11 Outstanding Youth Social Entrepreneurs Honored at Villar Sipag Institute

Villar Social Institute for Poverty and Governance [VILLAR SIPAG] spearheaded by the country’s number one senator in the recent national senatorial election, Senator Cynthia Villar.

“This is our way of supporting youth empowerment in the hope to further encourage more people as well as inspire others to significantly contribute to our goals as a nation,” Villar said.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar together with Las Piñas city councilors

Guests

Las Piñas National Science High School choir

The awarding started around past 10:00 am with solemn prayer and choir group from the Las Piñas National Science High School choir. Special guests which included the members of Las Piñas Garden Club, Zonta club, Rotary club of Las Piñas, senior citizen group, barangays, mayor of the city , councilors and immediate family members which included DPWH secretary Mark Villar, Mr. Manny Villar( former senate president and house speaker), Ms. Emmeline Aglipay Villar ( Department of Justice undersecretary) ,Congresswoman Ms. Camile Villar of the lone district of Las Piñas, Mr. Manuel Paolo Villar. President and CEO of Vista Land and Lifescapes and media.

3rd Villar Sipag trophies

This event is one of the highlights of the 14th waterlily festival held within the city.

Villar Sipag Awards

Villar SIPAG awards is currently on its third year, whose main goal is to alleviate poverty in their respective communities by means of social enterprises. Candidates for the awards are composed of groups of college or masteral students; young professionals, social enterprise groups, young businessmen, youth organizations as well as those from community organizations.

Quiniput 2h club from Zamboanga with hand made dolls

There were more than 80 youth sectors and organization from different parts of the country were initially screened during the early stages of the competition.

These were then further narrowed down to just top 20 by the evaluation committee, then there were two youth organizations which tied -in for the 10th place, hence an additional place were given.

As series of stringent evaluation and thorough screenings, the Villar SIPAG panel of judges were able to come up with the 11 finalists based on their originality, uniqueness of service/product, adaptability, sustainability and community participation.

Each awardee received trophy, certificate, cash prize of Php150,000 to further provide financial assistance to their projects and initiatives on poverty alleviation as well as a trophy.

Tanay Mountaineers Search and Rescue Incorporated members and supporters

I happen to saw an online friend Mrs. Agustiniana C. Avelino who supported and a member of the Tanay Mountaineers Search and Rescue Inc.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar together with her family

The event also serves as a pre-event birthday bash for Senator Cynthia Villar , who celebrates her birthday on July 29.

Youth Sector Awardees

This year’s recipient for the 3^rd Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviate and  Governance) Award are as follows:

Cultivators 4Hers Club of Ilocos Sur Prison Jail, Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Region 1

Quirinian Youth In-Action Isabela, Region 2

Tanay Mountaineers Search and Rescue Inc., Tanay, Rizal Region 4A

Goa Young Farmers Association, Goa, Camarines Sur, Region 5

Saving Innocent Lives Amidst War (SILAW) Inc., Leon, Iloilo, Region 6

Youth For Livable Communities, Beverly Hills, Cebu City, Region 7

Family Help Project Merida, Leyte, Region 8

Quiniput 4H Club, Zamboanga City, Region 9

Food Secure Philippines, Midsayap, North Cotabato, Region 12

Power Se7en, Butuan City, Region 13

Ulama League For Call and Guidance Inc. Manila, National Capital Region

The recent which coincides with the Villar SIPAG Awards where 11 youngsters across the nation emerged as the Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprises at a ceremony held at the Villar SIPAG Hall in C-5 Extension, Las Pinas City.

Congratulations to all the winners of the 3rd Villar Sipag awardees from renz15.com

Advertisement

Senator Cynthia Villar taps Cavite women from recycling tarpaulin posters

 Senator Cynthia Villar has tapped the group of women in Dasmariñas, Cavite to make bags and other functional items out of the tarpaulins used during her campaign for the recent elections.

tarpaulin posters

Senator Villar who chairs the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said this recycling project benefits a small tailoring business, which employs mothers as sewers.

an elderly woman sew tarpaulin posters previously used as campaign poster into usable bags

“We are very glad that we have now a way for the proper disposal of these used tarpaulins. Through this initiative, we were not only able to recycle used tarpaulins into something useful, we were also able to help women earn additional income for their families, ” Villar said.

