May 17, 2012

MVP Group Supports StartUps through IdeaSpace

April 3, 2012 By 5 Comments

IdeaSpace Foundation

Do you have a great idea that needs funding? Do you think your idea is the next big thing in innovation?

If you are a Filipino, who has a great idea, IdeaSpace Foundation is alloting Php 100 million for the first year to see your awesome idea moving.

In a gathering  of  prominent bloggers and representatives of regional blogging organizations, Manny V. Pangilinan (also known as MVP), meets for the first time these bloggers to answer questions on the newest group collaboration to benefit the technopreneurs and startup companies – IdeasSpace Foundation.

IdeasSpace Foundation Big Wigs. Seated in the middle is Manny V Pangilinan with (L to R) Smart Communications Inc. Strategic Business Development Head Earl Martin S. Valencia and Meralco’s Vice President and Chief Information Officer Marthyn S. Cuan.

Meralco’s Vice President and Chief Information Officer Marthyn Cuan shares that IdeaSpace is an incubator cum angel-fund and accelerator program.

The new foundation’s finances are supported primarily by First Pacific Group companies.

IdeaSpace foundation has an initial start up fund of Php 100 million for the first year of its operations and an additional of half a million every year to sustain it. Supporting companies include: First Pacific Group, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), MPIC Hospital group, Meralco, Philex Mining, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), Digitel, Sun Cellular, ePLDT, Maynilad, IndoFood, MediaQuest and TV5.

Mr. Cuan further discloses, “We want to replicate the Silicon Valley model, and improve it. There’s a lot of gaps between the model and the Philipines. We will try to close the gap and bring it to a sachet level.”

Smart Communications Public Affairs Group Head Ramon Isberto adds, “The number of the incubatees will depend on the number of bright ideas approved and depending on the requirement. The number can increase.”

Application Starts on May

In the same gathering, it was also opened that a national competition will be launched this year to be able to select who are the first incubatees of the program. Applications will be received starting May. Initial information regarding the search will also be loaded via www.IdeaSpace.ph.

Exciting Features of IdeaSpace to StartUps

In comparison to other existing incubation program, these are its edges:

1. Funding. Smart Communications, Inc. Strategic Business Development Head Earl Martin S. Valencia shares, “it depends on the merits of the idea. The foundation is ready to give as much funding as the project needs. Good thing about IdeaSpace is we will also help you find other investors either from our other group or other venture capital partners.”

2. Mentorship with Top Executives. There are a lot of things that every startup business should learn. Aside from developing the apps or system solutions, every successful technopreneurs understand the need for solid grasp of accounting, planning, operational control and its related knowledge. All of this are already accessible to the incubatees as they are beneficiary to a structured program hosted by the group’s Leadership Academy. Trainings will provide them a wider perspective to make the business successful and scalable.

3. Direct Market Access. If you are developing solutions or product/services specifically targeted to businesses already owned by the group like power utilities, toll roads and transportation, health care, mining, telecommunications, media and food, you will be given access to its direct market for actual testing.

Manny V Pangilinan with Cebu Bloggers Society Vice President Ruben Licera Jr.

MVP: Take Risk on Idea

The message is clear.

As a startup more than 30 years ago, MVP has created a throng of successful companies in the Philipines.

“We encourage people to take risk on their idea,” MVP explains. Based on statistics, only one innovation out of 3,000 ideas “sees the light of day.”

MVP continues,“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

MVP, sharing his thrust and goals with the new foundation, said, “We want to see innovation in the strongest state.”

STARTUPS. It is more fun in the Philippines.

The growth of this innovation sector in the Philippines is outstanding. It is also impressive to note  how big companies, such as the First Pacific group, are providing opportunities for these innovation companies to grow and compete globally. It won’t be long when we pride ourselves to the number of celebrities we produce globally.  In subsequent years, we can see an increase in number of technology innovations we can introduce to the world. And that can happen most possibly, thanks to generous NGO’s and companies such as IdeaSpace Foundation.

That move can not just provide additional work or bragging rights to the Filipinos, this can also bring us in line with other first world coutries sooner than 2050.

