Island Cove’s New Business Venture

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Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park is known to be the most sought resort in the province of Cavite. The company has provided leisure, relaxation and amazing dining experience to the Filipinos in the past 20 years. As the company grows, new business developments are realized.

Since Island Cove is known for its events and functions, the company has opened its first ever food service solutions called Island Cove Food Services, Inc. (ICFS). ICFS provides catering service solutions for socials and corporate events held outside the resort, volume food preparation and delivery, pre cooked/ portioned food supplies and healthy meal plans. 

Island Cove has seen the potential of sharing its expertise in the field of Hospitality Management to individuals who wish to polish their craft. Because of this, the company has decided to open its first learning institution - the International Skills Learning Academy or ISLA. ISLA offers TESDA courses (such as Housekeeping) and lifestyle courses such as Kiddie Cooking Class, Baking Class and Events Management. ISLA also offers FoodSHAP Food Safety courses. Completers of the course will be accredited as licensed food handlers by the Department of Health.

Island Cove is also very much excited to address the laundry service needs of the nearby hotels and accommodations as it offers its own Laundry Service. The Island Cove Laundry Service offers state of the art industrial sized washers, ironers and dryers that are managed by experts in the field of Housekeeping and Laundry Service.

To know more about Island Cove’s new products, you may call: (046) 434 4313 or 0917 706 1406.

Filipino artists get wider reach in SM malls

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Budding artists and professional visual artists in the country are finding a bigger audience out of the millions of daily customers of SM Supermalls. Throughout the summer season, at least four art festivals and art-inspired mall events have showcased an eclectic mix masterpieces and art expressions in various SM malls nationwide.

Live mural painting. 3D Panel by Anjo Bolarda at the launch of SM North Edsa’s Art Karnival: Vinyl on Vinyl

Currently ongoing is SM North Edsa’s ‘Art Karnival: Vinyl on Vinyl’ – a fun and colorful exhibit of art installations, murals, 3D and interactive displays created by a diverse group of pop culture artists like Tyang Karyel, Dex Fernandez and Blic among others. Shoppers and tenants are treated to the visual stimulation provided by the combination of fun and surreal artworks spread throughout the stretch of the mall’s Sky Garden. 

“SM Supermalls has been supporting local visual artists over the years. This is one of the many campaigns we do to encourage Filipino talent and to inspire appreciation of art across the country. Through the colorful art pieces, our customers get to enjoy as well a fun and refreshing vibe in the malls apart from the usual shopping and dining,” said SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Jonjon San Agustin.

In the South Luzon area, the ‘Shop & Make Art’ contest takes inspiration from the popular commercial art coloring books. After shopping, customers from Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and Bicol may be able to participate by coloring in the art templates with their choice coloring medium and style. The competition is still ongoing and culminates on June 15.

Prior to these art-inspired happenings, SM has also hosted summer art events in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Davao in Mindanao; a unique solar-powered art installation by Brian Sergio in Marilao, Bulacan; and the annual photo exhibit in Baguio featuring the works of PWDs.

With 61 malls now present nationwide, SM not just aims to continue but widen as well its campaign to promote Filipino visual art and appreciation, ultimately providing Filipino artists and the general public a major venue to connect through meaningful occasions.

Registration opens for sixth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum

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Various stakeholders in the housing sector are coming together for the 6th Asia Pacific Housing Forum (APHF6) organized by Habitat for Humanity Philippines to be held on July 25-26, 2017 at Novotel Hotel in Quezon City, to discuss the growing challenges of urbanization and diminishing resources for human settlements, as well as share best practices to ensure that no one would be without roofs over their heads.

The APHF6 with the theme “Housing at the Center” will serve as an Urban Thinkers Campus under the UN Habitat’s World Urban Campaign. 

The Urban Thinkers Campus is an initiative of UN-Habitat conceived as an open space for critical exchange between urban researchers, professionals, and decision-makers who believe that urbanization is an opportunity and can lead to a positive transformation. The agenda of APHF6 is also in line with the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which was recently held in Quito, Ecuador. 

The two-days forum has enlisted veritable thought leaders in the housing sector across the region as speakers and panel resource persons to share their insights and jointly analyze problems besetting each country and how some have successfully licked the homelessness situation in the urbanizing centers.

“As a collective group, advocating and relentlessly pursuing a single purpose of totally eliminating poverty housing in the Philippines, we can do a lot. It is not an impossible dream because it has been done in other countries at a time when they were still developing. There are successful models in other countries where the poor were given a chance to break the cycle of poverty by providing them a decent, affordable home which become a platform for their development,” said Charlie S. Ayco, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

The two (2) days program with an anticipated attendance of 500 multi-sector thought leaders and stakeholders in housing will focus on four themes/tracks: 

Technology for affordable housing: 

Presenting the latest technologies that can bring social good, ranging from construction materials to satellite mapping methodologies and web applications.

Innovative partnerships: 

Highlighting the potential or multi-level partnerships in achieving goals related to poverty alleviation and the provision of affordable housing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Resilience and social development: 

Focusing on how affordable housing can lift entire communities out of poverty, protecting people from natural disasters and generating livelihoods.

Sustainable urbanization and housing: 

Discussing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda which serves as the roadmap for global sustainable urban development in the next 20 years as well as initiatives that focus on housing as central to proper urban development.

To register and get more information on the program and speakers, visit aphousingforum.ph. 

