Design Center champions bamboo at Manila FAME

Design Center champions bamboo at Manila FAME

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

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

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.

Shop2Give for the kids

Shop2Give for the kids

Shop2Give #forthekids and fill your carts and shop for your favourite Unilever products on Lazada from now until October 17, 2018!  A percentage of all proceeds will go to the children of UNICEF.

shop2give unilever lazada

Shop for Unilever products at Lazada by going to lzd.co/shop2givePH from now until October 17.  Happy shopping and enjoy your Unilever products.

Be emergency-ready with Akari

Be emergency-ready with Akari

It’s the rainy season once again, posing hazard to the Filipinos’ health and homes.

Akari, the leading lighting and technology brand in the country, aims to help you keep your home and family safe and to be emergency-ready this rainy season.

Akari LED Emergency Light

Akari LED Emergency LightEquip your home with Akari LED emergency light to provide you with temporary lighting of up to seven hours during a power outage. To ensure a longer battery lifespan, it features overcharge/over-discharge protection so you can keep it plugged in and ready-to-use in times of sudden blackouts.

Akari Mosquito Killer

Akari Electric Mosquito KillerTo avoid mosquito-borne diseases common during the wet season, Akari offers a wide range of electric mosquito killers that can cover up to 100 square meters with a zapping voltage of up to 1400V.

Akari AC/DC 12-inch Bluetooth Music Box Fan

Akari 12 inch bluetooth music box fanAkari also has an AC/DC 12-inch bluetooth music box fan that can keep you cool and entertained when there is a power interruption. This rechargeable fan can operate for up to six hours; you can also play your favorite tunes via bluetooth with its built-in speaker.

To know more and to purchase these Akari products online, visit www.akari.com.ph or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AkariLights.

Together we ride stronger

Together we ride stronger

Kicking off at Baguio City last July, Shell Bike Fair wraps up this year’s festivities with a bang this Saturday, September 22 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.

Shell Pilipinas management team

The biker community in the Philippines has grown exponentially as more and more riders consider two-wheeled vehicles as a more practical and convenient mode of transport. Based on the latest statistics from LTO, the number of registered motor vehicles in the Philippines has grown to 10.5 million as of 2017.

Pilipinas Shell, a reliable partner of the biker community, in making their rides better celebrates the courage and resilience of bikers as they take their daily journeys despite the difficulties that they face in weaving through obstacles on the road.

Mark Malabanan, Shell V-Power Brand Manager

Mark Malabanan, Shell V-Power Brand Manager

“This day is really to express how grateful we are for the support that we received from the Filipino biking community,” said Shell V-Power Brand Manager, Mark Malabanan. “As our theme says, together we ride stronger. We are honored to be chosen as their partner on the road, being there with them through the years. And, as we have for more than a hundred years, Pilipinas Shell continues to strive to make life’s journeys better for all motorists.”

Participants were treated to special offers from Shell and event sponsors as well as exciting games and booth activities. Performances by Rico Blanco, Rocksteddy, and other local acts also rocked the event alongside celebrity guests Daiana Menezes, Yam Concepcion, and Phoebe Walker.

Five winners each brought home scooters or motorcycles that were raffled off as major prizes:

Shell Bike Fair 2018 major prizes

  • Honda CBR150,
  • Yamaha Mio i125, and
  • Suzuki Raider J115.

The biker community was also given the chance to express their creativity through the Modified Bike and Helmet Design contests.

The highlight of the day was the announcement of the big winner of Shell Outriders: the nationwide search for the best bike club.

A total of 17 finalists representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were picked out through careful screening of hundreds of entries received over the past two months. The chosen clubs set up creative displays at the convention hall to showcase their love for riding and how they exhibit personal and social courage. The champions received a cash prize of PHP 100,000.00 and fuel vouchers worth PHP 50,000.00.

