Lakbay Museo’s Museum Prince Bagged Three Awards

Lakbay Museo PH has been circulating around the social media for a year now, because aside from it promoting the culture and heritage of the Philippines, it was conceptualized and created by the one and only, Museum Prince of the Philippines, Lawrence Li Tan. 

Museum Prince Lawrence Li Tan 

He took home three awards during the Asia Leaders Award event held in Makati Shangri-La Hotel last November 20, 2020. The Museum Prince was recognized as the Young Leader of the Year for three years in a row, Tourism Excellence Award, and Innovative Businessman of the Year by TAG MEDIA.

Leadership and businesses were put to test this 2020, but in his case, he positively turned this into an opportunity to develop his and his team’s skills.  Strategically, he was able to secure his employees a “Pangkabuhayan Start Up Package” help during the lockdown and gave them an opportunity to earn money by being new entrepreneurs since this pandemic lasted longer than expected.  Mr. Tan believes that this pandemic should be treated as an additional time given to us to explore our capabilities as entrepreneurs and to help develop more young leaders for a better future.

Museum Prince with The Millennial Concept Factory Inc. Team: Marky Queaño - Corporate Operations Manager, Museum Prince Lawrence “Lance” Li Tan, Robert Lim Francisco – Director, Yzl Cruz – Vice President, Mark Ruell Pacumio Papa – Museum Manager, Wenfred De Guzman – Director for PR and Media Affairs of JCI Makati.

He dedicated his awards to Frontliners for the remarkable sacrifice they did for our country. He also thanked and honored people who empowered and trusted him in his endeavors and during these trying times.

Philippines Dominates ASEAN Business Awards 2020; Bags 13 out of 53 Awards

Under the leadership of ASEAN BAC Philippines Chair Joey Concepcion, Philippine companies clinched 13 out of 53 awards in the 2020 ASEAN Business Awards to account for the largest number of awardees from a single country.  

After taking the helm of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council in 2017, Concepcion ensured that the Philippines is well-represented in ABAC’s regional events and activities.  

Of the 98 verified submissions from the Philippines, 12 finalists made it to the shortlist. Together with one nominated winner from ACCMSME, the 13 winners from the Philippines all received recognition at the ASEAN level. 

“I am pleasantly surprised by the turnout indicating the strong interest of the business community to participate in the awards. ABA is an excellent platform to bring local companies up to a regional standard, increase their competitiveness, and strengthen cross-border collaboration,” said Concepcion.  

Potato Corner led by Jose Magsaysay Jr. took home the SME Excellence - Growth award. Motorline Trading, Inc. led by Gerald Tactay, 3D Container & Packaging Philippines Corporation led by Jaie Flores Ador, and Titan Barong of Lumban led by Lumban John Titan won SME Excellence - Employment. 

Stylist in Pocket Technologies, Inc. led by Sheree Roxas Chua-Gotuaco bagged the SME Excellence - Innovation award, while Foodsphere, Inc. led by Jerome Ong clinched the Family Business Award. The Inclusive Business, Knowledge Partner - ACCMSME award went to Halo-Halo de Iloko which is led by Xavier Mercado. 

Wellmade Motors and Development Corporation led by Dr. Philip Tan took home two awards: SME Excellence - CSR and Family Business Awards.

Rossana Ladaga-Llenado of AHEAD Learning Systems, Inc. took home the Woman Entrepreneur award. 

This year, the ABA judging panel launched a new award category, Combating Covid-19, to honor outstanding ASEAN businesses and enterprises that have contributed to the prevention of the pandemic. Three companies from the Philippines were among the ten awardees: Multisys Technologies Corporation led by David Almirol Jr., PayMaya Philippines led by Orlando Vea, and the Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative led by Oscar Adversalo. 

Launched in 2007 by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the annual ASEAN Business Awards seeks to honor the most outstanding and successful ASEAN companies and entrepreneurs that have made significant contributions to the regional economy. 

The Philippines has a consistently strong showing in ABA. From 2017-2019, there were 30 winners, 13 finalists, and over a hundred entries that showed Filipino ingenuity and talent on the regional stage. 

The judging panel was led by Mdme. Nguyen Thi Nga, Chairwoman of the BRG Group and the ABA 2020. Dr. Samie Lim, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Retailers Association and former chair of the Asian Retailers Conference & Expo was the Philippine judge. 

The awards ceremony was held on November 13 from 7:30PM -9:45PM (Manila time) at the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel in Vietnam, adjacent to the 2020 ASEAN Business & Investment Summit. The event was live streamed online at the official ABA social media channels.

Butuan, Agusan del Norte products showcased in DTI’s virtual Christmas fair

BUTUAN CITY – Christmas season started early here as the Department of Trade and Industry launched on November 18 a month-long Christmas bazaar trade fair showcasing locally-made products by micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) of this city and Agusan del Norte.  

