2nd Skills-Up Training for OFWs Launched By Villar Foundation

OFWs around the world still contribute an important  portion of the GDP of the country however there is a number of them that are abused, underpaid and sent back with empty handed. Though many of them find it hard to find work locally and unable to start a business. The Villar Foundation, led by its Managing Director Cynthia Villar, launched the 2nd OFW Skills-up Training recently in Masibay, Las Piñas. 

With the aim of helping repatriated OFWs and their families who are having difficulty in finding employment, the program provides necessary skills training, particularly commercial cooking and housekeeping.

Global anti-corruption leaders to visit Manila in 5th GOPAC conference

Prominent parliamentarians from around the world are expected to attend the 5th International Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), which will be held for the first time here in Manila. The conference, organized in cooperation with the Senate of the Philippines and the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), and with the full support of President Benigno S. Aquino III, will run from January 30 to February 2, 2013 at the Philippine International Convention Center. 

Good Leaders, Good Laws, Good Citizens is the theme of this year’s conference. The conference proper will be conducted for two days, with capacity-building workshops centered around it. John Williams, GOPAC founder and CEO, and Dr. Naser Al Sane, GOPAC Chair, will be joining the Manila Steering Committee along with an expected 500 international delegates from over 46 countries in debates and discussions on the following topics: Parliamentary Oversight and The Role of Good Audit in the Fight Against Corruption; Anti Money Laundering Laws v. Bank Secrecy; and Transparency in Public Procurement and Business and Civil Society Oversight.

REEL DEAL: Bwakaw REVIEW

Cinemalaya films are penetrating into the mainstream cinema because of the reception it got from its viewers. The first one was "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank", and now comes "Bwakaw" starring Eddie Garcia. The Film is one of the Directors Showcase 2012 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition 

Bwakaw is a drama-comedy about growing old, and everyone's fear of growing old alone. Rene is a gay man who came out of the closet at age 70. Ailing in his twilight years, he thinks it is now too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is Death. He has made a will, bequeathing his few possessions to his even fewer friends. Everything is packed and labeled, ready for distribution. He has even paid for a coffin, taking advantage of a funeral home's Summer Sale. Nowadays the only companion Rene has is Bwakaw, a stray dog that hangs around his house and follows him wherever he goes. As Rene waits for the day of his death, he gets the surprise of his life when it is Bwakaw who suddenly falls ill and is diagnosed with cancer. 

Archdiocesan Youth Month 2012 Digital Artwork Competition

September brings us to the excitement of the coming Christmas season, but there is also something to celebrate this month with the Archdiocese of Manila Commission on Youth with the Archdiocesan Youth Month 2012!

The month long celebration brings together the youth and challenges them. They can now also express themselves with the Digital Artwork Competition for this Youth Month. 

With the theme: " A Celebration of Christian Faith" (Any of the 12 Articles of our Catholic Faith - CREDO) "...They called the church together and reported what God had dome with them and how he had opened the door of faith..." (Acts 14:27)

For more details,  inquiries, and entry form, please call ACY office 523-2814. You can also log in to the Archdiocesan Commission on Youth - Archdiocese of Manila facebook page. 

REEL DEAL: Taken 2 - Maggie Grace SPOTLIGHT

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER IN “TAKEN 2”

Hit action director Olivier Megaton heats up the action arena with twice the thrill, action and carnage in the upcoming sequel “Taken 2” where the first movie cemented Liam Nelson as this era ’s most relatable action hero being a family man keen on saving his daughter at all cost from human trafficking.

From the first movie where his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) had been abducted by a cartel of human traffickers, “Taken 2” now follows Bryan Mills and his family at Istanbul where the father of the cartel’s leader is out to avenge his son killed by Mills during his daughter’s rescue.  With Mills and his wife abducted this time, Kim tries to save them at breakneck speed taking cues from his father’s infallible timely instructions to track them down. 

Achieving good nutrition with everyday Filipino meals

GOOD HEALTH IS A CHOICE. We can choose 

foods rich in micronutrients—these are 

usually fruits and vegetables. Even a

 sandwich can be a healthy snack if it

 has vegetables in it. Take Centrum 

vitamins and minerals supplement along

 with a healthy diet to make sure you 

get complete nutrition.

OUR HEALTH depends on the nutrition and energy we get from the meals we eat. The question is: Are we really getting enough nutrients from the foods we consume every day?

If we want to perform at our peak level at work, in sports, in school, or even when having fun with relatives and friends, we need to make sure that we are getting complete nutrition on a daily basis.

However, our busy lifestyles often require us to eat what’s most conveniently available at the time. Many times, we don’t get to choose the most nutritious food possible. As a result, we have gaps in our daily nutrition intake.

