Made It Through Mum

  President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recognizes the 10 winners of the Galing Pook Foundation 2022 at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace. He commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. With them in the photo are: Galing Pook Foundation chairman Mel Sarmiento, Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.  Ten outstanding local governance programs were recognized in the 2022 Galing Pook Awards held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace last Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Galing Pook Foundation with its co-presenters SM Prime Holdings Inc., and the DILG-Local Government Academy, and sponsors Cebu Pacific and Airspeed named local government units from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that promote innovation and excellence. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. He stressed how strong collaboration between the publi...

Grapes are a big part of my childhood. My mom would buy a lot of grapes to go with her homemade fruit salad, especially during Christmas. Then she would hang some of them on our windows and doors for prosperity for the coming year. This was according to tradition and there was no harm in doing so, she added. Now that I'm an adult, I continue to carry on that tradition. Grapes are ALWAYS present during the holiday season, though I prefer to enjoy them fresh and not hang them for the critters to feast on, hehe. Prosperity follows if you have a happy and healthy life. Eat them grapes!  My family LOVES grapes. They’re a staple in our household even after the holidays. Grapes also keep us and the kids energized and hydrated. Snacking on them has become a habit. We particularly enjoy Grapes from California. Oh my, THEY ARE GOOD! The best grapes we have ever tasted. We’ve tried other grapes, but Grapes from California are on a league of their own: super sweet, fresh, firm, plump, and ...

SM school building in Sorsogon City More than just an area where students gather to hold classes, a school environment plays a vital role in learners’ cognitive development. Research has shown that with an environment conducive to learning, students increase their attention and focus, and they are more motivated to practice higher-level critical thinking skills. Adamant to provide students with venues where they can fully hone their skills and knowledge, SM Foundation (SMFI)—the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group—cemented its partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) in 2002 through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program. Through this, SMFI builds SM school buildings in grassroot communities, complete with basic furniture and equipment. More so, SMFI integrates specialized features to each SM school building to address the unique needs of their school recipients—some received rooms dedicated as a guidance office, a clinic, a mini-library, and some even got a water t...

Excited na inabangan ang pagbubukas ng BDO Network Bank branch sa bayan ng Malalag, Davao del Sur dahil may malapit ng bangko at ATM na mapupuntahan ang Malalagueños para sa kanilang financial needs.   Dahil sa pagbubukas ng BDO Network Bank sa Malalag, sinabi ni Municipal Vice Mayor Ervin S. Emphasis na abot-kamay na ngayon ang banking products at services tulad ng savings/deposit account, MSME loan, Salary loan at iba pa sa kanyang mga kababayan na malaking tulong sa kanilang pag-asenso.  Mabibigyan din ng oportunidad ang MSMEs na mapalago at mapalaki pa ang kanilang negosyo na makakatulong sa pagbubukas ng mas maraming trabaho para sa Malalagueños.   Ang BDO Network Bank sa Malalag ang pang-labinlimang branch ng bangko sa buong Davao del Sur. Layunin ng BDO Network Bank, ang community bank ng BDO Unibank, na maabot at mabigyan ang mga mangingisda, minero, at magsasaka ng oportunidad na umunlad ang kanilang kabuhayan at g...

Exciting deals, short film competition are on; new iPhone 14 and other prizes up for grabs This holiday season, Power Mac Center (PMC) is inviting everyone to celebrate by making time for the people they treasure the most. Because showing up means showing love, the Apple Premium Reseller supports customers by launching its holiday promos and a special short film competition, wherein it will be giving away a brand-new iPhone 14 and more. “Presence is the best present this Christmas—perhaps even more than any other occasion. This is the time when people are collectively feeling lighter, merrier, and more hopeful about their dreams. And so, we are honoring the best of the season by celebrating the stories of togetherness that are uniquely ours, as well as offering our customers great deals on Apple devices and accessories to gift themselves or their loved ones with,” said Joey Alvarez, PMC Director of Product Management and Marketing. With the theme “Presence and Presents,” PMC’s hol...

BDO Trust and Investments Group (BDO Trust) wins the Asset Management Award for the 5th straight year at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards.  BDO Trust continues to demonstrate its leadership in product and service innovation through constant improvements on its investment offerings such as the BDO Pension 360, a new take on corporate pension fund management.  Known as an industry first, BDO Pension 360 is a comprehensive corporate retirement plan solution designed to help companies fulfill retirement benefit obligations efficiently while encouraging loyalty from employees and improving their talent recruitment and retention outcomes. Another newly created product is BDO Money Manager, designed to help retail clients develop a well-diversified portfolio to reach their long term investment goals.  Enhancements are also being carried out to enable customers have full mobile access on BDO UITF (Unit Investment Trust Funds) and PERA (Personal Equity and Retirem...

Leaders of Henry Sy Foundation Inc. (HSFI), led by the Sy family Harley Sy, Hans Sy, Elizabeth Sy, Debbie Sy, Tessie Sy, Henry Sy Jr, Engr. Ramon Gil Macapagal, formalize its partnership with the University of Sto. Tomas Rector Fr. Richard Gaw Ang, OP, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Domingo, Fr. Angel Aparicio, OP, Fr. Maximo Gatela, OP A new structure will soon rise on UST main campus in Manila to respond to the needs of digital medical education. Pursuing its objective of driving Philippine social development by fostering the youth and the culture of excellence through education, the Henry Sy Foundation, Inc. (HSFI) recently inked a partnership with the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Research and Endowment Foundation to construct a building that elevates health education in the country. Named in honor of the late SM Founder, the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall of UST is a landmark for the Philippines' relentless push towards cutting edge medical innovation. It is expected to cater to the needs of digital...

