Seek No More

Healthy Eating at Work

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:32:00 +0000

Most entrepreneurs know that being too busy and stressed at work may endanger their health in several ways. However, only a few know that they can make one change that will boost their energy, increase their mental capacity and strengthen their defense against illness. It may even help them get a sexier figure. That change is this: switching to a healthier diet in the workplace.

They spend at least eight hours of their day most of the week in the office. When they develop bad eating habits in the course of their work, they can gain extra pounds and make themselves vulnerable to certain diseases – they may even become less productive and that could affect their jobs.

According to nutritionist Cecille Esperanza of Food Magazine, sticking to a health diet amid all the meetings and deadlines can seem impossible. She says however that it’s not too late to switch to a healthy workplace diet — as long as everyone commit to their goal of staying healthy at work. Being healthy at jobs will surely be a key to success as well.

"There are many ways to have a healthy diet even if you’re busy at work. All you have to do is to exert extra effort in minding what and how much you eat," Esperanza says.

So here are some tips any entrepreneur can follow to make their workplace diet healthier:

Eat a variety of foods. It's always advisable to have adequate servings of meat, vegetables and fruits, and grains in every meal to meet the daily nutritional requirements.

If you have time to prepare your food at home, then pack your own lunch. This not only ensures that you’ll have something healthy and delicious for lunch but will also help you get less tempted to eat unhealthy foods around.

But if you have to buy your food from your company’s cafeteria or a fast food restaurant, make sure that your meal is balanced and healthy.

Snack smart. Ever noticed how, after you work on a few office tasks, especially difficult ones, you feel hungry? That’s because you are already using up mental and physical resources and you need to replenish them. Snacking is the obvious solution to your hunger but you have to choose healthy food.

Healthy snacks not only provide the energy to help you finish your tasks, but will also give you vital nutrients and minerals to boost your immune system and brainpower. Healthy snacks include sandwiches, fruits, crackers and pasta.

"Cereal drinks and other sources of complex carbohydrates like pasta and crackers are good for snacking because they fill you up and provide you with energy," Esperanza shares.

Eat on time. According to Esperanza, one of the top unhealthy eating habits of a person at work is failing to eat on time. Some skip breakfast so as not to be late for work while others don't eat lunch just to finish their work early.

If you need a quick, energizing and healthy drink, it’s very easy and convenient to choose cereal milk drinks. It's not intended as a meal replacement but it can help you satisfy your hunger in-between your main meals.

Concentrate on your food. Health experts have found out that eating in front of your computer or doing something else while eating makes the food less satisfying. Distractions during your lunchtime only increase your food intake especially when you snack later in the afternoon.

To prevent overeating, eat in the cafeteria or in the pantry. Being away from your office table gives you a chance to eat properly and allows you to relax and give your mind and body a rest.

Eat only when you have to. Don't leave your snack lying on your desk so as to avoid unconsciously reaching out for it while you’re focused on your work. Keep your snack out of your sight by putting it in a cabinet or in the communal office refrigerator.

Avoid going to vending machines or snack bars especially if you're not really hungry. Not only do you risk putting on excess calories if you go for such snacks, you also usually get sugary, fatty and unhealthy foods from vending machines or snack bars.

Satisfy your cravings. Craving for some chocolate or chips? Then go grab some—but only in moderation. Don't let yourself overeat foods that are too sweet, too salty, or too fatty.

Esperanza explains, "If you always stop yourself from eating your favorite foods like cakes or ice creams, the tendency is you'll overeat other kinds of food. So if you want to have some sweets, just bear in mind to only have them in healthy servings. After all, you deserve a treat for being a hard worker."

Banks Stay Open during Holidays

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:38:00 +0000

If you need cash badly this holiday season from some banks, you don't have to worry much anymore because according to the report of Louella D. Desiderio, BusinessWorld, selected branches will be open to serve their clients nationwide.

The banks have also assured their clients that automated teller machines (ATMs) would remain operational during the holidays.

Under Presidential Proclamation No. 1699 signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo, 24 and 31 December are special nonworking days, while 25 and 30 December are regular holidays.

January 1 or New Year’s Day has been declared a regular holiday under Proclamation 1841.

Sy-led Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest, said in an advisory on Tuesday all its branches would be open on Thursday.

"Mall-based branches will be open until 3 p.m. while all other branches are open until 1 p.m.," the bank said.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank), the country’s second largest, said in a statement posted on its website that select branches will be open on 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 December and 1 and 2 January.

"In addition to the branches, Metrobank ATMs nationwide will be available for easy access to cash and for other banking transactions such as bills payment and fund transfer.

"Metrophone banking and Metrobankdirect internet banking will also be accessible for various banking transactions," the bank said.

Philippine Savings Bank, the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, said in a statement that all its 306 ATMs will be fully operational for the needs of its clients during the holidays.

"Our entire ATM network, including 133 offsite ATMs, will be online 24/7 during the Yuletide season.

"A dedicated team of PSBank personnel will ensure the availability of cash in these ATMs," Jose Vicente Alde, PSBank branch banking group senior vice president, was quoted as saying in the statement.

China Banking Corp. (China Bank), another Sy-led bank, said in a separate statement that select branches will be open on the 24th, 30th and 31st of the month.

China Bank said some of the branches open during the holidays may process all the usual banking transactions, while the some will be limited to deposit or withdrawal transactions only.

"The bank’s mall branches and other branches regularly open on Saturdays and Sundays will have their usual banking schedule on 26 December 2009 and 2 January 2010, and on 27 December 2009 and 3 January 2010," the bank said.

The bank said its ATMs, phone banking and mobile and internet banking facilities will also be available during the holidays.

Branches of Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands and its thrift banking subsidiary, BPI Family Savings Bank, however, will not be open during the declared public holidays. BPI is the country’s third largest.

"Bank of the Philippine Islands and BPI Family Savings Bank branches will be open to the public and doing business as usual on regular working days, Mondays thru Fridays, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., except on declared holidays such as December 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and on January 1st," the bank said in an email.

Its ATMs, mobile banking facility and expressonline are available 24/7 as alternative channels of transaction, the bank added.

The Drivers of Asian Contact Centers

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:37:00 +0000

It seems that the growth of value of existing clients, the improvement of efficiency and the acquisition of new clients are really the key commercial drivers of Asian-based contact centers.

These are the findings, among others, of the first online benchmarking survey for the contact center industry spearheaded by Data-craft, the leading independent IT services and solutions company in the Asia-Pacific.

