Create blissful memories on bright sunny days, whether it’s a city escape or an island getaway.
Dive into the stunning beauty of Club Paradise Palawan, a private island resort in Coron. For a minimum of two nights, enjoy a Garden View room for P11,200++ or a Sunset Villa for P12,800++. Delight in buffet breakfast for twoadults and two children below 12 years old, roundtrip Busuanga Airport transfers, and a serving of Firefish Restaurant’s “Bowl of Happiness” – different flavors of homemade ice cream, ideal for sharing. Stay date is until June 1, 2018.
Revel in a Week Date Dream at Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, with special rates for a Deluxe Suite for only P6,354.38++, and a Premier Suite for just P7,169.04++. The generous offer comes with complimentary set dinner for two and Country Breakfast for two at Restaurant Verbena, wine and cheese platter at sundown, and milk and cookies before bedtime. Use promo code DREAM. Stay period is until November 28, 2018, Sundays to Thursdays except long weekends and holidays.
For a truly unforgettable summer break, book a room at the Discovery Primea Makati’s Business Flat, Business Suite, Executive Suite, or Primea Suite at 10% off the Best Available Rate. The room package includes tempting culinary offerings such as daily gourmet breakfast and one order of pizza of your choice at Restaurant Tapenade, one round of cocktails for two at EDGE, and 20% discount on food and beverage. Take a dip in Discovery Primea’s iconic infinity pool, or break a sweat in the hotel’s 24-hour gym.
Tech-savvy guests will love the complimentary use of Handy smartphone and High Speed Internet Access. Don’t forget to use the promo code DISCOVER. Stay dates are from April 10 to June 30, 2018.
Not to be missed as well is the Weekend Steals deal at Discovery Suites Manila, with rates starting at PHP 3,665.99++ for a Junior Suite Deluxe. This offer includes breakfast buffet for two at Restaurant 5, access to the swimming pool, fitness center, and children’s playroom, as well as weekend kiddie activities on Saturdays, 4pm to 5pm. Stay Period is from April 6 to July 1, 2018, Fridays to Sundays. My Discovery Elite members are entitled to a complimentary upgrade from Junior Suite to One-Bedroom Suite, subject to availability. Use the promo codeLEISUREWEEKEND to enjoy this special deal.
For more information on these irresistible summer deals, visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com.
(L-R) Marketing head of KTM Philippines Ana Lumban, second place winner Van Ruedas, Luzon leg overall champion Luisito Sta. Ana, third place winner Iraq Bauzon and Inside Racing’s Al Camba.
Luisito Sta. Ana once again added an award under his belt as he won recently as the first ever champion of the KTM Dukehana Luzon leg held at Circuit Makati parking grounds. KTM Dukehana is a motorcycle time trial sport where motorcycle riders compete to maneuver through a paved course restricted by traffic cones and other skill-testing obstacles in shortest time. There will be two more legs of the competition: one in April in Davao and another in June in Cebu. The Filipino champion will represent the country in the Dukehana Asia Finals where he will compete against other Asian competitors including Thailand, China and Taiwan.
Allianz PNB Life Insurance, the local entity of Allianz, the world’s leading insurer, announces its partnership with Conquer Challenge Philippines, to promote obstacle course racing in the Philippines.
The partnership includes the staging of three major races under the name Allianz Conquer Challenge, the first of which, will be on 13 May at the Vermosa, Daang Hari in Imus, Cavite.
In a press launch held at the Allianz PNB Life office in Makati, Alexander Grenz, Chief Operating Officer at Allianz PNB Life, expressed his enthusiasm in the partnership emphasizing how the company would like to create a positive impact on people’s lives by making them experience new challenges through an obstacle course race. “OCR is a sport that has started to gather a strong following in the Philippines. We at Allianz believe that this sport can inspire Filipinos to take on a new challenge and embrace it without fear,” he said.
Grenz explained that the challenges in the race give individuals a chance to test their mind and body’s capability to get a serious workout. “OCR challenges one to develop endurance and physical strength as well as better coordination skills,” he added.
Allianz Chief Market Management Officer Gae Martinez, however, affirmed the growing patronage of Obstacle Course Racing Sports in the Philippines, lodging her support as more and more Filipinos become interested on the sport that calls for mental alertness, emotional stability, and physical endurance to overcome obstacles in lives. This is true for millenials who comprise a great number of obstacle course racers, but also for GenXers who have also tried it. The increasing awareness of Filipinos to live a healthy and active lifestyle is indicative of a shift of lifestyle that now recognizes the threats of critical illness, but at the same time the pursuit of aspirations for a better future.
