Thousands of Youth Gather for Habitat Youth Build 2014: “Tagbo. Tukod. Tana!”

Over 5,000 youth will converge at this year’s Habitat for Humanity “Youth Build”, happening simultaneously on May 3, 2014 in five key provinces in the country, to make a commitment to help rebuild homes across calamity-stricken areas in the Philippines. This year’s Youth Build is expected to be one of the biggest youth gatherings in the country.  

Beginning May 3, young volunteers will sweat it out as they get their gloves, hard hats, and shovels ready to begin the construction of Habitat houses in earthquake-hit areas in Bohol, and Yolanda-affected communities in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Naga. After Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) destroyed parts of the country in November last year, Habitat launched its “Re-Build PH” campaign with a target to rebuild 30,000 houses. This year’s Youth Build aims to rally the youth to do their share to meet this target. 

“Rebuilding the Philippines is everyone’s responsibility. This time, we want to gather our youth and tap into their passion and energy to help get the job done while at the same time serving as role models to the younger generation,” shares Charlie Ayco, Habitat for Humanity Philippine’s CEO and Managing Director. 

“Tagbo. Tukod. Tana!”

Since the build-sites are mostly around the Visayas region, this year’s theme was taken from the local Visayan dialect-- “Tagbo. Tukod. Tana!”  (Let’s gather. Let’s build. Let’s do it.) It hopes to speak more urgently to the Visayan youth to rise to the challenge of helping their own neighbors, friends, and kababayans rebuild their own communities by taking part in the Youth Build. 

“For us to be able to truly move forward from the horrors of the earthquake and typhoon, we need to work hand-in-hand as one community-- the progress of one is the progress of all. We encourage the Boholanos to help their kababayans, because by doing so they are helping the entire province,” Ayco adds.  

Rebuilding 7,000 houses in Bohol

In October last year, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked parts of Bohol leaving houses in shambles and families homeless. The Youth Build targets to rebuild 7,000 homes in 16 municipalities across the province providing decent shelter to families still living in tents and make-shift houses. 

To kick-off festivities in Bohol on May 3, a motorcade of celebrity youth supporters will take place in the morning leading all the way to the Habitat site in Loon, Bohol where Habitat’s Youth Council will begin the initial build. To cap the day, a youth concert open to the public will be staged to further urge the Boholano youth to respond to the call. 

Other local festivities to kick-off the “Youth Build” will also happen in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Naga. 

The Habitat Youth Build is a movement that engages young people to raise funds for, and awareness of the poverty housing situation in the Asia-Pacific region where one in eight people live in slums, according to the United Nations.

Now on its third year, the annual campaign challenges the youth to do something concrete to help. Young people from 11 other Habitat countries across the region will also participate and build or repair homes for low-income families.  

Habitat for Humanity Philippines is a global non-profit organization committed to addressing the housing backlog in the country. To know more about Habitat and its programs, log on to www.habitat.org.ph. 

Bamboo Visits Sony Centre, Reveals New High-Resolution Audio Series of MDR Headphones

(PHILIPPINES, 29 March 2014) – Audio enthusiasts and music lovers were treated to a special meet and greet held at the Sony Gadgets Store in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) as Bamboo Mañalac, a Brand Ambassador of Sony’s ‘Music Deserves Respect’ campaign, revealed the newest additions to the Sony MDR headphones line-up, the High-Resolution Audio series.  

“I’m constantly working to find the right sound for my music. I’m very passionate and committed to make sure that everything that I hear in the studio can be heard perfectly by my fans when they listen to it on their headphones. Sony’s MDR headphones get the job done for me every time. It amazes me how clear and crisp every record sounds like through these headphones,” said Bamboo.

Tapping on its history of design and technological innovation, the High Resolution Audio series delivers the truest and clearest reproduction of today’s music. Working alongside various artists and the best sound engineers around the globe, Sony has redefined what it means to deliver super music reproduction.

“High Resolution Audio sets the standard for audio quality, enabling our customers to listen to music at its highest and best form. With our latest series, our customers can fully experience the rich atmosphere and immersive sounds that the artist and his team created; hearing their music just as they intended it to be heard,” said CJ Deacosta, Marketing Officer – Personal Audio.

High Resolution Audio contains three times more sound quality than a regular CD, providing music lovers an enhanced listening experience, similar with being at a live concert or a recording studio. With the power of Sony’s acoustic engineering technologies, listeners can discover the subtle details and nuances with the music. In other words, High-Resolution Audio takes you closer to the original, to provide an excitingly satisfying listening experience. 

“Sony has long been committed in creating innovative devices that expertly produce unmatched sounds and our latest line of MDR headphones represents the very best of what we have to offer,” said Yasushi Asaoka, President and Managing Director of Sony Philippines.

