by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 6, 2020 | Events
As of September, more than 1,700 COVID-19 cases were reported in the Bicol region, according to the Department of Health–Center for Health and Development (DOH–CHD) Bicol Regional Director Dr. Ernie D. Vera. The lack of proper equipment and facilities has affected the province’s efforts to control the spread of the virus.
With that, Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation (EDC) refocused its COVID-19 resiliency efforts in its host communities in Bicol to initiatives that will enhance local mass testing capabilities. Through a partnership with the DOH–CHD Bicol, EDC donated P4.2 million to fund the expansion and refurbishment of the health center’s building and COVID-19 testing laboratory, which is one of only two in the Bicol region accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
The partnership between EDC and DOH–CHD Bicol was formalized with a virtual signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement and Deed of Donation between DOH–CHD Bicol led by Dr. Vera, Assistant Regional Director Ferchito Avelino, Chief of the Management Support Division Norberto Balane Jr., and Cluster Head for Infectious and Communicable Disease Dr. Jannish Alcala Arellano; and EDC led by Senior Vice President and OIC of Facilities, Operations and Maintenance Group Engr. Liberato S. Virata, Assistant Vice President and Corporate Support Functions Head Regina Victoria J. Pascua, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Relations Head Atty. Allan V. Barcena, Bacon–Manito (BacMan) Geothermal Facility Head Engr. Marcel Rosario, and BacMan CSR Head Eduardo Jimenez.
“EDC puts a great premium on community development and resiliency. I have seen what we can accomplish by working hand in hand with the local government and I look forward to the beginning of a more dynamic partnership with DOH and other key agencies in ensuring that the people are healthy and safe,” said Virata.
“We believe this partnership will be the best practice for us in government. We are the first regional agency that partnered with a private organization, a power company. It is an honor for us to have EDC as a partner,” said Dr. Vera.
The expansion and refurbishment of the DOH laboratories will ramp up the region’s testing capabilities and help them gather the necessary information to find ways to further flatten the curve and manage the pandemic in the area.
EDC operates the 140MW BacMan Geothermal Project that supplies clean and reliable power to the Luzon grid. It is a global pioneer in the geothermal energy industry and the country’s largest vertically integrated geothermal developer, supplying 1,457.8MW of clean and renewable energy to the Philippines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 5, 2020 | Lifestyle
Now, your baby can make a fashion statement too with the cutest baby accessory brand in town: Bibs Manila, a new online business that offers bespoke and eye-catching bibs.
The homegrown brand was started by Kit and Kate Joaquin, who are also proud parents to now 6-year-old Kiel. With Bibs Manila, parents can get one-of-a-kind statement bibs for their babies while adding their own personal touches. What’s more, the bibs are made of high-quality fabric, durable enough for everyday meals.
Check out Bibs Manila’s website and simply search for “STATEMENT BIB” and you’ll be directed to a page where you can select your design in just a few clicks. You can even personalize the bib with your baby’s name, your favorite quote, or standout word choices, such as “Awesome” or “Mommy’s Fave,” to name a few. Choose from a variety of colors and fonts, and you’re all set!
Likewise, if you have artistic leanings, you can also opt to send in your own designs that Bibs Manila can turn into bibs just for you. Bibs Manila can also help you create a unique design of your choosing. To make it even easier, Bibs Manila also offers special pre-made bibs in hundreds of designs, featuring fun and colorful patterns, laugh-out-loud catchphrases, and charming characters.
If you happen to know a couple who is expecting a new addition to their family, these baby bibs make great gifts, too. Consider giving them the gift of 7 bibs – one for every day of the week – and you can get an adorable gift box to go with it.
To view and shop Bibs Manila’s collection, visit their website, www.bibsmanila.com, or follow @bibs_manila on Instagram. Bibs Manila ships nationwide in the Philippines and internationally in select countries.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 1, 2020 | Business
Two pesos a kilo for cabbage. Four pesos for cucumber.
After spending to bring their produce to the nearest vegetable trading post in the last week of July, Cordilleran farmers were given a cruel rate, crushing their hope of raising cash to buy seeds for the next harvest.
