This year's theme for SM scholar-graduates' presentation  Giving dignity to oneself – rising from poverty, putting food on the table and sending siblings to school – is the main goal of every ‘poor’ student who graduates from college. Among other circumstances, a poor student is one whose family does not have funding for his or her education, who lives in a place of conflict or is at risk of conflict or who may be vulnerable to violence on his long and hazardous journeys to and from school and one who suffers hunger and malnutrition – all because of poverty. Most of the 225 scholars of the SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) who graduated this year knew this, having grew up in situations like these, and at one point in their lives had gave up hope for a brighter future. Indeed, the road to success is bumpy but they persevere with the help of SMFI who shouldered their tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses upon enrollment and afforded them with monthly stipend all throughou

I don’t consider myself a good cook. But the fact that my kids enjoy whatever food is available and served them (cooked with tender loving care), I’m more than happy that I can be a good one. What do I mean cooking with TLC? Well, I see to it that I have the best ingredients, (but not necessarily the most expensive), I take time to cook, (no-no to short cut, if it should be slow cooking, I will lovingly do it), and I focus and enjoy my cooking. Oh well but as a working mom, I simply can’t cook with TLC every meal time. That’s why it’s a great idea that cooking ingredients are readily available nowadays. But mind you I still go for the original and the instant ones are only used to further enhance my cooking. One of the easiest yet complete dish to prepare is the Sinigang which is traditionally tamarind-based. Variations of the dish, however, can derive their sourness from ingredients such as guava, kalamansi, or kamias. Seasoning powder or bouillon cubes with a tamarind base are c

Text and photos by Leony R. Garcia Imagine a young man in his early 20s trying to eke out a living and raising a family by knocking from one door to another selling shampoos and retractable clothing lines among others. He also peddled products on the streets with items such as non-stick woks and video cleaners in the streets of Penang and East Malaysia. In 1984, the enterprising Malaysian went to the Philippines to promote his invention, the Super Slicer, to test his unwavering resolution to succeed in a foreign land. He started demonstrating his kitchenware product in shopping malls. Sooner than he expected, Sam Low Ban Chai and his products became household names. Slowly but surely, Sam Low has successfully adopted the network marketing business model in his company, Edmark Philippines, Inc., and has brought hope and the opportunity of entrepreneurship to thousands of Filipinos nationwide.   Now a multi-million dollar company with market presence in 26 countries, Edm

I'd like to buy the world a home And furnish it with love Grow apple trees and honey bees And snow white turtle doves I'd like to teach the world to sing In perfect harmony I'd like to buy the world a Coke And keep it company That's the real thing What the world wants today Is the real thing... So goes the one of the most successful jingles – and  television commercials in history  – by the world’s first and oldest beverage, Coke. The spot begins with a blonde woman, eyes clear blue, lip-syncing the strange lyric. The camera pans across rows of young singers smiling with the rising sun—Spanish, Swedish, Nigerian, Nepalese, dressed in a dashiki, a kimono, a dirndl, a Nehru, a turtleneck. Together they lip-sync, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.” Each holds a green glass hobble skirt bottle in their right hand, one branded in English script, the next in Arabic, another in Thai. “I’d like to buy the world a Coke,” they sing, “and keep it com

This early, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) observers are already predicting a surefire box-office reign for “My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More!” And why not? It star the country’s comedy giants - the undisputed Philippine box-office king of comedy Vic Sotto and box-office queen Ai-Ai delas Alas, plus the phenomenal loveteam AlDub of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. While the country is being swept away by the record-breaking loveteam , MMFF is poised to be another territory for conquest by the AlDub phenomenon. This is the duo’s most exciting film debut. Moreover, the movie features heartwarming romance, wholesome fun,  and excellent Filipino values written by Jose Javier Reyes and Bibeth Orteza and directed by Jose Javier Reyes. “Kadalasan kasi ng ginagawa ko mga fantasies o yung tipong pang comedy talaga. For this movie, first time kong sumabak sa isang romantic-comedy o yung tinatawag nilang rom-com,” Bossing Vic, as Sotto is popularly called, said during the blog con

The province of Oriental Mindoro  turns 65 as it celebrates its Founding Anniversary on November 15. As highlights of this year’s celebration, the provincial government has initiated the holding of Mimaropa Festival on November 9-15 in Calapan City. The festival  serves as an avenue to showcase the region’s best products in terms of agriculture, tourism and trades. Likewise, said event is seen to strengthen the partnership of among regional offices and local government units. It was participated in by Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Calapan City and Puerto Princesa City. Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali Jr. (center) answering queries from the media regarding the festival The three major events of Mimaropa fest were the Agriculture Tourism and Trade Fair on Nov. 9-15 held at the provincial capitol grounds; the Dance Parade Competition and Festival Queen Pageant Night, both held on Nov. 14. Sharla Santillan: 1st Mimaropa F