DOST, Ortigas, Habitat for Humanity join forces to build climate-adaptive houses

Manila, Philippines—Property developer Ortigas & Co., in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Habitat for Humanity, launches a landmark campaign post-Yolanda that is deemed to lead the future of climate-adaptive housing in the Philippines.

The project dubbed Build Forward was born out of the tripartite agreement to design a house and school building prototype that will stand the test of time and of the elements for the resettlement sites of Habitat for Humanity. With Ortigas & Co. lending its resources and the technical guidance of DOST, this design would be sourced from no less than the country’s young talents. 

“Ortigas is an 83-year old property developer. We have seen the trends in construction and architecture. We have seen the needs of the people change from the day we started developing some of our subdivisions back in the 1970s until today. And today, as seen in the devastating effects of Typhoon Yolanda, Filipinos need something radically different, which is climate adaptive infrastructure,” says Joey Santos, General Manager of the Real Estate Division, Ortigas & Co.

Engaging young talent

Build Forward activates a nationwide design competition for architecture students enrolled in a Philippine college or university. Their challenge is to work on a house and school design with three considerations: durability, cost, and construction time, using locally sourced and readily available materials. The proposed design should be strong enough to withstand an intensity eight earthquake and wind gusts of up to 250 kilometers per hour.

Ortigas highlights the parameters of the design: The house should be at least 36 square meters with two bedrooms, one toilet and bath, kitchen, and living space. Construction time should be a month and a half within a budget of P200,000.00. The school building should have four classrooms and one toilet and bath with a minimum area of 63 square meters per classroom. Construction time should just be two months with a budget of P1,200,000.00, with the design allowing versatility for the school to become an evacuation center in times of crisis situations.

From the entries culled between January to March 28, five designs would be chosen to undergo a wind tunnel test, supervised by DOST, that imitates the conditions during Yolanda. This January, Ortigas has officially opened an online registration facility (www.buildforward.com.ph) for the full set of mechanics.

Prototype usage

Habitat for Humanity will be using the winning design for the construction of the houses in Yolanda-ravaged areas. It has a target to build 30,000 core houses and distribute 30,000 shelter repair kits in the next three years.

“Suppose each core house would cost about P200,000, Habitat would be needing at least P6-billion to meet the construction target. It’s a tough mission for us, but we are glad to have some corporate partners like Ortigas & Co. who are willing to lend their resources and expertise,” says Charlie Ayco, CEO and General Manager of Habitat for Humanity.

“We are determined to make a lasting commitment in this program and the rebuild initiatives because apart from helping our countrymen, we are also investing in the future of design,” concludes Santos.

Ortigas & Co. is the developer behind some of the country’s well-loved residential and retail destinations such as Greenhills Shopping Center, Tiendesitas, Capitol Commons, Frontera Verde, Circulo Verde, Greenmeadows, and the Greenhills Subdivisions.

For more information, visit www.buildforward.com.ph, like Build Forward on Facebook, or follow its twitter handle @BuildForwardPH

The iconic Copa Mundial dances to the rhythm of Samba

Colourful limited edition boot collection inspired by Brazil

Herzogenaurach, Saturday 25^th January 2014 – adidas is proud to unveil the Samba Copa Mundial collection: a series of uniquely styled boots that build on the colourful Samba line previously launched at the end of last year and mixes it up with the iconic Copa Mundial – the best-selling boot in football history.

In November 2013 adidas successfully kicked off its “All in or Nothing” 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ campaign by launching the Samba collection, an array of new and exciting colourways for each of its four boot ranges, adizero™ f50, predator®, nitrocharge™ and 11pro.  Following the positive response by fans worldwide, adidas decided to ramp up the collection by merging it with the classic Copa Mundial.

 

adidas Samba Copa Mundial

First released in 1982, the Copa Mundial is the best-selling boot in football history and has been worn by some of the all-time greats including Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Zico & Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Since then it has sold over 10 million pairs and was actually the last revolutionary product innovation created by sporting goods legend and founder of the adidas brand Adi Dassler.

adidas will release limited numbers for each colour and boot of the special Samba Copa Mundial. These new boots maintain the same qualities and feel of the traditional version but boast the high intensity colourways of the Samba collection.

