DARK OR WHITE, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

Beauty should never have been one or the other, as claimed by SkinWhite in their new

campaign.

Dark Skin versus White Skin. Does it really matter? Does one always have to be superior over the other? SkinWhite is saying otherwise.

One would wonder why a skin whitening brand such as SkinWhite would dare to say that dark skin is beautiful. “It’s all about choice”, says Rachelle Layda, Marketing Manager for Whitening of Splash Corporation. “SkinWhite is a brand that empowers women to choose. A choice to define their own standard of beauty. If you choose to have dark skin, you are beautiful. If you choose to have white skin, you are just as beautiful. The choice is yours, and SkinWhite respects that choice”.

This inclusivity is refreshing and speak volumes, especially at a time when shaming and bullying is prevalent across social media. Bashers and haters abound online with no agenda but to shame in all forms and ways – body-shaming, hair-shaming, race-shaming, gender-shaming, and yes, also skin-shaming. “This is precisely the stigma that we wish to change. Skin color should not be about one being better than the other”, adds Pam Sulit, Splash Corporation’s VP for Marketing.

“White and dark are both beautiful.” confirms Rachel Villanueva, Creative Director of Petch & Partners, the creative agency that created this campaign for SkinWhite. She continues, “It’s about time that dark skin and white skin get the same adoration and acknowledgment.”

There has never been an outright claim that DARK IS BEAUTIFUL. And for the statement to come from a skin whitening brand, it should be easy for others to follow suit. And for those who choose that WHITE IS BEAUTIFUL, there’s due acknowledgement that they’re simply taking control of their beauty too. And why not? Wear your skin, whichever way you choose. Because DARK OR WHITE, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

                Watch the new SkinWhite ad at below
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch
                v=RWN9FAZhlO0&feature=youtu.be

The Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival Rises to Even Greater Heights

Just the mere mention of the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark Global City brings to mindthe eye-popping visual of larger-than-life gathering of hot air balloons in all shapes andsizes from all over the world. 

The sky is dotted with giant animals, happy faces, and other improbable flying objectsalongside the classic striped hot air balloons. That moment when they all rise up to thesky in the sunrise is one of the most IG-worthy moments we’ll see all year.  

Present at the press launch of the are Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival are (L-R) Serafin Tolentino, Safety Officer; Noel Castro, Consultant; Wilfredo Placino, Vice Chairman and President of Global Gateway Development Corp.; Bernie Bituin, Launch Master; and Joel Santos, Balloon Crew Chief.

This year’s Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival on April 12 to14 promises tobe even  bigger,  bolder, busier, and better.  The event boasts of   a  bigger and moreaccessible venue at Clark Global City—a thriving hub of industry and commerce thatyou can literally get to by air, land, and sea.  This event brings people from all walks of life together. Around  50,000 to 70,000 peopleare expected to come that weekend, from families with young children, teens, students,tourists, to various groups such as motoring clubs, foodies and travel enthusiasts, evenreal estate groups, and government officials.  A jam-packed weekend There will be balloon rides, of course, but the festival also has activities on the groundwhile   people  wait   for   their   turn   on   a   balloon,   and   for   those  who   prefer   to   stayearthbound. 

The 2019 Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival set on April 12 to14, within the Clark Global City grounds, promises to be bigger, bolder, busier, and better. 

There are over a hundred of food and shopping choices. There are funactivities for kids and families such as inflatable attractions and slides, shows for kids with their favorite cartoon characters. The country’s hottest music acts, along with the best of Pampanga’s bands will take the stage every night over the weekend with the country’s hottest acts-- ▪Slapshock on Friday, ▪Kamikazee on Saturday and ▪ Ely Buendia, Hale, and Unique Salonga on Sunday. Car   and  motorsport  enthusiasts   will   gather  together   for  several  major   events   thatinclude  the  National   Drift  Championship, Slalom  Racing, Philippine  Auto  Cross Championship Series, Philippine Rally Cross Series and Motorcycle Stunt Show. We’ll also be witnessing groups dancing and grooving to the beat this summer as 20 dance groups from different cities compete on April 13, 2019.

The Frontrow International  Hot Air  Balloon Festival will  be a feast  for all  the sensesand a weekend that you wouldn’t want to miss. 