 

Dubbed as Produkto Ipasigarbo sa Tabuan sa Agusan-Butuan (PISTA), this initiative by DTI Agusan del Norte is the new normal version of conducting trade fairs, wherein the traditional course is incorporated with the use of online platforms and delivery services, still with the same end goal to provide marketing outlet to the MSMEs. 

 

The virtual launching which took place at DTI-ADN parking grounds was virtually graced by Regional Director Edwin O. Banquerigo who extended his congratulations to DTI Agusan del Norte for mounting the Christmas Bazaar.  

 

“This event is not just conceptualized in our head, this activity was done as a result when the mind and our hearts would work together. This Bazaar is all about helping people," Banquerigo said in his message of support. 

 

Assistant Regional Director Gay A. Tidalgo, alongside DTI Provincial Director Brenda B. Corvera, did the cutting of ribbon, which officially marked the grand opening of PISTA Christmas Bazaar. 

 

“I hope and pray that this event we are holding right now will generate more than enough sales for our MSMEs,” Tidalgo said. 

 

Corvera, in her welcome message, underscored that the said trade fair was designed to provide more marketing outlets to the local producers and help them generate sales while being mindful to meet quarantine protocols and to meet new normal requirements.  

 

She also encouraged the public to help these local producers, who in one way or another, showed resiliency, tenacity and strong entrepreneurial spirit during the worldwide health crisis.  

Eighty-one registered MSMEs across Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, with one hundred fourteen (114) combined number of products, participated in the said Trade Fair. 

 

PISTA is set to run until December 15 with GoFetch Express as its official delivery partner. The delivery services only cover Butuan City while the buyers outside the city may visit the eight trade fair posts in Negosyo Center (NC) Carmen, NC Nasipit, NC Buenavista, NC Las Nieves, NC Cabadbaran, NC Tubay, Brgy. Marcos Public Terminal in Magallanes, and Jabonga Sangguniang Bayan Sessional Hall Lobby. 

 

To order local products, buyers may transact through PISTA’s official Facebook page:  

https://www.facebook.com/DTIAdNTradeFair/

UN names PH health research council Director Jaime Montoya as one of 15 scientists to author 2023 Global SDG Report

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD)  as one of the 15 eminent scientists to draft the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) in a UN official announcement yesterday in New York City.

Produced once every four years, the SDG report aims to employ the scientific perspective in guiding policymakers on the state of global sustainable development, and serve as a ‘strong evidence-based instrument’ in eradicating poverty. The said report will also feed the ‘high-level global review” of the 2030 Agenda at the United Nations in September 2030.

The designation of the independent group followed an extensive consultation process that involved nominations from UN member states which concluded in December 2019. The 15 scientists were selected by UN Sec-Gen Guterres to author the GSDR and conduct a follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for SDGs. 

 

“We are honored to be selected as part of the distinguished experts to author a very significant report on the global SDGs. Being a health research scientist in the Philippines, a developing country, enables us to contribute unique and substantial information that is relevant to sustainable development.  It is without a doubt that I assure our UN member states and our fellow Filipinos that our efforts will always be directed towards the benefit of all through science and technology,” said Dr. Montoya.

The “diverse group,” according to the UN, represents a wide range of disciplines and are composed of the following scientists: John Agard (Trinidad and Tobago), Kaltham Ali Al-Ghanim (Qatar), Sergey N. Bobylev (Russian Federation), Opha Pauline Dube, (Botswana), Ibrahima Hathie (Senegal), Norichika Kanie (Japan), Nyovani Janet Madise (Malawi), Shirin Malekpour (Australia), J. Jaime Miranda (Peru), Jaime C Montoya (Philippines), Jiahua Pan (China), Åsa Persson (Sweden), Ambuj D Sagar (India), Imme Scholz (Germany), Nancy Shackell (Canada).

Led by Dr. Agard and Dr. Scholz, the independent group will author the second report of its kind. The first GSDR has been released in September of 2019 entitled “The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development.”

As the country’s lead coordinator for health research and development initiatives, PCHRD supports Filipino researchers in health research innovation, policy recommendations, and technology commercialization, provides scholarships to Filipino students in the field of health and medicine, and establishes information and communication systems to disseminate health research information both for local and international stakeholders. PCHRD is also at the forefront of the country’s fight against the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Filipino Chinese Community helps Marikina typhoon victims

The Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF) on Nov. 18 Wednesday 10 am morning sent thousands of emergency food and other relief packs to typhoon victims of Marikina City in cooperation with Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Congressman Bayani F. Fernando and Congresswoman Stella Luz A. Quimbo in a ceremony held at Marikina Sports Center; also to Bicol region in Albay and Catanduanes provinces in cooperation with GMA Kapuso Foundation and Philippine Coast Guard; Cagayan and Isabela provinces in northern Luzon; and Bulacan in southern Luzon.  