A Sad Story for New-Gen Farmers
Shereen Umayat and Jessica Dapliyan, two young farmers from Sagada, had a cheaper option for their next maturing vegetables- let the plants rot in the farmland to stop having additional expenses. Asked how much she has spent for her cucumber, Umayat computed it to be at least P40,000. While there are active programs like Sustainable Sagada and Rural Rising organized to help ease the situation, not all produce in the remote Mountain Province town can be accommodated.
Dapliyan, a former innkeeper who shifted to farming following travel bans, started giving away her cabbage produce for free in September after unsuccessful attempts to sell what her family has been working since community quarantine restrictions were implemented.
Trying the Metro Manila Market
For generations, farmers in Sagada and other towns of the Cordilleras have been trading in marketplaces within the mountainous region, and going to the lowlands is not part of their regular routine. But as they run out of options, they are forced to seek help outside the highlands. Tapping Metro Manila-based Cordillerans or Igorots was the first move. Upon learning about the crisis, Christian Aligo, a Marketing Communications practitioner living in Quezon City, started the “The Sagada Harvests Project” on Facebook.
With the assistance from Umayat, Menchie Buking of the Department of Agrarian Reform Mt. Province (DAR MP) and other concerned locals, The Sagada Harvests Project is able to sell out about three tons of produce in its first two runs. Alongside Aligo are other Metro Manila-based Igorots including Luisa Gay Pugong, Jenny Lyn Likigan, Bing Podes Laguipen, and Hector Ngales who transformed themselves into vendors after their day job to help address the crisis.
Joining the force is the couple Atty. Pio and Noemie Jeanet Daoas who now spend their weekends on vegetables. With the help of dedicated riders, the couple delivers the goods within Taguig City at only P20.
A Trade Friendlier to Farmers
As agreed, it is the farmers who set the price of their produce. Currently, in marketplaces, it is the multi-level middlemen who dictate the price and get a bigger portion of it. When the rate at the La Trinidad trading post for cabbage was P2 per kilo, The Sagada Harvests Project purchased the vegetable at P20 per kilo– as dictated by the farmers.
To further assist the Igorot vendors, DAR’s Sagada Linksfarmers Consolidation Center opened its doors to help screen quality produce prior to shipping. Recently, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) also offered transportation assistance to help lower expenses.
Meanwhile, local food producers Gabay Wines and Food Preserves and Masferre Country Inn & Restaurant have been doing experiments for delicate items like wild blueberry, wheat bread, and goat cheese products to check on the shelf-life of the products when offered in places with a warmer climate.
To know more about The Sagada Harvest Project and a list of Igorot vendors who directly source their goods from farmers, contact Aligo at 0956-174-8464 (Globe) or visit www.facebook.com/sagadaharvests now.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 27, 2020 | Kitchen Tips
“Going back to school” is different this year as many schools shift to distance learning due to the pandemic. In addition to other responsibilities, most parents now need to take on their kids’ schooling and ensure that they really understand their online lessons.
If you’re already working from home, you may be thinking that you just don’t have enough time for your job, household chores, and helping your kids with school. Before you get overwhelmed, Solane, the leading supplier of LPG in the country, is here to offer some kitchen tips to make your new arrangement at home easier.
Set a schedule.
Preparing a meal, on top of everything else that needs to get done, can be time-consuming. Make sure you have a daily schedule that includes the time you will allot for cooking, uninterrupted work, your kids’ school hours, as well as your break time and mealtimes. Once you have your schedule, do your best to stick to it so you can manage your time better.
Plan meals in advance.
Save yourself from unnecessary stress by planning the meals you will cook for the family ahead of time. By doing this, you get to save some time by getting all the ingredients you need at the grocery in one trip during the quarantine. Just make sure to plan a variety of dishes that are easy to prepare, flavorful, and nutritious.
Get the kids involved.
If your kids aren’t too busy, you can ask them to help with some simple tasks in the kitchen like rinsing the vegetables or mixing ingredients. This can also be an opportunity to teach them about kitchen safety when it comes to things like peeling and chopping vegetables to avoid accidents. A few minutes before your meal, ask your kids to help by setting up the table. After eating, they can also help clear the table and put the dirty dishes in the sink. Not only will this help you, but this will also teach your kids responsibility and discipline.