The Frontrow International   Hot  Air  Balloon Festival  hosted  by  Clark  Global  City,  co-presented  by   SM  City  Clark,  powered  by   Phoenix  Pulse  Technology,  supported   by Dickies and The Medical City Clark. 

For   more   information   on   the   event,   follow   us  on  (Facebook,   Twitter   and   IG)

@clarkglobalcityhabf. 

Rejuvenate the Skin Around the Eyes Through Nu Skin’s ageLOC LumiSpa

Nu Skin’s ageLOC LumiSpa’s  exclusive skin movement technology now works as a targeted treatment for the eye area 

 

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. today announced the Philippine launch of ageLOC LumiSpa Accent and ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes, a new targeted treatment that harnesses the power of ageLOC LumiSpa to rejuvenate skin around the eyes.  

Targeted Focus

Paired with ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes, the multitasking ageLOC LumiSpa Accent uses an oscillating motion to gently exfoliate the skin around the eyes while delivering key ingredients to promote brighter, fresher eyes. Together, the system delivers several benefits.  

ageLOC LumiSpa Accent:  

• Gently massages active ingredients into the skin for enhanced efficacy 

• Increases the appearance of skin volume and density around eyes 

• Promotes the appearance of stronger, healthier skin while refining fine lines and wrinkles 

• Spot treatment head uses the softest silicone available 

• Spot treatment head is embedded with antimicrobial silver which makes cleaning as easy as possible and helps keep the silicone tips hygienic 

ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes:  

• Fresher, brighter, hydrated skin around the eyes 

• Softens, smooths and instantly hydrates skin while promoting radiance 

• Eyes look awake and refreshed while minimizing the look of tired, stressed skin • Reduces appearance of dark circles 

• Visibly reduces puffy eyes and under-eye bags 

• Helps to visibly lift and firm the eyelids 

• Helps improve skin texture and tighten skin around the eyes 

 

Science-based Development 

ageLOC LumiSpa Accent and ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes were inspired by the multi-functionality and the patented Micropulse Oscillation technology of ageLOC LumiSpa paired with the treatment cleansers. The ageLOC LumiSpa Accent tip, made from the gentlest silicone available, has a unique topography with offset peaks and troughs and oscillates back and forth to precisely move skin without overstimulating it. Like ageLOC LumiSpa treatment heads, the ageLOC LumiSpa Accent tip is also  designed to gently exfoliate skin and is embedded with anti-microbial silver, which is more hygienic than other topical devices used on skin. Nu Skin conducted several preliminary studies that revealed that individuals who used the ageLOC LumiSpa Accent product pairing experienced improvements in reduced appearance of puffiness, eye bags, fine lines and wrinkles.  

“We’ve developed a topical formula that not only provides the correct cushioning and interaction between the surface and the skin, but also provides some key ingredients for this area,” said Dr. Joseph Chang, Chief Scientific Officer.

“The eye area’s unique characteristics make it a perfect candidate for this targeted treatment. It’s never too early to start caring for this area and keep your eyes looking glowing and healthy.”  ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes System 

The ageLOC LumiSpa system includes: 

• The ageLOC LumiSpa Accent attachment: ageLOC LumiSpa Accent is a waterproof attachment head specifically designed to fit on the ageLOC LumiSpa handheld device. ageLOC LumiSpa treatment heads move at the precise frequency, validated by clinical studies, to promote skin renewal for a healthy and refreshed appearance.  

• Silicone Treatment Head: ageLOC LumiSpa Accent features one treatment head made of the softest silicone available and is embedded with anti-microbial silver.  

• ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes: the ageLOC LumiSpa Accent optimizes the effectiveness of this potent eye cream by enabling gentle interaction with the skin. ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes contains Nu Skin’s proprietary ageLOC ingredient blend that is designed to maintain healthy, bright, youthful looking skin. 

The treatment also contains popular, effective ingredients including:  

o A peptide complex to help visibly firm and tone skin. 

o Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (a form of vitamin C) to help protect against free radical damage and brighten the eye area. 

o Plankton extract to help decrease the appearance of pigmentation in the undereye area and tone the eye area.  

o Squalene to help prevent moisture loss and restore skin’s flexibility.  

o An antioxidant complex to protect skin against daily environmental stress.  

o Caffeine visibly reduces puffy eyes and under-eye bags o Ophthalmologist tested 

Availability  

The ageLOC® LumiSpa Accent Launch kit includes the ageLOC LumiSpa device with Normal Surface Head, ageLOC LumiSpa Cleanser, ageLOC LumiSpa Accent with silicone head, ageLOC LumiSpa  IdealEyes, and a quick start guide. It will be available on 13 March 2019 with a retail price of PHP 20,000. 