Michael Meinhold, Product Manager, adidas Football said: “For the Samba Copa Mundial we wanted to honour the legendary status of the Copa Mundial but also give footballers worldwide the chance to add some extra colour and celebrate the World Cup in Brazil. The pack is colourful, energetic but fully respects the Copa´s iconic design and feel.“

The Samba Copa Mundial is available on February 1 for purchase in Bootcamp stores and retails for Php 9595. Join the adidas football conversation at www.facebook.com/adidas or on Twitter: @adidasph #allinornothing.

KIKUO IBE, THE FATHER OF G-SHOCK, IS COMING TO MANILA FOR THE SHOCK THE WORLD TOUR

Release material for social media

Back in the day, watchmakers were in constant competition for the slimmest or most lightweight watch in the market. At that time, most people considered watches to be fragile instruments, including Casio’s then head of watch design, Kikuo Ibe.

One day, on his way to work, Kikuo Ibe accidentally dropped his precious watch that was given to him by his father. He watched it break into pieces and suddenly had a vision to build a watch that wouldn’t break –even when dropped. That day marked the beginning of the G-SHOCK story.

Never, never, never give up

The road to success turned out to be unimaginably difficult. Apart from protecting the exterior of the watch, Ibe and a team of three members, also had to figure out a way to protect the engine, or electronics of the timepiece, which would often break due to the drop. He could not find a way to absorb the shock and feared that the project would be a failure.

Ibe, who first gained inspiration to build a shock proof watch through first-hand experience, decided to search for the solution in his daily life. Ironically, he found the answer while observing a little girl play with a bouncing ball. He imagined the engine floating inside the ball. This discovery allowed for Ibe and his team to develop a watch with a hollow structure with the module suspended inside.

The first G-SHOCK model DW5000C was launched in 1983, following the “Triple 10” concept –10-year battery life, 10-bar water resistance, and 10-meter dropping shock resistance.

Absolute toughness

Since it’s development in 1983, G-SHOCK has taken pride in being a tough watch, being able to withstand the most severe conditions. Its Shock-Resistant Structure is the core technology underlying G-SHOCK’s success, and has been passed down to every G-SHOCK model for three decades.

The Shock-Resistant Structure comprises of the following technologies: a hollow case structure, to lessen the force of external shocks; key part protection with cushioning material, to prevent errors in operation or damage from shock; 200-meter water resistance, to enable users to wear the watch during water-related activities; and an all-directional guard structure, for protection against shocks resulting from drops in all directions.

In 2012, G-SHOCK introduced the Triple G Resist, which is a super-tough structure built to withstand three types of gravitational acceleration: shocks, centrifugal gravity, and vibrations. And just last year, G-SHOCK developed the Core Guard Structure, which maintains the watch’s external shape without placing stress on the case.

SHOCK THE WORLD

With 2013 marking the 30^th anniversary of G-SHOCK, Shock The World events have been held all over the world. On February 28, it’s finally touching down in Manila to give fans of the brand a chance to celebrate the milestone.

For more information, visit www.shocktheworldmanila.com

Online Media Material: Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific extends relief, donates to Philippine Red Cross

• Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific – Philippine Representative Office sympathizes with the entire Filipino nation as the devastation brought by the typhoon Yolanda shattered landscapes and left massive number of Filipinos in the Visayas region displaced due to lack of shelter, food, water, and medicines. While countless of lives were also appallingly swept away by what is known to be the strongest typhoon in the world to date, thousands are still in dire need of help.

   

  

   In this light, the Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific – Philippines Representative Office puts aside its much sought Hennessy Artistry Halo 2013 slated on November 15, at the NBC Tent in Global City to empathize with the Filipinos and extend relief assistance. 

   

   Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific will be in direct coordination with the Philippine Red Cross to provide donation in aide of the organization’s ongoing disaster management services and humanitarian relief operations. 

   

  The disaster is indeed unimaginable and the scope is heart wrenching.

   

   If we could heed the call for “The Global Art of Mixing” for the annual Hennessy Artistry Halo and bring together various genres of music from artists of diverse and multicultural act, let us join hands for another purpose: to bring hope and music back to the lives of countless Filipinos. 

