One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United
Nations is access to adequate water and sanitation, which is a fundamental
human need for health and well-being.
Here on Banwa Private Island, a remote but not totally cut
off sanctuary, we are all too familiar with this problem.
Our initial search for a reliable source of clean drinking
water proved difficult.
We could not, and would not, import water in plastic bottles
from the mainland because of the Aquos Foundation’s core goal of preserving the
island’s biodiversity.
The history is given by Dionisio Lora, Jr., Head of
Engineering and Facilities:
“In the early days, we hired geologists to locate where water deposits (aquifers) would most likely be found. They did a great job. The first aquifer was above water level; relatively shallow and consequently brackish. Ideally suited to irrigate the salt-loving grasses of the (future) short-game golf course.
When we discovered the second and third aquifers, the geologist was so confident, he drank the water straight from the well. He knew the water would be safe because the aquifers are extremely deep.
At 200 metres, by the time rainwater reaches the underground caves, it has passed through many layers of earth. The soil, sediment rock and silicon sand filter out pollutants while adding trace minerals and the sweet taste of spring water.”
According to research, the typical bottle of mineral water
travels 1,000 miles before it arrives at your table. There is enough
zero-kilometre clean mineral Banwater on Banwa Private Island, thanks to our
ancient aquifers and cutting-edge micro-filtration process, to satiate our
thirsty visitors and the hard-working team now and in the years to come.
At the Latitude Restaurant & Terrace Bar, we also offer
“VitaJuwel” decanters for those who would like a little crystal
healing along with their Banwater. Gem-infused water is said to promote health
and well-being by infusing the energy of a particular crystal.
Contact the
reservations team via WhatsApp at +639178882864, send an email to
[email protected], or visit the website at www.banwaprivateisland.com to learn more about the Banwa
Private Island’s commitment to providing pure water.
Dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group launched its Global Sustainability Agenda with 10 focus areas, namely Food Safety, Food Quality, Nutrition & Transparency, Employee Welfare, Farmers Livelihood, Community Support, Good Governance, Packaging & Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Energy & Water Efficiency. Each focus area will showcase initiatives and goals that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The Jollibee Group unveiled its Joy for Tomorrow Global Sustainability
Agenda on March 16 of last year with the intention of reaffirming the
organization’s dedication to ethical business practices.
Despite having made significant progress over the course of its 45-year
history in a number of social and environmental projects, Jollibee Group is now
deliberately integrating all of its sustainability initiatives into a more
cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including its
employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders,
toward a set of common sustainability goals.
With Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group continues to uphold its commitment
to its objective of giving the joy of eating to everyone, while also
understanding that this mission extends beyond the current generation of
customers and stakeholders. The business is aware that in order to contribute
to a more sustainable future for people and the environment, it must make use
of its worldwide scope, resources, and experience.
“Our challenge in
Jollibee Group is how to sustain our success while creating positive impact to
our society and planet. As one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in
the world, and with our vision to become one of top companies in our industry,
we recognize that we have a significant role and responsibility in impacting
positive change,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.
The Joy
for Tomorrow Sustainability Agenda centers on three pillars namely Food,
People, and Planet. These pillars consist of 10 focus areas: Food Safety, Food
Quality, Nutrition & Transparency, Employee Welfare, Farmers Livelihood,
Community Support, Good Governance, Packaging & Recycling, Waste Reduction,
and Energy & Water Efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives
that contribute and align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(UN SDGs).
According
to Jollibee Group Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer Pepot
Miñana, Joy for Tomorrow serves as the company’s roadmap for
achieving the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.
“It’s a call to action
for everyone in Jollibee Group, amid the pursuit of our sustainability pillars
of Food, People, and Planet. It is our commitment to future generations to
preserve and improve natural resources from which they can benefit,”
Miñana said.
Serving food that people trust
Jollibee
Group prioritizes food safety and quality to maintain the trust of its
customers worldwide.
In
2022, the company conducted over 15,000 Food, Service, and Cleanliness (FSC)
Audits across its stores worldwide, while over 125,600 online training hours
were devoted to Food, Service, Cleanliness & Condition. Moreover, 100% of
its stores, commissaries, and logistics facilities have undergone rigorous
Quality Management audits. The group also achieved a global Net Promoter Score
of 82, exceeding industry benchmark of 50, showcasing customer satisfaction and
loyalty for the various brands.