The 2009 survey of more than 500 companies around the world, including Asia, studied current industry benchmarks such as staffing and training, performance metrics, technology usage, budgets and development plans.

It also focused on three integral aspects of a call center: the technical, the operational, and the commercial.

Whereas Datacraft's 2008 survey was produced in print format, the online format was utilized for the 2009 survey in response to participants’ remarks that their main reason for participating in the study was to compare their performance to peer group businesses; another motive was to identify opportunities for cost reduction and performance improvement.

"The survey gives you a flavor of how the other contact centers look at things," said Nagi Kasinadhuni, general manager for converged communications and customer interactive solutions of Datacraft Asia Pte. Ltd.

"It can also give you a measure of how your organization compares to others. All of the material is available online. The survey was done for the people who own contact centers or give business to them, and not conducted by a vendor for another vendor. The focus is on technology, operations, and agent training," Kasinadhuni said.

Kasinadhuni added: "The survey also shows how Asia looks at call centers. We run it as a business and thus have a lot of best practices because we aim to satisfy our clients."

To start, Asian call centers have more agents who are full-time employees while their Western counterparts tend to utilize part-time employees. The ratio also has one supervisor looking after 11 agents.

Salaries in Asian-based sites make up 54.4 percent of overall operational cost, in comparison to Australia and New Zealand’s 69.0 percent.

However, they also spend a lot more: two percent of overall operational cost on motivational and social events to keep their current staff engaged.

Another 3.3 percent of the overall budget is then used to train agents and staff. Classroom method is still regarded as the most effective method of training, with mentorship as second.

Call center managers also have a realistic expectation of their employees' tenure. "Our respondents gave 29 months as their answer when we asked them their expected length of time for an agent to stay within their company after the recruitment," Kasinadhuni said.

"Europe is about half a year behind. Contact centers in Asia look at the optimum period that they want the agent to be in their operation; their optimum and actual gap is not high. The current attrition rate of 23 percent is acceptable to most contact centers and have already factored in the cost," Kasinadhuni said.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Dimension Data, Datacraft is headquartered in Singapore, and operates in more than 50 major offices and has over 1,450 employees across the Asia-Pacific market.

The company helps clients plan, build, support, manage, improve, and innovate their IT infrastructure.

A Better Time to Buy a House

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Market figures at this time showed that mortgage interest rates in the U.S. are at their 50-year low. However, several factors indicate that the longest and steepest recession since World War II may be over. And though the recovery likely will be long and difficult, current developments and trends seem to show that there are a lot to be thankful for as the holidays approach.

For instance, Congress has already extended the tax credit for homebuyers until 30 April 2010 as long as they have a written and binding contract by that date and expanded the coverage to include homeowners who wish to ‘move on’ after 5 years of living in their current property.

The existing policy also allows first-time buyers, or those who have not owned in the last three years, to receive up to US$ 8,000 in tax credits, while homeowners who have lived in a current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a US$ 6,500 tax credit. The income limits were, likewise, increase: US$ 125,000 for singles, US$ 225,000 for married couples with a US$ 20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

So isn’t it time to buy a home? It certainly seems that way. The housing picture may be complex — and sometimes frightening. House prices in the U.S. have plunged 30 percent, on average, from their 2006 peak. But from 2000 to 2006, average prices nearly doubled. And a 40 percent increase is definitely a healthy increase — even in a robust economy.

There is no need to wait, especially for those buying out of necessity — because they are moving to a new area and need to sell their old house and buy a new one. Even for those who are planning to buy a new house, interests on subprime loans are becoming more affordable.

To learn more if the prices may fluctuate further or if the credit policy can help sustain the recent uptick in housing sales, try to visit 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits. They offer informative articles to supplement any housing research and they even offer home search on the site. Check them out and you will lose nothing and gain useful insights.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

Anti-Fraud Agreement Forged

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:11:00 +0000

The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), the British government and the UK Border Agency International Group signed recently a memorandum of understanding for a bank certificate verification system.

Upon the endorsement from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the UK Border Agency has been working with the BAP on the development of a system in an effort to curb UK visa fraud.

Ambassador Stephen Lillie called it a landmark cooperation to continue the UK Government's wider fight against visa fraud and forgery in the Philippine.

Banking documentation fraud forms 21 percent of all fraud encountered with Philippine applications. This covers false documentation as well as altered or unofficially issued certificates.

The agreement will put in place an electronic verification system that will establish a faster, more efficient and more accurate checking of bank certifications.

“The new system will enable us to detect even more quickly those who seek to cheat our system by providing false banking documents,” Ed Mackie, regional manager for NE Asia and Australasia of the UK Border Agency. The UK Border Agency is the government arm of the United Kingdom responsible for securing its borders and controlling migration. It is responsible for enforcing immigration and customs regulations and considers applications for permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom, citizenship and asylum.

The agency has been intercepting increasing numbers of fraudulent applications, from 584 in 2007 to 657 in 2008, and 575 so far this year.

All fraudulent applications are referred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) — Interpol Division. The UK Border Agency has made over 170 such referrals to date.

Representing the BAP in the signing activity were BAP Operations Committee chairman and Philippine Veterans Bank president and chief executive officer Ricardo Balbido Jr., and BAP executive director Leonilo Coronel.

Pilot Climate Change Study in Albay

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:59:00 +0000

Albay province takes center stage again in the climate change adaptation initiative, having been recently chosen by an international research group as a model for the study of the impact and mitigating measures against the menace of global warming.

The Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) has chosen Albay province to pioneer a climate change simulation research and study, which it will conduct jointly with the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

Prof. Juan Pulhin of the Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance of the UP College of Forestry and Natural Resources, a Nobel Peace Prize awardee in the field of climate change, broke the news of the APN study in a recent letter to Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda.

Pulhin said the study, "Capacity Development on Integration of Science and Local Knowledge for Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability Assessments", has been approved by APN and will be started December this year. UPLB Foundation and APN have already signed the project agreement.

The study, Pulhin said, will last for a year and will be undertaken in partnership with professor Richard Warrick of the University of the Sunshine Coast of Australia — another Nobel Peace Prize awardee — who has designed the climate simulation model or 'SimCLIM.' The model will be customized for Albay where it will be used in impact and vulnerability assessments and in adaptation planning.

