The British School Manila (BSM) graduates receive offers from 21 of the Top universities in the world

The British School Manila (BSM) this year has received offers for its graduate class of 2018, from 21 of the top 50 universities in the world, including 17 Russell Group of Univer

Offers have been received from nine countries: United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, The Philippines, Spain, Singapore, France and Grenada.

Some of the more notable acceptances have come from University of St. Andrews, Berkeley, University of British Columbia, University of California, University College London, Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Durham, Essex University, University of Edinburgh, Harvard University, Imperial College London, McGill University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Toronto.

BSM Head of School Simon Mann says: “It’s been another wonderful year in terms of university and college acceptance. BSM’s goal is to ensure our students are happy and capable of pursuing their dreams, in a global landscape. As an educator, it is truly gratifying to watch these young people now reap the rewards of their hard work and head out into the world as ambassadors of a British international education gained in The Philippines.”

BSM graduates go on to excel in widely differing fields during their international university education. Mann talked about, for example, a recent BSM graduate who has been published in an international science journal for their cutting edge work in Microbiology and Chemistry, another who has graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berkley College of Music, and yet another who is working in research in a world renowned laboratory in the United States.

The British School Manila was founded in 1976 and is located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The School has around 950 students with ages ranging from 3 to 18 years old. Students currently represent 42 nationalities with a large number coming primarily from the UK and Commonwealth diplomatic and foreign temporary resident community, as well as from the Philippines.

Islas Pinas, Filipino cuisine at its best at DoubleDragon Plaza

When you are surrounded by food parks everywhere you go, you'll get to realize that we filipinos love to eat, eat, eat and explore. I can recommend  the best food park in town.  Where you can have the best pancit, la paz batchoy, tusok tusok, desserts, guinatan, lechon, name all your favorite food and I can recommend where you are going to devour it with gusto without denting your budget.

I recently attended a food event to which I assure you will love. From the food, drinks, interior and ambiance. You will definitely schedule your next visit together with your family, friends, tropa and loved ones here.  This one is instagrammable worthy. Truly, a feast for the eyes and stomach.  If you want all filipino dishes. This one's for you! This is great for your balikbayan relatives and friends.

Islas Pinas, an indoor “Filipino Food & Heritage Village” is located at Double Dragon Plaza, with a 700 seating capacity inside a 2,500 sq meters space plaza.

It is a new, distinct destination for both local and international guests, and is now open at the DoubleDragon Plaza, DD Meridian Park, Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA Extension, Bay Area, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Designed to showcase the abundance and vibrancy of the Filipino culture, this new establishment lets guests discover, explore and experience the Philippines’s heritage sites, natural resources, hospitality and most importantly, its cuisine.

The result of collaboration between DoubleDragon Group and Chef Margarita Forés, Islas Pinas is a project that aims to inspire love for the Philippines and to cultivate patriotism by showcasing the country’s beautiful sites and diverse regional cuisines. With a seating capacity of over 700 seats in an expansive 2,500 square meter space, Islas Pinas is the perfect place to give visitors a taste of the best that the Philippines has to offer.

ISLAS PINAS also hosts an authentic Sarao Jeepney, which for many generations became the king of the Philippine streets especially in the countryside.

“DoubleDragon has always believed in embarking on projects with relevance. We believe Islas Pinas will be a landmark in the country, and will showcase the diversity not only of our cuisine and handicrafts but also our landscape and architecture brought about by the rich heritage and culture of the country,” says DoubleDragon’s Chief Investment Officer Hannah Yulo.

At the helm of this project is none other than Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016, Margarita A. Forés whose mission is to bring Filipino cuisine to global prominence. Thus, Islas Pinas is a vision coming to life for her, where Filipino food is not just on the sidelines but at the centerstage.

“This is an absolute dream project for me that has come at such a perfect time,” said Forés. “I give my thanks to then Undersecretary of Agriculture, now Secretary of Tourism Berna R. Puyat, for putting me together with the DoubleDragon group, who was looking for someone to operate this amazing Islas Pinas project about half a year ago. This fast-tracked such a blessed opportunity to continue pushing my biggest advocacy – that of helping to promote the best our country – our cuisine, ingredients, farers, artisan producers and home cooks from Batanes to Jolo – in the best way I can!”