Helping make people’s lives better
Jollibee Group also released its first-ever global sustainability report which details the progress it has made toward the pursuit of its sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet.
Jollibee
Group recognizes the invaluable role in fostering an inclusive work environment
for its employees, partners, farmers, and communities.
In
2022, women made up 59% of management positions and 51% of the total workforce.
Through training courses on Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and
Anti-Discrimination, the company educates its employees on the value and
benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. As a measure of high employee
engagement, the group achieved the 70thpercentile of Gallup’s Q12 percentile
ranking.
Outside
of the organization, Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship
Program (FEP) has enabled over 700 smallholder farmers across the Philippines
to deliver their produce directly to Jollibee Group. Today, the white onions,
green bell peppers, tomatoes, calamansi, ginger, and other vegetables that the
company uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal products come
from FEP farmers.
Treating the planet responsibly
In
terms of environmental sustainability, Jollibee Group focuses on the key areas
of packaging and recycling, energy, water, and waste.
By
the end of 2022, Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved
21% reduction in energy use ratio, 23% reduction in water use ratio, and 38%
reduction of waste, with almost 50% of waste now being recycled versus the
company’s 2020 benchmarks. On the store level, each solar panel installed
reduces about 3-7% of consumption form the grid.
Progress over perfection
“We understand that
assessing our impact is a continuous process of ambition and refinement. We
will track the success of our strategies over the coming years, and
periodically review our material topics and stakeholder engagement process. We
will set agile goals and targets to help us significantly impact society and
the environment in more meaningful ways,” Tanmantiong said.
To make sure that its business operations are in line with the
sustainability goals, the Jollibee Group established an Environmental, Social,
and Governance (ESG) Council in addition to creating a unit devoted to
sustainability and adding a Chief Sustainability Officer to its Executive Team.
“Our Global
Sustainability Agenda represents our belief system in conducting business more
ethically. As a global food company, we are responsible and deliberate with our
actions and their impact, and we are making our sustainability measures the way
of the future,” added Miñana.
Bernadeth Carandang is a farmer leader and teacher from Magallanes, Cavite who advocates for agro-entrepreneurship so that farmers become more successful..
At the Cavite-based Magallanes-Samahang Magsasaka ng
Kay-apas at Medina Agriculture Cooperative (MAG-SAMAKAME), Bernadeth Carandang
is the farmer leader. She was familiar with the challenges experienced by
farmers because she was raised in a farming household.
“Utang, benta, at bayad
kami noon. Uutang para sa kapital, magbebenta ng ani, at ipambabayad sa utang
yung kita. Tapos uulit lang. Halos wala nang naiiwan sa amin (Borrow money,
sell, and pay off debts was our practice. We would loan our capital, sell our
harvest, and pay off debts with our earnings. It was a cycle. We almost had
nothing left),” she said.
Since farming was the only profession they were familiar
with, Bernadeth and her fellow farmers pondered how they could enhance their
income.
Becoming
agro-entrepreneurs
The Magallanes-Samahang Magsasaka ng Kay-apas at Medina Agriculture Cooperative (MAG-SAMAKAME) farmers have been delivering tomatoes to Jollibee Group since 2022 through the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program of Jollibee Group Foundation.
The Jollibee Group Foundation’s (JGF) Farmer
Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), which assists farmers in boosting their revenue
by directly serving institutional markets, welcomed the local government unit
(LGU) of Magallanes in 2018.
Through their involvement in the cooperation, MAG-SAMAKAME
received training on the eight-step Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach, which
results in their delivery to the Jollibee Group as a recognized supplier. In
addition, Bernadeth took part in the course “Agro-entrepreneurship for
Inclusive Value Chains,” where she improved both her managerial and
business abilities. Jollibee Group Foundation and Xavier University-Ateneo de
Cagayan together designed the course.
“Ang sarap sa
pakiramdam!’ yung isa sa kanila napapikit talaga at sabi!'(One of them closed
his eyes and exclaimed, ‘This feels so good!’,” Bernadeth related.
Since then, they have provided Jollibee’s Champ burgers with
an average of 2,500 kg of fresh tomatoes per month.
A woman farmer leader
Bernadeth is a leader who empowers farmers, especially
women, in her capacity as cooperative secretary. In 2003, MAG-SAMAKAME was
founded by 16 avant-garde individuals. Since then, it has multiplied by five
and now numbers 84, 48 of which are female.