   

   Though the night of good music for Halo 2013 shall be put on hold, we encourage everyone across the world that have been supportive of the Hennessy Artistry events to take a moment of prayer and find ways to help rebuild spirits of Filipinos through little acts of generosity and sacrifices. 

   

  Put together each of our efforts, no matter the volume, we can make positive change. The Halo event would have had international and local artists performing both solo and in collaboration, to be headlined by Swedish DJ Duo Cazzette with their unique brand of house, dub-step, trance and funk. Other artists that were also set to join the Halo 2013 event are Australian pop star Timomatic, our very own Nicole Asensio, including Urban Dub, hip-hop DJ and Drummer Duo Motherbasss and DJ Jessica Milner. 

   

   Hennessy Artistry Halo Manila is rescheduled on January 24, 2014.

Repertory Phils. opens 2014 with a thriller "Wait Until Dark"

When I first saw the line up of Repertory this season, I thought Wait Until Dark is a horror story. On its opening night, I was bracing myself what kind of horror I'm going to see. It turns out that it was a crime-thriller.

Wait Until Dark is a 1966 play by Frederick Knott. It was given a movie adaptation a year later starring Audrey Hepburn, Richard Crenna, Alan Arkin, etc. In 1998, it was revived in Broadway with a cast including Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino.

What impresses me about the story is the conflict of the main character Susy, a blind housewife(played by Liesl Batucan) being targeted by con-men. Her disability is also an obstacle/conflict and as well as the three con-men. The cast was chosen well for the play.

Arnel Carrion plays Roat, one of the con-men. Roat is the representation of any crime-thriller as a dangerous man you shouldn't get involved with. Joel Trinidad plays the Mike Trenton, one of the con-men and doubles as one of the police officers.

Robbie Guevarra plays Croker, another con-man and also doubles as one of the police officers. Robbie provides a little laugh in this serious story. Making her debut in a straight play is Daniella Gana as Gloria, neighbor of Susy. I saw her performed in a title role in Alice In Wonderland.She proved that she can now do regular productions of Repertory besides the Children's Theater. She is progressing now at a young age. I look forward to see more of her in productions like these.

Catch Wait Until Dark at Onstage this month for the opening season of Repertory Phils.

AYOS Mag-Move On!

Online media release

If love is like riding a bicycle, then the first few tries must’ve hurt quite a bit. Just like Ramon Bautista of hit web-series Tales from the Friend Zone Zero, maybe you have gone through your share of heartbreaks that made you say “’di naakonaniniwalasapag-ibig.” 

(Welling up with feelings but missed the melo-dramatic launch of #TFTFZero? You can watch the complete series here: http://www.bit.ly/TFTFZeroWARNING: masyadongmaraming feelings sa TFTFZero)

But don’t lose hope, there’s more to life when you move on. Tama na ang semplang, magmove-on ka na lang. #AyosMagMoveOn

Take it from broken hearted Spanky Rigor-Mortiz (Ramon Bautista) who sold a pre-loved tandem bike on AyosDito.ph to move on from the kilig moments he shared with Zooey de Leon (Nikki Veron Cruz), the girl who broke his heart; now you can Post Share Move On from the pain too! Every time you do, you get the chance to win Instax Mini cameras, to create better memories with; limited edition #TFTFZero shirts and exclusive advice from Ramon Bautista, so you won’t be friend zoned next time you try it again with love.

To join,

1.       Post an ad selling an item that reminds you of a feeling, person, or moment in life that you want to move on from: a gift from your ex (para samga heartbroken), your old K-Pop collection (kasi professional kana), a friendship bracelet (more than friends na kayo), and more.

For any type of moving on in life, you can let go of the pre-loved on AyosDito.ph! (For more examples, go here:http://bit.ly/MoveOnSamples)

2.       Share your adon Facebook and Twitter. Use #AyosMagMoveOn when you do. The more you share your ad, and the more your friends click on your ad, the more chances of winning.

3.       Win Instax Mini cameras, #TFTFZero shirts and a Ramon Bautista love tip every week from January 9 to February 7, 2013. Five winners will be announced every week!

And what’s more, at the end of the promo, the most viewed ad will win the featured Tandem Bike from the web-series, Tales from the Friend Zone!

Ayos ‘di ba?

For more info, visit http://blog.ayosdito.ph