by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 23, 2020 | Awards and Competitions
The PETA Theater quickly filled up with excited finalists and their friends, family, teachers, and judges … all eager to hear the announcement of who won finally won the Asia Young Designer Awards Philippines 2019 (AYDAPH2019).
We’ve heard the expression “everyone’s a winner” and this is very true in this competition. All AYDAPH2019 finalists who do not receive the silver or gold award will still receive a cash prize of P10,000.00. However, being a finalist is not enough, each one is, of course, shooting for gold.
Nippon Paint did not make the audience wait long and neither will I.
The special and major winners in Architecture
2019 is a good year for male Architecture students from outside Metro Manila. For the first three awards that I will mention, if they do not win the major awards they each receive P10,000.00 in cash for being a finalist PLUS the cash prize for the special award.
Best Color Choice Award
Christian Adrian Manalo of Batangas State University received the BEST COLOR CHOICE AWARD. He received an additional P5,000.00 cash prize. This means his total cash prize is P15,000.00.
Best Green Innovation Award
The award for BEST GREEN INNOVATION went to John Carlo de Jesus of Bulacan State University. He received an additional P5,000.00 cash prize. This means his total cash prize is P15,000.00.
People’s Choice Award
The PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD is based on online votes and Johann Orozco, also from Bulacan State University received that most votes in the Architecture category. He received an additional P5,000.00 cash prize. This means his total cash prize is P15,000.00.
Most Supportive School
The award for MOST SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL went to the Far Eastern University for having the most number of entries submitted in this competition. They received a cash prize of P10,000.00 plus a paint voucher worth P10,000.00 also.
Silver Award
The recipient of the silver award will receive a cash prize of P30,000.00 plus an internship opportunity with a renowned Architecture or Interior Design firm.
John Harold Siblag
And the silver award winner is John Harold Siblag of St. Mary’s University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. He could not contain his shock upon hearing his name.
Gold Award
… John Carlo (JC) de Jesus of Bulacan State University. As the gold winner, he received a cash prize of P50,000.00 plus an internship opportunity AND he will compete against other gold winners from participating countries at the Asia Young Designer Award 2020 Summit at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since he also won the green innovation award, this brings his total cash prize to P55,000.00.
Best Mentor
The Best Mentor award goes to the professor who guided the gold winner in his journey to victory. This award goes to Ar. Diane Alfonso of Bulacan State University, the mentor of the gold winner in Architecture, John Carlo de Jesus. She received a cash prize of P10,000.00.
Ar. Diane Alfonso
Best College/University
The award for BEST COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY goes to the school that the gold winner represents. Congratulations, Bulacan State University! The school that receives this award receives a cash prize of P10,000.00 plus a paint voucher also worth P10,000.00.
In this year’s Asia Young Designer Award Philippines BULSU produced two finalists, both of whom won awards. That is pretty amazing!
The special and major winners of Interior Design
Where Architecture was dominated by men, Interior Design was dominated by women. Just as above, all finalists who do not win either silver or gold will receive a cash prize of P10,000. And, if they win a special prize, that amount will be added to their cash prize.
Best Color Choice Award
The award for BEST COLOR CHOICE goes to Michael Gabriel Vazquez of De La Salle College of St. Benilde. He was the only male Interior Design student to win an award in the Interior Design category. He received an additional cash prize of P5,000.00 which brings his total cash prize to P15,000.00.
Michael Gabriel Vasquez
Best Green Innovation Award
The award for BEST GREEN INNOVATION went to Josette Thai of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She received a cash prize of P5,000.00 in addition to her cash prize for being a finalist, which brings her total cash prize to P15,000.00.
People’s Choice Award
The PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD goes to the finalist who received the most online votes. In the Interior Design category, this award went to Erika Mari Ordinario of De La Salle College of St. Benilde. She received P5,000.00 on top of her cash prize for being a finalist which brings her total cash prize to P15,000.00.