It is her aim for guests to experience the Philippines with their five senses and beyond. Thus, aside from the culinary delights and a picturesque interior design worthy of Instagram posts, the venue will also feature modern and traditional cultural performances and games to ensure a fun and truly Pinoy ambiance.

SINAG, the Tagalog word for ‘ray of light’ offers all-day Filipino breakfast favorites like our TAPSILOG (TAPa – salted beef, SInangag – fried rice and ItLOG – fried egg) and Batchoy, an Ilonggo noodle soup with pork offal, crushed pork cracklings and beef loin.

ALAMAT or legend, tells the story of the different regions of the Philippines through its signature dishes. 

BILAO is coined after the woven winnowing basket where comfort snacks like pansit (fried noodles) and puto (rice cakes) are usually served, while

PANADERYA offers neighborhood bakery favorites such as pan de sal and kalihim. 

TUSOK-TUSOK, on the other hand, offers urban street food finds like barbecue on stick, isaw (grilled chicken intestine) and kwek-kwek (fried quail eggs). 

PANULAK or beverage is where the samalamig (cold drinks with different flavors) will be available. 

PAMPANG or shore will allow guests to enjoy chosen fresh catch cooked to their preference.

All these will be available daily, without the scorching heat and pollution as the space is fully airconditioned. Located at the bustling DD Meridian Park in the Bay Area along EDSA Extension and Macapagal Avenue, Islas Pinas can be easily accessed using both private and public transportation.

“Because of the ideal location of DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park – our close proximity to the airport terminals and being only about 5 minutes away from NAIA X – we believe ISLAS PINAS will become a must-visit stopover for both domestic and international tourists visiting the capital,” said DoubleDragon's Chairman Edgar Injap Sia II.

ISLAS PINAS is the main anchor of DoubleDragon Plaza, which forms part of the 4.8 Hectare DD Meridian Park commercial and office complex. 

LA Santos talks about his music influences and first love

Just like most teens his age, LA Santos has experienced both the joys and disappointments of young love. An experience that became the inspiration for his hit song “Tinamaan.”

“Unang kita pa lang nabighani na, Sa lakad mo na parang ‘sang diwata

Ang ‘yong mata’y nagniningning na parang tala; Kinabisado ko bawat sulok ng ‘yong mukha

Oh! Kay sarap mong titigan  ‘Di ka na mawala sa isipan

Oh bakit ba biglang nangyari sa’kin ‘to?



Hey miss! My miss! Pinapangarap ka, Tinamaan nga ako sa labis mong ganda

Bakit ba ikaw ang laging nasa isip, panaginip? Miss! My miss! Hindi na maalis

Sa ala-ala, ang ngiti mong matamis!  Sobrang tinamaan 

“I had a girlfriend before and it lasted for almost two years before we broke up,” LA told a group of entertainment writers last week.



Since the breakup, however, LA says he’s been single, deciding to focus more on his singing career, which has been on the rise no thanks to the real love of his life—his mom Florita.



“I love my mom! Her unconditional love inspired me to dream big for myself, to conquer my fears, and to be the best version of myself. She is my biggest fan. Whenever I look in front of the stage, my mom is there, busy taking pictures and videos. I want to tell her that I love her and I’m thankful for all the sacrifices she has done for me.”    



LA says his career is his top priority now, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t seeing anyone. “Meron naman po akong nililigawan, but secret na muna because I don’t want my mom to get upset,” he joked.

LA is a testament to how powerful music is and says music has done a lot of good things to his young life. “I am able to express myself through music. It is said that music is a universal language. There is a song for every emotion, whether you are happy, depressed, in love, heartbroken, angry. It also helps you compose a song because may hugot ka. I get lost when I sing. I let people know who I am and how I feel through the songs I sing. In fact, I am a living example of the healing power of music,” LA shares.



