Creating shared value through tech-voc education

One of the flagship programs of SM Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the SM group, is its scholarship program. Aside from the college education offerings, the program also provides venues for students who would like to pursue a career in the skilled labor industry.

 

The gradual reopening of economy not just in the country, but around the world, brings hope to more job opportunities for Filipinos who lost their jobs because of the health crisis. Indeed, the support for individuals eyeing to be part of the skilled industry is needed now more than ever.

 

It was in this light when SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), together with SM Foundation (SMFI), Don Bosco One TVET Phils. Inc., and the city government of Pasay partnered to give educational support to 20 deserving youth coming from Pasay. To date, SMFI has already produced more than 4,500 tech-voc graduates who are now gainfully employed.

 

A dream to be fulfilled

One of the current SM tech-voc scholars from Pasay is Stephen Parina. His dream is to put up his own automotive shop since aside from his interest in cars and motorcycles, he intends to uplift the economic status of his family. Both of his parents are temporary employees at the Pasay City Hall.

SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar Stephen Parina

“Nakita ko sa Facebook post ng SM Foundation na nandun ang aking gustong course kaya dali-dali akong pumunta sa city hall ng Pasay para alamin ang mga detalye nito at kinabukasan ay nagpasa na ako agad ng mga requirements. Gusto kong matuto kung paano mag ayos ng mga sasakyan at makatapos ng pag-aaral dahil hirap kami sa aming pamumuhay. Alam ko na makakatulong ang edukasyon, kagaya ng techvoc upang matupad ang aking pangarap na makapagpatayo ng sarili kong automotive shop. Magiging susi ito upang mai-angat ko ang antas ng pamumuhay ng aking pamilya. Taos pusong pasasalamat sa SM at sa Sy family dahil nabigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon na makabalik muli sa pag aaral. Hinding hindi ko ito malilimutan. Dadalhin ko ito hanggang sa aking pag tanda.” ~Stephen Parina, who is now studying Automotive Mechanic course at the Don Bosco Makati

 

Ticket to success

Another current tech-voc scholar is Jeorge Angelo Madrid. He is also studying Automotive Mechanic course at the Don Bosco Makati. His father works as a painter of houses and buildings while his mother works at the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Jeorge is the youngest and most of his five siblings already have their own families.

 

According to Jeorge, he sees this opportunity of going back to school as his ticket towards achieving his dreams. Jeorge is adamant to find a gainful employment right after he finish his studies.

SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar Jeorge Angelo Madrid

“Nag-apply ako sa SM Foundation kasi wla po akong kakayahan na makapag aral at makapagtapos. Wala po akong pagkukuhanan ng pang tuition para maipang bayad sa eskwelahan. Salamat po sa SM Foundation. Kung hindi dahil sa inyo, hindi madaragdagan ang kaalaman ko tungkol sa automotive. Magagamit ko ito sa aking paghahanap ng trabaho at kinalaunan, masuportahan ang aking sarili, mga pamangkin at ang aking mga magulang.” ~Jeorge Angelo Madrid, Tech-voc Scholar

 

Reaping the fruits of his efforts

Anthony Andales, an SM tech-voc scholar alumnus, also took the time to share his inspiring story. He graduated from the Dualtech Training Center in 2019 and is now employed as a staff technician in a known company which manufactures various electronic products for home and office use.

SM tech-voc scholar alumnus Anthony Andales

“Bago ako mag-training sa Dualtech, nagtrabaho muna ako bilang isang helper sa isang refilling station. Ang aking arawang sweldo ay P220 lamang. Akala ko dati, wala na akong mararating sa buhay at hindi na makapagtatapos ng pag-aaral. But God gave me the privilege to be chosen as one of the SM Foundation scholars para makapag-aral ako nang walang binayaran kahit piso. Ang tanging puhunan ko lang ay ang aking lakas ng loob at ang aking mga pangarap sa buhay na balang araw, makatutulong ako sa aking pamilya upang kahit papano ay makaahon sa buhay. Napagawa na namin ang bahay kahit papaano, hindi man bato pero at least maayos at safe kapag may bagyo. Hindi po kagaya dati na pag umuulan ay may pa-shower kami kasi butas-butas na ang bubong at tagpi-tagpi ang dingding ng aming tahanan. Walang imposible kapag ikaw ay may pangarap at determinasyon upang maabot ito sapagkat maraming tao at institusyon na handang tumulong. Kaya sobrang thankful po talaga ako sa mga taong tumulong sa akin para magkaroon ng maliwanag na kinabukasan.” ~Anthony Andales, an SM tech-voc Scholar Alumnus

Right after his on-the-job training, he was absorbed by the program’s OJT- partner company and was given a job as a staff technician because of his skills and work ethics.

