Lifestyle

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Ride for Valor, a bike-for-a-cause event on March 5, 2023, organized by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to generate money for the upkeep of the Bataan Death March memorials and other World War 2 historical sites.

The event, which is sponsored by the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, the Provincial Government of Bataan, and the Wartime Heritage Guild-Philippines, according to Mike Villa-Real, PVB’s first vice president for marketing and communications, aims to preserve the legacy of American and Filipino soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy during World War 2.

The Bataan Death March is a somber reminder of the bravery and selflessness of Filipino veterans during the Second World War. It is an essential part of Philippine history and culture, and the Ride for Valor is an important way of honoring the veterans and preserving their legacy. Plus rider get to learn more about this historic event as they will be be traversing the actual route of the Death March; he said.

The ride is open to fully vaccinated cyclists and all types of bikes with brakes.

Villa-Real said the event will start at 6 a.m. from the Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan, to Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.

The non-competitive bike ride will have four pitstops: Mt. Samat, Balanga Provincial Capitol’s The Bunker, San Fernando Train Station, and Angeles Museum. Giveaways will be given in selected pitstops. Villa-Real said participants may ride at their own pace, adding there will be a 12-hour cut-off during thee vent.

He noted that the event will also implement a ;No Helmet, No Ride; policy to ensure the safety of the participants. Villa-Real also said a mechanic will be available to help those who encounter mechanical difficulties, while roving marshals will be present to keep track of the riders; progress. Support vehicles are allowed, but riders should only ride in the vehicle if they choose to drop out of the event.

The registration fee for the Ride for Valor is P1,000, which includes an official event shirt, a race bib, at rucker cap, a loot bag, an e-certificate, and meals.

Interested individuals may register online at bit.ly/rideforvalor2023 until March 1, while groups may email [email protected].

Participants may also register onsite at RD Cycles Libis Branch and RD Cycles Timog Branch.

Those who will join the bike ride must download the Traqs Philippines app to enter the event.

Prior to the bike ride, we will be raffling off an overnight stay for lucky joiners, and on March 5, we will be giving two bikes as well as hotel gift checks and other exciting prizes to our raffle winners,; Villa-Real added.

Organized by Without Limits PH – IGEM, Ride for Valor 2023 is co-presented by Traqs Philippines,

OneLGC, AIR21, Panahon.TV, and the Integrated Waste Management Inc. Sponsors include Neo Zigma PH, Hotel Sogo, Booster C Energy Shot, and Fitbar. The Bataan Death March is one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history, where around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march more than 100 kilometers in grueling conditions by Japanese forces in 1942.

Although many soldiers died from infections, thirst, famine, and the cruelty of their Japanese captives, thousands of men did survive the war. The monuments serve as a remembrance of the sadness and bravery that took place at that time. Veterans and their families from World War 2 own PVB, a private commercial bank. After the Bank’s new Charter was enacted into law, Post War Veterans and AFP Retirees became part of its ownership.

Follow Ride for Valor on Facebook to learn more about the occasion at www.facebook.com/RideForValorPH.

Exciting news for the women of Subic!

Prepare yourself for the inaugural Connected Women Meetup of 2023, which will take place concurrently in several municipalities throughout Zambales and elsewhere. Yours truly, Mitch Carvalho, Lynn Singian, and Jen Cajucom will co-host the Connected Women Subic Meetup. On February 15 at 6 o’clock, it will take place at Kairos House of Blends, which is on the first floor of the Balai Subik building on National Highway, Mangan-Vaca, Subic.

That’s not all, either. With Myra Concepcion hosting Connected Women Castillejos, Melissa Moscoso hosting Connected Women San Felipe, and April Mora hosting Connected Women Olongapo, other municipalities in Zambales will also organize their own events. This will coincide with community-led Connected Women meetups conducted abroad and all throughout the Philippines.

Since 2018, Connected Women meetups in Zambales have been hosted by Jen Cajucom and held as a single meetup for the whole province every 6-weeks. This time around, and as part of Connected Women’s advocacy, we’re bringing the meetups closer to the women of Zambales by having hosts for CW San Felipe, Castillejos, Subic, and Olongapo.