Filed Under: Business, Cebu, Featured, Featured Post, Society, Technology Tagged With: , , , , , ,

RAFI, an “Architect of Change” from Cebu

April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

An organization in Cebu is taking the lead in creating a better Cebu and upscaling its efforts nationwide – the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. or RAFI.

RAFI is a family-based social development foundation founded by Don Ramon Aboitiz in 1966 which began as a philanthropic undertaking supporting the causes of charitable groups. It is rooted from Don Ramon’s philosophy that “the dignity of man is best respected by helping him realize his hopes and by sharing with him the burden of his fears.”

It was Don Ramon’s son, Eduardo, who continued what the former started and institutionalized RAFI, expanding it from a traditional philanthropic foundation to a people-oriented, social development organization.

At present, it is under the able leadership of its president, Roberto E. Aboitiz guiding RAFI in its vision of “Touching People, Shaping the Future” and working towards “elevating lives through a comprehensive approach that champions best practices in community development.”

The 5 focus areas of its programs and services reflecting RAFI’s holistic approach are Culture and Heritage, Leadership and Citizenship, Education, Integrated Development, and Microfinance and Entrepreneurship.

Educating Cebuanos about their roots

Through the Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage), Kids at the Museum and Kabataan, Kultura ug Kabilin (KKK), Cebuanos, both young and old, are given the chance to know more about their culture and heritage through a tour to Cebu’s museums.

Last year’s Gabii sa Kabilin for example, saw 11 museums and 7 heritage sites participating with more than 2500 people attending the said activity despite the rains. It did not only feature historical artifacts but it also showcased Cebuano music and dance. Visitors can visit multiple museums for the single price of P150. They are taken from one heritage site to another with the help of a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) where kucheros (tartanilla driver) can earn beyond their usual income.

Nurturing Future Leaders and Recognizing Agents of Positive Change

RAFI provides an avenue for empowering emerging young leaders aged 12-20 through programs such as the Young Minds Academy (YMA). The young scholars of the YMA undergo an eight-month leadership and citizenship development training using experiential learning approaches exposing them to real issues instead of playing computer games or going to the malls during weekends. Prior to their graduation, they present proposals or community-based projects addressing problems related to the selected theme for the season.

Aside from conducting trainings, RAFI also recognizes ordinary individuals and groups from Visayas and Mindanao that spearhead efforts to make a difference and enhance the quality of life of communities especially the less privileged through awards like the RAFI Triennial Awards. In effect, the awards provide inspiration to the awardees and nominees as well as other individuals to be agents of change in their respective communities despite the challenges that they face.

Helping provide a conducive environment for learning

One of the problems confronting public schools is the poor state of some classrooms. Recognizing this, RAFI established its School Rehabilitation Program under the Education focus area.

As of 2010, a total of 451 classrooms were rehabilitated, benefiting more than 18,000 schoolchildren under this program since 2004.

Another program under the Education Focus area of RAFI is the Children’s Festival. Less-fortunate children from within Cebu City and faraway towns in Cebu are provided opportunities to enjoy their childhood through fun and play and at the same time learning values education, personality development, leadership, culture and heritage and environmental protection.

Greening the environment and forming the foundations to enhance quality of life

Part of the Integrated Development Focus is the GREENIN Philippines Program of RAFI which stands for Generation Redemption and Expansion of Natural Resources Initiatives Philippines Program geared towards its advocacy on protecting and rehabilitating the environment that has Cebu as a starting point. This program includes tree-planting activities which differ from traditional ones.

The program uses native trees for forest development as these are better adapted to the Philippine climate potentially preserving and restoring the country’s natural heritage, native wildlife species and local endangered tree species. Nurseries for these trees are also established which become sources of quality native tree seedlings for the different tree planting activities.

People from different sectors are being tapped for tree-planting events including running enthusiasts such as in the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN event held simultaneously in Cebu’s 48 municipalities and component cities last June 25 where more than 55,000 people joined.

According to Ms. Rowena Alensonurin, Executive Director for RAFI’s Integrated Development Unit. “I was really amazed. The runners really planted. They continued to the planting site and planted. Everybody was forgetting about the run. Ang ilang sharing namo (What they shared) was ‘we were not caring about the run anymore. We just wanted to plant ’”.