Conquer Challenge President Rob Afzelius shares that Allianz Conquer Challenge, with its key message of “Dare to Conquer your Impossible, consists of three races: the Conquer Challenge Power Race which is a 7 Km + 20 obstacles race, the Conquer Challenge Beginner’s obstacle Race, which is 3 Km + 12 obstacles, and even a Conquer Challenge Kids race that is 1.5 km long plus at least 7 obstacles. Kids joining the race must be accompanied by an adult. We see this partnership with Allianz as fit because both entities’ are aligned in inspiring the Filipino never to waiver on its aspirations.
Rei Abrazaldo, Allianz Philippines’ Branding Communications and Digital Director revealed that the company’s foray into supporting obstacle course races is part of a special trio of activities on 13 May, that espouses Filipinos’ to take part in a fitness activity. Abrazaldo explains – Allianz Philippines declares 13 May as Allianz Day of Courage, because aside from the Allianz Conquer Challenge , the company is also supporting two other sporting events on the same day, namely, the Philippine Heart Association Heart Run at SM By the Bay and the Bayanihan Walk in Singapore.
Allianz globally has been supporting various sports and institutions like football, Paralympics, golf and rugby, among other sports that capture the emotional spirit of its business and inspire millions of people around the world with stories of human achievement through sport and innovation.
Vivo’s newest flagship smartphone, the V9, was yet to be released in authorized stores nationwide, but it had already exceeded pre-order expectations.
As of April 5, the Vivo V9 has received over 18,000 pre-orders. The pre-orders started on March 26 after it unveiled the V9 to the press in a summer-themed launch at the City of Dreams Manila on March 22.
Due to the unprecedented success of the Vivo V9, additional units will be coming soon to accommodate the growing interest in Vivo’s new flagship unit. Vivo is very grateful to its loyal followers for the continued support. The global smartphone brand assures its fans that it will keep on pushing its boundaries to introduce consumer-friendly revolutions.
The Vivo V9 gets over 18,000 pre-orders nationwide in less than two weeks.
Known for its cutting-edge and innovative technologies, Vivo is one of the most respected smartphones in the industry. And, it continued to break limits with the release of the Vivo V9. The newest flagship smartphone has elevated its selfie expertise by seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence technology with the 24-megapixel front camera.
The Vivo V9 also features an improved AI Face Beauty technology and over 40 built-in AR Stickers to make taking selfies more fun. The smartphone also has a 6.3-inch FullView™ Display for an unparalleled viewing experience with a 90% screen-to-body ratio.
Vivo is looking a brighter 2018 ahead as it is the official smartphone of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Vivo’s newest flagship smartphone may be filled with features that will make jaws drop, but it did so without sacrificing design. The V9 is a sleek, polished smartphone that comes in Pearl Black and Gold.
Head to an authorized Vivo shop near you to get experience Vivo V9’s Perfect View, Perfect Shot.
Vivo will begin selling its latest flagship smartphone, the V9, at all authorized stores nationwide on Friday, April 6. The Vivo V9 retails at Php17,990.
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.
For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.
As summer kicks off, SM Supermalls is inviting all parents to make the summer break more fun and exciting for kids and the whole family with exciting activities and workshops in 68 SM malls across the country!
Summer fun begins at SM with Summer Takeover workshops so kids can have fun, learn, and make friends this season! Happening until June 3, the interactive workshops include artistic fun workshops on arts and crafts, painting, drawing, and fashion design lessons; entertainment workshops with modeling, music, dancing and theater acting classes; explorers workshops which offer culinary, visual reality and interactive games, and photography; and sports workshops on basketball, taekwondo or martial arts, archery, and golf.
Mallgoers can also relax at SM’s Summer Chillin’ on weekends of April and May. Featuring the country’s well-loved OPM bands and artists, the musical performances are set to treat customers with delightful summer experiences – complete with live art and a food bazaar!
There is also the Summer Fun Run every weekends of April and May where customers can get active and spend time with loved ones.
Another must-try experience is Summertacular Emoji Balloons Photowall, powered by Vivo, until May 31, where customers snap and show off their summer feels at SM!
