PBSPVRO

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Smart wins 'zero basura' award

Smart wins 'zero basura' award
The Freeman News, Corporate Roundup
April 28, 2010


Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) received an award for its Post-Marketing Waste Management Program at the recently concluded Zero Basura Olympics (ZBO) for Business 2009.

SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto accepted the award during the 40th Earth Day Celebration program at the SM Mall of Asia.

The Zero Basura Olympics is an advocacy campaign of Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) towards a zero-waste Philippines.

The awards program recognizes the efforts of business firms nationwide to practice and promote waste management. It is organized by the Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc., the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the Philippine Business for the Environment, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SMART's Post-Marketing Waste Management Program allows residents to of the Gawad Kalinga Village in Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo to convert used PLDT and SMART tarpaulins into reusable bags and sell them as corporate giveaways.

Under the project, SMART is able to recycle tarpaulin materials from its billboard and marketing ads and provide a source of income for beneficiary-residents of its adopted GK Village.

SMART's initiatives for the environment are part of the company's corporate social responsibility and community service program Kabalikat.

Monday, April 26, 2010

MOA inked for school building construction

MOA inked for school building construction
Cebu Daily News
04/17/2010



The signing of a memorandum of agreement held last April 13 at the Golden Prince Hotel signaled the construction of a one-classroom school building that can accommodate at least 50 Grade 1 pupils of Cabancalan Elementary School in barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City.

The agreement was signed by Golden Prince Hotel president Benedict Que, executive chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and school principal Aliena Quimque.

Golden Prince Hotel will fund the project, which is worth P340,000, while the PBSP will implement, manage and monitor the project.

The classroom will include a comfort room. School desks and chairs will also be provided by the Mandaue City government.

The project is part of Golden Prince and PBSP's commitment to provide education assistance to the community.

The classroom is set to be completed and turned over to the school before the opening of classes in June.

Dacera keeps Olango title

Dacera keeps Olango title
By April C. Lavado, UP Intern
Sun.Star Cebu

April 25, 2010


AT LEAST 50 swimmers braved the summer heat and the new racecourse in the 3rd Olango Challenge at the Tambuli Beach Club, Mactan Island.

The organizers of the event, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (Pasa), said it was easier for them to invite participants this year since swimmers already know about their event.

Nikita Dacera again topped the 5K men’s division for the third straight year, while Kiefer Ticao and Noel CaƱeda took second and third, respectively.

In the women’s division, Erika Lukay won first place, while Lorendale Echaves finished second. Paula Abigail Vega, last year’s champion, came in third this year.

In the 2.5K men’s division, Jason Ong took first place over Mucial Hermoso and Charles Fletcher.

Lorhiz Echaves came in first in the women’s side, while Frijie Laude and Karen Tiambay settled for the second and third.

Other winners were Rey Swerte and Alali Ada Villocino for the 1.5K event, and Franz Baguio for the 5K fun division.

The winners got trophies, medals and certificates, while all those who completed the 5K swim got a finisher’s shirt.

Seventy-year-old Tamotsu Takahashi was the oldest participant and said he plans to sign up again next year.

Michael Vega, the earliest to register, got a gift certificate from Shangri-la Mactan.

Organizers also raffled special prizes for the early participants.

Pasa’s Mark Joseph also praised the organizers and said the Olango Challenge is not just about producing great swimmers but producing great people as well.

Vega, Echavez highlight Olango Challenge today

Vega, Echavez highlight Olango Challenge today
By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
The Freeman
April 24, 2010


CEBU, Philippines - The most anticipated face-off of two of Cebu’s most decorated teenage female swimmers – Paula Abigail Vega and Loren Dale Echavez – will highlight the 3rd Olango Challenge that unfolds at Tambuli Beach Club-East in Mactan Island
at 11 a.m. today.

Vega, the defending champion in the Women’s Open 5-k, is targeting for a grand slam in this open water competition.

