The PRRC, in collaboration with UP PLANADES, designed the Pasig River Integrated and Strategic Master Plan (PRISM) with a vision that by 2032, the Pasig River and its surrounding basins are resilient life-sustaining ecosystems that are able to support diverse human needs and biodiversity towards inclusive, harmonized, and balanced development co-managed by competent and adaptive institutions with responsible and empowered communities.

This new restoration strategy covers water quality management, stream flow management, catchment management and riparian management so that the Pasig River will again enshrine socioeconomic, aesthetic, environmental, recreational and cultural values amid changing risks and natural perturbations.

The illustration below provides a brief summary of the integrated wastewater treatment systems, one of the 19 priority projects proposed in the PRISM to help improve the water quality of the Pasig River, and for concerned agencies to comply with concession agreement, and other environmental laws.

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The Philippines' Pasig River, the cradle of early Manila civilization, has been selected as a finalist in the first ever Asia Riverprize by the prestigious International RiverFoundation (IRF) which recognizes and rewards organizations who are making a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs.

It is a back-to-back nomination for the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) who just came from a successful campaign in the 2017 Thiess International Riverprize competition where the Pasig River was hailed as runner-up to the winner, San Antonio River of Texas, USA.

PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia says that “the consecutive entries of the Pasig River as a finalist in the 2017 and 2018 Thiess International and Asia Riverprize, respectively, is a testament that the world recognizes the efforts of the Philippine government to restore the Pasig River and its environs since PRRC was established in 1999.”

Initially, the competition was called the Asia-Pacific Riverprize Awards which was opened to entrants from New Zealand, Australia, and 45 other countries. However, according to the IRF, due the to the high number and quality of entries received, they have made the decision to split the promoted Asia-Pacific Riverprize into two: Asia Riverprize and another category for the Australasia Riverprize.

After a series of tedious deliberations, the IRF has announced and congratulates the organizations chosen as Asia Riverprize finalists with the highest honors in river restoration and protection namely: the Pasig River (Philippines) and the Yangtze River (China).

Goitia adds “last year, the Philippines is the only third world and developing country that made it into the international finals and bravely competed with the US and the United Kingdom. In this year’s Asia Riverprize, we will be facing another super power – the red dragon, China. However, with an indomitable spirit, we remain steadfast and optimistic that we will stand triumphant in the end.”

In behalf of the IRF’s board of river basin experts, IRF Director Professor Bill Dennison says that “these different river stories are united by a common theme: excellence in river management.”

The Riverprize is not a competition of which river is more beautiful or cleaner. This is the reason why the IRF, comprised of river management experts and professionals from around the world, has given importance and consideration to the rehabilitation efforts of the PRRC to bring back the Pasig River system to life. It has acknowledged PRRC’s commitment in delivering quality projects, programs, and activities in easement recovery, housing and resettlement, riverbanks development, waste and water quality management, and public awareness.

Compared to the 1990s when it was declared "biologically dead," the Pasig River's condition now has significantly improved. Although the Pasig River development is a work in progress, many areas along the historic river have already shown signs of aquatic life and it has already become conducive for transport, recreation, and tourism.

PRRC’s Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia, together with Public Information, Advocacy and Tourism Division Head George Oliver G. De La Rama, will be presenting and defending the Philippines’ Pasig River entry to a panel of esteemed judges in the upcoming 21st International Riversymposium on October 14 to 18, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Members of PRRC’s Management Committee will also form part of the Philippine delegation.

The winner of the 2018 Asia Riverprize will receive widespread global recognition which can build new partnerships, provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices, and open doors for international support. Furthermore, the winner will automatically qualify for Stage Two of the Thiess International Riverprize in 2019.

As one nation, the PRRC seeks everyone’s support to its Pasig River entry in the 2018 Asia Riverprize. The Pasig River's victory is the victory of the Philippines and every Filipino who works hard and shares the same vision of saving our waterways and the environment. It will be the triumph of all who believe that the dream of a clean and alive Pasig River is within reach!

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Even the world’s top leadership coach admits he needs a helping hand to navigate through life and the decisions he has to make. And that’s perfectly okay.

