Avon Philippines introduces fundraising products for its advocacy against gender-based violence

Avon PH ambassadors Ruffa Gutierrez and daughters Lorin and Venice Gutierrez

Asia Pacific is the most disaster prone region in the world and faces a growing number of conflicts and protracted emergencies, which disproportionately affect women and girls. Luckily, there are a number of NGOs as well as private companies like Avon Philippines scaling up to give responses to gender-based violence in emergencies, integrating sexual and reproductive health serviced and strengthening the humanitarian-development-peace-nexus. 

Sadly, violence continues to affect millions of women around the world—in fact, some of us may have experienced or witnessed them. Every woman has a story of abuse, harassment, or rape, or fear of not being believed or belittled. It has spawned the #MeToo movement in the first place to take action, and it’s long past time for them to come to an end. The number speaks loud and clear: 1 out of 4 married Filipinas have experienced abuse from their partners; 3 in 5 Filipinas have been sexually harassed in their lifetime; while online harassment has victimized mostly women aged 15 to 35. 

In celebration of the Women’s Month, Avon Philippines, one of the companies that has long supported women’s causes renews its promise to help alleviate violence against women and girls as part of its recently launched global advocacy called Stand4Her. It aims to improve the lives of 100 million women by advancing their earning potential, freedom of expression, empowering them and making sure that they live a safe and healthy life.

Loving What You Do: The Lifestyle Business Show is Now on GMA News TV

Budding entrepreneurs had something to be happy about as Loving What You Do (LWYD), the latest lifestyle business program soon to hit your television sets on GMA News TV channel starts airing this March 24, 2019, Sunday at 9:30AM. It’s a weekly magazine show hosted by TV host/actress Dianne Medina.

Loving What You Do airs their Season 3 this coming Sunday, March 24, 2019 on GMA News TV

LWYD main host Dianne Medina

LWYD main host Dianne Medina interviews one of GMA 7's hottest sensation Kyline Alcantara

There’s an adage that says, “If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.” This is what the lifestyle business show LWYD is all about. They will feature inspiring stories of rags to riches, how to turn your passion into a profitable business as well as health and wellness segments. LWYD promotes to earn at your own pace and time while doing something that you actually love. 

Health segment host Chiara Ongkiko, Main Host Dianne Medina and TV producer/director Zyrus Ramos

LWYD Health segment host Chiara Ongkiko, Main Host Dianne Medina and TV producer/director Zyrus Ramos

Loving What You Do (LWYD) aims to inspire, empower and teach Filipino business enthusiasts to continue aspiring in achieving their goals in life. “Through our program, Loving What You Do, we aim to encourage Filipinos to live and work their dreams, to redefine their perspective on business and lifestyle and start living a better life,” said Mr. Zyrus Ramos, the show’s Executive Producer.

The people behind LWYD show on GMA News TV

So what makes Loving What You Do different from other business related TV shows? It doesn’t just tell you to earn and make a profit. It helps you to discover what your passion is, and what you can do about it. It is a show on its own because its advocacy isn’t all about earning and making money. It is about YOU: how to empower you as a person, and ultimately, how to become a better YOU.

Shangri-La Plaza showcases women’s vision in photography From the Lens of Eve runs from March 14-31

Ms. Lala Fojas, Shangri-La Plaza's General Manager with the women photographers who's having an exhibit at the posh mall.

In celebration of Women’s Month, Shangri-La Plaza showcases the power of women’s vision in photography through the exhibition From the Lens of Eve, which runs from March 14-19 at the East Atrium, and continues from March 20-31 at the Level 1, Main Wing.

Five women photographers are featured in the show – Annabelle Chavez, Lauren Malcampo, Maryanne Mendoza, Mrae Orden and Jen Perez – with the spectrum of their works drawing inspiration from natural landscapes, and the varying style of each photographer as wide-ranging as the locations of the photographs. 

From the Lens of Annabelle Chavez

The exhibition explores the nexus between photographer and photograph – the uniqueness of the narratives and emotion behind each frame. “Women bring a different perspective to photography. Women see and feel differently, and the images they create altogether enrich the entire field,” Mrae Orden explains. 

