SINGAPORE, 7 OCTOBER, 2011 : The Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF) is the first beneficiary of “Purple Hope”, a community initiative to raise funds and increase awareness of childhood cancer.

This project will run from 10 – 14 October, initiated by the premier digital media company – Yahoo!, and the dedicated micro site will feature articles and interviews with children and families affected by cancer. Through the sponsored CCF micro site, viewers will be able to make a financial donation directly to the charity and be eligible for 2.5 times tax exemption. At the same time they can support the personal fund-raising pledges made by the Yahoo! staff in support of the cause.

The CCF, which was founded in 1992 with a mission to improve the quality of life for children suffering from cancer and their families, was chosen for this first “Purple Hope” initiative after one of the Yahoo! staff made a personal pledge during the Hair for Hope campaign earlier in the year. Lorna Tan, Finance Director at Yahoo! Singapore is already one of CCF’s highest personal contributors and it was a show of team support to further her lead and adopt CCF as the first project partner for the Yahoo! “Purple Hope” program.

Ms Chee Wai Yee, the Executive Director for CCF who was present at the inaugural event said she was thrilled that CCF was chosen as the first beneficiary for “Purple Hope” and acknowledged the 12 shavees who were supporting the cause through the symbolic gesture of shaving their hair. “We need more support and encouragement from everyone, to raise awareness about our cause and provide moral support to children and their families while they are undergoing cancer treatment. We hope while learning more on the news site, the Singapore community will also come forward donate generously.”

Ms Yvonne Chang, Managing Director of Yahoo! Southeast Asia, said, “We have a history of social engagement here at Yahoo! and also a culture that nurtures personal passion. We are thrilled to be able to bring this campaign to life and support one of our own, and at the same time provide support for a local cause which brings positive and tangible help to patients and their families every day.” Unveiling the Purple Hope community initiative at a media event, she concluded, “Through Yahoo!’s reach, reputation and engagement, we are able to turn an idea into a movement and inspire people to act, especially for a good cause.”

In support of “Purple Hope”, 12 Yahoo! employees have pledged their hair and made other personal commitments to support the CCF. In the spirit of “community engagement” through making donations to the cause, the Yahoo! audience will decide who gets to lose their hair.

The CCF aims to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families through enhancing their emotional, social and medical well-being. They hope to become a world-class provider of resources and psycho-social services to children and families impacted by childhood cancer.

Editor’s note: this is a press release from Yahoo Philippines.

“On December 7, 2011, Inspire will bring together the Philippines’ most influential leaders and innovators in Voices of Leadership. Listen to them and be inspired by their stories of triumph against adversity and their determination to make a difference in the lives of the Filipino people.”

Learning Investment:

VIP SEAT:
October Rate: P5,577 plus VAT
November Rate: P5,977 plus VAT
Regular Rate: P6,577 plus VAT
Walk-in Rate: P7,577 plus VAT

REGULAR SEAT:
October Rate: P4,977 plus VAT
November Rate: P5,577 plus VAT
Regular Rate: P5,977 plus VAT
Walk-in Rate: P6,977 plus VAT

ACADEME RATE:
P3,000 plus VAT (strictly for students, faculty staff and school employees)

GROUP RATE DISCOUNT:
(only applicable for VIP and Regular seats; discount is per participant)

3 – 5 participants less P500
6 – 10 participants less P700
11 – 15 participants less P800
16 and above less P1,000

All fees are inclusive of AM/PM Snacks and Lunch, Training Kit and a FREE book!

Registration Details
Call 687-2614 and look for Krisselle or Pam.
Email inquiry.inspire@gmail.com or Krisselle.inspire@gmail.com.

This shootout came from @jimparedes on twitter. “We need people to help pack relief goods for flood victims,” Paredes wrote. People should go to Room 201, UP Bahay Alumni, UP Diliman in Quezon City starting 9AM on wards. They can call 09178536172 and look for Ruby for details.

@cocoy RT @Jimparedes: We need ppl to help pack relief goods for flood at RM 201 UP Bahay Alumni UP (cont) http://t.co/ODOLpL1A

October 4, 2011 10:41 pm via Osfoora for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@dementia

Karen Ang

This is an excerpt from The Film Gym’s website

FILM SCHOLARSHIP

SPONSOR: The Film Gym scholarship program is made possible through a film grant given by Sen. Francis Pangilinan to the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

BENEFICIARIES: The priority target beneficiaries of the scholarships are students, teachers, out-of-school youth, NGOs and other advocates…who want to use film for Personal and Social Transformation. We are looking at training at least 132 prospective filmmakers in this 1-year program. We hope this will be the beginning of a continuing yearly program towards the realization of our vision for the dynamic use of film for nation-building.

Read the full text HERE

This is reposted from the official press release of the the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards

Image by Riley Kaminer, under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Nominations to the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards are now formally open. Conceived in 2011 by the Inter‐Agency Committee (IAC) for the Celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and International Migrants Day in the Philippines (December and December 18, respectively every year) chaired by the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) and co‐chaired by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), MAM Awards aim to recognize the significant role of the media in the promotion and advocacy of migration and development.

Eligible for the Awards are works by government and private media outlets, institutions and practitioners in the fields of print, radio, movie and television, advertising and internet based in the Philippines and abroad. Entries must have raised public awareness on issues on Filipino migration, advocated the cause of Filipinos overseas, or/and promoted a positive image of Filipinos overseas, and migration and development.