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, a best-selling author and the world’s #1 leadership thinker and executive coach from the USA, said that it’s OK to ask for help from others. While most people veer away from asking for help, Goldsmith actually urges everyone to get over the idea of being able to do everything alone.
“I do this exercise daily with a peer coach. I have someone call me to listen to me ask myself questions I wrote and provide the answers I wrote every day. Why I do this? I’m Marshall Goldsmith and I’m too cowardly to do this by myself,” said Goldsmith in a podcast with EntreLeadership.

Dubbed as the Daily Question Process, it requires an individual to ask themselves a series of questions every day. The 3-minute exercise can help people change their lives for the better when done regularly. While the skepticism is expected, Goldsmith said that most people usually quit the exercise after two weeks – not because they failed, but because it has already impacted them.

“I’m too undisciplined. I need help, and that’s ok. I know how difficult it is to go,” said Goldsmith. The leadership coach adds that once there’s an admission for the need for help, life gets better.
The Daily Question Process requires the individual to write several questions on a spreadsheet, with each question representing a behavior that is important yet often easy to neglect. The questions usually begin with “did I do my best to…” and must be answerable with a yes or no.

The process helps the individual to confront how they actually live out their values every day. The mere process of writing the questions allows for introspection on what really matters to them.

Hailed by Harvard Business Review as the “World’s #1 Leadership Thinker”, Dr. Goldsmith has had more than 40 years of successfully coaching CEO’s from many of the world’s most renowned organizations such as Ford, Pfizer, GSK, World Bank, Toyota, Goldman Sachs & Co. He is also an author of numerous #1 bestsellers, with the latest book “Triggers” as #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith will headline a two-city CEO, HR and Senior Leaders conference in Asia this October, with Manila as his last stop on October 26, 2018. He will be joined by top coaching gun Dr. Peter Chee, and master trainer and chief coach Serely Alcaraz. The leadership conference is organized by ITD, the global leadership development expert. For more information and registration, call ITD World Philippines at +632 887 7428 or email at itdmanila@itdworld.com.

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Millennials like to do things in their own way. Unlike the generations before them, these passionate young adults do not follow a specific formula for their lifestyles. They are spontaneous, excited, and always going against the flow in search for experiences that will make their lives worth living.

But if there’s one thing that millennials have in common with other generations, it is that they are also financially conscious. And in this modern age, millennials can enjoy the convenience of saving money and shopping for their needs and wants using a trusty debit card. Here are a few reasons why debit cards are preferred by many young Filipinos:


Easier way to save cash

With a debit card, you can simply go to the bank and deposit cash to your account. This way, you are assured that your money is safe and secure; it even earns interest so you can grow your savings. Debit cards also teaches you to spend wisely because, unlike credit cards, you can only use what you have in your account. So the more you deposit and save money in your card, the more you can go on shopping sprees and planning for your next out-of-town-trips.


Convenient and safer transactions

Debit cards also provide an alternative way to carry money anywhere you go. Instead of bringing large amounts of cash in your wallet, you can just bring your debit card and swipe it for instant purchases. You can even use it for online shopping with your favorite brands and stores. Just make sure to secure your debit account with a PIN code so your savings stay safe.


Rewards for your spending

And what better way to enjoy your debit cards than by getting perks for every purchase. Some card providers offer exciting rewards and promos on shopping, dining, traveling, and grocery transactions with your debit card.

The CEB GetGo Debit Card, the first and only debit card that earns GetGo points for free flights, earns 1GetGo point for every PHP 88 spent. With CEB GetGo Debit Card, you also receive alerts and have the first dibs on Cebu Pacific’s exclusive seat sale offers and upcoming promos. Cardholders can also get discounts when purchasing flights via GetGo and experience cashless Visa transactions on trips locally and abroad.

Starting this month, new cardholders are up for even more exciting rewards with its Take 5 promo! Every Visa transaction made on the first month of the newly-approved CEB GetGo Debit Card will earn 5% rebate for the cardholder. It’s like you spend some, you get some -- and even more!

Interested individuals can apply online via http://bit.ly/CEBGetGoDebit and pick up their cards at any UnionBank branch. Upon receiving the card, they can enjoy purchases that can reward them with a maximum rebate of P500 for more savings. Rebates will be instantly credited to members’ GetGo savings account within the first week of the next calendar month.

