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!
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.
Getz Pharma GM Averell Gaspar and Ortigas Market Organizer Marissa Dames, welcomed more than 100 beneficiaries who availed of the package of free services including consultation, medicines, Laboratory at the Medical Mission held last January 21 in Pasig City.
DTC
Promos Inc. and Getz Pharma organized a Medical
Mission on January 21, 2023 in Pasig City as a gesture of gratitude for the
work of the sanitation employees, security officers, and traffic enforcers who
maintain Ortigas Market safe and clean.
More than a hundred beneficiaries from Pasig City, the Ortigas Center Association
(OCAI), and Ortigas Market vendors received free medications from Getz
Pharma as part of its health advocacy program, Galing ng Every Juan. Getz Pharma sent out doctors, clinicians, and
a pharmacist to provide laboratory, consultancy, spirometry, bone screening,
health and nutrition counseling, as well as free medicines.
The
Medical Mission is part of the commitment of DTC Promos Inc., the
organizer of the Ortigas Market, to promote wellness in the community.
Averell
Gaspar, General Manager of Getz Pharma, explained
that the medical mission was their way of thanking this sector and giving them
access to free health care through a whole package of services offered during
the event.
Atty.
Diego Luis Santiago, Pasig City Deputy
Administrator was also on hand to thank Mr. Gaspar, for the generous
donations which also included food vouchers that could be redeemed in exchange
for food and drink sold by the Market vendor partners.
The Ortigas
Market opened last October 1, 2022 as a social enterprise of DTC Promos
Inc., in partnership with the City of Pasig, Barangay San Antonio and
Ortigas Center Association Inc. (OCAI).
The
Market is open every Saturday from 5 a.m. to 2 pm. Visitors come to the Market
to savor culinary delights as well as feast their aesthetic sense with unique
crafts from all over the Metropolis.
Media
partners including Manila Bulletin, DWIZ, Home Radio, Business Mirror, Pilipino
Mirror, Cook Magazine, Health & Fitness and Graphic Magazine, and Mayani make this project possible.
Additional institutional supporters of The Market include UNOX Ovens, SySu International, All About Baking, Gifted Minds PR Agency, and more.
Visit the Ortigas Market
Facebook page or get in touch with Joana Liza Canoy/ Mobile
# 09616661912, Joshua Delos Reyes# Mobile # 09271850593 and Richard
Bayles/Mobile # 09971743815 for further
information.
SM Supermalls will provide you the nicest
Valentine’s Day ever, whether you’re paired up or merely content and in love
with the family, single but not going alone, or in a committed relationship.
We have a ton of events coming up at SM
Supermalls from February 1 to February 14. Therefore, SM Supermalls has you
covered if you’re looking for ways to celebrate the sweetest Valentine’s Day.
Keep
the love burning with the sweetest dining deals
They say food is the way to a man’s heart. So
why not treat your SO to a sumptuous
dining experience? With hundreds of restaurants to choose from, SM got lotsa
lovin’ vibe to share and the sweetest dining deals to offer. Plus, there are
very cute dining spots and IG-worthy outdoor hubs to dine into. But if you want
a more romantic ambiance, there are also alfresco spots available for you!
Self-love
is the best kind of love
Experience the euphoria of self-love at your
favorite SM mall when you gift yourself with a few pampering items. From skin
care packages and discounts on fashion items to solo dining promos, SM will
definitely shower you with tons of sweet self-love deals to enjoy a love-filled
month.
Sweets
for your sweet at the Sweet A-fair
What’s Valentine’s Day without a Sweet A-fair? If you’re looking for the
sweetest Valentine’s gifts, there’s no need to scour far and wide just to get
them. Check out SM Supermalls’ pop-up bazaar and get your hands on sweet items
like chocolates, cakes, and other treats to spoil your loved ones.
Dance
to sweet beats and retro nights
This season of love, give your fangirl/fanboy
self a sweet reward at the mini-concert held every weekend from February 1 to
14. Your favorite DJs and Tiktok artists will play beats from the 1980s to the
2000s so be there and catch their one-of-a-kind performances.
Make
room for Sweet Vibes only!
Everyone deserves a special someone who can
take good IG photos. But if you don’t have one, it’s A-ok. You can grab your
friends and capture the love at the Sweet Beats Stage or at the V-day
installations that will surely make this year’s heart’s day extra memorable for
you.
Kiss
and Treat at the furry kissing booth
Let your furry friends sashay away in
Valentine’s Day-inspired costumes at the activity center and get a chance to
win amazing prizes.
Alternatively, you can still feel sweet puppy
love even if you don’t have any dogs to flex on. Visit the cutest and most
adorable Kissing Booth in SM Supermalls, which features trained dogs. The best
part is that it’s totally free!
Nothing conveys the sentiment of a “sweet
Valentine’s Day” like dining, shopping, and entertainment at SM
Supermalls. So visit your favorite SM mall to celebrate the loveliest Valentine’s
Day!
Visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on social
media for more romantic Valentine’s Day ideas.
Businesses, even small start-up ones, are already thinking
about installing a ready power GenSet for their organization as the economic
and industrial revolution takes hold. The majority of the developed company
strategies will attest to this. A more preventive and cost-effective technique
that will undoubtedly aid every firm over the long term.
One of those uncontrolled occurrences that should always be
taken into account is a power outage. Because of all the analyses and studies
that have been conducted, large, well-established firms and corporations are
already aware of its importance. However, some SMEs feel that the notion is
“too much” for their limited resources and put it on the back burner.
The World Bank reports that
the Philippine economy stays resilient (Philippine Economic Update, December
2022) despite all the reports about inflation and economic dowturn. All these
current problems might affect our resources’ supply including power, if worse
comes to worst. Therefore, to prevent these possible losses from happening and
maintain our stable finances, we should invest in a power generator
Looking at long-term advantage and business efficiency are something that
you should always take in consideration.
According to Market Business News,
there are four compelling reasons why you should, as the business owner,
consider purchasing your own generator set.
Maintaining the productivity of your workers
Every business, even start-ups, requires employees for assistance and to
achieve your day to day business goals. You should ensure that these people are
always productive at work to reach their quota and achieve those needed sales.
Just like what mentioned, power outages are one of those that could hurt your
business, especially if you’re using machines that need electricity (like
bakeshops, canned goods producers and many others).
Clearly, a power generator set could
avoid this. The generator will supply electric energy to your machines,
resulting in continuous production of your employees. Power outages will not be
feared anymore.
2. Retaining customers
Getting new clients is hard for the business, however, retaining those
existing ones is more challenging. These loyal customers help us gain new
clients also through word of mouth or possible recommendations. And do not
forget the power of the internet, these retained clients could also show their
satisfaction by creating reviews on their social media accounts or even blog
entries. With these, we can never afford to lose them just because we are
affected by power outages. Closing your store during working hours should
always be the last option in our mind. You wouldn’t want to see them at the
office of your competitor, right?
3. Enhance brand reputation
You might fail to build your brand reputation if your store or office is
closed because of an unexpected power problem. Remember that when creating a
business, brand reputation should be established. This is established by many
different factors and should continuously build overtime. In a business point
of view, this is very crucial since there are potential clients who are very
keen on checking for business reliability. Most of them will check for all your
available resources and if you don’t have your own power generator to assist
during power outages, you will be out of their list.
A standby genset will give you that extra advantage in the competition.
Full assistance to your client’s needs will gain you positive feedback that
eventually adds up to your brand reputation.
4. Boost security of your facility
To be able to achieve business success, business security (of all facets)
should be ensured. Remember that attackers could take advantage of your
facility’s resources when out of power. During power outages, the light, alarm
and CCTV facility will not function, therefore, giving a huge chance for
violations to happen.
Your power generator from a reliable brand should be
installed to ensure that this won’t happen. Keep in mind that businesses with
security have a higher likelihood of success.
These are only four of the many factors that could influence
your decision to buy. If money is an issue, consider securing a used generator
or electric power system for the time being (but one from a reputable brand),
once more for business security. And when your company has a boom in the
future, make the necessary replacements.
Power issues are uncontrollable, therefore you need plan
beforehand to minimize their detrimental impact on your company.
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 Philippines, Allegiant Regional Care Hospitals, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation celebrate the anniversary of first CCC center in Cebu.
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 Philippines and Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital celebrated a 12-year long partnership that treated over 5,000 patients from Marikina and nearby provinces.
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.
The most recognized authority on color in the
world, Pantone, has selected Viva Magenta as the year’s color for 2023. Viva
Magenta, a vibrant, throbbing shade in the red color family, inspires feelings
of happiness and optimism. Its liveliness makes it ideal for marking
accomplishments and exhilaratingly beginning new chapters. The new Floret
Valentine special collection 2023, fittingly titled Viva VDAY Magenta, brings all of this into play.
Under Rustan’s Flower Shop, Floret is a locally developed specialty flower shop brand. It
provides pre-made and customized floral arrangements that give any event the
ideal amount of vivacity. The day of hearts will once again be something to
look forward to by lovers, moms, best friends, sisters, and all the
self-romantics alike this month thanks to a team of committed florists and
designers.
Featuring
three stunning magenta flower arrangements that come in colors that epitomize
love and romance: Aphrodite (magenta and blush pink flowers), Venus (magenta
and reds), and Freya (magenta and whites), this collection encapsulates modern
love in one of its oldest expressions. Each design comes in a bouquet and a
vase version.
From
February 1 to February 9, 2023, Floret will offer a 10% discount on pre-orders made online. For the client’s
convenience and special requests, you may have the flower arrangements
delivered to a specified address or you may also opt to pick them up in any of
the three branches: 1120 House, Rustan’s Makati Marketplace, and Power Plant
Mall Marketplace.
