Angkas Thanksgiving Concert packed by 15,000 people!

ANGKAS GETS MASSIVE SUPPORT FROM COMMUTERS, LAWMAKERS, CELEBS, VARIOUS GROUPS

Yesterday, December 22, 2017 Angkas held a Free Thanksgiving concert at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Before the concert began an intimate presscon which comprises of TV networks, journalist and Online bloggers with  Angkas Operations Head Mr. David Medrana and  Angkas Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs Mr. .George Reyoca . They are happy to announce that people around the Metro was behind their clean intentions of making the riding public more safety and have more convenient kind of motorcycle service.

Popular app-based ride-hailing service Angkas has been getting overwhelming support from commuters, lawmakers, government officials, celebrities, and various other groups in light of the recent TRO issued by the Supreme Court in favor of the LTFRB.

The massive support that Angkas has been getting was evident in a free concert that the ride-hailing service held last Saturday at the Quezon City Circle main stage. Thousands of people--all Angkas customers and supporters--went to the free concert that featured top celebrities such as Nadine Lustre, Sam Concepcion, Hale, Ella Cruz, Shanti Dope, Mayonnaise, Quest, Ex Battalion, Gab Valenciano, and Andrew E.

In short videos shown during the concert, other prominent stars expressed their support for Angkas including Dingdong Dantes, Yassi Presman, Matteo Guidicelli, Tim Yap, Rovilson Fernandez, Marc Nelson, Phoemela Barranda, Kim Atienza, Myrtle Sarasa, Sabbie Rodriguez, Shawn Yao, Fabio Ide, and Jinno Rufino.  The said concert was jam packed by  members and non members estimated 15,000 .
Lawmakers and government officials threw in their support for Angkas.  Congressmen Winston Castelo, Cristal Bagatsing, Rodel Batocabe, Johnny T. Pimental, Xavier Jesus Romualdo, and Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña all issued statements in favor of the continued operation of Angkas considering the sorry state of mass transport in the country today and the benefits that the service has been providing local commuters.

“Government is supposed to make the people’s lives better, not worse. Angkas was a cleaner, safer version of what is the only practical mode of transportation for many Cebuanos, especially those who live in remote barangays,” Osmeña said in a news interview.
Former LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez reiterated in his post that Angkas should be allowed to operate and that the LTFRB and the DOTr have the power to legitimize and regulate the ride-hailing service.

Congressman Castelo, Chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, likewise urged the DOTr to allow Angkas to continue its operation for the sake of public interests.
In a recent statement, Castelo said the DOTr can issue a Department Order to allow Angkas’ ride-hailing operations in the same manner that transportation network companies (TNC) or transport network vehicle services (TNVS) like Grab were allowed to do so.

“A mere DO can suffice to lessen the suffering of the commuting public. DOTr should realize this. If they cannot provide efficient and reliable mass transportation system as they are mandated to do, they should at least be creative and use modern technology. We should not be technical and legalistic on this while millions of Filipinos are suffering from traffic and losing PHP2 billion in lost opportunities,” Castelo said.

Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, in turn, decried the timing of the SC order. “Actually, the TRO is only temporary, however, the timing is not right considering the Christmas rush. Many commuters are having a hard time getting a ride. This will again be a big burden to our traveling public,” Pimentel said in a news report.

The Mobility Coalition, an alliance of organizations supporting commuter welfare, also recently issued a statement supporting Angkas. In the statement, the group said that they are disheartened by the recent Supreme Court decision and declared their support of the "regulation of motorcycle taxis as a public transport option"

The online community was abuzz with tremendous support for Angkas, acknowledging the help that the ride-hailing app has given commuters like them.  In fact, the hashtag #SaveAngkas has trended on Twitter recently, and most tweets have been in support of moves to allow the operation of Angkas and to work for its regulation.

Moreover, around 130,000 netizens have signed an online petition calling on the government to “Save Angkas” and regulate motorcycle taxis instead of prohibiting them from operating. The number of signatories continue to increase for the change.org petition.

“We have received tremendous support from our customers and from the general public and we are truly grateful about this,” noted George Royeca, Angkas head of Regulatory and Public Affairs. “Rest assured that we will do our best to come up with a course of action that's within the bounds of law so that we can once again serve the Filipino commuters," he added.

Without the legitimate Angkas ride-hailing service, passengers are forced to use underground habal-habal services, according to Angkas Operations Head David Medrana.

"These habal-habals are riskier for our commuters because many of these bikers have no drivers' licenses, have had no training in proper motorcycle safety procedures and proper motorcycle regulations, and offer no insurance at all," he added.

The LTFRB continues to insist that motorcycles are unfit for passenger transport due to safety issues. Angkas officials stress, however, that the LTFRB has consistently ignored Angkas' safety record as well as proof of the precautions it takes to ensure passenger safety, including biker training and assessment, quality helmets, and accident insurance.

Angkas' safety record currently stands at 99.997%, above and beyond the rates cited by government agencies to claim otherwise. “Our safety record is a testament not only to the viability of using motorcycles for safe passenger services, but also of the massive improvements that a single committed organization can make to professionalize an industry,” stressed Royeca.