The Connected Women Subic meetup will be a little different from the others. The Connected Women Subic team believes that by really understanding the attendees on a deeper level and by knowing their goals, they can tailor future meetups to meet those needs. So, whether attendees are looking to boost their self-confidence, learn basic digital marketing skills for their businesses, or anything in between, Connected Women Subic will make sure that their journey will be a fruitful and meaningful one.

Come to a fun and educational event hosted by Connected Women Subic where attendees can make connections with other like-minded women, exchange experiences and stories, and gain knowledge from one another. This is a wonderful chance for women in Zambales and everywhere to unite and aid one another in reaching their career and personal objectives. Don’t pass up this inspiring opportunity!

Toyota Motor Philippines is giving specials throughout this love month that give you a mobility partner so you can pursue your passions. You can choose a Toyota model that fits both your short-term and long-term goals thanks to the extensive selection available.

Fall in love with flexible payment options

Organizing the ideal date night with your significant other? With a Vios, you can never go wrong! If you choose the Pay Low option, you can take home the 1.3 XE CVT for just a PHP115,350 down payment and stop stressing about how you’ll go to all the places you want to go!

Customers can purchase a unit through the Pay Low option for as little as 15% downpayment with free insurance for one year, three years of LTO registration, and no chattel mortgage at 60 months to pay via all-in cash out. The Rush is also offered with this option, with a down payment of PHP 176,400 for the 1.5 G GR-S A/T variant.

And while many are meeting other people this love month, it’s also a time to show yourself some love! Go on that solo date with the Wigo 1.0 E M/T, available at only PHP6,347 per month under the Pay Light option. This option offers customers low monthly plans with 50% downpayment at 60 months to pay.

If running a business is your passion, the Lite Ace may just be for you! Under the Pay Light option, the Pickup variant can be yours for only PHP6,371 per month.

You can also get big savings when you pay in cash! PHP50,000 in cash savings await those who will purchase the Corolla Altis V HV and V variants during the promo duration, while those who buy the Innova can get up to PHP20,000 in cash savings, depending on the variant. Now that’s a deal you’re sure to love!

Do more of what you love with a well-maintained car

Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape allows you to worry less about possible breakdowns on the road and focus more on driving to places you love.

During the promo period, all brand-new Corolla Altis, Raize, Veloz, Rush, Fortuner, as well as select variants of the Vios, Avanza, Innova, and Hilux are entitled to a FREE Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS). Customers can avail the free PMS up to their 20,000KMS check-up, as long as it is within the 18 months from the release date of the vehicle.

Toyota continues to spread love to MSME owners with the Lite Ace! All Lite Ace units sold and released during this period will qualify for a fixed 1,000KM-40,000KM PMS. New Lite Ace owners will only need to pay PHP1,999 per PMS until the 40,000KM check-up.

Lots to love when you trade in!

If you currently own a Vios and are thinking of upgrading to an SUV, we reckon you might like the Raize! You’ll get a PHP20,000 rebate when you trade in for the Turbo and E variants, or PHP30,000 for the G CVT variant.

Those who love travelling with their friends or family can trade in their Vios for an Avanza or Veloz and get PHP20,000 in rebate; or the Innova to get a PHP35,000 rebate! The Hilux is also available for those who want to trade in their Fortuner. They’ll also get a PHP20,000 rebate!

The trade-in rebate can be used as cash discount when you purchase the participating model during the promo period. It can also be used to purchase accessories.

Rest easy with insurance and warranty on your vehicle

All brand-new Wigo, Veloz, and select variants of the Vios, Corolla Altis, Innova, Hilux, Avanza, Rush, and Fortuner purchased during the promo duration are covered by a FREE one-year comprehensive insurance provided by Toyota Insure.

The comprehensive insurance covers 24/7 personal accident, passenger auto personal accident, three-year CPTL, own damage (OD), loss/theft, excess bodily injury (EBI), property damage (PD), acts of nature (AON), and includes emergency roadside assistance.

Those who will purchase a brand-new Vios G, E or XLE this month will also enjoy a warranty coverage of five years or 150,000KM, whichever comes first.