For more information, please visit www.nuskin.com.ph

Financial Inclusion Leaders Inaugurate first Oradian Community Summit

Leaders from over 30 visionary financial institutions gathered at the New World Hotel in Makati for Oradian’s first Community Summit to share experiences, know-how and global best practices in financial inclusion. More than 80 representatives of these financial institutions engaged in knowledge-sharing as well as celebrating their recent growth.
Driven by a shared vision, members of the Oradian Community provide individuals with access to financial services in the most remote areas of the Philippines. These institutions deliver financial services through Oradian’s platform Instafin, a cloud-based core banking system that enables efficiency and growth.

The summit emphasized the digital transformation journey that Oradian offers and included an interactive knowledge building session with attending members. The Oradian journey enables financial institutions to quickly go digital, reducing the need for costly manual processes and time-consuming administration, while building internal capability with hands-on training.

“For us, customer success means ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes using Oradian’s platform and services. Additionally, we empower financial institutions with methodology, knowledge and best practices to ensure the success of onboarding them to our platform. During the entire journey with our customers, we aim to predict changes in their environment by analyzing their business needs and to offer services that help them achieve their strategic goals.” commented Ivana Tomisic, Oradian’s Head of Global Account Management and Customer Support Lead.

At the summit, Oradian officially launched two of its recently designed Additional Services: the Instafin Field Officer App and Instafin Messaging. Oradian’s Field Officer App is built specifically for the needs of financial institutions’ field officers who travel to hard-to-reach areas to provide financial services. Instafin Messaging enables financial institutions to send messages directly and automatically to their clients detailing their account activity, which has been found to lead to stronger loan portfolio performance as a result of better relationship engagement with clients.

“Cloud banking is fast-tracking our ability to provide more financial services to underserved individuals. Our business has seen outstanding results, the main benefits being our increasing operational efficiency and the quality of our data. With Oradian’s Additional Services, our field officers save 70% of the time they used to spend collecting data manually. Since partnering with Oradian, we have been able to focus our resources on developing our core business.” stated Estrella Andres, Vice President of ASHI, who presented ASHI’s success story at the summit.

Earlier in February, Cantilan Bank, whose representatives also participated at Oradian’s Community Summit, became the Philippines’ first financial institution regulated by the Bangko Sentral NG Pilipinas (BSP) to leverage Oradian’s cloud banking system. Cantilan Bank’s pioneering of cloud-based technology was supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The successful partnership serves as a prime example for all participating financial institutions striving toward boosting financial inclusion and strengthening the community.

Within three years in the Philippines, Oradian has built a community of more than 45 visionary financial institutions in the Philippines who are embracing technology to reach the country’s bold financial inclusion targets and expand their client bases.

Antonio Separovic, Co-founder and CEO of Oradian: “Since our start, our vision has been to go beyond offering software. In executing this vision, we have grown side by side with many of you through strategic projects, ongoing community partnerships and truly delivering financial inclusion. 

In only four years, through our pioneering efforts, Oradian has established a dominant position in the market. Now, we are proud to be the first to provide cloud technology for a regulated bank in the Philippines. Together, we have grown rapidly and achieved outstanding results and we will leverage this success to continue increasing financial inclusion with our partners. Thank you for being part of the community.”

With a fully engaged audience of financial inclusion leaders, Oradian’s Community Summit enabled unprecedented knowledge sharing that will bring global best practices to underserved communities throughout rural provinces.

Cebuana Lhuillier Alternative Learning System : ALS like no other

Since the renaming of PJ Lhuillier Foundation into the Cebuana Lhuillier foundation, it has since made education accessible to those who need it through donation of classrooms, learning centers, conference rooms, and buildings to be utilized for furthering learning for those who need and want it.

