Lifestyle

Smile Train Beep Cards

Filipino children with cleft continously supported by the leading cleft charity in the world Smile Train. With the help of AF payments Inc. (AFPI) and cooperation of Ayala group and First Pacific Group behind the contactless smart card, beep TM. To deliver its mission in children with cleft to give their urgent support and care. Special Edition Smile Train beep TM cards will be launched and will be going to accessible at Various MRT, LRT and bus stations in NCR.

“We are excited to be able to contribute to this noble cause and to be of assistance to children with cleft. During these uncertain times, they continue to need special care and assistance. We are grateful that Smile Train has chosen to partner with us and provide us this opportunity to help out and provide cards that bring a message of hope,” said Sharon G. Fong, Chief Commercial Officer of AF Payments Inc.

Smile Train’s series of special edition beep™ cards will feature celebrity goodwill ambassadors beginning with actress and model, Marian Rivera-Dantes who has been a supporter of the organization for over six years.  “Naging part kami ni Dingdong [Dantes] ng 30,000th cleft surgery celebration sa San Fernandino Hospital in 2014, at doon ako unang naging saksi sa life-changing work ng Smile Train. Inspired ako by their story so ngayon I make sure to help as much as I can and spread awareness para mas maraming tao pa ang mabigyan ng libreng operasyon at other services for children with cleft,” she shares.

[“Dingdong [Dantes] and I were part of the 30,000th cleft surgery celebration at San Fernandino Hospital’s in 2014, and there, I was able to witness Smile Train’s life-changing work. I was inspired by them and moved to do my part in raising awareness for Smile Train to reach more children with cleft and provide them with free operations and services.”]

The August launch of the first in the series of special edition Smile Train beep™ cards coincides with the birthday month of Marian Rivera-Dantes. Rivera-Dantes has been an avid supporter of the cause and has been known to mobilize her clout to further push for advocacies she espouses. The actress previously celebrated her birthday by coming up with her own fundraising efforts and donating half a million pesos to Smile Train Philippines gained through sales of limited edition shirts in partnership with one of the Filipino brands she endorses.

Other celebrities featured on the special edition Smile Train beep™ cards include Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss World Philippines 2013 Megan Young. Catriona and Megan have continued to support Smile Train Philippines as they raise awareness for the charity’s efforts in empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care. A lot must be done for the 540 babies around the world born every day with a cleft, a serious health condition with potentially life-threatening complications such as difficulty in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.

With thousands of Filipinos using them for everyday needs, especially for transportation, the charity sees this as an effective way to convey the message that help is at hand for those children in need of cleft lip and palate surgery or care. Smile Train hopes that whenever Filipino commuters encounter a child who needs help, they can simply refer to their beep™ cards to get the contact details of Smile Train.

More than 4,000 children are born with a cleft lip or palate annually in the Philippines, all of whom can greatly benefit from surgery and comprehensive cleft lip and palate care. Through its sustainable model, Smile Train has supported more than 1.5 million cleft palate surgeries in the Philippines since 1999. With the support of partners such as AFPI, Smile Train is confident that it can bring a smile to the lives of more Filipino children in the years to come.

For more information about Smile Train Philippines’ local efforts and to refer a patient in need, visit smiletrain.ph/get-help, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like them on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smile Train Philippines, will be holding Cleft Con Philippines, a ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind conference by and for the global cleft community. The virtual conference will include a series of discussions from experts who will provide education materials, tips and guidance for parents and families who have children with clefts.

The world’s leading cleft organization will live stream recorded sessions with its local experts through Facebook, which will run until February 5, 2020 every Fridays from 4 to 5pm. Interested individuals may refer to the schedule below and follow the Smile Train Philippines Facebook page for updates: facebook.com/SmileTrainPhilippines

Oral Health and Orthodontics: January 15

With Dr. Janet Pandan, President, Association of Philippine Orthodontists and Dr. Mia Go, Pediatric Dentist

Surgery and Post-Op Care: January 22

With Dr. Bernard Tansipek, Plastic Surgeon and President, Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

Speech Therapy: January 29

With Teacher Naomi Sambo, Speech Language Pathologist and Teacher Elma LatayanSpeech Language Pathologist

Well-Being: February 5

With Dr. Arsenio Alianan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology – Ateneo De Manila University and special guests: Cris Daryl Magallanes (Real Estate Professional) & Paul MarneyLeobrer (Singer/Guitarist)