Do the chores immediately.
Try to get the chores done right away. Small stressors, like unfinished kitchen chores, only add up and affect your overall well-being. If tasks are left undone, you may feel more stressed, especially while working or tutoring your kids. Start small. After eating, you can wash your kitchen tools and tableware, wipe the counters, and throw out the trash immediately. If you don’t feel up to it, don’t think of it as, “I need to clean the kitchen.” Instead, look at it this way: Do you want a clean kitchen? Then, get cleaning.
Invest in the right kitchen equipment.
Invest in kitchen tools that can help you save time and cook faster, such as convection ovens, food processors, and instant pots. Also consider kitchen appliances that don’t need too much attention while cooking, like slow cookers. Just put your ingredients in them and they will take care of the cooking process.
This will give you more time to focus on your work and kids’ lessons. In addition, opt for an LPG brand that is made for fast and safe cooking, like Solane. With the help of Solane, you can easily prepare your meals without the hassle or any worries.
For more information, visit www.solane.com.ph or follow @solane.ph on Facebook.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 26, 2020 | Health Tips
These times are extra difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to finding a balance between our work and personal lives. Just imagine how a regular day unfolds for a working millennial mom, who tries to hustle while caring for her family, and herself. It may seem like a tough job really, but some of them turned to meditative journaling, also known as mindful writing, as a healing method to get through the day. But how?
It makes them start and learn something new.
For working moms who are mostly busy with their responsibilities, there’s this sense of hunger for new discoveries and tasks but they need to be light, rewarding, and easy to maintain, too. The habit of regular writing itself is already a form of a new process – something that is not usually part of our daily lives. But it gives one the freedom to express emotions and create something as they feel it. No pressure. It’s just that joyful connection between the self and those blank pages – the kind of beginning that is comforting than intimidating.
It makes them become more open.
Working millennial moms usually feel anxious, unheard, and unseen. It is a struggle to share their sentiments with other people because of the fear that they may not understand it, or simply because they don’t know how to articulate what they’re going through.
For the times that they couldn’t catch up with their friends, journals serve as their perfect outlet. The beauty of writing an entry is that there are no rules or boundaries. They can acknowledge their feelings, rant, or even sketch what they feel. At the end of the day, it’s all about taking a pause, seeking comfort, and finding their light.
It makes them remember more things.
Juggling multiple responsibilities at the same time can really make us forget a lot. Meditative journaling can help us find our center and remember all the important things, the little wins, and even our failures.
It’s like the flow and reminder they need every day. By turning various moments into written tangible experiences, they’re able to keep track of time, pay more attention to details, and regain this sense of control.
It makes them respond to their needs quickly.
Narrating your feelings and daily experiences is not only a form of expression but more importantly, it gives you more signs and ideas on how to care for yourself. If you have noticed how the past few weeks have been consecutively rough, maybe it’s time to realign and change your routine or perspective.
If you’ve noticed changes when it comes to your body, maybe it’s time to ask if you’re still okay, happy, or healthy, and make adjustments that are comfortable for you. Listening to yourself is an important element of meditative journaling.
It relaxes them and rewards them at the same time.
Mindful writing is like a me-time that is easy to squeeze in every working woman’s hectic schedule. The key to rewarding mediative journaling is to set a particular time for it and treat it not as an additional assignment, but a form of self-care. Write based on your observations, feelings, reflections, and needs. It’s like talking to yourself – and choosing to be kind to yourself.
Whether you want to keep a journal for growth, self-love, reconnecting with yourself, finding your light, or simply capturing your thoughts and feelings through words, Viviamo offers different styles and formats that could match any undertaking.
Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner’s Earth theme inspires you to acknowledge your existence, struggles, and victories, through beautiful, motivational graphics and quotes.
Everything Is Possible design encourages you to take little steps towards your goal, while NAVI’s Lighthouse theme embraces the wanderlust in you.