“Dapat lalaki, sir, kapag magsasaka,” Bernadeth
remarked, “They said that farmers should be men, but now we’re seeing that
more women are becoming farmers.
As a woman, Bernadeth finds her greatest strength is
patience, which she uses not only in tending to her crops, but also in
encouraging farmer members to join the cluster that supplies to Jollibee. “Dati ayaw nila sumali, hindi daw nila kaya
magcommit. Sabi ko ‘wag tayong matakot sumubok (Before, the farmers refused to
join, saying they can’t commit. I told them to not be afraid to try),” she
said.
Bernadeth discovered that the farmers had grown more
cooperative as a result of her teaching them how to think and act like
businesspeople. They are currently considering how to expand their company by
growing additional veggies, such as bell peppers, and contacting additional
institutional customers.
By working with the LGU, we want to increase the amount of
vegetables we provide so that we can support additional farmers in Magallanes,
Bernadeth added in Filipino.
Sowing seeds of hope
Bernadeth continued to be dedicated to farming while
pursuing her never-ending love of learning in the field of education. She was
certified as a teacher in 2022 and now instructs secondary pupils in technology
and livelihood education.
“Tinanong ko ang students ko kung anong gusto
nilang maging. Walang may gustong magsaka. Ituturo ko sa kanila na
farming is a business, at ang kaalaman ko sa agriculture at agro-enterprise. (I
asked my students what they want to be in the future. Nobody wants to farm. I
will teach them that farming is a business, as well as my knowledge in
agriculture and agro-enterprise),” she said. “After all, farming is a profession of hope.”
Cynthia Castro (seated on chair, middle) rose being an entry-level accountant to now Vice President and Finance Head for Jollibee Group’s Philippine Business. With her in photo is the Jollibee Philippines Finance Team, which she concurrently heads.
The Jollibee Group continues to honor women by establishing
a supportive workplace that enables its female employees to advance and grow
all over the world.
Only one Philippine-based business, The Jollibee Group, made
Forbes’ initial list of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies in 2021,
highlighting the business’ commitment to empowering women and helping them
reach their full potential. Women hold the majority of management roles at
Jollibee Group in the Philippines.
Numerous female employees have climbed through the ranks and
are now in leadership positions within their respective departments, including
Cynthia Castro, as a testament to Jollibee Group’s consistent support for
women.
As an accountant, Castro joined Jollibee in 1987. She
received a promotion to accounting manager for the company’s new ventures after
serving as accounting supervisor for the commissary of the company. Before
being given the opportunity to advance to the post of Vice President and
Finance Head, Castro oversaw the finances for the Jollibee Philippines branch
in Northern Luzon.
“I can sum up my
professional journey in two words: gratitude and pride,”
she said. “Gratitude because they
hired me as a fresh graduate in 1987 and they saw my potential to grow in the
company, and pride because I work for one of the World’s Best Employers and get
to work with the best leaders in the industry. All of this motivated me to do
more, be more, and become more.”
In
2022, Castro was among the finalists for the WeQual Awards, which recognizes
female leaders in business. She was the sole Filipina cited in the Award’s Asia
Pacific-Finance Category.
Thriving in a male-dominated profession
Yoly
Chua thrives as a leader in a traditionally male-dominated field: information
technology. She is the Vice President and Head of Business Technology for the
Jollibee Group’s business in the Philippines and Europe, Middle East and Asia
(EMEAA).
A
group of people sitting on red chairs
Description automatically generated with
low confidence
Yoly Chua (seated in the middle) posted this photo on her LinkedIn account celebrating all the women who work with her in Jollibee Group’s Business Technology (BT) Division, where she is now Vice President and Head for Philippines and EMEAA Regions.
Chua
was hired in 2016 to help stabilize SAP in the company and led the Information
Management Enterprise Business Solutions team. After two years, she was
promoted to Information Technology (IT) Head for the Philippine Region. In
2021, Chua was given the task of overseeing and governing EMEAA’s Business
Technology function.
“I appreciate the
growth opportunities I’ve had in my more than 6 years stay with the company.
The values of the people I work with–their unwavering malasakitfor the company, the trust
of the management and our teams, and the stewardship of doing what is best for
the company inspire me to work harder and continue doing better,” she
said.
