Four Tanduay Rum brands won top awards at the SIP Awards in 2022, the only wine and spirits competition with a consumer-led judging panel.

“The customer is your most important judge,” the SIP Awards stated on its website, “which is why we remain committed to offering one of the most trustworthy measurements of beverage quality rating in the world” (www.sipawards.com).

Tanduay Distillers, Inc. is a company that produces distilled spirits. Executive Vice President Kyle Tan, who oversees the company’s export operations, expressed gratitude for the positive feedback from both consumers and critics.

“This goes to show how we pay much attention to the quality of our rums and we are proud to say that all its ingredients are sourced from the Philippines where the tropical weather contributes to its fine tastes,” he said.

Tanduay’s Winning Rums

Especia Spiced Rum and Tanduay Asian Rum Silver both received the competition’s Platinum Award. The award is given to spirits that “represent a distinguished class that earned exceptional marks from consumer judges.”

The former is the newest product from Tanduay. Introduced to select markets only last March, it also received a double gold in the San Diego Spirits Festival.

Tanduay Asian Rum Silver, meanwhile, is one of the rum brand’s most-awarded products. It has received honors from top international spirits competitions and has 12 Monde Selection medals to its name.

Another favorite in international contests, Tanduay Double Rum, received the Silver and Innovation Awards. SIP’s Innovation Award is given to spirits with an interesting and unique taste profile or design.

Tanduay Asian Rum Gold also received the Silver Award from the contest.

Further Boost to Growing Export Business

“We would like to thank the SIP Awards, especially the consumer judges, for recognizing the quality of our rums. This gives our international expansion a big boost,” said Tan.

As of this writing, Tanduay has entered the rum markets of 12 U.S. states and the territory of Guam, the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

“Tanduay has been loved by Filipinos for decades. It’s time to let the world know about it as it is a product that showcases the country’s best local ingredients and its people’s craftsmanship and ingenuity,” Tan said.

Tanduay is a Southeast Asian heritage brand noted for its stunning beaches and welcoming people. It was founded in 1854 and is one of just a handful Filipino businesses to celebrate its centenary year. The rum brand has won awards from international spirits competitions since the 1800s.

The UnionBank GlobalLinker (UBGL) Online Academy, a collaboration between UBGL and the Retail Academy of the Philippines (RAP), recently hosted a free webinar for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to impart skills that will help them survive in the digital age. Eric Caeg, RAP President and Founder, was the keynote speaker. His discussion, titled “The Market Opportunity Navigator: Steps for Discovering Your Most Valuable Market Opportunities,” covered how entrepreneurs may identify and assess unexplored markets in order to expand their businesses.

“MSMEs really are the key in ensuring the steady recovery of our economy in the next few years. Clearly, we must all work together in creating an environment where they can succeed,” said Jaypee Soliman, VP and CXG-SME and Micropreneurs Segment head, UnionBank.  “The UBGL Online Academy is all about championing education and growth for the Filipino MSMEs, and this webinar is just the beginning of an exciting journey with us,” adds Soliman.

Citing a framework developed by educator-authors Sharon Tal and Marc Gruber, Caeg discussed how this can be applied to local businesses and cited a few case studies on how the scheme can be maximized.

The framework consists of three main steps, each represented by its own template. The first is the Market Opportunity Set, which as the name suggests, entrepreneurs can use to identify potential market opportunities. This is followed by the Attractiveness Map, used to evaluate the appeal of each market opportunity in the first step. The template features a compass characterized by four extremes: Gold Mine, Moon Shot, Quick Win, and Questionable.

The last is the Agile Focus Dartboard, used to identify the Agile Focus Strategy. The template consists of three layers to define the opportunities that can be pursued right away, as well as those that can be saved as backup or utilized for future growth.

Caeg explains, “Know how important it is to apply the Market Opportunity Navigator whenever you need to re-think your strategy — to make sure that you are running and going towards the right direction and at the same time, remain agile while doing all of these steps.”

The webinar was the first of two free offerings from the UBGL Online Academy, a two-pronged program for MSMEs’ ongoing education. Podcasts and deep-dive MSME modules are two other free mediums available to registrants. I am so glad that I was able to join and acquire knowledge from the webinar, it is indeed such a wonderful insight to learn. This webinar helps me to have deeper understanding more about market opportunities and such things.

With a “home beside the mall” lifestyle,  Joy Residences in SM City Baliwag Bulacan is the perfect embodiment of a 15-minute city, where everything you may ever need is just around the corner — be it dining, shopping, and entertainment options, places of work, educational institutions, or other essential establishments.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC), a noted leader in the real estate business, is now bringing its newest mid-rise residential garden communities in progressive areas countrywide, dedicated to providing Filipinos with homes that grow with them and last a lifetime.