During this Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the 11 organizations of Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF) raised P300 million pesos to give free rice sacks, surgical and N95 face masks, PPE suits, surgical gloves, safety goggles, alcohol, thermal scanners, ventilators, Vitamin C, Hapee toothpastes, and other items to more than 600 barangays, 300 hospitals, provinces, cities and municipalities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Among the partners of FCCCF were GMA Kapuso Foundation and ABS CBN for distribution of food relief packs to urban poor families of Metro Manila in lockdown.

The Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund relief drive is spearheaded by FFCCCII; FFCCCII Foundation; Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines; Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines; Filipino-Chinese Amity Club; World News Daily; Filipino-Chinese Shin Lian Association, Inc.; Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation; Philippine Jin Jiang Shen Fu Zhen Association, Inc.; and World Fujian Youth Federation of the Philippines, Inc.

Officials of 11 major Filipino Chinese business, civic and other organizations behind FCCCF led by Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines President Yang Hua Hong, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines President Anson Tan and others turned over thousands of food relief bags for Catanduanes typhoon victims to partners GMA Kapuso Foundation led by EVP and Chief Operating Officer Rikki Escudero-Catibog and the Philippine Coast Guard led by Commodore Armand Balilo.

An earlier batch of food relief packs was dispatched to typhoon victims of Albay province in coordination with FFCCCII Board member for Bicol region Antonio S. Tan. The late philanthropist and FFCCCII Honorary President Dr. Robin C. Sy grew up in Oas, Albay.

Filipino startup recognized in addressing SDG's using space tech

MANILA, Philippines -- A Filipino startup is recognized globally in developing a dengue hotspot prediction system using satellite and climate data in the 2020 Group on Earth Observations Sustainable Development Goals (GEO SDG) Awards for the Sectoral category, For-Profit. The GEO SDG Awards recognize the productivity, ingenuity, proficiency, novelty, and exemplary communications of results and experiences in the use of Earth observations to support sustainable development.

CirroLytix Research Services was formed to create social impact through big data. Through the application of machine learning, data engineering, remote sensing, and social listening, the Philippines-based data analytics firm hopes to help governments, researchers, non-government organizations (NGO), and social enterprises achieve positive change. The Advanced Early Dengue Prediction and Exploration Service (Project AEDES) is one of the CirroLytix’s flagship projects developed during the 2019 National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) International Space Apps Challenge. It combines digital, climate, and remote sensing to nowcast dengue trends and detect mosquito habitats to help pre-empt cases of dengue. Project AEDES process leverages normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), and normalized difference water index (NDWI) readings from Landsat and Sentinel-2 to estimate still water areas on the ground, which is correlated with dengue case counts from national health centers.

The Advanced Early Dengue Prediction and Exploration Service (Project AEDES) combines digital, climate, and remote sensing to nowcast dengue trends and detect mosquito habitats to help pre-empt cases of dengue.

Dominic Vincent "Doc" Ligot, co-founder and chief technology officer of CirroLytix, describes Project AEDES as an "early detection of panics from online searches, anticipating case counts from environment readings, but most importantly pinpointing hotspots from mosquito habitat detection."

The Pinoy-made dengue mapper tool won the annual international hackathon of NASA globally in the best use of data, the solution that best makes space data accessible, or leverages it to a unique application. Aside from winning last year, CirroLytix also developed an integrated public policy information portal measuring the impact of the coronavirus pandemic using Earth observation, in-country economic and human mobility data, and global infection case counts, thus winning again in the Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge for the same category in the best use of data. Named G.I.D.E.O.N. (Global Impact Detection from Emitted Light, Onset of COVID-19, and Nitrogen Dioxide), this dashboard for policy makers and economic planners shows the impact of COVID-19 on various countries and effects on the economy and environment.

With these achievements, Cirrolytix is recognized in their remarkable efforts to utilize Earth observation data to predict dengue fever cases in the Philippines in order to improve public health.

"I am glad that the GEO SDG Awards Panel has selected CirroLytix for an award, recognizing the importance of this work in developing an EO-integrated dengue case predictor mapping system," according to Dr. Argyro Kavvada, lead for Sustainable Development Goals of the Earth Science Division, NASA's Science Mission Directorate and executive secretary of the international Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG).

"These awards really could stand as an inspiration to all of us about what can be done, and what needs to be done to ensure that Earth-observations contribute to make our world a better, and more sustainable place," said Lawrence Friedl director of the Applied Sciences Program of the Earth Science Division, NASA's Science Mission Directorate and co-chair of EO4SDG.