Through music LA says he was able to overcome one of the biggest challenges in his life—autism.

LA (short for Leonard Antonio) was diagnosed with first stage autism when he was only three years old. Flor Santos, his mother, said she was bothered when her son was unable to speak as three years old kids would. She sought medical help and that was how she found out her third child was autistic.

The Star Music recording artist has a self-titled debut album which contains six originals (Tinamaan, Ikaw Kasi, One Greatest Love, Bakit Pag-Ibig, Miss Terror, and Mine) and three covers (Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man, Sarah Geronimo’s Forever Is Not Enough and Angeline Quinto’s Hanggang Kailan).



LA just recently finished a two-night mini concert at The Music Hall @ Metrowalk with the SRATS (the young stars of Asian Artist Agency). Soon, they will be trooping to SM Malls for a series of shows: June 9 (SM Valenzuela), June 10 (SM Pulilan), and June 30 (SM Sangandaan). “It’s fun to work with SRATS.  I’m looking forward to our next collaborations.”

LA has found his niche in music and is carving a name for himself. Aside from performing on Ian Veneracion’s first major foray into concerts, LA staged a sold-out major solo concert titled #Petmalu at the Music Museum.


While he is happy to share his passion for music, LA admits there are challenges that he has to face. “Actually, it’s difficult na pagsabayin ang studies and singing career. I am in my senior high at UST. Minsan nagkakasabay ang pag-aaral for an exam and rehearsal for shows. I don’t want to sacrifice iyong isa over the other. I have to balance my priorities and follow a strict schedule if I want to succeed in both my studies and career. At first, it was really hard especially when you have to wake up early for class after coming home late at night because of a commitment. I’m used to this routine now. I don’t regret any single thing. Who am I to complain? I’m grateful to be given these opportunities.”

Five reasons to go for green building

Going green is becoming a new way of life. The whole world seems to be more conscious about being less harmful to the environment, and it’s no different in the Philippines.

When Filipinos talk about “going green”, it’s usually about recycling, choosing organic food, or using less electricity or fuel at home or on the road. Green building uses the same principles. Green materials are constructed and developed through a sustainable supply chain, resulting in building materials that aren’t made with environmentally harmful chemicals. They also lessen construction waste by using materials that are sustainable and degrade less over time.

Building your eco-friendly home might sound tricky, but going green for the house of your dreams has a much bigger pay off than you might think. Here are five reasons to go for green building:

 

1. Green materials minimize your carbon footprint



Using traditionally sourced materials like steel, concrete, and virgin lumber require lots of fuel and resources to make and produce. Green materials are produced more efficiently as it requires less natural resources, produced locally with less waste over time. Being selective of materials we use for our home would allow us to not just take care of the environment, but also for the future generations that’ll come after us.

2. It may lessen your electricity bill

The Philippines endures environmental extremes at both ends of the spectrum with heat and rain experienced at particular times throughout the year. A well-constructed green home will assist in regulating the temperature and moisture in your home, which means possible lesser use of artificial cooling devices like air-conditioner and ventilation fans during hot months. 

3. They’re a cost-effective investment


Choosing alternatives like reclaimed lumber, galvanized iron, or even fiber cement boards save you energy and money over time because they degrade slowly.

4. You can DIY to build green 

Building green at home can be your very own DIY project. You can start small like replacing your traditional incandescent lights with LED options as they consume less energy, last longer, and cost more or less the same as energy-sapping bulbs. Eventually, instead of using new plastic or leather furniture, you can thrift for some nice second hand pieces from antique stores (or from your parents). For home repairs, for a great environmentally friendly option would be fiber cement boards for roof’s eaves.

5. Green building materials are intelligently made



Same goes to knowing the ingredients behind the food you eat, using green building materials that were produced mindfully, reducing concerns around how safe or well your house parts will withstand the elements, as well as time.

There are few companies that support green building and manufacture products that are environmentally friendly. One trusted brand which does this is HardieFlex.