Bulacan, Laguna, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro are among the important economic corridors where these master-planned complexes would be present. These important locations are low-density places where large firms and government infrastructure projects are sprouting, providing citizens with a diverse range of economic prospects as well as comprehensive lifestyle options. As I acquired knowledge from this newest project from SM, I was totally amazed at how innovative and important it is to have a great home for us and our family. As they go live, they explained how this new project will help many people to live a comfortable life as they expand their ideas, and will make sure it will be a great investment for everyone.

The hotel-like lobby at Glade Residences in Jaro, Iloilo City, uses earth tones for its furniture, and is embellished with textures that resemble natural elements. One look at this biophilic design exemplifies just exactly why a touch of nature makes any space more airy and inviting, and thus, more conducive for an improved mood and productive social interactions.

This is to meet the ever-changing needs of Filipino home buyers, especially with the pandemic accentuating the importance of health and wellness-related location features and well-being amenities.

Calm Residences in Santa Rosa City, Laguna — just like any other SMDC mid-rise residential garden community — boasts an abundance of open spaces and greeneries where residents could breathe in fresh, clean air, as they lead an active, healthy lifestyle with their families.

As such, SMDC’s mid-rise residential garden communities revolve around green living and sustainability. The integration of commercial spaces, together with walkability within and beyond these developments, ensure that investors are granted a safe, secure, convenient, and comfortable modern lifestyle.

True to the SMDC trademark of democratizing homeownership and making the luxurious affordable, these mid-rise residential garden communities are at very attainable price points —  making them the perfect home for young individuals and start-up families.

A Lifetime Investment

SMDC’s multi-pronged approach to sustainability — combining environmental, social, and economic aspects — serves as the bedrock for these mid-rise residential garden developments’ claim as lifetime investments.

For instance, environmental sustainability is practiced in the installation of LED lights that enable lower power consumption, and the abundance of windows for natural light and ventilation.

Economic sustainability, on the other hand, is demonstrated through programs such as ‘The Good Guys Weekend Market’ that encourages stakeholders’ entrepreneurial spirit, and ‘The Good Guys Job Market’ that opens up employment opportunities for them. In addition, SMDC’s end-to-end property management and leasing services ensure that their developments continue to appreciate in value, be it through capital appreciation or rental income.

Resort-style amenities — such as swimming pools, pavilions, and a clubhouse — are made available at Vail Residences in Uptown, Cagayan De Oro City to give you a plethora of options for recreation that double as spaces to socialize.

Finally, social sustainability is exhibited through living spaces and community events that encourage social interaction among the residents.

All of this helps SMDC achieve its goal of creating and maintaining sustainable communities while also alleviating the Philippines’ housing shortage. SMDC achieves its larger purpose of becoming a catalyst for economic growth and nation-building by doing so.

Eden Awaits: Step Into Modern Paradise with SMDC’s Mid-Rise Residential Garden Communities, a discussion about green homes, their good benefits on Filipinos’ lives, and their financial possibilities, explains more. Aubrey Miles, a famous parent, is on the panel, as is Roy Golez of Leechiu Property Consultants, a real estate expert, and Cyrill Marzo, SMDC’s AVP for Architectural Design Management & Review. Only on SMDC’s Facebook page, hosted by Mica Pineda.

Follow SMDC on  Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, or go to their official SMDC website  for additional information.

About SM Development Corporation (SMDC)

SMDC is the largest and fastest-growing real estate developer in the Philippines. Championing perfectly integrated commercial and residential environments, SMDC provides every Filipino and its investors access to a sustainable and attainable cosmopolitan lifestyle. Through masterfully planned and award-winning complete developments, SMDC has been providing the dream homes of Filipinos in Metro Manila and other key cities in the Philippines.

BPI Foundation remains committed to be at the forefront of social entrepreneurship in the country through its Sinag program.

The BPI Foundation, the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) social development arm, has formally started the 8th iteration of its flagship initiative, BPI Sinag, which promotes the country’s social enterprise (SE) sector. The program’s topic this year is BPI Sinag Evolution, and it intends to increase its impact and achieve equitable and sustainable growth by using a multi-stakeholder strategy for the first time, highlighting three key pillars: social entrepreneurs, educators, and intervenors or sub-sectors. This year, the BPI Foundation has committed Php3 million in cash grants to these pillars.

I was so fortunate to be invited here and acquired so much information about the discussion that tackles. I was enlightened with so much information and ideas and so grateful that they aim to innovate more to improve their services.

