iACADEMY chosen by Alibaba Business School as first PH school to implement digital, e-commerce college courses

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As iACADEMY strengthens its international linkages, the Makati-based school has been recently chosen by Alibaba Business School’s Global Digital Talent Program to implement digital and e-commerce driven business college courses. Under this program, the GDT team will train the professors of iACADEMY with its e-commerce courseware that will be incorporated in iACADEMY’s business course subjects. 

Alibaba inks partnership with iACADEMY, the first Philippine school to implement digital and e-commerce college courses. 

L-R: Ms. Zhang Yu, Partner and Vice President of Alibaba Group, and Ms. Vanessa Tanco, President and CEO of iACADEMY

The Alibaba GDT(GET) Network is part of Alibaba's mission to make it easy to do business anywhere. Established in October 2008, the Alibaba Business School is currently focused on implementing Alibaba Group's e-commerce training and education system, which has in the past decade nurtured millions of e-commerce practitioners and entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, iACADEMY, a school known for its specialized courses on Computing, Business, and Design, has also inked partnership with several international companies over the past few years in a bid to position the school as a major player in digital transformation and innovative education. Just last year iACADEMY was designated Center of Excelence in Asia by one of the biggest Animation Software providers, the first partner shool of the world’s cloud computing giant company and a curriculum development partner of one of the top accounting firms in the world. Now, as the school opens its new school year, it also open its doors to another international partnership that will surely be a game changer.

This month, iACADEMY has signed a partnership with Alibaba Business School to implement the Alibaba Global Digital Talent (GDT, was named as GET) Program that will enable and empower students and entrepreneurs by providing skills and talents, thereby allowing them to maximize the potential of digital technologies for business growth. 

Based on the framework of the Alibaba Business School, the GET program was established to collaborate with universities and training institutions worldwide to train talents for the digital economy. Partner educational institutions like iACADEMY, as one of its newest members in the Alibaba GDT Network, will get to carry out its GDT Program Curriculum where students will be trained and acquire knowledge on digital economy and digital entrepreneurship. 

Apart from this endeavor, the Alibaba Business School recently hosted the GDT Global Challenge 2020 and announced their top three finalists with one of the second place winners from the Philippines. This challenge encouraged students to develop innovative digital solutions that can help people, business, and institutions in adapting with the new normal. 

“We are honored to be the first school in the Philippines to implement this program with the Alibaba Business School. This is just one of the many initiatives that iACADEMY will be pushing as we strengthen our international presence and linkages,” said Vanessa Tanco, iACADEMY’s President and CEO.

“The Alibaba GDT Program will certainly add a great value to our business courses in iACADEMY. This will further cement our position as an ever-dynamic and innovative business school in the Philippines,” Cecilia Sy, iACADEMY’s Vice President for Academic Affairs underscored. 

To formally ink the deal between the Alibaba GDT Network and member international universities including iACADEMY, an online half-day program commenced on September 22 to foster an inclusive dialogue on digital talent cultivation and harness countries‘ readiness to engage in the digital economy. Senior executives from Alibaba, government leaders of member countries, and other leading experts and scholars of digital industries will also grace the event via online platform.

Golden Haven, The Most Beautiful Memorial Parks From The Country’s 3rd Largest Real Estate Company

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Golden Haven Memorial Parks are serene resting places for our dearly beloved that have gone ahead. Nothing honors their memories more than laying them to rest at Golden Haven, the real estate developer of what are touted to be the country’s largest and most beautiful memorial parks. 

Golden Haven’s impeccably designed memorial parks create a tranquil have for all who visit.

Golden Haven’s impeccably designed memorial parks combine elegant architecture with verdant greenery to create a tranquil haven for families who come to visit. In such vast, picturesque settings, the living celebrates the lives of people they have loved and lost while creating new, lasting memories with the family. Golden Haven continues to innovate on memorial parks and how to make them as much functional as they are aesthetic.

Take for example the Golden Haven in Amadeo, Cavite, the first-ever eco-memorial park currently in development in the Philippines. Not only will it provide a beautiful locale for remembering loved ones gone by but it will also offer outdoor attractions for visiting families to bond over with. Such outdoor activities include a butterfly pavilion, various nature trails, and even a miniature zoo. Its countryside vibes make it refreshingly conducive to reliving happy memories while appreciating the beauty of nature. 

More than just celebrating the lives of loved ones gone by, families can create lasting memories together in these picturesque settings.

On the other hand, the 10-hectare Golden Haven at Cagayan de Oro, a fully operational Golden Haven park, boasts a stunning recreation of the famed Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To boost its international flair, the park is built around the theme, Gardens of the World. Greetings in various Asian languages welcome guests at the park that features themed enclaves such as the Japanese Zen garden, the Gardens of America, the Tuscan Hills, and more. 

