POEA top performer awardee opens Cebu recruitment office

CEBU CITY (June 24) -- An agency awarded by the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) as "Top Performer" for four consecutive years now since 2002 has expanded its operations in Cebu to serve overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Visayas and northern Mindanao.

Reliable Recruitment Corporation opened this month its Cebu office at the second level of Raintree Mall after 25 years of deploying OFWs worldwide from its corporate headquarters in Ermita, Manila. It also operates branches in the Ilocos region.

"We came to Cebu for the convenience of our OFW clients and their relatives and to those who dream to seek greener pastures abroad," said Zozimo S. Cabulisan, president and CEO of the company that holds POEA License No.POEA-004-LB-053106.

"Cebuanos and those from the other provinces in Central and Eastern Visayas and the whole of the northearn Mindanao need not fly to Manila to apply and process their papers," he said. "When they fly, that will already be to their country of destination."

As the Reliable Cebu office opens, the company is offering a "Fly Now, Work First, then Pay Later" program to clients who will seek for employment Down Under, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, disclosed Arlene Tongco, Reliable–Cebu branch officer-in-charge.

The company also eploys workers to Oman, Lebanon and Israel, added Tongco who announced that their clients will only pay for their agency and processing fees when they begin to receive their salaries abroad. "They will not even have to pay in full right away but on a staggered basis," she pointed out.

"Dili lalim tinu'od nga makalarga abroad pero dili na karon kinahanglan pa sa pamilya nga ipamalgya ang mga baka'g baboy o' isanla ba ang yuta o' pinuy'anan aron lang makalarga ang ilang minahal ug gisaligan," she said. (A family need not sell livestock or pawn properties to raise money for a bread winner to go abroad.)

Tongco said the company invested so much on the program "because we truly want to help our fellow Filipinos alleviate themselves from poverty." She also noted the program assures the company's clients that a legitimate and a decent job await them before even leaving the country.

Those interested to work abroad through Reliable-Cebu may call the office at 254-9698, send an email at reliablecebu@yahoo.com or browse the company website.

Taiheiyo Cement, Solid Earth now support 23 valedictorians

SAN FERNANDO, Cebu (June 23) -- Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. (TCPI) and Solid Earth Development Corporation (SEDC) now support 23 scholars after both companies granted 12 more scholarships to students who graduated valedictorian last March from the elementary public schools in this town.

Officials of the company awarded the certificates of scholarship to the 12 incoming first year high school students and certificates of scholarship renewal to the first batch of 11 scholars who are now incoming second year high school students in simple ceremonies at the TCPI Penthouse last May 31.

Toshio Komatsu, TCPI president and CEO, also gave recognition to those in the first batch who performed well during the first year of their grant, along with Takahiko Imachi, senior vice president for finance, and SEDC COO Hideki Yanagita.

San Fernando Mayor Antonio L. Canoy and Councilor Lakambini G. Reluya, chair of the committee on education of the Municipal Council, along with barangay officials and the scholars' parents, witnessed the awarding as the TCPI-SEDC scholarship program entered its second year.

"I hope you'll continue being scholars and maintain the standard set by Taiheiyo and SEDC," Canoy said in his message for the scholars, as he lauded the two firms for their initiative: "You are the perfect example of the kind of companies we welcome who are not only here to make money but demonstrate social consciousness."

Both companies granted the scholarship under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) that is administered by a social development management committee tasked to closely monitor the performance of the scholars in school, according to Dr. Meliton A.S. Delos Santos, Ph.D. in Geology, SEDC general manager.

Opportunites

The TCPI CEO said it is the character of the Taiheiyo Group to uplift the living of host communities, and that TCPI gives prime on education as "it is the foundation that enables anyone to build a better future for oneself and the community. a pathway towards achieving goals and aspirations."

But Komatsu stressed that what both TCPI and SEDC are giving are "only opportunities." "Success (in this scholarship program) lies in the support of the community, the encouragement of the parents and the guidance from the teachers," he pointed out.

The new batch of scholars again represent the original 11 barangays in San Fernando that both companies, as determined with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), consider as their direct stakeholding communities, plus North Poblacion that has been included this year.

