Tim Yap, Javi Martinez, and Sam Verzosa Join the 2023 London Marathon for Smile Train

Tweet

The world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train, and its signature endurance fundraising program Team Empower, heads to London for the world’s largest annual fundraising event, the TCS London Marathon. Together with 50,000 other runners, celebrity couple Tim Yap and Javi Martinez, along with businessman and legislator, Cong. Sam Verzosa take on the challenge of the 26.2-mile course for a good cause.

Tim Yap during the 2019 BMW Berlin-Marathon

“The genuine compassion and sustained service of our Smile Train ambassadors have been an essential part of our success today. Their collective efforts have helped give patients access to the care that they deserve and have extended the organization’s reach in providing safe and quality cleft treatment. We are grateful to Tim, Javi, and Sam for furthering their advocacy and pledging their commitment to this cause,” said Southeast Asia Vice President of Smile Train Philippines, Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano.

Maximizing fundraising potential with Team Empower

Since 1981, London Marathon events have raised over £1 billion in donations, maximizing revenues for charities worldwide. Boosting participants’ fundraising abilities, the marathon’s inspiring activities have been able to support causes from breast cancer awareness to brain research initiatives and children’s charities.

Javi Martinez during the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon 

Congressman Sam Verzosa during the 2023 Watsons Race for Wellness

Smile Train, one of the charities, strengthens its commitment to volunteerism and ensures that every child has the opportunity to lead a full and productive life. Together with 20+ other runners from other countries, Smile Train Team Empower will be represented by eventologist Tim Yap, his partner and events director, Javi Martinez, as well as Frontrow CEO and Congressman Sam Verzosa.

“For years now, I have been committed to supporting Smile Train’s cause and helping improve the lives of children with cleft. This cause is very personal to me and what drives me the most is my realized purpose and goals of helping the organization reach more patients in need of treatment. I want to finish strong and with my partner Javi by my side as well as my dear friend Sam, my confidence has greatly multiplied,” shared Yap when asked about his motivations for joining the marathon.

One of the team’s avid supporters is Miss Universe 2015 and fellow Smile Train ambassador, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. The beauty queen, who has been a long-standing representative of Smile Train and Team Empower in numerous fundraising events, advocated for the initiative and urged fans to support her friends in the upcoming marathon.

Pia Wurtzbach during her visit to Our Lady of Peace Hospital in 2017

“All this support is what makes Smile Train’s programs grow stronger throughout the years. Apart from comprehensive patient treatment, Smile Train also empowers medical professionals and local hospitals with all-around high-quality cleft care. Combined efforts have allowed the organization to go beyond surgery and allow children with cleft to not just live normally, but to thrive,” concluded Flaviano.

For more information on Smile Train’s projects and initiatives, you may check out Smile Train’s website at www.smiletrain.org/ and Smile Train Philippines’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SmileTrainPhilippines.

--------------------------------

About Smile Train

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.ph. For more information about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines, please contact philippines@smiletrain.org.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center Bags the People-Centered Care Commitment Award and Platinum Seal of Accreditation

Tweet

Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC), one of the Philippines’ leading hospitals, bags two international awards, adding to its growing list of accolades.

After an exhaustive re-accreditation process in November 2022 which looked into the hospital’s systems and its commitment to quality, safety and people-centered care, CSMC has been recently honored by Accreditation Canada with two awards: the Platinum seal of accreditation, which is an upgrade from the Gold accreditation level achieved by the organization in 2019, and People-Centered Care Commitment Award, being the first organization in Asia to receive the award.

Accreditation Canada is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve healthcare quality and safety in Canada and around the world, providing accreditation services to healthcare organizations. Its accreditation process includes an extensive evaluation of the organization's policies, procedures, and practices and on-site visits to assess the quality and safety of patient care.

Leveling up to Platinum status and being honored with the People-Centered Care Commitment Award is a testament to CSMC’s dedication to upholding global health standards geared to providing patient and family-centered care as well as consistency in service delivery.

“The Platinum accreditation is the culmination of the work that we have put in over the last three years since we achieved the Gold accreditation. It is a validation of our unwavering pursuit of excellent quality patient care, and a motivator for us to continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.”, Dr. Rosemarie V. Serrano, CSMC’s Chief Quality Officer proudly speaks up, as she looked back on the hospital’s ACI re-accreditation journey.

CSMC’s President & CEO, Mr. Raul C. Pagdanganan, also weighed in on the significance of the People-Centered Care Commitment Award. “At Cardinal Santos, we believe that providing exceptional care is not just about treating the illness, but about treating the whole person. We are thrilled to be recognized by Accreditation Canada with the People-Centered Care Commitment Award, as it highlights our unwavering commitment in providing care that is centered around our patients and their families.”. He further emphasized that “This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and healthcare providers, who go above and beyond to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. We are proud of this achievement and remain committed to delivering patient-centered care with excellence.”

Cardinal Santos Medical Center is also certified Platinum by Investors in People and certified for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standards, by SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc.

