Lifestyle

Are you ready, set and shop til you drop as Ortigas Malls welcomes March with a bang! Every Wednesday when you shop at Greenhills, Tiendesitas and Estancia this month, where you can enjoy deals for as much as 70% off.

Get a chance to enjoy exclusive discounts, awesome freebies and special promos on various home accessories, beauty services, gadgets, travel accessories and more from your favorite retail stores and restaurants on all Wednesdays of the month.

Welcome this month of March the summer season, a perfect way to enjoy everyday.  Whether you’re out to get yourself some clothes, fashion accessories, stuff for the home, or anything else that your heart desires, you’re bound to find bargains galore from all the participating stores.

Treat yourself and your loved ones as you feel good and enjoy every Wednesday at Ortigas Malls. What are you waiting for? Head over to Greenhills, Tiendesitas and Estancia Mall every Wednesday and shop and dine to your heart’s content.

For more information, you may check their official Facebook pages – Greenhills , Tiendesitas , Estancia , and Industria.

Exceptional times demand extraordinary steps for the art world, and what better way to uplift spirits than from the Ortigas Malls’ award-winning and admission-free Ortigas Art Exhibition 2021, to bring art closer to everyone.

Which is in its fourth year, with the aim of creating art open to all, the annual Ortigas Art Festival was first launched in 2018. Ortigas Malls continued to achieve its mission of uplifting the art community and decentralizing art by making the Ortigas Art Festival a yearly celebration, with the success of its first run featuring over 60 local artists from well-known groups. The roster of the festival expanded to over 130 artists from all over the Philippines in 2019 and then grew even bigger with over 200 artists in 2020, including international Southeast Asian artists.

Ribbon Cutting

“The art group has always been sponsored by us at Ortigas Malls. We are able to bring hundreds of highly skilled and even foreign artists together during the Ortigas Art Festival and give them better a forum to share their crafts and motivate people from all walks of life,” says Architect Renee Bacani, Vice President of Ortigas Malls. “This year’s Ortigas Art Festival theme aligns with the Enjoy Daily campaign of Ortigas Malls, which promotes the value of making every day pleasant and seizing every opportunity, considering the many difficulties that life may bring,” adds Bacani.

This year, the fourth iteration of the Ortigas Art Festival went out to film exhibits of photography, paintings, and sculptures from the previous year. In order to keep all kinds of art lovers engaged, exhibition head Renato Habulan, a multi-awarded Filipino artist, and Ortigas Malls promise a hybrid festival with on-ground and virtual events.

Art is an integral aspect of culture, nourishing the soul. The art industry will flourish, he says, as long as the group remains committed to pursuing the craft and enthusiasts continue to help it.

Habulan states, in these tough times, that Partnership and imagination between Key goals remain for musicians. “We are the ones Thank you for maintaining this relationship with Ortigas Malls via the Ortigas Art Festival annually. We are able to cultivate a sense of similarity among artists through events like this, promote learning, and drive the industry together,” adds Habulan.

Exhibit area

Ortigas Malls and the Ortigas Art Festival’s partner artists have taken all the stops to do so. Making the month-long festival as enriching and unforgettable as the years before. Here are the positions, any of the highlights from February 24 to March 31 that everybody can look forward to

1. Agos.studio. The headline gallery at the Ortigas Art Festival 2021. Renato Habulan, headed the Agos.studio. He presented its fluid and borderless art to the world. And still carry on to lead the e-mentoring sessions for those hopeful and habitual artists to uplift their confidence and help them in these hard times. With the Art Relief Mobile Kitchen as their recipient helping them and giving back is most certainly their desire, no matter where the gallery goes.
2. Born in Film. Aside from the traditional forms and elements of the Art Festival each person can also look for the works of Born in Film. Alberto Garcia is included in this non-profit organization. He is the only Filipino photographer that encompases in the Time Magazine and National Geographic’s Most Influential Photos of the 20th century with his Mount Pinatubo picture “Beauty Amidst Disaster”. Alberto Garcia’s works have been displayed in the festival, along with virtual workshops on Visual Storytelling and Creative Composition, as well as Darkroom Developing on Color, Black and White, and Scanning Your Negatives broadcasted via Zoom and on PhotoNation International.
3. The ​Film Development Council of the Philippines’ work together with Ortigas Malls, the festival’s journey to film won’t be wasted and will turn to be known with its first-ever Vertical Cinema Contest, which is open to the public.