Erika Mari Ordinario
Most Supportive School
The award for MOST SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL for the Interior Design Category went to De La Salle College of St. Benilde for sending the most entries. Additional information that is important to note is that five out of the ten finalists of Interior Design are all from De La Salle College of St. Benilde!
The school that receives this award receives a cash prize of P10,000.00 plus a paint voucher also worth P10,000.00.
Silver Award
The recipient of the silver award will receive a cash prize of P30,000.00 plus an internship opportunity with a renowned Architecture or Interior Design firm. Congratulations to Clarice Limsui of De La Salle College of St. Benilde!
Clarice Limsui
Gold Award
The recipient of the gold award is Abigail Florence Taghoy of the University of San Carlos, Cebu. She received a cash prize of P50,000.00 and an internship opportunity. For receiving the gold award, Abigail will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Asia Young Designer Award 2020 to be held in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Abigail Taghoy
Best Mentor
For mentoring Abigail Taghoy, IDr. Hermie Oplado of the University of San Carlos received the award for BEST MENTOR. He received a cash prize of P10,000.00.
IDr. Hermie Oplado
Best College/University
University of San Carlos
The award for BEST COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY goes to the school that the gold winner represents. Congratulations, University of San Carlos, Cebu! The school that receives this award receives a cash prize of P10,000.00 plus a paint voucher also worth P10,000.00.
It is to be noted that three out of ten finalists in the Interior Design category came from their school.
The Asia Young Designer Award challenged students of Architecture and Interior Design to come up with designs that are both innovative and sustainable, our winners have displayed both!
To Mr. John Carlo de Jesus and Ms. Abigail Taghoy, good luck in your coming competition in Vietnam!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 23, 2020 | Advocacy
Sterling Bank of Asia (SBA), one of the country’s leading thrift banks, signed a memorandum of agreement with My Shelter Foundation’s Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) — a global movement that provides sustainable solar bottle bulb to underprivileged communities nationwide.
The initiative falls under SBA’s Kind Heart Gives Campaign, an annual CSR activity that allows every employee an opportunity to share and give back to the community.
Ma. Dulce Edillor, SBA’s First Vice President and HR Group Head
“We’ve been looking for a partner who promotes renewable energy that extends it to the grassroots level,” said Ma. Dulce Edillor, SBA’s First Vice President and HR Group Head. “Isang Litrong Liwanag provides affordable, sustainable solar lights to people with limited or no access to electricity,” Edillor added.
Mr. Illac Diaz, founder of My Shelter Foundation’s Liter of Light
This year’s Kind Heart Gives tagged as “Give Light on Christmas Day” is divided into two phases, the first phase is where Sterling Bank volunteers built solar lamps through a workshop conducted by Liter of Light founder, Mr. Illac Diaz.
To welcome 2020, the second phase of the partnership will take place this January, where SBA employees will turn over the solar lamps to 120 families living in Angat Dam, Norzagaray Bulacan.
During the workshop, Diaz further stressed how the activity provides clean energy and how the technology is so simple and sustainable at the same time. He mentioned how companies, like Sterling Bank, play a big role in reaching a wider market through its CSR program.
“This type of endeavor certainly promotes among Sterling Bank employees how an ounce of their time can go a long way in helping the lives of the less privileged,” said Mr. Dan Guevarra, SBA’s Vice President and Center for Learning Head.
Meanwhile, SBA’s Vice President and Compensation and Benefits Head Arlene Siongco is delighted with the immediate sense of accomplishment in building the solar bottle. “It’s rewarding when you get to see the solar bottle light up and to know the fact that it will help brighten up someone’s home for the next five years,” Siongco added.
Isang Litrong Liwanag was founded in 2011. It has installed more than 350,000 bottle lights in more than 15 countries. It is recognized by international organizations such as the United Nations where their technology was adopted for use in some UNHCR camps. It is a proud recipient of the 2016 St. Andrew Prize for the Environment, the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize and the 2014 – 2015 winner of the World Habitat Award.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 22, 2020 | Awards and Competitions
After many months and lots of blood, sweat, and tears, the awarding ceremony of AYDAPH2019 is finally here! In just a few hours we will know which of our finalists in Architecture and Interior Design will bring home the gold.
