Heart Warriors of the Philippines: Pag-asa at suporta para sa mga pasyente at pamilya ng mga batang may CHD

by Info @Life & Style | January 1, 2024

Ang congenital heart defect (CHD) ay isang kondisyon na nakakaapekto sa istruktura at tungkulin ng puso sa kapanganakan. Ito ay isa sa mga pangunahing sanhi ng kamatayan sa mga sanggol at bata sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Ang CHD ay maaaring magkaroon ng malaking epekto sa pisikal, emosyonal, at pinansyal na kalagayan ng mga pasyente at kanilang mga pamilya.

Upang tumulong na magpalaganap ng kamalayan at magbigay ng tulong sa mga naapektuhan ng CHD, isang grupo ng mga boluntaryo ang nagtatag ng Heart Warriors of the Philippines Inc. (HWPh) noong 2011. Ang HWPh ay isang non-profit na organisasyon na layunin na magkalat ng impormasyon, edukasyon, at adbokasiya sa CHD at kaugnay na mga isyu. Ito rin ay naghahangad na makipag-ugnayan at magbigay ng suporta sa mga pasyente at pamilya na may CHD sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang mga programa at aktibidad.

Ilan sa mga serbisyo at inisyatiba ng HWP ay ang mga sumusunod:

• Online community: Ang HWPh ay may Facebook page at group kung saan ang mga miyembro ay maaaring magbahagi ng kanilang mga kwento, karanasan, at pananaw sa pagkakaroon ng CHD. Maaari rin silang magtanong, humingi ng payo, at makatanggap ng suporta mula sa ibang mga miyembro at boluntaryo. Ang online community ay naglilingkod din bilang isang plataporma para sa pagpapalaganap ng mga nauukol na balita at update sa CHD.

• Aid and assistance: Ang HWPh ay tumutulong sa mga pasyente at pamilya na may CHD na nangangailangan ng karagdagan na suporta para sa kanilang mga gastusin sa medikal. Ito ay humihingi ng mga donasyon mula sa mga mapagbigay na indibidwal at organisasyon at ipinamamahagi ito sa mga benepisyaryo. Ito rin ay nagsasagawa ng mga fundraising event at kampanya upang makalikom ng pondo para sa mga layunin ng CHD.

• Medical missions: Ang HWPh ay nakikipagtulungan sa mga lokal at internasyonal na medikal na institusyon at propesyonal upang magsagawa ng libreng medikal na check-up, konsultasyon, at operasyon para sa mga pasyente na may CHD. Ito rin ay nagbibigay ng transportasyon, tirahan, at pagkain na tulong sa mga pasyente at kanilang mga kasama sa panahon ng mga medikal na misyon.

• Awareness campaigns: Ang HWPh ay nagsasagawa ng mga seminar, workshop, at forum upang turuan ang publiko tungkol sa CHD at ang pag-iwas, pagtuklas, paggamot, at pamamahala nito. Ito rin ay lumalahok sa iba’t ibang mga kaganapan at aktibidad upang itaguyod ang kamalayan at adbokasiya sa CHD, tulad ng World Heart Day, ang CHD Awareness Week, at ang CHD Awareness Month.

Ang HWPh ay isang grupo ng mga heart warriors na nakatuon sa paglaban sa CHD at pagpapabuti ng buhay ng mga naapektuhan nito. Ito ay isang grupo ng pag-asa at suporta para sa komunidad ng CHD sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang lugar.

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Heart Warriors of the Philippines Inc. Founder - Mr. Gener Cabrera - President / Mrs. Ruby Laurencio Maja

About Congenital heart defect is a birth-related defect and consists of 35-different types of heart defects and it is one of the leading birth-related defects that causes death.

Mission statement Heart Warriors Philippines aims to spread congenital acquired heart disease awareness and is dedicated in providing medical information, both to parents and patients. It also seeks donors and benefactors who will give financial and moral support to families living with this heart disease.

To join and for further info: www.facebook.com/groups/HeartWarriorsPH

17th Fiesta Folkloriada kicks off at SM Mall of Asia

by Info @Brand Zone | December 9, 2023

Cultural diversity and artistic brilliance were showcased as the 17th Fiesta Folkloriada commenced at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall last December 4, featuring vibrant performances from renowned dance companies across the globe, namely Austria, Indonesia, Poland, South Korea, Spain, and the Philippines. The event is in collaboration between SM Supermalls, the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Federation of International Dance Festivals.

The opening ceremony featured a speech by Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation Executive Director Marielle Javellana, and a local opening ritual involving the heads of delegations and members of renowned international dance companies from the aforementioned six countries.

Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation Executive Director Marielle Javellana

The heads of delegations from six participating countries—namely Austria, Indonesia, Poland, South Korea, Spain, and the Philippines—participate in a local opening ritual during the 17th Fiesta Folkloriada opening ceremony.

The stage came alive with a glimpse into the soul of Austria through the Trachtrenverein Rossecker Bruck an der Mur. Following suit was Indonesia's Al-Fath Cirendeu and Sanggita Kencana Budaya who presented Indonesia's way of life through its dance forms.

Meanwhile, Poland's Folk Group Zbojnicek took the stage next, weaving a narrative of the Polish culture with their spirited performance. The rhythmic beats of South Korea's Ryu Dance Company delivered a mesmerizing display of the Land of the Morning Calm’s rich heritage. Also, Ballet Ara de Madrid transported the audience to the heart of Spain with their passionate and emotive performance. 