SM Foundation, through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993.

Need money? Loan at Juanhand and get P150 Lazada GC

Do you have bills to pay but are short on cash? Do you still have to settle your remaining balance of your child’s tuition but your fees have been delayed?

Worry no more because all you need to do is to apply for a loan with Juanhand. You not only solve your financial problems, you will receive a P150 Lazada Gift Card once your loan is approved. This is only valid for approved new borrowers who applied for their loan starting June 1, 2022.

Applying for a loan at Juanhand is simple and easy. All you have to do is to click -- https://go.onelink.me/5BBI/9ersqhvn. Once your loan is approved, Juanhand will send your Lazada Gift Card code via your registered email address within 24 hours.

Hurry and apply now! This is a limited time offer only. For more information visit. https://www.facebook.com/JuanHandOfficial.

For inquiries, you can contact Juanhand customer service via email at cs@ph.juanhand.com, via live chat through the Juanhand app or through telephone number 85390150.  

The importance of Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

A person's safety during calamities is mainly dependent on their community's disaster preparedness. No matter how ready they are for all possible catastrophic scenarios, every bit of preparation can go down the drain if their community cannot respond effectively to such events. 

 

It is why a community-based disaster risk reduction and management plan (CBDRRMP) is essential. It places the responsibility of being prepared for calamities and other emergencies on the community as a whole, ensuring that organizations, households and individuals can work together in making their community more resilient in the face of disaster.

 

CBDRRMP is important, especially for countries highly vulnerable to disasters, such as the Philippines. Situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon belt, the Philippines is frequented by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and typhoons respectively. The country ranked 9th in the world in terms of vulnerability to calamities in the 2020 World Risk Index. 

One of the most common events experienced by the Philippines is flooding, which underscores the importance of effective floodwater management. There are many ways that local government units are doing this. Efforts range from structural measures such as sizeable underground drainage systems, floodways, pumping stations, flood warning systems, and urban greening to non-structural measures such as minimizing plastic waste, a primary culprit in urban flooding.

 

With the country situated on five active fault lines, Filipinos must also prepare for earthquakes. It is why many buildings are equipped with earthquake-resistance features. Taking earthquake resilience in the country further are the periodic earthquake drills implemented at the national and organizational levels.

 

These are good examples of effective CBDRR, where both the authorities and the citizens work together to ensure the safety of life and property in their communities.

SM City Masinag has a rainwater collection tank that can store 17,681 cubic meters of water.

As a trusted and responsible developer of integrated properties, SM has always been committed to promoting Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in its communities, which is evident in many of its malls that employ infrastructure design centered on disaster resilience. SM allocates 10% of its capital expenditures to incorporate disaster-resilient features, of which installing water management design features is one of them. 

Artist's illustration of SM's rainwater collection facility in 22 SM Malls nationwide.

A few examples of these are SM City Marikina, elevated by several rows of concrete stilts to protect tenants and mall-goers during extreme floods. SM Mall of Asia was built with a storm surge barrier for added protection during storm surges, and several malls employ catchment tanks for recycling rainwater.

Across the country, there are 22 SM Malls that have rainwater collection tanks under the mall. All these malls combined can catch and store 79,880 cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 

“Wherever SM is, we try to help our communities become resilient to changing weather patterns. Nationwide, we have 22 malls equipped with rainwater catchment facilities that help rain water management to avoid flash floods for surrounding communities.” ~Arch. Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President of SM Engineering, Design and Development

SM City Olongapo Central's rainwater collection tank can hold up to 14,580 cubic meters of water.

Supporting these are several initiatives focused capacity-building for its stakeholders. It includes workshops & learning sessions on Disaster Risk Resilience Management and regular participation in the quarterly national simultaneous earthquake drills for its employees, and the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for persons with disabilities and the elderly, two of the most vulnerable sectors of society during disasters.

 

Similarly, in line with its multi-stakeholder approach, SM Prime has also continuously built long-term partnerships with organizations that advocate for a disaster-resilient Philippines. It includes collaborations with ARISE-Philippines, the National Resilience Council, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, to name a few.

