by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 19, 2020 | Business
Organized by Nippon Paint, the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA), will see its 13th year of empowering young, budding designers to be agents of change by creating a positive impact, through design, within their communities. Held annually, student participants go through a rigorous selection process to proudly represent their countries for the grand title of Asia Young Designer of the Year 2019/20 at an international level. Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, AYDA pushes boundaries to continue nurturing designers for a better future.
Last year saw architect Tanay Bothara from India take his place at the gold spot in the Architectural Category with his award-winning project that saw him spend six weeks attending the Design Discovery Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design; an entire experience worth USD10,000 fully sponsored by Nippon Paint, as part of his winning prize, setting the stage for more to come this July.
Tanay Bothara attending the Design Discovery Program at Harvard GSD with his course mates
Tanay was able to attain a life goal following his gold achievement at the AYDA 2018/19 – to make it to Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design ‘Design Discovery Program’. “During my time at Harvard University’s GSD, I personally had the chance to design a unique civic center project, which provided me with rare insights from design experts from around the world. It was a great learning opportunity and I’m glad my journey landed me here. I encourage students to take part in AYDA to be able to experience what I have been able to. All it takes is the courage to pursue the competition knowing you have nothing to lose and only so much to gain,” said Tanay Bothara, Asia Young Designer of the Year 2018/19 (Architectural Category).
Children Uprooted, a humanitarian project by Tanay Bothara
AYDA 2018/19 saw Tanay channel humanitarian ideals with his award-winning project “Children Uprooted”. The architect achieved his personal goal of making a noteworthy contribution that will positively impact lives around the world as he showcased an attempt to recover the lost childhood of the Syrian children as he re-adapted war-torn spaces into playgrounds while strengthening color, warmth, and normalcy in a socially conscious process.
In 2018, Nippon Paint announced the establishment of the Gennosuke Obata Fellowship Fund at the Harvard GSD – a fund that has been providing financial aid to GSD students from Asian countries for the past two years. This partnership brings an additional program that rewards the Regional Winners of AYDA a 6-weeks all-expense paid experience at the prestigious school. Nippon Paint is connected to Harvard GSD’s alumni around the world to make way for more collaboration between the prestigious school and AYDA.
Since its inception, AYDA has engaged more than hundreds of industry professionals in the Asia Pacific to mentor the student participants and expose them to first-hand knowledge in the industry. Participants will also receive coaching and attend skill-building workshops to better prepare them for the upcoming virtual competition held on July 8th and 9th this year, where finalists will present their finest works to a panel of judges to be the next Asia Young Designer of 2019/20.
“Nippon Paint conceptualized AYDA as part of the brand’s inclusive business project to empower and groom budding architects and interior designers across Asia and we are very proud to have been able to showcase the extraordinary pool of talents we come across throughout the years with AYDA. Following the 2019 A Sustainable Future theme that set the motion for aspiring designers to bring to life a sustainable future, we’re eager to see what will be brought to the table for 2020’s Human-centred Design theme,” said Wee Siew Kim, Group CEO of NIPSEA Management Company Pte. Ltd. (Subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co.)
Despite the outbreak of Covid-19 and with safety measurements in mind, Nippon Paint has made the call to present this year’s awards via a virtual ceremony attended by international judges and esteemed finalists representing their country for the grand title of categories in AYDA. The event will see finalists present their award-winning work to an esteemed panel of judges in the Interior Design Category and Architectural Category on the 8th and 9th of July respectively. The finalists will also engage in a 10-minutes Q&A session with the judges and two of the 26 finalists will walk away with the grand title of each category.
The initiative by Nippon Paint will also organize international webinars where professionals from the industry and young designers are able to bring their knowledge and talents together.
Since founded in 2008, AYDA has grown exponentially since – garnering more than 35,000 entries from more than 1,200 tertiary educational institutions across 15 geographical locations that recognize Asia Young Designers around the world and also offer sub-award prizes in each category:
- Nippon Paint Colour Award – US $1,000
- Best Design Impact Award – US $1,000
- Best Sustainable Design Award – US $1,000
About the Asia Young Designer Awards
The Asia Young Designer Awards (“AYDA”) was first launched in 2008 as part of Nippon Paint’s vision to nurture the next generation of design talents. The event serves as a platform to inspire architectural and interior design students to develop their skills through cross-learning opportunities and networking with key industry players as well as fellow architectural and interior design peers in the region.
