Sika Philippines Builds a Future with Everyday Heroes campaign for 2023

Philippines, 29 March 2023 - Sika Philippines, Inc. launches its latest campaign Everyday Heroes for 2023, refocusing the approach on recovery from pandemic by enhancing its innovation drive for sustainability, sharing a hopeful vision and honoring everyday heroes - the inspiring figures committed to excellence, with unmatched reliability and courage for innovation, just like what the Sika brand stands for. 

Sika seeks to stand as the everyday hero, a reliable and flexible brand to look ahead and embrace the future with. Armed with ethical and effective plan of actions, the company maintains its commitment to excellence by contributing to the development of every significant sector of the society and cultivating a more sustainable environment to every enterprise, communities and families. 

The new campaign stretches a year-long span of activations and events to provide opportunities for empowerment and recognition to everyday heroes. In line with its dedication to uplift and improve the technical expertise of builders. Sika launches an online series of knowledge session scheduled every month for the specifiers, applicators and relevant professionals. The webinars cover a range of specific topics on Basement Waterproofing, Façade Solutions, Passive Fire Protection, Building Solutions, Data Center Technology. Water Treatment, Industrial Solutions and Refurbishment and Retrofitting. Adding to the webinars are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Trainings which is a set of collaborative technical forum in partnership with various design and build associations and agencies providing focused discussions and demos for the consultants, applicators and technical specialists. 

Sika redefines its brand progressively with collaboration with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and partnerships with other industry partners worldwide. To directly cater the local market, Sika's products and solutions will be showcased on industry exhibitions, trade shows and other on- ground events including UAP Conex in April and PICE NatCon in November. Sika also continues to sustain a beneficial relationship with its customers through the Sika Applicator Partners Club (APC) that comes with exclusive perks, training access and double earnings. 

Also lined up for this year are competitions including National Tiler Competition, the first-ever nationwide technical contest dedicated to recognize the expertise of tilers, and Finding 'Everyday Heroes', a nationwide search for the ultimate 'Everyday Heroes' in the areas of design, engineering and construction, extending to other Sika industry markets such as automotive, transportation, marine, energy and manufacturing. A creative call 'Everyday Heroes' Music and Video Contest will also be launched for professionals, firms, associations, and independent agencies to create and produce a modern song and visual material in line with thematic campaign. 

Special events are scheduled at the last quarter of the year. The first-ever exclusive Sika World Expo will highlight Sika innovation and quality products and solutions, and exhibit a series of activations to build awareness and bring the brand close to its end-users. Coinciding with the upcoming expo, announcements regarding the application and masonry competition and music and video contest shall be anticipated on the first quarters of 2023. 

The new campaign stresses Sika's role as a consisteny leader in the construction and industrial chemicals industry in the country. "We pride ourselves as a company that provide our core markets with strategic and effective route for innovative construction solutions to the Philippine market. We look forward to growing thr brand through elevated awareness and build long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships." said Cristophe Lejeune, General Manager, Sika Philippines Inc.

EMBASSY OF IRELAND SUPPORTS GO NEGOSYO PROGRAM FOR IP WOMEN

The Embassy of Ireland formalized its continued support of Go Negosyo “Uplifting the IP Women of Davao” program last March 14, 2023. The program is designed to build the entrepreneurship skills of the women of Davao’s Matigsalug tribe by harnessing their skills in basketry and beadwork through mentorship and training. Go Negosyo implements the program together with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Department of Trade and Industry XI, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples XI, and Zeald. Present were (from left) HE Amb. William Carlos, Ambassador of Ireland in the Philippines; Niall Collins, Ireland’s Minister of State for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science; Joey Concepcion, founder of Go Negosyo; and Engr. Merly T. Cruz, Senior Adviser of Go Negosyo. The signing formalizes Ireland’s support of the program throughout the year, and adds to the ongoing grant from the Embassy of New Zealand which started the program. 

