SMFI and DepEd join hands for PSD renovation project

In a world where communication relies heavily on spoken words, navigating life for deafened people may be tough. Being hearing-impaired is a challenge in itself as one's language abilities are often affected.

In the Philippines, this challenge further creates a gap. Students with a hearing loss do require accommodations to have access to education, but opportunities are limited. The struggle is intensified as only a few secondary learning institutions are catering to their unique needs, with affordability and facility conditions further hindering their pursuit of skills and knowledge.

Shery Funcion, the Principal of the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) in Pasay City, is no stranger to these challenges.

Her dedication to the cause began with her college thesis, focusing on job opportunities for deaf learners. Since then, she has immersed herself in various organizations and volunteer activities, gaining firsthand insights into the limited opportunities available to deaf learners.

She eventually became a SPED teacher, before taking on the role of principal in PSD.

"The immersive experience really showed me how important these projects are for our students—kung gaano kahalaga ang pagbibigay ng mga pasilidad sa mga mag aaral lalo na sa mga bingi," she underscored the importance of providing facilities for students with hearing impairment.

A facility that produces opportunities

The collaborative project of the Henry Sy Foundation, SM Foundation (SMFI), and the Department of Education's Schools Division Office of Pasay City equips students with in-demand skills that will prepare them for employment upon graduation.

In the century-old PSD, their senior high school laboratory building serves as the training ground for students. Its classrooms and halls, no matter how old, have always played their role in honing and preparing deaf students to have solid career prospects after PSD.

Amidst the competing priorities within the school and the broader Philippine educational system, the facility barely had enough funds for the rehabilitation and major repairs it needed. Students and teachers worked around issues ranging from dim lighting and leaking roofs to uneven floors dor years. These not only presented structural concerns but also hindered the overall learning experience of students.

"Our deaf learners need special accommodation to fulfill their special educational needs. They need to have a conducive learning environment so we can optimize the activities and learning programs," Funcion stressed.

Funcion further shared that the 2023 collaborative project of the Henry Sy Foundation, SM Foundation (SMFI) —the social good arm of the SM Group, and the Department of Education's Schools Division Office of Pasay City came in at an opportune time.

"The rehabilitation of the Home Economics (HE) laboratories is crucial because students need to fulfill their performance tasks. These are vital components of our senior high school program to ensure that they acquire essential skills and competencies for employment post-graduation from PSD."

Through the collaboration, PSD has been provided with the much-needed facilities in dressmaking, beauty care, cookery, electrical, bartending, food and beverage preparation, ICT, and dance.

SM Prime launches its "SM Sustainability Scholarship" program in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)

 

 

Leading integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) has launched a scholarship program in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Aptly called the "SM Sustainability Scholarship," the initiative was inspired by the late Henry Sy Sr.'s belief in the power of education and driven by their commitment to sustainability.  It  reflects SM Prime's commitment to both educational access and sustainability stewardship.

The program intends to  support ten deserving students through their undergraduate studies at UPLB, providing them with the opportunity to pursue degrees in either Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology or Bachelor of Science in Forestry. These fields align with SM Prime's focus on building resilient communities and fostering a sustainable future.

The scholarship recipients, meticulously chosen for their academic excellence and dedication to sustainability, were formally recognized during a meet-and-greet gathering at UPLB, marking the start of their journey as SM Sustainability Scholars.

Each scholar will receive a full scholarship covering tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, and a book allowance, ensuring they can focus on their studies without financial worries. During the gathering, College of Human Ecology (CHE) Dean Dr. Jennifer Amparo expressed that the pursuit of sustainability is most effectively undertaken collaboratively.
educational experience and initiatives for our students. Rest assured that we will continue providing support to our students in ensuring their growth and success in both academia and beyond.”

Meanwhile, SM Prime AVP and Head of Marketing, PR and Corporate Communications, Rida Reyes-Castillo, echoed that the fundamental values of the company are intricately interwoven with both education and sustainability.

“SM Group’s founder, Mr. Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. believed that education is a great equalizer, and he envisioned that sending one child to college would create ripples of social good not just for families but for an entire community,” she said. “The improvement of the well-being of the youth and the partner communities is something that we at SM invest in.

For decades, the SM group has embraced the responsibility to contribute to nation building through social good programs that are geared towards quality education, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and disaster response. By helping improve the quality of life of the people in these host communities, social development and investment go hand in hand with business growth to achieve a better future for all.

Cooking Adventure at The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center

I joined in a cooking adventure at The Maya Kitchen with guest Chef Vicky Pacheco of Flatiron 1771 last November 5th. Flatiron is Chateau 1771's newest restaurant at Uptown Place Mall that uses the cast iron griddle in preparing the house specialty called 'Flatiron Brisket 6'. Learning to whip up Flatiron bestsellers from the expert is something I will not pass up on!

Chef Vicky Pacheco is the Executive Chef and COO of 1771 Group of Restaurants. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of the Philippines and then pursued a Food and Beverage Diploma at the Les Roches, in Bluche-Montana, Switzerland.