SM City San Mateo's rainwater collection tank can collect 10,800 cubic meters of potential floodwater.

For more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness, visit their website at www.smprime.com.

ABOUT SM PRIME HOLDINGS

 

SM Prime, one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. Sustainability and Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience form part of SM Prime's core business strategies. It ensures that its risk-informed investments catalyze sustainable development and positive change in the communities where it operates.

 

Learn How this Takoyaki Franchise Concept Built More than 40 Branches in Just a Year

When the pandemic hit, a lot of sectors were badly affected. The food industry was not spared and entrepreneurs had to revisit their plans and business models. Stories of hope were hard to come by, but some found the courage to start during this difficult period in our lives. This includes a group of young entrepreneurs who share the passion of bringing Japanese food closer to homes. 

What started out as a humble takoyaki bazaar stall in Iloilo has now grown into a merienda favorite with branches nationwide. Otako Monsta takes pride in its unique business model that was designed to be attractive and beneficial to its future partners. Because they knew they wanted to grow their business through expansion, the team focused on creating a franchisee package that has good profit returns.

Otako Monsta has made franchising less intimidating by removing royalty and marketing fees. Low capital investment also makes the brand a good option for young entrepreneurs who want to invest their money. On top of this, partners enjoy a 125% capital margin and will reap their return on investment (ROI) within 1 year. 

Co-founder Gian Franco Go believes that their guiding principles in running their Japanese street food empire are keeping a wide range of food options, competitive pricing, and fostering a passionate team that will always have their partners’ best interest in mind. In keeping these beliefs as their core, they make sure they’re always a step ahead from similar food concepts. Otako Monsta takes pride in its wide variety of Takoyaki flavors which can be enjoyed for as low as P99 for 6 pieces. Their best-selling seafood-filled takoyaki Monsta, finished off with their matcha dessert balls, will surely keep you coming back for more. 

Taking into consideration foot traffic and competition in the vicinity, Otako Monsta has aggressively expanded across Visayas and Mindanao and has recently started opening branches in Luzon. They closed 2021 with over 40 branches, and are continuing to build this number in the months to come. 

If you share the same passion as the Otako Monsta team and have locations for new branches in mind, reach out to https://tinyurl.com/OtakoxBloggers to start your franchisee journey. 

Follow us at our social media pages and stay tuned for more updates. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtakoMonsta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otako_monsta/

Sarah G. and Hanabishi Share Tips on How to Score the Best Deals in Lazada and Shopee’s 6.6 Sales

“Sales are good opportunities for you to buy the products that you have been coveting for a long while. At Hanabishi’s official stores on LazMall, you can find a wide variety of more affordable home and kitchen appliances during the 6.6 sale.” ~Cherish Ong-Chua, VP for Finance and Marketing of Hanabishi Appliances

When it comes to enjoying the best deals during Lazada and Shopee’s monthly sales, it’s best to keep in mind these three tips by Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo and Hanabishi Appliances. 

  

“Simple, practical tips na madaling tandaan (Simple, practical tips that are easy to remember). Days before the sale period, make a list of the items that you need and search for them. Add the products you plan to buy to your cart, so that you can easily check them out once the sale starts. Mas maganda na meron kang alternatives just in case ma-sold out agad ‘yung gusto mo (It’s better to have alternatives just in case the items you want gets sold out). Make sure you complete your transactions as early as possible. May mga tao na nagche-checkout pagdating ng 12 midnight kasi ayaw nilang maubusan nang gusto nilang bilhin (There are people who check out as early 12 midnight to make sure that they don’t run out of the products they want).” ~Sarah Geronimo, Popstar Royalty and Brand Ambassador of Hanabishi

  

The leading appliance manufacturer will be offering great discounts in the 6.6 sales of online shopping giants Lazada and Shopee, which will run from June 6 to 8.

• 1. Add items to your cart before the sale starts.

At both Lazada and Shopee, Hanabishi will be offering up to 18 percent discount on some of its popular products.

• 2. Allot a budget.

As you add items to your cart, you can already gauge how much you will be spending. If you go over your allotted budget, search for similar items that are much more affordable.  

• 3. Watch for special deals.

On top of discounted prices, stores usually offer additional deals like free shipping and further discounts. 

