This Buko Pie from Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center in Silang, Cavite is your newest budol

Not too sweet, but full of coconut meat!

As Covid-19 restrictions continue to loosen, more people start taking vacations once more, and more tourist destinations and local businesses open (or reopen) to satisfy the demand.

The Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center in Silang, Cavite, is one local business that has recently increased the size of its presence. Its second location is perfectly positioned to accommodate travelers going to and from the well-known tourist attraction Tagaytay and other surrounding locations.

The pasalubong center side (which motorists can see from the road) of Balai Palmera opened in May 2021, while the restaurant (located in the back) opened in July of this year, serving heartwarming Filipino dishes and gratifying pasalubong snacks and delicacies.

One of the most popular pasalubong, the Buko Pie is their best seller.

The Best Buko Pie in Silang, is usually served fresh from the oven. A box of Balai Palmera buko pie is competitively priced, comparable to other buko pies in the area. As an added attraction, guests would be able to witness how the tasty treats are made with an open kitchen setup, from the dough preparation to the boxing of the mouthwatering pie.

Come visit and sample The Best Buko Pie in Silang!

📍 Pasong Langka Branch:

Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong

Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Road, Brgy. Pasong Langka, Silang, Cavite

📞 Pasalubong: 0927-501-7616

📞 Restaurant: 0945-869-5392

🚙 https://waze.com/ul/hwdw092171

For more information, updates, and other news, you may follow them on their official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Investors Summit to promote QC as top business destination

The highly-anticipated "Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready" will promote Quezon City as an ideal destination for investors and businesses as they continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The summit will put the spotlight on Quezon City as a top business destination for local and international investors. We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.

Scheduled on Oct. 7 at Novotel Manila in Araneta City, the event will engage investors, business leaders, business associations, chambers of commerce, foreign dignitaries, and Quezon City government officials in discussions on key areas for investments, public-private partnerships, and opportunities for expansion and growth. 

"Quezon City is future-ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits," said Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City.

Aside from its strategic location, Quezon City also has the homegrown QC E-Services platform that makes business processes such as permit and license applications easy for investors, according to Santos.

"The LGU has automated and digitized 95 percent of the city’s services through its QC E-Services platform. This means potential investors can apply for business permits online," said Santos, adding that the "permit will even be delivered to the applicant’s business or home address free of charge."

As a matter of principle, the Quezon City government constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector, which has enabled both sectors to build a relationship of mutual respect and support. "This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues, and to think up ways to create a free, fair and fertile business environment," Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, points out.

The local government is an ardent supporter of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing them with incentives from tax breaks, and tax payment extensions, and changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help businesses, especially during the pandemic.

Soon, Quezon City will launch its Start-Up QC program to further strengthen and develop its start-up business ecosystem. "This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative, and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges," Jay Gatmaitan, Investment Affairs Office head, explained.

The city’s commitment to good governance saw results when the Quezon City government received its second straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit for its annual audit report for the year 2021. An unqualified opinion is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by COA to a government agency.

Recognized for its quality public service, Quezon City has increased its social services budget over the past three years, enabling the local government to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, and provide permanent housing, better healthcare, and social safety nets, among others.

Earlier, Margie Santos, head of the summit’s organizing committee, said this gathering of business leaders aims to build investor confidence in Quezon City; generate investments and public-private partnerships and make Quezon City the top-of-mind preferred investment destination.

Puerto Princesa: Paradise Regained

The Royal Treatment at Puerto Princesa

With safety protocols firmly enforced, Puerto Princesa is poised to again welcome tourists with open arms. In recent years, the highly urbanized city and tourist haven has been paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, then pummeled by Typhoon Odette. But it is now on the road to recovery---as spectacularly as its scenic, romantic and gastronomic attractions.

"The tourism industry is the lifeblood of Puerto Princesa, along with agriculture. Almost 15,000 people directly or indirectly benefit from tourism. In varying degrees, most of the recent construction and development projects are related to tourism: hotel-building, parks, cruise-ship ports, street lights, roads, and many more. Unfortunately, some of these have been on hold since the onset of the pandemic," discloses Demetrio "Toto" Alvior Jr., the city tourism officer.