Women Empowerment

Christine Joy Ferrer, 27 years old, just started MXD Tailoring two months ago in the garage of the apartment she is renting. For five years, she worked for her older sister’s tailoring shop until it closed down. She then borrowed the sewing machines and started her own business.

“Tuwang tuwa po ako kasi nagsisimula pa lang ako tapos nagtiwala na po sa akin si Senator Villar na gumawa ng bags niya. Malaking tulong po ito sa akin at sa mga sewers ko,” Ferrer said.

The 2 x 3 feet tarpaulins collected by the staff of Villar were delivered to Ferrer’s shop to be made into bags for P16 a piece. On the first week, they were able to finish 550 bags. They will be making more as tarpaulins collected from the provinces start to arrive.

recycled bags from tarpaulin posters

Ferrer said her 4 sewers are mothers who live nearby. One of her sewers has to look after a baby. Ferrer loaned one of her machines so she could work from home.

Ferrer said she appreciates Villar for providing a source of additional income for mothers like her. She said she was able to look after her kids aged 10 and 7, while operating her small business.

The finished product has a dimension of 12 x 18 x 4 inches, it is white with the printed side of the tarpaulin made as the inside of the bag. Tarpaulin bags are the more durable and environment-friendly substitute for plastic bags. Villar said she will distribute the bags for free to further promote her advocacy for plastic recycling.

The Nacionalista Party senator also initiated a plastic recycling project which turns plastic wastes into school chairs. Through a plastic factory she built in Las Piñas, 20 kilos of soft plastics such as food wrappers were recycled into a plastic chair with changeable parts and has a life span of 20 years. These chairs were donated to different public schools all over the country.

5 Important Highlights at the 13th Water Lily Festival

Villar Sipag Foundation, C-5 Extension, Las Piñas City

participants 

The 13th annual Water lily festival was the brainchild of Las Piñas famous daughter Senator Cynthia A. Villar was packed with families, school children, foreign and local tourists who flocked to the city to marvel at the exhibit display of creative and innovative water lily products and to participate in the handmade paper demonstration using the versatile aquatic blooms.

water hyacinth ( locally called as water lily)

The water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) is commonly called by local folks as water lily. This is a non-native, pan-tropical water plant introduced during the later part of the 16th century in our country from Central and South America. Water hyacinth is a free floating aquatic plant and can clog water ways.  This can reach a height of about 1 meter.

exhibit display

5 Important Highlights 

1.) Exhibit Displays at the Water Lily Arts and Crafts Center ( Las Piñas City), Sta. Rosa Livelihood Organization Inc. (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), Cardona Livelihood Products (Cardona, Rizal), Kabuhayan sa Water Lily (Cainta, Rizal), Joneg Foundation (Teresa, Rizal), Pililla Waterlily Weavers (Pililla, Rizal), Maynilad Waterlily Weavers (Potatan, Muntinlupa) and Pateros Weavers.

ABS-CBN channel 2 ( Umagang Kay Ganda ) segment host -Kaladkaren Davila 

2.) Street Dancing Parade – Students of different schools within the city had participated at the annual street dancing parade. The participants were already at the site by 5:00 am.

Golden Achers National High School students won the top honors in the street dancing competition and brought home the grand champion trophy and a cash prize of P50,000. ( photo courtesy of Senator Cynthia A. Villar FB)

Dancing students from CAA National High School won the second honors and brought home a trophy and P30,000; while the Las Pinas East National High School dancing group won the third honors and got a trophy and P20,000 in cash.

first place winner ( street dancing competition ) group photo

Participant groups, with maximum of 50 members each, were required to submit their unique concept synopsis with waterlily as its main component in the costume and props.

Miss Las Piñas Water Lily 2018 pageant winners ( courtesy of Senator Cynthia A. Villar FB page) 

3.) Search for Miss Las Piñas Water Lily 2018 – Ms. Arlyn Claire M. Sangab of Barangay. Pamplona 1 brought home the Miss Las Piñas Water Lily 2018 crown and P25,000 cash. Her first runner-up, Ms. Rebecca Kirsten S. Lopez of Barangay. Talon 4, won P15,000; while Ms. Rojielen Angela Autencio of Barangay. Pulanglupa 1 went home with a cash prize of P10,000.

