After four decades of consistently working with local stakeholders to make a difference in the lives of Filipino children, ChildFund Philippines has launched the undertaking of its new five-year agenda, with its main thrust of “building pathways towards a world fit for Filipino children”.

“ChildFund has consistently worked – albeit under the radar for the past forty years – towards the development of healthy, secure, confident, educated, skilled and involved Filipino children and youth,” says Katherine Manik, Executive Director of ChildFund Philippines. “For the next five years, we aim to reduce poverty among the country’s children and youth through strong core programs in the poorest provinces in the country.”

The five-year agenda is ChildFund’s renewed response to problems of poverty that Filipino children face despite the country being among the fastest growing populations in Southeast Asia.

“Poverty has substantial effects on each life stage,” Manik shares. “Early on, poverty-stricken mothers of unborn children suffer high maternal death rates. Upon birth, infants and children aged zero to five years old suffer from malnutrition and delay in psychosocial and cognitive development.

“As they grow older, school children have poor learning outcomes and often develop low self-esteem. Their high dropout rates make them vulnerable to difficult circumstances and limit their chances at life.

“As they mature towards adulthood, many of them become out-of-school youths who are vulnerable to unsafe and exploitative work. These youth grow up with limited life skills, often bringing them in conflict with the law.”

In response to these issues, ChildFund’s five-year agenda provides a more meaningful and intensive intervention, through age-appropriate support programs that respond to children’s needs as they face poverty-caused deprivation, exclusion and vulnerability issues.

“For the zero to five age group we have a program called ‘Batang Malusog at Bibo’, which provides greater access to services and maternal and child rearing education for mothers,” Manik says. “For the six to fourteen age group, we provide the “Batang Matalino at Listo’ Program, which trains teachers on child-friendly methodologies, establishes school-based child protection mechanisms and conducts financial education workshops for children. For the fifteen to twenty-four age group, we have the ‘Kabataang Aktibo at Produktibo’ program, which aims to improve competencies in employment and entrepreneurship, personality and leadership, as well as social involvement. These three programs are supported by a crosscutting platform called ‘Batang Protektado’, which focuses on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, emergency response and situations of armed conflict.”

ChildFund currently has 26 partners covering around 600 barangays in 19 cities and 48 municipalities located in 25 provinces located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“We’ve been here since 1971, and with our renewed vision, ChildFund Philippines intends to break bigger barriers and build greater milestones, with the supreme goal of improving the lives of Filipino children amidst poverty,” Manik concludes.

UNIQLO reveals the Filipino faces to exemplify it’s MADE FOR ALL Philosophy.

UNIQLO, the global apparel brand from Japan announces the complete Cast of highly admired Filipino personalities to embody its MADE FOR ALL Philosophy. MADE FOR ALL is the UNIQLO brand philosophy that captures the company‟s vision of providing casual clothing that is made for all people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or any other ways that define an individual. The “UNIQLO Cast” plays a vital role in creating a bridge between the UNIQLO brand and the heart of every Filipino.

Chris Tiu, Iza Calzado, Chito Miranda and Nikki Gil are the faces of UNIQLO in the Philippines. UNIQLO believes that the Filipino Cast members exemplify the MADE FOR ALL philosophy in their own daily lives. Each cast personifies different characters – sporty, fun, witty, serious, spontaneous -- bringing out their own individualities. Despite these differences, they find a piece in UNIQLO that suits their distinct preference. Through Chris, Iza, Chito and Nikki, UNIQLO trusts that Filipinos will identify themselves in every product offering that the brand is set to bring to the Philippines.

“We are happy that the UNIQLO Cast is finally revealed. We believe that they will be able to communicate UNIQLO‟s brand message and philosophy—„MADE FOR ALL‟—with such zeal and passion, our objective is to let Filipinos know that UNIQLO has clothes for every individual – no matter who they are, what they love or where they are from.. As we say in the company, there is a UNIQLO for everyone,” explains Katsumi Kubota, Chief Operating Officer of Fast Retailing Philippines, during the sidelights of the UNIQLO Cast Party.

The announcement of the four members of the “UNIQLO Cast” serves as a showcase of UNIQLO‟s preparations leading up to the opening of the very first UNIQLO store in the Philippines this coming June 15, 2012, at the 2nd floor of the Main Building, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Chris, Iza, Chito and Nikki will be seen in the upcoming advertisements of UNIQLO in the Philippines.Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu, or “Chris Tiu,” is a true sports figure, an inspiration for education (with two college degrees), he hosts, does commercial modeling and product endorsements, and also has his own business-all these while projecting a wholesome image.

Maria Izadora “Iza” Ussher Calzado is what you call a “triple treat:” can act, dance and sometimes sing. She is part of ABS-CBN‟s impressive roster of talents and is a co-host of ABS-CBN‟s hugely popular Sunday noontime show ASAP.

Funny and witty, Alfonso “Chito” Miranda is a singer-songwriter, the main man of Parokya ni Edgar, a funk rock/alternative group that made ripples in the early 90s music scene. Their group gave Filipino rock music a truly unique sound that was loved by many Filipino music fans regardless of socio-economic status and age.

After singing the TV ad jingle of a popular softdrinks brand, there was no stopping Monica Pauline “Nikki” Gil from conquering local showbusiness. She loves hosting, singing, acting in movies and now even in theater. She is also a staunch protector of the environment and a popular product endorser just like Chris Tiu.