AYDA has since grown in terms of reach and stature and has now established itself as one of Asia’s premier design award across 15 geographical locations namely Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam with further expansion plans in the pipeline.
Over the years, AYDA has impacted thousands of young and talented student designers, presenting them with various opportunities to engage with renowned speakers and key figures in the design industry. Not only has the exposure enabled the participants to gain first-hand industry knowledge, personalized coaching, mentoring, and skill-building through various workshops by experienced lecturers, they also learn from their fellow peers from across borders.
With that, AYDA has established a close-knit design community comprising professional architects, interior designers, industry associations, partners, design schools, alumni, and design students.
AYDA welcomes all applications and those shortlisted will be notified. For more information, please visit https://www.asiayoungdesignerawards.com/.
About NIPSEA Management Co Pte Ltd (Subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co.)
NIPSEA was founded by entrepreneur Mr. Goh Cheng Liang in Singapore in 1962. NIPSEA has established its position as one of the largest coating and paint specialists in Asia, known in the marketplace by its brand as “Nippon Paint” and is responsible for expanding its operation and development of Nippon Paint in Asia. It has become the best coating partner for architectural, automotive, industrial, marine, O&G, specialized clients, and millions of families across the world. The brand is recognized for its dedication to quality, dazzling innovation, and excellent customer service.
With more than 70 NIPSEA companies spread throughout Asia, NIPSEA understands the local needs of its customers in every community. The company embraces diversity and operates as a multinational corporation. NIPSEA Group has over 23,000 employees with over 80 manufacturing facilities and operations in 17 geographical locations with its headquarters in Singapore, efficiently serving all aspects of the business, from production to customer satisfaction.
For more information about NIPSEA Group http://www.nipponpaint.com/.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 4, 2020 | Business
Acer Philippines, the country’s leading brand in the PC market, has formalized its partnership with APEC Schools is launching an online enrollment program to foster a safer and more efficient enrollment experience.
Sharing the same initiative to promote innovation in education, APEC Schools has moved to digitize its students’ records by making enrollment available online. This allows students to complete their enrollment process for SY 2020-2021 without visiting any APEC Schools branch.
APEC students using an Acer laptop
“As we prioritize the safety of Filipino students and their families, this partnership allows us to further improve the capacity of the education sector by developing a contactless enrollment solution to ease their worries during this uncertain time,” said Sue Ong-Lim, General Manager of Acer Philippines.
“At the height of the implementation of the Luzon-wide quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections, parents can harness the use of digital technology. They will no longer have to go through the old tedious enrollment process, and just stay home with their families and be safe,” she added.
APEC Schools announced that the online enrollment will begin in April. Forms such as the online admissions checklist, student questionnaire, and enrollment policies agreement can be easily downloaded from their website.
Students can enroll for junior or senior high school programs using their own tablet, laptop, or mobile phones through APEC Schools’ enrollment panel: http://enroll.apecschools.edu.ph/.
“Having the online enrollment system in place allows us to continue our commitment to parents and students even during this pandemic. A time like this is uncertain and challenging but securing their child’s future doesn’t have to be. This is all possible thanks to our partnership with Acer,” said Joie Lopez, CEO of APEC Schools.
The computer company has been supportive of redefining education through various initiatives that promote technological transformation in the workplace and enhance digital literacy in the academe.
APEC Schools offers the use of Chromebooks, one of Acer’s laptop models, in the classroom as a supplementary tool in education that lets the students learn more and do more. With over 20 branches across Metro Manila and Calabarzon, APEC Schools offers accessible and innovative education from junior to senior high school. The institution prepares college-ready and employment-ready individuals by creating their future #BetterEachDay.