The Angkas petition can be found on this link: https://www.change.org/p/ltfrb-saveangkas-and-support-the-regulation-of-motorcycle-taxis-in-the-philippines.

ANGKAS COMPLIES WITH SC TRO ANGKAS RIDERS JOIN UNITY RIDE TO DECRY GOV'T DISCRIMINATION

Yesterday, Angkas and the Bikers group had their unity ride asking for the Supreme court and LTFRB to make them legal . During the press launch they are very much willing to undergo certain rules that would make them more reliable and undergo measures on every member in order to lessen and or minimize such road accidents, cause of crimes ECT.

Around a thousand Angkas riders, who suddenly found themselves at the receiving end of LTFRB apprehensions, joined a massive Unity Ride this Sunday as they decry the LTFRB's continued drive to shut down their operations permanently.

The Unity Ride, which denounced government discrimination of motorcycle riders, saw around 2,000 bikers from different motorcycle clubs in Metro Manila and nearby provinces going from the Kalayaan Shrine on EDSA, heading northward towards Centris near Quezon Avenue, then making a U-turn to head back to the Kalayaan Shrine.

The Angkas riders have been airing their frustration over not being able to serve the commuters and earn a living, in the light of a recent Supreme Court Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) junking a previous RTC injunction that prevented the LTFRB from apprehending Angkas riders.

Angkas officials, on the other hand, clarified that they are not in defiance of the SC TRO, despite their frustration over its issuance.

"We are will and continue to comply with the Supreme Court TRO" Angkas Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca clarified.
"As such, we will not prevent the LTFRB from apprehending our bikers and have instructed them to comply with the authorities should they be apprehended and always be courteous and respectful of the officers."

Royeca also revealed that Angkas officials have been reaching out to DOTR and LTFRB for an open dialogue with them to find solutions for the Filipino riding public.
"Using various media channels, the LTFRB has made clear its intent to crack down on Angkas bikers, citing a very narrow interpretation of the law. Yet we have on various occasions presented the LTFRB with different options to move forward together," Royeca noted. "We have always believed that regulation, not prohibition, is key," he added.

Because of the apprehensions initiated by the LTFRB, many of the Angkas bikers are scared of going out and taking rides from commuters. "This has put around 25,000 0f our rider-partners out of a decent livelihood, and during the holiday season, too, when their families need their income the most," David Medrana, Angkas Operations Head, stressed.
"It is also unfortunate that the Supreme Court issued the TRO at a time when hundreds of thousands of commuters need the Angkas service to beat the worsening holiday traffic," Medrana rued.

Angkas rider-partner Romeo Maglungsod, Chairman of Solid Manila Riders Club, denounced the harassment of the LTFRB and decried his sudden loss of livelihood. "Napakasakit po ng nangyari sa amin. Sa isang iglap, bigla na lang kaming nawalan ng hanapbuhay," Maglungsod said.
"Hindi man lang kami nabigyan ng abiso. Biglang-bigla. Kung kelan magpa-Pasko, saka pa kami natanggalan ng disenteng kabuhayan. Ang saklap naman ng aginaldo ng LTFRB," Maglungsod added.

The LTFRB has been claiming that they are doing this because of safety reasons," Medrana also noted. "But, we are proud to say that Angkas has a safety record of 99.997%—considering all our rider-partners and all their trips. This is much higher than the safety record of all non-Angkas motorcycle riders in the country and proves how serious we are in our commitment to the safety of our riders and their passengers," he revealed.

Innovative fishball maker from Bulacan named top winner of 2018 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards

An entrepreneur’s innate ability to fish deep for innovative ideas to propel his fishball-making business to success earned him the top spot in the 2018 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA), a program funded by the Citi Foundation and hosted in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc (MCPI).

The CMA is a signature initiative of the Citi Foundation aimed at generating economic opportunities for low-income people, including youth, around the globe. The awards program provides entrepreneurs with resources to strengthen their business, including access to networks, capital, tools and training; and enables individuals to create economic sustainability for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Erwin Ramos, who turns bidbid fish into fishballs and other processed products, was presented the CMA Microentrepreneur of the Year award in ceremonies held at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Manila.

Ramos was joined by other awardees: Maria Elena Estadola, nito handicrafts business owner, Regional Awardee for Luzon; Rosario Amoroto, calamansi processing business owner, Regional Awardee for Visayas; Arnold Viado, balut producer, Regional Awardee for Mindanao; and Mary Grace Bayalas, midwife and owner of a birthing home, Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year.

The Special Award for Agri Micro-business was given to two equally deserving winners this year: Estrella Balnao, a coffee farmer and producer; and Romeo Ponio, a corn and vegetable farmer. The Special Award for Community Leadership went to Jessette Oquendo, owner of a pasalubong (souvenir) center for Palawan crafts; while Marisa Ganding, a spa and wellness center owner, received the Special Award for Startup Micro-business.

During the launch of the 2018 CMA, BSP governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. pointed out that "It is only appropriate that we continue to showcase truly inspiring success stories of our microentrepreneurs. Since its creation in 2002, the CMA program has served as a vehicle to encourage other aspiring microentrepreneurs nationwide and to spread the message that through the value and nobility of hard work, anything is possible.” He added that “our partnership with MCPI and Citi Foundation is a significant contribution to the BSP's Continuity Plus-Plus Agenda - one aspect of which is ensuring that our financial system is inclusive and leaves no one behind."     

