itinatanim sa ating Gulayan,” he said.

As part of the directive by the President through Executive Order No. 26 entitled the Implementation of the National Greening Program, the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program was formed as a task force for all public schools to “establish vegetable gardens to serve as food basket and a main source of commodities to sustain supplementary feeding.”