The National Social Enterprise Development Roadmap is also connected with BPI Sinag Evolution, which was one of Sinag Spark’s accomplishments last year, transforming the roadmap strategies into feasible initiatives. The BPI Sinag program, which began in 2015, was designed as a commercial challenge for social entrepreneurs (SEs). It has now grown into a thriving ecosystem that brings together not just the country’s visionary entrepreneurs, but also mentors, investors, and other stakeholders, all with the same aim of achieving equitable and sustainable growth through social entrepreneurship.

Over the years, the program has supported 238 SEs nationwide and awarded over Php20 million cash grants to help them strengthen their enterprises, widen their reach, and further uplift the lives of their communities.

“Evolution best represents the enhancements in our Sinag program over time to better address the needs of the broader SE ecosystem,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “Doing well by doing good as an economic and social imperative is more relevant now more than ever. This is the perfect time to increase our collective efforts to become more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable when doing business. This is the essence why we strongly support social enterprises.”

Delighted to continue its long-time partnership with BPI Foundation in empowering social enterprises, Bayan Academy President and Chairman Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo said, “BPI Foundation together with Bayan Academy and other program partners will contribute and make available suitable resources to assist social enterprises in their journey to evolve. The BPI Sinag Evolution program fully supports the promotion of an enabling environment so social enterprises cannot just merely survive, and it doesn’t stop at thriving, but also allowing them to evolve.”

During the virtual launch, four Sinag alumni, JT Solis of Mayani, Catherine Diquit of Likhang Maragondon, Cecille Virtucio of Batangas Egg Producers Cooperation, and Lorielinda Bella Rago-Marte of Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association also talked about their experiences on how the program helped grow their social enterprises. “Kami ay maliit na social enterprise lamang and we are only months-old noong sumali kami dito. Because of BPI Sinag, we had a better understanding kung ano ba ang social enterprise. We met so many inspiring people. Nagkaroon kami ng better connections and network. The funding that we got from BPI Sinag really help us kasi ngayon nakapagpagawa na kami ng manufacturing hub,” said Ms. Catherine Diquit of Likhang Maragondon.

Together with its main implementing partner, Bayan Academy, BPI Foundation will continue its partnerships with BPI’s microfinance arm, BPI BanKo, together with Ayala Land, Start Up Village, and Villgro Philippines. As part of the program’s evolution, the foundation also sealed a collaboration with Entrego to boost the market access of SEs by providing reliable logistic solutions for the safe and timely delivery of their products.

Business challenge for social enterprises

The “Sinag Evolution” business challenge will open its doors again to social enterprises. Of 60 SEs who will qualify for the bootcamps and mentoring sessions, the Top 25 will be shortlisted for the selection of the Top 10, who will receive as much as Php300,000 cash grant.

Aside from the cash grants, BPI Foundation will provide Sinag SEs with an MBA-like experience through virtual mentoring sessions, which will include sessions on business strategy and planning, marketing, operations, finance, organization & HR development, and social innovation, among others. Sinag SEs will also benefit from market access through the Sinag Sari-Sari Store in Ayala malls nationwide through its partnership with Alagang Ayala Land.

The business challenge is open to social entrepreneurs who are 18 years old and above leading a registered social enterprise that has been operating for at least six months. The application period will run until June 30, 2022.

New offerings for the academe and sub-sectors

With the multi-stakeholder approach, the “Sinag Evolution” will also give opportunities to the members of the academe and the support intervenors of SEs through a customized management program and competition.

Aiming to encourage academic institutions to be at the active forefront of social entrepreneurship, BPI Foundation offers the BPI Sinag Social Entrepreneurship and Management Course for Educators. The course, which will focus on effective methodologies in teaching social entrepreneurship management, is open to the members of the academe, including school heads, administrators, and lead teachers who specialize in general entrepreneurship and business management.

The deadline for applications is on June 10, 2022, while the training will be from June 13 to 17. The participating educators will then submit their proposals and present them to an esteemed panel of judges. Five educators with the best proposals will win a cash grant of Php100,000 each.

For the SE Intervenors and Subs-sectors, BPI Foundation aims to collaborate with various organizations, including corporate foundations, NGOs, civil society organizations, and other government agencies, in promulgating social entrepreneurship as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.

The participants will have the opportunity to learn about social entrepreneurship management and frameworks that may be implemented in the communities they support. They will also be invited to propose plans for incorporating social entrepreneurship into their current activities in order to improve social impact in the communities they serve.

The five-day bootcamp will take place from August 22 to 26, 2022, and interested participants can register until August 12, 2022. Each of the five competitors with the most plausible solutions will get a Php100,000 cash prize.

Visit https://www.bpifoundation.org/page/bpi-sinag for more information about Sinag Evolution, and follow BPI Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.