AYDAPH is an acronym for Asia Young Designer Award Philippines, a competition open to Architecture and Interior Design students in their third year or higher. It is a national competition sponsored by Nippon Paint and its partners, of which the Philippines is only one of 15 participating countries. The winner of the national competition will go on to compete at the international AYDA competition where the gold awardees of each participating country will vie for the title of Asia Young Designer of the Year.
AYDAPH2019 Finalists
Hundreds of entries were screened last December 2019 and whittled down to forty (40) which was later further whittled down to nineteen (19). These 19 are the best of the best for the year.
Finalists in Architecture
Nine (9) architecture students made it through the oral presentations and impressed the judges enough to make it to the finals.
Finalists of Interior Design
Ten (10) interior design students made it through the oral presentations and impressed the judges enough to make it to the finals.
The Asia Young Designer Awards challenges students of Architecture and Interior Design to come up with innovative and sustainable designs that could potentially be implemented in the future. Aside from cash prizes the finalists (and especially the winners) have the opportunity at an internship with a prestigious firm.
I, personally, am eager to see what innovations these students have come up with. If you want to see for yourself, register at http://bit.ly/AYDA2019Awarding and come to PETA today see our finalists and their entries for yourself!
I am a Benildean, I have been teaching in Benilde for more than ten years. And even though I do not teach in Architecture or Interior Design department I can’t help but feel pride for the accomplishments of our students. We have SIX (6) students who are finalists at the prestigious Asia Young Designer Awards Philippines … 1 in Architecture and 5 in Interior Design and the Awarding Ceremony is today … we will soon find out who will win in each category.
Aside from the big prize, there is a People’s Choice Award which is based on online likes. If you would like to vote for our Benildean students please visit the following links:
For our 5 Interior Design students please go and like their at:
The awarding ceremony is tomorrow, January 23, 2020, at 3:30 pm at the PETA Theater. If you are interested in attending please register at http://bit.ly/AYDA2019Awarding. Facebook likes will only be counted until right before the ceremony so do take the time to like the photos of our fellow Benildeans today.
Thank you for your support.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 21, 2020 | Business
With its dedication to making every Filipino feel at home in all its stores, Adobo Connection has chosen “momshie” and TV host Melai Cantiveros to be its first-ever brand ambassador. A launching event was held today at SM North EDSA.
Unassuming and cheerful, Melai is the quintessential Filipino mom who endeavors to capture her family’s craving for good, uncomplicated, and hearty Pinoy dishes – with adobo on top of the list. “Adobo is forever – char! Kasi di ba staple food siya, walang Pinoy ang hindi gusto ang adobo. Unlike kasi ng iba na naging usong pagkain, saglit lang naging hype tapos after ilang months lang, wala na. Si adobo kasi, di pinagsasawaan. Kaya kumuha talaga ako ng franchise. Honestly ito ang pangtawid gutom ko,” said Melai.
Meredith Ngo, Managing Director of Adobo Connection
Meredith Ngo, Adobo Connection’s Managing Director says, “We’re really proud to announce the first-ever brand ambassador/franchisee of Adobo Connection, Melai, who embodies what a true Filipino mom is – yung maalaga sa pamilya and may malasakit. Similar to our brand statement, we want our customers to feel at home and remember their mom’s cooking every time they enter our store.”
Recognizing that Adobo Connection is deeply ingrained in Filipinos’ lives, Melai had also taken things one step further and decided to invest in an Adobo Connection franchise. This was to ensure not only her family’s financial stability but also because she loves seeing people enjoy Adobo Connection’s offerings.
Adobo Connection unveiling the store icon
Admitting she did not know much about running a business, Melai also found Adobo Connection’s support and commitment to its franchisees truly reassuring.