They are: Ruthchiel Mae G. Geraldizo of South Pobacion, Jennifer P. Cañas of Panadtaran, Sarah Mae C. Tapuyao of Tonggo, Vanissa Rose L. Sasil of Tinubdan, Christian R. Baricuatro of Magsico and Julieto A. Causapin of Bugho;

Jackylyn P. Alsa of Basak, Annabelle P. Manugas of Cabatbatan, Analie C. Malabago of Ilaya, Gina S. Embolode of Tañañas, Jessa Mae L. Tañajura 0f Tabionan and Mary Eve E. Barayoga of North Poblacion.

Geraldizo, Cañas, Tapuyao, Embolode, Tañajura and Barayoga have been enrolled and are now studying at the Notre Dame Academy in San Fernando. Baricuatro, Causapin and Manugas are at Magsico National High School, while Alsa is at Balud National High School and Malabago at Pitalo National High School.

Among the first batch of 11 scholars, seven have been studying at Notre Dame Academy,. while four of them are making waves at the Magsico National High School. The most promising among them is Bernarda M. Panilagan of Cabatbatan who is studying in Magsico and intends to become a Math teacher.

Future leaders

According to Jerome N. Paz, TCPI senior manager for human resources and administration manager, who oversees the SMDP implementation, each scholar gets an annual fund of P10,000.00 released at P1,000.00 per month.

"The scholars will only need to maintain an 85 percent average by the yearend and must not have any failing mark on any grade," he said. "We also want them to be model students that they will have to demonstrate satisfactory GMRC."

Esther P. Cola, SEDC administration manager, also stressed that the scholars must not be involved in any violation of school rules and laws of society. "We are hopeful that our scholars will grow to become future leaders of San Fernando, and even in our province," she pointed out.

The children said they were very happy of the grant they got and vowed to maintain their grades as they know it would lead them to fulfilling their dreams to become successful professionals or entrepreneurs. They said they and their parents are very thankful for the support TCPI and SEDC are giving them.

"Tungod sa Taiheiyo ug Solid Earth, makab'ot na unya nako ang akong mga pangandoy," remarked Charise Genon, a scholar in the first batch from Magsico.

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SCHOLARS. San Fernando Mayor Antonio "Abe" Canoy (2nd from right) and Councilor Lakambini G. Reluya (leftmost) join (from left) TCPI SVP-Finance Takahiko Imachi, CEO Toshio Komatsu and SEDC COO Hideki Yanagita with their 12 new scholars. Expressing their gratitude for the support they are getting from TCPI and SEDC are (top, from left) scholars Bernarda M. Panaligan of the 2005 batch and Mary Eve E. Barayoga of the new 2006 batch, and parents representing both batches.

IT programmers bring cheer, fun to Gethsemane children

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu (June 13) -- Employees of a new yet fast-growing information and communication technology company took a break from their daily e-commerce routine by bringing cheer to the children belonging to the Christian Church of Christ in Agony Gethsemane Parish living in four barangays in this city.

The programmers from Focus Interactive Outsourcing, Inc. (FOCUS) played big brothers and sisters to 92 children from Casuntingan, Cabancalan, Banilad and Bakilid through a simple yet fun-filled program and some games, and by sharing with them some food and goodies at the Gethsemane parish center.

"We want to be meaningful parishioners of Gethsemane," remarked Andrie S. Udal, FOCUS CEO and president. "Being actively involved and being in touch with the children, especially those living in marginalized lives, give us so much sense of fulfullment."

The activity last June 7 was part of the celebration of the fiesta and founding anniversry of Gethsemane Parish. Fiesta organizing committee chairperson Lisa Torralba-Molion and her husband Manny of Molion Marketing and Prompt Services invited FOCUS to be involved with the events.

FOCUS, which provides Internet-based outsourcing services for companies in Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and other parts of Europe, operates with 39 PHP programmers from Villa Angeles, an apartment compex near Greenhills in Casuntingan, this city.

The company began operating early this year, and is expected to expand with 100 programmers towards the yearend. Beyond good pay, amazing perks and continued training and development, FOCUS employees undergo regular team buiding and activities that enhance their humanity.

"The Kids Fun Party we had with the children of Gethsemane is among them," Udal explained.

ICT programmers, especially those familiar with Hypertext Preprocessing (PHP), are welcome to join FOCUS, become satisfied and fulfilled programmers, and be part of its upcoming activities for the community.

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KIDS FUN DAY. A FOCUS programmer distributes chocolate cupcakes to the children who took part in the Kids Fun Day last June 7 that was part of the celebration of the founding anniversary of Gethsemane Parish in Mandaue City, as the FOCUS team led by CEO Andrie S. Udal pose with some of them.