Lorrie Ramirez, Shell Advance Brand Manager

Lorrie Ramirez, Shell Advance Brand Manager

“We put up this search because we want to recognize bike clubs who exemplify the brand values and ideals of Shell. We were amazed to see how passionate they are for what they do and how they push to continue to outride anything.” said Shell Advance Brand Manager, Lorrie Ramirez.

This year’s Shell Bike Fair was made possible by Shell Advance and Shell V-Power, led by their passion to be the most reliable partners on the road. As a global leader in power and energy, Shell continually works to deliver smarter products and cleaner energy solutions.

Shell Advance motorcycle & scooter oils and Shell V-Power premium fuels work together in providing complete engine protection and world-class performance and efficiency on the road. With these, riders are empowered to outride the challenges that they encounter on the road.

For more information, visit www.shell.com.ph.

Fashion Has No Age

Fashion Has No Age

Lola Androgynous aka Tessie Singson wearing Ulitsa Sneakers

Lola Androgynous aka Tessie Singson wearing Ulitsa Sneakers

There is no denying the power of youth in the twenty-first century. But every now and again, a certain kind of woman comes along to challenge popular convention.

In the world of fashion, Lola Androgynous (Tessie Singson) has become a symbol to women of all ages thanks to her daring and unabashedly playful aesthetics. And with this, Melissa Shoes is proud to recognize her as a #MeInMelissa Style Maven for the month of September.

“I’m really grateful for the people who appreciate my personal style,” Lola Androgynous shares. “They inspire me to look my best, so in return I would be able to make them smile and inspire them to have fun dressing up as well.”

#MeInMelissa is the latest campaign by Melissa Shoes, the iconic Brazilian footwear manufacturer. This inspiring campaign features passionate and successful women whose distinct and individual styles best represent Melissa’s 2018 Open Vibes collection.

Who is Tessie Singson?

Known to thousands on social media, Lola Androgynous’ love for fashion began at an early age. “My mom always enjoyed dressing me up since I was the only rose among the thorns. I grew up with three very butch brothers.”

Ten years ago, she found further inspiration through her son, fashion blogger, JP Singson. Following a series of trips to hubs such as San Francisco, California, and Tokyo, Japan, JP introduced his mother to gender-neutral stylings.

Lola Androgynous aka Tessie Singson wearing Bend Shoes

Lola Androgynous aka Tessie Singson wearing Bend Shoes

“My son introduced me to this world of fashion and we talk the same language in terms of fashion,” Lola Androgynous begins. “He knows exactly what I like and what looks great on me. I look up to strong, stylish women like fashion blogger, Lyn Slater (Icon Accidental), and style icon, Iris Apfel. These women are not afraid to express themselves through fashion and inspire women like me to dress unapologetically. They are living examples that you can still have fun with what you wear, regardless of age.”

Together with JP, Lola Androgynous began to share her outfits online. “People started complimenting my style. Eventually, this led to chronicling my outfits on a fashion blog JP created. Now, my fashion diary is more accessible thanks to Instagram.”

In the years since Lola Androgynous has become a popular fixture on social media. Every day, thousands of users from the Philippines and beyond log-on to Instagram to check out her adventures around the world and her slaying looks!

Pulling an outfit together

Good footwear has the power to pull an outfit together while standing out as a statement piece. Many women have now begun to seek pairs that enable them to maintain comfort while staying relevant; a unique asset that Melissa provides with every product.

According to Lola Androgynous, “Shoes are very important in my wardrobe because it can make or break an outfit.”

A self-proclaimed ‘mom on the go’, Lola Androgynous is drawn to Melissa’s low-maintenance and comfortable approach to stylish footwear. This comes through in her footwear choice for her Style Maven’s shoot, the Melissa She, among other favorites that include Bend and Ulitsa Sneaker; signature Melissa pieces that blend with her personality and minimalistic approach to style.

Melissa She

“I love the variety of styles that cater to every single woman in the planet. I’m absolutely sure there’s one, two, or more pairs that would suit any woman’s fancy. Melissa shoes are affordable, you don’t have to break the bank to look fabulous!”