“We are honored to recognize and celebrate successful entrepreneurs whose perseverance, determination and conviction to pursue their dreams serves as an inspiration to others. These outstanding entrepreneurs have made a difference for their families and now serve as catalysts to encourage and motivate other entrepreneurs to follow in their footsteps.  Citi Philippines is dedicated to supporting financial inclusion initiatives that help Filipinos achieve financial independence and enable them to make a contribution to their communities,” said Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed.

In 2011, Ramos, together with his wife Lanie, experimented with the use of bidbid fish—considered a nuisance in bangus fishponds—as base ingredient for fishballs. In time, they ventured into dried fish processing and fish chicharon (crispy skin)-making. An initial loan of PhP5,000 from UPLIFT Philippines, Inc. helped Ramos launch their own brand, Erwin and Lanie’s Fishball. His production facility in Paombong, Bulacan churns out freshly made fishballs and other products on a daily basis. No part of the bidbid fish goes to waste; even the innards are used as feeds in prawn farms. To this day, Ramos continues to make product innovations while relentlessly marketing his products to clients in person.

This year’s winners received close to PhP2 million in cash and non-cash prizes that include life and health insurance coverage for one year; laptops and IT training; and grassroots entrepreneurship training at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center, another Citi Foundation program in partnership with Bayan Academy. The winners will also be highlighted during celebratory town halls in their respective hometowns after the awarding ceremony.

The National Selection Committee (NSC) that chose this year’s winners is composed of Gov. Espenilla and Mr. Ahmed as co-chair; with members Mr. Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III, president and CEO, RFM Corporation; Ms. Teresita T. Sy-Coson, vice chairperson, SM Investments Corporation; Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, chairman and CEO, GMA Network, Inc.; Hon. Ramon M. Lopez, secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Ms. Mary Ann M. Montemayor, Mindanao Private Sector representative, National MSME Development Council; Ms. Imelda M. Nicolas, president, Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran; Ms. Marixi Rufino-Prieto, former chair, the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Dr. Michael L. Tan, chancellor, University of the Philippines Diliman; Mr. Orlando B. Vea, president, Voyager Innovations, Inc.; and Mr. Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president, Ayala Corporation.

CMA is now on its 16th year of recognizing outstanding microentrepreneurs across the Philippines. Through the years, this awards program has highlighted the efforts of multiple stakeholders working together to strengthen microfinance and enterprise development, and financial inclusion in the country. CMA has given recognition to over one hundred microentrepreneurs across the country, including youth microentrepreneurs and those with notable contributions in community leadership, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

1CISP AMONG TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING COOP INSURERS IN THE WORLD Local coop insurer breaches P2B in assets for Q3

The 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (1CISP), the largest cooperative insurance organization in the country, is one of the 10 fastest-growing insurance cooperatives in the world, based on the prestigious International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation’s (ICMIF) 2018 rankings. 

This signifies that we as a citizen of this country  the middle class and most specially the poor sector of our society  needs to be educated that we just have to be a part of their list of accredited cooperative and have our whole family be protected by an insurance that they have prepared in whatever kind of status you may be,  will be covered on health,  life insurance and memorial plans .

1CISP President and CEO Roy S. Miclat revealed this achievement during a press briefing held at the Romulo Cafe in Makati City last December .4, 2018.

Published last November 20, ICMIF’s Key Statistics Report surveyed its largest and fastest-growing members across product and regional lines, with 1CISP among the top performers, placing 8th for fastest-growing life insurers, and 17th overall for emerging markets, at a 23.8% premium growth from 2016-2017.

Out of ICMIF’s network comprised of 197 members worldwide, 1CISP is among only a handful of Asia-based members with growth stacking up against the international rankings.

He further explains that their existence on the Insurance was such a great task and achievement they have done as an institution . Their employees  also benefited with the business they have had with it. As an example he mentioned that their messenger is receiving an above minimum and the raise of income is computed higher than the GDP or the economic situation of the country. 

“ICMIF is one of the industry benchmarks we hold ourselves to, as the only global representative body of the cooperative and mutual insurance sector," Miclat shared. "And their 2018 report validates the sustained momentum 1CISP has achieved,” he added.

Miclat also announced that 1CISP breached the 2-billion-peso mark in terms of total assets in the third quarter of the year. The insurance cooperative registered total assets of Php2.04 billion as of end-September 2018, a huge 50% growth from the Php1.36-billion asset level in the same period last year.

With this asset surge, 1CISP has outpaced the 18-20% overall growth of the local insurance industry, according to Miclat.

“1CISP, in comparison to corporate insurance counterparts, is growing at a remarkable rate, and believe it or not, this is not an isolated phenomenon in the country. It is a lot more common across the world than previously thought, with a precedent since 2007,” said Miclat, citing the ICMIF outline of industry trends.

Based on ICMIF analysis over a ten-year period (2007-2017), ICMIF members not only experienced exponential growth, but also outperformed the overall insurance industry average, including non-cooperative insurers. The Key Statistics Report outlines, “ICMIF members have grown at a significantly faster aggregate rate than the global insurance market as a whole. During this 10-year period, ICMIF members increased their collective premium volume by 39.3%, considerably greater than the total market average, which grew by a total of 16.8%.”