According to Rommel Tinio, M.D., who specializes in occupational and nutritional medicine, most people nowadays are sorely lacking in vitamins and minerals. Dr. Tinio is a biochemist and a medical doctor. He operates his own clinic, Health Asia Medical Clinic in Makati, where he treats patients using nutrition therapies and coaching on how they can use the proper diet to maintain their health

New Bowling Center Opens at SM Center Valenzuela

Got nothing to do in the weekend? Why not try Bowling!

The newest Bowling Center in the metro is now owlpen! SM Center Valenzuela opens its door on August 31, 2012 to the latest leisurehub in the North - SM BOWLING CENTER.  The new Bowling hub offers exciting activities that Valenzuela residents will truly enjoy such as 12 wooden Bowling lanes,  billard tables,  PS3 gqming and wide array of foods from Snack Bar Alley. It willl be an exceptionally fin to be at Sm Bowling Center Valenzuela!

Spotted in the grand opening of the bowling facilities is Mr. Han Sy, SM Prime President, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo, and staff of SM Bowling and SM Center Valenzuela. There is also a lot of activities to do in the SM Bowling Center aside from Bowling. There is also a snack bar for all who wants to take a bite while striking down pins. There is also some arcade facilities like basketball hoops, virtual shooting range, and many other arcade amenities. It's also a great place to hang out with friends and family especially that Bowling is very fun sport to do yet few places like this offer this one of a kind sport.

I Got Big Discounts in the SM Southmall's The Big Sale!

Shopping is something that makes me think at the same time indulge my eyes on a feast of many things that I would want in my closet and my home. And as September comes with the payday weekend, it already means that there is the 3 Day Sale at a SM Mall. And for this edition of the mall-wide sale, I went to one of the flagship malls which is SM Southmall for THE BIG SALE.

With a complete makeover through the years, the mall has indeed evolved into a great place to shop, dine, and relax. Though I live far from this mall, and despite some moderate traffic along the way, the destination was indeed worth it. The last time I was here was for a food event in Food Street (known to be a great place to dine with a lot of restaurant with al fresco dining and fresh air).

Though I know the drill when it comes to these days, it would be my first time to shop with a BIG sale at SM Southmall. Together with my shopping buddies (or shopping team mates) Aylin, Emiliana and Sella, we went to shops to see, what great deals we could get with millions of choices around us. This mall is one of their biggest and would looks very challenging.

E-Plus Teen Assembly at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

SM Mall of Asia Area is now known to be the newest and biggest event area in the Metro and even the Philippines, and to celebrate the opening of the new destination in the Mall of Asia grounds, E-Plus (Under SM Cinemas), gave a treat to its loyal patrons with a one of kind meet and greet plus concert at the Arena!


Sports and Rock Stars assemble at SM Cinema’s e-PLUS Teen Assembly

SM Sports and entertainment celebrities attended and performed during the biggest Saturday gimmick of the year at the e-PLUS Teen Assembly, held last September 1, 2012 at the MoA Arena.

New and existing e-PLUS members got a chance to rock out at a special party organized by SM Cinema for their loyal patrons. The party features music spinned by DJ Lady Trinity, with performances by various popular OPM bands such as the V-Fort Band, General Luna, Never the Strangers, Sandwich, and Up Dharma Down. This special party also featured numbers by dance squads from various schools. Guests also got a chance to take home treats and freebies from the e-PLUS partner booths present at the event.

Another highlight of the event was the first official public appearance of the new Philippine Futsal Team, the Muzangs. The Muzangs include Azkals player Misagh Bahadoran, Daniel Matsunaga, among others. As a special treat to lucky e-PLUS members, the first 500 ticket holders got a chance to meet and greet the members of the team.  

The e-PLUS Card is SM Cinema's newest lifestyle card which features a new reloading system for ticket purchasing, giving users a fast and convenient movie experience. With the e-PLUS Card, movie patrons avoid long movie ticketing lines and enjoy discounts and exclusive promos for purchases at SM Cinema. For every reload in the ePlus Card, cardholders can earn points that they can use to redeem treats from SM Cinema and Snack Time. 

Tickets for the e-PLUS Teen Assembly were given free for every new application of the e-PLUS Card or through reloading of existing e-PLUS Cards at any SM Cinema nationwide. For more details about the event, visit the official website of SM Cinema at www.smcinemas.com

Accredited Fiduciary Training Program offered at the 12th Pacific Region Investment Conference

The Asia Pacific Association of Fiduciary Studies (APAFS) in conjunction with fi360 is bringing one of the most sought after designations in the globe during the upcoming 12th Pacific Region Investment Conference (PRIC), slated on November 15 & 16 at the New World Hotel, Manila. Registration for the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Training is ongoing and has been extended until September 15, 2012.

Facilitated by fi360, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Training Program is a 2-day in-class course that covers all of the components of a comprehensive investment process and related standards of care.  The program also offers the AIF® Designation to takers who will successfully pass a proctored exam. The courses will take place two days before the PRIC, on November 13 and 14, 2012 at the New World Hotel, Manila.