For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph. Stay updated on the latest promos by liking GetGoPH’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Nutrition Education is recognized as one of the most important tools to help promote well-being – through early interventions to help ensure children grow up with good nutrition practices, knowledge and actions. Nutrition Education provides children with the right knowledge about well-being including having a balanced diet, the kind of foods the body needs to achieve good nutrition and the importance of being active, all lessons which children can bring into adulthood. 




The Case of Nutrition for Filipino Children

Among children in the Philippines aged 5-10 years old, 31.2% are underweight, while those who are overweight are at 8.6%. The National Capital Region (NCR) is also identified as one of the regions in the Philippines with the highest number of overweight and obese children aged 5-10 years old at 17.9%. (Food and Nutrition Research Institute National Nutrition Survey. 2015). We have the double burden of over and undernutrition among our children, which shows the need for greater nutrition education.

“To help reverse the trend in obesity or malnutrition, Nutrition Education should start early,” says Dr. Rodolfo Florentino, a renowned health expert in the Philippines and the former Chairman President and now adviser for the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

“Indeed, school age presents an excellent window of opportunity for teaching children the basics of proper diet, balanced meals, the value of vegetables and fruits, and inculcating in them proper dietary habits and practices, as well as the need for being physically active through play and exercise. They are very receptive to new knowledge taught them by their teachers,” Dr. Florentino shares.

He continues, “School children religiously follow what their teacher teaches them. At this age, children tend to be less and less dependent on their parents for the food they eat. They choose the food they want to eat. Thus the home provides the venue for practicing what they are taught, and as long as balanced and nutritious food is offered in the family table, optimum growth and development is assured. The parents then have an important role of supporting what the teacher taught them by offering nutritious and balanced meals on the table, choosing balanced snacks in and outside the home, and providing the opportunity for play and exercise. The knowledge, practices and habits children learn in school will remain with them through adolescence and adulthood,”

Since 1959, the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (NFP) has been operating as an assisting agency complementing and supporting the nutrition efforts of agencies in the government and non-government sectors. “NFP’s main thrust is Nutrition Education and is the core component of majority of its programs and services. Nutrition education classes discriminate no one and are given to various groups in the communities to provide them knowledge on health and nutrition,” explains Lenliegh Hope Luces, NFP Acting Assistant Executive Director.

“Topics discussed include but are not limited to: the basic food groups, meal planning and food preparation, food safety, utilization of edible wastes, nutrition in the life cycle, environmental sanitation, livelihood opportunities, and nutritional management of diseases. We also use different methodologies such as role-playing, workshops, games, and cooking demonstrations are to make the class interactive and participative,” Luces reveals.

To further promote public health nutrition among the population and help alleviate nutrition problems in the Philippines, the NFP joined the regional South East Asia Public Health Nutrition Network (SEA-PHN), a partnership of key stakeholders in the region, namely nutrition societies, government agencies and corporate companies. Under the partnership between the SEA-PHN and Mondelēz International in Southeast Asia, the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines partnered with the snacking company to implement the Good Nutrition Key to Healthy Children module, a nutrition education project of the Network, for the Company’s community program, the Joy Schools.


Partnering with Mondelez Philippines for the Joy Schools Program

Established in 2013, the Joy Schools program of Mondelēz International across Southeast Asia has been adopting public elementary schools. This aims to empower young children to take positive steps towards their overall well-being focusing on Nutrition Education, Physical Activity and Access to Nutrient Fresh Foods.

Shanahan Chua, the Head of Corporate and Government Affairs of the Company described the Joys Schools program and what it aims to achieve, “Through the Joy Schools, we are helping empower communities to lead balanced lifestyles thereby helping address nutrient needs for at-risk populations – all of which also help support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since it started in the Philippines in 2013, our Joy Schools program is now implemented by our Company in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, all following the same program structure. I’m proud to say that this 2018 we have adopted 16 new Joy Schools all over Southeast Asia.”