JCI is FUN

CEBU CITY (June 12) -- Junior Chamber International - Philippines welcomed three new Baby Jaycees of JCI Cebu-Mactan Channel who had proven their worth to become JCI members during their aspirant days.

Venus Lim, Jun Pinili and Danessa Alinsug (above) took their oath during the club's recent GMM.

Members of this worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs find fun in creative trainings (below) and projects they undertake.

Those who wish to join the organization may send an email to jcicebumactanchannel@yahoo.com, or an SMS to 0922-8-MACTAN.

Cebu City SK leaders help build new homes for GK Eversley folks

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu (June 7) -- A pack of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders in Cebu City have joined the bandwagon that a number of organizations have taken by building homes for the poorest among the poor through the phenomenal Gawad Kalinga (GK) movement.

With SK Cebu City Federation (SKFCC) president and Cebu City Councilor Glena Bontuyan, the group trooped recenty to the Sinulog GK Village at Eversley Childs Sanitarium community in Jagobiao, this city, to help renovate the old homes of an urban poor community that GK had adopted.

A week-long mission of another group that Bontuyan led in Southern Leyte for Ginsaugon landslide survivors under the "GK 1MB Bayani Challenge" inspired the group from different barangays led by Charlie Ardiza, SK Chairman of Barangay Agsungot, that camped at the Sinulog SK Village from May 29 to June 3.

The group worked hand in hand with members of GK SIGA (Serving in God’s Army, under the Child and Youth Development Program of GK) and some GK volunteers in working to renovate the existing houses of the GK homeowners at Eversley.

"Each day was a chance for us to interact with the families. It not just building a house but also friendship," remarked Ardiza. “I am just so happy that SKFCC was able to help in Leyte after the tragedy and now it's time to pass that passion to the youth here in Cebu the vision of nation building through Bayanihan."

Homes in old wood gave way to fresh concrete while other houses now bear the bright and hopeful colors of Gawad Kalinga, reported Ardiza.

Ardiza's group realized that GK promotes heroism, sacrifice and nobility, values and ethics of community life, with bayanihan as the driving spirit of a people in thirst to be a true nation.

"GK is rekindling the love for country and the poor among the middle class, businessmen, Filipinos abroad, Muslims and Christians in Mindanao and other Filipinos especially the youth who have been privileged to have comfortable lives and opportunities that the majority, the poor, do not have," Ardiza said.

"Success is no longer just personal gain or working for the welfare of the immediate family but rising together as a people. Because the Filipino youth’s dream is no longer just a house, a car or a college degree but a country where there is peace and abundance for all," he added.

The involvement of the SK in Cebu City came as part of the "Matag Kabataan Bayani" program that the GK Partners Management Group is promoting among the youth and even children.

For more information on how to partner with Gawad Kalinga with its cause, one may call the GK Cebu office at 253-5532.

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Gawad Kalinga. Cogon-Ramos SK leader Anjo Pepito lays a brick as his fellow Cebu City SK leaders help a homeowner renovate her house at the Sinulog SK Village in Eversley Childs Sanitarium in Jagobiao, Mandaue City.

McDonald's Charities to build P1.6M 'Bahay Bulilit' for Cebu

CEBU CITY (June 6) -- McDonald’s will build within the year the first "Bahay Bulilit" Day Care Center in Cebu in collaboration with the Cebu City Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The P1.6 million day care center has been proposed to be built in a city-owned lot behind SM City Cebu to serve the less privileged communities in that part of Mabolo and nearby residents in Carreta and those living within the Port of Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña personally picked the site during a visit of Maria Corazon "Zonito" M. Torrevillas, executive director of McDonald's Charities and also the PR/Communications manager of McDonald's Philippines, at City Hall last May 29.

Necessary documentations are now being worked out and project collaborators hope to sign a memorandum of agreement within this month, Torrevillas disclosed.

Under the MOA, McDonald's will build the "Bahay Bulilit" at a projected cost of P1.6 million, while the city will allow the use of its lot for at least 20 years for the day care center and pay for the salary of the day care teachers and social workers.

DSWD will oversee its day-to-day operations, along with the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) headed by Catherine "Kathy" R. Yso.