 Echavez, on the other hand, will debut in this event. But with her record-breaking performances in the just-concluded Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac, local fans are anticipating a heated battle between the two.

Vega and Echavez had been compared with each other for a long time, but the two rarely cross path with the latter chose not to join the PASA-sanctioned events until this time.

Loren Dale’s elder sister, Lhoriz, is also set to compete today but only in the 3-k action.

In the men’s side, Nikita Dacera is expected to defend his title.

A bunch of seasoned and fun swimmers are anticipated to join the event.

This year’s edition is said to be the shortest, but could be the most challenging one as participants will go for a 2.5-kilometer box-type course.

The event will have over P100,000 in cash prizes plus medals for the top performers and a special prize for the early birds in this Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)-organized event.

Vega had the chance to be part of the RP team in the First Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia for her sterling performance in the first Olango Challenge, which was a cross-channel swim competition.

Organizers of the event are providing a bus to transport the participants to the venue. Assembly area will be at PLDT in Mabolo, Cebu City. Pickup time is 8:30 am. (FREEMAN NEWS)

Dacera, 15-yr-old Lukang rule

Dacera, 15-yr-old Lukang rule
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
April 25, 2010


Nikita Dacera and 15-year old Palarong Pambansa mutliple gold medalist Erika Lukang overcame slightly rough waters and jellyfish stings to rule the men's and women's divisions in the 5K competitive category of the 3rd Olango Challenge yesterday at the east wing of the Tambuli Beach Club.

Dacera of the Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Club successfully relegated closest rival Kiefer Ticao of the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS) once again to second place and become the first three-time champion in the men's division of the open sea race.

Dacera had a 25.40-second advantage over Ticao, who crossed the finish line in 56 minutes and 56.06 seconds.

Dacera did not disappoint those who pledged that he would be able to finish the long-distance open-water swimming marathon in an hour or under.

Cebu's Noel Caneda of the Cebu Blue Marlins Swim Club (CBMSC) prevented a local shutout in the top three spots as he salvaged third place with a time of one hour, eight minutes and 5.09 seconds.


SURPRISED 
In the distaff side of the 5K competitive category, spectators were given a chance to see the immense competition that Lukang of PCEAS and Loren Dale Echavez of the University of San Carlos (USC) engaged in at the recently-held 53rd Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac.

"I was surprised to see her when I got here but it's okay," said Echavez, who lost her 800m freestyle Palaro record to Calabarzon's Lukang.

Lukang and Echavez both swam in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events in the Palaro.

The Calabarzon tanker relegated Central Visayas' strongest bet to second place in the 200m, 400m and 800m but Echavez came back with a vengeance by resetting a 12-year Palaro record in their 100m showdown.

Lukang, a surprise entry in this event organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA), added a new dimension to the much-awaited confrontation between Echavez and CBMSC's Paula Abigail Vega.

However, experience was not much on defending champion Vega's side as she succumbed to first-timers Lukang and Echavez.

Lukang came in first with Echavez in second and Vega at third.

Asked why she didn't surge ahead of Lukang when she was so close, "I chose to just follow in her heels because I was scared I might get lost or go off course," Echavez said.

Lukang clocked 1:04:38.46, while Echavez crossed the finish line in 1:05:20.72 and Vega finished with a time of 1:08:11.85.

Both Lukang and Vega got points for their endeavor being PASA members and a chance to qualify in the Asian Open Water World Cup in Hong Kong in November and the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman the following month.

Echavez, on the other hand, revealed that her mother will be talking to her coach for her possibile entry into the PASA.

The bemedalled Cebuano tanker has opted to stay with USC for her college studies despite several offers from Manila universities.

Echavez's older sister Lhoriz, a member of the RP triathlon team, ruled the women's 2.5K category with a time of 37.58.94. Finishing second to Lhoriz was Team Shangri-La's Frijie Laude (49:21.85.) 


