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How Light Gives a Brighter Future for the Philippines

With some places denied access to light, Light Up Philippines are lighting up the country one household at a time.

Taking inspiration from a photo, that went viral on social media, of a 9-year-old boy studying by the light outside a fast food chain, JCI Cebu Inc. starts a campaign addressing this problem from far-flung household communities.

That photo has caught public’s attention, and thus making the rest of the country saw that there are still families living not guaranteed with an access to energy.

Started off the campaign with Light Up Cebu, a number of families from distant communities benefit from this initiative, relying mainly on the power of renewable source of energy.

FROM LEFT JCI Sen. Kenneth Kabingue, JCI Philippines National President Hegem Furigay, CTU Director for Climate Change Communications and Solution Prof. Mai Kabingue, JCI Cebu President Ian Anthony, Osmeña, Engr. Jimmy Lasaca of Sunmagnet Philippines Corporation, JCI Philippines NEVP Ken Ngo, Light Up Philippines National Chairman Joeven Lee and Climate Reality Project Philippines Manager Rodne Galicha. (Photo from JCI Cebu)

In a study conducted by Philippine Institute for Development Studies last 2013, about 16 million Filipinos, still have no access to electricity. These places are predominantly located in the island and mountain barangays which most power providers hardly can reach.

With JCI Cebu at the helm since 2015, they have been distributing solar kits to families of young indigent students who lack any light in their homes with a primary aim of providing these students with light through solar power without any cost on their part.

Two years later, the campaign widens its horizons to the whole country with the launch of Light Up Philippines in Cebu on Friday, June 16.

Launching Light Up Philippines. From LEFT Engr. Jimmy Lasaca of Sunmagnet Philippines Corporation, Light Up Philippines National Chairman Joeven Lee, Climate Reality Project Philippines Manager Rodne Galicha, CTU Director for Climate Change Communications and Solution Prof. Mai Kabingue and Brgy. Toong Councilor Melvin Bacalso. (Photo from JCI Cebu)

With the goal in providing students from far-flung communities to have light when they study over the night, JCI Cebu, with its partners, distributed 100 solar kits to these families, benefited at least 500 students to further excel in their studies.

Mountain barangays in Cebu City like Toong, Buhisan and Labangon, island barangays in Mactan and Sta. Fe town in Bantayan are among the places they have been handing over light onto.

Gearing it up through Light Up Philippines, the goal is to light up 20,000 household and benefit 25,000 families and 100,000 children, leading up that access to energy is an important factor in fighting against poverty.

The said commitment is in line with Light Up Philippines advocating United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in transforming the world by 2030 by doing sustainable projects that will help empower communities like “Lighting Up the Philippines one household at a time.” Underlining their five advocacies in this drive to fight against poverty by giving energy, the group pushes for quality education for all, an affordable and clean energy ensuring access to these, taking urgent action to combat the severely change of climate, promoting just and peace societies and revitalizing global partnership for sustainable development.

The JCI-Cebu’s brainchild initiative is recognized as the recipient of the “Luntiang Kausaban Award” held at the Senate of the Philippines recently through the 2017 Climate Reality Leadership Awards.

With JCI believing that service to humanity is best work of life, Light Up Philippines opened itself for possible collaborations and partnerships with other institution that also topflight the same cause and advocacy. 

  • For inquires, one may contact JCI Member Joven Lee, National Chairman, Light Up Philippines at joevenlee@yahoo.com or at 63922-820-9430.
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Events

A Feast for the Senses

Crimson Chefs - Masahiro Kinoshita, Naoki Eguchi, Daniel Johnston, Javier Garcia, Allan Barios, Andrew Simpson
By Joanna Cuenco 

June 8 – Mactan, Cebu | For one of its biggest dining events of the year as part of the highly anticipated Cebu Food and Wine Festival, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan curated an epicurean journey that brought guests on gastronomic flights of fancy, fine cuisine. A Feast for the Senses showcased the creativity and excellence of the resort’s culinary team through a dine-around event at its four dining destinations that invited guests to sample the best that each restaurant had to offer: international cuisine at Saffron, Spanish at Enye by Chele Gonzalez, Japanese at Aka by Naoki Eguchi, and desserts and more drinks at Azure Beach Club.