Take HardieFlex Eaves fiber cement boards for example.  These boards assist in ventilation by reducing heat load inside the house or building. When correctly installed in accordance with our installation guides, they assist in the regulation of temperature, moisture and air under the roof, resulting in better ventilation.

Collect the entire plush pillow line featuring Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) popular Jack ‘n Jill snack brands: Nova, Chippy, Vcut, Chiz Curls, Piattos and Calbee Honey Butter

If you have been frequenting Toys "R" Us stores in Trinoma like we do. Because my partner is always checking on Transformers, you will notice Jack 'n Jill plushies along the pillow section. They are cute, colorful and fun to collect, plus they are huggable too. They're fun to display inside your room or car.

Jack ‘n Jill cuddly collectibles, created exclusively by Toys“R”Us Philippines, are now available in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide for only Php 269.75 each.

Collect the entire plush pillow line featuring Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) popular Jack ‘n Jill snack brands: Nova, Chippy, Vcut, Chiz Curls, Piattos and Calbee Honey Butter. Watch out for more exclusive merchandise from Toys“R”Us and URC.

Watch The rise of Phenomenal Star Maine Mendoza on Tik Tok

I discovered Tik Tok app when my grand kid Finn showed what he has been doing the past months. Its the cutest and engaging app that everyone has been uploading their vids on including local celebrities. Maine Mendoza, included.

It took Maine Mendoza at least 10 seconds to make her dreams come true. Three years after her “dubbing” videos went viral online, there is still no stopping her surge to the top. 

In fact, Maine has recently garnered almost 100,000 likes and over 1 million Instagram views over a week after she posted a 10-second video on the short video platform Tik Tok. The video that showed Maine depicting a horse chase but only to reveal that it was all made up. In 10 seconds, she showed her comedic timing and creativity and entertained thousands of viewers at the same time.

Check the video: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjd1Kyvgl7j/

The Queen of Social Media said that the rise of her popularity would not be possible without the help of online platforms. Growing up from an ordinary girl sharing talent on social media, Maine unlocked doors that paved the way for her to become everyone’s favorite “yaya”. In fact, in 2015, she was the third most-searched topic on Google in the Philippines.

In a snap, the culinary arts degree holder became a nationwide sensation. Her secret dream of becoming an actor has finally come true. She became a mainstay at the favorite noontime show Eat Bulaga, appearing six times a week on prime time. She has appeared in at least three films including a lead role for “Imagine You and Me” in 2016.

And in between tapings and other commitments, “that girl” still got time to pursue her other passion—writing. She has launched her first book, “Yup, I Am That Girl”, in 2017.

For everything she has achieved in a span of three years, Maine’s spot in the industry has been secured. And she will keep doing what she loves the most.

“Let’s see, I do not want to say anything in particular kasi what’s important to me naman is doing what makes me happy. Walang echos,” she said.

Despite all the success, Maine has not forgotten her roots. To inspire more young creators to come out of their shells and share their talent to the world, she is now leading the #artengpilipino category of Tik Tok’s “Talent ng Pilipino” Audition, a talent contest that has been successfully held worldwide for a dozen of times with over 800,000 users participating. The Audition has brought a craze of creativity in the Philippines with over 60,000 videos received since its launch on May 26.

Watch some other videos from Tik Tok Filipino influencers below:

Mikee Quintos: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjg_QODD8Sf/
Klea Pineda: https://www.instagram.com/p/BjREvbZniup/
Joyce Ching: https://www.instagram.com/p/BjO0SXqjpe-/

To assist young dreamers, Maine gave a few pointers on how to make the best use of Tik Tok in achieving their goals.

“I love that Tik Tok has a lot of filters that you can use as you record your video. You can choose from various effects that you think would go well in your Tik Tok video,” she said.

Maine encouraged the users to explore the app and go beyond their imagination.

“Just be creative and see what happens. You’ll come up with something entertaining, for sure! If not, you can always try again and do something different! Marami naming choices at walang limit! You can do as many videos as you want,” she added.

But more importantly, Maine told the young creators to just be themselves.

“Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Don’t let the fear of being judged or disliked hold you back from doing your thing. I am very sure you’ll discover new things about yourself as you go along. And who knows, tulad ng nangyari sa akin, baka mangyari din sa inyo,” she said.

Maine also highlighted the importance of humility especially when success and fame kick in.

“Don’t let it get to your head. Nothing is permanent in this world so enjoy what’s happening to you but always stay grounded,” she said.

With Talent ng Pilipino, Maine’s story has come full circle. Except this time, nobody is asking who is that girl. ###

Grab exclusive freebies and avail of cash-on-delivery and free shipping when you purchase any OPPO smartphone at the OPPO store on Shopee Mall

OPPO Philippines and leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan Shopee strengthen their partnership with more value deals through the OPPO F7 lineup available online. Shopee Users who purchase the OPPO F7 and F7 128GB on the OPPO store on Shopee Mall will get freebies like Olike Bluetooth Headphones, Olike Magic Music Lamps, and selfie sticks. They can also avail of the cash-on-delivery option if they buy up to PHP 5,500.

OPPO F7 128GB Diamond Black
The OPPO F7 128GB in Diamond Black is exclusively available on Shopee. It is a unique member of the OPPO F7 series with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage, along with its powerful Helio P60 processor with A.I. to enjoy the latest games with no hiccups.

Additionally, the F7 embodies the world’s first 25MP front facing camera with OPPO’s famous A.I. Beauty Technology 2.0 that can enhance the face by analyzing up to 296 facial recognition spots.

OPPO F7 64GB
OPPO’s best-selling mid-range smartphone, the F7, is also available on Shopee with a free Olike Magic Music Lamp worth PHP 1,990. Just like the F7 128GB, it further pushes the envelope of mid-range performance with its 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

Along with having A.I. Scene Recognition technology for the rear camera that can detect up to 16 scenarios for optimized photography, the F7’s A.I. Battery Management can guarantee up to 15 hours of regular usage with a 3,400mAh battery capacity.

Shopee Guarantee
One of the unique features of Shopee is the Shopee Guarantee. It was developed with the needs and preferences of our users in mind. It ensures that buyers can shop without worrying that they won’t receive their orders, and in turn helps sellers by encouraging more people to buy through Shopee.

“We aim to strengthen our partnership with Shopee as it helps us reach more customers and provide them more exclusive deals. Our goal is to widen our product assortment in Shopee to cater to their ever-growing user base,” OPPO Philippines Public Relations Manager Eason de Guzman said.

For more information of OPPO’s official online store on Shopee, visit https://shopee.ph/oppophilippines. The Shopee app can be downloaded for free via App Store or Google Play. Customers may also follow OPPO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OPPOPH and Shopee at https://www.facebook.com/www.Shopee.ph/ for more updates.

Luis Manzano, Alex Gonzaga, Wil Dasovich and Alodia battle it out in the FOX+ Showdown

Four contestants. Four hours. One winner.  Who will be the last one streaming?

Video-streaming service FOX+ today announced a competitive event that will pit celebrities in a battle to be the last one streaming this Saturday, 2pm at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Center.

FOX+ Showdown
The FOX+ Showdown will see Luis Manzano, actor and self-confessed comedian wannabe; Alex Gonzaga, a quirky and charming host, actress, and vlogging superstar; Wil Dasovich, world-traveler, and YouTube personality; and Alodia Gosiengfiao, an internet-breaking gamer and cosplayer, attempt to outwatch and outlast each other in a four-hour streaming marathon while undergoing a series of twist laden activities. Each will be allocated a thematic room to stream their favorite FOX+ content and tackle the challenges.

To win, they’ll be required to strategize and even form alliances with the objective of being the last one streaming their favorite host of FOX+ shows, including Hollywood blockbusters, latest series, thrilling documentaries and live sports.

Fans Get to Watch and Decide
All the action will be streamed live on the FOX+ Facebook page this Saturday https://www.facebook.com/FOXPlusPH/, from 2pm or visit the event at Bonifacio High Street Activity Center. Fans can visit the participants’ Facebook pages to help the them throughout the competition.

