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Vic Vic Bautista

Lifestyle

This Chinese New Year, improve your way of life with Home Credit

Happy New Year! As the year progresses, doors of possibilities open, ushering in fresh starts and opportunity for resolutions. With the newest technology, furnishings, and appliances to support your ideal lifestyle in 2023, Home Credit has got your back on your quest to become a better and improved version of yourself.

This Chinese New Year, Home Credit Philippines, the lifestyle partner of every Filipino, is giving customers a good hand blowout. Products like electronics, sporting goods, and household appliances are now more affordable thanks to the lowest interest rates and waived last month’s installment for reliable on-time payers.

If you are looking for a sign to make that dream purchase, well you just got lucky! Home Credit lists down awesome items that can help you upgrade your way of life. Cast your luck and check out these items below.

Start your fitness journey now

Go active! Sports products are now a hit for fitness enthusiasts and even those venturing out for a healthier lifestyle. Start your fitness goals through Home Credit’s featured sports products.

Burn those calories away with the new and upgraded Zeus Spinning Bike. This equipment has an advanced system that can scan time, speed, distance, and calorie count. This can also be a flexible exercise partner which can be used not only in gyms but also at home. It can be purchased at the nearest Metro Gaisano store in your area.

Want an all-in-one fitness machine? Better try Questor’s 3-ways Manual Treadmill. This equipment can be converted into a treadmill, figure twister, and stepper that can give you an intense workout session without the need to hit the gym. Add this to your fitness list now and visit the KCC department store near you.

Never too late to grab the gadgets that you desire

Consider this as a fortune cookie note– learn to reward yourself from time to time. If you’ve been meaning to have a gadget upgrade for yourself or loved one, now is the perfect time!

Check out the Apple iPhone 11 and Apple iPhone XR. These items are top viewed phones in Home Credit’s Marketplace and stand as affordable models that are still at the peak of performance.

The iPhone 11 comes with an ultra-wide camera, a night mode feature, plus a longer battery life perfect for those who are always on the go. While the iPhone XR is ideal for photography enthusiasts and selfie lovers with its high-definition camera and wide screen display. Experience the power of these iPhone series and get yours now at the nearest Aerophone and Silicon Valley stores.

No need to delete last year’s memories just to store new ones, the vivo V25e has the right amount of storage and power for you! This phone comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB internal storage giving users the right amount of space to store their best moments. You can grab this awesome phone at any Home Credit phone merchants in your area.

Calling the class of 2023! If you are looking for the best partner in accomplishing your schoolwork, the HP 15S is the right laptop for you. This device comes with 8GB RAM storage and 512GB SSD the perfect space to store all your files and applications. Get that seamless work experience and grab your HP15s laptop through Home Credit by visiting New Ong To Express Mart.

Manifest the best vibes at home

Calling all titas and home buddies, been wanting a new freezer or perhaps a washing machine? This is your sign to channel positive vibes at home and choose only efficient products for one’s essential household needs.

Make your laundry day as easy as 1,2,3 using a Panasonic washing machine. Its multi stain removal feature and water bazooka component can make your laundry day convenient and faster—certainly Tita friendly! Get your washing machine upgrade and check out this item at the SM Appliance stores in your area.

Looking for a multifunction freezer? The all-new Condura Freezer is ideal for you. This chest freezer is designed for those who would like to store their food and beverages in small spaces and rooms. This is also perfect for those who would like to start a small sari-sari store business. Check out the product in any Abenson stores near you.

Why are you waiting out? Early lifestyle improvement will lead to betterment at home and in one’s own life. Make your Chinese New Year’s resolutions come true by downloading the My Home Credit app, visiting the website, and looking at the nearby retail establishments.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).    have properly licensed and overseen the financing firm Home Credit Philippines (BSP). Visit the Home Credit Philippines website at www.homecredit.ph to find out more about the most recent news. You may also follow the company’s official profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Customers are advised to download the My Home Credit app from Google Play in order to learn more about the most recent promotions and discover what has recently appeared in the market.

January 21, 2023 by
Lifestyle, News

SM Supermalls is the place to hop your way to luck in 2023!

This 2023, as you celebrate Chinese New Year at your favorite SM malls nationwide, bid farewell to the roaring tiger and welcome the energetic rabbit!

SM Supermalls has planned interesting activities and events for the Year of the Water Rabbit celebrations from January 9 to January 22. Here are some special CNY deals for you to take advantage of if you’re looking for some hopping fun excursions.