Take this Canva Quiz to Plan for Your Best Christmas Yet For many Pinoys, celebrating Christmas for the past two years came with limitations due to the pandemic. Now, with restrictions being lifted, many Christmas traditions are making a comeback, including everyone’s favorite Christmas party and exchange gift tradition. The excitement to celebrate and reunite with your favorite Christmas kabarkada is definitely in the air. What better way to celebrate than to make sure everyone feels just how much you miss them? Here’s how you can make your Christmas celebration extra fun and meaningful with Canva: For the reliable planner  Do you love to plan and convince everyone to get together this Christmas? From choosing the venue and budgeting and splitting your bills to taking care of the food or checking everyone’s availability, you are the group’s go-to person when it comes to organizing a party! You’ll definitely benefit from having a party checklist so you don’t miss out on any deta...

" Retirement is a time to experience a fulfilling life derived from many enjoyable and rewarding activities"- Ernie Zelin MOST Filipinos remain unresponsive to retirement planning even when its importance has been highlighted, time and again, by experts.  The lack or insufficient understanding of its benefits remains the primary reason, followed by personal choices, life situations and mindsets. For the working class, in particular, the 2019/2020 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey conducted by Willis Towers Watson indicated that in terms of retirement readiness, more than 50% of surveyed employees bared they were not heading in the right direction when it comes to retirement savings. While they allocate a portion of their savings for retirement, they are still saving less than they ideally should. Employees tend to rely on their employers’ plan for their retirement security, which include the payment of social security benefits and the mandatory retirement pay. These, howe...

It’s the season of giving and there’s no better time to start looking for the perfect presents for those who matter most. While the holiday rush is upon us, there’s no reason to take on the stress of heading out into the crowds when there’s a hassle-free alternative from The Goodwill Market. The online shopping site will deliver your handpicked gifts just as promptly as Santa, right to your doorstep. All you need to do is to make a list, and check it twice. The Goodwill Market has choices of thoughtful packages that will suit your gift-giving needs, with choices that are sure to please family and friends. Here are the bundles of joy that are available for this Christmas.    The Merry Holiday Bundle . If you want to make sure that there’s something for each member of the family, try this happy hamper filled with goodies such as Gullon Bio Organic Avena Oats and Wheat, Gullon Bio Organic 4 grains with Spelt, CH White Coffee Rich 3 in 1, CH Kokoo Peppermint, Nutri Brown R...

BDO Unibank has opened a branch in Sorsogon to support the growing banking needs of clients in one of Bicol region’s leading urban cities.  The full-service branch, which is located in SM City Sorsogon, is BDO’s 33rd branch in Bicolandia. It can serve the personal investment, sending and receiving of funds, and financial planning needs of individuals, as well as extend loans to businesses for their expansion activities. Self-service options are also available via digital and online banking facilities to give clients alternative channels to do their banking transactions inside the branch.  BDO provides banking solutions to clients through combination of physical and digital banking services in the branches.  Since it is located in SM, the branch also offers extended banking hours for added convenience to clients who would like to do their shopping and banking chores simultaneously. Located in the Bicol peninsula, Sorsogon City is the capital of the province of Sorsogon....

Air Fryer Potato Bibingka It’s the BER months and the holiday season is in full swing so I decided to make one of my favorite Pinoy Christmas delicacies – the delicious bibingka. Do not fret, this delicious bibingka is a dish you can easily make at home! Topped with salted eggs, and grated coconut, this classic Filipino rice cake is the ultimate Christmas treat! My version is not your traditional bibingka because its main ingredient is… POTATO! Yes, not rice flour or “galapong”, but U.S. dehydrated or instant potato. Intrigued? It's very simple to make. A must-try!  Why use potatoes? The spud is a superstar in more ways than one. Potatoes, particularly U.S. potatoes, are the stuff kitchen dreams are made of, whether you’re in-charge of cooking or the eating. • Heath-wise, potatoes contain vitamin C, potassium, iron, vitamin B6, protein and dietary fiber. Great for the body and the belly! • Three U.S. potato forms are available in the Philippines: fresh or table-stock, frozen, a...

  There are countless ways to personalize your kitchen for a   warm and inviting vibe. But beyond the aesthetics, an even more important consideration is functionality where all the appliances you’d need regularly deliver the benefits they were designed for. With the right appliances, even the most complicated tasks become enjoyable and easier to accomplish.   Taking into account the convenience that families need in running their households, Midea (pronounced mai-dia), the leader in intelligent home solutions and the world’s no.1 in small cooking appliance brand as recognized by Euromonitor International in 2021, presents a wide range of surprisingly friendly and innovative small kitchen appliances that not only look sleek and modern but are sure to make any kitchen chore a breeze.  For instance, if you have a busy schedule, then you know that simple meal prep can turn into a daunting chore. Take your kitchen experience up a notch with the Midea 12-in-1 Inne...