2020 GEO SDG Awardees together with Dominic Vincent "Doc" Ligot, co-founder and chief technology officer of CirroLytix

The Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Dr. Rafaelita "Fita" M. Aldaba heartfeltly congratulates CirroLytix. "It's indeed a blessing amid this pandemic and economic crisis that we are currently faced with," she said.

The award-winning startup continues to update the AEDES framework to include socio-economic risk mapping to turn it into a health and environmental policy tool. Aside from dengue, the company also supports COVID-19 modeling and response initiatives with the public health sector. CirroLytix’s current involvements include public health, human rights, fighting disinformation, education and food security.

The Space Apps lead organizer in the Philippines Michael Lance M. Domagas appeals support for these Filipino winners. "How many times should these Filipino innovators and achievers need to win before being recognized and appreciated by our own country? To be recognized by not just one, but five space agencies is something has not yet been achieved by Filipinos, how much more of a multitude of countries and nations supporting the sustainable development goals of the United Nations?" He added that "The dengue epidemic and the COVID-19 is a real threat to the Philippine society right now, endangering health, well-being, livelihood, and most especially businesses and the national economy. If we could only learn how to give value to science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM), the possibilities are endless. Our Filipino winners of Space Apps and GEO SDG Awards have taught us on how these space technologies greatly help in addressing epidemics and economic impact of COVID-19, its time to give them recognition and respect because they are Filipinos like us." Winners shall be invited to visit NASA once travel is deemed safe, but unfortunately, travel, meals and incidental expenses, and accommodation expenses are not provided.

On the other hand, Cirrolytix encourages the use of data in addressing social problems and issues surrounding the Bangsamoro region. Together with the Asia Foundation and Data Ethics PH, the online Bangsamoro Data Challenge invites ages 15 years old and above to develop data-driven solutions in helping the region. Deadline for registration is on Saturday 11:59pm, November 21, 2020 at https://barmm.opendata.org.ph/

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is a partnership of more than 100 national governments and in excess of 100 participating organizations that envisions a future where decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.

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About 2020 GEO SDG Awards

The 2020 Group on Earth Observations Sustainable Development Goals (GEO SDG) awards program, in its second year, is led by the international Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) initiative and recognizes excellence in sustainable development practices, analysis and reporting through the use of Earth observations. The awards honour productivity, ingenuity, proficiency, novelty, and exemplary communications of results and experiences in the use of Earth observations for the Sustainable Development Goals.

About Group on Earth Observations

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is a partnership of more than 100 national governments and in excess of 100 participating organizations that envisions a future where decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.

About Space Apps

Now in its 9th year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) International Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others around the world, where teams engage with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Space Apps 2019 included over 29,000 participants in 71 countries. In May 2020, the virtual-only Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge concluded with over 15,000 participants from 150 countries. Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program.

About CirroLytix

CirroLytix Research Services is a social impact data analytics company. Their mission is to help governments, non-profits, researchers, international and local organizations succeed at addressing collective social problems around the world by harnessing the full power of their data. The ultimate contribution to society is in enabling social impact professionals and entities make positive data-driven change on the lives they seek to uplift.

#GEOAwards #GEOWeek2020 #EO4SDG #SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH

Filipino Chinese Community helps Bicol with GMA 7 & Coast Guards

The Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF) recently sent thousands of emergency food and other relief packs to typhoon victims of Bicol region, especially to Albay and Catanduanes provinces.

 

Officials of 11 major Filipino Chinese business, civic and other organizations behind FCCCF led by Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines President Yang Hua Hong, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines President Anson Tan and others turned over thousands of food relief bags for Catanduanes typhoon victims to partners GMA Kapuso Foundation led by EVP and Chief Operating Officer Rikki Escudero-Catibog and the Philippine Coast Guard led by Commodore Armand Balilo.

An earlier batch of food relief packs was dispatched to typhoon victims of Albay province in coordination with FFCCCII Board member for Bicol region Antonio S. Tan. The late philanthropist and FFCCCII Honorary President Dr. Robin C. Sy grew up in Oas, Albay.

 

During this Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the 11 organizations of Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF) raised P300 million pesos to give free rice sacks, surgical and N95 face masks, PPE suits, surgical gloves, safety goggles, alcohol, thermal scanners, ventilators, Vitamin C, Hapee toothpastes, and other items to more than 600 barangays, 300 hospitals, provinces, cities and municipalities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Among the partners of FCCCF were GMA Kapuso Foundation and ABS CBN for distribution of food relief packs to urban poor families of Metro Manila in lockdown.

 

The Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund relief drive is spearheaded by FFCCCII; FFCCCII Foundation; Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines; Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines; Filipino-Chinese Amity Club; World News Daily; Filipino-Chinese Shin Lian Association, Inc.; Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation; Philippine Jin Jiang Shen Fu Zhen Association, Inc.; and World Fujian Youth Federation of the Philippines, Inc.

Visit here: FFCCCI

#FCCCF

#PandesalForum