Miss Las Piñas Water Lily 2018 candidates

The pre-judging was held few days ago prior to the announcement of winners. Biggest criteria for judging the winners was 40 percent for the uniqueness and creativity of the contestants’ mestiza ternos, which must be made of 100 percent waterlily and should reflect the natural color of the aquatic plant. Other criteria for judging were physical beauty, 30 percent, and intelligence and wit, 30 percent.  The annual pageant was participated by the 13 barangays.

2nd Villar Sipag Youth Poverty Reduction 2018 winners

4.) Awarding of 2nd Villar Sipag Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge – There are over 150 entries from different parts of the country.  6 were chosen from Luzon, 2 from Visayas and 2 from Mindanao. This competition was designed to encourage and empower the Filipino youth to embark on activities that will help address poverty related issues in the country.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar with well-wishers and guests

5.) Birthday Celebration of Senator Cynthia Villar– A simple birthday gathering and salu-salo was held after the awarding of the winners.

Website : http://www.villarsipag.org/

 

AGRI-LINK 2013

World Trade Center, Buendia street -Pasay City, Metro Manila-Philippines

World Trade Center

It was a bit overcast sky when i visited the agriculture expo  .  World Trade Center is teeming with a lot of activities from Agriculture , Livestock, Fisheries, Ornamental Plants,  Poultry  and Supplies Expo or Agrilink Expo 2013 and Carinderia Expo at the nearby tent.

Agrilink 2013 opened yesterday with Senate agriculture committee chair  Senator Cynthia Villar, Agrilink 2013 chairman Mr. George Canapi of AMMDA, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, South Africa Ambassador Agnes Nyamatilde-Pitsu and FRLD chairwoman Ms. Dulce Gozon. Photo courtesy of Agri-LINK 2013 Facebook page

 stage area

There is a mini-concert of some sorts, but due to weather conditions , There seems to be fewer people in attendance .

registration area

mascots

Visitors are greeted by several mascots of PIGROLAC

Department of Agriculture booth

Department of Agriculture booth is one of the biggest most massively displayed booth in the expo. The booth showcases the different types of edible landscape plants and vegetables like camote tops, pineapples, ti-plants , philodendron executed by a team of landscapers from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Laguna.

The booth proudly showcases the edible seeds varieties like corn, rice , vegetable seeds , peanut, coffee, cacao beans among others , products from different regions like wine made from tropical fruits, soaps among others.

fruit wines

different kinds of fruit wines like santol, lipote, guyabano, mango, duhat, bignay, ube, tamarind  among others. They are highly desirable by foreigners. Tropical wines  have unique taste compared to the usual wine from grapes.

visitors

i saw a lot of foreigners and even local trade buyers , trying the different kinds of tropical fruit wines. A group of French expatriates were even amazed with the different varieties of locally produced wines!

Harbest Seed Corporation

AIBIGAN HOTLINE  0922-8521843 Sun,  0917-8507888 Globe, SKYPE through internet – harbest_main2
Email addresses       harbest@harbest.com.ph;   itx@pldtdsl.net;   harbest_main@yahoo.com

Facebook Account: Harbest Agri Corp;    Harbest Agribusiness Corporation   

HARBEST MAIN OFFICE          TEL NO.     6717411-14         FAX NO.     671-2232

Website: http://www.harbest.com.ph/

Allied Botanical Corporation booth

new eggplant varieties -seeds are for sale

ABC corporation released their green eggplant  ” wonder green”  to the market.

shaolin gourd

Lagenaria siceraria- This type of gourd or locally called  upo , It is a climbing vine that can reach a length of several meters . The fruit resembles the drinking suito made from these type of gourd. Highly popular in China, Japan, Korea , Taiwan .

Website: http://www.alliedbotanical.com/

Helianthus

Known You Seed -Philippines distributes different kinds of seeds , flowering annual and perennials . They also distributes different kind of  corn, cucumber, bitter gourd, watermelon and winter melon seed varieties .

