ABS-CBN University opens its doors!
Transcription
ABS-CBN University opens its doors!
JULY 2014 http://www.facebook.com/lopezlinkonline www.lopezlink.ph ABS-CBN University opens its doors! See story on page 5. www.twitter.com/lopezlinkph PLAY HARD! THIS year, sports fans can look forward to the Pinoy trinity of the most exciting sporting events—basketball, boxing and football—courtesy of a new channel called ABS-CBN Turn to page 6 Sports+Action. Comptrollers at PICPA confab in Japan…page 2 ‘Hawak Kamay’ this July…page 4 Powerhouse picks …page 12 Biz News Lopezlink July 2014 Lopez Holdings investees moving toward sustainable growth LOPEZ Holdings Corporation investees are well on the way to achieving their strategic objectives to grow their respective portfolios in a sustainable manner. Lopez Holdings owns 46% of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) and holds a 56% economic interest in ABS-CBN Corporation. At its annual meeting on June 16, Lopez Holdings president Salvador G. Tirona told shareholders the company is convinced ABS-CBN will be able to achieve its targets in executing its digital convergence strategy. “ABS-CBNmobile is gaining traction with its chosen markets because of its highly desired exclusive content using applications like iWant TV and iWant Stars. We expect them to reach break-even point by next year,” he said. Lopez Holdings invested over P1.5 billion in ABSCBN in 2013, together with a strategic partner (The Capital Group) which invested P2.5B, to launch ABS-CBNmobile’s commercial operations, as well as roll out its digital TV service once implementing rules are published. Meanwhile, the energy units under FPH are improving efficiencies and getting more power plants back online after being hounded by untoward incidents in 2013, including a fire and a typhoon. Its property subsidiaries, Rockwell Land Corporation and First Philippine Industrial Park, are also in expansion mode. “To use a favorite analogy of the FPH chairman (Federico R. Lopez), FPH has the right people on the right bus going in the right direction. They are very clear on their objectives and are aware of the risks and challenges along the way,” said Tirona. The core investments of Lopez Holdings are in media and communications through ABS-CBN and in sustainable energy development, infrastructure, property development and green manufacturing through FPH. (Carla ParasSison) EDC reactivates Bacman unit ENERGY Development Corporation (EDC) has recommissioned the second of its two Bacman geothermal plants after a shutdown lasting more than a year. The 55-megawatt Bacman Unit 2 was shut down in early 2013 due to a technical problem. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, EDC said that the unit has success- fully completed its reliability runs and is delivering electricity into the grid. It, however, remains subject to close monitoring and/or to additional tests, the company added. Unit 1 was recommissioned in February after being shut down late last year after hairline cracks were spotted in its turbine blades. EDC said that the targeted delivery dates of the brand-new turbine rotor and diaphragms from Toshiba for both Bacman units are still by the last quarter of 2014 for the first unit and the first quarter of 2015 for the second unit. The 150-MW Bacman complex is located in the towns of Bacon, Sorsogon and Manito, Albay. Biz News Lopezlink July 2014 Dispatch from Japan AMML leads celebration of Independence Day Rockwell Land opens Aruga serviced apartments ROCKWELL Land Corporation has opened Aruga Serviced Apartments, its maiden venture into the hospitality business. Aruga, located at Edades Tower and Garden Villas, offers 114 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units catering to the perceived growing market of businessmen, professionals and travelers seeking temporary residence close to the Makati Central Business District. “The Aruga Serviced Apartments at Edades will be the first of Rockwell’s several ventures into hotel and leisure, which we plan to expand to different locations in the country,” said Nestor J. Padilla, president and chief executive officer of Rockwell Land. Aruga, a Filipino word that means “nurture,” embodies Rockwell’s goal of delivering genuine Filipino service to guests, Padilla added. The venture, which is being undertaken through subsidiary Rockwell Hotels & Leisure Management Corporation, is part of Rockwell’s bid to grow its recurring income from a mix of retail, office and hospitality segments. The goal is to attain a 65%-35% mix of residential development to commercial portfolio by 2016. Rockwell plans to develop three more Aruga properties over the next five years. According to Ellen Almodiel, Rockwell Land senior vice president for Finance and Accounting and chief finance officer, around half a billion of the company’s estimated P10 billion capital expenditure for the year will be allocated for the Aruga project. “We saw the demand for short-term accommodations. There were a lot of inquiries for weekly, monthly accommodations,” Almodiel said. Prices for a unit at Aruga start at P7,000. In-room features include a fully equipped kitchen, audiovisual equipment, HDTV, electronic safe, electronic key card access and housekeeping services. The two-bedroom units also have a maid’s/utility room. However, until August 31, 2014, clients may avail of Aruga’s special introductory rates starting at P6,000. Inclusions are a set breakfast for two at The Rockwell Club, WIFI, and access to a state-of-the-art gym facility, swimming pool and a host of other sports and recreational facilities as well as the spa and wellness center. For more info, call 818-0000 or visit arugabyrockwell.com. Comptrollers’ Circle joins PICPA intl’l confab in Tokyo “KONNICHIWA minna-san!” or “Hello, everybody!” was the greeting of the Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle delegates to all the participants of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Metro Manila Region’s 11th International Conference held in Tokyo, Japan in May. Lopez Group chairman Ambassador Manuel M. LoAMML (center) with the Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle delegates at the Japan convention pez (AMML) was the guest of honor and the keynote address speaker of the international convention. AMML’s speech centered on the conference theme, “The Philippines: Rising to Global Growth, Challenges and Opportunities.” He emphasized that globalizing economies facilitate the free flow of services. The journey toward the ASEAN economic community, he said, poses various challenges and opportunities and necessitates the operationAMML and spouse Maritess L. Lopez with Comptrollers’ Circle delegates, PICPA executives, SGV partners and alization of mutual recognition agreements between member Philippine Embassy officers at the ambassador’s official residence states. He believes that the Philippines has the potential to become a top 20 global economy by 2050 if proper and purposive action is taken now. AMML added that PICPA members are recognized leaders who can significantly contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable progress for the Philippines and their fellow Filipinos. He encouraged and challenged the accounting professionals to step up to fulfill their role in the changing landscape. Various technical sessions were presented by the executives of the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the officers of the big four accounting firms, Pr ice w aterhouseC ooper s, Ernst & Young ShinNihon, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and KPMG AZSA LLC. Before the conference, AMML and his spouse Maritess L. Lopez hosted a dinner for the Lopez Group delegates, PICPA officers and SGV part- ners at the official residence of Philippine ambassadors to Japan in Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku which is also the only national historical landmark outside the Philippines. In addition, the Lopez Group delegates and PICPA officials were warmly welcomed by the Philippine embassy in Roppongi Minatoku during their official courtesy call on AMML. Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle delegates included Group comptroller Mon Pagdagdagan (First Philippine Holdings Corp.), Marvi Marcelino (Lopez Holdings), Jingle Hernandez (Lopez Inc.), Vicky Martinez (FPH), Lanie Caimol (Lopez Holdings), Aldrin Cerrado (ABS-CBN), Benito Japitana (Rockwell Land), Lucy Landayan (INAEC) and Jei-Jei Gertes (Third Generation Holdings and PICPA 11th International ConferenceProgram chairman). Doumo arigatou gozaimasu! Thank you very much! (Jei-Jei Gertes) THE Philippine embassy in Japan, in cooperation with the Philippine Assistance Group (PAG) representing the Filipino community, celebrated the 116th Independence Day with a National Day Reception and the “Damo nga Salamat” thanksgiving concert in Arakawa, Tokyo to express appreciation to the Filipinos and Japanese who helped the victims of last year’s typhoon Yolanda. In his message to the audience before the start of the concert, Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez (AMML) said the story of Tacloban’s REO Brothers is one of inspiration, proving that despite the tragedies and adversities in the life of the Leyteños, there is always hope. The members of the REO Brothers were left homeless by Yolanda. With only the clothes on their back, the guitars they saved from the Promos & offers Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez (right) and Minister of the Environment Nobuteru Ishihara toast Philippines-Japan relations typhoon and faith in their talent, they left Tacloban with other members of their family to try their luck in Manila. Also appearing at the concert were the Filcom Chorale, Japanese-Filipino actress Sayaka Akimoto and jazz singer Charito, who also chairs the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival. Following the concert, AMML hosted the National Day reception at the Sun Pearl Arakawa attended by some 300 SKYcable Select exclusive: beIN Sports HD Pack For P500 a month, enjoy exclusive access to top football and other sporting events with the threechannel beIN Sports HD Pack available only through SKYcable Select. Delight in over 4,876 hours of football action on beIN Sport 1, while on beIN Sport 2, catch over 812 hours of diverse sports content plus live coverage of top football leagues. Finally, beIN Sport 3 is dedicated to the Barclays Premier League. Make life easy with O Shopping Discover a new retail experience through O Shopping’s friendly customer service and products delivered right on your doorstep. All you need to do is watch TV, call to order the item and transact either via COD, credit card or debit card. O Shopping airs 24 hours exclusively via