NEWS
PH entry leads ‘Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring’ winners
January 29, 2022 3:04 p.m.
TAIWAN Excellence: Sharing is Caring, a global philanthropic Campaign launched by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs announced the top three winning proposals recently, led by Educating and Empowering the Community through Mobile Kart from the Philippines.
Other winners were Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities from New Zealand and One-day Medical Tour and Same-day Denture Delivery – Mobile Digital Denture Clinic & Oral Health Service Project from Taiwan.
Cynthia Kiang, Director General of BOFT virtually presented certificates to the winners during an awards ceremony today.
The BOFT said that the winning proposals would be funded and implemented according to how they plan out in the proposed region/country, hoping to promote kindness and good deeds in the local communities.
With the support from the industry, Sharing is Caring that was held for the first time has recruited ideas from all over the world that incorporate Taiwan Excellence winning products to address either social or environmental problems.
It was a pleasant surprise for the organizer that a total of 781 proposals from 61 countries poured in, and the best of all was finally out after careful and thoughtful selection.
Director General Kiang was excited to see that so much could be achieved and so many people participated for the first year of the campaign.
“We could feel that love and care are everywhere in the world,” emphasized by Kiang. “At the same time, the Taiwan Excellence winning companies will continue to spare no efforts in pushing forward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the Campaign.”
Marareia Hamilton, one of the team members of the winning proposal ‘Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities’ from New Zealand, has long been devoted to the development of Māori communities and helped establish workable business models for the locals.
As many of the communities are located in the remote areas, the power supply might be on and off due to grid stability issues.
Thus the team has proposed to install solar panels from Taiwan and to build a self-sustaining green energy power generation system within the communities.
Marareia expressed her special thanks to Taiwanese Excellence during the ceremony for lighting up the Māori communities, and for bringing Taiwan and New Zealand closer.
In addition to the winning proposals, ‘Educating and Empowering the Community through Mobile Kart’ from the Philippines is to narrow education divide between the remote villages and cities while enhancing environmental protection.
The winning team put together a mobile classroom – a kart powered by solar panels and equipped with laptops and internet, so that children in the remote areas can learn how to use computers and get connected to new things.
The proposer Jonathan J. Cartilla thanked the Campaign for this opportunity to promote education in the rural areas. With the mobile kart, a classroom regardless of distance could no longer be a dream.
Another winning proposal is from Taiwan: ‘One-day Medical Tour and Same-day Denture Delivery – Mobile Digital Denture Clinic & Oral Health Service Project’ that sets out to care for health and well-being of the elderly people in the rural areas with a mobile medical vehicle full of dental care devices for measuring biodata.
The proposer Ms. Danielle Chen pointed out that quality of their healthcare services is guaranteed by using Taiwan Excellence winning products, while the car brings the good will of Taiwan Excellence to some of the farthest and remote corners of Taiwan.
The event also came with a lucky draw for those who predicted the winners. People are invited to predict and vote for the winning proposals online.
During the event, Director General Kiang revealed three winners who voted for the right proposals and could have prizes worthy of NT$50,000.
See the lucky draw winner list at
https://share-care.taiwanexcellence.org/
One of the members from the selection panel, professor Chu Jou-Juo felt impressed with how well-intentioned all the proposals are.
But if one need to stand out as a winning proposal, a mere creative philanthropic idea is not enough. Feasibility and practicality should also be taken into consideration, so that a good idea can be turned into actions. It is also hoped more companies can come on board and fulfill their corporate social responsibility.
NEWS
Agoda: Cebu is tourist favorite to welcome ‘The Year of the Snake’
10:30 a.m. January 13, 2025
As the Lunar New Year approaches, digital travel platform Agoda unveils Cebu to be the most sought-after destination for international visitors celebrating the start of ‘The Year of the Snake’ in the Philippines. Agoda further reports that, based on accommodation searches made on the platform, Manila is the top-searched domestic destination, with Hong Kong being the most popular among Filipino travelers looking to spend the Lunar New Year holiday abroad.
International travelers are increasingly looking to the Philippines as a Lunar New Year destination, with accommodation searches growing 19% compared to the previous year. The archipelago draws the most visitors from South Korea, United States and mainland China. Cebu, with its world-renowned beaches, marine life, and cultural heritage continues to charm as the top destination for international travelers during the holiday period, with accommodation searches rising 15% from last year.
Domestic travel during the Lunar New Year holiday is also increasingly popular in the Philippines as witnessed by a 52% rise in accommodation searches on Agoda. The most popular destination for domestic travel is Manila, with a nearly 50% increase in searches compared to last year. The capital is a favorite among Filipinos looking to usher in the Lunar New Year in what is said to be one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, featuring traditional dances, lantern-lined streets and festive fare.
For Filipinos looking to celebrate ‘The Year of the Snake’ abroad, Hong Kong slithers into the lead with a 120% growth in accommodation searches compared to the previous year, overtaking Tokyo. With its impressive skylines and melting pot of cultures, Hong Kong offers an exciting array of festivities including fireworks, parades and performances to usher in a prosperous new year. Overall, outbound accommodation searches increased by 67%, indicating Filipino travelers’ growing desire to spend the holiday period abroad.