As part of the #LetsPlayNowAtSM campaign, customers can download the SM Mobile App to enjoy loads of fun summer games to get instant freebies and giveaways! For more about SM’s Summer Fun, visit www.smsupermalls.com.
Don’t forget to experience summer fun at SM with new and educational activities for the whole family this season!
For updates and 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.
The technology industry is one of the fastest growing businesses of today. However, despite being an industry that thrives on its progressive nature, the world of innovation continues to be a man’s world.
In the recent statistics reported by Statista, percentage of female employees in the workforce of major tech companies in the United States, range from 43% to 26%, a number significantly lower compared with the labor force that comprises of 46.8% of women. Veering away from the trend of these companies, Acer Philippines helps women break the glass ceiling and champions success.
According to Sue Ong, Sales and Marketing Director of Acer Philippines “To be working in a company whose mission is to break barriers between technology and people, Acer believes that it starts with giving people equal opportunities. It recognizes that diversity is an asset in a male-dominated industry that Acer hopes to level the playing field for the women in our company.”
Beyond the numbers game or the proportion of men and women in an office, gender diversity is present when women are encouraged to lead. When a company is allowing women to spur to leadership positions and they can influence change, equality exists. Harvey Nash and KPMG’s recent global study of IT leadership showed that the number of women in senior roles was extraordinarily low at just 9%.
“Working for 9 years with Acer, I’ve seen many women leaders make their mark in the company, and in turn, in the industry. This is because Acer provides a solid training ground, vast opportunities to learn, and superior tools that can equip its employees to create their own platform for where they can excel,” explains Ong.
Creating a venue for excellence does not only start in the workplace, as Acer believes it is also important to empower the future gamechangers in the industry. With the great need of representation of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the company finds value in continuously encourage students to take their place in the industry.
“We’ve had several dialogues with our partner schools on how we can support the students in making them realize they have a future in the tech industry. We believe there is an untapped potential in these young women, and we hope to continue paving the way for them whether it’s through our seminars in or through our technology. Our technology has been used as tools to educate young minds and we hope to continue demonstrating that young women have the potential to lead the industry one day.”
The industry has a long way to go in providing more opportunities for women. Lowering the gender parity in the tech industry can convince women, both locally and globally, to take a more active role in designing, creating and sharing diverse solutions that will revolutionize the field. Acer Philippines believes it starts with empowering one woman at a time.
About Acer
Founded in 1976, Acer is now one of the world’s top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer’s 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.
Aga Muhlach & family share how their love for each other and their favorite Chickenjoy bring them closer.
Kids grow up so fast—and it’s only natural for parents, even celebrities like Aga and Charlene Muhlach, to miss them and pine for the good old days when they were younger. In the latest Jollibee Chickenjoy TV commercial, the couple proudly reminisce how Atasha and Andres have grown up to become loving and family-oriented.
“It was different when the kids were younger,” shared Aga. “It used to just be play time with Charlene and me. Now that they’re teens, they have their own world: their friends, their hobbies, and other activities.”
“The struggle for parents like us is letting go of the children as they become teenagers and adults,” Charlene agreed.
In the latest TV ad, the couple deals with this bittersweet moment in their lives by showing how they have taught their kids to always put family first. The story ends with a heartwarming surprise from the twins: Atasha and Andres rush back home from a game night with friends to spend precious bonding time with their parents and share a bucket of their favorite crispylicious, juicylicious Chickenjoy.
Family first
The story of this new commercial featuring the Muhlach family is very much like their day-to-day lives. Aga and Charlene take pride in teaching—by example—their children that family always comes first. Both of them had high-profile showbiz careers they put on hold to be able to dedicate more time to their twins.
“We chose to be busier with our personal lives than our professional ones and we made a conscious effort to give our children a private life so they can make great memories with us and grow up as normally as possible,” the couple said.
This choice—a ‘sacrifice’ to some—paid off as Atasha and Andres continue to enjoy a close, loving relationship with their parents. The twins have certainly grown up to be independent and grounded.
“Our parents instilled in us the values of humility, respect, honesty, kindness, and forgiveness,” Atasha shared. “They also taught us that happiness does not come from material things but with the life that we get to experience.”
“They also encouraged us to play outside to learn new things and create new memories. We only got our own phones last year, so we know the value of putting our phones away and actually talking and interacting with those around us,” Andres added.
