by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 4, 2018 | Lifestyle
The modern workplace is constantly evolving. While in the past, interior designers focused on creating spaces that promote utmost concentration through formal, almost rigid layouts, these days the trend is to create flexible workspaces that promote teamwork and interaction among employees.
Agility underpins the design concept for the newly renovated corporate offices of AXA Philippines at the GT Tower in Makati City. Aptly called AXA Home, the newly unveiled facility promises to be a people-centric workplace that is conducive for collaboration and creativity among its occupants. This is a key part of the One AXA vision – the constant process of redefining and transforming systems to improve operations for the ultimate benefit of employees and customers.
Inspired by native materials and motifs, AXA Home has an overall look that is “proudly Filipino with a modern twist.” AXA incorporated local designs of handwoven textiles, artistically crafted rattan, and sturdy wooden furniture and decor. They are artfully blended with industrial design elements in key areas, notably in the “plazas,” the main hubs for collaboration.
In addition to the more artistic and revitalized appearance and feel of AXA Home, a comprehensive space plan was also implemented, which deliberately veered away from the traditional office set-up. Instead, the AXA Home promotes openness, collaboration, and efficiency, particularly in the use of space.
Another key feature of the AXA Home is innovation, manifested in the addition of two new rooms: the Innovation Hub and the Social Media Command Center. The Social Media Command Center, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, aims to boost AXA Philippines’ online presence, as well as to increase positive sentiments in the digital space. The Innovation Room, meanwhile, is an area where people from different teams can collaborate and conceptualize innovations that can help them attain their business goals.
AXA Home aims to provide a space where everyone feels welcome, with boundaries and divisions removed to foster a real sense of community.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 3, 2018 | Real Estate
Filigree, the newest luxury real estate brand in the country, recently gave its renowned designers, project consultants, and select members of the media a warm welcome at Botanika Nature Residences in Filinvest City, Alabang with the turnover of its Tower 1.
Botanika, a luxurious, low-density condominium, has reached a major milestone as the project’s first phase was completed on time and as promised, allowing some of the country’s most discriminating and affluent homeowners to already move into their units, a testimony of Filigree’s ability to complete masterfully crafted, upscale living spaces on time and without compromise.
Catherine Ilagan, Filigree Head
“We are extremely pleased to welcome residents as they finally make Botanika their home,” says Catherine Ilagan, Head of Filigree. “Botanika by Filigree is a bespoke residential condominium masterpiece that we are most proud of. That we were able to finish it on time and to exacting standards is but a testament of our unyielding commitment to investors and unit owners.”
With soothing symphony music filling the air, guests stood in awe at Botanika’s majestic atrium and hotel-like lobby, with its superb ventilation and natural light streaming in, plus the lush ‘gardenscapes’ that envelope the entirety of the development—unique features that helped the development gain a three-star BERDE rating for design from the Philippine Green Building Council.
Dodo Casibang and Jun Ganaden of AECOM
During the event, Architect Dodo Casibang of AECOM talked about how the lush landscape connects Botanika’s features and amenities, he relayed, “One of the things that I am truly proud of is really how we were able to seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor spaces”.
Rommel Abad and Andy Locsin of Leandro V. Locsin Partners
Mr. Andy Locsin of Leandro V. Locsin Partners also shared how Botanika’s architecture considered the kind of lifestyle that awaits the future residents, “One of the core value of this project is the ability to live an environmentally-ethical life. I think that is one of the aspects that the clients are looking for.”
Guests were also given a tour of the elegant main lobby, the grand three-bedroom mock-up unit, the state-of-the-art business center, as well as the indoor and outdoor kid’s play area, all interior designed by Isabelle Miaja of the Miaja Design Group further eliciting awes from everyone with the smart floorplan and the breathtaking views beyond.
Botanika Nature Residences surely and simply stands out as a product bearing iconic architecture, generosity of space, unparalleled finishes and build quality, posh amenities, and superior property management that make for green and worry-free living beyond compare. For more information, visit www.botanika.com.ph or call (02) 880-2868.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Apr 2, 2018 | Business
The founding partners of QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private initiative for startups, were all present for QBO QNNECT: The QBO App Launch, the official unveiling of a virtual hub developed by QBO with the vision of uniting the Filipino startup ecosystem in the digital sphere.