Climate change adaptation was a campaign initiated by Salceda in his province. He started it when he hosted the 1st National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation in 2008 in Legazpi City, which was followed recently by the 2nd National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation or NCCCA+2 held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila only last month.

Salceda’s initiative placed Albay among those at the forefront of the campaign to teach the people to effectively adapt to the effects of sudden changes in climate as manifested by the increasing frequency and strength in weather disturbances that visit the country.

Lower Tax Proposed for Life Insurance

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:16:00 +0000

The bicameral congressional committee has picked duribng the first week of December 2009 the Senate version proposing to reduce the burdensome five-percent premium tax on life insurance policies to just two. It will now be sent to Malacañang for signing into law.

The Senate version, authored by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, likewise proposes the reduction of the documentary stamp tax (DST) on life insurance policies pegged at 0.25 percent of premium paid to a fixed one-time rate ranging from zero to a maximum PhP 100 per policy.

Not adopted was the bill from the House of Representatives seeking to abolish the five-percent premium tax altogether.

As of 2007, the per capita expenditure on life insurance was a measly PhP 859.20, covering only 13.63 percent of the entire Philippine population.

Majority of the insurance issued are group insurance, which gives lower terms rather than the individual policies. It is likewise estimated that only three to four percent of the country’s population have individual policies.

“Part of the reason for the low penetration rate is the five-percent premium tax plus the DST,” Victor Quisumbing, president of the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), said. He is also the president and chief executive
officer of the Great Pacific Life Assurance Co. (Grepalife).

PLIA and the Insurance Commission (IC) have been working to bring the penetration level to 20 percent of the country’s population since the start of the century. But the refusal to lower if not remove the premium tax, and other external factors like the poor investment climate, global credit disaster and natural disasters, have made insurance unreachable to majority of the population.

Majority of the Asean nations have penetration levels at the high double digits while Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong have penetration levels in the 90-percent vicinity. In fact, Japan reports that it is common for their citizens to have two or more policies.

Good Old Online Tips for Oldies

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:10:00 +0000

Cool, hip and tech-savvy grandparents are slowly inching their way toward their grandchildren's Internet lifestyles.

And with Bayan Telecommunications pioneering the "Teach Lola" campaign, more lolos and lolas have opened their minds to the fastest-growing technology in the modern age. "Teach Lola is an advocacy that’s geared towards encouraging the younger generation to take the first step to bridge the digital divide by teaching their grandparents how to get connected to the world through the World Wide Web — very much connected to our thrust of letting the Filipino voice be heard," says John Rojo, Bayan’s VP for Corporate and Communications. As it aims to educate, the advocacy has created manuals available on www.teachlola.comthat aim to tutor our elderly on the basics of e-mailing and Facebooking.

Now, older Filipinos can send e-mail to their loved ones who are far away, upload and share videos on YouTube or even connect with them through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. But Rojo believes that grandchildren should also teach their grandparents how to take precautions against possible risks within the Internet, as they can be seriously dangerous for the uninformed user.

That's why Bayan has included a few safety tips for grandparents and grandchildren who are in the middle of learning and teaching how to use the Internet.

Do not open attachments (even if they’re from your grandkids!). The infamous Filipino-made 'I Love You' computer virus that caused some US$ 10 billion in losses in as many as 20 countries was sent as an e-mail attachment, which when opened could potentially damage or even crash your computer.

So if your grandkids are sharing pictures or videos with you, just tell them to upload these to Photobucket or YouTube and send you a link instead. Although if you absolutely have to, most e-mail services have built-in virus scanners, so make sure to scan your attachments first before downloading anything to your computer.

Do not give out your personal information (even if you 'won' a million pesos).

You’ll receive a lot of e-mails saying that you’ve won millions, or an all-expense-paid trip to Bermuda or even a brand-new car (which they’ll deliver right to your doorstep) if you just provide them with a few simple bits of personal information.

Don't even think about it! Junk that e-mail immediately. 'Phishing' is the most common cybercrime committed, wherein criminals attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card information. Just remember: if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Do not add everyone to your network (even if you're friendly).

If you’re a member of a social networking site (SNS) like Facebook, having a gazillion friends may sound great but that also means that you’re more prone to having online stalkers.

It may make you feel like a celebrity having someone follow you around the worldwide web all the time; however, this also means that these predators can gain access to the accounts of your grandkids through you. Worst case scenario is that one of your grandchildren will add these stalkers as well, thinking they can be trusted because of your online connection.

So next time someone adds you, make sure to check their profiles first. See their list of friends and see if you have mutual friends. Then double-check with those friends to see if this is a legitimate account. It might be a little bit tedious but it's the safety of your grandkids that’s at stake.

"Cyberspace can be a daunting place for everyone, not just grandparents, so we’re giving them information on how to protect themselves and make their online experience together with their grandkids more enjoyable," ends Rojo.

Tipid-Sulit Pinas! Advocacy

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:09:00 +0000

The launch of Talk 'N Text's Tipid-Sulit Pinas! advocacy gave birth to the idea of diskarteng tipid-sulit inherent among Filipinos, igniting sparks of hope especially for those who have limited resources to overcome life’s challenges.

People who have only their jobs to depend on for a living can take the cue from this advocacy — having a good diskarte through hard work, perseverance, and skills can be a great way to make one’s present job work to meet one’s needs in the face of crises.

Consider Louie Alcoran, a 29-year-old husband and father of two who has been working in the same company for almost nine years. Tipid-Sulit Pinas! emboldens people like him who appreciates the value of having work, especially in times of need, regardless of academic background.

Louie only finished high school, but this does not stop him from performing more than is expected of him. He started out as a messenger. But because of work dedication, diligence and commendable work ethic, he has acquired skills that helped him earn the trust of his colleagues to carry on bigger responsibilities.

People like Louie make a career investment out of learning new skills, enhancing knowledge, and building contacts — something they can put to good use come promotion time. Indeed, at the rate Louie is going, it will not be surprising if a promotion is awarded soon.

Louie works harder to secure his job and ensure that his young family’s needs are met. His hard work is certainly starting to pay off. In fact, he has already managed to buy basic household appliances from his yearend bonuses. He also knows how to celebrate the fruits of his labor by ensuring that he rewards himself and his loved ones once in a while.

Tipid-Sulit Pinas! aims to create more inspiring stories like Louie’s to more barangays nationwide. Hopefully, it moves more people to work just as hard and persevere in attaining their goals in life.