“These numbers speak for themselves and support 1CISP’s mission—a prosperous Philippines is a cooperative Philippines," Miclat stressed. "While we take pride in reaching greater heights together with our peers in cooperative insurance, we are even happier that cooperatives are getting the credit they deserve,” he added.

Miclat also gave an overview of 1CISP’s 2019 business forecast, projecting an upward trajectory in the wake of their 2-billion asset milestone. “Cooperatives have been succeeding away from the limelight all this time, but our time to shine is now. We want to show everyone that Philippine cooperatives are making their mark both here and on the world stage, as globally-competitive organizations,” he concluded.

This comes as 1CISP is injecting new vigor into the local cooperative movement through initiatives such as the 1Koop Leaders Academy, an upskilling training program for future cooperative leaders; and the Coop Kicks, a contest for young innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas on cooperative ventures. Launched at the 14th National Cooperative Summit in Davao City last October 3-5, these programs were officially kicked off, with 1CISP set to host in 2019 a tri-city HR Summit to modernize the cooperative enterprise, and a youth pitch fest, respectively. 

1CISP is also sending a delegation to the biennial ICMIF Asia and Oceania Association (AOS) Seminar 2018 on December 6-7, in Hong Kong. Slated to speak and interact with the youth, Miclat, with other cooperative insurance heads, will lead the Morning Meeting by CEOs and Young Attendees.

Tackling the theme “Impact of Digital Innovation,” the AOS is a forum for exchanging invaluable insights, with 1CISP representing the Philippines as the champion for tech-adoption among coops and engaging the youth.

Maxicare launches new Primary Care Center in Ortigas

Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, the country’s leading healthcare provider, opens its newest Primary Care Center at Bridgetowne in Ortigas, to give members living and working in the area convenient access to the most relaxing healthcare experience through top notch doctors and amenities.

“Maxicare PCCs were put together with patients’ convenience in mind. Through the launch of our latest PCC here in Ortigas, we bring Maxicare’s signature reliable healthcare service closer to our members in the Eastern side of Metro Manila. Now, they don’t have to travel far to avail of their Maxicare privileges and benefits,” said Maxicare president & CEO Christian Argos.

At the new Maxicare PCC in Ortigas, members can get the Maxicare VIP treatment and quality healthcare. The cozy waiting lounge offers a refreshing beverage bar, free WIFI access, and charging stations. Members may also sit back and relax as they get attended to in just an average of a 6-minute waiting time.

Each Maxicare PCC is staffed with well-trained customer care representatives, certified healthcare professionals and Primary Care physicians who specialize in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB Gynecology, ENT, and Dermatology.

Other services available at the new PCC include various lab tests and diagnostic procedures supported by e-medical records for a seamless processing, among others.

The newest Maxicare Primary Care Center is located at 2F Zeta Tower, Bridgetowne IT Park C5 corner Ortigas Avenue Extension, Quezon City.

Maxicare has 12 Primary Care Centers including affiliate clinic MyHealth. These PCCs are located at Asian Hospital & Medical Center; Chinese General Hospital; Filomena Building, Makati; Makati Medical Center; St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City; St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City; The Medical City; MyHealth Clinic, Edsa Shangri-La; MyHealth Clinic, Festival Supermall; MyHealth Clinic, North EDSA; MyHealth Clinic, Calamba; and MyHealth Clinic, Cebu.

For more information, visit www.maxicare.com.ph.

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Maxicare Healthcare Corporation: One of the pioneers in the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry was established in 1987 by an esteemed group of doctors and businessmen with the vision to deliver a better healthcare system. Three decades later, Maxicare has progressed into becoming the No. 1 HMO* in the country, continuously providing comprehensive healthcare programs via its wide network of medical providers and strengthened customer support. Maxicare has more than 1.2 Million Members, more than 56,000 affiliated Doctors, more than 1,000 affiliated Hospitals and Clinics, 3,800 Dental providers, 8 Primary Care Centers and 13 Helpdesks, 9 Satellite Offices, 5 Exclusive Wings.

FAME Leaders’ Academy pioneers in lifestyle medicine education for healthcare leaders

Last Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, Fame Inc. conducted a Blogspot Media party to thanks their media partners and launch their Academy which was created to promulgate a complete wellness programs for most of the dreaded deceases including cancer and heart attacks who have been a serious case for most of the deaths in the country..

It is now well-established that effective and sustained lifestyle intervention is the foundation of treatment in practically all major prevalent medical problems like cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung problems, diabetes, and cancer.

However, busy healthcare providers usually have very little time to provide their patients individualized, simple and sustainable prescriptions particularly on diet, physical activity and stress management.

According to Mr. Hudson Pelayo, FLA Dean, their training modules and workshops incorporate lifestyle medicine as an essential therapeutic tool in addition to drug treatment, and offer a more holistic management of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and more.

“Drug treatment is needed in most cases,” says Pelayo, “but an effectively implemented lifestyle intervention on top of drug and/or surgical treatment is a more naturally oriented and rational holistic management approach,” he explains.

