Support HWH’s Pencil Project for the benefit of DTC’s Klasrum Kariton

The fight against illiteracy and poverty never stops as Efren Peñaflorida takes home the CNN Hero Awards last 2009, but his quest continues and encourages everyone takes part on this challenge. HoterlWithHeart.com (HWH), an online hotel booking website who is also promotes charity and advocacy among their clients and now they answers on this challenge with their Pencil Project in support of Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) who headed the Kariton Klasrum Project in Cavite.

3M partners with Haribon Foundation in saving Philippine forests

Being nominated as one of the Top Ten Best Corporate Citizens of the World by Corporate Responsibility Magazine, 3M Philippines officially announced their support to Haribon Foundation for the Road to 2020 campaign. The project aims to restore 1 million hectares of rainforest in the country by 2020. Among the activities that Haribon rolled out are planting trees and to lessen carbon footprint, conserving the country’s biodiversity, and promote sustainability of resources for the future generation.

With this 3M Philippines commits to join the tree planting program of Haribon including the Adopt-A-Seedling wherein the company including the employees will be adopting 1,000 seedlings. Along with their partnership, 3M has stepped up to the plate to conserve the country’s forests and will conduct fun runs to raised awareness and funds that will be given to Haribon as part of their involvement to environmental protection.

Josette Sheeran talks on the winning of da Silva as the new UNFAO Director General

In line with the winning of Jose Graziano da Silva of Brazil as the new Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme Executive Director Josette Sheeran sends her congratulatory message to new FAO head.

"I would like to congratulate Jose Graziano da Silva on his election as the new Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Brazil has achieved so much in alleviating hunger and malnutrition through innovative programmes in recent years, and it is fitting that a Brazilian national is taking the helm of the FAO at a time of huge challenges and threats to global food security.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is working closely and collaboratively with the FAO, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to address immediate hunger needs in emergencies, and to support long-term sustainable solutions to hunger.

Arya Residences Cut Energy Use by 14% for Earth Hour

Driven by the common goal of attaining ecological sustainability, green developer ArthaLand recently partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines).

(Representatives from WWF-Philippines and ArthaLand concretize the alliance in this file photo dated 13 June. From left to right – WWF-International Board Member Vince Perez, WWF-Philippines CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, ArthaLand Corporation President and CEO Angela De Villa-Lacson, ArthaLand Corporation Chairman Jaime Gonzalez and ArthaLand Corporation Vice Chairman Ricardo Po Sr. Image by Kimberly Ang)

The project, Arya Residences, being a LEED registered (aiming for a Gold certification) development, has in place various measures and facilities to allow its households to save as much as 14% in energy consumption and as much as 40% in potable water usage. With proper maintenance and the conscientious use of these resources, these savings may be enjoyed for over a year.

It’s the typhoon season once again…

(Knee-level flood in our street)

For a person who grew in Malabon City, it is common for us to see floods every time heavy rains come. But from Typhoon Rosing, Frank, Milenyo, Ondoy, Pepeng and now Falcon, things became worse. From the usual ankle up to below the knee length water raises from up to the waist level and up. We saw the wrath of Ondoy that brings disaster in Rizal, Marikina, Pasig, Navotas, Valenzuela and other parts of Metro Manila in other parts of the country. Now Falcon and Egay, two typhoons that came with less than two weeks brings heavy rains and strong winds that cause floods and trees to fall in the street. With Falcon the rain starts as early as 9am and while I am writing this and maybe as I publish this one it is still raining.

(My leg and don't be intimidated with the complexion)

Coca Cola & WWF unveil the first “Plant Billboard” in the Philippines

In line with the Live Positively advocacy of Coca Cola, they unveil the first “Plant Billboard” in the Philippines in partnership with WWF-Philippines. The said billboard was uncovered last June 23 at the Northbound EDSA-Forbes in Makati City. Present in the unveiling were Coca-Cola Ambassador Enchong Dee, President and General Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines Guillermo Aponte and WWF Philippines CEO and Vice Chariman Lory Tan.

WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran congratulates the winners of World Food Prize

Josette Sheeran

United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Josette Sheeran gives her warm congratulatory message to President John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil on winning the highly respected World Food Prize. The said announcement was done last June 21 at Washington USA in line with the recognition of individuals fighting hunger at home and abroad. The said prize is in its 25th year and created by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug. And for the first time the recognition was given to national leaders like Presidents Kufuor and Lula who played a very important role in combating hunger in their country.

President John Kufuor of Ghana has been a long standing supported of WFP and appointed as Ambassador Against Hunger since 2009. In his term as president of Ghana he improved food security and reduced hunger through public and private sector initiatives. He also targets the issue of malnutrition in his country which all his efforts were recognized internationally.

United Nations Development Programme launches their new website

 After the relaunch of World Food Programme of their newly designed website, United Nations Development Programme also launches their new website too. It is more organized and focusing on the three areas their work, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and their perspective as a UN organizations.

Check out the new look of World Food Programme's website

In order to reach out more to those who are in need of information and ways to help in fighting against hunger, United Nation World Food Programme redesigned their website to make it more user friendly and appealing to all. They launched the new look of the WFP website last June 15.

Climate Change Adaptation Programme for Island Garden City of Samal Launched

Imagine the rhythmic lapping of waves on a powdered ivory shoreline, punctuated by the occasional rustling of coconut fronds, given life by the sea breeze. The Samal Island of today still boasts of unspoiled beaches, productive coral reefs and verdant forests. As we face a climate-defined future, however, the Samal Island of tomorrow may be a very different place.

Renowned not just for its unique name but for the extensive wealth of its natural resources, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) faces a promising future. The ballooning population of Davao City promises millions in revenues from tourism. Unfortunately, destructive development, agricultural runoff and climate change effects have already begun to assail IGACOS’ beaches, reefs and forests – negating its differential advantage as a tourism destination.

To address this, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) with its Philippine national organization known as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc., and the local government of IGACOS are embarking on an ambitious four-year program to build-up the resilience of the region’s coastal ecosystems while identifying and reducing potential climate change-related vulnerabilities – all to improve the lives and livelihoods of native Samaleños.

Real Indigenous of Palawan says No to Mining in Brooke’s Point

In line with the intense campaign of no to mining in Palawan, there were alleged 30 “fake” indigenous people who support MacroAsia who wants to establish mining in Palawan. The said support showed by the so called tribal chieftains was opposite to the views of the majority of indigenous people in Brooke’s Point. But nine real indigenous people from Palawan visited Manila to file petition to the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) on not issuing Certificate of Precondition to MicroAsia. The certificate in case awarded to the company, it will empower them to have Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) from Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to explore mining activities in Brooke’s Point which their primary plan.

World Vision targets 11,000 kids back to school with “Count Me In” project

Up to date, over 112, 000 Filipino children return to school through World Vision child sponsorship. At the same time, their families continue to receive livelihood assistance and their families are now closer to self-sustainability than ever before. Everything was made possible by supporters and sponsors of World Vision as they join the fight against poverty and giving the children a better future by bringing them back to school.

Bring a child back to school with World Vision’s Kaagapay sa Kinabukasan Project

As another school year opens today, only half of the child population in the country will have that chance to continue their studies. The rest, they are forced to help their parents to earn for a living for their family which is most of them belongs to the large population of families under poverty. Up to date almost 11 million Filipino children live in poverty without access to life’s basics, some of them are now orphans, while others go through childhood without the guidance and support of their parents. Instead going to school for proper education and better future, they need to work just to earn and live for the following day, sadly this is the reality that most of the children in poverty facing right now. But of course, we can make difference in our own special way.

Lessons from Brigada Eskwela…

Last May 28, I was invited by my Coca Cola Live Positively family for their annual Brigada Eskwela and this time their target school was Pasig Elementary School. With Coca Cola employees and volunteers, everyone participated the “general cleaning” includes sweeping the floor, wiping the dirt and marks from the classroom wall, blackboards, windows and chairs. The activity started at 8am and ended at 11am, and everyone was happy on the results.