Coming in the forms of BOOST and BUST scenarios, the FOX+ Showdown activities will either aide the participants with better viewing experiences or allocate challenges to their competitors in a bid to oust them from the competition. However, participants will need to rally their fans through Facebook Live to win BOOSTS and BUSTS.  The pre-planned BOOST AND BUST activities will be sure to entertain everyone on ground and online.

Last One Streaming

At the end of the four-hour event, the last one streaming will be crowned champion of the FOX+ Showdown. The champion will be rewarded with a FOX+ Experience of their choice ranging from a VIP access to the Formula 1™ race in Singapore, a FOX Lot Tour in Los Angeles, California, a trip to the U.S. to catch a live NBA game, National Geographic Expedition, etc.

To encourage fans and viewers to download the FOX+ app on their devices during the event, there will be hourly raffles for winners to take home prizes including iPhone X devices and 49” Smart TVs.

FOX+ is available on Android and iOS devices as well as on Apple TV and select Android TVs. Start your free 30 day trial now. For more info, visit: http://www.foxplus.com

Vivo endorser Darren Espanto joined by TJ Monterde at The Vivo V9 Mall Tour in SM City Cebu

Darren Espanto, who just recently concluded his successful Unstoppable concert a few days ago, flew to Cebu to be with fans at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour last June 1. Singer/songwriter and fellow Vivo endorser TJ Monterde was also in the oldest city in the country last June 3 to make an appearance at the same Vivo event.

Darren, a Vivo endorser, holds a Vivo V9 in his hand at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour at SM City Cebu last June 1.


The Cebuano fans flocked to SM City Cebu last June 1 where they were treated to songs by Darren who even greeted his fans from the Queen City of the South in the local Cebuano dialect. Darren sang his top-of-the-charts hits along with his own rendition of Dying Inside. Darren, who just turned seventeen, was even surprised by the Darrenatics—his own fan base—onstage with a cake to celebrate his birthday and fourth year in showbusiness.

                                                 Vivo endorser TJ Monterde




The Vivo V9 Mall Tour at the SM City Cebu was well-received by the Cebuanos. Apart from the appearances made by Darren and TJ, the big-ticket brand also gifted fans and loyal Vivo users with premium Vivo items and even Vivo V9 smartphones at the special games held at the event. The Vivo V9 Mall Tour in Cebu was just one of a few more to happen in an effort to bring the brand and the V9 closer to the Filipinos in different places all over the country.

The Vivo V9 is an artificial intelligence (AI) selfie camera with a 16 MP+5 MP dual-camera setup. Much like its predecessors, the V7 and V7+, the V9 also rocks a 24 MP selfie camera that comes with features like AI Face Beauty Natural Light, Studio Light, and Monochrome background which brings selfie-taking with the new Vivo smartphone several notches higher in the quality scale. Selfie-fans will also benefit in the ample phone display of the Vivo V9 as it could improve the overall composition of every photograph taken, with enhanced clarity and definition.

Watch out for Vivo’s newest ‘eXciting’ innovation

Young global smartphone brand Vivo never fails to thrill. It thrilled mobile fans worldwide with its forward-looking innovations, especially when they came out with a 20-megapixel front camera smartphone and released models with 24MP selfie camera next. 

The list goes on and on since then. Two years after it was launched in the Philippines, the commitment to satisfy smartphone users has never wavered. Now, Vivo is bringing another innovation in the Philippines. No word has been said about the next model the brand will introduce in the Philippines, but Vivo confirmed it has an “eXciting touch” to it.

The young global smartphone brand has made a mark in the smartphone industry by outplaying its competitors with its top-of-the-line developments.

Aside from the selfie camera, Vivo is also a leading innovator of display screens. It has recently pushed for a 100% full-screen display when it launched its concept smartphone APEX FullView earlier this year. The same concept smartphone also boasted of an elevating front camera and screen SoundCasting technology to achieve the FullView™ screen.

Vivo broke another record when it introduced a ready-to-produce smartphone with an In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, which was showcased during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018.