The Academy’s faculty also includes Dr. Blecenda Varona, founder of the Asian Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, who has helped improve the health and wellness of over 100,000 people all over the world. She has authored several books, lifestyle medicine web-based applications, and various health and wellness programs.

International motivational speaker and life coach Richard Tamayo handles the workshops on stress management and cultivating enriching relationships in the workplace. Tamayo has inspired audiences in the United States, Canada, and Asia. He commits to helping people experience powerful breakthroughs through principle-centered seminar workshops on personal development, emotional wellness, family and relationship improvement, stress management, team building, and leadership.

Noted cardiologist and editor, Dr Rafael Castillo, who is FLA’s Dean Emeritus, provides medical perspective in the various modules, highlighting the importance of combining lifestyle medicine with drug treatment in prevalent medical conditions.

For its continuing series of life- and health-enriching workshops, FLA recently launched “Winning in the Workplace”, a training series comprised of well-designed courses and programs specifically made for each organization’s requirements, with topics ranging from lifestyle medicine strategies with a focus on preventing lifestyle diseases; cultivating strong, healthy, and productive workplaces.

Through its highly-structured courses and programs, FLA aims to impart uncommon knowledge, skills and best practices to participants which they can use and readily apply in both professional and personal settings, all while realizing their full potential as creative, passionate, dynamic and productive individuals.

The Academy is the new addition to multimedia company FAME Inc.’s (Friendly Alliances and Media Expressions Incorporated) growing number of divisions catering to medical and health-related communications services.

For more information, you may email fameleadersacademy@fame.ph or call (02) 892 07 23 or 24 loc. 112.

About FAME Leaders’ Academy

Inspired by the vision of an empowered community of leaders boldly shifting paradigms to continually find better ways of doing things and making it a better world, the FAME Leader’s Academy takes up the challenge of molding future movers and shakers in various professional arenas, making them the best they could ever be. The Academy aims to be a topnotch learning provider for organizations to develop their people’s skills both at the personal and professional levels, so they could be better equipped to handle the challenges of their careers, achieving a seamless balance in the various aspects of their lives.

Through its well-designed training courses and programs distinctly customized to suit each organization’s requirements, participants gain knowledge, skills and best practices which they can readily apply in both professional and personal settings, as they discover their full potential as creative, passionate, dynamic, and productive individuals.