Share good fortune while dining at SM

Chinese New Year will always be about gathering with family for meals and other activities. Enjoy this month’s Lucky Feast specials from participating tenants while enjoying a delightful dine-in experience at SM with the whole family.

Have a stroll at the Lucky Park

Don’t miss out on the fun of strolling around SM Supermalls’ Lucky Park. Snap a photo with the whole family at the Bunny Family Photo Spot, or take selfies at the magnificent Money Trees and the lighted rabbits. You can also read through your luck this year with the Zodiac Forecast Panels or put your A-game on at the Lucky Finds Pop-Ups in the area to win CNY exclusive deals.

Witness a Lion and Dragon Dance

Who would want to miss a signature lion dance during the Chinese New Year? At SM, lion and dragon dance performers will go around the mall to get all the lucky hanging hong baos. Catch them perform live from January 13 to 22!

Usher in good fortune this year with tips from a Feng Shui expert!

When it comes to Feng Shui, SM Supermalls knows how you can harness the positive energy that the new year brings. And with the help of Feng Shui expert, Ms. Marites Allen, you’ll surely discover what 2023 has in store for you.

Just present a minimum SM receipt worth Php 1,000 to get a chance to talk to her in person in the following malls:

  • January 14, 2PM – SM City Olongapo Central
  • January 15, 2PM – SM City San Lazaro
  • January 19, 2PM – SM City Fairview
  • January 20, 2PM – SM City Dasmariñas
  • January 20, 5PM – SM City Sta. Rosa
  • January 2 1, 2PM – SM Megamall
  • January 21, 5PM – SM City North EDSA
  • January 22, 2PM – SM City Bacoor
  • January 22, 5PM – SM Mall of Asia

Scan and win amazing prizes in this AR hunt game

Test your luck at the Lucky Rabbit Hunt in SM malls! Join this AR hunt game by opening the app on your mobile device. Hunt for the triggers, scan the area, and catch lucky rabbits all around the mall with your family and friends.

SM Supermalls wishes its customers life, serenity, and prosperity for the coming year of the water rabbit, which is 2023. So, good luck and have fun while securely and conveniently taking part in all these CNY-themed activities at your favorite SM Mall!

Visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on social media for additional updates.

January 21, 2023 by
Food, Lifestyle

With a menu of luck, the Rizal Park Hotel celebrates the Lunar New Year with prosperity

The rabbit, the Chinese Zodiac’s auspicious animal, heralds a year of abundance, optimism, and peace.

The historic Rizal Park Hotel welcomes visitors to celebrate the Year of the Water Rabbit by indulging in a decadent, carefully prepared menu of authentic Chinese food at any of the establishments, from Imperial Court to Cafe Rizal.

Families and friends may enjoy the Year of the Rabbit at the iconic Chinese restaurant Imperial Court with menu items created especially for the occasion. Start with the Good Fortune Menu, which costs P28,888 per table (10 people) and includes nine specially selected dishes such fried pigeon, steamed garlic crab, and grilled wagyu beef with honey mustard salad. Two free bottles of white wine are included with the menu.

The Prosperity Menu offers Peking Duck, Stir-Fried Scallops Szechuan Style, and Steamed Lapu-Lapu, along with six other items, for those who are desiring them. The price of the Prosperity Menu, which includes two bottles of white wine or rose, is only P29,888 for a table of ten.

Lunar New Year dinners at Imperial Court will be served from January 21 to February 5, 2023.

On the Lunar New Year’s Day, the hotel is offering an amazing dim sum buffet for just P600 that includes Siomai, Tikoy, Dumplings, Buchi, and other delicacies. The offer also includes a glass of wine, a lion dance, and firecrackers. Additionally, visitors can eat in Cafe Rizal where a buffet of Chinese congee and side dishes is available.

Call (02) 8804-8700 for more information about the Lunar New Year dining specials at the Rizal Park Hotel. Follow RizalParkHotel on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/RizalParkHotel and Instagram, respectively, at https://www.instagram.com/rizalparkhotel1911/.

January 19, 2023 by
Health and Wellness

Throzz lozenges let you feel the power of myrrh

With Throzz lozenges, you can now benefit from myrrh’s therapeutic properties! Myrrh has been used historically as an analgesic and an antibacterial. It is one of the gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus at his birth. Throzz has tapped into this knowledge of the ages to ease throat irritation.