Polish dance folk group, Zbojnicek

Ryu Dance Company from South Korea

Ballet Ara de Madrid from Spain

The pinnacle of the evening arrived with the performance by the Philippines' very own Bayanihan Dance Company. Their vibrant and energetic showcase of Filipino folk dances displayed the country's cultural vibrancy and storytelling through dance.

Bayanihan Dance Company, the national folk-dance company of the Philippines, established in 1956 by Dr. Helena Benitez, has garnered recognition both nationally and internationally, earning six Grand prizes in World Dance competitions.

The Philippines’ award-winning national folk-dance company, the Bayanihan Dance Company.

The 17th Fiesta Folkloriada is a testament to the power of dance as it transcends borders and fosters cultural exchange. The week-long journey culminates in a grand finale at the Open-Air Auditorium, Rizal Park Luneta on December 9, Saturday, at 6 PM. The finale promises to be a celebration of global unity and diversity, bringing together the world's finest dance companies for an unforgettable evening under the stars.

To know more about the 17th Fiesta Folkloriada and SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media. 

A night of honor, tears, and hope

by Info @Brand Zone | December 7, 2023

‘Make It Iconic’ is the global slogan being used by France this year to celebrate the daring French spirit, reaffirming how this spirit is made concrete in the arenas of tourism, gastronomy, culture, education, science, the economy, and infrastructure through innovation and strategic partnerships across different global concerns and initiatives.

Here in the Philippines, we witnessed a stirring example of how such a partnership can resonate in a touching, emotional, and socially impactful manner when the Embassy of France, SM Supermalls, and the French Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in the Philippines, Cameleon Association, banded together for a special charity dinner.

Held at the Lanson Place, Mall of Asia, the dinner had several elements to highlight and recognize, but it was wonderful to note that the strongest spotlight of the night was reserved for Cameleon and its 26-year old struggle to develop a holistic approach to act on the causes of sexual violence and incest towards Filipino children and teenagers. Protected by a culture of silence and how it’s considered a taboo subject matter, Laurence Ligier, the founder of Cameleon, disclosed how 1 in 5 children below 18 has experienced sexual violence during their upbringing - and this alarming data applies to France, as it does here in the Philippines.

That this evening was happening on the second day of the ongoing 26th French Film Festival at the SM Cinema of Mall of Asia and Megamall until December 3, 2023, was so appropriate. Ambassador of France to the Philippines, Her Excellency Marie Fontanel, mentioned how one of the films being screened during the festival, the documentary “Un Silence Si Bruyant” (A Resounding Silence), tackles this very subject of incest in the context of contemporary French society. Directed by French actress Emmanuelle Béart and Anastasia Mikova, Béart had flown to the Philippines to present her film and was the special guest of the night. The fact that this was happening on the weekend when we celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children was just one more element of serendipity, and how the stars had aligned to make this such a momentous occasion.

Acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Béart at the opening of the 26th French Film Festival at SM Mall of Asia.

The dinner also served as the opportunity to continue a tradition that commenced last year during the 75th anniversary of Philippine-French Diplomatic Relations - and this was to honor Filipinos who had spent years in French education and had subsequently excelled in their respective fields. The list of the 2023 awardees was a sterling example of the diversity and fruitfulness of this kind of education and cross-cultural exposure.

There was filmmaker and film historian Nick Deocampo of the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute, internationally recognized Balai Palma chef Aaron Isip, Design Center of the Philippines Executive Director Rhea Matute, and SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan.

(L-R): Nick Deocampo of the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute, internationally recognized Balai Palma chef Aaron Isip, Design Center of the Philippines Executive Director Rhea Matute, acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Béart, SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan, Ambassador of France to the Philippines Her Excellency Marie Fontanel, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and Embassy of France Cultural Counsellor Marc Piton

Entertaining video clips of the four awardees were presented, and it was lovely to watch Steven Tan recount how he pursued his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris, and that his love for French cinema was nurtured back then, making the current partnership between SM Cinema and the Embassy of France’s French Film Festival so meaningful to him.

SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan

Isip is an alumnus of the renowned Le Cordon Bleu. Deocampo obtained a certificate of film from the Atelier du Formation Au Cinema Documentaire, and Matute obtained a master’s degree in International Brand Luxury Management at École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris.

Hosted by French-Filipina Anne Gauthier and attended by a guest list led by Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay and SM Hotels and Conventions President Elizabeth Sy, the most meaningful points of the evening were undoubtedly the speech of Cameleon founder Ligier and her introducing the set piece of drama and movement that followed, as performed by the young women, men, and children who form part of the Cameleon population in Iloilo. Empowered by Cameleon and striving to right their lives, the performance was an incendiary reminder of what they had undergone, and a blazing testament to how they were not going to let the culture of silence get the better of them.

The members of the Cameleon troupe perform for the guests.

Béart interacted with the Cameleon troupe after their performance and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, as the French actress went into long hugs with the young girls and children, promising them that she would continue the struggle to break this culture of silence. Cameleon founder Ligier did not mince her words when observing how ironic it is that the bulk of the financial support she gets for Cameleon’s operation here in the Philippines still comes from French donors. She fervently hoped that their participation in the evening would help build up awareness and lead to more support for their noble, uphill struggle of a cause. To cap the evening, SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan led the spirit of giving by personally committing his support to Cameleon.

Acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Béart hugs the members of the Cameleon troupe, celebrating their resilience and courage.

Cameleon Association Inc. can be followed on social media and they welcome donations. Cameleon is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a non-stock, non-profit, and is accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is also a Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PNCC)-accredited donee institution.