SKYcable and offers a wide range of items, from household, sports, leisure, beauty, cosmetics, fashion and accessories to products with innovative functions. guests, including the ASEAN diplomatic corps, Japanese parliamentarians, Foreign Ministry officials, Japanese businessmen and leaders of Filipino organizations. Nobuteru Ishihara, Minister of the Environment, conveyed the greetings of the Japanese government and offered a toast for the further enhancement of PhilippinesJapan relations. (Excerpted from tokyo.philembassy.net) Reyes named UP distinguished alum ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes was recognized by her alma mater, the University of the Philippines, during an awarding ceremony held recently. The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Distinguished Alumni Awards, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields, was held at the UP Diliman campus. Reyes was honored for her work in the field of communication, along with Prof. Yvonne Chua and Dr. Susanah Lily Mendoza. Reyes, who obtained a BA Broadcast Communication degree from UP, joined ABSCBN in 1986. She rose from production assistant for News, executive producer and head writer of “The World Tonight,” and director for news production before becoming North America News bureau chief. She has headed ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs Division since 2010. The rest of the awardees include Ivan Henares for culture and the arts, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay for disaster mitigation, Rep. Isagani Amatong for good governance, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza for law and judiciary and Amb. Virgilio Reyes for public service, among many others. Department of Science and Technology Sec. Mario Montejo was named most distinguished alumnus by the UPAA for 2014, while Dr. Manuel Alba, Engr. Claudio Altura and Dr. Jesusa Bagan-Lara were given lifetime achievement awards. Integrated News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes Distinguished service awardees, meanwhile, include Dr. Mimosa Cortez-Ocampo, Dr. Eric Talens and the UP Singing Ambassadors founded and conducted by Prof. Edgardo Manguiat. (Kane Choa) Osorio, Choa lead communicators’ groups THE Corporate Communications Department of ABSCBN now has two association presidents among its ranks. Bong Osorio, ABS-CBN spokesperson, is currently president of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and Kane Choa, officer in charge of ABS-CBN In- tegrated Corporate Communications, was just inducted president of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Lopez Holdings SVP for Corporate Communications Rosan Cruz, meanwhile, is a member of the IABC board of trustees. PRSP president Bong Osorio and IABC president Kane Choa First Balfour joins Philconstruct Visayas Destiny Cable adds Lifetime With the addition of female-focused entertainment destination Lifetime Channel to the analog and digital channel lineups of Destiny Cable, replacing BIO, subscribers now have 92 channels to choose from, including recently added channels E!, Asian Food Channel and RTL-CBS Entertainment. All these for only P550 a month! Subscribers can also customize their cable TV subscription by adding standard-definition or high-definition channels to their basic plan. For more info, call 381-0000 (Metro Manila, CAMANAVA and Rizal) or visit www.mysky.com.ph (SKYcable); and 4180000 or www.destinycable.com.ph (Destiny Cable). Corporate Communications head Vicente de Lima II discusses First Balfour’s nationwide footprint to students who visited the company’s booth in Philconstruct FIRST Balfour was among the 200 companies that participated in the recent 5th Philconstruct Visayas 2014 held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Organized by Philconstruct Events, Exhibitions and Conferences Corporation and the Cebu Contractors Association Inc. together with the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. and the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers, the exhibit featured the latest products, equipment, technologies and services in Follow us @lopezlinkph on Twitter and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lopezlinkonline construction and other related industries. The 3,700-square meter exhibition space drew over 8,000 trade visitors from different areas of the Queen City of the South and neighboring provinces. Meanwhile, as part of the series of activities planned to celebrate its 45 years in the industry, First Balfour will also be joining Philconstruct Mindanao in Davao City in September and the main Philconstruct exhibit in Manila in November. (Dolly Pasia) Lopezlink July 2014 couch potato treats ‘Pure Love’ will make you want to love more “Pure Love,” a local adaptation of the Korean TV series “49 Days,” tells the story of rich girl Diane (Alex Gonzaga) and Ysabel (Yen Santos), who is mourning her boyfriend’s death. Their fates become entwined following an accident, when a comatose Diane discovers through the “Scheduler” that she will be given a second chance at life upon completing a special task. “Pure Love,” which also features Arron Villaflor, Arjo Atayde, Joseph Marco, Matt Evans, Yam Concepcion and Anna Luna, premieres this July 7 before “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida. (Aaron Domingo) Return to Paris Kim Jung-eun returns as Vivian in the comeback of “Lovers in Paris” on ABS-CBN. Relive the love story of Vivian and Carlo (Park Shin-yang) that began in Paris. Reminisce their “Aja!” moments in this series that started the Korean romantic comedy trend in the country 10 years ago. How can a free-spirited girl and a rich bachelor who pretended to be lovers actually find love despite their differences? Fall in love all over again with “Lover in Paris,” weekdays at 10:15 a.m. on ABS-CBN’s Umaganda. Gems from the Lifestyle Network Hitting screens this July are shows that showcase what the Lifestyle Network is all about. Check out some of its offerings! The drama-musical series “The Boston: The Kitchen Musical” airs on Wednesdays at 10pm, Fridays at 1pm, Saturdays at 3pm and Sundays at 5:30pm. Catch Gordon Ramsay in the fifth season of “Masterchef,” which premieres on July 5 at 9:30am, with back-to-back episodes every week. Ramsay has another show, “Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Home Cooking,” which premieres on July 8 at 9am. “Bollyblast,” a dance workout with health and fitness expert Hemalayaa Behl, and “ Yoga for Life” with Kurt Johnson will both premiere on July 6. For the complete lineup and schedules, visit the Lifestyle Network’s official Facebook page, www.facebook. com/LifestyleNetwork. Creative Comm head Labayen gets lifetime achievement award ROBERT Labayen, head of ABS-CBN Creative Communications, was recognized by the Creative Guild of the Philippines with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding works and significant contributions to the Philippine advertising industry. Labayen is the creative genius behind ABS-CBN’s station IDs (SIDs), including the 2009 Christmas SID “Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” that sparked hope in the hearts of Filipinos after the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy. Another popular work of Labayen is the Choose Philippines theme song “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas” sung by Angeline Quinto. “Instead of talking about how good ABS-CBN is, we talk about how good the Filipino is. That’s what I usually tell my team. I explain to them that our job is not a ‘pampapogi.’ Our works should touch Filipinos lives and give them hope,” Labayen said. Since he joined ABS-CBN in 2004, Labayen has led his team in producing SIDs and other video content that have inspired countless Filipinos. Labayen, who spent 22 years of his career in advertising, collaborated on such memorable ad campaigns as “I Love You, Sabado” for a local fast food chain and the “Donut, bai” ad for the 16th Philippine Advertising Congress in 1999. He accepted the Creative Guild of the Philippines’ Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2014 Ad Summit in Subic. (Kane Choa) Why Piolo is excited about ‘Hawak Kamay’ More fun ALTHOUGH he has done a treats for number of television shows in the past, Piolo Pascual said he is still OFs on ‘TFC very excited about his upcoming family soap, “Hawak Kamay.” Connect’ In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Pascual said the new ABSCBN series will focus more on the family. “Filipinos are very family oriented so I believe na makaka-relate ang maraming pamilya. Para sa mga Pilipino talaga ito,” he said. Piolo plays the role of Gin, a frustrated singer who is left by his girlfriend (Nikki Gil) for a job on a ship. With little purpose in life, Gin is forced into responsibility when his sister ( Jennifer Sevilla) and her husband (Lander Vera Perez) die in a car crash, leaving their three adopted kids (Xyriel Manabat, L-R: Piolo Pascual, Iza Calzado and Andrea Brilliantes Zaijian Jaranilla and Yesha Camile) without parents. Gin gets the help of Bianca (Iza Calzado), a lawyer who arranged the adoption, in transitioning him into a responsible guardian of the children. He also meets a girl under Bianca’s care (Andrea Brillantes), who develops a friendship with the three foster siblings. “Hawak Kamay” is the third major project of Piolo and Iza together, after the films “Milan” (2004) and “Starting Over Again” (2014). The primetime series will also be a reunion for Piolo and Zaijian, who both starred in the action-fantasy series “Noah” in 2010. (Excerpted from www.abs-cbnnews. com) New from ABS-CBNmobile! ‘Happy lang, walang ending’ with Vice Ganda VICE Ganda teams up with ABS-CBNmobile for the latter’s new unlimited text promo that dramatizes what “happy lang, walang ending” truly means. “For ABS-CBNmobile, this is perfect because subscribers can now enjoy unlimited texts to all networks through the Kapamilya Text All Network Unli promo load. For just P10, subscribers can enjoy 24 hours of unli texting to any network,” said Nandy Villar, ABS-CBNmobile head of Marketing. Subscribers simply need to text KTANU10 to 2135 using their ABS-CBNmobile SIMs to get unlimited texts to all networks. “Ngayon, no need to worry na how many texts we send or to what network,” said Vice. “Basta texting, pwede ‘yan sa ABS-CBNmobile. ‘ Yan ang happy lang, walang ending pagdating sa texting.” IN celebration of its seventh year and in line with TFC’s 20th anniversary, “TFC Connect” delivers more fun treats and exciting surprises for kapamilya abroad and their families in the Philippines. Hosted by Dimples Romana, the rebirth of “TFC Connect” welcomes segments such as “MissMo,” featuring a family of an overseas Filipino (OF) in the Philippines and airing every Monday and Tuesday; “Kids of the Week,” featuring the talents of young relatives of an OF and airing every Wednesday; “Dear Dimples,” a Q&A talk show airing every Thursday; “Kapamilya Treat” giving a featured OF a special homecoming treat; and “Kapamilyang Bisita” featuring a balikbayan who will be interviewed live on the set of “TFC Connect” every Friday. Social media segments such as “BidaCam” and “Kapamilya Greetings” also put OFs in the spotlight as they can send in their photos and videos through the “TFC Connect” official Facebook fan page featured at the end of the program. ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s Spotlight Series Clarinetist Andrew Simon to regale Pinoys this July THE ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra (ABS-CBN P.O.) follows up its Spotlight Series with Andrew Simon at the Meralco Theater on July 24. Simon, the principal clarinet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, has been noted for his superb playing style and “almost god-like technique” (Auditorium Magazine). On this night, he will demonstrate his skill on the clarinet through masterworks written for his instrument. The program includes Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, Weber’s Concertino in E-flat and Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Baerman’s Adagio for Clarinet and Orchestra and other pieces prepared by the orchestra. Only the second feature concert of the ABS-CBN P.O. this year after “The Music of Ryan Cayabyab” at the CCP, the performance will fuel the momentum of the orchestra’s signature brand, Spotlight Series, a chain of concerts featuring masterpieces from world-renowned composers, performers and music masters. For tickets, call TicketWorld at 8919999 or the ABSCBN P.O. at 4152272 loc. 2409 or 0915-6246808. Councils Lopezlink July 2014 HR Council ABS-CBN University is now open! ABS-CBN chairman and ABS-CBN University president Eugenio Lopez III (center) cuts the ribbon to signify the opening of ABS-CBN University with the assistance of ABS-CBN president Charo SantosConcio and ABS-CBN University head Gabriel Orendain CLASSES have formally opened at the new ABS-CBN University, a corporate learning environment that aims to empower ABS-CBN employees to be more competitive in their respective fields. ABS-CBN University is composed of six academies: the Moving Images Academy headed by ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio, Leadership Academy headed by Mark Nepomuceno, Digital Academy headed by Donald Lim, Journalism Academy headed by Boo Chanco, Service and Business Excellence Academy headed by Raffy Aguado and Liberal Studies Academy headed by Fr. Tito Caluag. These academies will provide employees with practical knowledge, business knowledge, managing of competencies, and task-oriented education. ABS-CBN chairman and ABS-CBN University president Eugenio Lopez III (EL3) stressed the importance of emergent leadership as ABSCBN moves into a digital environment. “Emergent leaders are the ones who know when to lead and when to follow. They are very different from the typical Type A leaders who always need to be the one in control. And ABS-CBN University will be a way to identify and develop emergent leaders,” said EL3 in his speech at the launch event held at the Dolphy Theater. Santos-Concio meanwhile assured the future students of ABS-CBN University: “You will not be treated like high school or college students whose all actions will be judged. Let us take the example of the advance management programs of the graduate schools, where we are all equal, there’s no boss, no subordinate, we are all students.” University head Gabriel Orendain said that the teaching technique of ABS-CBN University will be based on a 70-2010 learning philosophy—70% action-based, 20% partnership with mentors and coaches and 10% formal classroom training. He added that 21 courses will be delivered in 2014 across the six academies. In 2015, 11 more courses will be added. Details for the enrollment process for each course can be accessed on the official website of ABS-CBN University (http://university.abs-cbn.com). (Kane Choa) ABS-CBN wins int’l Gold Quill for restoring Pinoy film classics ABS-CBN Corporation’s campaign to restore classic Filipino films and reintroduce them to the current generation won an Award of Excellence at the international Gold Quill Awards 2014. Leo Katigbak, ABS-CBN head of Content Management Group, Film Archives and Special Projects, received the award from the International Association of Business Communicators during the IABC Gold Quill Awards Gala in Toronto, Canada. Thus far ABS-CBN Film Archives has restored “Himala” in partnership with Central Digital Labs, as well as “Oro, Plata, Mata” and “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” Prior to winning the Gold Quill, ABS-CBN’s restoration of “Himala” also won a Philippine Quill Award, the international award’s local counterpart given by IABC Philippines, and an Anvil Award given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. (K. Choa) SKY has ‘best Employees’ Day ever!’ By Dimpy Jazmines NEARLY a thousand employees from SKY’s Mega Manila and South Luzon offices trooped to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City to participate in the company’s Employees’ Day event on June 6. The day’s theme was “Wow ‘Em, Win ‘Em.” This message moved the employees to always find opportunities to deliver “wow at saya” to customers even as they played games together. The various divisions, departments and areas were divided into six color-teams which tried to outdo each other in fun games, a cheering competition and even a best muse contest. For the games, the Blue Team emerged as the overall winner. The Orange Team was chosen The big reveal in September! 22 make it to semis of LAA’s Cycle 2013 AFTER surviving the penetrating, often humorous and sometimes stressful questions from the screening committee, 22 nominated achievements out of a record-breaking 50 entries were chosen as semifinalists in the Lopez Achievement Awards’ (LAA) 2013 cycle. ABS-CBN, which submitted the most number of nominees, ended up with 10 semifinalist nods. The semifinalists for Customer Focus are Kapamilya Kita: SKY’s Personal Concierge Service Spreads the Gospel of “WOW at Saya” to Subscribers; and 60 Years of Philippine Television: Kwento Natin Ito: Celebrating the Shared Story of ABS-CBN and the Filipinos; It Takes a Man and A Woman—Beyond PH; Halalan 2013: Selling the Midterm Election Cover- age to a Diverse Audience; Got To Believe: Bridging the Gap Between Television and Social Media; and Growing the Business Out-of-the-Box and Beyond the Realm of Visual Storytelling Expertise, all from ABS-CBN. Asian Eye’s Quick Turnaround from an Imminent Loss; ABS-CBN’s Star Events Integrated Music Experience: Revolutionizing Multi-Revenue Streams; and First Balfour’s Strategic Contracting for Sustainable Growth are the semifinalists in the Business Management category. For Operations Management, Energy Development Corp.’s Adapting the Cloud to Revolutionize EDC Computing and Collaboration, and Immediate Return to Service of LGBU Power Plants; First Gen Hydro’s Relentless Pursuit to Restore Pantabangan Unit 1 Averts P690-Million Revenue Loss; and ABS- CBN’s ABS-CBN News Integration—“One News Service, 360 Delivery” made it to the semis. SKY Star Awards: Recognizing SKY’s Winner Who WOW! is the lone contender in the Human Resource Focus category, while Corporate Image-Building netted Animo SKY Zambo—The Spirit of SKY-Zamboanga and the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project: Bridging Generations through the Revival of Philippine Cinematic Gems. Six hopefuls made it to the semis in the Public Responsibility category. They are ABSCBN’s Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na: A Paradigm Shift in Disaster Response Management; Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc.’s LEEP (Learning Effectively through Enhanced Pedagogies) A Program for Teachers and Principals in Response to the Reforms in the Philippine Ed- ucation System Particularly as it Transitions to K+12; Ang Tugon ng SKY sa Yolanda: Saya at Pag-Asa Para Sa Kapamilyang Nasalanta; EDC’s Humanity, Humility and Hope: Our Story of Kapamilya Spirit Shining Through Despite the Yolanda Crisis; ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s Championing Puerto Princesa Ecotourism Sites: Paving the Way towards Greener Philippines; and ABS-CBN’s Failon Ngayon: Moving People to Action— Internationally Recognized People’s Partner in Bringing About Positive Change in the Philippines. The semifinalists are slated to undergo an even more intense Q&A session with the panel of judges, which will then pick the finalists and recommend them to the executive committee. The 2013 LAA awarding ceremonies have been set for September 24, 2014. (Amy dela Rea-Agaton) as the best team in cheering. Meanwhile, Karen Atienza of the Yellow Team was the best muse. After this successful event, everyone now refers to the 2014 SKY Employees’ Day as the “best Employees’ Day ever!” The overall champions, the Blue Team SKY holds product blitzes for employees ORGANIZED by SKY’s Marketing and HROD teams, the product blitz activities are quarterly learning sessions where employees are updated about the company’s products, services and upcoming activities. The intent of these activities is for the employees to be more knowledgeable about the offerings of the company so that they can more effectively serve cus- tomers and become ambassadors of the company’s services. During the months of May and June, SKY held product blitz activities in its offices in Vergara, Mandaluyong; Tektite, Pasig; Reliance, Pasig; Cavite; and Laguna. The product blitzes were held in packed rooms with a lot of SKY employees listening, learning and participating during the discussion. (D. Jazmines) Adtel solar kit up for grabs in new contest! WE have seen the light—and it’s solar! Thanks to the recent Facebook frenzy over the solar products of our kapamilya Adtel Inc., LopezLink decided to give away a Baron Solar Kit as the prize in our Kapamilya Solar Blog contest. But this time, we’ve added a twist: the winner will receive two Baron Solar Kits, one for himself and the other for his chosen recipient or beneficiary. To get a chance to win your very own Baron Solar Kit worth P8,000, write a blog post in answer to the question “Why do we all need a Baron Solar Kit?” Don’t forget to add our hashtag, #ADTELSolar. Post the link of your blog entry on http://bit.ly/adtelsolar, again with the #ADTELSolar hashtag. This contest is open to all LopezLink Facebook community members and ends on July 25. One winner will be selected by a