Chua
strongly believes women can shine in any industry or position given the right
opportunity. “Women are empathetic and
good listeners. Our instinct to protect, care and support our people makes it
easier for us to lead effectively,” she said.
Driving culture and
engagement
As the human resources manager for Jollibee Worldwide
Services, Ruth Angeles started her employment with the Jollibee Group. Later,
she was appointed the company’s Red Ribbon and Jollibee business units’ HR
director.
Angeles, who is currently Vice President and in her 17th
year with the organization, is in charge of the Regional HR Team in the Philippines.
She oversees the Global Organization, Leadership and Culture Team at the same
time.
Ruth Angeles (seated, 3rd from left, front row) is shown with some members of the HR Team in one of their quarterly teaming activities. Ruth is now Vice President and leads the Regional HR Team in the Philippines.
Aside from driving culture and engagement in the company, Ruth has also been instrumental in enabling the successful pivot of the HR function and was key in the organization’s transformation, resulting in a much stronger and more resilient workforce post-pandemic. She has likewise been vital in developing and building leaders in boosting organizational capabilities.
“JFC has been helpful
in my development as a people manager and HR leader. The company’s devotion to
provide career advancement opportunities and inclusive leadership training
allows women leaders and employees to excel in their development,” she
said.
Castro,
Chua, and Angeles are part of a thriving community of female leaders in the
Jollibee Group who are helping drive the company’s mission and its journey
towards its vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the
world.
Who is to say that you can’t relish the
tender flavor of roast beef every day? You may now enjoy roast beef whenever
you have a desire for it thanks to the Roast
Beef & Cream Cheese Overload® Pizza from Greenwich, the nation’s top
pizza company. With prices starting at P345, Greenwich’s Overload Creations
pizza range includes this creative overloaded offer as a premium taste.
“This is our most
indulgent, premium beef pizza yet. The Roast Beef & Cream Cheese Overload®
Pizza is full of flavor and savory goodness! As always, we want to give you a
deliciously awesome food trip with the barkada, with an overload pizza creation
that is incredibly filling,” said Ali de Torres,
Greenwich’s Head of Marketing.
Fresh from the oven, the Roast Beef &
Cream Cheese Overload® Pizza from Greenwich features a cream cheese crust, a
layer of flavorful, succulent roast beef, and sauteed onions and mushrooms.
There will be two sizes available: Double (P345) and Barkada (P585).
Greenwich will also provide a special
Mother’s Day Bundle that includes one Double Size 9-inch Roast Beef & Cream
Cheese Overload® Pizza and three Lasagna Supreme® Chicken Combo for only P699
because moms deserve to be honored!
Beginning on May 8, 2023, the Mother’s Day
Bundle will be offered at all Greenwich locations across the country for
dine-in and take-out exclusively. Additionally, you can order Roast Beef &
Cream Cheese Overload® Pizza online at www.greenwichdelivery.com, through GrabFood, or through
food delivery services like foodpanda.com. You can reach them by calling their
hotline at #5-55-55.
Visit
Greenwich’s official Facebook page, Greenwich Barkada, for further details, or
send the page a Facebook Messenger message.
Celebrations, processions, and festivals. Many
of us have fond recollections of bright costumes, pounding drums, echoing
chanting, and fiesta events brimming with authentic Filipino cuisine that were
primarily held during the sweltering summer months. I’m so glad that I had the
chance to experience the taste of these delectable flavors of gulaman. This is
so perfect for the summertime as it compliments the meryenda session, and will
surely aid your thirst. As I tried these dessert dishes with my own version it
will surely be a must try for everyone, you can make your own dishes too.
Make your dessert buffet stand out while maintaining
the tradition, as almost every home serves their specialties during the summer
fiesta season. Serve Filipino fiesta meryenda made with Mr. Hat Gulaman’s
recipes to experience the distinctive and wonderful tropical flavors of the
country.
After dancing to the pulse of summertime
celebrations, cool off by indulging in some sweet and creamy panna cotta, cool
buko pandan sago gulaman, mango-flavored halo-halo, or vibrant jelly cake or
fruity jelly. The fiesta dessert spreads, which are all produced using Mr. Hat
Gulaman’s jelly powders come in a variety of tastes that are sure to please
visitors and make celebrations more special. Hala, Bira Meryenda!
Serve the tropical fruit jelly cake using Mr.
