WWF National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado Lead 1st WWF Fundraising Hour

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WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado shared their passion for the environment with mallgoers and encouraged them to support WWF’s Individual Donor Programme (IDP) during the recent Ambassador's Fundraising Hour held in Greenbelt 1, Makati.

WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Iza Calzado and Rovilson Fernandez with Chi-Chi, the WWF Panda. (WWF)

Everyone can now directly contribute to the sustainability initiatives of WWF-Philippines by visiting    WWF booths in selected malls all over the country or by going to the WWF-Philippines website at wwf.org.ph/donate. Potential donors can choose to make a one-time donation or monthly donations, which can help sustain various WWF-Philippines biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation programs all over the country.

The Five Core Filipino Values championed by the #ChangeForTheBetter campaign

“The year 2015 is harvest time - harvesting all what is good about the Filipino to transform our country into a great nation,” said Dr. Mina Ramirez, phenomenological sociologist and president of Asian Social Institute.

As we ended 2014 and as we welcomed the New Year with excitement, it is another season and reason for us to reflect on our lives in the past year and plan for a better future.  This is the perfect time to start doing our list of resolutions as we start things right for the New Year.

Photo courtesy of participating bloggers Enzo Luna, Ed Uy and Earth Rullan, among others.

This has inspired Krem-Top coffee creamer to launch a campaign to motivate and challenge individuals to exercise a habit of aspiring to become a better person.  Dubbed as Change for the Better, the campaign that started in 2012, is a call for everyone to commit and sustain the personal, not just during the turn of the year but throughout the year and beyond.

Over time, the campaign has grown from being a personal call to being nationalistic as the mission is not just on improving one’s self but or the entire nation to rally towards becoming better Filipinos. Krem Top’s Change for the Better campaign reminds us that even small changes when put or done together can create a huge impact in the community.

Have a more meaningful Christmas through Caritas Manila's BUY & GIVE EXPO 2 at Glorietta this Sunday!

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The Social Entrepreneurship Program of Caritas Manila will hold the second-run of a Grand Expo dubbed “Buy and Give Expo 2”on November 28-30, 2014 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive, Makati City.

Caritas Manila’s Social Entrepreneurship Program helps the livelihood of poor communities by encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and marketing their products. This program is providing skills and training to the urban poor communities and marginalized sector as well as honing them to become social entrepreneurs. Caritas Margins and Segunda Mana are two of the programs under Social Entreprise.

Doing charity can be easy with JCI's Project Oasis

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It's always a pity to see kids at the street begging for money or working at dump sites.  And sometimes, as much as we want to be of help, we just don't know (and we don't try to know) how.  Sometimes, we of course think of our own safety or if our money will really be put into good use or if we just can't take that first and extra step to reach out. 

Well, good thing that at this point in time, many sectors and organizations have thought of creative ways on  how to make charitable works a lot easier and more accessible, and sometimes fun.

Take for example the Project Oasis of Junior Chamber International (JCI, formerly known as the "Jaycees") Manila Chapter which is organizing a Wine & Cheese Tasting and Workshop for the benefit of the children in Smokey Mountain.  Surprised?  And you ask how possible could this be? 

Do Not Walk Away but Walk the World and help End Hunger

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For me, one of the important points being debated on the current issue on Reproductive Health (RH) Bill is eradicating poverty and addressing the concern on children's poor education, nutrition and living conditions. 

According to United Nation's World Food Program, hunger and malnutrition are the biggest threats to global health worldwide, and are responsible for a third of all deaths in children below five years  in old among third world countries.

And while the debate on RH Bill continues to heat up in Congress and different sectors pursue their respective agendas, we, citizens, can already start ahead addressing the said social concern, and do our part. 

Sailors of the Seas meet Sailors of the Streets

 Action & Event-ure :

At this age when we already have air buses, luxury cruise ships and even hi-tech submarines, would you still believe that there are still people who would rather tour the world using a sailboat?

Yup, you heard it right. Five Norwegian sailors are currently sailing around the world on a trip that will last for three years. They started in August 2008 and will end the trip in August 2011. Recently, I just met Otto Hildeng, Kyrre Lind-Isaksen, Slavisa Gacic, Marius Boe Viken and Marte Hoeiby who are about to complete the second half of the navigation using the To Fluer sailboat.

To Fluer literally means “two flies” but semantically corresponds to an idiomatic expression “to kill two birds with one stone”. ‘Because for them, To Fluer fulfills both their lifelong dream and a heartfelt desire – a lifelong dream to see the world and a heartfelt desire to contribute... a dream to open doors and gain perspective, and a desire to make a difference. They not only explore the seas and discover Earth wonders but they also raise funds for UNICEF and child friendly schools in Africa during their trip and visit UNICEF projects along the way.

Working with Gary V for UNICEF

 Action & Event-ure:

I first met Gary Valenciano (also known as Gary V) last year when we were preparing for the launch of UNICEF Champions for Children.  I felt so honored to be working closely with a music superstar who also uses his stardom to help other people, especially the underprivileged children.  In his outreach activity at a daycare center in Baseco, Tondo, Manila, I remembered how he enjoyed spending time with the children.  When we were reminding him of his next schedule, he even asked for more time with the kids.  He then sang (a capella of course) Tayong Dalawa and the children instantly sang with him in the chorus part.  It is as if I heard a voice from heaven joined by a chorale of innocent little children. I just can't explain how I could sense the innate goodness glowing in his face, in his voice, in his movements, in his personality.  Before I admired Gary V as a performer, but now, I admire him more than that.  I admire him as a person, a very good person.

Gary V and Donita Rose during the launch of  Champions for Children in May 2009.

And after several months, we worked together again to celebrate his 12th Year Anniversary as UNICEF Ambassador and kick-off the second phase of UNICEF Champions for Children campaign.  I wasn't expecting that he could still remember me since Gary V meets lots of people everywhere, but to my surprise, I was proven wrong. =)  And last February 17, we facilitated Gary V's Media Day for UNICEF.  He first guested in Mornings@ANC at the Studio 6 of ABS-CBN Broadcast Center and then joined the Media Roundtable at Alex III Tomas Morato with the representatives of UNICEF, Josef Poe of Champions for Children and Kuya Butch and 3 sponsored street children of ChildHope Asia, an NGO supported by the program. Here is more info about Gary V's 12 years of UNICEF ambassadorship and the Champions for Children campaign.

UNICEF Ambassador Gary V searches for 6,000 new Champions for Children

Gary Valenciano, now on his 12th year as UNICEF Ambassador, is looking for 6,000 new Champions for Children to help him advocate for children’s rights and make a difference in the lives of Filipino children.

“Now, more than ever, the children need everyone’s help,” said Gary Valenciano (also known as Gary V). Gary V and UNICEF are looking for 6,000 new Champions for Children this 2010 to address the needs of Filipino children and give them the chance to survive and thrive.