by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 3, 2019 | Advocacy
Over twenty thousand autism advocates joined this year’s Angels Walk for Autism, the annual event that advocates for acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation of Filipinos with autism towards an Autism-OK Philippines, organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), together with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings.
This year’s celebration highlighted the country’s legacy of strong leaders that have brought the autism advocacy forward — for the last 30 years, across 97 chapters, with 13,000 members — and have become the foundation on which the next generation of leaders will build the future.
Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings chairman of the executive committee, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the ASP’s Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare. It is the society’s highest recognition, celebrating exemplary leadership that has a significant and positive impact on advancing ASP’s vision of acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation of persons with autism in an Autism-OK Philippines. Beyond awareness, Mr. Sy’s leadership has inspired tangible, measurable action through the accomplishments of SM Cares.
Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP of SM Supermalls
“Although many are aware of autism, very few people actually understand what it means to live life on the autism spectrum. SM Cares and ASP come together as a community to remind everyone that autism awareness and acceptance should be part of their everyday lives. Awareness is a good thing, but acceptance is far more meaningful,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP of SM Supermalls and Program Director of SM Cares Program on PWD’s.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who issued EO 711 of 1996, instituting the commemoration of the National Autism Consciousness Week, will be honored by ASP as the Father of the Philippine Autism Advocacy.
Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP National President
“FVR’s leadership opened the doors for the government agencies and private institutions to begin the path towards genuine inclusion of persons on the autism spectrum,” shared Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP national president, “His administration’s disability inclusive policies have put the Philippines ahead of our ASEAN neighbors in advocating for persons with autism and other invisible disabilities.”
The pre-walk program was led by Ms. Dang Koe, ASP Chair Emeritus and the inaugural ASEAN Prize Laureate 2018. The ASEAN Prize aims to recognize inspiring achievements and contributions that foster the ASEAN identity, promote the ASEAN spirit, and champion the ASEAN way. ASP is among the active movers behind the ASEAN Autism Network and the ASEAN Mapping Project.
ASP also awarded the Autism Works Partners of the Year honors to Dohtonbori Philippines, a Japanese casual dining pioneer and to Willis Towers Watson, a global leader in risk management and consultancy, for their unwavering commitment to the creation of productive opportunities for job seekers with autism.
The program included the presentation of the annual ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards to Samantha Pia Cabanero (for Advocacy), Eduardo Enrique Munarriz (for Athletics), and Carlo Gregorio Veluz (for Visual Arts). It also incorporated the induction of the new ASP Board of Trustees, composed of parent advocates; and the first set of officers of the ASP Self-Advocates Circle, composed of adults with autism.
Over 20,000 participants — families, professionals, supporters from the government and private sectors, from the Philippines and overseas — joined the annual walk from the MOA Arena to the SM MOA Music Hall. The walk is held with the support of the MOA Arena, SM Mall of Asia, National Council of Disability Affairs, ASEAN Autism Network and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.
The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization working towards an environment that empowers persons with an autism spectrum disorder to become the best of their potentials — self-reliant, productive and socially-accepted members of the community.
ASP labors to establish institutional mechanisms to support persons with autism and their families. Established in 1989, the organization — composed of 13,000 members spread over 96 chapters — has been in the forefront of providing services to families and individuals affected with autism.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).
As a responsible integrated property developer, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change in the communities that it supports.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 20, 2019 | Advocacy
In celebration of the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month, the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI), in partnership with SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., will hold the annual Happy Walk for Down syndrome on February 24, 2019 at Halls 1 & 2 of the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
The theme of this year’s event is “Living with Down, This Is My Story,” and will feature performances from children with Down syndrome, talks from honorary guests, and interactive booths.
Elmer Lapeña, DSAPI Chairman
“This is a time to tell our stories, the stories of our children. As each person goes through life, there are countless experiences that touch our lives. Some experiences can be so powerful that they have a long-lasting and life-changing impact on our lives,” DSAPI Chairman, Elmer Lapeña shares.
On its 17th year, Happy Walk continues to promote awareness and inclusivity for Persons with Down Syndrome and is expected to gather thousands of families, friends, and advocates, as well as private and public sectors supporting the advocacy.
Bien Mateo, SM SVP for Operations
“SM has been and will always be for inclusiveness. Everyone should be able to enjoy the good things SM can offer, regardless of varying conditions. We are very grateful for the partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, who work endlessly to reach and help more people, and most importantly, provide access and care to the ones who need it most,” said Bien Mateo, SM SVP for Operations and Director for SM Cares Program on PWDs.
Happy Walk for Down Syndrome
Registration starts at 7:00 AM and the program begins at 8:30 AM. The event will be immediately followed by a parade around the SM Mall of Asia Complex. Simultaneously, SM City Bacolod will also join the celebration and have their walk as well.