The Royal Connection

Puerto Princesa, the capital of postcard-perfect Palawan, sprawls across 253,982 hectares of captivating coastlines stretched over 106 kilometers. Due to its strategic geographical location, it has sufficient depth to allow ships of all sizes to anchor, earning a reputation as a "Princess of Ports," or in Spanish, "Puerto Princesa."

There’s no contention that Puerto Princesa is one of the country’s greatest pleasures. A holiday destination universally beloved by travelers, beach-combers, and trekkers; a bustling business center with a rural allure; a provincial vibe with modern amenities; and a clean and green city recognized for its lush forests, fresh air, and frontier character.

Rising Above COVID-19

The city of Puerto Princesa has been struggling to get to its feet since the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The lack of tourists, which is the main industry, has forced hundreds of tourism-related businesses to close, leaving thousands of tourism workers unemployed.

"The public-health crisis forced them to find alternative sources of income, which was made more difficult because of the restrictions of movement due to several lockdowns," Mr. Alvior reveals. "One factor of low tourist arrivals is the fluctuating number of Covid cases, which in turn affects the determination of quarantine requirements and national government intervention policies."

Today, Puerto Princesa is experiencing record lows in terms of economic losses, losing around P5 billion a year for the past two years from potential tourist receipts.

"The City Tourism Department has been strengthening its social media campaigns to encourage local tourists to visit local attractions, in a bid to boost much-needed revenues to the ailing tourism sector," a cautiously optimistic Mr. Alvior says. "We have one important wish in the City Tourism Department, and that is to prioritize the aids for the Typhoon Odette-affected tourism industry here."

The goal is to regain the city’s glory as an eco-tourism capital. "Our 2022 goals are the full restoration of all the tourist attractions affected by Typhoon Odette such as the completion of the construction of the cruise-ship port and other man-made tourist attractions. There will be wide, extensive, and aggressive promotions of Puerto Princesa to the local and international market."

The Last Frontier

Puerto Princesa has a plethora of tourist spots. But many tourists who visit the city put the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, on top of their list. As the jump-off point for exploring the world-famous Tubbataha Reef, the city also hosts a fair share of adventurers.

"Since the Covid-19 outbreak, we have never ceased to hope that the future will be better. This year 2022 is no different. And while what we want is a full recovery, we cannot afford to be careless when taking big steps. As we begin to truly understand the gravity of the situation, we also come to realize that our moves must be consistent with the bigger picture such as the national situation," Mr. Alvior says.

Since February 10, the city has been happily welcoming more visitors once again, hoping that the arrival numbers will soon be back to pre-pandemic levels. In this initiative, the tourism department shares the privilege with the private sector.

"While the government is the administrator of the State, the private sector is the bloodline. The government and the private sector are two inseparable factors for Puerto Princesa to prosper, and more importantly, to recover," Mr. Alvior says. "The key to recovery is to enable and support the private sector to keep or resume their business operations. When it comes to the city’s biggest partners, apart from government agencies, it is the collective impact of small-business operations."

Puerto Princesa maybe “The Last Frontier,” but the City Tourism Department is confident that it will always be the first choice of every traveler.

Expect E-sports to click further in the Philippines

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2021 was sort of a banner year for the Philippines regarding its participation in various electronic sports (E-sports) events, either locally or internationally, where Pinoy players have dominated the majority of these competitions.

No wonder, with the lucrative money prizes and distinctions that await esports athletes, the esports market in the country grew further. And since smartphones continue to become the ubiquitous gadget for Filipinos, coupled with improving mobile internet connectivity, expect esports to continue to attract youngsters to the esports arena.

One such esports team is "Virgin Souls"

"Our team was named ‘Virgin Souls’ because we have a business called Virgin Soles, which is a sneaker cleaning product. We loved the name Virgin Soles because we wanted to show the other teams our "clean and smooth moves," explains Ingrid, team manager of Virgin Souls, whose members include Jetson Ignacio, Kharl Tan, Kristofer Calderon, Joshua Albino, Steven Buenaventura, Mark Cabigting, and Coach, Laurence Ruiz.

Initially, recruitment requirements for team members were not really that high because it was what she called a "passion project." However, after a few months, they started to become strict when they added Banting, one of the country’s top tanks, to the team, a child prodigy since he was only 16 years old. They made some changes to the requirements for inclusion in the team, such as high points, that recruits have to go through the process of choosing players. "What we did was we held tryouts and recruits were made to answer certain interview questions to gauge their attitude, and then we interviewed them. And we didn’t set any age requirement as long as they are dexterous enough to play the game."

