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.

Join this #WONDERFUL Blog Competition and Enjoy your Travel to New Zealand

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Join this #WONDERFUL Blog Competition  - an online competition wherein contestants can showcase their talent in writing and photography by capturing wonderful moments and expressing them online.

Winners get to enjoy New Zealand and will share their wonderful experience online.

Official Hashtag: #wonderful

Website: http://wonderful.ph/blog

General Deliverables:

1. Create your meme via http://wonderful.ph and share it on Twitter and Facebook.
2. Join the #wonderful Blog Competition.

MEME CREATION GUIDE:

The meme generator allows users to create a meme featuring 3 things that make their world wonderful.

Sample Meme:

Mandatories

• Use the hashtag #wonderful in all posts.
• Once the user creates his/her own meme, he/she needs to download it, and share it manually on Twitter and Facebook.
• Make sure to include the link http://wonderful.ph
• The caption should have a call to action for their followers to create their own memes, as well.
• Posts should be set to public.

User Experience

Facebook will automatically gather data from users’ recent activity, or recently liked pages, but users can still edit the photo and their interests per category (Favorite Movie, Top Friend, etc.)

Users have the liberty to craft their own captions for as long as they include ALL mandatories.

Twitter

1. Go to http://wonderful.ph and create your own meme.
2. After generating the meme, the user will need to agree with the Terms & Conditions.
3. The user needs to download his/her meme from the microsite, and tweet the photo itself.
4. Make sure all mandatories abovementioned are in the caption. (Sample below)

Sample caption: Burgers, Yoga, & Ed Sheeran! These are what makes my world #wonderful <3 Create yours too @ http://wonderful.ph)

Facebook

1. Go to http://wonderful.ph and create your own meme.
2. After generating the meme, the user will need to agree with the Terms & Conditions.

5. After clicking OK, The user needs to download his/her meme from the microsite, and post the photo itself.

3. Make sure all mandatories abovementioned are in the caption. (Sample below)
4. User needs to make sure that their Facebook post is set to public.

​BLOG COMPETITION GUIDE:

FULL MECHANICS CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://wonderful.ph/blog

Share your world of wonder and get a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to New Zealand!

1. Visit www.wonderful.ph and generate your own meme using the World of Wonder app.

2. On your blog, write about one of the three items featured on your meme and how it has made your world wonderful. (Min. 300 words).

3. Insert the generated meme anywhere within the post.

4. Insert this code at the end of the post: (See full mechanics page) 

A new Mandaluyong in bloom, Mandala Park offers sumptuous, soulful, sustainable homegrown fares

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People have been raving about the newest weekend market nearby thier residences. A new Mandaluyong in bloom as Mandala Park unravels its 3.2-hectare enclave of wellness that celebrates homegrown fares, as a refreshing address along Shaw Boulevard, served goodies from afternoon till 9 pm.

Mandala Park Weekend Market presented a sumptuous, soulful, sustainable homegrown fares during last Saturday, October 24, as we enjoyed yummy food and goodies, chill the night while enjoying soothing jazz sounds from Kat Agarrado of SinoSiKat?

For this month’s installment, the guest performance is courtesy of award-winning singer, producer, and songwriter Kat Agarrado of SinoSikat?, an ensemble known for their soul-infused rhythms.

The weekend markets lets you to experience series of weekly Saturday hangouts with friends. at Mandala Park, to have taste good food from different merchants to support in terms of championing the sustainable lifestyle it upholds.

With good food and soulful music set in a space fit for accommodating families and friends, the Mandala Park weekend market gives visitors a chance to unwind after a tiring work week.

Serving up another feast, the second installment brings back crowd favorites like Fog City Creamery’s organic preservative-free ice cream. Scout Honor’s made-on-the-spot cookies, and Ribs Manila’s smoked pulled pork. While Fruit Magic brings back their cold-pressed juices, Stanford & Shaw is delighting second-timers and newbies with a taste of their guilt-free citrusy ginger ale. Rounding up the list of returning merchants are: B&T Mexican Kitchen, Ramen Iroha, and IAmKim.

New additions include makers of Hawaiian ceviche Poke Boy and the handcrafted delicatessen of Mister Delicious, Mister Fluffies which uses organic sugar in making their cotton candy, and Pedro Brewcrafters who make their beers in-house in San Pedro, Laguna. These four, along with the other chosen merchants are not only great examples of businesses that help the sustainable movement gain more ground in the country, they are also contributors of support for local businesses and industries, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Through the Mandala Park weekend market, Litton & Co. actively gentrifies the urban environment of Mandaluyong by creating avenues that make it easier for people to take a breather while enjoying soothing sounds and sumptuous food with traceable origins.

Green from Inside Out

Mandala Park begins to take shape

Recharging from the city’s entire bustle, and desiring to be more eco-friendly, are things that more and more people are beginning to aspire. The pace of living in today’s thriving districts, however, already makes it hard for urban dwellers to take time out to unwind, let alone adopt green ideals. 

This instigates the role of relaxation and recreation further in helping people live a more balanced existence. Litton & Co, Inc., an emerging real estate player and a witness to the gentrification of Mandaluyong’s landscape, responds by staging another weekend market set to enliven their 3.2-hectare enclave into an avenue of wellness.

By curating merchants that offer traceable homegrown fares, Litton is actually cultivating a community that thrives on sustainable ideals. With the first salvo held last month, the second installment of the monthly affair brings to fore Mandala Park’s gradual transformation as its architecture begins to embody the nature of Litton’s vision.