Entries must be submitted on or before September 30, 2011 to MAM Awards’ Secretariat, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue cor. Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway) Manila, Philippines 1007.

For more information on the Awards, please call the MAM Secretariat at (632)561‐8291 (telefax), (632)552‐4766 or email at info@cfo.gov.ph.

Editor’s note: This is a press release from Kraft Foods

Toblerone heralds the homecoming of heroes 

How do you say ‘thank you’ to a hero?

Many would probably need some time to figure this one out–except for the distinguished personalities, musicians, and guests who flocked at Duty Free Philippines in Parañaque during the opening of nominations for the first Thank You Global Pinoy Awards.

The Thank You Global Pinoy Awards is an initiative that seeks to search for the most outstanding global Filipino workers, also known as the modern day heroes, who deserve the gratitude not only of their loved ones; but also of the nation as a whole. It is led by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), Duty Free Philippines, Good News Pilipinas and Toblerone.

Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, the diplomatic community, Jaya Singh, Region Director, Middle East and Asia Pacific, Kraft Foods World Travel Retail and GeiserMaclang Managing Director Brad Geiser graced the groundbreaking event.  Meanwhile, representatives from ‘Thank You Global Pinoy’ partner establishments Island Cove, Plantation Bay, WADE, Zoo Manity Group, Manila Ocean Park, and Abenson were also present in the event.

“We believe that the Thank You Global Pinoy Awards is a significant step in recognizing the valuable contribution of our Global Pinoys,” said Imelda Nicolas, CFO Chairperson.

The Thank You Chocolate

Inspired by the pasalubong homecoming tradition associated with Toblerone and in continuing its goal to build further on the Filipinos’ art of saying ‘thank you’, the brand took this opportunity to launch the Thank You Global Pinoy Awards.

A purely below-the-line initiative, it is open to outstanding overseas Filipino workers who deserve to be thanked. Participants will have to log on to www.thankyouglobalpinoy.com  to register, nominate and vote for the ultimate Global Pinoy. The top 10 stories will be awarded in January 2012.

“We hope that this would become a global effort and that we could turn not only the Philippines into a grateful nation but the whole world as well,” ends Singh.

In cooperation with Duty Free Philippines, Toblerone is also launching the Special Rewards Passport – a collection of perks, with a value of at least P10,000, from 24 partner establishments including salons and spas, recreation and leisure zones, top-of-mind retail and dining destinations.

“Through this promo, Toblerone shows its appreciation to Global Pinoys by not only recognizing their efforts online, but also giving them a pasalubong that they can enjoy with their family,” said Jaya Singh, Region Director, Middle East and Asia Pacific, Kraft Foods World Travel Retail.

Be part of a grateful nation. Join the rest of the country as it honors the ultimate global Pinoy whom a grateful nation will say a resounding thank you to. For more information, visit www.thankyouglobalpinoy.com .

# # #

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods makes ‘today’ delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 Kraft Foodies work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Côte d’Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles a day. For more information visit http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is holding a nationwide scriptwriting and film competition to help develop the local film industry.

Filmmakers and scriptwriters who have not made more than 3 films prior to this contest are eligible to join.

The competition has 2 stages:

A. he Scriptwriting Competition for Feature Film, Full-length Documentary, and Animated Short Film Competition in August 18, 2011 to November 15, 2011.

B. The National Feature Film Competition which will gather all the films produced from the winning scripts of the Feature Film Scriptwriting Competition, Full-length documentary Competition, and the Animated Short Film Competition in January 20 to May 2012.

For the feature film and full-length documentary categories, there are three divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The participants’ entries must be set in the geographic location corresponding to the division, and must be in a language or languages indigenous to the setting.

FDCP will reward the finalists with seed money to translate their stories into quality films for local and even foreign exhibitions. Finalists for the feature film competition will receive 600,000 pesos each, while finalists in the full-length documentary competition will be given 300,000 pesos each.

Three finalists for the nationwide animated short-film competition will be awarded 100,000 pesos for their storyboards.

Midnight of November 15, 2011 is the deadline for submission of screenplays. Announcement of finalists will be on December 20, 2011. The filming is scheduled for January 2012. Final submission of films is on April 15, 2012. The festival will be held in May 2012 in Davao City or Cebu City

Visit http://www.fdcp.ph/ for the complete guidelines.

via GMAnews.tv

As we contemplate on this silent killer that affects 1 out of 10 Filipinos, let us join the Hepatology Society of the Philippines, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor and Employment, MSD Corporation, and the Yellow Warriors Society of the Philippines in committing to fight Hepatitis in the Philippines when they signed “The Yellow Manifesto:”

“We commit to take bold, concrete steps to lessen the burden of Hepatitis among inflicted patients and their loved ones, to champion their inclusion and acceptance in society by upholding equal employment opportunities, and ensuring provision of attainable access to health care towards a more productive society.

Our ultimate goal is to decrease the prevalence rate of Hepatitis in the Philippines.”

The first step is to increase awareness about Hepatitis. Though it is one of the most prevalent and fatal diseases among Filipinos, it can also be prevented, treated, and sometimes cured. Visit the following websites to know more about this disease that affects more than 16 million Filipinos, many of whom are not even aware they are infected:

www.worldhepatitisalliance.org

www.who.int/topics/hepatitis/en/

www.allabouthepc.com