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.”
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 20, 2020 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways
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by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 17, 2020 | Advocacy
After the recent eruption of the Taal Volcano in Batangas which affected thousands of Filipinos in Southern Luzon, the SM Group immediately mobilized Oplan Tulong Express, a relief operations program that gave assistance to the victims.
“SM has always been a partner of the community, especially in times of need and disasters. After the devastating calamity, we immediately reached out to those displaced by the eruption,” said Steven Tan, chief operating officer of SM Supermalls.
Spearheaded by the SM Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM Group including SM Prime Holdings, Oplan Tulong Express served as one of the first responders and gave assistance to communities in forms of Kalinga relief packs, medical missions and medicines, and other basic needs.
Upon the mobilization of Oplan Tulong Express, SM Foundation, SM Supermalls, SM Cares, and Philippine National Red Cross all worked closely together to help the victims as soon as possible. They sent a truckload of over 2,500 6-liter bottled water to the evacuation centers in Batangas City and Lipa. They also prepared and delivered over 6,500 Kalinga relief packs to the evacuation centers and sorting sites. These packs contained bottled mineral water, rice, ready-to-eat meals, and instant noodles. Oplan Tulong Express Booths were also activated right away to accept in-kind and cash donations in our 12 SM malls in South Luzon.
In partnership with SM Malls and SM Retail, there is also an ongoing Oplan Tulong Express Medical Mission in Lipa, Batangas, Bauan, and Inosluban-Maraouy which can help with different medical cases that were caused by the eruption. SM has deployed two mobile clinics with basic medication, health services and facilities such as x-ray, ECG, nebulizers, and oxygen for the medical mission. Volunteer doctors and medical personnel can also serve up to 1,200 medical cases a day.
Aside from relief operations, SM also ensured the safety and well-being of its employees. It reached out to its employees who live in the affected areas and made sure that their families are safe and given the utmost relief support and assistance. Moreover, SM Lemery in Batangas has been closed since Monday but its employees were absorbed by nearby SM malls in Batangas City and Lipa City. A total of 80 displaced employees were also given an emergency fund and SM Go Bags with first aid needs and kalinga relief packs.
To help secure the livelihood of tenants and their employees, micro, small and medium establishments located in affected malls were given the opportunity to open and do business in other South Luzon malls so that their livelihood and that of their employees is secure.
SM’s disaster recovery center in Clark also has copies of important business records and documents for tenants who have enrolled in the program, especially Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, to retrieve and use for insurance claims, among others.
SM Prime Holdings group, SM Cares, SM Foundation, and their partners from the Philippine National Red Cross, extend their gratitude to those who donated cash and in kind. To those who want to donate, you may drop off your donations at the designated Oplan Tulong Express booths in 12 SM malls in South Luzon, namely Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Molino, Rosario, Trece Martires, Imus, Sta. Rosa, San Pablo, Calamba, Batangas, Lipa, and Lucena.
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.
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.”
In line with NOVUHAIR’s 10th year of fervent commitment to consumer health awareness on hair loss prevention and maintenance, coupled with a decade of partnership with Mercury Drug Corporation, ADP Pharma Corporation has launched the NOVUHAIR VIP KIT. Find out more at 
“SM has always been a partner of the community, especially in times of need and disasters. After the devastating calamity, we immediately reached out to those displaced by the eruption,” said Steven Tan, chief operating officer of SM Supermalls.
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