The first international leadership summit aims for inclusive education

From February 22-24, 2017, the First International Leadership Summit and Seminar in Inclusive Education will happen at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia (MOA), Pasay City.

 

International Leadership Summit in Inclusive Education

This international leadership summit, organized by the social enterprise, The Teacher’s Gallery, is spearheading a movement advocating the right of the individual with a disability to be educated in a regular classroom. Their call? #YesToInclusion

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WWF-Philippines celebrated 20 years of environmental solutions

It was a night of celebration as WWF-Philippines celebrated 20 years of environmental solutions in the Philippines with its Partners’ Night. I am a supporter of environment care, ecotourism, renewable energy and the like. My good friend from decades back, Vince Perez,  was WWF-Philippines’ Chairman for several years and is currently Chair of the WWF-Philippines National Advisory Council.
20 years of transforming lives
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Do your Christmas shopping at Circuit Makati Christmas Bazaar (Nov. 18-20, 2016)

Just imagine 6 different bazaars all in one physical space. It’s going to happen from November 18-20, 2016 at the Circuit Makati Christmas Bazaar. Do you remember the old Sta. Ana Race Track? It’s now Ayala Land Inc.’s newest land development. Just 10-15 minutes away from Makati CBD and Ayala Avenue, Circuit Makati Bazaar 2016 will feature several “villages”, each one with a theme. Whatever it is you plan to buy for Christmas, you’ll like find here at the Circuit Makati Christmas bazaar.

 

Christmas Bazaar 2016

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GlaxoSmithKline announces the new winners in its Search for the Winners Against Asthma (SWAA)

Back in February 2015, I attended a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) event where they announced that they were launching a Search for the Winners Against Asthma (SWAA). This nationwide search meant to find young achievers 30 years old and below who were outstanding in their respective fields despite suffering from asthma. The search was meant to portray hope that asthma, although a chronic disease, could be overcome in different ways.

Here is my February post covering the search’s launch.

Meet the winners!

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Alpabasa is the winner of the 2015 Pharmaton Life Changers’ Challenge

Several months ago, I attended the launch of the search for Pharmaton’s newest Life Changers. Pharmaton was looking to award PhP 1 million to the best social enterprise idea that would have a significant life-changing impact on the community it aimed to serve.

Recently, I attended its Finals Night and watched as 9 inspiring social enterprise groups made their final pitches to the judges before the final decision was made. That honor, with PhP 1 million seed money for their social enterprise idea, went to Oras Na Para sa Alpabasa – a group of 3 young lady educators with a huge vision but needing funding support. Congratulations!

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On the 1st International Day of Yoga, Waves of Peace will flow from Manila to Mindanao, Mindanao to Manila

Last Dec. 11, 2014, the United Nations (UN) declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. This move was supported by 175 countries, the highest record number of declarations and co-sponsors of any UN General Assembly Resolution.

Globally, yoga communities are organizing different events to celebrate the first celebration. In the Philippines, one yoga community’s intention is to send waves of peace to Mindanao, with Mindanao doing the same for Manila.

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60 Years since its Film Debut and Singin’ In the Rain is Coming to Manila!

My generation and the generation before me loved Gene Kelly. He was the “crush ng bayan” (heartthrob). And he ranked up there alongside Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in musicals with dancing. One of the most loved musicals that showcased Gene Kelly’s dancing ability was Singin’ In the Rain.

Now, even the millenials will relish the experience of Gene Kelly’s dancing because the UK production is coming to Manila, specifically Solaire, on August 20, 2015.
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Join the Search for Pharmaton’s 2015 Life Changers (Updated!)

Over 99% of all businesses in the Philippines are small and medium-sized enterprises and a great majority of that 99% is micro- or small social enterprises. Social enterprise is a big thing here and we should encourage it. We’ve seen cottage industries spring up for several decades now. Then as more Moms opted to leave the work force and stay home, the community of mompreneurs began to grow.

But one big factor has kept these micro to small social enterprises from really growing and taking off.

Funding

This is where Pharmaton seeks to close the yawning gap with its campaign, Life Changers’ Challenge: Success in Numbers.

An online, video-driven, nationwide competition, Life Changers’ Challenge seeks to find exceptional Filipinos whose social enterprise ideas can cause positive change in society. This challenge is open to social entrepreneurs, advocates and other relevant groups of people spearheading high-impact projects. A microsite will open up on May 12, 2015 is already up (http://life-changers.ph) where social entrepreneurs can upload their videos.
Tell your friends and family who may have social enterprise ideas that they can start conceptualizing their videos starting now, even before the microsite opens up.

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See the eco-friendly dandelion light show by artist Olivia d’Aboville at SM Aura

During the Christmas holidays, one of the things families do is enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations all around the metro. Here’s one that you should not miss especially if you are a supporter of protecting the environment.

A young French-Filipino artist, Olivia d’Aboville, who is based in Manila, is a famed textile artist specializing in tapestry and textile structures. Even as a design student in Paris, recycling was already a major component and influence in her work.

The artist behind the Giant Dandelions — Olivia d’Aboville

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Pinoys, let’s promise to #ChangefortheBetter as a nation

In a few weeks, it will be 2015. Another year, another chance to change for the better.

As a citizen advocate, I strongly believe that before we can change a nation, we must start from within ourselves. When each one of us does our part, before we know it, those wonderful values emanate out and manifest within our families, then within barangays, within cities and eventually within the country. This is what the Change for the Better campaign is all about.

Actually, I was curious and googled this campaign to learn more about it and found out that the Change for the Better campaign actually launched way back in 2012. Back then, the campaign was a call to personal change. This time, the campaign is a call to be a nation of citizens changing for the better. From a personal, individualistic focus, the spotlight of the Change for the Better campaign is now on the entire nation and what the true Filipino spirit is.

The Change for the Better campaign is one that believes that small changes put together can create a huge impact on a community (I am reminded of the analogy of the strength of a bundle of sticks that no one can break versus a single stick that can easily be snapped in half). We may not realize it but as a nation, we exhibit some values that oftentimes we may not be aware of because it comes naturally to us, but foreigners notice them and appreciate them. Hopefully, when we become aware that these Filipino values indeed set us apart from the rest of the world, and we practice them regularly, it becomes an integral part of us as a nation.

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