Emerging Trends in Real Estate at Global Outlook 2023

Real estate leaders once again find themselves dealing with an economic slowdown and financial crisis while addressing structural changes in the way people, live, work, and interact with the built environment. Discover the new trends which are emerging and what the industry can expect in the coming months, according to survey respondents of the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Global Outlook 2023.   Chapter 1: Managing Expectations. Sentiment counts for a lot in business, although the real estate industry is extremely cautious about current market conditions, there are glimmers of hope for renewed investment activity following the uncertainty of 2022. Still, we are several quarters away from a fully functioning real estate market globally, says one global private equity investor and interviewee.   Learn about all the ways industry leaders are working through a gradual recovery, in sections titled, "Dealing with higher interest rates," "Price discovery--mind the gaps. Attention turns to lenders," and "Adapting to the new normal of high finance and low growth." Then take a deep dive into the key trends and talking points: "Make offices fit for purpose," "Leading logistics," "Retail revival?" and "Mixed outlook on cross-border recovery."   In this uneasy juxtaposition of short- and long-term challenges to real estate, the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda has become the unifying thread that links everyone, regardless of sector.   Chapter 2: Carbon Pricing. The new emerging trend shaping 2023's global outlook. Money is a language that real estate professionals understand. By expressing carbon emissions in monetary terms and establishing a price on carbon emissions, will the industry reduce the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere?   A growing number of real estate players see carbon pricing as a significant weapon in their armoury as they attempt to decarbonise the built environment and play their part in tackling the climate crisis.   Carbon pricing is a complex issue, raising difficult questions about how to make polluters in a society pay in a way that changes behaviour, how governments can work together to solve common problems without hindering their economies and how to avoid penalising those least able to pay for energy or reducing emissions.   Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Global Outlook 2023 has undertaken one of the first deep dives into how carbon pricing is expected to affect the real estate industry’s efforts to decarbonise. Carbon pricing is no silver bullet, but it does have the potential to change the way companies think and act when measuring and reducing emissions from their portfolios.

German Energy Efficiency and Solar Firms Explore Business Opportunities in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – On 21 March 2023, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) in cooperation with the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) and Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) organized a conference entitled “Energy Efficiency and Solar for Buildings”.  

The conference was held in Makati Diamond Residences with over 100 participants where German and Philippine industry experts, as well as government stakeholders, shared project opportunities and best practices. 

“These visiting German companies have the advanced technical know-how in the field of energy efficiency, and we are happy to provide the stage for them to connect with both key public and private stakeholders in the Philippines” says GPCCI Executive Director Christopher Zimmer.  

This business mission was participated by 5 German companies and discussed about the following topics: 

SolarNext AG - Systems Solutions in Regenerative Heat and Cooling Supply 

MIG mbH - Thin Insulations and Smart Coatings 

Hörmann KG - Fire-rated and Multi-purpose Door Solutions 

eeaser GmbH – Energy Efficiency in Consultancy 

Ecoligo GmbH - Clean Energy Transition Solutions 

“Several German companies are already involved in the industry of energy efficiency in the Philippines and this delegation signals an increased potential and investor interest. We are delighted to see more attention again from German companies.” says GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz. 

The conference was also participated by Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) President Alexander Ablaza and Energy Utilization Management Bureau of the Department of Energy Director Patrick Aquino. 

“Aside from its cost-saving benefits, energy efficiency is one of the most labor-intensive activities in the energy sector.” Says PE2 President Alexander Ablaza. “There is a huge potential for investment opportunities in the Philippines and can generate more green jobs.”  

“Our vision to have Renewable Energy plus Energy Efficiency to attain Energy Sustainability targets” says DOE Director Patrick Aquino “we are currently developing policies that will effectively implement the intended objectives of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.” 

In the following days, the German delegation will further explore partnership potentials with Philippine counterparts through B2B-meetings, project site visits, and other business networking activities. 

Conference and Delegation Background

The conference is part of the business delegation in the Philippines for German Companies in the field of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Industry from 20 to 24 March 2023. This project is organized in cooperation with Eclareon and is part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). 

About GPCCI 

GPCCI / AHK Philippinen belongs to the international network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) which is represented by 150 offices in 93 countries. GPCCI is the official representation of German businesses in the Philippines; a bilateral membership organization with around 300 members; and a service provider to companies in their market entry and expansion.  

Conference Details: https://bit.ly/3n6fnLF  

Delegation Information: https://bit.ly/3FCdeh8

DTI's Export Promotions Arm Eyes to Showcase Sustainable Brands

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is set to participate in the first edition of the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) at the ISST Building, James Yen Center in Silang, Cavite from March 29 - April 2, 2023. 