panel of judges from Adtel Inc. on August 1. Lopezlink July 2014 Lopezlink July 2014 Photos by Ryan Ramos By Carla Paras-Sison L-R: March Ventosa, Dino Laurena and Vince Rodriguez Sports kapamilya L-R: ABS-CBN executives led by chairman Eugenio Lopez III and president Charo Santos-Concio toast the new channel during the January 2014 launch; The ABS-CBN Sports team with boxer Donnie Nietes and ALA Promotions’ Michael Aldeguer; The Azkals fresh from their AFC Challenge Cup stint; Welcoming the “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire (center), whose world featherweight title fight was aired on ABS-CBN Sports+Action PLAY... from page 1 Why a sports channel, when you had Balls on SKYcable and even Channel 2? As it explains on its website: “Sports will always be a part of the Pinoy lifestyle. Our competitive instinct has led us to countless victories on the international scene. This unwavering passion is the driving force behind ABSCBN Sports+Action, a free TV channel that serves as your primary go-to hub for all the sporting events you care about.” ABS-CBN Sports+Action filled the void for a free-to-air dedicated sports channel, Balls being a cable channel and the now defunct Studio 23 more of a general entertainment channel with a bit of sports thrown into the mix, explained March Ventosa, head of ABS-CBN’s Narrowcast group, told LopezLink in an interview. “We had enough original local sports content that we could actually put in a channel, so we said, why don’t we make best use of these and create a platform where we can promote sports development as part of our mission,” he said. According to Ventosa, the network had several things going for it as it hatched plans for ABS-CBN Sports+Action as early as two years ago. It had built up a solid relationship with local partners such as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). It also boasted a healthy portfolio of sports programming, both local and foreign, including the National Basketball Association (NBA), boxing promoter Top Rank, the homegrown ALA Boxing Group and the Azkals, the national football team. “We said yes, this is the right time to do it,” recalled Ventosa, a former Hemisphere Leo Burnett Advertising managing director who joined ABS-CBN in 2006 as head of Corporate Marketing. The task of running ABSCBN Sports+Action went to channel head Vince Rodriguez, a longtime Kapamilya who Front row, l-r: Tootsy Echauz-Angara, Integrated Sales cluster head; Jennifer Jimenez, production manager; Jojo Neri-Estacio, Balls channel head; Terry Villareal, Narrowcast Group and DTT Channels Marketing head; Cecile Estanislao, HR head; and Carmelita Ramos, Finance head; Back row, l-r: Chris Wong, Integrated Sports CMG; Vince Rodriguez, Sports+Action channel head; Dino Laurena, Integrated Sports Division head; March Ventosa, Narrowcast Group and DTT Channels head; Al Neri, executive producer; and Alberto Ramos, executive producer 1996 Studio 23 Inc. premieres in October as the “Premium Network,” a more upscale alternative to ABS-CBN Channel 2 1998 Ventures into sports program- ming by airing the games of the Metropolitan Basketball Association 2000 Begins its broadcast partnership with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Launches MYX, a program block which aired music videos during early morning, afternoon and late night; MYX is spun off into a standalone 24-hour music channel on cable TV by 2002 2000s Becomes the No. 3 channel in the country, after Channel 2 and GMA-7 joined ABS-CBN straight out of college in the mid-1990s. With his experience as writer, executive producer and eventually head of the old Studio 23, Rodriguez is raring to go to bat for the next big thing—volleyball—and other ABS-CBN Sports+Action offerings. “Beyond just airing them, we need to make our audience and advertisers more excited about our other sports properties, particularly football and volleyball. I think we’ve been successful in volleyball because it’s gaining a following,” Rodriguez stated. For Dino Laurena, creating a home for the ABS-CBN sports brand on free TV gave the network a first-mover advantage: “We can attract not only the TV audience but also the sports property owners who are looking for a platform on which they can broadcast their property,” said the head of Integrated Sports, the new group tasked to develop ABS-CBN’s sports properties. More than that, the audience benefits from being exposed to the “wider variety of sports categories as well as the values that sports allow us to experience,” stressed Laurena, who joined ABS-CBN after retiring from UniversalMcCann as its managing director less than two years ago. ‘Kapitan’ sets his sights on UHF In March 1986, Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr.—also known as Kapitan—gathered a band of his former executives to rebuild ABS-CBN, one of the valuable Lopez assets that was seized and plundered during the martial law regime. Some 200 longtime employees threw in their lot with the faltering channel, putting in countless hours to propel ABSCBN back to the No. 1 position. By 1988, its 15.2 rating and 28 audience share had decisively beaten GMA’s 13.0 and 24, reported Raul Rodrigo in the book “Kapitan.” Half of the country’s top 20 primetime weekly programs that year, moreover, were ABS-CBN productions. But Kapitan was not done yet. With ABS-CBN once again ruling the airwaves and the cable TV operations safely off the ground with the establishment of SKYcable in the mid-1990s, he set his sights on UHF. He set up Channel 23 and with then EVP Freddie M. Garcia, put together a team to run the new channel: Manuel Quiogue as managing director, Leo Katigbak (now head of the Content Management Group, Film Archives and Special Projects) who took over upon Quiogue’s retirement in 2001, and Carandang’s son Dennis as engineering head. Back in those days when cable TV was the paramount entertainment source, Studio 23, as the new channel was called, became go-to place for American TV fare among ‘90s kids and millennials, with shows like “Alias,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Charmed” and “Seventh Heav- Begins airing “Y Speak,” a youth-oriented debate show, with host Bianca Gonzalez. The multi-awarded program is endorsed by the Department of Education, the National Youth Commission and Anak TV lifestyle program hosted by Angel Aquino, Cheska GarciaKramer and Iya Villania. The program goes on to win awards as Best Lifestyle Program, including the KBP Golden Dove Award, PMPC Star Awards and UP Gandingan Award Launches “Us Girls,” a weekly Introduces what would 2003 2006 2010 en.” The lineup was boosted by a handful of local shows as well as UAAP and NCAA basketball games—foreshadowing its future as a channel dedicated to sports. By 1999, three years after it first went on air, Rodrigo wrote, the upstart channel had broken even with earnings of up to P70 million a month. It had also overtaken channels 4, 9 and 13—all VHF stations—to become the country’s No. 3 channel. On January 16, 2014, Studio 23 ended its 17-year run after airing its last two programs, MYX and O Shopping. On January 18, it was time for a whole new ballgame. What’s on the calendar In addition to the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup—ABSCBN was the first Philippine network to air one of the world’s most watched sporting events in full in 2010—ABSCBN Sports+Action’s calendar is pretty much filled up for the rest of the year, channel head Rodriguez said. With the 2014 NBA championship trophy in the hands of the Spurs, the ball will soon be in Gilas Pilipinas’ court as it tries its luck in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup in Spain this August. Meanwhile, after the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in May where the Azkals finished in second place, fans will be in for more pitch action as ABS-CBN Sports+Action trains the spotlight on the Philippine Peace Cup in October become its final slogan, “IbaKaBarkada!” 2014 After 17 years, airs for the last time as Studio 23 on January 16 On January 18, ABSCBN Sports+Action signs on in the service of the Filipino and the 2014 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup starting in November. Gladiators from the ALA Boxing Group’s stable show off their speed and cunning in the bimonthly “Pinoy Pride,” while international boxing is represented by the weekly Top Rank matches. Mixed martial arts enthusiasts, on the other hand, can have their daily fill of Ultimate Fighting Championship events during the late-night slot. To provide a break from the adrenaline rush, roughly a quarter of the channel’s programming is turned over to movies, entertainment and newscasts, particularly “News +” and “The Score” presented by Anthony Taberna and TJ Manotoc, respectively. Of course, this time of the year is synonymous with the UAAP and collegiate basketball, volleyball and football. This July, expect to see old rivalries flare up as fans dust off their foam fingers and reprise the familiar chants when UAAP Season 77 begins on July 12. By December, the best collegiate liberos, hitters and setters will bring the thunder as UAAP volleyball games get under way, alternating with football matches. For next year, boxing and football will be the sports events to watch on ABS-CBN Sports+Action. “It will be a big year again for boxing, with Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes and Manny Pacquiao as well as the ALA boxers gunning for new achievements, while in football the Azkals have ranked themselves up in the Challenge Cup. Of course, the NBA will always be exciting and the UAAP keeps hitting new highs year on year. But watch for boxing and football,” Ventosa promised. With only six months on air under its belt thus far, ABSCBN Sports+Action may have only gotten started, but it stands firms on its commitment to put forward the best and most relevant sports content for the Filipino audience, Ventosa said. GRASSROOTS -level athletes also get their turn in the spotlight on ABS-CBN Sports+Action. Earlier this year, the new ABS-CBN channel covered the Palarong Pambansa, the annual athletic competition for elementary and high school students. This was something that was never done before by any local network, said Narrowcast head March Ventosa. The games of rising superstars from around the world were also beamed to the rest of the country as they competed in this summer’s Olivarez Cup-Philippine International Men’s Tennis Championship at the Rizal Tennis Center. Of course, for years, athletic competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippines had always done very well, had been aired on the old Studio 23. “By putting ourselves out there, we attracted the key local events. It’s good because there’s awareness that