(From L-R: Secretary Fortunato “Boy” de la Peña, the Department of Science and Technology; Katrina Chan, Director, QBO; Assistant Secretary Rafaelita “Fita” Aldaba, the Department of Trade and Industry; Patricia Javier-Gutierrez, Executive Director and Head of Communications, J.P. Morgan; Diane Eustaquio, Executive Director, IdeaSpace Foundation Inc.; and Rene “Butch” Meily, President, QBO.)
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 30, 2018 | Business
Avid shoppers in the southern part of Metro Manila now have more reasons to shop as Landers Superstore, the country’s fastest growing membership shopping superstore, opens its newest branch at Daang Hari Road, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City.
Shop to your heart’s content for high-quality imported and local products and experience exclusive lifestyle services unlike any other. Landers Superstore Alabang West not only offers first-class shopping experience with its vast-spaced, well-lit aisles, but also comfortable dining with its very own Doppio café, Dough & Co. bakery and Landers Central diner. It also houses a barbershop called Federal Barbers and has its own Caltex gas station.
Dignitaries present at the opening of Landers Superstore Alabang
Present during the launch were (from left) Megaworld Corporation first vice president Kevin Tan, Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar, Global Estate Resorts, Inc. president Atty. Monica T. Salomon, and Lydia Yu.
Visit other Landers Superstore branches at 1240 EDSA Balintawak Apolonio Samson, Quezon City; 1890 Paz Guazon St., Paco, Manila; and at #23 Minore Park, Cardinal Rosales Ave. cor Pope John Paul II Ave, Cebu. All superstores are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 29, 2018 | Female Empowerment
Nearly 500 participants gathered for the 3rd Women’s Summit recently organized by Viviamo! Inc., the company behind Belle De Jour (BDJ) Power Planner.
3rd women’s summit audience
With the theme “Women Redefined”, this year’s event aimed to equip millennials with encouraging messages from strong female role models who are redefining the society’s standards for women.
Darlyn Sandra Ty-Nilo, President of Viviamo Inc.
“Our society has constantly bombarded today’s women – especially the millennials – with unrealistic standards regarding beauty and career, making it hard for them to find themselves and lead an authentic life. Through the Women’s Summit, Viviamo! Inc. hopes to empower them as they pursue fulfillment while being true to their identity,” shared BDJ founder Darlyn Ty-Nilo.
At the summit, guests were treated to inspiring talks and fun activities at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier. The day began with a keynote speech by Ty-Nilo, who talked about the importance of claiming one’s success.
“To own up to your success is not a form of bragging, rather a means to realize that all the sweat and tears that you put into your job are making a difference,” she said, adding, “Women should learn to acknowledge their achievements so that they can inspire others to reach for their dreams.”
Resilient Females
From L-R: Host Janeena Chan; president of Viviamo, Inc. Darlyn Sandra Ty-Nilo; PinoyAkoBlog.com author Jover Laurio; co-founder and CTO of Cropital Rachel De Villa; and Viviamo Inc. marketing manager Allyssa Legaspi at the 3rd Women’s Summit held last March 11, 2018, at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura.
Rachel de Villa, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cropital, a multi-awarded crowdfunding platform for Filipino farmers
Meanwhile, Rachel de Villa, co-founder and chief technology officer of Cropital, opened the first plenary session entitled Resilient Females, which focused on overcoming one’s circumstances and maximizing one’s blessings.
De Villa shared that she has always considered herself a problem solver, so she developed Cropital when she found the opportunity to help Filipino farmers access financial support. Through Cropital, anyone can provide farmers with funds for proper equipment and training from agriculture experts.
Jover Laurio, author of pinoyakoblog.com
For her part, PinoyAkoBlog.com owner Jover Laurio continues to publish critical articles on the country’s political situation, despite the relentless cyberbullying and death threats. Laurio has drawn flak for being outspoken in her fight against fake news.
Her story moved many people in the audience (and continued to receive ridicule from several people on social media). It isn’t just fake news. Her outspokenness about her political views and her chutz-pah in going after political figures, big and small, have landed her in the proverbial hot water more times than she could count. But she always stood by her convictions.
Courageous Females
From L-R: Host Janeena Chan; president of Viviamo, Inc. Darlyn Sandra Ty-Nilo; Singer, TV host and Alopecia Areata advocate Abby Asistio, airine pilot Blu Bingoy; and Viviamo Inc. marketing manager Allyssa Legaspi at the 3rd Women’s Summit held last March 11, 2018, at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura.