Under its  Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX) program, CITEM will feature a total of 12 companies from the food, home, and lifestyle industries that offer products and services that are sustainable or have a strong ecotourism component

Join us in pushing sustainability practices! Thank you for helping us champion Filipino export products to the world.

DTI Holds Bagsakan sa Intramuros for Foreign and Local Tourists

As travel and tourism go perfectly with this year’s summer season, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is bringing unique products from across the country closer to tourists through the special Bagsakan sa Intramuros on March 25 to April 2 at the Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila City. In time with the grand launch of the DTI’s latest Go Lokal! Store x Manila Canvas at the walled city of Intramuros, Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction in 2022, the Bagsakan will feature 30 enterprises and their local products from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 

 Organized by the DTI Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in coordination with the DTI-Regional Operations Group and in partnership with the Intramuros Administration and Manila Canvas, the week-long event will feature the unique Filipino products from CAR, Region 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, BARMM, and the NCR for foreign and local tourists to enjoy. 

Available for sale are regional delicacies; premium Philippine wines and healthy beverages; Filipino snacks, cookies, and pastries; traditional and modern apparel using indigenous textiles; fashion accessories; handicrafts and wooden items; home decors, gifts, and souvenir items; and a full range of personal care and wellness products. 

In celebration of the grand opening of the DTI Go Lokal! Store x Manila Canvas on March 27, tourists, buyers, and students are invited to join exciting activities free of charge:  

March 30 – Struggles and Success: Let’s Talk Business! with speakers, Aloy Chua, CEO & Founder of Roots Collective; Wado Tan Siman, owner of Wadoughs Cake Studio; and Khaz Raza, Climate Change DRR Expert 

March 31 – Store Tour of Manila Canvas for invited Tour Operators and Tour Guides 

April 1 – Workshop: Pottery Making by Ili Likhaan 

April 2 – Heritage: Forum and Guided Tour with Tranvia by Benjamin Canapi 

The Go Lokal! Store is a one-stop-shop for the best locally made products that truly capture the essence of the Philippines. The Go Lokal! Store and the Bagsakan events are great opportunities to support Filipino businesses and artisans while immersing yourself in the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines. Tourists and resellers can directly buy from the manufacturers and place bulk orders for scheduled delivery.  

The Bagsakan exhibitors are: Kenro Boutique, Four H Handicraft, Amanda's Marine Products, Gloria's Delicacies, Magpoc's Araro Cookies, Terio's Food Products, Tess Enterprise, Willy's Cashew Nuts, Philippine Craft Distillers, Inc., Luckygemsbiz and General Merchandise, Sweet Style Beadworks, Harito Food Products, Let Eat Go and Beverage House, Diana Stalder by Dermaline, Switsis Food Products, Pasciolco Agri Ventures, JMU Belt Collection, Philia, Cerra Furniture, La Herminia Piña Weaving Industry, JER Shells Craft Creation Int’l, Ma. Delza Native Products, Angie's Yakan Handloom Weaving, Kyla Amazing Soybeans Co. Ltd., Marc Daniel's Food Products, Moonlight Handicrafts, RLM7 Enterprise, Sanja’s Delicacies, Yzhny Enterprise, and Tingting Handicrafts.  

For more updates on upcoming Bagsakan activities, national fairs, and programs for MSMEs, join the DTI-BDTP Community on Viber and follow us on our official social media accounts at: Facebook (@DTI.BDTP); Instagram (@dti.bdtp); Twitter (@dti_bdtp); Tiktok (@dti.bdtp); and YouTube. For inquiries, you may also email BDTP Director Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti.gov.ph. 

DOST-PCAARRD leads the harmonization of Bamboo Inventory Systems workshop with UPLB and ERDB

Participants from UPLB- CFNR, ERDB-DENR, FMB-DENR and DOST-PCAARRD (FERD, SERD, TTPD). (Image Credit: Applied Communication Divission, DOST-PCAARRD)

Harmonization of two bamboo inventory systems developed by the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CFNR-UPLB) and the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ERDB-DENR) was discussed last February 6, 2022.
This was during the “Workshop on Harmonization of Bamboo Inventory Systems” conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) at the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC).