This particular activity served as a launching pad of the government’s National Greening Program in Region VII with 229,639 total native tree seedlings planted in 110 hectares spread over 48 towns and cities in Cebu.

The GREENIN Philippines program was also incorporated to the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures Our Cebu Program, a development program of the Cebu Provincial Government to make Cebu “an attractive place to live, work, play, invest and do business”. It’s counterpart in Manduae is the My Mandaue Program which like the Our Cebu Program, provides a framework that engages various partners to actively participate in developing successful communities.

RAFI is also active in the fight against the Big C. It established the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center in 1988 upon the request of Eduardo Aboitiz, himself affected by cancer. The center uses a holistic approach in helping raise awareness about different cancers, providing aid to early cancer detection and screenings, assisting indigent patients in treatment, and providing better quality of life through counseling and wellness activities with both patients and their family members. RAFI also organizes yearly the Moonwalk for Breast Cancer Awareness during October and maintains a Cancer Registry.

Providing Financial Resources and Know-How to encourage Entrepreneurship

RAFI Micro-finance, the microfinancing arm of RAFI give entrepreneurs especially women the chance to avail of capital for their businesses.  In 2010, RAFI Micro-finance recorded 13,360 active clients from various parts of the Visayas. Activities such as livelihood seminars and Businesswomen’s Summit provide these aspiring entrepreneurs additional capability needed to make their businesses flourish. Corporate social responsibility initiatives are also done to help alleviate the lives of their neighbors.

Indeed RAFI’s impact is huge as it continues to carry out its vision of “Touching People, Shaping the Future.” But as an “Architect of Change”, it can only do so much. It still needs “workers” and “carpenters” to help them continue constructing a better Cebu, a better Visayas and Mindanao and eventually, a better Philippines.

by: Dr. Narciso Tapia of www.cebumd.com

Filed Under: Featured, Society

Switch Off Lights for Earth Hour Tonight!

March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Switch off non-essential and artificial lights tonight at 8:30 to 9;30.

The one-hour lights-off can bring an impact to the environment.

Join the rest of the world for Earth Hour.

Our contribution to Mother Earth today and tonight is our one-hour switch-off  of the artificial lights.

Of course, before you join others during Earth Hour, make sure you have securities in place. We don’t mean security guards or installing security systems in your house. What we mean is be aware for burglary.

You can dial 166 for Police Emergency. This number only applies for Metro Cebu residents.

 

Filed Under: Awareness, Featured, Society

It’s More Fun in CBSi: The Cebu Bloggers Society’s 4th Anniversary Celebration

February 3, 2012 By 7 Comments

“Individually, we are a drop.  Together, we are an ocean.” ~ Ryunosuke Satoro

There is only one blogging group in Cebu that continues to thrive in reshaping the online publishing norm in the locality, and introduces a new form of media to the locales, bringing citizen journalism and independent online publishing to the next level.  Cebu Bloggers Society, Inc. empowers the common people to know their rights and capabilities toward information dissemination which also changes the way they consume them.

A Simple and Fun Dinner for CBSi’s 4th Year of Promoting Cebu

Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. will be celebrating its 4th anniversary on February 11, 2012 at Azkals Sports Bar and Grill.  This dinner celebration is a get-together party among old members and new ones.

CBSi has grown from a mere bloggers’ group to an incorporation headed by leaders who organized huge social media events like Visayas Blogging Summit and online celebrations like World Bloggers’ Day.

In its 4th year, CBSi is still true to its commitment to the Queen City of the South – promoting the Cebuano culture and the city’s diversities both offline and online.

In lieu with this year’s theme – It’s More Fun in CBSi, the organization aims to bring more fun to its members by creating events and activities that would benefit them as bloggers and as individuals.

Fun and Bonding through the Years

Since CBSi’s creation four years ago, there have been countless testimonials from members published on their blogs on how great and fun it was spending time and working with the growing CBSi family.