At the second plenary dubbed Courageous Females, resource speakers talked about living their authentic selves and defying expectations regarding women’s roles in the society.
Blu Pingoy, Cebu Pacific Air pilot
Blu Pingoy, for instance, courageously pursued her dream of becoming a pilot, a job usually taken on by males. With her persistence, Pingoy became one of the first few female commercial pilots in the country.
Abby Asistio, singer, songwriter, host, and Alopecia Awareness advocate
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter and alopecia areata awareness advocate Abby Asistio did not allow the society’s standards to define her.
As someone who suffered from alopecia or hair loss at an early age, she encouraged women to embrace their uniqueness and get over their insecurities.
“Even if society says kailangan long hair para maging girly ka, eh hindi ako long-haired eh. Dapat manggaling sa sarili ko na, okay lang kahit hindi long hair, maganda pa ako with short hair. Just be open to embracing your own uniqueness.”
During her talk, she showed this video to the audience to show us her struggle with alopecia and fitting in and wearing wigs for most of her life.
She ended her talk by singing this song to the audience live and, at some point, unplugged.
What an inspiration.
Resourceful Females
From L-R: Host Janeena Chan; president of Viviamo, Inc. Darlyn Sandra Ty-Nilo; Sinaya cup founder and owner Audrey Tangonan; Rumarocket, Inc. owner Kathleen Yu; and Viviamo Inc. marketing manager Allyssa Legaspi at the 3rd Women’s Summit held last March 11, 2018, at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura.
Aside from promoting resilience and courage, the summit also stressed the value of paving one’s path and sustaining success in the third plenary session called Resourceful Females, featuring businesswomen Audrey Tangonan and Kathleen Yu.
Audrey Tangonan, Founder and Managing Director of menstrual cups business called ‘Sinaya Cups’
Starting a business is risky, but Sinaya Cup founder Audrey Tangonan persevered because she believed that her idea can genuinely improve people’s lives. Now, her menstrual cup business has attained massive success locally and internationally.
Kathleen Yu, Founder of Rumarocket, Inc. a Manila-based tech start-up that uses assessments and predictive analytics to help companies find and develop their IT talents
Kathleen Yu, the owner of Manila-based tech start-up Rumarocket Inc., also shared the moving story of her business.
From the initial failures, Kathleen resolved to learn from mistakes and bounce back. “As long as I was alive, I could always change and grow and learn and become different,” she said.
These speakers’ thoughts echo the women’s advocacy of Belle De Jour, which has always aimed to empower modern Filipina women by equipping them with knowledge, confidence, and self-appreciation. As Ty-Nilo explains, “We hope to help build a world where women are bound not by societal expectations, but by their vision of who they really want to be.”
The 3rd BDJ Women’s Summit was co-presented by Chinoy TV, Lipault, and Sun Life Financial. Major sponsors include Food Panda, Modess, Wacoal, GCash, Style Genie, Biore, Caronia, Celeteque, Cinnabon, Fitness Gourmet, Jergens, Jollibee, Kipling, Liese, MegRhythm, Parisian Shoes and Bags, Serenitea, Zenutrients, Features and Shades, and Award Extremes Inc.
Ace Water Spa, Chef Tony, Frankie’s, Goldilocks, and McDonald’s provided loot bags and raffle prizes, while Adobo Magazine, Rappler, and When in Manila served as media partners.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 28, 2018 | Awards and Competitions
SM Easter Egghunt
Easter celebrations usually include egg hunts, Easter-themed fairs, and parties for kids and their families. This year, SM Supermalls delights customers with a fresh, exciting take on the well-loved egg hunt and Easter party in 68 malls across the country!
Kids and kids at heart are invited to join the “Hunt, Scan, and Win,” SM’s first nationwide digital-egg scavenger hunt on Easter, April 1 – where QR codes will be scattered in the malls for customers to find and scan for giveaways, deals, and GCs from participating stores.
“Celebrating Easter with the whole family will be more memorable this year with all the fun activities we have in store for them in the malls, especially as we host SM’s first nationwide digital-egg hunt,” says SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing Jonjon San Agustin.
Fun-filled activities at SM include the well-loved Easter Fashion Costume Contest on April 1. Along with designing the SM Supermalls bunny ears, parents can dress up their kids in cute and creative costumes for a chance to win P10,000 worth of SM gift certificates. You can even run to Toy Kingdom, SM Markets, or The SM Store for kiddie-costume shopping!
