City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor starts the ball rolling for NJLA-LGU English Proficiency through Literature project

MOA Signing of NJLA-City of Sto. Tomas Batangas English Proficiency through Literature project. (L-R) Loida S. Virtudazo, Executive Vice President-General Manager, Philippines Graphic; Vice Mayor Catherine Jaurigue-Perez, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Mayor Arth Jhun A. Marasigan, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas; and Leah Caling-Bonotan, Special Projects Officer, NJLA-LGU Project

The City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas is the first local government partner of the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards (NJLA)-Local Government Unit (LGU) Advocacy for English Proficiency through Literature project.

The NJLA-LGU project is the brainchild of Philippines Graphic, initiator of the NJLA and the Philippines Graphic Reader, the only monthly magazine completely devoted to publishing the short stories and poems written in English by budding and veteran Filipino writers and poets.  

At the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement here between City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun A. Marasigan and Philippines Graphic Executive Vice President-General Manager Loida S. Virtudazo, city officials said that the project will benefit Grade 9 and Grade 10 students in the city’s five public high schools.

Catriona Gray joins Smile Train as its newest Global Ambassador

Smile Train Global Ambassador and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray visited Smile Train’s partner hospital, Philippine Band of Mercy, where she met with cleft patients and their families.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray joins Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft organization, as its newest Global Ambassador.

Advocates of AgriBusiness and Education Technology win World Vision Philippines’ first-ever Social Innovation Challenge

The agribusiness Plantsville and the education-focused organization Edukasyon.ph emerged as winners in Social Innovation Challenge (S.I.C.), World Vision’s competition for innovators creating sustainable solutions to challenges identified in real communities.

Plantsville, represented by November "Tina" Canieso-Yeo, is a joint effort with local government units (LGUs), eco-tourism organic bee and cinnamon groups that seek to flourish organic farming among youth by planting more “Food is Medicine” products, comprised of “healing foods” such as cinnamon and honey.

Boy band 1:43 receives McJim Classic Leather’s OPM advocacy grant for single ‘Pasensya Na’

World-Class leather goods maker McJim Classic Leather has chosen iconic Filipino boy band 1:43 as the second recepient of its Dreams Get Real OPM Advocacy Grant  for its new single “Pasensya Na.”

McJim Classic Leather, which has always been supportive of Filipino music, tapped the revamped 1:43 to further promote OPM by making it more appealing and relevant, especially to the younger generation. Towards this end, in fact, McJim successfully launched talent searches for the next big thing in the local music scene and has—in the recent past—sponsored the music of personalities like Tony Labrusca and X-Factor UK contestant JBK.

OPPO supports Miss Possibilities in stopping the use of the “R” Word

Miss Possibilities, the first pageant in Asia for children with special needs, just recently crowned Miss Possibilities 2017 Jennica Garcia. Despite having cerebral palsy, this did not stop Jennica in achieving her dreams by finishing a degree in Finance Accounting and passing the teacher’s licensure exam. OPPO fully supports the Miss Possibilities Foundation in its aim to raise awareness for equal treatment. One of their strong advocacies is to end the use of the “R” word due to its defamatory and unethical meaning.  

The pageant is in its 3rd installment since 2015, and it has become a tradition for the special needs community to gather together for one special night to celebrate their achievements, talents, and importance to the society. With its core theme “Beauty Knows No Boundaries”, it also featured the overwhelming support of influential celebrities who joined the special fashion show with children from the special needs community in their French themed outfits.  

United for Healthier Kids Advocacy Underscores Gravity of Malnutrition in the Philippines, Launches Platform to Inspire Action

An estimated seven million children across the Philippines currently experience hunger and malnutrition, painting a bleak picture amid rosy economic growth figures. This public health problem is largely driven by inadequate access to nutritious food, lack of nutrition education, and poor health and sanitation services. 

 These challenges were unearthed in a forum on malnutrition at Green Sun in Makati City, hosted by the United for Healthier Kids (U4HK) advocacy led by Nestlé Philippines. The forum featured Senator Grace Poe, Director Mario Capanzana of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, and Dr. Adela Jamorabo-Ruiz of the Nutritionist-Dieticians Association of the Philippines, who all shed light on the multiple facets of malnutrition. Moreover, the panelists highlighted the need for sustained interventions in providing access to food and strengthening nutrition education among kids, their parents, teachers, and community leaders.