From attending the US Election Watch on 2008, being interviewed in radio and TV shows, to organizing and doing outreach activities like helping the poor fire victims through gift giving and staging a mini-concert, teaching students in mountainous areas on how to use a computer to feeding the less fortunate and abandoned elders and children.  It’s always more fun and heartwarming doing all these activities with the CBSi family.

“Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. is more than an organization for me, it is a family of different kinds of people but of the same bloodline, blogging. In CBSi, we don’t see each other as competitors, instead as brothers and  sisters who might need help in their corresponding fields or who can help the family (organization) grow into a more organize and respectable blogging institution. As a founder, I am so blessed that CBSi has gained such name and is patrionized by members who make working in the group more fun and enjoyable.”, stated Mark M. Monta, Founder of Cebu Bloggers Society, Inc.

Aside from outreach activities, and fun-filled events by invitations, CBSi has also organized various events that tighten the bond between its members like the Wild CBSi Camp Out in Busay, World Bloggers’ Day Offline Celebration here in Cebu, the CBSi 2010 Election Coverage, the Filipino Blogosphere and Political Participation Forum, and most recently the 2nd Visayas Blogging Summit, one of the largest social media summits in the country.

CBSi, along with its current set of leaders and active roster of new and old members, will be more visible in Cebu’s online scene, rocking 2012 and the blogosphere, enjoying one another’s company while having more fun and glam.

Cebu Bloggers Will be Checking In at Azkals Sports Bar and Grill

Azkals Sports Bar and Grill’s foursquare map on February 11 will surely be filled with black dots as members of CBSi would simultaneously check in for their 4th anniversary dinner celebration.  The whole CBSi gang would surely love to fill their foursquare page with fun photos and comments.

Visit Cebu’s newest and coolest hang out place at Treehouse Bldg, Ramon Aboitiz St, Cebu City. (right next to backgate of St.Theresa’s College). They are open Mondays through Thursdays at 4PM – 1AM and Fridays to Saturdays at 4PM to 3AM.  For reservation contact them through these numbers: +639153433251 / +63 32 2391967, or email them at azkalssportsbarandgrill@gmail.com.

Visit their Facebook Fanpage here.

Filed Under: Featured, Society Tagged With: ,

Prayer is best way to celebrate Sinulog

January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Feast of Sto. Niño on Jan. 15 is full of festive food, overflowing drinks, and street parties. But nothing beats a solemn prayer to celebrate the day, according to two Sto. Niño devotees.

Gloria Enclonar, who has been a devotee since she was 19 years old, said that beyond the food and the dances, people must remember prayer as still the best way to thank the Holy Child.

“Prayer is still the best gift for Sto. Niño and the best way to celebrate. For me, I would complete the novena masses every year even under threats of a storm,” she said in Cebuano during the Pagtuki episode last Saturday.

Pagtuki is the radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), which airs every Saturday, 10-11 a.m. at dyLA.

Enclonar said that she personally experienced the miracle of the baby Jesus when she was 35 years old. The doctor had informed her of her difficulty to get pregnant. A believer in the power of prayer, Enclonar asked Sto. Niño to grant them even just one child.

Now, she and her husband are raising their three biological children.

For Julia Maru, another Pagtuki guest who has been battling breast cancer for three years, the miracle of Sto. Niño is manifested through the love and support of her family.

She continues to encourage her three sons to celebrate the Sinulog by attending the novena masses.

“My Sinulog will be complete when I attend mass and give thanks to Sto. Niño. For me, prayer is most important of all our Sinulog activities,” she said in Cebuano.

Karl Damayo, exhibitions and museum collections officer of the Casa Gorodo Museum of RAFI, said that Sinulog is really intended for giving thanks to Sto. Niño.

“The Vatican acknowledges the Sinulog as a prayer through a dance. There are only two dancing prayers recognized by the Vatican. The other one is in Spain,” he said.

Filed Under: Arts and Culture, Festivals, Society

RAFI Micro-finance outstanding client gives business advice to nanays

January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Have a vision for your business. Be determined to achieve it.

These were the words of advice of Elvira Pantaleon, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance 2011 Most Outstanding Client, to the 3,289 women clients who attended the RAFI Micro-finance 8th General Assembly held at the University of San Carlos gymnasium last Dec. 3, 2011.