Hat Gulaman’s orange and white jelly powders with your mix of favorite fruits,
coconut milk and sugar.
Make the mango jelly and vanilla panna cotta
using ripe mangoes, mango nectar and puree, yellow and white unflavored Mr. Hat
Gulaman, milk, sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and salt. You can swap the mango
flavor with buko pandan, coffee jelly, or your preferred flavor. Swap the color
of the unflavored jelly powder as well to match.
Give the traditional sapin-sapin a twist by making a jelly version using white, yellow
and red Mr. Hat Gulaman unflavored jelly powder. For this dessert creation, you
will also need ube flavoring, coconut milk, condensed milk, glutinous rice
flour and water.
For uniquely Filipino recipes such as crema de
fruta, coconut gulaman cooler, ube taho or strawberry taho jelly, champurrado
jelly pudding, among others, check out Mr. Hat Gulaman’s recipes here – https://seanlucinc.com/recipes/?category=mr-hat-gulaman.
With its unique blend of carrageenan, sugar,
and other flavorings, Mr. Hat Gulaman’s jelly powders can be used to make a
variety of traditional fiesta desserts. Mr. Hat Gulaman’s jelly powders are
versatile, easy to use, and perfect for all your meryenda needs. Whether you’re celebrating a local fiesta or simply
looking for a refreshing summer treat, Mr. Hat Gulaman has got you covered.
Make your own traditional and memorable fiesta
drinks and dessert menu using tropical gulaman
flavors such as buko pandan, mango, orange, lychee, strawberry, grape and even
coffee.
Match the colorful fiesta colors and create
your own distinct flavor using Mr. Hat Gulaman’s unflavored gulaman which comes in black, orange,
yellow, white, red and green colors.
Distinctly
Pinoy
Mr. Hat Gulaman is a popular dessert ingredient
in the Philippines that can be used to make a variety of sweet treats, such as
jelly, flan, pudding and other types of desserts.
Seanluc, Inc., a food and beverage
manufacturer with its headquarters in the Philippines and a number of goods,
makes Mr. Hat Gulaman. The best natural seaweed extract is used to make its
jelly powder. Carrageenan, sugar, flavorings, and colorings are all used in its
production. A frequent ingredient used in food items as a gelling agent is
carrageenan, a sort of seaweed-derived substance.
Money is not an issue with Mr. Hat Gulaman.
For your fiesta and regular meryenda meals, get all Mr. Hat Gulaman flavors! Lazada, Shopee,
and other national retailers all sell Mr. Hat Gulaman.
Visit the Mr. Hat Gulaman Website for additional information. On TikTok
and Facebook,
follow Mr. Hat Gulaman.
How to
cook: (my own version of Mr. Gulaman)
Prepare six (6) cups or 1.5 liters of water (not warm or hot) in a casserole.
Gradually sprinkle one sachet of Mr. Hat Gulaman in water and stir until dissolved.
Heat. Stir constantly until it boils, “add sugar or milk to sweeten, I also add pineapple to add flavor on the gulaman.
And we’re live: HOTTEST
international acts arriving on Philippine shores
Enjoy an exciting live performance from HONNE to heat up
your summer. This May, the popular electronic pop duo will perform a solo show
in the Philippines! Sway to their romantic tunes like Day 1 and no song without
you with your special someone.
Continue the festivities till July, live out
your summertime fantasies of gorgeous girls and boys, and let Sabrina Carpenter
unleash your inner pop diva. The rising American singer-songwriter is visiting
the country with her emails. I can’t tour, which includes the chart-topping hit
song Nonsense.
Ready to go full-on concert mode? Don’t hit the
stage without first jamming to This is HONNE and This Is Sabrina Carpenter playlists. With
all their essential tracks in one spot, you’ll be belting out lyrics and
busting moves like the ultimate fan that you are!
And did you know that Spotify is also fans’ go-to
resource for finding concerts they love? The app’s Live Events Hub lets you find concert listings based on your
location and favorite artists. Make sure to check out the hub and browse more
concerts happening in Manila!
Not to be missed: HOTTEST K-Pop
Girls making their stops in Manila
It’s time for third-gen stans to make some noise
— as our favorite K-Pop girl groups are coming to town! Red Velvet is set to ignite
the stage with their Red Velvet 4th Concert: R
to V
global tour, bringing their iconic summer hit, Red Flavor.