Happy Walk for Down Syndrome has come a long way since it started in 2002, with only a handful of participants. It is also one of the many strong advocacies of SM Cares that champions the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“SM Cares enables us to expand all over the Philippines, increasing the impact and benefits to more and more families, helping persons with Down syndrome to live more normal lives,” Lapeña added.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).
As a responsible integrated property developer, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change in the communities that it supports. To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares or email sm*****@**********ls.com.
To know more about Happy Walk for Down syndrome, you may contact ds***@*****il.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 8, 2018 | Advocacy
Ever Bilena, the country’s leading cosmetics brand, took a step closer to protect and preserve our environment as it launched it zero-waste management program. A highlight of the launch is the unveiling of the iECO-800, a thermal burner that is smokeless and odorless and burns almost all kinds of solid waste.
Present during the launch were (L-R) ABS-CBN publishing president and CEO Ernie Lopez, Pacific Online Systems Corporation chair and president Willy Ocier, Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar, Ever Bilena president and CEO Dioceldo Sy, and SM Prime Executive Committee chair Hans Sy.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 29, 2018 | Advocacy
Waste disposal is reaching crisis proportions in the Philippines. Landfills and rivers are overflowing with garbage. Piles of garbage obstruct sidewalks or are dumped on vacant lots, left to rot until they smell and attract hordes of flies.
We know that this is an existing concern in our country. What many of us do not know is that this massive garbage problem is, in fact, a P73 billion industry.
In 2016, 40,000 tons of garbage were collected every day. This totaled 14.6 million tons of garbage per year. If each kilo only cost P5 for disposal, the total cost in waste disposal for 2016 was an outstanding P73 billion.
The money is used to pay the local government, the garbage haulers and the gate fee at landfills. It has even increased this year because the usual P5,000 cost per truckload of garbage with five cubic meter capacity is now P8,000.
The yearly volume of waste generated is expected to increase from 13.48 million tons in 2010 to 16.63 million tons in 2020. In Metro Manila, averages of 9,000 tons of garbage were collected per day from 2012 to 2016. In just five years, daily garbage collection in Metro Manila has reached 93.8 million cubic meters. This is due to rapid urbanization, economic growth and development, changes in lifestyles and consumption patterns.
Aside from the massive amount of garbage generated, there are also the problems of improper disposal and lack of landfills.
Metro Manila Landfills
There are more than a hundred garbage hauling operators in Metro Manila but only three landfills – the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill, Navotas Sanitary Land Fill and Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill. New sites are hard to find and are much farther away from Metro Manila. The nearest available landfill is in Montalban, Rizal and it has already reached its maximum carrying capacity, way before 2022 when it is supposed to reach its limit.
Uncollected garbage, about a third of the solid waste generated in the cities, often ends up in drains, causing flooding and an increase in the population of rats, mice and other pests. The urban poor suffer most from the health problems resulting from poor management of solid waste.
The government has the main responsibility for ensuring waste is properly disposed of to avert health and environmental problems. But every Filipino can and should help by properly segregating garbage and by reducing, reusing and recycling.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 28, 2018 | Advocacy
The Philippines is expected to move further towards urbanization as it grows and develops. Unfortunately, its solid waste infrastructure is unable to keep pace with the economic and population growth. Inadequate, over-filled dumpsites and landfills are causing various health and environmental problems.
Some of the serious environmental risks caused by waste overflow landfills are ground and surface water contamination, flooding, greenhouse gas production, air pollution, exposure to toxins and spread of disease. Many disposal sites across the country contain infectious material, threatening sanitation workers and waste pickers and, eventually the general public.
Tests of liquid runoff or leachate from Rodriguez and Payatas dump sites were found to contain high levels of contaminants. Most of the leachate seeps untreated into groundwater sources of drinking water and flows to the Marikina and Pasig River systems and Manila Bay. Landfills and dump sites, despite government’s efforts to situate them in areas far from population centers, still pose a threat to the health and the environment.
A lot of wastes, about one-third of solid waste generated in the cities, are often dumped indiscriminately and often end up clogging the drains, causing flooding and increase in the populations of rodents and other pests. The urban poor suffer most from life-threatening conditions resulting from uncollected garbage.
In this age of digitalization and technology, one of the innovative solutions for solid waste management is decentralization using pyrolysis technology. Pyrolysis is coined from the Greek terms pyro or fire and lysis or separating. It is the industrial process of breaking down large molecules of waste such as agricultural residues, scraps, tires, and non-recyclable materials into smaller molecules of gas, oil and carbon black. One of the by-product of pyrolysis technology is ash which can be mixed with aggregates for construction purposes.