These and more excites and give trill to the hopeful artist and enthusiast at the 4th Annual Ortigas Art Festival. Spearheaded by Estancia G/F East Wing in Pasig City to witness the likes of Agos.studio, Art Relief Mobile Kitchen, Born in Film, PhotoNation, Richard Buxani, ArnelBorja, La Maison D’ David Art Gallerie, vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery, and many others showcase art safely in the new normal at the Ortigas Art Festival 2021 from February 24 to March 31.

To know more about the event and online activities, you can check out the Ortigas Art Festival 2021’s Facebook page.

Everyday a lot of baby were being born having a cleft, there are around 540 children being born each day that haved this kind of genetic condition. It can give them so much hardship especially on their eating, breathing, hearing and speaking. In this being said, the world’s leading cleft organization, Smile Train give their services to help these children. As they give 100%- free cleft repair surgery and complete cleft care for children around the globe. A welfare that’s been throw into dissarray if not because of this pandemic. However a big thanks to virtual Telehealth  Program and speech camp that was introduced here in our country that gaves a big help especially on those children with cleft.

Since the start of the pandemic, Smile Train’s Speech Telehealth Program in the Philippines has treated over 100 patients, providing them with more than 700 cleft care-related sessions, including speech therapy, nutritional support, breastfeeding guidance for mothers of babies with clefts, pre-surgical consultations, and psychosocial care. This initiative was recently recognized during the 56th Anvil Awards as the organization bagged the Silver Award.

The Anvil award is a testament of Smile Train Philippines’ efforts to bring uninterrupted care to patients with a cleft palate even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It also shines the light on the dedication and commitment of the volunteers, healthcare institutions, and corporate partners of Smile Train Philippines to rally support for cleft patients so that they may still receive comprehensive cleft care online.

Launched in April 2020, two weeks into the lockdown, the Virtual Telehealth program is manned by volunteer speech language pathologists. Maximizing technology and social media, the Virtual Telehealth Program made use of Facebook Live, chat applications such as Viber and Messenger, and online discussions to ensure that speech therapy classes continued virtually. More than that, the telehealth program managed to reach cleft patients who live in rural or isolated communities and made its services more readily available or convenient for people with limited mobility, time, or transportation options. When and where possible, Smile Train Philippines also provided phone cards for both the speech language pathologists (SLPs) and the patients to help with connectivity.

”This recognition by our peers in the communication industry is proof that we are making headway in our call for a more efficient telehealth network. A combination of a variety of solutions as encouraged by telehealth will ensure that children and adolescents with special needs do not get left behind, especially during a global pandemic,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Area Director – South East Asia, Smile Train. “For Smile Train, telehealth became not only a lifeline, but a tool for amplifying reach and promoting equity.”

The over 700 sessions given to more than 100 patients were provided from April 1st to December 31, 2020. This is more than double the number of patients who received virtual speech treatment during the same period in 2019.

With a strategy focused on educating, amplifying, and sustaining, Smile Train’s Virtual Telehealth Program garnered widespread coverage in the media, positive public reception, increased recognition for Smile Train and its advocacy, and ultimately saw an increase in speech language pathologists interested in working with Smile Train Philippines.

Smile Train believes that every child is worthy of the opportunity to live a normal life, and is committed to exploring various avenues and utilizing technology to reach more communities in the Philippines. Through the Virtual Telehealth Program, it continues to help its beneficiaries, reach out to its audiences, and, all in all, continue raising awareness about cleft lip and palate – bringing hope to those who need it the most.