BRANDON VERA KNOCKS OUT MAURO CERILLI IN FIRST ROUND TO RETAIN ONE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

EDUARD FOLAYANG OUTCLASSES AMIR KHAN TO CAPTURE ONE LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HONORIO BANARIO BEATS RAHUL RAJU IN THRILLER 23 November 2018 – Manila, Philippines: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), returned to the Mall Of Asia Arena for another exciting evening of world-class martial arts action. ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS featured a series of compelling bouts, punctuated by two unforgettable championship clashes that left fans on the edge of their seats. In the main event, Filipino-American superstar Brandon Vera successfully defended his ONE Heavyweight World Championship against Italian challenger Mauro Cerilli. In the co-main event, Eduard Folayang of the Philippines defeated Singapore’s Amir Khan via unanimous decision to capture the vacant ONE Lightweight World Championship. Visit the official ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS photo gallery by clicking: https://bit.ly/onephotos In the main event, reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines made quick work of Italy’s Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli, stopping his opponent with a well-placed left hook counter to the jaw that turned the lights out on the Italian. After an aggressive Cerilli stalked Vera across the cage, the Filipino-American took a step back and uncorked the counter that landed right on the button. Cerilli was out before he hit the canvas as referee Olivier Coste stepped in to call a halt to the contest just passed the one minute mark. The victory also earned Vera GoDaddy KO of the Night honors. Brandon Vera, ONE Heavyweight World Champion, stated: “Manila, all my countrymen, I’ve missed you all. Two years was a long time. I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long, but it looks like I can still do it. I’ve been watching Mauro’s tapes every night. Even as I sleep, I watch him train. I watch him fight. I watch everything he does. I know he swings hard. He did punch me in the mouth and it hurt, and then when he fell down, I was pretty surprised. So I’m glad I got that left hook in and dropped him with it. In the world of martial arts, the Philippines owns five world titles. We can do this. Continue your support. Let’s get all the belts!” In the co-main event of the evening, the Philippines’ Eduard “Landslide” Folayang secured a thrilling five-round unanimous decision victory over Singapore’s Amir Khan to capture the vacant ONE Lightweight World Championship. Folayang dominated Khan from start to finish, punishing his younger opponent with a variety of striking combinations featuring spinning heel kicks and sharp elbows. Khan tried his best to counter Folayang’s offense, but appeared a step slower and couldn’t pin down Folayang’s timing. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Folayang. Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the Philippines overcame a game effort from challenger Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of Singapore to win by unanimous decision after three rounds. Banario dominated Raju in striking exchanges while also threatening with submissions in the first round. Raju made it a competitive bout in the second frame, but Banario came alive once again in the third and nearly finished the Singaporean with a rear naked choke. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Banario. In a spirited ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest, bantamweights Saemapetch Fairtex of Thailand and Alaverdi Ramazanov of Russia put on an absolute show for fans at the Mall of Asia Arena. Ramazanov used his height and length to pose problems for Saemapetch early, but the Thai veteran would start to come on in the second round. Although Ramazanov would try his best to outwork his opponent, Saemapetch proved much too explosive and powerful. After three rounds of action, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Saemapetch to win by unanimous decision. James Nakashima of the United States authored a solid all-around performance in his ONE Championship debut, dominating Russia’s Raimond Magomedaliev to earn a unanimous decision victory. Nakashima bucked a slow start in the first round after Magomedaliev’s range posed a problem for the former American National Wrestling Champion. Nakashima’s grappling prowess was put on display in the succeeding rounds as he took Magomedaliev down at will and consistently pounded him out. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Nakashima. Japanese kickboxing ace Hiroaki Suzuki was victorious in his ONE Super Series debut, picking up a unanimous decision win over Lithuania’s Deividas Danyla. Danyla controlled the pace in the opening round, but Suzuki connected on a left hook that sent Danyla to the mat to close the first frame. In the second round, Danyla continued to put the paces on Suzuki who appeared to grow stronger as the bout wore on. In the third round, Suzuki turned up the pressure with a stream of thunderous kicks and punch combinations, enough to earn him the nod on all three judges’ scorecards. French Muay Thai star Samy “AK-47” Sana picked up his first win on the ONE Super Series stage with a unanimous decision victory over Armen Petrosyan of Italy in their three-round kickboxing contest. The former WBC and A1 Muay Thai World Champion was dominant from bell to bell, rattling Petrosyan with swift combinations. Petrosyan managed to keep the bout competitive, but Sana was always a step ahead, and he took home a clear-cut decision win. In a clash between former ONE World Title contenders, Alexandre “Bebezao” Machado of Brazil returned to his winning ways with a spectacular second-round stoppage victory over Japan’s Hideki “Shrek” Sekine. Machado survived a strong first round from the Japanese grappler as he was taken down with a flurry of effective slams. In the second round, Machado showcased his striking superiority as he hammered Sekine with a barrage of heavy punches to claim the technical knockout. Han Zi Hao took home a first-round technical knockout victory over Malaysian debutant Azwan Che Wil. Both men employed fiery offense from the start with Han utilizing his speed and power to connect on a handful of thudding strikes, knocking Che Wil down late in the first round. With a few seconds remaining in the opening frame, Han dropped Che Wil again, this time with the Malaysian signalling to the referee that he could no longer continue. The victory was then awarded to the Chinese striker. Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of the Philippines sent the crowd into a frenzy with a second-round technical knockout victory over China’s Peng Xue Wen. Miado looked to trade hands early on, clipping Peng with solid punches from different angles. With Peng opting to continue exchanging strikes in the second round, Miado capitalized on the opportunity, dropping his opponent to the mat with a stinging right uppercut and then drilling a barrage of follow-up blows to force the stoppage. In an intense battle between ONE Warrior Series alumni, Akihiro “SuperJap” Fujisawa of Japan emerged triumphant, scoring a third-round technical knockout victory over Bangkok-based Filipino standout Rockie Bactol. Fujisawa had to weather an early storm, defending against Bactol’s blazing punch combinations in the first round. He turned the tide in the second frame, negating Bactol’s striking with his top-notch ground game. In the final period, Fujisawa grinded out Bactol on the mat for the majority of the round before securing the finish with a series of hard blows. Setting the tone for an action-packed evening was a three-round flyweight encounter between Rudy “The Golden Boy” Agustian and Asraful “Warrior” Islam. Agustian turned in a dominant performance, outclassing Islam over the course of three rounds. Banking on his superior striking and smoothly-executed takedowns, Agustian walked away with the clear-cut unanimous decision victory. Official results for ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS ONE Heavyweight World Championship bout: Brandon Vera defeats Mauro Cerilli by Knockout (KO) at 1:04 minutes of round 1 ONE Lightweight World Championship bout: Eduard Folayang defeats Amir Khan by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds Catch Weight bout (79.0kgs): Honorio Banario defeats Rahul Raju by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds ONE Super Series Muay Thai Bantamweight bout: Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Alaverdi Ramazanov by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds Welterweight bout: James Nakashima defeats Raimond Magomedaliev by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds ONE Super Series Kickboxing Bantamweight bout: Hiroaki Suzuki defeats Deividas Danyla by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds ONE Super Series Kickboxing Catch Weight bout (73.0kgs): Samy Sana defeats Armen Petrosyan by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds Heavyweight bout: Alexandre Machado defeats Hideki Sekine by TKO  at 1:44 minutes of round 2 ONE Super Series Muay Thai Bantamweight bout: Han Zi Hao defeats Azwan Che Wil by TKO (Referee Stoppage) at 2:52 minutes of round 1 Strawweight bout: Jeremy Miado defeats Peng Xue Wen by TKO (Strikes) at 0:53 minutes of round 2 Flyweight bout: Akihiro Fujisawa defeats Rockie Bactol by TKO (Strikes) at 4:40 minutes of round 3 Flyweight bout: Rudy Agustian defeats Asraful Islam by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Reimagine the timeless classic “Robin Hood” at SM Cinema

This November, experience non-stop action and adventure in SM Cinema as Summit Entertainment reimagined the timeless tale of Robin Hood.