“Sa panahon ngayon, ang hirap na makahanap ng business na papatok at higit sa lahat ang hirap makahanap ng katuwang sa negosyo – yung talagang mapagkakatiwalaan at tutulungan ka talaga. Pinadali talaga ng Adobo Connection and pagbubusiness ko. Dahil sa mga maaasahang teams nila, masaya at madali ang naging experience ko,” Melai shared.
Today, Melai owns three Adobo Connection outlets nationwide. She has found that Adobo Connection offers a solid business proposition – a working market concept, sound marketing, and operational systems, and strong franchisor support.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 21, 2020 | Business
A good leader possesses not one but a combination of many good qualities. For Bayview Park Hotel Manila’s General Manager Eugene T. Yap, his best assets stem from his innate compassion for people and the desire to always provide service that only gets better over time.
Mr. Yap took his seat as the hotel’s General Manager in 2002, but he has been with Bayview Hotel Development Corp., the company that owns and operates the hotel since it acquired the property in the late 1980s. At that time, he was serving from the company’s head office in Makati as part of the legal team that handled the property acquisition. Later, he was tasked to look over the structure’s renovations and repairs.
It may seem like a stretch for a corporate lawyer to work in the operations and management side of a hotel. After getting a business degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1985, Atty. Yap pursued a legal career and went straight to law school at Manuel L. Quezon University, before passing the bar exams in 1990.
But as he recalls, “You know how children usually dream what they always see? When we were younger, whenever we go to restaurants or hotels and service is given to us superbly and we feel happy about it, you tend to feel like you want to work in those types of service. At that time there wasn’t really much of a ‘hospitality industry’ to be spoken of so I wouldn’t call this my childhood dream. But when our company acquired Bayview, I simply began to love the property.”
The passion to serve people became Yap’s main drivers at work. “In the hospitality industry, we serve our guests and we take care of our employees. In legal practice, we also take care of our clients and our staff. So, in this aspect, they are really not much different,” he says.
He believes that good service can only be provided to hotel guests when the people working behind the scenes are also being valued by their leader, so he strives to give them a good working environment and has even adopted a program called the Managers’ Initiative. Through this program, employees are encouraged to pitch in their suggestions on how they can improve the hotel’s services, amenities, and even marketing efforts, and gives them the platform to explore their ideas.
He also puts value in having a work-life balance among his employees and even with himself. “I always set a time limit for work because when you are enjoying the work, you tend to lose track of time and you should never lose time for your family. It is also important for me and my staff to recharge once in a while so we can provide better service to our guests when we return to work.”
When asked to describe his leadership style, “You can say relaxed but still professional. I believe in accountability where each one is responsible for their own actions, but I also believe in learning from others. I am forever a student of the hospitality industry so I try my best to learn from all people.” He constantly keeps a listening ear open for comments and suggestions from every person who walks into the hotel because he believes that
“Guests are your best teachers,” he says, “How do I know when I’m doing a good job? When I see guests smiling. When they are satisfied with your service, that guest will keep coming back and keep asking for you. When the guest starts needing you, that means you’re doing something right.”
Not only at Bayview Park Hotel does Mr. Yap apply his mantras of good leadership. He also takes pride in being the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP). As a leader to the organization, he aims to leave a mark in the industry through his “leadership by accommodation,” which is founded on understanding, being approachable, and being reasonable. “Just keep on giving the best available service to your guests and don’t forget to give your employees the pat on the back that they deserve. When you start receiving compliments from your guests and loyalty from staff, that’s where success comes in.”
After many months and lots of blood, sweat, and tears, the awarding ceremony of AYDAPH2019 is finally here! In just a few hours we will know which of our finalists in Architecture and Interior Design will bring home the gold.
The Asia Young Designer Awards challenges students of Architecture and Interior Design to come up with innovative and sustainable designs that could potentially be implemented in the future. Aside from cash prizes the finalists (and especially the winners) have the opportunity at an internship with a prestigious firm.
He also puts value in having a work-life balance among his employees and even with himself. “I always set a time limit for work because when you are enjoying the work, you tend to lose track of time and you should never lose time for your family. It is also important for me and my staff to recharge once in a while so we can provide better service to our guests when we return to work.”
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