She explained the choice of Goyo, who is 22, as the team captain, who was chosen because of his maturity to lead the team, someone the other team members can refer to as their "Kuya."

Why E-sports?

It was her little brother’s dream, says Ingrid, to be part of a pro team, and it was hers and her partner’s passion since he is a co-owner of the TNC Pro Team so she decided to form an amateur one. "For a professional team, the pressure is much higher, same with the costs, but the prizes are bigger. With an amateur team, the risks are also high. It’s really about investing time, and resources because the competition field is much bigger and the chances of winning are smaller."

Challenges Abound

The first challenge they faced, according to Ingrid, was recruitment, which is more skills-based. In the first stage, she said, it’s all about skills, and then after that the interview for their attitude, though that can’t be gauged immediately. By the time they went to boot camp, that’s where they saw who they really were. "Because they’re young, we saw their immaturity, their difficulty in dealing with other people, and the pandemic somewhat affected their social skills. We had to adjust things while they were at boot camp, and taught them how to go along with other people," she said.

But what she was glad about was that the majority of the players have supportive parents who wanted to support their child’s dream, although they had difficulty with some, like Haru, one of the players, who had a super strict guardian. "That was understandable so we had to explain that their children are safe with us, so we put in place protocols like regular Covid-19 testing every month."

For one of the team members, he said it was difficult to be away from his family, his child, but he needs to do it to fulfill his dreams and to prove to himself that he feels the need to be better. His sentiments were echoed by the other team members, who all shared that what they’re doing is for the fulfillment of their dreams, and of course, the bonding time with teammates is necessary to fight homesickness.

Ingrid is also proud that their team members, mostly students, still managed to excel in school despite their busy schedule in training. It all boils down to time management, she said, because she doesn’t want the players to neglect their studies since education is still important. "They’re not different from traditional sports athletes where they have to maintain good grades because we don’t want people to think that esports is a hindrance to their studies."

Legislative Action

The idea of identifying E-sports players as "athletes" much like in traditional sports, was the reason why Ingrid joined the party-list CLICK, or Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge since one of their major platforms is E-sports, where they want to help the kids gain recognition as athletes, for E-sports to be respected. "We believe CLICK can help us and other teams achieve that level of respect, that they will help the esports scene. They’re the only party list that devotes time to supporting E-sports and has future projects related to its development. It’s nice to know that there’s a group such as CLICK as a partner of the esports community."

The future of E-sports with CLICK’s Help

With CLICK’s help, Ingrid believes that esports will become a viable option for kids who want to pursue an esports career. As of now, she said, those venturing into esports are still very few, and fewer parents believe in it. "With the help of CLICK, I think they will be able to help us shape the future generation who are more open to going into esports, especially parents. Once CLICK is elected into Congress, they can come up with laws for its further development and support during competitions, especially regarding travel requirements. With the help of CLICK, we hope they can make parents understand that esports is not just a game and it’s not just a waste of time. I think CLICK can help us change that perspective."

It is all about making the right CLICK through technology. The esports community has chosen CLICK as their party list of choice. So, be ready to choose CLICK, No. 40 on the ballot.

To know more about CLICK, visit any of the following social media channels: 

Website: https://www.clickpartylist.ph 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLICKpartylist

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ClickPartylist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clickpartylist/

YouTube: https://bit.ly/CLICKPARTYLIST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/partylist-click-4b0016227/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clickpartylist

Acculab MNL Opens its Doors in Manila: Accurate, Consistent and Efficient Testing is now Available!

As the COVID-19 pandemic virus continues its onslaught worldwide, infections have spread rapidly over the world populace, leaving a trail of devastation in both social and commercial fronts.

Due to the increase in COVID cases in the Philippines, the lack of medical and testing capacity, and as the period of uncertainty lingers while we wait for the development of a working vaccine, AccuLab MNL, a privately-owned swabbing facility for personal and occupational COVID-19 testing and certification officially opened last Thursday.

Hon. Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso graced the Grand Launch and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony last Oct 22, 2020. In support of Manila government’s action plan dubbed as CODE-COVID-19 (Contain and Delay), 200 Antigen Rapid Testing Kits were donated to the Hon. Mayor that same day. Mayor Isko, who’s celebrating his birthday personally received the gift vouchers.

