Lifestyle

2021 SAYSA Winners

Two Filipino children were among the ten winners of the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award for 2021. (SAYSA). The virtual awarding ceremony took place on January 22, 2022.

Cassandra Ysabel Ignacio and Phoebe Niguidula were two of the ten finalists chosen by the SAYSA judges from among the 70 finalists chosen from over 1,700 applicants. From China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Scholastic Asia received read aloud entries.

Ms. Selina Lee, Vice President of Scholastic Asia, Ms. Christabel Pinto, Senior Director of Room to Read’s Global Literacy Program, Ms. Catherine Wu, Scholastic Asia’s Reading Ambassador, and Mr. Peter H. Reynolds, Award-winning Author and Illustrator, were among the SAYSA judges.

Among the 70 SAYSA finalists were these 14 Filipino kids, selected through public voting and judging by Scholastic Asia:

Scholastic launched the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award (SAYSA) in October 2021, leveraging the use of the digital space to provide a platform for children to showcase their many talents.  SAYSA invited readers aged 4 to 10 years to express their creativity through storytelling.

Scholastic wants to encourage children in Asia to be confident as they narrate and read from their favorite Scholastic storybook while instilling a competitive spirit and a sense of camaraderie among peers.  Moreover, Scholastic wants children to be able to share with other kids their love for books and reading.

With the successful inauguration of the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award, Scholastic Asia has announced that SAYSA 2022 will be in October.

For over 100 years now, Scholastic has been championing a love for reading and learning all over the world.  In the Philippines, Scholastic is partners with over 250 schools in its Reading and Math Programs – PR1ME English and PR1ME Mathematics.  In PR1ME English, reading aloud to students by their teachers, parents, and peers is integral in nurturing students’ comprehension and critical thinking skills, and instilling in them a love for reading.  Scholastic Philippines is happy and proud that 9 out of the 14 Filipino kids who made it to Asia’s Top 70, including Cassandra and Phoebe, are from among its current partner schools in PR1ME English.

Scholastic Philippines is sharing the 14 SAYSA read aloud videos from the Philippines to the public as part of the WORLD READ ALOUD DAY (WRAD) Celebration in February.  The videos may be viewed on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmqSEvEhhWS82yS0s3y1W9A/videos

Scholastic Philippines is also sponsoring the Scholastic Voice of the Youth Awards, an interschool competition that amplifies the voice of Filipino youth via reading, writing, and speaking, as part of the WRAD Campaign. The competitions are open to Scholastic’s PR1ME English partners.

Visit scholasticph.com. for more information about Scholastic’s offerings.

Avis Philippines celebrates its 50th anniversary with much pride and delight! – as it ushers in a new era of creative leadership led by Celia G. Lazaro, the country’s most trusted transportation service provider’s second-generation franchisee. (The Guevaras first obtained the franchise in 1972, under Domingo M. Guevara.)

“For decades, Avis Philippines has been going the extra mile to deliver service that’s beyond expectation. And now, we’re so excited to develop new practices and systems in line with digitalization,” says Lazaro. “As we head into a more competitive digital future, we’re committed to innovating and creating new products and services that will make us more accessible to a younger generation!”

Because of its capacity to adapt to the ever-changing market and consumers, the company has lasted for decades. “Our services demonstrate our dedication to our clients.” “We will continue to evolve, adapt, and innovate to satisfy the needs of our selective customer,” says Tatyana Guevara-Hipolito, Marketing Director.

Now, as it celebrates it golden anniversary, Avis is taking the rider experience to newer heights with its latest  innovation – the Avis Mobile App – which brings premium chauffeur services to your fingertips. Be driven in style wherever you want to be!

Designed with improved user accessibility, the app allows you to conveniently pre-book your own premium ride – with choice of sedan, van, and premium vehicles. Ride in style point-to-point or on an hourly car rental basis to enjoy your own personal chauffeur services. Just book at least four hours before pick-up. With the latter option, your chauffeur can even help you with errands and shuttle you to and from all your destinations. This is service at its best!