IMPERIAL TANKERS MAKE WAVES
The men's 2.5K category was dominated by Team Imperial Palace's Jason Ong (38:14.80), who relegated teammate Marcial Hermoso (44:26.69) to second place and Charles Fletcher (45:21.33) of Curl-Burke Masters to third.

The men's 1.5K category had another Team Imperial Palace tanker Rey Suerte clinching first place with a time of 30:44.56, while another Echavez sibling, Alexander, also of USC settled for second place in 30:59.91. Team Imperial Palace's Philomer Rubio salvaged third place with his time of 35:07.99.

The distaff side had Alali Ada Villocino of Team IHK notching first place with her time of 42:25.90 and Mary Grace Ventic of Unattached in second with 1:06:52.79.

The men's 5K fun category was ruled by Unattached's Franz Baguio (1:09:51.14) with Team Imperial Palace's Rico Enriquez (1:10:34.48) placing second and Yoshimitsu Tadauchi (1:13:36.80) also of Unattached finishing third.

Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas chairman, kept true to those who pledged that he would finish the race in under two hours after he crossed the finish line in 1:28:34.99, good enough for fifth place in the category and ensuring a good donation to the event's cause.

The 3rd Olango Challenge hopes to raise P1.2 million through pledges of friends of organizers and participants to build a composting toilet for the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary and other Olango barangays; to be used in setting up water catchments and to fund an inland reforestration in public areas in Olango.

The proceeds of the 1st and 2nd Olango Challenge allowed for a two-classroom building to be built at the Candagsao Elementary School in Olango providing for a much better learning environment for the children.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

22 new LRCs from PLDT

Last March 10, 2010, PLDT turned over a check worth P880,000.00 to PBSP during the 22nd Annual Membership Meeting. The amount will be used to fund the establishment of 22 learning resource centers in the Visayas for the next school year. 

The LRCs are scheduled to be turned over to their respective schools from Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo and Western Samar during the Brigada Eskuwela on May 2010. 

From left: Ramcar, Inc. CSR Head Eman Ragaza,
PLDT Community Relations Head Evelyn del Rosario
and PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Mr. Jose Antonio Aboitiz.
 
Please visit this link for more details about this new project.

Additional LRC from the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program

We thank all the 25 partners of the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program for donating 1.85 tons of their used lead acid batteries (ULABs) from February to March 2010 this year! The additional ULABs collected were able to generate an approximate value of Php 42,705.00, enough to fund one more learning resource center (LRC) for the schoolchildren in the country.

We also welcome Lexmark Research and Development Corp. as our new member for the PBSP-Motolite Balik Baterya Program, which started its involvement early this year.

Last March 10, 2010, we officially launched the PLDT Balik Baterya Learning Resource Project, where PLDT turned over Php 880,000.00 for the construction of 22 more LRCs around the country. These LRCs are set to be turned over to the schools during the Brigada Eskuwela on May 2010.

Let us continue to be involved in this objective to clean our environment and improve the education standards of the country.

Visit this site for more details about the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Olango Challenge on 24th

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) invite all professional swimmers and swimming enthusiasts to join the 3rd Olango Challenge set on April 24 at the Tambuli Beach Resort from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The Olango Challenge is the first open-water swimming competition organized in the country. It aims to highlight the importance of having a clean marine environment in Olango Island as well as promote open water swimming as a sport in the Philippines.

For its third run, swimmers will vie for the top spots in a boxed race course fronting the Tambuli Beach Club, a design patterned after that of international swimming competitions.

Competitive swimmers can choose the 1.5K, 2.5K or 5K race while fun swimmers have to finish the 5K swim.

Winners will get prizes worth P124,000, while swimmers who completed the 5K swim will get a finisher's shirt.

Winners of the event will also get the chance to to contend for two international swimming events this year: the Asian Open Water World Cup in Hong Kong on November 3 and the 2nd Asian Beach Games on December 8.

Registration for the event is scheduled until 6 pm today. Interested contenders may go to the PBSP and PASA offices for the entry forms or visit www.olangochallenge.wordpress.com.