For many years now, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI) has consistently administered poverty-alleviation measures to the underserved and disadvantaged individuals and sectors nationwide. Following the personal philosophy of its President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier which is to “Always Love Schooling”, part of CLFI’s major thrust in education is the  implementation of the Alternative Learning System or ALS along with three other initiatives that emphasize further the value of education; Nationwide Scholarship Program, Spiritual and Social Enhancement Program, and Special Projects on Education.

“The foundation has always espoused the company’s and my personal advocacy of continuing the pursuit of learning, I am more than elated to see this advocacy into fruition through the foundation’s many extensive efforts on education.” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Jean Henri Lhuillier,

 Cebuana Lhuillier’s President and CEO 

Stands in the hallway of the newly constructed Northern Tacloban City National High School Sports building in 2016. 

The ALS program was established in 2013 in cooperation with the Department of Education, the program aims to provide out-of-school youth and adults with Academic, Livelihood, Spiritual and Social Education in the elementary and secondary levels. Cebuana Lhuillier’s ALS program differs from the usual ALS offered because it incorporates the five functional fields of knowledge or FILDS which stand for Financial Literacy, ICT Competitiveness, Livelihood, Disaster Resilience, and Sports Development and as of the last quarter of 2018, CLFI has already opened 79 ALS centers.

Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc., puts prime on equipping ALS students with the financial literacy as it is a company that puts forward the advocacy of financial inclusion for all Filipinos. The ALS program also conducts livelihood trainings in the field of hospitality management for students who need training in the said field.

More so, CLFI ensures that its ALS centers are up-to-date with the latest equipment. Through the years, CLFI has given its centers with laptops, projectors with screens, printers, USBs, and has cared for the reproduction of modules and reviewers used by the students.

CLFI also provides buildings in support for its ALS programs among the classrooms, centers and halls donated by Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation is the Ambassador PJ Lhuillier Lecture Room at the University of the Philippines Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business which serves as a classroom for the degree program’s students. Another is the Ambassador Philippe Jones Lhuillier Conference Room at the De La Salle University in Manila where workshops, meetings, community engagement get-togethers, and symposiums are being held regularly. Also made available to students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines is the PUP-CLFI E-learning center worth 2 million pesos which houses 21 desktop computers and contains 400 select e-book titles all free for use of the students.

Added to the centers and classrooms sponsored by the foundation is the Northern Tacloban City National High School Sports Building which is a two-storey building with six classrooms two of which are dedicated to classes for the Alternative Learning System. Lastly, among the many donations of CLFI as support for education for all, the Edna Lhuillier Multi-Purpose Hall in Bais City, Negros Oriental serves as a library where most of the scholars of CLFI and ALS learners come to conduct research among the numerous book titles available. It is also being used for seminars and workshops involving reformed drug addicts in the city of Bais, as well as a hub for Bais’ senior citizens.

CLFI, in partnership with DepEd aims to unveil 20 more centers so that more out of school youth have access to learning. 

Because of the commitment of CLFI, ALS learners from CLFI-backed classrooms have posted multiple milestones through the years. These include beating the national average of the Accreditation and Equivalency test for two straight years and producing a learner which scored 100% on the 2014 Accreditation and Equivalency test. By end of 2019, the CLFI-backed ALS program has produced close to 10,000 learners nationwide. While in the 2017 Accreditation and Equivalency test, despite the changes in the passing score for ALS A&E test takers, which saw a low turnout of 15.6%, the A&E test takers from Cebuana Lhuillier ALS centers were able to have a turnout of 49% - higher than the national average of 15.6%.

With the rising demands of today, the Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc., with its bold mission of empowering the disadvantaged through giving access to education via its ALS program will surely combat the challenges of a nation gripped by poverty.

Empowered Women Brought Together at the 2019 Asia Women’s Summit

The Asia Women’s Summit 2019, held recently at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, focused on empowering the women and developing the nation. Presented by Airspeed and Bio-Oil, the summit gathered a roster of inspiring female powerhouses who shared how they overcame their obstacles while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Speakers shared their own success stories and imparted the valuable lessons that have helped shape them into the strong women they are today. 