All Avis vehicles are fully equipped with COVID-19 amenities, and are disinfected for every ride. In addition, their roster of chauffeurs are all fully vaccinated and are well-trained on safety and security protocols.

What sets Avis apart is their premium service at reasonable rates and the unmatched expertise of their chauffeurs. “Proudly, we’ve been the longstanding partners of our clients for years, because they trust us with the big and small responsibilities. We take pride in the fact that for decades, we’ve been the one they can rely on and whom they call on to help make their daily lives better and easier – whether it’s picking up loved ones from the airport or hospital, ensuring the safety of their children with rides to and from school and other destinations, or even just making their daily commute a little more luxurious and hassle-free. We’re happy to be of service,” adds Guevara-Hipolito.

Avis expands its offers with the app and can now cater to a broader, more digitally informed audience. Loyal customers can still make reservations through Facebook and their hotlines.

“This year, we have so many initiatives lined up to mark our 50^th milestone. We will continue to go above and beyond, so our customers can too. ‘We Try Harder’ is more than just a statement for us. It’s something we make real every single day. We look forward to seeing you on your next ride!” ends Lazaro.

On Google Play and the App Store, you can get the Avis Mobile app. Call 8462-2881 to 83 or email [email protected] for additional details.

Valentine’s Day is regarded as one of the year’s most romantic holidays. It’s an especially great moment to show your love and affection for that particular someone!

Giving gifts during the Valentine’s season is one of many methods for many of us to express our love for someone special in our lives. For someone who spends a lot of time thinking about the right present for the perfect someone, the season of hearts can be stressful. Others may prefer to give a more distinctive gift or offer the traditional heart-shaped chocolates and flowers.

This Valentine’s Day up to February 19, Cebuana Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier Premium, and Just Jewels are holding a six-day Valentine’s Gold Rush Sale nationwide. Shop in over 2,500 Cebuana Lhuillier branches nationwide and avail discounts on all items. You can also shop online through Cebuana Lhuillier, Just Jewels, or Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium Facebook pages.

Get 10% off on all on all items and up to 50% off on selected jewelry items nationwide. Visit Cebuana Lhuillier, Just Jewels, or Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium branches nationwide or shop online via Cebuana FB Live Selling or cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com.

If you are looking for ways on how to express your feelings for someone dear or you want to gift it for yourself as a way of loving and spoiling yourself, choose jewelry. It is something one can use and wear every day and treasure for many years. They are considered to be powerful allies to win hearts, celebrate important events, or reward achievements.

“Jewelry is one of the most unique and special presents one can buy, regardless of age and gender. You can gift it to your special someone, to your friend or even to your parents. It’s that kind of a gift that captures the essence of making someone feel important, precious, and valued”, CEO and President Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

Aside from these jewelry pieces being the perfect gifts for the season of love, this can also be a good investment throughout the years and would come handy during time of emergencies. Compared with the other presents you can give this February 14, jewelry can be meaningful and also practical.

Visit Cebuana Lhuillier’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cebuanalhuillierpawnshop or cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com to learn more about the Valentine’s Day Gold Rush Sale or go to the nearest Cebuana Lhuillier near you.

Nowadays, there is a lot of emphasis on keeping your surroundings clean. This is especially true at home, where the COVID-19 pandemic has driven the vast majority of Filipinos to work and study from home. With so many brands on the market, it’s critical to think about the brand’s history and track record when it comes to manufacturing cleaning appliances.

Gruenheim is a brand that is causing a stir in the world of cleaning appliances. Gruenheim GmbH & Co. is a company based in Germany. KG was founded in 2014 and is a subsidiary of Luckner & Lahusen Group GmbH & Co. KG is based in Stuttgart, Germany.

It is a young and fresh trademark of high-end ecological, innovative and premium home appliances. It stands for products that combine functional, timeless and puristic design with impressive technical innovations. Gruenheim products are sold worldwide exclusively by authorized Gruenheim wholesalers

Its direct distributor in the Philippines is Gruenheim Philippines Inc., headed by its President, Michael “Mike” Gamez. The line of high-end, ecological, innovative and premium home appliances includes Gruenheim Vacuum cleaning system which makes use of pure water filter technology; Gruenheim Steam cleaning system with innovative industrial technology; and Gruenheim Air Freshener, among others.