Indeed, it takes talent, commit-ment, and determination for one to make the most out of his present job. What is more important than the kind of job one has today is how he does his job to make everything work for himself and his loved ones.

Overseas Demand for Makapuno Increasing

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:19:00 +0000

During a forum at Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on 25 November 2009, one of the speakers revealed that the big demand for makapuno or the mutant nut in the Philippines as well as in other countries may offer Filipino businessmen an opportunity to make it big in the business of producing planting materials, or the nut itself.

The production of 'true-to-type' makapuno is now made easy, says Cristeta Cueto, one of the science researcher specialists at the Philippine Coconut Authority Albay Research Center who developed an embryo-cultured makapuno in 2008.

Because of the big demand for makapuno both here and abroad, Cueto said the technology offers a big opportunity for prospective investors to venture into tissue culture laboratory and nursery operations, or to produce the nut itself for domestic and foreign consumption.

Speaking before an investors' forum, Cueto cited data from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) confirming the wide gap between the supply and demand for makapuno nuts.

"In 1999, 134,000 pieces of embryo-cultured makapuno were required to plant 1,160 hectares and serve the eight million makapuno nuts required by the market," she said.

"Since then, massive planting of laboratory-raised seedlings had been encouraged to retain the status of being the largest makapuno nut-producing country among the coconut-growing regions," Cueto added.

Aside from the PCA-Albay Research Center, which has expanded its production in different parts of the country, several private laboratories have also been established to mass produce the 'true-to-type' makapuno seedlings.

"These initiatives, however, covered only about 33 percent of the computed supply-demand gap," she said.

According to Cueto, a large potential in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and industrial makapuno-based products is waiting to be explored. She cited studies conducted by Dr. Ma. Judith B. Rodriguez of the PCA-ARC in the utilization of the nut’s highly viscous liquid endosperm that has high content of galactomannan, a polysaccharide, which can be used as alternative raw material for the production of hand and body lotion, hand sanitizers, facial masks, hair cream and hair gel, shampoo, conditioner and even as biodegradable edible film.

Cueto said the use of the makapuno embryo culture technology gives rise to true-to-type makapuno seedlings which at reproductive stage, yield 75-100 percent makapuno nuts.

She said the improved protocol had successfully reduced the planting materials’ growing period from 13 to ten months. Moreover, the protocol had been simplified by doing away with most of the complicated laboratory steps. The shortened period and the simplifications reduced the planting materials’ production cost, she said.

The makapuno embryo culture (ECM) technology is the only available technique for commercial production of true-to-type makapuno planting materials. Investors for the mass production of embryo cultured makapuno seedlings will be provided complete technical training on the developed protocol, she said.

9th World Bazaar Festival

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Filipinos are known all over the world to be very festive and joyous people; at the same time, they have also been touted to be the most gracious and generous folks in the world. And there is no better venue to experience both the celebratory and giving nature of Pinoys than in this year’s World Bazaar Festival.

This extravagant, annual bazaar was launched formally with a well-attended press conference, where the partnership between ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation with Worldbex Services International was formalized with a Memorandum of Agreement recently held at the ELJ Building at the ABS-CBN compound. The event was graced by Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation, Richard Reynante, head of programming content and management and on-air operations, Joseph Ang, founding chair of Worldbex Services International and Jill Aithnie Ang, managing director of Worldbex Services International.

Put together by Worldbex Service International, the country’s largest exhibit organizer, the World Bazaar Festival not only offers Filipinos a veritable shopping wonderland with a wide selection of gift items, gadgets and Christmas décor, this 14-day bazaar helps the less-advantaged via its strong partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation.

"The idea of the World Festival Bazaar started out, not as a venue to make money but as a way to give to the less fortunate," explains Jospeh Ang. "We saw the plight of the disadvantaged and abused children from ABS-CBN Foundation's Bantay Bata 163 and we wanted to help in any way we could. This urge to give help gave birth to the first World Bazaar festival in 2001. Since then, proceeds of the World Bazaar Festival have been donated yearly to the ABS-CBN Foundation to support its different causes."

The fruition of this year’s partnership between ABS-CBN Foundation and Worlds Services International will be going to the rehabilitation of the 17-km Pasig River. ABS-CBN Foundation, which is now a co-manager of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Project, has made the campaign to clean up and restore the Pasig River to all its old glory a top priority. Part of the proceeds of this year’s World Bazaar Festival will help the Kapit Bisg Para sa Pasig project and support its efforts in educating Pasig residents about keeping the river safe and pollution-free.

There is no better way to experience the true generosity, warmth and festiveness of Filipinos than during the holiday season. And there’s no other venue where this can be felt to the fullest than in the 2009 Worlds Bazaar Festival on 4-16 December 2009 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

Ninoy Aquino Tees Making Waves

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Don't look now, but the 2010 Presidential aspirants may find themselves playing second fiddle once voters decide to cast their lot in favor of Ninoy Aquino as the country's next President. You heard it right, Ninoy Aquino and not Noynoy Aquino for the top post.

The martyred senator's ideals has become alive as if he were joining the slew of presidential candidates promising change in next year’s polls — at least in the realm of statement tees. That is because Oh-We’re-So-Filipino (OWSF), a group that conceptualized the shirts, has publicly challenged all the presidential aspirants to embody what Ninoy Aquino stood for.

Sportscaster Mico Halili said his group wanted to introduce the radical idea to make people think: What if Ninoy were alive today? What could he be doing during these tumultuous political times? How can the country be better with a President like Ninoy?

Halili explained to GMANews.TV that, "Aside from being very much in tune with the (country’s current) political situation, the shirts encourage people to act. We ask them: Wouldn't you want your next president to be someone like Ninoy? He’s someone who’s willing to (put his life on the line)."

He likewise clarified that OWSF is not a political movement endorsing Noynoy’s candidacy.

"Having Ninoy as OWSF’s icon is a sentimental choice. When we were kids, we knew Ninoy. We remember the day of his assassination. For us, Ninoy is a very strong symbol. We wanted him on our initial line. We're not really aligned with any movement or group aiming to propel Noynoy to the presidency," Halili said.

The 'Ninoy for President' shorts are sold at PhP 550.00 per piece retail and are available at the Analog Soul boutiques - PowerPlant Mall in Makati City and TriNoMa Mall in Quezon City. OWSF also sells their line in Commune Manila, a quaint shop along Perea Street, Makati. Part of the shirt proceeds will go to Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation.