From March 18 to April 1, there’s the Hoppy & Artsy arts and crafts workshops offering fun and educational eggs-periences for kids. Mallgoers can also check out the Easter Fun Festival bazaar for Easter eggs, finds, costumes, and treats. In between activities, you can take a break and indulge in Easter Dining Deals at restaurants for freebies and dining specials.
For more details about SM’s fun Easter happenings, visit www.smsupermalls.com. Don’t forget to celebrate and enjoy an egg-citing Easter with your family at SM Supermalls!
For exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 27, 2018 | Events
KTM Philippines presented the country’s motorcycle architectural landscape through various art pieces during the recent Art Fair Philippines 2018 at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati City. The maker of the country’s high-performance and ready-to-race motorcycles, KTM stood as one of the prominent exhibitors during the four-day event.
KTM commissioned celebrated sculptor Pete Jimenez, who “transforms a hard intractable material like iron into sculptural statements of wit and whimsy, mirth and merriment” and who has had over 16 solo exhibitions, to use KTM motorcycles as the inspiration for his pieces. Jimenez is among the few Filipino sculptors who have consistently explored the use of scrap iron as a medium.
The KTM inspired collaboration resulted in an iconic orange frame of KTM bikes, pounded to form a heart, with motorcycle parts encased within, which the artist dubbed as “Racing Heart”. The striking artwork is Jimenez’s visual gem of a pun, showcasing wit and artistic skill.
The extraordinary participation of a motorcycle brand in the art fair was described as re-imaginations of contemporary motorcycle architecture by rendering and defining the “melding point” of science, art, machine, humanity, and technology. The platform exhibited the best in modern and contemporary Philippine visual art.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 27, 2018 | Health Tips
We all admire strong and confident women who can take charge of their lives. And while we may think that only a certain few can achieve this, any woman can feel empowered.
As a strong supporter of women, Solane, the country’s top LPG solutions company, shares these simple tips to help women – from young ladies and professionals to mothers – gain self-confidence:
Exercise more.
They say it’s easy to feel confident when you have an active lifestyle. Regular workouts will not just improve your physique but also improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Embrace your imperfections.
Nobody is perfect. Accept your imperfections. View your qualities in a positive way so you can gain more self-confidence and become one of those strong women you admire.
Keep striving for personal growth and work hard to improve yourself. List down all your unique characteristics, strengths and abilities and enhance them.
Dream big.
And don’t be afraid to go after your dreams! Make a vision board to illustrate your goals and remind you of all the goals you want to accomplish.
An empowered woman knows that, with courage, perseverance, and belief in herself, she can achieve anything she sets her mind and heart on.
Be independent.
When was the last time you did something without the help of others? Have you ever tried dining out alone? Being able to do things on your own is truly empowering because it helps you know yourself better. It also shows that you are strong enough to face any situation. So, go ahead and travel or watch a movie alone. Don’t keep yourself from doing things you want to do just because there’s no one to go with you.
Help out.
Join a charitable cause you or volunteer for a program you believe in. Giving back to the community and helping others will make you feel good about yourself.
Pursue your passion.
One of the most rewarding things you can do is to pursue your passions. Whether it’s traveling, building your own business or applying for the job you really want, don’t be afraid to go for it. Never give up. Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you.
Keep learning.
An empowered woman doesn’t stop learning. Not only will it keep your brain healthy and active but learning something new will strengthen your bond with family and friends.
Discover new skills together, like writing or cooking. Let Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, help you develop your cooking skills with simple and easy-to-do recipes from http://www.solane.com.ph/recipes.
You don’t need to do grand things to feel empowered. You can easily boost your confidence by practicing these simple tips.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 26, 2018 | Beauty
Careline, the Philippines’ go-to cosmetic brand, breaks stereotypes and celebrates diversity in race, gender, and culture with its genderless beauty campaign.
At a time when gender fluidity is rising, Careline encourages inclusion of everyone regardless of size, shape, gender, and color. What better way to promote beauty in diversity than by gathering seven influential millennials, the Careline Gang, who are confident in their own skin?
The Careline Gang
The Careline Gang consists of Seff Francisco, Mara Luz Smith, Rei Germar, Kenny Manalad, Margarita Gumabao, Emma Briones, and Brittany Rhodes. They are proud of who they are and embrace their flaws –that set them apart from the crowd.
With thousands of social media followers, these influencers are sure to make other Filipinos understand the real meaning of beauty. They, together with Careline, know no rules.