we’re here and MARCH Ventosa, head of Narrowcast at ABS-CBN Corporation since 2012, never gets into anything without ample preparation. When he was invited by ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III (EL3) to first head Marketing in 2006, he had several conversations not only with EL3 but also with other members of the management committee like the heads at the time of the News, Channel 2 and Research departments. “They opened my eyes to the mission of the company, which is to be in the service of the Filipino. I thought, that’s easy enough to say, but they convinced me that they were committed to live up to that mission,” recalls Ventosa, who spent 22 years in advertising where he also served international postings. The process of deciding and finally moving to ABS-CBN took more or less six months. Thus, when ABSCBN’s UHF Channel 23 was transformed into the Sports+Action channel, it was not on a whim. It took Ventosa’s team almost two years of work, reviewing and evaluating each sports property, researching and doing pretests, approaching partners and finally deciding that they had enough content to support a sports channel on free TV. “Not only did we have enough of a portfolio, we had the right portfolio. This was a source of confidence in launching the new channel. We needed a comprehensive lineup to offer our audience,” Ventosa says. Engaging with partners Dino Laurena, head of Integrated Sports, manages all the sports properties of ABSCBN which means engaging with local and foreign partners for all kinds of sports that air on Sports+Action as well as on Balls channel on cable. “I immediately saw the need to create a strong branding for ABS-CBN Sports. I thought it important to develop a strong affiliation with the sports audience of ABS-CBN. A conscious and consistent effort in developing the ABS-CBN Sports brand was a key success factor and so we had to immediately work on this,” says Laurena, who has a double degree in psychology and marketing and 27 years of experience in advertising. “My academic background and work in advertising have allowed me to have a very deep understanding of the Filipino audience and consumer. This knowledge has been a significant tool for me to understand how to develop sports and make it more attractive to the Filipino TV audience,” Laurena adds. First job Vince Rodriguez, Sports+Action channel head, graduated with a degree in literature and had no broadcast nor communication background when he applied for a writing job with the News team in 1996. He was accepted to write for “The Weekend News.” It was his first job and he did well, moving to segment producer and then executive producer. Four bosses and several assignments later, he continues to find fulfillment in ABS-CBN. “What’s kept me going is the public service aspect and the value of teaching and learning. There is always something new to learn. I’ve been assigned to new roles, different roles and it’s always a new experience. I also get to teach at classes held in ABS-CBN for new employees, or to orient advertisers on how we operate,” says Rodriguez, who at one time served as executive assistant of the News and Current Affairs head (20002001) and later programming head and then channel head of Studio 23, now known as Sports+Action. Today, Rodriguez searches for where efficiencies can happen in the organization, and challenges his team to always look for something new to offer the audience. “Sometimes when you’ve been doing something for a long time, there is that tendency to miss the bigger picture. I challenge the team to take new perspectives,” Rodriguez says. Premium on teamwork All three heads put a premium on teamwork as the key to moving forward in the quest to attract and hold chosen niche markets, whether for Sports+Action, for Integrated Sports or for the bigger Narrowcast group. Laurena tells LopezLink readers: “We will always be part of a group, a community, a team…we are kapamilya and that, too, is a team. Let’s work together to reach our goals stronger, faster and higher.” Ventosa says, “We believe there is a future in sports that dovetails with our mission of being in the service of the Filipino. We want to push pride in our country and in our athletes. We hope our Lopez Group kapamilya enjoy our programming and give us feedback to improve the way we deliver our programs.” Rodriguez says, “Sports+Action aims to serve a bigger audience and deliver the message of sportsmanship and teamwork even to the youth. We want to inspire people and be relevant to them. We are all employees, but we are also dads, brothers, kids and relatives of kids. Please help us get feedback from your own kapamilya, participate in the growth and longevity of our channel.” Shaping the athletic aspirations of Filipino youth we’re committed to develop sports in the country,” added Ventosa. Additionally, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, through the all-new sports documentary and advocacy program “Team U,” pushes young athletes to dream even bigger and reach for higher heights in their respective fields. Hosted by Piolo Pascual and Gerald Anderson, “Team U” will feature stories of young men and women who are on a quest to bring pride and glory to the country through their athletic talents. “Team U” aims to encourage viewers and organizations to be part of building a Sports School, which aims to develop athletes through proper training and development under the wing of established sports practitioners. The show is also hosted by other popular names in the world of sports such as Gretchen Ho, Armand del Rosario, Marco Benitez and Eski Ripoll. “Team U” hits the screens Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on ABS-CBN Sports+Action and at 1:30 p.m. on the Balls channel. (Kathy Solis) CSR activities Lopezlink July 2014 97th partner for BINHI module EDC, BenCab team up for the environment By Toni Nieva ENERGY Development Corporation (EDC) and National Artist BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera) have joined hands in saving and propagating endangered premium native trees. With the University of the Philippines-Baguio and the Philippine Society for the Study of Nature, EDC and BenCab Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) planted 100 seedlings of 18 endangered tree species at BenCab’s farm in Tuba, Benguet recently. The tree-planting activity is part of EDC’s BINHI: A Greening Legacy project, a nationwide reforestation and biodiversity preservation project to arrest forest degradation, contribute to climate change mitigation and provide sustainable livelihood for forest communities. BAFI, EDC’s 97th partner for the project’s Tree for the Future module, will host the permanent planting area within the ecotrail of BenCab L-R: Lopez Group Foundation Inc. president Cedie Lopez Vargas, Museum and share artist BenCab, LGFI Operations head Angela Lopez Guingona in the reand EDC CSR manager Rei Medrano sponsibility of implementing the long-term protection, monitoring and maintenance of the planted trees until these have grown into mother trees. Launched in 2008, BINHI is focused on bringing back highvalue but fast-dwindling native trees such as yakal, tindalo, kamagong, mangkono and ipil. Rei Medrano, EDC manager for CSR, said: “We source the few remaining seedlings of endangered premium native trees and grow them into mother trees in planting sites where they can be best protected and nurtured…. These mother trees will be used to propagate more seedlings for transplant all over the country.” EDC has already rescued 85 premium endangered tree species out of the 96 target priority species with the help of its BINHI partners nationwide, Medrano added. Kids enjoy ‘best summer ever’ as OFY scholars play it forward By Tinky Cruz THE music scholars of the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) played it forward this summer through Teach Kids Teach, a program that provided music lessons for free to children of Lopez Group employees. Teach Kids Teach not only inspired the spirit of mentoring and volunteerism in the OFY members, but also helped them master their own musical instruments through teaching younger kids. One of the beneficiaries was Karlo Bautista, son of First Gas’ Venus Bautista, who shared: “I love music but I never dreamed of learning the cello in just one summer! It was so much fun learning from my ate and kuya in OFY. They played so well in each rehearsal and they inspired me to pursue this new discovery of my love for music.” Charmaine Modrigo, daughter of Lopez Museum’s Tina Modrigo, chimed in: “Nung una po nakakakaba mag-aral ng violin pero maski araw-araw ang lesson construction efforts after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan); and advance climate change adaptation strategies. Lectures were delivered by invited experts, including OML Center program manager Perlyn Pulhin. IPCC AR5 WG 2 lead author and PhilCCA WG 1 and 2 author Lourdes Tibig as well as representatives from Northern Iloilo Alliance for Roma Nepomuceno, daughter of Ang Misyon’s Guia Tieng, said she was happy with her experience: “Nadisiplina po akong sumunod sa mga instructions tuwing violin lessons namin. Napakagaling po ng mga ate at kuya ko tumugtog at tinuturuan din nila kaming maging magaling na tao at musician.” Formed in 2012, the OFY youth ensemble is a joint venture between First Philippine Holdings Corporation and ABSCBN that provides free music education as well as performance allowances, transportation assistance, meals, uniforms and instruments to its 55 members. The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) recently joined the centennial celebration of the Diocese of Pasig’s Young Catholic Social Circle or YOCASOCI. The OFY performed in the musical tribute and Marian serenade during the episcopal coronation of the Virgen de las Flores de Pasig at the Pasig Cathedral. The OFY is the youth ensemble of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The scholars, who were handpicked from existing ensembles throughout the Philippines, are trained by some of the country’s most well-known classical musicians and artists. (Jei-Jei Gertes) Coastal Development, Green Forum-Western Visayas Inc., Christian Aid, Jaro Archdiocesan Parish and NEDA also gave presentations. The organizers and participants agreed that similar conferences should be conducted regularly to increase awareness of climate change and share best adaptation practices. (Perlyn Pulhin From Manila to Davao, SKY employees help out By Dimpy Jazmines Calendar BAYAN Academy offers the following certificate training courses this month: July 3-4: HR Management July 17-18: Sales Training July 22-23: Comprehensive Leadership July 31-August 1: Whole Brain Approach to Customer Service For rates, call Carol Arcaya at 426-3140. Bayan Academy reserves the right to change course dates. ay pumunta talaga ako sa Benpres galing pa sa Cavite. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam yung babasa ka ng music notes tapos papagalawin mo yung mga kamay mo para makatugtog ng magandang tunog. Ito na ang pinakamasaya kong summer vacation.” Ria Espino, daughter of Southbend Group’s Remy Espino, said she discovered the oboe: “My teacher in OFY said there is a great demand for oboists in the Philippines and even abroad. It was hard to practice but I feel proud of myself. Even my family couldn’t believe that I can play at this level in such a short time.” OFY performs at centennial celebration OML Center presents update on climate change project THE OML Center gave an update about the Philippine Climate Change Assessment (PhilCCA), a joint project with the Climate Change Commission, at the roundtable discussion on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of Working Group (WG) 2 held at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional office in Iloilo City. The conference aimed to acquaint some 40 participants from national and local government units, civil society, academe and the private sector with their vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change; enhance rehabilitation and re- Teach Kids Teach beneficiaries and future classical musicians (l-r) Charmaine Modrigo, Ria Espino and Roma Nepomuceno 500 BayaniJuan pupils receive school kits from Cherry Mobile FIVE hundred pupils from kindergarten to Grade 6 of BayaniJuan in Calauan, Laguna recently received school kits from Cherry Mobile. ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI), through its educational arm Programa Genio, partnered with Cherry Mobile to distribute notebooks, pads and pencils to chosen students of Dayap Elementary School-Annex and Santo Tomas Elementary School-Annex as part of Cherry Mobile’s “Be Cool in School” campaign. Freebies and prizes like armbands, collapsible drinking bottles and fans were also given away. ALKFI’s Programa Genio aims to bring out the best in the children of BayaniJuan through its soft programs and partnerships with corporations. (Kathleen Krystel Legaspi) AS part of SKY’s CSR efforts, SKY employees in Davao and in Mega Manila volunteered in cleaning up and repainting chosen public schools to support the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education. In Davao, SKY volunteers helped prepare Zonta Elementary School for the arrival of the students come school opening day. In Mega Manila, SKY volunteers did their part in Bagong Ilog Elementary School in Pasig. Earlier, in Cebu, SKY employees and the SKYcable Employees Union conducted a successful Labor Day community service activity in Jugan Gym in SKY Mega Manila employees are ready to work on the floors and walls of Bagong Ilog Elementary School Jugan, Consolacion. Children from the nearby communities benefited from the SKY team’s Operation Tuli, free haircut and feeding program. The SKY Cebu employees also set up a viewing station for the occasion, where barangay residents were able to watch SKYcable shows. Museum/Values Lopezlink July 2014 On the shelf Ongoings Artist Talk with de Chavez on July 9 LESLIE de Chavez, one of the featured artists in the ongoing exhibit Complicated, will have his Artist Talk on July 9, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Known for his acerbic cultural commentary, De Chavez will discuss his processes, choice of materials, subject matter and challenges and possibilities of art as engagement. De Chavez earned his b a c h e l o r ’s degree in fine arts (major in painting),cum laude, at the University of the Philippines. He was t h e Bizet. They will also perform kundiman and sarswela such as “Bayan Ko,” “Pilipinas Kong Mahal” and “Dahil Sa ‘ Yo.” The concert ticket costs P300 per person (P270 for students and museum members) and includes admission to Complicated. prize winner of the Ateneo Art Awards in 2010 and has been awarded residencies by International Art Programme in Leipzig, Germany, NeoEmerging Artists Residency in Seoul, South Korea and Asian Artists Fellowship Program in Korea. He has had solo exhibitions in the Philippines, Singapore, China, Korea, Switzerland and Germany. He has also participated in art fairs in Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Miami, Zurich and New York. He is currently represented by the Ariao Gallery in Seoul, Korea. Registration fee for the lecture is P120 (P100 for students). ‘Complicated: The Concert’ returns on July 15 Due to popular demand, Complicated: The Concert will have a repeat performance on July 15, 2-4 p.m. The concert is in partnership with Viva Voce, a group that trains and supports talented classical singers. The concert repertoire will include songs inspired by the artworks in Complicated. Led by their musical director, soprano Camille LopezMolina, 10 performers will sing songs from operas by Verdi, Mozart, Gounod and and library resources by signing up for the Lopez Museum membership program. Members can borrow books from the lending section and get discounts on lectures, workshops and services for only P1,500. Art objects Show your love for Philippine art with exclusive items inspired by paintings and other works in the museum’s collection. These tumblers, art books, fans, pens and notepads will make great all-occasion gifts or additions to your collection. Grab one now! The Lopez Memorial Museum is at the ground floor, Benpres Building, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. Museu m days and hours are Mondays to Saturdays, except holidays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Avail of unlimited access to exhibitions ‘Yamashita’s Ghost,’ by Allan A. Ryan SHOULD a commander be held accountable for the crimes of his troops even if he has no knowledge of them? Attorney and professor Allan A. Ryan reopens the case against Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander of the Japanese troops in the Philippines whose atrocities illuminate the questions that have surrounded his trial and conviction. Ryan draws directly from the tribunal’s longneglected transcripts, vividly chronicling this tragic tale and its personalities. His trenchant analysis of the case’s lingering question has profound implications for all military commanders. (Vicente Olaybar Jr.) Members can now borrow Yamashita’s Ghost at the Lopez Museum Library. Call Ethel or Paolo to inquire about the membership program. Jose Maria Zaragoza: The architect of landmarks RECENTLY, President Aquino named Jose Maria Velez Zaragoza a National Artist for Architecture. Although awarded posthumously, Filipinos discovered that here was a distinguished and devoted Catholic architect who not only designed churches but also other landmarks such as the then Lopez-owned Meralco Building along Ortigas Ave. According to Ruben David F. Defeo in his book “Jose Maria V. Zaragoza, Architecture for God, For Man,” Zaragoza, who passed away in 1994 at the age of 81, “had a mission to build churches. His works comprise a significant body of ecclesiastical architecture of about 45 churches all over the country.” As Zaragoza rose to prominence in 1954, wrote Defeo, he designed and supervised the construction of the Santo Domingo Church on Quezon Avenue, the Pope Pius XII parish church in Manila, the St. John Bosco church and the Union Church of Manila in Makati, and the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Parañaque, to name a few. The Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong was one of his earlier works. Commissioned by EL Sr. Lopez Group founder Eugenio Lopez Sr. (EL Sr.), who had The Manila Chronicle published on the same day, also included the John F. Cotton Hospital, the Jollye Recreation Center, Employee Facilities Building, Operations Building, Power Center and General Shops Building. pher Raul Rodrigo in “Phoenix: The Saga of the Lopez Family”: its “very modern design for 1960s Manila”; the first-class Lighthouse restaurant at the top floor that reflected the owner’s “abiding love for good food”; and the Meralco Theater. Defeo wrote that Zaragoza, in designing the building, made use of the louver as a significant feature of the structure. He was believed to have been inspired in designing the building from the fender of the fashionable car during his time, the Cougar. The facade of the Lopez Building, described Defeo, alternates solids and transparencies. The sides are solid, like two monolithic towers. Inside are four sections: the pedestrian level, the main structure, an additional level and a crown with a flat roof. A bridge which connects the offices, corridors and the elevator lobby supports both portions of the building. Zaragoza likened these to “two people supporting each other, with the bridge serving as outstretched arms.” seen in his stamp on the Lopez Building, wrote Lopez biogra- When Zaragoza designed and built the Lopez Building, Meralco president Eugenio Lopez Sr. (rightmost) graces the blessing of the Lopez Building in 1969. Architect Jose Zaragoza is third from right, in white acquired Meralco from General Public Utilities in 1962, commissioned Zaragoza to design the company’s Ortigas headquarters. Meralco was previously based in San Marcelino, Manila. The new Meralco Building was inaugurated on March 14, 1969 when the electric company celebrated its 66th anniversary. The Lopez Building, as it was also known, actually has 13 floors with the top floor as the 14th. It became the main building in the Meralco complex housing the administrative offices of the company, said Defeo. The sprawling complex, according to an advertisement in Aerial shot of the Meralco Building Owner’s stamp Height of architectural EL Sr.’s personality can be career he was at the height of his architectural career. A graduate of BS in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in 1936 with highest honors, he was ably assisted by his wife Pilar Rosello in most of his architectural projects. Together, wrote Defeo, they were the “tandem to beat, Zaragoza doing the structural aspects of the building, and his wife the interiors made of wood, including the carpentry and furniture.” She designed the theater’s wooden paneling that lines the walls of the auditorium, whose strongest facet was the interplay of textures involving the natural grain of wood, wrote Defeo. The building, which faces east-west, is equipped with a phalanx of brise soleil. During sunrise and especially at high noon, these sun breakers filter the rays, preventing the scorching heat from getting in the building. The structure is founded on adobe, ensuring its resilience to withstand any force majeure. Supremacy of form Up to the present, “no other building in the country has duplicated his feat of having a series of vertical blades in concrete, arranged in a concave manner, not only to shield the building from sunlight and even rainwater, but to breathe subtlety and supremacy of form into the structure.” Its structural strength was seen when it remained undamaged during the earthquake of July 16, 1990 which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale. Other landmarks designed by Zaragoza were the former Philippine Banking Corporation building in Port Area, Manila, Virra Mall in Greenhills and the PAL building on Ayala Avenue, Makati. According to his daughter Loudette Zaragoza-Banson, in an interview by Joanne Rae Ramirez for People magazine: “Dad conceived of magnificent things for others but for himself, he was content with his reliable white Volkswagen Beatle [sic]…. His life was so deeply rooted in his love for God and his devotion to Mama Virgen. That is why I am confident that perhaps with the help of those who believe in the preservation of cultural treasures, Dad’s work and memory will live longer than a hundred years.” And indeed Zaragoza’s structures are showing that these may just last longer than a hundred years. 