Lola Androgynous is living proof that you can never be too young to have a quirky and irreverent personal aesthetic. It’s this defining quality that makes her a #MeInMelissa Style maven.

About Melissa

Melissa is an iconic global footwear brand from Brazil. Established in 1979, Melissa is highly regarded for its avant-garde designs, sustainable materials, and collaborations with a number of high-profile names from the world of art and fashion.

Melissa Style Mavens

Melissa Style Mavens

From sexy stilettos to fabulous flats, Melissa shoes have brought fashion and comfort to new heights. Melissa brings the future of fashion to the world.

Global PH Design Leaders at International Design Conference 2018

Global PH Design Leaders at International Design Conference 2018

Local and foreign design rock stars, change makers and industry leaders are participating in the International Design Conference (IDC) 2018 on September 21 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura.

The theme of the conference is Dangerous Ideas: Unleashing Design Leadership. Organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the one-day event will seek to outline the different ways to make ideas that are nothing short of dangerous the norm in a world of hyper-change.

Design conference keynote speakers

Keynote speakers include Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry and Aidea, Inc. president and chief executive officer Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr.

Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry

Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry

Barry, an engineer and product designer, will contextualize craftsmanship in the wake of Industrialization 4.0 that makes more digitization and mechanized fabrication more and more sophisticated. With his artistry rooted firmly in Philippine culture, Tolentino will discuss his journey as a homegrown talent.

Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr., Aidea Inc. President and CEO

Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr., Aidea Inc. President and CEO

He will also share the secret that enabled Aidea to become the first and only Philippine architectural firm included in Building Design’s World Architecture100, a ranking of the top firms in the world. Aidea is ranked 47th.

Launched in 2017, the International Design Conference embodies the ethos of Design Center – to nurture a strong community of creative and act as a catalyst for the design community to thrive.

For more information, visit https://designcenter.ph/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH/.

SSI Big Fashion Sale with Citi

SSI Big Fashion Sale with Citi

Good news to all fashionistas and fashion enthusiasts! Citi, in partnership with the SSI Group Inc., will be hosting a Big Fashion Sale happening at the Glorietta Activity Center.  Shop for the latest fashion trends and get up to 70% off your favorite premium fashion brands like Marks & Spencer, Gap, Samsonite and more. Plus, enjoy 0% Citi PayLite up to 6 months.

SSI’s Big Fashion Sale will be exclusive to Citi credit cardholders from September 17 to 19, 2018. It will open to the public from September 20 to 24, 2018. To know more about this exciting offer, visit www.citibank.com.ph/bfs.

Concentrix Philippines opens its newest site

Concentrix Philippines opens its newest site

Concentrix Philippines officially opened its 9th contact center featuring the most advanced amenities at the Exxa Tower in Bridgetowne, Quezon City.

The new office occupies seven floors with 18,000-square-meter space and highlights the company’s focus on attracting the best possible talents by creating a live-work-play environment. It has a modern wellness center, day care hub and beauty salon.

The facility showcases innovative technology like a reward dispensing machine for top performers, state-of-the-art operations area with collaboration corners, mobile laboratory, modern lounge rooms, private acoustic spaces and learning pods.

Concentrix’s newest site is close to major transport systems, top schools and universities, as well as large residential areas and lifestyle support services. Exxa Tower is part of a larger campus project Concentrix has planned at Bridgetowne. The site complements five Concentrix campuses in other parts of Metro Manila and in the cities of Naga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Cebu.

The Discovery Group touches lives through clean water

The Discovery Group touches lives through clean water

The happiness in giving – the Discovery Shores Boracay team are all smiles as they help the Ati community in Aklan to have access to clean water through their project #TogetherForWater.

The Discovery Leisure Company Inc.’s (TDLCI) group of hotels and resorts — among them Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Primea Makati, Discovery Suites Ortigas, and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay — has raised Php 200,000 each for their respective neighboring indigenous communities.