For more details, one may contact Riva Valles at 232-5283 or 232-5270 or send an e-mail to olangochallenge@gmail.com.



(Media release published in The Freeman Sports section dated April 16, 2010.)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Islands Group employees plant mangroves in Olango

As part of its corporate social responsibility, The Islands Group participated in the mangrove-planting activity organized by VSO Bahagian in Brgy. San Vicente, Olango Island recently.

VSO is an international development organization that promotes volunteering among 45 developing nations in the world, including the Philippines.

The Islands Group management, subsidiaries Islands Souvenirs, Islands Banca Cruises, Islands & More, Islands Pasalubong Center, and non-profit foundation Our Islands and staff believe in the idea that people have to give back to nature. With this in mind, 30 volunteer employees headed to Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) to further enrich the mangrove sanctuary that acts as a resting place for migratory birds from all over the world.

Other partners for the event, namely the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Rotary Club-Mactan, and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, have joined in to plant a total of 10,000 mangrove propagules of Bakauan bato or Rhizophora stylosa. The Islands Group planted approximately 1,500 propagules in under an hour.

To cap off the event, the Islands Group trekked to the OIWS  center which is host to an extensive 97 species of homeland and migratory birds. There the Islands Group employees learned the importance of caring for the environment and got to know more about the rich and diverse habitat that surrounds them.


(Published in The Freeman Community section dated April 15, 2010.)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

10 Days to Earth Day 2010

A message from Earth Day Network - Philippines: 


Today marks the 10th day to Earth Day 2010 with the theme, "Hamon ng Panahon: CLIMATE CHANGE; 10 Milyung Solusyon (Kilos Na! Ngayon na!)."

Due to the devastation of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng and the growing threat of Climate Change, each one of us need to take action. 

Here is one way we can help Mother Earth: Don't overcharge your cellphones.

Join the 10 Million Movement and be counted! Visit www.10mm.ph and register as many commitments as you can! You may also log on to www.earthdayphils.org for more information.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Extended registration for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

To all professional swimmers and swimming enthusiasts, grab this last chance to test your limits and brave the waters of the Hilutungan Channel for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE!!

Now, the registration for the 3rd Olango Challenge is still extended until Friday, April 16, 6:00 PM!! 




Feel the excitement of summer, have fun and save the earth’s seas by joining the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE now!

For more information, you may e-mail us at:
pbspvro@pbsp.org.ph
olangochallenge@gmail.com.

You may also call the PBSP VRO Office and look for Ms. Riva Valles through (6332) 232-5283 or 232-5270.

Golden Prince Hotel, PBSP sign agreement for school building construction

More pupils may not need to study in very poor classroom conditions in the coming school year.

Last April 13, Golden Prince Hotel, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Cabancalan Elementary School entered into an agreement for the construction of a one-classroom school building in Cabancalan Elementary School, Mandaue City.

The classroom will benefit at least 50 grade one pupils of the school and will include a comfort room as well. School desks and chairs will be provided by the Mandaue City government.


From left: Cabancalan Elementary School principal 
Aliena Que, PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz
and Golden Prince Hotel President Benedict Que.


 "We are very thankful for Golden Prince and PBSP for initiating projects like this that help the schoolchildren, especially that the main problem we have is the lack of classrooms," Aliena Que said.

She said that as of April 2010, school enrolment in Cabancalan Elementary School has already bloated to 2,000 compared to last year's, which was only 1,900.

The classroom, she said, will help more pupils to study in better education conditions.

"We hope that there will be more people like them who are really willing to help," she adds.

Signing the memorandum of agreement were PBSP Visayas Executive Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz, Golden Prince Hotel President Benedict Que and Cabancalan Elementary School principal Aliena Quimque held at the Golden Prince Hotel.

The project is part of Golden Prince and PBSP's commitment to provide education assistance to the community as part of its corporate citizenship objective. Under the agreement, Golden Prince Hotel will fund the project, which is worth a total cost of P340,000.00. The project will be implemented, managed and monitored by PBSP.

