Persevering in its commitment to foster an internal culture of growth for the empowerment of communities, Johnson and Johnson (Philippines) Inc. (JJPI) recently launched its flagship employee volunteerism program entitled “Growth and Inspiration through Volunteerism Experiences” (G.I.V.E.).
Project G.I.V.E. was created to provide employees with opportunities to make real and sustainable change in communities across the country.
Symbolizing the theme of project G.I.V.E., the pinwheel represents a child’s innocence, energy, and playfulness and the employees are thus invited to be the wind propelling this wheel in motion, to be sources of inspiration, and to arouse hope for children and communities.
President and Managing Director Jeffrey Stewart Go shared that for 2012, the volunteerism rate of the company was at 41%. “It is very encouraging to see that almost half of our employee-population has devoted time to helping a cause. But we can definitely still increase this number, so today, I encourage every single one of our employees to set aside a little more time this year to contribute to making a difference in the community.”
With corporate citizenship embedded into the Johnson & Johnson culture, cultivating and harnessing partnerships remain integral in magnifying the company’s efforts to support communities. From supporting programs geared at providing education opportunities, to upholding environmental stewardship and most notably, to drive reduced maternal and infant mortality rates in the country, JJPI employees are able to support NGOs as Unicef, World Vision, Worldwide Fund for Nature and the Virlanie Foundation, the newest addition to the list of partners.
Other partners of the company for this year include the Knowledge Channel, Habitat for Humanity, and Save the Children. Through the course of the week, the different advocacy partners shared the issues in society they have committed to address.
Also introduced at the inauguration of CSR week, the G.I.V.E advocates for 2013 were tasked to mobilize and pilot their departments’ volunteer activities throughout the year.
“We value being able to provide ways for our employees to express support for causes they personally believe in,” he added.
“At the heart of our goals are bold sustainability targets we have set that extend beyond environmental stewardship. Through collaboration and the collective strength of the company with its advocacy partners, we aim at improving people’s health, particularly at helping the country achieve improved performance in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.”
With the maternal mortality ratio increasing from 162/100,000 live births in 2006 to 221/100,000 live births in 2010, JJPI together with Unicef, Save the Children and Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP) seek to ensure that the most underprivileged mothers in the country survive pregnancy and childbirth.
This is set to be achieved through projects that aim for the most deprived and most vulnerable mothers to receive quality care and are informed, motivated and supported to access affordable, quality maternal, neonatal and child health services.
JJPI targets to engage all of its employees in pursuing this cause, with the aspiration set at mobilizing the entire country to be part of creating a brighter future for all mothers and children in the Philippines.

Now that summer is about to end, we need to make sure that kids get the most out of the experience thru out-of-town trips and bonding activities with the family. Universal Robina Corp.’s (URC) Refresh Big Sip 290 dishes out tips to help moms prepare for a fun and hassle-free vacation.
Stay fresh and glowing. Tote a portable fan and a handy pack of wet wipes. Always bring a change of clothes and stick to light-colored clothing in breezy fabrics to keep cool.
Protect yourself against the sun. Pack sun protection tools like umbrellas, sunglasses, and sunscreen to keep safe and guarded under the sun’s rays.
Chill out and stay entertained. To keep boredom away during long road trips or flights, don’t forget to bring books, mp3 players and tablets to keep kids entertained.
Beat the heat with a refreshing drink. Drinks like Refresh Big Sip 290 can help energize and invigorate the whole family. Kids can quench their thirst in a flavorful way with Big Sip 290’s three lusciously fruity variants: Apple, Orange and Mango. And Big Sip 290 is convenient to carry around because of its easy-to-punch, no-spill juice pack.
Fortified with immunity-boosting zinc and affordable at P7, the drink is a great addition to any summer must-have list. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors or hitting the poolside, cool down this summer with Refresh, available in groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