Left to Right:

Rebecca Bustamante (President, Asia CEO Events)

Anna Kotskaya — Transformational coach, chalre associates

Jana Stansfield (CEO of Keynote Concerts, Relatively Famous Records) 

Grace Granlund (President and CEO, GetMorePH)

Atty. Iris Baguilat (President, Dohle Seafront Crewing Manila)

Rosemarie P. Rafael (Chairman and President, Airspeed)

Among the summit’s speakers were Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who shared her advocacy for sustainable tourism in the Philippines. Multi-platinum songwriter Jana Stansfield serenaded the crowd with an empowering song celebrating women, while maritime industry expert Atty. Iris Baguilat focused on employee engagement and satisfaction in the workplace. MFT Group of Companies CEO Mica Tan spoke on family legacy, and ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Susan Afan closed off the summit by discussing how empowering women is an important part of nation building.  Another powerhouse female who continues to thrive in a male-dominated industry, Rosemarie P. Rafael, Chairman and President of logistics company Airspeed, served as moderator during the morning panel discussion.

Asia Women’s Summit continues to break boundaries and lift women up year after year, and 2019’s summit was
no different. In the words of Secretary
Berna Romulo-Puyat: “Our nation’s success largely depends on us women. We can fight, we can achieve, we can dream”.

Airspeed is a corporate logistics company focused in Freight Forwarding Solutions, Customs Releasing, Customized Logistics, Warehousing and Distribution. With its growing network, Airspeed aims to make it happen to all of its stakeholders, as it has for over 30 years.  Founded in 1985 as an international air freight forwarder, Airspeed is now one of the country’s most trusted and fastest growing logistics brand serving the B2B and B2C market. 

Airspeed can make it happen for you: Visit www.airspeed.ph, 

or call (632) 854 -1284, 852- 7359, 852-7376 or 854- 1291; 

Email us at info@airspeed.ph, and 

follow Airspeed_International (Facebook).

A Mommy Forum for a Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines

Mommies unite for an afternoon to support and promote breastfeeding

Breastfeeding may be considered a challenging phase of motherhood but the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies truly make the journey worthwhile. While more and more mothers recognize that breastmilk will always be superior compared to formula milk, there is still a need to spread awareness on its benefits and to encourage people to support breastfeeding.

 In response to the global campaign of protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding, World Vision Development Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Health, launched Mother-Baby Friendly Philippines. This two-year project aims to:

1. Support and strengthen the implementation of Executive Order 51 (The Philippine Milk Code of 1986), Republic Act 7600 (The Rooming-ln and Breastfeeding Act of 1992), and Republic Act 10028 (The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009)

2. Increase awareness and educate health professionals and the public regarding these laws

3. Encourage people to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding by involving them in monitoring the implementation of breastfeeding laws in the country

Carleneth F. San Valentin, Health and Nutrition Technical Programme Manager of World Vision Development Foundation, beIieves that encouraging mothers to nurture their child is a way to empower a mother’s ability to breastfeed and care for their child. ”We are here to educate mothers so that they are empowered to make the right choice in nurturing and caring for their child. We want them to realize that if these laws are not implemented, we are impinging on their rights and of their child‘s,” she shared.

According to Dr. Anthony P. Calibo of the Department of Health, this responsibility to uphold the breastfeeding rights of mothers is not just the responsibility of concerned organizations and government sectors; it is a responsibility of the general public. ”If a mother is investing herself for the betterment of the future of her child, then she is also investing in the betterment of the future of this country," he emphasized.

To stay true to their mission and vision for this project, the team conducted Mommy Forum: Mother~Baby Friendly Philippines last October 2, 2018 at Little Owl in New Manila. #MBFPH was graced by mom celebrities like Camille Prats Yambao, Jennica Garcia Uytingco and Erika Padilla.

Erika Padilla, World Vision Breastfeeding Ambassador, shared her breastfeeding journey. “It is a huge sacrifice. it is difficult, painful, and a lot of work. But definitely worth every single drop because I see my son getting stronger and healthier every day,” she recalled. Her story encouraged more moms to share and ask for more tips from Erika as well.

Rommel Fuerte, Executive Director of World Vision Development Foundation, reminds long-time moms and new moms the reason behind this gathering: the breastfeeding normalization is still a work in progress and it's a must to constantly promote and protect breastfeeding to empower moms and to ensure a healthy start for their children.

To know how you can support Mother-Baby Friendly Phllipplnes, log on to http://mbfps.doh.gov.ph/ or dowload MBF PH via Google Play or Apple Store.