10 Lifelong Wellness Lopezlink July 2014 Walk the Talk goes to Tanay JULY 13: Takbo.ph RunFest, 5K/10K/21K (BGC, Taguig), 3am. Fee: P750P1,000. Contact www. takbo.net 20: CarbTrim TBR All Woman Race, 5K/10K/ 21K (Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang), 4:30am. Fee: P1,000-P1,600. Contact tbrallwoman@ gmail.com 20: Botak at Kadla ni Pidol, 3K/5K/10K/16K/ 21K (Luneta, Manila), 3:30am. Fee: P500-P950. Contact runtarantantan@ yahoo.com INAEC president Benjamin R. Lopez Adtel AVP Japs Batara were greeted with challenging trails of concrete. Arriving back at the Sierra Madre Hall, they were treated to a meal of adobo. As the day closed its curtains, several participants opted to enjoy their food at the viewing deck, which had a spectacular view of the mountain ranges of the Sierra Madre, coupled with cool mountain breezes. WE made it through what must have been one of the hottest summers in recent memory. Now, faced with the prospect of the worst El Niño in 17 years, the country is also in for fiercer typhoons. According to ReliefWeb’s June 6 Humanitarian Snapshot for the Philippines, “Typically, the El Niño phenomenon causes the behavior of tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting their path and intensity. The paths tropical cyclones follow this year could shift northward to the islands of Luzon.” And with some 18 typhoons expected to lash the country this year, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has said that we must “assume that most of these are strong.” How prepared are you and your household, even your workplace? Do you have standby power, emergency kits that include medicines and non-perishable food items and even your important documents? We start our rainy season series with some tips on keeping healthy on page 10. We’re big on sports—wellness is a Lopez Value, after all—so the University Athletic Association of the Philippines games and other big-ticket athletic events that are aired over ABS-CBN Sports+Action (including the ongoing FIFA World Cup) will surely have many of us glued to Channel 23. Launched in early 2014, the newest Kapamilya has three men at the helm—March Ventosa, Dino Laurena and Vince Rodriguez. For this month’s cover feature, we asked them what sports fans can expect from the fledgling channel and how it upholds ABS-CBN’s mission of serving the Filipino. ABS-CBN University is the other new thing from the Kapamilya network as it lays the groundwork for grooming future leaders. It currently has six academies offering 21 courses focused on mediaand business-related fields and will surely be a magnet for employees looking for a refreshed perspective. Why not, with deans like ABSCBN president Charo Santos-Concio and long-time Kapamilya and veteran newsman Boo Chanco? We would enroll there ourselves if we could! Meanwhile, three Kapamilya made headlines of late: Ging Reyes, Bong Osorio and Kane Choa. Integrated News and Current Affairs ALKFI chairman Gina Lopez (seated, center) and (l-r) Mayor Ponferrada of Basey, SINP-PAMB DENR’s Leonardo Sibbaluca, DOT’s Trina Dacuycuy and PAWB and Coastal Zone Management Service’s Danilo Javier sign a memorandum of agreement to develop Sohoton Cave and Balantak Falls as ecotourism destinations ALKFI to help push Basey as ecotourism destination LGFI president Cedie Lopez Vargas and Adtel president Andrew Ramos The participants hit the trails Shoo the flu! THE rainy season is officially upon us! According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, with the onset of the wet season, the country can expect “near (81-120%) to above normal (>120%) rainfall conditions” this July and August. Monsoon breaks or dry spells, however, “are likely and may last for several days,” the state weather bureau said. Sudden weather changes such as these weaken our immune system and make us more vulnerable to the pesky flu. What you have is flu if you have a fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius and which lasts for up to four days, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough or other respiratory manifestations, fatigue or extreme exhaustion, and severe muscle or joint pains. Sudoku Commune with nature Photos by Mike Barateta Sports & Wellness calendar by Whiplash’s Trini Trinidad and his Rockwell gang, as LGFI president Cedie Lopez Vargas and Adtel president and COO Andrew Ramos gamely joined in. August Villalon from Energy Development Corporation’s Emergency Response Team discussed the Environment, Safety and Health Reminders for a safer “journey” during the trek. After the distribution of bananas, suman and mineral water by the sponsors, the walk proper commenced as the participants Lopezlink July 2014 Maglaro tayo ng Sudoku, ang bagong libangan ng bayan! Ayusin lamang ang mga numero simula 1 hanggang 9 para ang bawat numero ay minsan lang magagamit sa bawat row, column at kahon. By Gerbs De Castro DESPITE several showers the past few days due to the onset of the rainy season, the June edition of the Lopez HR Council-Lopez Lifelong Wellness’ Walk the Talk at the Sierra Madre Hotel and Resort in Tanay, Rizal was blessed with good weather. Around 300 employees from the Lopez Group, family members and friends, attended this monthly event, which provides participants with the opportunity not only to improve on fitness, but also to enhance camaraderie as they discover interesting places in Luzon. Sponsored by Adtel, INAEC, Lopez Group Foundation Inc. (LGFI) and Lopez Inc., with Japs Batara, Adtel’s assistant vice president for Renewable Energy taking on emceeing chores, this wellness undertaking opened with an invocation courtesy of Adtel supervisor Rachel Sulit. This was followed by a moment of silence, initiated by Ma. Carmen Marbella, Lopez Inc. AVP for HR, Administration and Property Management, in commemoration of the 15th death anniversary of former Lopez Group chairman Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr. INAEC head of Maintenance Constantine Cano led the participants in the Lopez Credo recitation. Enhancing Lopez Group pride among the employees was the inspirational speech of INAEC president and Lopez Inc. senior executive vice president Benjamin R. Lopez, who asserted that “we may not be the largest company in the Philippines, but we are the best.” The warm-up and stretching exercises were spearheaded anew Interactive www.clipartheaven.com PUT Basey, Samar on your list of places to visit for the next time you feel the urge to get away from it all. ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI), through its Bantay Kalikasan (BK) program, recently partnered with the local government of Basey to preserve and promote Sohoton Caves and Balintak Falls in the area. These natural attractions, located in Brgy. Inuntan and Brgy. Rawis, respectively, are identified as protected areas under the Samar Island Natural Park-Protected Area Management Board. ALKFI, among others, will promote them as tourism destinations and put together livelihood programs for the victims of typhoon Yolanda even as it continues to distribute relief goods. The local government unit, headed by Mayor Igmedio Ponferrada, will assist in developing the area into an ecotour- ism site. ALKFI also assigned a patrol boat and pledged to provide training in patrolling the sea in order to protect marine biodiversity from dynamite and other forms of illegal fishing. This endeavor is one of the many projects of BK’s Green Initiative movement that aims to nurture and protect the environment with pathways that ultimately benefit the communities living in the area. (Ana Terrese Junio) 6 things to consider when choosing eyeglass frames By Charizze Henson and Audrey Trinidad The best way to shoo the flu is actually something easy enough to do several times a day: wash your hands using soapy water for at least 20 seconds to remove germs. According to the Department of Health, treatment of flu may include: •Antiviral agents, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, within the first two days to shorten the illness and help prevent serious complications. •Adequate rest and sleep. •More oral fluids and nutritious foods •Paracetamol for fever. Aspirin should not be given to children and teenagers as it could cause a potentially fatal reaction called Reye’s syndrome. CHOOSING the perfect frames for your eyeglasses can be overwhelming. With numerous styles and brands available on the market, what should you consider when getting yourself a new pair? Dr. Jesse Caguioa, Asian Eye Institute’s chief optometrist and low vision and rehabilitation expert, says that eyeglass wearers should consider these factors: Style. Find the frames that best match your face shape and skin tone. Price. Find what fits your budget. Make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. Lifestyle. Do you play sports frequently, drive or do computer work? Using the right frames can make such activities easier or more convenient. Materials. Are you getting metal or plastic frames? Are they lightweight and durable? Always compare the pros and cons before making a purchase. Comfort. Check if the frames are lightweight, and if they fit your head correctly or put pressure on your temples, or if the shape at the nose bridge grips too tightly, making them difficult to wear. Prescription. Unless you are going for thin and lightweight lenses, it is not advisable to get rimless or semi-rimless frames, especially if you have high eye grade. Dr. Caguioa advises patients to know what they need and not just settle for stylish or lowpriced eyewear. “The