Since launching their “Music Deserves Respect” campaign, Sony has long been advocating to customers and fans alike to have a better appreciation of music. It’s about understanding the hard work and dedication that is placed into it – from the hours spent by the musicians to record a 12-song playlist to the team that assembles the studio that allow artists to hear every sound with clarity and consistency. 

To cap off the MDR campaign, Sony will also be hosting the first-ever Silent Concert in the Philippines on May 8, 2014. Featuring rock icons and brand ambassadors, Ely Buendia and Bamboo, the concert will offer attendees a unique listening experience unlike any other.  

“To all my fans, join me and Mr. Ely Buendia for a night of giving justice to sound and be part of the first-ever Silent Concert in the Philippines. I invite you all to be a part of history and together, we will let the world know that music deserves respect,” exclaimed Bamboo. 

Learn more about MDR Live through this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9uVDc6ppCw

For complete rules and regulations, you may visit Sony Philippines’ official website at http://www.sony.com.ph/MDRpromo

THE AVIDA FOOD HUNT WITH CHEF JJ YULO

Filipinos are food lovers and we are noted for our knack on exploring and trying out the newest dining destinations. The passion for great food is so ingrained in the Filipino culture that access to it is vital to a truly dynamic lifestyle.

 One of the areas that offer a variety of cuisines is San Antonio Village in West Makati, where there is a lot of promising restaurants to discover.

With Chef JJ Yulo leading this special gastronomical adventure, the Avida Food Hunt kicks off this March with Avida Towers Asten, a high-rise residential development in West Makati that is envisioned to have a dynamic mix of retail and dining options catering to the needs of the passionate millennial crowd.

Participants for the Avida Food Hunt registered online via Avida’s Facebook page. Along with some members of the press, including me,  was able to embark on a food expedition wherein we were able to experience the taste of a sampling of specialty cuisines and epicurean fares in the neighboring Avida development. 

Founder of Pinoy Eats World, well-known chef, food write-blogger Chef JJ Yulo leads the hunt. Pinoy Eats World is dedicated to food culture; motivated to give the public an interesting and always delicious look at Pinoy Food.This New York Institute of Culinary Education Chef has hosted several food tours in the country, Hong Kong and as far as Turkey. Yulo is passionate about discovering about food evolution and is most pleased to share his knowledge to all.

We started to visit Carpaccio Ristorante Italiano. Located right across Avida Asten, this popular restaurant has become a premiere destination for food and wine lovers seeking a classic Italian dining experience. A must try for everyone is the carpaccio, a delectable dish of thinly sliced choice cut grade A beef served with cheese and fresh green salad on the side.

TK Authentic Masters Singaporean Food has been providing a variety of services—from buffets and ala carte dining to budget meal toppings and food deliveries—to the people of San Antonio Village and beyond since 2012. Specializing in gastronomic selection that speaks of a fusion of flavors representing various cultures from all over the world, TK offers an excellent selection of dishes that satisfy even the most discriminating palates. Their popular offerings include Singaporean staples such as a char kway teow (stir-fry noodles), savory cereal prawn, and the refreshing Kopi O, a traditional iced coffee concoction served in Malaysia and Singapore.

The next joint was HK Roast. This cozy hole-in-the-wall favorite along Bagtikan Street is an ode to the tai pai dong, the small open eateries found on the busy roadsides of Hong Kong. HK Roast serves an array of Hong Kong-style comfort food like the mouth-watering roast duck, best eaten with a steaming bowl of rice and a glass of bubble milk tea.          

Titania Wine Bar and Café, a fine dining restaurant inside the Titania Grand Cellar on Yakal Street was the fourth stop in the Avida Food Hunt. 

The Grand Cellar, Asia’s first temperature-controlled area for fine wines, is where the food hunt participants taste fine wines imported from France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, California and Australia.

We ended on a sweet note with a sampling of assorted desserts at Sophie’s Mom. Nestled along the posh Santol Street, this quaint bakeshop is a dreamland for anyone with a sweet tooth. Displayed on their shelves are luscious cakes, cupcakes, mocha-truffles, mocha ice cream, and a tasty selection of specialty breads baked fresh everyday—the way Sophie’s mom, owner Marie Antoinette Rosal, makes her treats for her daughter. 

All the restaurants can be found within the vicinity of Avida Towers Asten. Avida marketing head Tess Tatco concludes, “We are doing the Avida Food Hunt because we want people to realize that Avida developments provide comfort and convenience to their residents. They are communities where everything is near, access to good life and great food and restaurants are all in the vicinity of an Avida home.”

The public is encouraged to visit Avida Land’s Facebook page (avidalandph) or Avida Showroom Glorietta (2/F, Glorietta 4) for announcements on upcoming food hunt events.