AccuLab MNL is a team of professional and highly-trained swabbers consisting of medical technologists and nurses operating at the highest standards and is committed to providing efficient and accurate testing with fast and reliable turnaround times. AccuLab MNL also provides home and office swabbing services to patients so that coronavirus swab testing can be done to those who need to travel or work.

AccuLab MNL’s swab test ranges from 4,500.00 to 11,500.00 depending on the turnaround time for results. AccuLab MNL’s also offers Antigen Rapid Testing at a very low price of P1,400. We accept walk-in, drive-through and remote collection.

AccuLab MNL mainly offers the gold standard in coronavirus testing, the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This is a highly technical process that not only involves having the right machine and kits, but also the proper safety infrastructure, like a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) laboratory. 

This is why, AccuLab MNL partnered with PHILIPPINE AIRPORT DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY, a duly licensed and DOH-accredited molecular diagnostic testing facilities, also considered as one of the early responders to the government’s call for unity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more details, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/acculabmnl/

At AccuLab MNL, we are committed to delivering your COVID-19 test report and certification with Accuracy, Consistency and Efficiency. We at AccuLab MNL, we ACE in the trace.

Acculab MNL
580 P. Ocampo St. 1004 Malate, Philippines
Phone Number: 0995 654 2223

The Young and Mighty Mayor Dino Reyes Chua for Asia Leaders Awards 2020

Noveleta — A former barrio in Kawit, Cavite, this city was the home of so many Philippine heroes and martyrs during the Spanish era. Stories mentioned that the revolution against the Spanish colonialism produced five brave and able military generals and tacticians from Noveleta in the persons of Gen. Mariano Alvarez with his son Gen. Santiago Alvarez and Gen. Mariano's cousin, Gen. Pascual Alvarez and Gen. Luciano San Miguel. He was the Last President of the Philippine Revolutionary Government after the capture of General Mariano Trias, the first Vice President of the Philippines and General Miguel Malvar of Batangas. Another hero is Gen. Ariston Villanueva who together with Gen. Santiago Alvarez emerged as the hero of the Battle of Calero.

For this generation, another young and brave public servant is rising. Already a successful businessman (He is the president of Skyjet Airlines,  owner of El Palacio Resort in Coastal Bay, Noveleta, Cavite, owner of One Greenbelt Hotel in Ayala Center, Makati City and president of World Trade Hotels international, the incumbent Mayor, Dino Reyes Chua is the epitome of success. 

Now nominated for Man of the Year under Asia Leaders Awards, Mayor Dino Reyes Chua is not stopping to help his constituents in his hometown of Noveleta especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. 

His presence for his community is unbelievable as his heart really is to help his community which started at an early age. The trust of his peers to this young public servant proves when he became the youngest Vice Mayor of Cavite City at the age of 23. In 2010, he also served as No. 1 Provincial Board Member representing the 1st Congressional District of Cavite (Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario). He also became one of the youngest majority leaders of Cavite Province at the age of 29. He often assumes the position of Acting Vice Governor whenever the Governor or Vice Governor is on-leave. In 2016, he became the youngest elected Mayor of Noveleta, Cavite at the age of 35.

Mayor Dino Reyes Chua proves that age is but a number only if one really is into helping and sharing the blessings. Everyone can do it as long as with focus, authentic with a heart and with a vision for the betterment of his own organisations and community. 

Awarding ceremony will be on November 20, 2020 and live streaming in the Asia Leaders Awards Facebook page and in 30 more accounts of the partner organisations to reach more audience. 

Asia Leaders Awards for years with the main objective to promote the Philippines as the business hub and destination in Asia is one of the largest and respected award giving body from the Philippines with awardees from all around Asia Pacific. Mission is to acknowledge these leaders so that they can inspire others more to do better, to help others and be the best in their industries and communities. 

Awards committees came from different organisations such as embassies, high government officers and senior leaders from different associations. To know more about ALA, please visit www.asialeadersawards.asia

Hotel Sogo Innovation: New Normal Hotel Features

Experts say it will take longer before the world completely heals from the effect of COVID19. As the country prepares to ease up after the almost three months of Enhance Community Quarantine, Hotel Sogo steps up for their version of the hotel industry’s "new normal". 