FOCUS planner reflects ambitions and bold dreams through its geometric designs, while Essentials and Petit collections remain perfect for those on the minimalist, sleek, and elegant side.
Go to https://go.crazyaboutpaper.com/viviamoplanners to view more of their products, and start your meditative journaling this 2021.
About Viviamo! Inc.
15 years ago, Viviamo! Inc. which means “WE LIVE” started out as Belle de Jour Power Planner” and has since expanded products and services beyond planners.
Today, Viviamo! Inc. is a growing custom publishing, marketing, and e-commerce company, with an active community of 100,000+ fans, a purpose-driven line of paper products available in retail and online, and collaborations between the country’s top brands and creative talents. Through it all, we seek to empower people to dream, plan, and dare to live their best lives.
“We believe this partnership will be the best practice for us in government. We are the first regional agency that partnered with a private organization, a power company. It is an honor for us to have EDC as a partner,” said Dr. Vera.
Now, your baby can make a fashion statement too with the cutest baby accessory brand in town: Bibs Manila, a new online business that offers bespoke and eye-catching bibs.
Check out Bibs Manila’s website and simply search for “STATEMENT BIB” and you’ll be directed to a page where you can select your design in just a few clicks. You can even personalize the bib with your baby’s name, your favorite quote, or standout word choices, such as “Awesome” or “Mommy’s Fave,” to name a few. Choose from a variety of colors and fonts, and you’re all set!
Two pesos a kilo for cabbage. Four pesos for cucumber.
As agreed, it is the farmers who set the price of their produce. Currently, in marketplaces, it is the multi-level middlemen who dictate the price and get a bigger portion of it. When the rate at the La Trinidad trading post for cabbage was P2 per kilo, The Sagada Harvests Project purchased the vegetable at P20 per kilo– as dictated by the farmers.
Preparing a meal, on top of everything else that needs to get done, can be time-consuming. Make sure you have a daily schedule that includes the time you will allot for cooking, uninterrupted work, your kids’ school hours, as well as your break time and mealtimes. Once you have your schedule, do your best to stick to it so you can manage your time better.
Save yourself from unnecessary stress by planning the meals you will cook for the family ahead of time. By doing this, you get to save some time by getting all the ingredients you need at the grocery in one trip during the quarantine. Just make sure to plan a variety of dishes that are easy to prepare, flavorful, and nutritious.
If your kids aren’t too busy, you can ask them to help with some simple tasks in the kitchen like rinsing the vegetables or mixing ingredients. This can also be an opportunity to teach them about kitchen safety when it comes to things like peeling and chopping vegetables to avoid accidents. A few minutes before your meal, ask your kids to help by setting up the table. After eating, they can also help clear the table and put the dirty dishes in the sink. Not only will this help you, but this will also teach your kids responsibility and discipline.
Try to get the chores done right away. Small stressors, like unfinished kitchen chores, only add up and affect your overall well-being. If tasks are left undone, you may feel more stressed, especially while working or tutoring your kids. Start small. After eating, you can wash your kitchen tools and tableware, wipe the counters, and throw out the trash immediately. If you don’t feel up to it, don’t think of it as, “I need to clean the kitchen.” Instead, look at it this way: Do you want a clean kitchen? Then, get cleaning.
Invest in kitchen tools that can help you save time and cook faster, such as convection ovens, food processors, and instant pots. Also consider kitchen appliances that don’t need too much attention while cooking, like slow cookers. Just put your ingredients in them and they will take care of the cooking process.
Working millennial moms usually feel anxious, unheard, and unseen. It is a struggle to share their sentiments with other people because of the fear that they may not understand it, or simply because they don’t know how to articulate what they’re going through.
Juggling multiple responsibilities at the same time can really make us forget a lot. Meditative journaling can help us find our center and remember all the important things, the little wins, and even our failures.
Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner’s Earth theme inspires you to acknowledge your existence, struggles, and victories, through beautiful, motivational graphics and quotes.
15 years ago, Viviamo! Inc. which means “WE LIVE” started out as Belle de Jour Power Planner” and has since expanded products and services beyond planners.
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