With its many firsts, Vivo is a true leader in bringing the smartphone technology to the future.

Jollibee Family Values Awards continues to recognize and empower exemplary Filipino families

In the past seven years, Jollibee has been recognizing exemplary Filipino families with outstanding advocacies through the Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA). Last year, nine awardees joined the growing roster of 54 families, igniting an exciting new chapter in their lives.

Almost a year later, the families continue to embark on their journeys and advocacies with more passion and zeal than ever before.

“The JFVA title served as a morale booster and further inspired a desire in us to accomplish an equal feat, if not surpass it. It became a driving force to reach out to help more of our lesser fortunate province mates using the ‘gift of two arms’," shared Ramon, head of the Dickson family who conducts dental and medical missions in far-flung Abra villages.

Now, the Dickson family continues to help the underprivileged in their region by involving other organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross-Abra Chapter and the Provincial Advisory Council of the Philippine National Police, to propose more activities for the people of Abra and to further improve the lives of their advocacy constituents.

The Felix family also continues to conduct eye check-ups for military personnel. Through their 20/20 vision program, the JFVA family awardee, to date, has provided free eyeglasses to a total of 1,797 military personnel and has continuously conducted eye missions across different military bases, including the Mactan Airbase in Cebu and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

For the Mallari family, the moving force behind Silid Aralan, Inc., it was all about expansion. “JFVA actually inspired us to continue what we have started and dream more to reach out to those kids who need our assistance,” Arci Mallari shared.

From initially reaching 300 kids, their bigger dream was achieved as they now reach 1,300 kids through newly-built learning hubs from Luzon to Mindanao, across Region 1, CAR, 3, 4A, NCR, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 (Caraga).

The Castro family from San Jose, California also sends their help to children from across the globe in the form of books and other educational materials through their Children’s Health Education Fund Foundation. In 2017 alone, they were able to ship 129 balikbayan boxes full of books and extended their aid to other JFVA co-awardees. 

The JFVA has opened a lot of doors to many of the winners as all of the families utilized their cash prizes to further their advocacies. The JFVA title has also served as a proof of the credibility of their organizations, resulting in increased donations, volunteers and benefactors, and most importantly, a source of inspiration.

This year, Jollibee once again aims to search for these inspiring stories and empower the families behind them to further upraise their advocacies through the 8th Jollibee Family Values Awards. The award-winning program continues to honor Filipino families here and abroad who choose to be great for others and best exemplify positive Filipino family values. 

Exemplary Filipino families may be nominated based on: relevance and impact of their advocacy in addressing the community’s pressing needs, long-term sustainability, magnitude of the advocacy’s contribution to the community, family members’ degree of involvement and participation, and ability to surpass challenges and special circumstances.

Those who wish to nominate model families—including their own—must accomplish a nomination form which can be downloaded at www.jfva.jollibee.com.ph, and answer a questionnaire that will establish the nominees’ suitability and eligibility. 

Entries may be sent via mail to the 8th Jollibee Family Values Awards, Stratworks, Inc., 2/F Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Completed nomination forms may also be emailed to jollibee.fva@gmail.com. The deadline for submission of nomination forms is on July 15, 2018.

Five outstanding Filipino families will be recognized as grand winners of the Jollibee Family Values Awards and will receive a P300,000 cash prize, trophy designed by renowned sculptor Michael Cacnio, and P10,000 worth of Jollibee gift certificates.

An overseas Filipino worker family will receive the OFW Family of the Year award with a P300,000 cash prize, a Michael Cacnio-designed trophy, and P5,000 worth of Jollibee gift certificates.

There will also be special citation awards for families with education, environment, children, persons with disabilities, minority groups, agriculture, or youth empowerment as their advocacies. Each awardee will get a P50,000 cash prize, a plaque of recognition, and Jollibee gift certificates.

Find out more about the 8th Jollibee Family Values Awards and its different activities at www.jfva.jollibee.com.ph or like the JFVA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Jollibee-Family-Values-Awards-Community-1645602058997253/