Gruenheim’s best-selling home appliance is the Gruenheim Steam Cleaner. The steam cleaner uses dry steam at 170 degrees Celsius to sterilize all types of surfaces, bed materials, upholstery, carpets, kitchen, toilets, and bathrooms without using any harmful chemicals.

Another ecological and high-end machine is the Gruenheim Vacuum Cleaning System that makes use of ecological pure water filter technology. This multi-purpose health cleaning machine serves as an air purifier, air disinfectant, air santizer, aromatizer and air medication all rolled into one.

The floor, ceiling, wall, drapes or blinds, and window screens can all be dry vacuumed. Carpets, sofas, beds, and even chairs can be shampooed with the vacuum cleaner. It is capable of removing 99.9% of all dangerous fine dust from the air. It is not only user-friendly, but it is also energy-efficient.

Are you looking for appliances that can protect your family from germs, bacteria, viruses, molds, bed bugs, and dust mites that can cause illness? The appliances for you are the Gruenheim Vacuum Cleaner and Gruenheim Steam Cleaner.

Call 0917 5984968 or email [email protected] for more information about the Gruenheim Vacuum Cleaner and other items.

Gruenheim Philippines Inc. is a direct importer and distributor of GRUENHEIM HOME APPLIANCES from Germany, a line of high-end, ecological, innovative and premium home appliances. It is a direct sales marketing company aimed at promoting and distributing GRUENHEIM products in the Philippines. 

With a slew of Valentine’s Day festivities planned for the month of February, SM provides new ways to capture the Lovin’ Vibe.

From February 2 to 28, your favorite SM Mall will be offering these enhanced malling and romantic dining deals: It’s all about the food at Lovin’ Eats. Enjoy 2 for 1 dining deals with your significant other, a friend, or a family member. There’s no need to be concerned about your safety because SM Supermalls has al-fresco dining areas that provide a romantic atmosphere in the open air.

S Maison

SM City Legazpi

SM City Cebu

Got gifts? Check out the Lovin’ Gift Fair. Looking for a gift for your loved ones? From Vday classics like flowers and chocolates to unique novelty items, the Lovin’ Gift Fair pop-up stores got the best gifts that your special someone will surely love. Plus extra gifts when you purchase items from the season’s promos and deals!

Get into the lovey-dovey vibe with live entertainment. What’s Valentine’s Day without some fun and music? Catch a live harana in select SM malls’ Designated Dining Areas with your loved ones for that lovey-dovey vibe while enjoying your meal.

Plan a memorable date at one of the designated eateries. The designated dining areas in SM malls that are both safe and socially distant are getting a major makeover! To make the day a memorable one, select SM will be building Giant Flower Heart installations, Tunnels of Flowers, and large Sing-Along screens just in time for the celebration!

SM Center Muntinlupa

SM City North Edsa

The Glass Garden, SM Megamall

Check out SM Deals for more information about the participating stores, deals, and promos you can cop for the whole month.

For more information, go to www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

We not only usher in the Year of the Tiger this month, but we also welcome in the well-known love month. Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year are approaching, which means it’s that time of year to make your loved ones feel particularly fortunate. Bonifacio High Street is giving away a nice surprise to a few lucky customers in order to make them feel lucky in love this season.

Bonifacio High Street in partnership with Globe, prepares their Lucky In Love promo for both BGC customers and Globe subscribers this coming month of February. All weekdays of February, customers can redeem their Lucky In Love basket at the One Bonifacio High Street Concierge from 12nn to 8pm. This special basket is an exclusive and thoughtfully curated gift of premium treats and goodies from some of the most beloved BHS stores: a bottle of wine, chocolates, biscuits, cookies, and sweet treats from Marks & Spencer including a Muji 2022 planner and pen, and many more surprises.