Development of a unified approach on bamboo inventory is critical to ensuring the sustainability of inventory efforts and the availability of reliable data on bamboo, says DOST-PCAARRD

DOST-PCAARRD’s Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) Director Dr. Ernesto Brown welcomed participants from UPLB, ERDB-DENR, and Forest Management Bureau of DENR (FMB-DENR). The Council’s also participated in the workshop.

Dr. Brown acknowledged the completed PCAARRD-funded project, “Enhancing the Various Policy Initiatives on Bamboo: Developing a Harmonized System for Community-based Inventory of Bamboo Resources in Key Production Areas in the Philippines,” led by Dr. Ramon Razal for generating bamboo cover maps in Pangasinan, Iloilo, and Bukidnon. He then highlighted the importance of aligned efforts among agencies and institutions for the Philippines to have a reliable bamboo inventory system that will support the development of the industry.

Prof. Pastor Malabrigo , Jr. of UPLB-CFNR (left), and Dr. Alan Castillo of ERDB-DENR (right), while presenting thier bamboo inventory systems. (Image Credit: Applied Communication Division, DOST-PCAARRD)

Technical aspects of the bamboo inventory systems were presented by Prof. Pastor Malabrigo, Jr. of CFNR-UPLB through UPLB’s Manual on Harmonized System for Community-Based Inventory of Bamboo Resources in the Philippines and by Dr. Alan Castillo of ERDB-DENR for their Manual of Procedure for Geospatial-Based Bamboo Resources.

SERD’s Senior Science Research Specialist Mia Barbara DV. Aranas facilitated the workshop. After the discussions on the two inventory protocols, the participants designed and agreed on an approach to harmonize the two bamboo inventory systems of the country. This includes data and information to be gathered, accuracy target, and steps in remote sensing and mapping. Communities will be engaged to ensure the sustainability, community ownership, and timeliness of bamboo inventory information. 

Participants during the workshop on harmonization of bamboo inventory system (Image Credit: Socio-Economic Research Division, DOST-PCAARRD)

The agencies present expressed their interest in collaborating for capacity development activities

Moving forward, UPLB and DENR committed to use the harmonized protocol in developing the country’s bamboo inventory system. These agencies envision a comprehensive and accurate bamboo resource inventory and mapping for each region to maximize the potential of the Philippine bamboo industry. (Angelika Jean O. Artates and Malen Maree A. Horigue, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service)

Cyprus, Dubai, Los Cabos, South Carolina and Thailand lauded in 2023 IAGTO Awards

In the 22nd annual IAGTO Awards, five very different golf destinations – Cyprus, Dubai, Los Cabos, South Carolina and Thailand – have each been proclaimed as Golf Destination of the Year for 2023.

Established in 2000 and recognised as the most prestigious awards in the global golf tourism industry, the 2023 edition of the IAGTO Awards celebrates not only these five golf destinations, but also the outstanding service provided by 60 golf resorts, golf courses, hotels, receptive operators and tourist boards in 22 countries. This year, members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) across five continents were invited to vote for destinations and businesses that delivered a great experience for golf travellers in 2022.

IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said “IAGTO golf tour operators handle 90% of international golf vacation sales worldwide, so they are in a great position to assess the performance of golf destinations and the service provided by industry partners, through the experience of their customers. We currently have 669 golf tour operators in 61 countries which explains the geographical diversity of this year’s Awards recipients.

“It’s great to see relatively small golf destinations such as Cyprus, Dubai and Los Cabos in the mix with the established giants of South Carolina and Thailand. Recipients of our Outstanding Service Award include the renowned golf resorts of Adare Manor, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Casa de Campo, Fancourt and SO/ Sotogrande Resort, alongside the relative newcomers of Vattanac Golf Resort in Cambodia, Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam and the Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in Portugal.

“There are also names likely unfamiliar to golfers themselves, as the Awards also recognise specialist golf receptive operators, such as PAGS in Portugal and Desert Gate Tourism in the United Arab Emirates which organise the ground arrangements for international golf tour operators. Lesser-known winners include El Gouna Golf Club on Egypt’s Red Sea coast and Heritage Hotels in Kenya. 

“Finally, hats off to the tourist boards who did such a great job supporting the golf tourism industry last year, including Cadiz Tourism in Spain’s Andalucía region, Florida’s First Coast of Golf in north east Florida and England’s Golf Coast, in the country’s north west, among others.”