In her acceptance speech, Pantaleon told the 3,289 women clients (inset) present during the RAFI Micro-finance 8th General Assembly last Dec. 3 to have a vision for their businesses and to persevere amid challenges.

“Don’t waste your time. Persevere and work hard for your business because it can provide a bright future for your families. Be patient,” she said during her acceptance speech.

She added that micro-entrepreneurs should be hands-on when it comes to managing their businesses and should learn from the challenges they encounter everyday while dealing with their employees and customers. This way, their ventures will be improved and their skills enhanced.

Pantaleon received Php 25,000 cash prize and a plaque, which were conferred by RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica B. Chua, Mercantile Insurance Micro-insurance Department Manager Jose Ma. J. Dadivas, and RAFI Micro-finance Executive Director Ma. Theresa G. Catipay during the General Assembly program.

The RAFI Micro-finance 8th General Assembly, which was attended by clients from various branches in Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte, also gave out awards to the Best Chairwoman, Best Secretary, Best Group, and Best Center Meeting Place.

Special awards were handed out to clients with the highest amount of savings, to one client with the highest referral of new members, to the loyal client with zero defaults, and to the most active Client Advisory Board (CAB).

An award was given to Virgilia Bonghanoy who made it to the semi-finals for the Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Award for 2011.

Agnes Lacson, chief operating officer of City Savings Bank, was the keynote speaker. She pointed out three ingredients to becoming a successful micro-entrepreneur—vision, determination, and hard work.

The attendees were entertained by the talents displayed by the clients during the Nanays Got Talent contest as well as dance numbers and comical skits of the Buzy Buddies.

The sidelights of the General Assembly included trade fair where various products from the different towns in Cebu were showcased; medical mission conducted in partnership with RAFI’s Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center, which offered consultations and cervical screening 450 women and children; and a Kid’s Corner where the children of the clients enjoyed a film showing, courtesy of the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of RAFI.

RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI, providing financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship. Its other focus areas are Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information on RAFI Micro-finance, please contact 418-7234 loc. 706 and look for Mary Donnavel Libron, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph

For being the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance 2011 Most Outstanding Client, Elvira Pantaleon (third from right) receives Php 25,000 cash prize and a plaque, which were conferred by (L-R) RAFI Micro-finance Executive Director Ma. Theresa Catipay, RAFI Human Resources Officer Jeanette Zulueta, Mercantile Insurance Micro-insurance Department Manager Jose Ma. J. Dadivas, RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua, and RAFI Micro-finance Bogo Branch Manager Jacob Tanza

Filed Under: Business, Featured Post, Society Tagged With:

Contemporary art exhibit showcases Cebuano talents

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Paintings and sculptures of contemporary Cebuano artists were featured in the art exhibit, dubbed Contemporary Cebu, which opened last Jan. 4 at the Cebu City Museum.

 

The exhibit, which is curated by JV Castro, is designed to bring national attention to contemporary Cebuano artists and their works. It is open to the public until Jan. 31.

 

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, during the opening ceremonies, lauded the initiative undertaken to make the exhibit possible, saying it is a way to recognize Cebuano talents in visual arts as well as to promote the Cebu City Museum.

 

The Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), and The Grove by Rockwell, partnered together to launch this annual exhibit. The first exhibit was held in June 2011 in Manila at the Ateneo de Manila University and Picasso Boutique Hotel.

 

This year’s Contemporary Cebu art exhibit features the works of Palmy Pe-Tudtud, Marvin Natural, Kidlat of the Junks Collective, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, Ritchie Quijano, Vidal Alcoseba, and Tito Cuevas. Russ Ligtas will give Butoh performances on Jan. 12 and 13.

 

“It is an exhibition that features some of the finest artists we have in Cebu. All the works in the exhibit are done by Cebuano artists who specialize in contemporary works, meaning the portrayal of subjects are different. In a way, we want to promote Cebu in a different light,” Castro said.

 

Dennis “Sio” Montera, one of the participating artists shared the inspiration and stories behind his paintings.