The classroom is set to be completed and turned over to the school before the school year starts.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Five reasons why you should join the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

It's now 15 DAYS before the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE! 


The summer heat is sizzling up and the waters of the Hilutungan Channel had never been as exciting as this month! Test your limits to the extreme and be a part of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE on April 24!

 
Five reasons why you should join the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE:

ONE. You get a finisher's shirt once you complete the 5K swim.

TWO. You get to experience one of Cebu's finest beaches this summer season.

THREE. You help save the environment. Proceeds of the event will be used to fund livelihood and environment projects in Olango Island.

FOUR. If you win, you'll get Timex watches and cash prizes.

FIVE. AND if you win, you may be a qualifying contender for the Asian Open Water World Cup (Hong Kong, Nov. 3, 2010) and the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman (Dec. 8-16, 2010). 


Let's create A Better Life together

For years, authors and publishers have pursued to articulate how people's lives are touched and made better because hope have come to them in different forms. A library has become home to thousands of books about real-life Cinderellas, champions, miracles, unexpected victories and formulas on success, but a book is yet to be dedicated to the efforts companies have exerted to help people steer the nation to palpable heights.

A Better Life, Stories of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a coffee table book that brims with colorful and moving photographs, stories and vignettes about ordinary people making extraordinary changes in their lives. They are heading out of poverty, the result of the work of their own hands enabled by the passion and commitment of corporate citizens.

A Better Life features the CSR milestones of PBSP’s operations in the Visayas in the areas of livelihood and enterprise, education, health, environment and capacity building of communities. The CSR projects of 32 Philippine companies help make A Better Life an important resource book for companies, CSR practitioners, civil society, academe and individuals who believe in every person’s capacity for self-reliance in the face of adversity.


Get your copy of A Better Life

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

PBSP in the Visayas: moving forward

The path to a better life continues.
Where is PBSP in the Visayas 
headed next?



April 2010.
17 Apr.
Mangrove Tree Planting @ Olango Island, Mactan, Cebu
24 Apr. 3rd Olango Challenge @ Tambuli Beach Resort, Buyong, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu

  
May 2010.
Enterprise Development Forum
Brigada Eskwela 2010   



June 2010.
04 Jun.
2010 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan
Run for the Ocean 
   

July 2010.
CSR Expo 2010 
Bohol Launching of the Balik Baterya Program
   

September 2010. 
Go Green Cebu 
   



For more details on these succeeding events, please call us at (032) 254.5283 or visit us at:

PBSP Visayas Regional Office
4th Floor, PLDT Building
Juan Luna Avenue, Mabolo
Cebu City, Philippines 6000

Monday, April 05, 2010

3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE to kick off this April!

It's now 19 days before the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE!

The first open water swimming competition of the country, the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE invites all professional swimmers and swimming enthusiasts to take a plunge in the waters of the Hilutongan Channel and swim for a better cause. Mark your calendars for this event on April 24, 2010 at the Tambuli Beach Resort, Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-lapu City from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.


In partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association, the Olango Challenge aims to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and raise awareness on the magnitude of drowning incidence in the Philippines.

Categories are as follows: 1.5K, 2.5K and 5K competitive and 5K fun.

A tougher Olango Challenge awaits the aspiring contestants this year, this time featuring a race course that forms a box. A parallel 750-meter race course is also provided for the 1.5K competitive swimmers.

Click here for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE RACE COURSE

Discounts will be given for those who will register earlier. You can download the entry form for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE here. You can also visit the official website here.



For more inquiries about the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE, you may look for Ms. Riva Valles at (032) 232.5270 or send your email to olangochallenge@gmail.com. You may also visit us at:

PBSP Visayas Regional Office
4th Floor, PLDT Building
Juan Luna Avenue, Mabolo
Cebu City, Philippines 6000


(Entry also posted on the Olango Challenge official website.)