About the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum

The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is a biennial conference organized by Habitat for Humanity. Since it was first held in 2007, the event has brought together more than 3,400 participants from over 52 countries. In 2017, the 6th Housing Forum will be held from September 4-7 in Hong Kong. It will bring together major stakeholders engaged in seeking solutions to the issues of inadequate housing and promoting affordable housing as a driver for economic growth. Preliminary events will be held in Cambodia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. 

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 70 countries. In the Philippines since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 140,000 people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.ph.

Make your day better with McDonald’s McSaver Meals , #MeronNaNgayon

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Life is so much better with things made available and convenient for anyone, just like the McDonald’s McSaver Meals, affordable meals complete with rice and drink starting at just P55!

Take it from the hilarious new TVC starring Alden Richards, who plays a prince and outwits a hungry, short-tempered giant with an offer of McSaver Meals. Watch him in action in his latest TVC HERE.

So if you’re looking for easy, lunch options on a budget, McDonald’s has got the answer just as Alden charmingly says, dahil “meron na ngayon!”

Choose from the golden Crispy Chicken Fillet Meal (P59), seasoned just right and served with gravy, the Chicken Fillet Ala King Meal (P59) served with a delicious, creamy sauce or the 1-pc. Mushroom Pepper Steak Meal (P55) made with a meaty patty, in creamy mushroom sauce and button mushroom slices. You can enjoy all these meals with rice and a regular drink.

Now life is so much easier with McSaver Meals whenever you dine in at any McDonald’s restaurant nationwide. You can also have it via Drive-Thru, Take Out, or McDelivery by dialing 86-2-36, visiting mcdelivery.com.ph, or the McDo PH app.

Try them and share your favorites by posting your photos online at facebook.com/McDo.ph and tagging @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram. Join the fun on Twitter as #MeronNaNgayon is already one of the top 10 trending topics in the Philippines.

LGBT Champions honored at the first Boy Abunda LGBT Awards (BALA)

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Dr. Boy Abunda

Boy Abunda, the television host, publicist, talent manager, celebrity endorser, known as "King of Talk" and an advocate, honored LGBT Champions - lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders in Philippine society at the first ever Boy Abunda LGBT Awards (BALA).

The awardees included individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to create further visibility of the LGBT advocacy and raise awareness about LGBT struggles.

The list was an exciting combination of respected personalities in the LGBT community, young and up-and-coming voices, as well as institutions that have committed to uplifting the LGBT plight. The trophies were distributed to the winners last May 17.

BALA may be considered by some as bold and brash, mirroring the personality of its founder– Boy Abunda, Ph.D.

Dr. Abunda and his team of close-in panel of advisers and advocate/activist friends selected the winners through a tedious deliberation process. Dr. Abunda, who is a known television host and gay rights advocate, was the final determinant of the list of winners.

BALA is Dr. Abunda’s own personal recognition of the awardees’ work as LGBT advocates. It is an award that recognizes the leadership and contributions of LGBT leaders and personalities in different fields of society. The award is his modest contribution to the LGBT community, with the goal of motivating the younger generation of LGBT-rights advocates and activists.

Bemz Benedito Managing Director of Make Your Nanay Proud with J. Neil Garcia,
BALA awardee

True enough, the awardees were not the ‘usual suspects’ and amid the expected raised eyebrows, the merit of the awardees and their bodies of work for the advocacy speak for themselves. Even the awards ceremony was unconventional. Instead of the usual fête for awardees in glittery and glamorous ceremonies, the awards were formally and personally given to the awardees without much fanfare.

The trophy designed by Badon

Vice Ganda holds his BALA trophy

Dr Abunda was inspired by his GLAAD Media Awards and Eric Butler Philanthropy Award in establishing BALA. The awards are as brave and as no-nonsense as the giver. The awardees are as follows: 

* VENIR CUYCO - the founder of UP BABAYLAN, the first LGBT STUDENT ORGANIZATION, and LAGABLAB, the earliest LGBT organization in the country

*   J. NEIL GARCIA - champion of LGBTs in Philippine Literature and the Academe

*   CHRISTIAN BRYLE LEANO - student leader and activist

*   KRISTINE MADRIGAL – one of the founders of TAO, Transpinay of Antipolo Organization 

*  DANTON REMOTO – founding chair of ANG LADLAD Party-List — the first and only LGBT party-list in the world

*   AIDA SANTOS - lesbian and women’s rights development worker and poet

*  JOHN L. SILVA - Filipino writer, arts and culture savant, blogger and modernist vanguard

*  JOSE MARIE VICERAL - LGBT Superstar in multimedia platform

*  MONIQUE WILSON - world-renown artist actively advancing issues that matter to LGBTs

*  PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION OF GAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES

(ProGay Philippines) - for more than two decades of service as an LGBT organization in the Philippines

* TEAM MAG - the only existing LGBT lifestyle magazine in the country today, courageously facing the odds to publish content that reflects the lives and concerns of the Filipino LGBT community

*  OUTRAGE MAGAZINE - the brave and trustworthy online source of LGBT stories, editorials, and opinions in the Philippines

* NIKE – LGBT ally and corporate brand that promotes pride, terminating Manny Pacquiao as endorser after he made homophobic remarks

*  PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL THEATER ASSOCIATION (PETA) – a theater company that features LGBT themed plays and performances

The certificates 

Dr. Boy Abunda is also the founding chairman of the Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation. 

Congratulations to LGBT Champions and more power to Boy Abunda LGBT Awards (BALA).