Branchless Banking Set to Expand Further

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:44:00 +0000

The latest release of an international report indicates that branchless banking in microfinance, which utilizes mobile phone banking extensively, will expand further until 2020.

But the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) report, bursts of rapid acceleration will be followed by periods of falloff or flatter growth.

"Recent surveys of customers using branchless channels in Kenya, Brazil, Philippines, South Africa and India show that today’s customers are primarily not the un-served majority," FinanceAsia said quoting the CGAP report. "We were able to identify only a few providers who are using mainly branchless channels and who meet two criteria: serving more than a million active low-end clients and making a profit from doing so."

The report from CGAP and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, is part of a six-month scenario-building project that engaged nearly 200 leaders from more than 30 countries. CGAP is

It stipulated that the success in branchless banking depends on offering a far superior product to existing options.

“To date, branchless channels meet this standard only for some clients. High initial adoption can be followed by high dormancy rates or infrequent usage, which indicate that the service is not as useful as it first appeared. Ultimately, poor people will use the new electronic services when they meet real needs,” Sarah Rotman, co-author of the report, said.

The report identified four key forces, which are likely to increase the use of branchless channels by the poor. These are:

Demographic changes – including a greater number of younger consumers coming into the market and greater mobility at least within countries – will be favorable for the adoption of branchless banking.

Activist governments will play a greater role as regulators of the financial sector, providers of social safety nets, and providers or encouragers of the rollout of low-cost bank accounts and financial infrastructure. This expanded role may be helpful for financial inclusion.

While security concerns about cash crime will continue to drive the adoption of electronic transaction channels, the rise of electronic crime will affect consumer confidence and test the risk management of financial providers.

Internet browsing via mobile phones will reduce costs of financial transactions, and enable new players to offer financial services.

Lecture Series on Renewable Energy

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:46:00 +0000

The College of Economics and Management (CEM) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos and the UPLB-CEM Alumni Foundation are offering a series of lectures on renewable energy (RE).

The first lecture will be held on 7 December 2009 at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City. Prominent technical consultants and senior executives from the Philippines and abroad will share their knowledge and experiences on this subject.

The series will be helpful to bankers and professionals who want to understand more deeply the intricacies of the technology and economics of RE as they apply to the Philippine energy market. While RE is a clear option if we are to address climate change, its forms and applications are not fully understood beyond the realm of engineers and the scientific community.

The speakers will be led by Ricardo G. Barcelona who will talk on energy scenarios for possible futures, the pathways to low carbon energy futures; and what business and government can do to help make this happen. Antoine de Wilde, a former World Bank task team leader, will discuss various approaches and the successful implementation of solar programs in Papua New Guinea, hydropower projects in Fiji, green energy initiatives in Shanghai, and other similar projects.

Lance Hardesty of R.W. Beck will focus on the science and the technology of these various RE sources and their appropriateness to the conditions 'on the ground.' The following, among others, will be reviewed: a) solar; b) wind; c) geothermal, d) hydropower, e) landfill methane recovery, f) waste-to-energy technologies; g) biomass gasification, and h) biodiesel and ethanol technologies.

Finally, Dean Cabanilla of UPLB CEM will discuss his research findings on biofuels.

Sen. Miguel Zubiri, principal author of the Renewable Energy Law, will also talk on the topic. Chancellor Rey Velasco will deliver the inspirational talk.

Asia-Pacific Shoppers Go Online

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:54:00 +0000

This is not a surprise anymore, but the paced it was used nowadays is something amazing to witness.

Bargain hunters in Asia Pacific are using the Internet to seek out best buys from online merchants and auction websites, according to the Visa e-Commerce Consumer Monitor1.

The survey found that the most important reason for respondents to shop online is to be able to compare prices and save money (42 percent), followed by searching for bargains or discounted items (24 percent) and saving time (23 percent). The ability to compare prices and save money was the top reason cited for shopping on the Internet for respondents from Korea (54 percent), Australia (52 percent) and Japan (41 percent).

Bob Joubert, Visa country manager for the Philippines, said: "Budget conscious consumers in Asia Pacific know that some of the best buys are on the Internet. As online merchants across the world offer attractive promotions during lean economic times, there is no better time for consumers to land cheaper buys from the Internet. From knick knacks to branded goods, online shopping is not only a smart way to save money, but is also a convenient way to browse a retailer’s full range of products whether at home
or abroad."

Across the region, more than three in five respondents said they have participated in online auctions - 79 percent said they participated in an online auction on a local website and 69 percent have participated in an online auction on an overseas website.

Heading the list, respondents from Hong Kong (91 percent) are the most likely to have participated in an online auction on a local website, followed by Australia (87 percent) and Korea (77 percent). Overseas online auction websites are most popular with respondents from Hong Kong (83 percent), Australia (72 percent) and India (71 percent).

The A-Card of Ayala Malls

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:34:00 +0000

As the premier shopping and dining destination in the Philippines, Ayala Malls continues to elevate the shopping experience to higher standards - making each and every visit more special and memorable.

And as part of its initiatives to raise the bar in shopping experience, Ayala Malls is expanding the coverage of its A- Card, the all-in-one membership card given to valued mall customers.

The ultimate companion in any Ayala Malls (Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Market! Market!, Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma and Marquee Mall), the A-Card is now offered to tourists, balikbayans and OFWs, entitling them to various privileges while shopping, dining, or even just hanging out at the malls.

The A-Card privilege makes for a truly rewarding mall experience with its discounts, freebies and perks in more than 1,000 participating dining and retail establishments across the Ayala Malls.

On top of these benefits, tourists and OFWs get added hotel-like services such as personal shopper assistance, flight confirmation, hotel and restaurant reservation, transport assistance and porter service.

To avail of the A-Card, tourists and OFWs simply need to present their passports with arrival stamp at any Ayala Malls Concierge. Immediately, they can take advantage of the multiple amenities offered by the card for as long as five days, for free!

Special privileges also await A-Card holders in Ayala Malls customer lounges, with unlimited use of the customer lounge in Glorietta, Market! Market!, Ayala Center Cebu, TriNoma, and the family lounge in Alabang Town Center. In addition, cardholders can use for free the Glorietta e-Lounge for 30 minutes a day.

As if the discounts and freebies from their favorite establishments are not enough, movie goers with their A-Card get priority treatment at the movies with an express lane for cinema ticket purchases and a five percent discount on the cardholder’s cinema tickets. Cardholders also get invites for exclusive block screenings of blockbuster movies.