The "Babay Bulilit" unit in Cebu will be the second to be built outside Metro Manila since McDonald's Charities began the program with DSWD two years ago. Five units have been built in Metro Manila. It inaugurated the latest unit in Iloilo City only last April 19.

McDonald's Charities pursued the "Bahay Bulilit" program as part of its advocacy to promote the Rights of the Child through programs that works for the child's education, shelter, health and happiness.

Another parallel program is "Bright Minds Read," a beginning reading curriculum for Grade One pupils, that McDonald's Charities funded during research and now to promote its widespread implementation among public schools nationwide.

FOCUS Interactive Outsourcing seeks for ace PHP programmers

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu (June 5) -- What is better than having a high paying job? It’s working on an exciting job that pays well, especially for top ace programmers in the fast-growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector in Cebu.

FOCUS Interactive Outsourcing, the most recent addition to this sector that serves the worldwide market, offers both excitement and a competitive compensation package to promising ICT professionals.

“All we seek are those who have the right attitude to go with their talent,” declared Andrei S. Udal, the company’s CEO, who hopes to hire up to 100 programmers by the end of 2006.

Since it began operations early this year, FOCUS has so far hired 37 programmers who are working at the FOCUS operations center in Greenhills, Maguikay, Mandaue City.

A major player in online sales acceleration which has a very crucial role to play in the Internet marketing business worldwide, FOCUS serves clients in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and parts of Europe.

It also produces and sells mobile phone ring tones and logos to GSM providers in these countries, but the company is more occupied with handling the advertising requirements of its international clients.

Udal, a former human resource director for a call center company, places a premium on programmers who are adept at or have, at the very least, a working knowledge on Hypertext Preprocessing, or “PHP.”

PHP, known to ICT practitioners as "Personal Home Page," is an open-source, reflective programming language used mainly for producing dynamic web content and server-side applications, he explained.

Benefits

Programmers at FOCUS enjoy a very competitive basic salary, bonuses and fringe benefits that include one sack of Ganador rice per month, he disclosed.

“More than the material benefits, our people will further gain continued learning opportunities and team building activities,” Udal said.

In the treatment of his team, Udal took his cue from call centers, where employee turnover rates are as high as 25 percent per month, a nightmare for any human resource department.

“My call center experience tells me that for employees to stay, they should feel at home with the company and there should be a continuous training program that allows them to learn,” he said.

In choosing employees, Udal says he prefers applicants who have the right attitude at work and about life to go with their talent.

“I go for attitude first, then talent and commitment. We give so much to our employees so I would expect them to do their jobs very well and to commit to the company for at least five years,” he stressed.

For the right combination of attitude, talent and commitment, Udal – who is fondly called “Chief” by his staff – has gone to the extent of relocating programmers (and their families) from Mindanao to Mandaue City.

FOCUS accepts applications through its website.

McDonald's opens 8th store in Cebu at Fuente Osmeña

CEBU CITY (June 5) -- McDonald’s has expanded its presence in the Cebu market with the opening of its eighth restaurant in Cebu this Saturday, June 10, at Fuente Osmeña.

Kenneth Yang, managing director of McDonald's Philippines, will personally come to Cebu to grace the opening activities. He will also come to check the probable site for the first McDonald's "Babay Bulilit" Day Care Center in Cebu.

McDonald's Fuente will be opened to serve the Cebuanos since the company began operating McDonald's JY Square in Lahug last December 2002, disclosed Edu Alvarez, the company's operations consultant overseeing the new store.

McDonald's also operates restaurants at Cebu South Road in Basak-Mambaling area, at Plaza Fair Colon, SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, in Mactan and the first store by the former Jones Ave. (now Osmeña Blvd.) cor. Arlington Pond.

Rommel C. Ong, operations manager for Visayas and Mindanao, disclosed that McDonald's opted to open a restaurant at Fuente Osmeña as the company wants to serve the Cebuanos better by "bringing the store where you (Cebuanos) are."

He noted that, while the new McDonald's Fuente may just be located about 250 meters from McDonald's Jones, a comprehensive market study showed both sites cater to different yet distinct markets.

"We want you (Cebuanos) to have better convenience in getting to McDonald's where you will have the best quality food and enjoy our great service," declared Ong.

Melon Salazar, vice president for operations, said time has come for McDonald's to expand in Cebu, having noted the dynamic developments in the metropolis, with the travel and hospitality industry getting more vibrant and the local economy getting more pulsating.