Maria Paz Perdices, Ambra Anzani, Ema Onda,Kate Anzani, Kumiko Onda, Daisy Barns

Tamsin Booth, Didier Belmonte, Frances Siao, Celeste Miranda, Bert Miranda, Bob Booth

Spirits were high and beverages flowed freely the whole evening, thanks to Philippine Wine Merchant, A Wine Company, The Wine Club, Don Revy, Sommelier Selection, Engkanto Brewery, M. Lhuillier Food Product Inc., Future Trade International, Happy Living Philippines, Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation, and Bauhinia Brewery.

Allan Barios at Saffron dessert station

Ulysse Jouanneaud

Margarette Lhuiller and Perl Jacalan

For the after-party and entertainment at Azure Beach Club, renowned mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud took over the bar, crafting cocktails with Bacardi, Don Papa, Cointreau, and Sula Brands. Chef Allan Barrios presented a dessert spread that included key lime pralines, vanilla bourbon truffles, honey coconut cryos, and tiny flower-potted bamboo shoots that turned out to be made of pistachio. These little works of art were planted alongside vibrant green foliage, smooth stones, and a faux fog effect that created a tropical rainforest diorama out of the dessert table.

Lechon belly station at Saffron

Dessert display at Azure Beach Club

Yellowfin tuna tataki

Grilled mackerel with laksa boullabaise

The night sky and the distant lights of neighboring islands were the perfect backdrop for a high-energy LED dance performance and fantastic fireworks display that left guests in awe and applause. 

Rose Hudson

Chele Gonzalez

Brava potato with chorizo at Enye

LED and Tron Dance

Aka Private Room

The Cebu Food and Wine Festival is supported by the Department of Tourism – Philippines, Visit Central Visayas, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Month, and Cebu Pacific Air. 

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Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

 

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Events

Flying Tiger Copenhagen Lands in Cebu

By Joanna Cuenco

June 13 – Cebu City | Danish lifestyle brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen has landed in Cebu, opening its first branch in the Philippines outside Metro Manila at the upper ground floor of SM Seaside City.  

Since its first store in Copenhagen in 1995, Flying Tiger has aimed to share products that not only look good, but make people feel good too. There’s something for everyone aged one to 100: toys, art materials, homeware, party supplies, workout gear, travel essentials, fashion accessories, and more. There will be fresh drops at the store every three to four weeks, so there’s always something exciting to look forward to and share with family and friends. 

Product designs range from minimalist and “aesthetic” to cute and kitschy. Find lifestyle essentials like food storage and home organizers, tea towels and toothbrush holders, to some awesome things you didn’t know you needed, like a handheld sewing machine and a beach chair for your phone. 

Even though the 200+ square meter space is fully stocked with hundreds of items, the store layout and neat display make it such a joy to look at all of the things and make the shopping experience easy and enjoyable. Flying Tiger believes a richer life does not cost a fortune, so items start at only P30, or even lower with some special promos.

The store opened with a traditional Danish cake-cutting ceremony with Jet Tan, Flying Tiger Copenhagen Store Operations Manager of APAC Region; Gladhys Rodriguez, Merchandising Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; Billi Jin Esguerra-Perez, Marketing Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; and JB Tan, Mall Manager of SM Seaside City Cebu. 

Zandra Len Salvador and Drew Sarmiento

Sarree Pimentel with Lian

Rizanne Tiongko, Joanna Cuenco and Anya Morrissey

Jen and Jas Sarmiento, Rere Dakay, Kirby Yu with Kayden

Jaja Chiongbian Rama with Sebi and Georgiana

Eleni Paray, Hazel Tirol and Mitchelle Lua

Flying Tiger is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Stores Specialists, Inc., the country’s largest specialty retailer that handles a network of 593 stores and 94 brands, including some of the  most recognized names in the world.

Facebook: @FlyingTigerCopenhagenPH

Instagram: @flyingtigerph

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