WWF and SMART partner to preserve Davao Gulf

It’s another first for WWF to partner with SMART Communications Inc., a leading wireless services provider to raised funds through sms/texting service that will be used in protecting and rehabilitating Davao Gulf in Mindanao. They called this project Text-to-Donate service, the sms-based donation platform empowers more that 46 million SMART and Talk ‘N Text subscribers to send their contribution to WWF through their mobile phone anywhere they are and anytime they wanted. All they need to do is to text WWF (amount) and send to 4483; denominations accepted are 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1,000. Donated amount will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid load or will be billed on postpaid accounts.

Walking against hunger with Walk the World 2011

Thank God it didn’t rain and for the cool breeze during the Walk the World 2011 of United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) with its global humanitarian partners TNT and Uniliver last May 29 at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Philippines. This annual global walk that happens in more that 80 countries around the world in 24 time zones aims to elevate awareness on global hunger where children are very much involve and victims of it. Also the annual global walk will raised funds for the project of WFP in their respective areas; here in the Philippines it is in the conflict affected areas in Central Mindanao. The target beneficiaries of the funds being raised on the event is to provide children a warm nutritious meals during the school year in remote areas in Central Mindanao like in Lanao where most of the children go to school barefooted and haven’t eaten anything. With the help of all the supporters and WTW participants this campaign to fight child hunger will be possible.

 (Mr. Stephen Anderson, World Food Programme Country Director)

WWF: Holistic Solutions Needed to Stop Rape of RP Seas

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) yesterday released an official statement on what it termed the ‘rape and plunder’ of the country’s marine resources.

“Market refusal has worked in other countries, for a range of commodities,” says WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan. “Beyond this single reaction, however, it is crucial that we think and move holistically, and in public/private convergence, to eliminate the root causes of this lingering problem. The challenge is both national and systemic. The response can be no less.”

Tour of Hope 2011: Cycling Against Cervical Cancer

The race against cervical cancer begins on May 28 at the TriNoma Mall where anti-cervical cancer advocates headed by Bravehearts in partnership with Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline. The tour that will take 500 kilometers in 5 days trailing the road of Manila going to Laoag in order to help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention vaccination drives and seminars. This year, Tour of Hope 2011 (The Tour of Hope 2011 - 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer) aims to vaccinate a total of 500 women during the campaign.

Auction for Action: A UNICEF Fundraising Online Auction Project

UNICEF, a United Nation agency that focuses on child education and protection against violence, exploitation and AIDS will launch a fundraising program in partnership with EBay Philippines, Ayala Malls and Cibo which they called Auction for Action. This online engagement will raise funds for UNICEF by means of auctioning artworks, furniture, paintings, jewelry, photography and other experiential packages from reputable artists, celebrities and organizations that support the agency and advocates for children education and protection. TV Personality Daphne Oseña-Paez headed the said fund raising. The online auction for UNICEF will happen at the on www.ebay.ph/unicef beginning May 25.

Be an eco friendly shopper use WWF Shopping Bag

One thing I admire with Quezon Province, Muntinlupa, and other municipalities here in the Philippines is that they advocate is minimizing the usage of styrofoam and plastic among their residents. Eco Bag or green bag in other establishments is becoming a fad in everyone. I have some of those at home and one with my “name” on it and I am talking about the SM Green Bag that has “Flow” on it.

Right now, WWF is now selling their own version of their eco bag aside from the pins, and bag tags. This is their option to raise funds for their activities such as workshops and seminars, marine life conservation and rescue, and others. Their shopping bag cost P300/pc and it can be ordered by sending email to pandashop@wwf.org.ph. Buyers can pick up their orders by dropping by at the WWF-Philippines office during office hours at Basement 2, Ayala Tower 1, Ayala Avenue, Makati City or it can be shipped to them via LBC with corresponding shipping fee.