by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 24, 2020 | Events
Ballet Manila, the Philippines’ most solidly trained classical ballet company, held a special preview of its upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty at the Ballet Manila studios in Pasay City. The production is part of the company’s 24th performance season and is the conclusion of Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Princess Trilogy.
Featuring original choreography by the prima ballerina herself, Ballet Manila’s Sleeping Beauty will feature new storylines and characters, exciting crossovers, and unexpected twists. It will be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila on January 18 at 6:00 PM and January 19 at 3:00 PM.
Shown on photo during the preview are (L-R) Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso, CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, principal dancers Jasmine Pia Dames and Romeo Peralta.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2020 | Events
The Philippine Center for Gift Education (PCGE), Inc. in partnership with PROMIL® FOUR spearheaded the annual National Week for the Gifted Conference, a 2-day seminar held at the Hive Hotel and Convention Place in Quezon City. With the aim of promoting discussion and learnings on giftedness, the seminar’s focal point was revisiting multiple intelligences, as discussed by experts and keynote speakers.
In the photo are the following, from left to right: PCGE advisory board members Dr. Liezel Angeles, Dr. Elizabeth Vivien Magbata, Dr. Melanie Donkor and Prof. Mauricia Borromeo, Mikaela Samson, PCGE president Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, Ryan Tumbocon, and PCGE advisory board members Dr. Perry Esguerra, Prof. Hercules Calanta and Annabelle Sangalan.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 9, 2019 | Events
Coffee enthusiasts had the opportunity to attend an exclusive Coffee Exploration session led by renowned coffee expert and 2015 World Barista Champion, Sasa Sestic. This curated event was hosted by the local coffee company Henry and Sons, in collaboration with the luxurious Grand Hyatt Manila hotel.
The Coffee Man experience brings Sestic’s remarkable journey to the Philippines, showcasing his evolution into a champion barista and the efforts he undertook in pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee. Beyond being a skilled barista, Sestic is also a passionate and knowledgeable coffee grower who consistently experiments with various techniques and methods.
One of the post-harvest methods he experimented with is carbonic maceration. A specialty coffee processed using this method is Jasper Coffee from Masina Village in Ethiopia, which is now available at Florentine in Grand Hyatt Manila. More importantly, Sestic emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the welfare of coffee farmers while cultivating sustainable, world-class beans.
Describing Sasa Sestic as “driven” is akin to calling Mt. Everest “high.” Sasa (pronounced “Sasha”) has dedicated over 15 years to the pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee. His journey began when he became a barista in 2003, where he started to explore new coffee flavors. His passion has led him to study the specific regions and countries that produce the best coffee.
His passion for coffee is insatiable. He not only seeks to expand his knowledge about coffee but also aims to educate others with what he learns. Furthermore, he is dedicated to helping coffee farmers improve their livelihoods and strengthen their communities.
Showcasing Sasa’s talent in the Philippines allows local baristas to draw inspiration from his experience and story. He possesses vast knowledge that baristas, farmers, and even coffee distributors can learn from.
2019 Philippine National Barista Champion, President and CEO of Henry & Sons
Sasa believes that supporting coffee farmers enhances the quality of the coffee produced. By understanding the climate and planting cycles of different regions, he has learned when to harvest coffee at its peak. He is currently writing a book about his journey, which he intends to complete, especially since he was midway through it when he won the 2015 Barista Championship.
The best-selling book “The Coffee Man” tells the story of the author’s journey to becoming a barista. It follows his quest to find the finest coffee beans by visiting coffee farmers and explores new methods for enhancing coffee flavors. Additionally, “The Coffee Man” has been adapted into a movie.
It took him seven attempts before he won the Australian Barista Championship in 2015. That same year, he also triumphed at the World Barista Championship (WBC) held in Seattle. Over the twelve years leading up to his WBC victory, his career evolved from being a barista to becoming the head of ONA Coffee Wholesale. He also opened several cafes, including The Cupping Room, ONA Coffee House, and ONA Manuka.
He has been assisting farmers through Project Origin, an ethical green bean trading company that has established long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with over 100 growers in coffee-producing countries.
Project Origin has enabled farmers to increase their income and enhance their crops, livelihoods, and financial stability. The organization has also raised funds for health, education, and community initiatives that benefit coffee farmers.