MANILA-“Lahatkasali, lahatkasalo” 22 FEBRUARY 2021. This is the rally cry of the national, multi-sectoral anti-hunger campaign PilipinasKontraGutom (PKG), which was officially launched on Monday by government and private sector partners working together on different initiatives with a shared goal: 1 million less hungry Filipinos by 2022.

PKG is pursuing a nation-wide approach to achieving its immediate and long-term goals of combating involuntary hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines, with the help of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, and spearheaded by the government’s Task Force Zero Hunger (TFZH), chaired by Cabinet Secretary KarloNograles.

Nograles, speaking at the virtual launch program of the PKG, thanked all the groups and organizations “that recognize the importance of fighting hunger and have committed themselves to working for a hunger-free Philippines.”

Starvation is a hidden foe that can no longer be ignored; maramingapektado, maramingkailangantulungan. We should be all in, all out in our fight against hunger—anyone who can chip in should contribute, and anyone who can help should go all out.’

The government partners present at the event include Mr. Mat Maderazo, representing the Secretary for Agriculture, Rodolfo Encabo, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Lope Santos, Director of the Department of Education, Jim Sampulna, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,Executive Director AzucenaDayanghirang of the National Nutrition Council, Undersecretary MarloIringan of the Interior and Local Government Department, Undersecretary Ruth Castelo of the Trade and Industry Department,Dr. Milflor Gonzales, Department of Food and Nutrition Research Institute of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI), Assistant Secretary Florentino Loyola, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Assistant Director Cynthia Villena, National Economic and Development Authority, Director Mary Anne DelaVeqa, Budget and Management Department,Department of Labor and Welfare Chief Karen Trayvilla, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago, PCOO Communication Services Bureau Dir. Ma. Ma. Florinda Princess E. Duque and Agrarian Reform Department Undersecretary Emily Padilla.

PKG has developed into a movement that includes about 70 partners from private businesses, non-profit organizations and different organizations since it was organized in November last year.

With private company joined like Aboitiz, AXA, Bayer, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Cargill, Century Pacific Food, Inc., Coca-Cola, East West Seed, Dole Philippines, Harbest, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Kraft Heinz, McDonald’s Philippines and Mega Global Corp. are private companies. MondelezMetrobank,Pilmico Foods Corporation, RFM Corporation, Nestlé Philippines, NutriAsia, San Miguel Corporation, SM Supermalls, Unilever Philippines, Universal Robina Corporation (URC), Unilab, and Vitarich.AGREA, Go Negosyo, the League of Corporation Foundations, the Philippine Enterprise for Social Change (PBSP), the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the Philippine Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA), Scaling Up Nutrition, the Philippines Supply Chain Management Association (SCMAP) and the UN Global Compact are organisations and industry associations.

The non-government organizations and foundations that have also joined are ABS-CBN LingkodKapamilya Foundation, Aboitiz Foundation, Ayala Foundation, Caritas, GawadKalinga, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Jollibee Group Foundation, Kabisig ng Kalahi, Manila Water Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Project PEARLS, Rise against Hunger Philippines and Metrobank Foundation

PKG’s digital and media partners, on the other hand, include Cobena Business Analytics and Strategy, Inc. Grab Philippines, GCash, PayMaya, Lazada, Shopee, Facebook, Google, TikTok, ABS-CBN, GMA Network, Business World, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Kapisanan ng mgaBrodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and IKOT.PH.

Fighting hunger, one project at a time

PKG scheme on a larger outcome to do lasting initiatives for targeted recipients and will fight with this food availability and accessibility, adequate nutrition and crises assistance. These are persistent with the Zero Hunger roadmap outlined in the National Food Policy unveiled by TFZH last month.