A full list of winners is published at www.iagto.com/Awards 

The annual IAGTO Awards are voted for by IAGTO’s specialist golf tour operator members. For the 2023 Awards, each was asked to vote for what they considered to be the destinations and businesses that delivered a great experience for golf travellers in 2022, with the top five destinations named Golf Destination of the Year winners and 60 golf tourism industry service providers honoured with Outstanding Service awards.

About IAGTO

Established in 1997, IAGTO is the global trade organisation of the golf tourism industry, and has 2400 members in over 90 countries including almost 700 golf tour operator members in 61 countries, which control more than 90% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide and which collectively have annual sales of over €2.5 billion. IAGTO runs annual Asia, Europe and North America Golf Tourism Conventions, along with regular Destination Conventions. IAGTO established the International Golf Travel Writers Association in 2000, the year in which the first prestigious annual IAGTO Awards also took place.

Class, Nation, and Social Revolution in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Class, Nation, and Social Revolution in Indonesia and the Philippines, by Dr. Max Lane, on 10 March 2023, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, UP CIDS Conference Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is first-come, first-served. Pre-registration is encouraged.

ABSTRACT

In advanced industrial societies, the conception of an anti-capitalist social revolution has always been understood as a process whereby the proletarian class created and grown by industrialisation will organise politically and overthrow the capitalist class and seize from them both the commanding heights of the economy as well as establish a new state power. As we move into the 21st Century, it has become clear that ability to “constantly revolutionise the means of production” and this industrialise the whole economy and society remains monopolised by the tiny handful of imperialist states – “the West” and Japan.

While a few large Third World countries – in particular China – have made massive strides over the last 75 years, they too remain contained, though they now actively challenge that containment. In other smaller Global South countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, there is virtually no process of industrialisation, with just tiny pockets of law level manufacture and assembly. This situation constrains the development of a modern proletariat, both in size and consciousness. Formal education systems are not constructed for an industrialising society. Education through the experience of exposure to industry and a society which itself is industrialisation is also weak, or not present at all. Among the stunted capitalist class, the scale of capital accumulation is negligible and dependent on rent.

Anti-capitalist political struggle in “the West”, especially socialist struggle, was underpinned by an industrialising society coming after the scientific and bourgeois revolutions.  The great 19th century socialists, such as Marx, were building upon the revolution in culture that had already seriously began. In Indonesia and the Philippines, although to different degrees and in their own way, face the challenge of developing an anti-capitalist process of transformation without either an industrializing society, with the capacity to produce abundance, or a completed national and cultural revolution. There is much more to an uncompleted national (democratic) revolution than the land question, as crucial as it also is. The modern working class is miniscule, while the informal proletariat and rural working masses are the majority.

If a national revolution is unfinished, what forces can be the agency for completing it? Is completing such a national and cultural revolution possible in this era without a simultaneous social revolution? What is the relationship between class and nation as agency for transformational change?

SPEAKER and REACTOR

Max Lane is a scholar-activist and expert on Indonesian politics and society. The translator into English of Praemodya Ananta Toer’s Buru Quartet, he is Visiting Senior Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. Max Lane is also the author of, among other books, The Urban Mass Movement in the Philippines 1983-1987 (1990) and Indonesia Out of Exile How Pramoedya’s Buru Quartet Killed a Dictatorship (forthcoming 2023).

Joel Rocamora (the reactor) is former Executive Director, Institute for Popular Democracy. He is the author Nationalism in Search of Ideology: The Indonesian Nationalist Party, 1946-1965.

ABOUT

The event is part of the UP World Experts Lecture Series, and organized by the Program on Alternative Development (AltDev), Center for Integrative and Development Studies, University of the Philippines; and the UP Office of International Linkages.

The Program on Alternative Development (AltDev) aims to look at paradigms, policies, practices, and projects that are largely marginalized and excluded from the mainstream. The program aims to bring these alternatives out of the margins and into the mainstream to level the playing field so that they may be regarded on an equal footing with dominant discourses and thus offer alternatives to the existing system. Recently, AltDev published the conference proceedings, “Advancing and Realizing Alternative Regionalism: Southeast Asian Peoples’ Solidarity and Resistance in COVID-19 Times.”