Four students from a coastal town in Sorsogon who designed a solution to address sewage waste from their public market to the shore have won a national environmental competition sponsored by Red Bull Supreme Energy Drink and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Team Ecotastic4 of the Gubat National High School in Gubat, Sorsogon became the first ever winner of the RedBullution, a contest open to group of high school and intercollegiate students in the Philippines which aims to find alternative, innovative, student-designed conservation solutions to address the problem of solid waste management.
The two-part competition was held from November 2012 to April 5, 2013.  The last round saw finalists present their project proposals to a panel composed of Gaby de la Merced, RedBullution ambassador and youth advocate; Romi Garduce, RedBullution ambassador and mountain climber; Joel Palma, WWF vice president for programs; and Paolo Pagaduan, WWF project manager for sustainable development.
Before this, RedBullution held roadshows in several universities and colleges with Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, female car racer Gaby de la Merced and Romi Garduce as speakers for the solid waste management advocacy.
The winning entry by Ecotastic4 proposed a sewage waste system to manage the waste coming from the public market and local eateries that drain straight to the shore.  The students said their coastal town depends largely on fishing, and sewage waste can be a future source of serious concern for it can contribute to the spread of red tide or pose a problem for marine animals, which may result in the loss of livelihood.
“We need to take action before the sewage problem in our town worsens and grow into a problem akin to that faced by the Sorsogon bay in the past, where for a couple of years in succession the harvesting of seashells was forbidden due to red tide. Too much is at stake if this problem is left unaddressed,” the students said.
Other finalists in the Redbullution were Team Green Avengers also from Gubat National High School and Team Ecoknights-Accountancy students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
The winning team received a cash prize to sustain their projects and were given an opportunity to visit a WWF conservation site in the Philippines in a three-day, two-night trip, where they will immerse at the frontlines of the organization’s environmental sustainability work and witness the magnificence of Philippine biodiversity.
“We hope that you were able to complete your project and that you have achieved your goals and learned through the process of protecting and creating revolutionary changes for the environment,” Palma said.
Palma added Redbulluttion, which was derived from the Latin word revolutus, aims to inspire a change in the mindset of students by raising their environmental awareness and encouraging them to act.
In photo are Gubat, Sorsogon high school students Hernalyn Camania, Joanne Stephanie Joven, Kristine Mae Esparas and Kimberly Hermo posing with Red Bull Supreme Energy Drink Business Unit Head  Adolf Alvarez (left) and Red Bull Supreme Energy Drink brand manager Vanessa Villariza after winning the grand prize in the   the recently-concluded RedBullution 2012, a national environmental competition sponsored by by Red Bull Supreme Energy Drink and WWF.

KGB Philippines, the largest independent provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services, recently signed an agreement with MediCard Philippines, the country’s leading HMO provider, to provide for the healthcare needs of its employees.
The deal was facilitated through insurance brokerage firm, Winebrenner & Inigo Insurance Brokers Inc.
Present during the signing were (seated from left): Winebrenner & Inigo Insurance Brokers Inc. president & general manager Resty M. Capati, MediCard AVP for Sales and Business Development Maricel L. Torres, MediCard president Dr. Nicky Montoya, KGB finance director Rommel B. Paglinawan, former KGB HR director Marvin C. Pasia and Winebrenner & Inigo Insurance Brokers, Inc. Manager, Employee Benefits Group, Francis T. Reyes. The contract signing was also witnessed by employees from KGB, Winebrenner & Inigo Insurance Brokers and MediCard.

The sprawling Greenhills Shopping Complex is serving as a familiar landmark in the San Juan-Mandaluyong area and a bargain mecca catering to people from all walks of life. Familiar here are bargain hunters who frequent also other flea markets (tiangges) from other parts of the metropolis. Also shopping here are the rich and the famous - prominent personalities in business, entertainment, politics, sports, media and even VIPs from other countries.
“Not only the ordinary shoppers, famous personalities are also shopping in Greenhills, according to Albert Castro, project coordinator of Prime Asia Trade Planners & Convention Organizers (PATEPCO), I often see here showbiz personalities, top government officials, well-known names in sports, media and business. When the Queen of Spain visited the Philippines she was spotted in Greenhills to buy pearls incognito. Even former US Ambassador Kenny Christie together with some relatives and friends from the US shopped here, Castro added.
Castro said the poor and rich like to shop here because Greenhills offers the variety of affordable goods and boost of convenience, accessibility and safety not found in the low-end bargain center.
Prominent personalities like to shop at Greenhills because here they are considered ordinary shoppers unlike other shopping malls they are distracted by other shoppers and sales personnel.
The Greenhills where the 20th Telecommunication & Accessories Bazaar to be held back to back with the 9th Philippine Crafts Fair from June 14 to July 8 has major renovations aimed of giving it a more modern or 21st century look.
If now features a department store containing the latest local and imported brands, beauty shops, newly revived Music Museum, a vibrant food strips offers choices of restaurants, a badminton court, multi-level parking spaces and more business establishments. And other changes to make Greenhills attain its vision as the best shopping and entertainment center in the country.