Concerts, musical performances, and family shows also become much more enjoyable as A-Card holders get reserved seats for two to Ayala Malls shows on a first come, first served basis. Cardholders are also treated to exclusive invites to workshops on photography, culinary, beauty, among others

With the A-Card, Ayala Malls gives its patrons more than enough reasons to love ’emall.

Male Vanity Rises in Manila

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:10:00 +0000

Nobody is certain if it was caused by the Twilight movie saga, but one thing is sure, men are now taking over women's beauty products.

Leading global market intelligence company Synovate recently released its findings on male vanity from the AsiaBus market survey showing that most (91 percent) Metro Manila males admit that looks are indeed important to them, although a smaller proportion (38 percent) would consider themselves as sexy.

With data like these, it comes as no surprise now that men are now less likely to gauge their masculinity based on the use or non-use of beauty products. Seventy percent disagreed with the contention men who use beauty products are not as masculine as men who do not. Also, 66 percent disagreed with the statement that men are made fun of if they spend too much time on their appearance.

Looking young

Based on the results of the survey, the standard of men’s looks in the Philippines lies in maintaining a youthful look and in having good hygiene.

The features that were identified as the absolute requirement before any man can be described as good looking were good hygiene and fresh breath, selected by 59 percent of respondents.

In addition, virtually all men and women interviewed said that they preferred the look of a clean shaven face.

Meanwhile, asked if a man’s appearance improved with age, only 35 percent of both the male and female population agreed.

Men’s beauty products

Still, while the majority have accepted that the use of beauty products does not make one any less of a man, Filipino male’s use of these products is still limited to a select few.

The commonly used products are perfumes and colognes (81 percent), deodorants (79 percent), mouthwash (57 percent), hair conditioners (53 percent), hair spray and hair gels (47 percent). Conversely, only a small part of the total population have admitted to the use of products such as facial moisturizers (12 percent), lip balms (11 percent), oil control films (nine percent), facial masks (7 percent), and pore packs (3 percent).

Also, there are not very many men who are willing be caught with these products when they go out. Only 26 percent admitted to bringing their grooming products outside the home; the majority prefer to keep the battle for vanity limited to only the home front.

For whom are the Filipino men of today making an effort to look good? 72 percent of Filipinos say that they try to look good for themselves, while 24 percent say that they try to please their partners, and 4 percent say that it is for their friends. It is more than a mere quest for vanity, it all about taking better care of themselves, to look good and feel good.

McKinley Hill: A Worker's Haven

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:01:00 +0000

The new township of McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio isn’t just home to future residents of its upscale high-rise projects and the posh McKinley Hill Village; call center and business process outsourcing (BPO) employees are also calling it their comfort zone, according to a recent survey.

More than 5,000 workers at BPO firms and multinationals now hold office at the McKinley Hill Cyberpark, including 3M Philippines, Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, DDB Media, Hewlett Packard, Accenture, Holcim, Ingram Micro, Safeway and Transcosmos Logicall.

Fifty-nine percent of the survey's respondents rated their working conditions at McKinley Hill Cyberpark as 'very good' while 77 percent also said their office atmosphere was 'very good.' When asked to compare its standards to the Makati and Ortigas business districts, 66 percent admitted that it was again, 'very good.'

Overall, 61 percent would recommend McKinley Hill Cybperpark to relatives and friends as a good place to work, and an impressive 91 percent foresee working at the Cyberpark for a long time.

Megaworld FVP for Business Development Jericho Go was 'very pleased' with the results. "This validates our initiative to create a campus-type cyberpark, with lots of open spaces and greeneries to make it conducive for highly productive work 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he noted.

It comes as no surprise since these workers have a lot to look forward to as well, according to Go. Several companies at the Cyberpark have expressed interest in Woodridge Residences, another priority project of Megaworld. "This is expected to enhance the ability of BPO firms to retain their staff," he says. Woodridge is a dorm-type condo that targets BPO employees as tenants. A high-rise project, Stamford Executive Residences, is already under construction and will surely offer long-term lease opportunities as well.

To make it easier for McKinley Hill employees to reach their workplace from major roads and vice versa, Megaworld affiliate First Oceanic Property Management Inc., allocated last year close to PhP 100 million for the establishment of CityLink Coach Services, Inc., a public transportation system for its business and residential projects.

CityLink also collaborated with transportation groups and set up a terminal for employees and residents of McKinley Hill Cyberpark. The buses now ply the Eastwood City to Newport City route via C5. Small coaches also serve companies at selected hours, enabling passengers to board the MRT or north and southbound buses at EDSA with ease.

The unveiling of the Venetian Mall later this year also promises more dining and retail options for McKinley Hill Cyberpark’s professionals.

Developed by Megaworld Corp. – the country’s number one developer of BPO office spaces – McKinley Hill Cybepark is eyeing completion of six new buildings this year: the 8, 10, 18, and 20 Upper McKinley Road towers, the 8 Park Avenue building B, and the Commerce & Industry Plaza.

"Megaworld will be delivering a lot more than our long-standing commitment of two towers per year to the BPO industry in McKinley Hill for 2009," Go promised. "These six new buildings alone signify how strong Megaworld’s commitment is to accelerate further the growth of the BPO industry in the country."

The company offers locators naming or signage rights, depending on the extent of their office space requirements, in any of these six buildings. The naming and signage rights add prestige to company locators and aids their branding efforts, explained Go.

BPO firms and other companies that want their employees to be continually happy and productive, like the ones on this survey signifies, must highly consider locating at McKinley Hill Cyberpark. Please call 912-0708 for leasing options or log on to www.megaworldcorp.com.

Bazaar With A Heart

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:11:00 +0000

Shop at rock-bottom prices, be entertained by GMA stars, rub elbows with them, and help our less fortunate brethren at the Ninth Noel Discovery Bazaar and Christmas Shopping Expo from 25-30 November 2009 at World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Dubbed Bazaar With A Heart, the event promises to be another complete family affair with fun activities and surprise events.

Be delighted by the production numbers from Jolina Magdangal, La Diva and Kyla, and La Salle College International’s fashion show.

Grab the hottest bargains at the celebrity booths of Jolina, BJ Forbes and Ella Guevarra.