Create special moments this February with Toyota! Whether it’s spending quality time with a loved one or doing some much-needed self-loving, go all out! Promo runs from February 4-28, 2023 only. Check out the full mechanics, offers and participating units here: https://toyota.com.ph/promos/GoForLove

For current information on goods and services, dealer operations, announcements, and events, follow Toyota Motor Philippines’ official pages on Facebook, Instagram, toyota.com.ph, Twitter, and Viber.

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.

DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-160522 Series of 2023

This February, Globe’s retail outlet Rappit is showing its patrons a practical form of love with special deals and discounts on their favorite goods. There is something for everyone. Rappit has you covered whether you’re looking for a present for your special someone or want to reward yourself! Here is what to expect.

The Somebunny To Love collection of chocolates from Toblerone, Kisses, Cadbury, and KitKat; the All Things Blush collection of beauty items from Olay, St. Ives, Vaseline, and Aveeno; and the Singles collection of treats from Heineken, M&Ms, Rio Strong, TimTam, San Miguel, Snickers, and Suntory are just a few of the collections that Rappit has put together.

The Date Night Collection, which includes premium meats from Mrs. Garcia’s and Meltique, great wines from Carlo Rossi, Novellino, Yellow Tail, Arbor Mist, and Beringer, and chocolates from Hershey’s, Ferrero Rocher, and Cadbury, is ideal if you’re planning a romantic evening.

Rappit’s Love Yourself collection is perfect for those looking to care for their health, with healthy picks from UnMeat, Quaker Oats, Nestle Yogurt, Kellogg’s Cereals, Kirkland Organic Almond Milk, Del Monte Juices, and Century Tuna.

In addition, Rappit also lined up a special offer for all chocolate lovers out there! Pick your favorite chocolates from the Valentine’s Mix and Match of Toblerone and Cadbury and have a P60 off voucher when you spend P300 on participating items.

And since we love you at Rappit, you get to enjoy free delivery with just a minimum spend of P3,000 on your groceries!

“This Valentine’s Month, we at Rappit want to show our love and appreciation to our customers by offering sweet deals and collections – from treats to health and beauty products, we’ve got something for everyone. Whether you’re celebrating with your significant other or just looking for ways to pamper yourself, we’re here to make this Love Month extra special,” said Cindy Toh, CEO of Rappit.

What are you still looking out for? Prepare to show plenty of love to those you care about this Valentine’s Day with Rappit. Visit https://rappitph.page.link/BF2023PR to find out more information and to get started purchasing right away!

Going on a road trip using your e-Vehicle?

Traveling sustainably is now possible and much easier thanks to SM Supermalls’ rollout of additional Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in numerous sites across the nation. You won’t have to worry about running out of charge while touring the nation.

SM Supermalls will be establishing EV charging stations from Luzon to Mindanao after launching 15 EV charging stations in Metro Manila alone and one in SM City Baguio in 2022. This will allow customers and travelers to charge their electric vehicles anywhere there is an SM mall. Below is a list of more places to visit:

• SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown
• SM City Clark
• SM City Trece Martires
• SM City Sta. Rosa
• Sky Ranch Tagaytay
• SM City Naga
• SM City Cebu
• SM Seaside City Cebu
• SM City CDO Uptown           
• SM CDO Downtown Premier
• SM Lanang Premier

Each SM mall will have one Wallbox Pulsar Plus AC charger with charging power of up to 7.4kW and a 5m integrated charging cable. It is compatible with all Type 2 electric cars including Audi e-tron, BMW i3, Hyundai Ioniq, Jaguar, Kia, Range Rover, Renault Zoe, Mercedes Benz EQC, Mini Countryman, Porsche Taycan, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo XC T8, as well as Japanese cars Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander, and China cars such as BYD, Weltmeister, and Chery.

The charging stations are open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. And the good news is, charging your e-Vehicle at SM is FREE!

SM Supermalls is the first mall chain to establish in-mall e-Vehicle charging sites in the Philippines, with multiple installed chargers in 27 malls nationwide. Since 2022, SM Supermalls has made traveling anywhere in a sustainable and worry-free way is possible!