Ms. Grace Eje, who led the store management team that started McDonald's Tagbilaran in Bohol and McDonald's Mactan in Lapulapu City, will again lead a new yet experienced team of managers that will start operating McDonald's Fuente.

She said her team will give away free Big Mac, McDonald's most popular special burger worldwide, to the first 100 customers on June 10 and another 100 by Sunday, June 11.

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McDO FUENTE. The new McDonald's Fuente will start serving customers this Saturday, June 10. It is located at the corner ground floor space of Maria Cristina 2 Building that used to be Rosita's Fuente and Thrifti Mart before.

Interactive I.T. company starts operations in Cebu

MANDAUE CITY (May 25) -- Nurturing an undeniably talented crop of Information and Communication Technology programmers is definitely doing Cebu a lot of good.

This, as more and more companies with foreign-based clientele set up operations in its components cities.

The latest addition is FOCUS Interactive Outsourcing, a major player on the online sales acceleration which has a very crucial role to play in the Internet marketing business worldwide.

A high-value I.T. service provider based in this city, FOCUS initially employs a tight-knit group of PHP programmers that works passionately to serve clients offshore.

FOCUS serves clients based in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and parts of Europe, disclosed Andrie S. Udal, the young yet very energetic president and chief executive officer of the company”.

“At the least, we produce and sell mobile phone ringtones and logos to GSM providers in these countries, but we are more occupied with handling the advertising requirements of our international clients,” disclosed Udal, who has been into e-commerce and human resource industries for more than ten years now.

Udal had set up FOCUS literally from the ground up. With clients already clinched, the former veteran of eight years in harnessing human resources admits that finding the right people for the tasks required was one of the easier parts of setting up operations.

“Technology today is awesome, but I believe more in people that make such amazing use of technology,” noted the FOCUS CEO who channeled a significant chunk of the company’s investments in competent I.T. specialists and programmers.

He said he welcomes those who would have the guts to see him, demonstrate their promising potentials and join his FOCUS team.

Sian Tian Temple donates 30 homes in GK Budlaan

CEBU CITY (May 23) -- Sian Tian Temple has committed to take care of the construction of 30 homes for the beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga at Sitio Tak-an, Barangay Budlaan II in Talamban district, this city.

In fact, temple followers led by Auring Uy witnessed the ceremonial groundbreaking with GK Cebu leaders and would-be beneficiaries last May 11 at exactly 9:30am on that Thursday morning to kick-off the building of such 30 new houses.

They committed to grant these 30 dwellings for poor beneficiaries that GK woud evaluate as deserving recipients, according to Boy Mate, GK Budlaan head of community organizing.

Vic Abarquez, GK Cebu provincial area supervisor, said they are very happy of the support the Filipino-Chinese and Taiwanese community gave for the cause of GK777, that aims to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 villages by the year 2010.

"Christians, Muslims and Buddhists are one in building better lives for Filipinos in need," he pointed out.

Ondo Lim, project director of GK Budlaan, said the 30 homes that Sian Tian Temple followers have committed will be situated adjacent to the portion where SMART-PLDT had committed to build 100 homes.

A basic GK home unit is estimated to cost some P50,000.00, disclosed GK Budlaan Tatag (construction) supervising engineer Edward Yap, adding that the Budlaan site can accommodate at least 200 houses with a common community center.

Sian Tian Temple is located beside the Aboitiz and Co. corporate center and across the Applied Nutrition Center compound on Gov. Cuenco Ave. in Banilad, this city.

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Gawad Kalinga. GK Cebu leaders witness and take part with Sian Tian Temple leaders in the ceremonial groundbreaking at 9:30 AM on May 11 that marked the beginning of the construction of 30 homes for GK beneficiaries at Budlaan II in Talamban district, Cebu City. They are (from 3rd from left) Vic Abarquez, provincial area supervisor; Edward Yap. Tatag supervising engineer; and Ondo Lim, GK Budlaan II project director.

Taiheiyo Cement EMS upgraded to ISO14001:2004

CEBU CITY (May 23) -- Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. (TCPI) has earned the distinction as the first cement plant in Cebu to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) that has been upgraded and certified as having met the standards set in the new 2004 version of ISO14001.

Certification International Philippines (CIP), a Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) accredited certification body and a subsidiary of British firm Certification International U.K. Ltd., issued TCPI the award recently, disclosed Engr. Nilo R. Yap, environment and safety manager of TCPI.