Michael Harris Conlin found a kindred spirit in his love for coffee. He established the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) to support local farmers in producing sustainable, world-class coffee for Filipinos to enjoy. The coffee these farmers produce is not only sustainable but also of the highest quality, making it perfect for coffee enthusiasts.
To achieve this goal, Conlin purchases their coffee and allocates a portion of the sales proceeds to train the farmers and provide them with the necessary tools to improve their coffee production.
In addition to their outreach efforts to farmers in Benguet and other coffee-growing regions of the Philippines, the FSCE aims to enhance the skills of both current and future baristas. Conlin established the Institute of Coffee Excellence, located right across from the popular The Giving Café (TGC), which was opened earlier.
The two-story Institute serves as a laboratory and creative space for Conlin and his team. It hosts classes for baristas and facilitates farmer-trader discussions while exploring innovative ways to make Philippine coffee beans more accessible to an international audience.
Earlier this year, Henry and Sons hosted coffee expert Mokhtar Alkhanshali and showcased his high-rated coffee from Yemen, Port of Mokha, at a similar event in the Philippines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 5, 2019 | Events
The biggest celebration that aims to nurture the gift of every child happened in this year’s National Gifted Week spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. (PCGE) in partnership with PROMIL® FOUR and support from the Kite Association of the Philippines.
From November 24 to 30, the National Gifted Week featured a whole-day kite flying event and a two-day conference to be attended by giftedness experts.
Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho
“This event aims to celebrate the gift that every child possesses. It is a great way for parents to encourage the creativity of their children, have fun and spend some time together. We will also be gathering the most notable experts who will discuss and share their knowledge on how to nurture a child’s gift,” said Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, president of PCGE.
On November 24, the celebration kicked off with the biggest kite making and flying event in Manila. Children and their parents created colorful kites and watched them rise in the air during the activity held at Burnham Green Park across Luneta from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Arts director of Masterpiece Movement, Kara Escay, facilitated the said activity. Attendees enjoyed exciting games, entertainment, a parade, and other surprises.
To promote discussion and share learnings on giftedness, the PCGE also held a gathering of experts for a two-day conference on November 29-30 at Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. The conference focused on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences.
Sharing their expertise are experts that included Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Ms. Shaira Luna, Ms. Kara David, Ms. Roselle Ambubuyog, Dr. Carlos Arcilla, Mr. Ryan Tumbocon, and Mr. Kim Atienza. They discussed how to nurture a child’s gift based on their dominant intelligence which can be among Musical-Rhythmic, Visual/Spatial, Verbal Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, or Body-Kinesthetic.
For more information, visit https://www.promilnurturethegift.com.ph/promil-four-nutrissentials or https://www.facebook.com/promilfour/.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 27, 2019 | Events
Filipinos love sardines, and for good reason. Not only is it delicious and affordable, but it’s also packed with health benefits that make it an excellent addition to our everyday meals. In fact, sardines are available almost anywhere. In supermarkets, sari-sari stores and even convenience stores, sardines are loved all throughout the country. That’s why Mega Global, the leading sardines manufacturer in the Philippines, launched Mega SardiNation, the first-ever National Sardines Day celebration last November 24, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall headlined by no less than Mega Sardines ambassador Mr. Piolo Pascual with special guests Dimples Romana and Mike Enriquez.
As a sardine eating nation, Mega SardiNation highlights sardines as a well-loved Filipino staple and is also an avenue for Mega Global to further their commitment to improving the lives of Filipino communities, particularly in the health and nutrition sector. With its signature 12-hour Catching-to-Canning process, Mega Global ensures that its sardines are of the highest quality to give consumers the needed health benefits in each can.
Panel discussion on health and nutrition
The National Sardines Day brought families and friends together in a fun-packed and interactive event with free health and nutrition consultations, taste tests, a fun claw grabber game, and other activities for the guests to enjoy. With a push for Filipinos to make healthier choices through proper meal planning, the event also featured a discussion on health and nutrition facilitated by Mike Enriquez together with the Nutrition Center of the Philippines. The panelists highlighted how sardines are a nutritious addition to any meal and the different factors that affect the health and nutrition of Filipino families.