For admission-related inquiries, you may visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/APECSchools, email ad********@*************du.ph, or call 0917-258-7621 and 0998-846-2120.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 28, 2020 | Business
Are you obsessed with TikTok? Have you been following all the viral hashtags and trends on social media? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then you may be just what Shopee is looking for!
In this role, you get the chance to create and produce engaging social media content from beginning to end. The best part? Not only will you get paid to do something you really enjoy doing, but you’ll also proudly represent the brand as one of the Faces of Shopee on TikTok!
Shopee wants bold and imaginative people to join their creative think tank. If you love being on camera and have the confidence to back it up, then this job is for you!
Interested candidates can paste a link of their most creative 30-second TikTok video on the comments section of the Shopee Career page. The clip should include why the candidates are the best person for this exciting role. Head over to Shopee Careers for more details.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 27, 2020 | Business
Celebrating life continues during lockdown – this optimistic proposition is what helped this cake business thrive in the tough COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the quarantine, people went on to celebrate special occasions with family, becoming an accidental opportunity for Cardinal Cakes, the offshoot of an events catering company known as Cardinal Cuisine.
“Our business provides catering services for birthdays, weddings, baptisms, and other parties. But with the abrupt ban on mass gatherings, we had to pivot to survive. Truly, necessity is the mother of innovation. We came up with a line of cakes and marketed them to friends and family via social media,” said Eric Bandola, co-owner of Cardinal Cakes.
Prior to ECQ, Cardinal Cuisine made cakes as ordered, and only as part of their catering events. But in the early stage of the lockdown, the big cake companies were closed, creating a void. Cardinal Cuisine was quick to take on this sudden opportunity, quickly mobilizing production and accepting orders for delivery. And that’s when Cardinal Cakes began.
After gaining traction on social media, Cardinal Cakes saw sales jump, and it continues to serve up whole cakes for delivery across Metro Manila. “Last Mother’s Day, we turned over more than 60 cakes for delivery,” shared Bandola. “Around 90% of our customers are from Metro Manila, but we also have regular patrons from the Southern Tagalog Region,” Bandola said.
Made with joy and passion, Cardinal Cakes bestsellers: Dark Chocolate Cake, Naked Red Velvet Cake, Walnut Carrot Cake, and Caramel Cake
Currently, Cardinal Cakes has four regular offerings – the moist and decadent Dark Chocolate Cake; the sublimely luxurious Naked Red Velvet Cake; the satisfyingly delightful Walnut Carrot Cake; and the light and fluffy Caramel Cake – with prices ranging from Php 450 to Php 1,000. The freshly baked cakes are sold immediately, thus turnover is quick, with rarely any inventory staying too long on the cake display. It’s best to order at least 12 hours in advance to make for enough lead time.
Bandola explained that all their cakes are ordered as gifts to celebrate life and rightly so because the cakes are baked with joy and passion. “We make our cakes like how mom makes them: full of love, sprinkled with joy, and carefully baked with tenderness. Good teams make good cakes, and our highly engaged and passionate team bake each cake as a product of that passion, and the desire to be part of our clients’ momentous occasions,” he said.
With a clear path towards business progression, Cardinal Cakes has plans for expansion and digital integration to deliver both happiness and excitement to more households across the country. “We love how our cakes are part of our customers’ celebrations. Celebrations are happy occasions and no lockdown can keep us from celebrating life with our families and loved ones,” Bandola said.
For more information, visit facebook.com/CardinalCuisine. To order, you may contact 0905-420-4030 or 8821-0057. You can also reach Cardinal Cakes via Facebook Messenger at m.me/CardinalCuisine.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 17, 2020 | Business
The times have changed and the new normal calls for more than your average clean as experts say it will take longer before the world completely heals from the effect of COVID19. As the country prepares to ease up after the almost three months of Enhance Community Quarantine, Hotel Sogo steps up for its version of the hotel industry’s ‘new normal’.