 

“My art is more on expression of the things that have been relevant in my life—happiness, sadness, loss of loved one, any life experience. For me, the best way I can communicate or deal with my emotions is to paint. It is more likely the reflection of a current situation of my life. It’s like a diary, mirroring what is happening around me,” he said.

 

 

The exhibit’s curator, JV Castro (far left), introduced to the public the participating contemporary artists: (second from L-R) Marvin Chito Natural, Karl Roque Jr., Sio Montera, Tito Cuevas, Palmy Pe-Tudtud, and Ritchie Quijano.

Alternative Contemporary Art Studio and RAFI have been partners since Contemporary Cebu’s inception in 2011. This year, they took in The Grove by Rockwell as a major partner. The other sponsors of the exhibit are the Cebu City Government, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission of Cebu City, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Blue Shield Risk Management, Gothong Southern, Michelangelo Pizzeria, and Hola España.

“Contemporary Cebu is a good opportunity for introducing the Cebuano audience to contemporary arts and for them to be familiar who the Cebuano contemporary visual artists are,” said Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of Culture and Heritage of RAFI. (Hannah Reoma/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. intern)

The Contemporary Cebu art exhibit was formally opened last Jan. 4. The ribbon cutting was led by (L-R, foreground) Amaya Aboitiz, executive director of the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.; Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, vice-chair of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission of Cebu City; Massimo La Magna, over-all supervisor of Pizzeria Michelangelo; and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Culture, Featured Post, Press Release, Society Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What awaits Cebu for the year 2012?

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

No flyovers but still with inundated streets.

This is the prediction of environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. for Cebu in the Year of the Dragon.

Floods in Cebu will continue to get worse in 2012, she said.

“It will be more and it will get worse. I told my kids what a sad future they will have. I don’t encourage them to have kids because they will suffer from the flood,” she said in an interview with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s (RAFI) Pagtuki last December 31. Pagtuki is RAFI’s weekly radio program that airs every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. over dyLA.

Ramos said that the local government units should start updating the land use plan of Cebu to prevent flooding.

If the government won’t heed the call of environmentalists in flood prevention, then the people should take up the cudgel, she said.

“We keep saying that the disasters are wake-up calls for everybody but we cannot just wait for our public officials to act on them. If they won’t act, we should take the initiative to prepare ourselves for disasters,” she explained in Cebuano.

Last January 2011, the cities of Mandaue and Cebu suffered severe flooding in different areas, which prompted Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to clear the houses located within the three-meter easement along the Mahiga Creek.

“We are all disasters waiting to happen. Instead of planting trees, we are planting houses,” Ramos observed.

With these predictions, Ramos said that Cebuanos should be prepared for any disaster. They should be trained with disaster preparedness to build resiliency against typhoons.

Though streets will still be flooded, Cebu will have no new flyovers for 2012, according to Ramos.

“What is my bold prediction? It will not flourish. I don’t think President Aquino will risk his philosophy ‘daang matuwid’,” she said.

The issue of building new flyovers in Cebu has been brought up to President Aquino last year. Results of further studies are still to be released, pending the suspension of the construction of the flyovers.

“If it will pursue, which I doubt, we will go to court. We are going to file criminal cases to the people who approved it. We have the Republic Act 10066, or the National Culture Heritage Act of 2009,” Ramos said, referring to the law that ensures the conservation and preservation of monuments and structures of important heritage value, including structures more than 50 years old.

by: Nancy Cudis

Originally from rafi.org.ph

Filed Under: Featured Post, Society

Cebu blogger becomes campaign ambassador for farmer heroes

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Making it into one of the best leadership training in the country was not an easy task. The Young Minds Academy has exposed me to different issues Philippines has been facing and with the theme that revolves around Poverty Alleviation, we are expected to be Architects of Change as the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. molded us to be. The program has also introduced us to a lot of communities and immersing with the people along the way as we design our project proposals and social marketing tracks. To know more about our YMA Season 5 journey read my chronicles at my blog post about I Luv Farmers.
Gathering top student leaders from all over Cebu with ages that span two generations: high school and college, this program has definitely upscaled the worth our youth could do these days to take part in nation building. We are at the last quarter of our training and I am so proud of my team, Team CPMPC to have gone so far the journey, picking up different lessons, changing the way we look at the world, doing community involvement like never before and most especially discovering part of ourselves that we thought never existed.