Mike Hwang, Country Director, Philippines at Agoda said, “The Lunar New Year holiday is one of Asia’s most popular travel periods and it’s great to see growing interest in the Philippines from international and domestic travelers alike. Cities like Cebu and Manila showcase the wonderful diversity of experiences in the Philippines, from stunning island escapes to cultural festivities in the heart of the capital city. Whether celebrating the new year from the Philippines or traveling abroad, Agoda offers travelers great deals on flights, accommodations and activities to usher in the Year of the Snake.”
The Lunar New Year holiday marks new beginnings and the arrival of Spring, making it a significant travel period as people look to reunite with family and friends. ‘The Year of the Snake’ symbolizes rebirth and transformation and is said to present an auspicious opportunity for embracing self-discovery and exploring new horizons. Known for their association with good fortune, snakes inspire travelers to shed the old and welcome the new — whether by rediscovering familiar places or venturing abroad during this festive season.
Looking at the combined preferences for Asian travelers, Japanese cities in particular emerged as favorites for the Lunar New Year holiday, with Tokyo taking the crown followed by Bangkok (Thailand), Osaka (Japan), Fukuoka (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea).
As travelers prepare to shed the old and embrace the new, Agoda offers exceptional deals for their Lunar New Year holiday on over 4.5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities and experiences that are available on the platform. The latest deals are available in the Agoda app or on agoda.com/deals.
NEWS
PAL Interclub’s return to Bacolod celebrates triumph of human spirit
4:22 p.m. January 10, 2025
When the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub returns to Bacolod next month, the triumph of the human spirit will be at the back of most players’ minds as the last time the event was held there, action at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and Bacolod Golf and Country Club was one of the last events held before COVID-19 ground all of sports in the world to a halt within the next few days.
Less than a week after Manila Southwoods and Canlubang won the Men’s Regular and Seniors divisions titles, respectively, that lockdowns were ordered worldwide because of the pandemic that would drag for more than two years.
And from Feb. 7 to 21, the courses formerly known as Marapara and Binitin will again be the venues for the event’s 76th playing where Southwoods shoots for a fourth straight crown and Del Monte a repeat of the upset it posted on home turf last year in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.
“Bacolod has been the site of many memorable Interclub championships and we are sure of having the same keen competition this year,” PAL president Stanley K. Ng said. “As we return to the City of Smiles, let’s also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit through the sport we love as we wish every team the best out there next month.”
Known as the country’s unofficial team golf championship, the Interclub was forced to take a two-year leave because of the pandemic and resumed in 2023 in Cebu where Southwoods again ruled regular play and Luisita dislodged Canlubang.
Seniors action gets going first on Feb. 10, with the men starting their 72-hole championship eight days later.
Competition in the 55-and-over division is deemed to be a wide-open race this year with some of the talents that have beefed up Cangolf and Luisita either begging off or playing for other squads.
Canlubang and Luisita have combined to win a total of 29 titles, with the Sugar Barons holding an 11-5 edge since 2006 after snapping the Luisitans’ six-year reign that started in 2006.
In 24 years, only Del Monte was able to break that dual stranglehold of Senior play, and the Bukidnon-based bets will come to Bacolod with basically the same lineup that posted that upset last year.
NEWS
TCL to Inspire Greatness at CES 2025 with latest products, innovations
4:39 p.m. January 7, 2025
TCL Electronics, a leading consumer electronics brand and the world’s top two TV brands, today announced its attendance at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 which takes place in January.
TCL has participated in CES for 31 years, during which the brand has consistently showcased its latest innovative display technologies and a full range of smart home products to global visitors.
As a highlight of this year’s showcase, TCL will reveal its innovative QD-Mini LED technologies and products that deliver an unparalleled visual experience.
The display innovations TCL is bringing to CES 2025 are sure to excite both professionals and home entertainment enthusiasts alike. They cover almost every form factor, from professional monitors to in-car displays, mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, smart projectors, and RayNeo AR glasses. TCL will also display its award-winning NXTPAPER technology and officially unveil its revolutionary NXTPAPER 4.0 at CES 2025.
Underscoring its innovations in the AI field, TCL is bringing its latest AI advancements in new product categories as well as partnerships with world-renowned technology brands.
Additionally, TCL will unveil the integration of its smart home ecosystem with intelligent solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency and enrich the user experience, which includes air conditioners, built-in refrigerators, washing machines, smart locks, and mobile routers.
Leading up to Super Bowl LIX, TCL’s partnerships with renowned global partners, including its role as the Official TV Partner of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, will also be a major highlight of the exhibition.
Through these partnerships, TCL is developing cutting-edge technologies to enhance viewer experiences and engage fans across a range of interactive on-site activities and online campaigns that aim to build global connections and inspire greatness in everyday life.
For more details, please see below:
TCL CES 2025 Press Conference:
● Date & Time: 11:00 – 11:45 AM (PST), January 6, 2025
● Location: Mandalay Bay, South Convention Center, Ballroom E (Level 2)
TCL CES 2025 Booth:
● Date: January 7-10, 2025
● Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall, Booth #17704
Agoda: Cebu is tourist favorite to welcome ‘The Year of the Snake’
PAL Interclub’s return to Bacolod celebrates triumph of human spirit
TCL to Inspire Greatness at CES 2025 with latest products, innovations
