September 26, 2024

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino restaurant Razon’s By Glenn announces that its CEO, Glenn Razon-Carreon, has been nominated at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2024. This prestigious nomination recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary management excellence, making them an inspiration for other entrepreneurs.

 

Under Glenn’s visionary leadership, Razon’s By Glenn has transformed traditional recipes with innovative practices to create a unique and delightful dining experience. His unwavering commitment to advancing Filipino cuisine and driving customer satisfaction has propelled the company to new heights, making his nomination an auspicious accolade.  

 

Reflecting on his nomination, Glenn shares a personal story that has shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. “Back in 2004, I remember seeing a congratulatory post for Tony Tan Caktiong at a Jollibee drive-thru. At the time, RBG was just a new startup and I was still finding my way. Seeing that recognition left a lasting impression on me. I wondered what it would feel like to achieve something like that. Being nominated for the same award now feels like a full-circle moment. It’s a validation of all the hard work and dedication over the years.”

 

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards, established in the United States by Ernst & Young (EY) in 1986, honors entrepreneurs whose ingenuity and hard work have created and sustained successful, growing ventures. Celebrated in more than 145 cities and over 60 countries worldwide, the theme for this year’s awards, "Shaping Opportunities," highlights the transformative ability of Filipino business owners in reimagining and advancing economic and national development with vision.

 

Glenn’s nomination is a testament to his alignment with the hallmarks of EY Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2024. Through Razon’s by Glenn, he has positively impacted the industry and integrated sustainable practices into his strategy, which includes the new franchising process adapted after the pandemic. RBG has expanded its footprint through a Franchise Framework, which has propelled growth from three company-owned stores to 31 franchise locations, totaling 34 stores to date. This growth has been made possible through a repeatable and scalable business model that maintains consistency in quality and customer experience. The RBG 5S Operational System—focused on Sarap, Store, Service/Staff, Sales, and System—ensures that the Razon heritage is preserved in every franchise. Through intensive training programs, regular franchise townhall meetings, and quarterly roundtables, RBG continues to foster sustainable growth and strong relationships with franchisees.

 

Glenn is eager to continue his business journey, now with the added confidence and validation that his nomination brings. “I don’t want this recognition to be a deterrent to my future plans. It’s a validation that we are doing something good, but it also means that we must continue pushing forward.”

 

For more information on Glenn Razon-Carreon and Razon’s by Glenn, follow RBG’s social media pages or visit www.razonsbyglenn.com.

 

 

About Razon’s by Glenn (RBG)

 

Established in 2003 as The Original Razon’s Halo-Halo & Palabok in Tarlac City, Tarlac, Razon’s by Glenn was founded by Mark Anthony “Glenn” Razon-Carreon, a third generation Razon from the renowned culinary clan of Guagua, Pampanga. In 2015, the store opened its doors to franchising under the name Razon’s by Glenn (RBG), propelling the brand to a wider market by creating a unique menu and offering a delightful dining experience for all. Inspired by the commitment to spread the “Tradition of Delight,” RBG has grown to a total of 34 branches in 2024 and continues to expand in key areas in the country.

September 22, 2024

September 22, 2024 

SM City Baguio is making significant strides in water stewardship with its innovative rainwater treatment facility (RTF), launched in July 2023. In the months since, the facility has already processed over 17,111.80 cubic meters of rainwater – equivalent to 7 Olympic-size swimming pools, or enough to fill over 6,800 standard water tankers – into potable water for the SM mall’s operations and for their lessees’ use.

September 22, 2024

Celebrating 20 Years of Memories with Exciting New Promotions

Manila, September 22, 2024 — As Ayala Market! Market! celebrates its 20th anniversary, they are inviting everyone to relive the best of the past and create new memories with exciting “Newstalgia” experiences—where the charm of the past meets the fun of the present! With exclusive offers and activities designed to bring out your inner child, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Whether it’s skating, arcade games, or snapping photos, all you need is your shopping receipts to unlock the fun.

Promotional Highlights:

September 21, 2024

The ocean and the coast play important roles in Southeast Asia as a residential area and a source of livelihood. The region’s coastline spans a total length of 234,000 km and its ocean supplies around 40% of the global fish supply; at the same time, it is also the home to a third of mangroves and coral reefs in the region. Out of that many, 36,289 km of coastline belongs to the Philippines, making it an integral part for the nations. However, ocean and coastlines’ conditions greatly impacted due to the rising global temperature and climate crisis, including in the Philippines.