Chua continues, “We have partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress for our Joy Schools program locally to provide access to fresh food and promote the importance of active play. In school year 2017-2018, 88% of 400 students who benefitted from the Joy Schools’ daily 9-month lunch feeding program have gained weight, while 80% saw an increase in height. Donations of much-needed sports equipment have also been made to the schools to help promote active play.”

He added “For nutrition education, we partnered with the NFP to implement their Good Nutrition Key to Healthy Children for our three current adopted Joy Schools in Metro Manila. The program began in July 2018 and will continue to March 2019, covering Grade 3 students, who will be taught basic nutrition knowledge and good nutrition practices. We know the importance of early nutrition education to help develop good health habits in the future. Through the NFP, we are helping provide this knowledge to children in our adopted schools.”

At the end of the program, both Mondelēz International and the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. aim to see an extensive improvement of the knowledge, action and practices of the students when it comes to good nutrition.






About Mondelez Philippines Inc.

Mondelez Philippines has been creating more moments of joy by providing consumers with delicious snack products since 1963. Its product portfolio includes: Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, mayonnaise, and sandwich spread, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, Tiger energy biscuits, belVita breakfast biscuits, as well as Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. The company employs about 450 people in the Philippines, with a manufacturing facility in Parañaque City.

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Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the first-ever National Alternative Learning System Teachers’ Achievement Recognition (NALSTAR) which honors and recognizes exemplary alternative learning system (ALS) teachers.

“The success of the ALS program can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of its educators, who give more than 100% of their efforts in moulding and educating our fellowmen, especially those belonging to the underprivileged sector. NALSTAR is our means to recognize their selfless commitment to teaching,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, PJLI president and CEO, as he expressed his support and appreciation for ALS teachers.

The top NALSTAR educator will be selected from among 17 finalists coming from DepEd regional offices nationwide. The winner will take home P125,000 cash, and another P125,000 will be earmarked as seed money for their own ALS school. The top four finalists will take home P20,000 each while the remaining nominees will receive P10,000 each.

“CLFI’s commitment to bring education closer to the youth—especially coming from the marginalized communities—has always been laudable. They took the ideals of the ALS program and made it infinitely better by ensuring that the teachers under their ALS schools have all the resources needed to make learning a fun and meaningful exercise to the students,” said Tonisito Umali, DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and School Sports.

CLFI is one of the country’s leading proponents of alternative learning, providing out-of-school youths and those from indigent families with an opportunity to complete high school education via alternative schooling.

In 2018, CLFI has already surpassed its own targets: establishing 75 partner schools which educated more than 11,000 learners, of which, 1,482 learners have already obtained their elementary and/or high school diplomas. Its learners’ ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test passing average also consistently surpassed the national average for the A&E Test—netting 57% passing rate in 2015 and 71% in 2016.

One notable graduate, Carina Cortes, a Cebuana Lhuillier ALS learner from Cubao Elementary School, got a 100% score in the 2015 ALS A&E Test. Graduates of Cebuana Lhuillier’s ALS Program get holistic learning, more than the traditional academic modules -- by means of livelihood, spiritual, and social education programs offered free for all out-of-school youth and adults.

For more information, email CLFI program manager Kristina “Pebbles” Muniz at kmuniz@pjlhuillier.com or call 0917-5233753 or 0906-3090059.

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MANILA, 3 Aug 2018 -- Grab and GetGo Rewards by Cebu Pacific today announced a new tie-up that will bring more travel opportunities to Grab users. Starting today, Grab consumers can start converting their GrabRewards points to GetGo points. For just 1000 and 4,500 GrabRewards points, members will be able to get 100 and 500 GetGo points respectively, which they can use to redeem for free flights to any Cebu Pacific destination. 

#GrabThatFlight: Cebu Pacific GetGo Loyalty Division general manager Nik Laming and Grab Philippines Business Development & Partnerships head Maria Theresa Busmente sign a partnership deal to enable Filipino travelers to fly for free by converting more points from Grab rides. 

To mark the partnership between Southeast Asia’s largest loyalty program and the leading lifestyle rewards program in the Philippines, Grab and GetGo will roll-out a special rewards promotion. Jetsetter consumers are in for a treat as Grab and GetGo will double the number of GetGo points earned for every GrabRewards conversion from August 3 to August 8.