TWICE will also be hitting the Philippine stage in
September with their Ready To Be World Tour. Practice your
fan chants now, Filo ONCEs with Spotify’s This Is TWICE playlist — where
you can find all of the girls’ hits including their latest Set Me Free.
If you are a multi-stan — fret not! You can plan
your own K-Concert calendar by simply tapping the “Interested” button on the artist’s upcoming show. Spotify also
sends Fan First Emails to engaged
users, which gives them priority access to concert pre-sales and merch
exclusives — so make sure you follow and stream your K-pop idols for the chance
to be recognized as a top listener and receive these perks.
In the podcast world: Cool down
with Spotify’s Hottest content creator
Chikahan with your online bestie Nana Silayro is
the perfect way to beat the heat. Nana and Tom encourage their listeners to
explore and kulayan na ang mga drawing na gala in the most recent episode of Talking Nansense with Nana
Silayro! They open up about their favorite travel adventures and
even catastrophes to reassure listeners that it’s okay if their vacations don’t
go as planned. Keep watching until the very end to catch their brand-new “pakulong” section, which aims
to help viewers bond with their #PabibongBestie even more.
With the help of our favorite “charot” reader, Macoy Dubs,
increase your serotonin levels. He’s cooking up a special Sizzling Aries episode
this month with content producers Pipay and Baus Rufo as they explore the
distinctive and fiery characteristics of this sign. Be sure to watch their
Sizzling Question segment where they pose hot-button issues to influencers and
famous people like Sassa Gurl, Kween Yasmin, and James Reid.
The time has come to explore the famed Tubbataha Reefs
Natural Park.
The best time for clear skies, calm seas, and 30-40 meter
visibility is from now to mid-June, so hurry up and put on your fins.
What awaits you there once you arrive?
Over huge coral walls that descend more than 100 meters,
schools of tropical fish, turtles, and reef sharks swim. They share their
underwater playground with more than 600 kinds of fish, 360 varieties of coral,
100 varieties of seabirds, and 13 varieties of dolphins and whales.
How did the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park avoid the Coral
Triangle’s other reefs’ fate of being completely bleached out? Two answers for
that.
The reef’s distant location in the Sulu Sea, southeast of
Banwa Private Island, is the first drawback. Next is a Filipina by the name of
Angelique Songco. In her first dive at the reef, 40 years ago, Angelique was an
instructor. She saw firsthand people catching turtle and bird eggs while using
dynamite and cyanide for fishing, despite the fact that the reef had already
been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by that point. She was so upset
that she took over as Director of the Tubbataha National Park Management Board
to make things right. The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is one of the top dive
locations in the world as a result of her tireless efforts and those of her
group of devoted ex-army personnel.
A liveaboard dive boat or a private yacht can take you from
Puerto Princesa to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. For a genuine Tubbataha
Reefs Natural Park dive experience, a minimum of three nights and four days are
required due to its remote location.
Now is the time to dive in and embark on an adventure in an
astonishing underwater garden that has survived against all odds! After a dive
trip, Banwa Private Island makes a wonderful pit stop for some well-deserved
R&R.
Contact the bookings
team by phone or WhatsApp at +639178882864, send an email to
[email protected], or visit their website for additional
details.
On April 22, 2023, SM Supermalls nationwide
joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day along with its corporate
social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), local government entities, partner schools, and
organizations.
With the slogan “Invest In Our Planet,
Invest In Our Youth,” SM Supermalls and SM Cares planned a number of
events to educate kids and their families about the value of working together
across different industries to protect the environment. 350 employee volunteers
and 1700 kids participated in festivities that were timely and meaningful at SM
malls across the country. Activities included sustainability tours, coloring,
and children’s storytelling. The purpose of these activities was to inspire
everyone in the family, especially the children, to appreciate and preserve
Mother Earth.
Earth Day is an annual celebration led by the
Earth Day Network that puts the spotlight on issues that are affecting the
environment. First held in 1970, Earth Day was the result of a need for a
unified response against various environmental problems like pollution and
resource depletion. Today, the event is considered the biggest environmental
movement in the world, with millions joining celebrations every year.
Children learn about how to protect the environment individually and as a community through art, storytelling and a Sustainability tour around SM malls
“At SM,
every day is Earth Day. However, today we are reminded of our responsibility to
protect the planet we live in. We believe that we must all come together and
take the necessary steps against this climate crisis and accelerate a greener
and more equitable future for everyone,” shared Ms.
Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM
Cares Program Director for the Environment.
SM Supermalls featured the art of
multi-awarded Filipino artist, sculptor and illustrator, Manuel Baldemor. His
works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in
multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and Earth Day poem inspired the
Earth Day program at SM, reflecting a long-time partnership on SM Cares
programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM’s first eco bags
in 2007.
The storytelling activity featured a special
Earth Day story based on Baldemor’s artworks. The story reflected simple ways
children can participate in living sustainably on their own and with their
families. Meanwhile, kids and kids-at-heart were welcomed at the coloring
activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of
Baldemor’s drawings to color in. Malls used recycled materials in designing the
activity areas.
And to cap off the celebration, a
sustainability tour was held wherein everyone participated in a guided tour to
one or more of the mall’s eco-friendly facilities such as the EV charging
stations, water recycling treatment plants, waste segregation bins, Plastic
Waste Collection booths, E-waste Collection bins and various bicycle amenities.
Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor’s artistic contribution provide inspiration for the Earth Day program. Joining him at SM City Fairview were DENR NCR Director Mr. Manuel T. Escasura; Quezon City Vice Mayor, Honorable Gian Sotto; Ms. Andrea Villaroman, Head of the Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, Planet CORA’s Partnerships Director, Cat Trivino and SM Supermalls executives.
To highlight the role of collaborating with
the public sector in driving environmental programs forward, SM City Fairview
hosted the DENR Gawad Taga-ilog Awards photo exhibit, which recognized winning
local government units who are leading in protecting Metro Manila’s waterways.
The agency also further provided 800 tree seedlings to participants and
customers through a DENR Community Pan-TREE to encourage at SM Megamall, SM
Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City
Marikina, SM City East Ortigas and SM Southmall.
The Quezon City Climate Change and
Environmental Sustainability Department also promoted the city’s Trash to
Cashback program to encourage its citizens to be Eco Warriors and promote
recycling.
Youth participants join forces with SM Supermalls for a sustainable future.
The Earth Day celebration is just one of the
numerous ways that SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the
company has other programs aimed at helping care for the environment. These are
the Trash to Cash Recycling Market held every first Friday and Saturday of the
month; daily water recycling systems, and environmental campaigns such as the
Green Film Festival, Green Retail Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup
Drive, just to name a few.
The corporate social responsibility division
of SM Prime Holdings, known as SM Cares, is in charge of programs that advance
sustainability and community growth. In addition to its activities on the
environment, SM Cares also advocates for women and breastfeeding mothers,
people with disabilities, senior citizens, children, and youth, as well as the
Bike-Friendly SM initiative.
Metro Manila is comprised of 16 cities and 1 municipality – is the economic, political, and cultural capital.
The effects of increased urbanization pose a threat to Metro
Manila’s predicted status as a world power. Climate change, natural disasters
that impair urban infrastructure and city competitiveness, unequal livability,
job creation, and poverty reduction are some of the effects listed by
UN-Habitat.
Does there exist a solution to Metro Manila’s problems?
Chintan Raveshia, an architect and urban designer, and Tony Chan, an urban
planner and sustainability consultant at Arup in Singapore, underline that
while planning an urban area, citizens’ goals, changing requirements and
expectations, and national identity should all be taken into account.
Finding the identity
of the city
Raveshia inspires responsible stakeholders to ask themselves
first the most fundamental question: “What’s
the identity of the city and how do we make its residents proud?”
He quips, “Singapore,
a city that is high on everyone’s liveability list, is also working with
citizens and grass roots organizations to inculcate a sense of ‘lovability’ for
the city. This helps to strengthen the societal bond, increase equity, improve
community safety, and exude pride and a feeling of ownership of the city
amongst the residents. The balance of liveability, efficiency, and lovability
paves the way for a true success of our cities in this climate emergency era”.
Melbourne is considered by many experts as one of the most liveable cities for the past decade.
If Singapore reclaims lands for more affordable housing and
increased integrated city developments and Melbourne builds accessible green
spaces to promote social interaction, what plans would best fit Metro Manila’s
sustainable and livable future while maintaining its identity? Here are five
urban development aspirations Filipinos hope for the country’s main political
and economic hub.