May this time of year be marked by a
celebration of love everywhere, and may Floret’s 2023 Valentine’s Day
Collection VIVA VDAY MAGENTA aid in capturing each feeling of delight and
pleasure through lovely floral arrangements.
Sterling Bank of Asia employees during the Nurture-A-Grove activity at Masungi Georeserve.
This year, the annual Kind Heart Gives CSR project of
Sterling Bank of Asia (SBA) incorporates an environmental project at Masungi
Georeserve in Bara, Rizal.
The Masungi Landscape in Baras, Rizal, is the focus of the
award-winning conservation initiative known as the Masungi Georeserve. The
program gave 50 SBA employees the chance to take part in the reserve’s
“Nurture-a-Grove” reforestation initiative.
The Sterling Bank of Asia is dedicated to fulfilling its
duties to promote social and environmental responsibility.
“Sterling Bank of
Asia takes part in saving the denuded forests around the reserve. It is also
one of our ways to strengthen our sustainability efforts and to give back to
the environment,” said Arlene Siongco, Head of Human
Resources Group at Sterling Bank of Asia.
“We’d like to
thank Masungi Georeserve for welcoming us. Activities such as these are
necessary for the company as it is one of the ways we uphold environmental
appreciation and conservation,” said Cecilio Paul San
Pedro, SBA’s President and CEO.
The Masungi Georeserve project has received recognition for
preserving the more than 400 species of flora and fauna as well as the
60-million-year-old limestone structures in Baras, Rizal.
The special guests were seen enjoying the Ilomination night at SM City Iloilo with Mayor Jerry Treñas, SM’s SVP for Operations Bien Mateo, Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong, Youtube celebrity Small Laude,veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, former senator Franklin Drilon, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, philanthropist and influencer Tessa Prieto, eventologist Tim Yap, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and Chef Tibong Jardeleza,Jr.
According to Mayor Jerry P. Treas, Dinagyang’s return to the
city’s streets exceeded expectations with thousands of domestic and foreign
tourists filling various festival activities.
“Everyone wanted a strong comeback…It was a complete success and
this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Niño are beyond politics,” added Treñas.
The outstanding dancing and eye-catching costumes worn by
Dinagyang Festival participants are well-known throughout the world as examples
of Ilonggo innovation, craftsmanship, and artistry.
The Dinagyang 2023 organizer, the Iloilo Festivals
Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), as well as the participating tribes and business
sponsors, received congratulations from Treas.
“I acknowledge all our sponsors from the private sector for their
significant contributions in the success of Dinagyang. Of course, sa inyo tanan, mga pinalangga ko
nga Ilonggo. Ang tanan nga ini bangud sa inyo kag para man sa inyo. Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful role
in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas.
Darren Espanto wowed the audience with his song and dance performances
Conversation over Batchoy with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto, TV personality Tim Yap, veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and renowned Iloilo Chef, Rafael “Tibong” Jardeleza Jr.
The festival’s top sponsor was SM City Iloilo; it also served as
venue for many Dinagyang activities, including the first-ever Dinagyang
Ilomination on Jan.21, Batchoy Festival, festival costumes exhibit, and concert
of various performing artists including Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto,
among others.
(From left to right) House Speaker Martin Romualdez, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas during the Dinagyang Dance Competition at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand
The festivities were graced by no less than First Lady of the
Philippines Atty. Liza Araneta
Marcos and some prominent
government officials including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar,
Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla, former
senator Franklin Drilon, among others. YouTube sensation Small Laude, broadcast journalist Karen
Davila, lifestyle columnist and
philanthropist Tessa Prieto Valdez, television presenter and entrepreneur Tim Yap
were also there to join the festivities. They were warmly welcomed by Iloilo
City Mayor Jerry Treñas and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
Several dignitaries form foreign embassies attended the
festivities as well: Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Raduta Dana Matache with Mr. Constantin
Matache ; Indonesian
Ambassador to the Philippines HE Agus
Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai Ambassador to the Philippines HE Tull Traisorat; Royal Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Christian Halaas Lyster; Hungary Ambassador to the Philippines HE Titanilla Toth; Embassy of Polland Ambassador to the Philippines HE Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz ; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P.
Kaushalya; Consul General of
Japan in Cebu Hideki Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the
Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer
Graf and Leo Balantac;
Hala Bira! Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto, TV Personality Tim Yap and broadcaster Karen Davila at the Dinagyang Exhibit with SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
The festival is Iloilo City’s rendition of the Ati-atihan
celebrations, which are extensively observed not only in Panay Island but also
in other parts of the country. The Hiligaynon word for revelry or
“merrymaking” is dinagyang.
Among
the numerous foreign dignitaries who attended the festival, two were gushing
with appreciation