Hotel Sogo is doing various ways to ensure the safety and security of its guests and employees against the spread of COVID19 virus, once they go back to regular operations.

Top on its list will be the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights in disinfecting around its facilities and intensified the process from checking-in to ordering of food to make sure their facilities as So Clean. The ultraviolet (UV) lights are highly effective at disinfection, as its rays are capable of killing bacteria, germs, and viruses.

To prepare its employees in servicing its guests, Hotel Sogo makes sure to protect their employees from the virus by giving them vitamins to boost their immunity and provided personalized PPEs.

Hotel Sogo employees have their medical check-ups and COVID19 testing to make sure that their personnel is free from the virus to make sure that the employees and not just the facilities are So Good and ready for their regular operations.

Guests need not worry during their stay Hotel Sogo ensures that operations and preparations are So Safe, as mandatory temperature checks, passage through disinfecting tent, and use of disinfecting foot tray are in place. The availability of hand sanitizers in common areas, are strictly observed, as well as social distancing from the receiving process to elevator use going to their rooms. 

Facilities are also redesigned and modified to protect the guests and employees, like placing the glass panel divider on top of the front desk.

All of this information can be found in Hotel Sogo’s "new normal" video playbook. The video is shared with relevant government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Tourism (DOT), in the hope that the video could serve as a benchmark of other similar establishments prior to their reopening.

Watch Hotel Sogo’s "new normal" playbook video to know more. 

Shopee Identifies 4 of the Biggest E-commerce Trends in 2020

Consumers shop more often on weekdays and show an increased preference for cashless payments, while brands and sellers expand their online presence.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, identifies four major e-commerce trends in 2020. The retail landscape in the Philippines has been transformed due to increased social distancing efforts, such as the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine as the nation combats the spread of Covid-19. As a result, brands and sellers are venturing online in search of growth, while consumers turn to e-commerce to meet their shopping needs.

"The year 2020 has changed the way we live, work, and shop. Brands and sellers across the region are stepping up their digitization efforts, with e-commerce becoming a key channel for them to sustain and grow their businesses. At the same time, consumers are increasingly going online to fulfill their everyday needs, in areas ranging from groceries to home appliances. As e-commerce takes on greater importance in people’s lives, Shopee will continue to make shopping even more social, engaging, and easy for everyone." - Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines

In the Philippines, Shopee has identified 4 key trends for e-commerce in recent months:

1. Brands and sellers are growing their e-commerce presence: Brands and sellers are venturing online to boost their online presence while exploring new strategies to reach and engage consumers.
• Robust growth for Filipino sellers: As people shop for their home and essential needs online, brands, and sellers in the Gaming and Pet Care categories are seeing strong growth. In addition, Brands and sellers offering pet essentials, home appliances and accessories saw 40 times and 15 times more orders respectively than the same period last year.
• Reaching customers with live streaming: Brands and sellers are actively exploring new ways to reach consumers. Shopee has observed that the number of Shopee Live streams from brands and sellers increased by 40 times. Homegrown SMEs have successfully boosted online visibility with Shopee Live. For example, Sirods Stuffed Toys has recorded a robust number of views for its streams by showcasing popular toys and collectibles to users in real-time, enabling it to engage customers more effectively.
2. Shoppers turn to e-commerce for everyday needs: At the same time, Filipinos are relying on e-commerce to meet their everyday needs as people live, work, and play from home.
• Consumers search and shop online for a wider variety of needs: Shopee has observed an increase in search and shopping activity in the past 3 months, especially for health and fashion products. This reflects an increasing reliance on e-commerce, which provides Filipinos with one-stop access to essentials, health products, and more.
• Top searched keywords: Face masks, Dresses, Power banks, Undergarments
• Top products: Mosquito incense, Vitamins, and supplements, cell phone cases
3. Shopping preferences evolve as consumers seek convenience on e-commerce: Shopping preferences are also changing in the Philippines as consumers look for convenience in e-commerce during this period.
• Increased shopping activity on weekdays: Online shopping activity has peaked on Tuesdays in recent months, showcasing the preference among Filipinos to shop earlier in the week. Shopping activity is also the highest at 12PM and 1PM as Filipinos shop more often during lunchtime.
• Preference for cashless payments: Adoption of cashless payments is growing as consumers value speed and reduce physical interactions. Shopee has observed that users are increasingly using cashless options such as ShopeePay to pay for purchases in recent months.
4. Increased social interaction and engagement among online shoppers: E-commerce has now evolved into something more than just a way to shop - it’s also become a place where people come together to interact, read content, and connect with others. Shopee has seen greater use of its in-app engagement features in the past three months as Filipinos seek to stay connected online.
• Shopee Live Chat: Shopee has seen an increase in social interactions on its platform. Over 1 million messages were sent daily on average as brands, sellers, and consumers interact with each other across the shopping journey.
• In-app games: Shopee recorded 200 million plays for its in-app games over the past three months. This is driven by users logging in daily to earn rewards and try out new in-app games such as Shopee Farm and Shopee Throw.