JobStreet shows the realities of hiring on social media in video series, urges employers to hire real talent

Tweet

JobStreet by SEEK continues its initiative to empower companies in seeking better candidates in 2023 through a series of videos in line with their latest campaign, “Hire Real Talent,” baring the realities of hiring on social media.

Social networking channels are proven to be an effective way of communication, but using them for seeking talents may be more inefficient than hirers think—and this video series depicts a witty take on real-life scenarios and challenges among employers that use social media for posting their job vacancies.

Aside from encouraging hirers to utilize legitimate job platforms in their recruitment process, JobStreet’s video series attempts to show the truth behind social media recruiting: when you hire through social media, chances are you have no idea who you're interviewing.

The first video depicts an applicant who resembles the avatar of a newly set-up social media account, illustrating anonymity, a lack of character, or a genuine identity. Likewise, the second video demonstrates the difficulty of recognizing the true applicant whose profile photo is a family portrait. Finally, in the last video, JobStreet displays an applicant with experience working somewhere fictitious, portraying a lack of professionalism and accurate information.

As users are not required to authenticate their identities or credentials on most social media sites, it is challenging to discern between legitimate and fraudulent accounts. In addition, most social media users do not present themselves professionally and have little to no work experience information, which limits the hirers’ opportunity to fully scrutinize their applicants based on their criteria.

“While social media is a convenient tool to share information, we want to let hirers know that not everyone in your following or likes is looking for jobs—and the best and most appropriate way to recruit active jobseekers is to reach out to where they are searching for opportunities, and that is through official job platforms,” said Kim Viray, JobStreet Philippines Head of Marketing.

“In today's competitive and fast-changing world, we recognize the challenges that come with the hiring process, which is why we continuously empower hirers and provide them solutions that they need on top of offering a platform with millions of quality and qualified candidates,” he added.

JobStreet aims to make hiring more convenient and efficient for employers, particularly for SMEs. Through its free job ad postings, businesses are entitled to a 30-day free job posting credit upon registration on JobStreet, giving seamless access to over 14 million registered candidates with free use of powerful candidate management tools, easy-to-use job ad writing tools, inclusion in job recommendations, accessibility on multiple channels, and many other benefits, allowing hirers to focus on selecting the best candidate.

Its beneficial features assure targeted job posting to relevant potential applicants, and it may save time by using screening tools to check and match skills and credentials with the role.

To watch the video series, visit the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/1139168213385418

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/544309744353171

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/232945675833072

A New Foodies’ World awaits at Araneta City's Gateway Mall 2

Tweet

Wait for it! Exciting food brands and destinations are coming to the City of Firsts.

Gateway Mall 2, the latest lifestyle offering at Araneta City, is set to welcome the public this year. And with this new marketplace, expect to be amazed by new and additional choices of restaurants, cafes, and other food destinations.

Once fully open, Gateway Mall 2 will enhance the breadth and depth of gastronomic selection in Araneta City – making it the latest place to satisfy all sorts of food adventures in the metro.

Get ready for the mall's opening and keep an eye on these brand-new dining spots at the City of Firsts.

Restaurant Collection

Araneta City expands its selection of dining options with restaurants owned by Chef Margarita Fores and her family to open as part of Gateway Mall 2’s Restaurant Collection. The renowned culinary clan brings their unique brand of scrumptious dishes to the City of Firsts with a mano, Mamou, and Grace Park.

There are also other restaurants to watch out for. Savor the finest steaks, burgers, and other grilled favorites at Wolfgang Steakhouse Grill. Sate your longing for comfort food with beloved signature Pinoy dishes of Abe, and Cochi Bistro. For a burst of flavors from around the world, catch Choi Garden, Botejyu, Coco Ichibanya, and Tokyo Milk Cheese as they open in Gateway Mall 2. And for coffee lovers, UCC Park Café and Starbucks Coffee will open their branches in the new mall’s hard-to-miss location.

Coliseum Plaza

More choices are made available in Araneta City, especially to patrons of Smart Araneta Coliseum. Located just a few steps away from the Big Dome's Red Gate entrance is the Coliseum Plaza, which hosts a variety of options to satisfy any type of craving in one convenient spot.

Put a savory punch to your coliseum experience by enjoying some good meals and snacks from Shake Shack and Mo’s Burger, Hong Kong dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, Pinoy comfort fare at Manam and Nono’s, and a drinks and cocktails bar soon.

Restaurants at the Coliseum Plaza offer both indoor and outdoor seating, giving customers more options on how they want to enjoy their dining experience.

Palenque

Mallgoers who long for dishes from their respective hometowns don't need to go far, as Gateway Mall 2 will feature a food crawl called Palenque – a Pinoy-themed food arena with the best-of-the-best in Filipino food heritage.

At Palenque, diners can do a “food crawl” through a selection of signature cuisine native and unique to every province or region in the Philippines and prepared by celebrated chefs in their own inimitable way. Check out Bale Dutung of Chef Claude Tayag, Al Puruganan’s Ilocos cuisine, Chef Tatung’s Cebu offerings and delicacies, Palm Grill from Zamboanga, Sea Salt Davao Grill, Chinoy's Chicken Fandian and more Bacolod delicacies, and offerings like Diwal.