Throzz lozenges are your all-natural sore throat remedy because they are made with myrrh oil. Effective anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial effects can be found in this plant extract. Throzz lozenges will give you the much-needed pain relief you require for a sore throat while cleaning your throat of unwanted bacteria and fungi. This helps stop infections from getting worse, which could cause more dangerous illnesses.

Absolutely sugar-free, these great-tasting blackcurrant-flavored lozenges are the best way to relieve pain in the throat and deter more germs from getting into your system. It’s always best to keep a pack of Throzz lozenges at home or in your everyday carry. It’s a very convenient way to combat sore throat at its earliest onset.

Throzz lozenges can be purchased at some Robinsons and Shopwise locations, as well as Mercury Drug and Landers Superstore locations.

January 18, 2023 by
Food

Subway bestows on Kimpoy the finest of his B.M.T ™ Moments

At Subway, Kimpoy Feliciano is experiencing his best B.M.T. TM Moments! Every B.M.T TM sandwich that Subway offers is full of fantastic possibilities.

But what  is a B.M.T ™ Moment? A B.M.T ™ Moment happens when life presents you with a host of marvelous choices that deciding which is the best one becomes a challenging task. Sometimes, these moments may even bring about confusion and conflict. But, once you’ve made your decision and discovered that it was, in fact, the ideal one, ta da! There you have it—your very own B.M.T ™ Moment.

The BMT sandwiches from Subway can offer you a fantastic B.M.T. TM Moment! Whether it’s their famous Italian B.M.T TM, the delectable Cheesy B.M.T TM, or their resident heavyweight, the B.M.T TM Plus, their Biggest, Meatiest, and Tastiest sandwiches are tantalizing and intriguing options.

Italian B.M.T ™s are great for your everyday moments—if you want healthy comfort food, this is the way to go. But if you’re looking for a pick-me-up in between the dull moments, choose our Cheesy B.M.T ™s for a little fun to add to your day! And if you’re roaring for adventure, the B.M.T ™ Plus is up for the challenge! These are sure to satisfy thrillseekers everywhere!

This year, you will come across a lot of B.M.T ™ Moments. Welcome them and embrace them! These experiences will hone you and sharpen your wit. You become a better version of yourself with each wise decision you make. Just like Kimpoy Feliciano, his B.M.T ™ moment taught him to choose what is worthy and of value. And when it comes to choosing what to eat, it is always important to Eat Fresh at Subway!

Go to your preferred Subway location right away to make the most of your B.M.T. TM moments. Give them to us! The hashtags #SubwayBMTMoments #SubwayBiggestMeatiestTastiest #SubwayPH #SubwayBMT #EatFresh are appreciated.

B.M.T Sandwiches at Subway cost the following in-store:

  • B.M.T ™ Classic
  • Ala Carte – P185 (6-inch sub); P360 (footlong sub); P195 (wrap)
  • Regular Meal (w/ 22oz drink + 2pcs cookies) – P305 (6-inch sub); P480 (footlong sub); P315 (wrap)
  • B.M.T ™ Double Cheese
  • Ala Carte – P195 (6-inch sub); P380 (footlong sub); P205 (wrap)
  • Regular Meal (w/ 22oz drink + 2pcs cookies) – P315 (6-inch sub); P500 (footlong sub); P325 (wrap)
  • B.M.T ™ Plus
  • Ala Carte – P245 (6-inch sub); P480 (footlong sub); P255 (wrap)
  • Regular Meal (w/ 22oz drink + 2pcs cookies) – P365 (6-inch sub); P600 (footlong sub); P375 (wrap)

To know more you can check the Subway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SubwayPhilippines for more interesting news.

January 18, 2023 by
Lifestyle, News

It’s a terrific start of 2023 with Toyota’s Great Deals

Bring in a brand-new, dependable Toyota as a new family member to kick off the new year in style! In all of the authorized Toyota dealers around the country, Toyota Motor Philippines has announced exceptional offers and fantastic prices for January. The best time to purchase your preferred Toyota vehicle through Pay Light, Pay Low, or Cash Savings choices is right now.

Pay Low, Pay Light, or save when you pay through cash!

Every Filipino should include improving their mobility on their list of resolutions for the coming year. Mobility gives people the freedom to roam, whether it be to increase city driving efficiency or to make the most of their rural lifestyle. Filipinos can now enjoy this independence thanks to Toyota models that are made simpler to buy.