Clean water donations

Today, this life-changing partnership with international NGO Waves For Water has seen the donation of:

  • 60 water filters in Sitio Camanga, Coron, Palawan;
  • 60 water filters in Sitio Carla, Malay, Aklan;
  • 30 water filters and two 1,000-liter tanks as a rainwater harvesting system in Sitio Suha, Norzagaray, Bulacan; and
  • 60 water filters in Sitio Yangka, Capas, Tarlac.

TDLCI’s chief operating officer Jun Parreño said, “Once we’ve covered all our beneficiaries’ basic water requirements, we’ve made a commitment to consistently visit them to address their other needs. We’re here to stay for them. That is what Discovery’s ‘Service That’s All Heart’ is all about.”

For more information on TDLCI’s #TogetherForWater project, and to take part of this laudable initiative, please visit https://bit.ly/discoveryadvocacy.

Pasig River Master Plan completed

Pasig River Master Plan completed

The PRRC, in collaboration with UP PLANADES, designed the Pasig River Integrated and Strategic Master Plan (PRISM) with a vision that by 2032, the Pasig River and its surrounding basins are resilient life-sustaining ecosystems that are able to support diverse human needs and biodiversity towards inclusive, harmonized, and balanced development co-managed by competent and adaptive institutions with responsible and empowered communities.

This new restoration strategy covers the following:

  • water quality management,
  • streamflow management,
  • catchment management, and
  • riparian management

In this manner, the Pasig River will once again enshrine socio-economic, aesthetic, environmental, recreational, and cultural values amidst changing risks and natural perturbations.

The illustrations below will provide a brief summary of the integrated wastewater treatment systems, one of the 19 priority projects proposed in the PRISM to help improve the water quality of the Pasig River, and for concerned agencies to comply with concession agreement, and other environmental laws.

North and south Pasig sewage treatment plan

pasig-sewage-treatment-plant

The direct discharge of wastewater into the river system, like the Pasig River, causes serious impact on the quality of the environment and on the health of the people.

This project aims to:

  • capture the domestic wastewater in the areas of Pasig and part of Quezon City, Cainta, and Mandaluyong City and to be treated by STP,
  • help improve the water quality of the Pasig River
  • comply with the concession agreement and other environmental fees.

Program Description

  • Site location: Pinagbuhatan, Pasig
  • Location of program benefits: Pasig River (treating 100 MLD used water)
  • Components: 100 MLD STP 65km interceptor network
    • Structural component:
      • construction of STP
      • laying of interceptor pipes
    • Non-structural component
      • Manila Water’s Toka-Toka (stake), garbage segregation, sewer connection, and dislodging every 5 years
      • educational tours or “Lakbayan” to understand the water and wastewater processes
      • public information like flyers, posters, magazines, brochures, etc.
  • Beneficiaries:
    • 2017: 300,000 population
    • 2037: 658,392 population
    • Area coverage: approx. 3,500 hectares
  • Benefits:
    • treatment of used water generated within the catchment
    • compliance with regulatory and environmental standards
  • Project completion:
    • STP: EO 2018
    • Sewer network: EO 2022

The filtration system for tributaries of the Pasig River

filtration system

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

sewage-treatment-plantBy 2037, the aim is to have a substantial reduction of sewerage and septage pollutants in the Pasig River System.

It is desired that the physico-chemical, biological, microbial, and heavy metal parameters measured at the Pasig River Unified Monitoring Systems (PRUMS) will not exceed the Philippine Standards for class C for freshwater category, especially for identified pollutants such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TF), and Fecal Coliform Bacteria, among others.

The Philippine standard for class C is hoped to be achieved with no exceedances or even better water quality such as class B.

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) blueprint

  1. stp-blueprint1entrance
  2. secondary clarification
  3. biological treatment
  4. biosolids dewatering
  5. wind turbines
  6. green roofs
  7. material and storage center
  8. solar panels
  9. administrative center
  10. parking

stp-blueprint2

 

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