The free EV charging station further advances the Zero Emissions agenda of SM, helping decrease carbon footprint while addressing air pollution concerns all over the country.

Additionally, this project promotes The SM Green Movement, which encourages more Filipinos to adopt sustainable lifestyles, such as using electric vehicles. This encourages the use of a different, more environmentally friendly mode of transportation that the government supports, encourages, and makes even more widely available. In order to speed up the government’s environmental goals, SM Supermalls partnered with the Departments of Energy, Transportation, and Trade and Industry to provide these charging stations.

Visit this page to learn more about the EV charging stations in SM Supermalls, check out this link. For news and updates on interesting offers and promotions, go to www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

.

In spite of the anticipated worldwide financial crisis, Investree Philippines, the nation’s first crowdfunding intermediary and fundraising platform, maintains a bullish outlook on financing this year. The top crowdfunding platform is getting ready to roll out efforts to boost recession resilience and hasten post-pandemic recovery through accessible and equitable finance.

A third of the global economy is expected to experience a recession this year, experts have told national leaders. Despite recent claims by the Department of Finance (DoF) that the Philippines may avoid the recession, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) move to raise policy rates in order to control inflation posts additional challenges for start-ups and SMEs.

“We’ve been monitoring industries that will continue to be resilient. Being SME-focused has its pros and cons. In this case, it helps that our focus can be concentrated on the SMEs that we can build relationships with in the next 12 months and do our best to help them connect with the right investors for whatever financing assistance they might need. In this regard, we can contribute what we can to helping the Philippines avoid recession,” says Investree Philippines Country Manager Alexander Capulong.

Investree Philippines notes that investors will be more cautious this year. However, they are positioned to help SMEs grow their businesses and help investors find the right opportunities amid the economic headwinds.

“We have a positive outlook for 2023. We see an opportunity despite the predicted global recession and the ongoing inflation. We’ve been making many tweaks in our business model over the past year. We’re excited to bring about these changes this year as we get closer to our dream of being the foremost SME crowdfunding platform,” says Capulong.

Capulong added that 2023 remains one of the best times to crowdfund in the Philippines. The current economic challenges prompt traditional sources of funding like banks or mature institutions to be more conservative. “Sometimes they can be portrayed as impediments but we can’t blame them. They have a duty to manage their risks especially for those handling public deposits. Our goal at Investree is to develop ways to help even conservative players safely deploy capital to the market because we have the capability to help mitigate the risks. It’s an extremely complex endeavor given the complexities teams like ours have to juggle but that’s part of the excitement. The good news for potential investors or issuers (SMEs) is that we do the heavy lifting so they can focus on their main needs,” Capulong explains.

Investree Philippines retains optimism and encourages stakeholders (lenders and borrowers) to share their confidence in its sustainable crowdfunding business model that can withstand the current market condition. Its platform optimizes data and technology to connect small and medium enterprises with institutional investors, creating an environment where #EveryoneCanGrow.

Investree Philippines, a venture of F(DEV) Digital Innovations and Ventures, Inc. and Investree Singapore Pte Ltd, was the first to secure an SEC-granted permanent license early last year. Its 2-gether Towards the Future campaign launched financial inclusion and business management programs that empowered local enterprise owners through knowledge-sharing #BeyondACrowdfundingPlatform. Its planned nationwide expansion, which kick-started in the last quarter of 2022, is slowly solidifying Investree Philippines’ presence in Central and Western Visayas and the Davao region.

“We’ve been working hard to improve our strengths in making SMEs a viable opportunity especially against other more traditional options like the stock, bond, or crypto markets. As a crowdfunding platform, our long-term goal is to have a diverse set of investors with varying appetites. This broad participation will help us match them with the many different types of SMEs in the Philippines,” says Capulong.