Walk through the GMA Artists Closet Pavilion and discover the personal wardrobes of Manilyn Reynes, Tuesday Vargas, Suzi Entrata, Lynn Ching, Pia Magalona, Jessa Zaragosa, Dingdong Avanzado, the Sexbomb Dancers, Polo Ravales, Jay Manalo, Iwa Moto, Chynna Ortaleza, Dino Guevarra, Iking Magundayao, Dion Ignacio, Aicelle Santos, Moymoy Palaboy, Nicole Dulalia, Nikki Dacullo, Joy Velasco, Francheska Farr, and Sherilyn Reyes

Learn the latest Christmas food trends with Q-11’s cooking demo, sip the finest wine with Rene Barbier’s wine appreciation seminar, get practical make-up tips from Luminare, be entertained by Museo Pambata’s storytelling and arts & crafts making, and learn bread making in Street Corner Bakery Café's demos.

Noel Bazaar boasts of hundreds of exhibitors of fashion lines, food items, home décors, novelty items, reading materials, rare wares, and travel packages, among others.

The event returns with its special edition on 5-6 December at A. Venue Events Hall of Antel Lifestyle City, Makati Avenue, and Noel Bazaar 2 on 18-20 December at the World Trade Center for your last-minute shopping.

The bazaar is organized by Cut Unlimited and supported by GMA Kapuso Network for the benefit of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation and the Associate Missionaries of Assumption.

For details, call (632) 687-0654, (632) 687-2955 or e-mail at noelbazaaars@gmail.com.

Assumption Bazaar

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Now on its ninth year at the Hotel InterContinental Manila, the Assumption Alumnae Association (AAA) will hold its annual bazaar at the Grand Ballroom on 22 November 2009 from 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

The bazaar aims to raise much-needed scholarship funds for the various Assumption Mission Schools, which have been set up to provide basic education for the less privileged children and much-needed livelihood programs of their respective communities.

The Assumption Alumnae Association invites you to join in on the opportunity and fun. There will be more than a hundred vendors offering a wide variety of merchandise. Unique to the Assumption bazaar is the participation of alumnae who personally design and sell one-of-a-kind items not found in other bazaars. Assumption Mission Schools around the country, the beneficiaries of the bazaar proceeds, also sell special food items and indigenous products especially made by the sisters and the members of their many livelihood projects.

Please check out also the organic produce of fellow alumna, Gina Lopez, from her 'Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig' project.

World Pyro Olympics 2009

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:34:00 +0000

Now on its fourth year, World Pyro Olympics (WPO) will be staged at its new home at Bonifacio Global City on 21 and 28 November, 5, 12 and 19 December, with South Korea, China, Germany, Australia, Japan, the US, Canada and defending champion Italy as participating countries.

Two countries fire each Saturday with a finale on 19 December 2009 featuring a Fellowship of Fire where all participants will each have a show, plus an exhibition from the host country, Philippines by La Mancha Group International (LMGI), second placer at the Ninth International Fireworks Festival in Zagreb, Croation last April.

The WPO 2009 will not only showcase breathtaking and spectacular fireworks displays but will be a one-stop shop of fun for everyone - that includes a Showando, a showdown of the country's best local marching bands, a car audio show, play areas for kids, and a bazaar. There will also be a photo contest.

WPO 2009 will be an entirely different visual spectacle with the introduction of the pyro-musical - combining state-of-the-art fireworks display and computer technology, with fireworks gracefully choreographed to music.

For inquiries, call (632) 509-4922, (632) 568-6908, (632) 384-0239, (632) 904-1100 or 0906-366-9488.

Worthwhile Grocery Trips

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:39:00 +0000

Ever walked into a grocery or supermarket and just felt, well lost? The commercial onslaught that greets you as you enter a large supermarket or grocery can truly be overwhelming for an unprepared shopper, who would most likely end up with items that are unnecessary, unsuitable, or excessive.

With the prices of basic commodities — not to mention gasoline — increasing exponentially, it’s good to think twice about spending your hard-earned money on grocery items. During this time, it’s wise to know a few simple tips on how to make the most of your bucks when you buy the essentials.

Here are ten (10) useful tips to keep your trips up the grocery aisle straight and true:

The grocery list is all-important. Without it, chances are you will stray from the true purpose of your shopping. And, of course, once you have that list, stick to it.

Plan that list weekly. A week is a good, round timetable to be planning around. Look at your refrigerator, cupboards, and stock rooms. If there’s anything you need and can’t find it, then it should be included in your weekly list.

Don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry. They say it works. Eat a full meal before visiting the supermarkets. This way, you can fight off that tendency to buy on impulse better.

If you have that lists, then better have a budget to match that. You will develop this budget-list matching skill over time. At first, however, you will most likely overshoot that. In time, you will learn where the better deals are, so you get the items on your list, but actually spent less.

Do the math before lining up at the cashier. Many shoppers plop everything in first before estimating what the total costs are. They end up overshooting their budget, which isn’t a surprise. It’s better to keep a rough running tally as you choose your items along. Your cellphones come with calculators, so use them.

Write them down as you remember them. If you go to the grocery or market weekly, it would be much easier to jot down what needs to be bought as you remember them during the course of the week, rather than making a mental note to list these things down the day before you visit the groceries. That’s a sure recipe for regret.

Do it like the hotels and restaurants do, which is to keep an inventory or stock of things in your ref or cupboards. As the stocks run out, you can indicate on your inventory the quantities consumed and remaining. It also gives you a pattern as to which items in your household are ‘fast-moving’ so you can make the necessary purchase adjustments in your next grocery trip.

Stock-up on ready-to-eat food and emergency supplies. You won’t always be in the mood to concoct some elaborate dishes. And given the propensity of this country to stay in the path of many calamitous natural and man-made events, it would really help to have workable survival gear in the house. But don’t overdo it, lest you be suspected of hoarding.

Many items are cheaper in bulk. So if you can afford to buy in bulk, do so. But be sure that you have also budgeted the period of time it will take to consume all of these items. It’s like loading up the cellphone. It’s useless to load up on PhP 1,500 worth of airtime in a month when you only consume PhP 1,000. The remaining PhP 500 expires and is forfeited.

There’s wisdom in those receipts. So keep them. Those receipts will reveal to you the store’s pricing patterns over time, so you can compare prices of items in stores you visit at various periods or seasons. And who knows, with various government and in-store promos going on, you might end up leaving the supermarket with more money that you came in with.