Hosted by Ms. Menchie Silvestre of AlagangKapatid, TV5

You may catch the 1st episode on Feeding and Nutrition aired on January 8 below:

facebook.com/SmileTrainPhilippines/videos/149064303657706

“We are grateful for the continuous support and collaboration of our donors, partners and ambassadors who made Cleft Con 2021 possible. We hope that this will also serve as an opportunity for other patients to continue their learning and speech sessions amid the quarantine,” said Smile Train South East Asia Area Director Kimmy Flaviano.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

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The first ever bike and e-scooter sharing platform powered by Keepr Storage PH continues to provide easy and sustainable mobility for Filipinos wanting to beat the city traffic. Bikes and e-scooters are already available for use starting this January 2021!

This partnership with Moovr PH can help BGCitizens to easily traverse within the city in the comfort and safety of Personal Mobility Device (PMD) network situated around BGC. These dedicated lanes provide connected safe routes which residents and employees can enjoy to get to their offices and move around the city.

Personal Mobility Devices That Promote Safe Outdoor Leisure and Sustainability

Moovr PH is the Philippines‘ first ever PMD-sharing mobile application for Filipinos who wish to engage in leisurely outdoor activities while practicing safe, physical-distancing. The app empowers the public with immediate and 24-hour access to personal mobility devices (PMD) that come in two options: a single gear bike and an easy-to-use electric scooter built for safe and comfortable rides in-and-around BGC. The whole fleet of bikes and e-scooters will be regularly disinfected and sanitized, and can be accessed through Moovr Hubs that are within walking distance in strategic locations in Bonifacio Global City.

Aside from safety, Moovr PH also practices sustainability by promoting the use of their bikes and e- scooters which produce only 1% of the carbon released by standard cars. With the objective of serving as a last mile commute within BGC and looking to extend to more locations in the Metro — something many Filipinos will benefit from.

Bringing last-mile solutions to the Philippines, Moovr PH uses the same technology and user-friendly platform as those used in Europe, the US, and Canada. The application is now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

How Does Moovr PH Work?

1. Create an Account

Download the Moovr PH app on your mobile device and follow the form to create an account through e-mail, Facebook, or Google.

2. Find Your Ride

Once your profile is activated, simply find your ride by walking to the nearest Moovr Hub in BGC. Don’t forget to have your personal helmet ready!

       3. Travel to Destination

Upon reaching the Moovr Hub, select your vehicle and unlock it by scanning the QR code to start riding. Vehicles can be rented for a maximum of 24 hours and e-scooters must be returned if the battery is below 15%. Remember to drive only on the designated lanes and obey traffic laws of BGC.

The Moovr Hub will direct you to the nearest designated parking area closest to your destination between rides.

4. End in a Moovr Hub

Once your journey is complete, simply park and lock your bike in the nearest Moovr Hub in their designated spots in BGC and end the ride on your app.

Moovr PH: Mobility for Every Juan

Moovr provides easy and sustainable mobility for Filipinos living and working in Bonifacio Global City. Rates for use of the bikes start for as low as PHP 15 for every 15 minutes, or a fraction thereof. While the standard rate for e-scooters is PHP 50 for every 20 minutes, or a fraction thereof. Payments are also cashless, users can top up their Moovr credits through online transactions using their credit or debit cards.

With these efforts, BGC and Moovr PH aim to create a safer and more conducive environment for its BGCitizens and more. For more updates, you can also visit Bonifacio Global City’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph.

A LEGACY TO HONOR. David Medalla visited the BDO Corporate Center Ortigas during the inauguration of his sculpture, “Cloud Canyons No. 31,” on August 31, 2019.

BDO Unibank honors Filipino artist David Medalla, who passed away on December 28, 2020.

It commemorates Medalla’s legacy with the continued display of his sculpture, “Cloud Canyons No. 31,” at the lobby of its Corporate Center in Ortigas (CCO).

“Cloud Canyons No. 31” found its way to CCO for bank employees, clients, and visitors to enjoy in 2019. Before coming home to the Philippines, it was exhibited in the Hepworth Wakefield art museum in England when Medalla was one of the shortlisted artists for the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Prize for Sculpture in 2016. It is made of plexiglas tubes, wood, fibreglass, water, soap, and oxygenators, and is part of a series often referred to as the “bubble machines.”