Make-up can boost self-confidence. Getting creative and playing around with cosmetics is one way of representing and celebrating your individuality. Through the Careline Gang, Careline aims to spread awareness of breaking gender barriers.
Be brave. Be real. Be confident. Be you. Love yourself.
For more information, visit their official website http://careline.com.ph, their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CarelineCosmetics, and their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/carelineph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 24, 2018 | Awards and Competitions
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation are staging the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit in Bangkok from March 26 to 28, 2018.
Launched in 2017 by UNDP with support from Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab is a regional program that aims to tackle social and unemployment challenges by harnessing youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Youth Co:Lab is Citi Foundation’s flagship Pathways to Progress program in the region.
Data released by the International Labor Organization states that the global youth unemployment rate is currently over 13 percent, translating to about 71 million young people, aged 15 to 24, worldwide. About half or 33 million of these people live in Asia-Pacific.
By engaging young people with policymakers and private sector partners, Youth Co:Lab serves as a platform for networking, idea-sharing, mentorship and collaboration through local National Dialogues and Social Innovation Challenges.
The inaugural Summit in Bangkok will comprise a Regional Dialogue on March 26 and a Regional Social Innovation on March 28. A total of 21 teams, including three from the Philippines, will pitch their social enterprise models at the Challenge for a chance at additional capacity-building opportunities.
Proudly representing the Philippines are Alex Austria of LawKo, a legal literacy initiative that aims to bridge the knowledge gap between a complicated legal system and the Filipino public; Pamela Nicole Mejia of Phinix, which upcycles old clothes and fabric scraps into footwear and accessories; and Samantha Sanchez of Arooga Health, which provides convenient access to emotional and wellness care providers.
Alex Austria of LawKo
Alex Austria of Lawko
“We feel quite lucky to be a part of the Summit,” says Alex. “Since we just got into the start-up scene less than 6 months ago, we’re overwhelmed and grateful because we didn’t even expect to end up here in the first place,” she added.
From its initial incarnation as a chatbot, LawKo has evolved into a legal literacy initiative thanks to the guidance of mentors from Rappler, QBO Philippines, and UNDP. It harnesses the power of technology and social media to help educate the public about government and legal processes.
Pamela Nicole Mejia of Phinix
Pamela Nicole Mejia of Phinix
For her part, Mejia feels just as honored to represent the country in the Youth Co:Lab Summit and is pleased with what Phinix has achieved thus far.
“We intend to employ economically vulnerable women such as out-of-school girls, single mothers, and unemployed women in our textile recycling facility,” Mejia says, adding that “we have partnered as well with a community of PWD weavers for our textile upcycling and weaving production.”
Phinix is a textile recycling center that collects textile wastes and transforms them into higher valued products such as footwear and accessories. It is packaged as a fashion social enterprise that aims for the triple bottom line – for the planet, for the people, and for profit.
Samantha Sanchez of Arooga Health
Samantha Sanchez of Arooga Health
Meanwhile, Samantha says that the positive response to Arooga Health “is an inspiring validation that mental health matters and seeking help for mental wellness is not a sign of weakness.”
Arooga Health is a platform that provides employees and companies convenient access to trusted care providers for their emotional and mental wellness and needs. Arooga Health matches a user with trusted care providers based on their objectives, preferred schedule, and mode of interaction.
They say it’s easy to feel confident when you have an active lifestyle. Regular workouts will not just improve your physique but also improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Nobody is perfect. Accept your imperfections. View your qualities in a positive way so you can gain more self-confidence and become one of those strong women you admire.
And don’t be afraid to go after your dreams! Make a vision board to illustrate your goals and remind you of all the goals you want to accomplish.
When was the last time you did something without the help of others? Have you ever tried dining out alone? Being able to do things on your own is truly empowering because it helps you know yourself better. It also shows that you are strong enough to face any situation. So, go ahead and travel or watch a movie alone. Don’t keep yourself from doing things you want to do just because there’s no one to go with you.
Join a charitable cause you or volunteer for a program you believe in. Giving back to the community and helping others will make you feel good about yourself.
One of the most rewarding things you can do is to pursue your passions. Whether it’s traveling, building your own business or applying for the job you really want, don’t be afraid to go for it. Never give up. Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you.
Discover new skills together, like writing or cooking. Let Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, help you develop your cooking skills with simple and easy-to-do recipes from 
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