The latest report from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that the world is experiencing the fourth global coral bleaching event. This coral bleaching will certainly have an impact, including in reduced livelihoods and food sources due to disturbed fish habitats. The challenges in the Philippines are exacerbated by environmental degradation, including pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing practice.

To prevent the coastal area from becoming more deteriorated, the Philippines has several approaches, including creating a network of marine protected areas. There is also focus on community based resources management that aims at sustainable fishing practices, mangrove reforestation, and coral reef restoration. One of them is the San Vicente Mangrove Forest and Marine Protected Area in Palawan, where the community is committed to safeguarding and restoring the mangrove area for 25 years since 1999, and extended to 12 more years.

In Indonesia, similar to the Philippines, there has been a sustainable mangrove management by involving the community in Bali, specifically in Budeng Village.

Since September 2023, the Wana Mertha Forest Farmer Group (KTH Wana Mertha), that’s based in Budeng Village, has been assisted by Pesisir Lestari, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on coastal area management through Community-led Sustainable Natural Resources Management model approach. The program aims at enabling the community to preserve the mangrove forests and gain livelihood opportunities from it.

Based on a study conducted by Pesisir Lestari in early 2024, the mangrove ecosystem area in the Budeng Village spans a total 112.51 hectare (ha). From the total area, 25 ha is managed by the community who are members of the Wana Mertha Group.

In order to ensure proper management of the mangrove area, KTH Wana Mertha conducts regular check-ups on the mangroves’ health. Additionally, KTH Wana Mertha also creates an added value to the area by turning it into an eco-tourism culinary destination through the establishment of Warung Mangrove (restaurant) in 2021.

At the restaurant, residents of Budeng Village who are members of KTH Wana Mertha jointly manage the establishment, including managing the fish farm and other seafood such as shrimp, mangrove crabs, shellfish, and even the production and sale of mangrove chips, mangrove tea, mangrove herbal medicine and mangrove nurseries. The collaborative utilization and preservation of mangroves extends the benefits beyond Budeng Village but also for its surrounding villages.

"Warung Mangrove offers a unique dining atmosphere with a view of the mangrove forest and serves a variety of menus made from the community's catch and directly cooked by the women's group of Budeng Village," said I Putu Madiasa, Chair of KTH Wana Mertha, Budeng Village, Jembrana, Bali.

Beyond its presence as a unique tourist attraction, Warung Mangrove becomes an example of how sustainable environmental management can support creative ways to preserve the environment and strengthen community livelihoods. This case also highlights the importance of legal entity such as Wana Mertha which unlock opportunities for them to receive fiscal transfers and development funds from the government.

"The existence of the Mangrove forest makes us feel protected, we can now enjoy catching shrimps, crabs, and other seafood that contributes to our local economy," said I Kadek Sudiarsa, Secretary of KTH Wana Merta, Budeng, Jembrana, Bali.

The community-led development approach carried out by Pesisir Lestari can be a complement of how communities can manage coastal areas in other Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines, including to develop existing potential to elevate the economy.

There should also be a balance between development and community empowerment. The government plays an important role in creating regulations that can protect coastal areas and encourage community involvement in managing coastal areas. The success of sustainable mangrove management will also impact various aspects including the marine industry, tourism, and coastal area resilience.

Pesisir Lestari hopes that the work they do can inspire other coastal communities in Southeast Asia, so that more appropriate methods for sustainable mangrove management will emerge. This is needed to ensure that Southeast Asia continues to have healthy coasts and oceans in the future.

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Pesisir Lestari is a local non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on marine conservation by prioritizing the Community-led Model in realizing the vision of building a sustainable future for coastal communities. Some of the programs currently underway include sustainable mangrove management through social forestry in Jembrana (Budeng Village), Banggai (Uwedikan Village), West Manggarai (Golo Sepang Village) and North Minahasa (Darunu Village), developing a tool box to identify opportunities for Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) and advocacy for the Octopus Fisheries Management Plan (RPP) in Indonesia.

September 21, 2024

SM Prime leads the way in sustainable development, integrating sustainability into its core business strategy.

Sustainability has become a driving force across every industry. For SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of Asia’s leading integrated property developers, sustainability is elevated through a strategic framework that leverages the company’s extensive operations, significant economic impact, and cultural influence.

SM Prime’s sustainability journey began in the 1990s, guided by a focus on resilience and practicality. The company has always valued substance over style, favoring strategies grounded on real-world application rather than flashy, short-term fixes. Its strategy is built on what truly matters to the business and the community it serves, ensuring that its sustainability efforts are both effective and enduring.