CIP had earlier issued TCPI a certification that the safety and health management system it has been using at its plant in San Fernando meets the standards set under Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001:1999, he added.

CIP managing director Renato Navarette personally handed both the ISO14001:2004 and the OSHAS 18001 certificates to TCPI CEO and president Toshio Komatsu. Navarette's regional marketing officer Barbie Doctor assisted him in handing the award, as Yap stood by his boss.

While the ISO14001:1996 certification that TCPI earned in 2001 was proof of its commitment to comply with government regulations, the 2004 version tells that its manufacturing facility in San Fernando is not only compliant but exceeds the standards set by regulations, Yap explained.

"We had actually been compliant with government regulations even before ISO14001:2004 came into being and even years before we got the certification under the 1996 version," Yap declared in a statement.

However, he added, with the 2004 version being aligned with Quality Management System (QMS), the company's environmental protection efforts would now all the more translate into production efficiency as "every man in the organization is conscious with applying rules and procedures that meet the standard."

Also, the 2004 version now makes top management actively involved in making decisions on policies and procedures during the continuing development of TCPI's EMS. As auditors make their regular review of the company's EMS implementation, they check on tangible proof of management decisions.

The system now goes beyond adopting recommendations made by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on actions to take in certain aspects of the manufacturing process that affect the environment. Top management will now have to acknowledge the aspect identified and approve the measures to undertake.

Integration

Meanwhile, TCPI continues to integrate the various management systems it has been using in its day-to-day operations at its cement manufacturing facility into a single management system this year.

This as TCPI had subjected its Quality Management System (QMS) to a surveillance audit by separate auditors from Certification International to check if this has been consistent on its fifth year of implementation with the standards set under ISO 9001:2000.

"The integration process that we are working on now is quite tough but, with the support top management is giving us, we are confident that we will achieve our target," declared Yap, as TCPI management representative of the company's ISO management systems.

TCPI produces the New Grand brand for both portland and pozzolan cement.

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ISO14001:2004 CERTIFIED. Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI) CEO and President Toshio Komatsu (center) with Engr. Nilo R. Yap, TCPI management representative of the company's ISO management systems, receives the ISO 14001 certificate from Certification International Philippines (CIP) managing director Renato Navarette (left) in simple ceremonies at Grand Convention Center recently.

McDonald's Charities starts to build 'Bahay Bulilit' day care centers outside Manila

ILOILO CITY (April 29) -- McDonald’s Charities has begun building "Bahay Bulilit" day care centers outside Metro Manila in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units that readily welcome and support the project.

In fact, the social development arm of McDonald's Philippines inaugurated in this city the first "Bahay Bulilit" built outside Metro Manila last April 19 since the collaboration with DSWD began in 2003 with quite a number built in the national capital region.

As this developed, the DSWD regional office in Cebu has begun looking for the site for the first "Bahay Bulilit." It had made liaisons with LGUs in Metro Cebu to identify the site, disclosed Cerwin T. Eviota, PR agent for Vis-Min of McDonald's Philippines.

Similar initiatives are also being done elsewhere in the Visayas and Mindanao, he said, noting that a site was already identified early last year in Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga City, only that the LGUs there have yet to clear the lots from encumbrances.

Under the "Bahay Bulilit" program, the LGU, which may be in the barangay level, provides the site with at least 150 square meters in lot area and made available for at least 25 years, according to Butch Salaya, executive director of McDonald's Charities.

McDonald's Charities undertakes the physical development for the cost of about P1.5 million and will turn over the facility to the host LGU and DSWD through the Policy Development and Planning Bureau, he added.

Under a memorandum of agreement that project partners will sign, DSWD will operate the "Bahay Bulilit" by assigning competent social workers and teachers who will handle the basic education of the beneficiary children from the host and neighboring barangays.

Here in Iloilo City, the project partners inaugurated the "Bahay Bulilit" at Barangay Benedicto in Jaro District, only five months after the groundbreaking ceremonies last Nov. 20 with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas himself attending both activities.

"We are some pleased of the degree of collaboration of the Iloilo City Government and the overwhelming cooperation that Benedicto barangay officials gave us from the time we conducted the survey until we turned over the facility," Salaya said.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral herself graced the April 19 turnover, and so did her predecessor, acting secretary Luwalhati Pablo during the Nov. 20 groundbreaking.