Lisianthus Double Pure White

Lisianthus flowers are native from Southern United States, Mexico to Central and parts of South America. They are also called Texas bluebell, Prairie Gentian or Tulip Gentian.  Most of the hybrids in the market have different kinds of colors.

Their high quality yields makes them one of the newest company to watch out for.  They have a demonstrative farm in Barangay San Pedro Ili,  Alacala, Pangasinan .

For questions and inquiries, kyp@knownyou.com, Globe at 0917-320-1689, through Smart at 0999-885-9612, or through land-line at 075-632-1785.

Website: http://www.knownyou.com/en_index.jsp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Known-You-Seed-Philippines-Inc/154281874671699

Cherry Tomatoes

King Louis

The different types of poinsettias , orchids , bromeliads   signaled the start of the Christmas season .  The poinsettias are the biggest sellers of this period.

Dasoland farm booth

A refuge for the city-weary, Dasoland is an adventure park of 68 hectares located in Barangay San Vicente of Dasol (town).  The park and resort  is part of the Carolina Mango Farm, a 408-hectare mango plantation of 3,500 full grown mango trees. It was launched on March of 2011 as a tourist destination and venue for field trips, cultural and educational activities.

Website: http://tour.dasolandresort.com/

products made from bamboo form Carolina Bamboo Garden

Tel. Nos. (632) 847-0523 to 25 and Tel/Fax No. (632) 847-0522.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/carolinabamboo.garden

BIG Winners at the Philippine Orchid Society’s 67th Mid-Year Show

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden ) Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City – Philippines

Senator Cynthia Villar , Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe and Mrs. Remedios Rodis- Santelices

After weeks of  heavy rains and southwest monsoon . Warm and sunny weather prevailed . Everyone hoped and prayed that the opening will have a sunny weather  so that the visitors and guests will not be drench in  the torrential rains .

L-R Ms. Vangie Go , Atty Rodolfo Sanidad and a priest

Orchid and gardening shows also serve as a platform to meet different people and industry experts. You can also meet fellow plant and orchid hobbyists .

L-R Ms. Vangie Go, Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe and Senator Cynthia Villar

The festive and colorful opening  led by  a live band from the Quezon City government .  A priest was invited to bless the commercial booths, exhibit area and the immediate vicinity  . It had been quite some time since  i have witness a priest  at the opening of the orchid show !  Senator Cynthia Villar  , members and invited VIPs,  led the ribbon cutting ceremony .

L-R Mrs. Remedios Rodis-Santelices , Mrs. Susan Lee, Mr. Kelvin Neil Manubay, Honorable Senator Cynthia Villar, Mrs. Corazon Purificacion , Ms. Vangie Go and Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion- Conde

L-R Ms. Tess Bong-ao ( First Bloom Orchid and Ornamental Plant Farm) together with Senator Cynthia Villar

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the invited guests and vips were given a short tour of the show much to the of  the stall holders , visitors and media .

Senator Cynthia Villar viewing the flower arrangement

Mrs.  Cynthia Villar had a small pool of media writers and senate media covering her visit at the show. Television stations like PTV channel 4, UNTV channel 37 , Manila Bulletin , Philippine Star , Philippine Daily Inquirer representatives were also there covering the show.

Ms. Dhory Fadriquela, Senator Cynthia Villar, author and Mr. Ronnie Cruz Bernardo ( Helicon Projects)

Well- known social media people also played a very important role in the event .  Plant Chaser  ( Atty. Bom Gomez) , Mr. Azrael Coladilla , Helicon Projects , Collectors’ Connection , LOL Philosopher, Our Philippine Native Trees , Ms. Andrea Agillon  among others,  helped in the information dissemination such as posting them on gardening forums, facebook, twitter accounts, internet sites .

Ms. Vangie Go together with Dr. Elenita Binay

L-R Mr. Kelvin Manubay , Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion-Conde, Mr. Manuel Lee and Mrs. Susan Lee, Senator Cynthia Villar, Atty. Rodolfo Sanidad

Mrs. Cynthia Villar and Dra. Elenita Binay received a pot of  phalaenopsis flower and fern as a token of appreciation by the society

After the brief tour of the garden bazaar and landscape exhibit area. There was a short program in which the winners of show were announced.