My team is currently taking part in a wide scale of social marketing and fund raising efforts to promote a farmer empowerment program in Consolacion, Cebu. When I first learned about our assignment, I felt troubled as to how are we going to let people care so much about farmers unlike dealing with organizations in Cebu that addresses poverty in a social way such as child prostitution, trafficking or the like. But then as we convened time and time again after our series of input sessions and seminars, we have devised  a very elaborate scheme to promote our farmers and what better way to gather all the support we need than through making people realize the efforts they are doing. So out of the spirit of volunteerism, we offered more hours than was required from us to do the biggest project our team has made since making our project proposal.
Our social marketing aims to promote Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan program of the Municipality of Consolacion. It is a program that teaches farmers from all over Cebu the latest innovations in fruit and vegetable productions. Because of my work, I could not be there the whole day to be with them but instead entrusted the logistics and coverage to my other teammates while I do most of the legwork for online promotion and art direction.
Our campaign is entitled “iluvfarmers” to make people appreciate the unsung heroes in the mountains whose efforts have been keeping us alive and free from hunger all this time. So far our marketing efforts has totally paid off, we were able to gather supports on our third week:  564 page likes, 4176 post views, 240 people talking about it on Facebook; 16 retweets, 72 followers and 114 replies on Twitter, 167 pageviews on our blog and endorsements from leading student leaders in universities today, young professionals and online publishers.
There are a lot of things you can do for our farmers right now:
6 Steps to Help Them!
  1. LIKE and SHARE this page!
  2. DONATE your Facebook or Twitter Status:
  3. Or you could CREATE YOUR CREATIVE STATUS and post it here so we could feature you!
  4. FOLLOW us on Twitter http://twitter.com/iluvfarmers
  5. DONATE or ask people to donate money, farm tools, farm supplies, seedlings or seeds.
    • Contact iluvfarmers Campaign Ambassador Lorbe Catadman: 09299613737
  6. PLAY THE MINI GAME by commenting on this photo:
    Why I Should luvFarmers?
Show some luv today!
Filed Under: Blogging, Society Tagged With:

RAFI to hold Moonwalk for breast cancer awareness on Oct. 12

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In observance of Breast Awareness Month in October, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold the 8th annual “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” under the full moon on Oct. 12.

“Since Oct. 12 is a weekday, we would like to inform the public of a possible traffic congestion that might happen on that day from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of EJACC, said.

The Moonwalk will assemble an estimated 3,000 people on the lot beside Pag-Ibig Fund Tower in Cebu Business Park at 5 p.m.

Moonwalk 2011 Route Map

At 5:30 p.m., they will walk to The Walk in Asiatown I.T. Park, passing by Archbishop Reyes Avenue (please see illustrated route map). At the Asiatown I.T. Park, participants will form a pink human ribbon. A short program and Pink Rock Concert will follow.

Moonwalk is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear pink shirts.

Moonwalk, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

It is also a campaign of RAFI to get more people to be aware on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. At the same time, it is a tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer.

“We hold Moonwalk during a full moon and Oct. 12 is when the moon is at its fullest this month. Full moon, because it is symbolically linked to the woman,” delos Reyes explained.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.

From 1993 to 2007, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.

“Most of the participants are cancer patients, women from the barangays, and the youth. We encourage everyone, from all walks of life, to join us in this year’s Moonwalk,” delos Reyes said.

Moonwalk is organized in collaboration with The Walk and in coordination with Ayala Center Cebu and I CAN SERVE. It is supported by the Cebu City Government, Department of Health Region 7, Asiatown I.T. Park, Cebu Business Park, Allied Banking Corporation, Phillipine National Bank, Cebu Praedia Development Corporation, Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, KAHAYAG Network of Cancer Support Group, and Destiny Medical Fund, Inc.

Moonwalk is an initiative of EJACC under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life.

For more details about the Moonwalk, or to register, please call 254-6351 or 256-3287 and look for Gina Mariquit.

Filed Under: Cebu, News, Society
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