To receive the Lucky In Love basket, customers just need to present their Php5,000 worth of single or accumulated purchase receipts from any of the merchants found at Bonifacio High Street and other places around the estate. As for Globe subscribers, they will only need to present their Php4,000 worth of single or accumulated purchase receipts from the BGC merchants to redeem theirs.

Customers who want to get their hands on a Lucky in Love basket must arrive early because the baskets are limited. With all of the events available in the community, BGC is still the finest place to spend the season of love and luck. Don’t miss out on this BGC and Globe promotion. Visit the official Facebook page of Bonifacio High Street at https://www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet/ for more information.

What’s Your Culture by Glenford Lumbao
Location: W Global Center, 30th street corner 9th Avenue, BGC

Bonifacio Global City, or BGC as it is widely regarded, is preparing to put more art in the heart of the commercial district. As part of its recovery initiative to restore open spaces with parks and art installations, BGC’s Public Art program has lately painted new murals throughout the neighborhood through ArtBGC.

Numerous art installations and murals have been placed throughout the area as part of ArtBGC. The public can currently enjoy and experience 36 murals, 22 art installations, and 110 street furniture in and around BGC on a daily basis.

Atin ang Bawat Sandali by Deafeye Studio
Location: Kalayaan Flyover, 32nd Street, BGC

To set the tone for the collective mood for 2022 and beyond, BGC, through the help of the Bonifacio Art Foundation, has commissioned artists to create 7 additional murals on the walls of the city. With the theme “Rolling Out a Better World,” these murals depict a society where everyone is interconnected through empathy and compassion. These new murals were painted by Glendford Lumbao, Kankan Ramos, Patmai, Zoe Rosal, Deafeye Studio, Elie Quial, and Woman Create. These were all finished by the end of 2021.

BGC continued to roll out “better world” murals in collaboration with partners who believe in the power of public art to elevate community life. Last year, the first ever mural, “What’s Your Culture?” by Glendford Lumbao, was made possible with the support of Yamaha Motor Philippines. It utilized the concept of “weaving” to highlight how different narratives are intertwined together making it all part of a bigger picture. In line with the theme of moving forward for a better tomorrow, the mural shows a subtle hint of the Pinoy concept of “kapit-bisig” to visualize how everyone in the community, despite their different culture, could be of service to one another.

Atin ang Araw! by Zoe Rosal
Location: C1 MRF, BHS Central, 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City

Apart from the first mural supported by Yamaha Motors, Globe Telecom supported other murals namely “Atin ang Love for All” by Patmai, “Atin ang Araw” by Zoe Rosal, and “Atin ang Bawat Sandali” by Deafeye Studio as “Rolling out a Better World” which also joyfully coincided with Globe Telecom’s ongoing campaign, “Atin ang Mundo” (“The World is Ours”).

Nurturing Ubuntu (Connected in our Humanity) by Woman Create
Location: 5th Ave. cor. 34th Street, BGC

On the other hand, “The Land We Walk On” by Elie Quial and “Nurturing Ubuntu” by Woman Create were sponsored by Boysen, the official paint partner for ArtBGC. Boysen provided all the paints used for all the new murals, and even held a seminar for the artists and BAFI staff on proper paints and products to use for different surfaces. Boysen has always strongly supported BAFI even when The Mind Museum was created.

Because of the new murals with various art works, designs, and animations via mobile devices via augmented reality, everyone visiting, residing, and working in BGC will perceive these “ancient” spaces in a new light. A virtual art tour is also available via https://www.bgcartscenter.org/artsatbgc to learn more about BGC’s public art, which invites people to ponder and discover new things about themselves and the world via art.

Donations are also being accepted by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. to enable them continue to support activities that promote the arts in the community. Interested donors can send an email to [email protected] or visit https://www.bgcartscenter.org/support. Check out the Bonifacio Global City and Bonifacio High Street Facebook pages for additional information!

ABOUT BAFI

Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) is a non-stock, non-profit organization that champions the arts and sciences and has spearheaded the following landmark endeavors: The Mind Museum, a globally recognized and awarded science museum; the BGC Arts Center for the performing arts; Art BGC Public Art and Mind S-Cool, its multi-media marketplace of science and art ideas for family learning.