Hotel Sogo is doing various ways to ensure the safety and security of its guests and employees against the spread of Covid19 virus, once they go back to regular operations. Top on its list will be the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights in disinfecting around its facilities and intensified the process from checking-in to ordering food to make sure their facilities as So Clean. The ultraviolet (UV) lights are highly effective at disinfection, as its rays are capable of killing bacteria, germs, and viruses.
To prepare its employees in servicing its guests, Hotel Sogo makes sure to protect its employees from the virus by giving them vitamins to boost their immunity and provided personalized PPEs. Hotel Sogo employees have their medical check-ups and Covid19 testing to make sure that their personnel is free from the virus to make sure that the employees and not just the facilities are So Good and ready for their regular operations.
Guests need not worry during their stay Hotel Sogo ensures that operations and preparations are So Safe, as mandatory temperature checks, passage through disinfecting tent, and use of disinfecting foot tray are in place. The availability of hand sanitizers in common areas is strictly observed, as well as social distancing from the receiving process to elevator use going to their rooms. Facilities are also redesigned and modified to protect the guests and employees, like placing the glass panel divider on top of the front desk.
All of this information can be found in Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ video playbook. The video is shared with relevant government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Tourism (DOT), in the hope that the video could serve as a benchmark of other similar establishments prior to their reopening.
Watch Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ playbook video below to know more.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2020 | Business
Sheila Lobien
Sheila Lobien, founder and CEO of Lobien Realty Group (LRG), was presented with the Woman Super Achiever award by the World Women Leadership Congress (WWLC) during the 7th WWLC awards held at Taj Lands End Band Stand, Bandra (West), Mumbai, India last February 17, 2020.
WWLC is a worldwide organization that seeks to promote and encourage the empowerment of women. The WWLC honors the strategic and influential role of various women leaders in the development of the modern economy, technology, and administrative methodologies that promotes the advancement of government and business organizations to global competitiveness standards. The WWLC hosts its annual Women Leadership Awards to identify and celebrate the outstanding body of work and achievements of women leaders that are reflected by the distinct innovations and initiatives they bring to the public and private sectors. By highlighting the triumphs and successes of these women, the WWLC hopes to inspire, encourage, and urge young women to aspire for and, eventually, assume leadership positions in society.
The Women Leadership Award recognizes and appreciates the profound role played by women as leaders, executioners, and decision-makers, in shaping the future of regions and nations, and who embody the qualities of leadership in displaying active, creative, and integrative efforts in getting the best possible results towards achieving national and regional development.
Sheila Lobien is tremendously honored to have won The WWLC Woman Super Achiever Award and is extremely proud to receive an award that has been won by great Filipina women business leaders including Florencia Tarriela, Chairperson, PNB, Chaye Cabal-Revilla, PLDT SVP & Group Controller, Smart Chief Financial Officer, Rayla Melchor Santos, CEO, Pro-active Resources Inc., Co-Founder, I AM S.A.M. Foundation, and Educator Environmentalist, Bing Sibal-Limjoco, President, PCCI, and Sherill Quintana, President Director, Philippine Franchise Association, President, Oryspa.
Women’s empowerment in the Philippines has long been an advocacy of Sheila Lobien. She is currently the chairperson of the Women in Business Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP). Having received a prestigious WWLC Woman Super Achiever Award in recognition of her accomplishments has definitely encouraged Lobien to work harder in advancing the status of women and developing them to become remarkable leaders.
The Asia Young Designer Awards (“AYDA”) was first launched in 2008 as part of Nippon Paint’s vision to nurture the next generation of design talents. The event serves as a platform to inspire architectural and interior design students to develop their skills through cross-learning opportunities and networking with key industry players as well as fellow architectural and interior design peers in the region.
Are you obsessed with TikTok? Have you been following all the viral hashtags and trends on social media? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then you may be just what Shopee is looking for!
Shopee wants bold and imaginative people to join their creative think tank. If you love being on camera and have the confidence to back it up, then this job is for you!
The times have changed and the new normal calls for more than your average clean as experts say it will take longer before the world completely heals from the effect of COVID19. As the country prepares to ease up after the almost three months of Enhance Community Quarantine, Hotel Sogo steps up for its version of the hotel industry’s ‘new normal’.
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