Romeo Bachoco, senior vice president of McDonald's Philippines and a board member of McDonald's Charities, also graced both the groundbreaking and turnover ceremonies, along with fellow board member Helen Aquino who witnessed the inauguration.

Beneficiary children performed during both ceremonies.

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BAHAY BULILIT. The first unit outside Metro Manila in Iloilo City stands with splendor as McDonald's Charities turned the day care center to DSWD and the host barangay. In left photo, Ronald McDonald hands the symbolic key to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas with DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Benedicto Barangay Captain Alberto Salting and McDonald's Charities board member Romero Bachoco as witness.

Jaycees build for Gawad Kalinga

CEBU CITY (April 27) -- Members of Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Central Visayas gave a meaningful conclusion in their celebration of the National Jaycee Week last Sunday, April 23, with a BUILD activity for Gawad Kalinga (GK) beneficiaries at the GK Amazing Village in Sitio Tak-an, Budlaan II, Talamban district this city.

JCI Cebu-Mactan Channel organized the activity for the nine chapters in Cebu of JCI, a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs. Even still just an aspiring member, Jun Pinili led the organizing team and coordinated with the GK leadership in Cebu and at the project site.

JCI Mem. Haidee L. Benedicto-Cayetano, JCI Philippines national vice president for Central Visayas, led the Jaycees in the BUILD activity that served well as a form of non-traditional fellowship and team building among the participants, 14 of whom from the host chapter.

GK Budlaan II project manager Undo Lim, also the coordinator of the Couples for Christ in Talamban, gave the "Jaycee Builders" an orientation of the vision and mission of Gawad Kalinga, and what their "labor contrinution" meant to the poor beneficiaries of the project.

He expressed hope that the Jaycees, known for their community-oriented projects, will begin to become very actively involved with the cause of Gawad Kalinga and help the movement attain its vision of building 700,000 homes in 7,000 villages by the year 2010.

Reflecting the desire of JCI C-MC members who took part in the BUILD activity, individual development commission Emi Rose R. Parcon said they would want to come back and would explore making it at least a regular monthly weekend activity with family members and friends.

Director Eric Martin M. Taghoy, also international affairs commissioner, also bared the plan of the chapter to find a partner abroad, whether a sister JCI chapter or a corporate entity, that could help find resources that could help build more homes and help GK achieve its vision.

Meanwhile, those who find interest to join JCI and be part of the mill that produces future entrepreneurial leaders may express their intent by email to jcicebumactanchannel@yahoo.com or by SMS to 0922-8-MACTAN.

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JAYCEE BUILDERS: JCI Philippines national vice president Haidee L. Benedicto-Cayetano (3rd from left, above) and some of the Jaycees in Central Visayas took part in the April 23 GK BUILD activity that concluded their National JCI Week celebration. Top: vice president Matet Calibugan leads her colleagues in JCI Cebu-Mactan Channel, the activity organizer, in giving their "labor contribution" to build homes for the poor at the GK Amazing Village in Budlaan, Cebu City.

Oriental Negros wants zero non-readers by 2010

DUMAGUETE CITY, Oriental Negros (Feb. 14) -- If Gov. George Arnaiz will have his way, Oriental Negros will no longer have non-readers by 2010 and grade school pupils will subsequently improve by leaps in literacy, competence and confidence. And it seems that the high-spirited governor will do have his way.

Gov. Arnaiz initiated what will be a widespread implementation of the Bright Minds Read (BMR) beginning reading curriculum for Grade One pupils in all public schools supervised by the Oriental Negros Division of the Department of Education (DepED).

Through the efforts of Board Member Mariant E. Villegas, education committee vice chairman of the provincial legislature, the Provincial Government purchased 60 BMR tool kits and had some 200 teachers trained in implementing the curriculum last Feb. 4 and 5 for some P400,000.00.

By June this year, the province will purchase 100 more BMR educational kits, the governor disclosed.

40 percent

Arnaiz formally entered for the Province on Feb. 6 into a memorandum of agreement with McDonald's Charities for assistance in the implementation of the BMR program with DepED. The realization of the MOA had the support of Meralco Foundation and Aboitiz Group Foundation.

The Provincial Government adopted the BMR program having been convinced of its effectivity after the pilot implementation of the curriculum in the National Capital Region (NCR) that showed 96 percent of the grade one pupils learning how to read at the end of the school year.