Most importantly, people should realize that they play a huge role in solving the massive garbage problem in the Philippines. It should be the country’s goal to create an environment free of garbage, minimizing of waste disposal to landfill, educating the community and make them aware of their roles and responsibilities, and to involve the business community in solid waste management.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 18, 2018 | Advocacy, Events
On the 68th edition of Manila FAME, the country’s premier design and lifestyle event, the Design Center of the Philippines will showcase the potential uses of bamboo through the creation of a design-forward home, lifestyle, and adventure products in its exhibits, Bamboo 360o and Bamboo Extreme 2.0.
Rhea Matute, Executive Director of Design Center of the Philippines
“We grew up with bamboo, so we can use our natural design language of bamboo and bring it to the next level, in terms of bringing innovation and using it as a form of expression of our creativity and our vision of the future,” Design Center Executive Director Rhea Matute remarked during the exclusive media preview of Manila FAME exhibits at LRI Design Plaza.
“For this year’s installment of Bamboo Extreme, which is Bamboo Extreme 2.0, these are iterations of new concepts in mobility using bamboo as a material. We are proud to feature this in our bamboo setting in Manila FAME, together with the prototypes for Bamboo 360o,” Matute added.
Previewed at the LRI, the bamboo setting takes its inspiration from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. The bamboo canopy housed two of the bamboo-made products to be featured in Manila FAME, Bambino by Bambike Revolutions and Eco-Padyak by Milo Naval.
The former is a scoot bike that was recently awarded the Good Design Award, Japan’s most prestigious and recognizable design award, and the latter is inspired by the definitively Filipino tricycle and pedicab, which won the Editor’s Choice by Locale Magazine. A new version of the Green Falcon by Banatti, an electric motorcycle with a marine-lacquered bamboo bodywork, will also be featured in the Design Center’s exhibit at Manila FAME.
“Our partnership with the mining sector is to help in the propagation of bamboo and using bamboo as a material on a horizontal application – it’s really finding more industries in which bamboo can be used. The partnership with the mining communities aims to close the supply-chain gap,” Matute said of Design Center’s Manila FAME exhibit co-presenter Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) and event partner Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) in their efforts to transform post-mining communities.
Matute added that the agency’s partnership with the mining sector aims to instill a commitment to the circular economy, particularly in the way we create and consume products.
The Executive Director also said that the Design Center is looking forward to realizing the vision of the mining sector to develop agro-industrial estates in the communities they are involved in.
Nora K. Terrado, DTI Undersecretary for the Trade and Promotions
“What we are trying to achieve this time is to bring Manila FAME to the world in a whole different realm – transforming the way we execute things in a different content. We are evolving, and we are excited about that,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary for the Trade and Promotions Group Nora K. Terrado explained.
“Manila FAME is not intended to be just a few days of physical exhibitions, but it should be something that would allow us to have a touchpoint, to make it virtual. The touchpoint would be an opportunity for our MSMEs to reach out to a greater market,” she added.
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Manila FAME, running from October 19-21 at the World Trade Center, faces digitalization head-strong while also promoting the signature craftsmanship of Filipino designers and the boundless creativity of the country.
“We will fortify the collaboration between our partner agencies, the Design Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Nickel Industry Association, as they reinforce the evolution of bamboo as a raw material of functional yet remarkably designed pieces,” CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan noted.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Matute said that the Design Center, a sister agency of CITEM, will always help in showing the world the true potential of what Philippine creativity and design has to offer.
Also present during the exclusive media preview were National Bamboo Industry Cluster Coordinator and DTI-Region III Director Judith Angeles, PNIA Chairman and President of Marcventures Holdings, Inc. Isidro Alcantara, Jr., PNIA Chairman Emeritus and Chairman of the PNIA Committee on Sustainability Clarence Pimentel, Jr., PNIA Executive Director Charmaine Olea-Capili, and COMP Executive Director Ronald Recidoro.
The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization working towards an environment that empowers persons with an autism spectrum disorder to become the best of their potentials — self-reliant, productive and socially-accepted members of the community.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).
Waste disposal is reaching crisis proportions in the Philippines. Landfills and rivers are overflowing with garbage. Piles of garbage obstruct sidewalks or are dumped on vacant lots, left to rot until they smell and attract hordes of flies.
In 2016, 40,000 tons of garbage were collected every day. This totaled 14.6 million tons of garbage per year. If each kilo only cost P5 for disposal, the total cost in waste disposal for 2016 was an outstanding P73 billion.
The government has the main responsibility for ensuring waste is properly disposed of to avert health and environmental problems. But every Filipino can and should help by properly segregating garbage and by reducing, reusing and recycling.
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