Merchants that use locally sourced produce help further the sustainability movement. Food prepared with ingredients of traceable origins produce smaller carbon footprints. Less waste is generated the closer the production, manufacturing, and consumption is. Most of the merchants on Mandala Park’s roster exemplify this standard.

An overgrowth of foliage now enveloping the property’s façade shows visitors the depth of Litton’s intent. By having it draped with a green wall that effectively reduces carbon emissions, Mandala Park unravels into a space that will take denizens to a green cleansing, the kind that shows the promise of nature’s integration within the urban ecosystem.

Catch for your favorite food, for more information on the Mandala Park weekend market series, follow Mandala Park on facebook at <facebook.com/mandalaparkph>, and on Instagram <@mandalaparkph>.

#NewMandaluyongInBloom

Thrills, treats and prizes mark the Halloween Soiree at Buddha-Bar Manila: PLUS Who gets to bring home a spanking new Range Rover?

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It’s that time of year when kids go trick-a-treating, mysterious tales abound, and spooky parties are thrown left and right. On October 30, 2015, Buddha-Bar Manila invites you to a Halloween Soiree that runs from 6pm until 12 midnight.

Come in your best Halloween ensemble and win fabulous prizes courtesy of our esteemed partners Skyjet Airlines, official airline; Boracay Tropics, official beach resort; Art of Scent, official luxury fragrance boutique; Hotel Celeste, official Boutique Hotel; Manny O Wines, Official Wine; and Chocolate Magic by Chips Delight. 

At the Halloween Soiree, Buddha-Bar Manila transforms into a glamorous fright zone where in the dead of the night, tombs creek open and witches take flight. Eerie meets trendy too as Halloween Soiree at Buddha-Bar Manila also coincides with the Dine for a Range Rover Grand Raffle Draw on October 31 at 1am. 

There is absolutely no door charge for all guests on that night, only thrilling treats from Buddha-Bar Manila. 

Halloween Soiree at Buddha-Bar Manila & Dine for a Range Rover Grand Raffle Draw is an opportunity you shouldn’t let pass. While having Halloween fun, you might just drive away into the twilight with a brand new Range Roger Evoque. 

Buddha-Bar Manila, a franchise of Buddha-Bar Paris, is located at Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. For reservations, call +632 8566859, +632 8566719 and 0998-983-3918. You may also reach them at info@buddhabarmanila.com or like and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BuddhaBarMNL.

BPI's new banking trend with 'Make the Best Happen' campaign

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Make the Best Happen with BPI!

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) the first bank in the Philippines and in the Southeast Asian region, has a wide range of consumer, corporate, and investment banking products and services and is setting a new trend in banking with its Make the Best Happen campaign.

Over and above offering its range of products and services, BPI first of all wants to support its clients by helping them focus on their life aspirations.

We make the best happen during at the recent event of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). With bloggers and media people invited to do last October 27, the bank hosted a Make the Best Happen activity at the Enderun Tent, Enderun Colleges, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. That was a great event when visitors enjoyed an afternoon of fun, games, dining, raffle draws, and instant prizes.

The launch of BPI’s institutional campaign revealed an animated video, a reminder that we can make anything we’d love to happen, happen.

And to guide us along the way, BPI also created a microsite. 

Makethebesthappen.ph addresses some of the areas in life where most individuals have goals. The articles offer practical tips on travel, health, parenting, shopping, dining and planning for the future. A quick tour of the site shows several helpful reads such as listings of secret food stops outside Metro Manila, quirky Korean tours, inspiring workouts, some necessary life purchases, and how to teach kids to save money.

Ma. Corazon S. Remo, BPI Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic and Corporate Planning Division welcomed media representatives and bloggers. We had fun as we were sent booth hopping, earning prizes at every stop. These booths were meant to give the guests an idea on what life goal they could pursue.

We enjoyed some canapés and wine at the dining booth, played tourists at the travel booth, engaged in pseudo-retail therapy at the shopping booth, exercised a little bit at the health booth and did some art at the parenting booth.

At the future booth, we sat down with BPI’s investment counselors and shared our aspirations. The counselors listened and did some pencil pushing keeping in mind our concerns and perceived limitations. Together, we identified the barriers and discussed ways to break them down or move around them. We walked out of the meeting feeling empowered, believing that indeed, we can make the best happen.

In a statement, Cezar P. Consing, BPI President and CEO, said:

“We strive to know and understand the individual circumstances and financial needs of our clients, then offer financial advice. Only then do we propose certain solutions that are suitable and customized for each and every client. BPI empowers Filipinos to make the best of their life happen by providing innovative and accessible financial solutions.”

“We’re here to make anything you’d love to happen, happen whether it’s for leisure, education, or broadening one’s horizons.”

Consing said the bank wants to focus on needs-based financial planning where individuals make decisions based not on returns but on the goals they want to achieve.

The process begins with helping clients identify their life needs and goals and then create a priority list based on those aspirations. Clients are then encouraged to make personal financial assessments, computing, among others, one’s net worth, cash flow requirements, and even emergency funds. 

Based on this initial assessment, BPI helps clients create a game plan, mindful of their budgets, goals, risk profile, and investment options.

Tricia Quiambao, Head of BPI’s Strategic Brand Management, said with BPI’s Make the Best Happen campaign, people come first.

“We put a premium on understanding our clients and their needs, and as people become more and more aware of the world around them and the many possibilities and opportunities it offers, BPI enables them to accomplish those goals and aspirations better, faster and more efficiently,” she explained.

The microsite devoted to the Make the Best Happen campaign—www.makethebesthappen.ph— addresses some of the top life and lifestyle goals of most individuals: travel, health, parenting, shopping, future, and dining. It is enriched every week with updated content derived from current areas of interest.