“Our favorite family activities are playing basketball or staying at home to watch a movie and ordering Jollibee!” the twins shared.
“We’ve raised them to put family first no matter what,” Charlene said. “I think we’re like every Filipino family with love for family as the core value.”
The joy of family with Jollibee
“It’s really fitting for us to represent Jollibee, not only because we have so much fun shooting the commercials together, but also because it’s the kind of brand that encourages us to continuously strengthen our bond and connection,” Charlene said. “Our bonding moments become extra special when it includes something we love, like our favorite Chickenjoy. Jollibee has truly become part of our home and family.”
“Part talaga!” Aga agreed. “We say this not because we’re Jollibee endorsers, but I grew up with Jollibee. I started with Jollibee when I was 21, when they only had 20 stores and the bosses would just eat dinner and lunch with me. It was like that as they grew and then I got married and had kids.”
Apart from Jollibee commercials, the couple shared that birthday parties, camping trips, and other milestones were spent with their favorite Chickenjoy and the Jollibee mascot.
“Because of Jollibee, our twins had and continue to have so many wonderful memories,” Charlene said.
“We at Jollibee are happy and grateful that the Muhlachs have shared so much of their family life with us. Our latest commercials that feature them are all inspired by their real-life family dynamics. We hope that the Muhlach family’s story will inspire others to value the importance of family bonding and take time to create special moments with their loved ones,” concluded Cathleen Capati, Jollibee Marketing Director for Flagship Products.
Celebrate the joy of family with the one and only crispylicious, juicylicious Chickenjoy, available in all Jollibee stores nationwide for dine-in, delivery, take-out, and drive-thru transactions. For more information on your family’s favorite Jolly treats and upcoming promos, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.
The two-year partnership takes the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the world’s largest provider of self-esteem education, to a scale never-seen-before April 5, 2018 – Dove announces a two-year global partnership with Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe to educate young people on body confidence through the cartoon’s themes of inclusivity and empowerment, world and characters – going directly to them in a medium they know and love, something that has never been done before.
This pioneering collaboration comes from the Dove Self-Esteem Project which has been helping young people build self-esteem and body confidence through educational programmes since 2004. The project is based on the knowledge that over half of girls do not have high body confidence, leading them to avoid spending time with friends and family, put their health at risk and opt-out of important life events. The Dove Self-Esteem Project exists in 140 countries around the world and is committed to reaching 40 million young people by 2020 through its existing educational programmes; and with the help of Steven Universe, will now reach 20 million more.
Using a public health intervention model, the Dove Self-Esteem Project will expand beyond structured workshops delivered by adults, to taking educational content direct to young people on a scale never-seen before. And in the case of the project’s partnership with Cartoon Network, this will be Steven Universe’s young viewers to positively impact their self-esteem and body confidence.
The partnership will come to life in a series of six short animated films directed by Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar, the first of which premieres today. Working with the Dove Self-Esteem Project, all content has been carefully co-created and grounded in scientific evidence by body image expert, Dr Phillippa Diedrichs at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England in order to make a meaningful impact on a young person’s self-esteem and body confidence.
Later this year, an original song featuring the cast of the show, an accompanying music video, and an educational eBook will also be launched adding to the Dove Self-Esteem Project’s commitment to create a media landscape for young people that is inclusive by acknowledging every person’s uniqueness and representing true diversity.
“Since 2004, through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, we have been providing young people with the tools and resources they need to develop body confidence and self-esteem so they can fully participate in life and reach their full potential,” says Sophie Galvani, Dove Global Vice President. “We are passionate about evolving the types of messages the next generation arereceiving through media, which is why we are working side by side with partners to take the programme to the next level. We are introducing new tools to enable us to reach even more young people with content that not only educates but also entertains. By partnering with Cartoon Network and Rebecca Sugar we are able to create new ways to make a real impact towards our mission of helping young people build positive body confidence and self-esteem.”
Research shows that children’s media can be a powerful source of influence on young viewers’ body image and emotional intelligence, with carefully designed inclusive content creating more positive attitudes and behaviours towards their own health and others.
“Appearance ideals and stereotypes are widespread in children’s media. Studies show that this trend occurs more frequently on screen than in books. Therefore, it is vital to have new content that encourages children to have a positive relationship with the way they look and showcases a diverse and inclusive range of appearances,” states Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, Body Image Expert. “The partnership creates content that tackles topics identified in scientific research as key influences on young people’s body confidence, and delivers it in an engaging and fun way.”