  

Hanabishi products, for example, can be bought at further discounts using Lazada vouchers. The appliance manufacturer will also be offering items at 25 percent discount during its flash sales. Its flexicombo deal, meanwhile, gives you the chance to enjoy PhP50 off when you buy two products. 

  

It will also be having the same flexicombo deal in its Shopee store and give away PhP50 and free shipping vouchers. 

  

• 4. Check out early.

Online stores also sometimes offer further discounts during the first hours of the sale. 

  

To learn more about Hanabishi’s latest products and promotions, follow its official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. You can also visit www.myhanabishi.com for more information about its products. 

   

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/ and  like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/.

  

About Hanabishi:  

 

Sa Bahay at sa Business Mo, Hanabishi! 

Hanabishi is a Filipino household name for appliances for over 35 years. It is a brand engineered to fit the lifestyle of the Filipino both for homes and businesses.  Hardworking, durable and resilient, are the attributes that personify Hanabishi making it the brand of choice of every Filipino mom and businessman when it comes to value and practicality. Hanabishi is the mark of quality that grows with you through the years.  Built with passion and an impeccable desire to uphold the quality of life in every Filipino home, Hanabishi will remain to be the PRACTICAL choice and KAPARTNER, today and for the many years to come. 

 

End summer on a sweet note with adelicious Subway® treat

Summer is coming to an end, but the memories we've made during the season will stay with us until the year ends! Sweet treats never fail to put a smile on our faces as we get closer to the rainy season, so reminisce about the flavors of summer with our delicious Cinnamon Raisin Cookies that you can definitely share with family and friends! Whenever you are feeling down, cheer up, and feel good with this crunchy delight.

Savor the delectable Cinnamon Raisin Cookies for only Php 26 per piece! Grab one or two at the nearest Subway® store near you and join the lucky ones to enjoy this fantastic deal. It's definitely the #BetterChoice as we end this Summer season and welcome the Rainy Days! Available for dine-in and takeout transactions and or Grab delivery orders. This limited-time-offer cookie is available up to 5 July 2022 or until supply lasts.

Snatch Up These Rice Cooker and Food Bundles from Hanabishi, Mega Prime, and Gourmanok Until May 31

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Hanabishi Appliances teamed up with Mega Prime and Gourmanok for a month-long celebration featuring their latest line of quality rice cookers.

These mom-favorite bundles are available until May 31 only. They include Hanabishi rice cookers paired with various Mega Prime and Gourmanok food products.

“With these bundles, we hope that we can help our customers in their search the best gifts to give their moms. Every day can be Mother’s Day. Show your love an appreciation for your mom as often as you can." ~Cherish Ong-Chua, Vice President for Marketing and Finance of Hanabishi Appliances

Available on LazMall and Shopee Mall

On Hanabishi Appliances’ official LazMall store and Shopee Mall store, you can find the following:

• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC10WHT (1L 5 cups) with Free Mega Prime Products
• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC18WHT (1.8L) with Free Mega Prime Products
• Hanabishi Low Sugar Rice Cooker HDESUGAR18MFRC with Free Mega Prime Products
• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC10BLK (1L 5 cups) with Gourmanok Freebies
• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC15BLK (1.5L 7 cups) with Gourmanok Freebies
• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC18BLK (1.8L) with Gourmanok Freebies
• Hanabishi Rice Cooker HHRC28BLK (2.8L) with Free Mega Prime Products
• Hanabishi Low Sugar Rice Cooker HDESUGAR18MFRC with Free Mega Prime Products

For more information about this promotion, visit Hanabishi’s official store on LazMall and Shopee Mall. 

Hanabishi products are also available at www.myhanbishi.com and in leading appliance stores nationwide.

  

To learn more about their latest products and promotions, follow their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. 

About Hanabishi: 

Sa Bahay at sa Business Mo, Hanabishi!

Hanabishi is a Filipino household name for appliances for over 35 years. It is a brand engineered to fit the lifestyle of the Filipino both for homes and businesses.  Hardworking, durable and resilient, are the attributes that personify Hanabishi making it the brand of choice of every Filipino mom and businessman when it comes to value and practicality. Hanabishi is the mark of quality that grows with you through the years.  Built with passion and an impeccable desire to uphold the quality of life in every Filipino home, Hanabishi will remain to be the PRACTICAL choice and KAPARTNER, today and for the many years to come.

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/ and  like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/.