McDonald’s Charities and DepED-NCR pursued the BMR project to address the alarming rate of non-readers among Grade One public school pupils across the country by stimulating proper reading habits among beginning readers.

A study in 2003 showed that four out of 10 Grade One pupils in public schools nationwide are found to be non-readers. These 40 percent become either “students at risk” of not qualifying for Grade Two, or they fall behind for the duration of their schooling simply because they hardly read.

The 2004 pilot implementation performed on 4,200 Grade One pupils in 14 schools proved that BMR can effectively curb poor to absent reading skills by radically reducing the rate of non-readers from 40 percent to only four percent by the end of the school year.

Today, BMR has yielded positive results in various schools with 90 percent of Grade One classrooms in the NCR now using the BMR teaching method only without the prescribed BMR beginning reading kit yet.

Kenneth S. Yang, president of McDonald’s Charities, declares: “We believe that a good education can bring a world of opportunities. This has been the guiding motivation of Bright Minds Read — to make these opportunities available to as many Filipino children as much as possible.”

"By teaching Filipino youth how to read at an early age and in the process cultivating in them a genuine love for reading, BMR hopes to develop students who are smart and fast readers, confident leaders and well-rounded individuals,” he added.

10 percent

At the press conference following the Feb. 6 MOA signing at Oriental Negros High School, it was noted that 10 percent of grade one pupils in Oriental Negros could hardly read.

Dr. Catalina Credo, Ed.D., English supervisor, bared that about 3,000 out of some 30,000 Grade One pupils in Oriental Negros in school year 2004-2005 ended the school year still unable to read. The same appears to be true in the current school year the will end in next month.

Credo said she feels positive about BMR when it is fully implemented next school year. "If the mechanics are fully implemented and the approaches properly adopted with the teachers having the heart to do it, I'm sure we will have a better batch of Grace One pupils" at the end of school yar 2006-2007.

She said the Division will integrate BMR with other approaches like the Third Elementary Education Program (TEEP) funded by the World Bank to make sure that the pupils will improve in their academic performance, build the capability of the teachers and establish strong partnership with the community.

Dr Juliana Topia, Ed.D., Social Studies supervisor, noted that the disciplines promoted by BMR are applicable in other subjects other than Reading. "This is really good, especially along the dimensions of developing questions for the pupils," she said, adding that such manner gives teachers insights to develop their own.

DepED-Oriental Negros Division superintendent Aleli R. Abne said "the coming of BMR is an answer to our prayers" as she lamented that her Division recorded the lowest rate in Central Visayas in terms of academic performance.

"I'm really impressed (with BMR) and I'm happy that we now have it as it will be of great help in improving the ability of our pupils," she said.

Oriental Negros will be the first province in the country to have taken bold steps in addressing the literacy issue of grade school pupils, particulary through the use of the BMR program. BMR is still implemented on pilot basis in just a handful number of schools each in the cities of Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

Happy and excited

During the same press conference, Gov. Arnaiz described BMR as “a very wonderful program.” “It will improve the capability of our children in school and the efficiency of our teachers in making sure that our Grade One pupils will learn how to read and become capable to learn more."

Arnaiz said the teachers who participated in the BMR training were “very happy” and “very excited” about the BMR training, and added that he looks forward at their maximum use of the BMR approaches and the utilization of the 60 kits the Province had initially purchased for them.

A BMR kit that is worth P11,200.00 contains 32 teacher training modules, 32 illustrated English and Filipino big books promoting Filipino values and 200 worksheets, all specially designed to enhance beginning reading skills.

Arnaiz and Villegas personally distributed the BMR kits to 60 public schools with Superintendent Abne during the conclusion of the BMR training conducted by Dr. Elvira K. Directo, Ed.D., who took the lead in the conduct of the BMR study, the development of the beginning reading curriculum, and its pilot implementation in the NCR.

Arnaiz and Abne signed the MOA with McDonald's consultant Cerwin T. Eviota who represented Mr. Yang and with Meralco Foundation president Alex Escaño. The vice governor and some provincial board members witnessed the signing along with DepED-Oriental Negros supervisors and some teachers tasked to use the BMR curriculum.

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MOA EXCHANGE. Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz (left) and McDonald's Charities consultant Cerwin T. Eviota exchange copies of the memorandum of agreement they signed for the widespread implementation of the Bright Minds Read (BMR) program in Oriental Negros, as provincial information officer Oliver Lemence looks on.