National Sardines Day activities
Adding some high-tech fun to the event, guests enjoyed a virtual reality experience of Mega Global’s trademark 12-hour Catching-to-Canning process onboard its Mega Barko. Using VR, guests experienced the renowned process that Mega Global observes to ensure that the fish they catch using sustainable methods are kept fresh and canned within 12 hours to bring consumers only the freshest and tastiest sardines.
Marvin Tiu Lim, Piolo Pascual, William Tiu Lim, Dimples Romana, Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan
Attendees were also delighted and entertained by the presence of Mega Sardines’ brand ambassador Piolo Pascual as he talked about the meticulous 12-hour catching to the canning process and his personal experiences with Mega Sardines making it his brand of choice. Special guest Dimples Romana shared personal insights on how she appreciates the nutritional benefits and quality found in each can of Mega Sardines making it an ideal meal for the whole family.
Mr. William Tiu Lim, Mega CEO and President
The event was capped off with a speech from the man behind Mega Global Corporation, Mr. William Tiu Lim, President & CEO, thanking the attendees and special guests for making the first-ever National Sardines Day a success.
To further highlight their commitment to improving Filipino lives and communities, Mega Global partnered with the Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP) and the local government of Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City for a community health and nutrition program. A 40-day feeding program for undernourished children aged 3 to 6 years old received 2 full well-curated meals from NCP, with one meal using sardines. This initiative will conclude on November 30, 2019
“Filipinos love sardines. As the top sardines brand in the country, we decided to hold the first National Sardines Day celebrations to showcase not only Mega Global’s various initiatives but to also make everyone aware of the myriad health benefits of sardines,” said Mr. Marvin Tiu Lim, VP for Sales and Marketing of Mega Global.
“Our CSR program with the NCP also helped us push for increased awareness of the importance of nutrition in every Filipino’s diet. We believe that with initiatives like this, we can truly make an impact and create sustainable change in the health and nutrition sector” he added.
The National Sardines Day truly showed how this well-loved Filipino staple can improve the lives of families and communities through each can. Through this event, Mega Global hopes that each family can make better choices in meal planning and continue to provide their family with the right nutrients they need through Mega Sardines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 24, 2019 | Events
Today my daughter (Erika), granddaughter (Star), and I went out and did something different … we went to Burnham Green across from Luneta to make and fly a kite in an event sponsored by Promil.
First of all, Star LOVES pink so arriving at the venue and seeing all the pink banners, booths, blankets, she was ecstatic. 🙂 Upon our arrival they gave Star a pink hat, attached a band on our wrist, and we took a short quiz to find out what Star’s gift is … it is spatial intelligence. She takes after me, lol!
Our day started with a hearty lunch courtesy of Promil. Star was particularly excited about the food container and spoon and fork set they were giving the kids. She immediately asked me if she could keep them or if we had to return them. Her eyes lit up when I told her they were hers to keep.
Right now she is at that stage where she is a picky eater so feeding her is often a challenge. Of the food we were served she only ate the fish fillet and the pastry.
Design and make the kite
Star loves to write and draw and the kite kit we were provided came with the kite material itself, 2 sticks, 2 crepe paper tails, a pen, oil pastels, and stickers. From the time we arrived she kept asking if we could start on the kite already because she really wanted to draw on the kite. It was a windy day so working on the kite was challenging. The material was very fragile and a slight wind would blow it up and away so my daughter and I did our best to hold it down while helping Star with her artwork.
Time to fly the kite!
Once we had put the kite together she couldn’t wait for fly the kite! This was her first time so I was curious how well she would take to the experience.
At first she was tentative, Star does not like to fail. But with encouragement and motivation, and help, she finally got the kite up in the air, woohoo! My daughter has never flown a kite herself so this was a new experience for her as well.
Thank you, Promil, for sponsoring this fun event! Despite the momentary rain and the subsequent mud my gifted grandchild had a lot of fun.
To promote discussion and share learnings on giftedness, the PCGE also held a gathering of experts for a two-day conference on November 29-30 at Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. The conference focused on revisiting the Multiple Intelligences.
The National Sardines Day truly showed how this well-loved Filipino staple can improve the lives of families and communities through each can. Through this event, Mega Global hopes that each family can make better choices in meal planning and continue to provide their family with the right nutrients they need through Mega Sardines.
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