Toyota’s Pay Low deal lets customers avail units via all-in cash out with down payment for as low as 15 percent, free one-year insurance and three-year LTO registration with no chattel mortgage at 60 months to pay. Participating models are the Vios, Corolla Altis, Rush, Innova, and Fortuner.

Witness festive Chinese New Year celebrations with the perfect family vehicle. The Innova 2.8 J Dsl M/T is available for only PHP178,650 down payment under the Pay Low deal. If your family is up for a drive out of town, treat them to a fun yet comfortable road trip with the country’s most popular SUV! Own the Fortuner 4×2 G M/T for only PHP265,500 down payment.

Worry less about monthly expenses with the Pay Light option. Get the Toyota Vios, Wigo, Corolla Altis, Avanza, Veloz, Rush, Raize, Innova, Fortuner, Hilux, or Hiace for low monthly plans at 50 percent down payment with 60 months to pay. Enjoy light payments when purchasing the all-new Veloz 1.5 G CVT at PHP13,210, Rush 1.5 E M/T at PHP10,724, and Wigo 1.0 E M/T at PHP6,256 monthly payments.

Lastly, under the Cash Savings option, customers who choose to pay in cash can get big savings for the following vehicles: save PHP50,000 when you purchase the Corolla Altis V HV and V, PHP45,000 and PHP8,500 on the Vios XLE CVT and XE CVT, respectively, PHP10,000 on all Rush variants, PHP10,000 on the Lite Ace pickup, and more!

Free Periodic Maintenance

Bringing more cheers and luck to you this year, Toyota offers Free Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS) of up to 20,000 KMS for every brand-new Vios, Corolla Altis, Raize, Avanza, Veloz, Rush, Innova, Fortuner, Hilux, and Hiace. Customers may avail the free PMS within 18 months from the release date of the vehicle.

Lite Ace fans also get an exclusive treat of a Fixed Periodic Maintenance Package of up to 40,000 KMS during the promo period. Lite Ace owners will only need to pay PHP1,999 per service until their 40,000 KM maintenance check.

Trade-in Rebate, Free 1-Year Insurance, and Toyota Vios 5-Year Warranty

This new year is all about leveling up! Toyota vehicle owners who want to upgrade their cars can avail a trade-in rebate for every closed trade-in transaction with a purchase any participating model within the promo period. Customers get PHP35,000 in rebate when they trade in their Wigo for a Vios or PHP30,000 when they trade in their Vios for the Raize G CVT. The trade-in rebate can be used as cash discount when customers purchase a participating model during the promo duration.

On top of these special deals, all variants of the Wigo and Veloz, and select variants of the Vios, Corolla Altis, Innova, Hilux, Avanza, Rush, and Fortuner purchased from authorized Toyota dealers nationwide this month are entitled to a free one-year comprehensive insurance provided by Toyota Insure. The comprehensive insurance covers 24/7 Personal Accident Insurance, passenger auto personal accident insurance, 3-year CTPL, own damage (OD), loss/theft, excess bodily injury (EBI), Property Damage (PD), acts of nature (AON), and emergency roadside assistance. Terms and conditions apply.

Brand-new owners of the Filipino-favorite vehicle, the Toyota Vios, also receive a special free five-year warranty for the G, E, and XLE variants bought from authorized Toyota dealers.

Start the year with a bang! Treat yourself and the family to a year of better mobility with a brand-new Toyota. Promo runs from January 1-31, 2023 only. Check out the full mechanics, offers and participating units here: https://toyota.com.ph/promos/greatdeals.

Follow TMP’s official pages – Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, toyota.com.ph, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter, and Toyota PH on Viber – for regular updates on products and services, dealer operations, announcements, and events.

You can view your desired Toyota model safely from a distance by visiting toyota.com.ph/showroom, where you can also choose your preferred dealership and submit a product question.

For all your Toyota needs, from car selection to auto care, maintenance, and upgrades, download the       myTOYOTA PH APP for Android and iOS.

January 16, 2023 by
Health and Wellness

The newest clean water technology development for revolutionary water purification

Join the Water Revolution with Aqua SmartGuard! Drinking water needs to be clean and pure since it helps the body regulate itself and because there are many diseases that may be contracted through contaminated water.

The most significant and essential component for human life is water. All bodily fluids, including the blood, lymph, saliva, digestive enzymes, urine, and others, are derived from pure drinking water. The regulator of all bodily processes is water. It is the primary means of delivering energy to all of the body’s cells. Since the brain is 80% water, extreme dehydration can cause mental instability and impair one’s ability to think rationally. The human body needs 6 to 8 glasses of pure water every day to function properly.