main reason you’re getting eyeglasses is to have clearer vision. If you’re disregarding important factors like your lifestyle and comfort, your eyeglasses won’t really be useful,” he says. Asian Eye has trained optometrists to guide you and of- Follow us @lopezlinkph on Twitter and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lopezlinkonline fer a wide variety of frames. Recently, it added more brands to its selection of frames. Patients can now choose from the new collection of Ray-Ban, Tory Burch, Coach, Bvlgari, Emporio Armani, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith and Prada. Kapamilya discount applies: 10% on all optical products. New brands are available at the Asian Eye Optical Dispensary in Rockwell Center. For more info, call 898-2020. Very Easy Easy Medium Hard Answer to June puzzle Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com Eats Chorizo pasta 11 Dear Rosie head Reyes was honored by her alma mater, the University of the Philippines, while ABS-CBN spokesperson Osorio and Integrated Corporate Communications OIC Choa are now head honchos of the country’s biggest communicators’ associations. Congratulations! This early, we’re counting down the days to the 2013 Lopez Achievement Awards. Our homegrown awards program is getting bigger with each passing year, netting a greater number of entries as the competition among companies grows fiercer. This cycle saw a record 50 nominees making their bids for the coveted trophies, with 22 making it to the semifinal round. We’re so looking forward to another “dramatic” awarding ceremony come September. It’s a good time to drop by Power Plant Mall, with interesting new stores opening one after the other. The blogosphere, in fact, is anticipating the entry of a super big name in grocery stores—yes, it’s Dean & DeLuca!—in Rockwell Center before the end of the year. Yummy! ooOoo Where can we buy the Adtel solar setups? Thanks!—A According to Adtel’s Japs Batara, you can buy Adtel solar kits from one of their authorized distributors, Hotdisk. Call (02) 837-9849 or 0908-8916273. If you want a chance to win one, we’re actually giving a unit away as the prize in our ongoing Facebook contest. Check out page 5 for more info! ooOoo Kudos to the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth for undertaking the Teach Kids Teach program last summer. I hope they or the ABSCBN Philharmonic can also do something like that for “seniors” in the future.—Ness ooOoo Sana magkaroon ng reunion project ang Kimerald, isang movie o teleserye. Malakas ang chemistry nila. Interesting na makita sila magsama na gumanap sa mas mature na roles.—Anita If you have questions, comments, opinions, suggestions and reactions about anything and everything about the Lopez Group, please send them to Dear Rosie through email [email protected] or [email protected] or be a friend or fan on Facebook. REFINERY at Rockwell: Where coffee counter, wine store and bar intersect AT REFINERY, craft isn’t just a buzzword used to brand a beverage. Behind the counter are people passionate about drinks, so that every cocktail or cup of coffee is the product of rigor, precision and personal investment. The textured milk used in espresso beverages can be cacaoor orange-infused. Mountain water is used to process the Brazilian coffees in the decaf. Servers are mindful about the proper density of foam topping your beer or cappuccino. Consider REFINERY a hub for the mindful beverage. It is where the takeout coffee counter, wine store and neighborhood bar intersect. Drop in before work for an organic cuppa or hunker down with a pint of draught or expertly-shaken cocktail. With warm woods, rusticmodern lighting and a view of Rockwell’s quietest corner, REFINERY is a refuge for the better beverage. Fine brews made from LAMILL Coffee REFINERY pours coffee from LAMILL, a California-based company that sources its top-end beans from eco-sensitive coffee estates in Indonesia, Africa and Central America. Staples include the Black Velvet, expressed by deep chocolate tones and a caramel finish, as well as seasonal single origins from El Salvador and Guatemala Pucal Carmona. Slow roasted in state-of-the-art machines, LAMILL produces brews like the Bliss Espresso, a blend of six beans from three continents characterized by complexity, sweetness and delightful density. REFINERY also serves LAMILL’s well-curated selection of organic loose-sachet teas. Alongside modern-blend twists to classics like Rooibos and Earl Grey teas, playful brews abound. A light Bai Mu Dan surprises with pineapple pieces and shredded coconut while the organic Up All Night revives with chamomile flowers, hibiscus and citrus peels. LAMILL espresso is used in coffee beverages such as specialty vanilla lattes with housemade Madagascar vanilla, a salted caramel latte and a tiramisu beverage that combines Grand Marnier, whipped cream and cacao powder. For special tea drinks, expect clever concoctions like milk teas with masala chai or spiced Rooibos. flair and filling snacks. Brunch staples such as shirred truffled eggs with toast and grilled cheese abound, along with shareable plates like sirloin burger sliders and a hefty NY Prime grade steak and eggs. Lagarde supplies the wine at REFINERY. Produced in its own vineyards located in Argentina’s best wine region, Lagarde is known for its superior quality, unique terroir and price accessibility. From imported sausages to desserts such as tiramisu made with the house’s LAMILL Coffee, a cuppa joe, glass of primo wine or a mug of the craft beer on tap will make for a great accompaniment. REFINERY, located at Joya Lofts and Towers, Rockwell Center, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Fine wine from Lagarde Fine bites Inspired by the casual bistros and cafes of Los Angeles, REFINERY’s food is characterized by seasonal ingredients, French 12 Lopezlink July 2014 What’s new By Cherry Pineda from ABS-CBN Publishing this July Kathryn is all woman on ‘Metro’ cover On the cover of this month’s Metro, Kathryn Bernardo channels Penny Lane in ensembles from designers Eric delos Santos, Mak Tumang and Chris Diaz, among others. In the spirit of our advocacy to help our readers achieve their best look, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to achieving star style. We also name our 25 Best Dressed Celebrities and pick their best #OOTDs. This issue comes with a special edition of Metro Him featuring Joseph Marco on the cover and Metro Weddings Special with cover girls Ana Sideco and Ria Bolivar. ‘FOOD’: An ode to breakfast ‘Metro Home’: Experts answer design questions In Metro Home and Entertaining’s Expert Advice Issue, design authorities give their best advice to improve your space and avoid decorating mishaps. More than 40 pages of fantastic homes are also featured in this issue that includes a modern Filipino family haven, a cosmopolitan Makati dream home, a Tagaytay hideaway and a contemporary dream house. Rockwell Power Plant Finds By Nikki Nava new home. There’s also a special feature with Daniel’s thoughts on screen partner Kathryn Bernardo and a look back at his musical journey with his band. Plus, we have stories on Jamvhille Sebastian of the YouTube tandem Jamich, and DJ Chacha of MOR 101.9. At home with Daniel in ‘StarStudio’ Daniel Padilla gives StarStudio the first top-to-bottom look at his FOOD celebrates the obsession with breakfast with special features like modern Pinoy breakfasts by chef JP Anglo of Sarsa Kitchen+Bar and blogger Lori Baltazar’s ode to her 10 favorite breakfast dishes. This issue also includes a guide to Third Wave coffee in Manila, a merienda cena party by Claude Tayag and lots of recipes and food finds. Get the newest issues of your favorite magazines at leading bookstores and magazine stands nationwide. To download, users on Android devices must download the Zinio app from the Android Market. The app is also available through the iPad App Store. PC and Mac users can access Zinio at zinio.com. Powerhouse picks WELCOME the second half of the year with these edgy new additions to the Power Plant Mall family! Ronnie & Joe The new standard: it’s not just about wearing beautiful pieces of eyewear, it’s also about the exploration and expression of individual style. That’s what Ronnie & Joe believes in. This optical salon is a gallery of eyewear brands from all over the world that are rich in history and heritage, with strong attention to detail. Ronnie & Joe opens at the R1 Level this month. to eight cuts of beef—chuck, rib eye, short ribs, sirloin, brisket, hanger, flank and oxtail—that only this restaurant offers. All beef patties are made of 100% pure US beef and are hand-pressed, freshly-ground, custom-blended and seared to order. Now, doesn’t that sound absolutely delicious? Focus on Arts Power Plant Mall’s annual celebration of the arts becomes more exciting every year. This year, Focus on Arts: Art in Transit will be held from July to August 2014 and will showcase all forms of traditional, contemporary and abstract art by Filipinos. Exhibits, unique art activities as well as live art performances by famous Filipino artists are in store for visitors. Mark your calendars and celebrate the arts at Power Plant Mall! Ultimate Taste Test Editorial Advisory Board Executive Editor Mike Lopez / Boo Chanco Rosan Cruz Contributing Editors Carla Paras-Sison (Lopez Holdings) Estela de la Paz (First Gen) Kane Choa (ABS-CBN) Cherry Pineda (ABS-CBN Publishing) Dimpy Jazmines (Wellness) Hazel Velasco (FPHC) Arlene Torres (SkyCable) Vienn Tionglico (Rockwell) Dulce Baybay (LGFI) Fernando Diaz de Rivera (EDC) Circulation Editorial and Layout Lucy Torres (Tel. 449-2468) Mousetrap Publishing LopezLink is published by Lopez Holdings Corp. PR Group 4/F Benpres Bldg., Ortigas, Pasig City Tel. no. (63-2) 449-2345 For feedback, email [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @lopezlinkph Available online at www.Lopezlink.ph Vom Fass The first Vom Fass shop opened in Regensburg, Germany in 1994. The Kiderlen family started out by importing wine from South Tyrolia. Due to the changing times, the company was expanded and renamed Vom Fass (“from the cask”). Vom Fass now has franchises all over the world and is coming to the P1 Level this July. Its products include natural and fresh vinegars, oils, spirits, spices and nonalcoholic specialties. 8 Cuts 8 Cuts Burger Blends is coming to the P1 Level! “8Cuts,” as it is more commonly called, is a reference It’s time to start the countdown to Rockwell’s fourth Ultimate Taste Test, themed “New Flavors of Manila”! Enjoy a quality selection of food from over 65 chef-driven booths at the Rockwell Tent. Have your fill of appetizers, main dishes, drinks and even desserts! It’s going to be a unique foodtasting experience for everyone!