Chef Vicky has occupied several positions since she first joined Chateau 1771 as Assistant Restaurant Manager in December 1988 and have hone her culinary expertise. The rest is history.

Chef Vicky shared five Flatiron recipes. These were Flatiron Brisket 6, Chicken Piccata. Manhattan Fish Chowder, Pizzaiola Pasta (a Pizza-Style Pasta), and Pomelo Orzo Salad. The meals were amazingly delicious! Everything tasted so good!

Flatiron Brisket 6

This dish is a delight to the palate! Flatiron Brisket 6 has been slow cooked for 6 hours, hence the reason for the number 6 in its name.

Manhattan Fish Chowder

Manhattan Fish Chowder is a traditional French fish stew that is tomato-based. It is made with fish, potatoes and bacon. It is a healthy soup recipe that is a lighter alternative to creamy soups.

Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata is a comforting Italian chicken classic. The chicken breast were pounded, dredged in flour, browned, served with stock made of butter, lemon juice, and capers.

Pomelo Orzo Salad

This fresh salad combines orzo pasta with pomelo, crumbled parmesan cheese, fried spinach, and lettuce, drizzled with grilled lemon vinaigrette.

For more information on other course offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com or e-mailcontactus@themayakitchen.com

Do visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center  at 8th Floor,  Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City.

Visual Arts Competition is back!

The much-awaited annual visual arts competition for student artists dubbed as "Visual Arts Competition (VAC31)" commences on November 8, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Manuel Conde. VAC31 challenges fine arts students all over the country to interpret the theme "Habang May Buhay, May Pag-asa" in oil or acrylic. Participants are expected to create paintings that depict how Filipinos value life and how Pinoys remain cheerful and hopeful despite the adversities they face everyday.



The launch celebrates the rich creative talent of fine arts students across the country.

Organized by Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the competition is open to student artists, aged 18-24, who are currently enrolled in accredited Philippine tertiary schools with a fine arts program. A VAC 31 roadshow in north and south Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao comes in after its launch.

Each participating fine arts school or department selects a maximum of five official entries to the competition. Direct student entries will not be accepted. Official entries must be delivered to the DPC Main Office, 2322 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City between February 20 and March 3, 2017 from 10 am to 5 pm.

The top three winners will have their works featured on the covers of 2017-18 telephone directories of DPC (Yellow Pages) and PLDT (White Pages) in key cities in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The first place winning student will receive P100,000 in cash and the VAC 31 grand prize trophy, aside from securing a P40,000 donation to his/her school’s fine arts program. Cash prizes of P75,000 and P60,000, plus trophies, await the second and third placers, with corresponding donations to their respective schools. In addition, each of the top 30 finalists will receive P10,000.

Entries will be judged on the basis of visual composition (25%), originality (25%), adherence to the theme (25%), overall impact (15%), and suitability as cover (10%). The finalist that garners the most points, based on the judges’ score sheets and the online votes, will be declared the VAC 31 grand prize winner. The entry with the most number of online votes cast on www.visualarts.ph will be declared winner of the People’s Choice Award, which carries a cash prize of P15,000.

In VAC 30, Alfredo Martirez of Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Architecture and Find Arts (PUP-CAFA) won the grand prize with his entry “History of Democracy,” interpreting the theme, “Rekindling People Power.” The second prize was won by John Merick Eupalao of Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) in Silang, Cavite, and the third prize went to Artemio Bongawan, Jr. of the University of Mindanao.

A PUP-CAFA student, Arnica Acantilado, also won the grand prize in VAC 22 (2008-2009). Previous editions of the painting competition have been dominated by the Far Eastern University’s Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts with nine grand prize winners and the University of the East College of Fine Arts with three. Alongside PUP with two grand prize trophies so far are: Philippine Women’s University, Technological University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines – Diliman. AUP, Bulacan State University, St. Scholastica’s College, and University of Northern Philippines have each won the grand prize once so far.

For more information, please visit VAC 31’s website, www.visualarts.ph, and its official Facebook page, VISUALARTSPH.

Calling Entries for #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition

Pioneer, one of the top life and non-life insurance companies in the country, is inviting aspiring songwriters and musicians to join the #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition.

Participants can submit their entries at www.moveonlang.ph until November 15, 2016 for a chance to win a cash prize of up to PHP 100,000 plus PHP 100,000 worth of insurance coverage from Pioneer, as well as the opportunity to have their songs recorded and performed by musicians of their choice.

Applicants must be aged 15 to 24 years old and currently enrolled as students in the Philippines to join. Each applicant can submit up to five song entries, with a maximum song length of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Applicants can also register as a group with up to five members, with one member designated as the official representative.

In line with the theme of moving on, song entries must be inspirational and about bouncing back from life’s challenges.

“We wanted a theme that would exemplify what being a Filipino is all about. We are known all over the world for our resilience, with new stories appearing everyday about Filipinos getting back on their feet after life has dealt them a hard blow. We want this competition to produce songs that can inspire the nation to keep on moving forward despite setbacks and difficulties,” shared Pioneer’s Marketing Head Len Pozon.

Visit www.moveonlang.ph to register and submit entries.