Why is it Important to Drink Only Pure Water? It is vital to our good health that our drinking water is pure because if it is not, the microorganisms and parasites that are in the water may make us very ill.

Impure drinking water could cause the following health problems: ·

  • Bacteria –  Bacteria in your drinking water could cause typhoid fever, which would present with the following symptoms: diarrhea, severe vomiting, enlarged spleen, and an inflamed intestine. Typhoid fever could be fatal if not treated. Bacteria could also cause cholera, which would present as diarrhea, severe vomiting, and dehydration. Cholera can be fatal if left untreated. ·
  • Viruses – Viruses in drinking water can cause infectious hepatitis, which causes fever, loss of appetite, a severe headache, jaundice, abdominal pain, and an enlarged liver. Hepatitis is rarely fatal, but it could cause permanent liver damage. ·
  • Parasitic Worms – Parasitic worms could cause schistosomiasis, resulting in anemia, a skin rash, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, and chronic general ill health.

Salmonella, E. coli, and COVID-19 are just a few of the bacteria, viruses, and cysts that Aqua SmartGuard guarantees to be protected against up to 99.99% of the time with its unique and cutting-edge Firewall UVC technology. The countertop unit from Aqua SmartGuard is now offered for PHP 1,490 per month plus a one-time installation fee!

January 16, 2023 by
Lifestyle, News

Mida Food, a seafood wholesaler, got a digital logistics platform with the help of Toyota Mobility Solutions PH

This customized system is meant to automate daily planning, which comprises delivery routing, loading optimization, vehicle assignment, and trip booking. For the daily management of company, TMSPH’s Logistics Platform also provides real-time delivery status tracking.

As part of the inaugural rollout of the digital platform, TMPSH has begun assisting Mida Food Distributors Inc. (Mida Food), a significant seafood importer, distributor, and processor in the Philippines, with its logistical operations. Through its retail brand, Pacific Bay, Mida Food offers high-quality frozen fish items to individuals, households, and enterprises in the food service sector.

In this initial phase of launching the digital platform, TMPSH has started supporting logistics operation of Mida Food Distributors Inc. (Mida Food), a leading seafood importer, distributor, and processor in the Philippines. Mida Food provides quality frozen seafood products for businesses in the food service industry, as well as individuals and households through its retail brand, Pacific Bay.

Through TMSPH’s Logistics Platform, Mida Food can address the limitations in its delivery operations, such as the difficulty in route planning due to various client restrictions, challenges with truck capacity vis-à-vis demand and product load, and lack of visibility in delivery status.

The Logistics Platform streamlines administration and generates the ideal route and loading plan that easily integrates the variable delivery conditions. This supports Mida Food’s goal to achieve optimal truck utilization, which is one of the considerations in lowering the delivery costs. Drivers are also equipped with a mobile application for real-time sending of delivery status updates to Mida Food.

Prior to the platform’s launch, TMSPH and Mida Food carried out a number of on-the-ground operations studies to enhance end-to-end operations, including order taking, warehouse management, and dispatch. Based on its vast expertise in manufacturing, warehouse management, logistics, and distribution in the Philippines, TMSPH utilized Toyota’s quality management concepts and efficient techniques in this process.

“TMSPH has been instrumental in modernizing the way we plan, manage, and track our goods movement during our last mile fulfilment. Their inputs, as we continue to improve our systems, have been invaluable, and together we are realizing efficiencies through their logistics platform”, said Mida Food President/Chief Operating Officer Enrique Miguel Valles. “We are thankful for TMSPH’s assistance in helping us continually add value to the products & services we offer our customers.”











  • Mida Food President/Chief Operating Officer, Enrique Miguel Valles

This partnership is only one of the numerous initiatives that TMSPH has available to assist in creating prosperous businesses. TMSPH keeps improving its goods and services to assist Filipino entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses.

TMSPH is a corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission with the primary purpose of providing access to mobility-related products and services for consumers and enterprises. For more information, visit https://www.toyotamobilitysolutions.ph/

January 13, 2023 by
Food

Pasta dishes for a delicious new year’s beginning

We make the same yearly request for our loved ones’ continued health. Try out new, healthier recipes and share them with them as one fantastic approach to achieve this.