"We want to make online shopping safe and convenient while staying true to our vision of delivering a social and engaging experience to our users. At the same time, we will continue to help both our sellers and buyers by providing them a seamless online shopping experience, especially during this COVID-19 crisis." - Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines

Download Shopee for free through the App Store or Google Play.

Look: These women have become the light of hope in their communities amid the COVID-19

In this time of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ),some of us might have already felt the urge to think of ways we can lend a helping hand. When the opportunity to provide assistance have come knocking on the doors of some ordinary,everyday women like Marielle Solomon, Sarah Jane de la Rosa, Pia Alviola, Melissa Olit, and Angela Lapinosa, they embraced the chance to help and made things happen! They have been voluntarily and wholeheartedly taking on tasks of providing food, of sourcing for relief goods, of creating PPEs, and mobilizing resources for Filipinos in COVID-harm’s way. They didn’t think twice to go out of their comfort zones to share a part of themselves and be a light to others.

Marielle Solomon is a marketing professional who currently spends most of her time around volunteers like herself in Siargao Community Kitchen to ease the plight of families in the island whose source of income have been affected by COVID-19.

At present, they have provided over 4,000 food packs, staying true to the belief that community starts with sharing. Through her efforts, Marielle is just one of the women who bring the light to the island of Siargao. Student Sarah Jane de la Rosa’s light has truly radiated throughout the Metro. She has proven that being a differently abled person is not and will never be a hindrance if you put your heart in the service of a solid cause. A volunteer at the Barangay Holy Spirit Person with Disabilities Association, Sarah who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, ably leads her team as their President in providing relief packages in the area.As of today, the association has provided much needed help to more than 1,000 PWD’s and their families.

Project Love PPE and Masks has produced and donated over 1,500 masks and 600 PPEs invarious hospitals. This initiative is the brainchild of Pia Alviola, a Fashion Designer based inMakati City, who has found a way to bring the light among our healthcare front liners the bestway she knows how, through her skills, and her desire to not only provide a source of incomefor her team of seamstresses and tailors, but also to be an instrument of providing protection in these times.

In Puerto Princesa, Melissa Olit, the founder of Chef Aiza’s Community has seen to it that her community in Palawan is given the proper nutrition and sustenance they need. From front liners to students, and even to hard working construction workers stranded on the island, Melissa has made sure the food she prepares, and delivers are sourced from local farmers to sustain their livelihood. Over the course of bringing light to front liners and local farmers, her group has already served more than 5,000 food packs.

Through a drive called RICEaboveCOVID, Angela Lapinosa, one of the lead organizers of the initiative, has illuminated the city of Cebu with her generosity and service. At the Cebu Institute of Technology, Angela is known as a student leader. But for the two hundred beneficiaries of the cause she represents, Angela is one to remember only with the kindest of words. The young ones also acknowledge her as someone who has shed light into their lives and has given them hope for being the project manager of “Para Kay Baby”, a project under RICEaboveCOVID that has allocated 100 relief goods to the families of infants and children in her town.

These five extraordinary women have truly become light bearers in their communities for serving as volunteers who through their service and heart, have greatly contributed to the common good. Like these women, SkinWhite has always believed that anyone can #BeTheLight especially in times of uncertainty. Every effort no matter how small, can have a considerable amount of good especially to those who are in need. Let us continue inspiring and encouraging these women by supporting their causes, as we too can be the light in our own ways.

Here are ways to reach Marielle, Sarah, Pia, Melissa and Angela as we make these challenging times lighter!