PKG’s initial plan comprises of:

• Farmer assistance: With the aim of increasing farming as a noble and lasting profession. PKG wants to elevate farmer income by as much as 20% within the years and to double farmer productivity by 2025 via the expansion of value chain projects and logistics improvements.
• Sustainable nutrition programs: Projects that collectively aim to lower the undernourished Filipino children in all households this 2030 through a plan that includes a campaign to promote proper breastfeeding, to educate about malnutrition, and to roll out nutritious meals for Filipino families.
• Disaster response: Private sectors companies will help to transform their disaster response in close partnership and coordination with the attached national agencies and local government units in order to streamline the private sector’s efforts to facilitate a prepared, synchronized, and targeted action flow for food security when crises strike.
• Food Banking: This effort includes the commencement of food surplus assessments among food manufacturers, restaurants, supermarkets, and public markets in Metro Manila, with the food surplus from donors eventually allocated for distribution to those in need.

To help these campaigns, to give ideas about hunger and to ask for other companies and organizations to join PKG programs. PKG is going to set a public information drive campaign, to know more about the details you can access it through pilipinaskontragutom.com

Victoria Lee

Denice Zamboanga all praises to the teenage fighting sensation Victoria “The Prodigy” Lee is all set to make her first appearance inside the Circle, and the younger sibling of ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee and ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee, will face off with Thailand’s Sunisa “Thunderstorm” Srisen at ONE: FISTS OF FURY, which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 26 February.

Zamboanga believes the youngest Lee fighter yet has a bright future ahead of her and is all praises for the rising star, “I think Victoria, coming from a renowned fighting family, is destined to become a world champion like her older brother and sister. She’s got a good camp, and her future looks bright.This fight against Sunisa is going to be a good match. Victoria is so young and talented, while Sunisa has some experience.”

ONE Championship announced Lee signed with the promotion late last year, joining her older siblings in the Home of Martial Arts. Despite being just 16 years of age, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was buzzing with excitement at the teenage star’s potential.

Sityodtong iterated that Lee’s age had no correlation with her ability to fight. It’s a sentiment that Zamboanga seems to share with ONE’s head honcho.

“I really admire Victoria because at such a young age, she’s already fighting in professional mixed martial arts in the best organization in the world. When I was 16, I hadn’t even started martial arts yet. She’s got a fantastic running start, and I have no doubt she will go far,” said Zamboanga.

“When it comes to mixed martial arts and fighting, I don’t think age matters. It’s all about skill and capability, strength, technique. With her support system and resources available to her, she’s going to be a strong contender. I believe she can smash all of her opponents, even if they are older than her.”

In the main event of ONE: FISTS OF FURY, reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi defends his world title against multiple-time Lumpinee Stadium World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9.

Also seeing action on the card is kickboxing legend Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, and reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon.

Don’t miss the fight on February 26, 2021!

ONE Championship female atomweight standout Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga took the time out of her busy schedule to fire back at Meng Bo, who recently had some impactful words for the Filipina fighter.

Meng took aim at Zamboanga recently, with the Chinese star claiming she can finish “The Menace” inside of two rounds should they meet in the Circle.

 “If we were in the ring together, without a shadow of doubt, I would beat her (Zamboanga) up and take her spot as the #1-ranked atomweight in the division,” Meng was quoted as telling the media.

“Denice is a stubborn and tough fighter, but if I was to identify her strength, she’s only good at punching, nothing else. I think my stand-up fighting techniques will be enough to give me the victory. I’m pretty confident that I can finish Denice with a flurry of punches and knock her out within two rounds.”

Zamboanga obviously did not take those comments lightly, and the 24-year-old rising star immediately clapped back with full bravado.

“It’s cute that she thinks she can knock me out in two rounds. I’d like to see her try, let’s see what happens. Meng Bo likes to talk a lot. But talking doesn’t win you fights. She’s just asking to be humbled,” said Zamboanga.

“Sooner or later, we will see each other in the Circle and the talking will be over.”

Both Zamboanga and Meng are expected to be participants in the eight-woman ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix, set to take place sometime later this year. Zamboanga and Meng could potentially meet in the tournament, should they advance through the brackets.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced late last year that the winner of the tournament will go on to challenge reigning ONE Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee when she returns from maternity leave.

While Zamboanga declined giving out as bold a prediction as Meng, she did tell media that fans will be surprised.