You can feed your family wholesome food without sacrificing pleasure. You can also visit your neighborhood grocery store to buy inexpensive ingredients. Pasta is a quick and simple component you may use to make a substantial dinner for extra variety. Pasta or other “pastabilities,” which you may prepare every day, also offers countless culinary options.

Start 2023 off well with masarap, masustansya, and sulit recipes that use El Real Pasta as a high-quality component. The following recipes are sure to please everyone in the family:

Bet na bet na Pinakbet Pasta

Pinakbet is a Filipino ulam with pork and vegetables like squash, ampalaya, and tomatoes, which are all good sources of vitamins and minerals. You can change it up and make Pinakbet Pasta with El Real Healthy Pasta. The combination of crispy pork belly, hearty vegetables, and flavorful bagoong will give you a burst of flavors.

See the full Pinakbet Pasta recipe here.

Spicy and creamy Healthy Laing Pasta

Add a spicy kick to your El Real Healthy Spaghetti by adding laing and chilis to it. The taro leaves used to make laing are known to be rich in vitamins A and C. For the sauce, it’s made with coconut cream to make it thicker and creamier.

See the full Healthy Laing Pasta recipe here.

Go green with Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni

For a nutritious and filling macaroni dish, you can try making Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni. Made from basil, pesto is said to be a good source of vitamins, calcium, and iron, which makes it a great pasta sauce. Give your dish more flavor with some lemon juice and sour cream in the sauce, and top off your El Real Elbow Macaroni with chili flakes and parmesan cheese.

See the full Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni recipe here.

Healthy Sardine Spaghetti for your dose of seafood

Fish like sardines are an excellent source of vitamins B-12 and D, and other nutrients. Sardines can make a great pasta dish when mixed with oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice on top of El Real Healthy Pasta.

See the full Healthy Sardine Spaghetti recipe here.

Creamy Spinach Pasta for all ages

If you want a dose of iron and vitamins, you can try adding spinach to your meals. A delicious way of incorporating this into a pasta dish is by mixing it with cream and ricotta cheese. You’ll get a nice creamy sauce with hints of spinach with every bite of El Real Healthy Spaghetti or any type of El Real pasta.

See the full Creamy Spinach Pasta recipe here.

Sarap, sulit, and sustansya meals provided by El Real Pasta will help you start the year off well. Now you may treat your loved ones to wholesome pasta recipes on a regular basis or on special occasions.

Visit www.realpastabilities.com/ for additional recipes. For additional information, follow www.facebook.com/iloveelreal/.

January 12, 2023 by
Lifestyle, Travel

Sustainability Adventures from a Tropical Island

The Aquos Foundation

‘To nurture and protect biodiversity, threatened species, fragile ecosystems and the community’

A pair of fat Mantanani Scops Owls consider their next meal as dusk settles over the lush green canopy of the garden forest on Banwa Private Island. Following a busy day burying their eggs, a line of Hawksbill Turtles amble lazily through the scorching, white sand on their way back to the cool, clear water. Tabon Birds poke their beaks into the dense underbrush in the hopes of finding appetizing meals of seeds, shoots, and helpless insects. The reef is alive all around the island. Above beds of enormous clams, trevally, grouper, and cuttlefish dance ravenously. Clownfish, parrotfish, and angelfish all make an effort to avoid becoming prey. They are transformed into colorful diversions for a nursery of black-tipped reef sharks as they dart through the coral. Life is wonderful in northern Palawan as the sun dips its toes into the clear seas for its final hurrah of the day.

But it was not always this way…  

Banwa Private island is remote but not removed from the heavy hand humanity has had on nature. Banwa Private Island’s Aquos Foundation was established to turn this around. Aquos Foundation Guardian, Bernard Bonares says: “In 2016, when Palawan was supposed to have the best coral in the Philippines, I saw was rubble covered in algae, a few lonely fish looking hopeless, and a hungry Hawksbill Turtle picking at a sponge. I was heartbroken.” Something had to be done, so the Foundation was set up to restore and protect the environment. This has resulted in a growing list of now thriving (often endangered) wildlife, the lush habitat and also the island’s healthy surrounding reef. 

The Aquos Foundation is an NGO that works to ensure Palawan is preserved as “the last frontier of biodiversity” for future generations in addition to offering opulent lodging and first-rate service. The Foundation’s dedication to the environment is what distinguishes Banwa Private Island. The goal is to safeguard and enhance the diverse wildlife in and around the island’s marine reserve.

We hope to soon share with you more sustainability success stories.

January 12, 2023 by