In its 2023 Annual Integrated Report, SM Prime introduced its Sustainability Ambition Roadmap with a clear and powerful message: Together for a sustainable future – aligned with its vision of creating and managing innovative, sustainable, and integrated property developments that enhance the quality of life for all.

SM Prime’s sustainability strategy is built on three main goals: (1) Environmental sustainability, (2) Prosperity for all, and (3) Climate resilience.

Building on its sustainability framework of Economy, People, Planet, and Community, SM Prime identified three major goals to pursue: Environmental sustainability, Prosperity for all, and Climate resilience – all aimed to create a future marked by sustainability, resilience, and widespread prosperity by 2030, 2040, and beyond.

Under its environmental sustainability strategy are two significant programs released by the company: Net Zero by 2040 and #SMWasteFreeFuture.

SM Prime is committed to enhancing people’s quality of life by intensifying climate action, reducing disaster risks, investing in resilient design, protecting biodiversity, and implementing strategic corporate social responsibility programs, with its main focus on climate action toward a net-zero business. The company has been collaborating with the World-Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature-Philippines to establish science-based targets in alignment with the global commitment of a net-zero ambition by 2050.

“We understand the magnitude of the challenges we face to achieve our Net-Zero commitment. SM Prime is determined to take action and meet its climate commitments. This is one of our top agendas in sustainability,” said Jeffrey C. Lim, SM Prime President and CEO.

September 21, 2024

Enjoy up to 50% discount, 0% interest on select home appliances, gadgets until September 30, 2024

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), the country’s leading consumer finance company, has once again teamed up with SM Appliance Center to offer customers unbeatable deals and incredible savings on a wide selection of home appliances and gadgets through The Great Installment Festival.

With this promo, customers can now upgrade their home appliances and other gadgets while keeping their budgets intact when they shop at any SM Appliance Center branch supported by Home Credit.

Until September 30, 2024, shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 50% on select items exclusively through Home Credit. They can also take advantage of 0% interest on flexible installment plans ranging from six to 18 months.

The Great Installment Festival is available on a broad range of top-quality home appliances and gadgets. This encompasses televisions to help shoppers upgrade their daily viewing experience and refrigerators and freezers to keep groceries fresh and organized.

The promo also covers air conditioners to ensure comfort all day long, washing machines to simplify laundry tasks, and gas ranges and burners to make cooking easier. Additionally, it extends to Bluetooth speakers for a crystal-clear, immersive audio experience.

Shoppers can download the Home Credit Loan App for quick pre-approval of product installments or speak directly with a Home Credit sales representative at any SM Appliance Center branch.

To explore the features, specifications, and deals on preferred televisions, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, washing machines, gas ranges, burners, and Bluetooth speakers, visit the nearest SM Appliance Center location.

Do not miss out on these unbeatable deals! Head now to the nearest SM Appliance Center to enjoy up to 50% off and 0% interest on select home appliances and gadgets. This limited-time offer is available only until September 30, 2024. Shop now and save big on upgrades!

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Home Credit Philippines is the financial ally of every Filipino, providing access to credit through fast, convenient, and affordable financing in more than 15,000 partner stores nationwide. The company offers financing for a wide range of products and commodities—from smartphones and laptops to home appliances and furniture, bicycles, and motorcycle accessories to electronics and hardware, sports equipment, and many more—at low or 0% interest rates in easy monthly installments.

In its 10th year in the Philippines, Home Credit has served over 10 million Filipinos. Beyond installment financing and related coverage plans, Home Credit also offers cash loans, a virtual spending limit named Qwarta, and a credit card for its existing qualified customers. With the My Home Credit app and the Shoppingmall.ph website, Filipino customers are just a click away from getting the products and offers they want to enable them to live more rewarding lives.

More information on HCPH is available at www.homecredit.ph.

September 20, 2024

The International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) is back for another year and is shaping up to be the biggest one yet, taking place simultaneously on September 21 in 15 different SM Supermalls across the country: SM By the Bay at SM Mall of Asia Complex, SM Tuguegarao Downtown, SM City Tuguegarao, SM City Bataan, SM City Olongapo Central, SM City Olongapo Downtown, SM City Sorsogon, SM City Legazpi, SM Daet, SM City Puerto Princesa, SM City Roxas, SM City Cebu, SM City Seaside Cebu, SM City Mindpro, and SM City General Santos. Together, we can make a significant impact on our oceans and create a cleaner, healthier environment for all.

In 2023, SM Cares recorded more than 100,000 kg of trash collected with the help of an estimated 17,000 total volunteers from 15 SM Supermalls nationwide. This year, in celebration of its 20th year of supporting communities and creating a positive impact on the environment, SM Cares aims to double the amount of solid waste collected to 200,000 kg, eyeing a volunteer count of 20,000.