Behind this exciting food idea is Filipino chef and restaurateur Claude Tayag, who brings his vision and culinary expertise in Philippine gastronomy to the City of Firsts.

Asian Village

Foodies looking for a mouthwatering Asian culinary experience also don’t need to go far. Gateway Mall 2 is host to an inviting Asian Village that will showcase the richness of cuisine on this side of the globe.

Treat yourself to a tour around the region with delicacies from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Korea, and other Eastern nations, all within the comforts of Araneta City’s new mall.

More food choices

Expect an abundance of other exciting dining options when you explore the entirety of the 190,000-square-meter Gateway Mall 2.

Coliseum patrons entering or exiting via the mall’s upper ground floor access will be greeted with an array of nearby food choices such as Hawker Chan, BLK 513, French Baker, Tong Yang, Yoshinoya, Llao Llao, Pound, Panda Express, Subway, and more. Also, the largest Mary Grace Cafe in the metro will soon open alongside these restaurants.

More exciting food go-tos will spread in various parts of the mall. There’s Ramen Nagi, Red Crab, Burgoo, Tsokolateria, Dookki Korean, Banana Leaf, Bread Talk, Peri-Peri, Classic Savory, Via Mare, and more. Vikings—one of the go-to buffet restaurants of Filipinos—is also set to land on this side of Gateway Mall 2.

An exciting concept is also in store for K-pop and P-pop fans. Opening soon at Araneta City's latest mall is K Pop Town and Café—a first in the Philippines—which will provide an additional Korean and local pop experience beyond the City of Firsts' usual entertainment scene.

Araneta Group-owned brands Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, and Taco Bell will have more presence in Araneta City with additional branches in Gateway Mall 2.

There's plenty more to expect when Araneta City opens its new mall this 2023. So watch out for Gateway Mall 2 and get ready to try these new dining destinations at the City of Firsts.

Street culture, art, music and drinks intersect at Alfonso Brandy’s Alfie Alley

Tweet

Alfie Alley graffiti wall was unveiled during the program.

Feel at home at Alfie Alley as it heads to Tagaytay and La Union next

Having been in the Philippines for more than 20 years to date, Alfonso Brandy has always been known for its premium ingredients and imported quality. Made from the finest grapes of Spain’s La Mancha region and aged in the biggest single bodega in Jerez, Alfonso Brandy has made its way into more Filipino homes, and has now expanded its market – ang tropang Alfie.

As a way to thank and celebrate tropang Alfie, Alfonso Brandy brought together street culture, art, music and drinks at Alfie Alley, held at The Pop Up Katipunan in Quezon City last April 15, 2023.

Urbandub keeping the party alive as the audience sang along closing the Alfie Alley Program

Mr. Dennis Bato the designer behind the new bottle design Alfonso Brandy's giant bottle and Alfie Alley graffiti wall

Guests enjoy the event with participation in booth activities and some alfie quiz games where they can play and win prizes

Sales and Marketing Director of Montosco Inc. Ms. Lauren Tanganco together with Alfie Alley host Alex Diaz and street artist, Mr. Dennis Bato

I Belong to the Zoo serenading the audience during the Alfie Awitan segment

Branded as its first-ever street culture-themed outdoor event, Alfie Alley invited tropang Alfie to feel at home while enjoying the company of their friends and good music as they sip on Alfonso Brandy, whether on the rocks, with cola or with ginger ale and lemon. Showcased were the three Alfonso Brandy variants in their respective sari-sari-store-inspired booths, which also had their own limited edition merchandise and games for guests to enjoy.

Over at the Alfonso Light Booth, guests had the chance to snap a picture at the Alfie Alley Photobooth with their Alfie caps and shirts. Meanwhile, the Alfonso Zero Booth set up a thrilling Al-Flip Cup game where winners took home exciting prizes. Finally, the Alfonso Platinum Booth presented a Jenga-inspired game, Jengalfie Platinum, where one had to pick out the Alfonso Platinum block from the stack to win a special prize.

Art formed a huge part of Alfie Alley as well, as they unveiled a larger-than-life street-art-inspired Alfonso Brandy Bottle installation and a huge Alfie Alley mural created by artist Dennis Bato. Then, capping off the fun-filled event was Alfie Awitan, a string of musical performances by some of today’s biggest acts. The line-up included SSUT, Hulu, John Roa, I Belong To The Zoo, and Urbandub.

Following Alfie Alley’s launch in Quezon City, the street culture-themed event is set to delight tropang Alfie again next month. Alfonso Brandy’s Alfie Alley will be making a stop at Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant in Tagaytay on May 20, to be followed by a run at Daluyon Beach Resort in La Union on May 27.

Make sure to drop by and feel at home sa #AlfieAlley by following #AlfonsoBrandy on facebook.com/alfonso1brandyph/, instagram.com/alfonsobrandyph/ and https://tinyurl.com/alfonsobrandyph