Every Filipino entrepreneur aspires for success – but the road is not always easy. How does one get the ample funding, right skills, and an effective network? Faced with these challenges, not everyone is able to turn their dream of owning their own business into reality.
Enter Bayan Academy, an organization established in 1997 which has since been spearheading a movement for building this nation from below. The organization is anchored on promoting change through the three E’s – Entrepreneurship, Education and Employment.
In 2007, Bayan Academy launched its flagship Entrep-Eskwela Program, also known as Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Management (GEM) Program, to assist participants in learning the various facets of enterprise management.
With the support of the Citi Foundation in 2010, the GEM program was customized to better serve low-income micro-entrepreneurs. Then known as Citi-Bayan Entrep-Eskwela, the program initially trained close to 200 microentrepreneurs. Buoyed by the successful results of this initial batch, Citi established the Citi Microenterprise Development Center (CMDC), a center of entrepreneurship that caters to the needs of various micro-entrepreneurs across the country. CMDC goes beyond classroom training by offering the Citi Small Business Advisory and Coaching Services (SBACS), where microentrepreneurs and students receive personalized coaching and mentoring sessions from experts in marketing, finance, human resources, operations, regulatory (requirements and applicable laws), and technical services.
“With the CMDC, the Citi Foundation is helping us build the nation from below. The CMDC has reached out to small and medium entrepreneurs – the ones who have the power to revitalize the economy and help those who are ‘below’ the economic strata. Through the various programs and trainings at the CMDC, the beneficiaries were given the opportunity to be guided and exposed to best practices that they in turn can implement in their own businesses,” said Dr. Eduardo Morato, chairman of Bayan Academy. “With their success, they are able to help their families, uplift their communities, and achieve their dreams of a better life.”
“We share Bayan Academy’s vision of democratizing entrepreneurship education for the poor. Citi Philippines in partnership with Citi Foundation is committed to create more wealth and opportunities in this country among low-income communities through entrepreneurship. CMDC is one of our many initiatives, and we are pleased to have opened doors for nearly 500 microentrepreneurs over the last three years,” related Aneth Ng-Lim, Corporate Affairs Director for Citi Philippines.
Since the launch of CMDC program last November 2011, the center has witnessed inspiring stories of Filipinos who have successfully used entre-preneurship as a tool to improve their lives and help the community.
One of these entrepreneurs is 38-year-old Fidel Seño of Baclaran, Parañaque, who has lived most of his life in a wet market.
“I started my own business in the markets of Baclaran after I got retrenched from my job as a machine operator in a plastics factory during the Asian crisis of 1997,” he shared.
Fidel opened a meat shop, where he initially served as the butcher. Later on, as money came in, he got involved in other business activities. “I made profit from my businesses but I did not earn from them; money was always slipping out of my fingers even if I worked almost 24 hours a day.”
Fidel was recommended to take the training program offered at CMDC. He was at first skeptical as it will take him away from his business which meant losing profits, but was surprised that the days he spent attending the workshop proved to be life-changing. “I learned a lot from our trainers. I found out that managing your own business is not as easy as it seems. One needs to instill discipline in yourself and your employees and learn how to properly designate work to people,” he said.
To know more about the CMDC, call (02) 927-9365/ 426-3140 or visit the website at www.bayanacademy.org/cmdc.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DSAP) will hold a fun run for the benefit of indigent senior citizens on May 19 at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Manila.
With Pharex HealthCorp as a platinum sponsor, the run’s proceeds will go to a special medical mission whose highlight is the provision of 30-day maintenance medicines for about 5,000 senior citizens all over the country. The beneficiaries will be selected by the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP).
DSAP expects at least 2,000 runners to participate in the event, which begins at 5am. Registration fee is at P350 for the 500m, P500 for 3km, P600 for 5km, and 700 for 10km, inclusive of a singlet, race bib, race kit, certificate, and timing chip (except for 500m).
“We are very much looking forward to this event, which we envisioned as a more meaningful way to celebrate our pearl anniversary. And we are grateful for the generous support of Pharex, among other sponsors, in making this fun run possible,” shared DSAP President Herlinda Aquino.
Runners may register through Recreation Outdoor Exchange (ROX) and takbo.ph, as well as the following locations: CME Partner, Inc. in Legaspi Village, Makati City; DSAP Office in Pasig City; Manila Sports Council Office in Ermita, Manila; and Shakey’s in Malate.
For more details, interested parties may visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DsapFunRun2013, or call DSAP at 631-4254 or 633-5253.
DSAP is a group founded by drugstore owners united in their vision of promoting fair business practices in pharmaceutical retail, providing quality options for consumers, and promoting sustainability and viability among small to medium-sized drugstores. It currently has 55 chapters all over the Philippines.