A known thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, Robin Hood of Loxley (Taron Egerton) together with John (Jamie Foxx) and his band of outlaws, the Merry Men, will start a revolution to stop the wicked English crown on oppressing the people.

Directed by Otto Bathurst, the film also includes actors Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet and Eve Hewson as Marian.

Catch Robin Hood starting November 21 at any SM Cinema branch near you. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.  You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

SM Aura Premier embraces a greener community with "Lush Initiative" program, screens "A Plastic Ocean"

Today, November 21, 2018 SM Aura Premier an advocate for greener programs launched the Lush Initiative- an ecological movement that showcase a round-up eco friendly activities to help build better lifestyle spaces.

A free film screening of "A Plastic Ocean in partnership with SM Cares, SM Cinema, WWF and DENR. The film was very informative and was an eye opener specially to those who loiter garbage specially the plastics the one time use only. There we can see that The Oceans are filled with plastics, bottles, tires and other garbage materials. The fish and other sea creatures got sick and eventually die of eating some of the plastics that are being scattered in the bottom of the sea.

 As they conducted some of the studies made to fishes, they found out  that we humans who eat this affected fishes are contaminated with those particles which causes the bloodstream of the one who ate this plastics being affected as well and may cause harm to the one who eats them whether their co sea creatures or us the human beings.

This film should be shown even in our television sets at home or even with the children in schools for us to be aware and eventually takes our  part on how to be more careful on every garbage disposals we have in our house and community's as well.

"We share our vision with the Filipino community as we inspire greener mall spaces through various eco-friendly and sustainable programs." Said Bernice Baculi, SM Shortfalls Assistant VICE President for mall operations..

Both promoting a sustainable lifestyle, SM Aura themed up with The plastic solution as the exclusive and official drop off point for Eco bricks-a plastic bottles stuffed with solid non biodegradable waste converted into structures for the surrounding communities . In just 2 days, its online release reached about 30,000 users with hundreds of shares.

The Last straw, an initiative that envisions a stateless community is also underway at SM Aura as more restaurants express their interests and active participation to the program by offering alternatives to plastic straw.

Top ranking seed company East-West Seed hosts Vegetable Field Day at Villar Sipag Farm

We tthe Online bloggers and Media takes part of the Asian Seed Congress for this literally Field trip that is so educational and has given interest on us to plant vegetables and fruits even on our own backyard or on a  25 kilo sack of rice.

As part of its participation to the 25th Asian Seed Congress 2018, East-West Seed (EWS) organized a demo field in Villar SIPAG Farm in Bacoor, Cavite. Formally opened through a Field Day November 16, 2018, the EWS Demo Field showcases over 100 vegetable varieties in a unique ‘Pinoy Fiesta’ set-up.

Asian Seed Congress delegates and media guests were greeted by Sen. Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food. “We are glad that East-West Seed has chosen this as the venue for the East-West Seed Field Day 2018.”

She also thanked EWS for partnering with Villar SIPAG in the training programs and its generosity in sharing expertise in vegetable farming.

“East-West Seed developed these vegetable varieties with the aim to improve the lives and incomes of smallholder farmers around the world and to help give better nutrition to consumers,” said Mike Dela Paz, Product Manager of East-West Seed.

#1 in South and Southeast Asia

This commitment was recently highlighted in a recognition received by East-West Seed at the Asian Seed Congress 2018. The independent organization Access to Seeds revealed EWS to be number 1 out of 24 companies in in serving smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia.

The Access to Seeds Index is measuring and ranking seed companies according to their efforts to improve access to quality seeds of improved varieties to support smallholder farmer productivity.

For over three decades, East-West Seed has served over 18 million smallholder farmers worldwide to increase their productivity and incomes. Part of their efforts have been to provide and breed specific needs of their clients, selling seeds in small packages, and providing training to farmers. It is this business model that proves and supports the goal of the Access to Seed Index which is to bridge the gap between the world’s leading seed companies and the smallholder farmer.

“We are deeply proud of this achievement as it reflects our continued mission to improve the lives of farmers one seed at a time,” said Henk Hermans, EWS General Manager in the Philippines.

“Better Seeds for a Better World”

With the theme, “Better Seeds for a Better World,” the field demo features a wide range of vegetable varieties that produce better yield, thrive in changing conditions, and have traits that are attractive to vegetable consumers.

It also boasts unique varieties including rounded eggplant, butternut pumpkin, purple waxy-sweet corn, and purple yardlong bean.

This event also has an interactive component with East-West Seed’s catalog app CropWiki which was launched last 2017. CropWiki contains detailed information on over 900 of East-West Seed’s vegetable varieties. Filled with physical and genetic crop information, the app can help increase farmers’ income because it provides knowledge needed to make informed decisions in farming.

East-West Seed will also hold Field Days for the public on November 21 to 23 in their demo fields in Villar SIPAG Farm and in the University of the Philippines - Los Banos. Urban gardening workshops, cooking demos, learning sessions with farmers, and a career day for students will be held during these field days and will be offered for FREE to everyone.

Asian Seed Congress Turns 25 in Manila

Seed Industry Stakeholders Meet to Trade, Address Challenges in US$5 billion industry

MANILA, the Philippines: Some 1,300 delegates from more than 50 countries have registered for the 25th Asian Seed Congress, scheduled 12–15 November at the Marriott Manila Hotel.