If you're interested in joining the global movement towards cleaner seas and oceans, SM Cares is inviting you to be part of this year's ICC!

For participants from NCR, you may register via SM Malls Online through this link: https://click.smmallsonline.com/DFqS/ICC2024

For participants from Cebu, you may register via SM Malls Online at https://click.smmallsonline.com/DFqS/ICCSMSSXSMCC

For outside of NCR and Cebu, you may visit this link: https://bit.ly/ICC2024-Registration

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

September 20, 2024

 
September 16, 2024 – Quezon City, Philippines – Pascual Laboratories, Inc. (PascualLab)’s brain vitamin brand Glutamic Acid + Dicalcium Phosphate + Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vit B1) + Cyanocobalamanin (Vit B12) (Glutaphos) recently gifted 2023 Nursing Board topnotcher Aristotle Castronuevo a year’s supply plus other PascualLab products, for his personal testimonial about the neurotonic.  Pascual Consumer Healthcare Corp Division Head for Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements Valerie Anne Tan Sison personally thanked the Bicol – Mindoro native who attributes his recent board success partly to Glutaphos which was introduced by friends who were also taking the exam back in 2023. “Sa tingin ko nakatulong po sa akin ang Glutaphos sa pag-achieve ng dreams ko na makapasa, kaya I want to spread the word -- nakatulong talaga siya for me and gusto kong makatulong sa iba,” Castronuevo muses. 

 Glutaphos has Glutamic Acid + Dicalcium Phosphate + Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B₁) + Cyanocobalamin (Vit B₁₂) that helps improve mental performance. ¹,²(with good study habits, proper diet and exercise). Glutaphos  is available in all leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide and at PascualLab’s official Lazada and Shopee stores. #ParaSaBrainTibay #ProudlyPascualLove

IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR. 
 
Sources:  
¹Grober U, Kisters K, Schmidt J. Neuroenhancement with Vitamin B12 –Underestimated Neurologic Significance. Nutrients.2013. 5:5031 –5045.  
²Bourre JM.  The effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: Update on dietary requirements for the brain. Part 1. Micronutrients. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Ageing.2006. 10(5): 377 –385.     

September 20, 2024

As we enter the typhoon season, recent extreme weather events have once again underscored the Philippines' vulnerability to such conditions.

As the nation grapples with the potential aftermath, it is clear that being part of the global conversation on achieving net zero emissions is imperative. This typhoon has highlighted the urgency for the Philippines to be an active participant in the fight against climate change, not only to mitigate future impacts but to also contribute to global solutions.

 

The concept of net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere. For the Philippines, a country frequently in the crosshairs of severe weather, achieving net zero is a crucial step towards enhancing climate resilience. The recent typhoon has made it evident that the country cannot afford to be a bystander in the global efforts to combat climate change. Instead, it must be a proactive player, advocating for and implementing strategies that contribute to the global net zero target.

 

One of the key areas where the Philippines can make a significant impact is by leveraging its abundant natural resources to transition to renewable energy sources. By increasing investments in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, the nation can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, thereby lowering its carbon footprint.

 

This transition is crucial for achieving net zero and offers the added benefit of creating a more resilient energy infrastructure less susceptible to disruptions caused by extreme weather.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. recognizes the equal importance and urgency of both climate change adaptation and mitigation. As part of our strategy, we are investing 10% of our Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) in sustainability and disaster resilience design.

 

A significant initiative supporting this commitment is SM Prime’s pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. As the country’s leading integrated sustainable property developer, we have committed to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a recognized global standard for corporate decarbonization targets. This makes us one of the few corporations in the Philippines to do so. To ensure our near and long-term science-based targets for 2030 and 2040 align with the global commitment to achieve net zero by 2050, SM Prime collaborates with the World-Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) through their Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI) program.

 

This ambitious target is supported by concrete actions, such as the installation of onsite solar panels across various properties and strategic partnerships for renewable energy sourcing. These initiatives not only reduce the company's carbon footprint but also set a precedent for other businesses to follow, demonstrating that sustainable practices can be integrated into core business operations.

Pledging to advance every person’s right to a better quality of life through heightened climate action, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity protection, and our strategic corporate social responsibility programs, this commitment places climate action at the forefront as one of SM Prime’s sustainability agenda.

SM Supermalls have enhanced natural lighting and improved insulation, reducing energy needs for lighting, heating, and cooling, leading to more efficient and environmentally friendly operations.