1. Accessibility across all social classes
While Metro Manila is the Philippines’ major economic driver
– accounting for 32% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – it’s often
challenged in sustaining accessible living conditions for residents across all
social classes. UK-based The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Metro
Manila 105th out of 139 cities in the Global Liveability Index 2022. The
increasing population density in Metro Manila has resulted in some
inconveniences in daily conditions like vehicular traffic situations, least
green open spaces, high carbon footprint, inaccessibility to affordable
housing, and unequal income opportunities.
Urban planners and developers suggest mixed-use planning in
the metropolis and coastal developments because they are crucial to achieving
the 15-minute concept. Here, residents across all walks of life are encouraged
to live a healthy, affordable, and sustainable lifestyle because residential,
commercial, and office spaces are integrated within a single development.
2. Open green spaces for a healthy and sustainable living
environment
Despite land scarcity, Singapore manages to be one of the greenest cities in the world with over 400 parks, more than 3,300 hectares of nature reserve, and over 300 kilometers of park connector network.
Studies shows that Metro Manila has only 5 square meters of
green space available per person, this number is well below the 9 square meters
set by the World Health Organization.COVID-19 had the entire world reassess
their health conditions, lifestyle practices, and environmental situations. The
impact was even more drastic in Metro Manila due to population density, crowded
space, and insufficient parks and open areas.
Aside from improving air quality and enhancing biodiversity,
green spaces also moderate temperatures during the warm season.
3. Enhancing Human health and wellbeing
Cities with sufficient healthcare facilities, access to
health coverage, and infrastructures that enhance well-being and promote a
healthy lifestyle, produce prosperous societies.
The way cities are planned, designed, and executed has a
crucial impact on how people live as it presents opportunities and effects on
their lifestyles and overall well-being. While there is evident progress in
Metro Manila’s health sector, rapid urbanization continues to pose risks in
communities due to challenges in overcrowded neighborhoods, vehicular
emissions, heavy traffic, pollution, and flood-prone areas.
4. Resilient community
Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, and
systems to adapt, survive, and grow in the face of stress and shocks, and even
transform when conditions require it. Relevant dimensions under the City
Resilience Index (https://www.cityresilienceindex.org)
by the Rockefeller Foundation & Arup, other dimensions include Health &
Well Being, Economy & Society, Infrastructure & Environment as well as
Leadership & Strategy
As Philippines and Manila grows, we face a dual challenge of
adapting to climate change and the need to alter development strategies that
are increasingly contributing to global warming. Philippines is among the top
10 countries in the world most affected by climate change in the past 20 years,
according to the Global Climate Risk Index As an archipelago, impacts resulting
from climate change are immense. In addition, metro Manila’s safety and
resilience are endangered by various natural disasters.
Natural disasters persist every season due to our
geographical location.
Well-planned and executed urban designs have the power to
build safe and resilient communities in Metro Manila. Infrastructures like proper bike lanes and
walkable streets ensure residents’ safety, accessibility, and comfort, whereas
science and technology-based solutions that can build flexible structures,
multi-use systems, and technologies can help residents adapt and prepare for
changing conditions.
5. Global and competitive city
In 2022, Singapore is placed 3rd in the World Competitiveness Ranking – the small country out of Asia even placed 1st in 2019 and 2020.
Metro Manila is one of Asia’s premier regions. As the
country’s engine growth driver, it has growing investments in infrastructures
and multitudes of business investments and developments.
The metropolis’ rising potential can further step up by
following global models like Singapore, Melbourne, and Hong Kong which created
several integrated cities and coastal developments that ushered in a vibrant
economy and paved for a better urban lifestyle. These visions create an avenue
to further increase opportunities for jobs, better education, better lifestyle,
and bustling economic activities.
These can contribute to the Philippines’ national and local
economies by driving tourism and infrastructure development while also creating
equitable and inclusive communities. These, in turn, create a wider room of
opportunities and, therefore, attracts more talent.
Building inclusive
and sustainable growth centers
Communities will be revitalized when introduced to
well-designed, master-planned, and implemented initiatives if all stakeholders
are heard and taken into account. Because it encourages more inclusive growth
and makes the urban environment an extension of their homes, this will have a
long-term effect on Metro Manila’s future and its citizens.
A city is moving toward competitiveness and unlocked future
potential when it accepts its history, celebrates its landmarks, innovates and
adopts for the future, and most importantly, nourishes its citizens and
responds to their desires.
How about you? What do you want your city to be like?