“You’ll just have to wait until we are together in the Circle. I don’t really like to talk much unless provoked. I prefer to do my talking in the fight. I think it’s going to be a surprise for everyone,” Zamboanga concluded.

Zamboanga is currently training at Marrok Force gym alongside her older brother, fellow ONE Championship fighter Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga, and their friend Fritz “Kid Tornado” Biagtan. The Zamboangas look to remain in Bangkok for the time being, continuing their training until they receive a call for their next fight assignments from ONE.

Lara Pearl Alvarez

“I just wanted to give my son a better life, that’s what compelled me to try and audition for The Apprentice. At the time, I didn’t really imagine I could get in. But I was determined to give it a shot. So when I got the news that I was accepted, I was in shock. I just couldn’t believe it. But I was super happy I got in, and from there, I was motivated to succeed. Participating on the show was incredible. The production was top notch and it was nothing like I had ever experienced before. Getting to visit Singapore and see the way locals live, see the beauty of the country, it gave me a deeper sense of pride for my own country. It gave me hope, not just for my own life, but for everyone else as well with all the difficulties we’re dealing with today. I definitely learned a lot from my time in the boardroom,” said Alvarez.

ONE fans is very excited for the schedule premier next month, “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition”.

The unique take on the iconic reality television show produced by Asia’s largest martial arts organization is a slight departure from ONE’s usual content of hosting martial arts extravaganzas.

Among 16 “candidates” chosen to participate in the competition is Lara Pearl Alvarez, a single mother born, bred, and based in Baguio City, Philippines. Alvarez recently talked about her experience participating on the show, and why she wanted to join “The Apprentice.”

When Alvarez got pregnant by her then-boyfriend at 22, it wasn’t exactly what she had planned for her life. Like many of her colleagues at Team Lakay, Alvarez had trained to become a martial artist, learning the discipline of wushu and wanting to compete.

The child’s father ended up abandoning Alvarez even before the boy was born. But with the help of her family, Alvarez took on the enormous responsibility of being a single parent.

With incredible determination, Alvarez didn’t let the circumstances keep her pinned down. She constantly worked to improve her situation. Fast-forward to present day, and Alvarez can’t wait to relive her time on The Apprentice, which she says will be an experience she will remember for the rest of her life.

“Flying to Singapore to film the show, it was my first time leaving the Philippines, my first time getting on a plane to fly out of the country. And to be joining a globally acclaimed TV show, I can say I was pretty mesmerized by the whole ordeal. It was a little overwhelming, but I was excited. At the same time, I missed my son terribly. I had never spent so much time away from him, nor left him in the care of others. I tried not to let it affect me, but every time I thought of him, it would bring me to tears,” said Alvarez.

“I’ve been through a whole lot, and everything I’ve done so far is for my son to have a better life. Up to now, I still can’t believe I was on The Apprentice. I’m glad I took a chance. It’s made me a stronger person, and a better mother today. I’ve gained more confidence in myself. I think I’ve proven that being a single mother is not a setback. It is far from a setback. It’s a blessing because I was able to push myself harder. It gave me the strength to push past my limits.”

“The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” is touted as the toughest version in the show’s history, consisting of both business and physical challenges. The franchise itself has aired in more than 120 countries around the globe. The first season of ONE Championship’s spin on the reality show premieres in March and consists of 13 episodes.

Alvarez was one of 16 selected from a field of thousands of applicants to compete for a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under ONE Chairman and CEO ChatriSityodtong.

“The Apprentice really showed me what’s possible in my life. I’ve definitely grown from the experience. It’s opening up a lot of doors that I just couldn’t see before, a lot of opportunities. Now I’m excited for what the future holds,” said Alvarez.

“I can’t wait for people to watch it. Many of my friends have shown their support for me. Since the trailer aired, there has been a lot of excitement. I’m thrilled I get to talk about it now and I have a lot of stories to tell as we go along. I know fans of both ONE and The Apprentice are going to love it.”