Pegged as the most beautiful memorial park in the country, Golden Haven Park in Cebu is located just a few minutes ride from the city. This mountaintop sanctuary can leave one in awe, with its enchanting natural surroundings blending seamlessly with its various Italian-inspired amenities like the Pope John Paul II Memorial Hill, the Garden Plaza, and the Imperial Gardens, among others.

These are just three of more than thirty premier offerings of Golden Haven all over the country, making it the largest and the most beautiful chain of memorial parks not only in the country, but quite possibly, within the Southeast Asian region as well. 

Golden Haven Park in Cebu is a mountaintop sanctuary that leaves visitors in awe of its natural surroundings and Italian-inspired amenities.

With more sites being built, Golden Haven moves closer to its goal of having a Golden Haven memorial park in every person’s hometown, allowing its clientele to enjoy life’s peaceful dusk, in the comforts of familiar ground.

“It is our hope that the vastness and tranquil beauty of Golden Haven’s memorial parks continue to motivate the living in making their visits a regular habit instead of a yearly event,” said Red Rosales, president of Golden Haven. “Weekend visits can afford families the chance to bond safely with each other while savoring memories of the dearly departed.”

The 10-hectare Golden Haven at Cagayan de Oro boasts a stunning recreation of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

With its modern, refreshing take on the memorial park, there is clearly no better choice in the deathcare industry than Golden Haven.

Golden Haven is a subsidiary of publicly listed Golden Bria Holdings Inc., currently positioned as the 3rd largest real estate company in the country in terms of market capitalization valued at more than 200 billion pesos.

MERALCO PROVIDES CONTINUOUS POWER SUPPLY TO COVID-19 TREATMENT CENTERS

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Meralco crews work round-the clock to provide safe, adequate, and reliable supply of electricity to United Imus Doctors, a hospital and COVID-19 treatment facility located in Imus, Cavite. The project involves the upgrading of metering facilities, installation of two concrete poles, and replacement of two 75-kVA distribution transformers with three 250-kVA distribution transformers. Powering COVID-19 quarantine and treatment facilities within our franchise area is one of our priority projects this year, as the company continues its relentless support to the government and to the private sector in the fight against COVID-19. 

Canva for Education announces an exclusive Care Bears™ collection to empower teachers with resources to nurture students through social emotional learning

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Manila, Philippines - Global online design platform Canva, in partnership with The Care Bears brand owner Cloudco Entertainment, announces the immediate release of a collection of Care Bears™ templates exclusively for its Canva for Education community; a collection which further encourages and inspires creativity and connection in the classroom - in both a virtual and physical environment.

Online classes will be the major learning delivery method for the majority of academic institutions across the Philippines. With the traditional face-to-face setup pinned to the side, Filipino educators are adapting to new ways of teaching, rethinking how to provide students with meaningful social-emotional learning tools, as well as ways to keep students engaged.

The Care Bears collection, exclusive to the Canva for Education community, includes:

● Educational worksheets to enhance engagement in the classroom and reach key learning goals;

● Creative and fun ice-breaker activities;

● Wellness activities focusing on social-emotional development; plus

● Care Bears Classroom kits, providing teachers with a touch of magic to bring any classroom to life.

Carly Daff, Canva for Education’s Director of Product, said collaborating with such a global and nostalgic brand was a coup for the organization’s core education audience, because the Care Bear characters and what they stand for perfectly aligns with Canva’s values.

“So far, 2020 is fast becoming one of the most unsettling years for humanity. Now more than ever, we need to take a proactive stance to ensure our kids are being taught how to recognize and express their emotions, manage stress, as well as learn how to care for themselves and have compassion for others,” explained Daff.

“The loveable Care Bears characters empower teachers to help students address their social and emotional development with characters we all know and love. This all-new collection contains vital resources that can be used in a physical or virtual setting, perfect for encouraging connection and creativity in the classroom,” she further stated.

Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, a registered psychologist with a focus in working with children and families, as well as an ambassador for the Care Bears and Canva for Education partnership, explains the importance of social-emotional learning in schools today.

“Social-emotional learning provides educators with an “open portal” to the heart and mind of a child,” said Dr. Lapointe. “This in turn, gives us the ability to shape the growing brain from within in a more meaningful and effective way; it’s an approach that goes a long way towards helping kids become more available to learning. The Care Bears templates are a fun and engaging way to kick off a meaningful conversation with students - it helps break the ice and can be used again and again to check in with them and gain a better understanding of their current state of mind,” furthered Dr. Lapointe.

“As we continue to prepare for this year’s balik eskwela, we at Canva are excited to share the Care Bear collection to Filipino educators who use Canva for Education in their classes. We hope to spread positivity to young learners, and instill the importance of being in-touch with their emotions and feelings, while also understanding the value of caring for others through a fun learning experience,” said Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva Philippines Country Head.