“Knowing that travelling is an important aspect of every Filipino’s lifestyle, we are excited to partner with GetGo to bring our consumers closer to their next dream holiday. As Grab becomes an everyday app, we are constantly making our platform more rewarding for our consumers by giving them access to more meaningful partner benefits that truly matter to them. With GrabRewards, we want our consumers to get more value for every ride they take with us and having a partner like GetGo on board will enable us to offer them even more.” said Theresa Busmente, Grab Philippines’ Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. 

As one of the leading lifestyle rewards programmes in the country, GetGo has been giving its loyal members new experiences out of their free local and international flights. The partnership with Grab shows the program’s commitment to support the Filipinos’ dreams of seeing the world and flying for free to Cebu Pacific’s wide network of destinations.

“Our promise to our members is that we will continuously offer more options where they can earn GetGo points for their free getaways. We are happy to partner with Grab in making our members’ commutes more rewarding,” shared Nik Laming, Cebu Pacific’s General Manager for Loyalty Division.

To convert GrabRewards points to GetGo points, just click ‘GrabRewards’ in the Grab app’s left menu bar and select GetGo from the browse list to redeem this offer. Users who redeem the offer will be taken to a page within the app, where they will be asked to input their GetGo username and password to sign-in and convert their points.

Turning everyone’s daily rides into exciting free flights, GetGo and Grab Philippines team up to support every Filipinos’ desire to travel and experience local and international wonders.

About Grab

Grab is one of the most frequently used O2O mobile platforms in Southeast Asia, providing the everyday services that matter most to consumers. Commute, eat, deliver shopping – and pay with one e-wallet. Grab believes that every Southeast Asian should benefit from the digital economy, and the company provides access to safe and affordable transport, food and package delivery, mobile payments and financial services. Grab currently offers services in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. For more information, please visit www.grab.com.


About GetGo

GetGo is the innovative lifestyle rewards program by Cebu Pacific that lets you earn points every time you fly and from your everyday spend. Get points from many different ways and program partners, and Go places with Cebu Pacific's 26 international destinations and 37 domestic destinations and counting. It is currently expanding its partnership network ranging from travel, banking, lifestyle and the services sector. As a brand that puts more value to its members, it has introduced a suite of financial payment cards in partnership with UnionBank and VISA. To know more, visit www.GetGo.com.ph


For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph. Stay updated on the latest promos by liking GetGoPH’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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RCBC has just become the first bank in the country to offer an online foreign exchange platform, that allows their existing clients and accountholders to buy and sell currency online.

The Online FX Trading Platform is currently the only foreign exchange execution platform in the country that can be accessed using the web, eliminating the need for face-to-face or over-the-phone transactions when exchanging foreign currency.

This new product, developed by RCBC, allows the Bank clients to buy and sell their foreign currency at any given time from the safety of their own homes, or even from abroad.

To make use of this new product, RCBC clients have to enroll at least two different currency accounts with RCBC’s Online Banking platform. Once eligible, RCBC clients are free to buy and sell currency between their enrolled accounts. RCBC’s Online Foreign Exchange product can easily allow the buying and selling of all major currencies such as US Dollar, Euros, Great Britain Pound, Japanese Yen, Singaporean Dollar, among others, at very competitive rates

“The Online FX Trading Platform revolutionizes foreign exchange transactions for the country. Never before has a Philippine bank been able to provide their clients a platform that allows them to trade foreign currency at their own time and place.” Says Gil A. Buenaventura, RCBC President and CEO.

“In taking out the need for face-to-face transactions, our clients are ensured greater ease in that they can buy and sell their foreign currencies without being restricted by geography.” Adds Chet Luy, RCBC Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head for Financial Advisory and Markets (Treasury and Wealth Management) Group.

Interested clients can reach out to their nearest RCBC branch for more information on RCBC’s Online FX Trading Platform.





ABOUT RCBC:

The Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is the financial flagship company of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC). As one of the largest private universal banks in the country, RCBC is able to provide a wide scale of services through its thrift bank, investment bank, foreign exchange brokerage house, leasing company, and overseas remittance companies. For more information on RCBC, visit www.rcbc.com

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