MILO, DepEd poised to reach 34,200 advocacy mark

Help Give Shoes advocacy encourages marathoners to run for a noble cause 

 Now on its 37th year of staging, the National MILO Marathon is geared towards providing an athletic platform for elite and aspiring runners that embodies Filipino camaraderie. The country’s most prestigious leg race calls on local athletes to lace up once again and join in raising 10,000 more pairs of shoes for public school children across the country through the Help Give Shoes Advocacy. Since 2010, MILO has delivered 24,200 pairs to young champions and is poised to hit the 34,200 mark at the end of the season.  

Hundreds make colorful statement for nature in WWF’s first Mural Painting Marathon

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines held its first Mural Painting Marathon on February 18, 2012 at the Glorietta Dolphin Park which was attended by hundreds who pledged to make a bolder, more colorful statement for the environment. 

The participants painted images of dolphins outlined by mural artist and dolphin crusader, AG Saño in four walls of about 200 feet in length.  

The event was another effort of WWF-Philippines to provide creative ways for everyone—families, youngsters and peers—to demonstrate their support for a living planet and at the same time raise awareness about local endangered species. 

 

The Mural Painting Marathon was staged for the benefit of WWF-Philippines’ Adoption Program. For a one time donation of P3,000, you can symbolically adopt a panda or a dolphin stuffed toy that comes with a species information card and an adoption certificate. 

The panda was picked to represent WWF’s logo and spread the knowledge that it is among the world’s most threatened animals, while the dolphin was chosen to highlight conservation work in the Philippines, specifically in Malampaya in Palawan. The Malampaya Sound hosts the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. 

Pagtutulungan.Org: Miles for Smiles Run for the Cleft Care 2011

Runners you can join another run for charity in  Miles for Smiles Run for Cleft Care 2011!

This event is presented by Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines, Inc. (NCFPI), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) and Smile Train to raise public awareness that “bingot” or cleft and other craniofacial conditions are treatable and that free comprehensive care is available.

UNICEF Auction for Action Goes Online on May 25th

If you want to collect beautiful art pieces and also help children in the Philippines and in the world is just a click away.UNICEF Philippines is launching it first online auction entitled AUCTION FOR ACTION for the benefit of children's programs in the Philippines and worldwide (www.ebay.ph/unicef goes live on May 25 2011). This unique auction in partnership with Ayala Malls, Ebay.ph and Cibo brings together the works of reputable artists in art, design, furniture, fashion, jewelry and photography along with exciting experential packages.

Featured artists are Manny Baldemor, Michael Cacnio, Celesetina, Seb Chua, kenneth Cobonpue, Araceli Limaco, Dans, Kristine Dee, Janina Dizon, Tom Esperon, Acessory Lab, ito Kish,E. Billy Mondonedo, Roman Orlina, Debbie Palao, Ling Quisumbing Ramilo, Benji Reyes, Popo San Pascual, Vito Selma, Paul Syjuco, Ricky Toledo, and chito Vijandre of FIRMA/Felicity, Reg Yuson, and UNICEF Special Advocate for children, Ms. Daphne Osena Paez.

Galerie Joaquin artists such as JOvan Benito, Jomar Delluba, Hamzah Marbella, Dominic Rubio and Juveal Sanso are also participating.

Experiential packages include dinner by Chef Tonyboy Escalante of Antonio's and dugout experience with the Philippine Football team or Azkals on July 3 at the world cup qualifier in Manila.

UNICEF country representative Vanessa Tobin shares "This is a firts for UNICEF Philippines. Our partnership with acclaimed artists via online auction, helps us engage the public in a new and interesting way, As well as raising important funds for our work, we will be able to raise awareness of important issues affecting children in the most disadvantaged communities in the Philippines and worldwide."

"I know a lot of people recognize UNICEF valuable work in children's rights, but few realize that UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary contributions to support its work on the ground, I've helped them educate moms all over the the country on maternal health, mortality and breastfeeding. This time I want to help UNICEF raise awareness and funds for all their other goals: providing children with health care, access to safe water and sanitation, education, and protection from violence, abuse and exploitation," said UNICEF Special Advocate for Children Daphne Osena Paez, Celebrity Host and also a UNICEF Special Advocate for Children Bianca Gonzalez adds," I've been working with UNICEF since 2007 and I'm very excited to be part of this unique fundraising auction. Whilst online auctions are quite new to the Philippines, its very source and the best thing is you can participate anywhere in the country.

Here are some of the artworks to be auctioned and also a brief message from Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF Country Representative and Bianca Gonzalez, UNICEF Special Advocate for Children.