The annual meeting is the region's most significant seed industry event. It is organized jointly by the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) and the host nation's National Organizing Committee (NOC) -- which, this year, is that of the Philippines. Hosting rotates yearly among member countries.

This year’s NOC is steered by the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) with support from the Southeast Asian archipelago’s Department of Agriculture and National Seed Industry Council.

The for-members and by-invitation-only event features business meetings, entertainment, a trade exhibition, technical sessions and APSA’s General Assembly meeting.

This is the third time in 25 years the Philippines is hosting the event, with previous Manila editions held in 1998 and 2007.

The ASC has also been held in Chiang Mai, Bangkok (four times), Pattaya, Brisbane, Shanghai, Macau, Kaohsiung, Goa, New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chiba, Kobe, Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Incheon and Ho Chi Minh City.

Representatives attend from commercial and non-governmental seed-related organizations, government agencies and research institutes involved in seed policy, research and development.

Discussions on this year's agenda include the latest challenges and developments in plant breeding innovation, biotechnology, intellectual property rights, plant variety protection, phytosanitary measures and market trends

Demand for quality seed in the region – and around the world – has risen steadily over the last decade, however, demand is outstripping production owing to challenges hindering output and productivity, including climate change and a volatile geopolitical climate.

The 25th  Asian Seed Congress, Manila, is proudly sponsored by Bayer CropScience (China) Company Ltd, Anseme S.p.a., SL Agritech Corporation, Syngenta Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, Acsen Hyveg Private Limited, Allied Botanical Corporation, East West Seed (Philippines) Inc., Kaneko Seeds Co., Ltd, Lim-Loges & Masters Pte Ltd., Noble Seeds Private Limited, Pilipinas Kaneko Seed Corporation and United Genetics India Pvt Ltd.

Seed Trade Trends in the APSA Region

According to official figures logged by the International Trade Commission, no less than US$5.2 billion worth of sowing seed was traded to or from the APSA region last year. (See end notes about this figure)

Of this, US$3.74bn were imports, while US$1.49bn were exports, resulting in a trade deficit of

US$2.24 bn.

International trade in the APSA region – which includes all countries in East, Central, West, South and Southeast Asia, in addition to Oceania and the South Pacific – constituted a 13.3% share of the world’s seed export market, and 25% market share of imports, worth US$11.5bn and US$15bn, respectively.

The region’s top seed supplier was China, which exported just under US$200 million worth of seed, representing 13% of APSA, and about 1.73% of the world seed export market.

Trailing closely in second was India, which exported US$195.6mn in seed to claim 1.70% of the world, and 13% of APSA seed export market share. Thailand was third with US$186.45mn worth of exports (1.6% world, 12.46% APSA), followed by New Zealand (US$157.3mn), Israel (US$154.4mn), Japan (US$135.8mn) and Australia (US$99.8mn).

Only a handful of APSA countries sustain a surplus in seed trade: India, Thailand, New Zealand and Israel. Indeed, a majority of APSA countries continue to depend on imported seed to maintain food security.

On both regional and global scale, seed outflow in many countries last year reached a five-year low.

A case in point is the top three seed importers, Pakistan, Malaysia and China. From 2013 to 2016, Malaysia was consistently the region’s leading importer of sowing seed – importing between US$500 and US$800mn worth of seed annually.

Most seed the Southeast Asian country imported was maize and soybean, consistent with the government’s policy of strengthening food security through cropping extension programs.

Pakistan has been right behind Malaysia and is heavily dependent on bulk field crop seed consignments. Last year, the Himalayan country bumped Malaysia from the top slot to reign supreme in regional seed imports, bringing in seed worth US$913 million, including US$745mn of which was soya; US$54 maize and US$20mn paddy.

As previously reported in Asian Seed Magazine, Pakistan in recent years has ramped up cooperation with Chinese agriculture companies through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which includes a number of Chinese-funded agriculture projects, including some dedicated to breeding and seed production. China is rapidly becoming a leader in agricultural innovation and is actively promoting regional cooperation with neighboring countries through its Belt and Road initiative. Other leading agriculture nations – Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, France, Germany, US, Israel, India, Japan and South Korea – are also increasing agricultural investments and cooperation throughout the region, especially in developing countries in Central, South and Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, as well as in subtropical and tropical Africa.

Indeed, strong regional cooperation is necessary to deal with an increasingly volatile climate, the emergence of new pests, and uncertain geopolitical affairs affecting trade.

Such challenges – as well as strategies with which to overcome them – will be discussed at this year’s Asian Seed Congress in Manila, a dialogue that will certainly continue at the 26th  Asian Seed Congress, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next year.

Notes about Trade Figures

Reported figure covers consignments for various types of vegetable, ornamental and forage plants (traded using the HS code prefix of 1209…) as well as maize (100510), paddy (100610) cotton (120721), soybean (120110) and two different types of wheat – durum (100111) and meslin (100191).

Not counted in this figure are seed potato, seeds of tobacco, herbs, spices or oleaginous fruits and plants, such as palm, melon or hemp. Moreover, available data reported for maize seed exports from Myanmar was excluded from the dataset due to anomalous figures that could not be verified.