Kristeen Tibbits, Care Bears’ Head of Marketing, added, “Our desire for positivity fuels today’s focus on personal growth and evolution. We’re craving sunshine and rainbows - even when we’re feeling blue. That’s what the The Care Bears offer. We couldn’t be more excited to bring these messages to children and their education just when they need it most,” concluded Tibbits.

All of these are available for free for the Canva for Education community - https://canva.me/carebear. Register for your free account at: www.canva.com/education. 

About Canva

Valued at $6B USD, Canva is an online graphic design platform used by more than 30 million people every month across 190 countries. Canva for Education is the creativity tool for every classroom. Featuring Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop design tools, Canva for Education offers a rich and authentic learning experience that empowers teachers and students to create and collaborate. It also includes add-ons such as education-specific content and classroom-friendly templates, an all-new collaboration space, a review workflow, version history plus so much more.

About Cloudco Entertainment

Cloudco Entertainment, formerly American Greetings Entertainment, is the owner for iconic entertainment brands such as Care Bears™, Holly Hobbie™, Madballs™, Packages from Planet X™, Twisted Whiskers™, Buddy Thunderstruck™, Tinpo™ and its newest IP, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese™. Cloudco Entertainment develops multi-platform entertainment franchises across all media channels and extensive consumer merchandising programs that immerse children and adults in brands they love.

About Care Bears™

Introduced in 1982 through consumer products, greeting cards, and later a series of animated television shows and feature films, Care Bears is one of the most popular and endearing children’s properties in the world. Fans of all ages love these huggable bears from Care-a-Lot who inspire all to have fun, share and care. The Care Bears first appeared in their own television specials in 1983 and 1984, followed up with a long-running animated TV series and then made the leap to the big screen in 1985-87 with The Care Bears Movie trilogy. More recently the Care Bears could be seen in Care Bears & Cousins, a Netflix original CGI-animated series launched in fall 2015 and the brand-new Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, a 2D animated series featuring an all-new look and mission for the bears, launched in 2019 on Tiny Pop in the UK and Boomerang and Cartoon Network in the US. www.carebears.com 

ALI GATIE TEAMS WITH ALESSIA CARA FOR HEARTFELT SINGLE “WELCOME BACK"

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September, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) – Toronto talent Ali Gatie has unveiled the breezy, yet heartfelt “Welcome Back,” his latest song and first-ever collaboration, featuring alt-pop dynamo Alessia Cara. Following up the lovelorn R&B hits “Running on My Mind” and “If I Fall in Love,” this instantly memorable new single proves Ali Gatie is on track for global pop domination.   “Welcome Back” arrives as an optimistic sign of things returning to normalcy as we navigate through a global pandemic and highlights one of the singer/songwriter’s most charming qualities: He finds hope even in heartache. “I’ve been keeping doors unlocked just hoping you would walk back in,” he croons over a brightly reverbed guitar. Cara effortlessly slips right in with her soulful voice repeating his words before their vocals melt together: “Feels like you were never gone; I’m glad you’re back / If it doesn’t last, at least we had that time that we had.” Not only is it a song written to a lover, but Ali wrote it as a song to his former self.   The new song also finds Ali Gatie further refining his blend of intimate pop and heart-on-sleeve R&B — a sound his fans,the LISNERS, have championed from the start. Over the last 18 months, the artist has seen his numbers soar. He’s surpassed 3 billion global streams and even with a sold-out world tour and Coachella slot put on hold, he’s continued to grow a huge following online. All thanks to unassuming, but undeniable smashes like “What If I Told You That I Love You,” which has garnered nearly half a billion streams all on its own since January.   “Welcome Back” is a next step that again shows the R&B-pop singer’s strength as a solo star while proving his potential as a collaborator. It’s also a hint of what’s to come as Gatie begins putting the pieces together for his first full-length album.

 
 

ABOUT ALI GATIE: Raised in Mississauga, Canada, just outside of Toronto, and of Iraqi descent, 23-year-old phenom Ali Gatie has quietly ascended as a singular voice in the culture. Within two years since his first independent release, he’s surpassed 3 billion streams with earworms like “What If I Told You That I Love You,” “Say To You," “It’s You” and “Moonlight.” He’s quickly proving to be one of the year’s most compelling new artists, straddling the line between pop and R&B. In 2019, he released his debut EP, YOU, achieved RIAA platinum status for his breakout smash “It’s You” (which spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and sold out his first six shows in less than 10 minutes. Cultivating a massive international following and global media attention, Gatie has been covered by the likes of Complex, HYPEBEAST, Billboard, Forbes, Genius, NYLON and more. He goes deep on the big subjects that have always consumed great artists: Vulnerability, love, and devotion are concepts that he confronts head-on. The openness in his music is palpable, and his fans, affectionately dubbed the LISNERS, continue to multiply, hanging on to the edge of every one of his words.

 

FOLLOW ALI GATIE: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube