#BrigadangAyala Kaakay seeks to feed 500,000
Ayala group’s #BrigadangAyala continues to reach out to vulnerable communities greatly affected by the extended lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic following a similar group-wide effort last July.
Dubbed Kaakay, the Ayala group kicks off a 12-week food distribution program in select locations across Metro Manila, targeting some 10,000 families. Kaakay comes from the Filipino word akay, which literally means to lead by the hand.
“I personally find it hard to celebrate the Christmas season knowing we have fellow Filipinos barely able to eat…We hope to support breadwinners who lost their source of income or who have been on job rotation due to the pandemic. Many of them now have less than P200 pesos a day to survive on, and they are forced to stretch that to support a family of five. These are the people we want to help rebound by being their kaakay,” said Rene Almendras, Ayala Corporation’s Senior Managing Director and Public Affairs Group Head.
Each #BrigadangAyala Kaakay beneficiary receives a weekly supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread that will cover four square meals for a family of five. The food distribution is scheduled every week from November 2021 to February 2022, and has a projected reach of at least 500,000 individuals.
#BrigadangAyala Kaakay also runs an inclusive eco-system of on-ground implementing partners like Virlanie Foundation, Caritas Manila, National Council for Social Development, and host barangays, while boosting the recovery and growth of local businesses by sourcing goods from rice farmers in Isabela (covering Regions 2 & 3), and vegetables from Benguet and CAR-based farmers. In addition, the bread included for food packs is produced fresh by a group of urban poor mothers who trained under TESDA’s community-based bread-baking project.
A delightful blessing
“A blessing that came when we needed it most.” This is how Conti’s accredited shoppers described the ‘Pasabuyer’ program of one of the most sought after bakeshop and restaurant places in the Philippines. The past two years under the pandemic has been tough for everyone with losing their jobs. Now they found relief in the Accredited Conti’s Delight Shopper program (ACDS).
Founded at the height of the pandemic, Conti’s saw how people have turned “pasabuying” as their bread and butter. The eagerness to help these shoppers sustain their living while maintaining the quality of service in handling cakes and pastries must still be observed. So the management decided to embrace the “pasabuyers” and train them. They established an accreditation process that will eventually dubbed them as Accredited Conti’s Delight Shoppers.
Mildred, an Accredited Conti’s Delight Shopper, shared that she and her husband had to close their two businesses, a resto-bar and a milk tea shop because of the pandemic. She joined the ACDS program and now, as a hands-on business woman, finds fulfillment in bringing delight to all her customers through the Accredited Conti’s Delight Shopper program.
Conti’s wishes to spread the delight their cakes and pastries bring to many more Filipino homes despite the restrictions of the pandemic. To date, ACDS has grown to 91 active members, mostly from the Luzon area. They wish to reach more and be able to bring delight from coast to coast, as far as Baguio, all the way to Bicol.
D-MAX conquers RallyCross Series
Fresh from seizing the Best Pick Up Award in the 17th Annual C! Awards, the all-new Isuzu D-MAX continues to move into new heights as it conquers the tracks in the 2021 Philippine Rallycross Series (PHRX), Rounds 5 and 6, on November 7 at the open grounds of the Clark Global City, Clark Freeport, Pampanga.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) fielded two teams of All-New Isuzu D-MAX 3.0 4×4 LS-E A/T models.
The D-MAX entry consisted of one unmodified D-MAX, similar condition to showroom vehicles, and the other, with changes limited to suspension and tires. It proved to be a beast on the racetrack besting many competitors who regularly compete with purpose-built rally-tuned vehicles and managing to stay within the top 3 winners in 3 different categories. Praises to its powerful 4JJ3-TCX Blue Power Diesel Engine and superb vehicle design, and of course the driver’s expertise.
Each of the D-MAX was tortured on the circuit during the race and yet survived without damage or need for repair. Both were able to drive home without problem – ready for the next working day and waiting for the next weekend race. Indeed, the All-New D-MAX once again proved its reliability and durability.
PHRX is a timed racing competition that is held on a close course track, that is basically a dirt circuit.
The joy of gifting with Avon
Avon is giving shoppers the easiest access to gift-giving packages and exciting holiday deals.
On avonshop.ph shoppers can find everything and anything they need for every loved one— from make-up, fragrances, skincare, jewelry, intimates, accessories, and more— all in one shop.
Some of the latest products include Far Away Royale fragrance, Avon Anew Essence skin care, Avon x Love Marie Collection Plate set, among others.
The Avon Shop’s vast selection provides quality and affordable selections for holiday gifting for almost any loved one
Holcim launches green cement ECOPlanet
Holcim Philippines took another significant step in helping the country’s sustainable development with the launch of Holcim ECOPlanet, its most environment-friendly product with more than 30 percent lower carbon footprint than other general purpose cement.
ECOPlanet is a global range of green cement developed by international building solutions leader Holcim Group. Holcim Philippines will offer ECOPlanet as a general purpose blended cement ideal for structural applications that delivers equal to superior construction performance while lowering the carbon footprint of buildings.
This product will be made available in 40-kilogran bags in paper and plastic bags. The Philippines will be among the first markets where ECOPlanet is available.
Buwan ng Tagapaghatid
Grab Philippines has dedicated the month of November as Buwan ng Tagapaghatid – celebrating the invaluable contributions of Grab drivers and delivery-partners through month-long activities culminating on November 28.
Buwan ng Tagapaghatid is part of Grab Philippines’ broader range of programs and initiatives dedicated to its driver and delivery-partners.
This year, Grab Philippines is making its Buwan ng Tagapaghatid more exciting and meaningful for its partners.
It has launched Kwentong Tagapaghatid, Biyahe Serye Comics, and 5-Star Support Film to highlight the stories of drivers and delivery-partners from the perspective of merchant-partners and consumers.
Grab is working together with Mastercard, Jollibee, Caltex, and other key brands and businesses for this year’s Buwan ng Tagapaghatid. On November 28, for every tip made using Mastercard debit or credit card, Mastercard will match the amount – essentially doubling the tips received by the partner on that day; Partners delivering Jollibee orders on November 28-30 will get FREE Jolly spaghetti.
The month-long celebration is also marked by an online concert and the Grab Papugay Awards, where top-performing drivers are recognized for their hardwork the past year.
Lexus within easy reach
Lexus’ unique interpretation of hospitality can now be experienced from the palm of your hand with the myLexus Mobile App. With it, owning and maintaining a Lexus is now easier and more convenient than ever before.
Available for download for both Andriod and iOS users, the myLexus Mobile App puts everything you need–from maintaining your prized vehicle, shopping for a new model, or learning more about the fascinating world of Lexus–all from the convenience of your handheld mobile device.
The myLexus Mobile App is the latest innovation that brings Lexus of Japanese luxury hospitality closer to its loyal customers. So if you don’t own a Lexus yet, it is also an invitation to see what the luxury brand has to offer you.
DICT wins Snowflake’s ‘Data for Good’ Award
Snowflake, the Data Cloud company, collaborated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and local analytics company, Intellection, to build a single unified view of vaccine data in support of the Philippine government’s mass vaccination program.
Snowflake recently awarded DICT at the annual Snowflake Data Drivers Awards under its Data for Good category. This award recognizes an organization leveraging enhanced data analytics to make informed decisions to save, extend, and improve lives and/or the environment.
The collaboration began in March 2021 and to-date, the platform built by Intellection, which is powered by Snowflake, has processed 95 million vaccine records and 500,000 input files coming from 8,100 local government units (LGUs) with zero maintenance staff, zero downtime, and a 24×7 operation that is fully automated. This enabled the smooth importing, distributing, administering, and monitoring of vaccines to 81 provinces, 146 cities, 1,500 municipalities, and 42,046 barangays across the archipelago.
DICT partnered with Intellection to configure and build a repository data warehouse within one week, following the mandate that obligated all qualified Filipinos to register and submit necessary data to their respective LGUs.