Major WINNERS of the 67th Mid-Year Orchid and Garden Show

Ms. Dhory Alvendia – President of the Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines – Her exhibit won First Place –Paphiopedilum philippinense  ( Best Paphiopedilum )

Contact : (0917) 5302822  GLOBE

FREE- Style Flower Arrangement WINNERS

First Place – Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion-Conde with ribbons, glass award and Php 5,000 cash

Second Place- Ms. Baby Alarcon

Third Place: Ms. Dhory Alvendia – Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines

Orchid  SHOW Winners

BEST Vanda sanderiana ( Waling -waling ) and BEST Orchid in the Show

Exhibitor  : Ms. Vangie Go

BEST  Philippine Species: Phalaenopsis equestries variety  “alba“
Exhibitor: Purificacion Orchids and Ornamentals

BEST Cattleya & Best Sympodial Orchid – BLC.  Spring Queen ” Blushing Bride” Exhibitor  : Malvarosa Orchids

BEST Foreign Species & Best Monopodial Orchid :

Christensonia vietnamica – Exhibitor : Malvarosa Orchids

Christensonia vietnamica Haager 1993- A newly discovered genus and species in early 1990’s  that is found in Vietnam in semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests and savana-like woodlands at elevations of sea level to 700 meters as a small to medium sized, hot to warm growing, monopodial epiphyte with a stem enveloped by leaf bearing sheaths carrying 2 ranked, leathery, praemorse leaves that blooms in the summer on a axillary, short to 4″ [10 cm] long, to 7 flowered inflorescence. This orchid used to be classified under Vanda . Blooming season is from June to late August .  Flowers can last for several days and even weeks.

Best Dendrobium : Dendrobium heterocarpum

Exhibitor: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Paphiopedilum : Paphiopedilum philippinense – Exhibitor : Ms. Dhory Alvendia ( Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines )

Best Oncidium Alliance  : ( Oncidium florida x lanceanum ) ‘annette’

Exhibitor: Malvarosa Orchids

Best Phalaenopsis : Phalaenopsis Hsinying Charm ” Sakuraame” Exhibitor : Purificacion Orchids and Ornamental Plants

Best Cultured Plant : Kagawara Christie Low – Exhibitor: Mrs. Susan & Manuel Lee

Ornamental Plant WINNERS

Best Bonsai : Pemphis acidula – Exhibitor: Mr. Manuel and Mrs. Susan Lee

Best  Fern Allies :  Psilotum nudum – Exhibitor :  Professor Serapion Metilla

 BEST Other Genera -Foliage Plant : Nepenthes truncata 

 Best Bromeliad : Neoregelia Johannis -Exhibitor : Malvarosa Orchids

Best Cacti and Succulent : Euphoria sp. – Exhibitor: Architect Bimbo Vergara

Best Flowering Plant : Medinilla sp. 

Exhibitor : Mr. Oliver Ang

Best  Foliage Plant : Beutcarnia recorbata ‘ variegated’

Exhibitor: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Aroid: Agalaonema White Diamond

Exhibitor: Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula

BEST Ornamental Plant in the SHOW – Asplenium musifolium ( mutant form)

Exhibitor: Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula

BEST Orchid Landscape Showcase  Exhibit – the word showcase was used since 2012 because of the smaller area that was covered

Third Place: Purificacion Orchids

Second Place: Purificacion Orchids

First Place: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Ornamental Landscape Showcase

Third Place: Philippine Horticultural Society, Landscape by : Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie ” Canicula

Second Place: Lambana Tropical Garden -Landscape by : Ms. Vangie Go

First Place: Susan and Manuel Lee

Landscape by: Mr. Kelvin Niel Manubay

The Philippine Orchid Society’s 67th Mid-Year Orchid and Garden Show will run  until September 9, 2013 . The next orchid show will be held by late February 2014 or the 68th Annual Orchid and Garden Show.

Note: I will be posting some interesting plants and other highlights of the orchid show in my next post !!!! To all those who came , Maraming, Maraming Salamat Po!