Critically acclaimed, Steven Universe is the first animated series on Cartoon Network to be created by a woman. A global pop culture phenomenon recognized for its overall themes of inclusivity, empathy and relatability, the show is inspired by Rebecca’s friendship and close relationship with her younger brother Steven.
“It has always been important to us that our content resonates with our audience and empowers them,” says Christina Miller, president of Cartoon Network. “This partnership is unprecedented in its scale, reach and ambition to make a difference in kids lives around the world.”
“Cartoons are a powerful medium when it comes to empathy and understanding, which is why my team and I take great care with Steven Universe to reflect real issues that affect our audience,” says Rebecca . “I’m grateful that I will have access to a plethora of research on body image and mental health thanks to this partnership with the Dove Self-Esteem Project. This is an issue I have struggled with personally and I hope this will be a chance to amplify positive messages about self-awareness and acceptance.”
Tanduay president Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. has been actively supporting grassroots sports through aninitiative known as Tanduay Athletics. Tan is the backer of Batangas Tanduay Athletics that is now the team lording over the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) founded by Sen. Manuel Pacquioa.
The league replaced a former regional basketball league that supports grassroots basketball. Beyond sports, Tan is also passionate about green initiatives. He himself was on top of the transformation to a zero-waste facility of Absolut Distillers, Tanduay’s alcohol distillery based in Lian, Batangas. The facility bagged numerous environmental awards, including the prestigious Green Apple Awards, an annual international campaign to recognize, reward and promote environmental best practices around the world. Absolut Distillers is the only local distillery to have received this award up to this day. The company likewise has since been a recipient of awards by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their outstanding environment conservation practices.
“We understand the need to lessen our impact by making our operations cleaner and greener. We do not just want to make the best rhum in the Philippines, bet we want everyone to know that our rhum is made with good intentions and we hope to improve our operations year after year,” Tan continued, adding that, they have started investing in solar energy as a cleaner alternative as well. “We want our consumers to know that every bottle of Tanduay that they drink is made from green intentions and green energy.”
The Tanduay president further shared that the concern for the environment sprang from the knowledge that the distillery industry is considered as one of the dirtiest. “Before we took over Tanduay, there have been cases filed against its practices pertaining to pollution. We said, let us clean up first. We started investing in technologies that we are using in our Absolut distillery in Batangas in order to reduce our carbon footprint. It was a long process, and we did it.”
Now, Tan would like to bring public attention to a project he started in 2011 to protect what little is left of the old Boracay. The island has been noted as one of the world’s top destinations, but it has encountered controversy lately due to the amount of pollution that has been plaguing the once-pristine paradise. There are talks of a government shutdown to tourists in order to rehabilitate the natural landscape. Tan pioneered the project “Roots for Boracay” to save the last mangroves in the island.
“When we first got there, we already saw the amount of solid waste that lay among the mangroves. Before we started reforesting the area, we needed to have it cleaned up,” Tan revealed. He noted that if the mangroves have not been cut down indiscriminately, the problems being faced by Boracay today would have been much lesser. There would be no need to set up expensive artificial waste treatment facilities for the island’s recovery, as the mangrove roots will naturally filter water waste. According to him, Boracay is far from any of his business interests, but the need to respond to an impending crisis was what drove him to act.
“It took awhile to bring together the various people who will help us in our quest to get hold of the right to implement our project to clean up and re-plant in order to stop the continuous degradation of the mangroves in that area of Boracay,” Tan further related. But Tan had the right man on his side to make sure his visions will be realized. Gerry Tee is the chief operating officer of Absolut Distillers. He is the same person with whom his father Lucio Tan Srr. entrusted the green transformation of the Batangas alcohol distillery. With the help of Tee, they engaged the Tan Yan Kee Foundation led by Philip Sing to gather a 200-strong workforce that began the clean up efforts in Barangay Manoc Manoc, where the mangroves are located. They have gathered four truckloads of garbage by the time they finish cleaning the mangroves area.
“To protect Boracay, it is important to go down to its roots. In this case, we seek the last frontier of Boracay – the mangroves. It is where the fish and other sea creatures get nutrients, it is where life starts. Without the mangroves, the island would also cease to exist, as it protects the island from typhoons. The beautiful fine white sand will go back to the sea because their roots are the ones holding the island together,” Tee explained.