Under its 2023 campaign 202TREE: Renew, Refresh, Reactivate, Investree Philippines will launch SME-focused educational programs on financial inclusion and modern-day business management techniques. The campaign also seeks to establish and strengthen Investree’s governmental and nongovernmental  partnerships  through participating in SEC Roadshow 2023, networking initiatives with Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Philippine SME Business Expo (PhilSME), and Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), and educational campaigns with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In order to enhance client experience, Investree Philippines continues to build its online platform. To meet the needs of other crucial sectors of the industry, new services are projected to be introduced soon.

F(DEV) Founding  CEO Xavier Marzan expresses his support for Investree Philippines’ strong financial inclusion agenda. “We are one with Investree Philippines in their mission to back SMEs in achieving their full potential amid these challenging times. Our vision is for local businesses to get access to financial solutions that can help them recover and grow – SMEs are the backbone of our local economy so we need to constantly look at helping this base,” said Marzan.

For partnership prospects, Investree Philippines is accessible to interested SMEs, institutional investors, and anchors. Learn more about the 202TREE campaign by visiting the Investree Philippines channels at www.investree.ph or by contacting [email protected]. You may find Investree Philippines on Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and Instagram as @investree.ph.

Smile Train has provided comprehensive cleft care and 100% free cleft repair surgery to Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate for over 24 years, making it the largest cleft-focused charity in the world.

Following the successful release of the first speech therapy app in the world in the Filipino language in 2021, Smile Train has since concentrated on growing and extending its Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) locations outside of Metro Manila to serve more Filipinos in need of cleft support.

“Over the years, Smile Train has worked toward providing comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos at zero cost – from surgery to post-surgery care, and other cleft treatment such as speech therapy, orthodontics, and even breast-feeding support for mothers of children with cleft. To continue providing high-quality treatment for the years to come, we have worked toward training more Filipino medical professionals and partnering with more healthcare institutions such as Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital and Allegiant Regional Care Hospitals to launch more CCC centers across the country”, said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia.

Bringing more smiles to Filipinos across the country

In 2022, Smile Train celebrated the first anniversary of its first CCC center in Cebu in partnership with Allegiant Regional Care Hospitals and Mabuhay Deseret Foundation. Since its launch, over a hundred patients have received life-changing cleft surgery and post-surgery care in the Eastern Visayas region.

Smile Train also celebrated its 12-year partnership with Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital with the launch of its CCC Center. The hospital has helped over 5,000 patients with cleft surgery, and other cleft treatment such as orthodontic and dental treatment and speech therapy at no cost. The CCC Center provides free treatment and care all-year for individuals living in Marikina, Rizal, and nearby provinces.

Local partners at the forefront of success

The success of Smile Train’s sustainable model is anchored on partnerships with local medical professionals and hospitals in the country. With this, Smile Train continued its support for local medical professionals through skills enhancement training opportunities.

In 2022, Smile Train, in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS), hosted the PAPRAS – Smile Train Cleft Training Program which trains plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgeons through a three-month-long observership. Participants are given hands-on training for various types of cleft surgeries, exposure to managing comprehensive cleft care with the help of the program.

Smile Train and Glaxo-Smith Klein (GSK) Consumer Healthcare, one of the world’s leading providers in specialist oral health, also supported a three-day Comprehensive Cleft Care Webinar series. Organized by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO), the webinar series offered highly informative online sessions on various stages of cleft treatment for a child born with a cleft.

Accelerating cleft lip and palate expertise

Another highlight for Smile Train was the introduction of its first and only Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Simulator, the latest addition to its growing series of high-fidelity cleft surgery simulators.  Produced by Simulare Medical, a division of Smile Train, the simulator aims to accelerate learning in cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgical training, ultimately reducing patient risk, lessening training costs, and elevating the competence of surgeons locally and globally.

“Last year, Smile Train celebrated many milestones in the Philippines that helped advance our local expertise in treating cleft and then eventually expanding by launching more comprehensive cleft care centers in farther communities. By investing in our local healthcare professionals and hospitals, we can reach more patients and provide safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with cleft lip and/or palate,” said Flaviano.

Flaviano said that Smile Train Philippines is getting ready to open more Comprehensive Cleft Care facilities in 2023. Visit smiletrain.org to learn more about Smile Train’s global initiatives or to make a donation.

Visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines to find out more about our regional initiatives in the Philippines.