Spreading the Table

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:24:00 +0000

Generosity has a flavor and it appears on the menu of Manila’s five-star hotels under the heading of 'Spreading the Table'. Throughout the month of November, an entry listed as the Chef’s LifestyleAsia Special will be available in different restaurant outlets. Every order will contribute to a calamity victims fund which the Metrobank Foundation (MBFI) has agreed to manage.

Part of a Lifestyle

The return to some semblance of normalcy did not diminish people’s willingness to be part of any assistance to the relief and rehabilitation of those severely affected by the spate of disasters. Even as people resumed their work, many still wanted to make a contribution. The LifestyleAsia team was preparing the November entertaining issue while still actively involved in helping friends, co-workers and complete strangers get back on their feet.

"Belief that every man can do something, regardless of where he stands, provided the ground to respond to the separate realities," editor in chief Anna Sobrepeña said. Ideas evolved to mobilize resources through the dining features and 'Spreading the Table' was conceived. The response was overwhelming.

Management of the different hotels was enthusiastic to participate in the LifestyleAsia’s initiative. They responded to the needs, distributing goods and providing other assistance to their employees and affected communities. The collaboration not only allowed them to continue doing more, it also complimented their service in the hospitality industry. Sharing would continue even after the waters subsided and the demands of occupation required volunteers to return to their offices.

Initially the concept began with one dish that would contribute to a fund which the MBFI would manage. The MBFI had been approached by different private individuals and entities to receive donations that would be given to the various agencies and groups providing help to the survivors. The organization had been tapped for their credibility and network. Despite not being a donee institution, MBFI responded to the entreaties to handle the monetary gifts and distribute these to the pertinent agencies in behalf of the donors. They acquiesced to do the same for LifestyleAsia and the participating hotels.

Chef’s lifestyleasia Special

'Spreading the Table' will run throughout the month of November. The different Chef’s LifestyleAsia Specials will be offered in the premium restaurant outlets of the hotels. Dusit Thani Manila will serve chef Kiyoshi Ogawa’s ebi yuzu butter yaki and gyuniku enoki aspara maki at Umu.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Tivoli offers executive chef Rene Ottlik’s red mullet consommé with prawns, clams and lobster and executive pastry chef Roberto Molleman’s Earl Grey chocolate mousse with tonka bean ice cream.

Newly arrived Italian chef Salvatore De Vincentis puts together lobster ravioli with roast pumpkin sauce and grand fusilli with smoked salmon in a creamy tomato sauce for patrons of Edsa Shangri-La’s Paparazzi.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza offers several choices with the sunset view at Le Bar. Executive sous chef Arnold Guevarra whipped a combination of poached slipper lobster, pan fried goose liver accompanied by mesclun greens tossed in sherry truffle dressing and pancetta wrapped tenderloin of milk-fed Dutch veal tenderloin on cèpe mushroom ragoût, sun dried capsicum gnocchi in port wine jus. Other Chef’s LifestyleAsia Specials are tarragon Parmesan cheese crusted fillet of sea bass served with tomato capellini in dill cream sauce and strawberry and white chocolate bavarois with fruit coulis and white chocolate ice cream.

Peninsula Manila’s participation is the entire lunch and dinner buffet at the newly opened Escolta Restaurant showcasing chef de cuisine Anthony Craven’s culinary fare. Manila is invited to be part of one big giving table.

Youth Engagement Summit (YES2009)

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:49:00 +0000

The Youth Engagement Summit (YES2009) on 16-17 November 2009 is a platform to create a cadre of engaged, active youth leaders dedicated to making positive changes happen in their communities and in the world. Youths are not just leaders of the future, they are today's leaders in their own schools and communities.

Hence, it is with this in mind that the Youth Engagement Summit has been established to bring together youths, active youth leaders, world leaders in business, government, entertainment, and the general public to a platform where opinions, discussions and experiences can be shared.

The 2-day summit which is hosted in Kuala Lumpur this November, brings together some of the most inspiring, engaging Global Change Icons

Why YES2009?

Firstly, the Youth Engagement Summit (YES2009) is a platform to bring global attention to the need to ENGAGE a generation of youth who believe in change.

The future of any country depends on how well it can engage our most promising resource, the youth. And the youth of Southeast Asia, all 200 million of them are more connected, ready for change and forward looking than before.

These youth will lead their countries in the next 5 years. We have to engage them now!

How? Youth Engagement happens when youths make themselves heard, and leaders to truly listen. Which is why YES2009 was created to:

Bring together regional leaders and change icons are ready to hear them out. To learn how to listen better, and how to engage them!

Bring the voice of 200 million Southeast Asian youth into the global spotlight like no other event in history

The second goal is to awaken the interest and heighten awareness of all Asian youth – young people who are interested in change (but are not leadership oriented). YES 2009 is intended to engage them in critical and constructive discussions amongst their peers and with global change icons and respected personalities and motivate youth all over Asia to take a further step towards becoming active members of their community.

In doing so, YES2009 hopes to engage and communicate with the following audience;

Active youth leaders;

Youth who want to be part of a movement for the better of their communities;

World leaders in business, government, entertainment, etc.;

The general public;

Media & Awareness

Today’s youth think critically and believe in a better and peaceful world. They want to get involved in global change. They believe that together, they are able to create and/or offer new, original and better solutions to the socio-economic and ecological challenges facing the world today. YES2009 is designed to be the spark of the movement.

For those interested to attend YES2009 Summit, please contact the Call Center at +603 2167 4820 (from Mon-Fri, 9:00am-6:00pm) or email enquiries@yes2009.asia or sales@yes2009.asia.

For more information on bookings and registration, click here.

Learning Correct Action

mimidelmail@yahoo.com (Kirhat) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:46:00 +0000

The Iyengar Yoga Center Manila (IYCM), home of the Iyengar style of yoga and the first certified Filipino Iyengar instructors, will hold a three-day workshop on "Learning Correct Action," to be conducted by IYCM Director and Founder Rina Ortiz, on 12-14 November 2009.

With its precision and attention to detail, Iyengar yoga presents a comprehensive approach to the practice. The workshop will further teach how to get to know one’s body, and learn to use it in the optimum way in the execution of poses or asanas.

Sessions on 12 and 13 November, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M., are open to beginners and regular students, while a session on 14 November, 10:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M., is open to experienced students with at least six months of Iyengar yoga practice.

All sessions will be held at the IYCM studio, 21/F, LKG Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Makati City. Fee is PhP 800.00 per session. Call (632) 7534495/0917-5359711 to book a slot.