A big telecommunication show for 24 days will be held at the Greenhills Shopping Complex in San Juan from June 15 to July 8.
Dubbed the 20th Tele-communication & Accessories Bazaar to be held back to back with the 9th Philippine Crafts Fair is expected to be crowded by shoppers and bargain hunters.
Also expected are tourists and other foreign guests looking for world-class products like furniture and native cuisine and tropical fruits. Greenhills is also the biggest cellphone center offering all brands and models of cell phones as well as repair center run by expert technicians.
The sprawling Greenhills Shopping Complex is serving as a familiar landmark in the San Juan–Mandaluyong area and a bargain mecca catering to people from all walks of life. Familiar here are bargain hunters who frequent also other flea markets (tiangges) from other parts of metropolis. But also shopping here are the rich and the famous – prominent personalities in business, entertainment, politics, sports, media and even VIPs from other countries.
Organizer of the much-awaited trade fair is the Prime Asia Trade Planners & Convention Organizers (Patepco).
To be showcased are arts, and crafts, export overruns, toys, gifts and corporate giveaways, novelty items, modern/contemporary furniture & furnishing gemstones and pearls, jars and potteries, antique and modern furniture and furnishings, cellular phones and accessories, food and delicacies, RTWs, housewares and appliances, fashion accessories and tribal arts.

Binalot Fiesta Foods Inc., founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Rommel Juan and his three friends upon graduating in college, has grown from a lowly stall in Shaw Boulevard supplying office workers in nearby offices and in Makati banana leaves-wrapped food packs into 41 formal stores now. By the end of 2013, Juan hopes to grow the store size to 50.
Of the 41, only five are owned by the company while the bulk is franchised. Around 40 to 60 percent of these stores are located inside the malls another 30 percent in buildings and the rest are standalone restaurants.
He said most of the franchisees are overseas Filipino workers and immigrants who would like to ensure the finances of their loved ones here through a business of their own.
Though Binalot has a formal franchise package to offer its investors, it keeps an open mind to suggestions from potential investors on location, size and type of stores they want to operate.
The franchise package ranges from P2.8 to P3.5 million for a 50 to 150 sq.m. full store/restaurant operations; P1.9 million to P2.8 million for a 20 to 50 sq.m. in line “stall” and from P1.9 million to P2.3 million for a 15 to 25 sq.m. in line “kiosk.”
Though Juan does not want to grow Binalot into another Jollibee network of stores, “I want our food to reach as many parts of the Philippines and countries with large concentrations of Filipino communities to continue enjoying Filipino food they grew up with,” he said.
There are Binalot stores in Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Alabang, Novaliches, Valenzuela, Cavite, La Union, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Legazpi in the Bicol region, and Iloilo in the Visayas, Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.  The latest to open is Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao, another in Subic and one at the basement of Banco de Oro in Makati just recently.
For the moment, he said, Binalot is not yet looking at locating in other countries until such time we have scattered our stores in most parts of the Philippines. But, he added, he has been getting inquiries to put up stores abroad mostly from overseas-based Filipinos.

Making a difference through ‘renaissance’ leadership

The quest for excellence calls for continuous innovation. And with innovation being crucial to attain such greatness, a deeper sense of leadership is needed to achieve the desired transformation, specially for future business leaders. Leading the call for holistic change is the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA), the country’s foremost corporate university for global leaders and innovators, as it promotes the role of the arts in crafting multifaceted leaders in a recent forum titled “Leadership in the Arts — Music, Architecture, Painting”.

Held at FPLA in Antipolo City, the Executive Talks – the second of a series of forums specially designed for the executives of the First Pacific Group – gave an in-depth perspective of the importance of art in the corporate setting, and how leadership complements art, and vice versa. Highlighting one of FPLA’s thrusts in shaping the future league of nation-builders, the event aims to raise “renaissance leaders,” where art and leadership are integral to being well-rounded innovators of change in society.
In his welcome address, Roy Agustin Evalle, General Manager for Leadership Succession and Development for the First Pacific Group, stressed the essential role of a well-balanced leadership in stewarding business organizations especially in these challenging times.
“Every leader is an artist. A renaissance leader is creative and knowledgeable; he is appreciative of culture and the arts. He is different, and he makes a difference. This trait distinguishes great from mediocre, the best leaders from ordinary counterparts. The modern ‘renaissance man’ is one who understands how to learn, and knows what he is here for,” Evalle said.
“Renaissance leaders are people with the right competencies necessary in leading today’s and tomorrow’s industries and organizations, helping bring this country and its people to excellence and collective fulfillment,” he added.
Witnessed by a full-house attendance, the event brought together for the first time a panel of creative geniuses in the field of arts, namely environmental urban planner Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox (Architecture), concert pianist Rudolf Pelaez-Golez (Music) and painter Nemesio Miranda (Painting). With a full-day agenda that provided each speaker a moment to share their own fascinating talks, the three extraordinary gentlemen captivated the crowd of learners not just with their own successful professional destinies but more so, through their imparted nuggets of wisdom.
And while they lent their own fervor in their talks, the luminaries nonetheless arrived at one common agenda – that leadership and the arts are complementary with one another and how the melding of one’s visionary mind and passion can achieve what one dares to fulfill for the self and for the benefit of others.
In closing, Manuel V. Pangilinan, First Pacific Managing Director acknowledged the legacy of achievements of Palafox, Golez and Nemiranda as proud examples of how Filipinos — given the inspiration, support and motivation — can be truly successful in becoming world-class and become respected innovators in their fields of endeavor.
“What is it about the Filipinos that can make them stand out and be world-class? One word, and that’s passion,” Pangilinan said.
The leadership talk was then followed by the brand re-launch of FPLA. After its transition into the First Pacific Group’s corporate university, the first and only one in the country, FPLA has aligned its training and development activities to the succession and executive development requirements of the group. Designed to advance and empower “renaissance” leaders, FPLA is the premiere and only provider of need-specific programs that make use of the discipline of the academic framework balanced with industry best practices. Championing an innovative and learning environment, the Academy also works closely with top conglomerates and luminaries in various fields to foster continuous partnerships, learning and development.
A video montage showcased summarizing FPLA’s most recent and important developments, included among which are the upgrades of major facilities, in particular the opening of the newly renovated, Balinese-inspired restaurant Tipulo and “FTW” or For the Win sports-themed cafetorium; and the MVP Olympics Lounge which, during the event, unveiled the week-long exhibit of Nemiranda’s and Angono Artists Circle’s select works of art.
To know more about FPLA’s leadership and management programs, call 632-8111or visit www.fpacademy.net. FPLA is located at Km. 27, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City.