From the lens of Jen Perez

On the significance of having an all women landscape photography exhibition, the featured photographers describe the realities of the genre. Lauren Malcampo points out, “In photography, women have always been a minority.” Jen Perez agrees, “While women have slowly made remarkable inroads in photography, it is still a male-dominated industry, particularly in the genre of landscape photography. Not because few are good, but because women are less visible.”

From Maryanne Mendoza

From Mrae Orden

Shangri-La Plaza hopes to change that by providing a platform to highlight the talent of women photographers and help cultivate a wider appreciation of their work. “We want to laud Shangri-La Plaza for being a platform in bringing together female talent in photography,” says Maryanne Mendoza. Annabelle Chavez adds, “I hope that other women artists who will see our exhibit get encouraged in pursuing their own passions.”

A must-see for mall guests, From the Lens of Eve photography exhibition is at the East Atrium from March 14-19, and at the Level 1, Main Wing from March 20-31. #FeelTheShangVibe at #FromTheLensOfEve exhibit this Women’s Month at Shangri-La Plaza. 

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang on Instagram:@shangrilaplazaofficial.

Unleash Your Creativity at The 9th Studios Creative Hub in Makati

The 9th Studios Creative Hub welcomes you with a smile

Have you ever been to a place where you can actually harness and develop your potentials and discover talents you never even knew you had? It's the kind of special place where you know great things would actually start from small beginnings. I personally believe that one of the biggest hurdles an artist usually encounters is finding a space to work their magic in. I recently stumbled upon The 9th Studios Creative Hub along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati City. The 9th Studios Creative Hub is a multidisciplinary studio that operates at the intersection of art, designs and the environment. Its mission is to create a space in which to exchange, develop and execute ideas that inspire people to re-imagine the world and our place within it.

The spacious dance rehearsal studio

The 9th Studios Creative Hub's Multipurpose Hall

 The 9^th Studios Creative Hub was designed and built as a vehicle to support all the major art forms as well as other activities. The said studio is suited to the needs of each creative community. The Creative Hub is composed of two rooms, a dance studio and a multi-purpose hall which are both located on the 9th floor. 

 They pride themselves in their ability to offer professional creative facilities at highly affordable prices. Both rooms are ideal spaces for artistic expression as well as corporate activities like seminars, lectures and meetings to suit all price points and creative mediums.  Their goal is to develop a creative community by offering affordable spaces with the long-term stability that is so often lacking for artists in the metro. 

Some of the happy bunch who came in to the Studio Hub

I learned that the 9th Studios Creative Hub opened its doors to the public last January 2019. But this early, I am no longer surprised why it is fast becoming a favorite place for various activities from fitness to dance, to art events as well as theater rehearsals. 

Two months after their opening, the Creative Hub has been actively promoting its regular Fitness activities for both beginners and fitness aficionados. The sessions include Dance Fitness, Pop, Jazz, Hip Hop and Yoga classes. 

Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema Redefines the Movie Theater Experience

The newly renovated Red Carpet Cinema of Shangri-La Mall

We’ve just checked out the newly renovated high tech cinema at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall’s Red Carpet Cinema. And I was instantly impressed about all the changes I’ve seen at its Premiere Theater. We were recently treated to see Marvel Studios ’first female-led superhero film, the highly anticipated Captain Marvel. It was a great way to celebrate the International Women’s Month, highlighting “girlpower” at its finest.

Captain Marvel Red Carpet Ticket to the Premier Theater

The best part about watching movies is that they transport you to another world, or another dimension.  Shang-La Plaza Mall’s Red Carpet Cinema lets you experience the film firsthand. Red Carpet Cinema boasts of powerful speakers throughout the cinema, digital projection equipment and stadium type seating.  Best of all, the cinema houses about 70 comfortable leather recliners that come in Lazy Boy style chairs with a convenient place for your drink. The Red Carpet Cinema also has more comfortable leg room. The Red Carpet Cinema also features an adjoining bar and lounge facility, making it a perfect venue for exclusive parties, events, and other VIP affairs.

The spacious lounge of the VIP Red Carpet Premiere Theater

More comfy chairs while waiting for the movie