He added that aside from building the infrastructures and replanting mangroves, the mission of the project is to showcase that part of Boracay that is often neglected, so people can know what it takes to protect the beaches that tourists love so much. The project had partnered with the local government unit, the DENR and concerned non-government organizations to come up with a sustainable development in the area which involves the locals, educating them about the importance of the mangroves to their island. “So much has been cut down to make way for real estate, others cut them down for firewood. A portion is also dying out, because a road development cut off water supply. With Roots For Boracay, people have begun to understand what needs to be done,” said Tee.
The Tanduay executives underscored that it is not about the company, which has also instituted other environmental campaigns in partnership with the Tan Yang Kee Foundation such as The Canopy Project, which replants trees in the denuded forests in the North. “Boracay is only part of the market for Tanduay, we are more concerned about our legacy. It is not about Tanduay, it is about the locals – their subsistence, their livelihood, and their existence. Tanduay is just there as a vehicle to raise awareness,” Tee said.
They cautioned that if the lack of concern for the environment continues in the name of profit, Boracay will not be the only one. “If Boracay is closed down, people will move on to Palawan. This has happened before, just look at how Matabungkay deteriorated,” Tee admonished. “The issue is lack of awareness, and we are trying to address that with our project.” They said that the plans of shutting down Boracay will hurt a lot, but from their perspective of what they have seen in the mangrove forest, it could be a one-step- backward, two-steps- forward situation. “It is about moving forward, and we can all help in our own little way, by doing things like picking up a cigarette butt and not throwing your garbage just anywhere,” Tee said.
“It was a directive from the Chairman, Mr. Lucio Tan to follow the concept of sustainable development, where we do not profit at the expense of the environment. We make sure that everything we do is about reducing our carbon footprint and become more independent from the environment where we do not use to dump our waste,“ Tee further shared.
Women today are more united. Several groups now exist in the spirit of camaraderie. No matter what the odds, women go through it all hand in hand. Now its second year, Loreal continues its legacy in empowering women by helping them with starting their own businesses or get hired. Loreal has utilized the power of beauty in more ways than one.
Launched last April 2017, L’Oréal’s Beauty For a Better Life has since completed one full year of training for three batches of beneficiaries. Since its launch, 62 beneficiaries from the Philippines has been given an opportunity to go into jobs and even own businesses in the field of hairdressing.
Led by the L’Oréal Foundation, Beauty For a Better Life is deployed in 27 countries globally and is one of the Foundation’s key programs to empower women in situations of social and economic instability by training them for careers in the beauty sector. For its first run, L’Oréal Philippines, along with its partner organization Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), decided to focus on training women within one barangay to allow for growth within the community and co-empowerment among themselves.
The program was first brought to Brgy. Sto. Niño in Marikina as one of the priority areas for unemployment.
“We believe in the power of beauty to change lives, and Beauty For a Better Life expands the definition of beauty by using it a way to provide skills and livelihood opportunities to those most in need. A renewed sense of self-confidence, diginity and motivation are fundamental changes that we see in our graduates and it is our hope and vision that Beauty For a Better Life empowers these women to gain a better quality of life through increased access to livelihood opportunities, and thereby becoming socially and economically empowered to also serve as beacons of hope for their own families and communities”, shares Carmel Valencia, L’Oréal Philippines Corporate Communication Manager.
To date, 62 individuals have completed the program, 22 of which come from the third batch graduating this April 2018. Each batch of beneficiaries underwent daily classroom sessions in the Barangay Hall for three months wherein they were taught different hairdressing skills such as blow drying, hair coloring, hair cutting, and application of hair treatments – under the tutelage of L’Oréal Philippines trainers. They were also exposed to a one-week internship in L’Oréal’s partner salons across Metro Manila to expose them to actual hairdressing jobs and potentially further their career options.
April 3 signals a new chapter for the program as it celebrates all the beneficiaries from Brgy. Sto. Niño including the latest set of graduates and also gives way for the turning over of the program to a new barangay in Marikina. “It is truly heartwarming to see the hope that the program has brought about to the lives of the women (and men) of Brgy. Sto. Niño. For the next cycle of Beauty For a Better Life, we are hoping that we will also open opportunities to individuals from Brgy. Dela Peña and continue our advocacy of changing lives through beauty,” concludes Ms. Valencia.
The first batch of beneficiaries from Brgy. Dela Peña will begin training under the program on April 4.