Mara Coson, who oversees the BDO Art Collection, said of Medalla’s passing:

“David Medalla was magnetic. He lived a life that drew people in while he himself could not be contained. He left the world with stories so wild and infinite they can never all be told.

“Medalla was born in Manila in 1942, with literary and visual genius uniquely attributable only to his bright spirit. His biography is too vast for a short note, and is kept alive by the many who encountered him along his life’s adventures, strangers and friends, periods from explorations of kinetic art in the 1960s and beyond to performances anywhere, and travel whether physical or otherwise. He spent his life around the world, at home everywhere and still home was also the Philippines, where he died peacefully.

“More than ever, we must make sure the bubbles of Cloud Canyons No. 31 continue endlessly and fully in our care—and most of all, welcome to the public to experience these clouds for always. We will do Medalla proud.

“When you visit the bubble machine, I encourage you take a moment to wish David the best for his next life, as he dances with ease among the brightest galaxies.”

This year has certainly been a unique year for all of us. The onslaught of the pandemic, the rise of activities like working and learning from home, and the lessened contact with our loved ones, among other adjustments, have invited many to sit back and value the small joys and bits of happiness just a little bit more this year.

The call to remain united and finish 2020 on an optimistic note is stronger than ever. From medical frontliners to delivery riders, there have been many members of our community who deserve thanks and appreciation for helping us make it through to the end of this year. Luckily, Grab has made spreading the holiday cheer and Christmas spirit easier for everyone with Ituloy Ang PassKo – Ipasa ang saya at biyaya sa bawat pa-Grab!

Grab made your transactions count and helped turn them into meaningful ways to share happiness with others this Christmas. Watch how you helped here!

Partner-Drivers and Partner-Merchants Take Home Big Prizes

Through the 24 Days of Christmas with Grab, helping the community was made even more fun and exciting through weekly raffles which have brought smiles and passed on happiness to Grab users and even Grab’s own community of partner-drivers, riders, and partner-merchants.

Grab partner-driver Diosdado Belo and Grab user Thomas Camacho were the lucky winners of an Apple Bundle thanks to the 24 Days of Christmas raffle!

From December 1-24, 24 Days of Christmas qualifies Grab users to enter weekly raffles simply from transactions made on the Grab app. From these raffles, delight and cheer are doubled as prizes such as a Sony Playstation 5, Cebu Pacific flights and accommodations from Agoda and Booking.com, Apple Macbook Airs and AirPods Pros, and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Z Flip phones and other Samsung gadgets not only go to Grab users, but also to a very lucky Grab driver or store partner!

In a heartwarming example of Grab spreading joy to the community, lucky user Thomas Camacho was able to snag an Apple MacBook Air and AirPods Pros during the second week of the raffle. Thomas was able to share the good news with Grab partner-driver Diosdado Belo, who also got the chance to win the same big prize!

Now on its third week of giving away prizes, Grab continues to spread happiness and the holiday spirit among their community.

Consolation prizes were also given to lucky winners by Unilever, Coke, GOMO, Century Pacific Food Inc., Coke, Nestle, Purefoods and 88tuition.

P2 million donation collected through Grab Christmas Factory

Grab’s commitment in sharing the holiday spirit in these unprecedented times does not end there; and as different as Christmas would be this year, Grab ensured that no one gets left behind with the Grab Christmas Factory. Together with the Tanging Yaman Foundation, donations to Grab’s beneficiaries became possible for all Grab users from November 27 to December 18 by simply clicking on the Grab Christmas Factory tile on the Grab app.

With the help of the Grab community, Grab was able to donate P2 million to the following hospitals:

• Philippine General Hospital
• Philippine Children’s Medical Center
• Philippine Heart Center

Donations were also made possible with Grab’s partners: Century Pacific Food, Inc., Purefoods, Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, Coke, Smart, and Unilever.

Though Christmas may not be the same this year, Grab shows that happy and meaningful memories can still be made with our loved ones. Their commitment in serving Filipinos remains, helping the community feel the Christmas spirit and being one with the community every step of the way. Truly, with Grab, tuloy ang saya at biyaya, at tuloy ang PassKo.

24 Days of Christmas is still ongoing! To continue spreading the holiday cheer with Grab, check out the Grab app where all transactions you make until December 24 will entitle you to weekly raffles, and get the chance to win big prizes! For more information, head on over to grb.to/passko.